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Alpha Ops #4
Under The Surface
Welcome to Eye Candy, the East Side’s hottest nightclub where the bartenders are hot, the cocktails are fancy, and danger lurks just under the surface…
Eve Webber, the gorgeous and savvy owner of Eye Candy, knows better than anyone that growing up on the wrong side of the tracks comes with certain complications. Determined to run a clean business and fix up the East Side, Eve’s plans get temporarily stalled when a potential new hire walks into her bar. The sexual chemistry crackling between them is a potent distraction… even if she refuses to mix business with the promise of pleasure.
Detective Matt Dorchester lives by strict rules that have kept him alive in impossible situations. When his latest undercover assignment has him playing a bartender, his desire for the passionate owner has him breaking every single one. Eve is in danger and her life depends on his secrecy. But once their attraction reaches a climactic conclusion, Matt must make a desperate choice: Tell her the truth about who he really is—or risk a once-in-a-lifetime love to save her life?
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2016
18 people are currently reading
858 people want to read
About the author
Anne Calhoun
52 books656 followersAfter doing time at Fortune 500 companies on both coasts, I found myself living in the suburbs of a small Midwestern city. The glamour of various cube farm jobs had worn off, so I gave up making a decent living to take Joseph Campbell’s advice and follow my bliss: writing romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
May 24, 2016
4+ stars. Plus a half star for Caleb. <333. Full review posted May 24, 2016.
“Don’t be careful with me,” she said. He deliberately stepped back into her body, pinning her to the wall with chest and pelvis as he worked a thigh between hers. One hand fastened at her hip, the other at her throat, holding her jaw so he could ravage her mouth, and she felt something dark and very, very desirable flame to life inside her.
His face was tight with desire, his jaw set when his gaze met hers. A bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face, into the stubble. The house was barely comfortable when they were sitting still. Movement, full body contact, made sweat slick their bodies. Reduced to the most primitive state of female, she forgot where she was, her name, or any of his several names as the impulse to finish this tightened her throat, swept through her limbs. She wound her legs around his, gripped his arms, and arched into his body.
He seated himself to the hilt inside her in one smooth, gliding stroke. Something—the sheer mass of his body against hers, the visceral punch of full-body, skin-to-skin contact—tore free the last of her restraints. She went wild under him as his mouth ravaged hers, bringing the copper taste of blood to her tongue, repaying him for her pleasure with the sting of her nails.
Yum. That's some sizzling hot sex right there that makes you forget everything else. See? Nobody here who's in the throes of passion is babbling any stupid or trivial nonsense either. The mind-blowing situation speaks for itself. Everything around them is shut down. They keep breathing and devouring each other. They feel. And they revel in that particular moment. That's what I call some Anne Calhoun goodness. That's the kind of long-drawn-out and explosive chemistry and le petit mort how you want to reenact it for yourself. Perfect.
Eve Webber, the sexy owner of Eye Candy, the East Side's hottest nightclub, is feeding the police information about Lyle Murphy who's determined on laundering drug money through Eye Candy. Detective Matt Dorchester, aka Chad Henderson, applies for a job at Eye Candy because firstly, the police department wants to know how reliable Eve is as an informant, and secondly, she might need protection.
Matt's life is carefully structured and based on honor and duty. Emotion and feelings are safely locked away. Growing up under the strict and rather unsympathetic supervision of his father, the situation worsened for Matt when his parents died in a traffic accident and his brother ended up in a wheelchair. Matt was discharged from the Army when he was twent-two-years-old, so he could take care of his younger brother, Luke, who's eight years his junior.
Written in Anne's trademark and distinct voice, Under the Surface is a sexy and highly sensual (erotic) romance story with an added twist of suspense. Thoughtful characterization, good storyline, though rather light on the suspense and action (only two of those pulse-pounding and great scenes), engaging dialogue and a complex male lead who might not be everyone's kind of hero, stood out in a remarkable way, at least to me. Matt was, in fact, totally my kind of hero. I really love how Anne writes the brooding, somewhat cold and self-contained male lead. However, when you dig deep enough and don't mind to uncover a couple layers, you'll be rewarded with a man who was worthy of all the efforts in the end. As an added bonus, even the heroine was pretty much striking. A beautiful and sassy woman with an intriguing background and family, she knows how to kick ass, but isn't afraid of making herself vulnerable as well. Surprise, surprise...I kind of fell pretty hard for Eve's gay older brother Caleb. Hello, Counselor…
“She hasn’t had to throw herself at a man since she was fifteen years old, although why she’d protect such an unethical bastard, I can’t figure out. If she gives me the slightest indication anything, and I mean anything, happened that makes her even sniffle with regret, I will make so much noise you’ll never get another job in law enforcement again.”
“Eve,” Caleb said, in his serious voice. “This is a violation of about fifteen different statues on police conduct.”
“Caleb’s hiding an honest-to-God big brother under that swagger,” he said.
Caleb does care for his sister and he loves her dearly. Besides, I love his smart mouth too.
Dear Anne,
Maybe time will come when you'll have to branch out and start writing man love. I'm dead serious. Please think about it. I'd be more than willing to read it! Meanwhile, Caleb is shamelessly hopping on my shelf of memorable secondary characters.
Best,
Baba
Connor McCormick, a workmate and friend of Matt and singer/songwriter Maud Ward aka Cady Ward, a very good friend of Eve, are the main protagonists of the next installment Going Deep which is due out coming November. It goes without saying that Matt and Eve will make a cameo in the next installment. I'm very much looking forward to getting my grabby hands on Going Deep and Anne's first bodyguard hero. Conn is damn hawt!
Recommended read.
All quotes are taken from the pre-published copy and may be altered or omitted in the final copy
**ARC courtesy of St. Martins Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
********************************
Pre-reading Under the Surface:
An undercover detective protecting his lady boss who's the owner of the bar Eye Candy. The hero happens to be easy on the eyes too. The heroine, Eve Webber, is loosely linked to The SEAL's Second Chance.
“Why leave? Getting beers for cops is much easier than mixing hundreds of cocktails a night.”
“I need full-time hours.” He looked around again. “And better tips.”
“This isn’t Gino’s. Not by a long shot,” she said. “You’ll work for your tips here.” She didn’t mean to infuse a sexual overtone into that comment, but somehow the insinuation hung between them.
(…)
“The ground rules are that you’ve got a smile for everyone, no matter if she’s the prettiest girl in the room or the pretty girl’s chunky, self-conscious best friend. No outrageous flirting, no requests for phone numbers or email addresses. No calling numbers if they come across the bar on a napkin or a twenty or a thong, which happened on Tuesday and led to one of my bartenders hooking up with a customer in the back of a pickup in my parking lot. I fired him before he had his jeans up. She went home alone, unsatisfied, and pissed off. That’s not good for business and therefore pisses me off. Are we clear?”
A moment of silence, then, “Your bar, your rules.”
Not many men could make that sound sexy, yet coming in Chad’s whiskey-rough voice, it sounded like temptation poured from a bottle.
So.
Welcome to Eye Candy, the East Side's hottest nightclub where the bartenders are hot, the cocktails are fancy, and danger lurks just under the surface…
I read the long sneak peek and I just know it's going to be great! There's no doubt about it because it's Anne. Enough said.
“Don’t be careful with me,” she said. He deliberately stepped back into her body, pinning her to the wall with chest and pelvis as he worked a thigh between hers. One hand fastened at her hip, the other at her throat, holding her jaw so he could ravage her mouth, and she felt something dark and very, very desirable flame to life inside her.
“You are a very strange man.”
“Because I don’t climb on top of you every chance I get?” he said. “Call it respect, boss. Or foreplay.”
His face was tight with desire, his jaw set when his gaze met hers. A bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face, into the stubble. The house was barely comfortable when they were sitting still. Movement, full body contact, made sweat slick their bodies. Reduced to the most primitive state of female, she forgot where she was, her name, or any of his several names as the impulse to finish this tightened her throat, swept through her limbs. She wound her legs around his, gripped his arms, and arched into his body.
He seated himself to the hilt inside her in one smooth, gliding stroke. Something—the sheer mass of his body against hers, the visceral punch of full-body, skin-to-skin contact—tore free the last of her restraints. She went wild under him as his mouth ravaged hers, bringing the copper taste of blood to her tongue, repaying him for her pleasure with the sting of her nails.
Yum. That's some sizzling hot sex right there that makes you forget everything else. See? Nobody here who's in the throes of passion is babbling any stupid or trivial nonsense either. The mind-blowing situation speaks for itself. Everything around them is shut down. They keep breathing and devouring each other. They feel. And they revel in that particular moment. That's what I call some Anne Calhoun goodness. That's the kind of long-drawn-out and explosive chemistry and le petit mort how you want to reenact it for yourself. Perfect.
Eve Webber, the sexy owner of Eye Candy, the East Side's hottest nightclub, is feeding the police information about Lyle Murphy who's determined on laundering drug money through Eye Candy. Detective Matt Dorchester, aka Chad Henderson, applies for a job at Eye Candy because firstly, the police department wants to know how reliable Eve is as an informant, and secondly, she might need protection.
Matt's life is carefully structured and based on honor and duty. Emotion and feelings are safely locked away. Growing up under the strict and rather unsympathetic supervision of his father, the situation worsened for Matt when his parents died in a traffic accident and his brother ended up in a wheelchair. Matt was discharged from the Army when he was twent-two-years-old, so he could take care of his younger brother, Luke, who's eight years his junior.
