RUTHLESS (LAWLESS #1)

The first in a sexy contemporary romance series featuring the Lawless siblings—from New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake.

The Lawless siblings are bound by vengeance. Riley, Drew, Brandon, and Mia believe the CEO of StratCast orchestrated their parents’ murder twenty years ago to steal their father’s software program. And there’s only one way Riley can find some solid evidence...

Heir to the StratCast legacy, Ellie Stratton hires a new attorney to handle a delicate business matter—and she’s shocked by her attraction to him. Over the course of a few weeks, Riley becomes her lover, her friend, her everything. But when her life is threatened, Ellie discovers that Riley is more obsessed with settling an old score than in the love she thought they were building. And Riley must choose between a revenge he’s prepared for all his life and the woman he’s sure he can’t live without...

Release Date: August 9, 2016

Lawless series book #1

Berkley Penguin Group

Romantic Suspense/Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by the publisher

Nikki’s Review:

Crack. Lexi Blake books are absolute crack for me! When she announces an upcoming release, it's all I can do to not lose my mind while waiting. So you can imagine my complete and utter glee when I finally get the book in my hands! 

I absolutely loved Riley and Ellie together! Riley quickly falls for her...and falls hard. He has an agenda; she's a means to an end. But that changes with lust filled gazes and the first explosive kiss. These two were combustible!

Riley and his brothers have revenge on the mind. A plan that has been brewing and coming together for years. The three Lawless brothers all have their own scars because of the death of their parents; someone is going to pay for that.

Ellie Stratton is paying for the sins of her father, though she doesn't know it yet. She's a pawn in a web of revenge. 

I wanted to pick a side in this book. I wanted the Lawless brothers to take down the people who destroyed their family. But I found myself liking her very quickly; I didn't want her to be in the middle of this dangerous game. After only a few chapters I believed that Riley was already falling in love with her. He wouldn't hurt her, right? Oy! My emotions were wrung out in this book!

The chemistry between the hero and heroine is blinding. It practically pulses off of the page from the beginning. Lexi Blake writes delicious scorching over the top monkey sex! You should probably keep a hanky handy to sop up the sweat on your forehead!

One of the things that I love most about a Lexi Blake book is the humour. The characters make me laugh out loud at their banter. My favourite parts are often when they're all standing around and talking. It makes them seem real. The flow of the dialogue is seamless and brilliant!

Lexi Blake continually keeps me on my toes. Her stories are always so intricately woven. I'm always guessing who the "bad guy" is, what crazy person is going to come out from some hole. Everything always comes together so beautifully at the end. I'm always like...how the hell did she do that?

This book was an incredible start to a new series. While each couple gets their HEA at the end of their book, the plan to take down the people responsible for the brothers’ misery continues in book two. I can hardly wait for Bran's book! He's sensitive and completely loveable, and he has a temper that gets him in trouble more often than not. Book two can't come fast enough!

Rating 4 Stars (B+)