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Lust & Lies #3
Predator and Prey: The Phoenix and the Fire
I was drawn to darkness, and he was the abyss.
Safe.
It’s a liar’s word. No one is ever truly safe.
Control is how I survived.
I lived my life by two principles: order and excellence. My moral compass steered me out of the backwoods of Tennessee and towards the woman I was destined to become, but not without gathering a few skeletons along the way. Eventually, I found success, but my restless, relentless nature still left me feeling unsatisfied. Then I met a ghost of a man, an enigma.
He wanted me submissive. I wanted to know him.
At first, I was convinced Daniello was a figment of my imagination, a beautiful and dangerous apparition with an animalistic hunger and insatiable thirst. He threatened my need for order, and in his absence, I became more haunted by my past.
My love for him made me flesh and bone—vulnerable.
I was finally a woman with something to lose and would do anything to keep it.
But when my past caught up with my present, it became clear that control was a farce, and safe would forever remain an illusion.
**This is a dark romance and contains elements that are unsuitable for sensitive readers.
***THIS NOVEL WAS FORMERLY PUBLISHED AS A TWO BOOK SERIES.
*Formerly published under pen name
Safe.
It’s a liar’s word. No one is ever truly safe.
Control is how I survived.
I lived my life by two principles: order and excellence. My moral compass steered me out of the backwoods of Tennessee and towards the woman I was destined to become, but not without gathering a few skeletons along the way. Eventually, I found success, but my restless, relentless nature still left me feeling unsatisfied. Then I met a ghost of a man, an enigma.
He wanted me submissive. I wanted to know him.
At first, I was convinced Daniello was a figment of my imagination, a beautiful and dangerous apparition with an animalistic hunger and insatiable thirst. He threatened my need for order, and in his absence, I became more haunted by my past.
My love for him made me flesh and bone—vulnerable.
I was finally a woman with something to lose and would do anything to keep it.
But when my past caught up with my present, it became clear that control was a farce, and safe would forever remain an illusion.
**This is a dark romance and contains elements that are unsuitable for sensitive readers.
***THIS NOVEL WAS FORMERLY PUBLISHED AS A TWO BOOK SERIES.
*Formerly published under pen name
450 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2017
347 people are currently reading
1969 people want to read
About the author
Kate Stewart
50 books25.8k followersNew York Times, USA Today, Amazon Charts, and Internationally bestselling author Kate Stewart, a Texas native, lives in North Carolina with her husband, Nick. Nestled within the Blue Ridge Mountains, Kate pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance, as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense.
The Ravenhood Trilogy, consisting of Flock, Exodus, and The Finish Line, as well as the spinoff series, Ravenhood Legacy, have become NYT, USA Today, and International bestsellers as well as TikTok sensations. The Ravenhood was recently acquired for film adaptation with Kate set to co-write the script, as well as executive produce, which will kickstart her lifelong dream of becoming a filmmaker.
Amongst Kate’s other bestselling works, The Bittersweet Symphony Duet, specifically Drive, was a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist for best contemporary romance of 2017. Stewart’s works have been featured in USA Today, BuzzFeed, The New York Daily News, Huffington Post, Glamour Magazine, and translated into over twenty languages.
More info: https://geni.us/katestewartbooks
The Ravenhood Trilogy, consisting of Flock, Exodus, and The Finish Line, as well as the spinoff series, Ravenhood Legacy, have become NYT, USA Today, and International bestsellers as well as TikTok sensations. The Ravenhood was recently acquired for film adaptation with Kate set to co-write the script, as well as executive produce, which will kickstart her lifelong dream of becoming a filmmaker.
Amongst Kate’s other bestselling works, The Bittersweet Symphony Duet, specifically Drive, was a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist for best contemporary romance of 2017. Stewart’s works have been featured in USA Today, BuzzFeed, The New York Daily News, Huffington Post, Glamour Magazine, and translated into over twenty languages.
More info: https://geni.us/katestewartbooks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
August 28, 2020
3.5 to 4
So dang complicated. I got frustrated with both the H and the h. Taylor drove me up the wall with her push and pull attitude. I think she could sabotage anything she put her hands on. The H was the same way tip toeing between hate and love plus abuse and kindness. Their push and pull got old and all the twist made it seem all over the place at times.
So dang complicated. I got frustrated with both the H and the h. Taylor drove me up the wall with her push and pull attitude. I think she could sabotage anything she put her hands on. The H was the same way tip toeing between hate and love plus abuse and kindness. Their push and pull got old and all the twist made it seem all over the place at times.
August 8, 2020
Everyday I fall in love with Kate’s writing. This book was amazing. Love love it!!!
January 18, 2022
The third, and final, book in the lust and lies series. As with my previous two book reviews from this series, I'm sure there will be some spoilers at some point. And they will probably start sooner than later.
Overall, this one felt short to me as with the first book. Though I may consider this one a 4.5... it just doesn't quite hit that 5 for me. So the second book is definitely my favorite. Though I had a lot of things I really liked about this book, there was quite a bit that just got old. Seems very slow during a lot of the book. And a lot of backstory that didn't seem necessary. Some of it was, of course, but it was a lot that was thrown in and I was just like, whyyyy?
Ok. So Taylor is looking for a Dom herself and is checking out The Rabbit Hole from book 1. I liked the tie back to that book. She sees Daniello there and they eye screw each other across the room. They do this for forever and Taylor finally is at her ropes end and decides if he doesn't make a move and isn't there, then she won't return to the club. Because he's always sitting in the corner with a drink and he checks her out, but never says anything.. naturally this would be a very boring book if he didn't say anything on her "last visit" to the club. So he does. And he buys her glass of wine and a second one. She doesn't realize that until he's already gone. And they discuss the cat and mouse game they appear to have from across the room of eyeballing each other. They make no plans to get together again, but naturally they cross paths down the road in the book.
