Desert Heat

by Elizabeth Reyes, Shayna Thibodeaux (Narrator), Sebastian York (Narrator)

Atria—Simon & Schuster bring you this addictive and steamy romance novel by the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Moreno Brothers, 5th Street, and Fate series.

Besides working three jobs, worrying about her family back home, and running from her past, the worst thing to complicate Bethany Amaya’s life further would be a romance. But after a second-run in with the irresistibly sexy detective Damian Santiago, that’s exactly what she gets. In the blink of an eye, she’s caught up in a passionate romance with one of the most intense men she’s ever met.

Awestruck for a second time by the beautiful and intriguing performer, Damian is both surprised and delighted that Bethany agrees to something he didn’t even expect to be asking for so soon—exclusivity. As things heat up, Damian’s skills of detecting and reading body language begin to raise suspicions—Bethany is keeping something from him. Try as he might to calm his suspicions, the blatant signs become impossible to ignore.

Some things are better left unsaid. At least that’s what Bethany keeps telling herself. She never imagined falling in love so quickly, and she refuses to get Damian caught up in her troubles. She knows what he suspects—sees it in those possessive eyes. With Damian’s suspicions mounting, time is of the essence. The race is on, and Bethany finds herself scrambling to fix the past before the truth comes out and Damian finds out that it’s much worse than he suspected.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Audiobook, Romantic Suspense

9 pages, Audiobook

First published May 13, 2014

About the author

Elizabeth Reyes is a USA Today Best Selling Author of The Moreno Brothers, 5th Street, Fate, Looking Glass, De Luca Boys series' and two stand alone novels Desert Heat, & Defining Love.

Join the fun and become a royal member of TeamReyes and enjoy the perks of early announcements,cover reveals teasers, including exclusive teasers shared only the group. Along with exclusive team,giveaways,discussions, trivia, Secret Santa and much much more!

Note to readers, I don't do dark, tragic or kill off main characters no matter what it might seem like. Just keep reading and trust me you'll ALWAYS get an HEA from me!

Moreno Brothers:

Forever Mine - New Adult / Mature YA

Sweet Sofie - New Adult/ Mature YA

Forever Yours - New Adult (Angel and Sarah's follow up (college story!)

When You Were Mine - (A prequel novella to Always Been Mine)- New Adult

Always Been Mine - Adult contemporary

Romero - New Adult- Adult contemporary

Making You Mine - New Adult
(with bonus Angel and Sarah short "Only 8 days") *Tearjerker

Tangled - (A Moreno Brothers holiday novella) Featuring Romero and Izzy

Tall, Dark & Obnoxious - Adult Romantic Comedy- short featuring Izzy's uptight sister and Romero's obnoxious uncle.


5th Street:

Noah - Adult Contemporary

Gio - New Adult

Hector - New Adult

Abel - Adult Contemporary *Tear Jerker

Felix - New Adult *Tear jerker

Blindside - Adult contemporary short featuring Noah and Roni

Fate series:

Fate - New Adult

Breaking Brandon - New Adult *Tear jerker

Suspicious Minds - Adult contemporary

Again - New Adult/Adult Contemporary *MAJOR tear jerker

Rage - Adult contemporary

His To Guard - Adult contemporary

Uninvited - Adult contemporary

Boyle Heights series

Lila - Adult Contemporary

Beast - Adult Contemporary

Nine - Adult Contemporary/RomCom

Orlando - Adult Contemporary

Looking Glass

Girl In The Mirror - Adult Contemporary/psychological thriller

We Were One - Adult Contemporary *MAJOR tear jerker but TRUST ME! ;)

De Luca Boys

Remi's Choice - Adult Contemporary - Love triangle MAJOR angst - cheating but hailed one of the BEST love triangles written.




For more up to date info visit her website at www.ElizabethReyes.com

Reviews

[.Lili.]

ANOTHER ELIZABETH REYES BOOK!!


But it doesn't come out until May 2014.

[Gitte TotallyBookedBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a huge fan of this Author since picking up my first book which was from her Moreno Brother’s series. Since then I have devoured every single new release from her and I’ve never been disappointed. Elizabeth Reyes’ writing is always beautiful and flawless, it comes across effortless and the whole reading experience is fluid and smooth. If this Author is new to you I highly recommend ALL her books and if she isn’t, you’ll know what I mean and you’ll without question enjoy her Desert Heat as much as any other story. It was a little different, sure, but it had the Reyes spark, no question!

In Desert Heat we meet the luscious and passionate Detective, Damian Santiago, and let’s just say it was love and lust at first ‘word’ for me. We meet him at speed dating with his mate and I was in stitches but also kind of wishing I was there! This guy will melt anyone’s knickers off as he did with our heroine, Bethany Amaya. He’s not into relationships, he’s scarily intense and when he wants something he does not mess about. Damian is a smooth talker and you know that just one kiss from this guy will make your knees buckle and your insides melt. Lock me down Damian….Lock me down!!!! SWOON!!!!!

‘Make me yours’

Now, bring on the sweetheart that is Bethany Amaya. A conundrum. A hider of secrets with an aversion to the truth, but a girl who wears her heart on her sleeve regardless. I really liked Bethany and how she was with Damian. I was desperate to find out what her secrets were and she kept me guessing right till the end so it was a shocker for sure, I did not expect that!

