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Il y a dix ans, une seule nuit a suffi à changer le destin d’Austin, Hunter et Alex. Aujourd’hui, ils sont déterminés à se venger de l’homme qui a brisé leur vie.

Un salaud, voilà ce qu’il est. Comme son père. Comment expliquer sinon ces désirs, si sombres, qui le poussent irrésistiblement vers Katy Michaels ? Car elle est la dernière femme sur laquelle Austin devrait poser la main. Et pourtant, il se sent incapable de demeurer loin d’elle. Pas quand elle le regarde de ces grands yeux hantés par les fantômes du passé. Pas quand elle se presse contre lui pour le supplier de lui faire tout oublier. Pas quand il s’apprête, en détruisant son propre père, à briser la vie qu’il s’est construite, et celle de tous ceux qu’il aime.
Alors, malgré lui, il laisse leurs corps se reconnaître dans la nuit. Encore une fois. Une dernière fois.
Deux êtres brisés peuvent-ils se sauver mutuellement ?

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

113 people are currently reading
1498 people want to read

About the author

Maisey Yates

1,162 books2,999 followers
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.

Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.

She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
Profile Image for SueBee★bring me an alpha!★.
2,417 reviews15.4k followers
August 15, 2017
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★★★★! Avenge Me, book 1 of 3. Trilogy follows three friends in their quest to avenge the death of a friend!

“Because I want to control something, and right now the only thing I control Is you”

The Fifth Avenue trilogy, each book written by a different author, follows three friends in their quest for vengeance.
Books in trilogy should be read in order:
Book 1: Avenge Me
Book 2: Scandalize Me
Book 3: Expose Me


Avenge Me (book 1) opens up to Austin (book 1), Hunter (book 2) and Alex (book 3) meeting up ten years after the suicide of a women who meant something to each of them. An anonymous letter accuses Austin’s father, Jason Treffen of having a hand in her suicide and hints at a darker side.

Attorney, prodigal son and heir to a fortune, Austin Treffen grew up privileged and had been proud to follow in his father’s footsteps, but after the suicide, he and his father drifted apart. Now ten years later Austin is ready to do what it takes to get to the bottom of what happened that fateful night.

While attending an event hosted by his father he locks eyes with a striking beauty and they decide to forgo the event enjoy a one-night-stand. While they both enjoyed their night of passion it did complicate matters when the true identity of Katy Michaels, the event coordinator is revealed.

As it turns out both have an agenda, common interests plus their night together has consequences. Before they know it they are thrown together on a journey of vengeance, self-reflection, tragedy, guilt, lust, sexual exploration, kink, revenge, redemption….. and more!

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AUSTIN TREFFEN:
33 years/billionaire heir/attorney/$$$$/dark brown hair/dark brown eyes.


Five words to describe Austin: Conflicted, noble, dominant, determined and guilt-ridden.

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KATY MICHAELS:
26 years/event coordinator/dark brown hair/electric blue eyes/virgin.


Five words to describe Katy: Independent, determined, alone, broken and strong.

Story moves along at a pleasant pace, with a bit of an insta-feelings, taking Austin and Katy to a happy place, but leaving the door open for Hunter and Alex to continue on with the revenge. Up next is Hunter’s story in Scandalize Me .

Interesting plot! Overall an enjoyable and sexy read!
***
Hero rating: 4 stars
Heroine rating: 3.5 stars
Sexual tension rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Plot rating: 4.5 stars
Dialogue rating: 4 stars
Storytelling rating: 4 stars
Story ending rating: 4 stars
Book editing rating (5 = no edits spotted): N/A
************************************************
Overall rating: 4 stars

Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Maybe later.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.


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ARC provided to me by Harlequin via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Amy | Foxy Blogs.
1,840 reviews1,045 followers
August 4, 2014
***2.5 AVENGE ME stars**

I love the concept of this series; 3 authors coming together to each write a separate book portraying a different character. Each of these books will be how that character seeks revenge against the one person, Jason Treffen, who is a bad man. These friends are trying to avenge their friend Sarah's death.

Early on the hero, Austin, has an insta-lust with the heroine, Katy. They see each at a party hosted by Austin's dad, Jason Treffen, and twenty minutes later these two are hot and heavy in a Dom/sub sex experience. Of course, Katy is a virgin and Austin is a billionaire. "But after we...spent some time together we found why it was we were both at that party. Both of us were looking for answers. For Sarah."

Avenge Me is heavy on dialogue and light on action. Austin and Sarah relationship didn't feel plausible and left me not able to connect to them.

To find out if these three friends were able to take down Jason Treffen you will need to read the other two books in this series.

SERIES:
Avenge Me (Fifth Avenue Trilogy, #1) by Maisey Yates Scandalize Me (Fifth Avenue Trilogy, #2) by Caitlin Crews Expose Me (Fifth Avenue Trilogy #3) by Kate Hewitt
Book 1 - Austin | Book 2 - Hunter | Book 3 - Alex
Three different authors write one book each portraying how their character seeks revenge against the one man who ruined it all.

