Give It All

Desert Dogs #2

by Cara McKenna

A hot new Desert Dogs novel from the author of  Lay It Down

Keep your friends close—and your enemies closer....

Bar owner Raina Harper can’t say for sure what Duncan Welch is to her. With her small Nevada town under siege by a ruthless casino development and still reeling from a spate of murders, she knows that trusting the public face of the corporate invaders is risky to say the least. Though, damn, it’s one fine-looking face.…

Duncan may be a mercenary when it comes to getting the job done, but he’s no villain. In fact, the calculating fixer soon finds himself in the bad guys’ crosshairs, framed and facing professional ruin. To clear his name, he’ll need help from Raina and her roughneck motorcycle club, the Desert Dogs. Gaining their trust won’t be easy, and the molten sexual tension between Raina and Duncan only makes things more complicated—especially since Miah Church, Raina’s friend and ex-lover, would sooner strangle Duncan than shake his hand.

One thing’s certain, though: If they don’t deal with their incendiary attraction soon, the whole damn town might go up in flames.…

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

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 3, 2015

About the author

Since she began writing in 2008, Cara McKenna has published nearly forty romances and erotic novels with a variety of publishers, sometimes under the pen names Meg Maguire and C.M. McKenna. Her stories have been acclaimed for their smart, modern voice and defiance of convention. She was a 2015 RITA Award finalist, a 2014 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award winner, a 2012 and 2011 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award nominee, and a 2010 Golden Heart Award finalist. She lives with her husband and baby son in the Pacific Northwest, though she’ll always be a Boston girl at heart.

For release-day alerts: http://bit.ly/1KBzUZM

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. Review posted February 12, 2015




...your feelings about it will be your problem."

Even though Give It All ties into Lay It Down, I'm positive that you can read this second installment as a stand-alone. Go ahead and take a pleasurable dive into Duncanmessland.

I love Cara McKenna's writing, the witty dialogue cracks me up and the way she writes chemistry and the MCs attraction to each other is such a delight to read. And don't get me started on her smoking' hot sex scenes. Gah. So good.

I really enjoyed Give It All more than the first installment in the Desert Dogs series.
Holy crap. I just had a look and…um…*blushes*...I gave the first book 4.5 stars?!? *confuzzled* Well, then I did scroll down and...

...it was the orgasmically fucktastic sex who made me dish out such a high rating for Lay It Down.




Anyway, I really think that, as a whole, this second installment was better. I wasn't a particular fan of Raina but I really loved Duncan. Whew. He's some seriously messed up dude, dealing with OCDs (you can hop over to my little home and clean my bathtub, I wouldn't mind, Dunky), drugs, (is that even a spoiler?) personality "disorder", and an inherent need for control, appreciation, affection and acceptance. On the other hand, he was such a terribly sexy and hot mess to boot. His background was interesting and, quite frankly, he was the man to carry the story all along. I liked Raina and I disliked her. In the end I'd say I wasn't particularly fond of her and her bristly personality. I also thought that she handled the situation at 84% very badly. She was too self-centered and I was like "He's really trying so hard despite him being romantically awkward, say something nice to him!" Given the fact that Duncan was so screwed up, she should have cut him some slack. Period.

Next up is Drive It Deep. I quote the author:

Well, book #2.5, really. Drive It Deep is a flashback story about their bygone love affair. Sort of a bonus novella.

Drive It Deep will give us an insight into Miah and Raina's short love affair. And here's a heads up to those who are antsy to get to Miah's story and his REAL love interest…that will be the grand finale in the series (book #4). Casey is going to squeeze his sexy self in between telling us his story in book #3.

"Can I say something tacky?"
"I'd expect nothing less."
"If you and I wind up fucking, you don't get to pay me rent anymore."
His eyebrows rose. "Because you'd feel like a whore?"
She smiled sweetly. "No. Because I'd feel greedy, taking your money on top of your innocence."
His lips twitched, eyes narrowed in a way that made Raina's belly all warm and tight.
"You're not coy, Ms. Harper."
"You're not wrong."
"I rarely am."

Bottom line, over the course of Give It All, Duncan could finally shed his shields, get rid of his protective and disguising armor to find himself and breathe again. He was being dismantled. It was also a revelation that he could leave the screwed up mess behind and feel fine by being a whole and vulnerable mess who found love for the second time first time in his life.

We all want to be valued. It was a very long search but I'm glad Duncan found what he was looking for.

"You are one steaming hot mess, aren't you?"
"If only my therapist offered such candid assessments. Incidentally, I'd be grateful if you kept this to yourself."
I'll bet you would.
"Man, I had you pegged way wrong."

Sorry, Duncan, I couldn't keep that little tidbit to myself.


Recommended read.

[CC · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 "Say My Name" Stars!!

As usual, Cara McKenna does not disappoint in the latest installment of the Desert Dogs series. When Duncan Welch was introduced in Lay it Down, I was immediately drawn to him - and that was a hard task given all the hotness Vince emitted! So, I could not wait to read Duncan's story. On the outside, Duncan is so handsome, polished, stiff, and seemingly judgmental. However, on the inside he suffers from OCD and low self esteem due to experiences in his childhood.

The plot centers on the relationship between Duncan and Raina and how they learn to move forward and conquer their insecurities. I enjoyed Raina and completely understood her relationship issues. The character development is amazing! The author has a knack for realness in her dialogue and is able to capture those intimate and vulnerable moments with sincerity and authenticity. Duncan and Raina have a push-pull relationship that enables sassy and sexy banter between them, which I loved!

"I bet you jack-off with your pinkie stuck up in the air, don't you? His smirking lips twitched, faint and quick as a flea sneezing. Picture it however you like."



"OCD doesn't keep you from getting your rocks off, then? His smile was slow and wicked. Sex is one of the very few things in this world that I prefer dirty, Ms. Harper."



"Do you know what the sexiest thing about you is, Duncan? Confused, he frowned. My pocket squares?"

For me, Duncan is an absolute five star hero. Not only is he hot, intelligent, hot, sexy, hot - he can clean and cook! Aside from all my drooling over Duncan in three-piece suits or jeans & motorcycle boots, the plot is well developed and it was good to get updates on Vince, Casey and Mia. I look forward to the next books in the series. (One last footnote - tall, dark and handsome Mia gets his story in book #4.)

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Give It All was a perfectly imperfect romance, an unlikely pairing that I fell head over heels for! Cara McKenna’s writing was beautiful, profound, and hot as hell!

Duncan Welch came to Fortuity representing Sunnyside Corporation in their efforts to bring a large casino into the little town, basically overtaking any of the small businesses currently established. One of those businesses is Benji’s bar, a longtime fixture. Needless to say, Duncan isn’t very popular with the locals, but that doesn’t stop the palpable attraction between the bar’s owner, Raina Harper, and Duncan.

Accusations and threats bring Duncan in danger, and after helping the Desert Dogs crew, Vince, Raina, Miah, and Casey, they feel obliged to watch out for Duncan bringing him and Raina closer, and making it impossible to fight their magnetic pull.

At first glance, Raina and Duncan don’t make sense together at all, they seemed so completely opposite. Duncan was urban, and so very civilized whereas Raina was coarse and wild. In fact, I was disappointed when I found out that Give It All would be a romance between them instead of Raina and Miah. I should’ve known better than to doubt Ms. McKenna’s plans. Duncan and Raina were like two halves of one whole.

Duncan was the picture of controlled perfection: rich, impeccably dressed, and groomed, but since setting foot in Fortuity he’s been slowly disassembling. I loved watching his slow unraveling, getting to what made him, and his vulnerable heart tick. In the midst of his coming undone, Duncan finds something precious and unexpected in his relationship with Raina:

Perfection, with this all-wrong woman, in this all-wrong place, at this all-wrong moment of his unraveling life.

