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COVET is a HOT second chance billionaire romance from Amazon bestselling author, Alison Ryan. It's a full-length, standalone novel with a guaranteed HEA.
Barrett Evers, globe-trotting scion of the Evers Holdings fortune, has all the trappings of the wealthiest men in the world. The fastest sports cars, the sleekest private jets, and business interests on four continents. He rubs elbows with the world's most powerful and beautiful. And on top of all that? He just so happens to have the rugged good looks of a model straight out of GQ.
Needless to say, he gets what he wants, when he wants. He has it all. At least, that's what any outsider would think.
Despite all he has, there's one thing he can't buy- Scarlet Bloom.
Five years ago, their passion could heat up an entire city. They were desperately in love until one day Scarlet walked away. No explanation, no goodbye. The great love (not to mention the best sex) of his life, inexplicably walked out on him and never looked back.
Scarlet has her reasons. But she can never tell Barrett the truth. It would cost them both way too much.
But after a chance meeting in Las Vegas leads to a steamy weekend on the shores of the Pacific, Scarlet can't help but wonder if she could ever be strong enough to let him go again.
Even if both their lives depended on it.
WARNING: COVET is a novel full of sex, secrets, and soap opera twists. Read it if you're all about the over-the-top drama, and pages full of excessive steam.
*This book was previously published as a serial*
Barrett Evers, globe-trotting scion of the Evers Holdings fortune, has all the trappings of the wealthiest men in the world. The fastest sports cars, the sleekest private jets, and business interests on four continents. He rubs elbows with the world's most powerful and beautiful. And on top of all that? He just so happens to have the rugged good looks of a model straight out of GQ.
Needless to say, he gets what he wants, when he wants. He has it all. At least, that's what any outsider would think.
Despite all he has, there's one thing he can't buy- Scarlet Bloom.
Five years ago, their passion could heat up an entire city. They were desperately in love until one day Scarlet walked away. No explanation, no goodbye. The great love (not to mention the best sex) of his life, inexplicably walked out on him and never looked back.
Scarlet has her reasons. But she can never tell Barrett the truth. It would cost them both way too much.
But after a chance meeting in Las Vegas leads to a steamy weekend on the shores of the Pacific, Scarlet can't help but wonder if she could ever be strong enough to let him go again.
Even if both their lives depended on it.
WARNING: COVET is a novel full of sex, secrets, and soap opera twists. Read it if you're all about the over-the-top drama, and pages full of excessive steam.
*This book was previously published as a serial*
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2016
91 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 10, 2016
To read this review and others like it check out my site at www.homelovebooks.com
I've been on a mission lately to try new authors and see what else is out there, mainly because I tend to stick with the same authors and the same publishing houses. So when this book went on sale I figured why not give it a try. Some of the things that spoke to me about this book was that it is a second chance romance, which I love, and that it mentions in the blurb that this had a lot of drama, I think it even mentioned it being kind of soap opera type drama. I don't know maybe I was in the mood for drama when I bought it, but I was ready to try it out.
Unfortunately for me, I did not like this book at all. I'm one of those people who don't like to leave things unfinished, it happens, but it's rare. And with this book I wanted to stop reading on numerous occasions, but I stuck it out. I guess where a lot of my problems are is the style of writing. Just the way that writing flowed was kind of simple and almost juvenile, it didn't seem like a super polished writing style. It also wasn't very complex, or even mildly complex, a lot of the situations and characters in the book don't really ever develop reasoning for their actions or thoughts or really anything. It started for me with the characters suddenly being in love in the past, it just seemed like it went like this, "we're dating," the next day, "oh we are so in love," and then right around the corner, "let's get married." It just wasn't at all believable. This continued particularly with the situation at the end with the mother, the "bad guy" if he will basically kind of shows up out of nowhere, like a paragraph is used to explain why he did what he did, and the whole thing is resolved in like one chapter, it's super bizarre.
Also another problem I had with this book is that you could honestly erase maybe 90% of the chapters that took place in the past (which was almost every other chapter), they honestly don't move the story along, the 10% you can keep is basically establishing they are a couple and then why they broke up, the rest is just the two of them in the bedroom. And it's not like all the bedroom scenes were in the past (again this was like every other chapter), there were plenty of bedroom scenes in the present too, so sometimes you went from a past chapter that was all bedroom and when the present chapter started right after it was back in the bedroom. Even some of the ways that the bedroom scenes were described was terrible, I mean the girl in the story says on numerous occasions that their bedroom activities has resulted in like physical pain, I think she even says her cervix is sore, which was like oh my god why did I just read that. I don't know if the author thought that was hot or something, but it was not.