Written in Anne's trademark and distinct voice, Under the Surface is a sexy and highly sensual (erotic) romance story with an added twist of suspense. Thoughtful characterization, good storyline, though rather light on the suspense and action (only two of those pulse-pounding and great scenes), engaging dialogue and a complex male lead who might not be everyone's kind of hero, stood out in a remarkable way, at least to me. Matt was, in fact, totally my kind of hero. I really love how Anne writes the brooding, somewhat cold and self-contained male lead. However, when you dig deep enough and don't mind to uncover a couple layers, you'll be rewarded with a man who was worthy of all the efforts in the end. As an added bonus, even the heroine was pretty much striking. A beautiful and sassy woman with an intriguing background and family, she knows how to kick ass, but isn't afraid of making herself vulnerable as well. Surprise, surprise...I kind of fell pretty hard for Eve's gay older brother Caleb. Hello, Counselor…
“She hasn’t had to throw herself at a man since she was fifteen years old, although why she’d protect such an unethical bastard, I can’t figure out. If she gives me the slightest indication anything, and I mean anything, happened that makes her even sniffle with regret, I will make so much noise you’ll never get another job in law enforcement again.”
“Eve,” Caleb said, in his serious voice. “This is a violation of about fifteen different statues on police conduct.”
“Caleb’s hiding an honest-to-God big brother under that swagger,” he said.
Caleb does care for his sister and he loves her dearly. Besides, I love his smart mouth too.
Dear Anne,
Maybe time will come when you'll have to branch out and start writing man love. I'm dead serious. Please think about it. I'd be more than willing to read it! Meanwhile, Caleb is shamelessly hopping on my shelf of memorable secondary characters.
Best,
Baba
Connor McCormick, a workmate and friend of Matt and singer/songwriter Maud Ward aka Cady Ward, a very good friend of Eve, are the main protagonists of the next installment Going Deep which is due out coming November. It goes without saying that Matt and Eve will make a cameo in the next installment. I'm very much looking forward to getting my grabby hands on Going Deep and Anne's first bodyguard hero. Conn is damn hawt!
Recommended read.
All quotes are taken from the pre-published copy and may be altered or omitted in the final copy
**ARC courtesy of St. Martins Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
********************************
Pre-reading Under the Surface:
An undercover detective protecting his lady boss who's the owner of the bar Eye Candy. The hero happens to be easy on the eyes too. The heroine, Eve Webber, is loosely linked to The SEAL's Second Chance.
“Why leave? Getting beers for cops is much easier than mixing hundreds of cocktails a night.”
“I need full-time hours.” He looked around again. “And better tips.”
“This isn’t Gino’s. Not by a long shot,” she said. “You’ll work for your tips here.” She didn’t mean to infuse a sexual overtone into that comment, but somehow the insinuation hung between them.
(…)
“The ground rules are that you’ve got a smile for everyone, no matter if she’s the prettiest girl in the room or the pretty girl’s chunky, self-conscious best friend. No outrageous flirting, no requests for phone numbers or email addresses. No calling numbers if they come across the bar on a napkin or a twenty or a thong, which happened on Tuesday and led to one of my bartenders hooking up with a customer in the back of a pickup in my parking lot. I fired him before he had his jeans up. She went home alone, unsatisfied, and pissed off. That’s not good for business and therefore pisses me off. Are we clear?”
A moment of silence, then, “Your bar, your rules.”
Not many men could make that sound sexy, yet coming in Chad’s whiskey-rough voice, it sounded like temptation poured from a bottle.
So.
Welcome to Eye Candy, the East Side's hottest nightclub where the bartenders are hot, the cocktails are fancy, and danger lurks just under the surface…
I read the long sneak peek and I just know it's going to be great! There's no doubt about it because it's Anne. Enough said.
Lock it down, Dorchester. It's on.
June 2, 2016
This book is quintessential Calhoun. Under the Surface slow burning, steamy, character-driven romance between two complex characters.
Matt Dorchester latest undercover gig involves bartending at Eye Candy. He's the best at his job not only because of his skill set acquired from his time in the Marines but because he doesn't mix business and pleasure. But that rule is quickly tested when Matt met Eve, the tough and gorgeous owner of Eye Candy. Eve makes it known she's interested, and while Matt can't deny his attraction to her, there's so much at stake and one false move might end up getting him and Eve killed.
I wasn't quite sure if I liked the story at first because I felt it was too slow for me but it picked up in the second half and the last 25% was gripping. Then there's Ann Calhoun's writing which, as always, was top-notch. The way she layers her stories and the characters is unlike any other. You feel their struggle even though she doesn't explicitly spell it out for you. It's perfectly nuanced and it's something that I've come to expect from Anne Calhoun.
Eve is another complex Calhoun heroine. She poured her life saving and everything she has into Eye Candy. She's ambitious and she's a woman with a plan. The way she reacted to the situation felt very believable. I liked that she was aggressive and goes after what she wants without crossing the line.
Overall, I enjoyed Under the Surface and I'm glad that I stuck with it because at the end, I appreciated the time the author took in building the story because the ending was worth it.
ARC provided by St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
Matt Dorchester latest undercover gig involves bartending at Eye Candy. He's the best at his job not only because of his skill set acquired from his time in the Marines but because he doesn't mix business and pleasure. But that rule is quickly tested when Matt met Eve, the tough and gorgeous owner of Eye Candy. Eve makes it known she's interested, and while Matt can't deny his attraction to her, there's so much at stake and one false move might end up getting him and Eve killed.
I wasn't quite sure if I liked the story at first because I felt it was too slow for me but it picked up in the second half and the last 25% was gripping. Then there's Ann Calhoun's writing which, as always, was top-notch. The way she layers her stories and the characters is unlike any other. You feel their struggle even though she doesn't explicitly spell it out for you. It's perfectly nuanced and it's something that I've come to expect from Anne Calhoun.
Eve is another complex Calhoun heroine. She poured her life saving and everything she has into Eye Candy. She's ambitious and she's a woman with a plan. The way she reacted to the situation felt very believable. I liked that she was aggressive and goes after what she wants without crossing the line.
Overall, I enjoyed Under the Surface and I'm glad that I stuck with it because at the end, I appreciated the time the author took in building the story because the ending was worth it.
ARC provided by St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2016
3.5 Figuring It All Out Stars
* * * 1/2
Anne Calhoun knows exactly how to draw a reader in. She has taken me on many a ride with well constructed stories and unique characters. In Under the Surface, she gave us a conflicted undercover cop and an owner of an up and coming club.
Due to a money laundering scheme the main characters, Matt and Eve, have been brought together under tricky circumstances. Eve was approached by an old neighborhood thug to use her club, Eye Candy to clean the drug cash. She listened saying she would think on it knowing all along she would go to her friend on the force. She tells of the set up and will work with them in her own way. Little does she know they are bringing in Matt as the bartendar to watch over the bar and gather evidence for the bust.
This is the major conflict of the story. Matt understands how to do undercover...he has been doing it for too long. He has been in many situations similar... but this time... all the half truths, the playing the game with Eve doesn't feel right.
Eve is nothing like what Matt is use to... she is something very different. She is extremely strong... she had to be. Having parents who were part of the church meant they never expected or approved of their daughter to be involved in the nightclub/bar business. Eve just happened to fall into it while going to college and before she knew it , she had worked her way up to events and special projects. All of this experience gave her the way to contribute to the community she loved. Her dream was to bring the Eastside out of the dark despair and provide a positive way for it to flourish. By her helping the police bring down the drugs and crime, it could be a first step.
Both these two meet and sparks happen. What is surprising to Eve is the reluctance of Matt when Eve lets him know she is interested. Because he is "on the job", he is trying to play it careful and not cross the line. However the chemistry between these two, is just too much for them to fight.
With the attraction and the danger...the story is multi-layered.
I happened to like Eve and her strength quite a bit. She was a woman who found herself and knew what she wanted; her club to be a success, her community to be safe and rid of threats and crime, and she saw a man she wanted to share herself with. She made no apologizes for who she was and handled herself well.
Matt was more distant and brooding. His attraction for Eve was plain yet he was torn... always trying to do what he felt was correct and right. I got where he was coming from... yet I never really warmed up to him. I think it was a me thing.
Overall, this brings romance and suspense together with the strong talent of Anne Calhoun.
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
A Bar called Eye Candy...
A Woman trying to make good...
But with a past closing in and threatening everything...
An Undercover Cop there to protect...
But caught in their mutual attraction...
Who better to think of all this than Anne Calhoun...
I am in your capable hands and cannot wait...
A gifted copy was provided by St. Martin's Press for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * 1/2
Anne Calhoun knows exactly how to draw a reader in. She has taken me on many a ride with well constructed stories and unique characters. In Under the Surface, she gave us a conflicted undercover cop and an owner of an up and coming club.
Due to a money laundering scheme the main characters, Matt and Eve, have been brought together under tricky circumstances. Eve was approached by an old neighborhood thug to use her club, Eye Candy to clean the drug cash. She listened saying she would think on it knowing all along she would go to her friend on the force. She tells of the set up and will work with them in her own way. Little does she know they are bringing in Matt as the bartendar to watch over the bar and gather evidence for the bust.
This is the major conflict of the story. Matt understands how to do undercover...he has been doing it for too long. He has been in many situations similar... but this time... all the half truths, the playing the game with Eve doesn't feel right.
