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Texas Bounty #1
Take Me Deeper
Jackie Ashenden’s scintillating series introduces the men of Lone Star three badass bounty-hunter brothers who will have readers begging to be caught.
Even as a Green Beret, Zane Redmond hasn’t faced a tougher mission than going home again. Loyalty to his brothers is the only reason he’s back in Texas, not that he intends to stay for long. Zane sure as hell isn’t going into the family business. One last bounty and he’s done—or so he thinks. Nobody warned him that his fugitive happens to be a red-hot brunette with a smart mouth, a body made for sin, and a brutal cartel on her trail.
Bad circumstances and worse choices have left Iris Callahan in a desperate situation. After getting arrested for a drug drop gone wrong, she skipped bail and hit the road to avoid testifying. Now the cartel wants Iris silenced forever, and she’s just lucky that Zane catches her before they do. Handcuffed to a bed, she surrenders to the cool-as-ice bounty hunter in order to survive. But as the chase heats up, Zane sneaks past her emotional defenses—and Iris is in too deep to let him go.
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
Even as a Green Beret, Zane Redmond hasn’t faced a tougher mission than going home again. Loyalty to his brothers is the only reason he’s back in Texas, not that he intends to stay for long. Zane sure as hell isn’t going into the family business. One last bounty and he’s done—or so he thinks. Nobody warned him that his fugitive happens to be a red-hot brunette with a smart mouth, a body made for sin, and a brutal cartel on her trail.
Bad circumstances and worse choices have left Iris Callahan in a desperate situation. After getting arrested for a drug drop gone wrong, she skipped bail and hit the road to avoid testifying. Now the cartel wants Iris silenced forever, and she’s just lucky that Zane catches her before they do. Handcuffed to a bed, she surrenders to the cool-as-ice bounty hunter in order to survive. But as the chase heats up, Zane sneaks past her emotional defenses—and Iris is in too deep to let him go.
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2016
36 people are currently reading
337 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Ashenden
487 books976 followersJackie has been writing fiction since she was eleven years old. Mild mannered fantasy/SF/pseudo-literary writer by day, obsessive romance writer by night, she used to balance her writing with the more serious job of librarianship until a chance meeting with another romance writer prompted her to throw off the shackles of her day job and devote herself to the true love of her heart – writing romance. She particularly likes to write dark, emotional stories with alpha heroes who've just got the world to their liking only to have it blown wide apart by their kick-ass heroines.
She lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her husband, the inimitable Dr Jax, two kids, two cats and some guppies (possibly dead guppies by the time you read this). When she's not torturing alpha males and their stroppy heroines, she can be found drinking chocolate martinis, reading anything she can lay her hands on, posting random crap on her blog, or being forced to go mountain biking with her husband.
She lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her husband, the inimitable Dr Jax, two kids, two cats and some guppies (possibly dead guppies by the time you read this). When she's not torturing alpha males and their stroppy heroines, she can be found drinking chocolate martinis, reading anything she can lay her hands on, posting random crap on her blog, or being forced to go mountain biking with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
August 8, 2016
3.5 Stars. Zane is a former military seal with a white knight complex and Iris is a damsel in distress. Zane's tendencies have hurt him deeply in the past so while it's within his nature to help the damsel, he's not wanting to bring her back to his castle for a happily ever after. Or so he thinks. Iris is snarky and full of sass and not the easiest person to protect. She has secrets that could and do make things harder on Zane. I liked these two together, though it feels like it takes them a bit to get going as a couple with how much they try to resist. However, I don't get the sense that they would have ended up together had they not been forced into this situation. The plot was solid. Nothing really struck me as unique, but it was done well. The characters were likeable, especially Iris when she had her hackles up :) There was a moment where I was frustrated with Zane but I didn't let it color the whole experience as he was otherwise pretty straightforward. I would definitely want to read about Zane's brothers. They are definitely interesting. Safety: No OW/OM/Sharing. No rape. There is physical abuse
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
October 4, 2016
4 - "I showed you mine... and now it's time for you to show me yours..." Stars!
It has been a while since I have read anything by Jackie Ashenden, but after reading the synopsis for Take Me Deeper, and seeing as it is the first book in the new Texas Bounty series, I thought it was time to dip my toe back in the water.
This was a quick and relatively enjoyable read, I liked the Bounty Hunter aspect and that Lone Star Bounty is run by three brothers, this book deals with Zane Redmond, and I hope that his brothers Rush and Quinn get their books soon as well.
"I was right. You’re the fucking Terminator."
It’s never going to be an easy start to a relationship when you find yourself attracted to the Bail-Jumper, that you are meant to be taking back to Texas for arrest. Zane isn’t that happy to be doing the job in the first place, seeing as he was only due to come back into town to pay his last respects to his father. Things have changed a lot for him and his brothers in the years they have spent apart, and this is very much a part of the story, alongside his relationship with Iris.
"I’m a soldier… Protecting people is what I do."
Iris isn’t too keen on being taken back to face the music, and I loved her sass in relation to trying to give Zane the slip. As the book progresses Zane discovers that there is more to Iris’s evading arrest than he was initially told, and what started out as a quick capture and delivery turns into protection and planning to take down the bad guys.
"You don’t ever have to be afraid… You’re secrets are safe with me. All of them."
There is a lot going on in this book, you can tell that the author is setting the scene for a series, and quite a few characters are introduced in its telling. But I really enjoyed it, my relationship with Jackie’s writing in the past has been a little hit and miss, but Take Me Deeper was definitely a hit. One thing she doesn’t skimp on is sexual tension, sexy times and alpha males that you can’t help but have a bit of a soft spot for, and she delivered all those aspects for me really well on this occasion.
I am in a bit of a quandary now though, as the next book in the series Make It Hurt has MC leanings, and that is a genre I really do not connect with… Do I take the risk? Or do I miss it and wait for the book after it to release…
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was a pleasure to provide the above honest review in exchange.
It has been a while since I have read anything by Jackie Ashenden, but after reading the synopsis for Take Me Deeper, and seeing as it is the first book in the new Texas Bounty series, I thought it was time to dip my toe back in the water.
This was a quick and relatively enjoyable read, I liked the Bounty Hunter aspect and that Lone Star Bounty is run by three brothers, this book deals with Zane Redmond, and I hope that his brothers Rush and Quinn get their books soon as well.
"I was right. You’re the fucking Terminator."
It’s never going to be an easy start to a relationship when you find yourself attracted to the Bail-Jumper, that you are meant to be taking back to Texas for arrest. Zane isn’t that happy to be doing the job in the first place, seeing as he was only due to come back into town to pay his last respects to his father. Things have changed a lot for him and his brothers in the years they have spent apart, and this is very much a part of the story, alongside his relationship with Iris.
"I’m a soldier… Protecting people is what I do."
Iris isn’t too keen on being taken back to face the music, and I loved her sass in relation to trying to give Zane the slip. As the book progresses Zane discovers that there is more to Iris’s evading arrest than he was initially told, and what started out as a quick capture and delivery turns into protection and planning to take down the bad guys.
"You don’t ever have to be afraid… You’re secrets are safe with me. All of them."
There is a lot going on in this book, you can tell that the author is setting the scene for a series, and quite a few characters are introduced in its telling. But I really enjoyed it, my relationship with Jackie’s writing in the past has been a little hit and miss, but Take Me Deeper was definitely a hit. One thing she doesn’t skimp on is sexual tension, sexy times and alpha males that you can’t help but have a bit of a soft spot for, and she delivered all those aspects for me really well on this occasion.
I am in a bit of a quandary now though, as the next book in the series Make It Hurt has MC leanings, and that is a genre I really do not connect with… Do I take the risk? Or do I miss it and wait for the book after it to release…
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was a pleasure to provide the above honest review in exchange.
