AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Carly Phillips' DARE TO DESIRE (Dare to Love Bk2)

Title:  DARE TO DESIRE
Series:  Dare to Love Bk #2
Author:  Carly Phillips
Narrator:  Sophie Eastlake
Release Date:  6/20/14
Price:  $13.96
Publisher:  CP Publishing
Length:  6 hrs 14 min
Format:  Audible Audio Edition
Purchase at Audible or Amazon



 My Ratings

Plot:  4.5/5
Setting:  4/5
Writing:  5/5
Originality of Plot:  4/5
Characters Development:  5/5
Ending:  5/5
Heat Level 4.5/5
Cover Art:  4/5
Narration:  5/5
Likelihood to Recommend:  5/5

Overall:  46/50 =  92%

Synopsis 

New York Times best-selling author Carly Phillips turns up the heat in her newest sexy contemporary romance series, and introduces you to the Dare family...siblings shaped by a father's secrets and betrayal.

Quarterback Alex Dare had it all - an all-star football career and his choice of willing women - until injury forces him into early retirement. When he is offered a ground-breaking position with a rival team, he's intrigued, but there's a catch. He'll be working alongside the same woman he callously hurt when she got too close for comfort. Social worker Madison Evans grew up in foster homes and knows what it means to have-not. She isn't impressed by Alex Dare's wealth or charm. Not since she fell hard for him once before, only to discover she was just one of his too-easy conquests.

This time around Madison refuses to succumb to Alex so easily. But Alex wants Madison. And if there is one thing Alex does well, it's to get what he wants. Can he convince Madison to take a risk and dare to love?

©2014 Karen Drogin (P) 

Review

Like most top athletes, Alex Dare was living the high life.  He had physical strength, money, fame, and more willing women then he could count.  This is why it was terribly unlikely to for him to settle down with one women, that is until his half-brother introduced him to Madison Evans.  She was a sexy, smart social worker, with a sad backstory.  The trouble wasn't catching Madison, it was keeping her.  After a career ending injury, Alex's live took a nose dive.  He made the mistake of letting his anger drive Madison away.

Half a year later, Alex is left with no real career path.  After getting back in his feet, his half-brother offered him a consulting position at a rival football team.  This position would allow him to help other players make more positive life choices, now and in their future.  It was an amazing opportunity.  To bad the position would require him working side-by-side with Madison.  Neither could turn down a job like this.  Could he get her to trust him, as well as allow him back into her life.

The glimpses of Alex we were given in DARE TO LOVE, drive me to pick up DARE TO DESIRE immediately.  There is nothing I love more them a cocky, athletic, bad boy.  It's a character flaw, I know.  I can't help myself.  I also loved his interactions with Riley.  He couldn't have been all bad, seeing how much he cared for her as they grew up.  I really enjoyed pealing back the layers of Alex's character, and seeing past the face he gave the world.  He was willing to make amends for past bad decisions.  I was really touched by the person Alex become.  I liked Alex in the first book, but I really fell in love with in this one!  

Madison is absolutely amazing and resilient!  She wasn't so lucky growing up.  She had to fight hard for to get where she is today.  I was very impressed that she had made a career helping kids have a better life then she had.  It took so much for her to let Alex back into her life.  And I really enjoyed how she made him really work for it.  He was able to give her the emotional support that she greatly needed in her life.     

Sophie Eastlake's narration of this book really made Carly Phillips' world come to life.  She has a deep, sultry quality to her voice that lends well to this genre.  Her character voices were distinct and clear.  And her pace and phrasing we spectacular.  The emotions that she brought to this story, made this a truly enjoyable listen for me.

DARE TO DESIRE brought together a wonderful mix of heat and heart.  Although this was a short audiobook, I felt that author really took the time fully flush out the characters.  I loved how this book was really about second chances.  I also think the storyline in DARE TO DESIRE, took the emotional depths even further then DARE TO LOVE.  I really grew to care about these two, and the rest of the Dare family.  I just wished that we had gotten more of their pre-injurey relationship.   I can't wait for the next installment in this series!

 ***Audiobook was provided by the publisher in trade for a fair review***