I love the storyline between Lauren and Dante because it covers so many bases of things that affect us all. Plus the chemistry and scenes were definitely burned of the pages. Both characters have issues in need of overcoming and as Lauren comes out of her comfort zone with herself she begins to understand what she wants sexually. The time they are spending with each other as a great time and a bond in formed. I really enjoyed reading this novel so I would give it 3.5 stars.

I really could get into it. I tried for a few day just wasn't feeling it. I will try to read it again. But the characters didn't grip me. I'm sure it's a good read the naughty bits I did read were really naughty.

Lauren Simms has just lost her job and discovers that her absentee father has just died leaving her a tattoo parlor called Wicked Brand in West Palm Beach. Knowing she needs money to survive she knows she must sell the shop when she struggles finding a new job.

Dante Avana is the manager at Wicked Brand and he along with tattoo artist extraordinaire Van Gogh and receptionist Jasmina keep the place running. He is extremely attracted to Lauren but understands that she must do what is right for her with the shop, even if it means selling the place. 

As Lauren begins looking at the books she begins to get close to everyone at the shop. Soon she finds herself falling for Dante and begins a relationship with him. When opportunities arise for herself in regards to a job and the selling the shop will she take the chance or will she take what is right in front of her?

This was a great read on finding yourself and overcoming what is in the past. Lauren partly struggled with the shop as it was her dad's and she felt as though he abandoned her and then didn't want any part of something that came from him. She was jealous that the people who worked with him had a relationship with him while she didn't yet she was embraced by them all even though they knew she was planning on selling.

Dante was awesome and I loved the dinner he and Lauren had at the Cuban restaurant!! Super hot!! He was into BDSM and treated Lauren like an absolute queen! I will never look at a Merry-Go-Round the same again! I loved how Dante realized what was important to him and that it wasn't money that made him happy. 

I loved the ending and was glad that everything worked out the way it should!! 

Great read!

When Lauren inherits a tattoo shop from her estranged father, she must decide if she will sell it or keep it. Considering that she lost her job almost 6 months before, she has to find a new job for herself and/or sell the tattoo parlor. 

Even though this story is told from a dual POV, I felt like I really didn't know either character as well as I would have liked to. Especially Dante, we don't find out what his back story is until towards the end of the book.  I did appreciate Dante's love of a curvy woman though!

What this book lacks in romantic storytelling, it makes up for with a plethora of sex. It didn't seem like the couple wanted to share their lives but definitely their bodies. All the pieces for a good romance were there, I think the author could have make the relationship a bit stronger before the continuous sex. 



♥♥♥ 3/5 Hearts

the wicked brand series kicks off with wicked takeover, where lauren and dante develop a thrilling sex connection and a relationship worth fighting for. if only either of them had the guts to actually express what they want clearly.

they're actually really good at doing that in the bedroom, or not the bedroom, because most of the time they're having sex in public or semi-public places. it's kind of their thing. but they are both on the same page and clearly hot for each other.

the problem is that when it comes about talking about what they really want for the future, they both think that the other person isn't in for the long haul. and there is literally a scene where they are arguing about their future and are totally talking at cross purposes. it's actually kind of funny and once they both realize that they are being ridiculous it all ends well.

this was an enjoyable, sexy read. the chemistry between dante and lauren is strong. and i liked that dante was latino, and appreciated how the author brought his latino heritage into the story, i think he was supposed to be cuban, but to me it seemed like there was some blurring between puerto rican and cuban. it was clear to me that the author was not latina, and did her best to research the cuisine and such, but some of her descriptions were slightly off and the spanish phrases had clearly been crafted with google translate and not a native spanish speaker because they were just not right. this is a pet peeve of mine actually, and hopefully, there were corrections made before the galley went to press, but given that i see poorly worded spanish in published novels all the time, i'm not really holding my breath.

Clunky writing, a slew of overdone plot-lines, a lot (and I mean a lot) of unsexy sex, and way too many mentions of Dove Bars.

