Book Description:
Wall Street meets the Sons of Anarchy in Damage Control, the smoldering, scorching next novel in the explosively sexy Dirty Money series.
The only thing more dangerous than a dark secret is a damaged heart…
Shane Brandon has been pushed to the brink, torn between his corrupt family and his explosive, all-consuming desire for Emily Stevens, who he now knows is not who, and what, she seems. Has he trusted the wrong person? Will she, not his brother Derek, be the ultimate destruction of his family Empire?
Emily tries to run from Shane, but he will stop her, confront her, force her to reveal all — one hot touch and kiss at a time, under every intimate detail of who this woman is, and what she wants, is exposed. But as he tears away the dangers of the unknowns with the woman in his bed, and in his heart, The Martina Cartel has set their sights on his company, his family, and the one piece of leverage they believe he won’t gamble with: Emily.
Buy Links:
Kobo:
http://bit.ly/DamageControlKobo
Our Review:
Reviewed by Donna ~ 4 stars
***ARC received for an honest review***
“The people closest to you can
hurt you the most.”
Damage Control is the second book in the Dirty Money trilogy
and I seriously cannot wait for book three, Dirty Deeds. Damage Control begins
where Hard Rules left off with Shane and Emily’s relationship up in the air as
the proverbial “who to trust” is constantly batted to and fro. Everyone in this
book has their own agenda, some good and some bad but from what we know so far,
the bad far outweighs the good and this one-man mission seems to look more and
more unlikely.
Shane though is as resilient as they come and the word
“loser” is not one that has any place in his vocabulary, whether it be in a
court room or a board room. Shane’s family is as screwed up as they come with
empire builders aplenty and not one of them seemingly on his side. This may be
the toughest battle Shane has ever had to face and at the end of the day would
blood need to be spilled to win?
Emily is the one constant that Shane has and although their
relationship has been built on secrets and omissions it was only through want
of protecting one and other. In this book though, Lisa Renee Jones opens these
two up warts and all and with nothing standing between them will they be the
formidable duo I think they can be? Emily’s can of worms opens up all the more
problems for them both and now with many enemies, is this one battle too many?
“Aside from the alligator story,
which was adorable, before that you told me exactly what you feel and want. The
only games you play with me are in the bedroom and those I welcome.”
Gah, this was one of those books where I was on the edge of
my seat the whole time. Pleasantly surprised with one particular reveal and
decidedly not with another. This family is seriously, seriously off the charts
dysfunctional, if this is what money breeds why would you want it? When power
and money are the be all and end all, sod the repercussions and the impact that
it would have on family members, people that are your flesh and blood.
“His demons and mind are alive
and well, two poison kisses, which could too easily turn our sweet hello into a
brutal good-bye.”
With Lisa Renee Jones building this plot to its culmination
she has definitely left the reader wanting more. This book was a perfect
balance between the ever-impending threat of the circumstances that these two
find themselves in along with the building of Emily and Shane’s relationship.
Emily is the source of Shane’s strength but she is also his biggest weakness.
Opening himself up to Emily emotionally and physically leaves him wide open to
underhand tactics of his enemies. I can definitely see his Achilles heel being
used as a weapon, even though her fate seems to have saved by the most
unlikeliest of allies. However, nothing is at it seems in this book and I am
just waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under me once again.
“I don’t need you to be my hero.”
“Well, I’m going to be, whether
you like it or not.”
As ever, Lisa Renee Jones delivered a book that was
unputdownable, chock full of suspense and intrigue while perfectly balanced
with romance and chemistry. This was the turning point for Emily and Shane and
now it is them against the rest of them. Is two better than the rest? I need
Dirty Deeds to find out!!
Other Books in Series:
Hard Rules (book one) – available now
Bad Deeds (book three) - 8/8/17
Excerpt:
“You make me remember I need to be good and right in my choices.”
“Do you ever question doing what is good and right?”
“There have been times when I felt like my hand was forced.”
“When you were a lawyer?”