Want to read
February 9, 2017Started this one and did not like the direction it was heading.Also did not care that this heroine gave blow jobs to more men than the hero knows about to get her way or to get out of trouble supposedly.Not my choice for a read,double standard,yep!
November 6, 2016
This review also appears at All About Romance: http://allaboutromance.com/book-revie...
Take Me Deeper is the first story in Jackie Ashenden’s new Texas Bounty series, featuring a trio of brothers who run a ‘fugitive recovery’ service. Ms. Ashenden has been particularly prolific this year, releasing books in three different series including the Nine Circles (a group of wealthy businessmen investigating a shady casino business); Motor City Royals (a blue collar hero series with some down and dirty mechanics, including the first book Dirty For Me, reviewed this summer); and this one. I’ve read all the books released in these series to date and while the settings are quite different, they all feature trademark alpha male heroes who have their flaws (but never in the bedroom). Take Me Deeper follows that trend and is a solid start to this unique romance series.
Zane Redmond is on leave from his position as an army sniper. He’s returned home, to his brothers Rush and Quinn and their Lone Star bounty hunter business. It’s not a place he’s particularly keen on being. But since their father’s death, Quinn and Rush have been determined to keep the business going and they want Zane to help for at least a short time while he’s home. It’s a bittersweet reunion, as all three of the brothers have changed over the last several years. Still family loyalty is what makes Zane agree to take the latest case in Quinn’s hands, the return of one Iris Callahan, bail jumper, to the police. She’s been tracked to a bar near them, and Zane’s top priority is to complete the mission and get back to the army as fast as he can.
Iris‘s poor decision making has landed her in a bucket of hot water. Her boyfriend at the trailer park where she was living convinced her to do some deliveries of unnamed products to earn extra money. Believing he’d got her back, Iris soon found herself arrested for being a drug mule. She jumped bail and is now being sought after by the drug cartel – who wants to know what secrets she spilled – and the police, and is, as a result, on a bounty hunter watch list. When Zane and one of the drug cartel’s heavies find her at the same time, Zane ends up as her rescuer. He knows that returning her to jail is a death sentence as the cartel will easily find her, and his instinct to protect her outweighs everything else. But neither can deny the searing sexual attraction that exists between them. Though Iris is willing to give Zane her body in return for his protection (after all, she’s lived through worse), Zane’s sense of honour won’t let him accept her offer without her full trust. And once given, there is no going back. With the drug cartel on Iris’s tail, and family loyalty put to the test, will Zane find a way to protect them all and give himself and Iris a shot at a happier ending?
It’s pretty clear from the start that Zane is a conflicted character. When his mother died his father turned to the bottle and made increasingly erratic decisions, including showing up drunk while hunting bail jumpers. One of these times turned into a real disaster, with Zane’s teenage girlfriend Charlie getting shot in the melée. The consequences of that night were far reaching. Quinn and Zane went into different branches of the military, and Rush took the blame for the girl’s death, spending 8 years in prison. Since then, their father has passed away. Quinn took over the business and runs it with Rush, but they want Zane to consider retiring from the army and joining them. Zane likes the discipline, the control, the sense of honour and duty that comes with being a soldier – all the things he never got at home. But his brothers have sacrificed a lot, especially Rush, for the family and he can’t completely turn his back on them. The latest assignment with Iris has him all tied up in knots. Guilt over Charlie’s death has never left him, and he isn’t going to be responsible for the death of another woman on his watch. While Quinn and Rush want to just get the job over with and return Iris to the police, Zane can’t do it. It’s clear that Iris needs someone to help her – she needs him. And he’s not willing to let that go without a fight.
If ever there was a down on her luck heroine, it’s Iris. It’s bad enough that her mother abandoned her and her one year old sister when Iris turned eighteen, but now the man she thought she loved has ditched her at the first sign of trouble in his drug delivery dealings. Iris comes across as a strong but wary woman and she’s been let down by all the people in her life who are supposed to have looked out for her. Her only concern is the care of her sister, now in the foster system after Iris’s arrest and subsequent bail jumping. She’s at her wits end trying to figure out how to get her sister back and Zane’s appearance, while at first a curse, quickly becomes a blessing. For the first time, someone seems to actually care about her. When she places her trust in him (because, really, at this point she has nothing to lose anymore) the results are explosive both sexually and emotionally. This isn’t a BDSM romance, but there is a definite power play at work, with Zane wanting all the control and Iris willing to give it. As much as Zane wants to claim her as his, she wants to be claimed. The result is an insta-lust story, quickly turning to insta-love as their emotions get just as entangled as their bodies. Their connection is believable given the forced proximity they are dealing with, yet I don’t find them as strong a couple as some of the others the author has written about. I can’t put my finger on why exactly, except to say that Zane’s protective feelings of Iris from the start feel too strong, too fast. Likewise, for someone who has been let down time and time again, Iris’s willingness to put her faith in Zane so quickly is a bit unlikely.
While the first half of the story sets up the characters and the plot (and introduces a rival bounty hunter agency that is sure to feature in future stories in the series), the action really takes place in the second half. While Zane and Iris have been sexing things up, the drug cartel has been on the hunt for her and is ready to make a move. This puts Zane and his brothers directly in their crosshairs. And let’s not forget that Iris is still technically on the run from the police too, so there are several plotlines that get wrapped up all at once. While the romance is okay, and Zane and Iris get the happy ending they deserve, I like that the plot is something I haven’t read before and I’m content to give Take Me Deeper a B. I look forward to reading Quinn and Rush’s stories, and seeing how the relationship between the three brothers evolves.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Take Me Deeper is the first story in Jackie Ashenden’s new Texas Bounty series, featuring a trio of brothers who run a ‘fugitive recovery’ service. Ms. Ashenden has been particularly prolific this year, releasing books in three different series including the Nine Circles (a group of wealthy businessmen investigating a shady casino business); Motor City Royals (a blue collar hero series with some down and dirty mechanics, including the first book Dirty For Me, reviewed this summer); and this one. I’ve read all the books released in these series to date and while the settings are quite different, they all feature trademark alpha male heroes who have their flaws (but never in the bedroom). Take Me Deeper follows that trend and is a solid start to this unique romance series.
Zane Redmond is on leave from his position as an army sniper. He’s returned home, to his brothers Rush and Quinn and their Lone Star bounty hunter business. It’s not a place he’s particularly keen on being. But since their father’s death, Quinn and Rush have been determined to keep the business going and they want Zane to help for at least a short time while he’s home. It’s a bittersweet reunion, as all three of the brothers have changed over the last several years. Still family loyalty is what makes Zane agree to take the latest case in Quinn’s hands, the return of one Iris Callahan, bail jumper, to the police. She’s been tracked to a bar near them, and Zane’s top priority is to complete the mission and get back to the army as fast as he can.
Iris‘s poor decision making has landed her in a bucket of hot water. Her boyfriend at the trailer park where she was living convinced her to do some deliveries of unnamed products to earn extra money. Believing he’d got her back, Iris soon found herself arrested for being a drug mule. She jumped bail and is now being sought after by the drug cartel – who wants to know what secrets she spilled – and the police, and is, as a result, on a bounty hunter watch list. When Zane and one of the drug cartel’s heavies find her at the same time, Zane ends up as her rescuer. He knows that returning her to jail is a death sentence as the cartel will easily find her, and his instinct to protect her outweighs everything else. But neither can deny the searing sexual attraction that exists between them. Though Iris is willing to give Zane her body in return for his protection (after all, she’s lived through worse), Zane’s sense of honour won’t let him accept her offer without her full trust. And once given, there is no going back. With the drug cartel on Iris’s tail, and family loyalty put to the test, will Zane find a way to protect them all and give himself and Iris a shot at a happier ending?
