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King Family #3
The Bastard
They call me the Ice Princess. As the King family lawyer, I keep all of the family secrets. And as a woman in the high-powered world of million-dollar business, I have to stay cold and in control.
I’ve earned my way to the top, and I’ve never met a man who makes me weak. Until Dylan King, the family’s exiled son, comes home.
He’s former Special Ops, the family rebel, a mystery, a myth. A man who seems like he can do anything—including becoming the heir to the King empire if he chooses. He’s also the only man whose touch can melt my ice. And he wants me.
But nothing is simple, and love doesn’t come without a price. When I offer Dylan a devil’s bargain—and he takes it—there’s no telling who will win. And if he discovers the secrets I’m keeping, I might lose everything—including the heart I’ve so carefully put on ice.
The King Family Series:
Book One: The Tycoon by M. O'Keefe
Book Two: The Bodyguard by S. Doyle
Book Three: The Bastard by Julie Kriss
I’ve earned my way to the top, and I’ve never met a man who makes me weak. Until Dylan King, the family’s exiled son, comes home.
He’s former Special Ops, the family rebel, a mystery, a myth. A man who seems like he can do anything—including becoming the heir to the King empire if he chooses. He’s also the only man whose touch can melt my ice. And he wants me.
But nothing is simple, and love doesn’t come without a price. When I offer Dylan a devil’s bargain—and he takes it—there’s no telling who will win. And if he discovers the secrets I’m keeping, I might lose everything—including the heart I’ve so carefully put on ice.
The King Family Series:
Book One: The Tycoon by M. O'Keefe
Book Two: The Bodyguard by S. Doyle
Book Three: The Bastard by Julie Kriss
186 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 12, 2018
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472 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
February 7, 2020
I still prefer the first book,The Tycoon. The Bastard does not have that dramatic twist/ complicated plot on it. It is also shorter. Because of the length, not much character development.
Instead we have insta lust/ love. I would love to see more ice on Maddie. And as Dylan, his character lack of depth. He somehow q dimensional. I think all of these flaws due to the length of the book.
I do not hate it, but i do not love it either.
3 stars
Instead we have insta lust/ love. I would love to see more ice on Maddie. And as Dylan, his character lack of depth. He somehow q dimensional. I think all of these flaws due to the length of the book.
I do not hate it, but i do not love it either.
3 stars
May 18, 2022
Not many likeable characters in this series.
This is the one about the brother who has ghosted his half-sisters for decades. According to his evil, now dead dad, he’s the Golden One by sheer virtue of having testosterone. His sisters have gone through hell as well having been abandoned by their father, ditched, duped and kidnapped so what does he care, but the H isn’t the problem. The heroine is. I get the feeling that this is supposed to be a romance where the ice-cold bitch is defrosted by the H. I didn’t buy it for a second. Much better of this approach out there.
One minute she’s tearfully confessing she had sex with a law professor to pass a class which he generously passes off as being abused. The next thing you know, the H finds out that she got partnership and a HUGE bonus for convincing him to give up the MEGA billions company, stock options and a partridge in a pear tree. Her argument is that she never asked for the bonus.
He’s releasing his claim on everything.”
Ronnie’s voice was soft. “Why would he do that?”
“Because I told him to. I advised him.” I felt my face heat. “We were getting close, and I persuaded him. But I really felt it was the right thing for him to do. I still believe that.” I swallowed. “The thing is, the partners didn’t tell me I’d get a bonus for getting him to sign.
THAT’S your argument! What about the partnership into the good ole boys club? Can you see the repetition of compromised behavior? I can split infinitives; I can not split atoms, and I don’t want to split ethical hairs when it comes to manipulation, justification and lying.
Luckily for the Ice Maiden, a shades of OZ hurricane comes along as a deux ex machina,
Later, she is actually trapped under a shed. Okay, she’s in a car when it happens, but still, she is trapped under a house. Plus she likes nice shoes. $600 a pair as a matter of fact. Tornado. House. Shoes!
They get happily married ever after and she wears a grey dress.
This is the one about the brother who has ghosted his half-sisters for decades. According to his evil, now dead dad, he’s the Golden One by sheer virtue of having testosterone. His sisters have gone through hell as well having been abandoned by their father, ditched, duped and kidnapped so what does he care, but the H isn’t the problem. The heroine is. I get the feeling that this is supposed to be a romance where the ice-cold bitch is defrosted by the H. I didn’t buy it for a second. Much better of this approach out there.
One minute she’s tearfully confessing she had sex with a law professor to pass a class which he generously passes off as being abused. The next thing you know, the H finds out that she got partnership and a HUGE bonus for convincing him to give up the MEGA billions company, stock options and a partridge in a pear tree. Her argument is that she never asked for the bonus.
He’s releasing his claim on everything.”
Ronnie’s voice was soft. “Why would he do that?”
“Because I told him to. I advised him.” I felt my face heat. “We were getting close, and I persuaded him. But I really felt it was the right thing for him to do. I still believe that.” I swallowed. “The thing is, the partners didn’t tell me I’d get a bonus for getting him to sign.
THAT’S your argument! What about the partnership into the good ole boys club? Can you see the repetition of compromised behavior? I can split infinitives; I can not split atoms, and I don’t want to split ethical hairs when it comes to manipulation, justification and lying.
Luckily for the Ice Maiden, a shades of OZ hurricane comes along as a deux ex machina,
Later, she is actually trapped under a shed. Okay, she’s in a car when it happens, but still, she is trapped under a house. Plus she likes nice shoes. $600 a pair as a matter of fact. Tornado. House. Shoes!
They get happily married ever after and she wears a grey dress.
July 21, 2018
So Dylan gives up Millions and Millions and Millions of dollars for one week of sex??? Puhlease! Who would ever do that?
They know each other for two weeks and they are each other’s soul mates based off the fact that they’re physically attracted to each other and have good sex. That’s not love.
I skimmed this book and I didn’t miss anything. It’s a tired set up.
