Please take my rating with a grain of salt - if alpha males and insta-attraction is your jam, head on over to those 4 and 5 star reviews.....

As for me, I just didn't feel a pull in to this story. It really starts with a bang - and I was intrigued to start. But quickly we got into the day to day mundane stuff of life and the story slowed way down. I wasn't terribly interested in the family or Bailey getting to know anyone. Her days of lock down and the orgies she witnessed with Matt were just distractions in a story that didn't seem to be going anywhere.

Finally around the 80% mark, the action picked back up but by then, the story had pretty well lost me. I wasn't into the drama of the two or his backstory. fun, interesting cover, I just wish I'd liked it more.

<i>An e-ARC was provided to me by the author and publishing via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.</i>

This book gave me all the feels. There was mystery, heart wrenching moments, laughter, and swoon worthy romance. Bailey is soft spoken and slightly lost throughout the story, but Kash proves to be her strength and voice. I enjoyed this book, and as always am anxiously awaiting the next.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Insiders took me FOREVER to get into. Once I actually did start enjoying it, well, I found something that really annoyed me. This cycle was on repeat throughout the entire book. So it's safe to say that I was very excited to reach the very last page of this book.

In this, you will meet Kash and Bailey. From the very first moment, you could sense some insta-spark between these two. You would also start to notice that Kash is kind of dark and mysterious and goes away (randomly) for a couple of days or months. It's really a toss up and at one point I was dying to know what he did for the family but then I just sort of gave up on that dream.

As for Bailey, eh, she had her cute moments and that's about it. I did like that she could hack into things but the best part of her was her mom really. Now Chrissy was the momma bear you will definitely fall in love with. Other than that, Bailey's family is kind of a hot mess.

Now the characters were completely predictable to me. Plus, I saw the ending coming a mile away. I just know something was going to happen between certain people and I just kept waiting for it to come my way.

All in all, a predictable and kind of boring book for me. I was really hoping for this one to be good and hard to put down.. but that just didn't end up happening for me.

This is the first book I've read a few of Tijan. It is romantic suspense with a slow burn and a lot of action. I was really excited because I have heard her other books are really good.

Bailey is a genius with a rare photographic memory. She lives with her mother. She is about to graduate and go to college on a scholarship in a few months. She almost gets kidnapped but the attempt is foiled. She soon learns her life has been a lie. Bailey is thrown into a tailspin and her life is completely turned upside down. She is forced to leave her home with her mom, have a bodyguard, Kashton aka Kash, and navigate a new family. This new situation is tough on her. She is in danger and has to be under security 24/7. She misses her mother and worries about her. The new family isn't what she was expecting and the welcome isn't as warm as she was expecting. There are secrets, lies, and she doesn't know who she can trust. To top it all off, she is fighting her attraction to her bodyguard.

Kash is the head of security for Bailey's father, amongst other things. He is respected, mysterious, and feared. When he lays down the rules, everyone follows them. He is attracted to Bailey but doesn't want to cross that line. He can tell that she is interested but he has secrets of his own and his job is to protect her and her family. The problem is, is he doesn't know if he can fight this attraction. He has come to care for her but things aren't that simple. And I didn't like how he would come back into town at night, have sex with her and then leave the next morning and this would go on for weeks when he kept telling her he would tell her everything but always put it off....it just felt dirty.

When I first started reading this book, I was excited. It was intriguing, pulled me in, and was fast-paced. Unfortunately, this fell a little short for me. There were parts of this book where I felt like something was missing and didn't make sense and other parts where I felt there was too much. I also felt that it was predictable and the ending felt rushed. I liked most of the characters. Baily and Kash had great chemistry, but it seemed unrealistic that she was so dependent upon him when he was a complete stranger and gave off "don't mess with me," standoffish vibes. There were a few laughs. I liked the mystery and action. There is a slight cliffhanger at the end that is probably a peek into the next book. This book has good aspects and great potential but I felt that key aspects and other things were lacking. I encourage you to form your own opinion though.