Eve is nothing like what Matt is use to... she is something very different. She is extremely strong... she had to be. Having parents who were part of the church meant they never expected or approved of their daughter to be involved in the nightclub/bar business. Eve just happened to fall into it while going to college and before she knew it , she had worked her way up to events and special projects. All of this experience gave her the way to contribute to the community she loved. Her dream was to bring the Eastside out of the dark despair and provide a positive way for it to flourish. By her helping the police bring down the drugs and crime, it could be a first step.
Both these two meet and sparks happen. What is surprising to Eve is the reluctance of Matt when Eve lets him know she is interested. Because he is "on the job", he is trying to play it careful and not cross the line. However the chemistry between these two, is just too much for them to fight.
With the attraction and the danger...the story is multi-layered.
I happened to like Eve and her strength quite a bit. She was a woman who found herself and knew what she wanted; her club to be a success, her community to be safe and rid of threats and crime, and she saw a man she wanted to share herself with. She made no apologizes for who she was and handled herself well.
Matt was more distant and brooding. His attraction for Eve was plain yet he was torn... always trying to do what he felt was correct and right. I got where he was coming from... yet I never really warmed up to him. I think it was a me thing.
Overall, this brings romance and suspense together with the strong talent of Anne Calhoun.
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
A Bar called Eye Candy...
A Woman trying to make good...
But with a past closing in and threatening everything...
An Undercover Cop there to protect...
But caught in their mutual attraction...
Who better to think of all this than Anne Calhoun...
I am in your capable hands and cannot wait...
A gifted copy was provided by St. Martin's Press for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
June 6, 2016
5 - "Your bar, your rules." Stars!
I have spent the last week or two, working my way through the first three novellas in Anne’s Alpha Op’s series. As an author new to me, the completion of each story gave me a bigger and bigger smile. I started at good, moved onto really good, then great with the third installment, but Under The Surface the first full length book stepped firmly, and with both feet into the stellar category.
I love a good old fashioned romantic suspense, and the author delivered it in spades with Eve and Matt’s story. Plenty of twists and turns in the plot, but the slow-burn sizzle between the two of them was what kept me reading well past my bedtime initially. Some authors drag out the build-up to a couple doing the deed, and it feels just that, dragged out but holy hotness, the push and pull between these two… I was as frustrated as they were!
"You’re hot as hell, but business comes first."
But Matt has his reasons for holding back, and he does try admirably, but in Eve we are given a really strong female lead, she wasn’t afraid to push for what she wanted, and eventually managed to coax the sparks between them into a fully burning blaze.
Add in a few giggles, a really great cast of secondary characters, and an edge of your seat finale, and I can without doubt say I am a fan for life of this author now. The next book of the series Going Deep, is due in November, and I am looking forward to seeing what the author offers up next.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was my absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.
I have spent the last week or two, working my way through the first three novellas in Anne’s Alpha Op’s series. As an author new to me, the completion of each story gave me a bigger and bigger smile. I started at good, moved onto really good, then great with the third installment, but Under The Surface the first full length book stepped firmly, and with both feet into the stellar category.
I love a good old fashioned romantic suspense, and the author delivered it in spades with Eve and Matt’s story. Plenty of twists and turns in the plot, but the slow-burn sizzle between the two of them was what kept me reading well past my bedtime initially. Some authors drag out the build-up to a couple doing the deed, and it feels just that, dragged out but holy hotness, the push and pull between these two… I was as frustrated as they were!
"You’re hot as hell, but business comes first."
But Matt has his reasons for holding back, and he does try admirably, but in Eve we are given a really strong female lead, she wasn’t afraid to push for what she wanted, and eventually managed to coax the sparks between them into a fully burning blaze.
Add in a few giggles, a really great cast of secondary characters, and an edge of your seat finale, and I can without doubt say I am a fan for life of this author now. The next book of the series Going Deep, is due in November, and I am looking forward to seeing what the author offers up next.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was my absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.
June 12, 2016
*** ARC kindly provided by the publisher St. Martin's Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review ***
This was my first book from Anne Calhoun and I loved it so it won’t be my last!
Pastor’s daughter, Eve, starts her own bar with hot male bartenders. An old ‘friend’ wants to use her bar to launder his dirty drug money. Eve doesn’t want to have anything to do with this and wants to help keep her neighborhood clean. She informs the cops. She’ll help them catch him but doesn’t want any cops in her bar. When she hires a new, hot bartender she doesn’t realize he’s undercover. What will happen when she finds out? Will she manage to help them catch the ones responsible for the drug issues in the Eastside?
As I said this was my first book from Anne and I’m really looking forward to read more from her. I loved the writing style, the suspense and characters. Eve was such a strong, sassy woman! I also loved Eve’s brother Caleb and would love to read his story...
This was my first book from Anne Calhoun and I loved it so it won’t be my last!
Pastor’s daughter, Eve, starts her own bar with hot male bartenders. An old ‘friend’ wants to use her bar to launder his dirty drug money. Eve doesn’t want to have anything to do with this and wants to help keep her neighborhood clean. She informs the cops. She’ll help them catch him but doesn’t want any cops in her bar. When she hires a new, hot bartender she doesn’t realize he’s undercover. What will happen when she finds out? Will she manage to help them catch the ones responsible for the drug issues in the Eastside?
As I said this was my first book from Anne and I’m really looking forward to read more from her. I loved the writing style, the suspense and characters. Eve was such a strong, sassy woman! I also loved Eve’s brother Caleb and would love to read his story...
June 6, 2016
ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
Under The Surface by Anne Calhoun is the first book that I have read from this author and it surely won’t be my last. If you are a fan of romantic suspense which is one of my favorite trope, then this book is right up your alley. I loved that Ms. Calhoun was able to weave steam, banter, sexual tension, romance and of course some grit into this sexy romantic suspense.
As a pastor’s daughter, Eve Webber decided to venture on a career that is far from what is expected of her. As a bar owner, Eve has a lot on her plate making sure her bar, Eye Candy is successful. As a savvy business woman, Eve runs a tight ship when it comes to her business and so when she hires a new bartender, Eve finds herself enthralled with the newest eye candy,Chad Henderson.
When Eve hires Chad, they hit it off and instantly readers could feel the sexual chemistry brewing between these two. But what Eve doesn’t know is that Chad is an alias and he really is Detective Matt Dorchester.
Matt goes undercover to make sure Eve Webber is protected and that she stays true to being an informant for a case that he and his task force are putting on. Eve is unaware of who really Chad is but the chemistry between these two is palpable from the start. What happens when Eve learns of Matt’s true identity? Will she be able to trust him when her safety and life is on the line?
Under The Surface was a fast paced romantic suspense that will keep readers entertained. I instantly fell in love with Eve’s personality and charm so I knew she and Matt would hit it off because she brings out the playful and fun side in Matt. This book definitely made me want to check out more works from Anne Calhoun. The writing was fresh, sexy and had that suspense aspect to keep me engaged with the story line. So if you are looking for a great summer read, I would suggest you give this book a try.
Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Anne Calhoun
Under The Surface by Anne Calhoun is the first book that I have read from this author and it surely won’t be my last. If you are a fan of romantic suspense which is one of my favorite trope, then this book is right up your alley. I loved that Ms. Calhoun was able to weave steam, banter, sexual tension, romance and of course some grit into this sexy romantic suspense.
As a pastor’s daughter, Eve Webber decided to venture on a career that is far from what is expected of her. As a bar owner, Eve has a lot on her plate making sure her bar, Eye Candy is successful. As a savvy business woman, Eve runs a tight ship when it comes to her business and so when she hires a new bartender, Eve finds herself enthralled with the newest eye candy,Chad Henderson.
When Eve hires Chad, they hit it off and instantly readers could feel the sexual chemistry brewing between these two. But what Eve doesn’t know is that Chad is an alias and he really is Detective Matt Dorchester.
Matt goes undercover to make sure Eve Webber is protected and that she stays true to being an informant for a case that he and his task force are putting on. Eve is unaware of who really Chad is but the chemistry between these two is palpable from the start. What happens when Eve learns of Matt’s true identity? Will she be able to trust him when her safety and life is on the line?
Under The Surface was a fast paced romantic suspense that will keep readers entertained. I instantly fell in love with Eve’s personality and charm so I knew she and Matt would hit it off because she brings out the playful and fun side in Matt. This book definitely made me want to check out more works from Anne Calhoun. The writing was fresh, sexy and had that suspense aspect to keep me engaged with the story line. So if you are looking for a great summer read, I would suggest you give this book a try.
Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Anne Calhoun
July 3, 2016
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Undercover cop, cheeky ladies bar named Eye Candy, heroine with a mission but a dirty childhood friend, undeniable sexual chemistry and futile resistance. Under the Surface was a sexy, flirty, holy-cow-fan-yourself hot read with a side helping of danger. Yes, please!
The quick of it is that one of Eve's childhood friends has propositioned her. He wants to use her bar to launder his drug/gang money. And she agrees. Then quickly heads to the cops to let them know. She's determined to clean up her city and will be damned if the bad guys are gonna use her bar as a front. Little does she know that when she hires a new bartender a short time later...she's also brought in an undercover cop who's mission is to keep her alive and make sure she was on the up-in-up.
So these two. I liked them. Eve's bold and sassy. She's full of conviction and vision. I loved that she was passionate about her business and trying to change her community for the better--even if it put her in danger. And Matt. Whoa sexy! He's got that dark, broody, mysterious thing going on. He's a man of few words but ::shivers:: yeah he's got a mouth on him when warranted and it's sexy as all get out. He's every inch the protector and good guy with the world on his shoulders. They were good together too. Had that push and pull thing happening and were just drawn together despite him trying to resist since he was undercover and that's all kinds of messy.