She is out on the prowl later in the book and a different man approaches her and brings her to a group of guys. She's thinking she has her pick of men. And she does, until she realizes that one of the two men arguing is Daniello. And she realizes that he's the one she wants. But he becomes an idiot and fingers the waitress in front of all of them until she climaxes and Taylor gets mad and leaves and lets the valet lick her lady bits in the car. But he sucked. And allegedly Daniello went back inside and screwed the waitress that night.
So the two of these ended up going back and forth and definitely had a cat and mouse game. Daniello was a "bag guy" who turned out to be Italian Mafia.
During the long stretches in between waiting for Daniello, Taylor wanted to get in contact with her sister, Amber, who still lived in their hometown and ended up being influenced by Taylor's ex, Laz. Laz and Taylor were young sweethearts who never made it to home base though they loved each other and wanted a future together.
However, Laz started smoking meth and became addicted and broke promises to Taylor. Taylor got out thanks to an older gentleman named Ray. Ray was 10 years older than her and offered to get her out of town and help her. The idea would be that she trade sexual favors and she would get a Harvard degree in the meantime. But Ray felt bad for "corrupting" Taylor, so Taylor initiated it.
Eventually Ray pushed Taylor away saying he didn't want her and didn't love her and all this stuff. And she made her way through Harvard and then got the job with Nina. In book 2, she became partners with Nina. And showed what a badass she was from her upbringing in Tennessee.
Tennessee was also where she met Cedric. Cedric, Taylor, and Laz were all friends. Though Cedric wanted more with Nina, but Nina was in love with Laz. Cedric was really a good guy all around.
Back to Amber, turns out she had a baby a couple years ago who got taken away from her because she was using drugs as well. Amber and Taylor's parents were both meth heads and dad was a dealer. They treated the kids like trash and the mom beat Amber a lot. The ough Taylor tried to protect her.
Amber finally made contact with Taylor, only to have Laz on the line threatening Taylor that she better come home. So Taylor does, to save her sister. And she brings the heat. She finds out that Laz has a cat and mouse game of his own to play and is apparently running the entire county with his drug sales. So he has several people shooting at her car and trying to run her off the road. But she realizes they aren't actually trying to hurt her. It's just a game to Laz. He love/hates Taylor at this point based on the way she left him in the hotel room after shooting him. In his mind, they would always be together. But that just wasn't the case, she moved on.
And during her car chase with Laz's goons. A black SUV comes into play. And that happens to be Daniello who ended up killing like three or four people to keep her safe. Yeah, total bad guy. But also nothing he wouldn't do for her. It was one of those situations where he couldn't tell her anything other than the fact that he was a bad guy. He would go out and do bad things and come back and screw Taylor's brains out. But sometimes he zoned out according to Taylor while doing that and became another person even.
So Taylor gets Amber and Daniello out of Tennessee and they are heading back home. And Amber is talking about wanting her baby back who is around 2 and Taylor says their best course is to get back to Taylor's, get a job and a place to stay and show that she's stable.
Fast forward. Amber does that and Laz thinks Amber is on his side and will return to him after she gets the baby back, but really, she has turned to Taylor's side and wants her son back and wants to be with her sister. Cedric and his team are on high alert, but still managed to miss Laz coming to them and attacking them. What a crappy bodyguard. But he did love Taylor. And Daniello ended up saving the day.
Daniello ended things with Taylor because he had to go back to Italy and take his place in the family. He didn't want to and it was a crappy time for them to be a part because they loved each other, but it was more of a forbidden love.
During the course of their love affair, which they never said love throughout it of course, he bought her a penthouse and installed cameras and could see her in there pleasing herself and speaking of his name when she came. So he knew she felt the same things that he was feeling.
Her sister ended up shot and she went to Italy to confront Daniello and ended up in a heap of trouble over there, but did meet his family and returned back to the states without Daniello and with them officially ended. The most touching part of the story, was when she was leaving Italy and they were actually professing their love for each other. Taylor was always correcting his English and telling him he should fire his tutor. He admitted to her as they were parting, that he didn't speak any English when he first saw her at the club. And he did not have a tutor. He forced his cousin to teach him English and he listened to English tapes 13 hours a day for weeks. Because he knew when he talked to Taylor for the first time, he wanted to be able to have a conversation with her. And when he first saw her, he wouldn't have been able to. It was seriously the most beautiful moment in the book.
She goes back to Ray's who has since passed due to heart issues and stays there for like 8 months and visits Amber/Nina on occasion and works remotely from her home she inherited from Ray. At first I didn't realize that Ray had died and I thought it odd that she was going back to him though He told her to make her first million and come back to him and he would maybe do a relationship with her. He said that knowing he would be gone from this earth by that point.
She got her closure with Ray after reading the note he wrote, which was very touching and saying he would have loved her if his heart was whole.
She ended up moving to the penthouse that Daniello purchased and filled it with items she selected as opposed to her homes that previously had been decorated by other people.
When she was settling in, she had groceries delivered And they unpacked everything and put it away. When she went to her refrigerator, there was rows and rows of pimiento cheese. Daniello joked It was the caviar of the south. And that was his return back to the story. His family released him from his duties and he retired from that life so he was free to create his life with Taylor.
So while it was a really good book and I enjoyed it, I just did not care for how it drug on and on and on for a lot of it. Hence the 4.5 stars, rounded down to four. Instead of a five-star review.
**Oh. And I will say I loved the Nina and Devin bits in this book too! Devin proposes and Nina says no and threatens to shoot him again. But Taylor says Nina will eventually say yes (and of course she does) but Nina keeps denying it. The two of them in this book were just adorable**
Overall, this one felt short to me as with the first book. Though I may consider this one a 4.5... it just doesn't quite hit that 5 for me. So the second book is definitely my favorite. Though I had a lot of things I really liked about this book, there was quite a bit that just got old. Seems very slow during a lot of the book. And a lot of backstory that didn't seem necessary. Some of it was, of course, but it was a lot that was thrown in and I was just like, whyyyy?
