A self-proclaimed bachelor, content on his own. A runaway bride, searching for her freedom. They may seem like they’ve got nothing in common, but the tiniest sparks make the biggest flames.
Delaney Lewis is desperate for her freedom. From her controlling mother and the man she left standing at the altar.
Her best friend is more than happy to help her escape and sets Delaney up at her soon to be brother-in-law’s house while he’s out of town, confident that when David comes home—he’ll do whatever it takes to keep Delaney safe from her crazy family.
David Sutton finds the surprise of a lifetime when he discovers a woman sleeping soundly in his bed. When she explains how she ended up there, David’s heart and mind slowly open, leading to a permanent place to stay, a job, and best of all, a new outlook.
The woman who was much like a stranger before, slowly becomes his friend…with a few intimate perks and before they know it, real sparks start to fly.
A Boston native, wife, mother, and wine enthusiast. If she’s not writing, thinking about writing, you will find Evelyn with a book in her hands. While a new publisher, she’s been writing for years, and she will continue to write for many years to come. Evelyn is obsessed with assertive and confident men who will stop at nothing to get their woman. Her stories are filled with love, passion and humor. She currently lives in Washington, DC with her husband and two daughters.
I'm a huge fan of this author, she's top two but ain't two. I've re-read all her books so it pains me to say Delaney should have stayed a side character. She was boring, she had no goals or ambition other than to get away from being dependent on her family, she chose to solve this by being dependent on a man she barely knew. Delaney didn't need David, she needed a therapist & a life coach. Her sleeping in his bed was weird & creepy same way it would be if a man did it. The heroine being obnoxious & needy isn't endearing or charming. She was pathetic the entire story. I had hope she would find her independence but no, she let David solve all her problems like she was a child. Having been controlled with money by her mom, she should have been against letting a man buy her a car, give her a job etc. She was such a letdown compared to this author's previous heroines. A self respected woman would have moved with summer & max after their vacation but no, she decided to impose on a man she barely knew because she was hot for him. She had no personality outside of being a victim & her desperate need to be loved by David. I enjoyed the rest of the characters very much. David deserved better than Delaney. This was a step down from the first book in this series. Delaney should have gone on a tinder date, at least that would've increase the anticipation of her & David getting together because her living with him & acting like a horny kicked puppy killed the build up. I'm giving 5 stars because this author's work has been stellar but that magic didn't translate here, I think Delaney being a lifeless & boring damsel is why. She also talked about mitch way too much considering she had no feelings for him so it's odd she talked about him like he broke her heart. P.s. Celia in the hotel room with a sleeping max could be seen as assault. I was surprised that was never mentioned in either book while she's threatening retribution.
This is another 5-Star read brought to you by Evelyn Sola!
I truly wish book amnesia was a thing because I need it with Evelyn Sola books.
If you've read 'Downfall' then you already know that Delaney was teased in the last chapter of that book. She became a !
In Defeat, we learn that she did indeed listen to her heart. She sends a SOS message to her bestie and beau and the next thing we know she's out of there on the first thing smokin'.
As the church gets swallowed up by the distance of the getaway car Delaney has her—What next moment? AND Where do I go from here?
The where she's going is taken care of by Max who gives Delaney the keys to his brother David's house. Somebody should have told David because when he comes home to find he's not alone and that his kitty kat has switched allegiances, he's not a happy camper. Initially, he wants her gone but as they slowly settle into a daily routine David finds that he likes her company and he likes her.
Delaney grows and discovers she has a lot to offer and I was with her for every step of the way for her journey. David was a great support system for Delaney and helped her tremendously in trying to escape the clutches of her crazy family and ex-fiancé who sadly didn't want to take no for an answer.
But who really opened my eyes in this story was Caleb! Who knew, he'd really be good at something and there's a inkling of a possible romance on the horizon for Caleb and Jade. Now, that's another story I want to read and readers will get their chance to read their story eventually. I loved it!
I was a little on edge about David's playboy history and Delaney's family issues but as the story unfolded I loved this relationship! Even though the story is over my 300-page preference it never felt like it dragged or slowed at any point.
CW: Abusive Family Dynamics, Runaway Bride, Toxic Parents, Marriage of Convenience, Mental and Emotional Abuse
“Never again. Never will I let anyone else dictate my life’s choices. Never again will I be like that frog in the pot of water oblivious to its escalating heat. From this day forward, it’s my life and I’m taking full control.”