Anyways, this book is a super big pass for me. I did finish it, so I won't give it one star, but I don't recommend it.
I've been on a mission lately to try new authors and see what else is out there, mainly because I tend to stick with the same authors and the same publishing houses. So when this book went on sale I figured why not give it a try. Some of the things that spoke to me about this book was that it is a second chance romance, which I love, and that it mentions in the blurb that this had a lot of drama, I think it even mentioned it being kind of soap opera type drama. I don't know maybe I was in the mood for drama when I bought it, but I was ready to try it out.
Unfortunately for me, I did not like this book at all. I'm one of those people who don't like to leave things unfinished, it happens, but it's rare. And with this book I wanted to stop reading on numerous occasions, but I stuck it out. I guess where a lot of my problems are is the style of writing. Just the way that writing flowed was kind of simple and almost juvenile, it didn't seem like a super polished writing style. It also wasn't very complex, or even mildly complex, a lot of the situations and characters in the book don't really ever develop reasoning for their actions or thoughts or really anything. It started for me with the characters suddenly being in love in the past, it just seemed like it went like this, "we're dating," the next day, "oh we are so in love," and then right around the corner, "let's get married." It just wasn't at all believable. This continued particularly with the situation at the end with the mother, the "bad guy" if he will basically kind of shows up out of nowhere, like a paragraph is used to explain why he did what he did, and the whole thing is resolved in like one chapter, it's super bizarre.
Also another problem I had with this book is that you could honestly erase maybe 90% of the chapters that took place in the past (which was almost every other chapter), they honestly don't move the story along, the 10% you can keep is basically establishing they are a couple and then why they broke up, the rest is just the two of them in the bedroom. And it's not like all the bedroom scenes were in the past (again this was like every other chapter), there were plenty of bedroom scenes in the present too, so sometimes you went from a past chapter that was all bedroom and when the present chapter started right after it was back in the bedroom. Even some of the ways that the bedroom scenes were described was terrible, I mean the girl in the story says on numerous occasions that their bedroom activities has resulted in like physical pain, I think she even says her cervix is sore, which was like oh my god why did I just read that. I don't know if the author thought that was hot or something, but it was not.
Anyways, this book is a super big pass for me. I did finish it, so I won't give it one star, but I don't recommend it.
November 8, 2016
The book:
• 212 Pages • Contemporary • Standalone • Happily Ever After • Third-Person Narrative • Her POV • His POV
The romantic theme:
• Second Chances • Chance Encounters
The read:
• Good Pace • Touching • Sexy
Heat level:
• 3 / 5 (Includes hot and explicit sex scenes, but not too often through out the book) • MF scenes • Dirty Talk • Vanilla Sex
Story ingredients:
• Big Secret
He is...
• Alpha Male • Hot • Beautiful • Fit • Billionaire
She is...
• Stunning • Brainy • Strong • Curvy Figure • Virgin • Troubled Past • Student • Doctor
More details:
I enjoyed the build-up toward Charlotte and Declan's meeting again after 10 years apart, and I enjoyed how the plot went back and forth between their past and their present. When they finally met, the story felt unbelivable and rushed. I didn't buy it when Declan professed his love within a few hours of their reunion, and I wasn't impressed with how quickly they overcame 10 years of baggage.
• 212 Pages • Contemporary • Standalone • Happily Ever After • Third-Person Narrative • Her POV • His POV
The romantic theme:
• Second Chances • Chance Encounters
The read:
• Good Pace • Touching • Sexy
Heat level:
• 3 / 5 (Includes hot and explicit sex scenes, but not too often through out the book) • MF scenes • Dirty Talk • Vanilla Sex
Story ingredients:
• Big Secret
He is...
• Alpha Male • Hot • Beautiful • Fit • Billionaire
She is...
• Stunning • Brainy • Strong • Curvy Figure • Virgin • Troubled Past • Student • Doctor
More details:
I enjoyed the build-up toward Charlotte and Declan's meeting again after 10 years apart, and I enjoyed how the plot went back and forth between their past and their present. When they finally met, the story felt unbelivable and rushed. I didn't buy it when Declan professed his love within a few hours of their reunion, and I wasn't impressed with how quickly they overcame 10 years of baggage.
June 26, 2018
I can't think of a single good thing to say about this book.
The characters are thinner than plastic wrap. We have the image-obsessed gold-digger; the more-perfect-than possible sexy billionaire; his Disney-villain-wannabe mother; a distant and uninvolved father; and finally, our heroine, the sweet, virginal intern at billionaire's company.