Ok. So Taylor is looking for a Dom herself and is checking out The Rabbit Hole from book 1. I liked the tie back to that book. She sees Daniello there and they eye screw each other across the room. They do this for forever and Taylor finally is at her ropes end and decides if he doesn't make a move and isn't there, then she won't return to the club. Because he's always sitting in the corner with a drink and he checks her out, but never says anything.. naturally this would be a very boring book if he didn't say anything on her "last visit" to the club. So he does. And he buys her glass of wine and a second one. She doesn't realize that until he's already gone. And they discuss the cat and mouse game they appear to have from across the room of eyeballing each other. They make no plans to get together again, but naturally they cross paths down the road in the book.
She is out on the prowl later in the book and a different man approaches her and brings her to a group of guys. She's thinking she has her pick of men. And she does, until she realizes that one of the two men arguing is Daniello. And she realizes that he's the one she wants. But he becomes an idiot and fingers the waitress in front of all of them until she climaxes and Taylor gets mad and leaves and lets the valet lick her lady bits in the car. But he sucked. And allegedly Daniello went back inside and screwed the waitress that night.
So the two of these ended up going back and forth and definitely had a cat and mouse game. Daniello was a "bag guy" who turned out to be Italian Mafia.
During the long stretches in between waiting for Daniello, Taylor wanted to get in contact with her sister, Amber, who still lived in their hometown and ended up being influenced by Taylor's ex, Laz. Laz and Taylor were young sweethearts who never made it to home base though they loved each other and wanted a future together.
However, Laz started smoking meth and became addicted and broke promises to Taylor. Taylor got out thanks to an older gentleman named Ray. Ray was 10 years older than her and offered to get her out of town and help her. The idea would be that she trade sexual favors and she would get a Harvard degree in the meantime. But Ray felt bad for "corrupting" Taylor, so Taylor initiated it.
Eventually Ray pushed Taylor away saying he didn't want her and didn't love her and all this stuff. And she made her way through Harvard and then got the job with Nina. In book 2, she became partners with Nina. And showed what a badass she was from her upbringing in Tennessee.
Tennessee was also where she met Cedric. Cedric, Taylor, and Laz were all friends. Though Cedric wanted more with Nina, but Nina was in love with Laz. Cedric was really a good guy all around.
Back to Amber, turns out she had a baby a couple years ago who got taken away from her because she was using drugs as well. Amber and Taylor's parents were both meth heads and dad was a dealer. They treated the kids like trash and the mom beat Amber a lot. The ough Taylor tried to protect her.
Amber finally made contact with Taylor, only to have Laz on the line threatening Taylor that she better come home. So Taylor does, to save her sister. And she brings the heat. She finds out that Laz has a cat and mouse game of his own to play and is apparently running the entire county with his drug sales. So he has several people shooting at her car and trying to run her off the road. But she realizes they aren't actually trying to hurt her. It's just a game to Laz. He love/hates Taylor at this point based on the way she left him in the hotel room after shooting him. In his mind, they would always be together. But that just wasn't the case, she moved on.
And during her car chase with Laz's goons. A black SUV comes into play. And that happens to be Daniello who ended up killing like three or four people to keep her safe. Yeah, total bad guy. But also nothing he wouldn't do for her. It was one of those situations where he couldn't tell her anything other than the fact that he was a bad guy. He would go out and do bad things and come back and screw Taylor's brains out. But sometimes he zoned out according to Taylor while doing that and became another person even.
So Taylor gets Amber and Daniello out of Tennessee and they are heading back home. And Amber is talking about wanting her baby back who is around 2 and Taylor says their best course is to get back to Taylor's, get a job and a place to stay and show that she's stable.
Fast forward. Amber does that and Laz thinks Amber is on his side and will return to him after she gets the baby back, but really, she has turned to Taylor's side and wants her son back and wants to be with her sister. Cedric and his team are on high alert, but still managed to miss Laz coming to them and attacking them. What a crappy bodyguard. But he did love Taylor. And Daniello ended up saving the day.
Daniello ended things with Taylor because he had to go back to Italy and take his place in the family. He didn't want to and it was a crappy time for them to be a part because they loved each other, but it was more of a forbidden love.
During the course of their love affair, which they never said love throughout it of course, he bought her a penthouse and installed cameras and could see her in there pleasing herself and speaking of his name when she came. So he knew she felt the same things that he was feeling.
Her sister ended up shot and she went to Italy to confront Daniello and ended up in a heap of trouble over there, but did meet his family and returned back to the states without Daniello and with them officially ended. The most touching part of the story, was when she was leaving Italy and they were actually professing their love for each other. Taylor was always correcting his English and telling him he should fire his tutor. He admitted to her as they were parting, that he didn't speak any English when he first saw her at the club. And he did not have a tutor. He forced his cousin to teach him English and he listened to English tapes 13 hours a day for weeks. Because he knew when he talked to Taylor for the first time, he wanted to be able to have a conversation with her. And when he first saw her, he wouldn't have been able to. It was seriously the most beautiful moment in the book.
She goes back to Ray's who has since passed due to heart issues and stays there for like 8 months and visits Amber/Nina on occasion and works remotely from her home she inherited from Ray. At first I didn't realize that Ray had died and I thought it odd that she was going back to him though He told her to make her first million and come back to him and he would maybe do a relationship with her. He said that knowing he would be gone from this earth by that point.
She got her closure with Ray after reading the note he wrote, which was very touching and saying he would have loved her if his heart was whole.
She ended up moving to the penthouse that Daniello purchased and filled it with items she selected as opposed to her homes that previously had been decorated by other people.
