Ms. March continues to craft deliciously bruised heroes with her Beneath series which is what will draw readers to this latest installment. Keep reading for an introduction to Bishop in Beneath These Shadows by Meghan March and its tale of a mob boss's daughter sheltered her whole life finally starting to live a little under the tutelage of a sexy and tatted-up bad boy. Get my impressions of this steamy sixth installment in this series that's set in the Big Easy then add it to your bookshelf!
From USA Today bestselling author Meghan March comes another dangerously sexy alpha hero...
The only permanent thing in my life is the ink I put on my clients.
I drift form city to city, in and out of beds, from one tattoo shop to the next.
Every time I start to put down roots, I rip them up.
Until New Orleans.
Until her.
She’s everything I’m not.
Full of fire and life. An innocent where I’m a sinner.
I want to consume her. Protect her. Keep her.
But first, I have to escape from beneath these shadows.
EXCERPT:
“You ever broken the law before this, Eden?"
I expected a quick and unequivocal no, but it didn’t come as fast as I thought it would.
"I don't think so. I mean, I’m sure I have by accident sometime. I’ve jaywalked. But I’m not some kind of criminal."
I expected a quick and unequivocal no, but it didn’t come as fast as I thought it would.
"I don't think so. I mean, I’m sure I have by accident sometime. I’ve jaywalked. But I’m not some kind of criminal."
Well, that makes one of us, I thought.
My anger from earlier started to fade and be replaced by the heat of the knowledge that Eden’s naked tits were only inches from my chest, separated by water I could see right through. Last time I’d seen them under her pink bra, she’d been too fucked up for me to take advantage . . . but tonight she was completely sober.
I raised my gaze from her chest, expecting her cheeks to be red when she realized I was staring at her nipples, but she wasn’t watching my face. She was staring down at my body.
"Like what you see?"
That got her attention.
Eden jerked her head up to meet my eyes, and the blush colored her skin like I’d timed it."
"You’re . . . big."
A booming laugh broke free from my throat at her unexpected response, and her cheeks flamed even brighter.
"No, that’s not what I meant. I mean . . . everywhere. Not just, in the . . .” She looked down, then jerked her gaze back to mine. “I’m going to shut up now."
My anger from earlier started to fade and be replaced by the heat of the knowledge that Eden’s naked tits were only inches from my chest, separated by water I could see right through. Last time I’d seen them under her pink bra, she’d been too fucked up for me to take advantage . . . but tonight she was completely sober.
I raised my gaze from her chest, expecting her cheeks to be red when she realized I was staring at her nipples, but she wasn’t watching my face. She was staring down at my body.
"Like what you see?"
That got her attention.
Eden jerked her head up to meet my eyes, and the blush colored her skin like I’d timed it."
"You’re . . . big."
A booming laugh broke free from my throat at her unexpected response, and her cheeks flamed even brighter.
"No, that’s not what I meant. I mean . . . everywhere. Not just, in the . . .” She looked down, then jerked her gaze back to mine. “I’m going to shut up now."
That kind of awkward and fumbling response couldn’t be faked, and protectiveness rose in me again. Eden was no con artist. She was a girl who couldn’t even say the word cock without turning red.
"Ain’t no shame in my game."
She reached out a hand and covered my lips with her fingers. “Stop. You’re just making it worse. I wasn’t checking out your . . . package. I mean, I did before you got in the pool, but that’s only because I thought you’d have underwear on because who doesn’t wear underwear?” The babbling continued, and so did my laughter.
Hell, I hadn’t laughed this much since Delilah had given in to a customer’s request and tattooed a flexing veined eggplant cartoon on a client so he could send pictures of it instead of dick pics.
Eden pulled her hand back and covered her face. “I’m going to stop talking now. I seriously can’t be trusted to say anything that’s not completely humiliating when you’re standing this close to me naked."
"I disagree, and since I’m not ready to get out and put my clothes on, you’re going to have to deal with it."
She mumbled something under her breath.
"Come again?"
Eden pressed her lips together for a beat before saying, “I don’t know how to deal with it. This isn’t something I’ve ever dealt with before."
A crazy thought popped into my brain. “Are you a virgin?"
If there was a red brighter than fire engine, that was the color of Eden’s cheeks. “No! Of course not. Really. I’ve touched a dick before. I mean, just the one, but it still counts. Well, I didn’t really touch it. Except, you know, inside me. Oh my God, I’m just going to shut up now."
Realization dawned on me as her babbled protest silenced. “You’ve had sex with one guy? Once? How old are you?"
Eden turned to bolt, but instead smashed her tits into my arm. I stepped close enough so that only an inch of water separated us.
Her gaze went skyward. “This is so humiliating."
That’s where she and I had differing opinions. “Why? Because you haven’t fucked every guy you’ve ever met? What’s wrong with that?"
