Damage Control was everything I hoped it would be!!
Lisa Renee Jones can do no wrong when it comes to writing novels! She constantly has me intrigued by her next plot line and characters. This novel was no exception.
Shane and Emily had some serious chemistry and connection going on! They were hot and steamy, while still maintain a relationship that showed some semblance of a deeper connection!
I cannot say enough good things about this novel! I guarantee you will enjoy it! Go purchase it for yourself today!
5/5 Stars!

Deceit and corruption are thriving in Brandon Enterpises and Shane is the good son, trying to do the right thing surrounded by a world of bad. Emily is his light, his escape from the corporate nightmare that has become his life. But Emily has secrets and troubles of her own. Will this company ever be on the up and up or will it always be tied up with strings that are illegal. Twisted families, secrets to discover and so very, very hot moments. Make this a hot read and I can't wait to see what the future will hold for these two. Will they ever find a HEA where stress doesn't live and life is just daisies and butterflies? Only time will tell.

“I think it’s fairly clear that she doesn’t want to see the distrust in my eyes any more than I want to see the lies in hers. Once again, we’re well matched, but for all the wrong reasons.”

Finding answers this go around should’ve been the no-brainer…but it’s not. There are so many moving parts to this story, yet it’s simple. Shane and Emily are meant for each other.
The only disappointing fact is that her hesitance and back-and-forth with everything was quite annoying. It made the book move extremely slow without much action to keep me interested.

I wanted answers.

“She’s escaping from one corrupt family to hide inside another. Mine.”

I didn’t get the ones I wanted, or really any at all. I felt a little lost reading this book, a sense of disconnect from the first one…but maybe it’s just because this may be what was needed to lay the ground work for the next novel. Which I’m sure will give me what I had hoped for in this one.

So, yeah. It wasn’t my favorite, but sometimes in reading a series there just has to be a set-up somewhere. They all can’t be super amazing, packed full of action and passion and oomph. Some just need to provide the details in order to understand the story better as a whole…this was that story for me.

“Please don’t try to make me feel better. You just said yourself that you had to accept the change you faced to really move forward. That’s about claiming control, and I admire that in you. I want to admire that in me too.”

**3.5 Not What I’d Hoped, Stars**

4 Suspenseful CROWNS

Lisa Renee Jones has delivered another novel filled with twists and turns that will leave the reader questioning who will win control of the Brandon empire.

This story from the opening pages starts off with a bang. Emily and Shane are struggling to deal with the revelations that were revealed at the end of the Hard Rules. Even with the amount of stress these two are under, they still remain relatively the same. Shane is still battling for the morality of his company and himself, while protecting the people he loves, and Emily is still running, although the reader finds out along with Shane what she is running from. The chemistry between these two is still as electric as it appears in book one, and it becomes more with this book as true feelings are shared and explored between these two. Their journey through this book serves to make them a stronger couple.

As always, Lisa Renee Jones delivers a story that will keep readers riveted to the pages. There are so many players in this game, so many duplicitous activities, and so much treachery that readers end up desperately trying to figure out all the pieces along with the characters. Even though much more is revealed in this book in regards to allegiances and players in this chess game, there are still many questions unanswered and man wildcard characters who can change the game quickly, so I am intrigued to see how Ms. Jones is going to wrap up this series.

Lovers of suspense and romance should absolutely pick up the Dirty Money series. The layers of the plot, the characters you love and the ones you love to hate, and the chemistry between Emily and Shane are sure to entertain.
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ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

“ Promise. And I never break a promise.”


Damage Control is an awesomely intense read, full of questions, anxiety, lust and suspense.

After the cliffhanger in Hard Rules , I was desperate to know what will happen to Shane and Emily- so many twists, so many questions left unanswered… I was left craving for more.
Shane and Emily are battling with an onslaught of different emotions. Emily wants answers and is going to do all she can to stay strong.
Neither one is willing to relinquish control and that really brought out an explosive dynamic between them that is equally endearing and sizzling to watch.

