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Montana Heat #3
Tempted by Love
She was this Montana Man’s greatest temptation . . .
Alina Cooke—little sister of his two best friends—is the last woman DEA agent Jay Bennett should be waking up next to on the day of her brother’s wedding. But their powerful attraction ignited a powder keg of desire, and their once simple friendship has just become impossibly complicated.
Alina’s always been steady, focused, and lived on the safe side of life. Jay is totally devoted to his dangerous job. She knows a future with him will be filled with worry that one day he won’t come home. She’s done it with her brothers. She’s not sure she can face that uncertainty with the man she loves. Yet being in his arms is a bad idea they keep repeating, again and again.
When Alina is run off the road, Jay fears his job has made her a target. But the threat in Alina’s life is closer than they think. As the enemy gets more ruthless, Alina proves she’s no easy target and Jay will do anything to bring them down. Because surviving and being together is the only thing that matters.
Alina Cooke—little sister of his two best friends—is the last woman DEA agent Jay Bennett should be waking up next to on the day of her brother’s wedding. But their powerful attraction ignited a powder keg of desire, and their once simple friendship has just become impossibly complicated.
Alina’s always been steady, focused, and lived on the safe side of life. Jay is totally devoted to his dangerous job. She knows a future with him will be filled with worry that one day he won’t come home. She’s done it with her brothers. She’s not sure she can face that uncertainty with the man she loves. Yet being in his arms is a bad idea they keep repeating, again and again.
When Alina is run off the road, Jay fears his job has made her a target. But the threat in Alina’s life is closer than they think. As the enemy gets more ruthless, Alina proves she’s no easy target and Jay will do anything to bring them down. Because surviving and being together is the only thing that matters.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 21, 2018
415 people are currently reading
445 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Ryan
50 books1,885 followersJennifer Ryan, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Hunted and McBrides Series, writes romantic suspense and contemporary small-town romances.
Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she isn’t writing a book, she’s reading one. Her obsession with both is often revealed in the state of her home, and how late dinner is to the table. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper.
Please visit her website at www.jennifer-ryan.com for information about upcoming releases.
Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she isn’t writing a book, she’s reading one. Her obsession with both is often revealed in the state of her home, and how late dinner is to the table. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper.
Please visit her website at www.jennifer-ryan.com for information about upcoming releases.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
August 21, 2018
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Amazon US * Amazon UK
I'm a sucker for a good friends-little-sister story and this one hit the mark for what I wanted. Alina and Jay intrigued me just as much as the suspenseful parts of their story did and I really enjoyed getting to learn more about them. Their romance was really good and I liked how it blended with the more suspenseful moments of the book.
I liked how the romance between characters blended with the mysterious parts and I thought it was a good combination where one part didn't take over the other. The story kept me intrigued with the characters and had me captivated by them as well as their story.
Overall, this is a book I would definitely recommend. I think it could be read without being caught up on the series since I've only read the previous book and had no problem or moments of confusion.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
I'm a sucker for a good friends-little-sister story and this one hit the mark for what I wanted. Alina and Jay intrigued me just as much as the suspenseful parts of their story did and I really enjoyed getting to learn more about them. Their romance was really good and I liked how it blended with the more suspenseful moments of the book.
I liked how the romance between characters blended with the mysterious parts and I thought it was a good combination where one part didn't take over the other. The story kept me intrigued with the characters and had me captivated by them as well as their story.
Overall, this is a book I would definitely recommend. I think it could be read without being caught up on the series since I've only read the previous book and had no problem or moments of confusion.
February 28, 2018
Running parallel to ‘True to You’, Jay’s story unfolds alongside King’s, though it’s in ‘Tempted by Love’ that we get what is happening on the ‘other side’ that has been sort of hinted at in the previous book. But while I eagerly jumped into Jay/Alina’s story, this ended up as a rather lukewarm read for me despite the interesting dynamic and their setup.
The baseline in romance for me is that both protagonists should want each other equally, which I didn’t initially see happening here. The initial push-pull of their relationship—that soon turned into something resembling instalove—was tempered by the suspense that came in midway through, but this was because I mostly thought it rather inexplicable how a switch flipped for Jay to suddenly see Alina as more than his best friend’s sister. His dogged, determined pursuit of her after their one-night stand and the subsequent comparisons to how she seemed different from other women he’d been with felt instead like a connection I couldn’t quite on board with, at least without a solid reason why Jay suddenly thought Alina was the only one for him.
On the other hand, I wasn’t convinced that Alina would have given Jay any more time of the day without her run-in with the bad guys that helped change her tune from calling Jay a ‘bad idea’ to someone who wanted Jay around more for his ability to make her feel safe than for himself.
‘Tempted by Love’ also had a rather straight-forward storyline that seemed to stretch longer than it should, with most of the plot revolving either around a supposedly insurmountable age-gap (only alluded to without actual figures), the difficult nature of law enforcement work (Jay’s mother was an irritating pest that added to Alina’s inability to decide whether she wanted this as part of her life) and the problem at work that Alina had gotten embroiled in by accident. Sex also got into that mix a lot, having started it all.
Ultimately, these preemptive issues raised early on put the plot on a trajectory that I found rather predictable, just as I skimmed parts dealing with King’s undercover operation because it felt like repetitive filler that’d already been covered in the last book. Sad to say, ‘Tempted by Love’ didn’t turn out the way I expected, which was all the more disappointing given how much I actually liked ‘True to You’.
*ARC by the publisher via Edelweiss
The baseline in romance for me is that both protagonists should want each other equally, which I didn’t initially see happening here. The initial push-pull of their relationship—that soon turned into something resembling instalove—was tempered by the suspense that came in midway through, but this was because I mostly thought it rather inexplicable how a switch flipped for Jay to suddenly see Alina as more than his best friend’s sister. His dogged, determined pursuit of her after their one-night stand and the subsequent comparisons to how she seemed different from other women he’d been with felt instead like a connection I couldn’t quite on board with, at least without a solid reason why Jay suddenly thought Alina was the only one for him.
On the other hand, I wasn’t convinced that Alina would have given Jay any more time of the day without her run-in with the bad guys that helped change her tune from calling Jay a ‘bad idea’ to someone who wanted Jay around more for his ability to make her feel safe than for himself.
‘Tempted by Love’ also had a rather straight-forward storyline that seemed to stretch longer than it should, with most of the plot revolving either around a supposedly insurmountable age-gap (only alluded to without actual figures), the difficult nature of law enforcement work (Jay’s mother was an irritating pest that added to Alina’s inability to decide whether she wanted this as part of her life) and the problem at work that Alina had gotten embroiled in by accident. Sex also got into that mix a lot, having started it all.
Ultimately, these preemptive issues raised early on put the plot on a trajectory that I found rather predictable, just as I skimmed parts dealing with King’s undercover operation because it felt like repetitive filler that’d already been covered in the last book. Sad to say, ‘Tempted by Love’ didn’t turn out the way I expected, which was all the more disappointing given how much I actually liked ‘True to You’.
*ARC by the publisher via Edelweiss
April 25, 2018
Tempted by Love was a likable and entertaining insta-love romance with a pretty straight forward plot... that seemed to extended beyond the conflicts that truly existed. Lots of internal vacillations and character's internal conflicts. Alina inability to make a choice about their relationship. Jay's mother, a very unlikable character and an overall nuisance but no bearing on the story. Jay's choice of pursuit with the conflict of his friendships. Even the babysitting of Alina's nephew seemed like a pieced on addition. But mostly, it was Jay's undercover activities that seemed like they where thrown in to extend the story and made no difference to me in the outcome. In the end, I guess I wanted more put into relationship development and less of all the above.
