PROVOCATIVE - Lisa Renee Jones

#1 in the White Lies romance duet

SEXY - 3 stars

Plot - 4 stars - Faith is facing an uphill battle as she tries to pay the bills that her mother ran up against their family winery. Faith is honest and hard-working, but things are working against her. Nick then enters the picture and, unbeknownst to her, believes that she may be involved in the deaths of both her mother and his father, so he's doing some investigating on his own.

Writing - 2.5 stars - Jones is able to create a mood right from the first page, setting the scene for the upcoming story. She writes a dark romance, with plenty of controversy but hot chemistry. I did, however, take off a whole point for the cliffhanger at the end of the book. If you're going to write a mystery, have the decency to provide some answers. If you leave a cliffhanger, then you've simply broken one book into two sections, which feels like a rip-off.

Characters - 4 stars - Both Faith and Nick have plenty of secrets. But they're both attractive, intelligent, and talented in their own ways. Faith is a wonderful artist, but she has no confidence in her ability and has, thus, not actively pursued her art until recently. Nick has enough confidence for both of them. He's called the Tiger within the business law profession where he excels at being the tough guy. He has arrived looking for Faith's guilt, but the attraction they feel for each other is definitely getting in the way.

Title - 3 stars - Nick mentions the word several times in the first chapter, setting the stage for the sexual encounter as well as the investigation.

Cover - 4 stars - The white cover is simple and clean, although the story itself is far from either of those things. I like the contrast between the plain cover to the complex story.

Overall - 3 stars - This is a dark romance, with lots of undercurrents and secrets that we don't discover right away. Unfortunately, we don't discover them at all in this book since the cliffhanger leaves us in the middle of the story. There are no answers to the mystery of the alleged murders, there is no culmination to Faith's art career, and there is no resolution to their ultimate personal relationship. Very frustrating. I do plan to purchase the next (and final) book in this duet, but it's under protest and feels like I'm being played.

I've never been so happy for a book to end at 85%. This is a complete snooze-fest. Who cares if Faith Winters is the problem, I don't. Nick is the worst for having ulterior motives and not telling Faith the truth from the start. Faith needs to sell the winery and pursue her passion. I'll take a pass on reading the second book to this duet.

Suspense provocative.
Mind blowing again from Lisa’s perspective.
Can’t get enough.
Page turner, very satisfied reader.

This is one of those books you don't want to put down. I was hooked from start to finish and can't wait for book two. I love the chemistry between Nick "Tiger" Rogers and Faith, it is hot! Lisa Renee Jobes is one of my go to authors and she did not disappoint.

Lisa Renee Jone knows how to write a story that will immediately capture your attention from the start of a story to the very end. Provocative was another story that this author has written that was amazingly written that flowed all the way through and had me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen next. There was so much steamy moments throughout and things I didn't see coming. This is a story you don't want to miss reading

I really tried to like this one and I feel really sorry but I couldn't keep up with the story.There were parts that I enjoyed and other parts that I find boring.I like the characters and the hole idea around the book.

Provocative was just an ok read for me. I finished it but it was a struggle at times. And then to realize I still don't know how the story ends.

I feel there was a lot of repetitiveness- maybe another edit was needed. The book dragged in places.

With all that being said the mystery was interesting.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Oh my. I've read a spectacular book in Provocative. I highly recommend this.

I liked the story overall, but I don't usually like reading cliffhangers unless all books are out.

Well written THROUGHLY thoughtful book that ends in a HEA.

Looking forward to the next book to see what happens between Faith and Nick. We know what Nick is hiding, but the question is what is Faith hiding. You just can't go wrong when you pick up a book by Lisa Renee Jones.

I'm having a hard time writing this review. I'm in between 3-3.5 stars. I love Lisa Renee Jones and I love her writing but I'm beginning to feel that the men and the scenarios are just a tad bit repetitive. I guess I should say I think I can guess what's going to happen. I definitely want to continue to see what happens. I just wasn't all that surprised. It was great getting a book about Tiger though. It would be nice for one of her hero's to be a bit less alpha, he did possess that dominant quality but without the heroine being submissive. I'll think on this a little more and come back after I've finished book 2. Will add to my blog when both reviews are ready

This book touched my heart and I’m really glad I read it! I look forward to more from this author!

