As a wedding photographer, it’s no surprise that Ashley Murphy, despite her perpetual singleness, is a little in love with love.When she catches a hunky best man checking her out while on the job, her heart all but shouts, “He’s the one”. Until he opens his mouth. Colton Banks is a cocky lawyer with a mean streak a country mile wide.Colton prefers order to chaos. He believes there’s a time and … there’s a time and place for everything, so when a lilac haired hottie sends him a flirtatious wink while she’s on the job, he’s less than impressed.
When she shows up at his office a week later asking for legal help, his first instinct is to send her packing. But day after day, she returns, finding new elaborate ways to break him down.
It’s not until a life-altering surprise shows up on Colton’s doorstep that things start to change. Ironically, the answer to his problem may be his incredibly annoying, free-spirited new “friend.”
Complications. Lust. Attraction. Love.
As their tenuous friendship grows, the chemistry between them becomes a raging inferno, and everyone knows you can’t deny your rebel desires.
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“Nope. Women—real women—stand beside one another. They support one another. And, Ashley, I’m about to support the fuck out of you. First thing you need to do is contact Colton Banks.”
I wanted to bitch slap Colton from the very beginning. My glob, he was full of self importance, but he stood up when it counted. Even so he never managed to win me over. Ashley was an independent individual, she was beautiful on the inside and out. Cruz stole the limelight though, that little boy won me over from the moment his character was introduced.
This was a wonderful storyline, but I felt like Ashley had a sixth sense and we were expected to have one too. There were things left unresolved and I’m one of those people who wants all of the answers. The women in this book stood out as being the backbones that held the relationships together. I absolutely loved the two mumma’s and their banter, while my heart melted for Cruz. Although Colton wasn’t a favourite of mine he had his own upheavals in life.
Ashley had a sixth sense moment, the second she saw her soulmate standing next to the groom. Unfortunately when she approached him he flicked her off like an annoying bug. Her photography business was her livelihood. She took it very seriously and only shot wedding photos for couples she saw as lasting the distance. A lapse in her judgement, left her being attacked and needing legal advice, so she reaches out to an unforgiving Colton.
Colton finds Ashley to be unprofessional and tells her exactly what he thinks of her behaviour. However the angst between them is overflowing and their is only one way for this to end. Colton is going to fight it every step of the way, even though he sees how perfect she is. Now he blames it on boundaries and strictly keeping a business relationship between them. Although she has become a convenient baby sitter, at least that’s what he calls it. Seems he’s the last one to see what’s really happening.
Trying to convince a man that he’s your soulmate shouldn’t be that hard, right? This wasn’t quite enemies to lovers. I think it was more alphahole to lovers. I love that it was slow burn. I love the way Ashley took to get to Colton’s heart, even though Colton didn’t come first in that way. I love the little guy that softened Colton to me and how much love was shown instantaneously. Love, love, love this book!
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.
LK Farlow has done it again with Rebel Desire. I absolutely adored the first two books in the series and this one was no different.
Colton and Ashley are fire and ice. Every single moment between them is crafted beautifully to create an enemies to lovers that will definitely leave you begging for more when it’s all said and done. Colton had me wanting to throw my kindle across the room at times, but otherwise, his character growth was a truly beautiful thing to watch. I felt a connection to him more than I did Ashley. I felt like her whole look on “insta-love” was a bit far-fetched, especially as the story went on. Ultimately, they were meant to be.
One thing I will say is that the conflict resolution between Ashley and her bridezilla felt too simple. I was expecting more out of that and when nothing happened, I did feel slightly disappointed. I felt like things were wrapped up too nicely in a bow and presented, with my mind wandering to what the bridezilla was up to and why she didn’t cause more of a scene.
Ultimately this was a fun story that had me laughing and crying, wanting more and begging for it to not be over when it was.
Four stars for this fun enemies to lovers romantic comedy that definitely had me wanting more.
Another fantastic, fast-paced story by Ms. Farlow.
This is the story of Colton and Ashley, a true opposites attract novel!
Colton is a straight-laced and unbending as they come. He is ruthlessly honest and unapologetic. When he first runs into Ashley he is put off immediately.
Ashley is an artist, a dreamer and she is in tune with love. Between the couples that she works with and when she finds her soulmate. Even when said soulmate is against everything that she is.