Their romance was so HOT!! Ms. McKenna is a master at writing slow building, explosive tension. I was squirming with lust and need while reading!

Give It All had me completely cracking up in parts. Much of it was due to Duncan. I loved his snarky, stuffy comebacks:

“I wasn’t offering, merely informing you.”
“Very forceful, Mr. Welch. Are you one of those well dressed, domineering, kinky millionaires I’ve heard about? Should I get the handcuffs?”
“A gag wouldn’t go astray.”

“Boys’ll be boys,” Ducky said, sounding defensive. Duncan muttered, “Spoken like the proud father of a future date rapist.”

“Do you know what the sexiest thing is about you, Duncan?” Confused, he frowned. “My pocket squares?”

I can’t wait for the next installment of the Desert Dogs series, but I have to say I’m a little worried about Casey’s vision involving one of the team. I’m hoping for a romance for Miah. That boy needs some loving after seeing Raina move on with someone else. Also, what’s in store for Casey, and will it include Abilene?

I wasn’t expecting to love Give It All as much as I did. I had my heart set on romance between Miah and Raina, but I was happily surprised to fall so hard for Duncan and Raina. They seemed completely unmatched, but somehow fit so perfectly together. I’ve come to adore Cara McKenna’s writing, how it touches down deep and makes me feel. It’s gorgeous without being overwhelming or distracting.

A copy was kindly provided by Signet in exchange for an honest review.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Duncan is one Hot mess stars! ;)
And have I told you he's british? Dayum I could only think of Tom Hiddleston while reading this le sigh;D

“Sex is one of a very few things in this world that I prefer dirty, Ms. Harper.”

I think this is the first time the author wrote a hero who is well groom with a healthy chunk of money in his wallet and wear expensive suit, it was so unlike her usual sexy ragged blue collars. Even so Duncan prove to be a certified Cara McKenna hero with his sexy charms and cracks that drew you into and hug him.

I say Raina is the perfect match for him, for she is an independent badass woman. I thought her and Miah gonna work but when I was reading this, I finally knew that they will never work out, they're were not perfectly match together as we thought they would be. I only wish Miah will have a great heroine because it will depend on the woman who will totally sweep him off his cowboy boots feet. So its gonna be a hit or miss, depends on Miah's heroine in his own book.

I love Duncan and Raina, I have never thought their chemistry would be hot and wild. Well surprise surprise:)

And Duncan is such a mess, a beautiful Hot mess!

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like Duncan or Raina in the first book, but they really grew on me in their own book. I think they really fit together as a couple. I still don't think we got all of Duncan's history, but I like where he was headed as a person...both of them really. By the time it was all over, I wasn't ready to leave and wanted to park my butt on a bar stool at Benji's and see where their romance was headed next.

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 5 out of 5]

***NOTE: This is NOT an MC romance***

4.5 stars!

Fuck me. That was incredible! McKenna absolutely nailed it. Turns out uptight snooty Brit can be eye crossingly sexy. Hot damn! Stunning characters, passion, the perfect amount of angst and turmoil, suspense. A little humor, some dirty loving and the perfect blend of crass and proper...yeah just...yeah! Plus the hero has a cat and totally dotes on her. So fucking sexy.

Now...I'm gonna need Case's book. *nods* I really really am.

Full review at herding cats & burning soup.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the second installment to the Desert Dog series, Cara McKenna has every intention of snatching reader’s attentions and running with it. In GIVE IT ALL, McKenna’s writing is flawless, delving deep into character’s psyche while also introducing an intricate suspense plotline concerning the aftermath of what happened in the first book of the series. While you don’t necessarily need to read the first in the series to appreciate this story, it is ideal if you want the full reading experience.

Raina Harper is one tough woman who intimidates but also intrigues Duncan Welch. Though they seem like polar opposites, their unexpected romance blooms beautifully under McKenna’s care. I loved how she was able to keep both their strong personalities in tack, never compromising who they were while creating a believable romance.

Duncan surprised me. His OCD, while not his defining characteristic became something that initiated the help that Raina offered. Without it, there wouldn’t be much depth to his personality, but McKnna also uses it to create more vulnerability in a self-made man. I found him very intriguing.

GIVE IT ALL definitely showcases McKenna’s talents as a writer in this suspenseful but also deeply thought-provoking instalment to the Desert Dogs series.

*ARC provided by publisher

[Mandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite Quote: "You talk like a robot butler," she said, stroking his hard chest and arms. "Why the fuck does that get me so wet?"

For those that read Lay it Down, you've already met our hero and heroine, Duncan Welch and Raina Harper - and if you are anything like me, the idea of these two together is very exciting. Duncan is a lawyer working for the firm that is in the run down town of Fortuity - but it won't be run down for long. Sunnyside is in the beginning stages of building a casino, something that will bring in a lot of money, but the locals don't want any of it. They want their town to stay small without any outsiders - unfortunately, the casino is coming. In book one, the suspense revolved around some burned up bones, bribes and people covering up a murder. Duncan helped with that investigation, but the ramifications have carried over to this book. When one of the guys involved in the murder is caught, he tells the Feds that Duncan has been receiving bribes from certain people, implicating him.

Raina owns Benji's, the local bar in town. Raina knows everyone in this town and doesn't take crap from anyone. Also a tattoo artist, she is a jean and boot wearing hard ass. Duncan often shows up in the evenings for his vodka and tonics and for whatever reason, these two start eyeing each other up. Raina becomes obsessed and amused to pry under Duncan's stuffy appearance. Duncan wears very expensive suits and shoes. He is very serious. Very proper. Very put together - basically the opposite of everyone in Fortuity. Raina is loud and has lived a hard life. She rides a motorcycle and would rather punch someone than be wooed romantically. When Duncan starts to get threatened because of his possible bribery charges, Raina decides he needs protection, and he moves in with her (much to his dismay). She starts to really get to know him - his OCD tendencies and why he has them. Duncan bleaches the bathroom for three hours a day almost every day when he feels out of control. He is on medication of anxiety. All of this goes against his perfect outside persona.

I'm not sure why a stuck-up, OCD lawyer gets me hot but oh my god Duncan did it for me. Cara McKenna writes him so well. He can be so snobby and look down upon the people of Fortuity, but McKenna tells his story and soon you realize he is becoming friends with these people, and falling in love with Raina and it all makes perfect sense! Part of the reason is that Duncan acknowledges and accepts that he has OCD tendencies and that he must live his life a certain way to keep his anxiety under control. He owns it and he has just enough of a sense of humor where he doesn't come off as a complete douche to other people.

Duncan's anxiety issues don't leave him at the bedroom door. He surprises Raina with how sexually aggressive and dirty he can be, but he has his moments in bed where his anxiety shines through. He is not close to being a virgin, but he is a BJ virgin. And that is mighty hot.

"You're going to let me do this," she said, her gaze steady, "and I'm going to love every second of it. And maybe you'll love it, too. And all this is is my mouth on your cock - a woman wanting to make a man feel good. I don't care if it's unladylike, or unattractive, or unhygienic. Or if it makes you feel like the sort of man who likes getting his dick sucked, or how you feel about that. It's what I want, and you're going to give it to me. Okay?"

He blinked, uncertain. Swallowed. Nodded.

Also added to this story is a great supporting cast. Casey, whose book is next made me laugh so damn much. He is such a smart-ass and there are so many hints that he has some crazy profession or past that I'm dying to know about.

I don't looooove the suspense with the burned, missing bones that has carried over from book one. I kind of wish we had some new suspense or a different conflict to read about. But the strength in this story are the characters and their relationships. Both Duncan and Raina, and the relationships of the their close friends are done really well.