When she was settling in, she had groceries delivered And they unpacked everything and put it away. When she went to her refrigerator, there was rows and rows of pimiento cheese. Daniello joked It was the caviar of the south. And that was his return back to the story. His family released him from his duties and he retired from that life so he was free to create his life with Taylor.
So while it was a really good book and I enjoyed it, I just did not care for how it drug on and on and on for a lot of it. Hence the 4.5 stars, rounded down to four. Instead of a five-star review.
**Oh. And I will say I loved the Nina and Devin bits in this book too! Devin proposes and Nina says no and threatens to shoot him again. But Taylor says Nina will eventually say yes (and of course she does) but Nina keeps denying it. The two of them in this book were just adorable**
June 8, 2023
Continuing my quest to work my way through Kate Stewart's collection before I get to meet her in November!!
We met Taylor in the second book of this collection, a business savy woman with a mysterious past. She catches the eye of an exotic man with an equally mysterious back story. Their pasts catch up with them in more ways than one as their intense chemistry turns to something more.
This was a lot tamer than the previous books in this collection. I didn't mind that aspect because Stewart's true talents lie in her characters, stories, and the relationships she builds. This however felt like a little too much story. Like maybe one of the back stories would have been enough. I found myself thinking the book was wrapping up only to have a whole extra subplot to work through.
2.75 ⭐️
We met Taylor in the second book of this collection, a business savy woman with a mysterious past. She catches the eye of an exotic man with an equally mysterious back story. Their pasts catch up with them in more ways than one as their intense chemistry turns to something more.
This was a lot tamer than the previous books in this collection. I didn't mind that aspect because Stewart's true talents lie in her characters, stories, and the relationships she builds. This however felt like a little too much story. Like maybe one of the back stories would have been enough. I found myself thinking the book was wrapping up only to have a whole extra subplot to work through.
2.75 ⭐️
January 6, 2025
Wow… I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entirety of this book! To say it was shocking, and plot twisty, would be an understatement! Holy crap! I loved this book. It was not at all what I expected it to be!
March 20, 2025
I hated the first like 2/3 of the book. Like this is just an abusive relationship and neither of the characters are charming enough or have any redeeming qualities to make the “dark romance” sexy. Like they really weren’t giving us anything to root for at all. It got a lot better though and I loved the last aprox 1/3 of the book.
April 1, 2024
ahhhmazing!!!
I seriously could not put this down! I definitely recommend this book! If you are in for a good one, you had better get to reading
I seriously could not put this down! I definitely recommend this book! If you are in for a good one, you had better get to reading
January 10, 2024
Kate Stewart’s characters are always sooo well written & you feel so much through their point of views. I truly feel like I am a side character in her books because I feel connected to every one of her characters. Her writing is top notch.
In this book, it was a lot of push & pull between Taylor & Daniello. There were so many secrets. What started as just a sexual relationship quickly turned to more even if they both wouldn’t admit it.
Taylor was raised & abused by her meth addict parents and searched for an out of Dyre for years. She finally left to make something of herself & years later found herself an extremely successful businesswoman with a thirst for a man who could sate her desires. But could she really run from her past forever? Daniello is mysterious as hell & only gives a glimpse of who he is to Taylor, but you can tell he loves her. They will be each other’s downfalls. But maybe it would be their best downfall, yet.
I loved this series so much! I can’t wait to read more from Kate Stewart.
In this book, it was a lot of push & pull between Taylor & Daniello. There were so many secrets. What started as just a sexual relationship quickly turned to more even if they both wouldn’t admit it.
Taylor was raised & abused by her meth addict parents and searched for an out of Dyre for years. She finally left to make something of herself & years later found herself an extremely successful businesswoman with a thirst for a man who could sate her desires. But could she really run from her past forever? Daniello is mysterious as hell & only gives a glimpse of who he is to Taylor, but you can tell he loves her. They will be each other’s downfalls. But maybe it would be their best downfall, yet.
I loved this series so much! I can’t wait to read more from Kate Stewart.
January 13, 2024
her best book yet!
I've read most of her books and this by far is the best. Her character development is so good. You really delve into the life of Taylor and she takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions. This was so much more of a story than the other two books and should prob act as a stand alone book.
Just go read it!
I've read most of her books and this by far is the best. Her character development is so good. You really delve into the life of Taylor and she takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions. This was so much more of a story than the other two books and should prob act as a stand alone book.
Just go read it!
September 8, 2020
WHAT A STORY!!! Complete roller coaster ride. I loved all the characters, even the villains. The h's growth through the book is amazing. I laughed, cried, and wanted to throw my Kindle against the wall.
If you like things a little bit emotionally gritty and raw, this is for you.
If you like things a little bit emotionally gritty and raw, this is for you.
December 3, 2023
Loved every page of this book!
October 5, 2025
perfect ending
I adored this couple. I think my heart needed a true make believe mafia man and business babe story.
Of the 3 this one was the lowest on the kink, but just as satisfying. The plot was wild, but I still believed every bit of it.
Kate has a way of just taking you there.
I felt like there were 3 stories going on at once, but it was effortless to follow along and watch the characters unfold.
I do wish I could’ve seen more into their future together, but maybe I’m just greedy.
Spoils ahead.
Daniello, the tall dark handsome drink of Italy doesn’t think love is for him. He’s on a vendetta to avenge his brother who was murdered in front of him. His parents are both dead and with a complicated mafia style family he going through the motions until he spots her. Taylor Ellison. He learns English as fast as he can to have a shot with the woman who stole his heart with a glance.
Taylor is her own wild card. Born into a trash town with abusive parents. She’s caring for her baby sister just trying to survive and make it out of Dyer.
Her childhood boyfriend who is sucked into the drug life is never able to fulfill all his promises, despite having the loving intentions of a young boy.
