Renegade

Brynley Blake

Aug 2017 · Phoenix Rising Book 2 · Sold by Entangled: Brazen

About this ebook

Gemma Ward, an outgoing and strong-willed wedding photographer, goes through men like she goes through thongs, forever looking for a guy who can handle her. She's about given up on love when she meets Declan, the sophisticated father of one of her clients. He's perfect for her, if only she can convince him she's not too young and inexperienced to meet his singularly erotic tastes.

Then, like an answered prayer, Walker Kincaid shows up, looking for a place to stay while he investigates allegations surrounding the death of his SEAL brother, Liam Prescott. If anyone can tutor her in the art of the kind of power play Declan wants, it's Walker, her best friend and partner in crime since high school.

But what starts as friendly lessons in forbidden pleasure soon turns into something more...leaving Gemma to wonder if the lover she's been looking for has been right in front of her all along.

Each book in the Phoenix Rising series is STANDALONE:
* Rogue
* Renegade
* Resurgent

Ratings and reviews

I am officially hooked on this series after only two books! Renegade is all consuming and hard for me to put down. This is Walker and Gemma's story. Gemma is best friends and business partners with McKenzie and Charlotte. It's Kenzie's brother Liam a Navy SEAL who is KIA'd during a rescue in Afghanistan. Even though his best friends are there, his SEAL team, things aren't adding up. We meet Noah in book one who also knows Liam and Kenzie's is off working on Liam's bucket list. His list may contain clues as to his purported gun smuggling for a Mexican drug lord that has endangered the girls lives. Hard to tell who the real enemy is in this series and this book unfolds a little more of the story, but mainly focuses on Walker and Gemma. Walker and Gemma have known each other since they were kids. They are best friends, he's her protector and was on Liam's SEAL team. He was there when Liam died. He and Gemma are also tracking down clues on Liam's bucket list. The girls run a wedding planning business and while being hired for a wealthy young woman's wedding the girls father takes an interest in Gemma. He's a dominant and wants Gemma as his sub. Gemma doesn't, never has and never will have a submissive bone in her body. Walker doesn't like the guy, so takes it upon himself to "break in" Gemma. The steam between these two is off the charts and that's without any sex. Clearly what little self talk we get from both, they are both afraid of losing the friendship they have and their real feelings for each other begin to surface. It's a great thing to watch this unfold. Gemma allows herself to be vulnerable, something she's never been able to do and Walker is just crazy about her. They travel to California to follow up on a few things on Liam's list, Walker taking her for a motor cycle ride up the coast north of Big Sur and neither one want the days to end. They go back to San Fran to meet with the Dr's wife the SEAL team rescued. Read book one because you should read it, but I can tell you without being a spoiler the Dr is successfully rescued only to wind up dead in a bizarre car accident after he returns home. The wife spills a lot of details to Walker and Gemma and they have a little more info to go on, also on his bucket list was a visit to a BDSM club in the bay area where they will meet someone who will further help them along. The scenes from the club are very benign so no worries there. They return to their hotel to spend their last night together and another steamy night between these two, knowing in the morning Walker has to put her on the plane back to Charleston and likely back into the arms of the jerk who wants her as a sub. Neither of them want to say what they need to say before she goes. I'll end it here and trust me, there's plenty more story but no spoilers here. I'm only going to say the Epilogue blew me right out of my chair!! Brynley!!! Better be on book three pronto!! I loved this book, Walker and Gemma and the story as it is unfolding. The suspense is great and the plot is tightly woven. As I said, you don't know who's on what side, in fact we're not clear what the sides are at this point still. Which drew me in even more. You won't want to miss this one and won't be able to put it down. It's a must read. 5 tight stars all the way! Great book Bryn!!! **arc from NetGalley and Entangled in exchange for a fair review**

I'm all in favor of strong women, Gemma came across as neurotic. She's a boss in business, but a disappointment in love. Her need for control has left her in a dire romantic drought. Will her thirst ever be quenched? Renegade has a Sex in the City vibe with a splash of mystery thrown in. More funny than sexy, Declan and Gemma encourage getting your feet wet, before diving in to romance. Cute meets tempting. (3.5 stars)

About the author

Brynley Blake has had a lifelong love affair with words. She earned her degree in English and Creative Writing from the University of Texas at Austin and wrote magazine feature stories for years before turning to writing fiction. She writes the kind of books she likes to read: steamy contemporary romances featuring smart, sassy heroines with a sense of humor and strong, dominant alpha males who love their women a little feisty.

Brynley loves adventures, rainy days, books, worn-in jeans, hot coffee, cold beer, red wine, exploring new places, and happily ever afters. She lives in Texas with her family and an assortment of pets. When she's not writing, she loves to read, spend time with her family, and travel. She writes contemporary and erotic romance as Brynley Blake and Brynley Bush.