Review - - Temptation

Temptation
by Inara Scott
Bad Angels - Book 2
Publisher: Entangled:Amara
Release Date: August 26, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
     

As close friends and coworkers, attorney Zoe Riva and tech genius Connor Ashton know they can never get involved.

Never.

Ever.

Until a scooter accident lands Zoe in Connor's arms—and his overnight custody—and she starts to see a man she's never seen before. With her career and her heart on the line, Zoe can't afford to take any chances. But when combustible chemistry takes over, even the smartest people in the room can make the biggest of mistakes…

My thoughts: 

I am having so much fun getting to know the group of friends in Inara Scott's Bad Angels series. I want to hang out at their favorite bar, sip whiskey with Connor and Zoe, pet sit their pups, and get to know all of them better. I don't know how many books Scott has planned for this series but I hope it doesn't end anytime soon! 

I really enjoyed Connor and Zoe. They are confident and accomplished, but also realistically flawed. Both have complicated family backgrounds that have shaped their lives and influenced their actions, both hold their personal histories close to the chest, and neither of them is looking to start a relationship...but fate, and an ill-advised scooter ride, have other ideas. I really liked these two together and was cheering for a happy ending throughout their journey.

Scott slowly reveals each of them to readers as they reveal their true selves to one another, along with a few self-revelations, pulling in other characters along the way but keeping the focus on the leads. Even the scenes with Connor's mother and her (retired scientists), cut-throat, card-playing friends (I adore these women!) help to dig deeper into the characters of both Zoe and Connor while continuing to move the story forward. And, speaking of Connor's mother, I really enjoyed her character arc and the poignant evolution of her relationship with her son. 

The chemistry between Connor and Zoe sizzles, the banter is fast-paced and witty, and their deepening emotional connection had me sighing with satisfaction. The "bro dialogue" among Connor and his business partners is spot-on for guys who've been friends since college and I enjoyed their interactions immensely. I can't wait to see what Scott has in store for these Bad Angels next!

Review - - Heartbreaker

Heartbreaker
by Inara Scott
Bad Angels - Book 1
Publisher: Entangled:Amara
Release Date: February 25, 2019
Reviewed by PJ

Dropped out of high school? Check. Ran away with loser boyfriend at age sixteen? Check. Fell for every line from every guy? Sadly, check. But now, Tess Paplion has started over. Juggling multiple part-time jobs while finishing her college degree, she’s not letting anything get in her way. Especially not a sexy angel investor with “one-night disaster” written all over him.

Mason Coleman just inherited a 200-pound invalid Mastiff—and an intriguing, unusual, and thoroughly infuriating dog nanny who turns his life upside down the moment she steps through his front door. No matter how she makes him feel Mason doesn’t do commitment—so what happens when he falls for her? And worse, what happens when she wants nothing to do with him?


My thoughts:

Heartbreaker was my first contemporary romance by Inara Scott and, already, I'm counting the days until the next one. Fun, flirty, and filled with surprising emotional depths, it grabbed my attention from the get-go and held it throughout.

Tess, in particular, is such an intriguing character with a multitude of layers. With the childhood she endured, it's a wonder she's not more of a mess. I really admired her grit and determination to succeed despite the obstacles of the hands she's been dealt by life but appreciated her vulnerabilities as well. They make her a much more realistic, and complex, character. I also love how she's not swept away by Mason's charm but, instead, holds him to account, challenging him at every turn. I was in her corner the entire way.

I adored Mason. I mean, really, how can I not fall for a guy who, knowing nothing about dogs, takes a 200 pound untrained, misbehaving (but lovable) Mastiff who has to pee practically every hour into his immaculate home to help out his sister? It doesn't hurt that he's also gorgeous, successful, and sexy. But I really love his kindness, how supportive of Tess he is, and the depths of his character that he's only now beginning to acknowledge. He really is a lot more than a pretty face. He captured my heart. Oh, and Tess's too...eventually. But that's going to take a while when you have a guy who is just as relationship-averse as the woman he's slowly falling for. 

There's plenty of humor, sizzle, tenderness, and emotion to find in this story. The chemistry between Tess and Mason is great and the banter is so much fun. But I also enjoyed the tenderness and caring that develops. Scott allows us to really get to know these two characters by slowly growing their friendship before upping the stakes for each of them individually as well as a couple. We're also introduced to an interesting group of friends who I can't wait to discover more about in future books. 

If you're in the mood for a fast-paced, contemporary romance, with plenty of humor and heart, likable characters (both two and four legged), and a satisfying, heart-tugging, happily-ever-after, I enthusiastically recommend Heartbreaker by Inara Scott.