And Duncan Welsh is a sexy beast. A sexy, controlled, OCD, anxiety-ridden beast. I loved him.

Rating: B

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

will review later

Full review, as usual, posted also on Ellie Reads Fiction

This is the second book in the Desert Dog series of romantic suspense biker stories by Cara McKenna and it's an addictive read with great characters and a twisty suspense plot.

The hero, Duncan, oh, boy, he was something else - I really hated him in the first book and when I learned that the sequel will be about him and Rain, I was anxious if and how the authro will developed his character in a convincing way for me to accept him as good enough/right for Raina. I needn't have worried. Ms McKenna not just made me accept Duncan but she basically made me fell in love with him, with his weirdness, his obsessions and pretences.

It's a very character driven story and the focus is on the journey/transformation of Duncan from the perfect emotionless almost robotic man in book 1 into a real human being with weaknesses and messy emotions. I felt deeply for Duncan and loved the person he was deep down and just let himself be in the end of the end. The relationship with Raina seemed impossible, illogical, they had nothing in common besides hot chemistry and they acted on it without too much expectations. He needed love and acceptance and the feeling of being wanted, valued, needed and Raina was not the most nurturing woman out there, at she was unwilling to open up to needing anyone, giving them more of herself than just sex. The love scenes were passionate, both rough and tender at the same time creating a sense of true intimacy, something Ms McKenna is a true master of.

Duncan and Raina went by trial and error in their relationship and there were some spectacular errors made by both sides. Apparently, a diamond bracelet given as a gift can the absolute thing to do, go figure :) On a more serious note, Ms McKernna examines the human heart, how difficult is to open up, to let ourselves feel any emotion since they could hurt us.

The suspense plot was not my favourite and I think it was the weakest element of the story. the characters and their interactions were much more interesting and well developed. I loved the glimpses of Miah and Casey.

I'm excited about the next book in the series and I hope it will be about Miah (he deserves his own HEA), though it might be about Casey, since we saw a lot of him in this book and by the looks of it things with him are pretty messed up. Meanwhile, Ms McKenna shared that she is working on a novella on Raina and Miah (back when they were together).

Recommended read for fans of romantic suspense with strong characters and focus and human relationships and matters of the heart!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

After meeting Duncan in Lay It Down, the first book in Cara McKenna's Desert Dogs series, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of Give It All. In the first book he was pompous and perfectly uptight and I just had to see how Ms. McKenna would dirty him up... And boy did she!

Give It All starts off with Raina in her ex, Miah's, bed and while a part of me secretly hoped that they'd end up together I understood, after a while, why they wouldn't work out. Miah wants a wife and family that is dependent on him and Raina will never be that woman. She grew up taking care of her dad and that's the sort of relationship she feels safe and comfortable in. She's not the type of woman that wants to need someone, she's independent, and tough, and you can't help but love her once you get to know her.

Duncan... Where to begin?! Duncan is not the perfectly composed man everyone thinks he is. That's a facade that he created when he was younger but in actuality he's got quite a few issues. He grew up in foster care with no one and nothing and he's worked his whole life to become this polished, controlled man that everyone sees. We really get to see him open up and I love the man behind the mask.

While they might seem like complete opposites, Duncan and Raina are actually perfect for each other. He's vulnerable and needy and she has to be the needed not the needer (if that's even a word?). Which brings me to the sexy times between the two. While not as sexy as I'd hoped they'd be, they portray the relationship perfectly. Duncan is controlling while being vulnerable and somewhat shy at the same time. And even though Raina isn't generally a nurturing person, she's able to be exactly what Duncan needs.

Of course I loved the romance aspect, but I loved the suspense too! If you read Lay It Down, you know that we were left with a few questions and that's all brought into Give It All. The bones that started it all were never discovered and now someone is setting Duncan up. This is where we get to see Duncan come out of his perfectly polished shell. Someone needs to find those bones, and since he has nothing but idle time, he's just the man for the job.

Will Duncan find the bones and prove his innocence? Will he come to love the dusty little town in Nevada? And will Raina and Duncan find a way to open up and make their unlikely relationship work? Well, you have to read Give It All to find out. And me? Now I'm sitting around patiently waiting for the next book in the series.

*ARC kindly provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Alex is The Romance Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I was going to love Raina & Duncan!!!! This is one unforgettable couple!!! Raina is one of my favorite heroines....totally awesome!!!! And who knew what Duncan kept hidden under that suit!!!!

This is such an awesome series and I loved this one even more than book #1..

Great writing, fantastic storyline, unforgettable characters and amazing and incredibly well-written sex scenes.

I am totally into the world and lives of the people of Fortuit....can't get enough!!!

Wish book #3 was here right now!!!

I want to continue reading the Desert Dogs and their women and friends....I miss them already!!!

[May Mostly Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Give It All ของคารา แม็คเคนนา

อ่านงานของคารา แม็คเคนนาไปหลายเล่มนะคะ ส่วนใหญ่สอบผ่าน นั่นคืออ่านสนุกใช้ได้ แต่ก็ยังไม่มีเล่มไหนที่ "โดน" ใจเราเต็ม ๆ จนกระทั่งเรื่องนี้

Give It All เป็นเล่มที่สองในชุด Desert Dogs ซึ่งเราเชื่อว่า เป็นการทำการตลาดโดยเอาเรื่องไปโยงกับแนวแก๊งค์มอเตอร์ไซด์ (ซึ่งเป็นแนวเรื่องที่กำลังฮิตกันในตอนนี้) แต่จริง ๆ แล้วก็ไม่ใช่ถึงขั้นเป็นแก๊งค์อะไรนะคะ แค่เป็นเพื่อนสนิทกันสี่คนที่หลังจากเวลาหลายปีได้กลับมาที่บ้านเกิด รวมตัวกันเพื่อช่วยเหลือเมืองที่ตอนนี้กำลังอยู่ในระหว่างการก่อสร้างคาสิโน ซึ่งจะทำให้ชีวิตของทุกคนในเมืองเปลี่ยนแปลงไป

เล่มแรกในชุด (Lay It Down) กล่าวถึงจุดเริ่มต้น เมื่อเพื่อนทั้งส��่ร่วมกันสืบหาความจริงเกี่ยวกับการตายของเพื่อนสนิทคนนึง ซึ่งตอนจบแม้จะหาตัวคนร้ายเจอ แต่ก็ยังไม่อาจพบตัวผู้บงการ เล่มนี้จึงเหมือนดำเนินเรื่องต่อมา

ในแง่ของพล็อตที่ต่อเนื่องกับเล่มแรก เราคงบอกว่า ไม่ได้มีความคืบหน้าอะไรเท่าไหร แต่นั่นไม่สำคัญเลย เพราะตัวละครโดดเด่นจนเราไม่สนใจพล็อต เรารู้สึกแบบนั้นจริง ๆ

ถือว่าเล่มนี้เป็นหนังสือที่ถูกใจเ���าเต็ม ๆ แห่งปี 2015 เลยก็ได้

ดันแคน พระเอกของเรื่องไม่ใช่สมาชิกในแก๊งค์ที่เรากล่าวถึง หากแต่เป็นเรน่า นางเอกของเรื่อง เล่มนี้ไม่ใช่เป็นโรแมนซ์แบบที่หลายคนอาจจะรับได้ นางเอกมีอดีต ไม่ใช่สาวน้อยไร้เดียงสาอ่อนต่อโลก หรือรอคอยเจ้าชายขี่ม้าขาวมาช่วย อันที่จริงเป็นดันแคนด้วยซ้ำที่ต้องการความช่วยเหลือ

