Seduction hotter than stolen jewels in this new series from the New York Times bestselling author of Big Rock.Bounty hunter Jake Harlowe knows how to track a criminal. So when a group of swindled shareholders hire him to trail their former CEO, Jake expects a quick trip to the Cayman Islands to close another case. Until a devastatingly beautiful woman gets in the way.Steph Anderson is visiting … way.
Steph Anderson is visiting the Caymans for a rock climbing and dive trip—or so she tells Jake. She’s really trying to find out whether or not her stepfather embezzled money from his company. The last thing Steph needs is the distraction of a sexy, charming man whose kisses drive her wild.
Soon, the pair discover they’re after the same target—and millions in jewels. While Jake can’t be certain Steph isn’t working for her stepfather, and Steph can’t be certain Jake isn’t after the diamonds for himself, they can agree the heat between them is intense, and neither can deny the passion for long.
But the morning after, Steph discovers that she just might have slept with the enemy, and now she’ll have to outwit him to get everything she needs…
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Jake is a recovery man. He’s hired to track down stolen goods when the owners do not want to involve the authorities. He’s an ex-army man with good moral values. His parents died when he was 17, leaving him and his three siblings alone. Jake and his older sister are the caretakers now and helping to support the younger two brother and sister in college.
Stephanie is an island Eco-adventure tour guide. Steph is recovering from her mom and step-dads nasty divorce and also from a bad break-up herself. Her ex sabotaged her business with fake online reviews. She had to start all over with a new business name to recover from the damage he caused.
Jake and Steph meet when both are lulled to the Caymans to investigate Stephs step-dad Eli’s new found wealth. Steph is angry that her step-dad left her mom with nothing in the divorce. Jake is hired by Eli’s business partners. An investment tanking and Eli’s sudden retirement seems suspicious.
This is my first Lauren Blakely novel and I very much enjoyed it! Jake and Stephanie were fun to read. Very likeable characters, great chemistry, mature writing and a fun plot. This is book one and did end on a cliffhanger. Book two is looking like things are going to start spicing up!
5 Stars
Lauren Blakely is a definite #oneclick author for me…if she writes I #oneclick it. Having said that, I am absolutely loving this new series she is bringing us. A little comedy, a little suspense, and a whole lot of steamy.
Jake Harlowe is every woman’s wet dream…all Alpha, ex-military special forces, bounty hunter, definitely a family man, and hot AF…did I mention hot? Yes, he’s HOT!! I love Steph…she is strong, doesn’t take crap off of anyone and determined to help her mom, even at the cost of her step-father, the only father she has ever known. Yes, this story ends on a cliffy of sorts, but I have no doubts she won’t leave us hanging for long. Another great book by one of my favorite authors.
Angela – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
Exciting suspense story wrapped in a romance.
Partners?
Enemies?
Smugglers and embezzlement!
All the excitement and a bit of steam.
4.5 Batman & Robin Hood Stars!
Ms. Blakely has done it again! She has given us an exhilarating, suspenseful and sexy story that captures you from page one and never lets go. Jake Harlow is a rugged, ex-military bounty hunter. He uses the skills he learned in army intelligence to recover stolen property for the rightful owners while raising and supporting his younger siblings. Steph Anderson is re-building her adventure tour company in vacation spots around the equator after her ex boyfriend tried to destroy it. Steph is sweet but brave and adventurous and never backs down from a challenge. When she learns that her step father, Eli, may have embezzled money, she is determined to uncover the truth. When she and Jake meet by chance in a bar over darts, the sparks begin to fly. Their banter is clever, and filled with hot, sexy innuendo. They can’t deny their chemistry but have a hard time completely trusting each other. When they realize they are after the same man, they agree to team up. They have fun working in tandem, assembling the clues they uncover. But will their individual motives for the truth cause them to betray one another despite their passionate attraction? Jake and Steph are wonderful characters. They are both smart, caring, and playful yet they challenge each other making them so perfect together. Ms Blakely expertly introduces us to the other players in this mystery and reveals just enough clues to keep you turning the pages without making it predictable and lifeless. She also incorporates some fun names from previous works. This is an exhilarating, sexy story with hot passion and a touch of mystery. The ending will leave you wanting more and thankfully the next book – The Sapphire Heist, is only a month away!