There was a little bit of danger with her being an informant and trying to get information for the cops. It wasn't too in your face though. There were a couple of pulse pounding scenes as she dealt with the bad guys but most of the get-your-blood-pumping moments came from naughty moments with the hero. Noms! Cus seriously...chemistry between them was seductive and blistering hot. I did have a couple quibbles early on when Eve was a bit too sexually pushy for my taste. He kept saying no...she kept pushing and saying if he didn't put out she'd go somewhere else. Keep in mind she's his boss and he was asking to go slow. So that put me off at first. But once that passed and they got together...brace yourself because the things this man does and says...knee-weakening-make-a-girl-pant delicious.
All in all, Under the Surface was a steamy fun read. I did think it was a mite too long especially compared to the more novella-ish books in the series so far but it was a good time and kept me entertained. Calhoun has a way with writing yummy characters that pulls you in and leaves you asking for the next. And I'm definitely curious to see who will get a story now. I'd love to see her brother and his lady cop partner. Or his brother who was injured in a car wreck years earlier. Both would be high on my *grabby hands need it now* list.
May 2, 2016
" A copy of this book has been provided by the publisher St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review"
Wonderful start to a new series!
Full review to come closer to release date.
Wonderful start to a new series!
Full review to come closer to release date.
April 13, 2017
3.5 Quiet is Hotter Stars
This was a fast paced and smoking hot read. No insta-love here ladies. Its slow simmering heat that comes to an explosive finish (both in and out of the bedroom!)
I have to say that I really liked Eve. She is definitely not a run of the mill character, especially for an h. Eve is a take charge kind of girl. I normally gravitate towards more mild mannered or shy leading ladies but Eve was so balls to the walls, it's easy to like her. She had attitude and heart. She was refreshing and honest. Definitely rash but ultimately a good person.
Her leading man, Chad aka Matt was the tall, dark and silent type. He had me eating out of his hand with the mysterious dominant male thing he had going on. He definitely worked for me. He didn't talk much but when he did . . . Damn!
Who knew silence was sexy? *converted* (Now I know! Lol!)
Matt is an ex soldier turned undercover detective that carries a ton of weight on those broad sexy shoulders of his. After losing both his parents in a car accident and raising his little brother, Matt basically survived by shutting at his emotions.
I loved watching these two together, they ooze chemistry and raw emotions. There was no hiding from the combustive heat that generated between Eve and Matt. This was one hot steamy read!
The mystery and action was believable and that big showdown was nail biting and intense! This was a solid 4 star read - great writing, complex and interesting characters and loads of sexy times! Because of my own personal preferences when it comes to the main H and h in romance, I'm rating it a 3.5. (see spoiler)
*** ARC provided for an honest review ***
This was a fast paced and smoking hot read. No insta-love here ladies. Its slow simmering heat that comes to an explosive finish (both in and out of the bedroom!)
I have to say that I really liked Eve. She is definitely not a run of the mill character, especially for an h. Eve is a take charge kind of girl. I normally gravitate towards more mild mannered or shy leading ladies but Eve was so balls to the walls, it's easy to like her. She had attitude and heart. She was refreshing and honest. Definitely rash but ultimately a good person.
Her leading man, Chad aka Matt was the tall, dark and silent type. He had me eating out of his hand with the mysterious dominant male thing he had going on. He definitely worked for me. He didn't talk much but when he did . . . Damn!
"It's even hotter when you have to be quiet."
Who knew silence was sexy? *converted* (Now I know! Lol!)
Matt is an ex soldier turned undercover detective that carries a ton of weight on those broad sexy shoulders of his. After losing both his parents in a car accident and raising his little brother, Matt basically survived by shutting at his emotions.
I loved watching these two together, they ooze chemistry and raw emotions. There was no hiding from the combustive heat that generated between Eve and Matt. This was one hot steamy read!
The mystery and action was believable and that big showdown was nail biting and intense! This was a solid 4 star read - great writing, complex and interesting characters and loads of sexy times! Because of my own personal preferences when it comes to the main H and h in romance, I'm rating it a 3.5. (see spoiler)
*** ARC provided for an honest review ***
June 30, 2016
This review can also be found at All About Romance: http://allaboutromance.com/book-revie...
Under the Surface is an apt title for this suspenseful, dramatic, and sexy romance seething with emotional undercurrents. It’s part of the Alpha Ops series, though the first full length novel. The previous three were novellas featuring Navy SEALs, and the third one, The SEAL’s Second Chance introduced the character of Eve, a young woman who struggled long and hard to make the dream of running her own business a reality.. She’s the heroine of this story, and is in a spot of trouble.
Her bar, Eye Candy, is her pride and joy but it borders on the wrong side of the tracks. As the name suggests, there’s plenty of eye candy at the bar, in this case in the form of male bartenders and bouncers. It’s not a strip club, just a fun place for women to come and hang out, for bachelorette parties, and for your typical bar hookups. When Lyle, an old friend, asks if he can use her club as a money drop for his drug dealing, Eve plays along. But the East Side of Lancaster is her home and she’s tired of seeing it overrun by dealers and pimps. She wants the streets cleaned up, so she approaches another friend, Lieutenant Ian Hawthorn of the Lancaster police, who suggests she string Lyle along while they gather enough evidence to arrest him. Unbeknownst to Eve though, Ian puts one of his trusted men undercover in her bar. Matt plays the role of Chad, a bartender looking for a new gig. Eve has just fired one of her bartenders and Chad’s quiet confidence nets him the job. Matt takes his undercover role seriously, but it’s not long before it all blows up, his identity revealed just as ‘Chad’ and Eve are becoming more than friends. Eve has no choice but to continue working with him, the operation more important than her personal feelings. Falling for Chad was easy but he wasn’t real. And for Matt, there’s no choice but to play the role he’s been given, even if it means the one woman who might have loved him could slip through his fingers.
I have high expectations for Anne Calhoun stories. The first erotic romance I read was Liberating Lacey, and Hunter became my enduring book boyfriend (coincidentally, he’s also a police officer). Since then I’ve eagerly devoured her new releases and I have read all the earlier novellas in this series. I was ready for things to be brought up a notch with a full length novel. Her stories are a well written blend of strong characters, heartfelt emotions and very sexy encounters. She puts the same care into her work whether she is writing short stories or longer ones, and it shows.
Matt and Eve have the same agenda – to get drug runner Lyle off the streets. Matt is dedicated to his job, good at it and he’ll do whatever it takes in his work as an undercover officer. I really like how he’s portrayed in this story, in particular the way he struggles with his attraction to Eve. As bartender Chad, he has the job of getting close to her and protecting her without her knowledge. That he’s insanely attracted to her is a hindrance to doing his job, but one he can’t help. When Eve makes it clear that she’s more than willing to have an affair with him, the knowledge that it’s Chad she’s propositioning and not the real him fills Matt with a sort of despair, because Eve is the woman he can see himself having a future with. But he knows that once she finds out that he was lying to her from the beginning, she’ll want nothing to do with him. To that end he desperately tries to keep their physical interactions from going too far. Torn between duty and desire, the decision is wrenched from him when his identity is revealed unexpectedly and the stakes in their game with Lyle turn deadly.
Eve is a strong, attractive, competent businesswoman and is tired of seeing her neighborhood run down and passed over. She works hard to support the community by hiring local people, giving second chances to those who made poor life choices in the past. In Eye Candy, she sells a fantasy, that any woman no matter how they look, can come in and flirt with a handsome hunk behind the bar. Her relationship with her religious parents is sometimes strained as they disapprove of her business. The extra money she could make from Lyle’s proposition would make it easier for her move forward with her expansion plans, but she has to walk a fine line between pretending to be thinking about Lyle’s offer without giving away that she’s already gone to the cops. With all this on her mind, she wants to forget it for just a few hours; and while she wouldn’t normally consider having an affair with one of her staff, something about Chad draws her, and she decides going to bed with him will give her the respite she needs. But he keeps putting the brakes on when things start to heat up between them and she can’t figure out why. When the circumstances change, and Matt’s real identity is revealed, Eve is angry and hurt. Yet as Matt continues to protect her, she discovers that there were facets of their relationship that were real. He shared some of his real life with her even knowing he shouldn’t while undercover. It’s not long before their close proximity leads to more, as Matt is free to be himself and show Eve the depth of his attraction to her. As expected, the sex scenes are super steamy and full of emotion. Anne Calhoun is a master of creating sexual tension in her stories, and it’s excellently built here, firstly as she shows Matt/Chad struggling with his conscience and then later, after he’s able to reveal his true self. Through it all Eve is the same woman, falling in love with a complicated man.
The second half of the story ramps up the tension as Lyle puts pressure on Eve to make a decision. Matt continues his undercover work at the bar, playing Eve’s new boytoy in public, forcing Lyle’s hand. There is lots of action in this second half, and it becomes a real nail biter as it nears its exciting conclusion. There are several secondary characters of note, all of whom are well fleshed out, interesting and important to the story.
Matt has definitely found himself a place on my book boyfriends shelf, right up there with Hunter. Under the Surface is a taut, exciting, sexy romance and is definitely worth the read.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Under the Surface is an apt title for this suspenseful, dramatic, and sexy romance seething with emotional undercurrents. It’s part of the Alpha Ops series, though the first full length novel. The previous three were novellas featuring Navy SEALs, and the third one, The SEAL’s Second Chance introduced the character of Eve, a young woman who struggled long and hard to make the dream of running her own business a reality.. She’s the heroine of this story, and is in a spot of trouble.