Novella:
Take Me (Fifth Avenue Trilogy, #0.5) by Maisey Yates
(#0.5 - Travis)

Purchase: http://amzn.to/1iwr0Ot
6/1/2014

**Complimentary copy courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Profile Image for Vashti.
1,233 reviews29 followers
May 26, 2014
I am having a bit of a tough time in deciding on how to rate this book.Do I rate it as a harlequin presents book,or do I rate it as a contemp with dominant billionaire and virgin heroine.There are a lot of the prior books out there,I decided to rate it on my enjoyment of Maisey Yates books.
The hero Austin ,and heroine Katy,had something in common.Sarah,friend to Austin and sister to Katy.The two are brought together 10 years after Sarah threw herself off a building killing herself.Revenge is on both their minds.Katy,to get justice for her sister,and Austin to get the justice for his friend.He also wants to expose his father who was the direct cause of Sarah's death and who was also a sex trafficker.
These two meet and they each see in the other their private fantasies.Austin who wants to dominate ,and Katy who wants to submit.The night they meet,they have an intense Dom/sub encounter and each thinks that is it,no names given till the end and only by Katy.They soon meet up again and they find out who each other is and the connection to the past they share.They will bring down Austin's father together in their quest for revenge.
Now ,this is not your typical HP book.This three part serial is written by three different HP authors with the subsequent books released in the next few months.Yes,there is the topic of D/s relationship,but nothing too graphic as say you would read in an erotic novel.The heroine also admitts to drug usage.So if you are an HP fan/reader,don't expect the usual read.
Profile Image for Dee.
1,501 reviews173 followers
March 26, 2014
This is the first in the Fifth Avenue Trilogy written by three different Harlequin authors.

This is a story of two people who are linked by a woman who killed herself ten years ago, both want revenge and are determined that the person who was the cause of her death will be held to rights. When they first meet there is an instant spark which quickly turns into an inferno within minutes, but at that time neither realise who the other is.

Katy’s sister Sarah killed herself by jumping off a building, after much investigation she discovers the reason why and decides to collect the evidence against Jason Treffen and expose what he has been doing for many years. Austen has the unfortunate pleasure of being Jason Treffen’s son and suspected that his father had something to do with his friend Sarah’s death ten years ago and had not spoken to him since. Initially Austin couldn’t believe Katie was his lost friend’s sister, the guilt of not helping Sarah when she obviously needed it still weighed very heavily on his shoulders. As soon as Katie realises who Austin is she immediately doesn’t trust him but unfortunately she finds the attraction between them very difficult to ignore. After they both talk and lay their cards on the table they realise they are both working together towards a common goal.

As soon as I see a Maisey Yates book I snap it up as fast as I can as I know that it will be good, but I think this is probably one of the best Harlequins she has ever written. This is definitely not what we are used to in our Harlequin Presents range, yes we have the typical successful alpha man and a virgin but that’s where the similarities end. I have been reading Harlequins for many years but don’t think I have ever read this sort of subject matter and think it is a big risk as it will not be everyone’s cuppa but it definitely was mine!

Next up is Scandalize Me by Caitlin Crews.

ARC courtesy of Harlequin via Netgalley
Profile Image for Sara.
733 reviews348 followers
June 1, 2014
Uh ok. So to sum this up.
Girl goes to ballroom for function with childhood friend Travis who also doubles as her crush. Girls best girlfriend jumps off building at said function.
Girl gets consoled by Travis. Takes her to hotel after suicide. No one speaks about it.
Girl sleeps with longtime friend-crush Travis.
Travis admits out of the blue that he's in love with girl.
Girl freaks and takes off. Has a change of heart and goes back to boy and admits she loves him too.
Ok. WHAT THE FUCK??? Your best fucking friend AND college roommate jumps off a fucking building to her death and you get your sex on with your other best friend??? Passed grieving and went straight to hooking up?? Shit that was just weird. No freak out crying. No questions. No running to the girl bleeding on the ground having a major melt down. No a screaming and yelling WHY???
I don't even know what to think about that fucked up situation. Luckily it only took me 30 minutes to read.
Profile Image for Jane Stewart.
2,462 reviews964 followers
December 5, 2014
Story was not developed. It was mostly internal ponderings of the two main characters. A Harlequin rush job.

THE SETTING/STORY:
Jason forces young women who work for his law firm to provide sexual services to himself and his wealthy friends. He uses financial incentives and threats. That was not shown or explained. I’m still confused how that could happen. Austin is Jason’s son. He was a friend of Sarah (one of Jason’s victims). Sarah called Austin and said she needed to talk to him about his dad. Austin did not return the call. Then she killed herself. So for ten years Austin has felt tremendous guilt and self loathing. He also fears that he is like his father because he likes to dominate women in bed.

Sarah’s sister Katy comes to town to gather evidence to expose Jason. She meets Austin and they work on this together. They also have sex. She likes to be dominated with pain. So they are a good fit sexually.

OPINION:
The story was not developed, so I’m calling it a setting. There were no conversations, actions, or events between Jason and his victims and between other men and the victims. Nothing was shown about how Jason coerced victims, what he made them do, his and their emotions at the time. How did Katy know that Jason was the reason for Sarah’s suicide? We aren’t shown any communication between Sarah and Katy. I did not understand the depth of Austin’s guilt. We should have been shown more about his friendship with Sarah before she died. At the end there were just a couple vague sentences saying it’s going to get ugly. Jason will lose everything. But nothing of that was shown. I would have loved seeing some evidence, Jason’s reaction and responses. So, I cannot call this a story.

Instead most of the book is internal ponderings and Austin’s angst and guilt. There was too much repetitive thinking and talking about the past.

There were several long sex scenes. He ties her hands and spanks her. After they have sex Austin is so disgusted with himself (because he enjoyed dominating her) that he is cold and angry and tells her to leave. This happened twice. I skimmed some of the sex scenes. I’m not sure why. I wasn’t interested.

DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 258 pages. Swearing language: strong but not often used. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 5. Setting: current day New York City, NY. Copyright: 2014. Genre: erotic contemporary romance.
Profile Image for M..
446 reviews45 followers
April 18, 2014
*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Avenge Me was such a disappointment. I know that I shouldn't expect too much from this type of book. But at least I expected some resemblance of a plot. Even 50 Shades of Grey had a better attempt at it even if it failed miserably in the delivery of said plot.