It’s pretty clear from the start that Zane is a conflicted character. When his mother died his father turned to the bottle and made increasingly erratic decisions, including showing up drunk while hunting bail jumpers. One of these times turned into a real disaster, with Zane’s teenage girlfriend Charlie getting shot in the melée. The consequences of that night were far reaching. Quinn and Zane went into different branches of the military, and Rush took the blame for the girl’s death, spending 8 years in prison. Since then, their father has passed away. Quinn took over the business and runs it with Rush, but they want Zane to consider retiring from the army and joining them. Zane likes the discipline, the control, the sense of honour and duty that comes with being a soldier – all the things he never got at home. But his brothers have sacrificed a lot, especially Rush, for the family and he can’t completely turn his back on them. The latest assignment with Iris has him all tied up in knots. Guilt over Charlie’s death has never left him, and he isn’t going to be responsible for the death of another woman on his watch. While Quinn and Rush want to just get the job over with and return Iris to the police, Zane can’t do it. It’s clear that Iris needs someone to help her – she needs him. And he’s not willing to let that go without a fight.
If ever there was a down on her luck heroine, it’s Iris. It’s bad enough that her mother abandoned her and her one year old sister when Iris turned eighteen, but now the man she thought she loved has ditched her at the first sign of trouble in his drug delivery dealings. Iris comes across as a strong but wary woman and she’s been let down by all the people in her life who are supposed to have looked out for her. Her only concern is the care of her sister, now in the foster system after Iris’s arrest and subsequent bail jumping. She’s at her wits end trying to figure out how to get her sister back and Zane’s appearance, while at first a curse, quickly becomes a blessing. For the first time, someone seems to actually care about her. When she places her trust in him (because, really, at this point she has nothing to lose anymore) the results are explosive both sexually and emotionally. This isn’t a BDSM romance, but there is a definite power play at work, with Zane wanting all the control and Iris willing to give it. As much as Zane wants to claim her as his, she wants to be claimed. The result is an insta-lust story, quickly turning to insta-love as their emotions get just as entangled as their bodies. Their connection is believable given the forced proximity they are dealing with, yet I don’t find them as strong a couple as some of the others the author has written about. I can’t put my finger on why exactly, except to say that Zane’s protective feelings of Iris from the start feel too strong, too fast. Likewise, for someone who has been let down time and time again, Iris’s willingness to put her faith in Zane so quickly is a bit unlikely.
While the first half of the story sets up the characters and the plot (and introduces a rival bounty hunter agency that is sure to feature in future stories in the series), the action really takes place in the second half. While Zane and Iris have been sexing things up, the drug cartel has been on the hunt for her and is ready to make a move. This puts Zane and his brothers directly in their crosshairs. And let’s not forget that Iris is still technically on the run from the police too, so there are several plotlines that get wrapped up all at once. While the romance is okay, and Zane and Iris get the happy ending they deserve, I like that the plot is something I haven’t read before and I’m content to give Take Me Deeper a B. I look forward to reading Quinn and Rush’s stories, and seeing how the relationship between the three brothers evolves.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
November 6, 2025
Three brothers, estranged by life circumstances, are brought back together after their father’s death to run the family bounty hunting business. Zane Redmond really escaped that life by becoming a Green Beret. He has come home to help his brothers out but has intention to stay and plans on reenlisting as soon as possible. He never imagined his first fugitive was going to be the hot, spit fire Iris Callahan.
Iris is on the run from the cartel. Iris knows just enough to cause them lots of problems and no one that has turned up to testify against the cartel has lived to make it to court. Not knowing who she can trust, she ran. Iris has been flying under the radar, trying to raise enough money to grab her sister and run until Zane shatters her plans.
Zane soon discovers there is more to Iris than meets the eye, she isn’t just some low life on the run. Something about Iris brings out his protective side.
I found Take Me Deeper a good contemporary romance with strong characters and an imaginative plot that keeps you vested in the storytelling.
I received this ARC copy of Take Me Deeper from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication October 4, 2016.
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Iris is on the run from the cartel. Iris knows just enough to cause them lots of problems and no one that has turned up to testify against the cartel has lived to make it to court. Not knowing who she can trust, she ran. Iris has been flying under the radar, trying to raise enough money to grab her sister and run until Zane shatters her plans.
Zane soon discovers there is more to Iris than meets the eye, she isn’t just some low life on the run. Something about Iris brings out his protective side.
I found Take Me Deeper a good contemporary romance with strong characters and an imaginative plot that keeps you vested in the storytelling.
I received this ARC copy of Take Me Deeper from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication October 4, 2016.
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
August 1, 2017
Take Me Deeper surprised me. I hadn’t read anything from her before although she did constantly pop up on my radar but not close enough to pay attention.
Iris Callahan made a bad choice that kicked off a chain of events that will kill her. All for the sake of family. I get why she did it. But there is no such thing as making easy money. With the Cartel hot on her heels and the police looking for her she is fighting for survival without pulling her younger sister Jamie in to it. Iris’s mistake landed her sister in foster care. A decision she blames herself for.
Zane Redmond is on leave from the Army but he wants to relist. The last thing he wants to do is go back home to the Lone Star Bounty Hunter business and make nice with his brothers but after the death of his father. He doesn’t really have a choice. He hasn’t see one of his brothers for five years and the other for eight years and it’s not a happy family reunion.
They have a very dysfunctional family and it looks like it can’t be repaired. Quinn who runs Lone Star has convinced Zane to take on one last job for them. He reluctantly agrees. He is to pick up one Iris Callahan.
“Now, do as you’re told like a good girl and I won’t use handcuffs.” “Aww. Spoilsport.” A thread of sarcasm wound through her voice. “Handcuffs are fun”
Zane finds out the real reason for Iris skipping bail and instead of taking her back to jail he decides to help her. He has a white knight in shining armour complex. He couldn’t save Charlie but he’ll do anything to save Iris. It was supposed to be easy. It wasn’t.
But they have a plan and they need to get another bail bond company on board. Duchess Bail Bonds now believe me when I say I’m intrigued by the Duchess and her peeps.
I am torn on the rating I wanted to give this. Yes the two had issues and demons that they had to work through but boy did they drag it out. But they both had to work through there insecurities and past experiences and they both helped one another.
The balance between romance, sexual tension and suspense is exactly right. That in my opinion isn’t always an easy feat.
Zane Redmond. Ah man what a man. Well done Ms. Ashenden. YOU. WILL. LOVE. HIM.
Now that I liked the first one and I think that the authors writing style is good I’m gonna scot off and request the second book on Netgalley.
Book received by Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2017
Three brothers who are bounty hunters is the focus of this new series. First brother introduced is Zane, a Green Beret sniper. He missed his father's funeral because of where he was and it seems like the other brothers are still angry .. even though one of them was a SEAL and should know that when you're in the service, you can't just get up and leave whenever you want.
His plans are to re-up, but is talked into doing one job for their bounty business ..something easy, so they say. Iris Callahan is a fugitive. After getting arrested for a drug drop, she skips bail and runs because she's afraid the cartel will kill her. She has a young sister in foster care that she wants to keep safe.
Zane finds her, and after a scuffle or two or three, he decides that she's innocent and wants to protect her. Even after she promises a sexual act, he refuses to let her go.
I don't mind a little spice with my reading material, even a lot of spice if the story is well done. This was not that book. Maybe it didn't work for me because I didn't like the characters.
Zane comes across almost as a bully. And then when it comes to romance, he was sweet one minute and then decided that he liked rough sex. Iris seems to blame all her troubles on someone else, anyone else. She blames her ex-boyfriend for talking her into doing the drug delivery. Zane is wrapped up in the memory of an old girlfriend who died. By the end of the book, I didn't care about any of them.