I received this ARC copy of Montana Heat: Tempted by Love from Avon Books. This is my honest and voluntary review. Montana Heat: Tempted by Love is set for publication August 21, 2018.
My Rating: 3 stars
Written by: Jennifer Ryan
Series: Montana Heat
Sequence in Series: Book 4
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: August 28, 2018
ISBN-10: 0062645293
ISBN-13: 978-0062645296
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tempted-Love-M...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/temp...
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/mont...
I received this ARC copy of Montana Heat: Tempted by Love from Avon Books. This is my honest and voluntary review. Montana Heat: Tempted by Love is set for publication August 21, 2018.
My Rating: 3 stars
Written by: Jennifer Ryan
Series: Montana Heat
Sequence in Series: Book 4
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: August 28, 2018
ISBN-10: 0062645293
ISBN-13: 978-0062645296
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tempted-Love-M...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/temp...
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/mont...
August 21, 2018
In the previous books we enjoyed high-stakes suspense as, Undercover DEA Agent Beck “Trigger” Cooke and DEA Agent Caden Cooke found true love. We also got an intense story about Undercover DEA Special Agent Dawson King. In Tempted by Love, our story begins at the weddings of Beck and Caden. Their sister, Alina Cooke is sitting at the bar looking dejected when the Cooke brother's best friend, DEA agent Jay Bennett joins her for a whiskey. He feels like he knows her, having heard stories from Beck and Caden, but tonight he notices her as a woman. One thing leads to another and they are in his hotel room. An awkward morning after leaves, Dawson feeling rejected and has Alina kicking herself for running away. Fate brings these two together.
With the Cooke brother's away, Allie is watching her nephew and Jay is helping the one night she can't do it. When an accident looks suspect, Allie spends time with Jay as they investigate. I really liked Jay. He has baggage and is slightly older. With Allie I wavered. There are aspects of her personality I loved, and at other moments I grew impatient with her, particularly with her indecisiveness.
The suspense thread was an intense one and revolved around Allie and her job. While we knew the players, it was exciting seeing it all come together as Ryan shared intense action scenes. Ryan did her research and this story could have pulled from today's headlines. I also like that a common issue in treatments was addressed. I am hoping the finish copy has some 800 #'s for folks who need it.
My issue with the story was the filler. There is a huge overlap of events that occurred in True to You and King's case. While it offered a different perspective, I found myself pulled from the current plot and skimming through. Then we have Jay's Mom, who lives in the guest house on Jay's property. Oh my! This thread felt unnecessary. Sure we gained insight into Jay's childhood but her placement within the timeline left me cold. I enjoyed the nephew, and it helped connect Alina and Jay after the weddings, but for me it interfered with the slow-build and relationship building that would have kept this from insta-love. I have said before; I don't mind insta-love and accept it as part of this genre, but I still need the feels. Ryan is awesome and her stories are intense, but this fell short for me.
Favorite moments: The Cooke brother's learning about the relationship and the awesome view of the stars from Jay's backyard. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
With the Cooke brother's away, Allie is watching her nephew and Jay is helping the one night she can't do it. When an accident looks suspect, Allie spends time with Jay as they investigate. I really liked Jay. He has baggage and is slightly older. With Allie I wavered. There are aspects of her personality I loved, and at other moments I grew impatient with her, particularly with her indecisiveness.
The suspense thread was an intense one and revolved around Allie and her job. While we knew the players, it was exciting seeing it all come together as Ryan shared intense action scenes. Ryan did her research and this story could have pulled from today's headlines. I also like that a common issue in treatments was addressed. I am hoping the finish copy has some 800 #'s for folks who need it.
My issue with the story was the filler. There is a huge overlap of events that occurred in True to You and King's case. While it offered a different perspective, I found myself pulled from the current plot and skimming through. Then we have Jay's Mom, who lives in the guest house on Jay's property. Oh my! This thread felt unnecessary. Sure we gained insight into Jay's childhood but her placement within the timeline left me cold. I enjoyed the nephew, and it helped connect Alina and Jay after the weddings, but for me it interfered with the slow-build and relationship building that would have kept this from insta-love. I have said before; I don't mind insta-love and accept it as part of this genre, but I still need the feels. Ryan is awesome and her stories are intense, but this fell short for me.
Favorite moments: The Cooke brother's learning about the relationship and the awesome view of the stars from Jay's backyard. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
March 26, 2019
DEA agent Jay Bennett is feeling when he attends the wedding of his two friends to their new brides on a wedding weekend. He wants what they have. He wants the family. He wants love and to give love. An all work life isn't fulfilling anymore. When he sees the younger sister, Alina Cooke, at he bar as wedding one winds down he sees more of her then he should. The lustful looks, ones he feels himself doing throughout and after the wedding. A few drink leads to a 'mistake' a night of connect and the best sex ever, the perfect night. The perfect night leads to the worst morning when Alina scurries as fast as she can away from their mistake.
Alina knows she acted impulsively but Jay is everything she doesnt know she is willing to have. A long hours worker in a dangerous field. She cant fall for a guy who could never come home. She dealt with that when her brother was nearly killed, sitting vigil next to his hospital bed. When he knocks on her door after wedding two the next day she is ready for another bad mistake...but that is it.
When someone rams Alina's car and her life may be in danger Jay will make it his job to care and protect her and in doing so the two will get exceedingly closer. Just as things are going great both will face dilemmas that will not only risk their growing love but their lives!
I love this author, this was a great read.
Alina knows she acted impulsively but Jay is everything she doesnt know she is willing to have. A long hours worker in a dangerous field. She cant fall for a guy who could never come home. She dealt with that when her brother was nearly killed, sitting vigil next to his hospital bed. When he knocks on her door after wedding two the next day she is ready for another bad mistake...but that is it.
When someone rams Alina's car and her life may be in danger Jay will make it his job to care and protect her and in doing so the two will get exceedingly closer. Just as things are going great both will face dilemmas that will not only risk their growing love but their lives!
I love this author, this was a great read.
July 23, 2018
This review was originally posted on Addicted To RomanceI received this book for free from Avon in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Tempted By Love is the latest in the Montana Heat series by Jennifer Ryan. I have really gotten a kick out of this series, which is slightly different from her previous series. What I have found so wonderful is the level of intrigue and suspense that are underlayed in these books. In Tempted by Love, we have a sweet friend to lover with a mix of dating your brother's best friend type of scenario.
In Tempted By Love it starts out with a wedding, such a romantic beginning. Its the wedding of her brother and his new bride, and she runs into Jay. Who is the best friend of both of her brothers.She has always looked at him as you would a friend...until now. Something shifts between Alina and Jay and they spend a passionate night together. But then they don't see each other for a little while. Alina sees something she was curious about, something that hinted danger but she didn't think too long about it. She goes back to work at the Pharmacy, a job she enjoys to its fullest. And then she and Jay reconnect but then right when she thinks their relationship is on track, her life is put in danger. She is run over the road, her boss is acting strange, her brother's are on their honeymoon, and Jay works for the DEA and there is something that he is working on that is very dangerous. Will Alina be able to handle Jay's tough work as a DEA or will she also have to face her own dangerous situation where she might not survive and get the happy ever after she dreams of with Jay?
I will admit that I wouldn't say that this story is my favorite of the series. While I did enjoy it quite a bit, it was a bit lukeworm at times for me. I felt like the premise and the story line was fantastic, but the flow of the story tended to slow down at times which proved hard to keep up with it on ocassion. However I do want to point out that there were many good points to this story that I still enjoyed. Just not as much as I was hoping for from a Jennifer Ryan Novel.
