This is my first time reading this author and I was concerned that this would be a typical/overdone theme when the characters started a physical relationship (with graphic detail) very early in the book. However, the story did then develop an element of mystery.

I do not care for cliffhanger stories, but this storyline could be worth the wait for books 2 and 3.

This is the first book in the Filthy Trilogy book and they do have to be read in order It is the story of Eric and Harper

Eric is the bastard son of a rich man he is the backup heir to the Kingston family but he wants no bar of that and goes his own way first he becomes a SEAl and then when he retire s he becomes the right hand man of Grayson Bennett(dirty Rich Series) he is almost a billionaire in his own right and he wants nothing to do with his father's family. Then Harper walks back into his life her mother had married Eric's father so making her his step sister they had a small fling six years ago now she has returned and she says his father needs him. Will they pick up from where they ended all those years ago Will he have anything to do with his father and has she finally learnt the lesson he tried to teach her years ago about how evil this family is. You will need to read to see. I am now looking forward to THE PRINCESS and THE EMPIRE the continuation of this superb series

The Bastard is not your typical romance book, at first I wasn't sure about it but quickly my opinion changed.
Eric is a perfect character to fall in love with, he's strong and sexy. He intent on calling the shots, but not in the bossy, I am better than you way. He wont let anyone walk over him, his one weakness is Harper, a princess. I wasn't sure about their relationship at first, but it grew on me. Their relationship is dangerously messy, deep passion and super sexy.

ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this story. You could feel Eric and Harper’s connection from the very beginning and all the way through. The storyline pulls you in from the very start and keeps you on the edge of your seat til the end. The twists and secrets between not only Eric and Harper but also with the Kingston family are so well written. The two want to trust one another but there are things that have happened to each of them that cause them to question if the secrets they have will tear them apart. Lies they have been told by family they don’t trust. They both want to find away out and are trying to do it together. The chemistry between Eric and Harper is undeniable. Will the secrets pull them apart? Can they overcome the obstacles they face by the Kingston family? The ones caused by the secrets they keep? Will knowing Harper’s secret cause Eric to run? Will he see the truth in the secret Harper kept? Or will he only see what he wants to see? Can they get past all of it and find the HEA they deserve? Will the people who have caused all the pain to them be held accountable? We’ll find out. This is a captivating story I can not wait to find out what happens next in part two; The Princess. Book two of The Filthy Duet. Just found out there will be a third book to the series! So excited! Looking forward to books two and three.

3.5 stars. The Bastard is book one in the Filthy duet. In this book, we get Eric (from the Dirty Rich series) and Harper's story. Eric is a billionaire and right hand man to Grayson Bennett. He is the ill-treated, bastard son to a rich jerk who managed to get away from his family and become his own man. Harper is his stepsister, whose mother married his father after they were both grown. When they first met as adults, Harper and Eric had an instant connection and spent a very hot night together. But Harper was working for Eric's dad as his protege to run his car manufacturing company and Eric wanted nothing to do with his father or family. So their paths diverged and they hadn't spoken for six years. Now, Harper is still working for her stepfather's company and she knows something is not right. She thinks her stepfather or stepbrother, Isaac, are covering up something terrible in the company that is causing cars to be recalled and consumer deaths. Harper goes to Eric for help. He is reluctant at first and doesn't know whether he can trust her, but the connection between the two of them is too strong for him to deny. The two begin to try to solve the mystery within the company.

I liked this book in general, but I felt like it would have been better off as one book instead of a duet. I did not see the need to have it split. I liked Harper and Eric, but they didn't trust each other throughout the entire book. It felt like their relationship went nowhere. The book took too long to get moving and not very much happened until the end, where there was a big reveal and a cliffhanger. I am a fan of Ms. Jones and I know her writing style. I have faith she will pull it all together in book two. It just didn't read like this was a story that needed to be split into a duet. If I had not read this author's books before and trusted her, I'm not sure this book would be enough to keep a reader's attention and make them want to read book two. But, personally, I did feel invested enough to continue. I just wish the two books were released closer together. Still, I did like the story so far and I look forward to the conclusion of Eric and Harper's story. I do think they will be a good couple once they get their act together. I did enjoy this book, even if I wanted it to move quicker. I like Ms. Jones writing style. It is romantic, sexy, suspenseful and deliciously soapy. I trust her to pull this story all together. I am looking forward to the mystery being solved and their relationship coming together in book two, The Princess.