Taylor makes a way with a strike of fate when Ray a young dying man sees the potential she has burning inside. He orchestrates a deal that pays the way and molds Taylor into the perfect Harvard graduate. With a distorted version of sex vs love. In another life he would’ve loved her. Except he did. He never told her. He used it as a tool to push her to succeed. Their relationship is complicated and in the end you still can’t decide if he was selfish or selfless.
She builds herself a beautiful life only holding onto her dear friend Cedric who also happens to be in love with her. Always has been. She’s a millionaire who co runs a company. A real boss babe. She’s on top. But it’s not enough. She’s alone and disconnected. Alive but not thriving.
She attempts to mend old fences with her sister she abandoned to get this life. Only to find she’s addicted to the same meth her parents were, and she has a son from a one time mistake with her childhood boyfriend Laz. She’s lost custody and Taylor is more than willing to pay whatever it takes to get her sister Amber clean and healthy. Their trip back to sisterhood felt easy. Despite how hard Laz tries to make things. Laz is plotting a revenge from a bullet he bought himself.
All the while Danielleo the untouchable man and Taylor’s bulletproof emotions are breaking each other down bit by bit. Neither fully grasp how deeply they’ve fallen for each other. So many reasons to let one another go. Like a drug they keep returning to each other for more. Even though Laz is killed by Daniello in a dramatic scene of taking revenge on Taylor.
Just when they think they’re safe Amber is shot with a bullet meant for Taylor. She leaves them in Cedric’s care and Nina’s brother who will as predicted on their first meeting, marry and impregnate Amber later.
Taylor journeys to Daniellos homeland Barga in desperation to keep her family safe and find the man she loves, but can’t have.
He finds her as he always does and he gets Rocco (jealous cousin/brother by blood) taken out for attempting Taylor’s life. He agrees to join the family and do their bidding. To do this he must sacrifice a life with his love as the only way to spare her life.
This sends Taylor on a goodbye tour of her past. She says goodbye to Laz the boy she loved and forgets the addict he became. She says goodbye to Dyer and the terrible hand she was dealt there. She accepts all Ray had to offer and says goodbye to the notion she was ever his whore. She lands at her lovers penthouse with a plan to start laying bricks and painting walls.
Through love and kinship made on her trip to Barga she’s met with the sweet sound of her lover. A changed man who’s no longer bound by his family chains. He’s been released and is free to build a beautiful life with her.
Love was their strength. Love and openness got them through. Daniello is only given glimpses of how good a father he would be by reading Joseph (aka mini Laz) de Seuss with his terrible English.
It’s such a great story. I miss them already.
I adored this couple. I think my heart needed a true make believe mafia man and business babe story.
Of the 3 this one was the lowest on the kink, but just as satisfying. The plot was wild, but I still believed every bit of it.
Kate has a way of just taking you there.
I felt like there were 3 stories going on at once, but it was effortless to follow along and watch the characters unfold.
I do wish I could’ve seen more into their future together, but maybe I’m just greedy.
Spoils ahead.
Daniello, the tall dark handsome drink of Italy doesn’t think love is for him. He’s on a vendetta to avenge his brother who was murdered in front of him. His parents are both dead and with a complicated mafia style family he going through the motions until he spots her. Taylor Ellison. He learns English as fast as he can to have a shot with the woman who stole his heart with a glance.
Taylor is her own wild card. Born into a trash town with abusive parents. She’s caring for her baby sister just trying to survive and make it out of Dyer.
Her childhood boyfriend who is sucked into the drug life is never able to fulfill all his promises, despite having the loving intentions of a young boy.
Taylor makes a way with a strike of fate when Ray a young dying man sees the potential she has burning inside. He orchestrates a deal that pays the way and molds Taylor into the perfect Harvard graduate. With a distorted version of sex vs love. In another life he would’ve loved her. Except he did. He never told her. He used it as a tool to push her to succeed. Their relationship is complicated and in the end you still can’t decide if he was selfish or selfless.
She builds herself a beautiful life only holding onto her dear friend Cedric who also happens to be in love with her. Always has been. She’s a millionaire who co runs a company. A real boss babe. She’s on top. But it’s not enough. She’s alone and disconnected. Alive but not thriving.
She attempts to mend old fences with her sister she abandoned to get this life. Only to find she’s addicted to the same meth her parents were, and she has a son from a one time mistake with her childhood boyfriend Laz. She’s lost custody and Taylor is more than willing to pay whatever it takes to get her sister Amber clean and healthy. Their trip back to sisterhood felt easy. Despite how hard Laz tries to make things. Laz is plotting a revenge from a bullet he bought himself.
All the while Danielleo the untouchable man and Taylor’s bulletproof emotions are breaking each other down bit by bit. Neither fully grasp how deeply they’ve fallen for each other. So many reasons to let one another go. Like a drug they keep returning to each other for more. Even though Laz is killed by Daniello in a dramatic scene of taking revenge on Taylor.
Just when they think they’re safe Amber is shot with a bullet meant for Taylor. She leaves them in Cedric’s care and Nina’s brother who will as predicted on their first meeting, marry and impregnate Amber later.
Taylor journeys to Daniellos homeland Barga in desperation to keep her family safe and find the man she loves, but can’t have.
He finds her as he always does and he gets Rocco (jealous cousin/brother by blood) taken out for attempting Taylor’s life. He agrees to join the family and do their bidding. To do this he must sacrifice a life with his love as the only way to spare her life.
This sends Taylor on a goodbye tour of her past. She says goodbye to Laz the boy she loved and forgets the addict he became. She says goodbye to Dyer and the terrible hand she was dealt there. She accepts all Ray had to offer and says goodbye to the notion she was ever his whore. She lands at her lovers penthouse with a plan to start laying bricks and painting walls.
