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Lexi Blake
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Tempted: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella Kindle Edition

by Lexi Blake (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 616 ratings
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake comes a new story in her Masters and Mercenaries series…

When West Rycroft left his family’s ranch to work in the big city, he never dreamed he would find himself surrounded by celebrities and politicians. Working at McKay-Taggart as a bodyguard and security expert quickly taught him how to navigate the sometimes shark-infested waters of the elite. While some would come to love that world, West has seen enough to know it’s not for him, preferring to keep his distance from his clients—until the day he meets Ally Pearson.

Growing up in the entertainment world, Ally was always in the shadow of others, but now she has broken out from behind the scenes for her own day in the spotlight. The paparazzi isn’t fun, but she knows all too well that it’s part of the gig. She has a good life and lots of fans, but someone has been getting too close for comfort and making threats. To be safe, she hires her own personal knight in shining armor, a cowboy hottie by the name of West. They clash in the beginning, but the minute they fall into bed together something magical happens.

Just as everything seems too good to be true, they are both reminded that there was a reason Ally needed a bodyguard. Her problems have found her again, and this time West will have to put his life on the line or lose everything they’ve found.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

Reviews for Tempted:

“Witty banter, plenty of action, and tons of steam has made this series an all-time favorite of mine.” ~ Saucy Southern Readers

“West’s story is a wonderful addition to the series and a quick and easy read that thoroughly entertains its readers.” ~ ksroma16

“Delicious, so many lovely vignettes and poignant moments. Thank you Lexi Blake for another great installment.” ~ Ruthie, Wicked Reads

“This was such a fun read with a little suspense, mystery, and spice.” ~ cynsational_reads

“If you like bodyguard romances and want something fast to read or even get a taste of Lexi’s writing, you should give this book a try.” ~ Read What I Like
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  1. Print length
    202 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    June 27, 2023
  4. File size
    2.9 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Deftly and expertly narrated by the rather impressive storytelling talents of Ryan West, the novella…is certain to be enduringly appreciated.” ―Midwest Book Review

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn't until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

Sign up for Lexi's FREE newsletter at http://lexiblake.net.

For more information about her books, her appearances and her wacky life visit her Facebook page (http://goo.gl/q2IHnJ) or her website (http://www.lexiblake.net).

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BJC5KFQ2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ 1001 Dark Nights Press (June 27, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 27, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 202 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 616 ratings

About the author

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Lexi Blake

Lexi Blake

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New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband and three kids. Since starting her publishing journey in 2010, she's sold over three million copies of her books. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn't until she started writing romance that she found success. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings.

For more information about her books, her appearances, and her wacky life, visit her Facebook page at AuthorLexiBlake.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
616 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this book, praising its snarky humor and believable characters with distinct personalities. The story features a great relationship between Ally and West, with one customer noting their perfect complement to each other. Customers appreciate the intrigue, with one mentioning the great ending, and another highlighting the bodyguard's protective nature.

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13 customers mention "Enjoyment"13 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy this book, particularly praising it as a wonderful Lexi Blake novella, with one customer noting it's a witty read.

"Lexi Blake's Masters & Mercenaries is one of my all-time favorite book series. I LIVE for Ian Taggert's snark! I love her strong female characters...." Read more

"Good, solid story. Was surprised that we didn't have any BDSM or alphas in it. But I liked the main name character...." Read more

"...Lexi Blake is a must buy, must read author. This stand-alone novella is easy to follow but at times difficult to read due to emotions evoked...." Read more

"...I highly recommend! Of course, EVERYTHING by Lexi Blake is amazing! Especially when Ian is involved!" Read more

10 customers mention "Suspenseful"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book suspenseful, with one mentioning it's a steamy contemporary romance and another noting it has a great ending.

"...I got everything I love about the M&M series -- sassy h, protector H, intrigue, snarky laughs & misty-eyed "awwww"s -- *chef's kiss*" Read more

"Good, solid story. Was surprised that we didn't have any BDSM or alphas in it. But I liked the main name character...." Read more

"...I recommend this book to readers who enjoy STEAMY Contemporary Romances, Romantic Suspense Reads, Professional/Client Romances, or Forced Proximity..." Read more

"...The romance is still spicy but it's gentler too. Ally Pearson has been in the shadow of her prominent acting family most of her life...." Read more

7 customers mention "Ally's relationship"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the relationship between Ally and West, with one customer noting their perfect complement to each other, and another highlighting Ally's personal growth throughout the story.

"...Ally and West were great together, I loved their chemistry, and the way they went back and forth with one another, not letting the other get away..." Read more

"...Ian, Charlotte, and Kala Taggart have some great interactions with Ally...." Read more

"I loved this story of West and Ally! West is hired, as a McKay Taggart bodyguard, to guard Ally...." Read more

"...and getting to see him as not only his funny self but a sweet side with Ally was great. So good to see Kala and her character growth...." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting the believable characters with distinct personalities, and one customer particularly loves the strong female characters.

