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Love Undercover #2
Bare It All
A cop's craving to know more about the woman next door could prove fatal in the steamy new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster
As the person responsible for taking down a brutal human trafficker, Alice Appleton fears retaliation at every turn. No one knows about her past, which is exactly how she prefers it...until the sexy cop next door comes knocking.
Detective Reese Bareden thinks he knows what makes women tick, but his ever-elusive neighbor keeps him guessing like no other. Is his goal to unmask Alice's secrets? Or protect her from a dangerous new threat? One thing is certain: their chemistry is a time bomb waiting to explode. And with no one to trust but each other, Reese and Alice are soon drawn into a deadly maze of corruption, intrigue and desire-and into the line of fire....
As the person responsible for taking down a brutal human trafficker, Alice Appleton fears retaliation at every turn. No one knows about her past, which is exactly how she prefers it...until the sexy cop next door comes knocking.
Detective Reese Bareden thinks he knows what makes women tick, but his ever-elusive neighbor keeps him guessing like no other. Is his goal to unmask Alice's secrets? Or protect her from a dangerous new threat? One thing is certain: their chemistry is a time bomb waiting to explode. And with no one to trust but each other, Reese and Alice are soon drawn into a deadly maze of corruption, intrigue and desire-and into the line of fire....
480 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 19, 2013
426 people are currently reading
3831 people want to read
About the author
Lori Foster
413 books11.7k followersSince first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.
Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.
Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/
Career Highlights
•In 2001, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy.
•In 2002, Lori’s book Too Much Temptation was the top-selling romance title for Amazon books.
•In 2003, Say No To Joe was the second “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for Waldenbooks.
•In 2004, Lori Foster was a clue in the New York Times crossword puzzle.
•In 2004, The Secret Life of Bryan was the “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2005, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Contemporary Romance.
•In 2006, Jude’s Law was the “Bestselling Romantic Comedy” romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2007, Lori launched a new “urban fantasy” series under the name L.L. Foster. See more on her “dark side” at www.llfoster.com.
•In 2007, Causing Havoc was among Amazon’s Top Ten Editor’s picks in Romance.
•In 2008, Hard to Handle made #2 on The New York Times.
•In 2009, Servant: The Acceptance was Amazon’s #1 Editors’ Pick in Romance.
•In 2010, Lori was a clue in the USA Today Quick Cross puzzle.
Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.
Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/
Career Highlights
•In 2001, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy.
•In 2002, Lori’s book Too Much Temptation was the top-selling romance title for Amazon books.
•In 2003, Say No To Joe was the second “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for Waldenbooks.
•In 2004, Lori Foster was a clue in the New York Times crossword puzzle.
•In 2004, The Secret Life of Bryan was the “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2005, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Contemporary Romance.
•In 2006, Jude’s Law was the “Bestselling Romantic Comedy” romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2007, Lori launched a new “urban fantasy” series under the name L.L. Foster. See more on her “dark side” at www.llfoster.com.
•In 2007, Causing Havoc was among Amazon’s Top Ten Editor’s picks in Romance.
•In 2008, Hard to Handle made #2 on The New York Times.
•In 2009, Servant: The Acceptance was Amazon’s #1 Editors’ Pick in Romance.
•In 2010, Lori was a clue in the USA Today Quick Cross puzzle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 538 reviews
May 9, 2013
Reese
I've been a huge fan of Lori Foster for a long time, so it really pains me to do this, but this book just did not work for me.
First let me start with the things I liked:
Reese:
I knew I was going to love his character when I first read about him in Run the Risk, and I was so happy that I turned out to be right. Lori Foster definitely knows how to write a sexy alpha hero, and Reese was no exception. I mean, he's Reese "Bare It All" Bareden for a damn good reason. He's protective, possessive, and oh so sexy.
The steam:
Ms.Foster has definitely not lost her touch here. The woman knows how to write one hell of a love scene.
Unfortunately, that was all that I liked about this book.
So what didn't work for me?
The main heroine, Alice, is really what killed this for me. I could not get a clear understanding of her personality at all. She was so up and down, she was everywhere and nowhere. I got whiplash trying to keep up with the constant changes.
The initial hints we get about her are intriguing
The reality of Alice did not live up to the hints that we get of her. She is supposed to be impeccably capable of reading people, due to this mysterious traumatic event that happened in her past. But when it came to Reese, she was like a lost puppy. She questioned everything he did and said, and was always unsure of what he meant. It just didn't add up.
Then we have the fact that at times she came off as this virginal ingenue. She clearly states to Reese that she is not a virgin, but the way that she acts with him when they are intimate and even other times, is almost childish.
But then all of a sudden, her personality switches to aggressive
Only to go right back to unsure
She also goes from avoiding sexual intimacy like a meek little mouse, to being aggressive and initiating it after doing something stupid and attempting to distract from it.
I also didn't come to understand how a woman that is so concerned about her safety to the point that she has multiple weapons and avoids being "seen" by people, would make the decision that she did halfway through the book.
The we have the fact that at 25, she at times talks like an 80 year old.
What 25 year old uses language like that?
All these things added up began to really grate on me right around the halfway mark.
Add in the fact that the suspense in the story was sorely lacking and somewhat dragged, and my interest just began to wane.
It seems that the suspense more or less follows the same road as the previous books with the Men Who Walk The Edge of Honor, with the human trafficking. I don't mind this type of story, but it is just starting to get a little too repetitive. Take a scenario, chose a different hero and heroine, insert a different villain and then rinse and repeat.
While this book can be read as a stand-alone, somewhat, it does lose something if you haven't read the previous book in the series. I really liked The Men Who Walked The Edge of Honor, but this series is just not looking to be as good for me.
Will I read the next book? Sure, since I really liked the hints we got toward Rowdy and Avery. Will I be as excited about it? Well, probably not.
If you haven't read too many Romantic Suspense books, you might be able to enjoy this story more than I did. I just prefer my books a little more fast-paced than this. Of course if I liked the heroine more, I would have been able to overlook the suspense part. But oh well. Can't please them all.
ARC provided by Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I've been a huge fan of Lori Foster for a long time, so it really pains me to do this, but this book just did not work for me.
First let me start with the things I liked:
Reese:
I knew I was going to love his character when I first read about him in Run the Risk, and I was so happy that I turned out to be right. Lori Foster definitely knows how to write a sexy alpha hero, and Reese was no exception. I mean, he's Reese "Bare It All" Bareden for a damn good reason. He's protective, possessive, and oh so sexy.
The steam:
Ms.Foster has definitely not lost her touch here. The woman knows how to write one hell of a love scene.
Unfortunately, that was all that I liked about this book.
So what didn't work for me?
The main heroine, Alice, is really what killed this for me. I could not get a clear understanding of her personality at all. She was so up and down, she was everywhere and nowhere. I got whiplash trying to keep up with the constant changes.
The initial hints we get about her are intriguing
"There's something about her. It's like she's guarded. Even hurt. Unlike most people, she's too alert, too intuitive, like maybe she's waiting for something to happen."
The reality of Alice did not live up to the hints that we get of her. She is supposed to be impeccably capable of reading people, due to this mysterious traumatic event that happened in her past. But when it came to Reese, she was like a lost puppy. She questioned everything he did and said, and was always unsure of what he meant. It just didn't add up.
Then we have the fact that at times she came off as this virginal ingenue. She clearly states to Reese that she is not a virgin, but the way that she acts with him when they are intimate and even other times, is almost childish.
"I take it you weren't angry?"
"At the girls? NO. They were just curious because of the size rumors."
Suspicious, she narrowed her eyes. "What rumors?"
"Size rumors."
Drawing a blank, she shook her head in incomprehension.
"You know, am I big all over? That sort of thing"
"You've seen my chest before, honey"
She nodded and whispered, "You take my breath away."
"Is that so?"
"Yes." Alice drifted her attention over to him. "It's the same as you seeing me without a shirt."
But then all of a sudden, her personality switches to aggressive
"Enough foreplay. I need you."
Only to go right back to unsure
"If I disappointed you,just say so."
"Disappointed?"
"In how I did-" she gestured "-you know, in bed."
She also goes from avoiding sexual intimacy like a meek little mouse, to being aggressive and initiating it after doing something stupid and attempting to distract from it.
I also didn't come to understand how a woman that is so concerned about her safety to the point that she has multiple weapons and avoids being "seen" by people, would make the decision that she did halfway through the book.
The we have the fact that at 25, she at times talks like an 80 year old.
"That young lady needed my help"
What 25 year old uses language like that?
All these things added up began to really grate on me right around the halfway mark.
Add in the fact that the suspense in the story was sorely lacking and somewhat dragged, and my interest just began to wane.
It seems that the suspense more or less follows the same road as the previous books with the Men Who Walk The Edge of Honor, with the human trafficking. I don't mind this type of story, but it is just starting to get a little too repetitive. Take a scenario, chose a different hero and heroine, insert a different villain and then rinse and repeat.
While this book can be read as a stand-alone, somewhat, it does lose something if you haven't read the previous book in the series. I really liked The Men Who Walked The Edge of Honor, but this series is just not looking to be as good for me.
Will I read the next book? Sure, since I really liked the hints we got toward Rowdy and Avery. Will I be as excited about it? Well, probably not.
If you haven't read too many Romantic Suspense books, you might be able to enjoy this story more than I did. I just prefer my books a little more fast-paced than this. Of course if I liked the heroine more, I would have been able to overlook the suspense part. But oh well. Can't please them all.
ARC provided by Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
March 7, 2020
Reread on: 3.06.20
5 Smexy Stars!!
After reading Run the Risk my expectations were very high and Lori Foster did not disappoint!! I loved Reece, he's right up there with my LF faves Joe Winston Say No To Joe?, Clint Evans Just a Hint - Clint, Noah Harper Too Much Temptation, and Simon "Sublime" Evans Simon Says.
Reece is a smokin' hot alpha and bonus he’s a really good guy. He’s understanding, patient, possessive, and uber protective (as all my favorite LF hero's are). Alice Appleton is a fantastic heroine and I absolutely adored her...I don't remember a lot about her in Trace of Fever but I admired her honestly and backbone. She was tough yet venerable, the way she was totally distracted and was suddenly in a lust filled foggy daze whenever Reece's bare chest was was on display was endearing and had me smiling huge....and naturally Reece caught on and used it to his advantage when trying to get information on her background from her.
I absolutely LOVED Reece and Alice!!!!! Looking forward to Getting Rowdy, I have a feeling Rowdy's going to give Reece some serious competition.
5 Smexy Stars!!
After reading Run the Risk my expectations were very high and Lori Foster did not disappoint!! I loved Reece, he's right up there with my LF faves Joe Winston Say No To Joe?, Clint Evans Just a Hint - Clint, Noah Harper Too Much Temptation, and Simon "Sublime" Evans Simon Says.
Reece is a smokin' hot alpha and bonus he’s a really good guy. He’s understanding, patient, possessive, and uber protective (as all my favorite LF hero's are). Alice Appleton is a fantastic heroine and I absolutely adored her...I don't remember a lot about her in Trace of Fever but I admired her honestly and backbone. She was tough yet venerable, the way she was totally distracted and was suddenly in a lust filled foggy daze whenever Reece's bare chest was was on display was endearing and had me smiling huge....and naturally Reece caught on and used it to his advantage when trying to get information on her background from her.
