Brought up in chaos and fear, Maddox requires order and control to cope with life. He has his career and two closest friends. That is all he needs.Until Dee enters his life.She brings forth feelings he has denied himself his entire life—and threatens his control.He wants to hold.Keep.Love.Live. Damaged by her past, Dee cannot admit her feelings for him, fighting him at every turn.Is he strong … admit her feelings for him, fighting him at every turn.
Is he strong enough to show her—to prove love is worth the risk for both of them?
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First off I have to say that I loved this book! Maddox’s story was an intense one for me. It was wonderful to see two people who swore they wouldn’t fall in love, fall completely for one another, and even more so that Maddox seemed to fall first! I loved the support Maddox received from his friends and Dee when his past came back to cause him some trouble.
Just when you think Melanie Moreland can’t top the last book, she delivers Maddox. This story delivers the perfect dirty talking, alpha man who has the patience to win the heart of the one who snuck in. He commands and controls the reader to turn the page in finding his happily ever after.
Warning: epilogue may cause heavy swooning and ovary bursting.
Maddox by Melanie Moreland has all the feels! Moreland has a way of creating characters that you can relate to, but are unique unto themselves.
I love the way that Maddox is willing to fight for what he wants, but it takes a lot for him to overcome the past and see that Dee is really worth fighting for.
You see, Moreland gives us characters that are beautifully flawed. And I say this, because we all need characters like this to remind us that even though life isn’t perfect, we can survive.
This hot, on the edge of your seat romance, is one of my all time favorites!!!
5 Huge Stars!!!
Maddox is not easy to like, but hard not to love. He idles at difficult. That’s the only setting he knows, yet in his heart is where he’s most vulnerable and Dee is about to hit him where it hurts. Maddox is every dirty fantasy. He’s a walking contradiction, a waking dream and a bad boy not easily tamed, but worth the drama. Vested Interest is the perfect name for a series that comes to life and moves right in to your heart.
I absolutely loved Maddox and Dee’s story. Both have been hurt by their past and feel as though love does not exist. Maddox is a man who needs to be in control at all times and Dee is a woman that wants to have control in her life except in the bedroom. The two become a perfect match in and out of the bedroom.
They work so well together and soon find themselves in a relationship whether they want one or not. I loved how easily their feelings grew for each other, even though they both denied it for so long. I don’t know why but I always love when the man realizes first their I’m love. Something about a man determined to keep their woman is extremely hott and Maddox would then be classified as down right sexy. This book will grab your attention from the very beginning and make you fall in love with Maddox and Dee.
5 star Review Maddox (Vested Interest #3) by Melanie Moreland
I thought Bentley was my favourite, but I was wrong. Oh my word, Maddox has me tied up in knots and he will not let me go.
This series has been fantastic. Each book just gets better and better and Maddox truthfully blew me away. I really loved the pairing of Maddox and Dee, both damaged by their pasts and not looking for love, but both so worthy of finding love with each other.
Melanie Moreland drew me into the story from the first page; I kept thinking just one more chapter. I loved the characters of Maddox and Dee and all the secondary ones and having already read Bentley, Aiden and now Maddox, I can say that this is one of my favourite series of 2018.
The story was extremely well written, engaging and it was great to see the growth of both Maddox and Dee as the book evolved. Neither Maddox or Dee wanted a “relationship” so friends with benefits suits them both, until it doesn’t.
I really didn’t want to start this book as I have been anticipating reading Maddox since I finished Aiden. Ms. Moreland well and truly delivered a story that had me engrossed from start to finish, not to mention I have a new book boyfriend.
There is so much to love about her characters, the depth and layers that she weaves throughout her stories reminds me of the peeling of an onion, layer by layer and Maddox was just such a book.
The friendships between Maddox, Bentley and Aiden is truly overwhelming, the love , laughter and obvious care they have for one another is swoon worthy in and of itself. Throw in the ladies they love Dee, Emmy and Cami and you have a group of people anyone would be proud to call friends. I know I would love to hang with these people and call them friends.
