The Tate Brothers were once orphans and they have been raised to do one thing only: protect what is theirs.As a trained sniper and Navy SEAL, Lucas Tate found the courage to distance himself from the wealthy, wicked patriarch who adopted him. Instead, he’s devoted his life to the elite band of brothers from his unit. So when the widow of one of his former comrades finds herself in apparent … herself in apparent danger, Lucas makes it his job to protect her against all enemies. . .and not let her out of his sights.
Grace Riley feels overwhelmed by Lucas’s presence, but the cold-eyed marksman will do anything to keep her safe. Soon the special attention he pays her becomes a wild romantic distraction–one that troubles Grace, since Lucas was so close to her deceased husband. Still, how can she resist Lucas’s intense, ice-blue stare? All she knows is that a life without strong, passionate Lucas is one not worth living. Can Lucas can find a way to honor his former brother-in-arms by saving Grace. . .and loving her, too?
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Lucas Tate and his brothers just lost their adoptive father, Noah Tate. After Noah’s death each of the three brothers received a letter from their father with his last wishes. In Lucas’ letter his father tells him to look after Grace Riley who is the widow of one of his brother-in-arms.
Grace Riley doesn’t realize how much danger she is in when she meets Lucas again. Her late husband had some shady dealings going on when he passed and the men he was dealing with are out for blood.
Lucas and Grace find themselves not only in danger from the bad guys but also in danger of falling for one another.
This story had soooooo much potential but it just didn’t connect for me, unfortunately. I had high hopes after the first book but this one left me feeling flat.
I would recommend reading this series in the order the books were released due to crossover but it can be read as a standalone if you wish to do so.
Happy Reading!!!
It was OK. 2.5 to 3-ish stars.
This is the story of Lucas Tate and Grace Riley and to be perfectly honest, this was an OK read for me, which is usually not the norm for me, when it comes to Ms. Ashenden’s books. I can devour her books in a few hours but this one took me a couple of days to finish. Lucas is the middle brother in this series and they are all in the military when they have to return home after their adopted Father, rich oil tycoon Noah Tate, dies. Each one of them gets a letter from their Dad, detailing a mission to protect someone from his enemy Cesare De Santis. If you have read her other series, the Billionaire Fairy Tales, the stories correlate. Lucas is tasked with keeping his best friend’s widower safe from some nasty people who are looking to hurt her because her deceased husband was involved in some shady business with De Santis and a guy named Oliveira. Lucas takes on the task but remains cold and indifferent in the beginning. He believes that he is there to do a job and needs to remain like ice and focused like he is when trying to eliminate a target. Grace is an artist and has been emotionally and physically abused by her now deceased artistic father, when his glory days as an artist fell through and felt that his daughter and wife were worthless.
For me, I just got tired of the repetitive thought of Lucas stating that he was cold and that he could be still for several hours, could get his heart rate down to 30 bpm. We know as a sniper that it takes intense focus and concentration to do what they do, but the fact that it was constantly repeated? Too much. Also the fact that Grace kept referring to him as frozen and how she felt or didn’t feel for her ex-husband Griffin, the guilt over not being a good wife to him in the past, again too repetitive. I still do not like the fact that the brothers who are supposed to be close, seem to ignore each other and do not seem close to me at all. I just could not read another line, so I found myself skimming over those parts and having to put this read away several times. In the end Lucas’s brother, Wolf, ends up saving Grace and Lucas finally realizes that he should be with her after all.
It is unfortunate that there seems to be a thread where the H is traumatized over something that happened in his past, cannot seem to get over it, until he meets his h, or vice-versa. There are a lot of these themes running through our contemporary reads lately. As per Ms. Ashenden’s past books the sex scenes were steamy, action was great and yes Grace and Lucas get their HEA.
It was OK. 2.5-3 stars.
*****ARC provided by publisher St. Martin’s Press, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion*****
I gotta admit that I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about Lucas for over half of this book. He is so freaking INTENSE and brooding and I just wasn’t sure if I could deal with him.
I stuck with it because I really wanted to know how he was going to get Grace out of trouble and how they were going to address the attraction that had been brewing between them for a while. Plus, I really enjoyed Grace’s character and her story as an artist.
The times that Lucas let himself lose control with Grace and give in to his feelings (physical and emotional) were ridiculously hot and sexy and I loved seeing all of his walls come tumbling down.
These Tate men are hard nuts to crack and I also enjoyed learning more about Wolf. I absolutely cannot wait for his book!
The second Tate Brothers book is an intense and passionate read that kept me glued to the pages from beginning to end. Lucas and Grace are solid, compelling characters that both have some emotional issues that has them shying away from love but they can’t help exploring the chemistry that burns strong and hot between them. Readers can easily relate to both characters and can’t help becoming caught up in their story as Lucas fights to protect Grace.
The plot is complex, faced paced and multi-layered as it also includes an enemy that seems to have it out for all of the Tate Brothers as well as the bad guys that are after Grace which makes the story full of adrenaline pumping suspense that keeps readers on the edge of their seats as bad guys, surprising twists and emotional turmoil fill the pages.
This is the first book in this series that I have read and I had no trouble picking up on the overall plot that involves all three brothers, so the books can be read out of order. While this is the first book in this series it is not the first book by Jackie Ashenden, so I wasn’t surprised that I really enjoyed reading The Wicked Billionaire and of course I am going to have to go back and read The Dangerous Billionaire while I am waiting for The Undercover Billionaire to come out.