This story runs on the same timeline as the previous book " True To You". I really liked seeing Jay and Alina together, We have a sweet scene in the beginning with the wedding and seeing Jay and Aline connect. But then the story picks up speed once the suspense portion of the story gets put in. I found myself really intrigued with the mystery surrounding Alina's boss. From the beginning we know that he is no good, since we have a small POV from his which was interesting. I found his character one of those nice/bad guy characters. Where on the surface he sees so down to earth and nice and affectionate but beneath it all he is really selfish and only concerned with himself.
Alina is such a wonderful heroine. She is more of a beta heroine. She is kind and compassionate, she works as a Pharmacist, helping people whenever she can but also is a fighter. She has this inner strength you just want to cheer on. I love seeing what she is capable of, and she definitely is the sister of Beck and Caden.
The plot can get pretty intense....edge of your seat....get your heart pacing fast type of story and I just love these. Its not what your normally find with this author, and I like seeing these scenarios with these DEA agents. What is most profound is seeing what DEA agents suffer along with their families. We see how much courage and strength both Jay and Alina have to make this relationship work and its definitely not an easy one. So seeing them find some common ground and make a good balance of everything just worked in all the right ways.
Overall I found Tempted By Love to be a ride of thrills and chills, a story of instant love that burns straight to the readers heart....a captivating love story that will leave you with tears and a joyful heart!! MESMERIZING
[foogallery id="38680"]
Tempted By Love is the latest in the Montana Heat series by Jennifer Ryan. I have really gotten a kick out of this series, which is slightly different from her previous series. What I have found so wonderful is the level of intrigue and suspense that are underlayed in these books. In Tempted by Love, we have a sweet friend to lover with a mix of dating your brother's best friend type of scenario.
In Tempted By Love it starts out with a wedding, such a romantic beginning. Its the wedding of her brother and his new bride, and she runs into Jay. Who is the best friend of both of her brothers.She has always looked at him as you would a friend...until now. Something shifts between Alina and Jay and they spend a passionate night together. But then they don't see each other for a little while. Alina sees something she was curious about, something that hinted danger but she didn't think too long about it. She goes back to work at the Pharmacy, a job she enjoys to its fullest. And then she and Jay reconnect but then right when she thinks their relationship is on track, her life is put in danger. She is run over the road, her boss is acting strange, her brother's are on their honeymoon, and Jay works for the DEA and there is something that he is working on that is very dangerous. Will Alina be able to handle Jay's tough work as a DEA or will she also have to face her own dangerous situation where she might not survive and get the happy ever after she dreams of with Jay?
"You know I love you. Don't you? Haven't I showed you in every kiss? " He brushed his lips tenderly against hers. "In every touch?" He softly brushed his fingers through her hair. "In everything I say and do for you? You're everything to me. More than I expected. More than I deserve. "
I will admit that I wouldn't say that this story is my favorite of the series. While I did enjoy it quite a bit, it was a bit lukeworm at times for me. I felt like the premise and the story line was fantastic, but the flow of the story tended to slow down at times which proved hard to keep up with it on ocassion. However I do want to point out that there were many good points to this story that I still enjoyed. Just not as much as I was hoping for from a Jennifer Ryan Novel.
This story runs on the same timeline as the previous book " True To You". I really liked seeing Jay and Alina together, We have a sweet scene in the beginning with the wedding and seeing Jay and Aline connect. But then the story picks up speed once the suspense portion of the story gets put in. I found myself really intrigued with the mystery surrounding Alina's boss. From the beginning we know that he is no good, since we have a small POV from his which was interesting. I found his character one of those nice/bad guy characters. Where on the surface he sees so down to earth and nice and affectionate but beneath it all he is really selfish and only concerned with himself.
Alina is such a wonderful heroine. She is more of a beta heroine. She is kind and compassionate, she works as a Pharmacist, helping people whenever she can but also is a fighter. She has this inner strength you just want to cheer on. I love seeing what she is capable of, and she definitely is the sister of Beck and Caden.
The plot can get pretty intense....edge of your seat....get your heart pacing fast type of story and I just love these. Its not what your normally find with this author, and I like seeing these scenarios with these DEA agents. What is most profound is seeing what DEA agents suffer along with their families. We see how much courage and strength both Jay and Alina have to make this relationship work and its definitely not an easy one. So seeing them find some common ground and make a good balance of everything just worked in all the right ways.
I can promise her to do my best to come home to her, to love her with everything I am, to be the best I can be for her.
Overall I found Tempted By Love to be a ride of thrills and chills, a story of instant love that burns straight to the readers heart....a captivating love story that will leave you with tears and a joyful heart!! MESMERIZING
[foogallery id="38680"]
August 21, 2018
Good lord, is there nothing better than a strong, sexy, alpha male matched up with his equal partner in her own strength, sexiness and ability to love through some really challenging situations? This is exactly what you get with Alina and Jay in Tempted by Love.
Jay and Alina are a match made in heaven—well, maybe if her brothers stay out of it! But in all seriousness, the connection between Jay and Alina is undeniable. And sexy AF. They are perfect for each other. Jay’s lived a hard, solitary life due to his job in the DEA. Alina’s been unlucky in the love department. And both realize there’s something more missing from their lives—happiness, love and joy with another person. Having a lover to come home to after a long day. Someone who’ll just let them be who they are and love them through it.
But all is not easy for Jay and Alina. There is danger lurking around every corner due to Jay’s job. But there’s danger now for Alina too—and Jay will stop at nothing to ensure her safety. And neither will Alina’s brothers.
I loved how the relationship between Alina and Jay seemed to happen so naturally. Yes, it was quick, but they’ve known each other for years. And, whoa, their sexy times nearly melted my Kindle. I absolutely loved the relationship between Alina and her brothers, Beck and Caden. And of course, the relationship between Jay and Beck and Caden, too!
Tempted by Love was an excellent wrap up to the Montana Heat series—especially with that Epilogue. Swoon. ~ Missy, 5 stars
Jay and Alina are a match made in heaven—well, maybe if her brothers stay out of it! But in all seriousness, the connection between Jay and Alina is undeniable. And sexy AF. They are perfect for each other. Jay’s lived a hard, solitary life due to his job in the DEA. Alina’s been unlucky in the love department. And both realize there’s something more missing from their lives—happiness, love and joy with another person. Having a lover to come home to after a long day. Someone who’ll just let them be who they are and love them through it.
But all is not easy for Jay and Alina. There is danger lurking around every corner due to Jay’s job. But there’s danger now for Alina too—and Jay will stop at nothing to ensure her safety. And neither will Alina’s brothers.
I loved how the relationship between Alina and Jay seemed to happen so naturally. Yes, it was quick, but they’ve known each other for years. And, whoa, their sexy times nearly melted my Kindle. I absolutely loved the relationship between Alina and her brothers, Beck and Caden. And of course, the relationship between Jay and Beck and Caden, too!
Tempted by Love was an excellent wrap up to the Montana Heat series—especially with that Epilogue. Swoon. ~ Missy, 5 stars
August 28, 2020
3 satisfying stars.
This was a solid suspense romance. I wouldn't say mystery because we know who the bad guy is pretty much from the beginning, but we have no idea how or when he is going to be revealed.
This book has all the goodies - age gap/best friends sister - but without the normal drama that comes with those tropes.
This book has the perfect mixture of romance, relationship building (even though it is fast), drug take downs, explosions, car accidents and fun banter.
I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a solid, low-angst, suspense romance. This definitely has some steamy parts, but it is not overtaken with it.
And just to add, seriously, who doesn't love cowboy and then throw in a DEA outfit.
This was a solid suspense romance. I wouldn't say mystery because we know who the bad guy is pretty much from the beginning, but we have no idea how or when he is going to be revealed.
This book has all the goodies - age gap/best friends sister - but without the normal drama that comes with those tropes.