ในฐานะตัวแทนของคาสิโนที่ถูกส่งมาที่บ้านเกิดของเรน่า ดันแคนคือผู้แก้ปัญหา คือคนที่จะทำให้มั่นใจว่า การก่อสร้างคาสิโนจะเสร็จตามแผน เขาควรจะเป็นศัตรูกับกลุ่มของนางเอกด้วยซ้ำ ตอนที่เปิดตัวของดันแคนในเล่มแรกของชุด เราก็ลังเลนะคะว่า เขาจะเป็นฝ่ายคนดี หรือร้าย แต่ที่แน่ ๆ ก็คือ เขาโคตรจะน่าสนใจ และมาในเล่มนี้เขาก็พิสูจน์ว่า ความคิดของเราถูกต้อง มีอะไรเยอะมากที่ซ่อนอยู่ภายใต้สูทที่ตัดเย็บมาอย่างดีของเขา

คารา แม็คเคนน่าเป็นนักเขียนที่เขียนคาแร็คเตอร์ที่มีมิติ เธอไม่ได้ใช้สูตรสำเร็จ หรือสร้างตัวละครตามภาพลักษณ์ที่คนอ่านคุ้นเคย เรน่าแตกต่าง และดันแคนแตกต่าง เราไม่แน่ใจนะคะว่า คนอ่านที่ชอบเรื่องที่คุ้นเคยจะมองเรื่องนี้อย่างไร แต่สำหรับเรา คาแร็คเตอร์คือส่วนที่ดีที่สุดของหนังสือเรื่องนี้

อย่างที่กล่าวไปแล้ว พล็อตเรื่องไม่ใช่ส่วนที่สำคัญ แทบจะไม่มีอะไรน่าสนใจในพล็อตเลยด้วยซ้ำ ก็แค่ดันแคนถูกใส่ความว่าเป็นผู้บงการเหตุการณ์ทั้งหมดที่เกิดในเล่มแรก ซึ่งเรน่ารู้ดี และเมื่อคิดว่า เขาเป็นคนที่ช่วยเธอและเพื่อน ๆ ในการค้นหาความจริง (ที่เกิดในเล่มแรก) เธอจึงรู้สึกรับผิดชอบ เลยต้องเข้าไปปกป้องเขา

คนที่รู้จักรสนิยมของเราดี ก็คงรู้ว่า นี่เป็นจุดอ่อนของเราเลยด้วยซ้ำ การใช้บทบาททางเพศที่สลับกัน แต่ไม่ต้องห่วงนะคะ เรื่องนี้ไม่ได้เขียนให้ดันแคนอ่อนแอ ช่วยเหลือตัวเองไม่ได้ เขาอาจจะไม่ใช่นักสู้ที่เอาชนะศัตรูตัวใหญ่กว่า (เยอะ ๆ) ได้ แต่เขาก็คือนักสู้ และที่สำคัญเขาน่าสนใจ ไม่อยากสปอยล์นะคะว่า ดันแคนเป็นยังไง แต่เราขอบอกว่า เขาเป็นมากกว่าที่เราคาดหวัง เอาเป็นว่า คำโปรยบนหน้าปกที่เขียนว่า "The Sun Goes Down, The Suit Comes Off, and Then the Real Fun Begins" จริงแท้มาก ๆ

เราเจอคนแต่งเมื่อปีก่อน และมีโอกาสคุยกับเธอเรื่องคาแร็คเตอร์ของดันแคน ซึ่งเราชอบตั้งแต่เจอเขาในเล่มแรกของชุด เธอพูดจนเราคิดเลยนะคะว่า จะสามารถเขียนได้งั้นหรือ แต่พิสูจน์แล้วว่า ทำได้

[Lila · Rating 3 out of 5]

“You are one steaming hot mess, aren’t you?”

And what a glorious mess Duncan Welch is...

There is this line in novel when Miah says that he doesn't like Duncan because first time he saw him he wanted to punch him in the face.
When I first met Duncan in Lay It Down with his perfect hair and him being all anal about rules, I just wanted to see that fussy, composed guy unhinged and disheveled.
I was right: the man is hot as fuck.
And this is what entire book comes down to for me: I was immersed... not so much into relationship development, but definitely in development of this particular character. Duncan is weird, socially challenged, awkward, ocd and he talks like a snotty bastard all the time. Oh, and he has a cat. I loooved seeing him unraveled.
After Duncan's involvement in discoveries about late sheriff's corruption, he is on the fence with his employer, and he was not popular person in Fortuity to begin with. With increased harassment and threats on his life, Raina and Desert Dogs decide they want to help him, so he moves from motel to Raina's. You can pretty much guess what happens next: these two had amazing chemistry when they were flirting in bar- sleeping next to each other? Scorching.

“My God,” she murmured, riveted. “You can fuck.”

So, as romance go, we know Duncan and Rain danced around each other since book #1 and progress in that department didn't come as surprise to anyone, not even Miah.
Which brings me to another important thing:
There is no love triangle of any sorts.

I have to admit i was afraid a little, since it seemed that Miah is still hung up on Raina, but no...they are very much done. So, Miah is building to be hero of some other story and I am looking forward to it; he is totally bonkable material.:D

All of my stars are for Duncan, since entire mystery/suspense part was flat and, honestly, it didn't interest me one bit. Hence my rating. Casino story might be interesting if it was going somewhere: instead we got what we had in first book: tensions and bitching in bar from locals. Mystery part with bones continued to drag in this book and I, honestly, wasn't convinced in resolution. immigrants copying threats to Duncan? What on earth.... Why??? Lame explanation, honestly, since guy who blackmailed them is arrested.
Also, I am still not sold on paranormal aspect of story, but I guess this will come more in play in Casey's story. At this point, I am more intrigued by Miah.
Also, am I the only crazy person who wants to know what's the deal with Dancer?

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

JavaGirl's review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

4.5 Stars

There is so much that I loved about Cara McKenna's Give It All that I'm not sure where to start. The mystery of Alex Dunn's death, the corruption and the conspiracy surrounding it continues in book 2 of The Desert Dogs series, with a few twists and turns. I found it not just totally believable, but completely compelling. A few pieces of the puzzle fall into place in this book, but not all. Yet, I don't feel frustrated. Ms. McKenna gives us enough to feel satisfied, while enough of the mystery remains to keep us coming back for more.

Ms. McKenna's blue-collar (and prison-striped) heroes are always flawed and imperfect, but interesting and oh-so appealing. We can't help but fall for them. I never know what to expect from her books; she doesn't follow any romance novel formula, so I wasn't sure how the story of Raina and Duncan was going to play out. What about Miah? Where did he fit in to Raina's life? That unpredictability really appeals to me. At first glance, Duncan Welch doesn't fit the profile for a McKenna Hero; he's a well-educated, fastidious, law-abiding attorney, an outsider (he's British!) in Fortuity, NV sent by the casino-development company to ease the natives' dislike of "progress". He has nothing but disdain for the town and it's inhabitants. In Lay It Down (Desert Dogs, Book 1), Duncan is a very unlikeable character, but one that you know hides all kinds of crazy under his custom suits. A very intriguing character paired with another intriguing character, Raina Harper. Raina abandoned her dreams to take care of her dad, and stays to run his bar after his death. She is tough, strong, fiercely independent, blunt and loyal. She dreams of leaving and making a living as a tattoo artist, something she currently only does on the side. She and Duncan have crazy chemistry that has been simmering since they met several months ago. Duncan's situation leads to Raina finally dealing with her father's death and going through his belongings. She begins to understand him more and learns things about him she never knew when he was alive. One of the interesting things to me about these two is that neither really wants to be attracted to the other, they are definitely not each others' type. Yet the attraction is there. When Duncan is implicated in the murder and cover-up, and is threatened, Raina comes to his defense and offers the Desert Dogs as protection. This is when the story really gets good. I knew Duncan was hiding all kinds of secrets under those expensive suits, perfect manners, and dry wit, but I wasn't quite prepared for the depth and the sadness of that story. As his backstory unfolded and I got to know him on a deeper level, he quickly became my favorite character in the series. His metamorphosis was truly a joy for me. Duncan is finding himself, even though he doesn't even realize he wants to be found. I loved his sense of humor and the interaction between him and Raina was very entertaining. There is a lot of pent up emotion in both of these characters and I could really feel their pain, as well as their need to not appear vulnerable. They're a bit of an odd couple, but they make for an interesting read.