Jackie Ashenden does it again with The Wicked Billionaire!!!! I love Lucas and his alpha commanding ways. Grace has been through so much drama and sadness in her life that I don’t feel that she really felt the impact of danger when Lucas came to help protect her. She seemed numb for a very long time. When Lucas comes in and stays, feelings began to store and all hotness starts to erupt. Was this book hot and steamy! The storyline was great. The romance was there with a wicked twist. Grace finds her own sensuality. Lucas could not stay away from the pull he had towards her. This is book two in the Tate Brothers book. I am forever a fan of Jackie’s writing! I was captured with this book from chapter one.
3.5 Stars
I’ve read many books by Jackie Ashenden and enjoyed them but none in this series so when I saw this available on NetGalley I thought – great! When I read the story description (as above) again, I thought – this is going to be great! I’ve enjoyed this author in the past and the description sounds intriguing enough to make me want to read it…
Ok, so you can’t always hit the ball out of the ballpark every time. That’s how I feel about this book. This just wasn’t quite what I expected. Without giving anything away, there were times when I became frustrated/distracted with the number of times we (the readers) were told not only that Lucas is a SEAL trained sniper, but also what it takes for him to be successful at it, how success he is, etc. Please, please…I got it the first time it was mentioned. Mentioning it again so many times made me feel like the author was insulting the reader’s intelligence. Ditto Grace’s upbringing – got it the first time, no reason to tell me multiple times.
Having said that, there were some extremely insightful and touching moments where both main characters had to come to grips with their pasts as it affects their current lives and futures. When the MC’s supported one another with insightful commentary, it was very touching and heartfelt. There were also extremely heartbreaking moments, along with some angst.
Was I disappointed? Maybe only because I believe the description did not quite fit the story as well as it could have. Had I not read the description would I have felt differently about this story? Probably.
Will I read Jackie Ashenden’s books in the future? Absolutely!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.
3.75 stars–THE WICKED BILLIONAIRE is the second installment in Jackie Ashenden’s contemporary, adult THE TATE BROTHERS romantic, suspense series focusing on three foster brothers-Sullivan (Van), Wolf and Lucas Tate-as well as their foster sister Chloe Tate. This is Navy SEAL Lucas Tate, and artist/painter Grace Riley’s story line. THE WICKED BILLIONAIRE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary although I recommend reading the series in order for cohesion and backstory. Some of the events of THE WICKED BILLIONAIRE run parallel to, and cross over with the events of book one-The Dangerous Billionaire.
SOME BACKGROUND: In the aftermath of their father Noah Tate’s death, Van, Wolf and Lucas Tate are called home from active duty to find themselves the recipients of three letters outlining what the future has in store-letters from the grave asking each son for a final favor. There is a dark history between father and sons, marred by secrets and lies, and a father ill-equipped to look after the family he chose to raise.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Grace and Lucas) THE WICKED BILLIONAIRE focuses on the protection of artist Grace Riley. Grace’s husband Griffin Riley died with a secret, and that secret has come back looking for the payout that never came to fruition. A former Navy SEAL and a member of Lucas Tate’s team, Griffin worked the darker side of the military and his untimely demise finds his widow on the receiving end of a series of threats against her life. Enter Lucas Tate, the man with whom Grace will fall in love, but a man whose heart and soul have been destroyed by the sins of his past. What ensues is the building relationship between Lucas and Grace, and the fall out when Lucas pushes away the only woman he has ever loved.
Lucas Tate is a man surrounded by the demons of his past; memories that refuse to rest or let go of guilt that continues to destroy our story line hero. Alone and separated from the brothers of his heart, Lucas is the epitome of a broken, alpha male who is unable to forgive or forget about the past. Grace Riley believes herself to be the ugly duckling; the ‘plain Jane’ whose talent and artistry are unacceptable-a belief reinforced by a father whose own career failed before it began.
The relationship between Grace and Lucas is fraught with mutual self-doubt reinforced by childhoods fraught with disapproval, humiliation and degrading remarks. Lucas doesn’t have a very high opinion of our story line heroine-an opinion that clouds his perception of the woman he believes to be ugly and plain. Basic social interactions are difficult with a man who isn’t willing to accept Grace for the woman she has become. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative.
THE WICKED BILLIONAIRE continues to focus on the Tate family dysfunctional dynamics-three brothers who struggle in the aftermath of their father’s death, and the directives each has been ordered to follow through until the end. The premise is heartbreaking and engaging; the characters are broken, colorful and charismatic; the romance struggles with one man’s belief is he incapable of love.
Three brothers are sent on missions via letters each one is left by their recently deceased father. In book one Van deals with an issue his foster sister, Chloe, faces. In this book we hear the story of Lucas and Grace and in the book yet to come we will hear Wolf’s story and the mission he was given.
Lucas Tate is in control at all times and this, he believes, is necessary to keep his life in balance and also allow him to be the best Navy SEAL sniper he can be. He does not do emotion because it can lead to fiery trouble he never wants to experience again. He knows where his temper can lead and avoiding that temper is paramount.
Grace Riley, widow of Griffin (SEAL friend to Lucas) has no idea she is in a heap of trouble with potential pain and suffering ahead. Nope, she is an artist who escaped her father’s verbal abuse and belittling of her artistic talent, a widow and ready to have her first big art show IF she can come up with the one painting that will tie a year’s work together.
When Grace spots Lucas she denies the situation at first. Realizing that Lucas is only there to help her she allows him to protect her. Neither realize that close proximity might lead to emotions and emotions to more. The more time they are together the more they end up sharing and ultimately end up caring. Their truths are painful but need to be exposed rather than left to fester.
This has action, suspense, a tie-in to the first book and a lead-in to the third. It is a roller coaster ride for the H/h and also for the reader. I was rooting for Lucas and Grace while also enjoying their journey…even when it was painful. The two have so much to give and do it so well with one another – they become more together than apart – and that is just as it should be.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
The Wicked Billionaire by Jackie Ashenden
A Billionaire SEAL Romance
The Tate Brothers #2
5 Stars