Cover Image: Damage Control

Damage Control

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I just love the tension and suspense between Shane and Emily, when ever they are together, the action seems to sizzle and snap, it's just phenomenal. And thank you, thank you, thank you, for the recap of the plot, there's so much going on with so many characters I really didn't want to get confused.
This wonderful second instalment gets right on were we left off. Tons of drama, the suspense keeps the reader on the hop never knowing when intense action will happen, and there's plenty of hot bedroom work outs.
The family's in this book are really messed up, nobody knows who to trust, it's an addictive series, I can't wait for the next book.

Was this review helpful?

No one writes romantic suspense like Lisa Renee Jones. I love the continuing story between Emily and Shane. Love how their relationship is unfolding, blossoming. Love Shane protective nature. Love that Emily isn't a doormat heroine. Can't wait for Bad Deeds!

Was this review helpful?

This book picks up right where Hard Rules left off. Shane has confronted Emily about who she really is.

Emily is afraid that whoever is looking for her is going to find Shane and hurt him and since she has fallen in love with him, she knows she must leave him so he doesn't get harmed. Too bad Shane is not going to let her go. After a mad search, Shane finally finds Emily and convinces her that they belong together and he is not letting her go. After some poking and prodding, Emily finally lets Shane know all her secrets....and compared to his, they are not so bad! LOL

The Brandon family is still up to all the games they keep playing with each other. It is crazy how people in the same family treat each other! While Shane is trying to get the family business to be 100% legit, his brother Derek is too busy trying to bring in the Martina Cartel. Throw in both of Shane's parents games and this is one crazy ride. Shane is starting to realize that he needs to start playing the game a little dirtier and I can't wait to see where this will lead!

Was this review helpful?

As soon as I started reading this book, I remembered exactly why I loved book one so much. There is so much intrigue, so many complications, and so much passion. Once I start, I find it almost impossible to stop reading. I also have to say kudos to Ms. Jones for the amazing recap and character overview at the beginning. I read tons of series books, and because I read so much, it is often hard to remember what happened when wait times between books are long. I end up constantly interrupting my reading of the new book in order to search through the previous books to remind me what happened. Ms. Jones made that completely unnecessary. I will warn that this is not one of those series you can read out of order. This book picks up exactly at the end of the previous book.

If you love intensely passionate deeply entangled suspense, this is a series you shouldn't miss. The characters are complicated yet relatable, and the plot moves quickly. I can't wait to see where all of this leads.

Net Galley provided an ARC for honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Damage Control picks up almost immediately after Hard Rules (book 1). Emily is trying to leave Shane in an effort to protect him from her past, present, and what may happen in the future. Unable to let her go, Shane tracks Emily down. Layer by layer, Emily reveals her painful past and the horrible secret she's been carrying for years. As Shane and his right hand man Seth begin digging into Emily's life to help solve her problems, the Martina Cartel shows their hand, subtly letting Shane know they've wormed their way into Brandon Enterprises. This revelation is not a huge surprise but does bring the cartel a whole lot closer that what is comfortable. Along with the cartel, Shane also his dastardly brother, ailing father, and conniving mother to contend with.

Damage Control is another wonderful book in the Dirty Money series. Shane's character is strong, ruthless when necessary, yet tender and affectionate. His feelings for Emily continue to grow stronger every day. Emily is also a strong character; she has to be in order to survive the turmoil and secrets that have been eating her up inside. Emily and Shane truly care for one another. They compliment each other and Emily illuminates the darkness Shane must maneuver through.

Lisa Renee Jones blends suspense, intrigue, and romance into an action packed sophomore novel! I was engaged with Emily and Shane's story from the beginning and book 2 drew me further into their world. I was pulled into the drama and romantic suspense elements of the book. Every element of Damage Control was enjoyable from the dark revelations to the intense emotions that make up the lives of Shane and Emily.

