Title: DARE
Series: Brothers of Ink and Steel #1
Author: Allie Juliette Mousseau
Genre: New Adult, Romance
Release Date: January 12, 2015
Josh North is UFC’s Light Heavyweight Champion—but he’s about to meet his match.
Sophie Garner is a single mom who’s been raising her daughter on her own, fighting for both of their lives ever since going into hiding to escape her abusive husband.
When Sophie gets offered the job of a lifetime as the exclusive massage therapist for Josh “The Jackhammer” North’s team, it’s difficult to say no to the outrageous salary—and the bet—that Josh proposes. But for Sophie it’s a risk that could cost a lot more than just her heart – if she’s found, it could cost her her life.
Should she dare?
Josh wants to break through Sophie’s fortified walls, but is unwilling to put the jackhammer to his own and reveal his secrets and the side of him few have ever known or seen. To do that, he’ll have to confront the darkness of his past.
Will he dare?
Six weeks until Christmas. I jab Ray, my sparring partner, in the eye. He staggers back a little before he shakes it off. I wonder if I could get Sophie to come with me to the party?
I send two fast fists into Ray’s ribcage. In two days we’ll all be flying to Denver for the rest of the week. I’ll be meeting Charlie for the first time. I block Ray’s grasp as he comes in and tries to take me to the floor. I land a kick in his well-padded sternum.
I know Denver. Sophie said she’d never been there before. I could set up an impromptu lunch or dinner with her and Charlie … that wouldn’t look like I was hitting on her. Right? Maybe I can even get Sophie to be my—hell, I don’t know what to call it … wingman? Co-pilot? Any term but “date”—for one of the sponsor events. There will be two of them over the weekend.
Ray gets around me and attempts a chokehold. I break free and throw him over my shoulder. His back slams against the mat. I hear the breath that’s forced from his lungs.
The team always sets me up with one or two women for the photo shoots, then for the promo galas, which usually consist of a benefit auction or fundraising dinner. Sophie might find it fun. If we go as friends, she won’t feel threatened, right? And she could learn more about the ins and outs of that side of the business. Oh, hell yeah! That sounds perfect!
Just then Sophie walks by the ring. Her face is freshly scrubbed and free of makeup. She possesses a natural beauty that’s breathtaking. Deep brown chestnut waves of hair cascade over the shoulders of her crisp, white blouse. She glances at me from under her lashes. It’s so subtle, if I wasn’t looking at her precisely at this moment I wouldn’t have noticed.
But I do.
Her cheeks blush with a surge of pink when our eyes meet.
I feel Ray’s legs wrap around mine as I hear his body slam to the mat and sense helplessly that he’s taking me down with him. Shit! Immediately, my hip and shoulder connects with the tough canvas.
Sophie keeps walking by, pretending as if she didn’t see anything, but I see the curve of her rose petal lips as they form a smile.
Reviewed By Karen Lee
When single mother, Sophie, gets a job at a hospital as their massage therapist, she feels blessed and lucky to finally having some stability in her life. Going to school, working, moving from town to town, all the while raising a three year old has made it a tough few years. One of her new clients, Josh North, is the town hero, a part-time firefighter injured on the job rescuing a child from a burning building. His other career is mixed martial arts and he is the defending title holder for the UFC. While treating him in the hospital while he recovers from his injuries, she can see it would be easy to fall for his charm and good looks. He is well known in the tabloids for his man-whore ways. But he is so much more than the charming playboy he portrays in the gossip rags. He has tattoos that cover a lot of his body, some of them being his favorite philosophy on life. He is also thoughtful and caring and when he offers her a job, working on his training team for the next three months to ready him to defend his title, she accepts the job offer. As they spend more time together and Josh spends time with Sophie’s daughter, they both realize they are falling, hard and fast for each other. But they both have secrets, which may not only end what they have built together, but when they resurface have deadly consequences.
Wow, what a book! I read this in one day, excited to find out if they can stay together and to finally find out their secrets. I loved both the main characters and it was nice to have a story of a strong woman who emerges from an abusive relationship and who learns to trust again. 4.5 stars
Allie Juliette Mousseau writes sexy, emotionally-charged New Adult and Adult Romance in a variety of genres and temperatures. She also creates captivating YA worlds through the magic of ink.
She can always be found writing, playing in puddles with her children, hiking with her husband, or adventuring somewhere in the world. Her favorite place to write on warm days is outdoors, but when the weather gets too cold, she'll be inside at her desk inspired by the mountain view from her home office in Montana where she lives with her loving husband, children, and golden retriever.
She loves to travel, and lived for three years in her RV with her family while visiting the national parks and forests of the U.S. and a couple Canadian provinces. Allie loves chatting to her readers through email and social media! Come visit her through any of her links below!
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