An athlete in trouble hires a formidable private investigator with fireworks the result in this compelling contemporary romance that will keep readers frantically turning the pages. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Dare to Tempt by Carly Phillips, along with my impressions of it, then add this second installment in the Dare Nation series to your bookshelf too!
He’s a smooth talking jock in trouble.
She’s the solution to his problems.
Love is the last thing they expected to find.
Damon Prescott had it all. Star quarterback. Money. Fame. Now? He’s being accused of taking performance enhancing drugs and banned from the sport and team he loves.
Determined to prove he’s innocent, he hires tough as nails private investigator, Evie Wolfe. She’s able to bring a man to his knees with a glare, yet sensual in ways that take him off guard - and she’s everything Damon didn’t know he needed.
Evie’s used to men dismissing her, especially playboys like Damon Prescott so she’s not buying the sexual lines he’s trying to sell. She’s with him to do a job, nothing more. But you know what they say about the best laid plans?
Sometimes you end up between the sheets with an arrogant football player anyway.
But when the case is over, can Damon convince Evie she’s the only woman for him or will she leave him tied up in love?
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
When it comes to reliable authors Ms. Phillips is always at the top of the list for her consistently satisfying romances and her appealing and realistic characters. With each turn of the page this release is another winner as a fake relationship slowly becomes real while the mystery surrounding a star quarterback is ultimately solved in an all-around HEA.
Damon Prescott's a sexy, star quarterback on the top of his game when this book starts. Things go quickly downhill though the moment he gets a concussion with tests revealing performance enhancing drugs in his system which lead to being suspended from his team who are more like a family to him. It's a crushing blow, one that has him doing whatever's necessary to prove his innocence. Though he's always enjoyed the player lifestyle he quickly commits to a fake relationship with a PI hired to find out the truth and discovers that being close to Evie's the lone bright spot in his life. Damon starts out as a stereotypical player, enjoying the adoration of the female fans through numerous one night stands. He's fun, flirty, as well as a bit arrogant, but seeing him around his family shows a man with a big heart just waiting for someone to love him for him. After a rocky first encounter, Damon and Evie's connection turned combustible and I was rooting for them every step of the way as their pairing was utterly entertaining and made them even more likable as they finally took a chance on love and each other.
Evie Wolfe's a great heroine, self-assured when it comes to her job and protective of both family and friends. She's a smart cookie too with a need to prove herself in what's normally seen as a man's job and I was cheering her on from start to finish as she dealt with the feelings of inadequacy her ex left her with. It was an internal battle she waged with herself over embracing her womanly side while solving the mystery of Damon's dirty test results, a battle that's a timely issue and one that made me like her all the more for standing her ground and being true to herself. Through it all Evie's full of sass, more than capable of giving as good as she gets, and it made for a connection to Damon that was full of sparks. With each turn of the page this couple became more united, stronger in their love, as they solved not only the mystery surrounding Damon but also mysteries surrounding the heart.
Damon and Evie were a delightful pairing, fun and flirty towards each other, with crackling banter and sizzling interludes. Damon was a bit superficial at first, but as the story progressed I saw greater depth to his character. Time spent with family and friends brought out a softer side that endeared him to me while his support of Evie in her job also spoke highly of him. Evie was an appealing heroine with an air of confidence but also vulnerability that kept me rooting for her to get everything she wanted in a romance I was fully invested in. Surrounding this entertaining main couple was an equally appealing cast of secondary characters, family members and friends, some who readers have seen before and some who left a tantalizing impression on me as I wait for more stories to be told. Fans of the theme of fake romances will find much to like about this release, much to like about the characters and their beautiful blend of sexy and sweet, and by The End you'll be left with a smile on your face.
My rating for this is a B+
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller, Carly Phillips gives her readers Alphalicious heroes to swoon for and romance to set your heart on fire. She married her college sweetheart and lives in Purchase, NY along with her three crazy dogs: two wheaten terriers and a mutant Havanese, who are featured on her Facebook and Instagram. The author of 50 romance novels, she has raised two incredible daughters who put up with having a mom as a full time writer. Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa as a romance club pick and was the first romance on a nationally televised bookclub. Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers. Want to keep up with Carly? Sign up for her newsletter and receive TWO FREE books HERE.
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