I voluntarily reviewed an copy through NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

'Damage Control' by Lias Renee Jones is book Two in the "Dirty Money" series. This continues the story of Emily Stevens and Shane Brandon. I would recommend reading the previous book "Hard Rules" since that book starts their story. But, Ms. Jones did set this book up so that you could catch up to their story if you choose not to read the first book.
Damage Control picks up right where Hard Rules ended. As we know Emily hasn't be honest with Shane about herself and her past. But Shane is now confronting her and wanting her to have no more lies between them. Since his brother Derek did a background check on Emily, Shane wants answers. But Emily is arguing that her secrets are her secrets and upset that a background check was done on her.
Emily saw something that could get her killed and possible him if she is found out.
Shane is still dealing with his family and trying to bring things to a honest dealing but his family is pretty messed up I think.
I just cannot get enough of this series and their story does get continued to another book.
I wish this story could be made into a movie...I love it that much!
Dirty Money Series in Order:
Book 1: Hard Rules
Book 2: Damage Control
Book 3: Bad Deeds
Book 4: End Game
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2HX0B5ELOPP5Z?ie=UTF8&ref_=sv_ys_3
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1831318-sissy-s-romance-book-review-for-you
https://twitter.com/soapsrus68
https://www.facebook.com/RomanceBookReview
http://sissymaereads.blogspot.com/
http://booklikes.com/blog
https://romancebookreviewforyou.wordpress.com/
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/romancebookreviewforyoublog

Was this review helpful?

There is even more action and danger in Damage Control than in the first book. Emily and Shane have a lot difficulties to deal with; most of it outside of their control.

Story:
Danger galore in Damage Control. And the familial relationships are more than tense. Emily is still keeping back part of herself, as she is too afraid her past will catch up with her and damage Shane. The plot moves forward nicely, and the pace is fairly even. There are a lot of sex scenes, and sometimes, I skimmed part of them, as I didn’t feel they always added something to the actual story.

Characters:
Shane is fairly standoffish in some ways, but he really cares for Emily. She has some dark secrets that come to light in Damage Control. Shane’s family is like a viper nest, though, it’s impossible to know who to trust. Good thing Shane’s assistant and some of his hired hands are on hand to make sure Shane and Emily stay as safe as possible.

Writing style :
First person present tense – which brings the reader right into the action. Chapters from either Emily’s or Shane’s point of view.

Feels :
Not that many, the suspense was the main feel I had when it comes to Damage Control.

Was this review helpful?

Well, lot of things went down in Damage Control. Most importantly, Shane got the truth about Emily. He knows about the Hacker group The Genesis. The events are being unfolded like episodes of a tv series you must tune in each week to watch. What's around the corner promises to be worth the wait in
Bad Deeds (Book 3)    read more
Shane is now knee deep in a cycle of violence and betrayal. Although he tries to maintain a normal relationship with Emily he is drawn deeper into the corrupt family business his brother Derek has laid at his doorstep.
We are left wondering how the sins of the father will play out. Brandon Senior is emerging as a sympathetic and even admirable character. Why you ask? He respects Emily and maybe protecting her too? Derek is vile. There is no other way to express my feelings for him.
What keeps me turning the pages is Shane's response to Emily. He cares for her deeply. He wants to protect her. He respects her. What ever she needs he wants to provide. End of. Shane Brandon is the perfect romantic hero.
Book 2 is gripping and does not disappoint. We have lust and betrayal. Emily's hacker storyline is given less weight but it will leave you riveted and patiently waiting.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this second instalment of the Brandons' saga as well as the first book. Even though this is supposed to be a filler between the first and the second book, it is still action packed. We now know the full story of who Emily is. We are still waiting for the other shoe to drop. I would want to know where her brother is for starters. As for Shane and his family, there is boatloads of deals, affairs and now the Mafia. 'It is getting hot in here'. So, on to the last book in the series. I am sure it will be memorable. Onward march!

Was this review helpful?

This is the second book in the Dirty Money series and Brandon empire continues. Shane is still trying to keep Brandon enterprises on the straight and narrow but Derek is making it harder every day. The Martina Cartel will stop at nothing to get into bed with Brandon Enterprises. The twists and turns in the story keep Shane and his men on their toes. Finally Shane gets his way and Emily tells him her secrets. I was a little disappointed by her secret and then nothing happened with it, but hopefully it will come more into play in the next book.

