Man alive this series. Lexi has done a wonderful job creating a series that will have you second guessing everything. You should never think that you know how this story is going to play out because there are so many twists and turns in this story that there are times you won't know which way is up and I LOVE THAT!! This book had me not only emotionally invested in how these characters stories play out but I was so engrossed in this book. Sleep??? Who needs it? What I needed was to finish this story and that wasn't happening until this book was finished.

Drew has been the head of the siblings and their mission of revenge for years. He is determined to not only get answers but to get those that wronged them. He has been so caught up with his plan that he hasn't really had time to work on his social skills so he comes off as cold, cruel and a bit heartless when it comes to anyone besides family. There is one person who brings out some emotions in him though. In his quest to exact revenge he chooses to bring that woman in but he isn't about to let her get close. Having Shelby work with him is going to put her in danger. Will he be able to keep her safe? Will he keep it strictly professional or will he grow to care for her?

You are going to love Shelby!! She is Drew's complete opposite but she is the one that will draw things out of him that you never would've expected from him. She is so good for him but she also isn't one to take any crap either. She is feisty, determined and she is awesome at her job.

If you haven't read this series before than I really, really suggest you start from the beginning because these all take up from where the last left off and you will miss a ton of details if you don't. I really think that you will love this series and I highly recommend it.

This the 3rd book in the Lawless series and should be read in order

Andrew (Drew) Lawless has focused his life on getting revenge for his parent’s death, although along the way Drew discovers his mother, Iris Lawless who was supposed to be dead is alive and well.  She was one of many who we’re responsible for his father’s death.  Not only is she one of many but the only one alive of the crew and she has a plan for Drew and his siblings.

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lexi Blake first introduce us to Drew in the first book in the series, Ruthless.  He’s always been a man focused on one thing until he meet Shelby, one of Carly’s friends and an investigative reporter who is looking into his parent’s death.  As much as Drew is an alpha who needs controls in order to function, when Shelby is around his control goes out the window.  His plan to get help from Shelby is a cover for what he really wants, her in his life.  A real relationship for the first time.

Shelby has lost her family and when Drew proposes them working together and use a relationship between as a cover, what Shelby sees is how close this family is and that closeness is what she is missing.  Although Shelby agreed to work with Drew, she knows that as it ends she may not be able to give up what she has with Drew or his family.

Lexi has kept her readers on a ride that we never knew what was going to happen next. One minute I thought I had it all figured out and then something else comes into the story that I didn’t see or could’ve predicted coming.  Lexi even had me questioning if I truly had the mystery figured out.  What I did know was that Drew and Shelby were a couple who I came to love.  I got so caught up in their relationship that when Drew tried to send Shelby away I wanted to yet at him and tell him what a jerk he was being.  I get why Drew felt the need to protect her but what he didn’t realize is that Shelby was the one protecting and care for him in ways he didn’t understand.

The connection between Drew and Shelby was one I felt within me as I read. Every time they were together I was so drawn in that I didn’t even noticed how much time I spent reading.  They’re characters who are meant to be together and yet find it hard to make that work. It was the old saying, opposites attract and this attraction was bigger than I ever expected to read.

I’ve read several of Lexi’s books but this series pulled me in from the beginning.  It could be how close the Lawless sibling are to one another even after they were taken from each other or how they deeply care for one another and their loved but there is just something about this series that made me feel like I was a part of the story, the Lawless family.  This is one book I truly felt connected too and loved reading.

Friends Till The End Book Blog: http://friendstilltheendbookblog.blogspot.ca/

Revenge by Lexi Blake is the third installment in the Lawless Series. Book one - Ruthless is Riley and Ellie's book; and book two - Satisfaction is Bran and Carly's book.

Revenge is a contemporary romance novel and can easily be read as a stand alone.
This is Drew and Shelby's book.
Andrew- Drew Lawless oldest brother and head of the family hires Shelby Gates, a reporter to investigate the death of his parents.