"...I LIVE for Ian Taggert's snark! I love her strong female characters...." Read more

"...But I liked the main name character. He could be firm, fierce, and protective...." Read more

"...Believable characters with distinct personalities. Realistic and memorable dialogue. Plus Ian Taggert! “..." Read more

3 customers mention "Humor"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book, with snarky laughs throughout, and one customer mentions smiling the whole time while reading.

"...I love about the M&M series -- sassy h, protector H, intrigue, snarky laughs & misty-eyed "awwww"s -- *chef's kiss*" Read more

"...It was great having Ian drop in as he is always a fountain of humor and snark. This time, he also had good dad advice...." Read more

"I read this on my lunch break and just laughed and smiled the whole time. Lexi’s book are always entertaining." Read more

3 customers mention "Protection"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the protection aspect of the book, with one mentioning the wonderful bodyguard character.

"...end, but I got everything I love about the M&M series -- sassy h, protector H, intrigue, snarky laughs & misty-eyed "awwww"s -- *chef's kiss*" Read more

"...But I liked the main name character. He could be firm, fierce, and protective...." Read more

"...West is a wonderful bodyguard who needs to find his true passion. These two had a wonderful connection that made them both stronger and happier." Read more

4 stars
4 out of 5 stars
4 stars
I swear, I will never grow tired of this series or the M&M gang. The 1001 novellas in this series are the only ones I feel you can truly enjoy as a standalone. While you'd miss the amazing dynamics and backstory of Ian and his team, you get plenty to enjoy the story in full. This is a steamy bodyguard romance that I enjoyed thoroughly. West is a country boy turned bodyguard, working for McKay Taggard security. After a particularly handsy princess thought his body came with the guarding, he's not particularly keen on taking on another celebrity client. Especially not with the public rep that Ally has. Ally has a particularly nasty stalker whose behavior escalated enough that her parents demand she take the threat seriously. But when her bodyguard is immediately judgmental of her, she's not exactly thrilled herself. I'll admit, I wished the antagonism between these two lasted a bit longer. I would have loved that burn. But the second West sees Ally for who she is, he's all in and turns full cinnamon roll. Well, with the touch her and die vibes, obviously. He falls for her pretty quick and the feeling is entirely mutual. This was a sweet and steamy romance with a small touch of suspense that I enjoyed. But like all the books in this series, my favorite will always be the Ian cameos. My love for that man will never end.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Tracey475
    5.0 out of 5 stars Tempted is a lot of M&M fun
    Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Lexi Blake's Masters & Mercenaries is one of my all-time favorite book series. I LIVE for Ian Taggert's snark! I love her strong female characters. Tempted was such a fun ride through life in Hollywood with Ally Pearson as she tries to break away from her family's reality tv persona. West Rycroft is a fish out of water, straight from his family's ranch, acting as a bodyguard to Ally while protecting her from a stalker. Ally's advice to Kala was spot-on. And I want a real-life Rand & Martin! They were the cherry on top! I wanted this book to be longer, I didn't want it to end, but I got everything I love about the M&M series -- sassy h, protector H, intrigue, snarky laughs & misty-eyed "awwww"s -- *chef's kiss*
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  • ReaderForLifeAndLoveandPeace
    4.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected
    Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Good, solid story. Was surprised that we didn't have any BDSM or alphas in it. But I liked the main name character. He could be firm, fierce, and protective. And yet, he could talk about feelings, process, and change his life for her. I was going to give this 3 stars but that fact that he was so likable, I gave it the extra star.
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  • Nadine Bookaholic [Nadine's Obsessed with Books]
    5.0 out of 5 stars Are you Tempted?
    Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    There are very few authors that I will pick up their books without even reading the synopsis, and Lexi Blake is one of them so you can imagine my surprise when I started reading TEMPTED and realized that the MFC was ALLY; if you read BAYOU SWEETHEART you'll recall who she is because that was her sister Brynn's story, I was ecstatic because I soooo wanted her to get her own HEA after meeting her.

    West Rycroft moved to Dallas to be with his twin brother, Rand, and found himself working for McKay-Taggart as a bodyguard and security expert; unfortunately, some of the clientele thought he was there for more, which has him in a sour mood when he is assigned his next job of "babysitting an actress." I have to laugh because Ally is so different from the person he protected before, but watching him figure that out for himself was fun.

    Ally and West were great together, I loved their chemistry, and the way they went back and forth with one another, not letting the other get away with anything, was so much fun.

