From the New York Times bestselling author of the Driven series comes a powerful romance about reaching great heights through low depths.Who says you have to play by the rules to get what you want?Agreeing to meet Ryker Lockhart is my first mistake. Rich, handsome, and more than intriguing, he thinks blackmail will bend me to his will.But he’s wrong.I may have done a few things that weren’t … wrong.
I may have done a few things that weren’t exactly legal, but I have my own reasons for that. The last thing I’m going to do is let some high-powered divorce attorney come into my life, have my body, and rule my heart. Not to mention ruin everything that I have carefully built in just a short amount of time.
But as much as I try to resist him, and against my better judgment, there is something about him that has me agreeing to his proposal.
I’m putting everything on the line for him. I just hope I won’t lose everything when this is all over.
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You can always count on K Bromberg for a really compelling story. Vaughn leads a double life. She is a waitress struggling to make ends meet so she can gain guardianship of her niece. Then she is the owner (Madam) of a high class escort service. Her wealthy clients bring in enough money to pay down her sister’s medical bills and prove to the state that she can care for her niece. In walks Ryker, a wealthy client, who is about to make her two worlds collide.
I loved the complexity of Vaughn. Readers get really pulled into the storyline with her niece and that makes you understand why she’s living this double life. There’s amazing chemistry between Vaughn and Ryker. I especially love the scenes with the two of them and Lucy, her niece.
This book ends on a heck of a cliffhanger though. It makes you wonder where Bromberg is going to take the storyline in the next book.
Absolutely captivating romance that I found endlessly entertaining!
Quote:
“So what happens if you fall in love?”
“That won’t happen.” His words are half chuckle, half sarcasm.
“Why not?”
“Because I’ve seen enough marriages crash and burn that there’s no way in hell I’m stepping into that wreckage.”
Resist by K. Bromberg was epically entertaining. In a stunning return to characters with depth and plots that captivate the reader, K. Bromberg just released a book that held me on the edge of my seat. The dual POV romance is book one of the Wicked Ways Duet and I must say I haven’t enjoyed a K. Bromberg book this much since Driven. The writing was brilliant, the flow and pace fit the story perfectly and I utterly LOVED the protagonists. Ryker is my favorite kind of hero—he’s an asshole with a soft side that only comes out as the reader goes deeper into the story. His ruthless side wars with a vulnerability when it comes to Vaughn. And what a heroine readers got with Vaughn!!! Wow, she was just incredible. Her character’s growth is stunning and while I thought initially that she was going to be weak, she shows backbone and strength that I couldn’t get enough of. I binge read this book from beginning to end… And what I loved the absolute most? While it was a romance, it’s also very realistic and truly compelling. I can’t wait to get my hands on the conclusion to this duet. K. Bromberg is an outstanding author, there is no doubt, but there was just something more about Resist that I haven’t seen in her work for some time. 5++ stars !!!
Quotes:
… Ryker Lockhart, the ruthless shark in court and the stoic, untouchable man outside of it …
I’m reckless with some things. Calculated with almost all others. And I break the rules every chance I get in my professional life. But not my personal. Never my personal. And yet staring at her, seeing her here, makes me want to break rules I never even knew I had for myself.
Ryker Lockhart could have said anything to me . . . anything at all, but those words cut the deepest. Those words put me in my place and let me know where I stand with him. Disposable. Dispensable. Unwanted. Just when I was starting to believe I wasn’t.
Running Wicked Ways was always supposed to be a means to an end. A fast-track means but a means nonetheless. Too much risk can catch up with you, and after everything with the senator last night, it’s now more apparent than ever that I’m threading a needle I don’t want to sew with.
She’s like goddamn lightning— that’s what she is. She strikes without warning and is going to singe every damn part of me no matter what kind of shelter I try to hide under. I might as well grab onto something metal and take my chances.