I literally just finished this book and now I'm sitting here and I'm speechless. I love this book. I love the words, I love the characters and I love the writing.
Revenge has everything that I love in a book. Heroes, villains, characters those emotions I could feel in the words, twists and very unexpected turns.
I loved to read about the Lawless', the Taggarts and other old friends and acquaintances.
I Highly recommend this book and give 5 Stars. Thank you Lexi Blake!

Would you believe this is my first Lexi Blake novel? And, I started at the end of a series rather than the beginning and now I may be ruined because Drew Lawless just jumped to the top of my book boyfriend list.

Revenge is the 3rd and final book in Blake’s Lawless series, bringing the Lawless family to the brink of the revenge they've searched for, led by patriarch Drew. This guy is a romance novel hero for the 21st century. He's hot, he's a nerd, he's socially awkward, and he'll protect his family at all costs. Unlike some heroes we meet, Drew was far from perfect and his social ineptness made me cringe frequently, but this just made him all the more real. And he met his match in Shelby Gates.

Blake knocked it out of the park with her main characters in Revenge. Shelby is an investigative reporter, a journalist with integrity who digs deep for the truth. She's strong, smart, independent, persistent, and patient, all characteristics that make her the perfect woman for Drew who needs someone to lean on after he's been strong for everyone else. I loved them as individuals and as a couple, a perfect one-two punch.

As I suspect all Lexi Blake novels are, this book, at the heart, is about family and belonging. Drew has spent all of his adult life making sure his family is safe. Shelby has spent most of hers longing to belong to a family after her father abandoned hers and the deaths of her mother and brother. The threat they face as the Lawless family revenge reaches its climax is romantic suspense at its best with danger and surprises around every turn. Even though I haven’t read the earlier books in the series or any of the McKay-Taggart books, I didn’t feel as though I was missing anything. In fact, all the returning characters seamlessly slipped into my consciousness as people I knew and liked. The chemistry between all the characters made this a book that I could read more than once and the intrigue was smart and engaging.

4 stars for Revenge. Heat level: 4/5

I received Revenge from InkSlingerPr and the publisher in exchange for honest feedback.

5 Stars

We finally get a look into the ruthless, complex and amazing mind of Drew Lawless! I have been dying to get my hands on Drew’s story since we first meet him in Ruthless and Lexi Blake did not disappoint me. I knew he was going to be a hard character to connect to but I have to admit he won me over in the end. 

Drew has been on the war path for revenge since he was a teenager, after pushing himself to be the best in the coding business and building a spectacular empire he sets about first of all getting custody of his siblings then bringing down the culprits of his parents murders! Drew is the most closed off and unapproachable of the Lawless siblings, he hates being vulnerable and showing weakness to anyone. I ended up loving Drew just as much as the others which surprised me a lot! 

Shelby is an investigative reporter and a pain in Drew Lawless' side, she has been getting into places no one should be able to and Drew has finally found a way to get her to back off. She has an invested interest in finding out the truth and Drew uses that against her! The attraction between Shelby and Drew is unmistakeable and soon they develop a relationship that is hot enough to scorch the pages of this book! 

This series has been one of my all time favourites, there is so much that happens throughout. The drama and suspense keep you held captive through the whole story and I can never get enough from the Lawless clan! I always feel like I have an invested interest in each of these characters stories. There were so many wrenches that Lexi threw into the mix and honestly there was no way I could have seen them coming. 

Lexi Blake has quickly become an author who's books I devour, her writing is captivating, enthralling and so interesting that I hate getting to the end of a book! I'm excited to see what she has in store for us next!

This is the book that I've been waiting for since the series started. Drew Lawless was an undeniable asshole this whole journey and that's what sucked me into his character. There's just something about watching a jerk like him fall off his high horse and I knew his story would be amazing. 

Drew actually surpassed my expectations of how much I was going to like him and in the end I came out of this book having a love for his character that I didn't think would be possible. Was he still an ass? Absolutely. But we also got to see the vulnerable side to him, the side that hid how out of touch with the world he could be and the damage his parents death did to him. That was the side that had me swooning over him and wishing it was me he was obsessed with instead of Shelby. 

This was the kind of story that you're so sure you know everything that's going to happen by the end. Then you get proven wrong when the author takes a twist and a few turns that you never expected. I loved that about the story, it kept me on my toes and had me entrapped. There were a few things that I did know before they were revealed, yet knowing those things never dropped my interest. 