    Thank you to 1001 Dark Nights and Lexi Blake for making this story happen. I love the premise behind the 1001 Dark Nights Novellas; they give new readers a chance to read an author's work and see if it's for them, and it gives readers of the series a couple that we may not have seen otherwise. Ally was a person I was hoping we would see get her HEA, I even mentioned it in my review of BAYOU SWEETHEART. Hence, I am thrilled this book came to fruition.

    I recommend this book to readers who enjoy STEAMY Contemporary Romances, Romantic Suspense Reads, Professional/Client Romances, or Forced Proximity Romances.

    Happy Reading!!!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Bookzilla
    5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining
    Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Trigger warnings for bird lovers

    Lexi Blake is a must buy, must read author. This stand-alone novella is easy to follow but at times difficult to read due to emotions evoked. No editing errors, gratuitous violence or drag-you-down drama.

    Intriguing storyline of acting, emotional & wearable armor, mis-understanding and amoral behavior. Descriptive writing that draws the reader into each scene. Believable characters with distinct personalities. Realistic and memorable dialogue. Plus Ian Taggert!

    “Life threw curveballs, and learning to catch them or avoid them was the measure of how successful a person could be.”

    “… She doesn’t have to wear her armor all the time. It’s freeing when you realize the armor is your bones and skin and soul and it’s always with you when you need it.”
    “You remind me very much of her. I thank you for being kind to her,” Taggart said.

    Taggart nodded. “I’m known for my delicate emotional state.”

    I will re-read this story and always look forward to, pre-order when possible, new works by this author.
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  • Mel M
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Bit of a Departure
    Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Tempted is a bit of a departure from the usual fast paced, action filled and hard hitting Masters and Mercenaries stories. Instead Lexi Blake leans more into the suspense and intrigue side of things. The romance is still spicy but it's gentler too. Ally Pearson has been in the shadow of her prominent acting family most of her life. She's had to fight for every break she's ever gotten and as a result has a reputation for being bratty and mouthy. Now she has a chance to shine in a new movie part that has some teeth to it. West Rycroft doesn't have the usual military background that most McKay-Taggart operatives have but that doesn't mean he's not trained. Getting assigned to be a bodyguard to another celebrity type doesn't sit well with him. Their first meeting certainly reinforces his preconceived notions about Ally. It takes some verbal sparring and heated exchanges for these two to settle in but they do. West sees the woman behind the facade. He instinctively knows how to keep it real for Ally. He becomes her touchstone. He gives her the confidence to speak her mind in the face of adversity or when she's being manipulated. Falling in love will do that for you.

    M&M series characters make some well timed, well placed appearances. Ian, Charlotte, and Kala Taggart have some great interactions with Ally. One specific scene with Kala was the perfect embodiment of understanding teenage angst. Ally gently imparted suggestions to Kala how she could deal with her dilemma. As a result he earned Charlie's admiration.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • M. Wright
    5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars for Tempted by Lexi Blake
    Reviewed in Canada on July 7, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Another great read for an amazing series. It is always fun to read a book that has an appearance by Ian Taggart. Always love his sarcasm. Always good for a laugh out loud moment. I love Ally and how spunky and sassy she is. Ally is a great role model for young girls and women in general in not compromising your values. Know your worth. Love West in his alpha moments. He also knows his worth. Love Rand and Martin too. Love Ally and West together. So hot. Intriguing storyline of who done it. Can't wait for the next installment of Masters and Mercenaries.
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  • Down Under Reviewer
    5.0 out of 5 stars wow
    Reviewed in Australia on December 9, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I just love Lexi’s stories. They have a mystery and intrigue, but underneath they have so much love and finding and fighting for your one. Just amazing.
    Narration as always was excellent.
    Report
  • Sue Smith
    5.0 out of 5 stars Big Tag's still got it!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 9, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I loved West and Ally's story. Although it is a novella, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable read.
    Brilliant storyline, wonderful characters, and loved the HEA.
    Report
  • DJEAN
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love Lexi’s books
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 20, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I’m always keen and excited about reading one of Lexi’s books, this one doesn’t disappoint. Really good read.
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  • nicandbooks
    5.0 out of 5 stars The bad parts might not be so bad if she had this man to hold her hand.
    Reviewed in Australia on July 5, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Lexi Blake knocks it out of the park with the next instalment in the Masters & Mercenaries series that I cannot get enough of. This time we get West Rycroft and Ally Pearson's story and it is amazing!! West makes some pretty big and negative assumptions about Ally but thankfully the smoking hot chemistry that exists between West and Aly is enough to overcome West's stupidity. Despite the novella length, Lexi Blake brings us a brilliant story that kept me turning the pages until I got to the end. And, of course, Ian manages to steal every scene he is in!!
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