They know each other for two weeks and they are each other’s soul mates based off the fact that they’re physically attracted to each other and have good sex. That’s not love.
I skimmed this book and I didn’t miss anything. It’s a tired set up.
August 4, 2018
No surprises, as hinted in the 2 other books : Dylan is a selfish a$$.
And after a lifetime of selfish A$$hole,In the end he decides to do the right thing and won’t take over the inheritance from his late mogul father,and let her sisters have it, all because he got convinced by his newfound soulmate...
Making life changing decisions because of a soulmate he had met 2 weeks before is really stupid by the way, so I will amend my earlier description : he is an unrealistic selfish a$$
Overall feeling :😡😡
And after a lifetime of selfish A$$hole,In the end he decides to do the right thing and won’t take over the inheritance from his late mogul father,and let her sisters have it, all because he got convinced by his newfound soulmate...
Making life changing decisions because of a soulmate he had met 2 weeks before is really stupid by the way, so I will amend my earlier description : he is an unrealistic selfish a$$
Overall feeling :😡😡
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2018
The story would have been so much better if it wasn't rushed. Very very rushed. The most rushed book I've read.
Read
April 16, 2021DNF @ 25%
No bueno 😠😀 lol 😂
This was too hard to get into and after 2 months of trying to get into this I decided I just didn’t care anymore.
No bueno 😠😀 lol 😂
This was too hard to get into and after 2 months of trying to get into this I decided I just didn’t care anymore.
July 30, 2018
This review is also posted on my blog.
I think character-wise, this book was much stronger than The Bodyguard, but the plot ended a little too ridiculous for me. Or maybe, the premise AND the ending didn't really work for me. This story is about Dylan King, the estranged King brother who has been essentially in hiding all these years. He only ever spent one summer at the King Ranch and hadn't seen his sisters in years. He has no ties, that I can see, to the family, but upon hearing that his youngest half-sister gets kidnapped, he decides to drop everything and rush home? I don't know. I don't buy it.
For me, Dylan has no ties to his sisters, other than the oldest sending him email updates throughout the years, but none of them really know each other. But the threat remains. If Dylan returns before the time slated in their father's will, then everything his father owned (save for roughly 20 acres of land) will go to Dylan instead of Clayton, the hero from The Tycoon.
Basically, no one really knows Dylan or what he's going to do, so Madison, the King family lawyer, is set to delay Dylan when he arrives in the United States.
I liked Dylan and I liked Madison. I love their interactions and how they can face off against each other. The sexual tension between them is THICK. I think Madison's a lawyer who has overcome a bad childhood, and risen quickly within her law firm. She's not here to play games and she does do her job well. However.
A sketchy bit in their backstory, is that Madison used to (or still does, actually) have a PI on Dylan and used to do it to get updates to Dylan's whereabouts for his father. Madison has developed a bit of an obsession over him, and it's kind of creepy no matter how you put it. Dylan's father is dead, and there's no real reason to keep tailing him. Sure, you can make the excuse it's to keep tabs on him because of his father's will, but it's made pretty clear that Madison is beyond attracted to Dylan. It would definitely be stalkery if the genders were flipped, so I do find issue with Madison in this case.
There's a deal that makes no sense to me. Because SPOILER. Dylan is attracted to Madison, but has to give up his family millions and millions of dollars just to have the opportunity to have sex with him for a week? The consent part here also gets a bit iffy, because it's like they both agree that Madison won't be able to say no and he'll be able to take her however he wants? The scenes in the book addressing consent were good until this book. At which, the story started to lose me.
The ending was so ridiculous and thrown together that I just can't EVEN. It seemed like it was thrown together last-minute to stick Dylan and Madison into some life-and-death situation where they'll realize their true feelings and fall in love. I like campy or trashy plots, but this isn't one of those plot twists I enjoy. Maybe it's just me, but I feel let down by this book. I did like all the characters meeting up and I can't wait to read Bea's story.
***I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review***
I think character-wise, this book was much stronger than The Bodyguard, but the plot ended a little too ridiculous for me. Or maybe, the premise AND the ending didn't really work for me. This story is about Dylan King, the estranged King brother who has been essentially in hiding all these years. He only ever spent one summer at the King Ranch and hadn't seen his sisters in years. He has no ties, that I can see, to the family, but upon hearing that his youngest half-sister gets kidnapped, he decides to drop everything and rush home? I don't know. I don't buy it.
For me, Dylan has no ties to his sisters, other than the oldest sending him email updates throughout the years, but none of them really know each other. But the threat remains. If Dylan returns before the time slated in their father's will, then everything his father owned (save for roughly 20 acres of land) will go to Dylan instead of Clayton, the hero from The Tycoon.
Basically, no one really knows Dylan or what he's going to do, so Madison, the King family lawyer, is set to delay Dylan when he arrives in the United States.
I liked Dylan and I liked Madison. I love their interactions and how they can face off against each other. The sexual tension between them is THICK. I think Madison's a lawyer who has overcome a bad childhood, and risen quickly within her law firm. She's not here to play games and she does do her job well. However.
A sketchy bit in their backstory, is that Madison used to (or still does, actually) have a PI on Dylan and used to do it to get updates to Dylan's whereabouts for his father. Madison has developed a bit of an obsession over him, and it's kind of creepy no matter how you put it. Dylan's father is dead, and there's no real reason to keep tailing him. Sure, you can make the excuse it's to keep tabs on him because of his father's will, but it's made pretty clear that Madison is beyond attracted to Dylan. It would definitely be stalkery if the genders were flipped, so I do find issue with Madison in this case.
There's a deal that makes no sense to me. Because SPOILER. Dylan is attracted to Madison, but has to give up his family millions and millions of dollars just to have the opportunity to have sex with him for a week? The consent part here also gets a bit iffy, because it's like they both agree that Madison won't be able to say no and he'll be able to take her however he wants? The scenes in the book addressing consent were good until this book. At which, the story started to lose me.