Avenge Me was 250 plus pages of repetitive dialogues, insta-lust, and a half baked realization of true love. The revenge aspect of the story was so far in the background it was barely there. Austin forced Katy to live with him in order to keep her safe from his father, but we never get a hint of this supposed danger. It was so ridiculous it was laughable.

Avenge Me could have been such a great book. The idea was there. It just needed a more accomplished writer to bring the story to the next level.

Profile Image for Knygų  Romantikė.
319 reviews57 followers
April 3, 2023
☆☆☆☆☆

Trijų dalių istorija, kuri sujungė tris draugus vienam tikslui - atkeršyti už draugės Saros savižudybę. Rekomenduoju skaityti nuo pirmos dalies ir visas kartu, nes tik taip bus išpildyta visa istorija ir sudėliotos visos detalės, išlaikant intrigą, atveriant daug skaudžių patirčių, išgyvenimų ir kodėl juos visus sujungė vienas įvykis. Reiktų paminėti, kad knygos nėra kaip erotiniai romanai, bet kiekviena dalis pakaitina kraują ir karštų scenų netrūksta. O kai yra keršto troškimas, visada atsiranda ir meilė, bet kaip mokėti mylėti, kai pats savęs nemyli, kai esi sukuošintas praeities įvykių... kaip pasitikėti kitu, kai iki tol visi tik skaudino ir nuvylė... Skaudi, įtraukianti ir romantiška istorija per visas tris dalis 🩵
Profile Image for Dianne.
6,815 reviews632 followers
April 7, 2014
Get ready for some sizzling romance, twisted intrigue and scandalous revelations in Avenge me by Maisey Yates. Two broken people, both filled with guilt from the past, one out to avenge her sister’s death, one coming to the realization that his multimillionaire philanthropist father has been keeping dark secrets, living a public lie. Austin has unknowingly benefited from the sins of his father, now he must expose those sins in the name of justice, while Katy needs to bring down the monster responsible for her sister’s suicide. Could they be the same man? Add the high voltage connection these two feel, their need to just let go and the unleashing of their sexual appetites, and the pages nearly burst into flames! Katy is still a virgin, but her actions and true grit belie the truth, a result of her brutal childhood? Austin believes his need for sexual dominance means he will become the vile creature his father is, but the major difference between them is that Austin has a heart, a conscience and the need for justice. Is the relationship between Austin and Katy more than two people finding escape in sexual fantasies or is there something more between them that they refuse to admit?

Maisey Yates has combined blistering sexual scenes with intrigue, using a skilled hand that could have easily gone off the mark, but she remained spot on, toning down the warm romance in favor of keeping with the dark tones of the events leading to Katy’s sister’s death, as well as those of other victims of abuse for pleasure. To me, it felt right, Katy and Austin were constantly on edge, constantly embroiled in the events around them, their release was in their sexual encounters. Ms. Yates could have given Katy a few softer edges, but, perhaps she left that up to Austin! Well-paced, well done!


I received an ARC edition from Harlequin Presents in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Fifth Avenue Trilogy - Book 1
Publication Date: June 1, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Presents
ISBN: 9780373430376
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Number of Pages: 272
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Profile Image for Shauni.
1,061 reviews27 followers
June 23, 2014
Originally reviewed for Tea and Book.

The Fifth Avenue Trilogy. It's dark and deadly with a dangerous enemy and only a sliver of a chance to succeed. The fun part.. yes it's three books but it's also been written by three authors! Maisey Yates, Caitlin Crews and Kate Hewitt. Each author telling one story.

Avenge me is Book One and written by Maisey Yates. A darkly sensual story of redemption and revenge.

Katy Michaels was little more than a child when her older sister gave into despair and jumped off her boss's office building leaving Katy the sole ray of hope in a dark and desperate family. At a young age she was forced to raise her child while her drug addict parents neglected them at best. For most of her life she was about taking care of others but Sarah's death changed her and eventually she begin to live for a different motive, revenge. Her plans in tact she had worked her way into Jason Treffen's extended circle. Just as her plan was ascending she meets a smoldering anti hero whose pain was as clear as hers. And yet he held the promise of fulfilling her darkest fantasy. Too bad she didn't first ask his name.

Austin Treffen once believed that his father was perfect, that his family was perfect that his life was perfect. But when Sarah, one of his inner circle of friends came to him for help and he didn't have time he had no idea just what the consequences would be. That very night Sarah threw herself to her death. But it's been ten years and Austin finally has a chance to destroy the man who caused it all, his father. The first part of the plan was reconciliation and Austin had it all planned out but when one sexy woman captured his attention all he could think was one night to fulfill his darkest fantasies..

This book is pulse beating erotic. Dark fantasies and sensual exploration combined with revenge. It walks a tight line and it's interesting that Austin desires control but doesn't quite see the difference between himself and his father. He wonders if he too leads a secret life. If he too is capable of using women just because he can.

It's hard to explain the intricacies of Avenge me.. Ms Yates walks a wonderful edge of control and abuse. Making the characters question themselves and their actions. Making them learn to accept the guilt and then let it go..

Intense and delicious.