Lauren has lost her job in Corporate HR, she is barely able to pay her books and is ready to lose hope. Her unexpected inheritance from the father she hasn't seen since she was a child is her last resort. Dante is the sexy tattoo artist who manages she shop Lauren now owns. He's so much more than you first see with the tats and sexy charm. 
While trying to learn the ropes at the shop Lauren is drawn to Dante and his firm sexy play. They connect and push the envelope but can they be more than a hookup? When Lauren is facing the financial struggles and decisions on selling the shop can she be open to the unexpected?

*I received a free copy via NetGalley*

Wicked Takeover is a NA based in a tattoo parlor. But not just any tattoo parlor, her dead father's one, where there are 2 very talented people, who can run out of a job... but most importantly, Dante.*Insert hand fanning* Wow! That man is hot! And don't even get me talking about their chemistry, they were going at it the ENTIRE BOOK. 

Basically, this is good NA if you are only looking for a good time *wink*.

Wicked Takeover had a very interesting concept of an independent corporate woman, Lauren, who was let go from her job and then inherited a tattoo shop. There she meets Dante and falls in instant lust, plus it helps that he’s actually a great guy too. I loved the whole tattoo shop idea and the employees who worked there. The only thing is I wish the other artist in the shop had more personality. He was an amazing artist and very talented but personality wise, he was just there and always moping. He never really showed much interaction with the rest of them and that kind of bugged me.

Lauren was a cool character and I loved that she wasn’t a size 2. She was described as independent and didn’t rely on anyone to get herself by. She actually preferred to struggle on her own then take anything away from anyone else and I thought that was very admirable. Problem was, she was extremely self-conscious about her weight and didn’t think she was good looking. A part of me just really want’s to see a full figured woman who is confident.

Dante had a very interesting back story. He wasn’t just some hot tattoo artist who wanted to bone constantly, though they did bone constantly. Which brings up another thing. I felt like this book, for the most part, was all about the sex. Every other page they were either having sex or thinking about having sex. Yes, I know this is a romance and sex is the lure to romance novels, but if there’s no story to it than the whole thing falls flat. Wicked Takeover did have a story to it, but I felt like it was some what ignored and could have had so much more done with it.

For the most part, it was a good book, and very steamy. Even though I had my own issues with it here and there it was still an easy enjoyable read.

The father she knew as a young child left for work one day and never came home, throwing both Lauren and her mother into poverty and the pain of being abandoned. Now an educated adult who has just lost her job, Lauren finds she has inherited her estranged father’s business, a tattoo parlor. The very conservative and self-proclaimed “curvy” woman is determined to sell the shop and move on with life, hopefully a life that includes a job.

When Lauren first saw the handsome and intelligent Dante at Wicked Brand, she vacillates between lust and self-deprecation, certain that her less than perfect body would never interest the ma in front of her. Clearly she had no idea the effect she had on Dante who prefers “meat” on his women.

As Lauren wrestles with selling the shop and finding a job, her inner bad girl takes a carnal vacation dreaming of all the things Dante could do for her, to her and with her. Imagine her delight when she discovers that reality is far better than her dreams. As Dante plays Dom, Lauren finds that nothing is more important than their sexual acrobatics, any place, any time, any way.

Of course there are secrets, some not worth keeping, some not to be kept for long, but neither Dante nor Lauren feel they can share like they can share their bodies. (?????) WICKED TAKEOVER by Tine Donahue is erotic romance, dipped in quirky humor, major insecurities and massive decisions, but in the end, it is the sex that drives this tale. Fabulous secondary characters are glossed over, the concept of a tattoo parlor is glossed over, unless the discussion is about penis tattoos, naked clients and Lauren’s insecurities about their “perfect” bodies next to hers as she sucks down a Dove Bar.

This tale could have been so much “more” if there were more story and fewer orgasms. I think it's time to get over "less than perfect" bodies and move along. This isn’t my favorite from this author.

I received an ARC edition from Entangled: Scorched in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Wicked Brand - Book 1
Publisher: Entangled: Scorched (August 7, 2017)
Publication Date: August 7, 2017
Genre: Erotic Romance
Print Length: 210 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

Tina Donahue is an awesome author who really knows how to capture your attention in her blurbs and then even more so when you start reading her book with her amazing characters and great storyline. Just grabs you and doesn't let go. Would recommend

Admittedly I wanted to read this book for more than the enticing blurb, the story takes place close to where I live. I know the neighborhood. It's trendy, arty and great food. So a tattoo parlor would not be out of place there. It's a wonderful area that has been revitalized and anything you could want is there.