This is the third book in the Vested Series. It tells Maddox’s story and he is the most troubled of the BAM men. He had a very tough childhood and bad relationship. He does not believe in love, just lust and what he is lusting after is Cami’s sister Dee. She is smoking hot.
Dee is struggling with Cami’s new marriage to Aiden. She has always been in control and taking care of her and Cami. Now it is just her and she feels she is slowly spiraling out of control. But one thing or shall I say man can anchor her down. That is Maddox. His touch, his whisper. It is all she needs for the tension to fade away. He knows her body and her soul. But falling in love is not on the menu.
What happens when the rules get broken and feelings shift? Who will come away devastated and broken? Well you will have to read to find out. That’s right no hints. 😉 But I do promise you, you will love ever freakin’ minute of it. This book is so hot! Maddox is sexy as hell and the two of them set this book on fire.
Now I am not going to lie to you, this book is emotional as hell. Some very tragic things happen and it will rip out your heart and then try to shove it back in again. I was flat-out bawling at one point. I even ran out of tissues to wipe my tears. Seriously, flood waters!
On that note, this was by far the best book in this series. Hands Down Best!!!! It had so much more depth to the characters than the first two. Don’t get me wrong those books had some depth to them, but nothing like what you will experience in this book. You will fall so in love with Maddox you are going to want to tell Dee to take a hike so you can take her place. Deep down that man is the sweetest and most caring man.
Melanie Moreland has out done herself this time. Bravo girl! Bravo!
I was glued to the pages. I was in the zone and snapping at anyone who interrupted my reading. I could not put this book down. Melanie has a wonderful style of writing that draws her reader’s attention in and holds it till the very end. Some romance books you find yourself skipping over sections, because they are slow or of little importance. With Melanie’s books you won’t find that. Every part of the story is important and you will find it hard to not read every single word! She has created this wonderful world with the BAM men and it has been a wonderful time getting to know them so well and a bonus is she is continuing the story with Reid, the nerdy young IT guy. This makes me so happy. 🙂
So if you have not read any of these books, then what the hell are you waiting for? Get up now!!! Get the first copy Bentley and get started. You have some catching up to do. 😉
*ARC provided by Melanie Moreland
Maddox was impressive. I didn’t think this series could get any better. I was WRONG. if you are looking for more and a book that will bring you on an emotional roller coaster this is the book for you . It was refreshing to read from Maddox’s point of view; a man’s point of view. For once it wasn’t all about the woman it showed volubility and the internal struggle with Maddox. This is a perfect balance of love, and struggle both physical and emotional with a touch of shock and nail biting making you want to turn the page.
Every book I’ve read by Melanie seems to be the best, right up until she writes the next one. The same has been true for this, ‘the ‘Vested Interest’ series. Three books, three more exceptionally great reads.
This one had a dirty talking alpha who needed control to live his life, until he met Dee. She changed him, just as he changed the scared, guarded woman who came into his life. Who’d have known that Maddox would have not just the patience, but the desire and willingness to be what Dee needed. Even when she didn’t know it herself.
Maddox truly is the mystery man during the previous 2 books, but now it’s time to tell his tale, and that prologue? OMG!!
It tells so much, but also, not enough, that comes later. But, Dee certainly knew what she was getting into, at least in the beginning. What happens when friends with benefits becomes more than that?
Dee doesn’t believe in more, and Maddox has never been in love. Two lost souls just searching for a home. Can they find it within each others arms?
I loved this story so much, Melanie certainly knows how to write memorable stories, and this is one that will stay with me for a long time. It was great to see old and new faces in this one, too, then, to top it all- that ending!!! Super,swoony delicious and sweep you off your feet sweetness.
I have been looking forward to Maddox’s story since we first met him in Bentley. He was somewhat of a mystery to me….he seemed the most serious of the BAM boys, easily brokering peace when Bentley and Aiden went head-to-head. What I didn’t know was how sexy he could be! Or how he would worm right I into my heart and make me long for him to find happiness and peace. With Dee. Because she was so much like him, hurt and closed off and just a little bit broken. Yet they complemented each other beautifully and made me root for their forever.