The supporting cast of characters are intriguing; the more I get to know them, the more I want to see of them. Casey Grossier, Vince's younger brother, has a bigger role in this book than he did in Lay It Down. Casey has secrets too and I look forward to reading all about them!

[Wminbc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow....just wow...everything...suspense, sex, character development, witty banter...well done! Thank you for the ARC...but totally buying this book in 2015!
Please check out my review ...and get into this series!

https://talkbookstomeblog.wordpress.c...

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: B+

“OCD doesn’t keep you from getting your rocks off, then?”

His [Duncan] smile was slow and wicked. “Sex is one of a very few things in this world that I prefer dirty, Ms. Harper.”

When we first met Duncan Welsh (Lay It Down), a man connected to a company who was building a casino in the small town of Fortuity, which is not at all welcome by the locals, he seemed like a typical businessman, in it for the money, very straight-laced with that proper British accent. He ended up finding himself in the middle of a murder investigation and his beliefs, which are very black and white and he always walks the line of doing the right thing, the legal thing, started to get blurry when he began to uncover things about the casino and various players that weren’t on the up and up. Now, Duncan is a suspect in the investigation, he’s been dismissed from his job and he’s drifting and aimless. None of these things are good for his mental state. He suffers from OCD, takes medication for his anxiety and panic attacks and finds relief in order and routine. Both of those things have been ripped away from him and he’s not dealing well. His motel bathroom is spotless, as cleaning is one of his obsessive behaviors and one that helps calm the chaos in his mind. But he has one person in his corner, Raina, the owner of the bar Duncan has been frequenting and a member of the Desert Dogs ��� a group of long-time friends who have banded together to take care of themselves and this town.

Raina is a tough woman. She had a bad experience in her past that’s hardened her. She’s still dealing with the loss of her father, a man she loved dearly and she’s taken over his bar. She doesn’t necessarily want to keep the bar going, her first love is tattooing and she has a desire to see if she can make a go of that as a career, but guilt for keeping the bar open and running it for her father and for this small town has her conflicted. What she’s not conflicted about is Duncan, a man who intrigues her in many ways and when he starts to be harassed and threatened, she takes him in and offers him protection. What she never expected was to get to see that the real Duncan is not the man he presents to the public in his thousand dollar suits and fancy car. He’s a mess and it allows Raina to open up to him, something she’s never done with anyone before.

I really enjoyed this story and that was primarily due to Duncan. He’s not your typical hero (and I mean that in good way), he’s a little bit crazy and he has issues going back to growing up in the foster system and never having anyone care about him. He needs to feel wanted and craves having someone want him around. That definitely includes Raina but also her friends. He’s never had a friend in his adult life and he’s almost desperate for that connection. His life gets ripped apart by this investigation, but by being around Raina and making himself vulnerable to her, it gives him a certain type of mental peace. His obsessions stop ruling his life. They’re never quite gone, but the changes he goes through from the beginning of the story to the end are life altering and it was a captivating story to follow.

I liked getting to know Raina, she’s one tough woman on the outside, but her core is just as vulnerable as Duncan’s. In that way they’re a good match, but they really work because Raina likes to feel needed. But it’s a fine line and with Duncan, she’s able to give him that but it’s never overloaded too much. For as much as I liked Raina, I liked her best for what she brings to Duncan’s life, a person he’s needed for his entire life.

This story is one to be read for Duncan Welsh. The poor man goes through so much, there were so many times I wanted to just hug him and tell him it would all be ok, especially when he wants that very thing from someone in this small town. We also get some good setup for Casey, Vince’s brother (the hero from Lay It Down) and what I hope is the setup for his story next. But I won’t soon forget Duncan, there’s something that just gets me about a hero who’s struggling and vulnerable and finds everything he could ever hope for in his heroine.

[Vallsykes · Rating 4 out of 5]

My good impression of Cara McKenna's Desert Dog series, from book 1, lives on as I dove into this second installment, not knowing what to expect because the heroine gave up the seemingly better catch from the beginning.

It was like, "Girl, was it worth it?" To go from


to



????

Ummm...

Well, for Raina, it wasn't about a man to take care of her, or prestige, or love.

For Raina, I think it is about going against the grain. This is because she was born that way, from a very undesirable beginning, and she was raised with the unique kind of love that offered none of the romanticism of family and the norm, but a wealth of self-sufficiency and grit.

So Raina, finding an uncanny attraction to an anomaly, all shiny and aloof, like Duncan, really tells ya how opposites attract.

Duncan feels the same unlikely pull towards Raina, but for him, this is an experience in more ways than just becoming lovers. Duncan is out of his element; in book one, arriving as a fish out of water, he falls, undefined, into the Desert Dogs group in a way that is as uncomfortable for them as it is for him.

This book had more to do with Duncan's transformation than his love interest in Raina. She was an integral part and sure, the reader gets tidbits about Raina that explain her rough edges, but unfortunately, Raina didn't elicit the "feels" as much as Duncan did.


I didn't know what to make of Duncan. It was like McKenna was trying to fit him into an ill-fitting hero suit at first. But then you realize that the "hero" title doesn't fit in the usual sense.

I like my heroes to be alpha as all get out. I like 'em rough more than smooth, and I like them to be in control, most of all.

Duncan was none of these. LOL, he had underlying alpha urges but he was too "British", Ooops, should I say too ironed to get into messy possessiveness or demand. He also had no experience that way. and even when Duncan tried, for example, donning on a rougher look in lieu of riding a bike, he came off as a metrosexual poster-boy model.

The real kicker is that Duncan was most certainly not in control. In this story, his character suffered some indignities and associated conditions that seemed to make him very vulnerable.

However, somehow, someway, I liked Duncan. I mean, Cara McKenna did his character with gusto and it was method, from his speech to his mannerisms! Oh, I wasn't salivating on his sexiness or riveted by his gestures, but I found myself intrigued by how he, a man who coveted manicured control and pretense, could navigate a relationship with Raina, a bar owner/tattoo artist, rough n ready woman extraordinaire!

Well, it wasn't pretty, watching the unfolding, but it was surprisingly sweet and ...real.

Duncan also develops relationships of a sort with certain respective members of the Desert Dogs. This detail means something, as it alludes to the pain of his past.

When you read this one, I'd say be prepared to be impacted by Duncan's character the most, if you can get past all of his "dressings".

It was a love story that was more well written in its characterization, it's bit of conflict and sense of relationship building than in its sex scenes.

I recommend it, but I do think book 1 should be read first in order to get a fuller effect.

Happy Reading.

[T. Rosado · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

It’s amazing what an author can accomplish in one book. I wasn’t sure how I felt about Raina after book one, but I wasn’t at all impressed after her little prequel novella with Miah. At the same time, I was very curious about Duncan after book one, and he’s proved to be much more.