They meet in their early twenties, and fall in "love" in a mere four days. Some mystery issue made her leave him after a single summer together; they run into each other again five years later, and when he demands they talk, so he can get some closure, they fall back into bed together. Then there's a mostly ridiculous plot involving a secret love child, adoption, kidnapping, betrayal, and oh yeah, a little murder as well.
I can't even begin to describe how contrived it all was, so I'm skipping it. The plot is actually the least of this romance's problems.
The sex scenes are hyperbolic and repetitive. I can sum them all up for you: they constantly switched positions, it was always a ridiculously hard f*ck, billionaire boy can hold off his orgasms for an hour or more, they go bareback from the very first time even though she never tells him she's on birth control, and every orgasm is better/longer/harder than the last.
There's never any emotion. They say they're in love, they talk about it constantly, but they never do anything but argue (sometimes, when the plot calls for it), eat meals together, and have sex CONSTANTLY. There's no tenderness, no thoughtfulness, no small gestures or cuddling. It's just sex or talking.
Okay, other issues. I'm used to dual POVs in romances, no problem. But the first three chapters of this are all from different characters who aren't either of the leads. First is the gold-digging receptionist who's angling for billionaire boy; then the heroine's aunt, who's also billionaire boy's former nanny and current administrative assistant; then the heroine's mother, who also works for the company. Then, finally, we get a chapter from the heroine.
Ninety percent of those first three chapters are backstory dumping or intense focus on every habit and thought of these three side characters.
WHY WOULD YOU WAIT THREE CHAPTERS TO ACTUALLY INTRODUCE A LEAD CHARACTER? Why should I care about how these side characters are related to the lead characters when they haven't even shown up yet?
Next up: the dialogue is terribly stilted. Everyone speaks basically the same, including a four-year-old girl. There's no real personality to anyone's dialogue, but I guess that's fair, because the characters themselves don't have much personality to begin with.
Finally: SO MUCH EXPOSITION. Nothing is shown, everything is told. Characters constantly state how they feel or what they think about each other. No subtlety, no nuance.
Also, I suspect, no editing. My ebook had several intermittent formatting errors, a few typos, and numerous instances of incorrect punctuation.
The characters are thinner than plastic wrap. We have the image-obsessed gold-digger; the more-perfect-than possible sexy billionaire; his Disney-villain-wannabe mother; a distant and uninvolved father; and finally, our heroine, the sweet, virginal intern at billionaire's company.
They meet in their early twenties, and fall in "love" in a mere four days. Some mystery issue made her leave him after a single summer together; they run into each other again five years later, and when he demands they talk, so he can get some closure, they fall back into bed together. Then there's a mostly ridiculous plot involving a secret love child, adoption, kidnapping, betrayal, and oh yeah, a little murder as well.
I can't even begin to describe how contrived it all was, so I'm skipping it. The plot is actually the least of this romance's problems.
The sex scenes are hyperbolic and repetitive. I can sum them all up for you: they constantly switched positions, it was always a ridiculously hard f*ck, billionaire boy can hold off his orgasms for an hour or more, they go bareback from the very first time even though she never tells him she's on birth control, and every orgasm is better/longer/harder than the last.
There's never any emotion. They say they're in love, they talk about it constantly, but they never do anything but argue (sometimes, when the plot calls for it), eat meals together, and have sex CONSTANTLY. There's no tenderness, no thoughtfulness, no small gestures or cuddling. It's just sex or talking.
Okay, other issues. I'm used to dual POVs in romances, no problem. But the first three chapters of this are all from different characters who aren't either of the leads. First is the gold-digging receptionist who's angling for billionaire boy; then the heroine's aunt, who's also billionaire boy's former nanny and current administrative assistant; then the heroine's mother, who also works for the company. Then, finally, we get a chapter from the heroine.
Ninety percent of those first three chapters are backstory dumping or intense focus on every habit and thought of these three side characters.
WHY WOULD YOU WAIT THREE CHAPTERS TO ACTUALLY INTRODUCE A LEAD CHARACTER? Why should I care about how these side characters are related to the lead characters when they haven't even shown up yet?
Next up: the dialogue is terribly stilted. Everyone speaks basically the same, including a four-year-old girl. There's no real personality to anyone's dialogue, but I guess that's fair, because the characters themselves don't have much personality to begin with.
Finally: SO MUCH EXPOSITION. Nothing is shown, everything is told. Characters constantly state how they feel or what they think about each other. No subtlety, no nuance.