“No,” I say. “I manipulated the law, as does every attorney, but I never broke it. I’m talking about when I’m with my family.”
“Did you go where they lead?”
“Not so far.”
“That sounds like you might.”
“I don’t want to be them.”
“You aren’t them. You don’t have to be them.”
“I know that,” I say. “But you just keep telling me so I don’t forget.” Her legs hit the bed frame and she grips my arms.
I lean into a kiss and she pulls back, her hand pressing on my chest. “Wait. Now it’s my turn to say talk to me. Are you okay?”
“Death happened. The one thing I can’t control. It’s not the night to push me to stop protecting you. Not tonight. Can you do that?”
“Yes. We can.”
“We,” I repeat, “and that word sounds as good on my tongue as I know you’re going to taste. I’m going to make love to you properly. The way I plan to many times in our future.” I reach down and untie her robe, letting it fall open; my fingers sliding underneath just far enough to tease her nipples. They pucker beneath my touch, and her lashes flutter, settling on her cheeks. “But when it’s over, I’m going to fuck you hard and fast again.”
I tug gently on her nipples and she bites her lips. “Look at me,” I order gently.
She opens her eyes, and there is desire in their depths, but there are shadows there too,. I do not think she intends for me to see doubt or uncertainty that wasn’t there before. That I do not like or wish to know ever again. I want it gone. Now. Tomorrow. Forever. I reach up and rip the silk tie from her robe, wrapping it around my hand, before I reach up and caress the robe off her shoulder, letting it tumble to the ground.
“Give me your hands,” I order, but it’s really a question: Does she still trust me?
She studies me for several beats, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly, and I do not know what she sees in mine, but she offers me her hands. I wrap the silk around her wrists then lean in close to her, my cheek against her cheek, my body touching her nowhere else. “Now you’re at my mercy.”
“Yes,” she agrees. “I am.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“Warm.”
My lips curve with the answer that is every bit the combination of sweet sexy honesty I’ve come to expect from her. “I’m going to make you warmer.”
“Promise?”
I go still with that question, which on the surface is innocent, but I wonder if it truly is or if it’s about those shadows in her eyes. “I promise,” I say. “And you know, I never—”
“Make a promise you don’t keep.”
“Exactly,” I say, and her reference to my previous words tells me that I am not the only one on a mission of trust, and I intend to deserve hers.
I bring my hands to just above her shoulders, letting them lightly touch her before beginning a slow caress downward. She makes a soft little sound that has my cock thickening and my blood running hot, but I won’t rush this. My lips follow, tracing a line down one of her arms, then the other. I lean and caress my lips over hers, a feather light touch that teases me, if not her.
I take her hands in mine, pressing them behind her head. “Hold them there, for me, so I can see all of you. Understand?”
“You intend to tease me incessantly,” she says, without so much as a hint of hesitation. “Yes. I understand.”
I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her naked body against me, my free hand on hers above her head, our mouths a breath apart. “I intend to lick every part of you, and then do it again, so yes. If that’s the definition of incessant teasing, then yes. I am going to tease you incessantly.” I close my mouth down on hers, my tongue licking into her mouth, a deep, hungry tasting I force myself to end far too quickly. “That was the beginning. Should I could continue?”
“Yes. Please.”
“Please,” I say. “I like that.”
About the Author:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series. Suzanne Todd on the INSIDE OUT series: Lisa has created a beautiful, complicated, and sensual world that is filled with intrigue and suspense. Sara’s character is strong, flawed, complex, and sexy - a modern girl we all can identify with.
In addition to the success of Lisa's INSIDE OUT series, she has published many successful titles. The TALL, DARK AND DEADLY series and THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN series, both spent several months on a combination of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists. Lisa is presently working on a dark, edgy new series, Dirty Money, for St. Martin's Press.
Prior to publishing Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women's Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.
Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at
www.lisareneejones.com and she is active on Twitter and Facebook daily.
SOCIAL LINKS:
Giveaway:
2 $25 Amazon gift cards, 3 signed copies of Hard Rules and 3 Dirty Money tote bags
