Villain

This book was very good. Henry and Nadia definitely sent off sparks. Try to read Hero first because it explains a lot about the story background on the characters… highly recommend

I’m not sure why it took me over a year after reading Hero, one of my all-time favorite novels to read it’s companion Novel .

is told from Nadia Ray’s perspective and coincides with the timeline of the book Hero. I would recommend reading Hero first, as it’s amazing however you don’t have to. This can be read as a complete standalone.

Henry Lexington is Cane Carraway’s best friend (from Hero). When Nadia’s boss, an a-hole named Dick sexually harasses her, threatens, and blackmails her since he knows what huge “secret” from her past, she is forced to gather information about Cane Carraway, the broody wealthy, Boston socialite businessman from Hero. Nadia doesn’t go down without a fight. After gathering said information Nadia was planning on doing the right thing, however Henry already has the wrong idea about Nadia.

I wasn’t a fan of how Henry threatened her which is chalked up to him caring for his best friend Cane. Still, he really jumped to conclusions there. This is a short Novella which I liked because the time that it took for the events to occur and then for Henry to show his kind side wasn’t dragged on. He quickly realizes what’s really going on and feels bad.

This book was shortened so their actual relationship was sped up to make the timeline work for the book.

Initially I loved this book. It was fast paced and exciting and I thought it would be another 5 star like Hero was to me.

The constant berating of the heroine for being a not even plus sized but around a size 8-10 maybe was a bit outrageous and unbelievable. I truly don’t feel that in real life people are constantly and I’m talking literally every other scene put down about their body. People called her fat when she was also compared to the actress from Madmen, which is hot not fat! This was so frustrating! When the hero Henry didn’t verbally berate his mother for doing that to poor Nadia, I got even more annoyed with him than I already was.

Sure, Henry was nice to Nadia but damn, they had a one-night stand, a few dates and he just claims to want to be with her when I felt no prior indicators that Henry had these feelings. It would have been nice if there was some indication or intrigue on Henry’s side as to why he likes Nadia.

She’s insecure but my biggest issue was the constant fat shaming, Henry being a schmuck and not ever defending his woman. Geez. I like my heroes to take the heroine’s side and I felt that didn’t happen enough here.

Still, I really like Samantha Young’s writing. Some of her books aren’t for me. I generally don’t like pushy heroes who don’t take into consideration what the heroine wants. If a heroine says to give her space, I believe that should be respected. Henry was so pushy to me as was the hero from On Dublin Street. So, while I don’t love her pushy heroes, I did love two other books of hers.

Nadia and Henry have Beantown a buzz with their fiery and passionate tale. Nadia knew since she was a little girl listening to a Meteorologist tell her all about her job that that was the job for her – it’s just too bad that her slimy boss has her now cringing the very thought of going into work. His leery glances, inappropriate comments and touching, and sexist attitude have made her once beloved job a nightmare. When he corners her and threatens to release unsavory details about her youth unless she jumps on a Tabloid-type story he has brewing has her caught between her journalist’s integrity and her wish to never relive the pain of that indiscretion. Trying to placate him to buy time she starts investigating the story and discovers a very interesting but painful secret about The Carraway and Holland families she knows she cannot be a party in revealing. Apparently her digging alerts the Carraway watch dogs and when Henry Lexington shows on her doorstep to intimidate or buy her silence she is incensed. If these people think she is that cold and calculated, they don’t know Nadia Ray. When Henry discovers that Nadia was never going to release the story and was actually being blackmailed in the first place, he is properly chastised. He wants Nadia to forgive, forget, and date – but Nadia is wise to his notorious playboys ways. She agrees to a night only to explore their undeniable attraction but she plans on guarding her heart against his promises for more. She knows what’s it’s like to to trust and be burned and refuses to let Henry reduce her back to that. But it seems Henry is playing the long game with Nadia and he will not be denied.

3.75 stars–VILLAIN is the second instalment and companion novella in Samantha Young’s contemporary, adult HERO erotic, romance series. This is broadcast meteorologist Nadia Ray, and successful businessman and managing director of his father’s bank Henry Lexington’s story line. VILLAIN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order as VILLAIN is the companion to book one, and many of the events run parallel to, and cross over with book one HERO.

Told from first person perspective (Nadia Ray) VILLAIN follows the building relationship between weather meteorologist Nadia Ray, and billionaire Henry Lexington. Nadia Ray is hiding in plain sight. The latest ‘It Girl’ on the local morning show, Nadia’s ‘buxom’ body has caught the attention of too many admirers including her boss who has discovered that our heroine has a secret in her past-a secret that will be used against her in a blackmail scheme aimed at uncovering the latest scandal of the rich and famous Caine Carraway. Enter Henry Lexington, Caine’s best friend, and the man with whom Nadia will fall in love. What ensues are Henry’s attempts to stop Nadia from discovering the truth about his best friend Caine, and Henry’s seduction of a reluctant Nadia who is desperate to keep her secrets buried in the past.

Nadia has had to endure too many advances from over zealous admirers who believe the beautiful and voluptuous meteorologist is nothing more than b**bs with hair. Now that her boss know the secret in her past, our heroine struggles between keeping her secrets, or burying the secrets of the infamous billionaire. Henry Lexington doesn’t do relationships; his reputation as a player, and manwhore precedes his introduction to our story line heroine-an introduction that pushes all of Nadia’s boundaries and buttons when Henry threatens to destroy Nadia if she continues on the path of certain discovery.

The relationship between Nadia and Henry is one of immediate attraction that is tempered by Henry’s attitude with regard to his over protective nature towards fellow billionaire and best friend Caine Carraway. Henry knows that he screwed up when he verbally attacked our story line heroine-a screw up Henry intends to right before too long. The $ex scenes are intimate, intense and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a small ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Caine Carraway and Alexa Holland; Henry’s parents Penelope and Randall Lexington; as well as Nadia’s boss Dick Peters, and the morning show host Barbara.

VILLAIN is an enjoyable and encouraging story line about two people pulled together by circumstance and fate. The premise is spirited and inspiring; the characters are spicy and energetic; the romance is sexy and passionate.