Author: Skye Jordan
Series: Renegades #3.5
Release Date: November 4, 2014
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!
Grace Ashby doesn't appreciate the sexy SEAL trying to step in and take over. He thinks she’s hit rock bottom by working at a strip club, but she knows differently. She could set him straight, but he’s already rejected her once, and she doesn’t need one more man judging her.
She tells him to butt out of her business and her life. But Josh’s conscience won’t let him walk away this time.
“I’m Stephie.” She tipped her head and looked up at him through thick, black lashes, heavily coated with mascara. “Why don’t you buy me a drink while we get acquainted?”
A heavy, powdery scent wafted off of her, along with her body heat. His nerve endings seemed to spread along the surface of his skin and sing to attention. Which meant, yeah, definitely too little sex in way too long, because she wasn’t his type at all.
“Actually,” he pulled a twenty from his pocket. “I’d appreciate it if you could point out Nicole for me.”
Her eyes lowered to the bill, then returned to his, a sly little smile on her lips. She slipped the twenty from Josh’s fingers with an enthusiastic, “Easiest twenty I’ve made all night.” She turned and pointed toward a shadowed corner where a group of rowdy younger men sat near the stage. A woman stood between two chairs, her back facing Josh. She was leaning forward, her hands braced on the men’s shoulders.
She wore a one-shouldered, skintight black dress that clung to every luscious curve and barely covered her ass. Tanned legs stretched long and lean beneath the hem, made even longer—and sexier—by the sparkling spiked heels she wore. One side of the dress had diamond-shaped cutouts, showing a nice amount of evenly tanned skin all along her body, right down to her hip. The fabric gathered and was held together with clear rhinestones down her side. There was no way she was wearing anything underneath.
Josh didn’t recognize her as Grace. This woman had copper colored hair, falling in curls to the middle of her back. Right color—wrong length. And Grace had always been thin, with a more boyish straight-up-and-down figure. Josh would have noticed curves like those.
Wouldn’t he?
“In the black,” Stephie said. “Nicole. That’s who you’re looking for, right?”
“Don’t think that’s her,” he told Stephie. “But thanks.”
“Can I get you a drink?”
“Yes, please. Jack and Coke. Double would be good.”
“Be right back.”
He took off his blazer, tossed it over the back of the chair and rolled up his sleeves before sitting, his eyes locked on the woman in black, waiting for a glimpse of her face. But his peripheral vision was picking up the brazenly erotic moves on the stage, and combined with the music, the lyrics, and the atmosphere, Josh’s body was definitely responding. His cock had grown thick and the confinement of his slacks added pressure along his length. His heart was beating too fast, his body was too hot, his throat too tight.
I really and truly love this series. Right away I could tell that Rumor was going to affect me the same way the previous books had. To be honest, I didn't really love Josh in Ricochet. However, I've repented and he has absolutely won my heart now! I guess since I didn't get his point of view and story in the previous book I didn't really know him. In Rumor, you will finish having no doubt that Josh Marx is a man among men and one of the best types of guys. Grace, well, she is that woman we all hate because she's just too good. Yet, she takes zero s-it from Josh, or anyone for that matter.
Their story is one of once forbidden love. Said forbidding came from the fact that Grace used to be married to Josh's former SEAL teammate. When an injury forced Josh back into life stateside he gets dragged down into an all work and no play reality until his buddy calls worried about his ex. The same ex that Josh has had a fair few fantasies about long before the divorce papers were signed. When he finds Grace living the less than perfect life he last saw her in warning signs fly up and he's rushing to save the day. But Grace doesn't want to be saved. And definitely not by the man that's she's loved for years without returned feelings, and who went MIA on her a year ago.
You know how I told you Josh was the best of the best? Well he sure let his colors shine after Grace put him in his place. He stopped trying to change her and instead helped her make the best of her situation. And let's not forget that these two can't even be in the same room without combusting. It wasn't too long before their passion won out over his sense of duty to his friend, and her fear that Josh would leave soon.
First off, the subject may be a precarious one for some, but the reasoning and characteristics of those involved really come to light and I had zero issue with Grace and Josh striking up a forever romance. Josh is just amazing. He's such a great, realistic guy with the charisma ladies love. Meanwhile, Grace is hell bent on making it on her own, and she does. She's a tough cookie that inspires. Their banter is flawless. Their sexual escapades are hotter than hades. And their love is just oozing sweetness and passion. This book really struck a chord emotionally as well. I don't want to ruin it, so you'll just have to read it, but let it be known I'll be keeping this on my re-read shelf for a feel-good quickie every once and a while. All in all, a fantastic addition to the Renegades series!
Happy Reading!
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MORE IN THE RENEGADES SERIES
Meet Skye:
And, yes, even love, because while wicked-great sex is good, happily ever after with wicked-great sex is even better. Skye (aka Joan) lives on the central coast of California in the heart of wine country with her husband and two daughters. As often as possible, she retreats to a hotel with critique partners for a power-writing week where much drinking, laughing, and yes, even working, ensues. When she’s not writing, Skye goes to breakfast with her hubby, attends her daughters’ barrel races, and spends a lot of time with her own horse, Riddle…while her two dogs, Paxton and Indie, tag along. She also loves to read, knit, craft, row, ride, and dabble in photography.
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