Eden’s gaze snapped down to mine and her brows drew into slashes. “Hey, whoa now. You can toss that double-standard crap right in the trash. What if I had screwed every guy I ever met? Would that make me less of a person? I mean, it’s not like you probably haven’t been with dozens and dozens of women. I’m not judging you. Except for maybe that Kitty girl. I mean, really? You’ve got to have some standards."
My laughter boomed out again across the courtyard. “Cupcake, just because I can get most any pussy I want, doesn’t mean I do it."
"Still, double standards are--"
When she started on another tirade, I decided to silence her the best way I knew how.
I leaned down and covered her lips with mine.
"Ain’t no shame in my game."
She reached out a hand and covered my lips with her fingers. “Stop. You’re just making it worse. I wasn’t checking out your . . . package. I mean, I did before you got in the pool, but that’s only because I thought you’d have underwear on because who doesn’t wear underwear?” The babbling continued, and so did my laughter.
Hell, I hadn’t laughed this much since Delilah had given in to a customer’s request and tattooed a flexing veined eggplant cartoon on a client so he could send pictures of it instead of dick pics.
Eden pulled her hand back and covered her face. “I’m going to stop talking now. I seriously can’t be trusted to say anything that’s not completely humiliating when you’re standing this close to me naked."
"I disagree, and since I’m not ready to get out and put my clothes on, you’re going to have to deal with it."
She mumbled something under her breath.
"Come again?"
Eden pressed her lips together for a beat before saying, “I don’t know how to deal with it. This isn’t something I’ve ever dealt with before."
A crazy thought popped into my brain. “Are you a virgin?"
If there was a red brighter than fire engine, that was the color of Eden’s cheeks. “No! Of course not. Really. I’ve touched a dick before. I mean, just the one, but it still counts. Well, I didn’t really touch it. Except, you know, inside me. Oh my God, I’m just going to shut up now."
Realization dawned on me as her babbled protest silenced. “You’ve had sex with one guy? Once? How old are you?"
Eden turned to bolt, but instead smashed her tits into my arm. I stepped close enough so that only an inch of water separated us.
Her gaze went skyward. “This is so humiliating."
That’s where she and I had differing opinions. “Why? Because you haven’t fucked every guy you’ve ever met? What’s wrong with that?"
Eden’s gaze snapped down to mine and her brows drew into slashes. “Hey, whoa now. You can toss that double-standard crap right in the trash. What if I had screwed every guy I ever met? Would that make me less of a person? I mean, it’s not like you probably haven’t been with dozens and dozens of women. I’m not judging you. Except for maybe that Kitty girl. I mean, really? You’ve got to have some standards."
My laughter boomed out again across the courtyard. “Cupcake, just because I can get most any pussy I want, doesn’t mean I do it."
"Still, double standards are--"
When she started on another tirade, I decided to silence her the best way I knew how.
I leaned down and covered her lips with mine.
BUY LINKS: AMAZON (US) | AMAZON (UK) | AMAZON (AU) | AMAZON (CA) | iBOOKS | KOBO | BN
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
With the exotic city of NOLA as its backdrop, Ms. March has crafted another decadently delightful installment to her Beneath series that beautifully balances steamy interludes with flirty banter and a dash of suspense to keep readers turning the pages furiously. It's an entertaining sixth visit to this world where the couples have become like family, interacting with witty and playful banter that charmed me and had me wishing I were a part of their fun.
Eden's life before was a sheltered one as the illegitimate daughter of a mob boss. She was kept under lock and key, guarded at all times, her life not her own. It's not until her father's dealings take a turn for the worse that she's finally let out of her cage, on the run from a danger she's unaware of. Ending up in NOLA gives her the chance to finally LIVE as she sets out to fulfill all her dreams. Helping her to live is the sexy, tatted-up bad boy Bishop who's there at every turn to save her from dangers she never knew of before. The more time they spend together the stronger their feelings become and a different future from what they originally saw for themselves soon emerges, as long as they can completely overcome their pasts. Eden's a likable young woman with a kind heart who hates hiding the truth about herself. Her arrival in NOLA is akin to a butterfly emerging with her embracing a variety of experiences. Though she's a bit naive due to her being sheltered her whole life there was something charming about her falling down and getting right back up each time a new experience didn't go as planned. Running into trouble is the perfect reason to keep Bishop close, and as their connection is crackling, I cheer any reason that puts them in close quarters as they're an entertaining couple despite their differences.