Many thanks to the author / Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept / Negalley for the digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed are unbiased and entirely my own.
His plans are to re-up, but is talked into doing one job for their bounty business ..something easy, so they say. Iris Callahan is a fugitive. After getting arrested for a drug drop, she skips bail and runs because she's afraid the cartel will kill her. She has a young sister in foster care that she wants to keep safe.
Zane finds her, and after a scuffle or two or three, he decides that she's innocent and wants to protect her. Even after she promises a sexual act, he refuses to let her go.
I don't mind a little spice with my reading material, even a lot of spice if the story is well done. This was not that book. Maybe it didn't work for me because I didn't like the characters.
Zane comes across almost as a bully. And then when it comes to romance, he was sweet one minute and then decided that he liked rough sex. Iris seems to blame all her troubles on someone else, anyone else. She blames her ex-boyfriend for talking her into doing the drug delivery. Zane is wrapped up in the memory of an old girlfriend who died. By the end of the book, I didn't care about any of them.
Many thanks to the author / Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept / Negalley for the digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed are unbiased and entirely my own.
October 4, 2016
Paige's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
3.5 stars
I was immediately drawn into the story between the bounty hunter and the skip. Zane is back in his home town to visits his brothers. He's trying to alleviate the pain and sadness caused by the loss of their mother and father. His family has been torn apart since her passing and now he's trying to make amends by helping into he family business. He definitely has quite chip on his shoulder and has built up was between his brother's.
I felt that the first half of the book was redundant. It seemed that the author struggled to move past the fact that Iris skipped bail and has been trying to create a better life for her and her sister. The chemistry between Zane and Iris wasn't there for me.
The second half of the book turned around and contained the chemistry I was hoping for . The author brought excitement back to the storyline . I liked the misfit band of brothers, Rush, Quinn and Zane , that worked together to keep Iris safe. These men proved that Redmonds stick together until the end.
It had a few flaws and not the strongest plot but it was enjoyable and a quick easy read.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
3.5 stars
I was immediately drawn into the story between the bounty hunter and the skip. Zane is back in his home town to visits his brothers. He's trying to alleviate the pain and sadness caused by the loss of their mother and father. His family has been torn apart since her passing and now he's trying to make amends by helping into he family business. He definitely has quite chip on his shoulder and has built up was between his brother's.
I felt that the first half of the book was redundant. It seemed that the author struggled to move past the fact that Iris skipped bail and has been trying to create a better life for her and her sister. The chemistry between Zane and Iris wasn't there for me.
The second half of the book turned around and contained the chemistry I was hoping for . The author brought excitement back to the storyline . I liked the misfit band of brothers, Rush, Quinn and Zane , that worked together to keep Iris safe. These men proved that Redmonds stick together until the end.
It had a few flaws and not the strongest plot but it was enjoyable and a quick easy read.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
February 23, 2017
2.5 Stars.... Not sure where to start with this book. I didn't really like the characters. The premise of the book sounded great...military, bounty hunter, cartel! It just never came together for me.
I normally enjoy a Sassy heroine but Iris just got on my nerves. Zane came across just a little too distant for me. I just never connected with them.
**I was given this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I normally enjoy a Sassy heroine but Iris just got on my nerves. Zane came across just a little too distant for me. I just never connected with them.
**I was given this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2016
I've found that to read Ms. Ashenden's books, I have to be in a particular frame of mind due to the gritty nature of her stories and the copious amounts of testosterone flowing between the pages, so it took me several tries to get into this book and all the way to the end, but it was intense and filled with sexual tension, with flawed but likable characters and I enjoyed it.
Coming home isn't easy for Zane Redmond, but it needs to be done, especially now that his dad has passed and he plans to make only a brief stop to check in with his brothers. But plans change and now he finds himself pulled into the family bounty hunting business against his will. Finding himself attracted to his skip, well, to say that is unexpected would be understating it, but that is exactly what happens and Zane finds his white knight tendencies taking over again.
Iris Callahan has been dealt a sucky hand in life in more ways than one. You probably couldn't find a better poster child for bad choices and a less than ideal life (not exactly the words I had in mind, but these will do). Abandoned by her mother and left to raise her one year baby sister when she was still a teenager herself, she's struggled to do her best but it also led to some poor choices which have left her on the lam, in fear for her life. And yeah, she is ready to trade anything to avoid going back to jail, even her body. Or is she?
It's clear from the first page that Zane and Iris come with a lot of baggage and they discover that there is more to each other than their first impressions. I admired Iris particularly because in spite of how many times life knocked her down, she got right back up and tried to do better for her sister. For Zane, saving Iris would be some kind of penance for his past, but it was more than just that. The attraction between them was something he wanted to explore some more, even if he didn't know what the future would hold for them.
TAKE ME DEEPER is the first book in the series, so the author takes the time to lay the foundation for other books in the series, but I didn't mind because I'm looking forward to Zane's brothers' stories and exploring the undercurrents among the brothers.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely mine.
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Coming home isn't easy for Zane Redmond, but it needs to be done, especially now that his dad has passed and he plans to make only a brief stop to check in with his brothers. But plans change and now he finds himself pulled into the family bounty hunting business against his will. Finding himself attracted to his skip, well, to say that is unexpected would be understating it, but that is exactly what happens and Zane finds his white knight tendencies taking over again.
Iris Callahan has been dealt a sucky hand in life in more ways than one. You probably couldn't find a better poster child for bad choices and a less than ideal life (not exactly the words I had in mind, but these will do). Abandoned by her mother and left to raise her one year baby sister when she was still a teenager herself, she's struggled to do her best but it also led to some poor choices which have left her on the lam, in fear for her life. And yeah, she is ready to trade anything to avoid going back to jail, even her body. Or is she?
It's clear from the first page that Zane and Iris come with a lot of baggage and they discover that there is more to each other than their first impressions. I admired Iris particularly because in spite of how many times life knocked her down, she got right back up and tried to do better for her sister. For Zane, saving Iris would be some kind of penance for his past, but it was more than just that. The attraction between them was something he wanted to explore some more, even if he didn't know what the future would hold for them.
TAKE ME DEEPER is the first book in the series, so the author takes the time to lay the foundation for other books in the series, but I didn't mind because I'm looking forward to Zane's brothers' stories and exploring the undercurrents among the brothers.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely mine.
Want more? Subscribe to my Newsletter on The Sassy Bookster.
Follow me on Twitter | Tumblr | Bloglovin’.
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December 7, 2016
Who can resist a brooding, conflicted and an emotionally scared sexy soldier? Not many is the answer. Zane Redmond, the youngest brother of the Redman brothers has helped to deliver one hell of a story. I will take to liberty to assume that an author's ultimate goal is to show the heart of their characters and I truly believe that Ms. Ashenden has achieved that with Zane. Yeah, we readers get the alpha male that we often crave but this one is well developed and believable. Heck, all the Redmond brothers are flawed beauties and that just makes the story even better.
For this installment, our hero is paired with a feisty redhead named Iris Callahan. Usually, when we readers pick-up these stories one of the main characters are wealthy or have come from a well to do family/lifestyle. Iris is a fit for our hero and our hero is a fit for Iris because they broth know what hard knocks are. Nope, the heroine isn’t some kick butt and take names kind of girl but she is a hero in her own right. The bottom line is that both characters ROCKED and this was well worth the read.
From the opening till the ending, Take Me Deeper will keep the reader glued to the pages. This book was part one to the Texas Bounty series. There is definitely more to come because there is a great cast of secondary characters (especially those Redmond boys) that readers will want to know about.