The jaded divorce attorney and the madam with a heart of gold. Sounds like a story that’s been done to death but under this author’s hands it’s new and exciting and so sexy. The queen of the slow build/burn romance has given us a couple in the self-proclaimed asshole Ryker and the beautiful hard working Vaughn that you can’t help but fall in love with as their relationship develops. Vaughn with her determination to adopt her special needs niece after a tragedy, requires a course of action not necessarily the best or safest, is terrific. Going outside her comfort zone she steps into Ryker’s path and sets off a connection that sizzles and one Ryker is determined to see through. It takes awhile but Ryker convinces Vaughn of his sincerity and she lets go of her past and the relationship goes to a place neither believed in. It’s sexy and sweet and just what Vaughn needs. Ryker is wonderful to her and Lucy but soon Vaughn’s tangled life catches up with her and Ryker seems to be in the middle of the catastrophe. The ending leaves us with a WTF moment where Vaughn is destroyed and Ryker’s appears to have been playing her along with her enemies. Ugh! I want to know if Ryker is really the horrible jerk we are left with and what is Vaughn’s next step. So many questions and I can’t wait for the next part for the answers. Will Ryker really tear Vaughn’s world apart? What happens to Vaughn’s struggle to adopt her niece? And most of all, will this couple survive? Ms. Bromberg is one of my go-to authors but I struggled with parts of the story and the relationship seemed forced at times. But the banter between Vaughn and Ryker carried the story and by the end I was invested in their relationship and the marvelous conflict between the two. I love these divine characters in the brilliant, extremely alpha Ryker, and the strong, resourceful Vaughn. I just wanted a little more from this fantastic author but I have high hopes for the second half! I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
~4.5 IRRESISTIBLE STARS! ~~
“Everything has a price….”
Like her legion of fans, I first fell head over heels with K. Bromberg’s spellbinding writing after devouring the Driven trilogy. And holy moly I do declare that she has struck gold once again with RESIST, the first enthralling installment in her Wicked Ways duet. This is an EPIC enemies-to-lovers tale that resonates oh so deep…but eek there’s a cliffhanger that will leave you SCREAMING!
“How far would you go to protect the one you love? To the ends of the earth.”
THE PREMISE:
To avoid spoilers, I am going to keep this overview short and sweet. But, in summary, this sophisticated and passion fueled story revolves around Ryker Lockhart, a roguishly handsome, high powered divorced attorney who sets his sights on Vaughn aka “Madam Vee,” the alluringly beautiful and mystifying owner of the secret escort service that he frequents. Their first meeting is positively electric and while the fiery heroine tries to act unaffected by her filthy rich client’s rakish charm, it’s clear that she is as aroused and as intrigued as he is.
Turns out the unscrupulous, lethally sexy alphahole wants her at ALL COSTS and is bound and determined to unravel all her deep dark secrets. But while he unnerves Vaughn she’s not about to be ensnared in his trap. Undeterred, Ryker resorts to blackmail to get her into his bed but when she claws her way into his jaded heart then the cat and mouse games REALLY begin… As passion and subterfuge ignite, can these two enemies resist falling head over heels in love….or will their perfectly constructed house of cards come toppling down ?
MY MUSINGS:
IRRESISTIBLE was enticing. Wildly addictive. Insanely hot. And brimming with a plethora of juicy drama, glitz, passion and intrigue. In essence, this is one sexy as sin, high octane, emotionally-charged read that is pure adrenaline rush of ecstasy! And of course, as with all of K. Bromberg’s books, it’s all about the book boyfriend. And wowza is this one MOUTHWATERING!
Ryker Lockhart in all his “elegant, refined, sexy, striking” glory is the epitome of the hotshot alphahole hero. This powerful, ruthless attorney lives by a rigid set of rules, but against all odds, Vaughn just might be “the goddamn exception.” And in the moments when this cut-throat courtroom shark transforms into a gentle giant, you can’t help but swoon over him. He is a man of many facets, and I was completely and utterly mesmerized by this hero and was totally in his corner as he pursues the object of his scalding hot desires with a VENGEACE!
And eeep does he meet his match in Vaughn, the bewitchingly beautiful madam who runs the escort service that caters to the rich and elite. She is as feisty and strong-willed as he is powerfully commanding. So, in addition to penning delicious alpha heroes that make you swoon like a schoolgirl and melt into a puddle of goo, Ms. Bromberg excels at crafting fierce, richly nuanced heroines. And such is the case with Vaughn. She’s scrappy and headstrong, one ULTRA TOUGH COOKIE, and she does not take any BS from anyone—especially the detestable, drop dead gorgeous bastard who dared to blackmail her to do his bidding! But despite outward appearances, there’s so much to her than meets the eye. For deep down beneath the “ball busting” exterior is a real, flesh and blood woman who’s living a double life. A woman who possesses an aching vulnerability, stemming from a traumatic past, and who has a heck of a lot on the line.