The ending was so ridiculous and thrown together that I just can't EVEN. It seemed like it was thrown together last-minute to stick Dylan and Madison into some life-and-death situation where they'll realize their true feelings and fall in love. I like campy or trashy plots, but this isn't one of those plot twists I enjoy. Maybe it's just me, but I feel let down by this book. I did like all the characters meeting up and I can't wait to read Bea's story.
***I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review***
July 31, 2024
My least favorite book so far. The first had a history between them but this one felt like they just jumped into it.
July 11, 2018
The Bastard is wonderful!! The perfect conclusion of The King Family trilogy, I think this one could be my favorite of them all. Julie Kriss is a new-to-me author and her writing style and ability to grab my attention from the very first words prove this won't be my last from her. Finally getting the mysterious Dylan King's story, his lack of physical presence as Ronnie, Sabrina and Bea try and sort out their complicated lives before and after the death of Hank King, was certainly marked by his spirit as the sole male heir to The King's Land fortune.
We have heard every nasty thought said about him as he abandoned his half-sisters many years prior just to get away from his ruthless father and desperate mother. But once I got to know him, got to see his cocky swagger up close and personal, it's no wonder the King's estate attorney, Madison White, fell hard for him too. The years of surveillance at the request of Hank King had the ice queen in Maddy all fired up just by seeing his sparse photos through the years. And once they met? Oh yeah, you could hear the sizzle as each of them felt much more than they ever bargained for!
Once again, the whole will fiasco that Hank King put into motion upon his death, is the low simmering subject that is still very much a part of this story-line. Will Dylan be the new king? Will he turn his back once again on his family? So many unanswered questions that have been in this trilogy from the start and now we are at the boiling point. In more ways than one.
The author beautifully juxtaposes Ronnie's nuptials with the very unexpected romance between Dylan and Maddy, together with the looming dread that Dylan might take everything away from Clayton, Ronnie, Sabrina, Garrett and even Bea. With some crazy Texas weather thrown in for good measure, this adventure came to a close in the very best way. In fact, I wouldn't mind more from this dysfunctional yet very loving crew. Bea is now the only mystery unsolved and I'd love to see her get her happy.
The Bastard has left me feeling happy and light and thrilled that I have another author to stalk! Julie Kriss picked up where the story left off in the Bodyguard and gave us a truly spectacular King send-off. Together with Molly O'Keefe and Stephanie Doyle, she has created one helluva wonderful trilogy I will not soon forget.
5 stars all the way!
We have heard every nasty thought said about him as he abandoned his half-sisters many years prior just to get away from his ruthless father and desperate mother. But once I got to know him, got to see his cocky swagger up close and personal, it's no wonder the King's estate attorney, Madison White, fell hard for him too. The years of surveillance at the request of Hank King had the ice queen in Maddy all fired up just by seeing his sparse photos through the years. And once they met? Oh yeah, you could hear the sizzle as each of them felt much more than they ever bargained for!
Once again, the whole will fiasco that Hank King put into motion upon his death, is the low simmering subject that is still very much a part of this story-line. Will Dylan be the new king? Will he turn his back once again on his family? So many unanswered questions that have been in this trilogy from the start and now we are at the boiling point. In more ways than one.
The author beautifully juxtaposes Ronnie's nuptials with the very unexpected romance between Dylan and Maddy, together with the looming dread that Dylan might take everything away from Clayton, Ronnie, Sabrina, Garrett and even Bea. With some crazy Texas weather thrown in for good measure, this adventure came to a close in the very best way. In fact, I wouldn't mind more from this dysfunctional yet very loving crew. Bea is now the only mystery unsolved and I'd love to see her get her happy.
The Bastard has left me feeling happy and light and thrilled that I have another author to stalk! Julie Kriss picked up where the story left off in the Bodyguard and gave us a truly spectacular King send-off. Together with Molly O'Keefe and Stephanie Doyle, she has created one helluva wonderful trilogy I will not soon forget.
5 stars all the way!
March 27, 2022
According to the reviews, seems like none from the series will beat the first book. This one was going well (except a few details, e.g. heroine has had sex a month ago, but for her it was so loooong since the last time, hmm okay...You know there are people who go years without it, right?? ) up until the ending.
Angry Hero, who felt betrayed by her, left heroine in a hotel during a heavy storm, which later became a tornado. She -of course- couldn't stay at the place, and went for an adventure on her own(great idea, girl). When he found her, thankfully not injured, she called him a "real superhero". 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
Call me old-fashioned, but I think a real superhero doesn't leave his girl in such extreme conditions alone, no matter what happened beforehand.
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November 9, 2020🎁 The King Family Saga Box Set (King Family #1-4.5) is FREE on Amazon today (11/9/2020)! 🎁
September 2, 2018
Julie Kriss is an autobuy author so when I noticed this book was out I snapped it up immediately without checking outline, storyline, anything. But when I noticed it was the third book in a series, I thought I’d read the other two first as they weren’t that expensive. I read then and then finally got to this one. The series storyline is the family patriarch recently died, leaving behind 4 children, three half-sisters and one half- brother. The first two books were about two of the sisters and now we come to the bastard son Dylan King. He was the result of an affair between his father and his father’s mistress. There was a bitter custody battle between the two when Dylan was very young and as a result of his mother keeping him from his father, for the most part Dylan had little to do with his father’s side of the family except for one summer he spent with them and getting to know his sisters.
And since then he has had very little to do with them, only the very occasional email. He had joined the Special Forces and been sent around the world and hard to keep in touch with. But things are different now. He’s out of the forces and living off the grid in Panama. Then he happens to be watching TV in a bar one evening and sees a story that Sabrina, his youngest sister has been kidnapped.
With his background, he figures he’s the right person to help find her. He has years of neglect to make up for as far as relationships with his family go and heads home. But first he makes a stop in Los Angeles where he meets our heroine, Madison. She is the high powered attorney and has been for years for the King family. As Dylan knows nothing about his possible inheritance, this has all been covered in previous books and I recommend reading them prior to this one. First because they are good reads and second one needs to know what’s happened to figure this one out.
