Ares saw him for the first time at a Kilgore Police Department benefit dinner. She’d gone with her dad as his plus one. Hayes Romine had gone by himself and brooded silently across the same table as her, drinking whiskey and not saying a word.
It only took that one time for her to become interested.
The next time she saw him, he was doing another benefit—but this one requiring a whole lot fewer … a whole lot fewer clothes. And that was when she knew. She wanted him. Badly. But the morose Hayes was too busy thinking about his sins to see what was right in front of his face—Ares.
Hayes Romine knew the moment that he saw the feisty Ares Downy again that he should’ve stayed away. Maybe if he hadn’t done the stupid calendar, he wouldn’t be questioning every single woman’s intentions.
Maybe if he’d listened to that niggling feeling telling him to stay away, he would’ve been able to do his job a little better. But seeing her with a knife to her throat, in the middle of a building set to blow, made his usually well-wired brain start to malfunction.
Because nobody was allowed to touch her like that—only him. Nobody was allowed to scare her, either. Not and live to tell the tale.
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4 1/2 STARS!
This instant connection rocks her world!! With book four in her always entertaining KPD SWAT Generation 2.0 series, Lani Lynn Vale delights readers with a happily ever after for Ares and Hayes.
Ares Downy is feisty! She works hard to take care of her kids as a high school guidance counselor and is it too much to ask to find a man who is all about her for her down time? She doesn’t think so!
Hayes Romine is damaged. He has a heart of gold but a mind filled with torment, but when his eyes connect with Ares, he feels more at peace than he has in years. Circumstance keeps throwing them together, and by the second or third time he decides she’s his. He just has to convince her of that!
I highly recommend this book and this series to anyone who enjoys a close-knit group of alpha cops who melt when they meet their one true love. There’s always a hint of suspense to these story lines, and a whole lot of humor, love and heart!
Lani Lynn Vale is getting better and better with each book! Ashley @ Carolina Chic’s Read
Lani Lynn Vale books get better and better and this series is just helping that along. Ares and Hayes have chemistry from the moment they laid eyes on each other. Can these two get past all the crazy to find their way to each other? LLV is writing strong women who fall in love with Alpha males. Love how she shows the faults and real life issues going on in today’s world. Can’t wait to read more of her words!!!!
5 Stars Awesome!
I can’t. I just cannot. Every release from Lani has me giddy with excitement and every single time I’m left with my mind blown at how amazing her books are but Ask Me If I Care hit me totally differently than all the rest. My reaction ranged from “OMGOMGOMGOMG” to *GASP* to *fanning myself* to “SQUEEEEEEEEE” and finally *swoooooooon*. Hayes and Ares are freaking incredible for more reasons than I can even begin to list.
Each of them individually is a person I’d want to know in real life. Hayes may be quiet and intimidating but inside this man is a giant marshmallow when it comes to Ares. Like most of us he has his own struggles but what I really REALLY loved about him was he owned his, even when he felt embarrassed. And Ares was flipping brilliant. Her understanding of Hayes and the care with which she supported him was absolutely beautiful.
Their story packs that signature Lani lunch that just can’t be found anywhere else. Combining humor and some of the best of romance with relatable and real issues and suspense this is a book that completely grabs you start to finish.
Oh Wow. This book was so good.
Hayes is an ex-military now on the KPD Swat Team. But he also has a lot of demons. He was a prisoner of war and suffers from PTSD. Getting to know Ares was not part of his plan, but the moment he met her at the police dinner he was hooked.
Ares was a funny, sweet, clumsy and so much more, and she was the daughter of Downey (whoop whoop). When she met Hayes she was smitten, but he was also the step brother of her ex. But she couldn’t deny the attraction she felt towards him, and then one day they were just together. But its not just happily ever after. Hayes has some demons in his past, but there is so many things going on, and as the guidance councillor she wanted to solve every ones problems. And on top of it there is serial killer on the loose.
