Blog Tour: Dare to Love by Carly Philips Review and Giveaway

Dare to Love by Carly Phillips Blog Tour

***Stay tuned at the end of this review for some amazing prizes, including an iPad mini!***

New York Times Bestselling Author Carly Phillips turns up the heat in her newest sexy contemporary romance series, and introduces you to the Dare family… siblings shaped by a father’s secrets and betrayal.

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.

***NEW COVER!!!!

I can’t believe I haven’t read Carly Phillips before. Actually, I think in the past 20 years I must have, I’m just not sure which books. I had high expectations going into this because while I couldn’t place what I had read, I knew her name. After 20 years traditionally published, Carly Phillips has gone Indie. From such an experienced author, I expected a lot, and I’m thrilled to say Carly Phillips delivered.

Ian Dare is the first in the Dare family to get his own book, and I think this series will just get better as it goes along. It’s a large family…if you can call it that. You see, Ian’s father left his family when he was young, to go live with his other family. Yup…all those times he was on a business trip, he had a whole other family. Ian couldn’t help but resent and hate the other kids, they took his father from him. But his sisters have made peace, and they have Ian wrapped around their fingers. So for them, Ian attends his father’s birthday gala. As he is about to leave, the half brother he hates, Alex, comes in, and his plans changed.

“Because of her.“

“Some people had presence; others merely wished they possessed that magic something. In her bold, red dress and fuck-me heels, she owned the room. And he wanted to own her. Petite and curvy, with long, chocolate-brown hair that fell down her back in wild curls, she was the antithesis of every too-thin female he’d dated and kept at arm’s length. But she was with his half brother, which meant he had to steer clear.”

Riley came to the party with her best friend since childhood, Alex Dare, a pro football player. But she felt the hot eyes of Ian watching her all night. When they met over a spilled drink, the sexual pull was immediate, and within minutes they were making out on the patio. But they both knew that consorting with the enemy can only lead to problems, so they part ways.

Until Riley loses her job and accepts a position for the Miami football team that Ian runs.

“I’ve dreamed about the way you might taste. Are you sweet, Riley?” he asked, his voice gruff and sexy.

As much as they try to keep it professional, it wasn’t from day one. Luckily, Riley never reported directly to Ian, and she never would. She is fiercely independent, and because of the way she grew up, plans to stay that way. But Ian is a dominant personality, used to getting his own way. Something Riley responds to, but wishes she didn’t. There was instant chemistry, but I was pleased the love wasn’t instant. It was quick, but they had dinner together every night and seemed to really get to know each other, which was a nice and rare thing to read about. But believe me…the tension was building up, big time.

“I want you Riley. I want to feel myself hard and hot inside you,” he said, nipping her lower lip.

Riley is so torn between loving and hating his dominant nature. She doesn’t like the bossiness outside the bedroom (though it turns her on) but inside the bedroom is a whole different story.

“I expect you to give yourself over to me completely in bed. To do as I say without hesitation or question. I promise you won’t be disappointed”

Uummm….yes please! But Riley is not used to giving up her secrets and control.

“You either trust me or you don’t. You either instinctively come to me first or there is no us. On that, I can’t compromise.”

Dare to Love was a story about love, about compromise, about trust, about family, about finding a happy medium, and it was filled romance and  some very hot and sexy scenes

“She reached out a hesitant hand, placing her palm over his heart. In that instant, he accepted that she owned him.”

Likes:

• They actually got along and talked and got to know each other from the beginning.
• Ian’s dominant, possessive personality. Pure alpha.
• Takes place in South Florida, my home.
• Hot, sexy banter.
• Great, HOT sex scenes, with a little edge.
• A lot of story.
• Well written with no issues following the story line of POV changes.
• A nice epilogue.
• Great set-up for a series. I look forward to Max’s and Olivia’s books.

Dislikes: 

• Third Person.
• A few incidences of coming on command, and too many orgasms…can anyone come THAT much?
• Ends at 91%. I hate the fake out.

Rating: 4 stars 4.75 Heat

I enjoyed this very sexy read very much. I did feel like there was something missing, and I couldn’t put my finger on it. I think what held me back from giving it a higher rating was the third person POV, I never seem to connect as deep as I wish I did. There was a lot of story, and maybe had it been a bit longer, that would have helped a bit  Even so, I very much recommend the book. I think it will be a great start to the series, and I can’t wait for Alex’s book, Dare to Desire.

Purchase Dare to Love by Carly Phillips

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