Défis et tentations

Sin City Brotherhood #1

by J. Margot Critch

Quand un combat prend l’allure d’un tango sensuel…

Brett Collins n’en revient pas : on vient de lui annoncer que Rebecca Daniels, sa pire ennemie à l’université, était désormais sa plus grande rivale en affaires ! Et, alors qu’il devrait n’éprouver que de la haine à son égard, le voilà qui se surprend à anticiper avec délectation le corps à corps qui l’opposera bientôt à la splendide jeune femme. Un corps à corps qu’il brûle de rendre aussi sauvage qu’intime

Genres: Romance, Mills and Boon

234 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2018

About the author

J. Margot Critch writes steamy contemporary romance and romantic suspense. She graduated from Memorial University with a BA in Religious Studies and Folklore. She currently lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland, with her husband, Brian, and their two little fur buddies, Otis and Chibs. She spends equal amounts of time writing, listening to Jimmy Buffett music and looking out at the ocean, all the while trying to decide if she should have coffee or margaritas.

Reviews

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book that I have read from this author and I found it enjoyable. Brett and Rebecca were a good couple and the chemistry between them was good. Can’t wait to read more from this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[LMR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boardroom Sins: A Steamy Workplace Romance (Sin City Brotherhood Book 1) By: J. Margot Critch
There's Some S€X¥ "Boardroom Sins" Going On When She Comes To TOWN!
They've been competition for Sooo LONG...
Even though they indulged in EACH other ONCE Upon A Time!
Which is ONE Reason why they cannot forget about EACH other...
Sooo, when She comes BACK to Town,
He's MORE than ready to partake in Her Favours Again,
Right before He takes Her DOWN a peg!
It'll be "Boardroom Sins" for TWO in this S€X¥ Tale of TakeOvers!
I was granted, via B00|{$P®0UT, an ARC of J. Margot Critch's "Boardroom Sins: A Steamy Workplace Romance (Sin City Brotherhood Book 1)." I recommend this book to others based upon its own merits. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given!
Until next time... Happy Reading!
My Rating Sytem:
4🌟: I like IT a lot. Great, Solid Story w/ few if any inconsistencies or errors. This is a HIGH Rating, & I rarely give OUT a Higher Rating.
If My Review is helpful to you, please check the box below~ Thank You.

[MaggieReadsRom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first read from Hqn/M&B DARE line.

I didn’t like the hero, Brett,much (unlikeable hero for me) but loved the heroine. His arrogant confidence may appeal to some but I just found it annoying and grating. I wasn’t able to summon up any sympathy for him for most of the book. This was not good. His turnabout, redemption we might call it, was very late in the book and a complete 180 from one page to the next.

I really liked the heroine, Rebecca, as she tried to give as good as she got amd she succeeded a few times but there were also moments where I was like: oh no, girl...don’t give in to the sexual chemistry!

I also loved the rivals/enemies-to-lovers trope and how that was written. The animosity and rivalry was done better than in most e-t-l I’ve recently read, which may have something to do with the asshat-ish hero. The end did feel rushed as the resolution literally happened in the last chapter and sadly there was no big grovel from hero.

One of the main reasons I seek out office/workplace romances is the possibility of sexy times on a desk. This book missed a major opportunity (the scene in Bret’s office at the Club) to give me the desk smexing I look for but it made up for that a little with the one in Rebecca’s office.

All in all it was an okay read that was really sexy and steamy but my disconnection with the hero prevented it from being a great one. That said, I’m definitely curious about the other members of the Brotherhood’s stories so I will be reading more from this author.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boardroom Sins
By J. Margot Critch
4 stars
Reviewed on behalf of 3 Degrees of Fiction Book Blog

I really enjoyed this book! It was really well written and it was one of those books that I found hard to put down. I loved to hate Brett! I loved his arrogant, sexy side but also hated him for what he was doing to Rebecca, even though I think that it was pretty clear that she could hold her own when it came to Brett in the boardroom but maybe not so much in the bedroom! The chemistry between them was electric and their encounters were particularly steamy. I was impressed with the way in which the author wrote these scenes they weren’t too over the top like in some books I have read. The whole story flowed really well and the pace was good. This is my first read of anything by this author and I would definitely like to read more from her again. The only reason I didn’t give this story the full 5 stars was that I did find I struggled a little to connect and relate to the characters although I admit that did like them story wise.
Overall a well written, sexy read and I really enjoyed it!
Oh and I absolutely LOVE the front cover!!

