The Bastard is a good fit for readers looking for a contemporary romance novel with a focus on forbidden love, family dynamics, and personal growth in the face of adversity.

I have chosen not to give feedback on this title, which is probably pretty obvious as it was released almost 2 years ago.

My apologies for the delay. I don't want to rate/review titles that don't work for me when they are close to release or available on NetGalley, but it seems I forgot to go back and update the DNF status.

As always, I appreciate the opportunity to read and review.

Laura

What a great start to the Filthy trilogy! Eric & Harper’s journey in the Bastard was so good and I can’t wait to read the rest of their story!

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

Lisa Renee Jones delivers a tale of suspense that will keep you glued to every single word. Desperately trying to find out what happens next in a tale that ends way too soon!

Characters are fantastic, the plot keeps turning, twisting and just when I think it cannot get any better... there is the jaw-dropping ending. Like, come on, I need the next one, like yesterday. This book is like a drug, you keep coming back for more. Lisa Renee Jones did it again.

A very hot and intense book with all of the characters playing a roll in the story. Takes from the two main characters seeing each other after years apart and starting up together again. The problem being Eric is not full Kingston blood and his so-called half brother likes to remind him, that would be Isaac. What really pisses off Isaac is that Eric does not need the father’s company he is a billionaire on his own, he is also a former Navy Seal. Seeing Harper after six years has only reignited the flames that were there before, now Isaac will do anything to disrupt happiness for him and does just when everything is going so well between him and Harper. That my friends will leave you wanting more because it is a cliff hanger. Before you get to that point though the author has taken you on a journey and you are caught up in all of the characters and like “who shot J.R.” you have to wait to find out what happens until the next book.

OMG I loved this story line between Harper and Eric and how they got back together and how she was lying to him and he is still lying to her but she did the ultimate bad thing got pregnant by Eric and didn't tell him and he found out about it from his brother and didn't listen to her but I think that Eric will wind up destroying the family and I can't wait to find out how it ends. Thanks for an amazing book. Lisa is an amazing author.

It took me quite some time to get through this. I set it aside awhile back because I wasn’t really feeling it at the time. I picked it back up and finally finished it, but it was just meh for me. I wasn’t really feeling Eric and Harper.

"Well that was a doozy!" - Me after falling off the cliff this book ended on

As the title suggests, this book centers around a man who was raised by a single mother who reveals on her death bed that his father (a wealthy and powerful man) never knew of his existence. Her dying wish is that he meets his father and has a new family. The best laid plans...? Of course his father wants nothing to do with him unless it serves his purposes, so he basically uses him and discards him. But at one of the events Eric attends, he encounters his step-sister Harper (and by encounter, let's go with full contact) --- the sparks are all over the place between these two! But Eric has to walk away because he doesn't want to be a tool for his family's use when they need him and nothing else. Years later, Harper needs Eric's help to save the family's business --- will he allow himself to be used again? Can he and Harper take their passion and make it into something beautiful in this twisted family mess?

I have never read Lisa Renee Jones before. I own some of her books and I have had her on my tbr list for a while, but this is my first real taste of her writing. It took me a while to get use to her writing. At times, especially in the beginning, it felt choppy, or rushed. Then at time it felt really flowery. At the start of the book the author really wanted to drive home the fact that Eric was the Bastard. It was commented on so much that it was like getting beat over the head with it. Around the 30% mark I really started to get into the book. But the first 30% I had a hard time staying with it. I almost DNFed the book. I am really glad I didn't though. I liked both Eric and Harper and for the most part I liked them together. However I felt there was way too much mistrust coming from Eric and at the end the way he did what he did....What a big bastard. The book ends in a cliffhanger and I plan on reading the next one because I have to see what happens next.

I'm sorry to say I won't be reviewing this. It has been years since I've read Ms. Jones and I forgot that he books consist of Instalove; which is very rarely my cup of tea, Having just finished His Demand I realized that Ms. Jones and I just don't mesh very well together. I had to give that book a low rating and I would hate to have to give this book and another I requested the same rating, due to my not liking the trope. It wouldn't be very fair to the author.

Thank you for the opportunity, though. I won't be requesting Ms. Jone's books in the future.

Lisa Renee Jones' The Bastard is the first in a new series. It was so engrossing that I had a hard time putting it down!

Lisa Renee Jones truly has become one of my top "one Click" authors. Her books are just the right amount of hot and sexy alpha males that are too yummy not to love with the perfect amount of suspense and hot steamy sex.