This book has the perfect mixture of romance, relationship building (even though it is fast), drug take downs, explosions, car accidents and fun banter.
I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a solid, low-angst, suspense romance. This definitely has some steamy parts, but it is not overtaken with it.
And just to add, seriously, who doesn't love cowboy and then throw in a DEA outfit.
August 21, 2018
Montana Heat series is one of my favorite romantic suspense series I have read in the past year or so. Jennifer Ryan's writing is sharp, bright, and passionate. It brings out the intensity of the action and suspense and the enormity of the emotions whirling in the minds and hearts of the protagonists. Starting one of her books puts an automatic 'do not disturb' sign surrounding me because I will be immersed into the tale, and not coming out for anything until I get to the end of the exciting book.
Tempted by Love tells the story of Alina Cooke and Jay Bennett, a love story of a best friend's little sister tempting the seasoned agent.
Alina is a smart, professional, goal-oriented, accomplished woman. She grew up with two older brothers who work for the law enforcement and knows the dangers and threats it involves. To fall for a man who puts his life in danger daily is not the ideal situation in Alina's mind, yet the temptation is burning hot every time she looks into Jay's eyes, the feelings churning and growing in her heart taking over the rational thinking.
Jay Bennett is a sensible, wise man with a quick, brilliant tactical mind. He is a dedicated man of the law who has put the job first for most of his career. Now his priorities are challenged as he realizes his attraction to Alina is much more than a physical fling.
I loved the chemistry between Jay and Alina. There's unique honesty, straight talking, and true feels and connection happening between them. They have known each other for some time, yet when they finally have a chance to spend time with just the two of them, the romantic feelings start to bloom.
And when their lives are in danger, they have to face and accept some realities of life faster than they expected.
There is a twofold suspense building up in the tale. Alina's pharmacy is facing unexpected turbulence and is connected to the recent crimes in the neighborhood. The opioid crisis in the States is in the front and center of the tale, giving perspective and even information on the dangers and depth of the issue.
The second fold of the suspense is the action from Jay's point of view from True To You, book two in the series, where King and Cara Potter are battling against the druglord and their feelings towards each other. That deadly war ends up putting King and Jay's lives into dire straits, and Alina's feelings towards Jay are challenged.
The escalating tension of the threats and danger surrounding Jay and Alina, the growing feelings between them, and all the challenges they have to face regarding their families, the drama from the past, present, and the possibilities of the future together, it all is twined into an exhilarating, riveting, and entertaining tale.
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
Tempted by Love tells the story of Alina Cooke and Jay Bennett, a love story of a best friend's little sister tempting the seasoned agent.
Alina is a smart, professional, goal-oriented, accomplished woman. She grew up with two older brothers who work for the law enforcement and knows the dangers and threats it involves. To fall for a man who puts his life in danger daily is not the ideal situation in Alina's mind, yet the temptation is burning hot every time she looks into Jay's eyes, the feelings churning and growing in her heart taking over the rational thinking.
Jay Bennett is a sensible, wise man with a quick, brilliant tactical mind. He is a dedicated man of the law who has put the job first for most of his career. Now his priorities are challenged as he realizes his attraction to Alina is much more than a physical fling.
I loved the chemistry between Jay and Alina. There's unique honesty, straight talking, and true feels and connection happening between them. They have known each other for some time, yet when they finally have a chance to spend time with just the two of them, the romantic feelings start to bloom.
And when their lives are in danger, they have to face and accept some realities of life faster than they expected.
There is a twofold suspense building up in the tale. Alina's pharmacy is facing unexpected turbulence and is connected to the recent crimes in the neighborhood. The opioid crisis in the States is in the front and center of the tale, giving perspective and even information on the dangers and depth of the issue.
The second fold of the suspense is the action from Jay's point of view from True To You, book two in the series, where King and Cara Potter are battling against the druglord and their feelings towards each other. That deadly war ends up putting King and Jay's lives into dire straits, and Alina's feelings towards Jay are challenged.
The escalating tension of the threats and danger surrounding Jay and Alina, the growing feelings between them, and all the challenges they have to face regarding their families, the drama from the past, present, and the possibilities of the future together, it all is twined into an exhilarating, riveting, and entertaining tale.
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
August 21, 2018
My Review:
There was so much to love about this book, but I'll be honest...it was like reading two amazing books together. The beginning is the fun, happy, contemporary meet-cute with all the light-hearted wedding activities. Then the last 2/3's is filled with action, drama, suspense, and danger. It was the best of both worlds.
Alina has two brothers who work in the DEA. Their boss is Jay, so she's known Jay for a while as an acquaintance that she sees at big social gatherings...like her brothers' weddings...which is what's happening at the beginning of the book. Both her brothers are getting married in back-to-back days. As a result, Alina is feeling a bit down. BOTH her brothers (who've always been confirmed bachelors) have found their forever-love before her. She doesn't even have any prospects on the horizon. Her career is established. Everything is in place, but there's no guy or even a hope of a guy.
So, when Jay sees her in the hotel bar, she's at a pretty low point. But he's in his forties and has been having the same thoughts all weekend while watching his two best friends find their forever. He wants that, too. The two spend the evening drinking and commiserating in the hotel bar where one thing leads to another.
They're both surprised at how easily and naturally they connect, so they end up doing it again the next night, but this is only supposed to be a one-time thing...even if they're both getting hints of emotions to go along with the fantastic bedroom gymnastics. Alina knows the fear in life with a DEA agent. She doesn't want that. And Jay doesn't exactly want to confess to his two friends what he's been doing with their sister.
But he's DEA, and she's a pharmacist...they have more in common than they ever thought possible.
It's a great book. I enjoyed every minute of reading it. The romantic setup was fun and the suspense line made for some really great intense moments. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and definitely recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest and voluntary review.
There was so much to love about this book, but I'll be honest...it was like reading two amazing books together. The beginning is the fun, happy, contemporary meet-cute with all the light-hearted wedding activities. Then the last 2/3's is filled with action, drama, suspense, and danger. It was the best of both worlds.
Alina has two brothers who work in the DEA. Their boss is Jay, so she's known Jay for a while as an acquaintance that she sees at big social gatherings...like her brothers' weddings...which is what's happening at the beginning of the book. Both her brothers are getting married in back-to-back days. As a result, Alina is feeling a bit down. BOTH her brothers (who've always been confirmed bachelors) have found their forever-love before her. She doesn't even have any prospects on the horizon. Her career is established. Everything is in place, but there's no guy or even a hope of a guy.
So, when Jay sees her in the hotel bar, she's at a pretty low point. But he's in his forties and has been having the same thoughts all weekend while watching his two best friends find their forever. He wants that, too. The two spend the evening drinking and commiserating in the hotel bar where one thing leads to another.
They're both surprised at how easily and naturally they connect, so they end up doing it again the next night, but this is only supposed to be a one-time thing...even if they're both getting hints of emotions to go along with the fantastic bedroom gymnastics. Alina knows the fear in life with a DEA agent. She doesn't want that. And Jay doesn't exactly want to confess to his two friends what he's been doing with their sister.
But he's DEA, and she's a pharmacist...they have more in common than they ever thought possible.
It's a great book. I enjoyed every minute of reading it. The romantic setup was fun and the suspense line made for some really great intense moments. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and definitely recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest and voluntary review.
August 24, 2018
Sad to say that although I love the series as a whole and most of the individual books. This one was different. Something felt illusive during the reading. I have read all the prior books of this series. I have loved getting to know the Cooke brothers and their women and King and his woman. I have been waiting and wondering if Alina Cooke would get her a love. Then Jay. There was just something about him that lulled me in and said yes.