I absolutely LOVED Reece and Alice!!!!! Looking forward to Getting Rowdy, I have a feeling Rowdy's going to give Reece some serious competition.
July 29, 2016
Oh I seriously cannot wait for this. April is way too far away. I was so intrigued by Alice in Run the Risk and am really looking forward to her story. Love the connection to Trace of Fever!
February 9, 2017
After reading the blurb i expected to really dig this book but it was really weird. Im not sure if it was because i skipped the first book or something but i was really confused. The blurb mentions her bringing down traffickers so i thought that was why she was on the run but that apparently happened immediately preceding this book...so whats her deal? Why does she talk like ancient greek prophetesses who were always hopped up on opium? she talked like a cross between psychic and psychiatrist with someone who seemed to be little better than total stranger...yet im supposed to believe she has this traumatic past and trusts no one? get your story straight. Then theres the hero. he mentions that she mostly gave him the cold shoulder before he got his dog and he didnt even know her last name so i think its safe to assume they didnt have much of a relationship in the last book. Yet in this one he kisses her once then seems to think that means he can mark his territory when he sees another guy in her apt. I mean seriously dude just piss on her leg why dont you its not any less subtle. at the end of the day this was just weirding me out and i couldnt get into it so i quit while i was only a little behind'
DNF
Update: welp this just goes to show you should always check goodreads before starting a book. I started this and it seemed so familiar but i figured id just read the first chapter somewhere. I did finish it thistime but I didn't like it any better. I liked the plot idea but the execution was miserable. Alice was so freaking needy. I understood it given the circumstances but it was super annoying as a person and romantic lead. Reese on the other hand was so obnoxiously "perfect" for most of the book. It was just unrealistic. He was understanding, and slow moving, and good at everything. He refused to trust the heroine though while demanding her trust. This book was very clearly a sequel which I did not realize and that resulted in a lot of confusion while, for example I tried to piece together why Alice was letting Rowdy, a total stranger into her apt, when hshe's supposedly so scared of everything. The narrative was way too much tell. Like the author just put so much unnecessary stuff in there. The blurb is also deceptive as Alice in no way fears anything as the human trafficking ring she brought down is dead. Definitely not one i'd recommend
DNF
Update: welp this just goes to show you should always check goodreads before starting a book. I started this and it seemed so familiar but i figured id just read the first chapter somewhere. I did finish it thistime but I didn't like it any better. I liked the plot idea but the execution was miserable. Alice was so freaking needy. I understood it given the circumstances but it was super annoying as a person and romantic lead. Reese on the other hand was so obnoxiously "perfect" for most of the book. It was just unrealistic. He was understanding, and slow moving, and good at everything. He refused to trust the heroine though while demanding her trust. This book was very clearly a sequel which I did not realize and that resulted in a lot of confusion while, for example I tried to piece together why Alice was letting Rowdy, a total stranger into her apt, when hshe's supposedly so scared of everything. The narrative was way too much tell. Like the author just put so much unnecessary stuff in there. The blurb is also deceptive as Alice in no way fears anything as the human trafficking ring she brought down is dead. Definitely not one i'd recommend
April 30, 2013
Alice Appleton took down a brutal human trafficker and now lives in fear of retaliation. She keeps her past from everyone, but that becomes particularly difficult when her next door neighbor, Detective Reese Bareden takes a personal interest in her and her past. Alice and Reese have chemistry to spare. The difficult part will be finding time to explore it while involved in a deadly game of intrigue...or, maybe not.
Reading a new Lori Foster book can give me such a sense of comfort and the feeling that all is right in my world. Lori maintains a sort of old-school writing and storytelling style that TOTALLY works for her and which I (and MANY others) find thoroughly charming! BARE IT ALL is *classic* Lori Foster, and I enjoyed it much more than the first book in this series!!
The story itself was exciting, entertaining and fun. It kept me reading, and it also kept me guessing what was going to happen next. Just an FYI, I did figure it out a few times. But, really, even that couldn't dampen my enthusiasm of a new Lori Foster book.
The characters in this story were a lot of fun. Alice is so...odd and quirky. Of course, she has reason to be. It was amusing to watch her with Reese, Pepper and Logan, but especially with Rowdy. The relationship and interaction those two had made me smile, laugh and kept me completely entertained. I almost enjoyed them together more than I did Alice and Reese...*almost*. Reese is such a big teddy bear of a man. Macho, protective, alpha with just a smidge of enlightened male mixed in. Again, classic Lori Foster. I'm not gonna lie, though. The dog was probably my favorite ;-)
If you're a lover of Lori Foster books, you'll want to add this one to your collection. If you're anything like me, I can't wait for Rowdy's story!
**ARC courtesy of Harlequin Books via NetGalley**
Reading a new Lori Foster book can give me such a sense of comfort and the feeling that all is right in my world. Lori maintains a sort of old-school writing and storytelling style that TOTALLY works for her and which I (and MANY others) find thoroughly charming! BARE IT ALL is *classic* Lori Foster, and I enjoyed it much more than the first book in this series!!
The story itself was exciting, entertaining and fun. It kept me reading, and it also kept me guessing what was going to happen next. Just an FYI, I did figure it out a few times. But, really, even that couldn't dampen my enthusiasm of a new Lori Foster book.
The characters in this story were a lot of fun. Alice is so...odd and quirky. Of course, she has reason to be. It was amusing to watch her with Reese, Pepper and Logan, but especially with Rowdy. The relationship and interaction those two had made me smile, laugh and kept me completely entertained. I almost enjoyed them together more than I did Alice and Reese...*almost*. Reese is such a big teddy bear of a man. Macho, protective, alpha with just a smidge of enlightened male mixed in. Again, classic Lori Foster. I'm not gonna lie, though. The dog was probably my favorite ;-)
If you're a lover of Lori Foster books, you'll want to add this one to your collection. If you're anything like me, I can't wait for Rowdy's story!
**ARC courtesy of Harlequin Books via NetGalley**
June 17, 2017
Bare It All es el segundo de los cuatro libros que componen la saga Love Undercover escrita por la autora Lori Foster y narra la historia de Reese y Alice, personajes secundarios en el libro anterior.
Apenas hace dos dias que termine el primer libro y ya devore esta segunda parte pero es que estas novelas son tan adictivas, interesantes y con un desarrollo tan bueno que me es imposible resistirme a ellas, esta continuacion me gusto un poco menos que su antecesora, en parte porque no hay tanta accion como en la historia de Logan y Pepper pero aun asi fue una lectura muuy agradable, lo unico malo es que voy a tener que esperar a septiembre para poder leer la historia de Rowdy * suspira *
Bare It All tiene una trama atrapante y agil de leer, la autora sabe combinar de una forma magistral las dos tematicas ( romance y suspence ), ademas me encanto que de alguna forma " unio " esta novela con otra de sus series ( de la cual soy fan ).
En fin, una muy buena continuacion para esta saga, de la cual estare esperando los dos siguientes libros.
3.5 Estrellas!
April 8, 2018
В сравнение с първата, втората се оказа много по-добра с доста екшън. Рийз се оказа също толкова хубав образ като Логан (в първата част не му бях обърнала много внимание). А Алис си беше скрита лимонка. Въпреки всичко, което е преживяла в миналото, тя не се държеше като жертва, а напротив беше много борбена и целеустремена, знаеше какво прави и не се остави на страха да я спре. Трафикът на хора и наркотиците си е доста сериозна тема и беше добре замислен и заформен сюжета. Кучето Пари беше едно приятно допълнение. И другият момент, който ми допадна е, че имаше страшно забавни диалози, на някои от тях с глас съм се хилила. Абе хареса ми.
March 10, 2018
2 ⭐️
No sé si es que estoy saturada de estas historias o qué...pero no me ha gustado mucho. Me ha aburrido bastante y todo lo interesante ocurría al final del libro. Es lo único que me ha gustado, el final y ya.
No sé si es que estoy saturada de estas historias o qué...pero no me ha gustado mucho. Me ha aburrido bastante y todo lo interesante ocurría al final del libro. Es lo único que me ha gustado, el final y ya.
May 2, 2013
One of my favorite genres is romantic suspense and Lori Foster’s new series Love Undercover delivers all the elements I love; suspense, swoon-worthy heroes, humor and enough heat to leave me sizzling. We first met the characters from Bare It All in book one Run the Risk, and while they each can be read as a standalone I recommend reading them in order to fully appreciate all of the characters and an overall arc thread.
The tale picks up the morning after Run the Risk ends and we find Detective Reese Bareden sleeping on his neighbor's sofa. His quiet, sexy, elusive neighbor surprised the heck out of him last night with her quick thinking and gun toting attitude and he is determined to find out more about her. He’s not the only one who realizes she is hiding something. Reese is drawn to her on so many levels and as secrets are revealed and the plot unfolds things quickly heat up.
Reese is a smexy, noble cop through and through and I loved getting to know him. The more he uncovers about Alice the more he is in awe of this complicated, flawed and damaged woman. Alice has been the victim and has taken steps to ensure that never happens again; this includes creating a wall around herself. Reese keeps chipping away and she soon finds she wants to let him in. The chemistry between them is sweet, hot, and at times hilarious. Alice’s reaction to Reese’s tone body made me giggle as Reese kept saying, “Eyes up here doll.” It felt genuine and the fact that they had a mutual respect for each other in book one made the relationship click for me despite the rushed pace at which it unfolded. We see Logan, Pepper, police sergeant Marge and Logan’s brother again. They all helped propel the plot and added to the character connections. We also see Marge in a more feminine light and hints are dropped about a relationship. I am hoping we get her story soon. Rowdy is back as he too realizes Alice may need protecting. I loved the interaction between him and Reese. Rowdy has always lived in the grey area between the law and criminal world and watching him begin to trust the boys in blue was fun. While he is still a ladies’ man, his interesting and actions regarding Avery have me anxious for more page time with him. The villains are ruthless and kept the suspense and action in high gear.
The romance between Reese and Alice took center stage in this tale and the other threads kept me spellbound. A complicated, ruthless drug lord, corrupt police and a vigilante kept things interesting. I love how Foster gets us up-close and personal with the characters giving us a strong sense of who they are and what drives them enabling me to form attachments. While there are several threads, each one is well developed and kept me enthralled as she skillfully wove them together towards the climatic ending. There is an overall arc and connection between the characters in each book I love that each contains a romance and complete storyline. The next tale focuses on Rowdy and I cannot wait for its release.
ARC provided in exchange for unbiased review
Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
The tale picks up the morning after Run the Risk ends and we find Detective Reese Bareden sleeping on his neighbor's sofa. His quiet, sexy, elusive neighbor surprised the heck out of him last night with her quick thinking and gun toting attitude and he is determined to find out more about her. He’s not the only one who realizes she is hiding something. Reese is drawn to her on so many levels and as secrets are revealed and the plot unfolds things quickly heat up.