This was a pretty good story, I dug Jake and Steph. There were a couple of parts that I thought dragged a little. There was this whole “we shouldn’t sleep together because we’re working together ” type of thing they had going on. They sure did have some sexual chemistry kickin’ on and off. But holy hell, I wanted to yell at them while they were dry humping on the beach like teenagers. Yo, get in your car and drive yourselves to a bed! Hell, do it at the beach, no one was around! Well, except sand. You don’t wanna get sand in your crevices. That whole part was just so weird to me. Anywho, moving on….
Overall, I liked the whole diamond premises. All cloak-and-daggerish. I’ll check out the second book in the series just to see how everything plays out.
It’s not often that I sit and read an entire book in one sitting but, from the moment I started The Sapphire Affair by Lauren Blakely, I refused to put down the book until I finished. Not only does this book have a smoking hot romance (as per usual with Lauren Blakely), but the narrative is an action-packed thrill ride, guaranteed to get your adrenaline pumping. There’s danger. There’s mystery. There’s suspense. Did I mention the smoking hot romance? The Sapphire Affair is a high-stakes, adventure-filled romance that starts with a bang and keeps you on your toes until the very last sentence.
With a bounty hunter for a hero and an adventurer for a heroine (seriously, that’s her job), it’s not surprising that The Sapphire Affair is Lauren Blakely’s most exhilarating story to date. We first meet protagonist, Jake Harlowe, in the midst of his job as a recovery specialist – a job that requires careful planning, a bit of luck, and lot of ingenuity. Juggling his hazardous job with acting as a substitute parent for his younger siblings doesn’t leave Jake much time to form romantic connections, yet his one rule is to keep his professional and romantic lives separate. It’s therefore fortuitous that he has no idea that the woman who catches his eye on his latest job happens to be the stepdaughter of his target. When Jake meets Steph Anderson, she’s simply a gorgeous woman in a bar with whom he shares flirtatious banter and incredibly potent chemistry.
When Steph inevitably becomes entangled in Jake’s investigation, professional and personal lines are blurred, and the sexual tension between them escalates to uncontrollable proportions. Their romance is a temptation, a teasing push-and-pull that’s as riveting as the case they’re attempting to unravel. As this novel can attest, no one writes a love scene quite like Lauren Blakely. It’s not just sex between her characters (or foreplay, as it may be), it’s a physical and emotional intimacy – one that’s the result of all-consuming kisses, a worshipping of bodies, and a desire for the characters to memorize each other through taste, touch, and feel. Jake and Steph’s romance may be a slow burn, but the buildup is just as satisfying as the payoff.
As part one of a two-part series, The Sapphire Affair is designed to whet your appetite and entice you to return for more. While I feel as though I’ve been thoroughly acquainted with Jake and Steph, this book only scratches the surface of their budding romance and of their ongoing investigation. By the end of the book, I was left with an impatient need to fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle, which is admittedly part of the fun. After finishing The Sapphire Affair, I can guarantee you’ll be dying to delve right into The Sapphire Heist.
*complimentary copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review
I had a hard time getting into this book, but I was determined to finish it, I get to the end and its a cliff hanger and nothing about this book would make me decide to read #2. Also it’s more sex than plot.
I have read many books by Lauren Blakely so I did not hesitate to grab this book up! With that being said – this book was just ok. I felt that it was lacking some punch and that Lauren Blakely touch.
I did enjoy the story and thoroughly enjoyed the playful, yet flirty banter and chemistry between Jake and Steph, along with the friendship that they were creating. What fell short for me? Well, the action and suspense of these two characters trying to find out what happened to the diamonds/art/money is what fell short. It’s like Ms. Blakely forgot all about that part of story. More action with the characters and coming up with different plans to find the thief would have made this book better (for me).
At only 220 pages it was a pretty quick read. This story does end in a cliffhanger, so be warned about that. Not sure if I will grab up book two, the jury is still out on that decision.
4.5*
If The Sapphire Affair was a movie, Clay and Julia Nichols would be first in line for tickets!