***ARC received from Netgalley and the author for an unbiased opinion.***

As a hoarder of books, I have many books and audiobooks from Tijan. I hear such great things about her books that I've been accruing them on my TBR list. When I received this book from NetGalley as an early read, I was excited to get into it. And into it I got- from page 1 to the end, I was entrenched in the world that was created. It is a trilogy, which I didn't realize until later, but the ending was still well done and whet the appetite for more.

I adored Bailey. She was smart, nerdy but cool and snarky. I loved when she hacked into the unhackable system developed by her father. The premise is that she is the unacknowledged child of a tech giant and is therefore, a target for a group that wants to acquire her. Kash, a mysterious colleague (or more?? read to find out) is helping to protect her. Their snarky exchanges made me laugh. The book slowly reveals the relationships between all the different characters, unraveling a connection and a thread that will play out over the trilogy. The one developing relationship that was a bit subtle, perhaps too subtle was the romantic one between Kash and Bailey. He seemed so much more mature than her too and it made for a slightly stilted relationship.

An interesting supportive cast rounds out this book and I'm definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read!

SERIES: Part of a trilogy #1
GENRE: New Adult, suspense
TROPES: insta love, roommates, billionaire
CLIFFHANGER: kind of yes
RATING: 3,5 ⭐
RELEASE DATE: May 4th

This is a book one in a trilogy. In the end, we are left knowing that story has to continue and in which way it will go.

So, in this book, we follow Bailey our genius heroine. She is 22 and has been raised by her single mother thinking her father is dead. She gets a shocking revelation that her father is well and alive. And he is not a marine as her mother told her. He is none other than her childhood idol tech mogul Peter Francis. When her father's enemies try to kidnap her she is taken to her father's secure villa and learns she not only has a father but three half-siblings too. Right from the start, she developed strong feelings for her father right-hand man Kashton. He is also the one who is keeping her safe. On her father's estate, she is staying with him. Dealing with her newfound situation we trust in a world of rich people problems. Who kidnapped her? Can she fit in with the new family? What secrets is Kash hiding?

What I liked:
* the premise of this book is quite intriguing & interesting
* the writing is addicting & fast-paced
*the emotional aspect of Bailey's relationship with her mother, new siblings, and father
that is my favorite part of this book and I think that the author did an excellent job conveying the complexity of it

What could be done better:
* payoff, I wish that we get more after such a build-up
* I don't mind suspending disbelief that is needed in this book, however, I expected a more shocking ending, final twist felt flat for me
* the cover of this book is a little bit confusing. I think the black-haired woman is our heroine but I am not sure who the other two are supposed to be. Is the blond woman Quinn and why she needs to be on the cover? Hmmm?!




* Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is the first time I have ever read a book by Tijan, but it certainly will not be the last. Her writing style is right up my alley where it brings the characters to life for me, the book flows, there are descriptions but not so much that you're thinking "ok let's move on already".
Bailey, our heroine, is a computer hacker genius with a very high IQ. And she's sassy and spunky. Just what our hero, Kashton, needs in his life it seems. He's stoic and serious. But they complement each other well.
I want to keep this spoiler-free, so without giving anything away the family dynamic in this book kept me interested (and guessing) right up until the end.
The premise for the book was very interesting to me. I don't read romance books about computer genius hackers very often, so this one seemed like a pretty fresh idea to me. With a little action and suspense thrown in, it kept me captivated throughout the entire book and I actually read it in about a day!
Now, please excuse me while I go look up every other book Tijan has ever written and devour them!

“One night? I couldn’t do that. I’d need more. I already needed more.”

Tijan’s ‘The Insiders’ is a delightful, sexy mind puzzle that was a joy to decipher piece by piece. The first in a trilogy, it’s not a standalone, though the ending isn’t a complete cliffhanger and sets up the next book nicely.

When Bailey Hayes becomes the victim of a failed kidnapping attempt, she discovers that she’s the daughter of her idol, billionaire tech god Peter Francis. Instantly, Bailey has a choice. Disappear into with her mother and start over, or finally meet the father and half-siblings she never knew she had. The choice is an easy one, especially when she meets Kashton Colello, the mysterious man designated as her protector. But Bailey will soon realize that beyond the glamour of wealth lies myriad secrets.

As a fan of Tijan’s other work, I can say that this one might be my new favorite. It’s a departure from her typical story telling in fresh and exciting way. The chemistry between Bailey and Kash is nothing short of combustible, and the slow unraveling of their attraction to each other is absolutely captivating to read. (Not to mention super hot.) Add in a great cast of secondary characters and you’ve got yourselves one heck of a story, one that will keep you guessing until the very end.

An ARC was generously provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s in exchange for my honest review.

Heads up, this is part of a trilogy, so the book is not the complete story, though it ends in a way that you can end things there if you aren't really feeling it, but it does end in a way that you know there is more to come. The situations that take place are pretty much concluded, though there is more underlying that will carry over into the other books. This book is partially a romance, but it is also a little suspenseful and mysterious. Bailey is an outsider trying to find her place with the insiders. She is so out of her element. It's like she's trying to live on another planet. Fortunately for her, she has Kash to lean on. If only she knew what he was thinking. He is mysterious and has some secrets he's hiding. While Bailey is trying to fit in, Kash is busy trying to keep her safe. All the characters are interesting, fun and well developed. There's the evil step mom, the jealous mean girls, the wild child, the reluctant father and more. There are some humorous moments, though this isn't a comedy. There are some intense scenes. Lots of secrets and mystery. There is sexual content. Throughout the entire book, you are left wondering what is going to happen. Some questions are answered, and more questions arise. It reads easily. From Bailey's POV. Due to the subject matter, I'd say this is suitable for mature readers.

*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

While I love Tijan's books, this one felt a bit disjointed to me. It was not clear when the main characters began to fall in love. The secondary characters were all over the place and I did not understand why they did what they did. The ending was interesting as I did not see that coming, but honestly, unless the plotline of the next book is more cohesive I am not sure if I would be inclined to read it.

****ARC provided in exchange for an honest review on Netgalley ******

I was excited to read this book since I have enjoyed others by Tijan in the past, and was not disappointed. If you love a dominant man this book is for you.
Bailey is a graduate student and computer hacker that is just living her life day to day when all of that changes and she is kidnapped. This kidnapping leads her to learn of the life she could have had. A life of privilege and a family she never knew she had.

This, understandably turns her life upside down. The one bright spot in all of this is Kash. The bossy, protective man that is her lifeline in this new and unknown life.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Kash and Bailey develop and was intrigued to learn even more about Kash, his past, and what his role in Bailey's new family is, this was a mystery that kept me turning the pages.

“He was looking at me like I was his lifeline, and I was feeling the sting. He was reeling me in, one tug at a time.”

My first thoughts after finishing this book are “OMG! What did I just read”? and “When can I get my hands on the next book”??? The Insiders was everything I didn’t know I needed and I couldn’t get enough of it. Yes, this is the cancel all your plans kind of book. You will be sucked into this story instantly and will be powerless to put it down.

Now, I’ll be honest with you. When I picked up this book, I had only read the synopsis for it once. That’s right. One time. I read it when the book was first announced months ago and that was enough for me. So, in a way, I kind of went into this one blind. I really didn’t have a clue as to what I was getting myself into or what I was about to read. All I really knew was that Tijan has a new book coming out and I’ve got to read it. And let me tell you, I am so glad I went into this blind. I loved diving into this book without a clue. For me, it completely enhanced the experience.

The Insiders captivated me from page one. I was hooked. I didn’t have the slightest clue what was going on and I was kept guessing the entire time. This book was completely unpredictable. Even as I was approaching the end, I still had no idea how things were going to go and I loved it. LOVED it!

There’s so much I want to say right now, but I can’t. I won’t do that to you. I want this story to be as much of a mystery for you, as it was for me. Here’s what I can say: Cancel your plans. Be prepared to want to devour this book in a single sitting…but don’t devour it, savor it. There are twists and unexpected turns. Remember, I said this book isn’t predictable and it is super easy to get lost in. There is romance, mystery, intrigue, and moments that will keep you on your toes. And when you come to the end, you’ll be just like me, dying to get your hands on the next book in this series…

I read the synopsis for this months ago and was looking forward to reading it upon its release, but imagine my excitement when I got to snag a copy early!
I actually had forgotten quite what it was about since then and I do enjoy going into books blindly, I feel it gives me an unexpected, more thrilling, reading experience, so that’s what I did.
So, The Insiders. It didn’t blow me away. I felt it was rushed. The entire situation was rushed. Seeing as this is a series, I think there was time to explore Bailey’s feelings about her predicament, her trauma, her past life, her adjustment period to her new one. But from start to finish it was fast paced and not touching more on those things made it even more unbelievable to me. I had trouble connecting with the main characters, Bailey and Kash. Even that chemistry was instantaneous. I couldn’t grasp how she immediately needed him for comfort in a panicking moment when they’d barely spoken 2 sentences to each other. There was so much mystery and vagueness to Kash’s character that I think was to make him seem more intriguing, but pushed me in the other direction because of a lack of seeing their connection unfold on a deeper level rather than being told of their insta-love and zaps she felt when he looked at her. 👀 Not spoke to her, just looked at her. And that was that. And then when it came to Bailey’s newfound family, I was at a loss as to why she felt so strongly for them, the one brother in particular, when he’d done nothing to deserve that love. There was no heart to heart, no respect, and the constant chasing him around in seedy situations was irritating, to say the least. Real love, from his family that knew him for a lifetime and his relationship with his “protector” (that’s how I saw him) should’ve been an intervention. And more. Also would’ve liked the nerdy tech stuff explored more. The flashes of it were too far between. All in all, I did like the book, just wished I could’ve connected more. There felt to be a detachment there because of it. I flew through it and would probably read the next in series, just to see where it goes. Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC copy of the book.

I was beyond giddy to be reading The Insiders early. I’ve loved Tijan’s books since I one-clicked Fallen Crest High in 2013.

Then I read it .... and I haven’t felt this obsesses with a group of characters since I met Samantha, Mason and Logan. I desperately want more.

Tijan’s latest romance has twists and turns that leave your heart pounding and your jaw on the ground. Right from the first few pages, I was captivated and completely intrigued by the developing characters and plot.

Ripped from the life she knows, Bailey is thrust into a world filled with unknowns and danger. I loved it. I was enamored by Bailey and Kash. Their banter and chemistry was addictive. I wanted to understand the family’s secrets and what they meant for this couple. I devoured the mystery that was their lives all while falling in love with this couple.

It was everything I could want from a book.

Then it ended and I realized I have to wait for more. So until I get the next chapter in this saga, I’ll be stalking Tijan and telling everyone I know to read this book.

This book was unlike anything I have read from
Tijan or any author for that matter. The author pulled me in from the beginning and kept me the whole way. Tijan has way of developing a story and keeping you in until the very end. She knows how to tie plots and twist them together and has you asking yourself how did she do that?
Bailey is such a unique character. She has a photographic memory and is an avid hacker. She grew up with just her mom. All off sudden she is thrown into a life she with a new family, meeting her father for the first time, after a failed attempt at kidnapping. From here the story just gets better. Kash is her bodyguard and the chemistry between them is dynamic. There is so much there that you just keep turning the page to get more. Not only this there are secrets with her new family and with him that keep you drawn in, wanting more. This is a must read by Tijan. One of her best books to date!

3.5 stars
Dark, mafia type of romance. Heroine finds out that her father did not die in the military but is actually a tech guru who has been watching her from afar. The ditzy mother got on my nerves way too many times.

I'm not sure how I feel about this book-I didn't realize it would end on a cliff hanger, had I known I would probably have passed on it. The sinister grandfather, the crazy wife, the obsessive heroine (she doesn't have any qualms about the hero, he's IT for her despite his anti social personality) these all went off on different tangents and I could barely keep all the story lines straight.

I love this author's works, but I am not counting down the days until the next one in the series releases.

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Terrific romance and love the supporting characters!

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💙💜🖤❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📘📗📕📙📘
World building: 🌏🌏🌍🌏🌎
Character development: ☺️🤓🥸😎🙃

The Hero(s): Kashton Colello - his parents died when he was young and he came to live with the Francis family after that. Now he is some sort of security consultant for them and has a villa on the Francis Family estate.

The heroine(s): Bailey Hayes - when kidnappers break into her home, she finds out that her father is Peter Francis. Peter is a tech genius and billionaire who has a wife and three kids of his own.

The Love Story: Bailey is moved onto the Francis families most secure estate, but she is not introduced as Peter’s child, instead her cover is that of an old friend of Kashton’s. She stays with him in his villa on the estate.

This was an odd story. I liked Bailey a lot but felt bad for her since much of her new family acted like she didn’t exist and shouldn’t be included. I liked her brother Matt, but he was completely an elite rich kid who parties too much and uses people for his amusement. It is obvious he has some major issues. The two younger kids have issues as well and their mother Quinn is every bit as bad as Peter, if not worse.

Kash is so hot and he is good to Bailey but he has so much mystery. The more Bailey finds out about him, the less she knows. She can’t understand his position in the family and the way other people react to him, like they do to her brother Matt. It’s like people want to know them and girls want to be near even if it is to be used.

Bailey is pretty much a hacker genius and she just wants to have family. She sees how poorly her siblings are treated and feels for them. She has a good heart, which is what Kash is attracted to in her. There is some great chemistry between them. Tijan books have a bit of steam but not too much explicit eroticism, so the heat/steam level is lower than I generally like in books, but the romance is nice and I like the way Kash and Bailey are together.

I was a bit disappointed in the ending, I felt much of the book was leading up to something that barely happened. Though I know many people like endings like that. I felt sort of like I did in Sleepless in Seattle where the whole movie is about the relationship between two people, then at the end they meet and it is over. I guess I wanted to see more of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks together.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

3 out of 5 stars

I should start off by saying I love me some Tijan. I’ve read almost all of her books and I know I’m either going to get a guilty pleasure read I can’t put down (like The Fallen Crest series) or something with surprising emotional depth (like some of her newer standalone books). With that said, this book was a bit of a mess. The first 40% I honestly couldn’t tell if my extreme confusion was due to poor writing or if the author purposely wanted me to be confused. I think the attempt at intrigue fell short and just left the reader wondering wth was going on. I actually had to reread multiple parts to see if I had missed or misunderstood something. The heroine was also not very badass at all for having had so many genius capabilities. It was a bit of a disappointment that she didn’t jump in to save the day ever. Additionally, the romance angle felt very insta-love.

Now I know this review doesn’t come across as very glowing. However, I will still read the next book in the series. Would I recommend this book to someone who has never read Tijan before? No. I don’t think it does her justice and I think they would probably avoid ever reading her backlog. With that said, readers used to Tijan (who haven’t set high expectations for this book) would probably find this book entertaining.

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Bailey, our heroine, has her life unneeded when she finds out that she is an illegitimate child who has people after her father. Kash, who is close to her father and works for him, decides to personally oversee to Bailey’s safety. I liked the premise of the book and the suspense in the story. I was not as enamored with the romance though as Bailey and Kash seem more to have a physical relationship than a relationship made of love. The author tells me Kash cares for Bailey, but I wanted to see it and I only saw a little of that love. I am hoping that the next book deepens their relationship and shows that there is more between the two than sex. The book does end on a cliffhanger so if cliffhangers are not your cup of tea, be sure to avoid this read. I do not mind cliffhangers so I eagerly await the next book!