It turns out the Sabrina has already been rescued but Dylan is flabbergasted to learn he is the sole beneficiary of all his father’s wealth if he claims it within a certain time frame. And the time frame is almost up. It’s up to Madison to guide Dylan in everything he needs to know if he plans on accepting the legacy.
That’s the outline and now for my thoughts. I was most astonished to find this is my least favourite of the three books when this book is the reason I started in the first place. The reason is I had quite a number of issues with Dylan. Despite knowing the dysfunction of his family, he pretty much ignores his sisters, never really bothering to keep in touch with them. When he learned his father had died in fact, he closed his email account completely and had no phone so it was impossible for them to get in touch with him. And as we have seen in previous books, they really needed him as they had been cut out of the will completely. When he’s brought up to date with things, he figures it’s his job to ‘rescue’ his beloved sisters.
Give me an f’ing break. He had no issues with acting as if they didn’t even exist for years and now he expects to be their hero???? Uh, no, they have managed to survive without his presence in their lives.
And without even having met him and getting the lay of the land, he hates his future brother-in-law Clayton. Clayton is the one who has had their backs for years. And even when a number of people tell Dylan how much Clayton loves his sister Ronnie, Dylan just ignores it and keeps up with his plans. He isn’t really redeemed enough for my satisfaction on that account. The sister let him off way to easily. His rationale is there has been extreme hostility from both his mother and father towards the other, but that doesn’t excuse his treatment or lack of treatment rather of his sisters. I get the feeling he thinks he’s all that and a bag of chips.
I liked Madison a lot more. She comes across as very cold and unfeeling, caring only about her career, but that’s a mask she wears because of her unhappy childhood. And I liked the fact that she has kept track of, in fact close track of Dylan over the years. In fact she’s quite smitten with this guy she’s never met.
I like the dynamics between Madison and Dylan. They play kind of a cute cat and mouse game throughout the book, circling around each other as they grow closer and the attraction grows.
I still recommend this book, in fact the whole series. There is one more in the works about Bea, the sister we haven’t really gotten to know yet and I’m looking forward to her story too.
And since then he has had very little to do with them, only the very occasional email. He had joined the Special Forces and been sent around the world and hard to keep in touch with. But things are different now. He’s out of the forces and living off the grid in Panama. Then he happens to be watching TV in a bar one evening and sees a story that Sabrina, his youngest sister has been kidnapped.
With his background, he figures he’s the right person to help find her. He has years of neglect to make up for as far as relationships with his family go and heads home. But first he makes a stop in Los Angeles where he meets our heroine, Madison. She is the high powered attorney and has been for years for the King family. As Dylan knows nothing about his possible inheritance, this has all been covered in previous books and I recommend reading them prior to this one. First because they are good reads and second one needs to know what’s happened to figure this one out.
It turns out the Sabrina has already been rescued but Dylan is flabbergasted to learn he is the sole beneficiary of all his father’s wealth if he claims it within a certain time frame. And the time frame is almost up. It’s up to Madison to guide Dylan in everything he needs to know if he plans on accepting the legacy.
That’s the outline and now for my thoughts. I was most astonished to find this is my least favourite of the three books when this book is the reason I started in the first place. The reason is I had quite a number of issues with Dylan. Despite knowing the dysfunction of his family, he pretty much ignores his sisters, never really bothering to keep in touch with them. When he learned his father had died in fact, he closed his email account completely and had no phone so it was impossible for them to get in touch with him. And as we have seen in previous books, they really needed him as they had been cut out of the will completely. When he’s brought up to date with things, he figures it’s his job to ‘rescue’ his beloved sisters.
Give me an f’ing break. He had no issues with acting as if they didn’t even exist for years and now he expects to be their hero???? Uh, no, they have managed to survive without his presence in their lives.
And without even having met him and getting the lay of the land, he hates his future brother-in-law Clayton. Clayton is the one who has had their backs for years. And even when a number of people tell Dylan how much Clayton loves his sister Ronnie, Dylan just ignores it and keeps up with his plans. He isn’t really redeemed enough for my satisfaction on that account. The sister let him off way to easily. His rationale is there has been extreme hostility from both his mother and father towards the other, but that doesn’t excuse his treatment or lack of treatment rather of his sisters. I get the feeling he thinks he’s all that and a bag of chips.
I liked Madison a lot more. She comes across as very cold and unfeeling, caring only about her career, but that’s a mask she wears because of her unhappy childhood. And I liked the fact that she has kept track of, in fact close track of Dylan over the years. In fact she’s quite smitten with this guy she’s never met.
I like the dynamics between Madison and Dylan. They play kind of a cute cat and mouse game throughout the book, circling around each other as they grow closer and the attraction grows.
I still recommend this book, in fact the whole series. There is one more in the works about Bea, the sister we haven’t really gotten to know yet and I’m looking forward to her story too.
December 9, 2018
Not at all like the first book.
This just wasn't good. Quite the opposite actually. Pretty silly, didn't make sense, underdeveloped plot and characters, and no spark between MCs or sense of reality to the story. I wouldn't recommend it at all.
This just wasn't good. Quite the opposite actually. Pretty silly, didn't make sense, underdeveloped plot and characters, and no spark between MCs or sense of reality to the story. I wouldn't recommend it at all.
July 3, 2022
Disconnect and plot holes
The first two books of this series take place in and around the Kings Lands ranch in Texas, but this one inexplicably takes place in LA. He's former special ops, but she's surprised that he has any resources other than what she gives him. She's 29 and a junior partner, but lead attorney on one of her firm's biggest accounts. She thinks offering a week's worth of sex is worth someone giving up an inheritance worth millions if not billions of dollars. And she apparently has had run ins with Dylan's mother, who wouldn't have had any dealings with Hank's attorney since Dylan, and more to the point, Madison, was a child and long before she was an attorney. Hank would not have one person to be personal and company attorney, his companies would have had a whole cadre of in-house council. And it would certainly not be ethical for her or the firm to try to interfere with the terms of a clients will. If Dylan was so concerned about his sisters and doing the right thing, why not go on to Texas and I don't know, talk with them? Then they all could have known everyone's intentions. I have little patience for drama that could be resolved by a conversation.