Through love and kinship made on her trip to Barga she’s met with the sweet sound of her lover. A changed man who’s no longer bound by his family chains. He’s been released and is free to build a beautiful life with her.
Love was their strength. Love and openness got them through. Daniello is only given glimpses of how good a father he would be by reading Joseph (aka mini Laz) de Seuss with his terrible English.
It’s such a great story. I miss them already.
August 20, 2018
I read this book when it was published as two separate books. It is now a single book, but just as amazing!
Book 1 - Camouflage:
Kate Stewart is off to the start of another amazing series with Camouflage. The way she spins the tale of Taylor and her lover is hypnotic! The minute I finished the book, I was aching for the next!
Taylor is becoming one of my favorite heroines. Her no nonsense attitude and need for order and excellence is something I can totally relate to.
This book earns a solid 4.5 stars from me.
Book 2 - Crosshairs:
Crosshairs was the perfect ending to this series. Taylor and Daniello's story...a story of love and loss, of learning how to truly live and love.
Taylor was by far my favorite character of the book, but I enjoyed the glimpse inside the others; it helped me better understand what made them tick. To truly understand Taylor, we had to learn where she came from (which we did in the first book) and how each of her loves shaped her into the woman she became.
I spent half this book in tears but it was well worth it! This book earns 4.5 stars from me.
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.
Book 1 - Camouflage:
Kate Stewart is off to the start of another amazing series with Camouflage. The way she spins the tale of Taylor and her lover is hypnotic! The minute I finished the book, I was aching for the next!
Taylor is becoming one of my favorite heroines. Her no nonsense attitude and need for order and excellence is something I can totally relate to.
This book earns a solid 4.5 stars from me.
Book 2 - Crosshairs:
Crosshairs was the perfect ending to this series. Taylor and Daniello's story...a story of love and loss, of learning how to truly live and love.
Taylor was by far my favorite character of the book, but I enjoyed the glimpse inside the others; it helped me better understand what made them tick. To truly understand Taylor, we had to learn where she came from (which we did in the first book) and how each of her loves shaped her into the woman she became.
I spent half this book in tears but it was well worth it! This book earns 4.5 stars from me.
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.
May 10, 2020
Predator & Prey is the 3rd book in the Lust&Lies series by Kate Stewart. It is a complete standalone, and won't reveal any secrets from the previous 2 books (Sexual Awakenings and Excess), but there is a little character crossover that makes me say to read the previous 2 books first.
Taylor and Daniello are HOT. Taylor is a woman who is all about order and excellence...she was trained that way during her time attending Harvard. In the bedroom, she craves to be dominated, she craves the aggression...she does not want sweet and tame. Daniello is just the man to give her that...however, he also threatens to turn the rest of her world upside down, and Taylor does not handle that well. Taylor's less than stellar past catches up with her, secrets about Daniello start to be revealed, and Taylor's world continues to spin a bit out of control.
Looking for a dominant man with major alpha tendencies, a woman that craves/needs that inside the bedroom but is steadfast in her ability outside of it...looking for action...looking for heat...looking for a bit of romance...then look into reading this book. I highly doubt you'll be disappointed.
Taylor and Daniello are HOT. Taylor is a woman who is all about order and excellence...she was trained that way during her time attending Harvard. In the bedroom, she craves to be dominated, she craves the aggression...she does not want sweet and tame. Daniello is just the man to give her that...however, he also threatens to turn the rest of her world upside down, and Taylor does not handle that well. Taylor's less than stellar past catches up with her, secrets about Daniello start to be revealed, and Taylor's world continues to spin a bit out of control.
Looking for a dominant man with major alpha tendencies, a woman that craves/needs that inside the bedroom but is steadfast in her ability outside of it...looking for action...looking for heat...looking for a bit of romance...then look into reading this book. I highly doubt you'll be disappointed.
August 12, 2018
Dark, Dirty, and Gritty....
But oh so very good! Ironically, though this became one of my favorite Kate Stewart books, I started out not liking it at all, and came close to putting it down, but I had to put trust in one of my favorite authors, and I’m so glad I did.
In the first quarter of the book the two main characters were not very likable and the sex scenes, which were many, ( too many in my opinion), were so brutal and disconnected from any feelings, other than lust, that it just left me feeling kind of sick.
As time went on and Kate wove her magic in character development and plot thickening, I became a addicted and could barely stop reading to eat and sleep. Through flash backs, we slowly see why each of them became hardened by circumstance and never intended to let feelings enter into the mix of their lives.
Add suspense, criminal activity and life threatening situations, and you have a perfect pot of wonderful. It may not be for everyone, but if you’re up for it, don’t let the beginning stop you from experiencing the journey to the amazing end.
But oh so very good! Ironically, though this became one of my favorite Kate Stewart books, I started out not liking it at all, and came close to putting it down, but I had to put trust in one of my favorite authors, and I’m so glad I did.
In the first quarter of the book the two main characters were not very likable and the sex scenes, which were many, ( too many in my opinion), were so brutal and disconnected from any feelings, other than lust, that it just left me feeling kind of sick.
As time went on and Kate wove her magic in character development and plot thickening, I became a addicted and could barely stop reading to eat and sleep. Through flash backs, we slowly see why each of them became hardened by circumstance and never intended to let feelings enter into the mix of their lives.
Add suspense, criminal activity and life threatening situations, and you have a perfect pot of wonderful. It may not be for everyone, but if you’re up for it, don’t let the beginning stop you from experiencing the journey to the amazing end.
February 4, 2022
Best of the 3
I had a feeling I would connect with Taylor the most out of the three ladies of the "Lust & Lies" series, and I was not wrong!
If you are a fan of the Ravenhood series, read this book. Be aware it does have a darker theme, filled with drugs, abuse, and a whole lot of smut and secrets. It does tell the story in flashbacks, which was done extremely well! It is essentially 3 stories in one and they all mix well together. The tension and drama is delicious!