Reese is a smexy, noble cop through and through and I loved getting to know him. The more he uncovers about Alice the more he is in awe of this complicated, flawed and damaged woman. Alice has been the victim and has taken steps to ensure that never happens again; this includes creating a wall around herself. Reese keeps chipping away and she soon finds she wants to let him in. The chemistry between them is sweet, hot, and at times hilarious. Alice’s reaction to Reese’s tone body made me giggle as Reese kept saying, “Eyes up here doll.” It felt genuine and the fact that they had a mutual respect for each other in book one made the relationship click for me despite the rushed pace at which it unfolded. We see Logan, Pepper, police sergeant Marge and Logan’s brother again. They all helped propel the plot and added to the character connections. We also see Marge in a more feminine light and hints are dropped about a relationship. I am hoping we get her story soon. Rowdy is back as he too realizes Alice may need protecting. I loved the interaction between him and Reese. Rowdy has always lived in the grey area between the law and criminal world and watching him begin to trust the boys in blue was fun. While he is still a ladies’ man, his interesting and actions regarding Avery have me anxious for more page time with him. The villains are ruthless and kept the suspense and action in high gear.
The romance between Reese and Alice took center stage in this tale and the other threads kept me spellbound. A complicated, ruthless drug lord, corrupt police and a vigilante kept things interesting. I love how Foster gets us up-close and personal with the characters giving us a strong sense of who they are and what drives them enabling me to form attachments. While there are several threads, each one is well developed and kept me enthralled as she skillfully wove them together towards the climatic ending. There is an overall arc and connection between the characters in each book I love that each contains a romance and complete storyline. The next tale focuses on Rowdy and I cannot wait for its release.
ARC provided in exchange for unbiased review
Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
November 24, 2020
#RetoRita4 #RitaFoster
Me ha pasado igual que con la anterior de la serie, mucho macho alfa y poca acción, aún así, resulta entretenido porque los personajes están muy bien delineados.
Esta historia, como comenté en la reseña del primer libro de la serie, parece la continuación de la anterior. El inicio de la novela es el punto exacto en el que terminó la otra. La ambientación, la misma; los protagonistas, los mismos, solo cambian los malos y una aparición estelar de un nuevo macho alfa que es visto y no visto (bueno, por algo lo llaman el Espectro).
La trama gira, o al menos lo intenta, en torno al tema de la trata de mujeres como cebos para la compra de drogas. Y digo, "lo intenta", porque solo recibimos unas pinceladas sobre el asunto. Tampoco puedo decir que el punto fuerte sea la historia de amor, porque la relación de los protagonistas se basa más en la atracción física, o a eso le da importancia la autora. Lo concerniente al suspense se desarrolla con lentitud, sin demasiados datos y con una resolución demasiado rápida.
El punto fuerte de la autora son, sin duda, los personajes con carisma, muy bien dibujados en el aspecto físico y también en el emocional (más ellos que ellas). Reese es detective, un metro noventa de detective guapo y musculoso, y todo un caballero. Su curiosidad masculina se ha centrado en su vecina Alice, porque la joven (de aspecto normalito, y aquí se repite el esquema de la primera novela) no se lo come con los ojos, como suele sucederle, y eso le llama la atención. A causa de un incidente en su casa, Reese tiene que compartir apartamento con Alice, y ahí comienza su camino de seducción y de descubrir los secretos que encierra esa mujer, porque su instinto le dice que hay algo más tras su aspecto modosito. El trato con ella y el roce de la vida diaria, más el descubrimiento de sus secretos, hace que se vaya enamorando de ella.
Alice es un personaje que no me ha resultado tan atractivo, quizás porque tiende mucho a menospreciarse a sí misma, ya que se siente culpable por algo que hizo, pero, sobre todo, porque parece que el único interés que tiene en Reese es por su aspecto físico; solo piensa en su torso, en sus muslos, en su trasero, etc., y al final cansa un poco esa actitud. Por otro lado, la frialdad con la que actúa a veces, no me gustó. Luego, es verdad, conociendo su pasado vas comprendiendo muchas cosas, y llegas a ver la dulzura que posee.
La autora escribe bien, y es una pena que desperdicie los personajes y la historia para centrarse en el aspecto físico de la relación. Si quitamos todas las páginas que dedica a ello, nos quedaríamos con una historia muy muy corta. Tampoco aprovechas esas escenas para revelar los sentimientos de los protagonistas, pues estos acaban comprendiendo la profundidad de su amor casi al mismo tiempo que derrotan a los malos.
En general, las tres historias (incluyo el tercero de la serie, que ya lo he leído y del que no pienso hacer reseña porque sería más de lo mismo) cuenta con hombres atractivos, con un punto machista, protectores en exceso y muy físicos y sensuales. Y con mujeres con problemas, que quieren solucionarlos solas pero terminan cediendo ante el proteccionismo de ellos, y que se dejan seducir con facilidad porque se derriten con una sola mirada (quizás se salva solo la teniente Peterson, del cuarto libro de la serie). Son novelas que entretienen y que luego se olvidan con facilidad.
Me ha pasado igual que con la anterior de la serie, mucho macho alfa y poca acción, aún así, resulta entretenido porque los personajes están muy bien delineados.
Esta historia, como comenté en la reseña del primer libro de la serie, parece la continuación de la anterior. El inicio de la novela es el punto exacto en el que terminó la otra. La ambientación, la misma; los protagonistas, los mismos, solo cambian los malos y una aparición estelar de un nuevo macho alfa que es visto y no visto (bueno, por algo lo llaman el Espectro).
La trama gira, o al menos lo intenta, en torno al tema de la trata de mujeres como cebos para la compra de drogas. Y digo, "lo intenta", porque solo recibimos unas pinceladas sobre el asunto. Tampoco puedo decir que el punto fuerte sea la historia de amor, porque la relación de los protagonistas se basa más en la atracción física, o a eso le da importancia la autora. Lo concerniente al suspense se desarrolla con lentitud, sin demasiados datos y con una resolución demasiado rápida.
El punto fuerte de la autora son, sin duda, los personajes con carisma, muy bien dibujados en el aspecto físico y también en el emocional (más ellos que ellas). Reese es detective, un metro noventa de detective guapo y musculoso, y todo un caballero. Su curiosidad masculina se ha centrado en su vecina Alice, porque la joven (de aspecto normalito, y aquí se repite el esquema de la primera novela) no se lo come con los ojos, como suele sucederle, y eso le llama la atención. A causa de un incidente en su casa, Reese tiene que compartir apartamento con Alice, y ahí comienza su camino de seducción y de descubrir los secretos que encierra esa mujer, porque su instinto le dice que hay algo más tras su aspecto modosito. El trato con ella y el roce de la vida diaria, más el descubrimiento de sus secretos, hace que se vaya enamorando de ella.
Alice es un personaje que no me ha resultado tan atractivo, quizás porque tiende mucho a menospreciarse a sí misma, ya que se siente culpable por algo que hizo, pero, sobre todo, porque parece que el único interés que tiene en Reese es por su aspecto físico; solo piensa en su torso, en sus muslos, en su trasero, etc., y al final cansa un poco esa actitud. Por otro lado, la frialdad con la que actúa a veces, no me gustó. Luego, es verdad, conociendo su pasado vas comprendiendo muchas cosas, y llegas a ver la dulzura que posee.
La autora escribe bien, y es una pena que desperdicie los personajes y la historia para centrarse en el aspecto físico de la relación. Si quitamos todas las páginas que dedica a ello, nos quedaríamos con una historia muy muy corta. Tampoco aprovechas esas escenas para revelar los sentimientos de los protagonistas, pues estos acaban comprendiendo la profundidad de su amor casi al mismo tiempo que derrotan a los malos.
En general, las tres historias (incluyo el tercero de la serie, que ya lo he leído y del que no pienso hacer reseña porque sería más de lo mismo) cuenta con hombres atractivos, con un punto machista, protectores en exceso y muy físicos y sensuales. Y con mujeres con problemas, que quieren solucionarlos solas pero terminan cediendo ante el proteccionismo de ellos, y que se dejan seducir con facilidad porque se derriten con una sola mirada (quizás se salva solo la teniente Peterson, del cuarto libro de la serie). Son novelas que entretienen y que luego se olvidan con facilidad.
June 6, 2013
The set up
This story picks up the next day after the end of the previous book where Alice Appleton, Reese Bareden’s mousy next door neighbor, saved his life, along with his partner Logan Risk and his boss, Lieutenant Margaret Peterson. Reese’s apartment is now a crime scene and he has no choice (yeah, right) but to sack out on Alice’s couch. As strange as Alice behaves, Reese is drawn to her physically and emotionally, even though it is obvious that she is hiding from something or someone.
What worked well
Reese is 6 and ½ feet of blond, green-eyed brawny male and makes no bones about what he wants from Alice and can’t help but feel protective of her. She is also very much attracted to him but something from her past experience is holding her back, but not for too long. Throughout the story, you could feel that something was brewing and knew Alice’s past would inevitably crash around them and converge with Rowdy Yates’ plans to enter into a risky business venture involving people connected to her past (Rowdy is Logan’s soon to be brother-in-law).
What fell short
While this is an interesting story, it followed the same pattern as the last book. The first half is a lot of back and forth between Alice and Reese as the suspense is supposed to build. But, it plods instead at too slow a pace. The last half of the book is much more exciting and I wish it hadn’t taken so long to get there.
I also found Alice’s character to just be bizarre, one moment a frightened and withdrawn young woman and the next an aggressive tiger. I got whiplash trying to keep up and figure her out. In the end, I just gave up.
The bottom line
There’s plenty of steam and ultimately lots of action. I really like these characters, even odd Alice, the dynamics between them and the romance. I plan to read the next book when it’s released and recommend this one but can’t round my 3.5 stars to a 4 because the suspense aspect just didn’t meet my expectations.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley)
This story picks up the next day after the end of the previous book where Alice Appleton, Reese Bareden’s mousy next door neighbor, saved his life, along with his partner Logan Risk and his boss, Lieutenant Margaret Peterson. Reese’s apartment is now a crime scene and he has no choice (yeah, right) but to sack out on Alice’s couch. As strange as Alice behaves, Reese is drawn to her physically and emotionally, even though it is obvious that she is hiding from something or someone.
What worked well
Reese is 6 and ½ feet of blond, green-eyed brawny male and makes no bones about what he wants from Alice and can’t help but feel protective of her. She is also very much attracted to him but something from her past experience is holding her back, but not for too long. Throughout the story, you could feel that something was brewing and knew Alice’s past would inevitably crash around them and converge with Rowdy Yates’ plans to enter into a risky business venture involving people connected to her past (Rowdy is Logan’s soon to be brother-in-law).
What fell short
While this is an interesting story, it followed the same pattern as the last book. The first half is a lot of back and forth between Alice and Reese as the suspense is supposed to build. But, it plods instead at too slow a pace. The last half of the book is much more exciting and I wish it hadn’t taken so long to get there.
I also found Alice’s character to just be bizarre, one moment a frightened and withdrawn young woman and the next an aggressive tiger. I got whiplash trying to keep up and figure her out. In the end, I just gave up.
