Dare To Resist

Austin needs an executive assistant and fast. He is having major surgery soon and has to have someone capable he can trust to handle things while he is unable to.

Quinnlyn Stone almost didn’t get the interview, Austin was about done for the day. She did however impress him in more ways than one. First she didn’t attempt to come on to him, in fact she let him know in no uncertain terms her feelings regarding successful athletes and presented her qualifications professionally. All of which gets her hired on the spot.

Now Austin has definitely felt an attraction as does Quinn, but after a kiss while he was recuperating they are both very aware and avoiding acknowledging it.

When the unthinkable happens and Austin finds a baby on his doorstep, everything, and I do mean everything, goes haywire. Austin calls the one person he can count on and trust, Quinn.

That doesn’t go exactly as he planned but dang if she doesn’t get things organized quickly.

I’m not sure which amused me more, Austin shopping for baby necessities or the family meeting. I was laughing out loud at both.

With Quinn moving in to help temporarily, things start heating up between them.

Austin has some major obstacles to overcome as does Quinn.

I absolutely loved the progression of this story, from the history of Austin’s relationship to the Dares to Quinn’s feelings about motherhood.

This is definitely a must read series for me and I hope it will be for you as well.

4.5 Stars

Carly Phillips is the Queen of swoonworthy stories and Dare to Resist is most definitely swoonworthy!

You’ll be swooning over Austin and Quinnlyn in no time. The chemistry between those two is fan-yourself-steamy.

I’m a huge fan of Carly Phillips and her writing style, so Dare to Resist was a Must Read for me. Its also the perfect spring time read!

Austin is not just a former football player, he is a sports agent in his own right. He is also a devoted family man despite the player reputation. He cares enough to give a kidney – that shows how much his family means to him.

Quinn is excited to work for such a sports legend. She knows she will learn much, and is actually shocked to be hired. When the temptaion of her boss gets harder, she is not sure she can resist. Until he needs her even more……

There are so many things I want to tell you about this story. I am not a spoiler though, so here it is: read the book. This was just really romance goodness from start to finish. The attraction was strong with heat, that turned up rather quickly. The main characters were passionate and caring. The pace was not too slow, but pretty steady. Overall a great book to grab and read. I couldn’t put this down!

***This ARC copy was given in exchange for an honest review.

Overall Grade:

Disclaimer: I think it’s best to lay my cards on the table before I begin my review. Prior to Dare to Resist, I had not read Carly Phillips’s series of books that lead into this newest series. Why did I sign up for an ARC of it when I am fairly new to Carly Phillips? Easy. The blurb grabbed me instantly. Three reasons: secret baby, sports, and office romance. All of these are romance triggers for me. They oftentimes create some of the sweatiest, hottest, dreamiest romances. And Dare to Resist did not disappoint.

First of all, kudos to Carly Phillips for considering readers such as myself. If I had read the other Dare series, I would obviously have a greater context for the characters of this newest story. However, Phillips considers new readers, and she provides background, enough to help the reader understand the current story. She offers a nice balance of explanation along with the plot points of her current story. This suggests Phillips’s ability to engage any reader into her storytelling, seasoned or new. I appreciated that balance, as I’ve read other authors new to me who have made assumptions about my knowledge, especially with a book that they espoused as a “standalone.” When authors are careful to consider a greater audience in their storytelling, they earn instant points. Even if you are a seasoned Carly Phillips reader, the details act as quick reminders, not weighing the story down with inessential details.

