Lucas Black, Esquire. The name alone was an enigma.Dressed in a suit that cost more than my rent. Green eyes that danced and a cocky smile firmly planted on kissable lips. The rumors about him were true. I wasn’t ready for all that was Lucas Black. I knew it. I didn’t care. I was willing to take whatever he gave me.
DISCOVERY (Esquire Black Duet Book 1)
By hayleyfaiman
Oh boy….meet Lucas Black!! You want him, you want to hit him, you want to love him, you want to yell at him….ugh!!! This is part one of a two parter. Great story and I like how the characters develop. Hailey does a nice job of keeping you entertained and making Brooklyn a strong woman, yet also soft. There’s more to the story than just romance and sex.
Lucas Black may be an arrogant jerk but DAMN is he sexy AF. When he comes across Brooklyn, their chemistry is so insanely hot I couldn’t help but squirm in my seat!
I couldn’t get through this book fast enough and, thankfully, the second book to this series was already released so I didn’t have to wait to find out what happened after the ending of this one.
HOLY SMOKES what an ending!! I almost threw my phone across the room but held on tight to it to quickly pull up book 2.
Lucas and Brooklyn are great characters and their storyline is fantastic. The ups and downs, the suspense and thrills, and their dialogue back and forth is great.
The plot outside of these two main characters was intense and nerve wracking at times but I loved every minute of it!
Discovery by Hayley Faiman is the first book to the Esquire Black Duet and was the first book I read by Hayley Faiman.
I plan on reading the second book to the Duet since Hayley left readers with a cliffhanger from the first book. Now, if I only can get over how much I don’t like the male character. Forewarning ahead of time that the male protagonist, Lucas Black, is a player and jerk. I didn’t like his role in this book and wanted the heroine, Brooklyn, to realize what he was from the beginning finally. She figured it out though towards the end of the book. She didn’t make it easy for Lucas though to pursue her at first. Brooklyn was his first that turned him down, and he never gets turned down.
Lucas is a family lawyer, and he ends up hooking with his clients after he’s down with their court cases. He’s a ladies man, and he doesn’t do relationships. Until he comes across Brooklyn, who is the Child Advocacy Lawyer on his client’s case, he wants Brooklyn, but she doesn’t want to be another notch on his bedpost. Unfortunately, Brooklyn ends up having a stalker that has it out for her. Lucas becomes her savior and helps her. He wants to protect her, but he also wants to pursue her. There is a lot of back and forth between the characters and Brooklyn becomes a damsel in distress in the book, but she’s trying to handle it the best she can, especially since she’s never had an enemy. She usually has her friend there to talk her out of being with Lucas and also being there for her. She’s not there though since she’s away. I wanted Brooklyn to have someone there for her since she not only deals with a crazy person after her, but she also has a scum of a boss that won’t leave her alone. She’s a beautiful woman that is trying to do her job until she can get a better job. She’s there is help the children in the middle of divorces.
Now, if you enjoy books that involve a male character that is a player and a damsel in distress female character, then this book is for you. I may have not love this book, but I did enjoy the suspense in the book. I wanted to figure out who was behind the flowers and notes to Brooklyn. She’s a sweet woman who shouldn’t have any enemies. She’s caught in the crossfire of something else. There’s also the very ending of this book that left me realizing that Lucas Black will not be my favorite male character unless Hayley turns his character around in the second book. Although there was his POV in the book, it still did not win me over in his case. He may change, though, so I’ll see what happens in the second book. I’m thinking Brooklyn is changing Lucas for the better. It will take some time, though since the ending left me hanging.
Overall, this book gets 3.5 stars (3.75 more likely since the storyline is what kept me intrigued and not the relationship of the characters).
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Steaminess Rating: 3.5 stars
Standalone or part of series: Part of a duet, so must be read in order.
Do I recommend this book? Yes.
Will I read other books from the author? Yes.
Tropes/Elements: Fake/Pretend Relationship at first; Interracial Relationship
Hero: Lawyer; Alpha; Possessive; Jerk; Player
Heroine: Child Advocacy Lawyer; Damsel in Distress
Lucas was a player and no one had ever made him change his ways. Until Brooklyn… I enjoyed the banter between these two. The chemistry was palpable and their attraction was such that anyone could see it! Lucas’ career kept him busy and not wanting to be tied down. But there was an inexplicable pull he had with Brooklyn. He wanted to protect her and yet she wasn’t his typical type. Lucas is a sexy man and has the confidence to get any woman, but he wants Brooklyn. Brooklyn knows she shouldn’t mix work and pleasure.. She’s a strong, independent woman but there’s a dark force out there. Brooklyn’s job has brought some unsavory characters to light. I was drawn into their story and couldn’t read it fast enough! Now, I’m anxiously awaiting for Appeal.