Her bar, Eye Candy, is her pride and joy but it borders on the wrong side of the tracks. As the name suggests, there’s plenty of eye candy at the bar, in this case in the form of male bartenders and bouncers. It’s not a strip club, just a fun place for women to come and hang out, for bachelorette parties, and for your typical bar hookups. When Lyle, an old friend, asks if he can use her club as a money drop for his drug dealing, Eve plays along. But the East Side of Lancaster is her home and she’s tired of seeing it overrun by dealers and pimps. She wants the streets cleaned up, so she approaches another friend, Lieutenant Ian Hawthorn of the Lancaster police, who suggests she string Lyle along while they gather enough evidence to arrest him. Unbeknownst to Eve though, Ian puts one of his trusted men undercover in her bar. Matt plays the role of Chad, a bartender looking for a new gig. Eve has just fired one of her bartenders and Chad’s quiet confidence nets him the job. Matt takes his undercover role seriously, but it’s not long before it all blows up, his identity revealed just as ‘Chad’ and Eve are becoming more than friends. Eve has no choice but to continue working with him, the operation more important than her personal feelings. Falling for Chad was easy but he wasn’t real. And for Matt, there’s no choice but to play the role he’s been given, even if it means the one woman who might have loved him could slip through his fingers.
I have high expectations for Anne Calhoun stories. The first erotic romance I read was Liberating Lacey, and Hunter became my enduring book boyfriend (coincidentally, he’s also a police officer). Since then I’ve eagerly devoured her new releases and I have read all the earlier novellas in this series. I was ready for things to be brought up a notch with a full length novel. Her stories are a well written blend of strong characters, heartfelt emotions and very sexy encounters. She puts the same care into her work whether she is writing short stories or longer ones, and it shows.
Matt and Eve have the same agenda – to get drug runner Lyle off the streets. Matt is dedicated to his job, good at it and he’ll do whatever it takes in his work as an undercover officer. I really like how he’s portrayed in this story, in particular the way he struggles with his attraction to Eve. As bartender Chad, he has the job of getting close to her and protecting her without her knowledge. That he’s insanely attracted to her is a hindrance to doing his job, but one he can’t help. When Eve makes it clear that she’s more than willing to have an affair with him, the knowledge that it’s Chad she’s propositioning and not the real him fills Matt with a sort of despair, because Eve is the woman he can see himself having a future with. But he knows that once she finds out that he was lying to her from the beginning, she’ll want nothing to do with him. To that end he desperately tries to keep their physical interactions from going too far. Torn between duty and desire, the decision is wrenched from him when his identity is revealed unexpectedly and the stakes in their game with Lyle turn deadly.
Eve is a strong, attractive, competent businesswoman and is tired of seeing her neighborhood run down and passed over. She works hard to support the community by hiring local people, giving second chances to those who made poor life choices in the past. In Eye Candy, she sells a fantasy, that any woman no matter how they look, can come in and flirt with a handsome hunk behind the bar. Her relationship with her religious parents is sometimes strained as they disapprove of her business. The extra money she could make from Lyle’s proposition would make it easier for her move forward with her expansion plans, but she has to walk a fine line between pretending to be thinking about Lyle’s offer without giving away that she’s already gone to the cops. With all this on her mind, she wants to forget it for just a few hours; and while she wouldn’t normally consider having an affair with one of her staff, something about Chad draws her, and she decides going to bed with him will give her the respite she needs. But he keeps putting the brakes on when things start to heat up between them and she can’t figure out why. When the circumstances change, and Matt’s real identity is revealed, Eve is angry and hurt. Yet as Matt continues to protect her, she discovers that there were facets of their relationship that were real. He shared some of his real life with her even knowing he shouldn’t while undercover. It’s not long before their close proximity leads to more, as Matt is free to be himself and show Eve the depth of his attraction to her. As expected, the sex scenes are super steamy and full of emotion. Anne Calhoun is a master of creating sexual tension in her stories, and it’s excellently built here, firstly as she shows Matt/Chad struggling with his conscience and then later, after he’s able to reveal his true self. Through it all Eve is the same woman, falling in love with a complicated man.
The second half of the story ramps up the tension as Lyle puts pressure on Eve to make a decision. Matt continues his undercover work at the bar, playing Eve’s new boytoy in public, forcing Lyle’s hand. There is lots of action in this second half, and it becomes a real nail biter as it nears its exciting conclusion. There are several secondary characters of note, all of whom are well fleshed out, interesting and important to the story.
Matt has definitely found himself a place on my book boyfriends shelf, right up there with Hunter. Under the Surface is a taut, exciting, sexy romance and is definitely worth the read.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
June 7, 2016
4 stars
I really enjoyed Under the Surface, great characters and a very entertaining plot.
I found myself reading late into the night as I didn't want to put it down.
The attraction/chemistry between Eve and Matt/Chad was off the charts, loved watching them butt heads and fight the growing feelings between them.
The drama was well written and had me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next.
A very entertaining read, I highly recommend it.
Thank you St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the advance copy.
I really enjoyed Under the Surface, great characters and a very entertaining plot.
I found myself reading late into the night as I didn't want to put it down.
The attraction/chemistry between Eve and Matt/Chad was off the charts, loved watching them butt heads and fight the growing feelings between them.
The drama was well written and had me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next.
A very entertaining read, I highly recommend it.
Thank you St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the advance copy.
June 1, 2016
Afrodyt's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
Matt Dorchester is assigned to work undercover as Chad Henderson, a bartender in the hot new nightclub, Eye Candy, owned by Eve Webber. From the moment they come in contact with each other for the job interview, their chemistry is off the charts. Eve, being the take charge woman she is, makes it quite clear she's down with hooking up with "Chad" with no strings attached. She comes on pretty strong and I couldn't help but think that if the roles were reversed it would have been a huge turnoff, but Matt does his best to keep the relationship professional. He fails, of course.
Eve is under pressure from multiple sides. As an entrepreneur she's looking to grow her business, her family doesn't approve of her profession and want her to take a boring, stable job, get married and have babies, and on top of all that, she's agreed to cooperate with the police on an investigation that is way more dangerous than she's giving it credit for. Eve doesn't have time for a real relationship and is just looking to release the pent up tension with a screaming orgasm or ten. Chad fits the bill but he seems to be playing hard to get.
This story is incredibly well written with great character development and an original plot. It never slowed down and the sex was so hot it singed my eyeballs! What I loved most was that even though their relationship was based on false pretenses, Matt and Eve reconciled that in a pretty believable way and that just speaks to Anne Calhoun's masterful storytelling. The secondary characters were also very intriguing and there was the perfect amount of mystery, danger and heart. Definitely a solid read.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
Matt Dorchester is assigned to work undercover as Chad Henderson, a bartender in the hot new nightclub, Eye Candy, owned by Eve Webber. From the moment they come in contact with each other for the job interview, their chemistry is off the charts. Eve, being the take charge woman she is, makes it quite clear she's down with hooking up with "Chad" with no strings attached. She comes on pretty strong and I couldn't help but think that if the roles were reversed it would have been a huge turnoff, but Matt does his best to keep the relationship professional. He fails, of course.
Eve is under pressure from multiple sides. As an entrepreneur she's looking to grow her business, her family doesn't approve of her profession and want her to take a boring, stable job, get married and have babies, and on top of all that, she's agreed to cooperate with the police on an investigation that is way more dangerous than she's giving it credit for. Eve doesn't have time for a real relationship and is just looking to release the pent up tension with a screaming orgasm or ten. Chad fits the bill but he seems to be playing hard to get.
This story is incredibly well written with great character development and an original plot. It never slowed down and the sex was so hot it singed my eyeballs! What I loved most was that even though their relationship was based on false pretenses, Matt and Eve reconciled that in a pretty believable way and that just speaks to Anne Calhoun's masterful storytelling. The secondary characters were also very intriguing and there was the perfect amount of mystery, danger and heart. Definitely a solid read.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
September 27, 2017
I haven't read the novellas that come before this book but I had no trouble connecting with the characters and you can read it as a standalone. It was my first time reading this author and I was not disappointed.
Pastor's daughter and owner of the nightclub Eye Candy (the name make reference to the sexy bartender working there) Eve Webber became an informant for the police when a childhood friend asked her to help transfer money in using her bar to do it. She was smart enough to understand it means laudering money and she went to the authorities with the information. The police and FBI was already trying to trap the man and Eve accepted to pretend to agree with Lyle's plan and gather other datas for the LPD. When they offered her protection in the form of an officer she refused, thinking it would only bring her more trouble if Lyle was suspicious. But what she ignore is that the new bartender she just interviewed and hired is in reality a detective undercover. What complicate things even more is that Eve is very attracted to the new bartender and even if she doesn't make a custom of sleeping with her employees and have a serious work ethic, she's more than ready to make an exception for him. Chad/Matt would like nothing more than to surrender to the desire that consume him, but his honor force him to try to slow things down between them.
If you're in the mood for something fast, I wouldn't recommend this book. But if you want something intense, with a slow burn and so hot it sizzle, that's a good one. Eve was a strong heroine who's authentic, straightforward and full of confident. Everything she got she worked for it, she's not shy about telling what she wants and asking for it. She also have a genuine interest to know people. There's only one thing about her that irked me and it was her inability to accept being told no. Her instant chemistry with Chad/Matt may be a slow burn but it was scorching, like it's so good it almost hurt. I like the fact that even if Matt was playing a role, he acted like the same silent, serious and charismatic guy we discover he really is when his identity is compromise. More romance than suspense (but there's still police work and danger lurking in the shadows), this book shined with his well-defined characters, their well-developed background and life stories and the burning desire between them that transformed into love at a believable pace.