Faith and Nick burn up the pages, in that smoldering, smiley way that leaves you satisfied but also wanting more. There's more to Faith than meets the eye; her passion for her art, her tumultuous past with Macom that still haunts her, and her possible connection to her mother's and Nicks father's deaths. Nick, aka Tiger, also has depths yet explored, yet his heart was left wide open as his reason for pursuing Faith is tested again and again. Things really get heated up, trust is developing between these two as they've not felt before, when a revelation drops that could change everything.
Lisa Renee Jones is brilliant as always, introducing and building her characters and their stories into a captivating plot. I can't wait to read the rest of Faith and Nick's story!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
This book has it all and the cliffhanger leaves you wanting more... NOW.

I knew this was a two-part series and even knowing that, I'm disappointed that I have to wait months until the second half of Nick and Faith's story.

Each of them are keeping secrets from other. While we know what motivates Nick, Faith's background with her ex has yet to be explored.

June 18, 2017 can't get here soon enough.


Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
I loved this book, it started out with a bang and pulled me in and I didn't want to put it down. I had to know what happened next.

Faith Winter is dealing with loss, both of her parents are gone. Her father passed away two years ago and her mother recently. She doesn't feel guilty that she doesn't miss her mother, they didn't see eye to eye. But she misses her father, even though he didn't believe in her dream of being an artist. Faith loved to paint and she was good at it. But her father wanted her to take over the family winery after his death and Faith was feeling guilty because it wasn't what she wanted.

Nick "Tiger" Rogers is an attorney and he only wants one thing. That is to find the proof that Faith Winter is a killer. But when he sees her, his mind and body has other ideas. He wants to know if she did kill them and why? And he wants to own every part of her body.

Can Nick get Faith to reveal her secrets without destroying her? Will Faith believe Nick when she learns why he came after her? Can they save each other?

I love Lisa Renee Jones, she has a way of twisting a story and pulling you in to keep you on the edge of your seat until the end and I can't wait for more. I need to know what happens and who done it.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
I was really glad when this new release reached the top of my review pile – after all, Ms. Jones is a master at her craft, and a suspense romance set in the heady worlds of art and wine? The only thing that made me nervous was the fact that it is one of two, so I had to expect that there would be suspense in the ending, let alone the story itself. And whilst that is true, it is just the right side of tantalising!

We get to see the story from both viewpoints, although I am sure there are secrets that both of them are hiding from us too – Faith in particular.

There is so much intensity in this book, that at times I had to put it down and remember to breathe. And knowing that I would be left in suspense, I was even keener to draw out the process – but desperate to know what on earth is going on. There are some huge clues that there is something odd still afoot – lights, doors, suggestions of double crosses – most intriguing. Add in the chemistry between these two and her attendance at what is, in fact, his club; oh, Ms. Jones has piled on the questions – now we all have to wait until mid-July for the answers! I am of course hoping that they get a happily ever after that neither of them even knew they wanted, but there are some hard sessions of honesty before that is even a remote possibility.

Get reading, this will warm you up and keep you guessing!

My first book to read from this Author. Was not disappointed. Loved it all. Cannot wait for more.

Such a new spin on this spin off. The cliffhanger is insane and I am so glad to see Chris merit again!! I can't wait for more from this series

OMG this book keeps you reading till the end, but the end is continued...Can't wait for the next installment. Nick gets involved with Faith thinking that she had something to do with his father's death. So he is out for revenge. Faith is trying to save her business.

I admit I had high expectations going into this one based on all the buzz and reading the first two chapters when the book was first announced. It had all the ingredients for a page turner I'd love. And for the most part, I was kept guessing but I never really connected to Faith or Nick. Their chemistry was strong but I didn't have a sense of what makes them tick. Faith, for instance, has changed her entire life to save the winery, putting her career as an artist to the side all because of her deceased dad's dream. So I'm thinking she must have had a good, close relationship with her dad, only to find out he never supported her dreams as an artist. I want to know more about that and why Faith would sacrifice her dreams for someone who didn't support her and who turned a blind eye to her mother's horrible behavior. And maybe we'll get that in book 2 but I wanted it now so I wouldn't feel disconnected from the main characters. I'm definitely curious about how the story will resolve- the mystery is a good one and I have no idea how everything might be connected- so I plan on reading the follow up.

COPY RECEIVED THROUGH NETGALLEY FOR REVIEW

Lisa has done it again another GREAT book! It has romance, intrigue, suspense, drama & sex. You are drawn in to the story and fall in love with the characters, Nick & Faith. I was so into the book I couldn't put it down had to read till the end and read it again in case I missed something. Looking for to the next book in the series.