‘La vida es un carnival..If life were really a carnival, for years Bethany had been stuck on a roller coaster with far more plunging falls and sharp turns than ups.’

Bethany is running from something and someone but her well laid plans halts when she meets the lush Damian and a passion and lust is ignited instantly. I have to say, at times I was thinking come on already, just give this guy a chance to understand what you’re hiding. I suppose because Damian put everything out there I wanted Bethany to do the same. The angst and tension when Damian realises just what Bethany’s secrets are, because he knows from the beginning something is amiss, well you can’t blame the bloke for blowing a fuse. Even I was gobsmacked!! His reactions once he’d come to terms with everything, well they showed just how he was the salt of the earth. Loved him!!

Damian and Bethany’s story was beautiful, intense and oh so romantic. It also had humour and intrigue. I can’t wait for more from the Santiago’s because everyone in this story had me intrigued and wanting more, bring on the ‘Deserts Ratz’! Man, Elizabeth Reyes sure writes brilliantly addictive series with great characters. I fall in love every single time without fail!

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing an ARC for an honest review

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know that we love Elizabeth Reyes here on this blog and we knew that we had to get our hands on her new book…and we did!

Damian, a detective (that’s sexy), meets Bethany at a speed dating session. There first four minutes together was nothing but a flat meeting but something in Bethany sparked a curious flame for Damian and after their second meeting, Damian knows that he wants her.

This book had me from the beginning. Reading how Damian and Bethany quickly got to know each other was so simple and cute; it all started with a missing hair clip. After the initial ‘getting to know you date,’ it seemed that their relationship started to build and build fast.

However, Damian started to notice that Bethany was hiding something from him and as much as he questioned her about her secretive phone calls or text messages, he always was lied to. I loved knowing that there was something going on that we were not privy to just yet, but soon it would be released and boy was it!

*Spoilers*
This is, unfortunately, where it lost my 100% attention. When I found out who Max was and what Bethany’s relationship was to him, I was done with Damian even knowing Bethany. But then to have Damian dig deeper and find out more, so much more that he goes to Bethany to get more information from her and Max drops more bombs, it just made me angry. Why and how would Damian still love Bethany let alone trust her? And then, everything was tied up in a perfect bow in the end…nope, I needed more anger from Damian and a longer ‘work it out’ period to really believe that this bow could be that perfect. He was never mad at her lying to him or keeping so much from him. It was like after he found out everything, he just decided to ignore it all. He threw away his career, he paid every debt off for her, and never once did he tell her that what she did to him was pretty crappy.

So, I will say that up until 70% of this book, I solidly loved it and wanted to know what was going on and how these characters were going to be affected by the secret drama lurking in the dark. However, I think the secret drama was rubbed me the wrong way and I seriously think Damian should have been more upset about the situation than he was in the book. All this being said, I still 100% love Elizabeth Reyes.

[Hailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

** 2 stars ** - Edited!!

This was a tough one for me to rate and I had to eventually do it objectively. This did not in any way shape or form feel like an ER novel (at least for me). Damian was not the regular ER alpha male (nope no Abel, Hector and Romero here!) and Bethany well there was not really anything wrong with her except me not feeling her personality. She was too much of a liar, and yes I know her situation called for it but I didn't like her for it. It also felt like she treated their relationship a bit blase, her fellings never felt genuine.

It had more of a 'Making You Mine' feel to it and Damian and Bethany reminded me a lot of Sal and Gracie. But where these types personalites worked for Sal (more laid back alpha - if you could really call him one) and Gracie (annoying but likeable), it didn't for Damian and Bethany. I felt with blurb as a coupled with the name - there should have been more heat! I didn't get the normal feels and intensity I get with an ER alpha.

By 50% into the book my mind kept straying, surfing the Internet, trolling Goodreads and Amazaon. That to me is not what a really want from a ER book that I've anticipated for ages and paid freaking £6.99 for.

The plot itself was good but I just wansn't feeling it. I've already given up one alpha male author (Kristen Ashley) and I don't want to have to do it to another one so for now I'm still an ER fan and I'll just accept that this one didn't work for me.

[B.E.Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved Elizabeth Reyes for what feels like forever, I started reading her books right after she started publishing them on Amazon and have been reading them ever since. I love that she writes about all different kinds of characters, something unfortunately not everyone does in this day and age. Her books are easily ones I get sucked into and even if I like some more than others I still like them all and enjoy them more than most.

I was so excited when I saw this book and requested it right away. I have to say this book did not disappoint, it is the same old Elizabeth Reyes I have always loved just more polished. I didn't feel like the publishing took away the author that I fell in love with so many years age. This was such a great read I got sucked in as I normally do and enjoyed this book a lot. My only comment was that this heroine Bethany felt a little like another from one of her other books. But after saying that it wasn't like a carbon copy but it did make me say mmm that seems familiar. This was a quick read for me and I love that this series felt very new and different from her other series while still keeping true to Mrs. Reyes voice as an author.

**Thank you Edelweiss and Simon and Schuster for my ARC copy for my review.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Reyes hits it out of the ballpark again!!!

Desert Heat is set in Las Vegas aka Sin City, and Bethany and Damian's chemistry is off the charts, can you say CALIENTE? These two will have you getting HOT, HOT, HOT!!!

[Lindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Thoughts:

Desert Heat, by Elizabeth Reyes was such an enthralling, and riveting read! We get the dual perspectives of the sweet, talented, and beautiful, Bethany Amaya, and the sexy, charming, and gorgeous detective, Damien Santiago. This novel was mysterious, highly suspenseful, seductive, and a delight to read! I was captivated and immersed in their sexy whirlwind love affair, and now that I've finished, I want more! I'm not ready to say goodbye to the Santiago family, and I guarantee that every other reader will agree with me, and not be satisfied until we get the rest of the sexy, charismatic, and distinct Santiago brothers stories!

Detective Damien Santiago is a workaholic. He is the youngest Las Vegas Police Detective, because working hard has always been his top priority. His best friend, Jerry, talks him in to participating in a speed dating session. Even though he thinks speed dating is lame, he does it as a favor for his friend, who would in turn do anything for him. During speed dating, one woman catches Damien's attention and seems rather fascinating. However, her horrible 80's clothing with matching bow, and excessive make-up are a turn-off for him. Bethany thinks Damien is gorgeous, but arrogant. She is attracted to him, but is not interested in getting to know someone who acts like he is better than everyone else. When Damien asks for her name, she tells him not to worry, because he won't be needing it.

However, neither one of them can get the other one off of their mind. A short while later, serendipitous events occur that lead Damien and Bethany to crossing paths again when he see's her performing at a dinner show. One thing leads to another, and soon after these two find themselves falling hard and fast for each other. However, it appears that Bethany is hiding something from Damien. He's an expert at body language, and on many occasions he starts to suspect that she is lying to him. Bethany is in fact hiding some major information, and as readers, we are not privy what she is hiding either. Time is ticking, and if Bethany is not careful, she could end up losing the one man that she's ever loved.

Ms. Reyes always creates the most in depth, dimensional, layered, and realistic characters. I loved both the main characters and secondary characters in Desert Heat. I pictured Damien looking like Benjamen Bratt. He was sexy, dashing, charming, and hard working. He treated Bethany like a lady, and was extremely close to his family. Bethany was amazing as well. I loved her character so much. She always put her family first, and was a very hard worker. She was a talented singer and dancer, and an all around good person. Now lets talk about the Santiago brothers shall we. They were all gorgeous, charming, and oozed sex-appeal. Besides Damien, there was Dimitri, the youngest, who worked in the family car restoration business with their father, Mace, Diego, the sexy musician, and Dominic, who lived out of state, and was a mystery. The only sister was Fina, who was protective, and bossy in a caring sort of way. She looked out for her brothers best interests, and had a sweet little 4 year old inquisitive daughter named Carey.

Besides amazing characters, Desert Heat had a captivating plot. Their was of course the swoon-worthy love affair between Damien and Bethany, close-knit family, and friendships, and the suspense of Bethany's secrets.

My Rating:

I give Desert Heat, by Elizabeth Reyes 4.5 Smoldering, Sizzling, Gripping, Sexy Alpha Swagger Filled Stars!!!! All of you Reyes' fans will be extremely pleased with Desert Heat! If you haven't experienced the purely awesome writing talent that Ms. Reyes has to offer, I must tell you that you are seriously missing out!

My Favorite Quote:

"No one, and I mean no one, has ever made me feel this craziness I feel when I'm with you." (Pg. 157)

~Bethany


*To Read More Book Reviews, Visit A Bookish Escape at http://www.abookishescape.com

[Nereyda (Nick & Nereyda's Infinite Booklist) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've heard so many great things about Elizabeth Reyes but I've never had a chance to read one of her books.  When the audiobook of Desert Heat was offered to me for review, I jumped at the chance to get it.  I love reading books about cops/detectives and the promise of anger and secrets was enough to grab my attention.  The fact that two of my favorite narrators worked on this was just icing on the cake!

When detective Damien Santiango gets dragged to a speed dating event by his friend, he thinks it's all pretty much bullshit.  Nobody catches his eye, except for an outrageously dressed girl full of sparkles and donning a huge bow on her head.  He doesn't expect her to agree with him about his opinion on the whole speed dating thing and is surprised when not only she does, but she refuses to give him her name or number.  When they end up meeting again, Damien isn't letting Bethany get away so easy from him this time.  The chemistry between them is strong and the more time they spend together, the more they like each other.  But with Damien's detective skills, he knows that Bethany is hiding something important.  The secretive text and phone calls are enough to have him on high alert.  But when Damien confronts her, she either comes up with a good a good lie (although Damien still doesn't buy it) or she only lets him into a glimpse of the secret she's working so hard on keeping.

We only get hints at what Bethany's secret is throughout most of the book, so I spent most of it coming up with pretty much every crazy idea or theory about what her secret could possibly be.  When the time came down for her big secret to finally be revealed...I wasn't sure what I felt.  It was a good one, but I also thought it took a little bit too long for use readers to find out.  Maybe it was the fact that I was thinking it would be something much worse, but I would have liked for use to find out before.  I really liked the chemistry between Damien and Bethany and liked seeing them fall for each other.  Even when they tried not to.  I liked the story behind Damien's family and their car/reality tv storyline and I'm hoping that this will lead to a companion story.  Desert Heat was a sexy and addictive story, I totally understand why Elizabeth Reyes has so many fans and I'll be looking forward to her next book!