The first two books of this series take place in and around the Kings Lands ranch in Texas, but this one inexplicably takes place in LA. He's former special ops, but she's surprised that he has any resources other than what she gives him. She's 29 and a junior partner, but lead attorney on one of her firm's biggest accounts. She thinks offering a week's worth of sex is worth someone giving up an inheritance worth millions if not billions of dollars. And she apparently has had run ins with Dylan's mother, who wouldn't have had any dealings with Hank's attorney since Dylan, and more to the point, Madison, was a child and long before she was an attorney. Hank would not have one person to be personal and company attorney, his companies would have had a whole cadre of in-house council. And it would certainly not be ethical for her or the firm to try to interfere with the terms of a clients will. If Dylan was so concerned about his sisters and doing the right thing, why not go on to Texas and I don't know, talk with them? Then they all could have known everyone's intentions. I have little patience for drama that could be resolved by a conversation.
October 26, 2023
Unrealistic Storyline!
I like the overall story of the Kings. However this particular story is so far fetched and unrealistic that I had to force myself to finish the book. What strong man would give up his inheritance for a week with a woman? A man who doesn’t do relationships? A man who could pretty much have any woman he wants? They made it seem like he would be a villain to take his inheritance but he could have shared everything with his sisters. They built Dylan up to be this tough guy but he ended up looking like an idiot by taking her back. What a loser!
I like the overall story of the Kings. However this particular story is so far fetched and unrealistic that I had to force myself to finish the book. What strong man would give up his inheritance for a week with a woman? A man who doesn’t do relationships? A man who could pretty much have any woman he wants? They made it seem like he would be a villain to take his inheritance but he could have shared everything with his sisters. They built Dylan up to be this tough guy but he ended up looking like an idiot by taking her back. What a loser!
July 15, 2018
Really enjoyed reading about these characters, each story flowed so easily
Can’t wait to read beas story :)
Can’t wait to read beas story :)
July 18, 2018
I couldn’t wait to read Dylan’s story - I was intrigued by him in books 1 & 2...so mysterious. I loved the sexual tension between him and Madison. I’m looking forward to Bea’s book!
January 9, 2020
I am so glad I found this series. Every single book has been a winner and Dylan & Maddy’s Book is no exception. It’s got action, chemistry and plenty of witty dialogue. Absolutely loved it!
July 23, 2018
Rating 4.5 Stars.
As S Doyle did, Julie Kriss has written her book in the King Family series so that you don’t really notice they’re each written by a different author. The story flows and the characters are consistent. I also enjoyed this book as well as the others.
Dylan was so vague before seen only through his sisters’ eyes. They barely knew him though they all loved the summer he spent with them and wished to be closer. How complicated must he be to have given up an enormous fortune? He chose the military over coming into his father’s company and sphere of influence. He’s got a soft spot for his sisters though and is appalled to find out that they did not inherit their father’s fortune
He may have not been there for his sisters through the years especially after their father died but he’s on the next plane out to come save Sabrina when he hears she’s been kidnapped. When he arrives in LA, he’s ambushed by his father’s attorney. Relieved to find Sabrina is safe, he’s shocked to realize Veronica is getting married because he believes she’s doing it for the money. As he gets to know his sister better, the attorney becomes someone he can’t ignore especially after he’s been intimate with her.
Maddy’s all about her career. She has worked hard to get ahead and isn’t going to be derailed by a man. Not even the smoking hot, very intriguing Dylan King. Tasked to keep track of him for years she thinks she has him figured out until she meets him in person!
The characters are great, the story full and well-paced and the book fit perfectly with the series.
As S Doyle did, Julie Kriss has written her book in the King Family series so that you don’t really notice they’re each written by a different author. The story flows and the characters are consistent. I also enjoyed this book as well as the others.
Dylan was so vague before seen only through his sisters’ eyes. They barely knew him though they all loved the summer he spent with them and wished to be closer. How complicated must he be to have given up an enormous fortune? He chose the military over coming into his father’s company and sphere of influence. He’s got a soft spot for his sisters though and is appalled to find out that they did not inherit their father’s fortune
He may have not been there for his sisters through the years especially after their father died but he’s on the next plane out to come save Sabrina when he hears she’s been kidnapped. When he arrives in LA, he’s ambushed by his father’s attorney. Relieved to find Sabrina is safe, he’s shocked to realize Veronica is getting married because he believes she’s doing it for the money. As he gets to know his sister better, the attorney becomes someone he can’t ignore especially after he’s been intimate with her.
Maddy’s all about her career. She has worked hard to get ahead and isn’t going to be derailed by a man. Not even the smoking hot, very intriguing Dylan King. Tasked to keep track of him for years she thinks she has him figured out until she meets him in person!
The characters are great, the story full and well-paced and the book fit perfectly with the series.
July 21, 2018
Dylan's story
An excellent read that introduced me to another great author. Enjoyable writing style and character development as Dylan returns home and for the first time in his life falls in love. This is the third book in this multi author series series and it's a great addition. Now all I need is Bea's story. I definitely recommend this one.
An excellent read that introduced me to another great author. Enjoyable writing style and character development as Dylan returns home and for the first time in his life falls in love. This is the third book in this multi author series series and it's a great addition. Now all I need is Bea's story. I definitely recommend this one.
July 17, 2018
3 1/2*
Dylan is the only male in the king family but the butter fight for custody between his parents was to much. At 18 he enlisted & left them to it. The death of Hank couldn’t convince him to return but seeing his stepsister on the news was the final push.
Maddy is the Kings solicitor & has been tasked to keep tabs on him but what are these true reasons? Is Dylan the uncaring person he portrays?
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
July 15, 2018
Just needed to know who got the kitty. R & C?..???
January 16, 2020
This book solves the mystery of where Dylan King has been and why he, too, hated his father, Hank King to the point he wouldn't even return home for Hank's funeral. Although there were interesting parts to the story, the scenes between Dylan and Maddy were too fast, too ridiculous and too unrealistic!