The bottom line
There’s plenty of steam and ultimately lots of action. I really like these characters, even odd Alice, the dynamics between them and the romance. I plan to read the next book when it’s released and recommend this one but can’t round my 3.5 stars to a 4 because the suspense aspect just didn’t meet my expectations.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley)
January 9, 2020
2 stars. And that's on a good day.
How has this book got four-star rating is beyond me.
Very weak plot, characters are as cliché as you can get them.
Story development is too slow, and, to be honest, there's not much of a story, and even less development.
Dialogues are very poorly written.
No, not a good read.
How has this book got four-star rating is beyond me.
Very weak plot, characters are as cliché as you can get them.
Story development is too slow, and, to be honest, there's not much of a story, and even less development.
Dialogues are very poorly written.
No, not a good read.
May 7, 2013
Slick‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
4.5 Stars
Once again I’m blown away by another Lori Foster story, this is the second book in her newest series, Love Undercover, but she has a crossover from her last series, Men Who Walk The Edge of Honor. Our heroine, Alice, appears and plays a very important role in Trace of Fever but, we also get to “see” Trace again and when you add him to the already hunky cast of the Love Undercover series….let’s just say the hotness factor goes up even higher! However, if you haven’t read the other series you can absolutely enjoy this book as a standalone.
Alice and Reese started a friendship in book one of this series, Run The Risk. It was a little strange and very one sided but none the less, it was there. I can’t even begin to explain how much I like and admire Alice. She’s survived a horrible ordeal, she’s tried to maintain a somewhat normal lifestyle, she’s refused to continue to be a victim, and she is not afraid to help other women she thinks might be in trouble. She is extremely outspoken and somewhat lacking in social skills which leads to some pretty hilarious conversations. I found myself totally enthralled with Reese; he’s a “by the book” police detective but in this story he proves he can see shades of gray. I love how he fell so hard and fast for Alice (even though it took him awhile to admit it). Every day he showed her the respect and gave her the sense of peace and security she needed. While he felt the need to take care of Alice, he didn’t smother her and he also realized she’s pretty damn capable of taking care of herself. Alice proved time and time again how good she was for Reese, always giving him a soft place to land and giving him advice and understanding. I absolutely loved these two characters together and what they shared both in and out of the bedroom.
One of the things I always love about Lori’s series is that the secondary characters play such a big role in her stories. This book is no different, Reese’s partner Logan and his fiancée, Pepper (from book one) are quite present and Pepper’s brother, Rowdy, play an extremely important role. Besides having a huge role in breaking a case wide open, Rowdy serves as a confidant/sounding board for Alice. Their scenes together will have you laughing mainly due to Rowdy being very uncomfortable by Alice’s questions. While most people might think her questions are inappropriate, I applaud her for trying to see things from man’s point of view. We also see a very different side to Reese and Logan’s boss, Lieutenant Margaret Peterson and Logan’s brother, Dash, stops in again as well.
As much as I enjoyed book one in this series, I think Bare It All was even better for a number of reasons. One, we know the characters a little better and so immediately it’s easier to jump into the story. Two, you can’t help but love Alice. After everything she’s been through, she’s survived and come out stronger. I simply can’t thank Lori Foster enough for writing such strong female characters. Third, watching Reese and Trace basically having a pissing match over Alice made my day. Sorry if that sounds crude or sexist but come on…who wouldn’t want these two guys trying to figure out who can protect her better? Fourth is Rowdy, from the first book I enjoyed his character now I flat out love him. He’s rude, crude, and basically socially unacceptable but underneath it all you know there’s a really great guy screaming to get out. With any luck, we’ll get to see that happen in the next book. Lori Foster’s Love Undercover series started off strong but Bare It All proves that it has staying power. An intriguing plot line, smart and witty dialog and unforgettable characters make this book one of my favorites of 2013!
Review copy provided for an honest review.
4.5 Stars
Once again I’m blown away by another Lori Foster story, this is the second book in her newest series, Love Undercover, but she has a crossover from her last series, Men Who Walk The Edge of Honor. Our heroine, Alice, appears and plays a very important role in Trace of Fever but, we also get to “see” Trace again and when you add him to the already hunky cast of the Love Undercover series….let’s just say the hotness factor goes up even higher! However, if you haven’t read the other series you can absolutely enjoy this book as a standalone.
Alice and Reese started a friendship in book one of this series, Run The Risk. It was a little strange and very one sided but none the less, it was there. I can’t even begin to explain how much I like and admire Alice. She’s survived a horrible ordeal, she’s tried to maintain a somewhat normal lifestyle, she’s refused to continue to be a victim, and she is not afraid to help other women she thinks might be in trouble. She is extremely outspoken and somewhat lacking in social skills which leads to some pretty hilarious conversations. I found myself totally enthralled with Reese; he’s a “by the book” police detective but in this story he proves he can see shades of gray. I love how he fell so hard and fast for Alice (even though it took him awhile to admit it). Every day he showed her the respect and gave her the sense of peace and security she needed. While he felt the need to take care of Alice, he didn’t smother her and he also realized she’s pretty damn capable of taking care of herself. Alice proved time and time again how good she was for Reese, always giving him a soft place to land and giving him advice and understanding. I absolutely loved these two characters together and what they shared both in and out of the bedroom.
One of the things I always love about Lori’s series is that the secondary characters play such a big role in her stories. This book is no different, Reese’s partner Logan and his fiancée, Pepper (from book one) are quite present and Pepper’s brother, Rowdy, play an extremely important role. Besides having a huge role in breaking a case wide open, Rowdy serves as a confidant/sounding board for Alice. Their scenes together will have you laughing mainly due to Rowdy being very uncomfortable by Alice’s questions. While most people might think her questions are inappropriate, I applaud her for trying to see things from man’s point of view. We also see a very different side to Reese and Logan’s boss, Lieutenant Margaret Peterson and Logan’s brother, Dash, stops in again as well.
As much as I enjoyed book one in this series, I think Bare It All was even better for a number of reasons. One, we know the characters a little better and so immediately it’s easier to jump into the story. Two, you can’t help but love Alice. After everything she’s been through, she’s survived and come out stronger. I simply can’t thank Lori Foster enough for writing such strong female characters. Third, watching Reese and Trace basically having a pissing match over Alice made my day. Sorry if that sounds crude or sexist but come on…who wouldn’t want these two guys trying to figure out who can protect her better? Fourth is Rowdy, from the first book I enjoyed his character now I flat out love him. He’s rude, crude, and basically socially unacceptable but underneath it all you know there’s a really great guy screaming to get out. With any luck, we’ll get to see that happen in the next book. Lori Foster’s Love Undercover series started off strong but Bare It All proves that it has staying power. An intriguing plot line, smart and witty dialog and unforgettable characters make this book one of my favorites of 2013!
Review copy provided for an honest review.
May 29, 2013
I must say that I loved Lori Foster's Edge of Honor series and I love this series too since it's similar. :D
I just knew that Alice will get Reese since the first time he met her! It was inevitable as the tide! :D
I loved Alice! LOVE her!!!
She's the perfect mix between ingenuity and perfectly trained specia-ops agent! She's not a ninja or a martial art expert, but she's so observant and insightful! I loved the mix!
Sometimes she doesn't get a clue, but sometimes she just surprise everybody with something so insightful that's incredible!
No wonder Reese fell for her!
She's straitlaced because she's hiding herself , but she's unhibited when Reese is in question. I laughed often because Reese coudn't keep with her sometimes surprising statements! LOL
Reese is a HOT, a really big guy, serious and honest to falt! He knows from the start that Alice is the woman for him. He relentless and he does everything to get her. But at the same time he's clueless how to do it. He's so out of water here that it's really funny. I loved him!
Both are into each other from the start and they are dancing around each other because neither know what to do.
When they come together, and it deosn't take long, it's really spectacular. And HOT!!!
But even if both acknowledge their sexual chamistry neither is sure about the others feelings.
In al this there's a very real danger that brings more problems.
But, I'll not tell you anything more than: go and read this really fantastic book! :D
I'm anxiously waiting for the next book - it's about Alice's brother Rowdy. Mmmmm... I want to see him fall - it should be spectacular! LOL
I just knew that Alice will get Reese since the first time he met her! It was inevitable as the tide! :D
I loved Alice! LOVE her!!!
She's the perfect mix between ingenuity and perfectly trained specia-ops agent! She's not a ninja or a martial art expert, but she's so observant and insightful! I loved the mix!
Sometimes she doesn't get a clue, but sometimes she just surprise everybody with something so insightful that's incredible!
No wonder Reese fell for her!
She's straitlaced because she's hiding herself , but she's unhibited when Reese is in question. I laughed often because Reese coudn't keep with her sometimes surprising statements! LOL
Reese is a HOT, a really big guy, serious and honest to falt! He knows from the start that Alice is the woman for him. He relentless and he does everything to get her. But at the same time he's clueless how to do it. He's so out of water here that it's really funny. I loved him!
Both are into each other from the start and they are dancing around each other because neither know what to do.
When they come together, and it deosn't take long, it's really spectacular. And HOT!!!
But even if both acknowledge their sexual chamistry neither is sure about the others feelings.
In al this there's a very real danger that brings more problems.
But, I'll not tell you anything more than: go and read this really fantastic book! :D
I'm anxiously waiting for the next book - it's about Alice's brother Rowdy. Mmmmm... I want to see him fall - it should be spectacular! LOL
April 20, 2013
Lori Foster is again hanging up there as one of my all time favorites with Bare It All. Finally, Reese and Alice’s story! Seems as if I have been waiting forever, but it was worth the wait. Alice is hiding a secret, but Reese is not only willing to wait for the secret, but he is willing to wait for Alice to give him her heart. She already gave it to his dog Cash, but for Alice, that was much easier. You see, Alice worked for a monster and she is set on paying a penance for her sins…..a penance that just may cost her life, and she isn’t about to let another person die because of her…..especially Reese! Now I will impatiently wait for Rowdy’s and Dash’s story!
May 3, 2024
4.5 stars
This was the second in a series and I enjoyed it more than the first. Maybe I related better to the characters? I think I might need to reread the first book because I was feeling a little lost but now that I know what happens...
It picks up immediately after the first ends. This was about Alice and Reese. Alice had her emotional walls up but she's finding it difficult to do around Reese. And Reese is fascinated by Alice, the more he learns about her, the more he wants to know. His puppy Cash is crazy about her too, and aren't dogs supposed to be an excellent judge of characters?
This is a fast paced, suspense novel with characters from the first book making a reappearance - which I love when that happens. There is also some romance, so a win win in my opinion.
This was the second in a series and I enjoyed it more than the first. Maybe I related better to the characters? I think I might need to reread the first book because I was feeling a little lost but now that I know what happens...
It picks up immediately after the first ends. This was about Alice and Reese. Alice had her emotional walls up but she's finding it difficult to do around Reese. And Reese is fascinated by Alice, the more he learns about her, the more he wants to know. His puppy Cash is crazy about her too, and aren't dogs supposed to be an excellent judge of characters?