Vaughn has a very compelling motivation for doing what she does—and when you find out the secrets she harbors, prepare to be gutted! And while Ryker is a distraction she CANNOT afford, and as such, she does everything in her power to keep the charismatic, incorrigible thorn in her side at arm’s length to prevent her tightly guarded secrets from being exposed, over time she winds up helplessly succumbing to his potent animal magnetism . And finds herself in danger of losing her heart to the one man who has a steel barricade around his own.
Which could jeopardize everything that matters to her in the world!
Gah! I absolutely love the push and pull between these two fireballs—the emotional tug of war, the power struggles, the flirty, razor-sharp banter were absolutely INTOXICATING! Vaughn and Ryker’s chemistry is off the charts and they both challenge and test each other in immeasurable ways! And no big surprise… their blistering discord eventually paves the way for some molten hot encounters that are guaranteed to set your kindle AFLAME!! And while at times Vaughn’s stubborn pride made me want to shake some sense into her, I got why she used her self-defense mechanisms as a shield like she did. Her brokenness was palpable but when her walls finally came tumbling down, I was beyond jubilant!
As with all of Ms. Bromberg’s books, this story is brilliantly crafted, beautifully complex and with a tightly woven, gloriously twisty plotline that leaves you absolutely riveted. It’s also the kind of breath-stealing story that swallows you whole from page one. There is just so much depth and so many layers to the MCs, and their storyline is bolstered by a memorable cast of secondary characters that prove pivotal to the overarching storylines. And in addition to the internal strife there are also some outside forces that heightens the stakes for this dynamic couple.
BOTTOM LINE:
Overall, I found RESIST to have the perfect blend of hotness, angst, palpable tension, red hot erotica and edge of your seat intrigue to keep me frantically turning the pages. And omfg that cliffy ending is TO DIE FOR! It’s gonna be SHEER TORTURE to await the conclusion, REVEAL, but I have every confidence that it’s going to be explosive!
A MUST READ!
RESIST starts off rather untypical for a non-dark romance. Some might scrunch their nose at it, but I found it was a breath of fresh air that for once it was not the hero who seemed a criminal but the heroine. Ha! And seeing that heroine – whose name is rather untypical too with Vaughn – trying to resist the hero’s – Ryker’s – charm was everything: sexy and funny and even annoying at the same time. And don’t worry, even if you are not a fan of Vaughn at first, I’m sure you’ll warm to up her!
There’s some serious push and pull in this story, and while I loved the snark there was to it, it got a bit too much toward the end. Some of it just could have been avoided without taking away from the story – it might have even made this story just one full length book, and not a duet. Now we have a cliffy and a month-long wait to see where it all ends. Ugh!
But anyway, RESIST is definitely one fun-filled romance so worth reading. An escort / lawyer romance with some serious bite, some power games – a story of falling – no matter how much you try to avoid it. I’m looking forward to more of Vaughn and Ryker!
Dynamite! One word that encapsulates this story to a tee. Having gone into this story a bit blind, I was surprised at the depth and the complexity of the issues its characters, Ryker and Vaughn, face.
As the characters reveal more layers of themselves to one another, and the reader alike, it seems the deeper we all travel down the rabbit hole and into uncharted territory, leaving vulnerabilities open for the taking.
I was completely engrossed in this story. By the time I reached the very last few pages I felt as though I wanted to scream and throw my book, hurt and confused for its characters.
It takes a talented writer to invoke such strong emotions; emotions to hold an audience, and keep them wanting for more, Bromberg does just this in Resist and I for one cannot wait for this story’s conclusion when the duet concludes in Reveal.
As Always, Happy Reading!
“5/5 Beaming Brains!” – Lit-Up My Mind
I absolutely love this author. Everything she writes is just pure gold. She draws you in and keeps hold of you, immersing you completely in the world she has brought to life.
In Ryker Lockhart she has given us a hero we want to hate but can’t. He’s a cold and ruthless divorce lawyer that always sides with the man regardless. He doesn’t want the complication of a relationship just sex on his terms so seeks the services of Wicked Ways escort agency.
Vaughan is desperately trying to pay off her sisters medical bills so she runs a high class escort agency. I loved this girl. She’s so strong with so much love in her for her family. She will do anything for the ones she loves and her inner strength is amazing. I absolutely loved how she stood up to Ryker, she wasn’t going to give in to his demands easily.