Now, what is there to love about this new book? Obviously, the characters are a highlight, namely the hero and heroine: Austin and Quinnlyn “Quinn.” At first glance, Austin as the arrogant playboy former NFL football player/player agent who clearly loves the ladies and his job is a great set-up for the type of heroine who will challenge him and bring him to his knees. Thankfully, Phillips crafts Quinn who is beautiful, intelligent, and insightful. She is the perfect match to Austin’s alpha-male persona, and Phillips makes their chemistry palpable. If I had to criticize anything about their constructions, it would be Austin’s objectification of Quinn from the outset. While he doesn’t verbally articulate his interest in her, his mental insight lends itself to heroic douchery. For me, it was a bit of a struggle at first to “like” Austin and even his brothers, as they are more apt to see women as only their outer expression. These guys are “bros” to their core. As the story progresses and Austin begins to acknowledge Quinn’s apparent intelligence, skill, and work ethic, then you begin to like him more. However, it took me a bit to get on board the “Austin Prescott” train. One of my biggest annoyances was his willingness to “lose himself” in someone else to help him “get past” his attraction to Quinn. Thankfully, Phillips knows her readers well, and she saves Austin from himself.

Additionally, while I respected Quinn’s struggle with considering a future of children, her initial lack of reflection on this topic was frustrating. It read like a reach for Phillips to make this Quinn’s struggle. Instead, the tensions between Austin and Quinn could have rested strictly in the challenges of an office romance. I think they consummated their chemistry too quickly for this story, and Phillips could have built it long into Quinn’s help with his secret baby. Again, these are minor in comparison to the veritable benefits of this story.

The secret baby storyline is the gold of Dare to Resist. Whenever the most playboyish of heroes finds themselves surprised by an unassuming baby, the story sparks, and this is definitely the case with this book. It’s in that storyline where Phillips humanizes Austin. She turns him from a bit of a neanderthal of a hero to a gold-medal father. His transformation and fall into love with Quinn is the second best part of this book. It’s where all the good feelings exist, and Phillips deftly crafts a happily-ever-after for Quinn and Austin that both entertains and challenges her readers. In Austin’s acceptance of his child, Carly Phillips’s message of the power of family is realized. There are many more moments like that in Dare to Resist, but ultimately Austin’s heroic evolution reminds us that family is the foundation of love. When Quinn’s love finally enters his life, it can easily grow on that base.

As I finished Dare to Resist, I knew that I wanted to read more from Carly Phillips. Thankfully, there is more to come with Dare Nation, and this reader can’t wait.

This is my first Carly Phillips book and I really enjoyed it! It is a quick, sexy read. You definitely don’t have to have read any of the other Dare books to dive into this new series (and it’s going to be a great series). Austin hires Quinn as his assistant and while there is definite attraction between them, they keep things professional (other than one kiss) for a year. When a baby is dropped on his doorstep, the only person he can call to help is Quinn. She can tell that he is in way over head and moves in to help with Jenny until his mom returns from her cruise and can take over. Close quarters leads to them giving into their attraction but Quinn has no desire to be a mother and Austin isn’t giving up Jenny even if he isn’t the father. Can he convince her to give them a chance to be a family? Can she get past her childhood and realize that wants and desires can change?

I cannot wait for more of Prescott family…especially after readying the preview of the next book, Dare To Tempt!

I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.

Carly Phillips is definitely on my list of favorite authors so when I found out about Dare Nation, I was so excited for the series to come out!

The first of the series, Dare to Resist, is everything you love about office romance, secret baby, single dad romance that has a splash of sports romance thrown in too. This book has it all.

Austin seriously stole my heart and didn’t give it back. He knows how to make a girl swoon and although his playboy tendencies did make me want to throw my kindle, he definitely made up for it! Then you have Quinn. She’s a rockstar in her own right. I didn’t feel as strong of a connection to her as I did Austin, but the two of them together were definitely fire!

All in all, this was a fun read that definitely kept me invested, wanting them to work things out, wanting to know what was going to happen, and melting when it was all said and done. I was laughing, crying, smiling and just feeling every single emotion that Carly evoked through her writing.

I cannot wait for Damon’s book! I know he is probably going to tear my heart out!

Four stars for an office/single dad romance that will have you begging for more once you reach the final page.

This is the first book is the Dare Nation series. I simply adored the Prescott-Dare siblings: Austin, Damon, Jaxon, Bri and Braden. Also so very happy that all of them will have their own books. This is my first book from Carly and I’m already a fan.