Bishop's life didn't go as he planned it to either as money issues and his own arrogance turned things to ashes and left him on the run and riddled with guilt. He never thought to put down roots until he reached NOLA and found a group of friends who've slowly become like family. Meeting Eden has him thinking even more about the future though as something about her calls to him and has him wanting to claim her no matter what she's hiding. Though they appear very different they clearly just click as seen by their scorching erotic encounters and fun and flirty banter that had me rooting for them every step of the way. When it comes to the men in the Beneath series I find Bishop to be a favorite among a very delicious group of men. His look is rugged but he has a heart of gold. He appears cold and indifferent when it comes to the women throwing themselves at him early on, but when around Eden he's protective and fiery when keeping her safe and it's immensely appealing. He's a bearded, muscle-bound giant with a man-bun who had me drooling from the first page to the last!
This was an immensely entertaining story with an appealing main couple. Eden may come from money but when it's taken from her she's not afraid to get her hands dirty to survive. It's an interesting dichotomy to her prim and proper nature that makes her more relatable. Bishop's a broody beast at the start of the story, but being around Eden's sweetness rubs off on him and has him cracking more smiles as their relationship progressed which charmed me completely. It's clear they're a match made in Heaven and their journey, that gets a bit rocky towards the end, is a cheer-inducing one that I enjoyed every step of the way. Along with this combustible main couple comes glimpses of familiar favorites, as well as colorful additions whose stories I hope will soon be told, and together they rounded out a well-structured romance that balanced sexiness with dashes of humor and suspense. On a whole this was a story that captivated me and stood strongly on its own despite being part of a series. Bishop is a delicious hero who every reader will want to claim for themselves and will be a tough act to follow, but I look forward to the challenge for the next hero Ms. March creates!
Eden's life before was a sheltered one as the illegitimate daughter of a mob boss. She was kept under lock and key, guarded at all times, her life not her own. It's not until her father's dealings take a turn for the worse that she's finally let out of her cage, on the run from a danger she's unaware of. Ending up in NOLA gives her the chance to finally LIVE as she sets out to fulfill all her dreams. Helping her to live is the sexy, tatted-up bad boy Bishop who's there at every turn to save her from dangers she never knew of before. The more time they spend together the stronger their feelings become and a different future from what they originally saw for themselves soon emerges, as long as they can completely overcome their pasts. Eden's a likable young woman with a kind heart who hates hiding the truth about herself. Her arrival in NOLA is akin to a butterfly emerging with her embracing a variety of experiences. Though she's a bit naive due to her being sheltered her whole life there was something charming about her falling down and getting right back up each time a new experience didn't go as planned. Running into trouble is the perfect reason to keep Bishop close, and as their connection is crackling, I cheer any reason that puts them in close quarters as they're an entertaining couple despite their differences.
Bishop's life didn't go as he planned it to either as money issues and his own arrogance turned things to ashes and left him on the run and riddled with guilt. He never thought to put down roots until he reached NOLA and found a group of friends who've slowly become like family. Meeting Eden has him thinking even more about the future though as something about her calls to him and has him wanting to claim her no matter what she's hiding. Though they appear very different they clearly just click as seen by their scorching erotic encounters and fun and flirty banter that had me rooting for them every step of the way. When it comes to the men in the Beneath series I find Bishop to be a favorite among a very delicious group of men. His look is rugged but he has a heart of gold. He appears cold and indifferent when it comes to the women throwing themselves at him early on, but when around Eden he's protective and fiery when keeping her safe and it's immensely appealing. He's a bearded, muscle-bound giant with a man-bun who had me drooling from the first page to the last!
This was an immensely entertaining story with an appealing main couple. Eden may come from money but when it's taken from her she's not afraid to get her hands dirty to survive. It's an interesting dichotomy to her prim and proper nature that makes her more relatable. Bishop's a broody beast at the start of the story, but being around Eden's sweetness rubs off on him and has him cracking more smiles as their relationship progressed which charmed me completely. It's clear they're a match made in Heaven and their journey, that gets a bit rocky towards the end, is a cheer-inducing one that I enjoyed every step of the way. Along with this combustible main couple comes glimpses of familiar favorites, as well as colorful additions whose stories I hope will soon be told, and together they rounded out a well-structured romance that balanced sexiness with dashes of humor and suspense. On a whole this was a story that captivated me and stood strongly on its own despite being part of a series. Bishop is a delicious hero who every reader will want to claim for themselves and will be a tough act to follow, but I look forward to the challenge for the next hero Ms. March creates!
My rating for this is an A.
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Meghan March has been known to wear came face paint and tromp around in woods wearing mud-covered books, all while sporting a perfect manicure. She’s also impulsive, easily entertained, and absolutely unapologetic about the fact that she loves to read and write smut. Her past lives include slinging auto parts, selling lingerie, making custom jewelry, and practicing corporate law. Writing books about dirty talking alpha males and the strong, sassy women who bring them to their knees is by far the most fabulous job she’s ever had. She loves hearing from her readers at meghanmarchbooks@gmail.com
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