Dare to Lie by Jen McLaughlin – Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

Dare to Lie by Jen McLaughlin – Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

 

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Dare to Lie
Sons of Steel Row series – Book #3
by Jen McLaughlin
Release Date: February 7, 2017

Dare to LieAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
As an undercover DEA agent in the most powerful gang in Boston, Scott Donahue accepts the risks of living a double life. But when Tate Donovan, leader of the Sons of Steel Row, assigns Scotty to take his place in a bachelor’s auction sponsored by his sister’s sorority, he’s exposed to a whole new level of danger. Even though Tate makes it very clear—Skylar is off limits—the second Scotty sees her, he’s a goner. But how does he tell Sky she’s falling for a man who doesn’t exist?

Sky can’t resist Scotty’s cool confidence or the raw, edgy power oozing from his perfect body. She’s always been the good girl, but he brings out the bad in her. And even though she knows so little about who he really is, Sky’s willing to take the biggest risk of all. But putting her heart on the line is no guarantee that Scotty won’t slip through her fingers…

 

Review:

Dare to Lie by Jen McLaughlin is the 3rd book in her Sons of Steel Row series. As noted in my previous reviews, I love this series; as it has everything you would want in a romance suspense.  Dare to Lie grabs your attention from the start and doesn’t let go until the very end.  The story is action packed, exciting, and a great couple, with sizzling hot chemistry.  I also loved the epilogue at end.  Thank you, Jen McLaughlin for another wonderful story in your Sons of Steel Row series. 

We have been following Scotty Donahue since the first book, which revolved around our then hero and Scotty’s brother, Lucas.  We have all been waiting for Scotty’s story, knowing that his life was hanging by thread, since he was an undercover agent for the DEA.

Skylar Daniels, our heroine, is the sister of Tate, the leader of the Sons of Steel Row gang. She is in medical school, and her brother helps support her; but Skylar knows nothing about Sons of Steel Row.  Scotty has been assigned to replace Tate at a charity event , which was run by Skylar.  Almost immediately, you can see the sparks flash between them, but Scotty wants nothing to do with his boss’s sister, as he was already warned to keep his hands off her.  Skylar felt the attraction right away, and during the auction, she won a bid for dinner with Scotty, which started off badly, as he was very rude.  But the chemistry between them had sparks flying off the wall, and soon both of them would act on their lust for each other. Scotty doesn’t see himself in any kind of long term relationship, since he feels he isn’t a good man, and his life would put anyone close to him in danger. 

What follows is an exciting adventure of gang land wars that was very suspenseful; I could not put the book down.  A rival gang has been attacking Scotty, Chris (previous book hero), and killing off some of the gang members.  Scotty will work behind the scenes with the DEA to help them capture the rival gang.  When the war escalates to attacks against the women/family of Sons of Steel Row members, an all out bloody war ensues, which also puts Skylar’s life in danger and Tate finding out about the relationship between his sister and Scotty.   Scotty must put aside his feelings for Skylar to not only protect her, but Lucas, Heidi, Chris & Molly, too.  Will Skylar & Scotty find away to stay together?  Will Scotty survive his double life?

Skylar was such a great heroine, being smart, savvy, tough, independent and stubborn.  Scotty was pretty great too, but his life was filled with so many secrets and living a double life, which put him at risk always. In reality, I can see why Tate did not want Scotty to have anything to do with his sister.  Dare to Lie was another wonderful exciting and romantic story in this fabulous series.  I suggest you start this series with the first book, Dare to Run, and enjoy the writing of Jen McLaughlin.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Guest Post

Sons of Steel Row

Hello, everyone! Thank you for having me here today! I’m Jen McLaughlin (though I also write as Diane Alberts) and I’m here today to talk about books, antiheroes, heroes, and the challenges all those things represent. My latest book, DARE TO LIE, is the third book in the Sons of Steel Row series. The series itself revolves around a gang in Boston that sells guns illegally, and the heroes in the books are anything but hero material. They’re liars. Killers. Criminals.

Yet we all fall for them anyway.

Everyone has their favorite type of books or heroes to write, and I have to say, writing the Sons of Steel Row guys has been one of my favorite moments in my writing career. It’s easy writing heroes who are likeable when they’re…well…likeable. But to take men who are criminals, men who kill for a living, and somehow turn them into characters that a reader not only will root for, but will fall in love with? Yeah, that’s frigging amazing.

And a huge challenge.

A challenge I (gladly) accepted. I thought it would be fun to look at the three heroes in the Sons of Steel Row series, and to talk a little bit about the challenges they represented.

