It began with a stolen almost-kiss.And ended in revenge.She was never supposed to cross my path.She was never supposed to know about the oaths I swore or the secrets I keep.But like a thief in the night, she took my heart and ran… even if she wasn’t mine to possess.As a member of the billionaire Elite, I live by simple tenets. A gentleman above all. Loyalty is everything.. Secrets … gentleman above all. Loyalty is everything.. Secrets whispered are never revealed. And power is king.
My so-called brothers killed my friend. I intend to make them pay. And before it’s over, I’ll bend all the rules of morality, decency and legality. I will borrow and steal to set the scales right. But begging–begging, you can forget about.
Unless she asks nicely.
My name is Ben Covington, and I know my sins.
(Big Ben is only the start of the story. Ben and Liv’s story continues in the Benefactor)
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This is the first book in a trilogy and does end with a cliffhanger so make sure you have the other 2 ready to go! Oof what a slowburn but that made it all the much better when it finally happens. I loved the way they met, was definitely original. Full of intrigue and action it keeps you on your toes. The chemistry between Ben and Livvy was palpable and I loved that all she could hold her own. The world Nana creates makes you want to know more about all the character so thankfully another character gets the next series (def jumping ahead of myself since I still need to read the next 2 parts of this haha). Very interested to know what happens next and I’m sure it’ll be a great ride.
This book was so much fun! It’s my first Nana Malone book and I will definitely be back for more. This has everything, a sassy fun heroine, a swoon-worthy alpha male and lots of humor and intrigue. I can tell that some of the characters must be from previous novels so I’ll have to go and check out her catalog. I listened to this on Audible and WOW that Shane East is something! And I adored how feisty Mari was! I’m relatively new to Audible books but I totally enjoyed these narrators. Bring on the next book in this part of the series, The Benefactor!
Loved it!
Reading the blurb of this book it sounded amazing and as soon as it landed on my Kindle, I immediately read it. Big Ben by Nana Malone has so many twists and turns and OMG moments and at times was a little confusing but most of it, I was able to follow as this book feels like it needed a prequel. The book starts with Ben and Olivia in a closet, both hiding for a reason – that is their first meeting. Their second meeting is when a fight breaks out between Ben and Bran and the last is when they crash in the doorway as they leave the party. Ben is there to grab some information as they are trying to get revenge for their best friend Troy who was murdered. Olivia was at dinner with her boyfriend Dex. After leaving the party, Olivia discovers that Ben has placed a hard drive in her bag and then the first instance happens – she is mugged. The book follows both Ben and Liv’s lives colliding as he wants the hard drive back and she isn’t just going to roll over for him as she is not wanting to be used anymore as she is over people using her as a doormat. This book made me want to have a prequel as Olivia seems to be the one targeted and I didn’t see a reason yet Ben’s storyline of manipulating and blackmailing elites, I can understand. Big Ben by Nana Malone ended on an OMG cliffhanger that I can’t wait now to read Book #2 when released.
It leaves you literally hanging in a treacherous spot so you must buy the next book! I don’t mind cliff hangers, but the entire book builds to a peak! And then you must buy the next one! Very disappointing.
A secret society and an encounter in a closet gives us one intriguing, exciting and passionate romance. As a member of the Elite Ben Covington has unlimited access to make him a powerful man, if only he did not hate everything that the Elite stood for.
Olivia just wanted to be loved and finish the work her mother started. Problems start happening when she decides to take a breather at a party to clear her head. This is when all the excitement or danger begins for our couple.
The secrets, lies, danger and attraction in this story are binge worthy. I admit that I read one and immediately picked up the second to see where our brave, witty characters would lead me. Brining in the character from her previous books from the Winston Isles was a very pleasant addition to the drama building.
Nana Malone does not fail on giving us high class society drama with a twist of danger and so much more!
Couldn’t get into it
Good book
I devoured this book. If you imprinted on The Skulls back in the day, you’re going to be downright GIDDY reading this story. We have a secret society, a band of brothers, a heroine who doesn’t take the hero’s shit, and Big Ben being Big Sexy. It all adds up to a whole lot of WIN.