This is a fast paced, suspense novel with characters from the first book making a reappearance - which I love when that happens. There is also some romance, so a win win in my opinion.
May 12, 2013
First reviewed here: http://smexybooks.com/2013/05/review-...
Favorite quote: “I’ll fill you up, Alice. And I swear you’ll enjoy it.”
I loved this book! I wasn’t supposed to have read it because it took me out of the order I was reading in, in an effort to stay on top of my review books; but once I started it, I could not put it down. It’s usually like that when I read a Lori Foster book and I just had to continue because I would never have been able to concentrate on anything else!
We met Detective Reese Bareden and his neighbor Alice Appleton in book one, Run The Risk. Reese rescues a stray dog, brings it home and then realizes that it’s still young and really shouldn’t be left home alone during the day. He’d seen Alice in his building, thought she worked from home, so he approaches her to see if she’d be willing to dog sit during Reese’s long days at the office. Alice agrees. She doesn’t say much to Reese, keeps the conversation “dog” related. Reese, however, is really intrigued by Alice. He thinks she is beautiful but knows she doesn’t think so. He can tell by how she dresses and carries herself. Alice, however, shows no interest in Reese, only Cash, Reese’s dog.
When the case Reese and his partner Logan are working on comes to a head at Reese’s apartment and Alice’s quick thinking helps them nab the bad guys, Reese finds himself needing a place to stay while his apartment is still a crime scene. When Alice offers Reese her couch, he takes her up on it thinking that it to be step one in his plan to get to know Alice a little better.
Bare It All picks up right where Run the Risk leaves off. Reese is getting a little too comfortable in Alice’s apartment and is not at all in a hurry to move back into his place. While things are being investigated, both Logan and Reese are on mandatory leave. As they spend more time together, Reese realizes that there is much more to Alice than meets the eye. When he learns the truth about her past, it certainly helps him to understand her more, but it doesn’t change how he feels about her at all. He’s beginning to think his feelings are not all one sided either if those looks she gives him when he’s shirtless are any indication.
When Alice is out one day and sees a young woman in trouble she doesn’t think about consequences, she just acts. In doing so she unknowingly starts a chain of events that put not only her, but those around her in danger. It’ll take some tricks and schemes to get them all out of this one unscathed.
This story grabbed me and didn’t let me go. It’s everything I look for in a romance and while not labeled “suspense” there is some of that in here as it pertains to the case Reese and Logan are working on. But the character who stole the show for me in here was Alice. It’s impossible to describe her totally without giving too much away, but suffice it to say that she’s scarred from her past and has trouble trusting people. If that weren’t enough, she carries a lot of guilt for what happened, even though it really and truly was not her fault. She did what she had to do to survive; but she lives with that every day of her life. It’s caused her to be a bit of an introvert and she’s even cut ties with her family. Alice is super intelligent and though she’s extremely careful with people she immediately senses that Reese is someone she can trust. And he’s gorgeous and sexy and she loves to just look at him.
Alice, personality-wise, is not your usual heroine. She’s a bit odd, quirky, and perhaps because of what she’s been through, she tends toward being too honest-usually just speaking off the top of her head without embarrassment of any kind. I found her a fresh and endearing change to the usual heroine. Strong, intelligent and extremely capable while at the same time, just a bit vulnerable; Alice’s utter lack of artifice made her a stand out character to me.
The introduction of the case that Alice inadvertently lends herself to brings just a little bit of mystery and suspense to this story. It allows the author to continue the human trafficking storyline while adding the twist of drug trafficking to it. At the same time, she provides a nice set up for the next story by highlighting Rowdy Yates, our next hero.
Ultimately, what I really loved about this story was the focus on Reese and Alice and their budding relationship. They get a lot of page time, talking and getting to know each other and we see a lot of character growth in Alice. We see her break out of her self-imposed solitary lifestyle and develop friendships, gaining additional confidence in herself as a woman. Reese is patient and single minded in the fact that Alice is the one for him and that comes through strongly as well. I loved how these two are always honest and upfront, voicing their thoughts and bringing everything out into the open.
From start to finish, just the right amount of everything I look for in a book!
Favorite quote: “I’ll fill you up, Alice. And I swear you’ll enjoy it.”
I loved this book! I wasn’t supposed to have read it because it took me out of the order I was reading in, in an effort to stay on top of my review books; but once I started it, I could not put it down. It’s usually like that when I read a Lori Foster book and I just had to continue because I would never have been able to concentrate on anything else!
We met Detective Reese Bareden and his neighbor Alice Appleton in book one, Run The Risk. Reese rescues a stray dog, brings it home and then realizes that it’s still young and really shouldn’t be left home alone during the day. He’d seen Alice in his building, thought she worked from home, so he approaches her to see if she’d be willing to dog sit during Reese’s long days at the office. Alice agrees. She doesn’t say much to Reese, keeps the conversation “dog” related. Reese, however, is really intrigued by Alice. He thinks she is beautiful but knows she doesn’t think so. He can tell by how she dresses and carries herself. Alice, however, shows no interest in Reese, only Cash, Reese’s dog.
When the case Reese and his partner Logan are working on comes to a head at Reese’s apartment and Alice’s quick thinking helps them nab the bad guys, Reese finds himself needing a place to stay while his apartment is still a crime scene. When Alice offers Reese her couch, he takes her up on it thinking that it to be step one in his plan to get to know Alice a little better.
Bare It All picks up right where Run the Risk leaves off. Reese is getting a little too comfortable in Alice’s apartment and is not at all in a hurry to move back into his place. While things are being investigated, both Logan and Reese are on mandatory leave. As they spend more time together, Reese realizes that there is much more to Alice than meets the eye. When he learns the truth about her past, it certainly helps him to understand her more, but it doesn’t change how he feels about her at all. He’s beginning to think his feelings are not all one sided either if those looks she gives him when he’s shirtless are any indication.
When Alice is out one day and sees a young woman in trouble she doesn’t think about consequences, she just acts. In doing so she unknowingly starts a chain of events that put not only her, but those around her in danger. It’ll take some tricks and schemes to get them all out of this one unscathed.
This story grabbed me and didn’t let me go. It’s everything I look for in a romance and while not labeled “suspense” there is some of that in here as it pertains to the case Reese and Logan are working on. But the character who stole the show for me in here was Alice. It’s impossible to describe her totally without giving too much away, but suffice it to say that she’s scarred from her past and has trouble trusting people. If that weren’t enough, she carries a lot of guilt for what happened, even though it really and truly was not her fault. She did what she had to do to survive; but she lives with that every day of her life. It’s caused her to be a bit of an introvert and she’s even cut ties with her family. Alice is super intelligent and though she’s extremely careful with people she immediately senses that Reese is someone she can trust. And he’s gorgeous and sexy and she loves to just look at him.
Alice, personality-wise, is not your usual heroine. She’s a bit odd, quirky, and perhaps because of what she’s been through, she tends toward being too honest-usually just speaking off the top of her head without embarrassment of any kind. I found her a fresh and endearing change to the usual heroine. Strong, intelligent and extremely capable while at the same time, just a bit vulnerable; Alice’s utter lack of artifice made her a stand out character to me.
The introduction of the case that Alice inadvertently lends herself to brings just a little bit of mystery and suspense to this story. It allows the author to continue the human trafficking storyline while adding the twist of drug trafficking to it. At the same time, she provides a nice set up for the next story by highlighting Rowdy Yates, our next hero.
Ultimately, what I really loved about this story was the focus on Reese and Alice and their budding relationship. They get a lot of page time, talking and getting to know each other and we see a lot of character growth in Alice. We see her break out of her self-imposed solitary lifestyle and develop friendships, gaining additional confidence in herself as a woman. Reese is patient and single minded in the fact that Alice is the one for him and that comes through strongly as well. I loved how these two are always honest and upfront, voicing their thoughts and bringing everything out into the open.
From start to finish, just the right amount of everything I look for in a book!
May 14, 2013
Alice in her attempt to keep everyone at bay and every threat people may pose unconsciously draws Detective Reese Bareden’s attention. Resse is used to women throwing themselves to him; he’s used to their admiration so it doesn’t surprise him that Alice’s eyes practically devour his body every time they meet. What surprises him though is the fact that beside looking Alice makes no attempt to seduce him, and that in itself is more seductive he ever thought possible. Add to that her personality, quiet, prim and proper and with an unnatural intuition and you have a Reese taking the bait along with the hook all the way down. He wants her and he’ll do everything to get her.
But Alice has a past that is hidden behind too many secrets. The Detective in him can’t rest till he finds out, and it turns that when he does thing get even more complicated, because his feelings for Alice are getting stronger and his need to protect her overwhelms him.
But bad guys out there do not wait for Reese to sort his emotions out and while he’s in the middle of a roller-coaster of feelings for Alice, she gets tangled, yet again, in a horrible situation between drug Lords and innocent women, and it seem like every scum of the underground is coming to get her.
While a nice idea the book didn’t enthrall me at all. The stereotypes seemed to be throwing a party in this book. Every part of it was yet another unbearable cliché. We have bad guys being described as big and mean, and that simply doesn’t work into my head. Our main character was big, drop-dead-gorgeous and intimidating. All other male characters in the book were also big although none surpassed Reese. The women were all of them small and tinny and delicate looking. Even the lieutenant was small, though her work clothes hid her femininity. Apparently a woman is not feminine in a suit. Oh, my feministic side is reeling. The way women and men are described in this book, and their actions, rubbed me so wrong I couldn’t even focus on the read most of the times.
Moving on, Alice was a contradiction being prim and proper and seeking safety in one moment, and stubborn, self-confident and able to take care of herself in the other. With Reese being the possessive caveman that had no qualms snooping, prying and slaking her from the very start of their relationship and Alice seeing all that as cute and signs of care and justifying it was alright because hey Reese was a detective and apparently detectives snoop behind your back and can order you around even when you’re not officially dating, I disliked the book and nothing in it could make me see it in a positive way.
Even the action plot was irritating. I will not go and account all the holes and things gone wrong, I’ll simply state that the whole police work and bad guys was a bad replica of the most unbearable tv-shows when the bad guy is always dumb and the good guys always overcome tricky situations unscathed, because they are so damn perfect. Just a heads up though, when you punch someone on the face hard enough to bake their nose and jaw, you are bound to have swollen knuckles no matter how “strong” you are. Bone hits bone equals pain, not a stroll in the park. Anyway. That is the least of what was wrong with that plot.
The only amenable thing there, were some of the intimate scenes. Not all of them but some were quite hot and let’s say endearing. However they didn’t make up for the rest of the book and didn’t really help in getting me along with it. The damsel in distress scenario where the huge, gorgeous knight comes to save her doesn’t do it for me.
Thommie
But Alice has a past that is hidden behind too many secrets. The Detective in him can’t rest till he finds out, and it turns that when he does thing get even more complicated, because his feelings for Alice are getting stronger and his need to protect her overwhelms him.
But bad guys out there do not wait for Reese to sort his emotions out and while he’s in the middle of a roller-coaster of feelings for Alice, she gets tangled, yet again, in a horrible situation between drug Lords and innocent women, and it seem like every scum of the underground is coming to get her.