David and Delaney 😍😍😍
Defeat (Book 2 of Sutton Series )
OBSESSED!!!!! I will forever read Evelyn’s books …
When Billionaire grump and businessman David Sutton finds Runaway Bride Delaney in his bed unaware, he’s both annoyed and attracted to the beautiful stranger. The best friend of his brother’s fiancé , Delaney is both a challenge and a mystery. Is a possible friendship possible for these two, or is there more on the table?
I enjoyed the interaction between these housemates so much ! Crazy and controlling family drama . Close proximity. Fresh start at independence. The friendship between Delaney and bestie Summer are goals …. Evelyn Sola knows how to write the best interracial romance of opposites attracts , chosen family ties, journey of love and loyalty.
It was soo good? The plot. The tension. David and Delaney were it I loved it. And my heart every time Summer and max we’re mentioned. Def will be rereading in the future.
Ms. Evelyn Sola did not come to play! Defeat is a fantastic read and one you will not be putting down. From the get-go, I was emotionally connecting with the characters, and let's not talk about the angst because it's gripping. I highly recommend you download this book.
I loved this book so much!!! David was exactly what Delaney needed because with him, it wasn’t about control, it was about her being free. Max and Summer are still my favorite Evelyn Sola couple of all time but I enjoyed Delaney and David
Defeat was easily one of my favorite books this year. I anticipated David and Delaney, and Evelyn Sola delivered me a full course meal.
Loyalty, love, jealousy, attraction, and complete utter devotion are just a few of the words to describe the relationship between the 2. They find each other to be the forbidden fruit, and David’s temptation level was just as high as Maxwells. The story is spicy and romantic, all rolled into one.
Delaney started as a runaway bride, who went into hiding after jilting her fiancé Mitchell and defying her family. Scared, but determined she was going to live her life as she wanted to do for once. Summer being her best friend, and closer than her actual family makes sure Delaney is somewhere safe and off the radar for everyone looking for her. Being honeymoon bound that place is David’s.
The first introduction is awkward and comical with David finding her asleep in his bed. When she declares it was more comfortable and makes the trek from his room to hers it’s a moment where that mutual attraction is felt albeit it very silently. The more time they spend getting to know one another they shed the brother-in-law and best friend titles slowly moving to friends. David defends her from her toxic family and shields her from her persistent ex fiancé.
When Delaney’s bold actions leads them to cross that imaginary line they begin a complicated but comfortable friends with benefits agreement. Boundaries were set and emotions were off the table. However between David and Delaney the fierce intensity gave way go jealousy , possessiveness and more. Every rule was broken, every emotion was awakened, and both have no idea where things will go.
I devoured the story of our second Sutton brother and I would love to relive it all over again. You need this book in your kindle and on your shelf!
It's 5:00 in the morning and she is in the backseat wearing new pajamas with a small carrying case of clothes and toiletries all at the generosity of her best friend Summer and her fiance Max. They are currently driving her the Max's brother's townhouse so she can be away from everyone as she decides what she is going to do next.
It had only been a few hours since Delaney had run, leaving her fiance at the altar, but she just couldn't go through with it. She despised the man and only had gotten that far because of her mom's bullying. All night she had nightmares that had Mitch sprouting wings and his sharp talons sinking into her to return her back to the church.
When they finally arrived she looks through the window in shock...townhouse? They were approaching a mini-mansion with a four-car garage. Summer and Max were leaving for a trip out of the country and assured her that she would be alone as his brother David was out of town.
The owner's cat Pumpkin kept returning to the master bedroom every time she tried to get her to sleep with her. Not wanting to be alone she decided to follow the cat instead of sleeping in the guest room.
David had gone to a destination wedding of one of his college buddies and was glad to have time away from the office for the first time in over a year. He was looking forward to spending time with one of the many women looking for a meaningless night of ecstasy...what could go wrong?
It turns out that the resort was for couples...taking away any chance he had of hooking up with anyone. Then his flight back to Boston was delayed for several hours and then had to drive home after landing at 1:00 in the morning. All he wanted was to see his cat, crawl in bed and sleep for a week, except he had to be at work the next day.
David had stripped down to his boxers and dropped into bed only to snap up immediately. Instead of his cool sheets he had landed on a warm body.
I loved this book! It is very well written and the characters are fully developed and relatable. This is a friends-with-benefits, age-gap, interracial romance. Although this book can be read as a standalone novel I would highly suggest that you start with book one of the series as the characters are recurring and it will give you the full dynamics of these two brothers, Maxwell and David and a bit of backstory into drama not relating to Delaney and David's relationship.
