{Review} Dare to Seduce by Carly Phillips (with Excerpt and Giveaway)
November 18, 2015	Blog Tour, Giveaway, Reviews Leave a comment
We really love the Dare to Love Series by Carly Phillips, so we were thrilled when we were invited to participate in the Blog Tour for Dare to Seduce. This series seriously has it all, and it's one of our favorites. We've got our thoughts about this book to share with you today, but first, here's the 411 on Dare to Seduce:
Dare to Seduce by Carly Phillips
Also by this author: On the Naughty List
Series: Dare to Love #8
Published by Self-Published on November 17, 2015
Character(s): Billionaires, Businessmen/Lawyers/Entrepreneurs
Alpha billionaire businessman, Max Savage has had a thing for Lucy Dare for as long as he can remember but he values his long standing friendship with her brothers too much to cross the line. When Lucy shows up at an engagement party on the arms of another man, Max doesn't like the changes he sees in her and vows to make her his own.
It's now or never. Max can think of one way to convince Lucy she's with the wrong guy. He'll dare to seduce her … no matter what the consequences.
***About Carly Phillips***
Carly Phillips is the N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of over 50 sexy contemporary romance novels featuring hot men, strong women and the emotionally compelling stories her readers have come to expect and love. Carly's career spans over a decade and a half with various New York publishing houses, and she is now an Indie author who runs her own business and loves every exciting minute of her publishing journey. Carly is happily married to her college sweetheart, the mother of two nearly adult daughters and three crazy dogs (two wheaten terriers and one mutant Havanese) who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. Carly loves social media and is always around to interact with her readers.
Find Carly Here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Max Savage glanced across the lush green lawn of Gabriel and Isabelle Dare's Bedford, New York, home, his gaze focused on the sexy brunette he couldn't get out of his head. Lucy Dare, dressed in a conservative pants suit, her luxurious dark hair pulled into a bun, stood beside her date, a Hollywood director who was a douchebag of the first order.
The last time Max had seen Lucy, she'd been her wild and free self. Then she'd hooked up with that guy and she'd changed. And not in a good way. He wanted fun, sexy Lucy back.
"How badly do you want to punch that guy's teeth in?"
Keep Reading the Excerpt for Dare to Seduce
"So badly," Max muttered, then glanced over, realizing the question came from Lucy's brother, Decklan Dare.
Max shook his head and changed his answer, because it would do no good to let his best friend know he was obsessing over the guy's little sister. He'd kept it to himself for years, partially as an excuse to deny what he really wanted, but regardless, this wasn't the right time to bring up the issue.
"Who do you mean?" Max asked.
Decklan rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on. I know you hate that Spielberg wannabe as much as we do."
"Can't say he'd be my first choice for your sister."
"That's rich considering it's your fault she's with him to begin with." Decklan eyed Max with distinct annoyance in his gaze.
"How the hell do you figure that?" Max asked.
Decklan's older brother, Gabe, joined them, and from the look on his face, he'd clearly caught the tail end of the conversation.
"Face it, Savage. We know you have a thing for Lucy," Gabe said.
Just how the brothers had gleaned that bit of knowledge was beyond Max. Nobody had a better poker face than him.
Decklan merely nodded in agreement.
"You didn't take your chance last time she was in town, and now she's with that asshole," Gabe added, angling his head toward where his sister stood with Lucas Kellan.
"Well, fuck." Max wasn't about to deny what had clearly been more obvious than he'd intended.
Both Dare brothers narrowed their gazes on him, waiting for an explanation.
"What? I didn't think you'd approve, and I wasn't about to mess up years' worth of friendship if you didn't." He was sticking to the tried-and-true excuse he'd told himself for years. In reality, Max had his reasons for staying away from
Lucy for so long and for fucking up more than just his life in the process. But they were his, and he wouldn't be sharing them.
"The only way you'd compromise friendships would be if you used or hurt my sister. If your intentions are honorable, I have no issue," said Gabe, the man who'd raised Lucy after their parents died in a car accident.
Max glanced at Decklan. They both knew Max's recent past. He'd married young, lost his wife, Cindy, in a car accident, and had a subsequent lack of serious relationships since. What Decklan didn't know was the guilt Max harbored over the emotions he hadn't been able to give his wife, due to the feelings he'd always had for Lucy. Hell, he'd married Cindy because he didn't have those intense feelings, and everyone had paid a price.