It was entertaining to read the push and pull between Colton and Ashley. I loved Ashley’s tenacity, and I also applauded her for standing up for herself and not letting Colton walk all over her.
When a surprise rocks Colton to his core, it is when you see Ashley truly shine and Colton see her for what she is worth. He realizes the depth of character she has and wants to know more.
Get your hands on this entertaining, full of heart and heat story by LK Farlow!
Colton and Ashley are total opposites. He’s a moody lawyer and she’s a spirited photographer. There first meeting isn’t exactly pleasant. Colton dislikes her on there first encounter and Ashley sees her soulmate when she looks at him. When she needs help she goes to him. But he rejects her time and again. Until an unexpected surprise comes along. Can she make him see what she sees? Can she help him with his surprise? Great story funny and sweet. I loved seeing Colton soften up. Recommended Read.
I received a Advanced Readers Copy and I’m leaving a Voluntary review.
5 CUTE AND FUN STARS!! This story was refreshing and had me smiling. Colton and Ashley had such fun banter and definitely had the chemistry going on….you could feel it through the pages. I read this book in one sitting. It would be perfect for a evening to escape reality for a couple hours.
Ashley is a photographer and while photographing a wedding, she notices the gorgeous best man Colton. Colton is a lawyer and he is interested in order. He doesn’t think Ashley is being professional when she shows interest in him. A few weeks after the meeting, Ashley shows up to his office needing some legal help. Colton is tempted to turn her away but doesn’t and finds himself attracted to her. The two are totally different in personality. Is it always true that opposites attract?
I absolutely loved this enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story! This world that LK Farlow has created (which I began weeks ago with Best Laid Plans, and immediately fell in love with) is so wonderfully written, her characters strong and interesting and entertaining.
Ashley and Colton might start off a little rocky, but their friendship and attraction absolutely makes up for it in the end. They’re steamy and passionate and oh-so-darn irresistible. I loved getting cameos from some amazing characters in past Farlow books, and I loved this single dad, swoony romance.
All the stars!
Rebel Desire (Rebel Love Book 3)
What an enemies to lovers romance!! It was a sweet, emotional and sexy read. Rebel Desire was the third installment in L.K.’s Rebel “series”. It can be read as a stand-alone, but this series has been so much fun! I recommend checking them all out if you haven’t!
Ashley and Colton didn’t have the best beginning. He thought she was unprofessional and she thought he was a jerk. Unfortunately, one of Ashley’s client turned into a Bridezilla and she needed legal help, but would asking Colton be her best bet?
Colton’s advice was to leave his office but Ashley wasn’t going to take no for an answer. She was determined to see this through. When Colton found himself in a bind, would he be able to count on Ashley? Oh, how the tables had turned! Would he start to see her in a new light? Would he do something about it before it was too late?
Awe! The hate/love they had for one another was perfect! It slowly built up to an explosive end! They were such strong and loveable characters! I also loved the connection to Mallory from Best Of Me!
So many emotions!
I have to say, it was a delight watching Colton, the uptight Lawyer, fall in love with Ashley, the free spirited Wedding Photographer.
Colton and Ashley do not exactly get off on the right foot. So caught off guard by her free spirit, Colton makes a series of unfounded assumptions about her work ethic and character.
Ashley is such a positive and loving person. No matter how much Colton confuses her or bruises her heart, she continues to freely give her time and love in order to help him out.
Colton comes across as uptight and callous, and I honestly wasn’t sure if I would like him. At all. He was rude to Ashley and unable to process his own feelings. Caught somewhere between desire and resentment.
Maybe this is why I found his back story to be so fascinating. For someone raised in such a loving and open home to be so…rude and judgmental is baffling. Colton’s parents are awesome. They are brilliant and funny and so warm and welcoming. Pretty much everything he isn’t.
When a life-altering surprise in the form of a son he never knew he had lands on his doorstep, we get to see a different Colton. All that love and vulnerability buried inside him suddenly comes pouring out; and it is lovely to watch.
Cruz is the sweetest of children, and I wanted nothing more than to reach into the book and hold him tight.
Rebel Desire is a funny and sweet, slow-burn romance, and a perfect way to round out this series.