“I’d bleed for you. That’s what you don’t seem to understand.” “I don’t want you to bleed for me. That’s what you don’t seem to understand.”

Shane is more than never determined to take control of the Brandon Empire. He is ready to go to war against his father, his brother and whoever will be on his way. He struggles , however, with his feelings for Emily.

“ you’re a drug to me. The only addiction, outside of success, I’ve ever had.”

Emily wants to be part of his plan and help him but she has also demons to fight and problem to sort out.
The author allowed us to see the struggles Shane constantly faced with his actions towards Emily.

This was an awesome sequel to the first book. We got some answers, and even more questions.

I am loving this series. It encompasses all of the elements in a great read for me.
The story is so unpredictable, you never know what will happened next. It’s angsty, twisted and I couldn’t put it down.
I can't wait to see what unfolds for Shane and Emily.

“That’s what it’s about. You’re the future, not the past. You’re the good that I need while I get rid of the bad.”

4.5 Need the next one NOW stars!!!
We start off exactly where we were left off in the first book and HOLY CRAP what a ride...

I first need to point out that if you thought Shane and Emily burned up the sheets before? Gahhh- in this installment they were HOTTER, Smoking Hot!!

There's no way I can go into detail about the plot without giving anything away - Hell I still don't know what will happen next.. how it all will go down! I've been left on the edge of my seat desperate for the next.. Yes another cliffy but that much closer..

This series is full of Suspense, Secrets and intense characters who all have a purpose and have been strategically placed.. So many layers!! Layers I want, NEED to unravel.. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.

**ARC Review**
Received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Once again this book begins with a brief summary of the first book and all the characters. I love that because it helps refresh my memory.

I love how Shane and Emily are evolving as a power couple. Little by little they are trying to learn how to work together and lean on each other.
Shane's is having a power struggle with his brother because Derek has involved very dangerous people into their lives. Shane is trying to fix it but there is a lot that he has to do in order for him to cut ties with those people.

I can't wait for the next book to come out and see how it all ends. Buy it but start from the first book or you will be missing out.

Ahhhhh!!!!! Lisa Renee Jones never ceases to amaze me as she continues to knock out another amazing seductive romantic suspense in the second installment to the Dirty Money Series. In Damage Control, Lisa continues to lead her readers down the proverbial rabbit hole of suspense, mystery, chicanery,and passion. With her mastery and virtuosity of words, Jones will define the hard rules of trust, duplicity, and love as she takes reign of the meaning of damage control.

If you didn’t read Hard Rules, then I am here to inform you that you can’t read Damage Control as this book continues where it last left off with Shane and Emily. And what a sexy, intricate, and heart-stopping journey it is. As secrets are slowly unraveled and the players are known, all there is left is figure out what moves will be made. And did I mention that Lisa Renee Jones turns up the heat. Yes, Shane and Emily’s relationship gets scorching hot.

I know that I haven’t revealed much as to what happens in the story and that is because this book is layered with so much intrigue, raw emotions, mystery and suspense that readers must see how everything unfolds with Shane and Emily. As secrets are revealed, danger is imminent and will either of them come out alive?

Damage Control was everything you could have wanted and expected from Lisa Renee Jones as she didn't hold anything back. This book was just as riveting, intense, and sexy as the first book. I loved how Lisa Renee Jones slowly dissected every facets of truth, lies, secrets, and chicanery in her seductive manner. She engages readers. Well scratch that. She entices readers to beg for more. More truth. More suspense. More danger. And more of Shane and Emily. So are you ready to get lost in this wickedly intense story whereDamage Control is a necessity?

Lisa Renee is really on top when it comes to sexy romantic suspense. She knows how to intertwine characters without it feeling overwhelming. I said this is a past review but I love how in the beginning of the book she gives us a refresher on all the characters, I feel like it really helps the reader before starting the book.

Well this book picks up where we left off and Shane isn’t taking no for an answer, he wants answers. I love his persistence; it is very true to his character.