I love this series! Each story has been fantastic. The bond between these men is phenomenal and they are hilarious together. I am so glad there is one more book in this series.
I adore the men of BAM and the ladies that have tamed them. Maddox’s story has a slightly different take as he’s not the only wounded one in the relationship.
Having met both Maddox and Dee in the previous two books, it was nice to get to know them better here. I enjoyed watching their romantic relationship evolve while the dynamics of their circle of friends changed as well.
Ms. Moreland did an excellent job of blending the romantic story and the larger group story, especially the friendship between Maddox, Aiden, and Bently. I also appreciated the treatment she gave the sisterly interaction between Dee and Cami. Balancing these multiple story lines while also bringing a secondary character to the forefront take a great level of skill; especially when it’s done in a way that all of the pieces feel balanced and well cared for.
The Vested Interest books are interconnected stand-alones. Yes, each book can be read by itself, but the stories are much richer if they are read in order. Part of what makes Maddox’s book work so well is knowing the background that was laid out in the first two books. If you are going to read the whole series, make sure to start with the first book.
Maddox has endured a horrible childhood which has made him leery to trust or allow others too close. The only people that he has allowed to penetrate his walls are his business partners Bentley & Aiden who are more like brothers than friends.
Dee is Cami’s sister who has recently married Aiden. Dee now finds herself in second position in her sister’s life, so she starts spending more time with her sexy neighbor, Maddox.
They agree to a friend’s with benefits relationship as they have both experienced the painful side of love and don’t want to repeat the experience. The chemistry between them was off the charts but before too long one of them wants to change the rules and now they must convince the other that what they have is the love of a lifetime.
I loved these two characters as once Maddox decided what he wanted he is not about to let anything stand in his way while Dee has already looked after everyone else and now it is her turn. The characters in this whole series are very compelling and it was great to catch up with them again. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
I loved this book. I have never read anything by this author but I say hats off to you. I fell instantly in love with the characters in this book,especially with Maddox. He is the quintessential alpha male and he is more scrumptious than any male lead I have read in awhile. This is a romance with plenty of sex but it has quite the story line too. It has sweetness,tenderness and a touch of suspense. I found myself rooting for the characters. This was an absolute great read, and i can’t wait to read more from this author.
Since reading “The Contract” a couple of years ago, it’s been a real joy to witness Melanie Moreland’s success in the realm of Contemporary Romance. Her stand alone books have always been enjoyable reads, so when I heard Melanie was publishing a trilogy I got a little giddy.
Maddox is the third novel in the “Vested Interest” series, and easily the steamiest installment. Having gotten to know Maddox in the first and second books, I’d learned enough about him to want to learn more, and I wasn’t disappointed. Set in the awesome city of Toronto, this new series follows three men who met at university. Long-time friends and business partners, Bentley, Aiden, and Maddox have taken their considerable talents and grown a multi-million-dollar empire from the ground up. Maddox is the numbers guy – a man who finds peace of mind from control and order over his world.
Like Bentley and Aiden, Maddox grew up under a challenging set of circumstances. The lives of all three men only took a turn for the better when they were introduced. Working closely together, the trio have formed a brotherly bond and Maddox is the one who keeps their growing empire on an even keel. While Bentley is the visionary and Aiden is the protector, Maddox is the logical one that keeps their numerous projects on task and on budget.
At this point in the series, Maddox is always a bit on the sidelines as Bentley and Emmy plan their wedding, and Aiden and Cami settle into their newlywed routine. Also left sitting on the sidelines is Dee, Cami’s older sister. Over time, Maddox and Dee keep finding themselves paired off by default in social situations. Although the chemistry between the two is soon off the charts, neither are interested in pursuing life-altering relationships. Dee in particular, has sworn off romance altogether, convinced that allowing herself to fall in love will also force her to sacrifice her sense of self.