Pastor's daughter and owner of the nightclub Eye Candy (the name make reference to the sexy bartender working there) Eve Webber became an informant for the police when a childhood friend asked her to help transfer money in using her bar to do it. She was smart enough to understand it means laudering money and she went to the authorities with the information. The police and FBI was already trying to trap the man and Eve accepted to pretend to agree with Lyle's plan and gather other datas for the LPD. When they offered her protection in the form of an officer she refused, thinking it would only bring her more trouble if Lyle was suspicious. But what she ignore is that the new bartender she just interviewed and hired is in reality a detective undercover. What complicate things even more is that Eve is very attracted to the new bartender and even if she doesn't make a custom of sleeping with her employees and have a serious work ethic, she's more than ready to make an exception for him. Chad/Matt would like nothing more than to surrender to the desire that consume him, but his honor force him to try to slow things down between them.
If you're in the mood for something fast, I wouldn't recommend this book. But if you want something intense, with a slow burn and so hot it sizzle, that's a good one. Eve was a strong heroine who's authentic, straightforward and full of confident. Everything she got she worked for it, she's not shy about telling what she wants and asking for it. She also have a genuine interest to know people. There's only one thing about her that irked me and it was her inability to accept being told no. Her instant chemistry with Chad/Matt may be a slow burn but it was scorching, like it's so good it almost hurt. I like the fact that even if Matt was playing a role, he acted like the same silent, serious and charismatic guy we discover he really is when his identity is compromise. More romance than suspense (but there's still police work and danger lurking in the shadows), this book shined with his well-defined characters, their well-developed background and life stories and the burning desire between them that transformed into love at a believable pace.
December 5, 2016
ARC provided by the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first full length novel in the Alpha Ops Series. The first three were very hot, romance novellas all set in Lancaster, a medium size city somewhere. The books are loosely related and can each be read as a standalone. This one is full on hot romantic-suspense, with an emphasis on hot romance.
Eve Webber owns a new nightclub that caters to young professional women called Eye Candy. She has a lot invested in this club and wants to see it succeed, not only for herself but for the community of East Side, as well. When her childhood friend, Lyle Murphy, comes to her with a proposal to launder drug money through Eye Candy, she goes to the police. This is a big time drug operation that Eve is now in the middle of. The FBI have been tracking this group, The Strykers, for over a year and this is a big break for them. If this gang find out that Eve is providing information to the authorities, they will kill her.
Matt Dorchester is a detective with the Lancaster Police Department and has gone undercover at Eye Candy as a bartender. His job is to gather information and protect Eve. The electric charge of attraction flies at the very first meeting between Eve and Matt. Keeping that under control will be hard to do when keeping her alive may depend on Matt staying close to her.
This is the first full length novel in the Alpha Ops Series. The first three were very hot, romance novellas all set in Lancaster, a medium size city somewhere. The books are loosely related and can each be read as a standalone. This one is full on hot romantic-suspense, with an emphasis on hot romance.
Eve Webber owns a new nightclub that caters to young professional women called Eye Candy. She has a lot invested in this club and wants to see it succeed, not only for herself but for the community of East Side, as well. When her childhood friend, Lyle Murphy, comes to her with a proposal to launder drug money through Eye Candy, she goes to the police. This is a big time drug operation that Eve is now in the middle of. The FBI have been tracking this group, The Strykers, for over a year and this is a big break for them. If this gang find out that Eve is providing information to the authorities, they will kill her.
Matt Dorchester is a detective with the Lancaster Police Department and has gone undercover at Eye Candy as a bartender. His job is to gather information and protect Eve. The electric charge of attraction flies at the very first meeting between Eve and Matt. Keeping that under control will be hard to do when keeping her alive may depend on Matt staying close to her.
April 27, 2018
Gah! This book was intensely sexy and just so, so good! I loved Matt and Evie. Their connection was immediate, the attraction furious, and holy hell did these to sizzle like a five alarm fire! As to the rest of the book, the suspense aspect was well done and I got a kick out of the secondary characters-especially Caleb and Jo! I haven’t checked yet, but man, I hope they get their own story!!
arc-up-next
May 2, 2016ARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2016
UNDER THE SURFACE is book four in the Alpha Ops series by Anne Calhoun. It is the first full length novel in the series. I haven't read the first three novellas in the series yet but I don't think it's necessary to have read them to really enjoy this one.
This book takes place at Eye Candy, a nightclub that is known for its hardcore cocktails and bartenders. It is owned by Eve Webber, a woman who is as strong as some of the drinks she makes. Everything has been going fine so far with her business before a new sexy stranger walks in, looking to be interviewed for the bartender job she put out. At first glance, Eve doesn't think Matt is a good fit for the job. That is until he starts pouring drinks for her. Once he has proven his abilities to keep the bar running smoothly, she takes him on, knowing that his presence will create some tension at the club. The sexual kind.
Matt is a quiet guy that keeps to himself. He probably only said a total of 25 words in the first 20% of the book it feels like. But I think that also has to do with the fact that he isn't who he says he is. Matt Dorchester is also a detective and the only reason why he at Eye Candy in the first place is because he's latest case involves Eve. I really loved the premise of this story. However, I will say that the actual story didn't pan as well as I had hoped.
For me, there were two main issues that stopped me from fully falling in love with the book and the first was that I just couldn’t connect with the characters. Eve seems like a really cool chick and I liked what she stood for but there was nothing about her that really made me like her as a character. She's hardworking and honest but beyond that, I don't think we got enough depth from her character. The same goes for Matt. I can understand Matt a little more because he is undercover and he's supposed to be a little more reserved to preserve his identity but even then, the things he did say when he did say something didn't really resonate as much as I think the author hoped. So in the end, this just made me feel a little disappointed because I just couldn't find anything relatable about the characters.
The second issue I had with this book is that the balance seemed way off. I feel like the suspense really overshadowed the romance. This is especially true with Matt's character because obviously he is the detective but I just didn't feel the passion come across from his character. He always says he wants to take it slow and it really undermined the romance to the point where I even wondered if he even was interested in Eve at all or if he was holding on just for the case.
So UNDER THE SURFACE isn't my favorite book from Anne Calhoun and I'm not sure if I want to go back and read the other novellas in the series quite yet but I'll try the next full length and see how I fare with that one.
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Annie
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February 3, 2017
Three and a half stars.
I read a teaser of this book at the end of Anne Calhoun's last book and I was sufficiently intrigued to request this book when it came up on NetGalley.
Eve Webber is the owner of a bar/club called Eye Candy which predominantly caters for women. She has been approached by an old school friend/ acquaintance who wants her to launder drug money through the club. She immediately informs the police but someone sees her or suspects her and the rumours are that a local gang is gunning for her. The police have been informed by the FBI that Eve's contact may lead them to the source of the drugs - the FBI wants Eve to act as an informant and get as much information about the drugs as possible.
The chief detective on the case also went to school with Eve and decides to put an undercover detective in her club as a barman. Matt Dorchester is the undercover cop in question, a man driven by duty he commits totally to his role but he knows he has to walk a tightrope between getting Eve to trust him and not crossing the line. Something that he finds increasingly difficult to do.
Eve is the daughter of a preacher and her parents are constantly urging her to get a 'real' job, owning a club is tantamount to owning a brothel as far as they are concerned. She is teetering on the brink of financial ruin, metaphorically betting on the regeneration of the Southie area to bolster her business.
If you like romantic suspense stories then I think you will really enjoy this. The plot was well thought through and believable. Eve was a likeable woman, fighting for Southie and her right to have a job that absorbs her against her family and the criminal elements. She is upfront about how she feels and doesn't hesitate to come on to Matt, when he backs off one too many times she also tells him SHE has needs and she WILL fulfil them elsewhere if he continues to play coy. Funnily enough I half applauded her for her balls and half wondered how I would feel if a male character uttered the same ultimatum. I was less enthused by Matt, I really don't get these self-sacrificing characters who feel they aren't good enough/ entitled and I really didn't understand WHY he felt that way. I also had an issue about the sheer number of times that he referred to Eve in his own mind as a "the City's sexiest cocktail waitress". Searching my Kindle it appears that I may have imagined that she was an award-winning cocktail-maker rather than simply a cocktail waitress but even so it grated every time I read it, as though mentally he had to put her down from a successful bar/ club owner to a waitress.
But otherwise, I really enjoyed this novel, sexier than the Alpha Ops books I have read with a strong plot and believable characters with a good cast of secondary characters. I'm shipping a Caleb/ Sorenson book soon.
I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release week.
I read a teaser of this book at the end of Anne Calhoun's last book and I was sufficiently intrigued to request this book when it came up on NetGalley.
Eve Webber is the owner of a bar/club called Eye Candy which predominantly caters for women. She has been approached by an old school friend/ acquaintance who wants her to launder drug money through the club. She immediately informs the police but someone sees her or suspects her and the rumours are that a local gang is gunning for her. The police have been informed by the FBI that Eve's contact may lead them to the source of the drugs - the FBI wants Eve to act as an informant and get as much information about the drugs as possible.
The chief detective on the case also went to school with Eve and decides to put an undercover detective in her club as a barman. Matt Dorchester is the undercover cop in question, a man driven by duty he commits totally to his role but he knows he has to walk a tightrope between getting Eve to trust him and not crossing the line. Something that he finds increasingly difficult to do.