“I don’t like the word ‘can’t’, so could I let you go? Yes. But I won’t”

Now it’s Emily that is trying to get answers and sick of the secrets, after she finally comes clean to Shane about her past.

“Secrets. Lies. Trust. Love. Hate. Family. Sex. I guess I’d rather have silence than lies. Wouldn’t I?”

Emily is still afraid her past will catch up to her and Shane and her main concern now is that she’s putting him in danger because he now knows her secret. I love how this is handled in the story. Emily really has a deep connection with Shane and she obviously wants to be with him but her gut tells her to leave, to be alone. She knows he has a lot of things going on already and doesn’t want to burden him more. Shane on the other hand wants her close by and doesn’t want her alone. Emily also wants to feel like she can take care of herself. She doesn’t want Shane’s money or power even though she wants him. She doesn’t want to feel like her mother.

“No one has ever really tried to take care of me and to tell you the truth, letting you do this scares me.”

“I want to not feel what I feel right now. I want to stop thinking I’m my mother, with a rich man buying me things and keeping secrets.”

There is a lot that happens in this book. Lisa Renee’s attention to detail and characters is great. I can’t wait to find out how this book concludes. There are so many questions and ideas floating around my head.

Another great read by this author!

This is the second book in the Dirty Money series. You do need to read the first book, Hard Rules, before starting this one. This series isn’t over, so it does end unfinished. It picks up right where Hard Rules ended.

I liked how the author recapped what happened in Hard Rules before starting this part.

At this time, I’m unsure if I will continue this series. I am curious, a little bit, about what will happen next, but, honestly, I was a little bored with this book.

Just like in the previous book, I found this dry and I couldn’t connect with the characters.

I’m all for hot and steamy scenes when they progress the story. I found myself skipping over these though. Most felt like filler to me.

We did learn Emily’s secrets.

Shane has a lot more going on in this book also.

It’s not a horrible read, I’m just not sure it’s for me.

I received a copy via Netgalley.
3 stars

4 Stars

Shane and Emily are back! Damage Control is full of secrets, lies, passion and love! This book starts right where the first one left off, getting the reader right back into their story. This really is a great series full of suspense and drama and I was totally consumed by their story. I love the drama without over the top angst.

Shane wants answers from Emily, he has enough family drama without Emily’s secrets in the mix. He’s convinced they are tied to his family and he’s not going to let her run. She tries, but Shane and the pull she feels towards him are too much. When she finally tells the truth he sets out to protect her and his family, even though Emily was trying to protect Shane. I love these two together, they want to save each other.

There are great twists and turns in this story and a lot of mystery about what is going to happen to the Brandon empire as well as Emily and the past she is running from. I love the suspense of it and trying to sort through everything. There is a lot that happens so be prepared for the ride. This book is part of a series though so don’t expect to get all the answers the happily ever after bow yet, we are still in the middle of everything. Even with the cliffhangers I really enjoy this series, each book giving me pieces of the puzzle and leave me wanting and needing MORE! I love the family drama, the passion and the possibilities for Shane and Emily! I’m already looking forward to the next book!

If you haven’t read Hard Rules, you definitely need to start there – this series must be read in order but it’s worth it, this is a must read series

Damage Control (Dirty Money #2) by Lisa Renee Jones
4 stars!!!

“The people closest to you can hurt you the most.”

Damage Control is the second book in the Dirty Money trilogy and I seriously cannot wait for book three, Dirty Deeds. Damage Control begins where Hard Rules left off with Shane and Emily’s relationship up in the air as the proverbial “who to trust” is constantly batted to and fro. Everyone in this book has their own agenda, some good and some bad but from what we know so far, the bad far outweighs the good and this one-man mission seems to look more and more unlikely.

Shane though is as resilient as they come and the word “loser” is not one that has any place in his vocabulary, whether it be in a court room or a board room. Shane’s family is as screwed up as they come with empire builders aplenty and not one of them seemingly on his side. This may be the toughest battle Shane has ever had to face and at the end of the day would blood need to be spilled to win?