From the onset, it’s clear that Maddox and Dee are perfect for one another. They are a perfect match in style, intellect, ambition, and passion. What is a pleasant surprise, however, is how these two tightly controlled individuals surrender to their desires with one another behind closed doors. As Maddox and Dee lower their inhibitions around each other, the real (and tantalizing) question is whether or not they will stray from their self-imposed rule of no falling in love. In this case, the “will they or won’t they” question has absolutely nothing to do with sex and everything to do with allowing love to override logic.
I expected Maddox to be the perfect conclusion for Melanie’s trilogy, and in many ways, it is. If you’re looking for a new and sexy world to invest in, I highly recommend the “Vested Interest” series. Fans of “The Contract” will receive a special appearance by Richard in this third installment. It was also a most welcome surprise to this reader when Melanie announced that a fourth book will soon be published. This trilogy has been well-written and structured, so I whole-heartedly recommend this entire series (now including the soon-to-be-released Reid) to your TBR list.
4 Stars!
To me, this is the strongest book in the series and my favorite. Maddox is a wonderful hero and I could have kept reading just to get more of him. Regardless of his childhood, he’s the most put together of the BAM bunch and a nice complement to the older Dee. Nearly everything about this story flowed well and felt authentic to the characters and their relationships. This series ended on a great note and the author is gifting us with a bonus story about computer-hacker Reid in a future installment. (This is my voluntary and unbiased review of an advanced copy of Maddox.)
I seem to fall in love more with Melanie Moreland words in each book I read!
Maddox young life was uncontrollable so now he craves control in business and in life in general.
Dee has seen what love can do to a person so she’s determined never to fall in love again.
Though it starts as friends with benefits to it’s all good until someone falls. Add in a problem from the past and you have a story that’ll have you turning the pages as fast as you can read!
Let me just start out by saying, I’m in love with Maddox and Dee. Their chemistry is hot and amazing.
Maddox is a beautifully written book. It’s steamy, sexy, emotional and captivating. From the moment I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. Maddox is definitely one of my favorite books this year. I would recommend this book to everyone. I’m looking forward to Melanie Moreland next book already because they just keep getting better and better.
I have been struggling with how to review this book separate from the two other books in the series that feel entwined with it, and compliment its intensity. I buy author’s works based on my faith in them and, expecting growth from them as a writer, and yet you also grow from reading their work, never knowing where the growth will lead you.
Melanie’s books are often about a damaged hero and/or heroine, and things that bind them together, and threaten to tear them apart and sometimes, tear them to shreds in the process. In this new three book series (so far that is) with the three men of BAM at the forefront, we first met Bentley in “Bentley” … and got to know Aiden a little, and Maddox as well. And, the sidekicks of Emmy, her pseudo sisters Cami, and Dee.
From the previous 2 books, you know where all are coming from emotionally.
In Maddox, the push me – pull you relationship of Maddox and Dee is brought to light. We suspect they are each made for each other, and yet too wounded from being let down by piss poor parents and family members. Neither accepting that they are worth the fight … these are their character’s weakest points. Communication that reveals vulnerability seems impossible. Putting up with constant indecision and bi-polar affection without each exactly knowing why it was happening was a little perplexing, because they seemed like smart cookies, but the author knows what’s coming next and I, as a reader, do not. Both suffered from upbringing that was a sizzling hot mess. Neither seemed to rise above it as young adults, and neither could accept they were good enough to handle an adult relationship. These two are star crossed, and while the angst and frustration of the emotional mood swings would be enough for me personally to want to kick their two dimensional asses, we need to see the growth and follow them on their path to becoming a better, more loveable and feeling worthy of the strong love and respect between them. Yes, she treats him like a crazy person sometimes. Non committal. Then, the most caring, amazing love she would ever hope to have is obvious but he doesn’t see it. YET.
The thing is, life is actually like this. We have relationships that happen this way. Some of us go with the flow and do not set appropriate boundaries that should be set in the eyes of others. When I was Dee’s age, I didn’t know to set those boundaries. Not like I do now! And, being the guy he is, they tend to mean what they say. When she says “I cannot give you what you want” now what? And then he says It’s ok., let’s just do this friends with benefits thing till it’s not working for me anymore… well, she got what she settled for. And, in time, he grew to realize that he cared too deeply for her to LET her settle … and finally, we see the catalyst to create a push for her to need and to want more from him.