(Each book in this series ends on a cliffhanger)
Big Ben…
Equal parts James Bond vibes, secret societies, and workplace romance. This book was so much freaking fun! I knew I was going to love this book beacuse on page two it made me cackle. Not laugh. Cackle. Maybe it’s just my immature humor but c’mon…”Statue Dick”!
I listened to the audiobook which I highly recommend because the narrators did such a fantastic job. Do you love men with accents? Then yeah this audiobook is for you.
Ben is part of a secret society called the Elite, but years ago something bad happened. One of his best friends Toby was killed by his fellow brothers inside the Elite. So Ben and a group of his closest friends are out to find the truth and seek revenge for Toby. Along the way, he meets Olivia. He has to leave a USB drive full of information in Olivia’s purse at a party, but after the coast is clear he comes back and is willing to use all of his charms to get it back from her. But Olivia is on to him and will not release it back to him that easily. What follows is a cat and mouse game. They form a good friendship and workplace relationship, but they can only ignore their attraction to one another for so long…
All the while enemies are waiting and watching them both in the shadows.
Nana’s writing will hook you, make you crave more, and also bring a blush upon those cheeks. I’m so glad that the third and final book is coming out soon because I’m gonna need to binge books two and three soon. The ending of Big Ben? I’m scared.
So does Big Ben live up to his name? Read for yourself and find out 😉
Overall rating 4 stars
Steaminess 3 stars
CW- scenes of violence/fighting
I’m so glad I got to read this book early! Big Ben is book one of the See No Evil trilogy. I loved how the story hooked me right from the start. The chemistry and sexual attraction between Livy and Ben was . I loved the secret society element and danger. Ben also helps Livy grieve the death of her mom which her shitty boyfriend never did. There’s also the mystery of why bad things keep happing to Livy. Big Ben is super hot and I can’t wait to read The Benefactor, the second book in the See No Evil trilogy because there’s a huge cliffhanger! I recommend this book if you like romantic suspense, danger, angst and off the charts chemistry!
Big Ben is the perfect combination of secrets, conspiracies, mystery, action and romance.
Nana Malone is an amazing writer who will keep you in the hedge of your seat.
*I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book.*
I gotta say that it took me awhile to get into this story and when I did I was hooked!! Ben was fabulous!! He and his friends are very powerful and have connections every where. They have their ways of handling things and it may not always be right but its needed. He was a tall drink of water that Livy needed in her life. Livy was a lot of fun as well. She was trying so hard to do the right thing but with Ben around, it was hard. This was a great action packed book with banter you will absolutely love! Between Ben and his friends, you can tell they have a great connection and all want justice for their friend. Between Ben and Livy was even better, she kept him on his toes and fell for his stupid jokes. It was a great start to the series and I can’t wait to read book 2!!
First, if you’ve read Nana Malone’s duets, then you know not to expect part one to end with sunshine and roses. Instead, plan on being on the edge of your seat, anxiously tapping your foot in anticipation of whatever comes next. Now you have an inkling of what this first in the See No Evil trilogy did to me. And I loved every single minute of it. The story is full of intrigue – secret societies, information on flash drives, seconds from getting caught, one dangerous situation after another type of intrigue. Of course, intrigue only really works with the right characters, and Nana Malone has packed this one to the gills with terrific characters, both good and bad. After all, what would the good guys do without some baddies to keep them busy? In this case, I can think of a lot of things. Ben and Olivia have some major chemistry and there’s more sexual tension than you can shake a stick at. I loved the build-up between these two, and while Olivia is no damsel in distress, she does have some things to work through. Helpless damsel or not, I can’t imagine being too upset by being rescued by Ben Covington, especially with a voice like Shane East breathes into him. Seriously, this guy has a voice like butter. Plus we have Mari as Olivia, and the two together work perfectly. As far as I’m concerned, what we hear in this audio is Ben and Olivia, and from silly situations, witty banter, dangerous run-ins, and holy moly hotness, this is one impossible to put down, or in this case impossible to pause story.
Disclaimer: I was provided an audiobook by the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review and opinions.