My heart was eviscerated with empathy. Duncan was strong but so completely vulnerable. He's amazing at deflection, but honest to a fault if you get in and ask the right questions. And Raina? The author found the right balance for her personality in this book, and I was more than pleased. After an auspicious start in the first two books, I enjoyed the evolution of her characterization.

The mystery from the first book expanded and continued in this second book, and Duncan was sadly caught in the middle of it. His involvement in the mystery, as well as his interest in Raina screwed with his careful control. His life got messy, and messy wasn't a place Duncan handled well.

Having gone into this story with doubts about Raina, I was surprised that I enjoyed this one more than book one. The mystery, action, and Duncan's life story kept me immersed in this one and primed for the next book.

[RachelW (BamaGal) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. Give it All was an overall better read than the first book of the 'Desert Dogs' series, but was still an uneven read with some slow spots that bordered on boring. Neither of the leads were particularly likable in the beginning, and I didn't warm up to their eccentricities until well into the story. Then there was the rushed ending to nicely wrap it all up.

I really like Cara McKenna's writing style, though; and will continue with the series.

[Readsalot81 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously, Mckenna writes messed up men better than just about any other author out there. This was totally Duncan's book. LOVED IT.

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Mehak · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so good. 10/10, 11/10, 15/10, I cried my eyes out. This isn't a dark romance or an MC romance or anything of that sort. If anything it's soft, and tender, and sad and sweet.

It's a couple friends in a small town who happen to like bikes. It's dirty and dusty and real, where everyone knows each other and strangers aren't welcome - and a new, very controversial casino is being built.

It's two very broken, similar yet different people colliding and changing each other in sad, significant ways.

Duncan has ISSUES up the wahoo - he's a thoroughly broken man with a very solid facade that starts to crumble and Raina is there to catch him when it does.

Raina has her own issues too, a main one being she's fiercely, painfully, isolating-ley independent.

She hadn't been honest and simply said, “I don’t want a man who’ll make me happy. I want to feel relief when things end, not grief. Why would anyone choose grief?” Regrets were ugly, but they scattered like ashes soon enough. It was attachment you had to look out for. Affection. Love. There was a certain line, where emotions were concerned, past which experiences ripened to memories, and it couldn’t be passed over lightly. Love had bones to it. Solid, rattling things bent on cluttering you up long after the soft parts melted into the ether. You had to carry those bones around with you. Make room for them, dust them, trip over them.

So she's instantly drawn to Duncan's broken-ness, she likes to be needed, and Duncan needs her, someone, ANYONE to just want him.

“You hide a lot of secrets behind all that tailoring.” Strip me bare , he thought. Take me apart. See me as no one else ever has, then tell me good-bye. He couldn’t live this way; couldn’t be with a woman and show this much, give this much . . .

There's a fascinating battle between these two when it comes to control, and who has it, and who is willing to give it up. It's a back-and-forth I've never really read before, and their chemistry is completely insane.

[Lauren at Live Read and Breathe Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Giving it All Stars!

Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Signet/Penguin Group

I don't know if I wasn't in the mood or it was too long between books but it took me quite awhile to get engaged in the story.  At last around 26%, I was hooked and couldn't put the book down which didn't fair well for my day of errands and such, but oh well there is always time for a good book. 

This book immediately starts off where Lay it Down ended, where Duncan has to deal with his choices of helping the Desert Dogs and Raina has to figure out her mess of a personal situation with Miah. 

In Lay it Down, Duncan comes across as quite the pompous ass with many hidden layers while Raina comes across as a raging bitch but is that truly her or her shield?  Duncan has certain ways that he likes but there is something about Raina that makes him want to change.  After the Desert Dogs, Duncan is caught up still in the middle of the investigation but instead of a helper he now finds himself a suspect. 

Raina convinces the rest of the Desert Dogs to help out Duncan since now the town has a hate on for Duncan being a suspect in all this.  As Raina intercedes into Duncan's life she ends up finding out so much than she bargained for.  For some Duncan's idiosyncrasies may make a woman flee but for Raina it only made him more endearing and I have to agree.

"I suppose that's fair.  I'm exceedingly difficult to date."

"Oh yeah?"

"I possess a winning combination of impossibly high standards and stunted empathy."

Duncan and Raina are surprisingly cut from the same cloth with their pasts but how they survived is where their differences lie.   The both need control, but for Duncan his is in every aspect of his life, where for Raina it more pertains to the men in her life.

"I'm not offended by germs so much as I am perfection."

However, even though they are the same but different, what they do have is loads of chemistry.  Duncan is such an endearing ass but I love him for it and it makes their banter a true enjoyment throughout the book.  At times though Raina's shield can make her quite an asshole.

"Enjoy your life." he said, not looking back. "I was an idiot to hope I'd ever have a place in it."

Both have their shields high but when they let them down they find so much more and start to change into the true potential of themselves making them so much more than their old selves. 

Great story. Well written. Even though it was a slow start I was completely hooked and I can not friggin' wait to find out how this whole mess plays out with for these Desert Dogs. Great Series. Great Author. 

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[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - 4

Review originally posted on 2/26/15 at For What It's Worth: http://www.fwiwreviews.net/2015/02/re...

Cara McKenna is a must read author for me, although I have to admit that I didn’t enjoy the first book in her new Dessert Dogs series, Lay it Down. One of the reasons for that was how much the secondary characters overpowered the leading couple. Duncan and Raina (the couple in this book) lept off the page and stole every scene they were in. So despite not loving Lay it Down. I knew I was going to give book #2 a shot because it was their story.

I absolutely loved Raina and Duncan as individuals and their initial mating dance was hot as hell. Duncan is probably one of McKenna’s most f*cked up characters – and that’s saying something. But once you see past his snobbish, OCD, pill popping, elitist lawyer personality, he is one of the sweetest too. He’s not a typical romance hero and not nearly as dirty as McKenna’s previous heroes. He does have a kink but I’m betting you would never in a million years guess what it is.

Raina is awesome too. I loved how she has a tough exterior but she’s also refreshingly honest about her wants and desires. We learn more about her past, her relationships with her father and Miah – her friend and former lover – who’s still very much hung up on her and her hopes for the future.

I like how Raina and Duncan’s relationship slowly developed and they both saw past each others icy exteriors. But somewhere along the line it kind of fell apart for me. She an Duncan share a near combustible attraction and it turns to something more sweet and intimate but they had so many hang ups and issues that the resolution felt rushed. I wished I could have seen them outside of the bedroom more so I could see how they functioned outside of a sexual relationship.

Duncan is working to clear his name of bribery charges and goes way outside his $3000 suit, Mercedes driving comfort zone looking for clues in the Fortuity dessert but he mostly does this with every other character from the book except Raina. Don’t get me wrong – I loved those interactions – of Duncan bonding with Casey,Vince, John Dancer and even Miah. They were actually my favorite part of Give it All but he and Raina mostly come together for sex. Again, I want to point out that this isn’t your typical kinky, sex solves all kind of thing. What they have is something more – waaaay more intimate but it doesn’t seem to extend outside of the bedroom.

For example, Duncan gets arrested or brought in for questioning several times. While Raina is worried, she never goes down there to check on him. She also repeatedly accuses Duncan of trying to change her but she’s never really called out on how she is with Duncan. Part of the attraction to him is her desire to break him down and make him unravel under her control. She also likes the fact that he needs her. It’s a super interesting dynamic but by the end it feels really one sided and unfair to Duncan. He’s making all the compromises and gestures. Taking all the risks. I love how it’s all wrapped up. Very gratifying and balance is restored. I guess I feel like the steps in between are missing.

The mystery of the bones continues form the first book and I found that more interesting this time around as well. Especially with Duncan doing all that dirty work, working through his discomfort and panic. He was really fascinating to read about.