Shauni

This review is based on the ARC of Avenge Me, provided by NetGalley.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
6,571 reviews236 followers
June 4, 2014
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand this book is like a guilty pleasure. You don't want to admit that you enjoyed it but at the same time you can't help but like it. I did read this book in a matter of a few short hours. While, I did like this book and it was a quick read, I did feel that the plot was a little weak. Really, so let me get this straight...girl meets boy, girl falls for guy, they have sex, girl and boy somehow get their revenge on the boy's father, and girl and boy fall in love. Not original. Austin did have the tormented, soul, but hot guy thing going for him. Don't get me wrong as hot, steamy sex is always a good thing. Sometimes it can be too much when there is not much else happening. This is what I felt like while reading this book. Katy was not the strong, independent woman that I wanted her to be. She seemed to cave under Austin's direction to easily. I hope that the next book has more of a plot line.
Profile Image for Daisy Daisy.
706 reviews41 followers
May 22, 2018
I totally did not hate this story, the main characters were fairly inoffensive and enjoyed a bit of guilty kink. (He's a repressed dom and shes a repressed sub) many of the other characters in the book were highly offensive. If I hadn't already read the H's sisters book she would have joined her dad on the list of truly terrible family members.
The H & h's eyes meet across a crowded room and its insta lust. she is there to avenge her sister who jumped off the roof 10 years before and the H is there to finally do something about his big bad dad (a true criminal villain) who he suspects was involved. Turns out they have the same goal but don't yet know it.
Both are distracted and head off to a nearby hotel to jump into bed for some non vanilla time without even learning each others name. This is where the story gets a bit silly because our h has never had any kind of sexy time before vanilla or otherwise so its hard to imagine her jumping straight in there and being and enthusiastic as she was.
The rest of the tale is her trying to get over liking being submissive and him feeling terrible guilt about being in control in bed, the poor guy really does have a crappy dad though so its understandable. I did like that he didn't take the easy route and stepped up to take his dad down knowing it would ruin his families privileged life. I did quite like these 2 in the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Desere.
758 reviews78 followers
July 26, 2014
This is book one from the new Fifth Avenue series and tells of Austin Treffen He was born into a world of privilege, you know the never want for anything kind, but behind the gilded doors lies corruption so sordid New York's elite would never believe it!

Especially because his infamous philanthropic father lies at it's core. With everything he believed in shattered into a million pieces how is Austin meant to take down his father, risking the family name and those he loves , when he has no proof?

That all changes when one earth shattering night with Katy Michaels unlocks not only the deepest, most passionate desires but also the key to bringing Jason Treffen's reign to an end. Only with the intense sexual attraction that combines a heady mix of exquisite pleasure and sublime pain it comes down to them either satiating their thirst for revenge and each other or losing themselves to a darkness there is no escaping from.

I have always been a huge fan of this author's books. The first book I read by her was brilliant and perfect in so many ways, but as she grew and wrote more and more her books started to take on a different feel. The sex scenes became more intense, the emotion so much deeper and the characters more dirty thus also more realistic.

This of course made me super happy because when I read a book it's that realistic this is real life feeling that makes me feel truly connected to the characters , and without it the reads are simply just a story to me, and let's face it there's no fun in that ! This author does it all perfectly!

In this read both main characters could not have been more real. They both deal with real issues, yes I know your most likely thinking Austin is a spoiled rich hunk what issues could he possibly have to deal with , a real
" Ag life is so hard! ".

But you could not be more wrong, Austin is rich and yes he is a hunk and yes he is spoiled but even the most spoiled ones out there can reach a point where life just doesn't seem so great or so perfect anymore. He 's had his share of a knock to the ground ten years ago, but he pushed past it and moved on. Only when he receives information that links his father to the death of a friend ten years ago does his life start to spiral out of control.

The read gets super interesting and super hot when it all comes into focus when Katy Michaels steps into his world and it turns out Katy is much closer to the tragedy from ten years ago then Austin at first thinks. The character of Katy was also just as Austin so realistic that her past when revealed sent actual shivers down my back. But if there is one thing this author's previous books have taught me it is that you always have to get back up and fight.

And this is exactly what this read comes down to. Austin and Katy can and do get down and dirty and yes in the very kinky and very erotic way, hey I did say it 's written by Maisey Yates and those who know her books knows the woman get down and dirty with a bang, so be warned if your not into the sub/dom world steer clear from this read. But in between the hot and very sweaty sex sessions there lies a story of making a choice. One can either take the revenge you so badly crave but what if you have your revenge and then still find yourself trapped in a world of darkness?

Will the revenge truly be worth it? No, of course it won't it never is , and the author brings home that message with utter perfection! I highly recommend this read for all fans of Maisey Yates books, just like her previous Harlequin Presents books you will be swept into a world of romance with spice and emotion and remarkably realistic characters and situations where people just as in real life try to back out, find a easy way out and even try to bring life back into focus by jumping the gun.

But the added fun of this read that makes it stand out from everything else she has written is the level of hotness and almost emotional detachment when it gets to those really dirty sex scenes. You can feel the characters growing nearer to the each other yet there is still this level of uncertainty that prevents the reader from wanting to start rooting for the hero and heroine to find a happy ending.

And in this lies the true talent of this author, she knows exactly how to get your attention, hold it to the point where you think you will go completely insane and then just as suddenly draws you back into her world letting you crave more and more of the magic where romance lives and it's a lot sexier and dirtier than you can ever imagine.

I look forward to the rest of this series and as always this author remains a auto buy on my list! Excellent work Maisey keep 'em coming !

5/5 star review
" The plan is a simple one of revenge, that is until the light stats to shine through threatening to erase the darkness of their souls"
Profile Image for Sandy S.
8,252 reviews208 followers
May 22, 2014
3.75 stars


ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 27, 2014

TEN YEARS AGO ONE DEVASTATING NIGHT CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR AUSTIN, HUNTER AND ALEX. NOW THEY MUST EACH PLAY THEIR PART IN THE REVENGE AGAINST THE ONE MAN WHO RUINED IT ALL.

Austin Treffen was born into a world of privilege, but behind its gilded doors lies a corruption so sordid New York's elite would never believe it; especially as his infamous philanthropic father is at its core! With everything he believed in shattered, how can Austin take down his father; risking his family name and those he loves; without any proof?