Hayes was the quiet one of the team. He was everything I thought he would be. He was the hero that didn’t know he needed someone like Ares in his life. This book was like the others, funny, sweet, romantic. But it also had angst and some suspense and we finally get some answers we wanted from the previous books. It was also a bit sad for me, but all in all it was an awesome ride.
This book was an unexpected gem. Having not read the previous books I was unsure of how it would read.
I needn’t have worried. It read well as a standalone and if anything I now want to go back and read the previous books.
Hayes…. gah! That man, what he does to me Broody, broken and a badass, he is everything you want in a book boyfriend.
I loved Ares, she is so strong. Smart. Loyal.
And the teaser for the next book? YUM
Hayes is now my new fave of this series! Just as I have come to expect from Vale, this one captured my heart from the start and I didn’t want it to end. All the books in this series have held my heart but this one still owns a piece of it.
Hays and Ares are absolutely the perfect balance to each other. I fell in love with them immediately. Their story is sweet, funny and all kinds of swoon worthy. Oh and did I mention H.O.T.! I couldn’t get enough of them.
I can’t wait to see what Vale brings us next!
Ask Me If I Care by Lani Lynn Vale had my little heart all over the place. It went from swoony to panicking in an instant. I loved this book so much!
Hayes Greer and Ares Downy are hands down one of my favorite couples Lani has written. They were the perfect yin to the others yang. I loved that Ares and Hayes knew what the other needed even when the other may not know at that moment what they might need. Neither one of them ever let the other one push the other away. they knew what they wanted and fought for it.
This book had some great mystery and suspense moments to it as well, if you have been following the series you know about the mystery that has been tying the books together. My little suspense heart was giddy. I was rooting Hayes along from the very beginning of the book.
Ares is also a go-getter in this book. She knows how to take care of her man. She does some research for him to help him and my heart just melted. I know he did too at that moment.
If you are new to the series, it is okay because Lani will not have you feeling left out. She loops so many characters in so that you will feel right at home in this book with what is going on with the mystery and suspense.
That is one thing I love about Lani Lynn Vale’s books if you read them as a series you get a glimpse at the other characters constantly to see how things are going. If you have missed a book somehow, you would never feel left out because she always has her stories intertwined yet each is standalone and you would not realize you missed anything.
Hands-down Ares and Hayes are my favorite book couple!! When they meet at her father’s SWAT function it was instant chemistry. Well Hayes sat there all scowly and didn’t talk, but you could just feel the tension in the air. He already started off with one strike against him because of who he is related to but Ares got over that fairly quickly. They both need each other but not for the same reasons and they just click. Ares is a guidance counselor for the local high school and she is dealing with a incompetent principal. Hayes doesn’t like people or a crowd because he suffers from PTSD. He even pushes Ares away when all she does is wants to help him. Will he let her in? Will they come to an understanding in their relationship and finally be able to move forwards? I can’t wait to see who falls next… I already have my couple I want to take the plunge but we will have to see who this author picks!!!
I received a complimentary ARC – early release copy of this book in Kindle format from the author for review purposes.
I am a newer reading to this author but I am totally hooked. This is Ares Downy’s story and she is the daughter of Memphis and Downy. In this story she is a guidance counselor at Kilgore High School and she meets our hero, Hayes at a dinner with her dad and her ex, Ryan who also happens to be Hayes step sibling.
Hayes was one of three prisoner of war characters introduced in the motorcycle cop series and he is now on the Kilgore SWAT team. They both initially liked what they saw in each other but don’t head to romance because of Ryan.
Ares works at the high school and she had been the one to help Avery in the past with bullying. Bullying is still happening but also girls are dying and this story centers on finding out who is causing the murders. In this story we meet a young girl that got pregnant and couldnt keep her daughter and her ex boyfriend and the childs father, both in high school and with bullying issues from other kids.
This was a really interesting part of the story and I loved the whole storyline. There are lots of surprises along the way with storyline. And I loved watching Hayes and Ares as they got to know each other and how Hayes helps her out at the high school in solving some of the bullying issues.
