I feel like this story had potential to be very good. It was annoying that the description didn’t mention that the book ended with a cliff hanger. I didn’t feel much of a connection with the main characters.

Oh buddy, this book has got the sexy times!! WOO!! Eric (The Bastard) and Harper (The Princess) were drawn to each other from the moment they first laid eyes on one another, and talk about chemistry. And then comes the puzzle of the family fortune. How did the business go sour? What really was going on behind closed doors all those years? Eric's father's company has been jeopardizing lives, yet by the end of the book, we are barely closer to a resolution than we were at the beginning. And ooooh, that cliffhanger ending!

Lisa Renee Jones does it again!
I was hooked into this story from the very beginning and made me want to read the next book in the series right away.

If you are looking for good Suspense and romance books that are hot and sexy then I do highly recommend.

Packed full of tension, twists and turns and chemistry, I’ve been so excited to start this book and I wasn’t disappointed. I can’t wait for more!

Thanks to the publisher for a copy to read and give my honest opinion.

This is one of those books where the main two characters have a hate/love relationship. Between the sex and the fighting these two are a proverbial mess. Eric Mitchell is months shy of being a billionaire brought home to the family that has always referred to him as the bastard. The family company is in big trouble and the female he cant stop thinking about wants him to fix the situation.

What did I like? This is a favorite author of mine and there is always fighting to go with the filthy sexual situations. Despite the taboo step sibling relationship there is no blood holding the two together and the fireworks between them are plenty. Despite the cliffhanger I still want part two.

Would I buy this book? Id kindle it for sure, the cover is so fetching. I wouldn't loan it until part two comes out though because that cliffhanger is difficult.

Thoughts for the author? I want me some Lila Love:) Despite all this authors series I really love Lila's. This book just gave me a taste of fun while I wait for what I really want!

Not a particularly great romance, but the overall plot was good. Other than the forbidden step sibling romance trope, there was nothing steaming about Harper's and Eric's hook-up. I didn't think they had a chemistry despite the number of times both of them emphasizing on their feelings for each other. The cliffhanger was neatly done. Can't wait to read the next book!
ARC received in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Julie Patra Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

emoji rating scale: 😩🙁😐😀😍
The Bastard rating: 😐

Wow. I’m here for the ending (and that cover). Cliffhanger, much? Overall, this story has so much potential, but is blocked by odd pacing and constant repetitiveness. This story goes from 0-60 in seconds, with Eric and Harper not getting the chance to identify themselves individually. Suddenly the the breaks slam and six years go by without either one really looking to find anyone else (which doesn’t feel believable).

I had different ratings throughout the book as I was reading, so I decided the best way to review this book was to split it by those sections.

“It would be so easy to hate her. But I can’t. I’m falling in love with her.” - Eric Mitchell

0-30% (read location) emoji rating: 😩

Honestly this probably would have been a DNF story for me, but I kept telling myself to just make it to another chapter. Low and behold, once you hit chapter fourteen, this book starts to get a lot better. The beginning of the book was filled with so much repetitiveness (and yes, I know I’m getting repetitive by bringing this up again) that it made it really hard for me to keep going.

“I have about thirty seconds to process Eric’s declaration that we’re not done before he pulls me close, all that sinewy muscle absorbing my body, that powerful edge that is this man, owning me, and he owns me all too easily” - Harper

30-78% (read location) emoji rating: 🙁

This chunk of the book got better; Eric & Harper’s personalities got deeper, and I felt like I could start to connect with them. But, the repetitiveness and the similar sentence wording really started to do my head in. Unfortunately, that ended up being the downfall of this book for me. The story plot itself was interesting and intriguing, which is the main reason I urged myself to keep going. There’s so much potential for a really great story series here.

“He affects me and not just physically. I mean, yes, he’s one hell of a good-looking man and he wears that expensive suit he’s got like he owns it and the world, but it’s more with him.” - Harper

78-100% (read location) emoji rating: 😐

Even with the low ratings I felt throughout this book, I ended up giving it an overall 😐 rating because that cliffhanger got me good! Jones’ certainly knows how to make a reader want to immediately pick up the next book. I felt myself navigating to my Amazon page as soon as it was done because I was left with an emptiness and wanting. You can’t just leave me like that!

GOODREADS: www.goodreads.com/review/show/2720515829

BOOK BLOG: www.inbedwithabook.com/2019/02/25/the-bastard

**I received this e-arc from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Net Galley!**

3.5 stars.

This book has it all: steamy scenes, suspense and a somewhat <I>forbidden</I> romance. I really enjoyed it and read it so quickly. I think it's a great start to a trilogy and you don't have to read the previous 5 books in the Dirty Rich series to understand what's happening.

The ending had a major cliffhanger, but if that isn't you're style there is good news! The second book is already out and the third comes out in March so you don't have to wait long. I definitely think I'll be picking the other books up, because I need to know what happens!!

If you are in the mood for something steamy, suspenseful and quick to read with some romance thrown in definitely check it out.

The Bastard by Lisa Rene Jones is book one in her Filthy Trilogy and book six in Dirty Rich.

This is Eric and Harper's story and let me tell you, this is a nailbiting pageturner, a story full of unexpected twists and turns that kept me glued to the pages.

I loved the writing and the scorching hot story and can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Oh.My.God. That ending just killed me!

Eric Mitchell is the illegitimate son of Jeff Kingston (which explains the title of the book). Harper is his step-sister. They had a quick "secret" interlude six years ago just before Eric left. Even though he regretted leaving Harper, Eric had to go because he never trusted his father or the rest of the Kingston clan. Eric needed to leave to have the chance to become his own man. Apparently that worked out well for him since he's basically a billionaire in his own right.