Eve is the daughter of a preacher and her parents are constantly urging her to get a 'real' job, owning a club is tantamount to owning a brothel as far as they are concerned. She is teetering on the brink of financial ruin, metaphorically betting on the regeneration of the Southie area to bolster her business.
If you like romantic suspense stories then I think you will really enjoy this. The plot was well thought through and believable. Eve was a likeable woman, fighting for Southie and her right to have a job that absorbs her against her family and the criminal elements. She is upfront about how she feels and doesn't hesitate to come on to Matt, when he backs off one too many times she also tells him SHE has needs and she WILL fulfil them elsewhere if he continues to play coy. Funnily enough I half applauded her for her balls and half wondered how I would feel if a male character uttered the same ultimatum. I was less enthused by Matt, I really don't get these self-sacrificing characters who feel they aren't good enough/ entitled and I really didn't understand WHY he felt that way. I also had an issue about the sheer number of times that he referred to Eve in his own mind as a "the City's sexiest cocktail waitress". Searching my Kindle it appears that I may have imagined that she was an award-winning cocktail-maker rather than simply a cocktail waitress but even so it grated every time I read it, as though mentally he had to put her down from a successful bar/ club owner to a waitress.
But otherwise, I really enjoyed this novel, sexier than the Alpha Ops books I have read with a strong plot and believable characters with a good cast of secondary characters. I'm shipping a Caleb/ Sorenson book soon.
I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release week.
April 18, 2018
The storyline, such as it is, is that new bar owner Eve has been propositioned by the local mob to launder money for them; and unknown to her, Detective Matt Dorchester goes undercover at her club as a bartender to catch the bad guys. The only thing I can really think to say about this book is that it was average at best. Not bad, not great, but certainly not memorable. The book starts out slow, and stays slow until nearly the halfway mark. At this point, there is a little action that gives the book some momentum, but it doesn't last long, and the book goes back to slow. Quite frankly, nothing much happens the entire book.
Under The Surface is very much a character driven book. Problem is, Matt is the only character in the entire story that stood out or was particularly likable. I didn't care much for the secondary characters; and Eve...I had a really hard time warming up to Eve, and quite frankly never did really like her much. I'm fine with a woman taking control of and owning her own sexuality; but Eve came across as part slutty, and part sleazy sexual predator. I didn't like that she hounded (and demanded) sex from Matt when she thought he was her employee. When he tried to put her off, she told him if he didn't have sex with her, she'd find someone else who would. Creepy, cold, and calculated; and too much for me.
Love Anne Calhoun; but this just wasn't to my tastes. Slow and often tedious with not much of a real plotline; and liking only one of the leads couldn't carry the book for me.
Under The Surface is very much a character driven book. Problem is, Matt is the only character in the entire story that stood out or was particularly likable. I didn't care much for the secondary characters; and Eve...I had a really hard time warming up to Eve, and quite frankly never did really like her much. I'm fine with a woman taking control of and owning her own sexuality; but Eve came across as part slutty, and part sleazy sexual predator. I didn't like that she hounded (and demanded) sex from Matt when she thought he was her employee. When he tried to put her off, she told him if he didn't have sex with her, she'd find someone else who would. Creepy, cold, and calculated; and too much for me.
Love Anne Calhoun; but this just wasn't to my tastes. Slow and often tedious with not much of a real plotline; and liking only one of the leads couldn't carry the book for me.
June 21, 2016
Under The Surface is the fourth book in the Alpha Ops Series but can be read as a standalone.
Eve Webber, a pastor’s daughter, owns a new cocktail bar / club on the Lower East Side, the dangerous part of town where she grew up. When an old “friend” tries to use her bar to launder money she becomes a police informant but refuses police protection inside her bar.
Enter Detective Matt Dorchester. To keep her safe, he goes undercover as bartender "Chad" and it doesn’t take long until attraction starts sizzling between them.
I really liked both characters. Eve was strong and determined to act on their mutual attraction while Matt tried to do the right thing and not start a relationship as long as she didn’t know who he really was which led to some laugh-out-loud moments.
This is the first book I read by Ann Calhoun and it's an action-packed and suspenseful read with lots of hot chemistry. I really enjoyed the story and the author's writing style.
* ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Eve Webber, a pastor’s daughter, owns a new cocktail bar / club on the Lower East Side, the dangerous part of town where she grew up. When an old “friend” tries to use her bar to launder money she becomes a police informant but refuses police protection inside her bar.
Enter Detective Matt Dorchester. To keep her safe, he goes undercover as bartender "Chad" and it doesn’t take long until attraction starts sizzling between them.
I really liked both characters. Eve was strong and determined to act on their mutual attraction while Matt tried to do the right thing and not start a relationship as long as she didn’t know who he really was which led to some laugh-out-loud moments.
This is the first book I read by Ann Calhoun and it's an action-packed and suspenseful read with lots of hot chemistry. I really enjoyed the story and the author's writing style.
* ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2016
DNF @ 45% - 2 Stars for the half that I read
This is just not up to Anne Calhoun's high standards. Felt no connection between the characters or between the characters and myself. Slow-moving and boring.
This is just not up to Anne Calhoun's high standards. Felt no connection between the characters or between the characters and myself. Slow-moving and boring.
May 18, 2017
In the past couple of years I have gotten really tired of the same old romance book plots. This one though was pretty steamy and kept my interest...which is difficult to do with most romance books. I liked it. The female lead was spunky and fairly interesting. It is worth the read.
April 27, 2016
review to come
December 28, 2024
Under the Surface is book four in Anne Calhoun's Alpha Ops series. Eve Webber wants to run a clean business and help change the East Side's reputation, so when a friend asks her to launder money through Eye Candy, she goes to the police. However, they do not believe her, so they arrange for Detective Matt Dorchester to go undercover as a bartender. Will the chemistry between Eve Webber and Detective Matt Dorchester allow him to cross the line, or is her safety more important? The readers of Under The Surface will continue to follow Eve Webber and Detective Matt Dorchester to discover what happened.
Anne Calhoun is another fantastic new author to add to my list of romantic suspense authors. As soon as I opened Under The Surface, I was engaged with the story and the characters. I was impressed by how Anne Calhoun portrayed her characters and their interactions throughout the book. Under The Surface is well-written and researched by Anne Calhoun. I enjoyed her description of the settings of this book, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot. By reading Under The Surface, you will understand the work involved in running a small bar.
I recommend this book.
June 12, 2016
The first full length novel in the Alpha Ops series, is book four but is my first read of Ann Calhoun. This can be read as a standalone. There is nothing like a good romantic suspense and this lives up to the hype.
Eve Webber is a sassy go-getter of a woman, and having tried to live up to her family’s request to go for a staid career in insurance, she has finally achieved her dream of owning a nightclub – Eye Candy. Set up in the East Side, Eve is wanting to bring in new business to the area to help the local community. But having lived in the wrong side of town she has grown up with the people who are now making business on the shady side. When she is approached by a friend of the family to help him launder drug money, she takes it on herself to start cleaning up the area by going to the police.
Matt Dorchester is assigned to go undercover in Eye Candy to investigate Eve and if she is kosher with her reporting of money laundering but also to protect her if she is. After all the bigger picture shows some dangerous activity that is linked to the laundering. So firmly established as the new bartender, Matt takes his role serious but trying to clamp down on his attraction to Eve is playing a major ball ache to his well-established focus.
This was a little slow to start but then in the long run this aided to build up the tension and atmospheric darkness of the danger both Eve and Matt are involved in. The chemistry between the pairing was firmly embedded from the start and I liked that even when Eve found out she had been hoodwinked which brought out her hatred for the cop, she did not deny her carnal lust for him. She was a really likeable character and was not one of these feeble and weak heroines we are usually met with in romance. She was headstrong and determined which was a welcome change.
Matt was deliciously broody and detached. His upbringing resolute in his standoffish behaviours and not revealing his true feelings. This helped his ability to portray different characters in his undercover work. He was like an onion that was waiting to be peeled, one beautiful layer after beautiful layer to reveal the amazing and gorgeous man underneath. It took Eve to push his boundaries and unleash the passion within when the sparks spectacularly exploded between them.
I would have liked just a little more danger infused with the romance but overall an enjoyable and involving read. Four Stars.
*ARC kindly provided by the publishers St Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Eve Webber is a sassy go-getter of a woman, and having tried to live up to her family’s request to go for a staid career in insurance, she has finally achieved her dream of owning a nightclub – Eye Candy. Set up in the East Side, Eve is wanting to bring in new business to the area to help the local community. But having lived in the wrong side of town she has grown up with the people who are now making business on the shady side. When she is approached by a friend of the family to help him launder drug money, she takes it on herself to start cleaning up the area by going to the police.
Matt Dorchester is assigned to go undercover in Eye Candy to investigate Eve and if she is kosher with her reporting of money laundering but also to protect her if she is. After all the bigger picture shows some dangerous activity that is linked to the laundering. So firmly established as the new bartender, Matt takes his role serious but trying to clamp down on his attraction to Eve is playing a major ball ache to his well-established focus.
This was a little slow to start but then in the long run this aided to build up the tension and atmospheric darkness of the danger both Eve and Matt are involved in. The chemistry between the pairing was firmly embedded from the start and I liked that even when Eve found out she had been hoodwinked which brought out her hatred for the cop, she did not deny her carnal lust for him. She was a really likeable character and was not one of these feeble and weak heroines we are usually met with in romance. She was headstrong and determined which was a welcome change.