This book has a little bit of everything- mystery, suspense, intrigue, romance, sexiness, another swoon-worthy Blakely hero and a feisty, relatable heroine. If you’re looking for a summertime escape from your typical drama and angst-filled romances I’d highly recommend picking this one up!
Jake is an utterly irresistible character…on top of being completely sexy, he’s downright funny, he’s thoughtful and caring, and did I mention sexy? One of my favorite things about him is his love for his family- I just adored how much he cared for them. Even though they were only on the periphery of this story you could feel the love from his interactions with them. Steph is such a spunky and lively character, she’s adventurous and not afraid to say what’s on her mind. The banter between these 2 was so engaging and their chemistry was off the charts.
The Sapphire Affair is a fun, light-hearted, wholly entertaining read. The action and adventure, the romance, the suspense we’re left with at the end…it all made for such fantastic story. I’m so glad I have part 2 waiting on my NetGalley shelf!
TRUTH…I actually have a massive girl crush on Lauren Blakely. DARE…I dare you to find one book that does not have a scorching hot Lauren Blakely sex scene. She could rewrite the dictionary and I’d one click it for sure. Her stories are always incredible fun and sexy, her covers are always gorgeous and her men…WHOA. Melt your panties HOT. The Sapphire Affair is book #1 in a series and it delivers it all!
Steph Anderson is the goddess of the sea, scuba instructor extraordinaire. After an ex has driven her company almost into the ground, Steph is rebuilding her dive tour business with the help of her mother who has also been burned by a nasty divorce. Steph’s mother asks her to check out what her step father is doing when she visits the island. Little does she know she’s going to be in cahoots with a sexy, ex-military man on her island getaway.
Jake Harlowe is an ex-military bounty hunter who is in the recovery business retrieving stolen items for clients. He is currently investigating Steph’s stepfather, Eli, to see if he is up to any immoral dealings with his new fiancé along with ten million dollars that seems to have disappeared into thin air. Jake’s one rule is to keep work and pleasure completely separate as he is working to help his younger siblings and just doesn’t have time for romance. When he meets Steph, Jake knows that will be blown out of the water! Ready for an island tryst?!? Once he realizes that he and Steph are looking for the same information, they team up and realized they are amazing together, in and out of bed!
I really cannot get the fire and intensity of Steph and Jake out of my head. The playful, sexy banter between the two of them is absolutely fantastic. I’m actually really surprised how long it took Steph and Jake to get their sexy on, but when they did, FIREWORKS!! Lauren always writes the most incredible sex scenes, but I’ll tell you, the chemistry between Steph and Jake made them my new favorite couple.
Once again, Lauren Blakely does not disappoint. The Sapphire Affair is a fun, sexy, intriguing read that had my interest from the first paragraph. This is a perfect summer time, day at the beach read. I finished this book in one afternoon and cannot wait for book #2. The Sapphire Affair does end in a cliff hanger but you will not need to wait very long. Book #2, The Sapphire Heist comes out August 16th!
Great book! There’s mystery, suspense and intense mutual attraction with sexual tension that held my attention so much that I didn’t realize that I was coming to the end…and it’s a cliffhanger! The only reason I gave the book 4 stars is because I don’t like books that end abruptly with me devastated that I have to wait for the release for the next part of the story. I rather wait for the whole story and then read it all together. I understand why it’s done but I don’t always agree where the story breaks off for the sequel. Luckily the next one is Sapphire Heist and it is due for release in mid August. Not too long to wait.
I recommended this book to anyone who likes their romances with an edge of your seat feature. I received this Kindle edition book from Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you.
What a fun, sexy, dirty-talking, island tryst this first installment is! Jake is a recovery specialist (bounty hunter) who is on the trail of a man who has stolen 10 million dollars. Steph is the step-daughter of the man in question and they unknowingly meet in a bar and sparks ignite. It isn’t until the next day when pieces start to fall into place and Jake starts to figure out who Steph is and wonders if he can trust her. Both Jake and Steph have trust issues as they have both been burned in the past but the chemistry these two have is enough to nearly start the island on fire. Truth or Dare? Three-to-One? Oh yea! I cannot wait for the next one to find out what happens next!