Audiobook Comments:  I've listened to a lot of audiobooks narrated by Sebastian York and he'll always be my favorite narrator.  I was so excited to see that he performed this audio.  I am used to either hearing him alone or narrating with Eliabeth Louise so I wasn't sure what to expect with him narrating with Shayna Thibodeaux this time around.  Especially since this is my first audiobook performed by her.  Or so I thought.  I found out that Shayna Thibodeaux is a pseudonym for Candace Thaxton, who narrates The Sea of Tranquility.  One of my favorite books and audiobooks.  Sebastian and Shayna were another great combination, which was a great thing considering I listened to two more audiobooks narrated by them right after this and I have a few more on my wish list.  Another pair of narrators to add to my favorites!

4 out of 5 stars!

***
Read full review & more of my reviews at Mostly YA Book Obsessed

[Kirke · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Elizabeth Reyes is pretty much my go to author for high emotional, very sexy reads with a dash of humor. So far she has not disappointed me and I can not recommend her enough. With Desert Heat she takes us away from California to Las Vegas. There is a reason why they call this sin city. This story will seduce you, wring you out and still leave you smiling.

Damien Santiago is the youngest detective at LVPD and the reason he got there so fast is, because he worked for it. This ladies and gentlemen is a classic case of a workaholic. He pretty much has no social life, except meeting up with some casual lady friends and he only hangs out with buddies from work. The guy needs either a new hobby or a plot twist in his life. This is how Damien gets roped into a speed dating session by his friend Jerry. Having no real interest in the event, one girl in particular draws his attention though. After behaving like an arrogant know it all, he isn't even able to get her name.

Though it seems no matter how hard they try, they keep thinking about the other and they are definitely both intruiged by the attraction between them. It's not just that, Damien has never felt this pull towards someone, not to this extent. After their paths cross a couple of more times, one thing leads to another and things turn hot and heavy, pretty quickly.

Bethany though seems to be hiding something from Damien. Hiding something from a detective is not the smartest idea and Bethany actually isn't a very good liar. All throughout the story you're kept guessing. I honestly had no idea and usually I figure it out pretty quickly. This took me by surprise though. It's only a matter of time before Bethany has to share her secrets, but is the love between them strong enough to survive those revelations?

I loved all the characters in the book. Seriously Ms. Reyes is so good at writing those family dynamics with real drama, interaction and the love these characters have for each other just come right out of the pages. That Santiago family is brilliant. They are all so different and fascinating. Bethany as a character threw me by surprise a couple of times. She has so many layers and dimensions, it took me a while to figure her out and with every page you find out something new about her. At first sight Damien is a classic cop, but underneath he has a heart of gold that will make you swoon.

I'm giving Desert Heat 4.5 stars, because I completely loved it even if Damien is still a bit too soft for me. I like my guys a bit rougher. Though even better, Damien isn't an only child. You know this means there will be more than one book and I already can not wait to get my hands those smexy brothers of him.

If you're a fan of Elizabeth Reyes, you've probably already read this book. If this is the first time you heard of her, I am telling you to give her a chance. You will not be disappointed and then you can join us Desert Rats.

*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*

[a · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Elizabeth Reyes books since I read Forever Mine about two years ago. I love her writing and their hasn't been a book that I haven't loved by her; and Desert Heat is no exception.

Bethany is a perfect example of an overworked person. She has three jobs that barely leave her time to sleep, much less think about relationships. And when she's not working, she's worrying about her family and the secrets that she left behind in another state. Bethany is not exaggerating when she says she has zero time for a man. But when she meets Damien, suddenly her life is getting flipped upside down.

Damien is what I would like to call the perfect Hero. He's hot, smart, successful, and a bit of a player. I think it was great getting some chapters from his perspective because he really made the book for me. He's a detective and he loves devoting 100% of his time to his job. Women are of course occasionally needed when he has an itch only they could scratch. But never anything serious. And yet when he sees Bethany, something about her catches his attention and he finds that he can't stop thinking about her.

Going into this book, I knew two things: Bethany had some secrets and that Damien was an Alpha Male. Damien lived up to my every expectation. When he realized that he wouldn't be getting over Bethany, he played no games and went straight for her. He's sexy and yet sweet at the same time. I loved how concerned he was about her and I love that he takes his job seriously. As for Bethany, I really liked her as well! She's hard working, really nice, and someone who has aspirations.

I knew that Bethany was hiding a secret and I was very curious to find out what it was. Problem was, I hated that she was lying to Damien throughout pretty much the whole book! She had so many opportunities to tell him, especially when said secret came back to haunt her. He is a detective for goodness sake! If there's anyone who you'd want on your side, it's him. And yet, time and time again he would ask her if anything was wrong of if she was hiding something and she would look him in the eye and lie. In the beginning, I understood. But when their relationship had developed to the point of trust, commitment and love, I wasn't feeling so understanding. Damien shared everything with her and she just continued to lie. It just made me wonder if the person he fell in love with wasn't real.

But at the end of the day, everything worked out and left me feeling very satisfied. I'm really looking forward to reading about the other characters in this series! Job well done Elizabeth Reyes! <3

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Desert Heat has all you can expect from a book by Elizabeth Reyes:

- Great romance
- Hot alpha male
- Steamy scenes
- Amazing side characters
- Addictive factor

I love Elizabeth Reyes and even though I really liked Desert Heat I didn't completely loved it, I had a few problems getting into the story, it took me several chapters to feel involved with it, but once I was there it was hard to put down.