I feel so incredibly happy after reading this book. It has everything you look for in a light hearted romance. It took my breath away. It made me swoon. Oh, how much it made me swoon!
Colton and Ashley are so right for each other, even though they might be enemies at first, there is no denying the chemistry and connection that exists between them. I love how they are so different but complement each other in the best kind of way. I loved reading about these two pursuing a relationship while navigating their reality and feel how they fall in love with each other.
Super sweet and swoony.
I really enjoyed LK Farlow’s “Rebel Desire,” a funny, steamy story featuring likeable, well-developed characters and an engaging plot. The romance between main characters Ashley and Colton was nicely paced, and even though I’m not a big fan of the idea of soulmates or love at first sight, I didn’t mind it here since it didn’t equate to insta-love. Ashley’s efforts to get Colton’s attention early on were pretty funny, plus they weren’t really about getting him to fall in love with her; she just wanted his help with a tricky legal issue. The fact that he kept thinking of her as a “purple-haired menace” when the worst thing she did was bring him cupcakes made me laugh.
It seemed pretty obvious to me from the start that Colton was just looking for excuses not to get involved with Ashley, though I wasn’t quite sure why he was so against getting into a relationship. At first he claimed that it was because she was “unprofessional,” but later it was because she was his client. Eventually even he couldn’t deny the power of the attraction between them, but his hot and cold behavior while he figured it out was kind of annoying, and I really couldn’t blame Ashley for getting fed up with it. Colton’s apology was well done, however, and it was adorable that Cruz helped him to win her over.
The family element of the story was also quite well done, and I enjoyed seeing Ashley, Colton, and Cruz come together as a unit. Colton’s moms were a lot of fun too, as were Colton’s friends West and Stacia and Ashley’s friend Mallory. The secondary characters added a lot of depth to the narrative and made me want to go back and read the earlier books in the series since some of them were featured there.
Overall, “Rebel Desire” was a very entertaining read and I would recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance. I look forward to checking out more of Ms. Farlow’s books in the future.
*ARC provided by the author via Candi Kane PR. All opinions expressed are my own.
Fast paced easy read, Colton and Ashley’s story was on fire!!
Hilarious and with lots of passion, is a unique opposites attract romance.
Colton is a straight lace attorney with a certain attitude that really made hard to like. Meeting Ashley, a free spirit and the total opposite of who he is.
Their snarky banter and their combustible chemistry made their story a fun read.
When an unexpected surprise lands on his doorstep, he makes a major change and he begins to see Ashley differently.
Rebel Desire by LK Farlow was an opposites attracts story that I enjoyed from start to finish. When Ashely Murphy and Colton Banks initially meet, they definitely do not start off on the right foot and yet there is chemistry between them. Ashley is wedding photographer who lives life on her own terms. Colton is an attorney who likes order in his life. Ashely knows Colton is the one for her, so when she needs help, she knows he is her guy. What follows is a story that will have you smiling. I enjoyed reading Rebel Desire by LK Farlow. It was such a charming and fun read.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading.
This story is just what I needed right now!
I really enjoyed this super sweet story that left me smiling! Colton and Ashley are polar opposites yet the perfect balance for each other as well. Their story can be read as a complete standalone however, I highly recommend reading the other two in this series first.
Ashley sees Colton for the first time, and knows that he is her soul mate. While their first encounter is not a good one, he turns her down, she refuses to give up. Then she needs legal help, knowing Colton is the best around, she is determined to win him over. I loved watching the banter between these two and even more so as their relationship progressed.
If you’re looking for a a sweet feel-good romance with a man who goes from a complete jerk to making you swoon this one is for you !
Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.
Overall Grade:
LK Farlow’s Rebel Desire continues what I’ll call her Rebel series. While I missed reading the first book of the series, Rebel Heart, I met Farlow with the second book of the series, Rebel Soul. With that book, I appreciated the heroine, Stacia, for her strength and willingness to persevere through her situation. What I struggled with was the pacing of the story and the sometimes confusing chemistry between the hero, Wes, and Stacia. Wes’s friend and lawyer in that book, Colton, intrigued me however. I’m a sucker for grumpy, alpha heroes. They tend to be undermined by a strong heroine in a way that makes my heart swoon. With that knowledge, I decided to read an ARC for an honest review. While there are some parts of Rebel Desire that I appreciated, I am still struggling with some of the same issues from Rebel Soul.
