Synopsis
He’ll own her from the very first touch.
Julie Piper and Reed Lawson have nothing in common. She’s a people-pleasing sorority girl hiding behind her perfect mask. He’s a take-no-prisoners SWAT commander who isolates himself from the world. But when they’re forced together at their friends’ posh destination wedding, one thing is clear—Reed wants Julie more than he wants his next breath. Which is why he’s not about to stand by when she’s dared to seduce another man.
Julie wants neat, tidy sex, so she could get back to what she does best—making everybody else happy. She never expected to slip into a dark bedroom and have her mind blown by rough, demanding hands, and a sinfully filthy mouth—neither of which belong to the best man.
One night should have been all Reed needed to get the blond temptress out of his system, but when one taste is nowhere near enough, he’ll be forced confront the effects of his hellish past. One that may push Julie away forever…just when he realizes he can’t live without her.
Grab the rest of the Wedding Dare series!
• Dare to Resist by New York Times bestselling author Laura Kaye
• Falling for the Groomsman by New York Times bestselling author Jen McLaughlin, w/a Diane Alberts
• Seducing the Bridesmaid by New York Times bestselling author Katee Robert
• Best Man with Benefits by USA TODAY bestselling author Samanthe Beck
5 out of 5 stars
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My Review
Since that day I stumbled upon Tessa’s books, I have been hooked. I’ve demolished everything she has written and every time I see an email from her in my inbox, I do a little dance because it means I get to fall in love with new characters and add them to my book boyfriend and girlfriend list. And no joke, but all of her characters are on that list, and pretty damn high up too! So when I realised she was a part of The Wedding Dare continuity, I one-clicked all the books and then she asked me if I wanted an ARC and how the hell could I turn it down? I couldnt, thats the answer.
Tessa always outshines herself with each book. She sets the scene, she develops the characters and you can distinguish their voices perfectly. It helps that she writes freaking sexy-as alpha males who can turn you to goo and strong females who arent afriad to stand up for themselves. This is what I love about her books. That and the fact she knows how to get you hot and bothered as each sex scene is entirely different and gets under your collar. Grab a fan people, seriously.
Baiting The Maid of Honor is the second book in the continuity but really, you can read it as a standalone. It follows Reed, the best man’s childhood friend and Julie, the bride’s Maid of Honor (of course).
Julie and Reed are different on so many ways. Reed is the strong, silent type, keeping to himself and Julie is out-going, she is a people-pleaser and wants to make everyone happy, even if deep-down she isn’t. One dare to get with the best man has her walking to the wrong room. And she knows it.
One night, one mistaken identity in a dark room changes the whole dynamic of Julie and Reed. Reed wants one night to get her out of his system, but is one night enough? Julie wanted ‘boring’ sex but when her sexuality is unleashed, Reed figures out she is not so nice in the bedroom, really, she’s rather naughty. But when things go down, when things get mixed up, can Reed walk away from Julie? Or does he realise she is what he needed all along?
Oh Julie. My heart went out to her. She’s a people-pleaser, wanting everything to run smoothly, needing everything to go to plan. She’s fiery, shes witty and she seems to know what she wants. But underneath her façade is a vulnerable young woman. Someone who is trying to hard to please people that she is losing herself. Losing who she really is because of her past. She can’t see it, but others can.
She really is witty and sarcastic and will bite at Reed but you see another side of her, a side she wants to keep hidden and you do really feel for her when you see little snippets of doubt and her self-confidence slipping. She hides behind a mask and she hates it to slip off. Everything she does, she tries to be her late sister and its taking a toll on her, day by day. You can see it and everyone else can, especially Reed, but she cant. I just wanted to shake her and tell her to cool it down, let everyone else worry for once, but Julie is determined in what she does, which in a way is kind of endearing.
But when around Reed her fire burns, shes feisty but he brings out something in her, something that has been dormant. He brings out this naughty side, a side she wouldnt have ever seen if it was no for him. Shes sexy and experimental and holy shit the things she does, shes like a temptress, no joke. There was one scene that im sure when you read it you will understand by the river 😉 SAY WHAT! I was impressed by her boldness and im sure I fell in love with her like Reed did. I’ll be taking some notes from Julie.
My heart ached for her when she told Reed about her past, about not feeling worthy enough, about why she works herelf silly and when the day of her past came around, I wanted to cry for her. She was doing it all alone but then Reed came along, willing to help her through it and you knew, just knew that one night would never be enough for these two, that they were made for more than one night. Forever. I liked seeing a lighter Julie, one who calmed down, who owned her sexuality and one her loved Reed like no one else. The differences are what brought them together and their story was perfect.
Reed. Hello sexy tattooed dirty talker SWAT commander. That mouth should be made illegal or washed out with soap! Holy crap, he could turn your knickers dripping wet by just a look and you wouldn’t care as long as he did something about it. As mentioned, he is the strong, silent type. He observes and he can call you out on your bullshit. He also has his sights set on southern belle Julie, who really isnt his type but for some reason he wants her – really bad.
He’s a cocky son-of-a-bitch, he runs his mouth and he knows exactly the right things to say – both to rile up Julie and to get her hot and bothered. Hes smarmy but loveable in his own way. And he wants to know Julie, wants in her knickers but he sees past her hard-working front and wants her to let loose, with him.
The more he gets to know her, the more he wants her more than once. This never happens and it has himself second guessing his feelings. He’s never had love in his life, his past isnt the greatest so its all foreign to him. But Julie awakens something inside him and he is certain she will end up in his bed one way or another…you could say he was determined and stalked him prey 😉
Julie was never far from his thoughts, and he was conflicted about his feelings. He didnt have the best childhood and thank god Colton and Brock ‘adopted’ him or who knows what would have happened. I think thats why he’s so closed in, so demanding, controlling, he needs all that due to his past, which is fair enough and the reason he doesnt last longer than a night with a woman. He doesnt want to commit, but there is something about Julie that has him stuck.
I really enjoyed their interactions. They had a push and pull, a ‘I hate you but I want to be near you’ sort of relationship. They bounced off one another and their chemistry was instant. Reed brought out so many emotions from Julie, and he always brought out her sexuality. Let her know that is was fine to be totally naughty and kinky in the bedroom, hell its the best form of sex in my eyes. The sex can most definitely happen to me in real life, and Tessa, as i’ve mentioned in past reviews, knows just how to make you feel hot and bothered, god she makes you want to jump inside the book and be the MC who is getting a right seeing too. The scenes only made their relationship intensify and along with the more emotional, heart tugging scenes, you can see that Julie and Reed are going to last, especially with that epilogue.
You all know my love for Tessa by now, and anything she writes I am there reading it, falling in love with her and her characters. She knows how to write freaking hot alpha males, strong females and a damn great story in between. In my eyes, she can do no wrong with her books and she will be an author who I will follow every single book. Now if only I can get all her books in paperback…..;) one day soon I hope! I need them signed and on my bookshelf!
Z. Elizabeth 