Delaney has always had everything she wanted in life...except a choice. Her family and her mother in particular have no consideration for what she wants in life. Her mother just wants complete control and she will go to whatever lengths possible. This woman has no conscience.
David is a known playboy and despite his brother's warnings to stay away from Summer's best friend enters into a secret no-strings friends-with-benefits relationship, but as he sees the continued mistreatment she is receiving from her family he will do anything to protect her.
This book will keep you laughing. Evelyn Sola has created the perfect villains because Delaney's mother and Mitch are just not right in the head. Max and David continue their fight over ownership of Pumpkin. If you want a steamy laugh-out-loud read look no further. I can't wait to read clueless Caleb's story.
Yes I’ve spent the day on my couch reading this book. And yes it was worth every minute. This is the second book in The Suttons Series and I loved it so much better than the first one.
While we were introduced to all of the main characters in the first book, David and Delaney are the MCs in this book. Delaney is due to marry Mitch, an asshole of the first order. But minutes before she’s supposed to walk down the aisle her best friend Summer and Max her fiancé help Delaney escape.
Max and Summer are supposed to go on vacation right after Delaney’s wedding and are afraid to leave Delaney at their place. So they leave her at David’s while he’s out of town and Delaney & David’s love story starts there.
There are many OMG moments in this story because of Delaney’s bougie family. Honestly it’s that tale that makes the book! You don’t know how many times I went “no her Mama didn’t!”
Such a great story filled with laughter, tears, joy, so much family drama, and spicy sex. It was such a fun and fulfilling read. Highly recommend. Read this on my Kindle App from Kindle Unlimited.
Ms Evelyn, I love the way you developed David character, some people might calling him immature but what I see it’s someone playful, with a wonderful sense of humor…loyal, hard working and he was living up his life as a bachelor until he got « Max ‘s bug » called LOVE. Love caught him by surprise !! The two brothers couldn’t be more different …and their banter and their love for each other are 👍👍 Delaney, I am proud of you, couldn’t be easy to get out of Lynn’s grips, but I am so glad you gave your Dad a chance. He is redeemable ! Claire and Minnie , I love you ladies ! Damon, shame on you… Delaney got it right when she called you out of your name. Mitch, hopefully you will get what’s coming your way, I have a feeling your « good fortune « is running out.
***SOME SPOILERS *** Book 2 of the Sutton brothers. David’s turn! I enjoyed this book! I enjoyed David and the way he went so hard for Delaney. A true warrior.
Now, Delaney. Ma’am… I needed to see her land on her own more. The Sutton Brothers are who saved her. Having Summer as her best friend is what landed Delaney on her feet. Not a FMC you can emulate. Sorry to be rough on her 🫠. And her mother. That was an unhinged woman. The whole family was! Smh
Overall I enjoyed this book! I laughed and enjoyed catching up with the brothers! Their banter is so funny! 😂 . I love when Troy Duran narrates. And Wesleigh Siobhan never disappoints me🥰.
Max I love you but I love David more lol!!! I really enjoyed Delaney and David coming together, I’m happy he was finally found the one to help him move from his bachelor phase to a man who’s happy to have a woman. Dalaney, you deserve it all girl, a man that has you back and your new family that treats you the way you deserve. Ms Sola did a number on this book and I’m here for it. Now hopefully Caleb and Jade gets their story next. Kudos
So imagine you come home from a business trip and there’s a beautiful woman sleeping your bed with your cat. This is a found family, friends to lovers, sort of forced proximity romance. The story is full of wonderful twist and turns but David was devoted to Delaney from word one without even realizing it. Watching them fall in love was funny and very sexy. He was so protective of her and their friendship blossomed right along with their love. Delaney is the best friend and roommate of the FMC in Downfall - Book 1 of the series, and David is the brother of the MMC. So I had a chance to fall in love with them as individuals before falling for them as a couple.
Evelyn Solo is quickly becoming one of my automatic read authors. You will enjoy both books in the series.
I love the collection of work from this author and this story was no exception. I really liked reading about David’s and Delaney’s journey together. Pumpkin the cat even made an appearance as well as Max and Summer! The only small drawback was that it became repetitive and seemed to recycle the same topic over and over again. I feel like a good 200 pages of the book could have been shaved off by not keep dwelling on Delaney’s family members and her almost on the brink of crying whenever something happened 🙄. Other than that, very entertaining.