Until one earth-shattering night with Katy Michaels unlocks not only their deepest, most passionate desires but also the key to bringing Jason Treffen's reign to an end. But with an intense sexual attraction that combines a heady mix of exquisite pleasure and sublime pain, will they satiate their thirst for revenge and each other; or lose themselves forever in the darkness?

REVIEW: AVENGE ME is the first instalment in the Fifth Avenue contemporary adult, erotic Fifth Avenue Trilogy series with each subsequent connecting storyline written by a different author. Avenge Me is billionaire attorney Austin Treffen and events planner Katy Michaels’s storyline written by author Maisey Yates.

The overall focus of the series is the take down of Jason Treffen-lawyer, billionaire and Austin’s father. To the public Jason is the personification of perfection; an upstanding citizen and philanthropic family man but behind the scenes Jason is involved in illegal activities that have resulted in the destruction of many lives. For ten years Austin has felt the shame and guilt of his father’s sordid life until the day he meets Katy Michaels whose goal it is to destroy Jason Treffen and everything he represents.

The relationship between Katy and Austin is immediate and familiar to readers of damaged billionaire/eager virgin storylines. From a hot and steamy one-night stand Austin and Katy’s fast track to love builds in a matter of days until Austin proclaims that he is a man incapable of love and Katy should turn and walk away. Saying this, I did not feel the ‘insta-love’ or the attraction between Katy and Austin-their sex felt more like an arrangement and convenience.

Told from third person POV, the majority of this storyline focuses on the building relationship between Katy and Austin, and the take down of Jason Treffen has only started. The details surrounding Jason’s illegal activities are slowly revealed but the bulk of the information remains hidden.

The secondary characters include Austin’s best friends Hunter Talbot Grant and Alex Diaz-all three men are connected through friendship, a dark history and the death of someone they once knew and loved. It is with this understanding that each instalment in the series will focus on the links to Jason Treffen and the illegal activities that have resulted in too much heartache and guilt for all three friends.

AVENGE ME is an erotic storyline that felt a little choppy at times. The heroine’s need for revenge was lost in the details of her personal backstory which seem to engulf a good portion of her thoughts and direction, and detracted from the main story. As for Austin’s character, we do not get a good understanding of the man who has stolen Katy’s heart. His relationship with his parents is tense but there is very little character development or information revealed about the man. It would have been nice to see the primary characters fleshed out differently. The buildup towards Jason Treffen’s fall from grace never fully materialized as the premise focused more on Austin and Katy’s dysfunctional relationship. Hopefully, Jason Treffen’s personal and professional demise will come to fruition in the next two instalments.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

www.thereadingcafe.com
Profile Image for Patti TheLoveJunkee.
715 reviews157 followers
June 29, 2014
This is a review of all 3 books in the series - I don't think there are spoilers but be forewarned...

PJV Quickie: The Fifth Avenue Trilogy is an interesting concept in storytelling: 3 books, 3 authors, 1 story arc spanning the length of the 3 books. I liked how each book had a different "feel" to it, not just a different couple as main characters.

Review: This trilogy is the story of 3 friends, Austin, Hunter, and Alex, who want to avenge the death of their good friend, Sarah, who committed suicide 10 years ago. Each book is told from the POV of one of the men, and they are told in a (mostly) continuous timeline, with each main character accomplishing one part of the plot to bring down the man responsible for Sarah's suicide.

I had a hard time getting into the first book, Avenge Me, mostly because I didn't feel like the main characters, Austin and Katy, had any chemistry. I don't know if this is because Ms. Yates had the burden of setting up the back-story, or if I just truly didn't like the characters. I felt like some of Austin's actions were almost the same as his father's actions, arranging things so that she had no choice but to move in with him; it didn't sit well with me and I don't think the end justified the means. I will say that Ms. Yates set up Austin's father, Jason, as a truly skeevy, detestable villain.

The second book, Scandalize Me, I think is my favorite of the three books. Hunter is an ex-football star who used to date Sarah and feels responsible for not seeing what was happening to her before she killed herself. Zoe was one of Jason's victims, but she was able to buy her freedom, such as it is. She's planning revenge and Hunter is part of her plan. I really liked Zoe and Hunter; they were both so broken from the events in their past and their growth together was sad at times but also hopeful. By the time I got to the end I was waiting almost gleefully for Jason Treffen's comeuppance.

Expose Me, the last book in the trilogy, provided a solid ending to the story. I liked Alex and Chelsea: their romance was not pretty - it was fearful and hesitant but ultimately, strong enough to overcome all the obstacles they each had put in place to avoid being hurt. I knew how things were going to play out with Chelsea and Jason Treffen, but it was so satisfying to read it happen. My only complaint is that there wasn't an epilogue to tell us what happened long-term.

Ultimately, even though it got off to a slow start for me, I thought the Fifth Avenue Trilogy was an engaging read and I'm hoping Harlequin will do another series using this 3-book/3-author set up.

Recommendations: Each couple in this series is so different, I think the series will appear to many readers. They do all have this in common though: if you like your heroes alpha, your heroines tough, and a romance-focused story, I'd recommend picking these up.
Profile Image for Nicole(thereadingrebel).
278 reviews
March 24, 2015
Warning: This book has themes that not everyone can handle. If you can't handle sensitive subjects don't read this book.

I love revenge. No let me put that a little better. I LOVE revenge. I love when bad people get what's coming to them. I am not into that forgive them BS. Some people don't deserve forgiveness and this SoB is one of them. Some people deserve to be burned at the stake and Jason Treffen's one of those people. Now that I have told everyone my feelings on revenge and maybe freaked out a few people I will start my review.

Austin Treffon is forever scarred by what happened 10 years ago at his father's Christmas party. So are his two best friends Hunter and Alex. When they get a letter which came to Austin's law office saying that someone is looking for proof about what happened that night. It drives them to act to take down the one man who damaged just not them but others as well. Including the mysterious women Austin meets and has a one night stand with were they both let their every fantasy come true.