Bethany is hiding a secret from Damian almost all the book and when I found out the secret I couldn’t believe it! I had tons of theories and that was not even close to be one of them, so yes WOW Elizabeth surprised me. I liked that and as it was to be expected I fell in love with all the Santiago Family, Mace(dad)and Dimitri(brother) run Vintage Desert Heat which has his own reality show where they restore vintage cars, I Loved that!! And Diego is a musician! And Im very curious about mysterious Dominic! Even big sister/momma bear Fina and her Little girl got my attention, like I said if this is a series(which I hope) it has the potential to be completely addictive with all this amazing characters getting their very own histories.

What I didn’t liked much was Bethany, she got in my nerves a couple of times maybe is because I liked Damian so much that I felt like she wasn’t good enough for him, really? Keep that from him? That was big! That being said I would definitly recommend this, if you love alpha males believe me no one writes them like Elizabeth Reyes.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoy this authors writing style but this one (published work) didn't have the same feel as her self published novels. I felt like I was reading a completely different author. The storyline didn't engage me. I kept setting this aside and forced myself to finish it which involved some skimming. I prefer her self published novels.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a huge Elizabeth Reyes Fan, so I had high expectations for this book. And she didn’t disappoint. I love it!! The story line is incredible; it had me guessing until the very end. The characters are amazing, especially all the Santiago men. I can’t wait to read Damien’s brothers stories. Definitely, a must read book!!!

[Shawnee is A Bookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book. I couldn't put it down!! THANK YOU THANK THANK YOU MRS.REYES

[Mikki D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting for this book since the moment I found out Elizabeth Reyes was writing a new series! Every new book is an unforgettable reading escape! This is a brand new series, and now that I have finished reading Desert Heat, I cannot wait for the rest of the series to be released! I'm having heart palpitations just thinking about which one of the Santiago siblings is next!

In Desert Heat, we met Bethany Amaya and Damian Santiago. When these two meet at a speed dating event, it's not love at first sight. But when their paths cross again, they can't deny the intense attraction between them. Bethany is living in a world of lies. Damian hates liars. He was burned in the past and he can't stand when people lie to him. When Bethany enters his life, he never expected to have such a strong connection with her. As the days go by, their feelings for each other grow stronger, but Bethany's past is catching up with her and it may leave her without Damian's love. Will Damian be able to forgive all her lies?

Have you read a book by Elizabeth Reyes yet? If your answer is NO ----> Run to your ereader or to the nearest bookstore and GO BUY HER BOOKS!!! You will not be disappointed! Impeccable writing style, intoxicating characters and captivating storylines are on the menu. When you read one of her books, the characters come alive and you FEEL every single emotion that they are feeling! If you answered YES, you know exactly what I'm talking about! Elizabeth Reyes ROCKS!!!! I have devoured every single book that this fantastic author has written and even after reading thirteen books from her amazing repertoire, she always manages to make me cry, laugh and swoon EVERY.SINGLE.TIME! Don't even get me started about the steamy scenes that she writes! Hot Damn!!! You need to grab a fan when you read one of her books. The sexual chemistry between the main characters is CALIENTE!!! Ouuuuu my God!!! These sexy alpha males aim to please!

Once again, Elizabeth Reyes created a world where I want to live in! Bethany and Damian stole my heart from the moment I met them and every single one of the secondary characters captivated me as well. Bethany and Damian are exactly the kind of couple I love to cheer for! Like I mentioned before, this was not love at first sight. They got to know each other and their relationship grew after they met for the second time. Their relationship was intense and passionate and the feelings that they had for each other grew into a beautiful love story. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! I was trying to figure out what Bethany was hiding from Damian. Well, I was shocked to find out her secret! Holy Moly! Poor Bethany! My heart broke when Damian found out about all the lies. His detective mode was ON after he caught her in a lie. I completely understand why she lied. She was stuck in a difficult situation and honestly, I have no idea what I would have done if I was in her place. Damian fell hard for Bethany. She makes him feel things he never felt before. He will do whatever it takes to have Bethany in his life. The tender, sexy, emotional and intense moments that this couple shared together were amazing!

My heart belongs to Abel from the 5th Street Series, but I can see an intense competition for the #1 spot in the near future ... Dominic Santiago has captivated my attention without even appearing in this book! I am 100% positive that this mysterious Santiago sibling will bring the ''Tingle'' effect. Just the mention of his name gave me chills. I know it's crazy ... but I can't help it! He absolutely got me thinking non-stop about him! I don't know in which order the siblings are getting their books, but I cross my fingers that I get to read his story soon!

Oh, I almost forgot ... this book made me crave Pupusas!!! I had to send my husband to our favorite restaurant to get me some ... lol!!!

I give, Desert Heat, by Elizabeth Reyes 4.5 intense, sexy, heart-pumping, I want to move to Vegas stars! <----- Yup! I'm ready for another trip to Vegas. Who's next? Who's next?