I absolutely loved this follow up to Max and Summers story. This has been super refreshing series. Looking forward to getting familiar with other ones written by Evelyn.
I'm a fan of this author's work. She has some fun, steamy books, including this one. Overall, it was an easy and enjoyable read. I feel the drama with the heroine's family went on too long and it started to feel far-fetched, which is why I gave it three stars. If you've liked other books from this author, you'll love this one as well.
I really enjoyed this second book in the Sutton series! I even enjoyed it a lot more than the first book! I fell in love with Delaney and David was the perfect protective boyfriend! And I love a male who loves cats!
This was the best slow burn without feeling like it was way too slow but David and Delaney's attraction felt natural and perfectly drawn out! David was so adorable and I loved how quickly he became protective of Delaney over her family! I was so happy to have little parts of Summer and Max and their HEA mixed in!
Delaney was such a strong character and I loved watching her grow into such an independent woman who knew what she wanted and wouldn't let anyone get in the way even her own parents. She was such a funny outgoing ball of energy and I adored her. Ever since I read Downfall I couldn't wait to read about David and see inside his head! It was so adorable to see him be so set in not having intimacy or a relationship and how quickly that feeling went down the drain.
This book made me swoon, smile, and giggle and even managed to shock me(in an excited way). The steamy, spicy scenes were delicious and I constantly had to fan myself while reading! I miss the Sutton brothers already!
*I received an ARC from the author and Literally Yours PR in exchange for an honest review
I enjoyed every minute of this story. I loved the main characters. I was glad to see Max was still crazy for Summer. I loved how David protected Delaney from her crazy family. That mother was a mother from hell. I would recommend
I honestly usually enjoy her books because I love a good corny romance and love seeing a fmc get spoiled but my GOSHHHH HOW CORNY CAN WE GET? I think the fights were overdone , how many times can your family and ex ambush you like get it together. Every two chapters , her family appears and they have the same fight??? Okay we get it? Same with Celia, guys let’s move on introduce new villains and not over play the same ones. I think the dialogue might be TOOOOO corny in this one. I enjoyed Downfalls corny dialogue but I think it’s because we had stingy David to balance it out, now it’s David and Maxwell just being cringe for 400 pages and it’s too much. “Don’t run with my baby inside you” and the ‘whole conference room laughs’ why are you guys doing this in front of your employees, who cares about your relationship they are there for a CHECK. Whenever there is a standoff between the family and Delaney why does David get so CORNYYYY like my fantasies when I was 13. Like he is standing on the walls, ‘ready to back her up’ , ‘don’t ever talk to my wife again’ , ‘i’m going to get you’ ??? hello?? Delaney is also a culprit - ‘This is my fight , but be ready to back me up’ ARE YOU KATNISS EVERDEEN LMAO? Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t a bad read but these are actually adults stop writing them like 23 year old alpha werewolves!
I'm addicted to Evelyn Sola's books and characters 🤩😍
Defeat ( Book 2 of the Sutton series. This is Davie and Delaney's story. It's full of treachery, deceit which was a contribution from Delaney's family is so cruel. Especially her mom Lynne!! Davie and Delaney gave each other strength, peace, and pure love!! Anything that Delaney's family denied her Davie supplied. I mean everything. 🥰🥰🥰 Check it out
“Defeat”, Another Banger by Evelyn Sola is a delightful romance novel that follows the story of David, the younger brother of Max from the author's previous book, "Downfall." In this story, David's life is turned upside down when he unexpectedly wakes up to find a woman sleeping peacefully in his bed.
The woman, Delaney, is none other than Summer's best friend from Downfall. Initially, David is shocked and perplexed by her presence, but soon discovers that her presence in his life leads to unexpected changes.
Despite their initial apprehension, they embark on a journey of friendship, filled with unexpected intimacy and genuine connection.
As they spend more time together, the chemistry between David and Delaney is undeniable. Despite their differences, they find a way to bridge the gap and form a unique bond. The sparks between them ignite, and they realize that their feelings run deeper than friendship.
One of the key aspects of this book that sets it apart from others in the romance genre is the absence of prolonged miscommunication and unnecessary conflicts. The author skillfully navigates the complexities of their relationship, allowing misunderstandings to be resolved naturally and gradually building trust and understanding between the two characters. The author's ability to create realistic and relatable characters is truly commendable, as she brings them to life on the page in a way that feels genuine.