September 22, 2019
I gave it two stars because I liked Dylan. I liked Madison. enjoyed their back and forth, the wittiness, the sarcasm, the build-up of sexual tension. What I didn't like was when the story became ridiculous.
I thought the storyline was moving along and then Maddy got the call from her boss. The book went downhill from there into a level of ridiculousness I couldn't imagine. The deal Maddy offered was so far fetched. The fact that Dylan even considered it and agreed made was so crazy and so seemingly out of character I kept waiting for the other shoe to fall.
Then the truth came out. How could she possibly be surprised, or even angry?
On top of ALL of that, the book felt very rushed. Once Maddy offered the deal, it was like speed reading. They went to the ranch. Things happened. Then it was six months later. The ending was abrupt.
The book left me with so many questions. Why couldn't there have been a compromise? Why was it all or nothing? Why was no more time spent on his relationship with his siblings? After the storm, they didn't even bother to go back to the ranch. Why not? What about his friendship with Eli, and how their next move happened?
I'm glad I read this through KU. After reading the first books, if I had paid for this, I would have been really upset. The truly frustrating thing is that if the book had continued they way it began, it probably would have been pretty enjoyable.
I thought the storyline was moving along and then Maddy got the call from her boss. The book went downhill from there into a level of ridiculousness I couldn't imagine. The deal Maddy offered was so far fetched. The fact that Dylan even considered it and agreed made was so crazy and so seemingly out of character I kept waiting for the other shoe to fall.
Then the truth came out. How could she possibly be surprised, or even angry?
On top of ALL of that, the book felt very rushed. Once Maddy offered the deal, it was like speed reading. They went to the ranch. Things happened. Then it was six months later. The ending was abrupt.
The book left me with so many questions. Why couldn't there have been a compromise? Why was it all or nothing? Why was no more time spent on his relationship with his siblings? After the storm, they didn't even bother to go back to the ranch. Why not? What about his friendship with Eli, and how their next move happened?
I'm glad I read this through KU. After reading the first books, if I had paid for this, I would have been really upset. The truly frustrating thing is that if the book had continued they way it began, it probably would have been pretty enjoyable.
July 10, 2018
The Bastard was another sexy and emotional book in the King Family series. Julie Kriss wrote a great story full of sizzling tension between a buttoned-up lawyer and a sexy ex-soldier.
"It was time to go home after all these years. Time to be, however reluctantly, a King."
Both the book itself and the characters were really well written. I loved how Dylan and Maddy were so different, yet so alike in other ways. She was perceived as an ice princess, cold and unfeeling, yet Dylan was able to quickly see past her professional exterior. They both experienced difficult upbringings in different ways, with their pasts affecting their views on life and relationships. I loved seeing both of their walls come down, and Kriss gave readers some really entertaining banter between the two of them.
"How was is possible to be an a**hole and a hero at the same time? And how was it possible to be hot while doing it? I'd never met anyone like this man."
The intimate scenes were smoking hot and the dialogue was well written. The story, while on the shorter side, flowed well and kept me engaged. I especially enjoyed seeing the rest of the King family, and loved that Dylan was able to reconnect with them. This series is really enjoyable and fantastically written, and I am looking forward to reading Bea's story!
"It was time to go home after all these years. Time to be, however reluctantly, a King."
Both the book itself and the characters were really well written. I loved how Dylan and Maddy were so different, yet so alike in other ways. She was perceived as an ice princess, cold and unfeeling, yet Dylan was able to quickly see past her professional exterior. They both experienced difficult upbringings in different ways, with their pasts affecting their views on life and relationships. I loved seeing both of their walls come down, and Kriss gave readers some really entertaining banter between the two of them.
"How was is possible to be an a**hole and a hero at the same time? And how was it possible to be hot while doing it? I'd never met anyone like this man."
The intimate scenes were smoking hot and the dialogue was well written. The story, while on the shorter side, flowed well and kept me engaged. I especially enjoyed seeing the rest of the King family, and loved that Dylan was able to reconnect with them. This series is really enjoyable and fantastically written, and I am looking forward to reading Bea's story!
November 25, 2018
Meh. Unlikable, hard to root for characters make it difficult to get that invested.
December 2, 2018
So ...
I'm torn between DNF and F
But ... ok I read to 60% and then the last 3 chapters [I'd started before but skimmed to that but really started to read then...] so ... maybe I'll go back and maybe I'll change my mind ... is it fair to not read ~20-30% of the book but judge it?
I assume it's a lot of [angry] sex and serious fucking stupidity that would just piss me off insanely.
... I H A T E the sex with client thing - and how HOW is she all torn up about the ~ethical violations of sleeping with her professor but just fine with FUCKING HER CLIENT?!
"Oh but he isn't really my client because he doesn't own King's everything yet" ... I mean I'm pissed I'm even trying to come up with an excuse here.
In fact I hate she keeps her job - ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! A law firm that wants to be so shady and coercive and she stays there?
... You know what? No - I am rating this 1 star.
I also have a major fucking problem with it being written with HER being the "bad guy" for having sex with her LS prof for a good grade. I get that in part like she's internalized it and her way of thinking is and was wrong but it was NOT really handled or addressed properly IMO. That's some goddamn fucking predatory shit and it's UNIVERSES of not ok. [And I realize I might react a bit more strongly than your average bear here but ...]
AND THEN she's all "you should give up your inheritance and you can maybe have sex with me for a week" ... WHAT THE FUCK IS EVEN HAPPENING?!
Like girlfriend! I was team you - until this shit are you kidding me?!
AND clearly Dylan agrees to it so he's dumber than fuck too. (Yes I skipped/skimmed once he takes the paperwork home because I KNEW he'd agree...)
So then they're at Dallas for the wedding and like got-damn can Ronnie not catch a fucking break for ANY of her celebrations?
