MARIE: It’s been six years since I got my baby brother and sister out of the hellhole of abuse we grew up in. Six years spent looking over my shoulder, wondering if we’d ever truly escape our father’s wrath. Everything I did back then, I did to keep them alive. And now that a violent criminal from our past has found us, I’m forced again to use the skills I never asked to be good at. It’s bad … It’s bad enough I end up getting caught in the crime by a man as ruthless as my sister’s captor. But needing—and wanting—to trust him? That’s completely unchartered territory for me.
LUKE: It’s been a while since I’ve caught someone stealing from me—I’m just not the kind of man people make that mistake with often. Hell, if I’d been able to take my eyes off of her that night, she would’ve gotten away with it, too; she’s that good. And yeah, this mess she’s in is bad enough I don’t fault her actions. Still, letting her go is out of the question. I know she thinks I’m as dangerous as they come, and in some ways I am. Given how protective I’m starting to feel about her, dangerous doesn’t even begin to describe the lengths I’ll go to keep her safe.
The SAVAGE TRUST Series
Wrecked (Luke & Marie)
Scarred (Mikhael & Alina)
Frayed (Kane & Daniella)
Previously published as House Rules (c) 2014, revised throughout with newly added content, new characters, and a different extended ending.
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An exciting story, easy to lose yourself in! This is a deeply nuanced, multi-level, addictive book to read! It starts off with a con, a kidnapping, and tons of sexual tension. Marie is strong but damaged, and although she’s a con artist, she has no self-confidence. Luke is the strong, silent type, but he goes after her hard. I loved the emotional depth of the story, the way the story details how a family can eat you up and spit you out. I loved the connections that Marie was able to make and how she’s always willing to save everyone but herself. This book was hot. The scenes were so intimately described that I kind of felt like I was there. It’s an intense read whose story will stay with you for awhile.
Romantic suspense.
From abusive father to best con player to her first and only love. She try to survive on legit job but web of suspense put her on other path. Will Luke help her to get some self esteem or will she always question him ?
The storyline is intriguing and keeping on the edge from first page.
I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading more books from this series. This book and series is a bit darker than what you might expect from this author if you are familiar with her work. This means that this read features a dominate hero and some BDSM elements. I thought the story was engaging and it read easily. The plot offers drama, danger, intensity and steamy passion. I loved the attraction and chemistry between Marie and Luke. I do wish that there had been a bit more character development with Luke though. As much as I liked him, I feel that we barely got to know him. Still, I liked this couple a lot and I loved that the book delivers a sweet and satisfying HEA for them.
This was a unique story from the beginning. Marie is cheating at cards in Luke’s casino when he catches her in the act. She has to cheat in order to get her sister away from a bad guy. Marie has always taken care of her brother and sister and now is no different. Luke says he will help her out if she gives him 30 days to do whatever he wants to her. She agrees to this bargain. She, however, gets way more than she expected. Their story is hot and steamy and definitely worth reading.
Thank you for the privilege of reading this book!
I loved this intense, action-packed romance!
Luke and Marie learn a lot about trusting each other in this thrilling romance that’s part casino heist and part bad-girl redemption. Marie is just barely scraping by, taking care of her younger siblings, when her sister is held hostage by a man who forces Marie back into a life she desperately tried to leave behind. Luke is the casino owner who soon figures out the whole plan, and he responds with a masterfully-crafted plan of his own.
Marie hasn’t had much cause in her young life to trust anyone, so watching her learn to rely on Luke, and watching him become the man she needs him to be, kept me on the edge of my seat and kept me reading into the wee hours of the morning. I loved every bit of this story, and the HEA couldn’t have been sweeter. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I really liked this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed the story which I thought was written so well. It was a rollercoaster ride of emotions and the chemistry was off the charts. Great book.
This book had me hooked from the first page, and while I was able to predict what was going to happen, that did not make it less interesting for me. And, yes, I did shed a few tears for Luke and Marie; both of them feeling unsure about how the other person felt toward them. In the end, they get their HEA, and it’s beautiful.
