Tempted (Masters & Mercenaries/ 1001 Dark Nights) by Lexi Blake-review & excerpt tour
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 27, 2023
When West Rycroft left his family’s ranch to work in the big city, he never dreamed he would find himself surrounded by celebrities and politicians. Working at McKay-Taggart as a bodyguard and security expert quickly taught him how to navigate the sometimes shark-infested waters of the elite. While some would come to love that world, West has seen enough to know it’s not for him, preferring to keep his distance from his clients—until the day he meets Ally Pearson.
Growing up in the entertainment world, Ally was always in the shadow of others, but now she has broken out from behind the scenes for her own day in the spotlight. The paparazzi isn’t fun, but she knows all too well that it’s part of the gig. She has a good life and lots of fans, but someone has been getting too close for comfort and making threats. To be safe, she hires her own personal knight in shining armor, a cowboy hottie by the name of West. They clash in the beginning, but the minute they fall into bed together something magical happens.
Just as everything seems too good to be true, they are both reminded that there was a reason Ally needed a bodyguard. Her problems have found her again, and this time West will have to put his life on the line or lose everything they’ve found.
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REVIEW: TEMPTED by Lexi Blake is a contemporary, adult, romantic suspense story line set in the author’s Masters and Mercenaries series, and a part of the multi-authored 1001 Dark Nights. This is former rancher turned security specialist West Rycroft, and Hollywood actress Ally Pearson. TEMPTED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Lexi Blake’s participation in the 1001 Dark Nights focuses on the secondary and tertiary characters we may or may not have met in the previous story lines. West is Wade’s brother (Protected 16.5),
Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Ally and West) TEMPTED follows with the knowledge that many someones may be threatening Ally Pearson. Ally Pearson is considered Hollywood royalty, and a reality show has brought out the crazies including more than one potential stalker. Cast for an upcoming movie, Ally’s step-father contracts with McKay-Taggart to provide protection for our story line heroine in the wake of threats against our story line heroine. Enter former rancher turned security guard West Rycroft, and the man with whom Ally will fall in love. West is part of a three-person crew assigned to protect Ally but West struggles from the outset believing Ally to be a spoiled princess, a brat, a child of privilege, and demanding. West would quickly discover that Ally is not the person the paparazzi has made her out to be, a paparazzi that is trying to discredit and destroy our story line couple. As West, and the team at McKay-Taggart hunt for the person responsible, the threats become more personal and dangerous, forcing our couple together in more ways than one. What ensues is the building but forbidden relationship between Ally and West, and the potential fall-out as the guilt party may be someone Ally knows.
The relationship between Ally and West begins as an assignment, a reluctant assignment in which West is quick to label and judge our story line heroine for who she is, and what she does.West had already completed one assignment with a real, spoiled princess, and he was in no mood to do it again. Ally knows she has a stalker but refuses to give in and give up her life.Falling for West was easy, staying with West may threaten both of their careers. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.
The secondary and supporting characters include Martin Rehn and West’s twin brother Rand Rycroft, Tessa Santiago-Hawthorne, Ian ‘Big Tag’ and Charlotte Taggart, Ally’s sister Brynn, their mother and step- father Gavin Jacks; as well director Jay Clarke, several actors and actresses, and members of the crew.
TEMPTED is a story of power and control, greed and betrayal, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is intriguing, dramatic and captivating; the romance is seductive and fated; the characters are desperate and determined.
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
“Hey,” he said. “I’m here for the rest of the night and through tomorrow. Was Tessa okay?”
Her head came up, and she damn near took his breath away. She was in pajama bottoms and a tank top, her face scrubbed free and hair piled on top of her head. She was every bit as gorgeous this way. “She was great. I liked her a lot.”
“But you didn’t like Matt?”
Her lips turned down. “Well, now I like Tessa less.”
He set down his duffel on one of the chairs and set the grocery bag on the table away from the numerous puzzle pieces. She’d started working on the edges, and it looked like she was a sorter. “Don’t. It’s literally my job to make sure you’re okay. She’s going to give me any information I need.”
“Did she tell you I thought you were an asshole?”
For some reason, that made him smile. “She did. And I was. And if Matt does anything at all to make you uncomfortable, I expect you to tell me. Ally, I had a job go weird a couple of weeks ago. I know men are supposed to want any pretty woman who comes their way…”
She sat up, her expression turning distinctly sympathetic. “Someone tried to sex you up when you didn’t want to?”
That was one way of putting it. “She was very aggressive, and it bothered me more than I realized. I think I took a little of that out on you today, and for that, I am truly sorry.”
“Did she look like me or something?”
“Not even close,” he said with a huff. “Like she wasn’t as… No, she didn’t look like you. But she was something of a celebrity. She was a European royal.”
“Please tell me it was Kate.” Her eyes had gone super wide like this would be the best gift ever.
She would so get along with his brother and Martin. “It was not. She’s a minor royal but a major pain in my ass. I’m sorry. I hope you’ll give me a second chance.”
She stared for a moment as though assessing the situation. “Are those Flamin’ Hot Cheetos?”
“My brother’s fiancé swears you like them. His name is Martin, and he’s a big fan.”
Her shoulders relaxed, and he would have sworn that girl…woman…glowed. “That’s so nice. If he has any time, he could come up to the set and have lunch with us. And he’s right. Gimme. I love them, but the camera adds five pounds and…”
“You always have four cameras on you.” He handed her the chips and sat down. It would be a much quieter night than he’d counted on, but he kind of liked that.
She opened them and had one of those suckers in her mouth very quickly. She sighed, obviously content. “Not now I don’t. All right, Rycroft, we start again. And Matt’s probably fine. You’ll know he’s done something wrong if he has to go to the hospital because I kicked him in the balls. Pass me that blue piece. I think it goes here.”
He handed her the piece, and they got on with their first night.
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.
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