Despite the authors' ability to create steamy scenes, I personally feel that there could have been more emphasis on visual descriptions rather than relying heavily on dialogue and narration. This would have allowed for a more immersive reading experience and truly brought the intimate moments to life. This however doesn’t take much from the book because the author thoroughly demonstrates her exceptional skill as a writer by creating a romance novel that avoids the typical tropes of slow burn or angst. Instead, she opts for a captivating narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat, eagerly anticipating the next chapter.
Once again, I am impressed by the talents of author Evelyn Sola. In these two books that I have read so far, she has proven that it is possible to write a romance novel without falling into the traps of slow burns or excessive angst. Her stories also lack unnecessary conflicts, allowing the plot to flow seamlessly. Moreover, Sola's characters have a way of misunderstanding each other that can be resolved just as swiftly as the misunderstanding itself occurs.
"Defeat" is an alluring romance novel by Evelyn Sola that offers a unique and refreshing perspective on the genre. She effortlessly combines humor, romance, and relatable characters to create a captivating narrative that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.
With its engaging storyline, relatable characters, and the absence of unnecessary conflicts, this book is a testament to the author's talent for storytelling. Whether you're a fan of her previous works or new to her work, this book is a must-read for anyone looking for a delightful and captivating romantic journey
I want to say ‘this book wasn’t for me’, except it was! It included SO many of my favorite tropes. Moments and characters I enjoyed. Unfortunately, it just kept disappointing me. David’s soon to be sister in law assumes he’ll protect her best friend, so she moves Delaney into his house while he’s away. And it was a good assumption. A safe place to stay, the possibility of a new job, and most importantly: a place to live her best life. I wasn’t even a full page in and I wanted to hug Delaney, protect her from the evils that haunt her. Very quickly, David pegs her as a pampered princess, and not the kind he enjoys. And while I understand her situation, she’s not the kind I want anything to do with either. I have to applaud her for realizing how naive and sometimes immature she could be. Delaney was blind to the world around her. So while I was meant to like her more as the story progressed, I started to like her less. Which annoyed me considering how much I liked her at the start! I had decided to just stick around for the drama, and wait for everything to implode. But by 50%, I was so over the family frama. I genuinely had no more interest in those terrible people. Especially when the work related drama was introduced. (Why?!) Once we hit that third act, I didn’t think David and Delaney were meant to have a happily ever after, more of a happy for now. His lightbulb moment, and fear of losing her didn’t make sense in the moment. There were just too many things I didn’t like for me to enjoy the things I truly liked.
My Favorite Quotes: • “Every man’s fantasy, you are. Beautiful, passionate, and horny.” • “I like my women a little older and a lot more jaded.” • “Take me all the way to the back of your throat like you did before. That’s all I’ve been able to think about all day.” • “Put your money where your pussy is.” • “You’re beautiful when you come.”
7/10 Dirty Birdy 5/10 Age Gap 7/10 Forced Proximity 5/10 Friends to Lovers 4/10 The CEO Type 5/10 Workplace Romance
Delaney and David’s book. Delaney is summers best friend who we were introduced to in summers books and David is maxwells brother. Delaney runs out of her wedding and Maxwell and summer have her stay at David’s while he’s out of town. His phone had broken while he was away so he was completely shocked to find a women in his bed when he got home. He allowed her to stay but in the guest room. He begins to get protective of her. From her parents treating her poorly to her threatening to get a tinder date. He decides she is his. They decide to be each others hook up while she’s living there. But it soon turns into more. With snuggling and dates. When Maxwell assumes David will bring Delaney to family dinner, he spirals. He realizes everyone thought he settled down so he self destructs. He tells her he’s going on a date and to get out of his bedroom. She ends up going to her cousin jades house. He’s disapproving of this because he doesn’t like her family but she has formed a good relationship with Jade. He ends up showing up and begging for her forgiveness when he realized he screwed up. She ends up moving back in. Her mom had stolen all the money from her bank account. Had her car towed. She lost her job at her parents doctors office. Her brother had staged an ambush, convincing her she would only be seeing him. Her mother and Mitch’s mother had shown up for an ambush. David ends up marrying Delaney so they can quit trying to get her to marry Mitch, she’s already married. Mitch shows up and attacks her and her friends and David and Maxwell go feral. Especially since summer is pregnant. David realizes he loves Delaney and tells her so and she loves him too. They live happily ever after. But this series mentions Caleb and his ex Justine and then Caleb using Jade to make Justine jealous. Sets up the perfect book for Caleb and Jade so I am hoping we get there book!!! I enjoyed this book. And this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.