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth Reyes caught me as a fan with her debut novel, Forever Mine. Since then, I have devoured as many of her books as I can, Fifth Street being my favorite. Desert Heat, the first book in a brand new series, was no different, and I'm grateful to Ms. Reyes and Simon and Schuster for giving me the opportunity to win an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:
Bethany Amaya doesn't have time for love. With three jobs, she barely gets to see her bed at night, let alone devote time to romantic endeavors. In fact, love and romance can only complicate her life even more. Fortunately, the heart loves who the heart loves, and love waits for no man or woman. When Bethany finds herself having repeated run-ins with the very intense and muy sexy Detective Damian Santiago, she quickly realizes their connection isn't some passing fling, but Bethany hs the weight of the world on her shoulders, not to mention secrets. Damian Santiago never imagined he'd be so captivated by one woman, a woman who has more layers than anyone could know. Still, locking down exclusivity and proceeding with the intent of permanence is surprising in such a short amount of time, but also eases tension when both he and Bethany agree. Their passionate and irresistible connection refuses to let up, and has them moving at warp speed. As time passes, and things heat up, Damian becomes more aware of his detecting skills arising and causing suspicion in reaction to Bethany's repeated jumpy behavior and garbled explanations of phone calls and distressing texts. Trying to ignore his more intense than usual reaction, Damian tries to explain away the signs that something is up. Bethany does indeed have things she's keeping from Damian, but it's only until she can extract herself from her current situation, and a few other's besides. Now, with Damian's suspicions mounting, Bethany is in a race against time to fix all that's broken before it can destroy the love of a lifetime. Too late, Bethany is forced to face down not only a past and present that is much worse than what Damian could imagine, but also face down an understandably angry and shocked Damian. Can Damian and Bethany keep hold of the love they share or will lies and deceit serve to rip them apart as well as leave Bethany vulnerable?

I loved Damian from the very beginning. He was sexy, sweet, funny, honest, and a cop. What more could you ask for. Oh, right! He's also financially set for life. Lol. His intensity and alpha-possessive behavior was a total turn on, and I loved how effortlessly close to his family he was. Bethany, I liked, but I got so frustrated with her evasiveness and deceit. Of course, I don't believe in laying out all your problems on someone you're just starting a relationship with, but enough was enough. I think she could have handled it better. Other than that, I loved her loyalty to her family, dedication to her craft, her sweetness, and her own possessive-woman personality. Together, they were explosive, and honestly, I was about to take a cold shower myself if the hot as hell kisses went on for much longer with no relief. Lol. Supporting cast was awesome. I'm in love with the Santiago brothers and really hope for their happy endings. Ashlynn is intriguing to me. She's a contradiction from what you see, to what Bethany says about her. I'm praying she lands on the good side and get's her happily ever after, as well. As usual, Elizabeth Reyes has outdone herself, and she's got herself an absolute gem of a series started. I can't wait for more, and look forward to the excellent reviews I know I'll be writing in future. <3

[Jeannie Zelos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Desert Heat Elizabeth Reyes
Review from Jeannie Zelos Book reviews.
This is romance, but with a strong side of suspense. I liked Bethany, hard working, friendly, but its clear right from the start she's hiding something. Then she meets Damian ( that speed dating conversation they had was brilliant!) and they're both attracted. She's not got time for a man though, hardly has time to eat let alone a boyfriend, and he's always shied away from romance after problems in the past with his job, and the unfriendly hours and demands puts on a relationship.
They can't keep away though, and very quickly they are in the throes of a passionate and sensual affair. I understood why Damian was suspicious, having been caught in the past its hard not to suspect something when you're girlfriend is clearly keeping secrets, and getting caught out in lies. Bethany doesn’t want to be like that, but circumstances leave her no option, she simply can't tell Damian what's going on, the risk to her, her family and his career are too great. Secrets don't work in a romance though, and we eventually see the heartbreak fallout when some of them are revealed. Luckily Damian doesn't give up....
Damian, ah Damian, he's special. When he meets Bethany he knows she's different from the ladies of his past, that he doesn't want to let his job get in the way, but sometimes that's unavoidable. His family too, they're very close, and I feel there's more books to come about them. I hope so anyway, as they seem great characters, occasional secret rock heroes, and stars of a TV show. We didn't see a great deal of them, just enough to know there's potential there and how close and supportive they all are. Perhaps Damien would describe it as nosy and interfering instead, but in a tongue in cheek way.
Its a fun, hot, sensual romance, wrapped up in a tight mystery, one I didn't guess but lucky for me it all works out :)
Stars: Four, interesting and sexy romantic suspense. .
ARC supplied by Netgalley

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last place Damien Santiago wants to be is at a stupid speed dating meeting. One look at him would let you know he doesn't have any problem whatsoever getting a date, but his friend asked him to go, and because he's such a good friend he agrees. When he first meets Bethany Amaya he's not quite sure about her, yet when she doesn't even give him her name, it makes him even more curious. When a second-chance encounter has the two meeting once again, Damien can't believe this is the same girl, and the girl is drop dead gorgeous. Needless to say she captures his full attention. When Bethany sees Damien, he has her full attention equally. As fate would have it and against her better judgement, she falls for Damien, but when her secrets come unraveled right before her eyes, she just might lose everything she has been fighting for, including Damien.

Damien Santiago is a homicide detective and a very good one, and the homicide hottie is sexy, possessive, and panty dropping gorgeous. Bethany's character remains a bit of an enigma and her story become clear bit by bit as the book progresses. The desert isn't the only thing that is sizzling hot in this book - the chemistry between these two, as well as the romance that ensues takes temperatures up past even the heat of the desert. The secondary characters were also well written and I enjoyed them as well.