~*~*~Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. ~*~*~
For this installment, our hero is paired with a feisty redhead named Iris Callahan. Usually, when we readers pick-up these stories one of the main characters are wealthy or have come from a well to do family/lifestyle. Iris is a fit for our hero and our hero is a fit for Iris because they broth know what hard knocks are. Nope, the heroine isn’t some kick butt and take names kind of girl but she is a hero in her own right. The bottom line is that both characters ROCKED and this was well worth the read.
From the opening till the ending, Take Me Deeper will keep the reader glued to the pages. This book was part one to the Texas Bounty series. There is definitely more to come because there is a great cast of secondary characters (especially those Redmond boys) that readers will want to know about.
~*~*~Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. ~*~*~
September 11, 2016
Ashenden always deliver a good story with well-defined characters and Take Me Deeper is no exception. The Redmond brothers are gritty. They’ve had it tough and all have chips on their shoulders. Zane certainly doesn’t want to come back and work for the family bounty business.
Iris has had it equally rough in different ways. She’s gotten herself into such a hard spot for all the right reasons. Despite her upraising, she’s still capable of great love and responsibility to her sister but it leads her to make a really bad decision.
Zane has a hero streak a mile wide and can’t stop himself from trying to save Iris. Iris has been burned by too many people in her life and is adamantly opposed trusting anyone. She has no interest in letting Zane help her. When he decides to protect her instead of turning her in to the authorities, the time they spend together allows them to realize just how much they are attracted and that they like each other.
Ashenden escalates the suspense when the already risky plan to clear Iris and get the her off the cartel radar is blown by the drug dealers who want her dead.
The book has a well-paced story, a sweet romance and hot sex making it an enjoyable read.
Iris has had it equally rough in different ways. She’s gotten herself into such a hard spot for all the right reasons. Despite her upraising, she’s still capable of great love and responsibility to her sister but it leads her to make a really bad decision.
Zane has a hero streak a mile wide and can’t stop himself from trying to save Iris. Iris has been burned by too many people in her life and is adamantly opposed trusting anyone. She has no interest in letting Zane help her. When he decides to protect her instead of turning her in to the authorities, the time they spend together allows them to realize just how much they are attracted and that they like each other.
Ashenden escalates the suspense when the already risky plan to clear Iris and get the her off the cartel radar is blown by the drug dealers who want her dead.
The book has a well-paced story, a sweet romance and hot sex making it an enjoyable read.
August 16, 2016
This review is based on an ARC provided by the author and/or the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
3.5
This was another one that was hard for me to get vested in. The action was slow. The characters didn't make the choices that I would have made.
3.5
This was another one that was hard for me to get vested in. The action was slow. The characters didn't make the choices that I would have made.
November 11, 2021
Take Me Deeper is the first book in a new series by Jackie Ashenden called Texas Bounty and as you can guess by the name of the series it is about Bounty hunters....and holy hell is it hot!
Zane is back in Texas to help his brothers (Quinn and Rush) run the family business "Lone Star Bounty" but he is only staying for one month and then he is heading back to the Army and his Special Forces team. Quinn makes Zane promise to complete this one job before he can even begin to start thinking of leaving...but Zane had no idea that this one job would change his life.
Iris is on the run after her good-for-nothing ex-boyfriend got her involved with transporting drugs for the cartel and she was arrested. Now Iris is looking over her shoulders for the cartel and the police, and neither can find her because one will kill her and the other will lock her up until she testifies.
When Zane finally catches up with Iris things really start to get interesting!
I enjoyed the chemistry between Zane an Iris and I was a bit skeptical on how things would work out between them, I can honestly say that I was pleasantly surprised with the ending of their story.
I look forward to reading more of this series but I have to be honest that I cannot wait for Quinn's story! I really hope it plays out the way I'm hoping it does. ;)
***I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book that I requested from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept through Netgalley*** https://www.netgalley.com/
I have also purchased a copy of this book through Amazon
Merged review:
Take Me Deeper is the first book in a new series by Jackie Ashenden called Texas Bounty and as you can guess by the name of the series it is about Bounty hunters....and holy hell is it hot!
Zane is back in Texas to help his brothers (Quinn and Rush) run the family business "Lone Star Bounty" but he is only staying for one month and then he is heading back to the Army and his Special Forces team. Quinn makes Zane promise to complete this one job before he can even begin to start thinking of leaving...but Zane had no idea that this one job would change his life.
Iris is on the run after her good-for-nothing ex-boyfriend got her involved with transporting drugs for the cartel and she was arrested. Now Iris is looking over her shoulders for the cartel and the police, and neither can find her because one will kill her and the other will lock her up until she testifies.
When Zane finally catches up with Iris things really start to get interesting!
I enjoyed the chemistry between Zane an Iris and I was a bit skeptical on how things would work out between them, I can honestly say that I was pleasantly surprised with the ending of their story.
I look forward to reading more of this series but I have to be honest that I cannot wait for Quinn's story! I really hope it plays out the way I'm hoping it does. ;)
***I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book that I requested from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept through Netgalley*** https://www.netgalley.com/
I have also purchased a copy of this book through Amazon
June 13, 2019
Cold Hearted Sniper was good and a solid start to this series. It was sexy and had some action but mainly focused on the budding relationship between Zane and Iris. I liked the chemistry between them and watching them fall for each other. I also liked the secondary characters and I'm looking forward to reading their books.
October 3, 2016
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
I enjoyed the storyline - it has some good humour, some drama and plenty of chemistry. However I did find the writing to be of a style that did not quite work for me. I think this was in the main because the story is written from Zane's perspective. He is a Green Beret sniper, but describes things in great detail, unlike any man I know. It made the action somewhat stilted in places, and laborious in others.
I think it is a good idea for a series of stories, and I have no doubt that many people will really enjoy it, because the writing style suits them. I am giving it three good stars for an interesting plot, and for Iris!
I enjoyed the storyline - it has some good humour, some drama and plenty of chemistry. However I did find the writing to be of a style that did not quite work for me. I think this was in the main because the story is written from Zane's perspective. He is a Green Beret sniper, but describes things in great detail, unlike any man I know. It made the action somewhat stilted in places, and laborious in others.
I think it is a good idea for a series of stories, and I have no doubt that many people will really enjoy it, because the writing style suits them. I am giving it three good stars for an interesting plot, and for Iris!
October 2, 2016
4 stars
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 4, 2016
Even as a Green Beret, Zane Redmond hasn’t faced a tougher mission than going home again. Loyalty to his brothers is the only reason he’s back in Texas, not that he intends to stay for long. Zane sure as hell isn’t going into the family business. One last bounty and he’s done—or so he thinks. Nobody warned him that his fugitive happens to be a red-hot brunette with a smart mouth, a body made for sin, and a brutal cartel on her trail.
Bad circumstances and worse choices have left Iris Callahan in a desperate situation. After getting arrested for a drug drop gone wrong, she skipped bail and hit the road to avoid testifying. Now the cartel wants Iris silenced forever, and she’s just lucky that Zane catches her before they do. Handcuffed to a bed, she surrenders to the cool-as-ice bounty hunter in order to survive. But as the chase heats up, Zane sneaks past her emotional defenses—and Iris is in too deep to let him go.
•••••••••••
REVIEW: TAKE ME DEEPER is the first installment in Jackie Ashenden’s contemporary, adult TEXAS BOUNTY romantic, suspense series focusing on the men (and brothers) of Lone Star Bounty-Zane, Quinn and Rush Redmond. This is Special Forces soldier Zane Redmond, and Iris Callahan’s story line.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Zane and Iris) TAKE ME DEEPER follows Zane’s return home from his latest assignment overseas only to find himself on the hunt for a woman who skipped out on her bond. Iris Callahan was easy to find but Zane and his family owned Lone Star Bounty are not the only people searching for Iris-our heroine got caught up in some nasty business with a drug cartel and she isn’t willing to go down without a fight.