Emily is the one constant that Shane has and although their relationship has been built on secrets and omissions it was only through want of protecting one and other. In this book though, Lisa Renee Jones opens these two up warts and all and with nothing standing between them will they be the formidable duo I think they can be? Emily’s can of worms opens up all the more problems for them both and now with many enemies, is this one battle too many?

“Aside from the alligator story, which was adorable, before that you told me exactly what you feel and want. The only games you play with me are in the bedroom and those I welcome.”

Gah, this was one of those books where I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Pleasantly surprised with one particular reveal and decidedly not with another. This family is seriously, seriously off the charts dysfunctional, if this is what money breeds why would you want it? When power and money are the be all and end all, sod the repercussions and the impact that it would have on family members, people that are your flesh and blood.

“His demons and mind are alive and well, two poison kisses, which could too easily turn our sweet hello into a brutal good-bye.”

With Lisa Renee Jones building this plot to its culmination she has definitely left the reader wanting more. This book was a perfect balance between the ever-impending threat of the circumstances that these two find themselves in along with the building of Emily and Shane’s relationship. Emily is the source of Shane’s strength but she is also his biggest weakness. Opening himself up to Emily emotionally and physically leaves him wide open to underhand tactics of his enemies. I can definitely see his Achilles heel being used as a weapon, even though her fate seems to have saved by the most unlikeliest of allies. However, nothing is at it seems in this book and I am just waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under me once again.

“I don’t need you to be my hero.”
“Well, I’m going to be, whether you like it or not.”

As ever, Lisa Renee Jones delivered a book that was unputdownable, chock full of suspense and intrigue while perfectly balanced with romance and chemistry. This was the turning point for Emily and Shane and now it is them against the rest of them. Is two better than the rest? I need Dirty Deeds to find out!!

www.theromancecover.com

After reading Hard Rules I was looking forward to getting some answers in Damage Control. Sadly this book just didn't work in my favor. I'm having a hard time connecting with the main characters in the story. I also had that issue in Hard Rules. I was hoping for more a connection with the couple but I couldn't feel it and had to stop reading the story. This is no reflection on the author and her writing at all! I have enjoyed several of her stories in the past.

BIANCA

GREAT 2nd BOOK!!!!

I was sooo happy that Lisa told us all about what happened in the first book. I never remember anything once I get to the 2nd book in a series!!

This 2nd book was just as great as the first one.
It's all so mysterious and exciting and suspensy and erotic.
And again it all reminded me of Lisa's Amy Bensen series. It all felt like it was happening in the same time and place with similar people. Didn't bother me much, but I noticed it.

I love Shane and Emily. They just want what's best for everybody, but it's so hard to fight for their happily ever after with so much happening. In so many different places. All very confusing and so very suspensy! But I really enjoyed reading it. You can't stop, you just have to know what will happen next. And there's ALWAYS something happening. I think this series would be an amazing TV Show!!!

Lots of mystery and sexiness!
Perfect Romantic Suspense!

Can't wait to see what will happen in the next book because we're SO not done with #Shamily yet!!!!!☺☺☺


JANEANE
Oh what a tangled web we weave....

#Shamily is back!

Firstly, thank you Ms Jones for the run down at the beginning of the book, reminding us of what happened in Hard Rules - my terrible bookzheimer's really appreciated it!

We are dragged straight back into the Brandon world with Damage Control, and it is full throttle from the first word to the last.

So many twists and turns, you never know who or what to believe.

For each question we have answered, a few more seem to jump out at us, and Ms Jones keeps the hits coming thick and fast.

And through it all, Shane and Emily are trying to forge a relationship. But there is so much happening and so many twists and turns, you just wonder how they have time for each other (maybe they don't ever sleep!!)

Now I really need to know what happens next. Please don't make us wait too long Ms Jones!

A good book but there are issues I've found that make this book less enjoyable. See my review posted at Scandalicious Book Reviews.

5 Stars!

I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, secrets, pain, suspense, and heartbreak.