Eric and Harper's story grabbed me right from the start and it did not let go until the end when once again this author has left me hanging wanting and needing so much more.

Eric is just oh so perfect, he's flawed and your typical Alpha male but what I love about him he's the perfect mix of alpha and tenderness all wrapped into one.

Harper is a bit of the damsel in distress but I love that she is also so very strong at the same time. These two come together perfectly but not to sweet that it's sickly. The dynamic the author has built between these two works so well and it's hard not to fall in love with these two.

Can't wait to see where the author takes this series by the time it's over

I did not finish this one.. I didn’t like where the story was going.. I’m sure others will love it just not my cup of tea.

I really love this one! A lot of heat and the way Lisa weaves intricate storylines is amazing. It ends on a cliffy, but I'm already diving into the next one.

I loved this book! I ended up devouring the second book and am about to start the third! A winner! These characters have stolen my heart and I can't wait to start the third book so I can fall even more in love with them!

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

I honestly wanted to like The Bastard more than I did. However, it was just meh to me. In it, you will meet Eric and Harper. Now I'm still not quite sure what their family connection is (and I finished this book a couple of days ago). He's the bastard.. has a half brother.. and she's the step sister? So are they even really related? No idea, don't ask me - the whole family is one giant clusterfuck math equation for me and my brain just doesn't care right now.

Now the smut was good.. but the whole sibling thing (which again, I have no idea if they are or aren't) just kind of made me cringe. It's like GoT all over again. Besides the creepy romance, the drama was just so weird. It was kind of all over the place.. that I might even ask Dora the Explorer's help on finding where this is all going to end.

The characters were just okay in this book. Nothing really stuck out to me. I mean, I liked them.. but they weren't spectacular in my eyes. They mostly just annoyed me or made me cringe a lot.

Overall, I'm a bit disappointed the the synopsis and the cover of this book betrayed me. I wanted to like this a whole lot more than I did. Even the ending wasn't a good enough cliffhanger for my eyes. I might dive into it if I get it or it's free on KU.. but I honestly have no desire at this point.

Maybe it will change if the cover and synopsis are amazing. No promises though.

This book will have you on the edge of your seat waiting for the other ball to drop. It dangles until you your are frustrated with the wait. Eric and Harper will consume your time the minute you meet them. When they first meet, the time is not right. Harper's mother has just married Eric's estranged father. She is now part of what he wanted but couldn't have. His blood family is toxic and treated him and his mother like trash. Still Eric being young wanted a family. It eventually realizes that they are not what he needs. He leaves after a passionate encounter and they are separated for 6 years. Now there is trouble and Harper needs Eric. There is a lot of mystery and suspense throughout this book. Can they trust each other? The story does end of a cliff hanger. And what a ending it is. I am looking forward to reading the next book

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I'm not sure how to feel. I bet if this book came out around the craze of the erotica explosion I would have loved it but instead I felt agitated and bored. I felt like the story is dragging and yes I will continue with the series because I want to find out what the hell is going on oh and yes, that cliffy sucked.

II have been a fan of Lisa Renee Jones for quite a while, I loved her Inside Out series. She managed, mystery, romance, and drama so well.

This is story about "The Bastard" Eric Mitchell a self made billionaire who has a very complicated relationship with his father and his family, and complicated doesn't cover it is very twisted, dark and complex relationship but then he meets The Princess, Harper who happens to be his step sister and well everything changes for him.

When I started reading this book I knew that there was going to be insta love and insta lust and it doesnt bother me AT ALL as long is written in tastefull way I really really don't mind it but I think my problem with the book is the constant push and pull between both main characters.

There's a time jump after the introduction and both character are reunited and I can understand the reluctance in Eric because his family past and the fact that she comes from this family but it gets tiresome and there no growth in their relationship which frustates me SO MUCH.

Aside from that I like everything about the book, the mistery, there's a bigger treat and someone who is pulling the strings from behind and everyone is a suspect.

The secondary character are despicable and I guess she really makes you hate them to the core which is good because there is no time for sympathy for the evil ones, his father, brother and the grandmother? Truly Aholes and i like that.

The A-team from Eric side are ok I guess, since I haven't read the other books I still don't make the connections but that's ok I will eventually read them since well I'm intrigue.

Like I said this book has it all to grab you in my only issue with it is the constant issue trust between both characters and the lack of development in their relationship but aside from that is a fun read and if you are Mrs. Jones fan I believe you won't be dissapointed.

I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.