Zane is a protector at heart and keeping Iris safe is paramount even if it means placing himself and his brothers at risk. He is a man determined not to set down roots and being pulled back into the family business is something he never planned. Iris is a woman who made a bad decision for all of the right reasons but a decision that had caused her to lose someone close. What ensues is the building relationship between a man whose guilt from the past is focused on another woman running for her life. Both Zane and Iris have issues of trust because of events from their pasts. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense.
We are introduced to Zane’s brothers-Quinn and Rush Redmond. The three brothers currently own and run Lone Star Bounty since the death of their father months before. Lone Star Bounty is a struggling business but a business that brings the brothers closer together.
TAKE ME DEEPER is a story of suspense, romance and family. The premise is dramatic and suspenseful; the characters are strong, passionate and heartbreaking or perhaps it is their circumstance that will tug at your heart; the romance is seductive and provocative.
Copy supplied by Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 4, 2016
Even as a Green Beret, Zane Redmond hasn’t faced a tougher mission than going home again. Loyalty to his brothers is the only reason he’s back in Texas, not that he intends to stay for long. Zane sure as hell isn’t going into the family business. One last bounty and he’s done—or so he thinks. Nobody warned him that his fugitive happens to be a red-hot brunette with a smart mouth, a body made for sin, and a brutal cartel on her trail.
Bad circumstances and worse choices have left Iris Callahan in a desperate situation. After getting arrested for a drug drop gone wrong, she skipped bail and hit the road to avoid testifying. Now the cartel wants Iris silenced forever, and she’s just lucky that Zane catches her before they do. Handcuffed to a bed, she surrenders to the cool-as-ice bounty hunter in order to survive. But as the chase heats up, Zane sneaks past her emotional defenses—and Iris is in too deep to let him go.
•••••••••••
REVIEW: TAKE ME DEEPER is the first installment in Jackie Ashenden’s contemporary, adult TEXAS BOUNTY romantic, suspense series focusing on the men (and brothers) of Lone Star Bounty-Zane, Quinn and Rush Redmond. This is Special Forces soldier Zane Redmond, and Iris Callahan’s story line.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Zane and Iris) TAKE ME DEEPER follows Zane’s return home from his latest assignment overseas only to find himself on the hunt for a woman who skipped out on her bond. Iris Callahan was easy to find but Zane and his family owned Lone Star Bounty are not the only people searching for Iris-our heroine got caught up in some nasty business with a drug cartel and she isn’t willing to go down without a fight.
Zane is a protector at heart and keeping Iris safe is paramount even if it means placing himself and his brothers at risk. He is a man determined not to set down roots and being pulled back into the family business is something he never planned. Iris is a woman who made a bad decision for all of the right reasons but a decision that had caused her to lose someone close. What ensues is the building relationship between a man whose guilt from the past is focused on another woman running for her life. Both Zane and Iris have issues of trust because of events from their pasts. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense.
We are introduced to Zane’s brothers-Quinn and Rush Redmond. The three brothers currently own and run Lone Star Bounty since the death of their father months before. Lone Star Bounty is a struggling business but a business that brings the brothers closer together.
TAKE ME DEEPER is a story of suspense, romance and family. The premise is dramatic and suspenseful; the characters are strong, passionate and heartbreaking or perhaps it is their circumstance that will tug at your heart; the romance is seductive and provocative.
Copy supplied by Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
September 21, 2016
3 Stars - 3 Flames
First impression? Two of the three brothers are a-holes! And because of that first impression, it was really hard for me to get in to this book. Yes, the lead hero has awesome qualities and the heroine definitely needed to be saved, but once that first impression hits, it's hard for me to get over it. Sorry....it's just me.
Zane just finished a mission as Special Forces/Green Beret. After his two brothers quilted him into coming home to help with the family business, he reluctantly agrees to take one job before he re-ups. But this one job turns out to be a little more than he bargained for, and taking a lot longer than he originally thought.
Iris is the job. She skipped bail and is on the run, not only from the law, but from the cartel who wants to make sure she keeps her mouth shut. So when a member of the cartel showed up at her job on the same day and time as Zane, she knew her time was up. Trying to get away from both was going to be impossible, so guess who she ends up with? Yep, you guessed right. Once Zane learns a little more about what Iris' deal is, the chemistry and everything that goes along with it heats up pretty quick for these two.
I was thinking that this was going to be a little more military, but there was still enough drama to keep me interested in the story line. These two have more than enough baggage to work out and they seem to find a way to get through it with each other. And those moments are pretty steamy. I'm going to assume that the remainder of the series will involve the other brothers. But like I said, first impressions and all. Maybe since I enjoyed the author's writing, I'd give it a try...
*I received this book from the Jeep Diva in exchange for my honest opinion.
First impression? Two of the three brothers are a-holes! And because of that first impression, it was really hard for me to get in to this book. Yes, the lead hero has awesome qualities and the heroine definitely needed to be saved, but once that first impression hits, it's hard for me to get over it. Sorry....it's just me.
Zane just finished a mission as Special Forces/Green Beret. After his two brothers quilted him into coming home to help with the family business, he reluctantly agrees to take one job before he re-ups. But this one job turns out to be a little more than he bargained for, and taking a lot longer than he originally thought.
Iris is the job. She skipped bail and is on the run, not only from the law, but from the cartel who wants to make sure she keeps her mouth shut. So when a member of the cartel showed up at her job on the same day and time as Zane, she knew her time was up. Trying to get away from both was going to be impossible, so guess who she ends up with? Yep, you guessed right. Once Zane learns a little more about what Iris' deal is, the chemistry and everything that goes along with it heats up pretty quick for these two.
I was thinking that this was going to be a little more military, but there was still enough drama to keep me interested in the story line. These two have more than enough baggage to work out and they seem to find a way to get through it with each other. And those moments are pretty steamy. I'm going to assume that the remainder of the series will involve the other brothers. But like I said, first impressions and all. Maybe since I enjoyed the author's writing, I'd give it a try...
*I received this book from the Jeep Diva in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 25, 2016
With the cartel on her tail Iris Callahan is on the run and desperate for a safe place to hide, being captured by a bounty hunter isn't exactly what she had in mind, but it will do for now. At least with him in her corner for the time being she feels a little safer, now she just has to find a way to resist his alluring bad boy charm...
Zane Redmond is a little reluctant about returning home, but with his current mission he doesn't really have a choice, he is hot on the trail of a beautiful brunette that is running from a dangerous cartel. Nothing could have prepared him for her, she's feisty as hell, and got a body he'd love to get his hands on, but that would have him lowering his defenses and crossing lines and that's just not something he's willing to do... or is it?
Once again Ms. Ashenden has given readers a story that they can't help but get wrapped up in, it's one that is filled with edge of your seat suspense, and a smoldering chemistry that will constantly have you wiping the steam from your tablet screen! These two pulled me into their world from the very first page, and had me completely entranced by their every spoken word, I just could not put this one down!! I think it is safe to say Ms. Asheden is headed for bestseller territory with this one, it's sure to have you captivated from the very first sentence and destined to leave you clamoring for more!! Highly recommend this one!!
ARC requested through NetGalley, and kindly provided by Random House Publishing Group- Loveswept in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.
Zane Redmond is a little reluctant about returning home, but with his current mission he doesn't really have a choice, he is hot on the trail of a beautiful brunette that is running from a dangerous cartel. Nothing could have prepared him for her, she's feisty as hell, and got a body he'd love to get his hands on, but that would have him lowering his defenses and crossing lines and that's just not something he's willing to do... or is it?
Once again Ms. Ashenden has given readers a story that they can't help but get wrapped up in, it's one that is filled with edge of your seat suspense, and a smoldering chemistry that will constantly have you wiping the steam from your tablet screen! These two pulled me into their world from the very first page, and had me completely entranced by their every spoken word, I just could not put this one down!! I think it is safe to say Ms. Asheden is headed for bestseller territory with this one, it's sure to have you captivated from the very first sentence and destined to leave you clamoring for more!! Highly recommend this one!!
ARC requested through NetGalley, and kindly provided by Random House Publishing Group- Loveswept in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.
August 7, 2016
Can a bounty hunter fall for a skip? I absolutely love it when a romance starts with a seemingly impossible equation and somehow, even believably, makes everything add up. That Jackie Ashenden did this with two initially unlikable characters made this high drama, high emotion read even more incredible. I normally scoff at insta-lust, insta-love stories that start more like Stockholm Syndrome, but she made it work.
At first, Iris and Zane both seem like jaded, guarded people hardened by life and immune to love. The only thing that bonds them at first is sex and violence. To care for her little sister, Iris committed a crime that has her on the run from the authorities that want her to testify and the drug cartel which wants her dead. To answer his bounty hunter brothers, Zane has to bring in Iris before he can leave his family and bitter memories for good. Iris and Zane don't want to want each other; they each have enough painful memories to guard against emotion or feeling.
Iris wants to live long enough to see her little sister safe. Zane wants to flee his bitter family memories. Neither counted on the intense sexual chemistry between them, or the floodgates of tenderness and care they experience in bed together. I'm usually not keen on bounty hunter stories, but find myself a wee bit intrigued by Quinn, Duchess, and Rush...
Note: I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
At first, Iris and Zane both seem like jaded, guarded people hardened by life and immune to love. The only thing that bonds them at first is sex and violence. To care for her little sister, Iris committed a crime that has her on the run from the authorities that want her to testify and the drug cartel which wants her dead. To answer his bounty hunter brothers, Zane has to bring in Iris before he can leave his family and bitter memories for good. Iris and Zane don't want to want each other; they each have enough painful memories to guard against emotion or feeling.
Iris wants to live long enough to see her little sister safe. Zane wants to flee his bitter family memories. Neither counted on the intense sexual chemistry between them, or the floodgates of tenderness and care they experience in bed together. I'm usually not keen on bounty hunter stories, but find myself a wee bit intrigued by Quinn, Duchess, and Rush...
Note: I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2016
A great start to a new series, I loved Zach, and I'm really looking forward to reading more from the 'Texas Bounty' series.
Three brothers reconnect when their father passes away, and is told their Bounty Hunter business isn't doing to well, and needs help to keep it open. Zane left to join the army after things got bad with his father and brothers. Now he's not interested in rescuing the business, he just wants to reenlist and put his family troubles behind him. But his brother talks him into taking a job hunting down a 'skip', Iris, a young and as she's is female, he wants Zach to find her, as doesn't trust the task with his other brother.
Iris is strong and loyal to her sister, her only problem is she was a little naïve and now she has to pay the price for her stupidity and dodge the cartel. Her life depends on it.
Zach and Iris' story is a real adventure. Zach shows a different side to himself, in and out of the bedroom, he really likes to be in charge, and Iris needed a strong hand to lean on.
The excitement and action was great, and the steamy bedroom action was just right and not over the top. A great story. 5/5
Three brothers reconnect when their father passes away, and is told their Bounty Hunter business isn't doing to well, and needs help to keep it open. Zane left to join the army after things got bad with his father and brothers. Now he's not interested in rescuing the business, he just wants to reenlist and put his family troubles behind him. But his brother talks him into taking a job hunting down a 'skip', Iris, a young and as she's is female, he wants Zach to find her, as doesn't trust the task with his other brother.
Iris is strong and loyal to her sister, her only problem is she was a little naïve and now she has to pay the price for her stupidity and dodge the cartel. Her life depends on it.
Zach and Iris' story is a real adventure. Zach shows a different side to himself, in and out of the bedroom, he really likes to be in charge, and Iris needed a strong hand to lean on.
The excitement and action was great, and the steamy bedroom action was just right and not over the top. A great story. 5/5
October 1, 2016
3.5 Stars
Zane comes back to Texas get some closer with his brothers about the past. He ends up, reluctantly helping his brothers out with their bounty hunter business. He’s sent to retrieve Iris who wants to avoid testifying in a drug case against the cartel wants to keep her quiet.
I really liked Zane because his story spoke to me on a personal level. Zane loved his brothers but he wanted to be away from the pain his mother’s death and father’s alcoholism bought. The push-pull of love/hate you feel when someone close to you hurts you because of their own pain I felt.
I liked Iris. She’s made some bad choices but she owned them and didn’t try to blame anyone else from making them. Iris has always taken care of herself and her sister since their mother left them and a lot of questionable things she be was to keep her sister safe. She seemed believable to me, and her backstory was interesting.
The story of is quick and intense with a hotness level of 7. This was a good start to what I hope will become a favorite series.
I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Zane comes back to Texas get some closer with his brothers about the past. He ends up, reluctantly helping his brothers out with their bounty hunter business. He’s sent to retrieve Iris who wants to avoid testifying in a drug case against the cartel wants to keep her quiet.
I really liked Zane because his story spoke to me on a personal level. Zane loved his brothers but he wanted to be away from the pain his mother’s death and father’s alcoholism bought. The push-pull of love/hate you feel when someone close to you hurts you because of their own pain I felt.
I liked Iris. She’s made some bad choices but she owned them and didn’t try to blame anyone else from making them. Iris has always taken care of herself and her sister since their mother left them and a lot of questionable things she be was to keep her sister safe. She seemed believable to me, and her backstory was interesting.
The story of is quick and intense with a hotness level of 7. This was a good start to what I hope will become a favorite series.
I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2016
Freaking loved this book!! Jackie Ashenden is one of those authors that is able to get me from the first page of her books and hold me spellbound all the way through. The characters in this one are real, flawed, and unforgettable. Zane, an army special forces soldier, is finally going home for a short visit before reenlisting. It's been 8 long years since his family fell apart and seeing his brothers again will be one of the hardest things he's ever done. Being part of the family business was never on the agenda for Zane but he finally caves to his brothers insistence and agrees to one last bounty job. What should be an easy job of catching and returning with a female skipper named Iris Callahan turns into a race to save her life and protect her from a drug cartel that wants her dead. Zane definitely has a white knight complex and can't help but give it his all when he sees she's in real danger. With bullets flying and sexual tension sizzling, get ready for a wild ride with this one.
This is a great read and one I highly recommend.
This is a great read and one I highly recommend.
February 15, 2017
Not great
## Lackluster. That's how I would describe this book.
The premise was so good. But unfortunately the whole story revolved around the death of the hero's true love and his grief/guilt over losing her. Omg, the dead girlfriend was in the book more than the heroine. There was nothing romantic about this. The hero wanted to save the heroine because he didn't save his girlfriend. That's the only reason he cared about her. It was so obvious even to the heroine. But of course, being the needy woman she was, she didn't care. She took him any way she could get him.
In the end, she had to talk him in to being with her. Practically guilting him into it. Pathetic. She told him she loved him many times but he never said it to her. I care for you even though I don't want to and I ended up with you. Wow, nice. NOT.
And the sex was bizarre. Tied up from behind, not allowed to touch him or speak. It's like the author wanted him to be a Dom but then things just got weird instead. Neither character was very likeable.
Sorry, can't recommend.
## Lackluster. That's how I would describe this book.
The premise was so good. But unfortunately the whole story revolved around the death of the hero's true love and his grief/guilt over losing her. Omg, the dead girlfriend was in the book more than the heroine. There was nothing romantic about this. The hero wanted to save the heroine because he didn't save his girlfriend. That's the only reason he cared about her. It was so obvious even to the heroine. But of course, being the needy woman she was, she didn't care. She took him any way she could get him.