Also, I suspect, no editing. My ebook had several intermittent formatting errors, a few typos, and numerous instances of incorrect punctuation.
July 28, 2016
I'm debating how to rate this book, but I ended up rounding up to 4 stars because I had trouble putting the book down! I am a sucker for second chance love stories. The characters were like-able and I liked their chemistry. Chapters alternated between present day and flashbacks, which was fine but I could have done with a little bit more of the present day. Towards the end, the flashbacks just felt forced and did not add to the plot (i.e. several flashbacks of them just having sex...why can't that be present day?). I also didn't really love that chapters bounced to different characters that I didn't really care about. And the secretary thing? Just odd. I also struggled with the big drama at the end
May 26, 2017
Great!
Writing because this was a really good book. The characters were very interesting. At the beginning of a little bit skeptical of Barrett, but when he saw Scarlet walk out of the elevator he had to do a double take. So I figure right then they had some kind of history together. That didn't end well. And at the red own through the book. I figured his mom has something to do with it. Because she was a snob. She wanted to run her children's life especially Barrett. But I'm glad that Barrett and Scarlett get back together. Great read. I recommend this story to all romance readers.
Writing because this was a really good book. The characters were very interesting. At the beginning of a little bit skeptical of Barrett, but when he saw Scarlet walk out of the elevator he had to do a double take. So I figure right then they had some kind of history together. That didn't end well. And at the red own through the book. I figured his mom has something to do with it. Because she was a snob. She wanted to run her children's life especially Barrett. But I'm glad that Barrett and Scarlett get back together. Great read. I recommend this story to all romance readers.
May 20, 2017
Alison Ryan has outdone herself yet again. She pulls you into the story and doesn't let you go until the very end and will have you panting for more. Remarkably well-written with compelling characters that come alive on the page, COVET is suspenseful, enticing, consuming, emotional and ridiculously sexy. It is a story about love, second chances, loss, and heartbreak.
I volunteered to review an advanced readers copy of this book.
I volunteered to review an advanced readers copy of this book.
June 18, 2017
Very much enjoyed this story from Alison. Loved the flashbacks. Was a bit confused at the start of the story about where it was going. Just didn't really see the point of Arista's character but other characters were built up well. Story drags a little as well at some points but still holds your attention as to what went wrong between Scarlet & Barrett's whirlwind relationship, plus some added twists. Would recommend :)
April 25, 2018
Wow this was all kind of f**ked up foolery and drama. There's no way in hell nobody can scare me off from what I want to do or want to be with. This really is one CRAAAAAZY story lol and incredibly sad. I like how the author goes back and forth past to present to build up to the mystery of the big reveal.
February 4, 2017
Loved it
What a well written book about two unlikely people falling in love and the many trials and tribulations that kept them apart for many years but brought them back together in the end! Definitely a lot of twists and turns in this one.
What a well written book about two unlikely people falling in love and the many trials and tribulations that kept them apart for many years but brought them back together in the end! Definitely a lot of twists and turns in this one.
May 25, 2017
Great story about 2nd chances, coincidences, and true love.
June 5, 2017
Great read. Barrett and Scarlet beat the odds and reunite for a heartwarming true love story. True love can overcome any obstacle.
June 22, 2018
Awesome!!
Wow! Great read from beginning to end. Loved the suspense, the strength and genuine emotion of the characters. Hated it to end.
Wow! Great read from beginning to end. Loved the suspense, the strength and genuine emotion of the characters. Hated it to end.
October 14, 2016
I am hooked
This was my first read from this author, but it will not be the last.
Amazing love.
The story of Barrett and his Scarlet, not all the rich entitled are bad. Although Scarlet could not trust easily, in the end Barrett was finally able to show her through their love , life would be truly amazing.
This was my first read from this author, but it will not be the last.
Amazing love.
The story of Barrett and his Scarlet, not all the rich entitled are bad. Although Scarlet could not trust easily, in the end Barrett was finally able to show her through their love , life would be truly amazing.
March 2, 2017
A fairytale like story where Scarlet and Barrett truly love each other.
But a very steamy story, so not one for kids to read.
An evil person prevents them from being together.
Will they eventually get their HEA or will the evil one win?
But a very steamy story, so not one for kids to read.
An evil person prevents them from being together.
Will they eventually get their HEA or will the evil one win?
February 11, 2016
Covet" For the love of a Billionaire series by Alison Ryan.
In this third book we find Barrett and Scarlet facing more troubles. Scarlet and Barrett go to San Diego hoping to put some closure to their past breakup.