Our first hero, Lucas Donahue, is fresh out of jail, and looking to mind his own business in DARE TO RUN. No one else is doing the same, though, and it’s not long until we find out he has a price on his head. I think the hardest part about writing Lucas was his undying loyalty to his family—aka his brother, Scotty. No matter what happens, or who tried to kill him, he refused to turn his back on his brother, and for a guy who killed for a living, this was hard to portray at times.

Then our second hero…ah, our second hero. DARE TO STAY with Chris O’Brien. It’s hard to say why he was such a challenge without creating spoilers for people who haven’t yet read the series, but the biggest challenge with him was making readers like him. Everyone went into this book hating him, and fully prepared to continue doing so, but by the time they finished the book, a lot of readers wrote me and told me he was their favorite hero—above even Lucas. I could easily say that he was my biggest challenge ever, and he’s my favorite, too.

Last, we have Scotty Donahue, in DARE TO LIE. Oh, Scotty is and always has been more of a hero than an antihero like the other two men in this series. He’s got a good heart, despite his actions, and this has never been a secret. The biggest challenge with him was making him toe the line between both of his worlds (again, no spoilers!) without ever having him wonder if he was doing the right thing in his one world. His faith in himself and his cause had to be one hundred percent true and real, and he couldn’t afford to slip up.

Is there a certain type of hero that you love to read about, that no matter how many times you’ve read a book with this type of hero, you can’t resist picking up another, and getting sucked into the story of how he becomes who he is meant to be, with the help of a heroine you can’t help but envy?

For me, it’s the bad boy with a golden heart that’s buried way, way, way deep down, under lots of armor and weaponry. I just can’t get enough of them, and watching them soften.

You?

 

giveaway

Jen’s publisher is offering a paper copy of DARE TO LIE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging in please refresh the page (at the top of your computer)

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

4. Please LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Please LIKE us on GOODREADS  for an additional entry.

6. Please LIKE  Jen McLaughlin on FACEBOOK.

7. Giveaway is open to USA only

8. Giveaway runs from February 8 to 12, 2017

 

 

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Dare to Stay by Jen McLaughlin – Review, Interview & Giveaway

Dare to Stay by Jen McLaughlin – Review, Interview & Giveaway

 

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Dare to StayAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

Description:
Bruised and bloodied on Boston’s mean streets, Chris O’Brien is reeling from the loss of his childhood best friend. But after barely escaping a hit placed on his head, Chris is desperate to live. A safe haven comes to mind – the home of the perfect girl from his childhood, Molly Lachlan. Before he has fully considered what it would mean to involve her in his mess, he finds himself on her doorstep.

When Molly agrees to let Chris inside her home, she realizes she’s also letting him into her life. Danger and desperation are coming off him like steam, and yet she can’t bring herself to turn him away. His bad boy charm always had a hold on her, but now there’s a soulfulness and sorrow in him that she’s never seen before. And despite the heart-stopping risk of helping him, she hopes against all reason that he’ll stay…

 

Review:

Dare to Stay by Jen McLaughlin is the 2nd book in her The Sons of Steel Row series. Dare to Stay picks up after the first book, Dare to Run leaves off.  I was surprised to find out the McLaughlin used Chris O’Brien as this books hero, as he was the bad guy in the previous book.  Once I found out he was the hero, I was prepared to dislike him, since I felt what he did was unforgivable.  Of course, authors do have a way to win you over.  🙂

Molly Lachlan is our heroine, and I liked her from the start.  Molly lives alone, and keeps mostly to herself, though her friends at work keep trying to get her to go out.  Since her father’s murder at the hands of a gang, Molly tries to keep her distance.   Then one night she sees Chris lying in an alley way having been shot and bleeding profusely.  Molly knows Chris from her teenage days, and privately had a crush on him.  She does not know that Chris is a member of the Sons of Steel Row  gang. She helps Chris and brings him to her place to heal him, and learns quickly about his dangerous and violent lifestyle.

Chris, while he lies there thinking he will die, regrets his actions in betraying his best friend, Lucas.  He plans to help Lucas’s brother to make up for all the bad things he knows were so wrong.  Chris wants to leave Molly’s house, so not to put her in danger, but he knows he cannot leave until he becomes stronger. 

What follows is a sweet romance of two people living completely different lives. Chris’s father was abusive; he is a gang member, and knows nothing of killing rival gang members.   Molly was sweet, smart, a kindergarten teacher and lived a comfortable life.  Molly finds herself falling for Chris, despite his determination not to stay.  Dare to Stay is also an exciting story, with Chris pulled into fights with the rival gang often, and in a short time, Molly will also get pulled into the danger.  We get to see Scott, as he will play a big part of this story, working with Chris and eventually helping him.  So many times throughout the story, Molly has doubts if her relationship with Chris is worth all the worry; especially with Chris always in the middle of all that danger, and his willingness to give his life up to save Scott, in penance for betraying Lucas.  Despite her begging him to step away, Chris refuses to leave the gang and Scott.  He knows he has fallen in love with her, but does not believe he is worthy of her.  Will they ever be able to stay together?  With the war ongoing with the rival gang, will Chris even survive?

