Title: DARE
Series: Brothers of Ink and Steel #1
Author: Allie Juliette Mousseau
Genre: New Adult Romance
Release Date: 12 January 2015
Josh North is UFC’s Light Heavyweight Champion—but he’s about to meet his match.
Sophie Garner is a single mom who’s been raising her daughter on her own, fighting for both of their lives ever since going into hiding to escape her abusive husband.
When Sophie gets offered the job of a lifetime as the exclusive massage therapist for Josh “The Jackhammer” North’s team, it’s difficult to say no to the outrageous salary—and the bet—that Josh proposes. But for Sophie it’s a risk that could cost a lot more than just her heart – if she’s found, it could cost her her life.
Should she dare?
Josh wants to break through Sophie’s fortified walls, but is unwilling to put the jackhammer to his own and reveal his secrets and the side of him few have ever known or seen. To do that, he’ll have to confront the darkness of his past.
Will he dare?
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Foxy Rating = Five stars
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
This is the first in the new series Brothers Of Ink and Steel which is a spin off of the True North series. Here we have Josh North’s story.
I had not read any books by this author so at first I was worried as I had not read the True North series I would be lost not knowing any of this family. I had no need to worry as the author cleverly included the North family into the storyline, so I didn't feel I was lacking in anything of the back story. After reading this fabulous book it did make me head to download the True North series though!
Josh ‘The Jackhammer’ North is a tough firefighter who is also a muscled and tatted MMA UFC champion (swoon!) After a traumatic period in his youth he is continually seeking redemption. He feels he will never be good enough for love but then he meets Sophie, a massage therapist who is brought in to aid his recovery after he is injured rescuing a child from a house fire. He is so instantly besotted with this beautiful and shy woman he offers her a job on his team which she hesitantly accepts but puts in counter clauses to the employment contract which he gladly accepts with a bet tagged on. No monkey business between them unless she makes the first move, then she is his for a night of unbridled passion! Guess what happens and who makes the first move? Well how could she not with this hot alpha piece of lush?!
Sophie is also running from her past - an abusive relationship she escaped from in order to save her life and her daughter, Charlie. She has pulled herself up from the depths of despair in order to make a future with her child. Her past though keeps her scared to have any kind of a relationship with any man but then Josh just puts a chink in that armour from the very first time they met.
The storyline then evolves around both Josh and Sophie letting each other into their lives and gradually revealing their pasts and learning to trust each other. The passion they unleash in each other is just off the charts hot but totally believable, mesmerizing and unmissable! They were both likeable from the start and made me want to invest my time getting to know their depth of character. I loved that they were both flawed and breakable but found an inner strength from being together.
I also adored the secondary characters - from the guys at the gym, the family and his band of brothers at Ink and Steel - well wowzers what was there not to love? It was a smorgasbord of hot men on every page!
There was an element of predictability, especially what happens in the last part of the book and her ex which I don’t think was needed as the storyline was strong enough not to warrant an extra dose of drama. But no matter, I still loved this book from start to finish.
Brilliant characters, fantastic plot and an amazing erotic romance. Looking forward to the rest of the series but in the meantime, I'm off back to catch up with the North brothers! Five stars.
Six weeks until Christmas. I jab Ray, my sparring partner, in the eye. He staggers back a little before he shakes it off. I wonder if I could get Sophie to come with me to the party?I send two fast fists into Ray’s ribcage. In two days we’ll all be flying to Denver for the rest of the week. I’ll be meeting Charlie for the first time. I block Ray’s grasp as he comes in and tries to take me to the floor. I land a kick in his well-padded sternum.I know Denver. Sophie said she’d never been there before. I could set up an impromptu lunch or dinner with her and Charlie … that wouldn’t look like I was hitting on her. Right? Maybe I can even get Sophie to be my—hell, I don’t know what to call it … wingman? Co-pilot? Any term but “date”—for one of the sponsor events. There will be two of them over the weekend.Ray gets around me and attempts a chokehold. I break free and throw him over my shoulder. His back slams against the mat. I hear the breath that’s forced from his lungs.The team always sets me up with one or two women for the photo shoots, then for the promo galas, which usually consist of a benefit auction or fundraising dinner. Sophie might find it fun. If we go as friends, she won’t feel threatened, right? And she could learn more about the ins and outs of that side of the business. Oh, hell yeah! That sounds perfect!Just then Sophie walks by the ring. Her face is freshly scrubbed and free of makeup. She possesses a natural beauty that’s breathtaking. Deep brown chestnut waves of hair cascade over the shoulders of her crisp, white blouse. She glances at me from under her lashes. It’s so subtle, if I wasn’t looking at her precisely at this moment I wouldn’t have noticed.But I do.Her cheeks blush with a surge of pink when our eyes meet.I feel Ray’s legs wrap around mine as I hear his body slam to the mat and sense helplessly that he’s taking me down with him. Shit! Immediately, my hip and shoulder connects with the tough canvas.Sophie keeps walking by, pretending as if she didn’t see anything, but I see the curve of her rose petal lips as they form a smile.
Allie Juliette Mousseau writes sexy, emotionally-charged New Adult and Adult Romance in a variety of genres and temperatures. She also creates captivating YA worlds through the magic of ink.
She can always be found writing, playing in puddles with her children, hiking with her husband, or adventuring somewhere in the world. Her favorite place to write on warm days is outdoors, but when the weather gets too cold, she'll be inside at her desk inspired by the mountain view from her home office in Montana where she lives with her loving husband, children, and golden retriever.
She loves to travel, and lived for three years in her RV with her family while visiting the national parks and forests of the U.S. and a couple Canadian provinces. Allie loves chatting to her readers through email and social media! Come visit her through any of her links below!
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