Final thoughts: Overall this was a much stronger book than Lay it Down and I thought it was headed for a 5 star read but then the story kind of got messy for me. The romance and the mystery felt like two separate entities – both interesting but choppy in their transition from one to the other. There's crime solving Duncan and then here's relationship Duncan and Raina but the two don't mix.

Even so, I had a lot of fun reading this one and would still highly recommend it. I guess the romance part could be read as a stand alone but I think it’s better if you read the books in order. There is a bigger story and characters that carry over from each book.

[Camy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this!

[Ana Neagu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh yeah! OCD has nothing on a good womans charm :) but I loved reading Duncan's story and all the drama and hotness that came with it!

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

The appeal of Cara McKenna’s heroes is that they don't hew to the usual romance hero model. They aren’t always model GQ handsome or uber rich. They aren’t happy go lucky individuals. Often dark and broody with a gritty past, they offer no excuses for their actions. They do what needs to be done and will maybe ask for forgiveness afterwards but don’t hold your breath. Yet even with all the warning bells that go off in your head, there is something about them that makes you look twice. Besides the unbelievable sensual heat that rolls off them, promising you a night in heaven should you decide to dance with the devil, there is a trace of reluctant honor behind that gruff exterior. Their boundaries between right and wrong maybe be blurred but there is often a very good reason they walk in the gray area. They may not be your knight in shining armor but sometimes what a woman wants and needs are two very different things.

Give It All is the second installment in McKenna’s romance suspense series, The Desert Dogs. Set in the desolate desert town of Fortuity, Nevada, a small group of friends known as the Desert Dogs have come together to protect the town and its residents from a conglomerate that is fixated on building a luxury resort. Although the resort will bring in new money, it will also change the town. The conglomerate sent its trouble shooter, Duncan Welsh, to help grease some palms, keep the residents in check, and the timeline for development running smoothly. When one of the town residents is murdered, Duncan finds himself reluctantly dragged into helping solve the crime. Viewed now with suspicion by his employers for his actions, Duncan is at a loss on how to restore his professional reputation...or if he even wants to.

Duncan Welsh is a McKenna hero through and through. An introverted alpha, this wealthy educated British expat hides behind a thick shield, only showing the town what he wants them to see. He's got OCD, is fussy, peculiar, and emotionally shut off. A corporate mercenary of sorts, he is the best at what he does and he will do it regardless of the outcome or reasons why.

“I’m not bothered what my bosses are planning.” He sipped his drink. “Casino, water park, megachurch— it’s all the same to me. I came here only to do my job, and to do it well. My commitments are about as personal as a whore’s.”

Seemingly posed, uncaring, and in perfect control at all times...there is a darkness that shadows him, blinking out at you from behind his eyes, making you wonder if would happen if that darkness was ever set free.

He tongued his imposter tooth again, feeling a kinship with it. The both of them were imitations. Passing for perfect but underneath … broken.

McKenna dips deep into her characters’ psyches with this installment of the series. She introduced us to Duncan in book one, creating the perfect anti-hero for us to love to hate. But now she stealthily rips apart his protective shell, layer by layer, to reveal his damaged center. Duncan is broken. Raised in the foster care system, he has issues stemming from his chaotic and insecure childhood. Told he was a burden for so long, he learned that being perfect and indispensable were a way for him to gain love and affection. Hence the rituals he developed as a coping mechanism to help calm him and restore order to his world.

Degrading though these chores were, the calm was coming to him now. The fumes and the ritual were subsuming him, quieting his brain, banishing the panic and the pulsing headache. He could hear his bygone foster mother’s voice in his head— that soft, cultured accent offering the only kind words he’d known in the first half of his life. ‘Look at that! You cleaned that all by yourself? What did I do to deserve such a good helper?’ To deserve him.

Bar owner and townie Raina Harper knows all about damaged centers. Abandoned by her mother at birth, she was raised by her careless, scattered father who did his best to raise a child while eking out a living. His bar, now hers, is a monument to his dreams and failures. Raina feels trapped by the love and obligations of her past...her father, her friends, and her ex lover. Also emotionally closed off, she understands the need one has to let no one in because once you begin to feel...you can be hurt.

Love had bones to it. Solid, rattling things bent on cluttering you up long after the soft parts melted into the ether. You had to carry those bones around with you. Make room for them, dust them, trip over them. Sex and moments of easy companionship were enough—just don’t let those bones grow in. Keep it soft and shapeless with no skeleton, no means to follow you when the time comes to walk away.

Duncan and Raina’s relationship begins as an uneasy dance that is firmly based in distrust but heightened with a coiled whip of lust and need that flashes through them with each new encounter. They have nothing in common and the fear on both sides acts almost as an aphrodisiac. Duncan knows deep inside that Raina will change him. For the better or worse though, that remains to be seen.

She made him want things he’d never given much thought to. Noisy, messy sex; nails raking his back. Instincts he didn’t trust any more....

Raina takes perverse delight in ruffling Duncan’s feathers, teasing and taunting him, flirting with the untamed man she suspects hides beneath the surface. She wants to taste this man. Feast on him until she gorges herself into oblivion and forgets the ties that keep her bond to this town and life.

“Dancing tells a woman everything she needs to know about how a man’ll be in bed,” she informed him.

“I can’t imagine what dancing with me is telling you.” That buttery voice had changed, just like his breathing. Lower, darker. Distracted.

She grinned, unseen. “Tells me you’re a quick study.”

“I was always an excellent student.” More flippant words, but his tone said she had him.

Deception and betrayal go hand in hand as Duncan is helpless to avoid the turbulent sensual desires that run roughshod over his wants; opening his heart and mind to something new and exciting if he have the courage to reach for it.

The man he was now was different. Scarred and callused. Imperfect in many, many ways, but also more accessible than he’d ever imagined he could be. Vulnerable. Known.

A mess, but a whole one.

Duncan and Raina give it all to one another in the new book in Cara McKenna's Desert Dogs series.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hard woman bar owner in a hard little town on the edge of nowhere and a man accustomed to refined things and ways who sees this diamond in the rough- and likes her just as she is. The backdrop for the story is a small Nevada desert town chosen to be put on the map by casino developers is fulminating with secrets including the private secrets of its citizens. The Desert Dogs series is gritty, dirty, passionate, intriguing, compelling, and just leaves me thirsty for more.

This is book two in the series and it is definitely not standalone or out of order material. It begins pretty much where the last one left off. Even though the spotlight shifts to a different set of main characters, the characters and plot all began back in the beginning.

The Desert Dogs stand together to protect what is theirs and now that Duncan Welch stands accused of taking bribes and possibly worse after he helped them bring posthumous justice to a fallen friend incurring dangerous enemies, they must stand by him. He loses his job, he is under suspicion from the Feds and he is the target of a destructive stalker. His calm, cool exterior starts falling away as his panic attacks, anxiety and OCD behavior increase. He has never relied on anyone in his life after learning repeatedly through the foster system that he only has himself. Raina, her friends and the whole town think they have him pegged and that is what he wants. He knows he is abrasive, the face of the enemy casino and won't win any hearts in the small blue collar town, but he was okay with it until all he had built up for himself and even his persona is ripped away leaving him raw and bare. Now the very people he disdained are the ones he needs to help him and oddly, he needs their respect too. And Raina, well that wild, forceful, freedom-loving woman has him tied in knots and he's not sure if he ever wants her to let go, but he knows she will because Raina doesn't do relationships, love or anything permanent.