Jen McLaughlin has written another wonderful story of two opposites, one being an anti-hero, whose chances at love and happiness were unlikely.  I surprised myself by liking Chris by the time I was half way through, and I loved Molly, the perfect heroine. Dare to Stay was an exciting, emotional, sexy and violent story. I loved every moment of it. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Interview blue

Hi Jen.  Thank you for taking the time today, to answer some questions for our members at The Reading Café.  We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

Jen:  Thank you so much for having me here!

TRC:  Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Jen:  I’m pretty boring! I write books, and sit on the sidelines at basketball practice and cheerleading practice in my “spare” time, haha. But right now, I’m on a road trip with my family, driving through the desert of California as I type!

TRC:  Did you always have an interest in writing?  When and how did you first start writing?

Jen:  Yes, always! Even when I was in grad school, I competed (and got chosen to go to) for the Young Writer’s Association in elementary school. I got to talk to an author back then, and I knew immediately that this was my dream job. And I’m lucky enough to be able to do it for a living!!!

I always wanted to write, but after I had my youngest daughter, I finally did it. I had a dream about a guy on a cliff, and I decided I needed to write that guy’s story. So…I did. It was published in 2012, and I haven’t stopped since!

TRC:  Dare To Stay was released on Tuesday, which is the 2nd book in you’re the Sons of Steel Row series.  For our members who have not read this series, can you tell us the premise of the The Sons of Steel Row?

Jen:  So all of the heroes are actually antiheros, and they are members of a gang that run guns illegally. The heroes are very gritty, and the hero in the second book is actually even harder to like at first than the first one…for reasons I can’t divulge in case someone reading this hasn’t read the first book yet! I’ve enjoyed writing this book a lot because it goes to dark places that I haven’t gotten to go previously, but it’s still a romance book with that glimmer of hope that all is well in the world.

TRC:  How did you come up with the idea of this series and how many books are you planning for the The Sons of Steel Row series?

Jen:  My agent, myself, and my editor (at the time of signing the contract) actually kind of brainstormed together, and once we had a general idea of where we wanted to go, I started the outline and it all rolled downhill from there!

I’d love to write six (or more!) books in the series, but as of now, there are only three completed ones! 🙂

TRC:  Can you please give us a brief description of Dare to Stay?

Jen:  Chris is on the run (can’t tell you why, because spoilers!) and Molly, a kindergarten teacher who has nothing to do with his way of life, finds him. They have a bit of history, but not of the romantic sort. She helps him, and gets dragged into his world because of it. We learn lots of secrets along the way, as they literally fight for their lives.

TRC:  You write Contemporary & Sexy Romances.  Have you thought about writing in other genres?

Jen:  YES. I am working on a Young Adult synopsis right now, and I also have a historical romance I’m dying to polish up and submit so it can hit the shelves.

TRC:  You also write under the pen name of Diane Alberts. Can you please tell us the difference between Jen McLaughlin and Diane Alberts books?

Jen:  Diane writes in the third person POV and Jen writes first. That’s about it! Same voice and style otherwise!

TRC:  Can you please tell us what you are working on now, and what you have upcoming in 2017?

Jen:  A Young Adult proposal, edits on a Diane book, and edits on a Jen book!

TRC:  What is your writing process?  Do you like to outline your story before you start? Do you have a specific place you like to write?  Is there a special time of day that works best for you?

Jen:  I used to be a panster, but now I HAVE to outline. If I don’t I feel lost throughout the book. It breaks my heart, but I’m a total outliner now. * sighs dramatically *

And daytime, right on my couch. I don’t like writing at night. My brain protests!

TRC:  What books, authors or people in your life have influenced your writing? 

Jen:  As a kid, I grew up reading Johanna Lindsay, Jude Devereaux, Julie Garwood, and Christina Dodd. They’re my heroes. I still LOVE their books. 

TRC:  When you are not writing, what other interests or hobbies do you have?

Jen:  I like to knit, but don’t get a lot of time to do so in between writing, editing, and taking my four kids to their various activities!!

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else?

Jen:  Thank you SO much for having me here today!!

 

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Homemade ravioli

Favorite Dessert: Warm apple pie!

Favorite TV Show The Walking Dead
  TRC:  We are also a big fan of this show.

Favorite Movie or TV Celebrity: BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH. I love love love love love him!

Favorite Fictional Character (not your own):  Daemon from Jennifer Armentrout’s Lux series.