Alina Cooke was more on the quite and bit reserved side of things. She was the opposite of stand up and take charge. Jay was the one night of heated passion she took for herself. She was not expecting or anticipating things to go the way they did. Jay was her brothers friend and he was more or less a no-no. Alina lives life more cautiously. She never felt the need to be protected. That was until someone decides that she was a threat or collateral. Will it be her growing attachment to Jay that get her in danger or will something else be playing games with her?
There was intrigue, danger, and mystery, but at the same time the level of it all seemed to be lower than previously set standards of JR's work.
Alina Cooke was more on the quite and bit reserved side of things. She was the opposite of stand up and take charge. Jay was the one night of heated passion she took for herself. She was not expecting or anticipating things to go the way they did. Jay was her brothers friend and he was more or less a no-no. Alina lives life more cautiously. She never felt the need to be protected. That was until someone decides that she was a threat or collateral. Will it be her growing attachment to Jay that get her in danger or will something else be playing games with her?
There was intrigue, danger, and mystery, but at the same time the level of it all seemed to be lower than previously set standards of JR's work.
August 19, 2018
Tempted by Love (Montana Heat #3) by Jennifer Ryan
3 stars
M/F Romance, thriller
Triggers: Addiction, Cancer, Attempted Murder
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
I have not read any of the previous books in this series, however, I did not feel that it was necessary. Ryan did a wonderful job of explaining the secondary characters and their relationships.
Alina is a strong woman. She knows what she wants from life and has for a while. She's been able to tick off her list until she gets to the point where she's in a committed relationship with a true partner. Alina can't truly figure out why she's still single. She is happy for her brothers, who have found their partners, but in between their weddings, she finds herself wallowing a little. She is envious. And, while she did just buy in to a new business and is very happy, she can't help but feel that she's floundering.
Jay is a colleague of Alina's brothers. He has watched her grow and blossom, but knows that she's off limits not only because she's the little sister of his best friends, but also because she's quite a bit younger. Jay is happy for his best friends, but also wonders how they were able to carve out time for a life when he has been married to his job. As he ages, he realizes that he wants to have what they have found.
Alina and Jay have great chemistry and an attraction that won't stop. They have an affinity to make each other better. While Alina is worried about an incident directed towards her, she is still able to build her relationship with Jay. As the mystery unfolds, while it was highly predictable, it was still fun to watch the men in Alina's life come to her aid.
I truly enjoyed the story, despite it's predictable nature. It was sweet and fun. I did wonder if King was going to get a story, as I would be interested in his story. King's story seems to follow along with Jay's story to a point, but then branches off. I want to know more about what happened with King's story.
3 stars
M/F Romance, thriller
Triggers: Addiction, Cancer, Attempted Murder
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
I have not read any of the previous books in this series, however, I did not feel that it was necessary. Ryan did a wonderful job of explaining the secondary characters and their relationships.
Alina is a strong woman. She knows what she wants from life and has for a while. She's been able to tick off her list until she gets to the point where she's in a committed relationship with a true partner. Alina can't truly figure out why she's still single. She is happy for her brothers, who have found their partners, but in between their weddings, she finds herself wallowing a little. She is envious. And, while she did just buy in to a new business and is very happy, she can't help but feel that she's floundering.
Jay is a colleague of Alina's brothers. He has watched her grow and blossom, but knows that she's off limits not only because she's the little sister of his best friends, but also because she's quite a bit younger. Jay is happy for his best friends, but also wonders how they were able to carve out time for a life when he has been married to his job. As he ages, he realizes that he wants to have what they have found.
Alina and Jay have great chemistry and an attraction that won't stop. They have an affinity to make each other better. While Alina is worried about an incident directed towards her, she is still able to build her relationship with Jay. As the mystery unfolds, while it was highly predictable, it was still fun to watch the men in Alina's life come to her aid.
I truly enjoyed the story, despite it's predictable nature. It was sweet and fun. I did wonder if King was going to get a story, as I would be interested in his story. King's story seems to follow along with Jay's story to a point, but then branches off. I want to know more about what happened with King's story.
October 16, 2019
Hot sexy and all around amazing now I need to go and read the books before this
September 4, 2018
Jay Bennett is totally devoted to his job and has his own reasons for avoiding romantic commitments, but his friends' weddings have given him a reason to rethink his avoidance of long term romantic relationships and the most unlikely woman has caught his eye - his friends' baby sister.
Alina Cooke has been focused on finishing college and finding her feet career-wise that everything else took a back seat, but her casual friendship with Jay morphs into a fiery sexual one in a flash and they find that they are perfect for each other.
Jay and Alina are great together because they don't spend time agonizing about their feelings and all that drama, but danger lurks. Could Jay's job have made Alina a target or is the danger coming from the least expected source?
I have enjoyed this series from the first book because of the combination of suspense, intrigue and romance that the author so skillfully put together. I read the books out of order but was so wowed that I could not wait to get my hands on this installment.
I don't really mind insta-love stories, but something about this one didn't feel quite right. Alina knew Jay for a long time and never felt even the slightest attraction to him until that one perfect moment? Kind of far-fetched to me, but I really liked that they had minimal drama about their feelings for each other.
Now, the long monologues and the fact that the majority of the story focused on their relationship dynamics was not something I enjoyed especially because the suspense part of the story was neglected for this. There was also a lot of filler material that was unnecessary to the story and just ended up making it very long. Honestly, I skimmed through parts of the book from the beginning when it became tedious and it wasn't until I got to the action I was looking for that I got completely caught up in the story.
If you are a fan of contemporary romance, you may enjoy the long drawn out bits about Alina and Jay's relationship, but if you love romantic suspense it may feel like a lot of work to get to the action and suspense. Enjoy reading!
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely mine.
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Alina Cooke has been focused on finishing college and finding her feet career-wise that everything else took a back seat, but her casual friendship with Jay morphs into a fiery sexual one in a flash and they find that they are perfect for each other.
Jay and Alina are great together because they don't spend time agonizing about their feelings and all that drama, but danger lurks. Could Jay's job have made Alina a target or is the danger coming from the least expected source?
I have enjoyed this series from the first book because of the combination of suspense, intrigue and romance that the author so skillfully put together. I read the books out of order but was so wowed that I could not wait to get my hands on this installment.
I don't really mind insta-love stories, but something about this one didn't feel quite right. Alina knew Jay for a long time and never felt even the slightest attraction to him until that one perfect moment? Kind of far-fetched to me, but I really liked that they had minimal drama about their feelings for each other.
Now, the long monologues and the fact that the majority of the story focused on their relationship dynamics was not something I enjoyed especially because the suspense part of the story was neglected for this. There was also a lot of filler material that was unnecessary to the story and just ended up making it very long. Honestly, I skimmed through parts of the book from the beginning when it became tedious and it wasn't until I got to the action I was looking for that I got completely caught up in the story.
If you are a fan of contemporary romance, you may enjoy the long drawn out bits about Alina and Jay's relationship, but if you love romantic suspense it may feel like a lot of work to get to the action and suspense. Enjoy reading!
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a 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’.
Like my page on Facebook.
November 15, 2019
This was just an okay read for me. It started out with Jay & Alina hooking up at her brother's wedding. Jay is also a DEA agent, so he thinks Alina's brothers will disapprove of a relationship. Alina just wants to find her happiness and is lonely. She too thinks her brothers will frown on her hooking up with Jay. So they keep things secret for a while.
On top of this, there's the suspense we know to expect from this series. This time it's Alina's job that puts her in danger. She's a pharmacist and things start happening that make her suspect there's some illegal activity connected with prescription drugs being sold on the streets. I liked that she tried to do the right thing. She was an advocate for keeping drugs off the streets and tried to educate the public about the issue. It was all quite admirable.