The San Diego trip becomes something much different than either of them expected and after spending a couple of beautiful days together, she decides to tell him the whole truth of why she left 5 years ago.
While Scarlet and Barrett are deep in conversation, his conniving, meddling mother shows up at the house and tells him everything, including the information Scarlet hadn't yet had a chance to say.
Barrett is devastated by what his mother says and kicks Scarlet out of his house without giving her a chance to explain....
Will Barrett give Scarlet a chance to explain herself ? Will he be able to forgive her ? Will his mother interfere again ? Or will Barrett finally stand up to his mother and put an end to her devious interfering ?
In this third book we find Barrett and Scarlet facing more troubles. Scarlet and Barrett go to San Diego hoping to put some closure to their past breakup.
The San Diego trip becomes something much different than either of them expected and after spending a couple of beautiful days together, she decides to tell him the whole truth of why she left 5 years ago.
While Scarlet and Barrett are deep in conversation, his conniving, meddling mother shows up at the house and tells him everything, including the information Scarlet hadn't yet had a chance to say.
Barrett is devastated by what his mother says and kicks Scarlet out of his house without giving her a chance to explain....
Will Barrett give Scarlet a chance to explain herself ? Will he be able to forgive her ? Will his mother interfere again ? Or will Barrett finally stand up to his mother and put an end to her devious interfering ?
February 15, 2017
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
OMG!!! The secrets that were revealed.
Scarlet & Barrett are going through so much and to make matters worst family can sometimes be your worst enemy. Although, this was a very quick read (which I read during my lunch break), a lot of information and details are revealed.
Scarlet has been put through so much; Patricia is one evil, manipulative woman (I really don't like her).
I do hope Garrett is able to pull through this one. This story is really heartbreaking for Scarlett & Barrett; I can't wait to see where this story goes.
Do Scarlett & Garrett find their HEA????
I'm anxious to see what is in store, but will have to wait for WANT (For the Love of the Billionaire Book 4) which comes out on Dec 29th!!
OMG!!! The secrets that were revealed.
Scarlet & Barrett are going through so much and to make matters worst family can sometimes be your worst enemy. Although, this was a very quick read (which I read during my lunch break), a lot of information and details are revealed.
Scarlet has been put through so much; Patricia is one evil, manipulative woman (I really don't like her).
I do hope Garrett is able to pull through this one. This story is really heartbreaking for Scarlett & Barrett; I can't wait to see where this story goes.
Do Scarlett & Garrett find their HEA????
I'm anxious to see what is in store, but will have to wait for WANT (For the Love of the Billionaire Book 4) which comes out on Dec 29th!!
May 20, 2017
Alison Ryan has outdone herself yet again. She pulls you into the story and doesn't let you go until the very end and will have you panting for more. Remarkably well-written with compelling characters that come alive on the page, COVET is suspenseful, enticing, consuming, emotional and ridiculously sexy. It is a story about love, second chances, loss, and heartbreak.
I volunteered to review an advanced readers copy of this book.
I volunteered to review an advanced readers copy of this book.
January 3, 2016
Omg...
This series is awesome. I am so hooked in to their lives, I can't wait to get the next part. I hope some very cruel karma gets those that deserve it. This couple deserves their HEA ending!!
This series is awesome. I am so hooked in to their lives, I can't wait to get the next part. I hope some very cruel karma gets those that deserve it. This couple deserves their HEA ending!!
May 7, 2016
So good. Another reveal and Scarlett surprises me with her strength and how she out manuevered Barrett's mother. Heartrending what she gave up. Definitely hooked to these books and to finding out what happens in Book 4, Want and how they go about fixing this situation.
June 29, 2016
Didn't see all that coming!
This was a great story. In the beginning I wasn't sure where it was going, but it came full circle in the end. The twists and hot sex kept me turning pages.
This was a great story. In the beginning I wasn't sure where it was going, but it came full circle in the end. The twists and hot sex kept me turning pages.
September 28, 2016
Can't do it. Just can't finish it. Every time we get to a part that has his evil, destructive mother... I just want to throw my kindle across the room. For the sake of my ebook reader, I had to delete this title!
February 17, 2016
Still very predictable
Storyline is not very original. Characters are like able but this plot has been overdone. Hoping something will freshen this storyline up.
Storyline is not very original. Characters are like able but this plot has been overdone. Hoping something will freshen this storyline up.
September 17, 2016
Previous part of a series "For the Love of a Billionaire" Hate it when they do this!!!!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews