I love Tijan’s writing style and this strays a bit from her norm. This is set in a very tech savvy world and it was interesting to live in the mind of a brilliant computer genius. The story was fast paced with a lot of action. At times, I felt a little disconnected because of the fast flow, but the story kept me engaged and on my toes.

Hands down the best book I’ve read by Tijan yet. The Insiders focuses on main character, Bailey [Genius IQ and Computer Hacker] who finds her world turned upside down after a near-miss kidnapping attempt. The characters are vibrant, flawed and so entertaining! I didn’t want to put this book down. I couldn’t get enough of the romance building between Bailey and Kash.
•
I can’t wait to read the next book in the trilogy. I kept thinking this book reminded me of a Mafia style story - but make it computer hackers! Looking forward to where Tijan will take this next.

So this book had so much the potential. Ugh! I really hated Bailey at one point. Because I don't like doormat female leads. Bailey tried to be a badass but she's just a pathetic girl who wanted to have the luxurious life like her siblings. Kash was an alpha male yet mysterious. I am curious and want to know more about him. Although I think he needed a strong badass woman who's most definitely not Bailey. But whatever!🙄 Dunno if I'm gonna read the next books though.

What a story! My first book by Tijan and definitely not my last. Romance was off the charts and I couldn't put it down!

From the very beginning this book had me seated in intense intrigue. Bailey seems like an ordinary girl just trying to survive by helping her mom, going to school, but she has a photographic memory, so she also comes across as odd to some. Some people are out to kidnap her, and help comes in the form of an incredibly attractive but aloof guy, Kash. As things continue to happen, we learn more about Bailey’s life, family, and more. The book is full of details because I feel it is laying the groundwork for what is to come in this trilogy. So, at times it may come across as the book is slow to get into but when I looked back at what I read and the ending I realized it was just setting us up for more. There seems to be a lot of secrecy surrounding not only Bailey but her estranged family and Kash. Everyone is hiding something and there are a lot of twists that I didn’t see coming and some that I did but I was very invested in how it all would play out. Some say that Bailey came off as immature at times, but I get her. Her life is in an upheaval, she is in a new environment, no one is willing to tell her anything, and they claim it’s all to protect her, but she is the one being treated as a prisoner. If it were me at 22, I would act out and want to get to the bottom of things as well, even if it wasn’t seen as the mature thing to do. Kash and Bailey had an intense attraction that is fought by both, yet they can’t seem to stop it. There were so many different mysteries and suspense to keep me intrigued that I will be patiently impatient while waiting on the next one.

It took me awhile to finish this book, for that I apologize. I received this book from Netgalley, here’s my honest review.

I’m not sure where to begin as I hate it when I don’t love a book and want to give it all the gushy words!! 😕
It’s hot that this book was horrible, I just had a hard time connecting with the characters and the real mess of the plot.

To not give too much away but someone with a “photographic” memory talking about how she remembers everything and sounds and everything that goes along with it ( I could be wrong here but I always thought a PHOTOgraphic memory was remembering everything you’ve seen.. hence the word photo in it. But I could be wrong. Not an expert lol) she claims to always recall everything perfectly and yet she doesn’t recall a very important thing…. A voice. This is early in the book so not quite a spoiler I don’t think.

There’s just things that made me 😳🤔
Such as….

I’d been kneeling to give her the wine, and from my position, my side hit the tub before she pulled the rest of me into the bath with her.
“Chrissy!”
She was laughing. The water was going everywhere.
“Come on. Let’s have a bath together. You and me. Mother and daughter.”

Bailey’s 22 so, really? A bath with her mom? WTAF?

And then attention to details are lost throughout the book. Minor but it’s there ….

*They’re giving her a cover story. Not telling ppl shes the Bastard Daughter of tech billionaire Peter Francis
**
... When/how did they meet?: Knows Kash through his mother’s family side.
.....
Few pages later
.....
“What do they know?”
“My parents died when I was young. I came to live with the Francis family after that. I’ve stayed in touch with family on my father’s side and this was how you and I met.” He added, “We thought this would give you an added layer of protection.”

First they say she knows Kash through his mother’s side. Then says fathers side? But then mother’s side again. 🤔

Also.. speaking of a cover story… they tell her it’s either witness protection or go to her biological fathers house. (This happens early in the book so you find out soon… like first few chapters)…. So essentially she’s in witness protection of Kash but just at her fathers house… with a cover story of how they met and who she is… but they give everyone she meets her real name?? Ummmm, doesn’t that defeat the purpose of “hiding”??

** The buzzing was back. I ignored it. “So you live here too?”
He nodded. “I have a villa here, yes.”
.... he LITERALLY just said that, TWICE, when she asked if she was staying with him.

**She had clear cornflower-blue eyes, the same teardrop shape as Cyclone.
…teardrop shaped eyes?
……how, exactly, is an eye shaped like a teardrop? Is the entire eye shape like a tear drop? 🤔 I’ve never heard eyes described this way. That doesn’t sound attractive.
I’m curious as to how exactly the author “sees” these eyes. No pun intended 😂

It’s things like this that made it difficult for me to really enjoy the story. 😔. And it’s fiction, I know that but the little details bother me. 😆

Fallen Crest meets Carter Reed
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2021
Tijan gives us a new trilogy with brand new characters and situations. To simply put it this first installment was AMAZING.
If you think Tijan is going to open it slow and let you get your feet wet you are sorely mistaken. On the first page we are instantly thrown in to a scary situation that grabs your attention.
Bailey is in her early twenties, living with her single mother and is a tech genius just trying to finish up school and start her life.
Her father is unknown to her aside from the stories her mother has given her. After almost being abducted for reasons unknown to her she meets Kash.
Kash is a man of so many secrets. This gorgeous, mysterious man has been given the task of watching over Bailey. Bailey is given the option of going into witness protection with her mother or being taken from her mother and placed into hiding so her mother can go on to live her life as normal.
Having to make a very hard decision Bailey is thrown into a life completely different than the one she knows. She finds out who her true father is and meets a family she never knew about. All the drama that unfolds after she is thrown into her new life is page turning.
I could not make myself put this book down. This Tijan book has it all. It felt like Fallen Crest meets Carter Reed. You experience all the emotions in this one. You get the thrills, the secrets, the heat, the drama, did I mention Kash 🔥🔥?? Tijan has really given us the entire package with this one.
The ending of this book has left me with a book hangover that can't be cured until I get the next installment. I can't wait to see what happens with these characters next. This was truly one of my favorite reads of 2021 so far. If you haven't read this yet it's an absolute must read.
#spreadsomeinsidersbillionairelove
Tijan's Books

I've loved every book I've read by Tijan and this was no exception. This 1st book in The Insiders Trilogy had me captivated from beginning to end, It was emotional, engrossing, steamy and twisted and I enjoyed every word on every page in every chapter. The plot was fascinating with its family drama and had an element of suspense I couldn't get enough off. My heart went out to Baliey caught in the middle of all the family dynamics, but I fell in love with her and Kash and their evolving romance. The chemistry between them was intense right from the start and although different, they were perfect for each other.
Tijan gave us a cast of flawed, colorful, secondary characters with depth who will all catch your attention in one way of another and who were all important throughout the tale. This page turner was highly entertaining, intriguing and well written. It ends in a slight cliff hanger and I can't wait for book two to see what happens next. I would highly recommend this novel to lovers of New Adult contemporary romance.

I'm a big fan of this author and I loved this book. It's the first in a planned trilogy and I can't wait to get my hands on the next one.

This book is a romantic thriller that hooks you from the beginning. There are some twists and turns and a lot of unanswered questions at the end of the story.

Bailey is thrown into a world in which she is very much an outsider. Secrets are exposed and some questions are answered throughout the story.

Bailey and Kash's story is very much up in the air after this first book. I'm hoping book 2 dives more into Kash's background. I love how protective of Bailey Kash is and their chemistry is great.

This is a very plot driven book. The writing is great. It's action-packed and emotional.

***1 Star***

I read a book by the author many moons ago and I liked it, but wasn’t wowed by it and ever since I considered giving her another go because I see all kinds of good things about her books, but none spoke to me.

Then The Insiders popped up on NG and the blurb intrigued me, so I decided to give it a go and while there was a spark at the very start, it faded all too quickly for me. The pacing was slow and things just felt choppy to me, so it didn’t hold my interest for long. Add in the fact that I didn’t really like any of the characters and the ‘cliffy’ was kind of meh...well, it just shows this book just wasn’t for me.

I wish I had liked it and was jonesing to find out what will happen next for Kash and Bailey, but I didn’t and I’m not. But I figure I gave the author another go and it just didn’t work out.

Intriguing, interesting and I have questions floating around. Fast paced story with surprising parts, facinating characters with romantic suspense. A little different than her other books but still in the Tijan kinda way. I am looking forward to more into this series and hopefully my questions will be answered as the series moves on.

I absolutely loved this book!! It is one of my faves and I am dying for the next one when this one hasn't even released yet🤦‍♀️❤❤ It releases on May 4th and trust me you do not want to miss out on this book, so go hit that pre-order button and have it on your kindle or whatever your reading device is on release day!!📖❤

I was not expecting this book, but boy what a crazy ride it was!! I need book 2! I fell in love with Kash and Bailey since the very firs chapter!

This was my first read of Tijan and after reading it.....I want more. The first few pages with Bailey were full of suspense and wondering what was happening and why. And when Kash walked through and gave some of the answers of why....I needed to know more. Bailey had a choice and with that she learned more of another world she never though she would. The banter and relationship with her and Kash turns from protector to lover in a way that I was hoping for. Kash is dark, strong, and mysterious.....My favorite type of alpha. The suspense, 'what the hell' moments with Matt(and there are a lot), the secrets, and the heat with a dash of humor on Bailey part had me craving to know what will happen. And now I'm craving for MORE please tell me there will be more, Tijan. Please!

Bailey is beyond brilliant. She’s a genius with a photographic memory. Bailey is sassy and feisty, a bit quirky, and I absolutely adored her. She was raised by a single mother believing her father had died.

One night everything she thought she knew would change. Kash is dangerous, but he will do what is necessary to keep Bailey safe. Kash’s character wasn’t likable from the beginning, but he does redeem himself. There’s no denying the chemistry between Kash and Bailey. They seemed such an odd pair but ended up they fit together perfectly.

Tijan created a whole new world with The Insiders being the first book in a trilogy. I enjoyed all of the main characters, the plot was very intriguing despite having some intense portions that were a little hard to get through at times. There were some emotional aspects between Bailey and her mother in which I could relate too.

As with many of Tijan’s stories, The Insiders included a twist at the ending that I didn’t see coming. She is definitely an author I trust to never disappoint.

The Insiders is everything readers will love from Tijan – angst, drama, great characters and an intriguing plot that will keep readers flipping the pages.

I won't waste your time rehashing the blurb (if you didn't read it, I will leave that up to you to do so). Just know these few things:

Bailey is a genius and struggles with her new way of life.

Kash is brooding and very dominant man that struggles with letting people truly see him.

I enjoyed this story, but felt as though I was missing something that had me 100% fully vested in it. The chemistry and attraction between Kash and Bailey is hard to ignore, but I struggled to see past the lust aspect for them.

The plot was intriguing and definitely keeps readers wanting to know what happens next. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and how their roles play a part of this whole story.

While the ending felt a bit anti-climatic, I am anxious to see what happens next. I would see the ending is more of a way "to be continued" and not so much a cliffhanger.

This is a complicated review for me.
I was eager to turn every page. I was invested in the story. I couldn’t wait to find out what was going on and who could be trusted.
-Bailey is interesting, I had a bit of trouble connecting with her character, yet I was enjoying the story.
I love that she’s really smart and has a photographic memory. Her computer skills are another interesting part of the story.
-Kash is a character that I don’t know if he’s trustworthy, I’m not sure of his intentions.
He seems to genuinely care, he also definitely has secrets!
He’s really alpha and super hot! He’s definitely swoony!
-I liked the unknowns and the mystery.
I didn’t love the insta-lust.
I would have liked more of a deep connection that I understood.
I know it’s a trilogy so I’m hopeful that in the coming books that will not be an issue.
At times I was a bit lost and confused. Could be just me. It seemed a little abrupt at times.
-I like the secondary characters and think they add a lot to the story in many ways.
Overall, I enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to the next two books!

This was my first book by Tijan. It really sounded so good, and I saw some great reviews for it on instagram. Bailey is a normal girl with a genius IQ and photographic memory. After a guy breaks into her home to take her hostage, she learns her father is billionaire tech genius Peter Francis, the same guy she’s idolized all her life. Her father's associate Kash, tell her she must go with him to meet her father, or try to survive on her own because those kidnappers are bound to try again. Now she's living in her father's mansion, has 3 new siblings she's learning to deal with, and being guarded by Kash. She has to find her way in this family, that has lots of secrets.

This is a romance with mystery, I thought the writing and characters were really great, but the story itself was a bit on the slow side for me. It just took me longer to read, but then again, this was sort of out of my comfort zone genre. This is the first in a new trilogy and I would still continue to see how it plays out!

This has to me one of my favorites from Tijan to date. This book is so different than her normal writing in a way, yet totally her. This book pulled at my attention from the beginning when Bailey finds herself in quite the predicament, yet handles it the beat way she can. Then is literally thrown because her life changes and will never be the same. She finds that she’s been living her whole life lied to. Then left with a major decision to either go hide in witness protection and never know half of her true self or to leave everything she knows to find the truth.

She gets hit with so much in such a short amount of time, but when you think she will sink or be left in the deep end flailing, you meet Kashton Colello who lifts her. He’s always there to pick her back up and save her. This book had me FEELING EVERYTHING...I cried so much, I was hit with so many emotions through this book. There was sadness and loneliness, there were parts that had me laughing so hard and cheering her on, anger beyond belief, and then when I didn’t think it could get any better there was love. Then it repeated with the anger and crying and...you really need to read this book to experience it all for yourself to understand WHY I live these characters as much as I do and am thirsting for so much more. The story is worth every star I could give it.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital arc of this book, all opinions expressed here are my own.

The Insiders by Tijan is the first book in a new trilogy. Like the author’s previous work, it does not disappoint.

The book starts off fast, with an attempted kidnapping of Bailey, our main character. We discover she is the illegitimate daughter of tech genius Peter Francis and she is taken to his family estate by Kash Colello, the hot alpha male for protection.

Bailey is tough. She is Chrissy Hayes daughter. Hayes women don’t cry. She can take care of herself. But now she has family. And Kash.

This story is well written and well developed provoking all the feels. The character development is excellent. I loved the way Bailey is getting to know her siblings and forming friendships with them. The steam between her and Kash is a perfect amount. I look forward to reading the rest of this trilogy to see how things progress, though this story is nicely wound up and not too cliffhangery at the end.

A fascinating four star read.