Raina Harper, owner of the local gathering place and water hole learned practically from the point of birth that people left and took a piece of you with them if you let yourself get attached. Other than one break for freedom that ended disastrously, she has been stuck in her dead-end home town tending her dad's bar and dreaming of making something of her tattoo artistry gift. Miah wants her to settle down with him and raise a family. She loves him, but she can't. Her heart is untouched and always will be that's why the cold, calculating Duncan Welch seems like a better bet. He knows the score with her and he won't cross the line. But even as she determines to seduce him into a bit of sexy excitement, she realizes that Duncan's world is crashing down around him and he's in grave danger. When she gets a peek through the cracks in his facade, she realizes that she might have gotten a lot more than she bargained for and it scares her to death for Duncan is no iceman and she is not immune.

After the first book and meeting Raina and Duncan, I was well aware that this story wouldn't be easy. They both are hard people with pasts and not easily loveable to the reader to give fair warning. I had moments in the earlier book when I was confused by Raina and disappointed in her especially when it came to Miah. I started out that way with this book, but as this hard-bitten woman's story unfolded, I realized that Miah was definitely not the man for her. This woman had the lethal combination of a torturous past, impetuous spirit and gritty inner strength and she needed a man who could accept that and partner her with equal depths and strength. Duncan was something else in this book. I was in awe of him. Unlike anyone else in the series, he is not the hard-bodied bad boy type and actually comes across as an uptight metrosexual until you get inside his head and see his past. A very refreshing, different sort of hero. He truly hit bottom, was broken and got up with Raina's help to put himself back together into something so much better. It was amazing to see- well to watch both of them remake into something new to be honest.

There was one moment near the beginning that will give you an idea about these two together when they first circle each other warily:
"Will you be answering all these questions yourself?"
She smiled, "Will you be admitting you want to hear my answers?"
He nodded.
"Okay, then."
"Okay, then," Duncan agreed. "I lost my virginity when I was seventeen."
"OCD doesn't keep you from getting your rocks off, then?"
His smile was slow and wicked. "Sex is one of a very few things in this world that I prefer dirty, Ms. Harper." pp. 106-107 Raina and Duncan, Give It All

All that character growth and relationship development was layered over a diverting mystery and suspense as the investigation continues. Duncan is being framed and the whole town believes him guilty so he is determined to clear himself in the only way he knows. He must solve the original crime- the burned bones that are missing. While he works on his defense case and his relationship with Raina and the rest of the Desert Dogs, he must battle an enemy in the shadows who doesn't want the case solved for their own reasons.

To wrap up, I was just as into this story as the last- more so in some ways- with the strong and deep characters, hot, gritty, yet passionate romance and the compelling suspense. Next Desert Dog soon, pretty please! For recommendations, I think this would appeal to both Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense fans.

My thanks to Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Carrie (Rotten Banana) · Rating 3 out of 5]

First reviewed at Red Hot Books http://redhotbooks.com/2015/02/review...

Cara McKenna is back with her second book in the Desert Dogs series set in the small desert town of Fortuity, Nevada. The murder of a childhood friend has brought the self-named Desert Dogs back together to figure out what is going on in their small town ever since a casino developer burst onto the scene. Just as they uncover one secret, ten more pop up.

Duncan Welch, the PR shark for the casino development and once-hated enemy, had bought himself a bit of good will when he helped the Dogs discover who was behind their friend’s death. As criminal charges start flying around the town, Duncan finds himself accused of taking bribes. This offends the very essence of this staid and straight-laced man who soon finds himself out of a job, confined to a town he hates and subject to increasing violence from the locals. All the added pressure has Duncan, not a mentally healthy individual to start with, coming apart at the seams.

Raina Harper has been intrigued and repelled by Duncan ever since he first walked into her bar. Initially, his handsome face and dapper dress was cancelled out by a cold and snobby attitude. Raina continued to observe Duncan when he came in for drinks and began to notice that things were happening to the man beneath the surface. A close call with some locals out for blood and a dangerous night of mixing pills and booze sends Duncan spiraling. Raina notices it all and lets her curiosity, and infatuation, get the best of her when she practically demands that Duncan come stay with her.

Raina thinks she can scratch a bedroom itch that has been niggling her since Duncan came to town, at the same time repaying him for his efforts helping out her crew. Duncan knows that he won’t be able to hide his compulsions from Raina when living with her, but also realizes that he needs someone else to stop him from spinning out of control. Raina is captivated when she realizes that there’s a very vulnerable man beneath the slick exterior and very scared of feeling an attachment as Duncan latches onto her as a lifeline.

Duncan and Raina are both very independent and standoffish individuals. There were no warm fuzzies from this couple, even when they are in bed together. Duncan has carefully created his persona as a result of his rough childhood in the foster system. Unfortunately, that strong need for control also manifests itself in OCD compulsions and panic attacks. Raina pokes a bit of fun at his issues but not in a mean way. She empathizes with the need to have control because of some of her own experiences and thus begins to appreciate Duncan needing her. They both don’t want to be beholden to anyone for their needs. While Raina retains this sensibility throughout the story, Duncan completely breaks down to a needy mess. Raina liked to be the one to put him back together. I felt like it made the relationship very one-sided. Duncan was all in with Raina but she was pretty ambivalent about him. I liked them individually (and I didn’t think that would happen with Duncan based on his character in the first book) but I never got them as a couple.

This is mainly a character-driven story where the action doesn’t really start moving until the 80% mark, but when it does, it’s very exciting. Raina and Duncan may not have worked for me as a couple but I enjoyed their interactions with everyone else, especially the blossoming bromance with Duncan and Casey. One part of the mystery of the bones is wrapped up but the author dropped some subtle clues as to the doozies waiting just around the corner. I think this series needs to be read in order to understand the plot and relationships. I would give this a C for romance but a B+ for the suspense. I’m very much looking forward to that charming grifter, Casey’s, story up next.

Rating: C+/B-

*ARC courtesy of Signet

[Maria Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Desert Dogs series, a name that comes from a group of childhood friends who formed a club of sorts, and still have each other's backs even as they've had to deal with the ups and downs of relationships and life in general. There is a continuity to the plot from the first book, in which a casino developer moved into their town and brought some shady dealings, including murder into their midst. You don't have to read the first story to enjoy this one, the setup is laid out well, but it definitely would be of benefit if you want to know more about Vince and Kim, whose story is the first in the series.

This story focuses on Raina, the bar owner and all around feisty heroine type and Duncan, the suave and sophisticated legal counsel for the Casino company - a man who finds that by aiding the Desert Dogs in their murder investigation in the previous story is now a suspect as a result and his life unravels before his eyes. He's already got mental health issues, and they are definitely exacerbated by the new events. In an effort to clear himself, he decides that solving some of the still remaining mysteries should fall to him. But in being a suspect and considered a shady character by many of the townsfolk, his life is also threatened and Raina takes him in, a thank you of sorts for his help and the fact that his own career is threatened by him aiding their club.

I really enjoyed the relationship that builds between Raina and Duncan. She's such a strong character, and yet she's able to be what Duncan needs, without diminishing herself. Her history with Miah, her childhood friend and former lover isn't glossed over, and it's clear that while they have strong feelings for each other, it's not enough to make for a future for them. (Incidentally, a novella was released after this story, Drive it Deep, that looks more closely into Miah and Raina's prior relationship). Duncan was fascinating as he gets slowly taken apart and rebuilt as a new person, something that's happened to him before and yet now, finally, he feels at home in his own skin. I loved reading about that transformation. There is a tense underlying feel to the story, the knowledge that there is a murdered man somewhere out there, and combined with the harassment of Duncan, makes for a compelling read. The sex scenes between Raina and Duncan are super hot (as expected of Ms. McKenna) but tender too. I felt like this was more Duncan's story than anything else, and I really liked how the whole thing was put together. The ending leaves us with some mysteries still to be solved and I'm looking forward to the next story in the series!