Christa Wicks books rock!! This is an action packed roller coaster of a story. Wonderful characters, some of them you’ll love and not like a few!
Great job with lots of feels!
Sometimes you miss out on good things because of misconceptions. That’s what almost happened to me with this book .I’ve had Wrecked for a while but put off reading it because of the kinky sex. I am not a fan of physical pain as sexual stimulation but to each his/her own. I am so glad that I read this book because it was fabulous. It had great characters good guys and bad guys. The plot was intriguing and kept me interested. The kinky sex was at the end of the story therefore it did not distract from the story. I should have known better than to ever doubt Christa’s ability to entertain me. Now I’m going to read the other two books in the series to see where they take me. Until next time y’all happy reading.
This was a nice start to the series. I will definitely check out the other books in the series.
House rules need not apply
—>>> When Marie is caught red-handed by Luke, it puts a definite wrench in the works of her hail-Mary plan to save her sister. But when Luke has her his penthouse office, the last thing he wants to do is let her go. With more digging, the reasons soon get dragged out of her, and Luke throws in his expertise to protect her and her family – but at a personal cost to Marie. Action, suspense and a steamy romance from this first installment of the Savage Trust series!
Marie Tries To Pull Off A Con In Luke’s Casino; He Offers Her An Enticing Choice When She’s Caught! Tedious But Rewarding.
Marie Lafayette, twenty-six, is wanted by the law. Six years off the grid and on the run have made her soft and her skills rusty, so when her sister’s life depends upon her ability to pull off a con at a casino, she knows she is in trouble.
Luke Masters, a casino owner and former PsyOps soldier, can’t take his eyes off of the sexy 1950’s-style full-figured bombshell that just entered his casino. And when he sees her sit down at one of his black jack tables and procede to cheat, he takes it upon himself to personally bring her in.
Luke lays out Marie’s options for her. He can call the police, who will gladly jail her for her outstanding warrants, or she can agree to his terms. Luke wants thirty days. He wants Marie whenever he wants and requires her complete surrender. She and her brother Tommy get his protection and whatever they want within reason during that time. And Luke will try to help retrieve her sister, too.
Although given a choice, Marie’s consent to bed with Luke is questionable. Marie also suffers from an abusive childhood. She has never been with a man before and has real difficulty trusting Luke’s intentions. Despite this, Luke and Marie begin an unlikely relationship. Luke’s unwavering affection is sweet. His patience and repeated assurances are novel. Marie sometimes comes across as whiney. Her insecurity is explained later in the book, though, which helps. The couple deserves their HEA!
This is the first book in the Savage Trust series. It reads perfectly as a stand-alone, but the subject of the next book in the series, Mikhael, is first introduced here.
This book is suspenseful and dripping with eroticism. It is sometimes tedious to read. The POV alternates between Luke and Marie. The plot is somewhat complex, but problems are often resolved too conveniently. The characters are somewhat developed. It is rewarding to see Marie grow more confident by the end, but more background for both Luke and Marie would be appreciated. I rate this book 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Marie is trying to escape her past and raise her siblings. When her sister is kidnapped, Marie has no choice but to return to her past. Luke catches her in the act and “offers” a new plan. Trust isn’t easy for Marie. Their attraction and chemistry may be over the top but can she trust Luke? Although this was a little “darker” story, it was still a good read. Can’t wait to read the others in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is intense and action-packed and so enthralling. I couldn’t put it down. Luke and Marie have a lot to get through when they meet but it’s explosive. The story kept me hooked and I couldn’t put it down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A short read that packs a punch between Luke, a casino owner with a side job and Marie, an ex con who gets entangled in a dangerous game because of her sister. The two meet when he spots Marie at his casino and realizes there is more to her than winning a few hands at blackjack. He escorts her to his office and from there their story begins.
A great short read with steam and suspense that had me flipping the pages. These two lit up the pages and I loved how intense Luke was at times, actually seeing Marie and noticing her fear with a certain object. I loved how protective Marie was of her family, even though one of them didn’t deserve it. The story flowed beautifully and the characters were amazing.
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy and expressed my honest opinion*