While a nice idea the book didn’t enthrall me at all. The stereotypes seemed to be throwing a party in this book. Every part of it was yet another unbearable cliché. We have bad guys being described as big and mean, and that simply doesn’t work into my head. Our main character was big, drop-dead-gorgeous and intimidating. All other male characters in the book were also big although none surpassed Reese. The women were all of them small and tinny and delicate looking. Even the lieutenant was small, though her work clothes hid her femininity. Apparently a woman is not feminine in a suit. Oh, my feministic side is reeling. The way women and men are described in this book, and their actions, rubbed me so wrong I couldn’t even focus on the read most of the times.
Moving on, Alice was a contradiction being prim and proper and seeking safety in one moment, and stubborn, self-confident and able to take care of herself in the other. With Reese being the possessive caveman that had no qualms snooping, prying and slaking her from the very start of their relationship and Alice seeing all that as cute and signs of care and justifying it was alright because hey Reese was a detective and apparently detectives snoop behind your back and can order you around even when you’re not officially dating, I disliked the book and nothing in it could make me see it in a positive way.
Even the action plot was irritating. I will not go and account all the holes and things gone wrong, I’ll simply state that the whole police work and bad guys was a bad replica of the most unbearable tv-shows when the bad guy is always dumb and the good guys always overcome tricky situations unscathed, because they are so damn perfect. Just a heads up though, when you punch someone on the face hard enough to bake their nose and jaw, you are bound to have swollen knuckles no matter how “strong” you are. Bone hits bone equals pain, not a stroll in the park. Anyway. That is the least of what was wrong with that plot.
The only amenable thing there, were some of the intimate scenes. Not all of them but some were quite hot and let’s say endearing. However they didn’t make up for the rest of the book and didn’t really help in getting me along with it. The damsel in distress scenario where the huge, gorgeous knight comes to save her doesn’t do it for me.
Thommie
October 28, 2015
To quote my review of Run the Risk: ‘you gotta love a girl that has a gun to loan you hidden in her closet and another in her bedroom for protection! Yup, Reece is going to have some seriously interesting things to work out with his little neighbor lady! In Bare it All, Reese Bareden is Logan Riske’s friend and also a
detective, who hooks up with a familiar female character (Alice from
Trace of Fever) from the previous series to fight against injustice’
I love Lori Foster…her Visitation Series was one of my favorites.
What I have always loved about her writing is that the characters seem to jump off the page and take flesh. That would be my mine critique with this book. I just did not feel like Alice jumped out at me. In fact, for the whole book, I didn’t particularly care if Alice was kidnapped again. Reese on the other hand, I loved him in Run the Risk and I totally enjoyed him in this book. Alice was more of letch than an lusty lover. She stared at Reese like he was roast beef and she had been a Vegan for decades! I genuinely felt let down by Alice…mind you the love scenes were awesome (mostly because Reese is so smoking hot and really, really good at it!).
The plot was interesting and kept moving, but the appearance of Karia on page 149 caught my attention…however, I was confused when DeeDee and Michelle showed up at the end of the book and DeeDee is described as having the same tattoo in the same location as Karia. What happened toKaria? She was not mentioned at the end as one of the women released from the drug dealers…is she in Rowdy’s book? Sadly, Rowdy and Avery seem to be a lock, so Karia will likely not get Rowdy. On the good side, Rowdy is up next and he was by far the best character in this book(with the exception of our wraith…who uses that word?).
While I enjoyed this installment, it wasn’t my favorite. I can’t wait to get my hands on Rowdy though…I have been waiting on that big man for a while! Enjoy!
My review has been now posted on a new blog attributed to the old blog co-owner who started a new blog...all that drama just means more people are hopefully finding some awesome books!
My review is finally up!!!
Check it out!
http://www.nocturnereads.com/2013/04/...
detective, who hooks up with a familiar female character (Alice from
Trace of Fever) from the previous series to fight against injustice’
I love Lori Foster…her Visitation Series was one of my favorites.
What I have always loved about her writing is that the characters seem to jump off the page and take flesh. That would be my mine critique with this book. I just did not feel like Alice jumped out at me. In fact, for the whole book, I didn’t particularly care if Alice was kidnapped again. Reese on the other hand, I loved him in Run the Risk and I totally enjoyed him in this book. Alice was more of letch than an lusty lover. She stared at Reese like he was roast beef and she had been a Vegan for decades! I genuinely felt let down by Alice…mind you the love scenes were awesome (mostly because Reese is so smoking hot and really, really good at it!).
The plot was interesting and kept moving, but the appearance of Karia on page 149 caught my attention…however, I was confused when DeeDee and Michelle showed up at the end of the book and DeeDee is described as having the same tattoo in the same location as Karia. What happened toKaria? She was not mentioned at the end as one of the women released from the drug dealers…is she in Rowdy’s book? Sadly, Rowdy and Avery seem to be a lock, so Karia will likely not get Rowdy. On the good side, Rowdy is up next and he was by far the best character in this book(with the exception of our wraith…who uses that word?).
While I enjoyed this installment, it wasn’t my favorite. I can’t wait to get my hands on Rowdy though…I have been waiting on that big man for a while! Enjoy!
My review has been now posted on a new blog attributed to the old blog co-owner who started a new blog...all that drama just means more people are hopefully finding some awesome books!
My review is finally up!!!
Check it out!
http://www.nocturnereads.com/2013/04/...
January 26, 2014
It took me a bit to get into this narrator, but once I was immersed in the story it was amazing. I love the story itself from the get-go. Foster somehow made this novel simultaneously cute & sexy, racy & suspenseful.
Foster brings another heartbreakingly brilliant alpha male to the forefront with this tale. t was almost comical at times watching him fight against his desires. I appreciate how multifaceted each character in this novel is, be they main characters or supporting cast. No one is one sided. I also loved seeing them all come together.
Overall? I felt like I was watching a crossover episode of my favourite shows. It was brilliant and I can’t wait to reread it in print. It’s one of those stories that stays with you.
Foster brings another heartbreakingly brilliant alpha male to the forefront with this tale. t was almost comical at times watching him fight against his desires. I appreciate how multifaceted each character in this novel is, be they main characters or supporting cast. No one is one sided. I also loved seeing them all come together.
Overall? I felt like I was watching a crossover episode of my favourite shows. It was brilliant and I can’t wait to reread it in print. It’s one of those stories that stays with you.
Read
April 1, 2013What has happened to Lori Foster? I used to glom her books like crazy but with this one I got to page 200 and had to DNF because it was like someone else had written it. The writing is robotic and the dialogue is very stilted, specifically from the heroine who makes no sense to me. By page 200 nothing much was going on and it lacks any substance for me to continue reading.
Such a disappointment and I couldn't stick with it to even get to the first love scene.
Such a disappointment and I couldn't stick with it to even get to the first love scene.
September 25, 2014
I enjoyed this story. I really liked the characters in this book. It had all the elements that I am looking for in a book, suspense, humor, action and romance!
"You've seen my chest before, honey"
She nodded and whispered, "You take my breath away."
"Is that so?"
"Yes." Alice drifted her attention over to him. "It's the same as you seeing me without a shirt."
"You've seen my chest before, honey"
She nodded and whispered, "You take my breath away."
"Is that so?"
"Yes." Alice drifted her attention over to him. "It's the same as you seeing me without a shirt."
March 31, 2021
Откъм сюжет първата книга повече ми допадна, романтичната и криминалната история. Но откъм герои тази книга ми хареса повече. Рийз още от "Да поемеш риска" се превърна в мой любимец, както и Рауди като нямам търпение да прочета и неговата история! Алис и Рийз бяха много сладка двойка. Хареса ми как станаха едно семейство и как тя постепенно му се довери, сподели му тайните си и накрая заживяха щастливо. След всичко, което й се беше случило, заслужаваше нейния рицар на бял кон да се появи. Алис беше многопластов персонаж за мен. Дръзка, свенлива, грижовна, криеща мрачни тайни от миналото си и с всяка страница се виждаше все повече и повече от характера й. Признавам беше ми малко странна в началото, но по един симпатичен начин.
Имаше и много комични ситуации, на които съм се смяла с глас. Рауди е голям шемет, но не само той, Логан, Рийз и Даш също си имат тяхното чувство за хумор.
Кучето на Рийз беше много сладко и направо ме разтапяше като почваше да се умилква на двамата главни герои.
Влюбих се в цялото това голямо семейство, в което се превръщат персонажите от всяка една книга и усещам как накрая ще ми стане мъчно, че свършва поредица. Приятна, ненатоварваща четирилогия, която много се радвам, че подхванах!
Имаше и много комични ситуации, на които съм се смяла с глас. Рауди е голям шемет, но не само той, Логан, Рийз и Даш също си имат тяхното чувство за хумор.
Кучето на Рийз беше много сладко и направо ме разтапяше като почваше да се умилква на двамата главни герои.
Влюбих се в цялото това голямо семейство, в което се превръщат персонажите от всяка една книга и усещам как накрая ще ми стане мъчно, че свършва поредица. Приятна, ненатоварваща четирилогия, която много се радвам, че подхванах!
April 15, 2013
ARC provided by NetGalley
Review posted on my blogsite: CS Maxwell~ Where's My Muse?
http://www.csmaxwell.blogspot.com
Lori Foster is one of those authors that is an auto-buy for me. I know when I pick up her book, I'm getting a great read. Her characters always sizzle on the pages. Foster is a pro at amping up the sexual chemistry and taking two characters to the extreme. Her plot pacing is spot on and her heroes are totally addictive.
Bare It All provides everything that I come to expect with Lori's books. And although you do not have to read her series in order to understand the story line in Bare It All, I highly suggest you do-- just for sheer joy of such a great series. Start with The Men Who Walk The Edge Of Honor series...
Reese Bareden is a cop whose apartment has been the center of a crime scene. And his neighbor, Alice Appleton, has provided a couch for him to sleep on while his place is off limits during the investigation.
Reese has had an attraction for his quiet neighbor for a while, and the cop in him wants to know more about this very perceptive woman. He knows that she is hiding something, and he is determined to find out. When he does some snooping in her apartment and discovers not one, but several guns, a taser, and a baton under her bed, Reese's protective instincts go on high alert.
Alice cannot deny her attraction to her very sexy neighbor, but her past and the secret she is keeping may hinder any chance of a relationship with Reese Bareden. He is honorable, loyal to the core, and his career as a cop makes Alice question if he could handle the truths in her past.
I loved Reese as the hero--he's everything that makes a man sexy and adorable. He loves his dog, Cash, and states "Love me, love my dog." They are a package deal. Alice, who sometimes takes care of Cash when Reese is gone for long hours, adores the mutt and spoils him with attention.
Reese is protective, although it was a little overbearing at times. But I get why Reese felt the way he did. He wanted Alice to trust him, depend on him, and not have to look somewhere else **ahem, Rowdy** for that. He is truly an alpha male and could totally see him metaphorically pounding his chest a few times in the book.
But then Reese says things that literally put my toes in perma-curl mode. He has such a way with words...
SWOON.