[SBee Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

★ Keeping his eyes on the prize ★

—>>> Review Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars - Brett and his Brotherhood partners are almost ruling the real estate game, but there is just one company in town which is the top rival to theirs, and he runs into their new CEO at the mayor’s social function. If there is anything Brett prides himself in, is that he always gets what he wants, and business is just business. Unfortunately, seeing Rebecca again and on his turf brings back memories of their enemies-with-benefits, tumultuous affair during college as well as his sense of losing control whenever he is around her. And just one taste of her that night is enough to spur him to take action and kill two birds with one stone: rid himself of the competition and the gorgeously distracting woman at its helm at the same time. But playing boardroom games may get them exactly what they both want, besides just “hot under the collar.” Sexy start to this office romance series!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout 💜💜💜 and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Misty - The Erotic Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second Harlequin Dare novel and I must say, I'm really loving this new line!

Boardroom Games is fantastic!

Brett is as alpha as they come. Always used to getting his way, he's not only a master in the boardroom but in the bedroom as well. He's cocky, arrogant, and can be a bit of a jerk at times, but you just know there's more underneath that gruff exterior he presents.

Rebecca is a super strong, sassy heroine that will not settle for anything less than she deserves. She's smart, successful, and determined - and she didn't get that way by giving in, even for a man.

The push and pull of this story definitely kept me intrigued. Their struggle for dominance in the story was fun to watch. And boy, was this story HOT! Plenty of chemistry, plenty of heat, and plenty of supporting characters that I can't wait to have their stories told. I'm definitely keeping my eye out for more books in this series!

[Mia Sparrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love J Margot Critch’s writing style and that makes her books some of my favorites, let me say that first.
I got this book as an ARC, and honestly I had a hard time getting through it. It wasn’t because there was anything wrong with the storyline or the characters. Beneath their tough exteriors they’re wonderful and their story is ultimately satisfying. I think the issue for me was the general lifestyle the characters have. I struggled to find points of relation, even in looks back into our hero’s past. Because I couldn’t find much to relate to, I felt a disconnect from the story and didn’t experience it as fully as I have other books I have read from the same author. I am pretty sure that’s a me thing. Overall, though, the book is great and I am sure I will be picking up the other Brotherhood stories. Curiosity always gets the best of me!

[SweetSweeede · Rating 2 out of 5]

7 sex scenes. Arguing in between. Then all of a sudden... HEA
*facepalm*

I had hopes for this new line as I'd seen it being positively received. However, this book did not impress. I'm not against sex scenes - I have loved many Blaze titles, and I read plenty of erotica, but I found this story lacking when it came to character and plot development. It felt like the same arguments were made in between sex scenes and after it just went back to the status quo. I lacked tension between the characters and the plot itself felt flat and unimaginative. I got my hopes up when he talked about his voyeuristic club, but that too felt meh. Lot of "putting slot A into slot B" without the emotional connection or even kinky tension that needed to be incorporated in order to make this truly steamy.

[Jess Holden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boardroom Sins by J. Margot Critch is the first book in the Sin City Brotherhood mini series. Boardroom Sins is HOTT and extremely mouth watering. I finished this book in one setting. I could not put this book down. Critch sure knows how to keep the bedroom interesting. Rebecca and Daniel have chemistry that burns off the pages.

Rebecca is a shark in the boardroom yet two seconds with Daniel and he has her loosing her witts and her mind. Do yourself a favor and get ahold of this one. I can't go into how I feel about these characters without giving away to much of this book. I am dying to see with the rest of the Brotherhood has in store for us.

[Renée Dahlia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Female friends - yes!
Female CEO - yes!
Rival CEO with control issues who gets owned at the end - yes!

This book fits the Dare premise perfectly. Successful heroine who gives as good as she gets. Explicit sex which is emotional and hot. A hero who falls in love and can't think straight.

I loved this book, and particularly loved the strong female friendship between Rebecca and Alana, and the hero's addiction issues were dealt with nicely. This book packs a lot into only 50k words.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A steamy, sexy, voyeuristic boardroom romance. Sometimes I say that a story has too many sex scenes and not enough story but not this time. I found that the toe to toe interactions between Brett and Rebecca are stimulating and a great segue to steamier parts. The dialog was great, the characters are fantastic and I loved it. I have not read this author before but look forward to seeing what else she has in store.

I received a complimentary copy from Booksprout.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

My first time reading this author and I liked how the story turned out to be. It was already evident since the beginning that both Brett and Rebecca were attracted with each other. Both lust and then love, especially Brett. He couldn't control himself whenever Rebecca is in the same room as him. Tbh I thought that he wouldn't "fold" and bow down to her but I'm happy that he did. That's the reason why it's 4 stars.

[Kathy Mccalmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very spicy start to this series. The characters are rivals in the board Room but have a strong chemistry in the bedroom. What will happen between these 2?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Geraldine Sadiku · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot sexy passionate read that is well worth a read. Strong characters, loved it.

[Tayra Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hooked me from the beginning. I just couldn’t put it down. I fell for these characters and, what a story just perfect.