Austin and Quinn had a lot to overcome. Austin never thought about having a kid, but then one is dropped at his door. Talk about 0 to 180 in life. He immediately call Quinn, his gorgeous executive assistant, the one person he trusts beside his family, to help him with sweet baby Jenny.

Quinn was never given a choice by her family when she was a teen. At 18 years old, she vow to never have kids and achieve all her professional potencial. Until her boss called her, she would do everything for him, temporarily. Or that’s what she thought!

In the space of weeks both of them had to grow, specially Austin, as individuals but as a couple too. Their chemistry was huge and they couldn’t deny it for anything in the world. I liked that both respected each other professionally and in the personal aspect, they could understand what they’ve been through and they had each other’s back at all times.

What I liked the most was how mature Austin was, even more when he gave Quinn a choice to choose her life. He didn’t pressed her, but laid his cards clearly for her to decide. Something that not even her family have to her. And Quinn proved that all of us can change our minds and there’s not a problem with this.

I loved this book, was romantic with a hint of suspense in the end. I can’t wait to hear about them in next books of the series and to read Damon and Evie’s story, that will be fun!

Dare to Resist is the first in the Dare Nation series. It’s beginning with the oldest brother, Austin, former pro football player and now a pro sports agent. I will say this book is the first I’ve read by Carly Phillips, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I’m unsure if the history of the Dare/Prescott families was detailed in more depth in previous books, but there was more than enough information in this book to make me feel “caught up.”

Austin has been looking for the right executive assistant in his high-profile job. One who will not be star-struck in the position but will do it efficiently. Enter Quinnlyn, and she’s perfect. Not only that, the attraction is immediate, but having an excellent executive assistant wins hands-down over a one-night-stand. The unexpected arrival of an unknown baby girl changes everything for everyone.

Quinnlyn grew up taking care of younger siblings and cousins. Her parents seem oblivious to the responsibility they expected of her by her being the eldest. These circumstances have left Quinnlyn wanting independence from children, even though she’s gifted with children. This makes for a rich conflict not only internally for Quinnlyn but between Quinnlyn and Austin.

The romance was steamy; the relationship building was swoony; there was suspense, drama, and a wee bit of angst. All culminated in a satisfying ending that left open the door for more on this couple as the series progresses. In addition, we are introduced to Austin’s siblings and the rest of his family and a friend or two of Quinnlyn’s; we can see this is the beginnings of many stories in the professional sports world. I am thankful when I get to start a new series by previously unread (by me) author that is enjoyable in so many ways.

I look forward to the next Dare Nation installment.

Oh man, I love a secret baby book! Especially one where the dad is completely clueless and helpless and needs to call in every favor he can to get some assistance!

And that’s exactly what happened with Austin Prescott. He never expected to find a tiny baby on his front step. Never expected her to invoke such fierce protective feelings in himself either. And he never expected to need the help of his executive assistant, Quinnlyn Stone, to get him through the initial “how do I do this” phase.

Especially since he’s kept Quinn deep in his “can’t touch” zone—she’s far too valuable as his employee to screw it up by trying to get into her pants. But man, he’d like too!

But having Quinn in his home, watching and learning from her how to take care of the baby, Austing is struggling to keep things professional.

And Quinn is struggling too. But she’s bound and determined to not give in to Austin’s charms. Bound and determined not to fall in love with the baby. Bound and determined to continue living her life free of the confines of a relationship and children.

But that determination is weakening quickly. And I greatly enjoyed watching Quinn and Austin find their way—bumbling through taking care of the baby and living together. Bumbling through their growing feelings for each other and their undeniable chemistry. I loved that Quinn and Austin accepted each other for who they were—knew their strengths and supported each other too. And finally realized that the future they never thought they wanted was exactly what they needed. And I cannot wait for more in this series!

Sexy, sweet, heartwarming…Dare to Resist is all the things I love from a romance read and then some. This fast paced swoony story will have you melting on the spot from the instant explosive chemistry between Quinn and Austin. Then it will follow that up by completely stealing your heart with the astronomical levels of sweet that exists between these two.