I am becoming a fan of this author and I highly enjoyed this romance. Both Ares and Hayes were wonderful characters that just seemed to mesh really well in the romance area.
3.5 stars
Ask Me If I care is the fourth novel in the KPD SWAT GENERATION 2.0 series.
The story of Ares and Hayes is quirky , mainly because Ares is a bit of a klutz and Hayes thinks she is totally adorable! As their relationship progresses it gets very intense and deals with some serious issues, although only on a surface level. It becomes obvious very quickly that they bring the best out in each other.
In this, more than any of the other novels in this series, it’s difficult to keep the characters, their names and the stories already told straight in your head whilst reading. To be fair, I don’t know if having read the previous novels in this series is of benefit or not. Although I love being able to predict the ‘next couple’ to get their HEA , I felt that interactions with additional characters was, at times, unnecessary.
Overall though, Ask Me If I Care is a fitting addition to the ‘calendar’ family and I can’t wait for Mr May.
That book was the perfect escape from the world’s current situation. I honestly didn’t want to put it down for a second from the minute I picked it up. It was so warm and squishy, I really enjoyed every second of it. And even though there was a bit of suspense and drama it just kept me even more stuck to the pages.
Ares and Hayes could not have been more perfect together. Ares was such a sweetheart. She made me appreciate how low drama she was from the start. From the second she tripped over her own feet seeing Hayes I was praying that he was as captivated as she was.
Thankfully this was told predominantly in dual points of view, with a few randoms to give a good perspective of the drama that was unfolding. So we got to see exactly what Hayes was thinking. And damn I love these big, tough, bad arse swat guys going all soft and sweet for their women. And I also loved that Hayes wasn’t perfect, he had a serious issue and it wasn’t made a big deal of it was just something that was part of him, he was working on it and Ares accepted it and tried to find ways to help.
It made them both all the more human and relatable. I was really glad to have the serial killer aspect resolved in this book. Even if it did break my heart a little the way it was resolved. But now I have the next book in the series to obsess over and I have a feeling it’s going to be a little more angsty and I can’t wait.
Hayes and Ares. I could not put together a more perfect couple than these two! They just fit. Absolutely. And they both have a sense of humor that kept me LOL’ing from the beginning of the book, straight through to the end.
Ares is looking for that one perfect person, the one that will complete her. But she keeps finding the wrong ones. Until she isn’t looking. When she least expects it, he shows up, and turns her world upside down. He is everything she didn’t know she wanted.
Hayes is messed up. But he’s making it, day by day. A returning veteran, he joins the KPD as a SWAT officer. This leads him to Ares, and she changes his life, as much as he changed hers. But there are things going on that threaten their happiness, and those that they love. They just have to figure out what it is, and how to fix it!
This story was a riot! I loved these to crazy characters, and couldn’t help but laugh at them. On the other hand, their story was also full of surprises, and there were a few twists that I never, ever would have seen coming! It was a great book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Ares and Hayes
The next book in the SWAT generation is here and I loved Ares and Hayes
Ares is Downy’s daughter and works as a school guidance councillor. She meets Hayes one night when she accompanies her dad to a Police Banquet and she is enthralled by him. He is with her as well but unfortunately it turns out that her ex Ryan is Hayes stepbrother Suffice to say that doesn’t stop either of them and they fall for each other quickly
Loved this story and I can’t wait for the next one….is it May yet?
4.5 Stars
Ask Me If I Care is the fourth addition to the Swat Generations 2.0 series. This title features Ares and Hayes. Ares is the daughter of Downy who’s story was told in Bang Switch and the sister to Lock who’s story was told in Sinner are Winners.
Ares is a guidance counsellor at the local high school. She’s sweet, kind and caring, but also has a tendency to say exactly what she thinks and is often quite blunt with her honesty. She’s a caretaker by profession, but also in life.
Hayes is a quiet and protective alpha, dealing with the demons of his past. He has a tendency to be quite intimidating with his stoic demeanour and is a bit of a loner.