[laura cabezas · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25! i really liked rebecca and brett i just wished there was an epilogue :)

[Leslivresdemelanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'adore

[Angie Flanagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first time reading this author. I had heard of her before, but never got around to reading her books.  This was an ARC book as well.  I felt like I was disconnected with the characters.  I think it was more because of how they are in the book.  Like both of them are powerful people in their jobs, so they have to be ruthless, and it came across in their every day lives too.

Don’t get me wrong, the book was very well written, and I enjoyed the writing style, but the disconnect with the characters is what put me off it some.  

Rebecca and Brett know each other from their pasts.  Can the attraction still be there? They are at each others throats so much, and have so much rivalry.  Can they make it last?  

As well, there was no boardroom action happening.  I can see why it was called this, but still.  The sexy scenes are HOT HOT HOT though!

[bouquet_de lectures · Rating 2 out of 5]

http://www.virtuellementvotre.fr/2019...

Défis et tentations est un peu l’histoire redondante d’un couple qui s’aime puis se déteste, d’un homme et d’une femme en compétition depuis toujours, mais incapable de ne pas se sauter dessus en présence de l’autre. C’est une histoire finalement simple, rébarbative que l’on a envie de rapidement finir pour passer à la suivante.

Je suis dure c’est vrai et pourtant, je crois que je suis encore en dessous de la réalité tant j’ai eu à cœur d’arriver au bout de ce texte pour ne plus voir les mêmes scènes se répéter inlassablement. J’ai eu beaucoup de mal à m’attacher au caractère des personnages, car l’aspect sexuel de leur idylle est sans arrêt mis en avant comme si c’était le ciment de leur couple. Alors oui, je suis d’accord, l’intimité est importante, mais elle n’est pas l’élément indispensable à la construction d’une véritable relation.

Vous allez me dire, peut-être que je me focalise sur ce détail alors que je sais pertinemment que cette collection est basée sur ce genre de roman. Et vous auriez raison, cela n’empêche pas ma déception de lire un livre censé m’apporter du réconfort alors qu’il m’exaspère d’un bout à l’autre.

Pourtant, j’ai trouvé la narration sympathique et cette rivalité professionnelle intéressante. C’est tellement dommage que ça n’ait pas été plus exploité. Il aurait fallu un peu plus de punch de ce côté-là et un peu moins du côté de la chambre à coucher. Néanmoins, je reconnais que l’autrice a eu une bonne idée de base et que mon avis aurait pu être tout autre si certains points avaient été plus approfondis.

Toutefois, je dois avouer tout de même que j’ai beaucoup aimé la notion de Fraternité et cette amitié indestructible qui unit tous les protagonistes. J’apprécie toujours énormément les récits qui mettent en avant ce genre de rapports humains.

Pour conclure, je vous dirai que Défis et Tentations n’est pas un roman que je vous recommande, car je m’y suis ennuyée tout simplement. C’est dommage, car il avait malgré tout du potentiel.

[Brigitte Alouqua · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ce vingtième numéro de la saga Magnetic me laisse un peu perplexe, j’aurais aimé qu’il fasse un peu plus de pages pour que le thème principal puisse être plus approfondi. Je ne dis pas que je n’ai pas passé un agréable moment lecture, mais je trouve néanmoins que le côté sexe à un peu trop pris le dessus sur une grande partie du récit au détriment de tout le reste.
Par contre, j’ai adoré le bras de fer entre Rebecca et Brett, on peut dire qu’ils n’y vont pas de mains mortes, que ce soit sur le plan professionnel ou personnel, quand ils se donnent, c’est à fond et non à moitié. Même si le côté je-te-saute-dessus-dès-que-je-te-vois est un peu trop présent à mon goût, leurs joutes professionnelles valent le détour.
Nous sommes finalement dans un schéma assez classique, encore une fois, mais cela fonctionne, même si pour moi le côté sexe fut trop présent. J’aurais aimé que tout le reste soit un peu plus développé, ou que tout ne soit pas au second plan au profit de ce côté charnel. Je ne sais pas ce que nous réserve l’auteure pour les autres tomes de Sin City Brotherhood, mais cela sera rapidement le cas.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boardroom Sins by J. Margot Critch is exactly how that title sounds. It's a ravishing, tempestuous, tumultuous, explosive, sinfully provocative office romance that will tantalize your brain and thoughts! The angst level is stupendous and these bold characters know how to keep you hooked! Loved every word of this book!

Highly Recommended
4.5 Stars

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Sin City Brotherhood

[Josie]

I think it's safe to say, the Dare line just doesn't work for me. Here I found the pacing slow, the MCs weren't engaging, and I really didn't care about their relationship development. This was a DNF for me.