Kristy did an amazing job with this book. The emotions she poured into this was so raw and real. I felt Vaughan’s struggle with everything, in Ryker she thought she had finally found someone to help her to strong, to fed her strength but he just seemed to knock her down further everytime. Hence my love/hate relationship.
I am in eager anticipation to see what happens next with Reveal after the way this one left off. There are so many sides to Ryker and Vaughan that are constantly being revealed I really want to see what the real Ryker is like.
Absolutely amazing. Want more. Loved reading every second. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
oly toledo what a book! I love me a good K. Bromberg read, I have been a fan since she walked onto the Indie Publishing scene with the Driven series… I’ve read every single book she’s written, but this one was such a surprise! I loved all the twist and turns that Ms. Bromberg took with this book. I do have to say that I sort of called the twisted ending but even with me realizing what was going to happen it still took me by surprise!
I love him even when I shouldn’t! I love her beyond words for doing whatever she needs to do to be able to keep her family together, and I love this story and the power in it beyond measure!
What would you do, what lengths would you go to, to keep your family together. We don’t always know till we are put to the test literally and figuratively, and Bromberg has written a powerful message about true love and sacrifice.
I cannot wait to see what is to come in Reveal! This cliffhanger has this girl on edge and anxiously waiting for more!!!
4.5 Stars!
First let start by say, beware of the cliffhanger.
Then let say this book was SO GOOD! I am fan of Bromberg so I went into the book blind. Initially, I was like man this book is different then what I usually read but I could not put it down. Vaughn is the owner of an escort service. The book reveals the details of this service and the why. She comes in contact with Ryker through the service. Ryker is a rich high power divorce lawyer who is used to getting what he wants and calling the shots. Vaughn is not impressed by the rich and powerful and considers them a means to an end and nothing more. Ryker finds that Vaughn is not impressed by him and does not find it necessary to bend to his will so he makes it his mission to make her his. I thought that Bromberg did a great job with this enemies to lovers. I thought that Lucy was such a great added bonus to the book. I love the fight that Vaughn has in her. The push and pull in the story between Ryker and Vaughn was perfect. I am so excited to devour the next book to see where this story gos!
Reviewed by: Alexis R.
Bromberg is known for her multi-level characters that make you love and hate them at the same time, in Resist she is at her best in character development. Vaughn and Ryker have so many complex levels that you both cheer and boo for them through out the book.
It pulls you in from the beginning and doesn’t let go ever. I want Vee and Ryker to be together, put don’t know who I want to come out on top in the second book of this duet.
Reviewed by: Alex L.
I just finished this book, and OMG. It’s freaking amazing! The emotions it drew out, the sexiness. It was EVERYTHING. And that ending?! HOLY. S$@*! I need book 2 ASAP! This is definitely a must read!!!
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book. I’ve only ever read one book by K. Bromberg before, and I loved it, but this one was unexpected in its intensity.
Vaughn and Ryker drug me into their story and made me feel so many things. I love a book that digs deep and creates emotions. I wasn’t sure from chapter to chapter if I wanted to yell at them or if I wanted to cry because they just refused to SEE!
I did my best to read it slowly because I didnt want it to end… it still did. Book hangover material for sure, you guys!
Most definitely a five star read… for making me want more of Ryker and Vaughn, even if it did leave me hanging. Gotta love and hate those cliffhangers!
3.25-3.5 STARS
K. Bromberg is one of my favorite “go to” authors, so I couldn’t wait to delve between the pages of her latest novel, “Resist.” But as much as I wanted to love Vaughn and Ryker’s story, I just couldn’t connect to the characters or get on board with the supposed love connection between this pair.
While the overall premise is a unique take on a very familiar theme, I’m not a big fan of the push-and-pull power play that this couple constantly engaged in. In addition, Vaughn’s defensiveness felt a bit over-the-top for my liking and Ryker behaved like a jerk more often than not. Misunderstandings abound from start to finish, furthering my frustration.
Without a doubt, there are wonderful moments sprinkled throughout this book—specifically, those revolving around sweet little Lucy. Vaughn’s back story is an intriguing component, as well. And unlike some readers who might balk because of the cliffhanger ending, I don’t mind them in the least. But in this case, however, I’m just not invested enough in the story, to crave what might come next.
This book will pull you in from the first page. After reading the blurb I knew I needed to get my hands on this book.