This is an audiobook review.
out of
Story: I will be the first to admit I don’t do well with duos and trilogies because I need answers right now, but I took the chance knowing I would not get a HEA at the end of this listen. But that’s okay because the story is definitely worth it. We’re getting to know Ben and Livvie..what makes them tick and how they end up running to each other. All these things keep happening to Livvie and she doesn’t know why. A mystery needs solving. We get introduced to Livvie’s BFF and Ben’s band of brothers and we get the details of a great world-building. But don’t worry…we do get *some* satisfaction…the problem is, it’s short-lived because the book ends on a cliffhanger. I know, I know…it’s not great when a book ends like that!… I am invested and I need to know what happens!!!
Performance: Shane East and Mari are some of the best narrators in romance and their performance is simply FLAWLESS. They both engage with the story beautifully and their magic is the cherry on top. I’ll listen to anything these two narrate!
“A new wonderful beginning this trilogy. Olivia and Ben’s story was so delightful to listen. It was funny and sexy! The chemistry between them was off limits. So hot and intense! We had fun, mystery and love. Let me tell you Shane East voice was so powerful and hot. It was my first audiobook of him and it won’t be the last. It was also my first time hearing a book narrated by Mari and she did an amazing job portraying Olivia. I can’t wait for book 2 and 3!”
** Review based on the audiobook narrated by Shane East and Mari. **
LOVE! But what happens to Livy?!!!
*Audiobook Review*
This was a delicious slow burn with secrets and mystery galore! Big Ben is the first in the See No Evil Trilogy and I absolutely need book 2 & 3 ASAP! Ben is a member of the London Lords whom are trying to take down the largest Secret Society in London. He is a smart, driven alpha male on a mission. Liv is a smart, sassy and successful woman who has been in a relationship with a man she is feeling disconnected from when she meets her new boss, Ben Covington. HOLY sexual tension between these two. So intense! I absolutely CANNOT WAIT to see what happens next in The Benafactor!
Mari and Shane East do an incredible job with the narration. Their voices bring these characters to life. The emotion in their voices is spot on!
Thank you Valentine PR for an audio code in exchange of an honest review.
Before I start my review of this book, I have to say what an idiot I was. I went into the book completely and totally blind. Meaning, I didn’t even notice it was a trilogy. Seriously! And it says it right there in the dang title! My bad! So, if you’re reading this review, be prepared for a cliffhanger because it’s a trilogy and this book is just the ground work of what’s to come. And I thought it was just a slow burn and was going to have to wrap up so much within the last 10 minutes. Oooops!
With that said, I listened to the audio of this book and enjoyed both narrators playing the role of Ben and Livi/Olivia. I got an obviously cocky English bloke that has so much mystery surrounding him and his Elite group. And Olivia is this stunningly beautiful and smart woman that happens upon Ben in the first scene. And it’s pretty hot! Their story doesn’t really progress until a little later, but the tension between them is obvious. I knew right away that her boyfriend Dexter was a total douche and that’s without even getting to know his character and his actions (but it does come to light and, yup, I was 100% right). And Ben is going to be the obvious bad boy turned good for a woman. But not just any woman. These two have chemistry, work well together and have this friendship that is fun to watch blossom. From cooking food for Ben (can I get that recipe of the rice dish, Nana?? 😉 ) to traveling together to get information from another man for Ben’s mission, these two are just a joy to watch. So when they finally come together as not only friends, but as lovers, it’s a sight to see.
I was pleasantly surprised with my first Nana Malone book and can’t wait for the other books/audio because I have to know the answers to the mystery and what’s going to happen to our couple and some of the side characters (love Livi’s BFF). I’m ready to dig in!
Big Ben is the 1st book in the See No Evil Trilogy and it’s my first Nana Malone novel. Filled with drama, action, mystery and suspense, the story held my interest and I was hooked until the end. Ben and Olivia were two likable characters and I loved the progression of their relationship from strangers to friends to lovers. The secondary characters added another level to the story and provided support and balance to our main couple. The plot was gripping and as we get more engrossed in this story, the intrigue and danger became more prominent. Mysterious, humorous, exciting and tension filled, this novel ended in a cliff hanger and I can’t wait for the next book to see what happens. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to all lovers of romantic suspense.
The audiobook version was narrated by Shane East and Mari. They did an excellent job bringing the story to life. The accents, the emotions, the personalities were all spot on and they complimented each other perfectly. I enjoyed listening to them narrate this novel.