Alice is the kind of quiet woman whose mind is always alert--watching those around her, aware of her surroundings, and prepared for flight at any moment. She has reason to be wary. She was kidnapped and held hostage by a madman for over a year. She stays aloof, works from her apartment, and has distanced herself from her family. But with Reese around, her walls start to crumble and she falls for this man determined to be her knight and shining armor.
As a lover of series romance, we get to see more of Rowdy, who first appeared in Worth the Risk. He sees something in Alice that raises his suspicions that she is hiding something. Every fundamental instinct in Rowdy has him reaching out to protect her, despite his usual reserved behavior in the past.
And then there is a cameo appearance of a character from the Men Who Walk The Edge Of Honor series...he has come to Alice's rescue before and shows up to offer his expert skills once again. I literally squeed aloud when he walked into the room. You'll have to read to see who this smexy hero was...teehee...
Reese and Alice complimented each other well. They were cute to watch as they tried to "feel each other out" and sort through their feelings.
One of my favorite things about Alice was that she didn't hide her lust for her man. She ogled him like the sexy eye candy he was.
Another favorite part of the book for me, was watching both Logan and Reese realize their Lieutenant was not just their boss, but a woman...
Then there was the appearance of Logan's brother, Dash, who provided some comedy as well. **And Lori, I sure do hope to see what happens between him and Lt. Peterson**
Bare It All was a delicious read and a great addition to her newest series. She is definitely on a roll with these addictive characters.
Review posted on my blogsite: CS Maxwell~ Where's My Muse?
http://www.csmaxwell.blogspot.com
Lori Foster is one of those authors that is an auto-buy for me. I know when I pick up her book, I'm getting a great read. Her characters always sizzle on the pages. Foster is a pro at amping up the sexual chemistry and taking two characters to the extreme. Her plot pacing is spot on and her heroes are totally addictive.
Bare It All provides everything that I come to expect with Lori's books. And although you do not have to read her series in order to understand the story line in Bare It All, I highly suggest you do-- just for sheer joy of such a great series. Start with The Men Who Walk The Edge Of Honor series...
Reese Bareden is a cop whose apartment has been the center of a crime scene. And his neighbor, Alice Appleton, has provided a couch for him to sleep on while his place is off limits during the investigation.
Reese has had an attraction for his quiet neighbor for a while, and the cop in him wants to know more about this very perceptive woman. He knows that she is hiding something, and he is determined to find out. When he does some snooping in her apartment and discovers not one, but several guns, a taser, and a baton under her bed, Reese's protective instincts go on high alert.
Alice cannot deny her attraction to her very sexy neighbor, but her past and the secret she is keeping may hinder any chance of a relationship with Reese Bareden. He is honorable, loyal to the core, and his career as a cop makes Alice question if he could handle the truths in her past.
I loved Reese as the hero--he's everything that makes a man sexy and adorable. He loves his dog, Cash, and states "Love me, love my dog." They are a package deal. Alice, who sometimes takes care of Cash when Reese is gone for long hours, adores the mutt and spoils him with attention.
Reese is protective, although it was a little overbearing at times. But I get why Reese felt the way he did. He wanted Alice to trust him, depend on him, and not have to look somewhere else **ahem, Rowdy** for that. He is truly an alpha male and could totally see him metaphorically pounding his chest a few times in the book.
But then Reese says things that literally put my toes in perma-curl mode. He has such a way with words...
Serious, heated, he searched her face, her eyes, finally her mouth. "I'll fill you up, Alice. And I swear you'll enjoy it."
SWOON.
Alice is the kind of quiet woman whose mind is always alert--watching those around her, aware of her surroundings, and prepared for flight at any moment. She has reason to be wary. She was kidnapped and held hostage by a madman for over a year. She stays aloof, works from her apartment, and has distanced herself from her family. But with Reese around, her walls start to crumble and she falls for this man determined to be her knight and shining armor.
As a lover of series romance, we get to see more of Rowdy, who first appeared in Worth the Risk. He sees something in Alice that raises his suspicions that she is hiding something. Every fundamental instinct in Rowdy has him reaching out to protect her, despite his usual reserved behavior in the past.
And then there is a cameo appearance of a character from the Men Who Walk The Edge Of Honor series...he has come to Alice's rescue before and shows up to offer his expert skills once again. I literally squeed aloud when he walked into the room. You'll have to read to see who this smexy hero was...teehee...
Reese and Alice complimented each other well. They were cute to watch as they tried to "feel each other out" and sort through their feelings.
One of my favorite things about Alice was that she didn't hide her lust for her man. She ogled him like the sexy eye candy he was.
Sighing in resignation at her distraction, Reese said again, "Up here, Alice."
Mute, she performed the near-impossible feat of lifting her attention to his face.
Another favorite part of the book for me, was watching both Logan and Reese realize their Lieutenant was not just their boss, but a woman...
Logan pulled back. "You saw her..." And then in a choked whisper, "Breasts?"
"Couldn't help it, Rowdy supplied. "She showed up in this boner-inspiring outfit, and that was enough to drop Reese's eyeballs right there. But then after one of the men grabbed for her, she lost her blouse."
Then there was the appearance of Logan's brother, Dash, who provided some comedy as well. **And Lori, I sure do hope to see what happens between him and Lt. Peterson**
"Spoken like a rejected man." Dash lifted his Coke in a salute. "If you can't get it, deny wanting it."
Bare It All was a delicious read and a great addition to her newest series. She is definitely on a roll with these addictive characters.
May 7, 2013
BOOK SYNOPSIS
"A cop's craving to know more about the woman next door could prove fatal in the steamy new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster"
As the person responsible for taking down a brutal human trafficker, Alice Appleton fears retaliation at every turn. No one knows about her past, which is exactly how she prefers it...until the sexy cop next door comes knocking.
Detective Reese Bareden thinks he knows what makes women tick, but his ever-elusive neighbor keeps him guessing like no other. Is his goal to unmask Alice's secrets? Or protect her from a dangerous new threat? One thing is certain: their chemistry is a time bomb waiting to explode. And with no one to trust but each other, Reese and Alice are soon drawn into a deadly maze of corruption, intrigue and desire-and into the line of fire..
My Thoughts
Being this is second in a series that is obviously a spin-off of another series there is a lot of backstory that I am unaware of, in my opinion that means nothing as this read well as a stand alone. While I am sure that if I had already read the 6 books that connected to each other prior to this one, where I would have been introduced to some of the secondary characters and more world building that took place, did not feel the lack in the least when enjoying this book and the engrossing story that was within it's pages.
Alice Appleton is a woman whose past has taught her to be wary and aware at all times of those around her. Her uncanny ability to pinpoint other people's emotions and use their body language to help understand how they are feeling proves to be invaluable to both Alice and Reese as it helps keep Alice alive.
Reese Bareden is the consummate blend of smart, sexy, and totally dedicated to his fellow man main leading male character who has just the right amount of self deprecating humor to top off his appealing package that gives the reader an emotional connection to him right off the bat.
The two are good together, they balance each other out without being too mushy or over the top as sometimes make believe couples can be in romantic suspense. Add them together with the secondary characters and this story works on many levels to entertain and to make you want to know what is going to happen to them next.
As a lover of romantic suspense who enjoys finding strong male and female characters with the ability to overcome a troubled past that allows them to make a difference in helping others there is a lot to be said for the expertise shown by author Lori Foster in the manner with which she creates and breathes life into these very characters. There is not one of her books that I have read that she has not managed to color outside the lines with her characters which helps make them more realistic and enjoyable to get to know by the reader. Her grasp of human nature is what makes her books so easy to read as well as so very easy to connect to the characters that she makes come alive within their pages!
Laugh out loud good thanks to the irrepressible Rowdy Yates and thanks to alpha male Reese Bareden sexy as can be read as well.
My favorite type of contemporary romantic suspense with just the right amount of humor and drama mixed together.
[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]
September 4, 2016
I will say that this was my least anticipated book out of this series, but I was intrigued after reading book one with the introduction of Reese and Alice's story. And this book picked up right where book 1 left off, which was good since I decided to read back to back. So no refresher needed. And I needed to know Alice's secret badly.
It wasn't my favorite out this series that I read thus far, but it was enjoyable. Just Rowdy set the bar so high for me, it seems like nothing could touch his book. I love Rowdy, and I've come to love him more and more as I've read more of his backstory in this book and book one. But I didn't hate Reese by any stretch, he was just not Rowdy.
The love story between Alice and Reese was okay, though not as thrilling as it could have been. It needed a little more kick to it. It's hard to explain what I mean. The beginning for me was just okay. I think their attraction and lust was there for both, but I felt that their connection just felt a little bit off for me. I don't know how describe it really. They had more of connection in Rowdy's book than this one. I felt more of their love in book 3 than this one, which was supposed to show them falling in love. I saw deep caring and tenderness but the love. It was a more focus on the lust more than anything. Though I did like seeing them come to trust each other more and more as the book progressed.
Surprisingly the thing that drew me the most to this book was the intrigue and suspense to the plot line especially at the end. I was on the edge of my seat. I bit my nails. My heart pounded as I went through the whole cat and mouse game of catching the bad guy. It was exciting and even though I happily ever after was coming, I was still unsettled and nervous of how it would all end. It kept glued to pages and made me not want to stop. It was just really good. And made me really, really like it. Lori Foster knows how to write intrigue and suspense that's for sure.
Overall I really did enjoy this book. The love story was okay for me, but not as angst filled or emotional intense as I would have liked. It didn't draw me in. I could tell they cared deeply for one another but not that they were in love. I just more behind the list that was there for most of the book. I didn't fall in love with the love story part of the book. Now the thriller and mystery part of the book was really, really good. That was the part that enjoyed the most out of the entire book. I was kept on the edge of my seat from the last third of the book and onwards. That brought the most excitement in the entire book. If there was a balance in excitement the mystery and the romance then it would have been much better. It needed that an extra punch to make it a five star book. It wasn't bad though. I enjoyed it.
It wasn't my favorite out this series that I read thus far, but it was enjoyable. Just Rowdy set the bar so high for me, it seems like nothing could touch his book. I love Rowdy, and I've come to love him more and more as I've read more of his backstory in this book and book one. But I didn't hate Reese by any stretch, he was just not Rowdy.
The love story between Alice and Reese was okay, though not as thrilling as it could have been. It needed a little more kick to it. It's hard to explain what I mean. The beginning for me was just okay. I think their attraction and lust was there for both, but I felt that their connection just felt a little bit off for me. I don't know how describe it really. They had more of connection in Rowdy's book than this one. I felt more of their love in book 3 than this one, which was supposed to show them falling in love. I saw deep caring and tenderness but the love. It was a more focus on the lust more than anything. Though I did like seeing them come to trust each other more and more as the book progressed.
Surprisingly the thing that drew me the most to this book was the intrigue and suspense to the plot line especially at the end. I was on the edge of my seat. I bit my nails. My heart pounded as I went through the whole cat and mouse game of catching the bad guy. It was exciting and even though I happily ever after was coming, I was still unsettled and nervous of how it would all end. It kept glued to pages and made me not want to stop. It was just really good. And made me really, really like it. Lori Foster knows how to write intrigue and suspense that's for sure.