I received a copy courtesy of St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Early on we learn who Emily is and what she is running from when Shane demands the truth. Shane is not prepared to let Emily go and her troubles are added to his own. Shane demands full honesty from Emily but when she demands the same in return, Shane finds it is not so easy to give.

Damage Control is full of drama and moves at a good pace. I love that Emily is more than capable to dealing with the family and business politics in Shane’s life. There is plenty going on and we start to learn more about each of the players involved. Ultimately not a lot is resolved, but given this is an ongoing series, that is to be expected and left me looking forward to the next instalment, Bad Deeds.


Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
This one picks up where Hard Rules left off, with Shane finding out that Emily has been lying to him. Does she tell him the truth or does she run to save herself and him?

Emily has been running, trying to stay ahead of those that might be after her according to her brother. But when she meets Shane, she thinks she might be putting him in danger if she stays with him. But her feelings for Shane are growing and she doesn't want to see him get hurt.

Shane is still trying to save his family’s company, but his brother Derek is all for letting anyone that is willing to give money to him in to cover any illegal dealings. So while Derek and Shane fight to win control over the company, their father is playing games to get them to fight for it. While Shane wants to stay out of jail, Derek listens to the bad guys and just may end up in jail or worse, end up dead.

Will Emily tell Shane the truth about her past and be able to stop running? Can Shane keep her safe from her past and his family? Will Shane be able to save his family’s company from Derek and the bad guys?

I am so ready for the next book because I need to know what happens next. Will Shane win control of the company? Or will Derek let the bad guys in and they take control? Will Emily get her life back on track? Only time will tell as soon as book three is ready.

If you love a book that is full of suspense and will keep you guessing, then you need to read anything by Lisa Renee Jones. She will have you feeling like you are on a rollercoaster ride before you reach the end, but you will love every bit of it. So keep your hands inside, hang on tight, and enjoy the ride!


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second in a series, and you most definitely need to read book one first. In fact, I would recommend that you read them together if you can, as this is a book with quite a complex story of industrial/mafia/international hacker conspiracy issues running through it. Very helpfully, Ms. Jones has given the reader a quick primer at the beginning to remind the reader of where we left the story in book one. This was very much appreciated, as it had been a while – and some of the finer points had left my memory.

Be prepared for a deep story of filial competition. murder, mayhem, FBI, security, mafia, family betrayal, and so much more – these intertwine brilliantly in the book, to the extent that only when writing this did I realise just how many strands of crazy flow through the story. It is definitely not a fluffy read – the drama is real, and the risks are significant. That said, Emily and Shane – who both get to tell us their side of the story – are getting closer and closer in this book, and are prone to deal with stress by translating it into intense passion.

Do make sure that you set yourself some time to really get into this story as you will not want to tear yourself away as things get ever more tense. Whilst the ending will be in book three, there is partial resolution of some issues by the end of this installment.

Was this review helpful?

Received from Netgalley. Luckily I got this and book 1 at the same time so I didn't have to wait for book 2, so thank you for that Netgalley.
This book continues where Hard Rules left off. So it is filled with more secrets, lies, danger, romance and greed. And of course more of sexy Shane and Emily who burn things up once again.
I am looking forward to Bad Deeds.

Was this review helpful?

What can I say about this book, but Shane's family is crazy. This books, picks up from the cliffhanger it lefts us with, thank god. While Shane knew that Emily was lied to him, and was did not know everything, he wants to protect her. We find out Emily's secret, and how she is scared of telling Shane, that is could put him in danger, so she rather leave. So many crazy things happen, and yet again, we have a cliffhanger, so I guess we wait for the next one.

Was this review helpful?

Damage Control starts where Hard Rules left off. I've been dying too know what Emily's secret is and it is finally revealed. This story will have you guessing who is playing who and who is truly on your side. I absolutely love Shane & Emily together, Emily needs Shane but Shane needs Emily just as much. It's going to be interesting to see what happens next. Another amazing read that had me glued too my kindle.

