ARC Review: Bad Boys Do

Bad Boys Do
Victoria Dahl
Contemporary Romance
Donovan Brothers/Book 2
Harlequin/September 27, 2011

From Goodreads ~

Olivia Bishop is no fun. That's what her ex-husband said. And that's what her smart bob and glasses imply. So with her trademark determination, Olivia sets out to remake her life. She's going to spend time with her girlfriends and not throw it all away for some man. But when an outing with her book club leads her to a brewery taproom, the dark-haired beauty realizes that trouble—in the form of sexy Jamie Donovan—may be too tempting to avoid.

Jamie Donovan doesn't mean to be bad. Sure, the wild streak in his wicked green eyes has lured the ladies before. Now it's time to grow up. He's even ready for a serious romance. But how can that be when Olivia, the only right woman he has ever met, already has him pegged as wrong?

The second book in Dahl's newest contemporary series features a sexy as hell, kilt wearing ladies man as our hero. But is he really the irresponsible modern day rake that everyone thinks he is? Not by a long shot. Jamie is getting a chance to tell his story and show his siblings (I'm looking at you Eric) that he is far more than just a sexy man in a kilt.

Olivia Bishop is thirty-five years old. That thought is most prevalent in her mind when she finds herself attracted to Jamie Donovan. Olivia has a hang up about her age when compared to young Jamie's twenty-nine years. Did she dwell on it a little too much? Yep. Did it bug me? Not too much but I don't see six years as a big difference. Olivia is an intelligent, successful woman but her split with an ass of an ex left her doubting her value. So it made sense that she would focus on the age difference as her reason for not getting serious with Jamie. Between that and Jamie's rep, Olivia tried to convince herself that it was just a fling. A very satisfying fling that wouldn't lead to anything serious. I thought Dahl did a good job explaining Olivia's fixation on the age difference and showed how Olivia was able to finally look past the numbers to the man she had fallen in love with.

Jamie Donovan loves women and women love him but it doesn't end with that. Sure he's had his share of physical relationships/one-night-stands/quickies. Whatever you call them, Jamie is ready to move on from those and into something deeper. You can see it in his actions, how he still welcomes, smiles and gives attention to his female customers but there is so much more going on behind that gorgeous smile of his. How he wants to be treated as more than just eye candy, asking his sister to stop with the tweets that encourage the women to fondle, grope and kiss him. When Jamie meets Olivia he knows she is different. I think that difference both scared and intrigued him, he wasn't sure how to treat her. Jamie is smart and he learns quickly, realizing Olivia is someone special.

Olivia and Jamie start their relationship acting on the mutual physical attraction. It becomes more than that for both which has Olivia panicked and Jamie deciding he wants more than just casual. Jamie is truly trying to change his ways and pursue what is important to him which is expanding the family business. Olivia helps him, realizing he has some great ideas. It's Jamie's siblings that need convincing and that's where I felt Jamie totally won me over. The treatment he endured from his siblings Eric (the ass) and Tessa made me feel so bad for Jamie. He's trying to be more responsible and they won't let him. Jamie showed a lot of restraint and maturity with Eric. Eric did reluctantly come around but I think a 2 x 4 would have been more effective (and more satisfying!).

In case you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly fond of Eric. I did like him in the novella Just One Taste, so there is hope. Dahl has her work cut out to turn this ass of a brother into hero material but if anyone can do it, I believe she can.

I loved how Jamie and Olivia get to know each other through late night phone calls. And how Jamie finally opens up about what happened when his parents died. You can't help but feel overwhelming sympathy for him and everything he's been through. It's easy to see that Olivia is good for Jamie but he also has much to give in return. It was good that Dahl didn't give Jamie all the sexual power in the relationship and Olivia all the intellectual power but brought a nice balance of both between the two. There is a whole lot of heat going on between Olivia and Jamie. My goodness can Dahl write the steam. It's classy steam with a taste of naughty thrown in making for some very erotic scenes.

This is a contemporary series that keeps getting better. The relationships between the three Donovan siblings continue to change and progress. Jamie and Olivia, for all their surface differences, have real chemistry that was a pleasure seeing developing into far more than either imagined. Definitely recommend this series!