Unlike the 2nd book in the series, there is very little connection to previous characters/plot. Not a bad thing, as it develops on sub characters, but I would like to know what happened to some of our previous villains.
Lastly, If you grew up in a small town that wanted to trap you and would have done anything to get out (and I truly mean anything) - you will connect with Taylor strongly.
I had a feeling I would connect with Taylor the most out of the three ladies of the "Lust & Lies" series, and I was not wrong!
If you are a fan of the Ravenhood series, read this book. Be aware it does have a darker theme, filled with drugs, abuse, and a whole lot of smut and secrets. It does tell the story in flashbacks, which was done extremely well! It is essentially 3 stories in one and they all mix well together. The tension and drama is delicious!
Unlike the 2nd book in the series, there is very little connection to previous characters/plot. Not a bad thing, as it develops on sub characters, but I would like to know what happened to some of our previous villains.
Lastly, If you grew up in a small town that wanted to trap you and would have done anything to get out (and I truly mean anything) - you will connect with Taylor strongly.
May 26, 2023
I don’t care about any other reviews for this book. I haven’t read them before and will not. I made up my mind about how I wanted to rate it.
And my rating is based on how this story moved me. Do I remember if it was ever mentioned how old Daniello was? No. Do I remember his kinky sex and hidden vulnerability? Absolutely.
This was a story that kept me on my toes. At first, after reading Nina’s story, I just prayed that Laz would not somehow redeem himself. It seems her stories are a convoluted way of saying that no matter how horrible someone is to you, if he does it for love and selflessness it is ok to be redeemed.
I was happy when i read the last pages. It was heartfelt and it just showed me that one can have different types of love in life, but the one true love is the one that heals uou, puts you back together and fucks you like nobody’s business.
And my rating is based on how this story moved me. Do I remember if it was ever mentioned how old Daniello was? No. Do I remember his kinky sex and hidden vulnerability? Absolutely.
This was a story that kept me on my toes. At first, after reading Nina’s story, I just prayed that Laz would not somehow redeem himself. It seems her stories are a convoluted way of saying that no matter how horrible someone is to you, if he does it for love and selflessness it is ok to be redeemed.
I was happy when i read the last pages. It was heartfelt and it just showed me that one can have different types of love in life, but the one true love is the one that heals uou, puts you back together and fucks you like nobody’s business.
June 25, 2018
In this book, you get to dive into the life of Taylor Ellison, business partner of Nina Scott (from Kate Stewart's book Excess). While you do not have to read Excess to enjoy this story, I think that it would give you a greater appreciation for who Taylor is and the struggles she went through to become the woman you love you in book.
I found the developing relationship between Taylor and Daniello to be really sweet and surprising. This book does feature some heavy topics (violence, drugs, abuse), but it gives you the opportunity to see that even those born into terrible circumstances experiencing horrendous situations at the hands of their parents and others in their neighborhood, can rise above their circumstances and become successful, even if the methods may seem unconventional.
I found the developing relationship between Taylor and Daniello to be really sweet and surprising. This book does feature some heavy topics (violence, drugs, abuse), but it gives you the opportunity to see that even those born into terrible circumstances experiencing horrendous situations at the hands of their parents and others in their neighborhood, can rise above their circumstances and become successful, even if the methods may seem unconventional.
August 2, 2018
4.5 stars. I loved the book but felt it was just a little longer than necessary. I liked the flashback chapters that gave us a good understanding of Taylor's history, both with men/relationships and also her upbringing, that made her who she is now. Then when Laz started to get his own POV later on I liked getting to see into his twisted mind. Loved the scenes with Daniello (HELLO, SEXY!) except for that one time she picked a stupid fight with him, or that other time, or the time after that. Between the arguments she started with him that made her look insanely immature, and the in between when she was in her own thoughts too much that started to become repetitious and are truly the only small "downfall" of the book. But still a damn good read.
September 24, 2018
Five stars
Kate really got it right with this book. I knew Taylor's book was going to be good but Damn I didn't expect this bomb ass book. Taylor has come from a past of neglect and abuse. She got out of her drug laden town only to become "a whore for her college tuition". She goes on to become partner in a successful business(read Excess). She meets handsome sexy Daniello at a kink club while on vacation. They start a relationship. Some of Taylor's skeletons come out of the closet and want to do her harm. Daniello has his own skeletons. This book so good once you get started you won't want to put it down. I'm sad I don't have another one to read. Another amazing novel!
Kate really got it right with this book. I knew Taylor's book was going to be good but Damn I didn't expect this bomb ass book. Taylor has come from a past of neglect and abuse. She got out of her drug laden town only to become "a whore for her college tuition". She goes on to become partner in a successful business(read Excess). She meets handsome sexy Daniello at a kink club while on vacation. They start a relationship. Some of Taylor's skeletons come out of the closet and want to do her harm. Daniello has his own skeletons. This book so good once you get started you won't want to put it down. I'm sad I don't have another one to read. Another amazing novel!
May 2, 2019
Rating: 3.00-3.25
Wow...this was different IMO from the usual Kate Stewart books. And that really is an oxymoron, because Kate doesn’t do usual. What she does is write great books.
To me this read like an action pack, soap opera. And the storyline about Ray was teased to the end. And despite knowing where it was headed, I was still heart broken.
I loved the twist of the three men, how they each represented a source of love in different phases of Taylor’s life. And the redemption/ healing found with Joseph.
Now there where some confusing elements to this for me, mostly regarding the stuff that happened in Italy and Barga. Overall, this was another good one from one of my favs.
Wow...this was different IMO from the usual Kate Stewart books. And that really is an oxymoron, because Kate doesn’t do usual. What she does is write great books.
