Bentley

BAM!!! That is the only way to accurately describe how I felt after reading this book. Bentley is uptight, formal, barely ever smiles. Then he trips over Emmy's bag in a coffee shop and just like that, his life changes. Emmy is the opposite of Bentley: warm, funny, fun. She's quick with jokes and to call Bent out when he acts like a jerk. From the second they met, I was pulling for Bent and Emmy. Their chemistry was felt through the whole book. I was surprised about the suspense part of this book but I absolutely loved it. I'm already counting down the days until Aidan is released into the world. I can't wait to see what's next in this series!!

This story made me fall in love with romance genre all over again. It's something about a well crafted story that complete immerses and surprises you with every turn. And Ms. Moreland delivers again with humor, tension and heart gasps - you know those swoon moments with every chapter. This story begins as you would expect. Bentley is driven. In his drive, you see a man who sees the world as his oyster and is willing to make a pearl from hard work. He's focused. Then Emmy steps in and he can't avoid the gravitational pull she has on him. She is sassy and smart. She is goodness and light to his world. She isn't part of his plan. But man if he doesn't feel compelled to make her a place there. Their love story is one that you want - no need - them to have a HEA. But it's not just the primary characters that draw you into the story. Once again, Ms Moreland has interesting and delightful secondary characters you wish to know more about. Their presence isn't just to add color to the emotional love story but breathes into each plot turn with necessity. Emmy, Cami and Dee have a girlfriend bond that's all things you want good in your tribe. Whereas the men of BAM - Bentley, Aiden and Maddox - seriously. This bromance is panty melting, ovary combusting stuff. Melanie Moreland's shining talent is in her male characters and she delivers what her readers expect and more. Bentley can be definitely read as a standalone. However, I dare the reader who reads book 1 and isn't the least bit interested in the next two. Just not possible in my eyes. If you've never read Ms Moreland, this is where her story telling shines and you want to gobble up all her catalog.

Bentley is everything I want in a book 1 of a new series and then some. The banter between Bentley and Aiden and then Bentley, Aiden and Maddox is epic! Bro-mance and then some. Just wait til you read the shopping scene and what it leads up to it. These men who bonded in college are an amazing example of the power of friendship. Oh wait I should probably talk about the romance too lol… Bentley opening himself up to Emmy was so touching. This is not a book about a woman who changes a man—this is a book about a man who is different around the person who is right for him, the person his heart connects with. Bentley’s very personal gestures touched my heart… oh wait til you read Emmy’s birthday celebration! Ms. Moreland created a world that pulled me in and touched me in so many way. The connections between the characters bleed off the pages and the back stories which slowly unfold truly allow the reader to understand the characters, particularly Bentley and Emmy... we only gets hint of Aiden and Maddox hence wanting them NOW lol. And wait... just wait til you meet Greg and how his story plays out... truly masterful and painful and impactful... Read the book! Aiden… oh Tree Trunk how I need your story LIKE NOW! Aiden had me wanting his story from almost the moment the banter with Bentley began on the opening pages and... quiet Maddox... ugh I want to know more! You can prefer Aiden HERE! I am very much excited for the rest of this series and I hope, HOPE after Maddox we get a happy for Reid as he endeared himself to my heart and I think the rest of the casts too!

Bentley is the first book in the Vested Interest series. We meet all of the main characters from this series and I can already tell I love them! Bentley is serious, stuffy, and “rigid”. A real stuffed shirt, but that was how he was raised and doesn’t really know how to be any other way. When he trips over Emmy, in a coffee shop he is drawn to her easy, outgoing ways. But Emmy’s light exterior hides her vulnerable side. “We could build a great life together, baby. No one gets me the way you do. I need your loving, forgiving heart in my life. I need you. And I think, if you let yourself feel it, you need me, too.” “I’m scared.” “I know. I am, too. I never thought I could love someone like I love you. I do, and I want you to know it.” I truly swooned for Bentley and his protective nature. He sees his own faults and works to make himself a better man. And Emmy is such a sweet heroine, so resilient and strong. I got such a book hangover from this story. I just need more Vested Interest to cure me!!

***4 ‘Rigid & Freddy’ Stars** I have a thing for watching the uptight characters in a story loosen up a little and let their soul breathe a little, so when I read the blurb to Bentley I knew I had to get my hands on a copy one way or another and I thoroughly enjoyed this first in series romance. It was a fun, quick read filled with characters I liked almost instantly and was sweet and smexy, low on angst and had a nice little punch of mystery/suspense that kept me turning the pages to the very end. I loved Bentley and Emmy. Bentley is all kinds of formal and uptight and it makes him come across as cold, something he is very aware of, but underneath it all is a man who cares deeply and wants the best for those he calls his own. Emmy is vivacious, sassy, snarky and a little quirky. I loved how she didn’t back down from much and could give as good as she got. Their opposites attract romance was all kinds of fun to experience. It was sweet and smexy and while low on angst, they still had a few hurdles to conquer, but they did in a very mature and honest way. While things move somewhat fast, it wasn’t so quick that they just fell, they got to know each other and see how the other ticked. Their honesty with each other was refreshing and I loved where they were at in their relationship at the end of the book. This is my first book by the author and I really enjoyed it. The writing was engaging, pacing was good and I enjoyed the dual first person POV. There was a little mystery/suspense added in to the story that made things interesting but didn’t overshadow Bentley and Emmy’s journey to their HEA, in fact it helped to strengthen and push it along a few times. But as always, I’m all about the secondary characters and this was chock full of people I want to know more about. All of them were well written and I enjoyed how their distinct personalities came out to play throughout the story. I can’t say that I have a favorite of the bunch, but I’m definitely looking forward to getting my hands on Aiden’s book, especially after that little tease at the end of Bentley! ~ Copy provided by InkSlinger PR & voluntarily reviewed ~

I FLOVE this book. It has everything I want and more in a romance book. I love the relationship Bentley had with Aiden and Maddox. It helped him stay a little more grounded than if he didn't have them but Emmy really bought out the real Bentley that no one has seen before. She was the light in his gray life and he just needed someone to push him in that direction. Emmy's background gutted me and I just wanted to reach in to hug her. How she kept her sunny outlook just showed how strong of a person she is inside. The bad guy was a level of crazy I haven't seen in a long time. His comeuppance wasn't what I expected but it did end his craziness. I can't wait to read Aiden's story.