Overall, please don't miss out on this series. Revenge was definitely my favorite out of these three books but they're all good and will have you in suspense.

I LOVED this book!  I have eagerly been anticipating the story of Drew Lawless since Ruthless and Drew did not disappoint.  Socially awkward and not good at interpersonal relationships, Drew comes across as closed off and aloof.  He loves his family and will do anything to protect them and get revenge on those who tried to destroy them.  When he meets the gorgeous journalist Shelby, he is instantly attracted to her and wants her.  He also realizes he could use her help and so a relationship of convenience is Drew's brilliant idea.  She'll help him uncover the truth about his parents murder and he'll help her with her career.  If only it were that easy with Drew.  I love how Drew couldn't control his feelings for Shelby and had no idea what he was doing.  I love that Shelby is a strong female heroine is isn't afraid to stand her ground with Drew and others.  She doesn't back down and isn't a pushover.  Besides the amazing romance in this story - there was also the mystery and suspense of who killed the Lawless parents and quite a few surprised thrown in.  I have really enjoyed this series  - I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good romantic suspense with twists and turns and steamy romance.

Maybe my expectations were really just too high that I've set myself up for failure when it came to this book.

I've been anticipating Drew's book since I read Ruthless and that anticipation reached fever pitch when the seeds to his story were planted in the second book. Don't get me wrong, this was not a bad book. The plot was a little convoluted at times and the dialogue a little hard to follow but still a good and enjoyable book. Unfortunately, it just didn't gel the way that Ruthless did for me.

Drew was every bit as complex as siblings. Seeing how his mind operates was the best part of this book for me. And I also enjoyed Shelby. I think their chemistry was good and they play off of each other very well.

Despite some of my issues overall, I still recommend this book to other readers and not just this book but the whole series.

In this third and final installment of the Lawless Series, Lexi Blake has turned up the notch in heat, suspense, and unexpected twist and turns as she has readers like myself on the edge of their seat as we await the epic conclusion of this series and the much anticipated story of Drew Lawless. 

"I want to be the reason you need, Shelby. I want to be the only one you want. I’m willing to take the risk that you’ll use me for the time we’re together because I want you that badly. So kiss me because you want to. Kiss me because it’s part of our cover. I don’t care why as long as you kiss me.”

Revenge was a fast paced romantic suspense that continues off from the last book and so I highly advise readers to read the first two books in order to know what is going on and who are the key players in the story line. We all know Drew’s quest for revenge and so toss in Shelby Gates, a feisty investigative reporter whom we met in Satisfaction into the mix then it’s pretty much given Lexi Blake will hold you hostage as these two will take us on a whirlwind where truths, lies, secrets, duplicity are unfolded and exposed. As Drew and Shelby work together, danger begins to creep upon them threatening their safety and Drew’s siblings. How far will Drew go for revenge and to protect the people he loves?

"She’d looked at him with hot eyes and asked him to make love to her. He wasn’t a man who made love. He fucked. So why did he find himself nodding and agreeing? Because this meant more to him.”

Lexi Blake is one of those authors who doesn’t need plenty of chapters to hook you because once you start reading the first page you are automatically hooked. She has this ability to hold you hostage and let me just say this series had consumed me. I wanted to know every tidbit of information and family secrets. And Revenge was one of those books that demanded your undivided attention. Drew and Shelby’s relationship was palpable and intense from the start and as a reader, we knew these two were a perfect match for each other as they healed and pieced broken pieces within each other. So all there is left to say is go read this book and series as the writing was phenomenal and the characters were intriguing.

I thought we saw our major plot twist of the Lawless series in the last book, Satisfaction. But Lexi Blake twisted us up just a little more in this final and conclusory book of the series - and it definitely wasn't a move that I saw coming. I have enjoyed this close-knit family of siblings with a tragic past, and I was very excited to get to the story of Andrew Lawless, family patriarch. 

