KING’S RANSOM (Kings of Sydney #3) by Jackie Ashenden-a review

KING’S RANSOM (Kings of Sydney #3) by Jackie Ashenden-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release April 1, 2019

“I’m here to kidnap you…”

It’s the sexy invite she’s been looking for!

Billionaire Ajax King will do anything to destroy Sydney’s criminal underworld—even kidnap his enemy’s delectable and oh-so-virginal daughter. Only Imogen White isn’t quite what Ajax expected. She’s determined to earn a deliciously carnal education from Sydney’s sexiest bad boy. And for Ajax, the ends always justify the means… Until this sweet little spitfire steals away with this brooding King’s heart!

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REVIEW:  KING’S RANSOM is the third instalment in Jackie Ashenden’s contemporary, adult KINGS OF SYDNEY erotic, Harlequin DARE romance series focusing on the King siblings. This is eldest brother and billionaire businessman Ajax King, and heiress Imogen White’s story line. KING’S RANSOM can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary.

SOME BACKGROUND: Months earlier, the King brothers took over their father’s real-estate business, a business with ties to the local mob. With their father now in jail for money laundering and fraud, Xander, Leon and Ajax King struggle to clean up a reputation inherited based upon sins of the past.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Ajax and Imogen) KING’S RANSOM follows Ajax King as he executes his plan to take down and destroy William White, one of the last holdouts in the criminal underground world of Sydney, Australia, a world of which his father once controlled. At a local charity event Ajax sets his sights on pampered princess Imogen White, a virginal young woman, believed to be the apple of her father’s eye. What ensues is the kidnapping and ‘imprisonment ‘of Imogen White, and the building romance and relationship between our leading couple.

Imogen White is pleased beyond comprehension that Ajax White is her would-be abductor. Having tried desperately to run from the life her father has imposed, Imogen finds herself looking forward to time spent with Ajax in the hopes of perhaps, something more. To be used as a pawn for her father’s business deals, our heroine is hoping that Ajax King claims her as his own, leaving her father without her once-valued commodity. Ajax King had no idea that Imogen White would be pleased with her current situation. Desperate to use Imogen against her father, Ajax struggles between head and heart where it concerns our story line heroine.

The relationship between Imogen and Ajax is one of immediate attraction but Imogen is now Ajax’s prisoner, a prisoner who finds herself falling for the man in charge. The Sex scenes are intimate, passionate and erotic, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters are limited as the story line focuses on the relationship between our leading couple, and Ajax’s need to destroy William White. We are reintroduced to Ajax’s brothers Leon and Xander; as well as the introduction of Imogen’s father William White.

KING’S RANSOM is a story of family, betrayal, vengeance and love. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is impassioned and seductive; the characters are colorful and energetic-Imogen is a feisty young woman willing to risk everything for her freedom and more.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
King’s Price
King’s Rule

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Make Me Want (Make Me #1) by Katee Robert-a review

MAKE ME WANT (Make me #1) by Katee Robert-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 1, 2018

“I want everything.”

She’s taking control. And it’s driving him wild!

Lucy Baudin’s ex did a number on her self-esteem, but it’s time for her to regain control. In her job as a lawyer she’s bold, confident. But in the bedroom she needs inspiration to reawaken her inner seductress. Asking her friend Gideon Novak for help seems wrong…yet so deliciously right!

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REVIEW: MAKE ME WANT is the first instalment in Katee Robert’s contemporary, adult MAKE ME erotic, romance series, part of DARE, Harlequin’s new imprint focusing on strong women and the men they love. This is corporate head hunter Gideon Novak, and attorney Lucy Baudin’s story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Lucy and Gideon) MAKE ME WANT follows attorney Lucy Baudin as she becomes desperate in her climb to the top. Up for partnership at the legal firm where she works, Lucy suspects that as a strong, independent single woman she may be overlooked for promotion therefore finding a husband is on the top of her list. Enter her former friend and corporate head hunter Gideon Novak, and the man with whom Lucy will fall in love. While Gideon goes in search of prospective husbands, Lucy has a more personal request of her own-lessons in the art of sexual seduction-from the man himself. What ensues is the building friends to lovers relationship, and the potential fall-out when Gideon realizes he is in too deep.

MAKE ME WANT is an erotic, sexy and edgy story about one woman’s desperate attempts to make partner in the firm, and one man’s need to beg forgiveness for sins of the past. Lucy’s last relationship ended when she discovered the man that she loved was having an affair-a man who was best friend’s with our story line hero. Gideon has always loved Lucy Baudin from afar but lost his chance when his best friend Jeff went in for the kill. Hoping to right a wrong from the past Gideon agrees to help Lucy knowing that in the end, he could lose the woman that he loves.

The relationship between Lucy and Gideon is a friends to lovers romance; second chances of a sort for two people lost in a world of betrayal and hurt. As their lessons in sexual seduction grow more spontaneous and romantic, the predictable is about to happen as Gideon forces himself to walk away believing he is not worthy of our heroine’s love. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense.

We are introduced to Gideon’s partner and friend Roman Bassani, and Lucy’s sister Becka Baudin. Roman’s story line is next in Make Me Crave.

MAKE ME WANT is a predictable story line with a foreseeable fall-out for all concerned. The premise is entertaining; the characters engaging; the romance sexy and hot but I have to question why a powerful attorney would stoop to such an arrangement without considering the possibility of falling in love- the believability is problematic.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

reviewed by Sandy

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it ‘a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension.” When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. Connect with Katee at:

Website | Facebook | Twitter| GoodReads | Instagram |

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