Was this review helpful?

Damage Control is the continuation to Hard Rules with the Brandon Family at the helm. They are all about the lies, control and money. Can Shane rescue the family business and also keep Emily in his life? He is torn between letting her in and keeping her at a distance. Emily is his light in the darkness that is his family and their dealings. Can't wait for the next book to see what happens!!

Was this review helpful?

I would like to thank Lisa Renee Jones, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for giving me this book for my honest review.
Review by Stephanie
4.5 Stars
I loved Hard Rules so was super excited to get the second book, I had high expiations because I loved Hard Rules but WOW this book was intense!!! I also loved how this book picked up right where the last one left us!!!! I love how Lisa Renee Jones always makes a smooth transitions from each book in her series. It has been a while between reading Hard Rules and Damage Control but I had no problem jumping into Damage Control.
Damage Control is true Lisa Renee Jones goodness! The angst in this book had me glued to my kindle fighting to take a breath. I think after reading this book I should be able to sign up and WIN a holding ones breath contest #kiddingNotkidding I love how these books are romance yet have an amazing thriller/mystery twist. NOW I just NEED book three, Bad Deeds like NOW!
I always truly enjoy Lisa Renee Jones’s books, she jams her books with romance and suspense! The complete package!

Was this review helpful?

This is the second in this series by this author. I re read 'hard rules' so that I could really enjoy this story. This book is full of family dramas, steamy romance and some suspense. These book can not be read as stand alone reads, they need to be read in order. Same fantastic characters as the first book. You will fall more in love with the characters as you read in this book. I can't wait to read more from this amazing author in the future.
Highly recommended
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book

Was this review helpful?

This book is part of a series and I haven't read the first one, yet. After reading Damage Control, I surely intend to start over and read the entire series. Even though I read this out of order, I still loved it. I can't wait for the next one to see what happens. Lots of suspense and sexy times.

Was this review helpful?

Damage Control started out with an elevated sense of tension and suspense. The first few chapters had me completely engaged; so much so, I found myself consuming the pages. All I could think was, "finally answers!" Then—everything fizzled out into a mellow, low key read. It was quite the shock in change of pace, which greatly impacted the story, for me anyway. At this point, I found myself stepping away from the book, often. It was hard finding the enthusiasm to dive back in once my curiosity was explained.

What kept me from DNFing? The best answer to that is Shane. I'm fricken infatuated with this dude. He is rough around the edges, but when it comes to those he cherishes, he has a heart of gold. He's commanding, yet tender when he needs to be. He is loyal and protective. Not to mention, he has quite the effect on a girl's panties. God, I could go on and on.

Emily was still a fun character, but her pull wasn't as strong in this one. Once her story began to unravel, it just wasn't as compelling. I know that sounds bad, and I don't mean it to but she lost some of that magic. I guess I was expecting more from her secrets. If I take a hard look, this is probably more of an me not you issue.

Overall, the book was good. And I did get some of my questions answered, such as who the hell Emily was and why was she a complete mystery? Why was she using my Shane...oops, I mean her Shane? Thankfully in this area, Jones didn't leave a stone unturned when it came to Emily confessing her past. Beyond that though, Emily was still wrapped up in cloak and daggers. When it comes to her, I have a feeling the complete package won't be revealed until somewhere close to the end.

Upon finishing, I noticed this was a four book series, the last book called End Game. That title speaks volumes!! When I started Hard Rules, I didn't realize I was signing on for a series with four books. If I had I would never have started it, because I know myself, I hate waiting—and cliffhangers, especially ones that take close to two years to finish out. I much prefer to buy and read all together. With that said, I will be reading book three and book four as they release. I'm already invested and my need to know always outweighs my need to binge everything together.

If you are like me, I suggest waiting until the last book is released in Feb. 2018, if you haven't already started this series.

Was this review helpful?

Damage Control in book 2 in the Dirty Money Series and its one heck of a read. There are secrets, lies, twists and turns as we get more Shane and Emily. Lisa Renee Jones has totally captivated me with this series and I can't wait to jump in to book 3 asap!!

Was this review helpful?