ETA: I just read this duet is being turned into a trilogy. That makes me less excited to finish the series because the story is just going to be drawn out more, frustrating me further. Still, I will read them both because I am hooked on this story enough to see it through to the end.

This one is a little different from my usual reads. The story is lively and fun but too predictable. I wish it had more substance and surprise to it. It's an okay read.

This book may contain mature scenes and violent language if you are not up for that don't force yourself to read this. This is more of a mature kind of romance book, quite intense and I need to complain about the cliffhanger at the end, HOW COULD YOU?!?!?! now I need to wait for the second book and I totally ship them and have a happy ending *prays

I'd give this book a 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. The story flows fairly well, except for some repetitive words here and there, and it gets slowed down with "flowery" language quite a bit when you really just want to read what happens next, which basically indicates I was invested in the story and what was happening next, obviously. The characters had good chemistry, and I found the author was pretty good at building in the mystery of making the reader want to know what happened at some point or why things are happening the way they are happening now.

Sexy and suspenseful! It’s been a while since I’ve read a LRJ book. I was definitely due. And I most definitely picked a good one to bounce back in. I love that this is a duet and not a series. After that revealing ending I am so ready for The Princess. Perfect way to start my year.

The Bastard and the Princess meet during a family gathering 6 years before the story takes place. The Bastard, second in line heir to the Kingston family who is independently wealthy and cutoff socially and financially from the family meets the Princess who is a high ranking member of the family during a brief visit to the family home. Instant attraction leads to a one time steamy, tear your clothes off prelude.

Six years later the Princess is in trouble and goes to the Bastard for help. Their chemistry undeniable. Their titles fitting. Family dynamics and drama, hot romance, and page turning twists and turns make this book difficult to put down. This all leads to an incredible cliff hanger... the kind where your jaw drops open and even though you are sitting in bed reading by yourself you are saying out loud, "No way!... NO WAY!" Can't wait for book 2. Already pre-ordered.

I would like to thank the author and publisher for providing a copy of this book via Net Galley for my honest review.

I thought it was ok. I never connected with the characters or felt the desperation and chemistry that was conveyed throughout the book. Eric and Harper, he is the Bastard whose mother had an affair with a married man. Harper is the princess, name dubbed by Eric upon seeing her. Harper's mother remarries and hands over Harper's trust fund to Eric's biological father whose family wants nothing to do with Eric. Eric is a self made billionaire and genius savant that is mentioned frequently throughout the book. Six years have passed between Eric and Harper upon meeting, but she reaches out to him to save the family who never wanted anything to do with him. He has the capacity to destroy them or walk away. This book ends in a cliffhanger that took too long to tell as aspects of a secret is hinted towards the end of this book. Not invested enough in either character to find out the conclusion in book 2, The Princess.

Lisa Renee Jones launches her Filthy Duet with the tale of Eric Mitchell, self-made billionaire whose complicated family life threatens him and the woman he’s obsessed with.

Eric fell in lust the moment he laid eyes on Harper Evans, but after a few hours together he leaves her – the daughter of his father’s new wife – and the entire Mitchell empire behind to make a life of his own until six years later when Harper seeks him out to help her and the family who had long ago pushed him aside and treated him like a the bastard son to his father’s mistress. She’s the Princess to his Bastard though and they don’t make sense to his genius mathematical brain, but he wants her more than anything else he’s ever wanted.

Eric and Harper are so fixated with each other within the first few pages that all of the obstacles towards their road to happiness come from outside forces, making their attraction but lack of trust a bit repetitive. Their many sexy times are written to be smoking hot – and for the most part they are – but at times, they feel like a barrier between honest communication between the two.

Also concerning is the book’s dependence on the stereotype of the powerful and dangerous half-brother and reluctant father who hate Eric for his very existence and pose a mysterious physical and economic threat to both him and Harper. The device is used repeatedly but the plot is scarcely expanded in this direction.

Eric and Harper are striking and intriguing characters and complement each other well. He’s cold and unyielding while she’s soft and caring. Even though I found the story a bit recurrent, the combination of mystery, passion and the twist at the end piqued my interest for what’s to come.

I have been a fan of Lisa Renee Jones for a few years now and of course as soon as a new book of hers come out I have to read it right away.

I very much enjoyed this one. The story was fantastic and it is one that I didn't want to put down.

I do highly recommend.