Let me begin with the challenges. First of all, the pacing of Rebel Desire seems uneven. It stutters at some points, and it feels like two stories are being told: the opposites attract, contemptuous romance between Colton and Ashley AND Colton’s single daddy story. The first one comes before the second one, and it makes it confusing at times as they can undermine the other. Had Farlow developed one of them more distinctly (for me that would have been the single father story), it would have felt less uneven. Even more, there are parts of the story that don’t feel concluded well, namely the disgruntled bride and Cruz’s mother.
Secondly, the chemistry between Ashley and Colton is a mixed bag mostly because Colton’s character development feels uneven too. For one, it’s hard to understand why he so willing begins to “fall” for Ashley when “she’s not his type” and “she’s unprofessional.” Then, he becomes protective of her. It feels like whiplash between these two, namely due to Colton. If a man treated me as Colton treats Ashley, I don’t know that I would (1) continue to seek him out for legal advice and (2) help him when he needs help with his son. I understand Farlow’s intent, however, with their coupling, but there were times when their physicality didn’t feel organic. I don’t know that I believed them as a couple for much of the story.
Now, Ashley’s characterization is worth reading Rebel Desire. This is the type of heroine you love. She’s intuitive, compassionate, intelligent, and strong. She knows herself, and she’s attuned to Colton in a way that Colton is not self-reflective enough for himself. She is responsible for settling Colton’s son, Cruz, and helping them develop a relationship. She sees Colton when Colton is unable to see himself. She is my favorite part of the book, just as Stacia was my favorite part of Rebel Soul. Crafting heroines is clearly Farlow’s forte.
Additionally, Cruz and Colton’s evolution is heartwarming. As Cruz recognizes that his value doesn’t lie in his actions you can’t help but fall deeper for him. When Colton shows Cruz unconditional love, he redeems himself from the inconsistent and sometimes boorish way that he handles Ashley.
There is also something in Rebel Desire about the strength and empowerment of women. I see Farlow working to show us women who are interesting and in control of their agency. This is always important in romance, but I think Colton can sometimes undermine Ashley’s agency and becomes troublesome, making it difficult to easily like him. He tends to control their relationship in a way that I don’t like.
Overall, I see LK Farlow’s direction with this series of standalones. She loves pairing these interesting, creative, non-standard heroines with your standard heroes, letting the fireworks explode at will. I can appreciate that. Should you read this book? Yes especially if you love to read a grumpy hero brought to his knees. If that’s your romance crack, then Rebel Desire is a guaranteed one-click.
I love this book!!! At its core it is a surprise single dad romance! Single dad romances are becoming a “go to” read for me.
Rebel Desire by LK Farlow is book Three in the Rebel Love Series. This is the story of Colton Banks and Ashley Murphy. I haven’t yet read the previous books..which is a grave mistake on my part because I really enjoyed this book. Colton was a hard-nosed lawyer who didn’t really break from his hard attitude. Then Ashley enter into his world with her lavender hair and her funny attitude not to mention that he is immediately hot for her. Ashley starts breaking down his stern walls. These two are different yet they fit together so much…each offered the other something they needed. Loved their story and plan on reading more from this author in the future.
This sexy and hilarious (surprise) single dad rom-com with a side of enemies-to-lovers goodness is guaranteed to have you swoony, laughing.
Oh my sweet swoony romance loving heart. This book is EVERYTHING. EV.ER.Y.THING! I am in happiness overload right now after reading this. Full on bliss going over here in my little bubble. Rebel Desire is a fulfilled, sugar loaded, sweet read sprinkled with humor and overloaded with swoon. Enemies to lovers, perfect chemistry, a sassy heroine and more…what else could you ask for?
Colton is the most lovable uptight jerk ever. And Ashley is his complete opposite. Where he’s wound so tight he find everything offensive, Ashley is a ray of sunshine filled with love. The sizzling chemistry between them defies everything Colton *thinks* he wants and that chemistry does not let up. When life throws a twist into his carefully arranged world it’s Ashley that’s there to be his rock. Seeing them grow closer and closer while navigating this new reality was pure magic. These two have a story with a lot of love, a lot of heart and the perfect amount of heat!