Andrew Lawless is not just the family patriarch. He is also a billionaire tech genius, and a bit of a geek with an inability to deal with people. Everything to Andrews is war, and he is trying to figure out where to move his players around the battle field to best suit his purpose. That includes the bombshell investigative reporter, Shelby Gates. In Satisfaction, we saw glimpses of Drew's unwitting attraction and grudging respect for the spitfire reporter, but that didn't stop him from shutting her investigation down at every turn. But after the big bombshell from the last book, Drew has decided that, in an effort to protect his family, he will bring Shelby in on the investigation, and maybe a little action on the side as well. Even though he was dictatorial, I adored Drew's socially awkward behavior. I also admired his drive, determination and intelligence. 

Shelby Gates became obsessed with the players in the Lawless family drama after her brother, also a reporter, was murdered while chasing the story of Patricia Cain. When Andrew Lawless sends a private jet for her, her curiosity won't let her ignore the invitation. And when Drew dangles some very juicy bate in front of Shelby's inquisitive nose, she cannot resist temptation. I don't normally like reporter heroines... but Shelby was okay with me. She wasn't trying to totally expose our hero, and she wasn't insensitive to the Lawless past and plight. I did like how she handled Drew, and how she was supportive in a way that he did not know he needed.

The relationship between these two unfolded at a nice pace to match the story. There was quite a bit of chemistry there already, and Drew did apply himself to intimacy with a single-minded focus that was deliciously steamy. That being said, some of the back and forth on the relationship did get tiring and aggravating. I would have liked to see them building and strengthening their bond more fully by a certain point... but we still had a push and pull going to nearly the end.  That's just a personal preference for me, and it may not bother you the same way.

The suspense plot for the series is finally fully revealed. We saw where it was going after the twist in Satisfaction, so you already know who the villain is.  As a result, the suspense aspect in this final installment was trying to determine just how said villain was going to carry out her evil deeds. I was pleased with this part of the story, and often found myself rushing through the romance bits to get back to the plot conflict. Overall, I am happy with this series and would recommend it to fans of steamy romantic suspense. My one regret for the series as a whole is that I happened to be reading all of these books at times when I was continually interrupted by work (or work travel) and I couldn't focus on them for any substantial length of time. That always impedes my enjoyment when I have to keep putting the book down and coming back to it later. So a re-read might be in order at a later date.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Berkley.

I was so excited to read the final book in the Lawless series.  I just HAD to know how it would all play out!  What starts out as a murder mystery, very quickly becomes a story about a boy forced to grow up and become the man of his family at the young at of fourteen.  Andrew (Drew) Lawless didn't really get to be a kid much less a teenager doing normal teenage boy stuff.  It's no wonder he's a high functioning but socially immature billionaire.  

There really is no better way to describe Drew.  He had no choice but to protect himself but more importantly his siblings.  He has one mission, find out who murdered his parents and he'll stop at nothing to figure it all out.  He is of a single mind.  He will protect his family from monsters no matter what it takes.  Even sacrificing his wants/needs.  If you haven't read the first books in the series please read no further.

Drew has entered into contract with investigative reporter, Shelby Gates.  She's smart, intuitive, fiercely independent, and strong willed.  She's Drew's nemesis, and he finds her attractive.  So why not use her to get what he wants?  Shelby wants to find the truth about her brother's murder and she knows it's tied to the Lawless family.  She also wants to write a book about the Lawless murders.  So entering into a contract with the devil is the least of her issues.

I honestly don't think either of them expected each other.  She was the force he needed in his life and for her he was the stability she was looking for.  They both were the missing pieces to each others puzzle.  But the journey to love is never easy and in Revenge it comes with murder.  Drew was a fun character to read.  So many times he comes across all alpha billionaire and others he's still that teenage boy who doesn't play well with others.  He definitely can't handle his own feelings let alone others.

I will say I was hoping for more punch in this story.  I wanted more twists and turns.  It all just seemed a little too easy.  That's okay though because it's still a great story and I'm perfectly okay with the ending.  I just had hoped for a little bit more "holy cow did that just happen" moments.  Lexi Blake tells a really good story her writing style is easy to get into, it's hard to put down her books once you start.  I always look forward to seeing what she has coming up next!