The chemistry between this pair is undeniable, and I loved how they looked out for each other.
I will be eagerly awaiting Calloway and Louis story next in May Contain Wine.
4.5 stars – Loved Hayes and Ares.
Ares is smart, confident, sassy, and fun! Hayes is troubled with a tortured past. Their first meeting is a bit humorous with the way he stares her down. I love his description about it later in the book.
“I didn’t glare at you the whole time…I’d call it me liking you, but not knowing what to do when it came to your attitude…Also, you dated my brother. I wasn’t sure how many brain cells you had in your head, and I was worried I was liking someone that was full of herself. You know, his normal type.” LOL
Ares hasn’t met anyone like Hayes and the fact that he’s her ex’s stepbrother – that both complicates things and is icing on the cake since her ex is a bit of a jerk. It takes some patience on Ares part to make things work with Hayes, but it’s well worth it in the end.
There is much drama and this one is connected to previous books although can be read on its own. Some of the drama is heart-wrenching, but it ties some things together which was welcome even if not what I expected.
Oh and the epilogue – so sweet and heartwarming – worth the read for that part alone!!
This has been a fun series to read and if you are a fan of her first SWAT series – then you’ll enjoy these 2nd generation stories even more.
I voluntarily requested and read an advance reader copy.
What can I say about Lani Lynn Vale as an author?! She intrigues me and her books are always fun to read. Even though these characters have face the worst of humanity, they are always witty, human, caring and fun. Hayes has been through hell in the military, he was POW (Prisoner of War) and has a hell of family that has no support for him. Ares is a student counselor at the local high school and is the daugther of officer Downy in the first Swat Generation books. She is one of the Lani Lynn’s most delicated character, she knows how to deal with Hayes’s PTSD and with caring and love.
The book has great scenes and is full of visiting characters from other books, but it is not overwhelmed and even if you did not read the entire series you will understand this beautiful story about acceptence.
I loved it!!
Ask Me If I Care is a fantastic addition to the Swat Generation 2.0! It combines great characters with a storyline filled with suspense, intrigue and a touch of fun to keep you thoroughly entertained!
Hayes is ex-military, plagued with the demons of his past, but as a member of the Kilgore Swat Team his has to continue to battle back those bad memories. What he never expected was an Angel named Ares to fall into his life and offer him support, understanding and so much more. She is the perfect match for him and together they make a great team.
This book surpassed my expectations and I can’t wait to check out the next story in the series!
This is the 4th book in this fascinating 2nd generation series, and in my opinion, Ares and Hayes’ story is the best one to date! Hayes is ex-military and suffering from severe PTDS and the last thing he wants is to have a relationship and drag Ares into the mix, despite the intense connection they have. However, Ares has other ideas. No spoilers: this is a definite must read you will not be disappointed. This is a well written flawless story which is filled with drama, suspense, mystery, danger, violence and love. I was totally enthralled throughout this epic page turner, and I cannot wait to read more in this series. I highly recommend this talented authors’ work for all.
Hayes and Ares’s story is one that will answer a few questions and one that will have you literally rolling around laughing. Their story is emotional, heartfelt, compassionate and hilariously funny. Ask Me If I Care is one of those stories that gives you everything you want in a romance. It gives you the passion, drama, heat, excitement, laughter and joy. Can I say if Downy doesn’t have you laughing out loud with one particular scene then nothing will make you laugh, because it had to be hands down one of Lani Lynn Vale’s absolute best. Hayes and Ares will steal your heart and have you hoping that this book never ends. If you hadn’t already guessed I have a little crush on Hayes and Ares because these two managed to lighten my heart and soul.
Dang, this was a good one!
Hayes’ not as jaded as Dax from the first book of the series. But he still carry baggage, the effect from POW. But still, his story with Ares has it’s own lightness. The way he declared them dating, I love that part!
How could I miss the previous 2 books though?! I need to read all of the books in the series!