Austin is a very messed up person. He is terrified by the idea he might be like his father and will do anything to not be him. Austin has lived a life of privilege and when he becomes a lawyer is when he really sees how hard and messed up life can be. I love how much depth their is to Austin's character is. He is not your typical alpha. He's a great guy who's worst fear is becoming his father. Austin also cares extreme guilt over not being able to stop what happened that Christmas night.

Katy has denied herself everything in her thirst/quest to get justice for her sister. Katy had a really hard life. She is a hard worker and raised her brother by herself. I have a huge respect for her character. Austin and Katy have a lot of scars and darkness inside them. In this book on a level that sometimes they don't understand Austin and Katy always knew what the other needed both emotion and sex wise. It was like they saw their matching messed half in the other.

Austin and Katy are into bondage and dominance in the bedroom so just a heads up if you aren't into reading that stuff. Their sex is not romantic and more passionate. Some of my favorite parts include when Austin helped Katy with her brother. It was beautiful moment in their relationship. Plus when Austin confronted his father about all the terrible things he had done. The beginning of Jason's fall is sweet and can't wait to read the next two books. Maisey Yates has a way with words and characters. I will be reading more of her books in future. I loved this story about two screwed up people finding peace among the wreckage. I loved reading about the world of Fifth Avenue. Where all that glitters is not gold.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Content Rating: Mature 17+

Heat Rating: Hot
Profile Image for NomdePlumePress.
189 reviews4 followers
May 27, 2014
I really really wanted to like this book. Firstly, I’ve liked the few Maisey Yates books I’ve read. They were funny and geeky and really lovely. Secondly, I’m crushing on the guy on the cover. At the RT Convention, there was a giant poster of the cover on the wall in the bar, and I spent far too much time trying to figure out how I could scale the wall and take him home with me. (Just look at him, all scowly and intense. Wouldn’t you want an 8-foot-tall version of him too?)

But Avenge Me just didn’t work for me. The premise is that Austin is trying to avenge his friend Sarah’s death, which occurred because his father is slime. He accidentally hooks up with Sarah’s sister Katy, who has the same goal. Austin feels the need to protect Katy from his father, but also from his own disturbing proclivities in the bedroom, which naturally he assumes will take him down the same path his father has taken. I write “naturally” with a touch of sarcasm. Because this is a trope that I just don’t buy anymore.

There’s lots more going on in this book -- the disturbing, misogynistic activities Austin’s dad gets up to when he’s not defending women’s rights -- but what isn’t going on is the chemistry between Austin and Katy. Austin manages to be so convincing when he believes that pursuing anything with Katy would be wrong that I believed him too and couldn’t get into their relationship at all.

I also had a hard time buying into either character. We don't get a real sense of who they are outside of their alliance. Their dialogue is very similar, and both are written very unevenly. Occasionally one would crack a joke, but it would be so abrupt and out of character that I couldn’t believe it was actually a joke; conversation was so stilted that it was more likely just social awkwardness.

Most significantly, most of the book was dialogue or reflection with no action. In fact, that’s about the entire final third. Snore. What this book was missing, I think, was more characters. Katy had no one but Austin to talk to, so everything she’s going through comes out only in her thoughts or in her conversation with Austin. It just made for some really really long scenes where we don’t learn much we can’t already intuit and where the arc of emotions is played out entirely in dialogue. Bummer.

There will be more books in this Fifth Avenue series, each written by other authors and each dealing with friends of Sarah’s who are seeking revenge for her death. So don’t rule out the whole series based on this one book.

Lila

Reviewed from ARC. Published by Harlequin Presents May 27, 2014.

Reviews at nomdeplumepress.wordpress.com.
372 reviews
July 27, 2016
Avenge Me is not your typical "billionaire playboy with dominant sexual tendencies meets beautiful virgin" (although the characters are both). The relationship between Austin Treffen and Katy Michaels plays out against an intense subplot-the death of Katy's sister Sarah, and Katy's suspicion that Austin's father was somehow involved. Jason Treffen is a prominent and wealthy women's advocate lawyer, but he is hiding a dark secret-Jason is also the mastermind behind a prostitution and sex trade ring that Sarah become involved in while working in his law practice. Ten years after Sarah's death Katy is determined to find out exactly what caused her sister to commit suicide, and this leads her into the arms of Austin, also a lawyer working on domestic abuse and other women's rights issues. Both Katy and Austin carry deep emotional scars-Austin because his desire for control in his sexual relationships makes him believe he is destined to follow in his father's evil footsteps, and Katy because of the neglect she and her siblings suffered at the hands of their drug addict parents. The guilt and confusion Katy and Austin feel while trying to uncover the truth and expose Jason, and their attraction to each other is palpable. Even though Katy is a virgin, she has fantasies about submitting sexually to a man, and Austin can't separate his desires from his father's actions-but there is almost too much time spent on discussing their feelings. We understand early on that Austin is nothing like his father-Austin has been estranged from Jason since Sarah's death- although he pretends to want a reconciliation so he too can find out what happened to Sarah, and Katy's need for revenge, while understandable, is mentioned so many times it borders on overkill. Austin and Katy's sexual encounters give both of them exactly what they have been craving, but were unwilling to admit. While the ending of Avenge Me is satisfying for them, it does not bring the closure with Jason they were looking for, and leaves open the possibility of future installments in this series.
Profile Image for Nikki .
804 reviews114 followers
June 10, 2014
As a first book in a trilogy wrote by three different authors, Maisey Yates sets the bar pretty high for those following her with Avenge Me. This was also my first experience with Maisey’s work and I wasn’t at all disappointed.