* I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader’s Copy of this book *

This book was AMAZING! I've been dying for Drew's story since he was first introduced and Shelby was his perfect match. Both were stubborn and knew what to do to get their way. Shelby was able to change Drew for the better and it really showed at the end of the book. Each story in this series built on each other and this was my favorite in the series. The way this book ended was both so satisfying and heartbreaking. There was a new twist that I definitely didn't see coming, but was so glad that happened. I really can't say enough good things about this story and really encourage readers to read not only this book, but the entire series.

Revenge is the third and last installment of the Lawless series by Lexi Blake.

Drew Lawless was the last one to avenge his parent’s death, but when he finds a flaw in his plan he turns to Shelby Gates. He swore that he wasn’t going to involve her, but this Lawless brother doesn’t mind breaking promises.

Shelby Gates is an investigator reporter and she is astounded by how complicated the Lawless case has become and her complete attraction towards Drew. With each passing day, their relationship seems to grow stronger and stronger. And each time they slip between the sheets their emotions are crossing lines that neither one can come back from.

When passion and revenge lines start to blur will their relationship able to come out unscratched or will there be too much damage to come back from?

Amazing! Lexi Blake wrapped up this series with a nice big bow. I love all the twist and turns this whole series has produced and the action between all the Lawless brothers. However, I have to say Drew is my favorite. He’s completely tech- savvy, but even with everything that's happened to him, his heart is still pure, even if its intentions aren't. I’ll admit, the little a green monster of jealousy popped up from time to time, but Lexi Blake made it difficult to dislike Shelby. She’s an honest woman who’s understanding and incredible sweet. Also, I love that she has a back bone!

I’m sad to see this series come to an end, but I’m also excited to see what else Lexi Blake has in store for us!

REVENGE is the third and( final ?) instalment in Lexi Blake's contemporary, adult LAWLESS  romance series focusing on the Lawless siblings-Riley, Drew, Brandon and Mia. This is eldest sibling/ billionaire businessman and CEO of 4L holdings Drew Lawless, and journalist /investigative reporter Shelby Gates’s story line. REVENGE  can be read as a stand alone  but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion as each installment focuses on revenge and retribution for a twenty year old murder that is beginning to unravel as the truth is revealed. There is a bit of a cross over/spinoff with Blake’s Masters and Mercenaries series with the appearance and ongoing role for Mia Lawless and Navy SEAL Case Taggart (Dominance Never Dies), and the McKay –Taggart Security Service. Shelby Gates was first introduced in the previous story line as she begins a journalistic investigation into the Lawless murders.

SOME BACKGROUND: Twenty years earlier Benedict Lawless and his wife Iris were killed in a house fire intended to kill the entire family-a murder for hire where greed and power were the precipitating factors. The authorities ruled it a murder/suicide but the Lawless siblings are determined to clear their father’s name.

NOTE: SATISFACTION (book 2) ended on  a cliffhanger where identities were revealed and the truth was beginning to unfold-a twist to the story line that will have epic repercussions for the entire Lawless clan.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Drew and Shelby) REVENGE continues to focus on revenge. As the eldest sibling, Drew Lawless has focused most of his adult life on proving his father's innocence while hunting for the person(s) responsible for the destruction of not only his family but his trust in everything and everyone. When  investigative journalist Shelby Gates uncovers more information than Drew ever thought possible, our hero makes Shelby an offer she couldn't refuse-a pretend lovers scenario in which Shelby has complete access to the family's history and legal documentation in return for a promise that will never come to fruition. What ensues is the building relationship between Shelby and Drew,  and the struggle to come to terms with the revelation of the who, what and why and his parent's murder.

Drew Lawless is a quiet, shy, introvert; a ruthless, master manipulator who is determined to uncover the truth-a truth that will all but destroy what remains of Drew's faith in friendship, family and love. Secrets and lies will be revealed; heartbreak and betrayal will damage a life-long friendship; the truth will haunt the siblings the rest of their lives. Shelby Gates suspects there is more to the Lawless back story than what has been reported to the public and she is determined to research and expose the truth. Meeting Drew Lawless found our heroine caught between her head and her heart when the discovery of the truth could destroy what is left our hero's heart.

