Dare to Love Tour, With Carly Phillips: Review and Giveaway

Welcome to the Blogging by Liza stop on the Dare to Love tour! My stop includes my review, questions for Carly, and a monster giveaway for the blog tour.

Since finding out his father had another family on the side, Ian Dare swore to be the upstanding, responsible man his cheating parent had never been. When it comes to his relatives, he gives his all but in relationships he offers the bare minimum. But one glimpse of sensual Riley Taylor arouses his dominant and protective instincts and Ian is entranced. He will do anything to possess her … and does. But any future with Riley must include him extending an olive branch to the half-brother who is a constant reminder of the pain he’d rather forget.

Independent and always in control, Riley Taylor makes no apologies for choosing men carefully. Relationships have never been a priority and she believes herself hardened to domineering men – until she meets charismatic Ian Dare. He manages to turn a simple kiss into an all out assault on her senses and when he takes control in the bedroom, she’s stunned to discover she likes it. As their affair heats up, they soon realize they complete each other in ways neither imagined. But Riley’s past is closer than she cares to remember, and her struggles with Ian’s dominance might just cost her everything.

My Thoughts on Dare to Love:

I've been a huge fan of Carly Phillips for years. Pretty sure I read her way before Kelly Ripa featured her on "Reading with Ripa", but I know I haven't missed a single book since that time. When I found out Carly was taking the Indie Author route, I got really excited. Most Indie Authors get to publish more books each year than traditional published authors, so I figured more books each year is a total win for readers. I was lucky enough to get a review copy of Dare to Love early. My first thought as I finished reading: Carly's best book ever!!! My second thought...I need to read this book again right now!

Dare to Love is much sexier than other books from Carly Phillips, which is 100% okay with me! I loved Ian Dare and all his alpha maleness from the moment he appeared on the page. I especially loved that he made no bones about the fact he wanted Riley Taylor from the moment he saw her. The fact that Riley and Ian's half-brother Alex are best friends is a thorn in his side, but Ian wants Riley too much to care what his half-brother really thinks.

Dare to Love is filled with romance, and also off the charts passion. This is by far the hottest book I've read by Carly to date and can only say she more than met my expectations. Carly has always written the Alpha Man character well, but with Ian Dare, she went one step further and he is my new favorite hero of Carly's. The chemistry between Ian and Riley is there from the moment they meet and only grows stronger the longer they are together. I swear their love scenes steamed up the screen on my kindle each time. 

While Ian and Riley are the perfect couple together, both have issues from their past to resolve before everything can really work for them long-term. Riley has had only her step-mom and Alex to rely on for years. Suddenly Ian expects her to depend on him for everything that she needs, be it protection from her past or satisfaction in the bedroom (which Riley has no issue with at all). I love that Riley is just as protective of Ian as he is of her. Of course, this does cause a bit of a riff in their relationship for a while. I have to say I loved that Ian's dad, who he pretty much had cut out of his life after discovering he had a second family, is the one person who could actually get through to Ian. I really didn't want to like his dad, but he won my heart over a bit by helping Ian see what he might miss out on if he didn't get his head out of his butt.

Dare to Love is the first book in the Dare to Love series about the Dare siblings. While we only saw glimpses of some of the siblings, I'm already counting down the days until the next book is released, since it is Alex's book. As much as Alex and Ian dislike each other, they are so much alike; I'm excited to see Alex find his happily ever after.

Questions for Carly Phillips:

What’s the most interesting comment you’ve received about your books?

Answer:

OK this is awful – I was at dinner one night at a table full of people (early in my career) and someone asked if I got aroused while writing.  I kid you not.

Do you still buy print books or do you only buy digital most of the time?

Answer:

I mostly read digital these days.  I’m in love with my iPad mini and I use the Kindle app.  It makes me sad.  I can justify it with the fact that I’m getting older and it’s hard for me to read the small print even in my own books!

I have often been asked, what’s the best part about being a writer? Answer: Writers are blessed with the ability to work from home. The follow up, what’s the worst part about being a writer? Answer: Writers are blessed with the ability to work from home.

Favorite season … Fall. Why else do I live in New York? Although I have a second home in Florida … with age comes the need for warmth!

Favorite ice cream flavor … Vanilla or Coffee ice cream (with hot fudge syrup) – but I LOVE Tasti D’Lite frozen yogurt! Vanilla please!

Family pets … Bailey, a soft-coated Wheaten Terrier girl and Brady a Havanese boy.

Buy links:

Amazon, B&N, iTunes

Giveaway:

First Place:

iPad Mini 16g - $299

Customized CP iPad Mini Case

Signed copies of: Dare to Love, Serendipity, Destiny, Karma, Perfect Fit, Perfect Fling,

Perfect Together (no I don't have it yet), Cross My Heart, Sealed with a Kiss, Seduce Me

Carly Phillips Canvas Tote Bag

Dare to Love Mug

Carly Phillips T-shirt

2nd place:

Carly Phillips Canvas Tote Bag

Dare to Love Mug

Signed Copies: Dare to Love, Perfect Partners, Solitary Man, The Right Choice, Midnight Angel

3rd place:

Carly Phillips Canvas Tote Bag

Signed copies: Dare to Love, Lucky Charm, Lucky Streak, Lucky Break, Brazen

4th place:

Signed copies: Dare to Love, The  Bachelor, The Playboy, The Heartbreaker

5th place:

Signed copies: Dare to Love, Kiss Me If You Can, Love Me If You Dare

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Carly Phillips Bio:

New York Times bestselling author Carly Phillips tossed away her legal briefs and a career as an attorney to become a stay at home mom. Within the year, she turned her love of reading into an obsession with writing. Over 30 published novels later, Carly writes sexy contemporary small town romances, striking a balance between entertainment, humor and the emotion her readers have come to expect and enjoy.

Carly is a New York Times bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, Publisher’s Weekly bestseller and as of 2012, a Romance Writer’s of America RITA Nominee. In 2002, Carly’s novel, The Bachelor, became Kelly Ripa’s “Reading with Ripa” pick on Live with Regis and Kelly, making it the first romance ever chosen on a nationally televised book club.

Carly received her undergraduate degree from Brandeis University and is a graduate of Boston University School of Law (J.D.). To date, Carly has over thirty novels to her credit, all available wherever books are sold.

When not writing or playing online, Carly loves to read, occasionally to knit, and to spend time with her family. She lives in Purchase, New York with her husband, two daughters and her dogs, a soft coated wheaten terrier and a Havanese. Her dogs are prominently featured on her website and Facebook page.

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