Anyway a) tornado. Like ... I get that was a bad one but ... >.> I dunno. I guess I'm not tornado sympathetic as I should be. And yes I've lived through a bunch, and yes thank you through the grace of God not awful ones. Not like a F5 or anything. Just a bunch of F0s-F3s or so? But even then! Even though I don't even worry or go downstairs unless/until they say there's a tornado TOUCHDOWN in the immediate area ... I know not to fucking try to drive around in one. JFC.
So ... ugh.
And the "no hard feelings" I almost want to look into that.
Anyway, this book more pissed me off than anything. And it'd been going so well. I EVEN was going to get over my "she's fucking her client and this is so not ok" because both the hero and heroine are so steady and stable. [And like ALREADY THAT'S A BIG FUCKING ASK.] But then there's that coercive and shady as shit and nope.
Fuck all that shit and *burns everything to the ground*
F. Just thinking about this all makes me angry.
I'm torn between DNF and F
But ... ok I read to 60% and then the last 3 chapters [I'd started before but skimmed to that but really started to read then...] so ... maybe I'll go back and maybe I'll change my mind ... is it fair to not read ~20-30% of the book but judge it?
I assume it's a lot of [angry] sex and serious fucking stupidity that would just piss me off insanely.
... I H A T E the sex with client thing - and how HOW is she all torn up about the ~ethical violations of sleeping with her professor but just fine with FUCKING HER CLIENT?!
"Oh but he isn't really my client because he doesn't own King's everything yet" ... I mean I'm pissed I'm even trying to come up with an excuse here.
In fact I hate she keeps her job - ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! A law firm that wants to be so shady and coercive and she stays there?
... You know what? No - I am rating this 1 star.
I also have a major fucking problem with it being written with HER being the "bad guy" for having sex with her LS prof for a good grade. I get that in part like she's internalized it and her way of thinking is and was wrong but it was NOT really handled or addressed properly IMO. That's some goddamn fucking predatory shit and it's UNIVERSES of not ok. [And I realize I might react a bit more strongly than your average bear here but ...]
AND THEN she's all "you should give up your inheritance and you can maybe have sex with me for a week" ... WHAT THE FUCK IS EVEN HAPPENING?!
Like girlfriend! I was team you - until this shit are you kidding me?!
AND clearly Dylan agrees to it so he's dumber than fuck too. (Yes I skipped/skimmed once he takes the paperwork home because I KNEW he'd agree...)
So then they're at Dallas for the wedding and like got-damn can Ronnie not catch a fucking break for ANY of her celebrations?
Anyway a) tornado. Like ... I get that was a bad one but ... >.> I dunno. I guess I'm not tornado sympathetic as I should be. And yes I've lived through a bunch, and yes thank you through the grace of God not awful ones. Not like a F5 or anything. Just a bunch of F0s-F3s or so? But even then! Even though I don't even worry or go downstairs unless/until they say there's a tornado TOUCHDOWN in the immediate area ... I know not to fucking try to drive around in one. JFC.
So ... ugh.
And the "no hard feelings" I almost want to look into that.
Anyway, this book more pissed me off than anything. And it'd been going so well. I EVEN was going to get over my "she's fucking her client and this is so not ok" because both the hero and heroine are so steady and stable. [And like ALREADY THAT'S A BIG FUCKING ASK.] But then there's that coercive and shady as shit and nope.
Fuck all that shit and *burns everything to the ground*
F. Just thinking about this all makes me angry.
September 11, 2023
Even if I could somehow overlook the absolute lack of professional ethics of the lawyer FMC sleeping with her client (after firmly telling him it was never going to happen! several times! and then changing her mind for no good reason and remaining as counsel!), I could not overlook the MMC’s toxic masculinity, which included breaking into Madison’s apartment and just saying he’s Special Ops when he’s called out for doing anything illegal. Nor did I care for a natural disaster providing the impetus for them to get over the nonsensical low moment. Also he’s back in the US ostensibly to be a better brother but he doesn’t ever call any of his sisters, even after he’s decided he’ll go to Ronnie’s wedding. That is not how you handle a family reunion, especially not when his decision about the inheritance affects all of them.
Characters: Dylan is a 31 year old white former Special Ops. Madison is a white lawyer. This is set in LA, Dusty Creek, TX, and Brujas, Panama.
Content notes: sexual harassment by MMC (he undresses in front of FMC before going to shower when she is there as his lawyer), MMC breaks into FMC’s condo and hacked her phone to delete the numbers of any men from her contacts, panic attack, tornado, car accident, toxic masculinity, cyberstalking, slut-shaming, family estrangement, alcoholic mother, sexism, professional ethics violation (lawyer FMC has sex with MMC even though he is her client; her law firm doesn’t want MMC to accept his inheritance even though he is ostensibly the client), past unethical teacher-student relationship (FMC slept with professor in exchange for a good grade at his initiation), child with asthma being taken to hospital, recent death of estranged father, past parental infidelity (MMC’s mother was father’s mistress), past brutal custody battle, past witnessed violence between FMC’s parents, FMC’s mother got pregnant with her at 16, sister abducted by stalker (recovered), old shoulder and knee injuries, on page sex, alcohol, inebriation (secondary character), STD stigma, sex worker stigma, gendered pejorative, gender essentialism, ableist language
Characters: Dylan is a 31 year old white former Special Ops. Madison is a white lawyer. This is set in LA, Dusty Creek, TX, and Brujas, Panama.
Content notes: sexual harassment by MMC (he undresses in front of FMC before going to shower when she is there as his lawyer), MMC breaks into FMC’s condo and hacked her phone to delete the numbers of any men from her contacts, panic attack, tornado, car accident, toxic masculinity, cyberstalking, slut-shaming, family estrangement, alcoholic mother, sexism, professional ethics violation (lawyer FMC has sex with MMC even though he is her client; her law firm doesn’t want MMC to accept his inheritance even though he is ostensibly the client), past unethical teacher-student relationship (FMC slept with professor in exchange for a good grade at his initiation), child with asthma being taken to hospital, recent death of estranged father, past parental infidelity (MMC’s mother was father’s mistress), past brutal custody battle, past witnessed violence between FMC’s parents, FMC’s mother got pregnant with her at 16, sister abducted by stalker (recovered), old shoulder and knee injuries, on page sex, alcohol, inebriation (secondary character), STD stigma, sex worker stigma, gendered pejorative, gender essentialism, ableist language
October 8, 2020
Dylan & Madeline
Far out I love Julie Kriss’ books! She has absolutely got it GOIN’ ON. Damn I wish she has written all books in this series, but all g. Am keeping up w her through her other books 😋.