In the end, she had to talk him in to being with her. Practically guilting him into it. Pathetic. She told him she loved him many times but he never said it to her. I care for you even though I don't want to and I ended up with you. Wow, nice. NOT.
And the sex was bizarre. Tied up from behind, not allowed to touch him or speak. It's like the author wanted him to be a Dom but then things just got weird instead. Neither character was very likeable.
Sorry, can't recommend.
October 14, 2016
Zane Redmond just finished his last mission and is ready to recommit but he needs to see his brothers before he can. His brothers blame him for not being at his fathers funeral but duty called and he needs to make peace with that. Zane agrees to handle one skip for his families bounty hunter business and it s not that hard to find the young women who ran.
Iris Callahan realizes she screwed up and trusted the wrong person. She is worried about her little sister and the fact that her own life is in danger from the cartel she unwillingly got in trouble with. Zane is not a distraction she needs, but the man continues to delve into her past and is determined to help. Throw in some major attraction and you have a hot romantic suspense.
Overall great idea and like the concept of this series. I thought a bit draggy in some parts but once the story amped up was entertained. Eager to see Quinn and Rush's story.
Iris Callahan realizes she screwed up and trusted the wrong person. She is worried about her little sister and the fact that her own life is in danger from the cartel she unwillingly got in trouble with. Zane is not a distraction she needs, but the man continues to delve into her past and is determined to help. Throw in some major attraction and you have a hot romantic suspense.
Overall great idea and like the concept of this series. I thought a bit draggy in some parts but once the story amped up was entertained. Eager to see Quinn and Rush's story.
August 17, 2016
A great book about family and the struggles you have working with them and trying to survive. Iris' situation was just heart breaking; I wanted to scream at her mother for what she did to her two daughters!! Zane's childhood wasn't the greatest either, following the death of his mother. I thought the author did a great job at portraying his father as one who was suffering from grief and turned to drinking as a way to cope.
The only complaint I had was that I thought the epilogue jumped too far into the future (something like 10 years later). I would have liked to read more about Zane meeting Iris' sister and how they adapted to life together in general instead of just the brief mention of it. But overall it was a great story filled with suspense and romance.
** ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review **
The only complaint I had was that I thought the epilogue jumped too far into the future (something like 10 years later). I would have liked to read more about Zane meeting Iris' sister and how they adapted to life together in general instead of just the brief mention of it. But overall it was a great story filled with suspense and romance.
** ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review **
July 14, 2016
The first book in the Texas Bounty series introduces the Redmond brothers and Lone Star Bounty. This first book centers around Zane, an ex Green Beret who feels a strong connection to his two brothers Quinn and Rush, only taking this one job at their request...he had no desire to join the family business. I can see the series continuing with stories for the brothers and perhaps Duchess, the mysterious head of the company.
The story of Zane and Iris is fast paced, with enough twists and turns to keep you engaged and on edge until the very end. Zane is a wonderful take charge kind of guy, and while Iris has the same temperament, they work well together as a couple.
This book was provided by the Publisher and Netgalley for my honest review.
The story of Zane and Iris is fast paced, with enough twists and turns to keep you engaged and on edge until the very end. Zane is a wonderful take charge kind of guy, and while Iris has the same temperament, they work well together as a couple.
This book was provided by the Publisher and Netgalley for my honest review.
October 4, 2016
Yikes, what a bunch of Alpha men and each different from the other. Bossy, bad boy and broody. Those are the names I've given to Quinn, Rush, and Zane, the Redmond brothers. Each brother deadly in his own right. This book is fast paced and action packed. And let's not forget Zane's dominating romancing of Iris Callahan, who is on the run from both the law and the drug cartels. Zane has made it his mission to protect her and keep her safe while having to deal with his overbearing brother Quinn and "don't give a damn" brother Rush. Explosions and Fireworks galore!
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2016
Hotness Rating 3 out of 5
Review to come...
Review to come...
October 29, 2017
This was the first book in the Texas Bounty series and I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about this read. As I started this book the storyline was interesting but I couldn’t get on board with the characters. I tried to connect with them but for some reason I couldn’t at least that was in the beginning. As I continued to read the story the more I started to understand Zane and Iris. They were two peas in a pod and they needed to figure out that they were not at fault for his father's actions and her mother's actions.
Zane and Iris have this instant chemistry and it's like seeing a cat and mouse chase. I knew that it was only a matter of time before they would be able to start something but I knew that it would not be something that would last someone would end up running away. Iris is in trouble with a drug cartel and Zane is there to bring her in. He doesn't want to be home all he wants to do is return back to the Special Forces. But the moment that Iris opens up her smart mouth It's like he is sucker punched. Now as for Iris it seems that she is attracted to him and I just couldn't help laugh when she offers him a BJ. I'm like OH MY GOD!!!! These two characters made me laugh and then they made me want to cry. The Redmon Brothers are 3 handsome brothers that no matter what they have each other's back. But Zane doesn't want to have anything to do with the family business but in order to protect Iris.
So when Zane's truth finally comes out I felt so sad for him. He tried so hard to get his father to stop drinking and pay attention not only to him but also to his 2 other brothers. They all needed their father after their mother had passed away from Cancer. Then there is the story with Iris and how she ended up getting arrested and then jumping her bond. Her mother didn't want her nor her sister but the biggest problem was that her ex-boyfriend got her into trouble with the cartel. He knew that she needed money in order to take care of her little sister now that she has a record she lost custody of her sister. With the help of the Redmon Brothers Iris might just end up getting her wish but it will come with consequences.
Take Me Deeper was a very interesting read. I know that it took me a bit to get into the story but in the end I was able to connect with all the characters. Zane is a very dominate man that I love and when he says something you are meant to obey. Now as far as Iris she is a spitfire and she keeps Zane on his toes and I loved it. These two characters have so much chemistry that they burnt up the sheets. Now I can't wait to see who's book is next so I can dive in.
Received ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an Honest Review
Zane and Iris have this instant chemistry and it's like seeing a cat and mouse chase. I knew that it was only a matter of time before they would be able to start something but I knew that it would not be something that would last someone would end up running away. Iris is in trouble with a drug cartel and Zane is there to bring her in. He doesn't want to be home all he wants to do is return back to the Special Forces. But the moment that Iris opens up her smart mouth It's like he is sucker punched. Now as for Iris it seems that she is attracted to him and I just couldn't help laugh when she offers him a BJ. I'm like OH MY GOD!!!! These two characters made me laugh and then they made me want to cry. The Redmon Brothers are 3 handsome brothers that no matter what they have each other's back. But Zane doesn't want to have anything to do with the family business but in order to protect Iris.
So when Zane's truth finally comes out I felt so sad for him. He tried so hard to get his father to stop drinking and pay attention not only to him but also to his 2 other brothers. They all needed their father after their mother had passed away from Cancer. Then there is the story with Iris and how she ended up getting arrested and then jumping her bond. Her mother didn't want her nor her sister but the biggest problem was that her ex-boyfriend got her into trouble with the cartel. He knew that she needed money in order to take care of her little sister now that she has a record she lost custody of her sister. With the help of the Redmon Brothers Iris might just end up getting her wish but it will come with consequences.
Take Me Deeper was a very interesting read. I know that it took me a bit to get into the story but in the end I was able to connect with all the characters. Zane is a very dominate man that I love and when he says something you are meant to obey. Now as far as Iris she is a spitfire and she keeps Zane on his toes and I loved it. These two characters have so much chemistry that they burnt up the sheets. Now I can't wait to see who's book is next so I can dive in.
Received ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an Honest Review
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