Dare Me (The Donovans 1) by Samantha Chase-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 4, 2022

One year ago, Arianna Donovan and Will Jameson met on a dare and spent a perfect 24 together before going their separate ways. She thought they would stay in touch, but he disappeared without a word.

Arianna thought she’d moved on. But when Will shows up at a family dinner with her older—and very protective—brother, she’s angry and confused. How could he possibly forget to mention that he was friends with her brother? No one knows about their past and Arianna wants to keep things that way. No matter how tempting Will is.

When he walked away a year ago, Will thought it was for the best. Staying away from Arianna was the smart thing to do, especially with how protective her older brother—his friend and fellow soldier—can be. Time and distance will work wonders when you’re trying to stay away from someone. Now that he’s seen her again, he forgets all about doing the smart thing. He’ll just have to first convince her to let go of her anger and give him another chance.

Will isn’t above playing the nostalgia card, and when he challenges Arianna to a sexy game of truth or dare, she can’t resist. Neither one is ready to tell the world what they’re doing, but how long can they possibly keep things a secret when there are Donovans ready to meddle around every corner?

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REVIEW:DARE ME is the first instalment in Samantha Chase’s contemporary, adult THE DONOVANS romance series. This is twenty-three year old, radiation therapist Arianna Donovan, and thirty-two year old architect Will Jameson’s story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives DARE ME follows the second chance relationship, of a sorts, between twenty-three year old, radiation therapist Arianna Donovan, and thirty-two year old architect Will Jameson. Approximately one year earlier, Arianna Donovan met Will Jameson in San Francisco, twenty-four hours before returning home to Laurel Bay, North Carolina. Believing she had found her soul mate, Arianna tried desperately to convince Will they were meant to be, with the hopes of a long distance relationship in their future but Arianna had no idea that Will knew exactly who she was, and he wasn’t willing to cross the line with his ‘best friend’s’ little sister. Fast forward to present day wherein Arianna is considering leaving Laurel Bay, in search of her own independence away from her suffocating family but Arianna is blindsided when the man she has never forgotten has taken a job working for her brother Liam. All does not go well as Arianna’s family sets a plan into motion to set up Will with Arianna’s older sister Ryleigh, a plan that forces Will into a fake relationship with someone he doesn’t want. What ensues is the rebuilding friendship but secret relationship between Will and Arianna, and the potential fall out when the Donovan family uncover the truth.

The relationship between Arianna and Will is a rekindling relationship that struggles in the face of secrets and lies, and the ongoing interference from the Donovan clan. The Donovan family is controlling and obnoxious, constantly getting involved in one another’s lives, involvement that is pushing away their youngest daughter. The parents try to control their daughters’s lives; the brothers are a constant source of heart ache and intrusion. The family tries desperately to keep the siblings under control but everyone refuses to help our story line heroine when she first returned to Laurel Bay. There are no $ex scenes-everything is implied.

We are introduced to the over protective, over bearing and often irritating Donovan siblings: Liam, Patrick, Ryleigh and Jamie; their unpleasant parents Kate and Shane Donovan, and uncle Ronan.

DARE ME is a story of family, relationships, friendships and love. The premise is entertaining but I struggled with the Donovan family dynamic and their overwhelming need to interfere and control which made my reading experience difficult and anxiety-filled affecting the overall enjoyment. DARE ME is a well written story line but the character’s attitudes, personalities and presentation were problematic for this reader. 

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan’s Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40’s to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.

When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.