🔥HOT chemistry ✔️
Hot cover ✔️
Smexy Alpha ✔️
Can’t put down ✔️
Interesting story ✔️
Good editing ✔️
Story: Dylan was the rebel brother whom no one had seen in years. He wanted nothing to do with his dead father or the family estate, until distressing news about one of his sisters made him wake up and return home. Madeline the estate’s lawyer has been long anticipating the return of the prodigal son. Turns out her anticipation is richly rewarded.
SCORCHING hot chemistry, best sx I’ve read in ages. Such delicious anticipation - I love the way the author has created Madeline’s persona in this book. She is so professional and removed in the other books. As she should be ;)
“Dylan kissed the edge of my jaw, then the tender skin beneath my ear. “I made you an offer,” he said. “I meant it. If you want to come, you call me. Not him. Not anyone. Only me.”
“Did you wear these for him?” I was hypnotized now, my legs going boneless, wanting to open for him. “Maybe. Yes.” “Throw them out,” he said, pulling the thong panties down and dropping them to the floor. “Delete his number. Whoever else you have in your phone, delete them, too. You’re finished with him as of now. You’re finished with all of them.”
Series:
King Family #1 Tycoon | Molly O’Keefe (Clayton & Veronica)
King Family #2 The Bodyguard | S Doyle (Garrett & Sabrina)
King Family #3 The Bastard | Julie Kriss (Dylan & Madeline)
King Family #4 Cowboy | Molly O’Keefe (Cody & Beatrice)
Far out I love Julie Kriss’ books! She has absolutely got it GOIN’ ON. Damn I wish she has written all books in this series, but all g. Am keeping up w her through her other books 😋.
🔥HOT chemistry ✔️
Hot cover ✔️
Smexy Alpha ✔️
Can’t put down ✔️
Interesting story ✔️
Good editing ✔️
Story: Dylan was the rebel brother whom no one had seen in years. He wanted nothing to do with his dead father or the family estate, until distressing news about one of his sisters made him wake up and return home. Madeline the estate’s lawyer has been long anticipating the return of the prodigal son. Turns out her anticipation is richly rewarded.
SCORCHING hot chemistry, best sx I’ve read in ages. Such delicious anticipation - I love the way the author has created Madeline’s persona in this book. She is so professional and removed in the other books. As she should be ;)
“Dylan kissed the edge of my jaw, then the tender skin beneath my ear. “I made you an offer,” he said. “I meant it. If you want to come, you call me. Not him. Not anyone. Only me.”
“Did you wear these for him?” I was hypnotized now, my legs going boneless, wanting to open for him. “Maybe. Yes.” “Throw them out,” he said, pulling the thong panties down and dropping them to the floor. “Delete his number. Whoever else you have in your phone, delete them, too. You’re finished with him as of now. You’re finished with all of them.”
Series:
King Family #1 Tycoon | Molly O’Keefe (Clayton & Veronica)
King Family #2 The Bodyguard | S Doyle (Garrett & Sabrina)
King Family #3 The Bastard | Julie Kriss (Dylan & Madeline)
King Family #4 Cowboy | Molly O’Keefe (Cody & Beatrice)
August 2, 2018
Dylan King meets his match
What a great ending in the third book of the King trilogy. Dylan King meets his match in Miss-Legal-Wet-Dream, Madison White. Madison works hard in the position she holds at the law firm that serves the King Legacy. She’s learned to play the game, tough and no-nonsense, in a mostly male-dominated business. When she finally meets the elusive Dylan King at the airport, Madison is sent off kilter. Gorgeous, chiseled, and commanding, Dylan is more than she bargained.
Dylan King finally quits Special Ops 5 months ago. Burned out and pushed beyond exhaustion, he’d had enough and looked for some R&R. He never made it home for his father’s funeral and the King Legacy that was left to him, but when he learns his sister’s life is in danger from a stalker, he heads home to Texas. He never wanted his father’s money. The only regret was how he left his sisters behind. Now he wants to make amends. As Madison and Dylan spend time together, they find that they have more in common. I loved the dynamics between Dylan and Madison, theirs is “explosive and passionate and wild.” Two people who know loneliness all too well, find compassion and love.
We get a wonderful resolution to the King estate, more about Veronica and Clayton, and Sabrina and Garrett. I loved it! Julie Kriss does a wonderful job. I received and voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
What a great ending in the third book of the King trilogy. Dylan King meets his match in Miss-Legal-Wet-Dream, Madison White. Madison works hard in the position she holds at the law firm that serves the King Legacy. She’s learned to play the game, tough and no-nonsense, in a mostly male-dominated business. When she finally meets the elusive Dylan King at the airport, Madison is sent off kilter. Gorgeous, chiseled, and commanding, Dylan is more than she bargained.
Dylan King finally quits Special Ops 5 months ago. Burned out and pushed beyond exhaustion, he’d had enough and looked for some R&R. He never made it home for his father’s funeral and the King Legacy that was left to him, but when he learns his sister’s life is in danger from a stalker, he heads home to Texas. He never wanted his father’s money. The only regret was how he left his sisters behind. Now he wants to make amends. As Madison and Dylan spend time together, they find that they have more in common. I loved the dynamics between Dylan and Madison, theirs is “explosive and passionate and wild.” Two people who know loneliness all too well, find compassion and love.
We get a wonderful resolution to the King estate, more about Veronica and Clayton, and Sabrina and Garrett. I loved it! Julie Kriss does a wonderful job. I received and voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
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