Nobody says no to Lucas Black. Even the judge can’t say no which is why he’s really good as a lawyer and cocky as well. All the women want him and the men want to be like him. It takes a strong woman like Brooklyn to not fall for his charms. Working together on a case should be just work between them but there is no denying the chemistry. I loved that Lucas is all talk, sexy and yes cocky in his ways but then his eyes start opening with Brooklyn. It’s not just them but someone is after her and this is just the first part. Have to say this is different from the ones I have read by Hayley before just shows she is an author of many talents. Cannot wait to see what Lucas will do next so many unanswered questions but worth getting.
“I received an eBook copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own.”
I’ve been a fangirl of Hayley Faiman for quite some time and if you’ve read anything by her in the past then you know she writes these uniquely hard to love leading men; Lucas Black was no different. Like I ranged between needing a fan, screaming at my kindle and wanting to junk punch him til the very end of this book. These two..GAH! Brooklyn and Lucas were a complicated pair; jam packed full of vulnerability, off the charts chemistry & the cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers. My kindle went clear across the living room after that ending.
Honestly, this story was different (in a good way) there wasn’t any “insta” love with this read; “insta” lust for sure but there was a suspenseful and intriguing story at the heart of Discovery that I really enjoyed. && I cannot wait to dive into part two of this duet!
***ARC Provided in Exchange for an Honest Review/ Megan Scandalous Book Blog***
I have a feeling I’m not going to make it until September when book 2 comes out. Lucas is a fierce lawyer at the top of his game, and Brooklyn is just barely making it. The chemistry between Brooklyn and Lucas is off the charts hot even when Lucas was being an alphahole. His inner monologues were hilarious. I can’t wait for the next book and the conclusion of the duet!!
OH my gods why did you do that Hayley Faiman with a cliffhanger like that just WOW in need of Appeal please oh please . Like every book by the author I devour it in one sitting but this one still has a hold on me I need to know more like right now please . Lucas and Brooklyn held alot of heat the heroine was a interesting character and everything about her just drew me in , now with Lucas I was starting to like him but then he goes and does something that just hurts my heart I just hope he doesn’t do the thing that implied . Can’t wait to read what’s to come if you are new to the author you really need to get all her other books they are amazing .
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
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hero= 7 heroine= 9 secondary characters= 9
Chemistry=10 steam= 8 romance=4
humor=3 darkness level=4 action=3 mystery=3
enjoyment=10 angst=4 story line=9 Story ending=7
character development=10 pacing= 10
cover=10 Blurb =10 Stars =5
Is this part of a series =yes
Can it be read as a standalone = yes but ends in a cliffhanger
would I recommend this book=yes
would I re read this book= yes
would I read future books by this author= yes
5 Stars
Heart pounding, sexy as all get out, intense and enough to make you squirm as you read it…Lucas Black is a man you love and sometimes would love to shake some sense into. Brooklyn is the girl you want to sit around and drink margaritas with while eating a pint of your favorite ice cream venting about life… while at times wanting to shake some sense into her too! Yes, this is a duet so obviously, beware of the cliffhanger. I am absolutely hooked and suffering withdrawals waiting for the second half of this Duet, Appeal. I have barely put this book down, if it weren’t for having not choice but to drive my car today to pick up my children I would have never stopped reading from word one! You need the latest Hayley Faiman book in your life…and we all definitely need some Lucas Black in our lives!
Cara – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
Welcome to my vague AF review coming to you live from the corner of my couch where I’m curled in a ball debating on if I want to hug Hayley Faiman or yell at her. Im leaning towards both. I so did not see this book coming. I mean, it’s Hayley Faiman, so I know going in I’d get epic but HOLY BOOK HANGOVER I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THIS! I need more. Now. Right freaking now. I am utterly and completely addicted to Lucas and Brooklyn and I may actually die if I don’t get more of them immediately.
The chemistry? Off the charts.
The heat? You’re going to need an entire ocean’s worth of water to deal.
The suspense? Pretty sure I had a manicure when I started reading, I don’t anymore.
More. I. Need. More.
Can’t help but love him. So want to hate him. Can hardly forget him. All perfect descriptions of the infamous, Lucas Black. Faiman made quite an impression on my senses with Discovery. What a grand introduction to a talented, yet eclectic imagination. Just when I was falling in love, an impasse was thrown in the way. With characters as unpredictable as her writing style, addiction is only a cliffhanger away.
I will not make it to September when the 2nd book comes out, I need it now!!! This book has everything I love in a good story. Hot Alphahole that you love so much even though you want to throttle him. A smart sexy h that even though she is strong, she lets herself be vulnerable for her man. A really good plot with suspense that actually consists of an actual real story and not just a few sentences in between hot sexy times, but don’t get me wrong, there are still tons of hot sexy times in this book, but there is a story here too, a really really good one!! The scene that led up to the ending of this book totally and completely shocked me, I didn’t see that coming at all and I definitely did not see the ending coming either. I knew something was going to happen, but never did I think it would be what it was! I totally recommend that you snatch this story up the second it is available, you will not be disappointed!