But she somehow turns into the 'stupid white girl' in this book and puts herself in danger without thinking. She's like the people we make fun of in horror movies. I mean her brothers are DEA agents, she knew things were very bad and that the bad guys were dangerous. But yet she still does the stupidest things and I'm left scratching my head and asking why such an intelligent woman would lack common sense.
I liked Jay. He was smart, honorable, protective and a good guy. I did think he was pretty stupid to abandon Alina in the end there and leave her open to a threat. I mean he knew the situation was pretty serious, or at least suspected it, but he just went about his day as if everything was just fine. I find that hard to believe that an alpha male wouldn't set things up to have her watched if he couldn't take care of her himself.
The author does have a lot of 'filler' in this book and it made the book longer than it needed to be. We're given a lot of the same story we had in King's book during some parts, same details, same everything. So it was really repetitive and had I not been listening to the audio book, I would have skipped those pages.
I did enjoy the little summary at the end with all the family giving their opinions on Jay & Alina's relationship. It was a nice touch.
On top of this, there's the suspense we know to expect from this series. This time it's Alina's job that puts her in danger. She's a pharmacist and things start happening that make her suspect there's some illegal activity connected with prescription drugs being sold on the streets. I liked that she tried to do the right thing. She was an advocate for keeping drugs off the streets and tried to educate the public about the issue. It was all quite admirable.
But she somehow turns into the 'stupid white girl' in this book and puts herself in danger without thinking. She's like the people we make fun of in horror movies. I mean her brothers are DEA agents, she knew things were very bad and that the bad guys were dangerous. But yet she still does the stupidest things and I'm left scratching my head and asking why such an intelligent woman would lack common sense.
I liked Jay. He was smart, honorable, protective and a good guy. I did think he was pretty stupid to abandon Alina in the end there and leave her open to a threat. I mean he knew the situation was pretty serious, or at least suspected it, but he just went about his day as if everything was just fine. I find that hard to believe that an alpha male wouldn't set things up to have her watched if he couldn't take care of her himself.
The author does have a lot of 'filler' in this book and it made the book longer than it needed to be. We're given a lot of the same story we had in King's book during some parts, same details, same everything. So it was really repetitive and had I not been listening to the audio book, I would have skipped those pages.
I did enjoy the little summary at the end with all the family giving their opinions on Jay & Alina's relationship. It was a nice touch.
August 21, 2018
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog: https://romancingthereaders.blogspot....
There is nothing better then reading a favorite author. For me one of those favorites is Jennifer Ryan. From the first book of hers I read I was hooked on her. If you haven't yet tried her she is so worth your time.
Tempted by Love is the third book in her Montana Heat series. I almost think it's my favorite of this series. Of course we all know I say that a lot about many books in the series I love. What can I say, I have a problem.
I think you'll really enjoy both Jay and Alina's relationship. Yes, it was slightly rushed how they fell in love, but because of how much I enjoyed them and the story line I didn't mind so much. For this book it worked well.
You'll be slightly shocked about Jay's mom but I think as the book goes on you realize they, Jay and his mom, have things they both need to deal with and it happens nicely within the story. Family relationship aren't always easy.
As a whole Tempted by Love is a wonderful story, one that you'll really want to read. Alina's brothers from the prior books and their wives are in this book and I'm glad their story lines are tied up. Of course because of that you might want to read the series in order. Not to worry it make the series as a whole so much better if you take the time to read them the way they are published.
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ARC provided for a honest review
There is nothing better then reading a favorite author. For me one of those favorites is Jennifer Ryan. From the first book of hers I read I was hooked on her. If you haven't yet tried her she is so worth your time.
Tempted by Love is the third book in her Montana Heat series. I almost think it's my favorite of this series. Of course we all know I say that a lot about many books in the series I love. What can I say, I have a problem.
I think you'll really enjoy both Jay and Alina's relationship. Yes, it was slightly rushed how they fell in love, but because of how much I enjoyed them and the story line I didn't mind so much. For this book it worked well.
You'll be slightly shocked about Jay's mom but I think as the book goes on you realize they, Jay and his mom, have things they both need to deal with and it happens nicely within the story. Family relationship aren't always easy.
As a whole Tempted by Love is a wonderful story, one that you'll really want to read. Alina's brothers from the prior books and their wives are in this book and I'm glad their story lines are tied up. Of course because of that you might want to read the series in order. Not to worry it make the series as a whole so much better if you take the time to read them the way they are published.
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
https://twitter.com/Romancingreader
ARC provided for a honest review
August 20, 2018
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
See the full review at HarlequinJunkie.com
High octane action and steamy hot attraction made for a thrilling time in Tempted by Love, Jennifer Ryan’s latest in her Montana Heat series. Set in the same timeframe as book two, this gave a whole new perspective on the events that took place in True to You.
I’ve really enjoyed this series by Jennifer Ryan which focuses mainly on the Cooke family and their fellow DEA agents they closely work with. And while this wasn’t my favorite book of the bunch (I think it will always be Beck & Ashley in Escape to You) I had a great time with Alina and Jay’s romance. Here we had a combination of two tropes: friends to lovers and brothers’ best friend. Read More
See the full review at HarlequinJunkie.com
High octane action and steamy hot attraction made for a thrilling time in Tempted by Love, Jennifer Ryan’s latest in her Montana Heat series. Set in the same timeframe as book two, this gave a whole new perspective on the events that took place in True to You.
I’ve really enjoyed this series by Jennifer Ryan which focuses mainly on the Cooke family and their fellow DEA agents they closely work with. And while this wasn’t my favorite book of the bunch (I think it will always be Beck & Ashley in Escape to You) I had a great time with Alina and Jay’s romance. Here we had a combination of two tropes: friends to lovers and brothers’ best friend. Read More
October 3, 2018
HOT! HOT! HOT!
Jennifer Ryan’s Montana Heat series will blow you away with these hot and dangerous DEA Special Agents! Her attention to detail brings every word to life and takes you on a journey of emotions. You will no doubt be swooning over Agents Caden Cooke, Beck Cooke, Dawson King, and Jay Bennett.
Tempted by Love is the last novel in this breathtaking series. DEA agent Jay Bennett had my attention from the moment he was introduced in previous novels and I was stoked to finally read his story! And Lord have mercy, his story was so overwhelmingly perfect I didn’t want it to end. Even though he’s the boss of this elite team of badasses, he found the one woman in the world who could bring him to his knees - Alina Cooke, the younger sister to his two best friends. But he knew, he just did, that she was his heart and body’s only weakness the moment he saw her joyfully laughing with her sister-in-laws one night. He’d known her for years, knew things about her from her brother’s idle chit chat, but not until now had he seen her in this overwhelmingly passionate way. As impulsive as it was, he had to act. Bad idea? Absolutely! Did he care? He should, but some bad ideas were worth the repercussions. Going after Alina started as a bad idea but ended up being worth everything.
Alina Cooke. Close to both of her older brothers, Caden and Beck, knew what DEA life was like. She hated it. She hated the worry of not knowing if they were safe, if a drug cartel was going to finally take them out before they could take them down. She was methodical in life, safe, planned. She needed order to counterbalance her brothers’ chaotic lives. They had each finally found women who could accept what they did for a living, bring some perspective to it other than the dangers of work, and she was jealous. Happy for them, yes, but jealous because they found what she always wanted. Her brother’s best friend and boss, Jay Bennett, sparks her interest the moment (ok, after a few drinks) he sits on the bar stool next to her after Caden’s wedding. He’s older, sexy, and filled to the brim with bad ideas. Bad ideas she’s all on board for as long as her brothers don’t find out about it!