If you have not read the below I would recommend reading those books(s) first:
Hard Rules (Dirty Money #1)

This is more of Emily and Shane’s story. Secrets are reveals and trust is broken. But who breaks the trust his brother or Emily? Can he really trust anyone? People are not ho them seem. With danger around every corner you must pick a side. What happens when the one you want just wants to run from you? Can you convince them to stay or will you just have to run after them? When everyone wants to make the one you care for hurt how far will you be willing to go to protect and love the one you want?

I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.


I highly recommend this book.

WARNING! If you have not read Hard Rules yet, stop here! Book 1 must be read before Damage Control

“No one was ever supposed to matter to me like this”

Damage Control picks up immediately after the last sentence of Hard Rules as Shane is questioning Emily about her true identity. He knew that she had secrets, but Seth’s digging has opened up a whole lot of questions about just who she really is, and with the war for control of the Brandon family intensifying, he needs to know who he can trust now more than ever. She is determined to keep him safe from the demons hunting her down and tries to push him away long enough to disappear again, but he won’t allow it.

Even as she knows she is going to lose the battle when Shane puts his mind to something, Emily can’t help but contemplate what her life has become as she allows her secrets to be exposed to the one man she can’t seem to say no to. Those secrets become another burden and a hurdle to be overcome when Shane learns them, but he is startled to realize that he has willingly taken them on. Emily has become his port in the storm, and he needs her to help keep him from straying too far off the path of what is right. His instinct to protect her at all costs is high, but she won’t allow herself to become a distraction from the primary target: extricating his company’s business from the mess it is in and learning what his father’s end game is. She has learned to depend only on herself in the recent past, and she is far from weak with a good read on how to handle the machinations that seem to constantly surround Shane, making her a valuable asset and his heart’s weakness all at once.

Secrets. Lies. Trust. Love. Hate. Family. Sex.

That series of thoughts that runs through Emily’s mind is pretty much the summary of Damage Control in a nutshell. Chess pieces are being moved around the board by Shane, Derek, and their father just to name a few. The games are escalating, and for every potential solution to a problem that tries to present itself, Shane seems to find himself facing two new issues that crop up that make the previous ones pale by comparison. The Martina cartel gets bolder, Derek’s hatred of Shane grows to dangerous levels, and Shane steps closer to embracing his family member’s easy acceptance of the fact that sometimes you have to play dirty to win.

Shane is essentially a good man who is caught in a bad situation, and he is trying to reconcile how to retain his integrity with potentially becoming the person he fears he must be in order to bring an end to the threat to his company, his family and the woman he loves. But will it all be worth it in the end if he turns into exactly the type of person he is trying to stop? He knows he possesses a certain amount of darkness within him and it scares him to realize he may need to unleash it before all is said and done. He has never wanted a relationship in the past, but he can’t deny his feelings for Emily even as it means that he now has an exposed weakness and it makes her a target in the war against him. All of these conflicting emotions are swirling through his mind on a daily basis, and something is going to have to give soon. He finally gives in to the desire to share everything with Emily rather than holding back to protect her, and I have a feeling it may just save both of them in the end.

“You’re the future, not the past. You’re the good that I need while I get rid of the bad.”

Seth, his trusted friend and the man who handles the questionable duties that Shane should not be associated with, is working overtime in this book and I am sure he is going to be even busier in the upcoming Bad Deeds. The gauntlet has been thrown down between the brothers, and loyalties are still unclear when it comes to their mother and father. Their dirty little secrets continue to reveal themselves a little at a time, and it seems as though the scales may be tipping in Shane’s favor with his father at the end of this book. But that man is a master manipulator and a tangled web has been woven so I am half expecting for him to pull the rug out beneath Shane somehow before too long. After all we are only half way through the story arc, and I will definitely be anxiously waiting for book 3 to be released in August!

“The only enemy I can’t fight is the one I don’t know.”

Damage Control is the second book in the Dirty Money series and it just keeps getting better! This story brings you further into Shane and Emily’s individual histories and the lengths they are willing to go in order to protect each other. The most notable change in this book is the growth both Emily and Shane do. They go from an “I” to an “We” and they couldn’t be a more powerful team. The suspense keeps up and will keep you wondering who to truly trust and just what their intentions are.