To me this read like an action pack, soap opera. And the storyline about Ray was teased to the end. And despite knowing where it was headed, I was still heart broken.
I loved the twist of the three men, how they each represented a source of love in different phases of Taylor’s life. And the redemption/ healing found with Joseph.
Now there where some confusing elements to this for me, mostly regarding the stuff that happened in Italy and Barga. Overall, this was another good one from one of my favs.
October 22, 2022
Kate Stewart definitely knows how to write a broken heart. I thought going into this book that it would be more spice than heartbreak just like the previous books in the Lust and Lies series but this book was so much more.
I loved the intrigue of Daniello as a character. It made the story very exciting and mysterious. The introduction of Taylor’s back story really pulled you in. Her past really helped to build respect and understanding of her character.
The love story between the characters was very powerful and you could feel the connection. Another great book from this author.
I loved the intrigue of Daniello as a character. It made the story very exciting and mysterious. The introduction of Taylor’s back story really pulled you in. Her past really helped to build respect and understanding of her character.
The love story between the characters was very powerful and you could feel the connection. Another great book from this author.
November 6, 2022
Love the Villain
Loved the fight to excel and get out of what you think life has in store for you. This book was deep, not just with a fascinating story but so much truth in that we don’t have to settle for the life we think has been chosen for us! We are not prisoners to our circumstances, we have a choice to get out and excel at life regardless of our beginnings! A must read!! Kate Stewart is a genius with her words and the worlds she portrays in these stories. BEST book in the Lust and Lies series.
Loved the fight to excel and get out of what you think life has in store for you. This book was deep, not just with a fascinating story but so much truth in that we don’t have to settle for the life we think has been chosen for us! We are not prisoners to our circumstances, we have a choice to get out and excel at life regardless of our beginnings! A must read!! Kate Stewart is a genius with her words and the worlds she portrays in these stories. BEST book in the Lust and Lies series.
April 11, 2024
I just finished the last book and have cried until my face hurts from rubbing my eyes!!! Author Kate Stewart you are the queen of ripping hearts completely apart then slapping a band-aid right back over them! You don't heal us because we're forever traumatized and these characters are ingrained into us so much so they're in our daily thoughts but you make it a little better. My God this series was great!!! I love the darkness and drama and mystery! So friggin amazing!!! Whoever hasn't read this series, run, RUN...don't walk and start it now!!!!
June 17, 2024
Dang and oof and I love it!
Dang and oof. I freaking love Taylor. She is a bada$$ FMC and her growth-wow. The three loves of her life shaped her past, future, & present. I was so sad how Laz let his addiction take away the sweet boy he used to be and ruin what he had with his Red, also sad that Ray wouldn’t let himself let go and love her out loud and try, and so happy that Daniello let go and got out to love her. They deserved their HEA. Glad Amber got hers too with Aaron. Just a great ending to the interconnected series and an awesome stand alone. Love it!
Dang and oof. I freaking love Taylor. She is a bada$$ FMC and her growth-wow. The three loves of her life shaped her past, future, & present. I was so sad how Laz let his addiction take away the sweet boy he used to be and ruin what he had with his Red, also sad that Ray wouldn’t let himself let go and love her out loud and try, and so happy that Daniello let go and got out to love her. They deserved their HEA. Glad Amber got hers too with Aaron. Just a great ending to the interconnected series and an awesome stand alone. Love it!
February 6, 2019
Amazing!
This book sucked me in from the beginning and by the end I was fully submersed in their world. It was an up all night I have to finish and find out what happens kinda story. This makes you question how far you would go to save yourself or someone you love and question is it ok to love the bad boy. I recommend going into this story blind. It was amazing and just more proof what a absurdly talented and versatile writer Kate Stewart is!
This book sucked me in from the beginning and by the end I was fully submersed in their world. It was an up all night I have to finish and find out what happens kinda story. This makes you question how far you would go to save yourself or someone you love and question is it ok to love the bad boy. I recommend going into this story blind. It was amazing and just more proof what a absurdly talented and versatile writer Kate Stewart is!
March 24, 2019
I don't know how I waited so long to read this book! Totally unexpected! This book had it all: lust, love, lies, betrayal, so many story lines you think it will be difficult to keep up. But with Stewart's expert storytelling, there were never any missing pieces. She managed to pull all of these characters and their pasts, presents, and futures together in way that will keep you reeling until the very end.
July 25, 2021
Great series. Sexy, angst ridden, and gut wrenching.
Third in the “Lust & Lies series” All of the books were sooo good. This last one was a painful roller coaster ride of highs and lows, with deep despair, moments of hope interspersed with love and affection that draw you upwards, followed by sickening feeling you get on that steep drop when you are tossed back into the angst of life and love.... read all three books... you will love them!
Third in the “Lust & Lies series” All of the books were sooo good. This last one was a painful roller coaster ride of highs and lows, with deep despair, moments of hope interspersed with love and affection that draw you upwards, followed by sickening feeling you get on that steep drop when you are tossed back into the angst of life and love.... read all three books... you will love them!
November 15, 2022
Wow...that was pretty intense. Normally a series starts with the best and sort of tappers off at the end. Not this one. Taylor was a complex character with a twisted past that molded and shaped her, yet also taught her that love was not real. I absolutely loved her character. All the characters had depth and a realistic intensity. The storyline flowed, even through the different and complex scenes, which is a signature of a Kate Stewart series.
August 12, 2018
Not for me
I've have read every book that this author has available on Amazon. They have all been great books. This book wasn't even one I could finish. I don't particularly like this genre so I feel that's why I couldn't get invested in the book. I definitely recommend this author highly, just maybe not this book.
I've have read every book that this author has available on Amazon. They have all been great books. This book wasn't even one I could finish. I don't particularly like this genre so I feel that's why I couldn't get invested in the book. I definitely recommend this author highly, just maybe not this book.
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