The story itself is both intriguing and engaging, causing you to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. I enjoy Elizabeth Reyes' writing style and she has done an excellent job pulling the reader into the pages of her latest book. Desert Heat also has a bit of a suspenseful feel to it, especially when Detective Homicide Hottie puts his skills to work in search of answers. Overall, Desert Heat is a great contemporary romance and something fans of this genre should definitely check out.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't crazy about this one, 3 stars is generous. Skimmed a lot of it, liked the Hero/Damian, but hated the h/Bethany. Throughout the story she lies and deceives Damian with her sorted drama. At one point he leaves her, but has her investigated and comes to her rescue, takes her back and they HEA into the sunset. The story isn't overly strong, but there's certainly a lot of heat where Damian is concerned. He's very much Elizabeth Reyes's typical alpha male (sexy, muscled, totally smitten with with the h, overly jealous and possessive) that her fans (including me) have come to love.

There's a Moreno's type vibe here (loved that series) with a family of brothers and one sister. The dad/Mace and some of the brothers are involved in a reality tv show about restoring cars. Damian was a detective and not involved with the show. Younger brother Dimitri/20 yrs old has a bigger part in this bk so I guess he could be the star of bk bk 2. Hoping the underage over sexed 16 yr old daughter of Damian's friend are not a couple in bk 2. She tries to come on to Damian which totally turned me off, so I can't imagine reading a bk with her as the h. But this bk certainly provided that set up even though jailbait wants it from Dimitri, that would be an illegal match unless ER advances their years.

If you love Elizabeth Reyes bks you'll more than likely enjoy this one. Unfortunately, this one just wasn't the winner I hoped it would be. But hey, I can always go back and hit a re-read of the Moreno's for a good time. :D

[Talk Books To Me · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review by Brandi
4 Stars!

I was so excited to get my hands on this book since I have an admiration for Elizabeth Reyes.5th Street and the Moreno Brothers are two series that I hold near and dear to my heart and love to re-read when the mood strikes. Desert Heat was everything I anticipated and Ms. Reyes did no disappoint,better yet she upped her game.This book had me completely sucked in and I absorbed every word written because it was THAT good of a story.

Damien is a smexy detective who is very dedicated to his job, never really have fallen in love before. His character holds a certain charm being he is confident, determined and loyal. When he first meets Bethany there was an attraction even though he could not look past that bow in her hair or her bright sparkly eyeshadow (yeah, I know. Just read the book).

Bethany does not have any interest in dating,really has no time for it since she is busting her ass to make money working three jobs. But from the beginning of this book you realize she has a past and let me tell you….it drove me crazy trying to figure out what she was hiding.

Desert Heat will throw you some unexpected surprises and revelations that will keep you consumed until the very end. It delivers everything we love in a story from mystery to passion and a great cast of characters.I highly recommend this for a summer read!

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desert Heat by Elizabeth Reyes
Bethany has secrets, lots of them. Living in Vegas she’s doing all she can to make money to help support her family and pay off some debts. She has no clue that one night at a speed date will change her life. Problem is she still has to keep her secrets and the closer she gets to her new boyfriend, the harder it is to cover them up.

Damian Santiago has not followed in the family business, he became a detective instead. His skills come in handy for reading people and he can see that his Bethany is hiding things, but eventually his heart overrules his detective senses.

Elizabeth Reyes has done an excellent job of keeping the reader drawn into the story. You know that Bethany has some secret she’s hiding from Damian, but she keeps the reader guessing. As in all good stories, the secret always comes out at the most inconvenient time and it never goes well for the secret keeper.

This book is definitely not lacking in fascinating people. Considering it takes place in Vegas, you never know what colorful character may come along. That and all the secrets and mystery surrounding them, this reader just couldn’t put it down.
**Sexual content language
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...

[Gloria Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK! LOVED IT!
This is true romance at its best!
This is what you need to know about this book:

1. It has great, likeable characters (Damian is a sexy, protective and prone to jealousy cop) and Bethany is a beautiful 21 year-old hard working gal (she has 3 jobs and is finishing her journalism degree)
2. The story is super engaging, I got sucked in right from the beginning. Loved the writing!
3. The their relationship starts off sort of fast, but it doesn't feel fast. In fact I thought it was kind of gradual; I guess I felt this way b/c the author spent a bit of time in developing the characters
4. The romance wow, it was sooooo romantic!!
5. Damian, wow, I love how protective he was; I also loved how jealous he was! Total swoon-worthy hero!
6. LOVED< LOVED DAMIAN!
7. This book has a bit of mystery (Bethany is hiding something and we don't really know till almost the end
8. OH MY GOD THIS IS SUCH A FRIGGING GOOD BOOK!
9. This book is a stand alone and has a great HEA!
10. Don't pass on this book! read it!

[Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is going to be another great series by Elizabeth Reyes! Desert Heat is the perfect name for this story, being set in Vegas and all that heat coming off Damian and Bethany. From the moment they meet at the speed dating event, their chemistry is off the charts. There is a lot going on around them, mainly with all her secrets. His job as a detective keeps him busy, but it doesn't play a big role, except for taking up a lot of his time. She is running around crazy with all her jobs, and it was killing me wondering what was going on with her. This book was a great mix of romance and suspense. It was definitely a surprise, when everything was revealed. As for the other characters, Damian's family was great! They provided a lot of laughs and support throughout the story. The Santiago's will be a wonderful new family to fall in love with. I can't wait to see whose story will be next!

[Abrianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC Copy of this book for an honest review

Damian is everything you can expect from an Elizabeth Reyes book and then some. He is hot, he is possessive, he is alpha, and oh so sexy. I've said this before about Elizabeth and I'll say it again. She really does know how to write a sexy alpha male. Damian is so sweet and so intense, you can't help but falling for him almost immediately.

Bethany is someone who you can get into right away as well. She is so sweet, her character is so good that even though you don't learn her secret until it's out, you still feel bad for her, you still are anxious to find out what is going on in her life that she has to hide.

Once you start reading you can't stop.

To rate this book would be impossible. There aren't enough stars in the world that I can scale this book against.

For full Review go to my blog: Real Talk, Book Talk: http://realtalkbooktalk.blogspot.com/...

[Bibi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damian Santiago is a Las Vegas detective that is working very hard to prove to everyone he has what it takes to move ahead in law enforcement. He's sexy as sin and doesn't have time for love as he pursues his career goals.

Bethany Amaya is an aspiring entertainer that works multiple jobs to make ends meet and is running herself ragged. She's beautiful and extremely talented but love is the last thing on her agenda.

Damian and Bethany meet at a speed dating event that neither of them really wanted to attend but when the meeting happened neither of them could forget the instant connection. The chemistry between them is electric. This story is full of twists and turns, just when you think you know what's happening, something else happens that makes you think twice.

If you're looking for a book that will give you the love and romance you want while offering a little mystery to keep things interesting, this book is for you!

[Astin Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! It has taken me a few days to find the right words to review this book. I LOVED IT!
Simple as that! I'm a HUGE Moreno Fan, namely ROMERO, but who isn't? Then Elizabeth Reyes shared her love of 5th Street and the guys who grace the gym there.
I have to say how extremely excited I am to have gotten a first hand look into what is heating up the Vegas Desert.
Bethany Amaya has Damian Santiago experiencing things he never had before not to mention testing his limitations both in his personal life and his career. Both have made their careers a balancing act, but is what Bethany withholds be what tips the scales.
What I loved best about Detective Santiago was his benefit of the doubt and his analysis skills, reading between the lines.
And no one can review a Reyes book without mentioning the alpha male and in this book there are several. The Santiago boys are sure to satisfy any book boyfriend prerequisites.
Move over Morenos, there are some RATZ on your tail.h

[BooksandBeyondFiftyShades · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I finished another amazing book by the great author Elizabeth Reyes, there is only one thing to say..........

BEST BOOK EVER!!!!!!!!!!!

Meet Bethany Amaya, a hard working young lady with only one goal in mind. She doesn't have time for romance let alone to fall in love. Her secret is keeping her to continue focus on her goal and she is closed to achieved it.

Meet Damian Santiago, a LVPD Detective that has to show his co-workers that even at his young age, he is a respectable man and takes his work serious. Damian doesn't have time for love, since he has been proven that love and long hours at work don't work with him.

When life plays a trick on Bethany and meets Damian the last thing she thought and wanted was to fall in love. Can her secret keep her away from Damian or will she fight for their love?

I recommend this book. You will not be disappointed!!!

[Mrs Darcy reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Reyes is one of my favorite authors and this book just further proved why. It was swoonworthy incredible. Not only are we introduced to a whole set of characters but we get to see a love story develop in a way that's fast yet so incredibly heartwarming and real! I loved every second of this book! Detective Damian Santiago can't help but fall head over heels for Bethany but can't help but feel she's hiding something. Regardless he gives the relationship his all not knowing that her secrets may alter his world.
Bethany is a sweetheart who's only looking after her family and wasn't looking for love, but how can a girl resist the swoonworthy detective? When they get together things heat up fast but she has to come to terms with the past she's trying to hide.
You will love this book if you love Ms. Reyes' other series!!

[Michelle R.K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book just as much as I loved all other Elizabeth Reyes books. But Desert Heat did not have me sitting on the edge of my couch, or biting my nails. It was very slow paced and I found myself putting down the book more often than I normally do when I book captures my attention. I loved the Moreno family series as well as 5th Street series. **SPOILER**
It was not until about 85% into the book that you find out why Bethany has run away from her former life. I was expecting a HUGE revel and found it lacked. Damion was a strong Hero character but I felt frustrated when he did not flat out ask Bethany why she felt the need to hide things from him. It was a little frustrating. They connection grew slowly but when they finally got together it was fairly hot.

However, I do love Mrs Reyes writing style and I look forward to reading more of her novels.

Thank you

[Felecia Hickman- amaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a perfect love story. It's has it all. You'll find yourself Holding on to the edge of your seat trying to figure out what's going to happen next. Bethany and Damien have brilliant chemistry. I found myself trying to figure out what Bethany's secret was throughout the book. Never in a million years would I have thought what was really going on.
Elizabeth you never cease to amaze me with your story telling. I have read all of your books and love them all. You have a way of drawing me in to your world not wanting to leave. That's probably why I finish your books in one day. I don't want them to end and want to savor each word but I just can't put them down. Thanks for being an amazing story teller and giving us such brilliance.