So, this book was eh.
The chemistry between Eric and Harper was palpable. However, their first meeting, it was nothing but physical, honestly, I don't see why they would want to remember that encounter.
I couldn't get past the bitter bastard Eric. I couldn't connect to him what so ever.
This book didn't hold my attention as I would have hoped.
So unfortunately, I don't see myself reading the next book, because I do love cliffhangers.

My friends this is a straight up soap opera. So we meet Eric who grew up with a single mom and he did not know that his father was alive and rich and knew nothing of him, When Eric meets him and his family they show him they don't care about him but he can be of some use for them. Eric doesn't stick around and makes it rich himself, years later he meets his stepsister and they have a scorching night together, years later again she goes to him because she needs his help, he will but with no lies and secrets and she does have them..You will have to read what happens but be warned it does end in a cliffy..

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

It took me a bit to really get into this book as it felt like I was missing a piece of the plot. Fortunately, things cleared up as I continued into the book. What I was not expecting was a cliff hanger and abrupt ending to what I soon realized was book 1. I really hate waiting for the next part of a serial book so I typically don't read a series until it is all done so that I can read through it.

I really started to like Eric and Harper towards the end but their back and forth and the trust me, don't trust me is very wearing and after awhile, it gets old. I realize that they need to build the relationship and the trust but I can only take so much back and forth!

So, while that is what I didn't like, I now am invested in this book and want to know what the big mystery is - what were they doing that was illegal, was Harper's mother involved, was Gigi playing both of them, were the Kingstons setting them up for a betrayal, and what were those numbers? Who wanted Eric to have those numbers and clue him in?

Wow, so many unanswered questions, and now I have to wait for the second book to get the full story.

Disappointed. I usually love this author but for some reason I just didn’t enjoy this very much. I found myself skipping parts just to finish. Some of it was fun but i didn’t think it flowed very smoothly.

Eric and Harper are introduced at a party and she is introduced as his new stepsister. They technically are not related and do not share a parent. Her mother is married to his biological father. They connect on a primitive level but he finds her to be a part of Kingston family when he sees her take the stage with them. Eric leaves and they do not see each other again for 6 years. When they reconnect, it is because Harper is there to ask for Eric's help. So begins their on/off dance. Eric doesn't want to become embroiled with the Kingston family and Harper keeps using her daddy's fortune and mother's care as her excuses to remain with the Kingston family. When it becomes apparent that the Kingston family is up to no good, Eric has to decide what he is going to do about it.
I found both Eric and Harper to both be kind of embroiled in their own secrets. I think Harper should have told him the big secret she was keeping long before he came back. I think Eric should have also let her into his life wholly if he really wants this to work out. It ends on a cliffy so I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this duet. I did really like this book and it is one of my favorites of Lisa Renee Jones.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

Lisa Renee Jones has another great read with The Bastard. I enjoyed the action, the characters, the love story, the suspense but in typical Jones fashion I was left wanted to devour the next story immediately only to have to wait.

There were a lot of similarities with the Dirty Money series; the brother pitted against each other by their father for control of an enormous empire, dirty dealings, an intense, hot love affair. The story was unique enough and well enough written that this wasn't a huge detractor though.

I loved and hated the suspicious natures that kept Eric and Harper second-guessing each other's motives. I didn't want to see them undermining their budding relationship but the tension added was delicious.

I can recommend this book to any reader who enjoys suspense and intrigue in their romances.

4 1/2 Stars

OMG! The suspense in this romantic mystery is almost more than my poor heart could take! And to top it off author, Lisa Renee Jones, leaves us hanging on a cliff that falls straight down with jagged rocks blocking the way!
The Kingston family is a dynasty in the world of auto makers. Their elite cars has made Jeff Kingston an extremely wealthy man. Unfortunately he’s also a f*#nging prick of the highest order.
Mr. Kingston has 2 sons. The son he claims, Issac, and his bastard son, Eric.
Jeff put Eric through hell and he got the hell away from his poisonous family. But just as he’s leaving he meets Harper. They share a special night but when he misinterprets something he sees her do he packs his bags and is gone.
6 years later, after Eric has become a self made billionaire, Harper walks through his door begging for his help. Despite his mistrust of her he goes to help her anyway because they still have an insane attraction to each other.
When Eric returns home to help Harper he begins to uncover some sinister happenings. But he doesn’t know who he can trust and that includes Harper.
There are plenty of suspects to go around and you’ll blow your mind trying to figure out all of the twists and turns.
This is an excellent book but it leaves you with a giant cliffhanger. I can’t wait for the next book to come out.
I was generously given a copy of this book by NetGalley. I have voluntarily given my honest review.