The relationship between Drew and Shelby is one of immediate attraction but Drew needs to keep Shelby within reach as she slowly uncovers the facts and legitimacy of the Lawless murders. Threats are made; promises made never to be kept; the past comes back with a vengeance in the hopes of destroying what is left of the Lawless clan. The $ex scenes are intimate, intense and seductive but Drew has made no promise for the future, a future he is determined to go forward-alone.

All of the Lawless siblings play secondary and supporting roles, as well as Case  Taggart (McKay-Taggart Security), and one of Benedict Lawless's former partners Bill ‘Hatch’ Hatchard-a man who all but raised the Lawless siblings once he was able to determine their foster care history.  I had previously suspected there is a story about Hatch, and his role in the entire family saga-a family he considered closer than blood-and my suspicions have come full circle when the truth is revealed. Again, there is another twist to the story, and perhaps, a final chapter that has yet to be fully addressed.

REVENGE is a story of heartbreak and betrayal; retribution and revenge; secrets, lies and uncovering the truth. The premise is suspenseful, intense and revealing; the characters are dynamic, energetic and broken; the romance is sexy but struggles in the face of reality and what the truth has revealed. REVENGE reads like the final instalment but there is another twist to the sibling family dynamics so we will have to wait and see. REVENGE is a complex story of one family's struggle to uncover the truth, and the revelation that all was not as it seemed, in the past.

Copy supplied for review

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GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1861910951


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This is the 3rd book in the Lawless series and it was pretty good! Shelby and Drew sizzle. A must read! This was my first Lexi book, but it won't be my last!

***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***

3.5 Stars

The more I read of this series, the more fun they are as you start to have an idea what happened, and the reasons behind the cover up and the lies of the events of their childhood.

Drew and Shelby start as a contract, as a way for her to investigate the situation without arousing suspicion.  At least that is what Drew tells himself, and her.  The reader quickly discovers that Drew wants something real with Shelby, he just has absolutely no idea how to achieve it.  And, this is the interesting part of the story, as each of them are drawn to the other, and come to love one another, but their personalities and the things they need from one another are fighting against what they need to be happy.

It gets a little convoluted in the middle and a little tough to follow all of the players and all of the plots, although I am not sure the story is possible to be told without it.

I also had a small issue with something that was thought a lot but not verbalized.  While as reader I knew what they were each thinking, it also needs to be something I know the characters are sure of.  And, in this case, the lack of the verbalization (after a comment that it hadn't been) was an issue.  I know this is vague, and I am trying not to put something into the mind of someone that may have not been a previous issue.

I think I just made that more, not less, confusing.

This is not a standalone, at least I don't think it is, as there is no way you will have enough of an idea of the characters and the past events for it to really make sense.  I guess you could read it as a standalone, maybe, but I think there are parts that will be too confusing.

Kind of like this review.  Trying to be vague, without spoilers and still get my opinion into words was not easy.  I enjoyed the book.  I liked Drew.  He is the most compelling of the Lawless family as he is the one who sort of took on the leadership of the family and the responsibility of keeping them together.  Watching him figure out how to balance that while falling in love with Shelby was a fun ride.

I thought Drew was a little more developed in this case than Shelby, but I also think this is because of the previous books.  He is not a completely new character at the beginning of this book, and she is...so I think some of the seeming imbalance came from that.

I do recommend this title.

This is a real nail biter conclusion to an excellent series. I love every twist and turns and surprises along the way. My 4.5 stars review is posted at Scandalicious Book Reviews.

This is the concluding story in the lawless siblings series. Drew Lawless is driven by revenge. Since the day he saved his siblings from the house fire that took his parents he's lived to avenge himself on his parents murderers who took all their assets leaving his siblings to the mercy of the foster system. Each of his siblings have found true love along the revenge path. He's the only one left who can avenge his parents. 