One steamy bad idea turns into two, which turns into a fire burning so bright between these two characters you will leave fingerprints on the cover in anticipation. When Alina finds herself tangled up in an unexpected dangerous situation, Jay will take on the world to keep her safe and in his arms forever. Tempted by Love was so full of heart, passion, heat, and humor I found it to be the perfect ending to the series. My heart still has all the feels! ENJOY!
Jennifer Ryan’s Montana Heat series will blow you away with these hot and dangerous DEA Special Agents! Her attention to detail brings every word to life and takes you on a journey of emotions. You will no doubt be swooning over Agents Caden Cooke, Beck Cooke, Dawson King, and Jay Bennett.
Tempted by Love is the last novel in this breathtaking series. DEA agent Jay Bennett had my attention from the moment he was introduced in previous novels and I was stoked to finally read his story! And Lord have mercy, his story was so overwhelmingly perfect I didn’t want it to end. Even though he’s the boss of this elite team of badasses, he found the one woman in the world who could bring him to his knees - Alina Cooke, the younger sister to his two best friends. But he knew, he just did, that she was his heart and body’s only weakness the moment he saw her joyfully laughing with her sister-in-laws one night. He’d known her for years, knew things about her from her brother’s idle chit chat, but not until now had he seen her in this overwhelmingly passionate way. As impulsive as it was, he had to act. Bad idea? Absolutely! Did he care? He should, but some bad ideas were worth the repercussions. Going after Alina started as a bad idea but ended up being worth everything.
Alina Cooke. Close to both of her older brothers, Caden and Beck, knew what DEA life was like. She hated it. She hated the worry of not knowing if they were safe, if a drug cartel was going to finally take them out before they could take them down. She was methodical in life, safe, planned. She needed order to counterbalance her brothers’ chaotic lives. They had each finally found women who could accept what they did for a living, bring some perspective to it other than the dangers of work, and she was jealous. Happy for them, yes, but jealous because they found what she always wanted. Her brother’s best friend and boss, Jay Bennett, sparks her interest the moment (ok, after a few drinks) he sits on the bar stool next to her after Caden’s wedding. He’s older, sexy, and filled to the brim with bad ideas. Bad ideas she’s all on board for as long as her brothers don’t find out about it!
One steamy bad idea turns into two, which turns into a fire burning so bright between these two characters you will leave fingerprints on the cover in anticipation. When Alina finds herself tangled up in an unexpected dangerous situation, Jay will take on the world to keep her safe and in his arms forever. Tempted by Love was so full of heart, passion, heat, and humor I found it to be the perfect ending to the series. My heart still has all the feels! ENJOY!
August 31, 2018
Tempted By Love closes out Jennifer Ryan's Montana Heat series based upon the Cooke family and a close friend and associate King. Older brothers Caden and Beck are DEA agents as is King as is jay Bennett the hero of this story who falls in love with the youngest of the Cooke siblings Alina. I really enjoyed this book. Jennifer hit the right notes with Jay and Alina falling carefully in love and the tension of potential violence that is her M.O. in all of her stories. Alina is a great heroine. She's the perfect woman. And Jay is of course the perfect man. While they've known each other casually for years with Jay being best friends, boss and co-worker with Caden and Beck, its at the weekend of Caden's and Beck's weddings that they discover an explosive physical attraction to one another. They proceed cautiously as Jay worries about how her brothers will react to his dating their baby sister and worries whether Alina can deal with being with a DEA Agent who lives for his job. Alina too worries whether she can be in a relationship with a man who risks his life every day and whose career consumes so much of his life. Ironically there's a threat to Alina's safety that has nothing to do with her brothers or Jay's profession. Can Jay and Alina work through their issues and build a lasting relationship to go with their explosive physical chemistry? Can Jay keep Alina safe from the threat on her life?
I had two minor issues with this story. One is the author regurgitates a lot of the King/Cara story from the previous book. I know she's trying to show how dangerous Jay's job is and how when his own life is threatened he realizes what Alina means to him but still, I read that book and I really didn't want to read several pages that felt copied and pasted into this one. My other issue which admittedly is minor is the implication that Alina might some how be arrested and even spend time in jail due to what her co-worker was doing and his attempts to implicate her. I mean, she was the whistle blower. She was the one gift wrapping all the evidence to hand the Feds. In what world would they try to prosecute her as his accomplice?
All in all this was a really good addition to the series that included the couples from the other two books and novella. It had a great ending that included everyone getting their "Happily Ever After" and after all isn't that why we read these stories. Nice work Jennifer and your next series looks really interesting. Wish I didn't have to wait until next March to read it.
I had two minor issues with this story. One is the author regurgitates a lot of the King/Cara story from the previous book. I know she's trying to show how dangerous Jay's job is and how when his own life is threatened he realizes what Alina means to him but still, I read that book and I really didn't want to read several pages that felt copied and pasted into this one. My other issue which admittedly is minor is the implication that Alina might some how be arrested and even spend time in jail due to what her co-worker was doing and his attempts to implicate her. I mean, she was the whistle blower. She was the one gift wrapping all the evidence to hand the Feds. In what world would they try to prosecute her as his accomplice?
All in all this was a really good addition to the series that included the couples from the other two books and novella. It had a great ending that included everyone getting their "Happily Ever After" and after all isn't that why we read these stories. Nice work Jennifer and your next series looks really interesting. Wish I didn't have to wait until next March to read it.
November 24, 2018
Check out our
Tempted by Love
post on Wicked Reads.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/F Romance, Thriller
Triggers: Addiction, Cancer, Attempted Murder
I have not read any of the previous books in this series, however, I did not feel that it was necessary. Ryan did a wonderful job of explaining the secondary characters and their relationships.
Alina is a strong woman. She knows what she wants from life and has for a while. She's been able to tick off her list until she gets to the point where she's in a committed relationship with a true partner. Alina can't truly figure out why she's still single. She is happy for her brothers, who have found their partners, but in between their weddings, she finds herself wallowing a little. She is envious. And while she did just buy into a new business and is very happy, she can't help but feel that she's floundering.
Jay is a colleague of Alina's brothers. He has watched her grow and blossom but knows that she's off limits not only because she's the little sister of his best friends, but also because she's quite a bit younger. Jay is happy for his best friends, but also wonders how they were able to carve out time for a life when he has been married to his job. As he ages, he realizes that he wants to have what they have found.
Alina and Jay have great chemistry and an attraction that won't stop. They have an affinity to make each other better. While Alina is worried about an incident directed towards her, she is still able to build her relationship with Jay. As the mystery unfolds, while it was highly predictable, it was still fun to watch the men in Alina's life come to her aid.
I truly enjoyed the story, despite its predictable nature. It was sweet and fun. I did wonder if King was going to get a story, as I would be interested in his story. King's story seems to follow along with Jay's story to a point, but then branches off. I want to know more about what happened with King's story.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/F Romance, Thriller
Triggers: Addiction, Cancer, Attempted Murder
I have not read any of the previous books in this series, however, I did not feel that it was necessary. Ryan did a wonderful job of explaining the secondary characters and their relationships.
Alina is a strong woman. She knows what she wants from life and has for a while. She's been able to tick off her list until she gets to the point where she's in a committed relationship with a true partner. Alina can't truly figure out why she's still single. She is happy for her brothers, who have found their partners, but in between their weddings, she finds herself wallowing a little. She is envious. And while she did just buy into a new business and is very happy, she can't help but feel that she's floundering.
Jay is a colleague of Alina's brothers. He has watched her grow and blossom but knows that she's off limits not only because she's the little sister of his best friends, but also because she's quite a bit younger. Jay is happy for his best friends, but also wonders how they were able to carve out time for a life when he has been married to his job. As he ages, he realizes that he wants to have what they have found.