“We can do everything together as far as I’m concerned. You know everything now, Emily. I wasn’t trying to shut you out. I was just trying to protect you.”

The start of the book picks up exactly where it left off with Shane confronting Emily on who she really is. Emily being the martyr is willing to protect Shane from the danger she is in by any means necessary even if it means sacrificing her chance at happiness after already giving up so much. Shane has to work hard to make sure Emily knows he is willing to go to the ends of the earth in order to keep her safe not only from her family but his too. The more they share their secrets the closer they become and they realize what they have is real and worth fighting for.

“I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart, but you need to say the same thing. No more running. Not from me.”

This book will have you questioning things you thought you were sure about in the first one and have you starting to trust characters you thought you couldn’t. There is a lot of suspense in this book and I can only share so much without spoiling anything. What I can say is if you were on the fence after the first one this one will certainly win you over!!

The second book in a four-part series is always tricky. Damage Control, the second in Lisa Renee Jones' Dirty Money series, is no exception. Fans on the hook after reading Hard Rules want reassurance that the couple they took to their hearts is going to make it but the plotline has to maintain suspense and tension so that readers devour the story avidly and wait impatiently for Bad Deeds and End Game to arrive. A hard task, but Jones’s latest Dirty Money tale satisfies on every level.

Shane Brandon has fallen hard for Emily Stevens, but it turns out that she has as many secrets as him. Deeply hurt, Shane confronts her.

“No more games, Emily. Or whatever the hell your name is. Seth had you investigated, and nothing about who you are quite manages to add up.”

“Investigated,” she repeats. “Right. Because why in the world wouldn’t you investigate the woman in your bed?”

“Since the person you say you are doesn’t exist, clearly for good reason.”

“My secrets are mine. Mine to know. Mine to share. When I’m ready.”

“When exactly were you going to be ready?”

And that is the sixty-four thousand dollar question. Shane believes that their tumultuous, intense intimacy demands honesty but Emily tells him that her “secrets didn’t begin with you and they don’t end with you.” In Shane’s mind, being “damn naked” with all the doubts that are swirling in his mind takes him to a place of vulnerability that he doesn’t want. Or so he initially says. Emily says she kept secrets from him to protect him. That is so hard for Shane to accept—maybe the smartest thing he can do is “take her back upstairs, tie her to the bed, and fuck her until I get my answers.” Is that a good plan? What about his misgivings?

...our gazes collide, the connection a punch in my chest I don’t want her to have the power to deliver. But she does. I am vulnerable in ways I swore I never would be with a woman, or anyone for that matter, and I’d actually forgotten the lessons my family taught me years ago. What my mother warned me about with Emily. The people closest to you can hurt you the most.
In a move that will reverberate with lovers of Linda Howard’s feisty, intelligent, passionate heroines, Shane and Emily’s talk-it-all-out dinner devolves into where the hell is Emily when she doesn’t return from the bathroom. Emily is on the lam, but not without some major regrets at leaving the guy she adores behind.

I can’t believe a kiss and a promise from Shane almost made me forget how unfair the burden of my confessions would be to him. And how dangerous. Even knowing this, standing there in that bathroom, he’d made me believe he could take on every monster in my closet and win. To exit the bathroom and find him absorbed in an intense conversation with Seth had thrown much needed water in my face. I don’t have one monster to defeat. I have many, some of which are not just powerful, they’re capable of destroyed him, which means if I lead them to him, I’m the one destroying him.

I can’t do that. I won’t do that.

I can’t go further without destroying the intense push-pull between the valid and competing concerns that separate Shane and Emily. For both of them, their brothers have been lightning rods of danger shot through with family loyalty. Emily and Shane are both so intelligent and perceptive—I found it fascinating to parse out Emily’s career path versus Shane’s decisions. It’s worth noting that however much divides them, their core strength is the “comfort, pride, and friendship” that permeates their sensuous, private world.