 Milk or Dark Chocolate:  Dark all the way, baby!

Dog or Cat:  CATS. I have five (and one dog).

TRC:  Thank you Jen, for taking the time to answer our questions.  We wish you the best of luck with Dare to Stay

Jen:  Thank you so much!!!! 🙂

 

theauthor

Jen McLaughlin


Diane Alberts is a USA TODAY bestselling Contemporary Romance author with Entangled Publishing. Under the name Jen McLaughlin, she also writes New York Times, USA TODAY, and Wall Street Journal bestselling books with Penguin Random House. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. Diane is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.nk you so much!!!!
🙂

 

 

giveaway

Jen’s publisher is offering a paper copy of DARE TO STAY to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging in please refresh the page (at the top of your computer)

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

4. Please LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Please LIKE us on GOODREADS  for an additional entry.

6. Please LIKE us on TSU.

7. Please LIKE  Jen McLaughlin on FACEBOOK.

8. Giveaway is open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from August 3 to August 7, 2016

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Dare to Run by Jen McLaughlin – Review & Giveaway

Dare to Run by Jen McLaughlin – Review & Giveaway

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Dare to RunAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

Description:
She knows what he’s like on Boston’s mean streets. Now she’s going to find out if he’s got some heart.

Lucas Donahue is not ashamed of his criminal past, but after a brief stint in prison, he’s ready to go legit and live a normal life. The problem is, no one leaves the gang without permission—even if he is one of the boss’s top men. Plus someone’s placed a hit on him. And then there’s that feisty little bartender who’s going to cause him even more trouble.

Heidi Greene knows to keep her distance from a ladies’ man like Lucas—even if she can’t keep her eyes off him. When he rescues her from an attack in the alley outside her bar, she’s forced to stay by his side for safety. But the longer she spends time with him, the greater her chances are for getting hurt in more ways than one.

 

 

Review:

Dare to Run by Jen McLaughlin is the first book in her new The Sons of Steel Row series. This is my first book by McLaughlin and after reading this book, it will not be my last. The cover on this book was hot, but nothing in comparison to our couple, who not only were both tough, savvy, street smart; they totally scorched the pages throughout the story. I loved them both.

Lucas Donahue is our hero, and though he is hot, he is also very dangerous. Lucas grew up in a gang environment after the death of his mother. He took care of his younger brother, Scott, who is also part of the gang that they are members of. After a short stint in prison, Lucas, is now one of his boss’s top men. He thinks nothing of killing those who threaten him, as this is the only life he knows.

Heidi Greene is our heroine, and she owns a bar that was left to her. Heidi is beautiful, tough and also comes from a bad childhood, where she ran away and learned to live on the streets. Heidi’s beauty and sex appeal causes her to be attacked outside her bar, when Lucas comes to her rescue.

Lucas is determined to protect Heidi, not to mention he finds himself attracted to her. The men he killed trying to protect Heidi are members of a rival gang, and Lucas has to say that they tried to attack his women. That claim somewhat lets Lucas off the hook, but it forces both him and Heidi to live together to prove his claim is real; saving both of their lives.

While this is going on, Lucas learns that his brother is working with the rival gang and is planning to kill him. At this point, anything more would be spoilers. What follows is a tense exciting dangerous adventure which puts their lives in danger, with many twists along the way that will reveal some secrets and betrayals.   But most of all, this is a scorching and sweet romance that starts off a bit slowly as Lucas and Heidi begin to become attracted to each more every passing day. Even when they are falling hard, they know there can be no future for them. All Lucas wants is to keep Heidi safe, which means eventually pushing her away from the life he lives. What will happen between Lucas and Scott? Will Heidi allow Lucas to walk away?

Jen McLaughlin did a fabulous job holding my attention throughout the book from start to finish. She has created a great storyline, great characters, a fantastic couple, with a hot hot romance. After reading this book, I plan on adding Jen McLaughlin to my must reads. Dare to Run is a wonderful read, and I suggest you read this book now.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

About the author

Jen McLaughlinJen McLaughlin is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of sexy books with Penguin Random House. Under her pen name, Diane Alberts, she is also a USA TODAY bestselling author of Contemporary Romance with Entangled Publishing. Her first release as Jen McLaughlin, Out of Line, hit the New York Times, USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal lists. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and four cats. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

See more at: http://www.jenmclaughlin.com/about/#sthash.Yfyuj9rF.dpuf

 

giveaway

Jen’s publisher is offering a paper copy of DARE TO RUN to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

4. Please LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Please LIKE us on GOODREADS  for an additional entry.

6. Please LIKE us on TSU.

7. Please LIKE  Jen McLaughlin on FACEBOOK.

8. Giveaway is open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from February 1 to February 6, 2016

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