Rating: A-

Books in this series ~

Just One Taste (prequel novella in The Guy Next Door anthology)
Good Girls Don't
Bad Boys Do
Real Men Will (November 2011/Eric)

Review: Atlantis Betrayed

Atlantis Betrayed
Alyssa Day
Paranormal Romance
Warriors of Poseidon/Book 6
Berkley/September 7, 2010

From the back cover ~

A Warrior's Mission. A Woman's Desire...

What could Christophe, powerful Warrior of Poseidon, have in common with Fiona Campbell, the notorious jewel thief known as the Scarlet Ninja? Answer: The Siren, a legendary Crown Jewel that Fiona has targeted for her next heist. It's said to be worth millions, but to Christophe it's invaluable. For the Siren also happens to be one of the missing jewels from Poseidon's trident.

And The Unnatural Evil That Could Destroy Them Both.

But breaking into the Tower of London is a two-person job, and Christophe and Fiona must team up to commit the crime of the century. As new found passions fire their motive - and cloud their judgement - they realize they aren't the only ones after the priceless gem. A dark force is shadowing their every move and threatening to shatter their trust with revenge, betrayal, and a haunting revelation about the past.

Confession time: I only read this book because I wanted to read Vampire in Atlantis and I have a real hard time skipping books in series. I wasn't expecting to like this, it was more a read it so I could move on to the book that I really wanted to read. Boy was I in for a very pleasant surprise! I loved Christophe and Fiona! So far, they are my favorite couple of this series.

Christophe has a fuck it attitude and a big chip on his shoulder to go with it. He doesn't care about saving humanity but since that's what the warrior are sworn to do, he does it, if with reluctance. I didn't feel like I knew Christophe very well prior to reading Atlantis Betrayed. He seemed to stay in the background. It turns out that's were he likes to be. Christophe has a darkness from his past that colors his views of the world. I like that he's not exactly likable. You can see glimpses of his potential goodness - he just needs someone to unlock it. Then, Fiona comes along.

Lady Fiona is my kind of heroine. She's smart, loving and ballsy when needed but still manages to be a lady when it's called for. She's an interesting mix of proper lady and crusader. She's a thief that gives to the needy, looking out for those who need help. When she runs in to Christophe is friction and fire between these two. They don't waste more than a day before they get busy between the sheets. That surprised me but Fiona and Christophe both justify their quick turn in the sheets with the "it's just sex" and "I needed it really bad" logic. LOL Where have we heard that before? There is a lot of wickedly humorous banter between the two making for some amusing scenes.

There is one scene where Fiona uses her special ability while she and Christophe are getting hot and heavy on a balcony in Atlantis. It's sexy and funny and I'm so glad the author went there. No spoilers so you'll just have to read the book. :)

So the thief and the warrior have the same goal but for different reasons. Fiona wants the sword, containing The Siren to sell, Christophe wants it for Poseidon's Trident. The missing stones of the Trident need to be found before Atlantis can rise again. They're not the only ones after the Siren. The competition is fierce with the the Unseelie Fae and vampires getting involved. The action and romance are well balanced in this story, giving plenty of steam between Fiona and Christophe along with ample amounts of fighting, running and hiding to keep the plot moving.

The two secondary characters introduced in Atlantis Betrayed stood out for me. Fiona has a brother, Declan who is a computer geek extraordinaire with an exuberance for life while still holding onto a bit of innocence. He was such fun to read not only his interactions with Fiona and seeing their close relationship but also the friendship he and Christophe develop. Then there is Hopkins, Fiona's butler. But he is so much more than a butler. He keeps his composure in all and any crisis, offering tea when anyone else would be running for the door. You can see how much Fiona relies on him and how they are as close as father and daughter.

Atlantis Betrayed not only proved a highly entertaining story, it moved the series arc along quite nicely. The other warriors and their mates are still an integral part of the fight so I liked that they still maintain their importance. The vampires continue to escalate their plans to take over but they have to get past the Warriors and their allies. It should be interesting to see how the different fractions come to together to fight their common enemy.

Rating: A-

Books in this series ~

Atlantis Rising
Atlantis Awakening
Wild Hearts in Atlantis (Wild Thing anthology)
Atlantis Unleashed
Atlantis Unmasked
Shifter's Lady (Shifter anthology)
Atlantis Redeemed
Atlantis Betrayed
Vampire in Atlantis
Heart of Atlantis (May 1, 2012)