Matt was deliciously broody and detached. His upbringing resolute in his standoffish behaviours and not revealing his true feelings. This helped his ability to portray different characters in his undercover work. He was like an onion that was waiting to be peeled, one beautiful layer after beautiful layer to reveal the amazing and gorgeous man underneath. It took Eve to push his boundaries and unleash the passion within when the sparks spectacularly exploded between them.
I would have liked just a little more danger infused with the romance but overall an enjoyable and involving read. Four Stars.
*ARC kindly provided by the publishers St Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
May 14, 2016
This is the first book in this series I read and the blurb really caught my eye and when I received it for review I actually started it right away. Once the story took off I didn't want to put it down.
In this book we meet Eve who is a former cocktail waitress turned business owner. She runs Eye Candy which mostly caters to women. Eve is looking for a new and hot bartender when "Chad" comes in looking for a job. But Eve has other stuff on her plate then just looking for a bartender. A old friend of sorts wants Eve to launder money out of Eye Candy and of course she says yes and goes right to the police with this information.
The police department isn't sure if they can trust Eve one hundred percent so they put an undercover office posing as a bartender. Enter Matt aka chad. Matt has one job but the more time he spends with her the harder it is to keep his cover and his hands off her until someone threatens her life and all bets are off.
From the beginning of the story I really liked Eve. She is smart, funny and quick on her feet. Her background I found interesting and only made her more likable as a heroine for me. Matt was quiet, serious and the total opposite of Eve but when these two were around one another they really did light up the pages with their sparks.
Since this was a romantic suspense Calhoun dialed down on the sex scenes (bummer lol ) but she really did focus more on the romance that was building which I loved. The romance starts off slow with a couple kisses and cute banter but once these two got going I started to really enjoy the story much more.
The secondary characters also stood out in their own way. I'm pretty sure this series main focus will be the men and women of the police department protect the hero/ heroine from whatever is in store for them. Already I'm looking forward to see where this series will go and who will be next to find their HEA.
In this book we meet Eve who is a former cocktail waitress turned business owner. She runs Eye Candy which mostly caters to women. Eve is looking for a new and hot bartender when "Chad" comes in looking for a job. But Eve has other stuff on her plate then just looking for a bartender. A old friend of sorts wants Eve to launder money out of Eye Candy and of course she says yes and goes right to the police with this information.
The police department isn't sure if they can trust Eve one hundred percent so they put an undercover office posing as a bartender. Enter Matt aka chad. Matt has one job but the more time he spends with her the harder it is to keep his cover and his hands off her until someone threatens her life and all bets are off.
From the beginning of the story I really liked Eve. She is smart, funny and quick on her feet. Her background I found interesting and only made her more likable as a heroine for me. Matt was quiet, serious and the total opposite of Eve but when these two were around one another they really did light up the pages with their sparks.
Since this was a romantic suspense Calhoun dialed down on the sex scenes (bummer lol ) but she really did focus more on the romance that was building which I loved. The romance starts off slow with a couple kisses and cute banter but once these two got going I started to really enjoy the story much more.
The secondary characters also stood out in their own way. I'm pretty sure this series main focus will be the men and women of the police department protect the hero/ heroine from whatever is in store for them. Already I'm looking forward to see where this series will go and who will be next to find their HEA.
June 9, 2016
3 stars. Or 2-1/2. idk
This review is also posted on Pretty Sassy Cool.
I don't think I've read anything by Anne Calhoun before, but I will definitely check out her other books after reading Under the Surface because dayum. This was hot!
Basically, this story is about an informant/club owner and an undercover cop who can't keep their hands off each other. Of course they both have pasts, of course hooking up--even temporarily--isn't the best choice for either of them, but that doesn't stop them. This is a romantic suspense, but one of the things I liked most about it was that it was light on the action and heavy on the steam. I mean, really.
I also really liked how the roles were kind of reversed and Eve goes after what she wants without apologies. I didn't love her, which shouldn't surprise anyone, but I loved Matt--he exudes just the right amount of sexy confidence and protectiveness. And did I mention this book was hot?
There were things I didn't like besides Eve, mostly the pacing of the story. The beginning and middle drug out way too much for me, but the ending was all go go go. I think I would have liked it more if I had read the first books in the series, but you can totally read this as a standalone. Like I said, I will be checking out Calhoun's other books.
Under the Surface had a good storyline, super hot scenes, and characters I was rooting for. Romantic suspense lovers should definitely add this one to their TBR lists.
This review is also posted on Pretty Sassy Cool.
I don't think I've read anything by Anne Calhoun before, but I will definitely check out her other books after reading Under the Surface because dayum. This was hot!
Basically, this story is about an informant/club owner and an undercover cop who can't keep their hands off each other. Of course they both have pasts, of course hooking up--even temporarily--isn't the best choice for either of them, but that doesn't stop them. This is a romantic suspense, but one of the things I liked most about it was that it was light on the action and heavy on the steam. I mean, really.
I also really liked how the roles were kind of reversed and Eve goes after what she wants without apologies. I didn't love her, which shouldn't surprise anyone, but I loved Matt--he exudes just the right amount of sexy confidence and protectiveness. And did I mention this book was hot?
There were things I didn't like besides Eve, mostly the pacing of the story. The beginning and middle drug out way too much for me, but the ending was all go go go. I think I would have liked it more if I had read the first books in the series, but you can totally read this as a standalone. Like I said, I will be checking out Calhoun's other books.
Under the Surface had a good storyline, super hot scenes, and characters I was rooting for. Romantic suspense lovers should definitely add this one to their TBR lists.
April 25, 2016
"***ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for honest review*** 4-4.5 stars.
Last few AC books have been novellas, this one is full length. I usually enjoy AC books and this one is no exception. She writes about strong women and stronger, alpha, lone wolf type males - see
which is one of my all time favorites by any author.
I loved Matt. I don't know how she does it but AC writes a great, sexy, emotionally closed off hero who absolutely needs to be cured by an amazing heroine. Underneath all that broody, silent hero is hero with emotional depth just waiting to get out. Matt is the complete opposite of an emotionally evolved hero. Closing his emotions down is his MO whether it's with strangers or those close to him like his brother. Reading from his POV you see his emotional struggles, his pain, and his wants and how he shuts himself off from them ruthlessly.
Eve may not be everybody's heroine cup of tea. She knows what she wants whether it's business, personal, or sexually. That in-your face attitude may not be everybody's stereotypical heroine. Eve bends but doesn't break and she gives to Matt just as good as she gets (in and out of the bedroom). Together Matt and Eve fit. She's not afraid to push his walls and fight for him even when he's incredibly stubborn. This hero needs a strong h who knows what she wants and goes for it.
Highly recommend.
Last few AC books have been novellas, this one is full length. I usually enjoy AC books and this one is no exception. She writes about strong women and stronger, alpha, lone wolf type males - see
which is one of my all time favorites by any author. I loved Matt. I don't know how she does it but AC writes a great, sexy, emotionally closed off hero who absolutely needs to be cured by an amazing heroine. Underneath all that broody, silent hero is hero with emotional depth just waiting to get out. Matt is the complete opposite of an emotionally evolved hero. Closing his emotions down is his MO whether it's with strangers or those close to him like his brother. Reading from his POV you see his emotional struggles, his pain, and his wants and how he shuts himself off from them ruthlessly.
Eve may not be everybody's heroine cup of tea. She knows what she wants whether it's business, personal, or sexually. That in-your face attitude may not be everybody's stereotypical heroine. Eve bends but doesn't break and she gives to Matt just as good as she gets (in and out of the bedroom). Together Matt and Eve fit. She's not afraid to push his walls and fight for him even when he's incredibly stubborn. This hero needs a strong h who knows what she wants and goes for it.
Highly recommend.
June 6, 2016
Eve Webber is gorgeous, sexy, and smart. She has opened a bar called eye candy and she has big plans. She does not want to see her dreams blown up because of some guys from her old neighborhood. Growing up on the wrong side of the tracks she knows a lot of shady people and they come to her with a deal to launder money out of her bar for the drug operation. Not wanting to be part of that she goes to someone she knows in the local police force. She helps them with bank numbers and names. What she doesn’t know is that her new hire as a bartender is an undercover police detective. His name is Matt Dorchester, and his job is to protect her and get information. What neither of them were expecting was to fall for each other and when she finds out that is a detective she is pissed, but they work through that. Once the operation is over she is hoping that he will contact her, but he has his own past that he must work through first. Will they get together and if he does get his act together will she still want him in her life? These questions will be answered if you read the book. I got this book from netgalley. I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
July 19, 2016
Eve owns a bar built on the premise that women like to look at hot men. She is just getting her bar off the ground when she is approached by her ex who requests she launder money through her establishment. Eve feels very strongly about cleaning up the neighborhood in which she grew up in so instead of agreeing to her ex's demands she turns to the police and offers to assist them to get the information they need to bring her ex down.
Matt is placed undercover at the bar without Eve's knowledge to try to gain information about what is really going on.
The action and suspense in this book was high; you didn't want to put the book down because you were constantly wondering what was going to happen next. I liked Matt's protective side as much as I enjoyed Eve's playfulness and independence. I did feel like at times we knew more about how Matt felt than we did how Eve felt about Matt.
I'd love a book about Luke next!
** ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review **
Matt is placed undercover at the bar without Eve's knowledge to try to gain information about what is really going on.
The action and suspense in this book was high; you didn't want to put the book down because you were constantly wondering what was going to happen next. I liked Matt's protective side as much as I enjoyed Eve's playfulness and independence. I did feel like at times we knew more about how Matt felt than we did how Eve felt about Matt.
I'd love a book about Luke next!
** ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review **
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