The last book ended on an explosive note.  Apparently not both their parents were killed in the fire. Mrs. Lawless is alive and well and potentially the true master mind behind the plot behind her husband's death and plot to seize all his assets.  Ace reporter Shelby Gates has been able to put a lot of the details together.  She has always fascinated Drew even as he did his level best to neutralize her. Now she's going to be the instrument of his revenge by researching his mother and uncovering all the dark and dirty secrets once and for all. 

Drew is quite the plotter. He doesn't want the rest of his siblings to discover the dark side of their mother especially his pregnant sister so he brings Shelby into his family as his pretend girl friends. This story has so many twists and turns it will make you dizzy. Like for example a twist in the form of a full blooded sibling who has an uncanny resemblance to Drew. When the full details of the true plot against the Lawless family emerge it will leave the readers reeling at the Machiavellian mind who thought of this. 

Given the progression of the series I thought this story would blow the covers right off my mind which unfortunately did not happen for me. Don't get me wrong it's definitely a well written interesting story.

I have been eagerly anticipating the release of Revenge since reading Satisfaction, the second book in Lexi Blake’s Lawless series, as this is a series in which subsequent books really do build on the prior stories. By the time I actually got my hands on Revenge I was already familiar with its characters and suspense plot, which made me only more certain of how much I would enjoy it. To that end, I would recommend that anyone remotely interested in reading either Revenge or the books which precede it stop reading this review now, as I cannot help but give spoilers for the other books in the series. While they can technically be read as standalones, you’ll definitely get more out them if you read them in order.

Drew Lawless is the oldest and generally considered the most inscrutable of the Lawless children. Years ago his parents died in a fire, in what was reported as a murder-suicide, and Drew and his three younger siblings were all scattered throughout the foster care system. It was Drew’s tech genius - inherited from his father - which brought them back together, as he established a successful company and rebuilt their family unit. Since that fire, Drew has been all about taking responsibility - for his family, his office, his revenge. He’s long known that his father’s business partners conspired to have the man killed, and this series has seen him work towards achieving justice for his parents.  Now, in this final book, it’s time for a showdown between Drew and the mysterious third party who put up the money to have Drew’s father killed.

Shelby Gates is possibly the most tenacious investigative reporter Drew has ever come across. When she began digging into his background over the course of Satisfaction, he found himself first intrigued and then in awe of what she was able to discover. These investigative skills come in handy for Drew when he realizes that the person who wanted his father killed was in fact his own mother - who is still alive. Not wanting his siblings to learn this horrible truth, Drew turns to Shelby for help unraveling this mystery of what happened the night of the fire. Playing the role of his girlfriend, she’s able to be around him without suspicion from his family or anyone else as she works to uncover the truth.

Of course, it doesn’t take long for the spark of attraction that ignited when Shelby first hacked Drew’s systems to ignite, and before long she’s not just playing the role of girlfriend. Rather than being cheesy or formulaic, though, this part of the book was a joy to read. When I said Drew was difficult, I meant it. Although he’s clearly an upstanding guy, years of shouldering this immense responsibility—as well as the awkwardness which comes with his level of genius—led him to build a façade of invulnerability. He doesn’t like to share his feelings, nor does he even know how to. To say he’s romantically challenged would be understating it, regardless of his physical attractiveness.

Shelby sees through this façade, though. She knows she’s not only investigating a crime, but also uncovering some painful truths for Drew, and as the knocks keep coming she’s ready to be his staunch supporter. Ever patient, she works her way toward getting him to share his burdens, and shares some of hers in the process. It’s really lovely to see.

Unfortunately, this pattern of success breaks in the last third of the book. As the suspense plot picks up - though honestly, it’s solid and compelling from start to finish - Shelby’s reactions to Drew are a bit less understanding, which ultimately caused the drop in grade which kept this out of DIK territory. For someone who so easily sees through Drew’s cold façade at first, for Shelby not to realize he is pushing her away out of love was frustrating.

Ultimately, though, this is an incredible book and a solid resolution to the mystery which has spanned three novels. Drew, in particular, shines here as a strong man with at least a few flaws. He’s an alpha male without all the answers, and it’s nice to see him turn to Shelby for help. I’d definitely recommend Revenge - and the entire Lawless series - to anyone who likes a little drama and intrigue thrown into their romance reading.

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