Austin Treffen is an elitist, raised by money and groomed from birth to follow in the footsteps of his father. Although becoming like his father is the last thing he actually wants to do considering what he’s long suspected is the true nature of the man. After a good friend committed suicide ten years ago, he’s suspected his father my have had something to do with it and so he had cut most all ties with the man, even going as far as working at a different law firm. When he meets the gorgeous Katy, who is the younger sister of his friend who killed herself, there is an instant attraction. Past that is the mutual need to take down Austin’s father and find out the truth about what happened the night she jumped from the law firm rooftop.

What a great start to this trilogy! Yates laid the groundwork perfectly with the undeniable attraction that snapped between Austin and Katy. I loved how they teamed up (both for their own reasons) to find the truth about the slimy dealings Austin’s father was conducting behind closed doors. Katy’s obvious love for her sister, and the need to avenge her death spoke highly of her character. In addition, Austin’s growth from the time of the incident to the present and how he’s finally stepping up to uncover the truth showed great strength and determination. Though I would have liked a bit more action and threat, I realize this is a contemp and not a suspense…but I hope by book 3 there is something hugely dramatic that happens in order to take Austin’s father down.

Groundwork is quickly laid for the two following books in which other authors will be penning involving Austin’s two best friends. Yates gave them excellent setup and I can’t wait to see them in their entirety! Look for those reviews soon!

I give Avenge Me by Maisey Yates 4 stars!
Profile Image for May Mostly Romance.
1,015 reviews72 followers
October 13, 2014
เราชอบแบ็คกราวด์ของเรื่องชุดนี้นะคะ การฆ่าตัวตายของหญิงสาวคนนึงนำไปสู่การเปลี่ยนแปลงในชีวิตของชายสามคนที่เกี่ยวข้องกับเธอ และเมื่อความจริงปรากฎว่า เธอฆ่าตัวตายเพราะการกระทำของคนคนนึง ชายทั้งสามร่วมมือกันเพื่อแก้แค้น

ปัญหาก็คือ เรื่องนี้ไม่ได้ตอบโจทย์นั้น เราไม่รู้ว่า เป็นเพราะเรื่องถูกเขียนโดยนักเขียนสามคน ทำให้ประเด็นเรื่องการแก้แค้นดูไม่มีน้ำหนัก แล้วไม่น่าสนใจ ชนิดที่เราไม่รู้สึกว่า พระเอกเรื่องนี้มีความจริงใจในการแก้แค้น คือเรื่องเหมือนพยายามบอกว่า เขากำลังทำบางอย่างเพื่อเปิดเผยความจริง แต่เรากลับไม่เห็นว่า มันคืออะไร หรือจะช่วยสถานการณ์ได้ยังไงบ้าง

และอาจจะเป็นเพราะความคาดหวังที่มากกว่า แต่สิ่งที่เราได้ก็คือ หนังสือแนวฮาร์ลิควิน เพรสเซ่นส์อีกเล่มนึงก็ได้ที่ทำให้เราเซ็ง ทั้งที่จริง ๆ ไม่ได้ถึงกับแย่มาก แต่ความผิดหวังจากเล่มนี้ทำให้เราถอยหลังจากสองเล่มที่เหลือในชุดไปเลยนะคะ ต้องตั้งหลักทำใจสักระยะก่อนจะกลับไปอ่านได้

เมื่อออสตินรู้ว่า บิดาที่เขานับถือคือสาเหตุที่ทำให้เพื่อนสมัยเรียนฮาร์วาร์ดของเขาต้องฆ่าตัวตาย (เพราะ ) เขาและเพื่อนสนิทอีกสองคนวางแผนที่จะเปิดโปงการกระทำอันชั่วร้ายนี้ แม้ว่ามันจะทำให้ชีวิตของมารดาและน้องสาวของเขาเองต้องพังทลายลงก็ตาม และเมื่อเขาได้เจอกับเคตี้ น้องสาวของเหยื่อคนนั้น ทั้งคู่จึงร่วมมือกันในการสืบหาความจริง

หรืออย่างน้อยก็คือสิ่งที่พวกเขาบอกตัวเอง สำหรับเรามันเป็นความพยายามที่ไม่ได้เรื่อง แล้วไม่น่าเชื่อว่า ทั้งออสตินและเคตี้จะได้ข้อมูลอะไรจากการสืบของพวกเขา (ซึ่งดูไร้สาระเอามากๆ) นอกจากนี้เรื่องก็ยังผสมผสานพล็อตแนวเพรสเซ่นส์ ที่พระเอกรวยล้นฟ้าเจอนางเอกที่กำลังตกอับ (เคตี้ถูกไล่ออกจากงานเพราะพ่อของออสตินกลั่นแกล้ง) มาเธอมาที่เพนท์เฮ้าส์สุดหรู และเลี้ยงเธอเป็นเมียเก็บ (เพื่อกลบเกลื่อนไม่ให้พ่อสงสัยว่า เขาและเธอกำลังสืบเรื่องบางอย่างอยู่) แถมเอา BDSM มาประกอบเพื่อขายแฟนหนังสือแนวฟิฟตี้เชดอีก

เราว่ามันมากไป และพยายามมากเกินไป คือถ้าเล่มนี้วางขายเป็นแค่แนวเพรสเซ่นส์ เราอาจจะให้อภัยได้มากกว่านี้ (เพาะคาดหวังไม่เยอะ) แต่เมื่อเทียบกับพล็อตของชุด เราอยากเห็นอะไรที่เป็นน้ำเป็นเนื้อมากกว่านี้ การแก้แค้นที่จริงจัง ไม่ใช่ว่า แก้แค้นไประหว่างเวลารอเจอนางเอกแบบนี้น่ะค่ะ
Profile Image for Jess M..
557 reviews390 followers
February 29, 2016
Read this review on my blog! --> Avenge Me by Maisey Yates

I was so glad that Avenge Me didn’t turn out to be one of those eroticas where the guy is so controlling, it makes me want to hurl the book across the room. Those type of guys are gross. It’s one thing to be domineering in the bedroom and a whole other thing to carry that trend into their everyday lives, especially with their significant others. I can’t stand it.