Vaughn also known as Vee is living in two worlds. Vee is the mysterious madam and Vaughn is a struggling waitress trying to pay down debt. Being two people is exhausting she only has to keep the madam job long enough to get out of debt and get custody of her niece. It becomes harder than she thinks to keep the two worlds separate.
Ryker is a handsome and a very successful divorce attorney. He doesn’t do complications when it comes to woman so he uses escorts that cater to the rich.
This book had me on the edge of my seat. Once I started this book there was no way I could stop until I finished. These characters will have you so frustrated at times and then the next minute you love them. I need book two now after that ending!
I loved Resist so much. K. Bromberg brought it and leaves you begging for more. I for one can’t wait. I love Vaughn. She is a survivor just trying to do whatever it takes for her niece. She is so strong and you will just love her the way she is with her niece and how she handles her employees. And then there is Ryker and his sexy I get what I want ways. You feel the pull between them and it’s so strong. They have this sexy way about them. Ryker will make you swoon at times and also just want to slap him a little too. You feel for Vaughn and the fight for her niece. You feel for Ryker and his stance on relationships. Once you get to know Vaughn and Ryker you will love them together. This was such a fantastic read. I couldn’t put it down and I was pulled in from the start. I can’t wait to see what happens next. This is a go one clicker right here.
So many secrets, so many omissions, so much sexy, so much resistance. Who is Vaughn really and why-oh-why does she resist Ryker so much? Sexy madam by day, cocktail waitress by night, doting aunt with a spotty history. Powerful divorce attorney helping men screw over women regardless of their situations. They seem to have nothing in common except their want for each other. But that can’t happen because neither of them will allow themselves to feel anything for another person outside of a business transaction. How long can they resist each other before their worlds collide?
I had to take a break to sleep or I would have devoured this in one night. Kristy has a way of writing so you get to know her characters, so they are stuck in your mind and in your heart. This story was no exception. The background eases its way into the storyline appropriately without bombarding you with information before you need to know it. I love the drive of both characters, each for their own reasons, and the lengths they were willing to go to play their roles. I wanted to hug then smack Vaughn and tell her to fall for the handsome man who would likely make her crazy. I wanted to see Ryker in the courtroom exuding power and confidence. And I want to keep that visual of a sexy man biting his lip out of desire. Cliffhanger? Of course… Reveal is going to be amazing and I can not wait to read it!
Side note: I’ll likely edit this as thoughts come to me. I needed a breather before writing this review so I could process everything. There were tears for sure. I’m just grateful there was a warning that this was a duet.
Resist by K. Bromberg is book One in the Wicked Ways Series. This starts the story of Vaughn and Ryker. Vaughn runs a business which is her focus along with progressing through her goals but she does have secrets too she needs hidden. Ryker became a client of hers and the attraction is off the charts but things are what they seem nor to easy for them. Which leads to this book setting us up for the next installment in this series (cliffhanger).
Can’t wait for the next installment!!
An emotional and empowering journey of a woman doing everything in her power to gain custody of her niece, a young girl with downs syndrome, who brakes her one rule in life. Never let anyone in. Especially someone who employs her escort company to meet his needs. Against all odds, she let’s him and trusts him like no other. But when two people who never trust anyone finally let someone in, life has a way of testing them, obstacles at every corner and a disturbing darkness lurking in shadows waiting to take everything from them. Loved every minute and was blown away by the ending, thanking my lucky starts I had the next one ready to go! I have never read a K. Bromberg book so I was surprised that all the hype is definitely true and her words should be devoured. By everyone.
Another brilliant read from K Bromberg, her writing style reminds me a a comforter that you pull up around you to keep you snug, she has a warmth to her writing that always intrigued me and pulls me in until, in this case, I’m left hanging on the edge waiting for book two !
Ryker and Vaughn have a great chemistry, both with difficult and complicated pasts, as the layers tumble away you see the depth of character from both and this really helps with how the story develops.
The first part of a duet and I can not wait for book 2 x
5 Stars
Diz
4TLOReading
From the moment I picked this book up, it sucked me in! I was 100% engrossed and invested in Vaughn’s story. Her life, her identities, her sass, her hidden vulnerability, everything.
Ryker took some time warming to but his character and apparent deep attraction to Vaughn eventually had me obsessively turning page after page looking forward to reading his POV again.
Now, this is a duet so OF COURSE there’s that little thing of a cliffhanger. And what a doozy this is! But I still willingly went toward it and now absolutely cannot wait for Reveal!