Overall I really did enjoy this book. The love story was okay for me, but not as angst filled or emotional intense as I would have liked. It didn't draw me in. I could tell they cared deeply for one another but not that they were in love. I just more behind the list that was there for most of the book. I didn't fall in love with the love story part of the book. Now the thriller and mystery part of the book was really, really good. That was the part that enjoyed the most out of the entire book. I was kept on the edge of my seat from the last third of the book and onwards. That brought the most excitement in the entire book. If there was a balance in excitement the mystery and the romance then it would have been much better. It needed that an extra punch to make it a five star book. It wasn't bad though. I enjoyed it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2013
Bare it All is the second book in the Love Undercover series and it's also labeled as the fifth book in The Men that Walk the Edge of Honor series (mostly I think because a character from that series shows up in this one SQUEAL!).
Reese and Alice are the featured characters in this series. The book picks up right where the previous book ended more or less and Reese and Alice are still trying to get settled after the blood soaked fight with the bad guys in their apartment complex. Reese is debating how hard to push Alice on her background because he knows by her stash of weapons all over her apartment and the way she's so shut off from people that something bad has happened to her. Alice is attempting to let Reese into her life and ready herself to tell him the truth, or a partial truth about her life. Of course more danger is closing in on the two of them and Alice unknowingly gets herself involved in a bad situation but her knight in shining armor is ready to rescue her even if she doesn't want the help.
I found Alice to be a refreshing character. Her story was pretty heartbreaking and scary but that just shows how strong of a character she is to have continued to move on and still help others. I love how blunt she is and how that affected all the men around her. It was definitely amusing to see how she kept shocking everyone with her statements, especially Rowdy. Reese was damned cocky throughout this book, which was only bolstered by Alice constantly staring at all his manly bits. I like how he eventually realized that Alice needed to be involved in what was happening with the women and sucked it up and let her take part. He was a definite alpha male, but reined it in just a bit, so he wasn't quite as annoying as some other alphas can be.
I loved seeing a certain character show up about half way through the book. When it finally dawned on me who Alice was talking about I did a little happy dance. It was like seeing an old friend again! I love when books intertwine like this, very cool.
Thanks to netgalley and Harlequin for providing me with this copy to read and review.
Reese and Alice are the featured characters in this series. The book picks up right where the previous book ended more or less and Reese and Alice are still trying to get settled after the blood soaked fight with the bad guys in their apartment complex. Reese is debating how hard to push Alice on her background because he knows by her stash of weapons all over her apartment and the way she's so shut off from people that something bad has happened to her. Alice is attempting to let Reese into her life and ready herself to tell him the truth, or a partial truth about her life. Of course more danger is closing in on the two of them and Alice unknowingly gets herself involved in a bad situation but her knight in shining armor is ready to rescue her even if she doesn't want the help.
I found Alice to be a refreshing character. Her story was pretty heartbreaking and scary but that just shows how strong of a character she is to have continued to move on and still help others. I love how blunt she is and how that affected all the men around her. It was definitely amusing to see how she kept shocking everyone with her statements, especially Rowdy. Reese was damned cocky throughout this book, which was only bolstered by Alice constantly staring at all his manly bits. I like how he eventually realized that Alice needed to be involved in what was happening with the women and sucked it up and let her take part. He was a definite alpha male, but reined it in just a bit, so he wasn't quite as annoying as some other alphas can be.
I loved seeing a certain character show up about half way through the book. When it finally dawned on me who Alice was talking about I did a little happy dance. It was like seeing an old friend again! I love when books intertwine like this, very cool.
Thanks to netgalley and Harlequin for providing me with this copy to read and review.
April 6, 2013
Beyond Reading
Even though the year is still fresh, I've already read my fair share of books and, I can guarantee, Bare it All stands out in any pile – it is far and away one of the most interesting books I've come across thus far (2013). With well-formed characters and a plot that had me so enraptured, I spent WAY more time reading than I should have.
Alice was what I expected but not, either. She was a sweet and tender (expected) but she was also brave and had a full-steel backbone (semi-unexpected). Reese was an amazing hero – he was possessive, but not overly so, attentive and protective. I loved Alice but, honestly, there were times when I wanted to push her way out of the picture so that Reese would be free for me. It wouldn't work out though, because it was obvious from the start to the end that Reese and Alice were positively made for each other – if their explosive chemistry was anything to go by. I knew Lori Foster had some heat in her but, jeez, the scenes in this one were nearly white-hot.
In the background, we saw more Rowdy (LOTS more Rowdy – yum) and Avery, both of whom I can’t wait to read more of. Rowdy actually seemed as if he wanted to take the hero slot at points, not that I minded one bit – he and Avery will make very beautiful chapters together. We also saw a hint of the future of Lieutenant Peterson and Dash, whom I had strongly suspected would end up together and had mentioned in my review of Run the Risk.
Romances barred, though, the plot was very intriguing and realistic. I’m not usually nearly as invested in the actual mystery as the characters but, in this one, they were both well done – don’t get me wrong, the mystery wasn't way out there but, still.
All in all, Bare it All was a truly wonderful read and I’m bursting for more Love Undercover.
Even though the year is still fresh, I've already read my fair share of books and, I can guarantee, Bare it All stands out in any pile – it is far and away one of the most interesting books I've come across thus far (2013). With well-formed characters and a plot that had me so enraptured, I spent WAY more time reading than I should have.
Alice was what I expected but not, either. She was a sweet and tender (expected) but she was also brave and had a full-steel backbone (semi-unexpected). Reese was an amazing hero – he was possessive, but not overly so, attentive and protective. I loved Alice but, honestly, there were times when I wanted to push her way out of the picture so that Reese would be free for me. It wouldn't work out though, because it was obvious from the start to the end that Reese and Alice were positively made for each other – if their explosive chemistry was anything to go by. I knew Lori Foster had some heat in her but, jeez, the scenes in this one were nearly white-hot.
In the background, we saw more Rowdy (LOTS more Rowdy – yum) and Avery, both of whom I can’t wait to read more of. Rowdy actually seemed as if he wanted to take the hero slot at points, not that I minded one bit – he and Avery will make very beautiful chapters together. We also saw a hint of the future of Lieutenant Peterson and Dash, whom I had strongly suspected would end up together and had mentioned in my review of Run the Risk.
Romances barred, though, the plot was very intriguing and realistic. I’m not usually nearly as invested in the actual mystery as the characters but, in this one, they were both well done – don’t get me wrong, the mystery wasn't way out there but, still.
All in all, Bare it All was a truly wonderful read and I’m bursting for more Love Undercover.
April 1, 2013
This one was so much better than the first one in the series. I like Alice, especially when I realized that she was the Alice from Trace of Fever. I loved how Alice and Reese interacted, the instant attraction was great. I loved how Alice was, innocent and world weary. All the guys knew she was hiding things, but weren't sure what it was. I think they were shocked when they found out, none of them expected it to be that bad.
I found Alice's open way of communicating to be refreshing, although it seemed to stun Reese. I loved the friendship between Alice and Rowdy and how she would go to him with normal man/woman questions, and then bring up stuff to Reese in odd times, all the while throwing Rowdy's name out.
I have a feeling that this inner circle that is being created will be lots of fun to read about. They all seem to respect each other, know the faults, but accept the person. All the teasing back and forth had me laughing. I really like the new and developing friendship between Alice and Pepper. The guys really need to keep their eyes on the ladies as they will have no trouble cooking up lots of mischief!
I loved it when Trace showed up, loved how all the guys knew who he was, but hoped it wasn't him. It was funny to see them sort of scared. I also really liked that Trace didn't try to take over, but helped out. I found myself smiling when Alice had a heart to heart talk with Trace about what he could and couldn't do, as she wanted to keep Reese and his interests in mind.
The ending was great, the bad guys were caught, Rowdy seems to be starting his life in a new way, and Alice and Reese have their HEA. I can't wait to read more in this series!
I found Alice's open way of communicating to be refreshing, although it seemed to stun Reese. I loved the friendship between Alice and Rowdy and how she would go to him with normal man/woman questions, and then bring up stuff to Reese in odd times, all the while throwing Rowdy's name out.
I have a feeling that this inner circle that is being created will be lots of fun to read about. They all seem to respect each other, know the faults, but accept the person. All the teasing back and forth had me laughing. I really like the new and developing friendship between Alice and Pepper. The guys really need to keep their eyes on the ladies as they will have no trouble cooking up lots of mischief!
I loved it when Trace showed up, loved how all the guys knew who he was, but hoped it wasn't him. It was funny to see them sort of scared. I also really liked that Trace didn't try to take over, but helped out. I found myself smiling when Alice had a heart to heart talk with Trace about what he could and couldn't do, as she wanted to keep Reese and his interests in mind.
The ending was great, the bad guys were caught, Rowdy seems to be starting his life in a new way, and Alice and Reese have their HEA. I can't wait to read more in this series!
May 3, 2013
I will start off by saying I love Lori Foster's books. I have for years. Bare It All is no exception. It is the 2nd book in her Love Undercover series and I enjoyed it even more than the first book in this series. Other have summarized the plot just fine so I will not re-state it.
The main characters, Reese and Alice, are great. Alice is a character we met in her prior series, Men Who Walk The Edge of Honor. If you have not read this series, grab them immediately and jump in. They are great. Alice is a sweet, gentle yet very strong character because of what she has endured as a victim of human trafficking. She is determined to do what she can to help and to keep herself protected. Reese is a police detective and her neighbor. When they meet, they cannot stay away from each other with the help of Reese's new puppy, Cash--who may just be my favorite character! Reese is determined to protect Alice at all costs. Some of my favorite scenes were actually the scenes featuring Alice and Rowdy. Some good humor there! We even have a visit from Trace (a character in the prior series)! That was a treat! The book has a very good suspense plot to it and sets up the next book nicely. Cannot wait for Rowdy's story. The writing was tight and the dialogue between the characters was well written. Lori's books are always a good read (truly not a pun). Although it is not necessary to read the first book, Run the Risk, it is advisable to get a little history of the group as well as the beginnings of the Reese/Alice story.
The main characters, Reese and Alice, are great. Alice is a character we met in her prior series, Men Who Walk The Edge of Honor. If you have not read this series, grab them immediately and jump in. They are great. Alice is a sweet, gentle yet very strong character because of what she has endured as a victim of human trafficking. She is determined to do what she can to help and to keep herself protected. Reese is a police detective and her neighbor. When they meet, they cannot stay away from each other with the help of Reese's new puppy, Cash--who may just be my favorite character! Reese is determined to protect Alice at all costs. Some of my favorite scenes were actually the scenes featuring Alice and Rowdy. Some good humor there! We even have a visit from Trace (a character in the prior series)! That was a treat! The book has a very good suspense plot to it and sets up the next book nicely. Cannot wait for Rowdy's story. The writing was tight and the dialogue between the characters was well written. Lori's books are always a good read (truly not a pun). Although it is not necessary to read the first book, Run the Risk, it is advisable to get a little history of the group as well as the beginnings of the Reese/Alice story.
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