BUT!! Avenge Me didn’t have that icky factor. Austin is complex in his desires, but a well-rounded human being, if a bit tortured at the moment. He did a few things in the beginning of the book in assuring Katy would have to stay with him that left me kind of questioning if he would turn into one of those dudes I hate, but luckily he brought it around made it better. Kind of, haha. Katy for her part didn’t take any of his crap lightly whatsoever. She gave him a whole lot of shit for it.

Austin and Katy are after the same thing inside and outside of the bedroom, but they don’t know that at first. It isn’t until after their first hot encounter IN the bedroom that they learn who they really are and what they’re both planning, and that’s to ruin the same man.

Ultimately this trilogy is about bringing down the one man Austin and Katy are after, because they all want revenge for Sarah Michaels. So in Avenge Me we see the start of his take down. It appears it’s going to be a nasty fight, so be ready!
Profile Image for Siany.
455 reviews17 followers
February 1, 2014
5/10 stars for me (darn goodreads i really wish i could do half star ratings)

I really wanted to like this.
It started off with promise, the storyline was interesting and found myself wanting to know more about this "sex ring" how it operated etc but in the end it ended being more about Austin and Katy and their attraction to each other.

Let me start off by saying I got nothing against kinky stuff in that department but in the beginning I didn't feel the chemistry between them and really a virgin who would be into that for her first time? ever so slightly unbelievable and being taken that way whilst a virgin...well ouch lol Anyway if you can extend your disbelief from that the future encounters seemed a bit better. At least later on, as the reader I could feel the chemistry between the both of them.

For me, this felt more like a Mills and Boon type read. Which don't get me wrong isn't nessarily a bad thing, even though it is a Harlequin book I did expect a bit more indepth story development.
Maybe that will come in the next few books?

I am not sure if I would go on to read the others but I wouldn't rule it out.
Overall I found this a nice easy quick read and recommend this for a lazy afternoon of vegging on the sofa :)

Read and reviewed courtesy of Netgalley
173 reviews41 followers
March 14, 2014
***NetGallery Read***
*Adult Read*
Two stranger that act on a one night stand & there darkest sexual fantasy.Austin & katy a very good tortured couple.From the moment they met it was a sex fest lol.These to character had great chemistry.I loved how katy would tell Austin the truth...about herself as the book went on.

O sexy Austin you can protect(spank me) any day ...lol.a torched soul he is.Throughout the book great sex some mystery in the first few chapters then I found out what these two characters had in common.

Love that about this book.Glad to read a book about more mature characters.A book about Trust,Revenge & finding love within yourself so you can move on with your life.Loved it....the sex was great some kink but not overboard on it.

Would love to read a follow up about these characters!

This was a Netgallery read.Thank you Netgallery & the author Maisey Yates.

***FYI***
Just looked up more on this author there's a book 2 (Scandalize Me) by Cailin Crews** about Austin's friend Hunters POV!!


Profile Image for Avid Reader.
268 reviews70 followers
May 29, 2020
I loved the premise of this series. I love a good revenge story. Unfortunately, I had a hard time connecting with the characters. That being said, it seems that this was just me. A lot of readers loved this series. I am going to try it again in a few months and see if I feel differently. Happy reading!

Profile Image for Lee.
160 reviews66 followers
September 9, 2016
One of the best books I've read by Maisey Yates! Avenge Me has all the deliciousness of a Harlequin Presents but also delivers so much more. It's scandalously sizzling and full of twists. I would highly recommend to anyone who loves alpha male and revenge stories.
Profile Image for Connie N..
2,795 reviews
September 21, 2021
#1 in the Fifth Avenue Trilogy

This is the first in a trilogy written by three different authors, but following the same theme. We begin with Austin Treffen who discovers that his father, a celebrated lawyer advocate for women, is really involved in the sex trade, which resulted in the suicide death of his friend. When he meets the friend's sister, they join forces to get revenge and bring down the illegal organization. But along the way, they also become sexually involved. Unfortunately they both have so much baggage that their mild BDSM relationship becomes problematic for both of them, with their needs seeming to run too closely with the horrific scheme implemented by Austin's father and his cronies. I found their neediness to be alternately sweet/vulnerable and frustrating. Austin worried himself to death about being like his father when it was clear that he is nothing like him. Katy was a little better, learning to accept help even though she's used to doing everything on her own. I enjoyed watching them grow independently while working together in their campaign against his father. There was a bit of a cliffhanger simply because the main plot continues throughout the series, although with different players.
48 reviews
May 18, 2020
Oj... Na kodėl jie visi dabar taip panašūs? Dominuoti... labai primena "Bibliotekininkė" ir "50 pilkų atspalvių". Pastarieji du iš vis praktiškai vienodi. Bent jau šis neturi ypatingų nukrypimų. Aišku pabaiga - saldybių saldybė, ko greičiausiai gyvenime niekada neišgirstumėm.. tokios romanų pabaigos priverčia pasijusti cinike 🤷‍♀️
Stilius lengvas, istorija sudėtinga, todėl manau pirma knyga pradėta buvo ne nuo to galo.. o gal kaip todėl ir intriguoja, nes ką dar papasakos dvu knygas, jei jau pirmoj viskas aišku..
Priedo humoro jausmas nerealus! Vien už tai didelės riebios keturios žvaigždutės
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