Lauren was way past being down on her luck, being let go from a corporate job due to downsizing and unable to find another job, being in debt and what does she get in return? She inherits a tattoo parlor from a father who left she and her mother when she was 5. Never saw or heard from him again. It destroyed her mother and Lauren has never been able to trust that anyone she lets in close won't leave her. Part of it is her poor body image, she's a curvy girl. She doesn't see herself as desirable, and certainly not someone worthy of a long term commitment. Bring in Dante. Sigh.

When Lauren goes to visit what she inherits, she watches at first, seeing a young girl who she measures herself against dash up the street wearing not too much. She walks in and she meets Dante, he thinks she's there for a tat or piercing, she's just taking in all the art on the walls and photos of the piercings and is that what she thinks it is tattoo on a man's genital area including his penis? Yep, it is.
She informs Dante who she is, tells him she owns the business now and him. He introduces Van Gogh another very talented artist and tattoo artist and when Miss cutie, Jasmina pops back in, she's got lunch for everyone. Of course, this group is like family, they invite her to eat. She turns them down even though she hasn't eaten a real meal since she can remember. She lives on PB&J. She's tells them she's looking to sell the business and also looking for a job for herself, explaining the situation. Or at least in part. Certainly not the details of her father, because her father helped everyone in that business of his, helping them out when no one else would. Confused, this seems to add to her misconceptions about herself and wondering who her Dad really was. 

Lauren hits it off in a big way with Dante and with Jasmina encouraging her, the two start off slow, a dinner here and there and then like a bottle rocket the sex just explodes. Sex can be not done, well done or overdone. In this book, it was a bit overdone and didn't add to the story. I do understand what the author was trying to get across and that was Dante's desire for her and her for him. Even though her self talk was they were just friends. Well wow, if that's what friends do.... yes indeed! 
Lauren finally tells Dante about her father and why she feels the way she does, but still doesn't admit her physical appearance and self doubt and Dante's made in clear to her he loves curvy women.
This girl has the worst self esteem for an HR manager, holy crow. 

Let me round this out here because I can digress forever, Dante reveals some personal things about his life to her also. Things that he feels may make her run away. They have their ups and downs.
I loved all the characters in the book, even the quiet rarely seen Van Gogh. We meet some of Dante's family and since this is book one I see a lot of potential stories ahead coming off this first book.
Good solid bones to the plot line. 

**arc from NetGalley and Entangled in exchange for a fair review**

WOW! Tina Donahue has written a scorcher. Good solid writing and plot delivery. Loved it!

4*-This is an excellent book-I would recommend this to anyone who even remotely liked this genre! I couldn’t-and wouldn’t-put this down until I finished it. Kudos to the author for writing such an amazing book. I will definitely check out more of her work in the future.

What does she really want? Besides Dante... 

Wicked Takeover was my first read by this author. The synopsis intrigued me and I decided to check it out. It was short, sweet, sassy and sexy.

Lauren was between a rock and a hard place. Having lost her corporate job recently and so far unable to find a replacement. Lauren was sweating in her car to save her precious gas, unwilling to waste it using the air condition. She was living on peanut butter and jelly. She was throwing all her eggs in one basket by planning to sell the tattoo shop she inherited from her absent father. When she shows up to check it out for the first time, she meets Dante. That's when she decides that he's the hard place she wants to be against. All of her professional training is wasted as she drools over him, forgetting why she's even there. With her brain scrambled, she tells him that she's the new owner, and that everything in the building belongs to her, including him. He finds that highly amusing, and she finds it highly embarrassing.

Yes, it is kinda predictable. I knew before I read the first page what was likely to happen. It's the perfect short read to clear your palate after reading something deep or dark. It's like a guilty pleasure that will leave you smiling and ready for whatever comes next.

Yum, Dante can takeover my body anytime. If only he didn't keep referencing his penis as a rod. I don't understand why anyone would. 
I guess that the moral of this story is, money isn't everything. But some is helpful. Lauren tries to make everyone happy, I think she's afraid that they'll leave her if they're unhappy. It's about time when Dante finally does something to make her happy too.