Max shifted uncomfortably and cleared his throat and glanced at Decklan, who, like Gabe, was extremely protective of his sister. "You too? You're okay with this?" he asked.
His best friend shrugged. "Well, you're an asshole but you're our asshole." He slapped Max on the back, his expression sobering. "Look, Cindy died four years ago, and you haven't been with anyone seriously since."
Neither one of them mentioned Max's penchant for sex clubs on the weekends. It had been a way to fill the emptiness inside him, nothing more.
"But Gabe is right," Decklan said. "I see how you look at Lucy. You should do something about it if your intentions are solid."
They finally were. For years Max had denied his need for Lucy and the emotional bond he knew they would share if they took things to the next level. Fear had driven him. Now Max was finally ready to go after the woman he'd always wanted.
"Just don't blow it or we will have an issue," Decklan cheerfully added.
Max didn't need to be told twice. He made his way across the lawn and veered between guests, coming up to where Lucy and her date stood by the bar.
***Our Thoughts***
Kassiah: Max has been in love with his best friend's little sister, Lucy, forever, but he never thought he had a chance with her. He moved on by getting married, but his wife died. This story begins with Max deciding he's ready to take his shot with Lucy–even though she has a boyfriend. It's a predictable story, but it's steamy and a great read.
I really like this series a lot, and while this one isn't my favorite in the series, I liked it I love the sense of family, and if you like Jill Shalvis and Bella Andre, you're going to love this. Max and Lucy have chemistry and history, and you know how I feel about stories involving for the brother's best friend. I love that he calls her Princess and that he's not willing to give up without letting Lucy know exactly how he feels. You can be sure that every book in this series is hot, and this one is no different.
Like I said, I love this series, but this book felt rushed to me. They have great banter and history, and this can definitely be read as a standalone, but I would have liked more to them. The ending was rushed, but I did love their relationship and I was rooting for them to be together. I'm glad there are going to be more books in this series. I loved the relationship that Max had with Lucy's brothers too. They respected each other.
You really can't go wrong with any of the books in the Dare to Love series. With sizzling chemistry, amazingly steamy scenes, and a great family history, Dare to Seduce is a quick, fun read from Carly Phillips.
Kassiah
Co-Founder/Joint Editor-In-Chief at Pretty Sassy Cool
This is my bio. It will be updated whenever Meg writes one for me.
Latest posts by Kassiah (see all)
{Spotlight} The DNA of You and Me by Andrea Rothman - March 26, 2019
{Cover Reveal} Luca by Brenda Rothert - February 20, 2019
Interview with Aidan and Nic from Noble Hops by Layla Reyne - February 15, 2019
By Carly Phillips
{Review} On the Naughty List by Lori Foster, Carly Phillips, Sugar Jamison, and Beth Ciotta
{Review} The Theory of Deviance by Rebecca Grace Allen
{Review} His Contract by Rebecca Grace Allen (with Excerpt and Giveaway)
{Review} Taming the Telomeres by R.N. Shapiro
Interview with Joya Ryan, Author of Tell Me You Need Me (with Review and Excerpt)
Read an {Excerpt} of Target Engaged, with Special Message from Author M.L. Buchman (with Giveaway)
Holiday Hookup {Blitz} featuring Debbie Mason, Jessica Lemmon and Katie Lane (with Giveaway)
{Review} Bedded Bliss by Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott (with Excerpt and Giveaway)
{Review} Stay With Me by Kelly Elliott (with Excerpt)
{Review} Playing the Part by Robin Covington
{Review} Yours All Along by Roni Loren
{Review} Tempting Tristan by Melissa Foster
{Review} Intimate by Kate Douglas
{Review} Fighting to Be Free by Kirsty Moseley
{Review} The Scandalous Mackenzies by Jennifer Ashley
Tags 3.5 stars Carly Phillips Dare to Love Series Rockstar Lit Book Tours
Previous {Waiting On} Dangerous to Know by Dawn Ryder (83)
Next Read an {Excerpt} of Target Engaged, with Special Message from Author M.L. Buchman (with Giveaway)