Alina and Jay have great chemistry and an attraction that won't stop. They have an affinity to make each other better. While Alina is worried about an incident directed towards her, she is still able to build her relationship with Jay. As the mystery unfolds, while it was highly predictable, it was still fun to watch the men in Alina's life come to her aid.
I truly enjoyed the story, despite its predictable nature. It was sweet and fun. I did wonder if King was going to get a story, as I would be interested in his story. King's story seems to follow along with Jay's story to a point, but then branches off. I want to know more about what happened with King's story.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
September 20, 2019
Man, Jay and Alina burned hot and fast. Their chemistry is intense!
This story crosses over with the last book in this series, True to You. I’m letting you know that right away because I got a bit confused when the scenes with King started popping up. It’s been more than a year since I read that book so it took me a minute to remember that Alina comes up in discussion with King and Jay in that book and my foggy brain finally realized the timelines of the two books ran parallel.
Although Alina and Jay have every reason to stay away from each other (he’s best friends with her very overprotective brothers), they just can’t seem to resist the pull. In the beginning it’s sizzling hot. After that first weekend it’s still hot, but gets sweeter and sweeter. Both characters have always wanted to settle down and they’re both ready. Jay has never found anyone who understands his work and his schedule. Alina has never felt the connection and mutual respect she wants in a relationship. That changes when they decide to give their chemistry more than a roll in the hay chance.
On top of the chemistry and affection the two have, there’s a lot of action in this story. While the reader knows what’s going on, Jay and Alina do not. Because Alina is dating a DEA agent as well as both of her brothers being DEA agents, when she is hurt it’s hard for anyone to look beyond her being hurt because of them and their jobs.
I enjoyed how the pieces of this story fell into place. As always, I appreciate Jay and Alina acknowledging the speed of their relationship. Sometimes when you know you know. And I’m okay with that.
You can find more of my reviews at All In Good Time.
This story crosses over with the last book in this series, True to You. I’m letting you know that right away because I got a bit confused when the scenes with King started popping up. It’s been more than a year since I read that book so it took me a minute to remember that Alina comes up in discussion with King and Jay in that book and my foggy brain finally realized the timelines of the two books ran parallel.
Although Alina and Jay have every reason to stay away from each other (he’s best friends with her very overprotective brothers), they just can’t seem to resist the pull. In the beginning it’s sizzling hot. After that first weekend it’s still hot, but gets sweeter and sweeter. Both characters have always wanted to settle down and they’re both ready. Jay has never found anyone who understands his work and his schedule. Alina has never felt the connection and mutual respect she wants in a relationship. That changes when they decide to give their chemistry more than a roll in the hay chance.
On top of the chemistry and affection the two have, there’s a lot of action in this story. While the reader knows what’s going on, Jay and Alina do not. Because Alina is dating a DEA agent as well as both of her brothers being DEA agents, when she is hurt it’s hard for anyone to look beyond her being hurt because of them and their jobs.
I enjoyed how the pieces of this story fell into place. As always, I appreciate Jay and Alina acknowledging the speed of their relationship. Sometimes when you know you know. And I’m okay with that.
You can find more of my reviews at All In Good Time.
December 5, 2020
Alina Cooke—little sister of his two best friends—is the last woman DEA agent Jay Bennett should be waking up next to on the day of her brother’s wedding. But their powerful attraction ignited a powder keg of desire, and their once simple friendship has just become impossibly complicated.
Alina’s always been steady, focused, and lived on the safe side of life. Jay is totally devoted to his dangerous job. She knows a future with him will be filled with worry that one day he won’t come home. She’s done it with her brothers. She’s not sure she can face that uncertainty with the man she loves. Yet being in his arms is a bad idea they keep repeating, again and again.
When Alina is run off the road, Jay fears his job has made her a target. But the threat in Alina’s life is closer than they think. As the enemy gets more ruthless, Alina proves she’s no easy target and Jay will do anything to bring them down. Because surviving and being together is the only thing that matters.
Alina’s always been steady, focused, and lived on the safe side of life. Jay is totally devoted to his dangerous job. She knows a future with him will be filled with worry that one day he won’t come home. She’s done it with her brothers. She’s not sure she can face that uncertainty with the man she loves. Yet being in his arms is a bad idea they keep repeating, again and again.
When Alina is run off the road, Jay fears his job has made her a target. But the threat in Alina’s life is closer than they think. As the enemy gets more ruthless, Alina proves she’s no easy target and Jay will do anything to bring them down. Because surviving and being together is the only thing that matters.
September 7, 2024
I've got to admit I haven't read the other ones in the series and went into this one with pretty low expectations, as I don't normally read romance.
Things I liked about this book: the voice was easy to read and I liked Alina's story about the pharmacy and Noel.
I also like that this book is so focused on a real issue without being preachy.
Things I didn't like: For as much of the book is about King/Cara's story, I didn't feel like it ended well.
At times, Jay irritated me. He was almost too perfect.
Overall, it's not a bad but not a favorite.
Things I liked about this book: the voice was easy to read and I liked Alina's story about the pharmacy and Noel.
I also like that this book is so focused on a real issue without being preachy.
Things I didn't like: For as much of the book is about King/Cara's story, I didn't feel like it ended well.
At times, Jay irritated me. He was almost too perfect.
Overall, it's not a bad but not a favorite.
December 4, 2019
As always-a good story
Jennifer Ryan always writes a good story but two things bothered me throughout. First of all,so much of a previous book was included that I thought I had read it before and almost stopped and put it down. Secondly. Alina was too smart not to remember seeing the bad guys before. Putting all of that aside-the story is a good one and I recommend it. This series should be read in order.
Jennifer Ryan always writes a good story but two things bothered me throughout. First of all,so much of a previous book was included that I thought I had read it before and almost stopped and put it down. Secondly. Alina was too smart not to remember seeing the bad guys before. Putting all of that aside-the story is a good one and I recommend it. This series should be read in order.
July 26, 2021
This had a better pace than the last one. I liked the two leads... liked that they both underwent jeopardy from different issues. Liked the concurrent storyline... when an author does it right, it works! This author did that.
Didn't... emphatically... didn't like Heather. Thought she was a bitch. Self-centred and manipulative. Nasty piece of work.
Didn't... emphatically... didn't like Heather. Thought she was a bitch. Self-centred and manipulative. Nasty piece of work.
August 24, 2018
Some people can overcome anything
Good characterization. Lots of bad guys. Well written good guys and lots of detail as love blossoms and proves they can find precisely what they wanted but didn’t believe they could find.
Good characterization. Lots of bad guys. Well written good guys and lots of detail as love blossoms and proves they can find precisely what they wanted but didn’t believe they could find.
September 1, 2018
Alina and Jay were such great characters - amazing journey to each other. Great interaction with her brothers. Loved the complexity of the story line, the outstanding characters and the action.
" It kind of felt like flying: exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time."
" It kind of felt like flying: exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time."
September 14, 2018
Tempted by Love
I enjoyed your book. The plot was filled with love, deception and mayhem. Both your characters had so much to go through to end the drug thugs. In the end they had each other.
I enjoyed your book. The plot was filled with love, deception and mayhem. Both your characters had so much to go through to end the drug thugs. In the end they had each other.
July 8, 2019
I read everything by this author
I love books in a series. This one has to be read in order because there is a recap of the others. It's a wonderful love story with a good plot
It's nice to revisit the other characters and see what they have been up to.
I love books in a series. This one has to be read in order because there is a recap of the others. It's a wonderful love story with a good plot
It's nice to revisit the other characters and see what they have been up to.
June 17, 2021
This was a good story at a time when I was looking for something that was not going to make me spend a lot of time figuring out what was coming next. Predictable end, but the getting there was worth the read.
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