Melanie’s books are typically emotional epics for me. She sets a pace and a scene with sights, sounds, and real emotions like a painter mixing color and creating nuanced work on a palette first, then a canvas that’s her book. Her ability to create an aura of emotion about her characters that you feel personally is rare and all I can say is if you haven’t read her prior work, DO! Start with The Contract and work your way forward. Notable favorites are Beneath the Scars. Over the Fence, and Into the Storm.
This new three book series (possibly more!) about the men of BAM is a fun, funny, and delightful addition to her prior works.. and Maddox just adds layer and texture atop the other two prior releases (Bentley, Aiden) which are happening at the same time this one is. Trying to layer events for book 2 atop the timeline for book 1, and then doing it for book 3… that has to be quite the task! And, becomes fun for the reader who’s reading book 2 going “oh, that’s what was happening there in book 1… and also, same for book 3, trying to layer 1 and 2 with its timeline. Kudos to the author for managing that so well also!
I am, and will be a fan for life!
I received an ARC for this book and enjoyed every moment of it. 🙂
Maddox is the third book in the Vested Interest series by Melanie Moreland. This was my favorite book in the series because of Maddox and Dee. But I will say I loved Bentley and Aiden as well and their stories are just as wonderful. This author has the ability to take two outwardly normal people that have their flaws and create a beautiful story of acceptance, love, and redemption. All three books are interconnected standalones so we have the pleasure of seeing the other couples throughout the story. One strong theme that I loved throughout all of the books was family. That it doesn’t have to be the traditional family but who you have surround you during the good times and the bad and will always be there no matter what. And you see this with every book in the series but especially with this story. Please read these books and you will feel like one of the family after reading all of their stories!
Damaged, afraid of love, and all business… What happens when a guy like that actually falls in love? With a woman who has similar ‘issues’? Maddox tells the story of Maddox and Dee, who both don’t do love (or so they think). I love this stubborn couple, they both deserve so much more then they think they do.
“To the outside world, we were the same: cool, calm, and collected. Detached. When we came together, alone, things changed. We were relentless. Explosive and insatiable.”
Around the same time as their friends and sister – Bentley & Emmy and Aiden & Cami – fell in love hard and fast, Maddox and Dee started their ‘arrangement’. To the outside world they present themselves as friends, but behind closed doors there’s much more going on. The friendly Maddox loves control, and Dee is a very willing participant to their sensual games (in case you worry, this is not a book about BDSM!). Maddox and Dee are a match made in heaven, but both their pasts damaged them in such a way they’re afraid of feelings, afraid to love. The secret ‘friendship’ works, until Maddox realizes he does love Dee. Let the battle for love begin…
“Dating. Boyfriend. Exclusive. Relationship. Broken down, none of the words frightened me by themselves. Used together, they scared the shit out of me.”
Smart, silver fox, not too muscular; Maddox is really my kind of guy. Maddox grew up with a horrible father, no child has to live like that. I love how he has found his true family with Bentley and Aiden. There are moments I want to shake some sense into him, but luckily, he gets some very good advice from an interesting new character… Dee is the mother hen of her little family, she takes care of her loved ones. She’s happy for little sister Cami, but I so get her sadness about the whole new situation. And on top of that she’s pursued romantically (the horror) by an amazing guy. Maddox and Dee’s road to their Happily Ever After isn’t the easiest one, but of course they get there.
I have to be honest, since the beginning of the ‘Invested Interest Series’, Maddox is the book that intrigued me the most. And yes, it did live up to my expectations. A great couple, sweet moments, sexy moments and an evil (and a bit stupid) villain. Also important, the couples from the previous books; I love the friendships these people have. They might not be family by blood (minus Dee and Cami of course), but they sure act like family. I love Maddox, this story made me swoon and giggle (and sometimes role my eyes a bit).
“You’ve become a romantic, Maddox Duncan Riley,” she teased.
“You made me one, Deirdre Anne Wilson. You’ve changed every stupid idea I ever had about love.”
4.5 stars