Harper comes to Eric asking for his help. She suspects that something fishy is going on with the family business and she doesn't trust anyone else to help her figure it out. Their attraction to one another is still intense and Eric is protective of Harper so he agrees to help.

Eric and Harper are both keeping secrets though. Unless they can learn to trust one another and share everything - - and be open to hearing one another's secrets without judging - - they won't be able to make a relationship work. It's understandable that Eric has trouble trusting anyone given the history with his dysfunctional family. Unfortunately, he is so busy trying to protect himself that he's highly suspicious. So, when Harper's secret comes out before she can tell him herself, he jumps to the wrong conclusion and doesn't even give her the opportunity to explain. In the middle of this personal drama, they are at risk of being targeted as part of the company conspiracy. This brings me back to the final pages of this book, a definite cliffhanger moment....I need the next book now!!!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Eric has always had to fight for recognition ever since finding out that his father had an affair with is mother and then left her to struggle with cancer. The whole Kingston family shunned him until his father realised the value of recognising his ‘Bastard’ to goad his legitimate son into shape. He’s happy to leave them behind until he encounters Harper, his Princess who immediately connects to him with explosive results. Heady, intense and intriguing. It was always going to end on a cliffhanger. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I think I can sum this up pretty quickly- I began reading the book while watching the hockey game and quickly realized I would either miss the record setting game or get too deep into the book because both wasn't happening. Game then book, and I didn't stop. You would think the end of the book would have me finally going to bed since I stayed up way to late reading, but no, that isn't the case. I immediately (and let me stress immediately) went on and purchased book two in the series the second I finished. This series needs to be read in order, and just plan on not doing anything else besides reading once you start.

I absolutely loved Harper and Eric's story! Lisa Renee Jones is an amazing storyteller, she demonstrates once more her ability to weave together gripping storylines with powerful emotional complexity. Another heart-stealer for sure and I can't wait to read the second part of this duet. Overall rating : 4.5 stars!

This story could have been so entertaining with a better execution. The main issues that stopped me from feeling completely immersed in this book were the pacing and repetitiveness. The attraction and physical relationship between Eric and Harper happened at breakneck speed, so much so that I didn't get a chance to care about them individually or as a couple. Then six years go by and it just doesn't feel believable that this unexplained scorching attraction hasn't waned one bit. Then, there's the repetitiveness of the story and even similar sentence wording; it was distracting and it took away from advancing the general story line. That said, there's enough mystery and intrigue to keep my interest even if it's not a book that I will devour or consider memorable.I

Thank you to NetGalley for.providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to everyone.

I really enjoyed thus book. I didn’t realize until I was about 80% finished that it was going to end in a cliff hanger. So I did what any normal person would do and immediately went to amazon to purchase book 2 and 3. It’s fantastically written and I can’t wait for book 3!

I'm the bastard child, son to the mistress, my father's backup heir to the Kingston empire. He sent me to Harvard. I left and became a Navy SEAL, but I'm back now, and I finished school on my own dime. I'm now the right hand man to Grayson Bennett, the billionaire who runs the Bennett Empire. I'm now a few months from being a billionaire myself.When I started reading I couldn't put it down.Lisa Renee Jones is magnifysent and amazing writer.I cannot wait to read more of there books.Keep up the great work.You should definitely read this book.Can't wait for the next book.

The Bastard is a spicy story of girl meets bad boy. It's an entertaining intelligent and intriguing story. The story moves at a good pace and is well written. The characters are flawed but likeable, sympathetic and complex. This story is a fun easy read, and when you want something light, this would be a good choice. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

.75 stars--THE BASTARD is the first instalment in Lisa Renee Jones’ contemporary, adult FILTHY DUET erotic, romantic suspense duology focusing on billionaire/ Navy SEAL and second in command to Grayson Bennett, Eric Mitchell, and heiress Harper Evans’ story line. Eric was first introduced in the author’s DIRTY RICH BETRAYAL (Dirty Rich #4) but you do not have to have read the previous release to understand or follow the story. As per most of Lisa’s series, there is a slight cross-over with inclusion of some of the characters from the author’s Walker Security series including Blake Walker.


Told from dual first person perspectives THE BASTARD follows the building but forbidden relationship between billionaire / Navy SEAL and second in command to Grayson Bennett, Eric Mitchell, and heiress Harper Evans. Six years earlier, Eric Mitchell, the bastard son of Kingston Motors CEO Jeff Kingston met his father’s new step-daughter Harper Evans, a woman Eric dubbed The Princess, but a woman that stirred something deep within our story line hero. A one-night stand followed by the realization of who and what Harper Evans represented further pushed Eric away from his birth right, as the spare to the heir of Kingston Motors. Fast forward to present day wherein Harper Evans is in desperate need of Eric’s help, help Eric isn’t willing to give without a price. What ensues is the acrimonious relationship but growing romance between Eric and Harper, and the fall-out as Eric believes Harper is setting him up to be destroyed by the family who have rejected him from birth.

Eric Mitchell knows the pain of betrayal; the heartbreak of rejection; and the loss of someone close but Eric has never forgotten the woman who currently works for the family who all but ignores his existence, a family he is hoping to take down, and destroy. Harper Evans is trying to save what’s left of her father’s legacy, a legacy ‘stolen’ through betrayal but a legacy she no longer controls. Asking Eric Mitchell for help is all kinds of wrong knowing his relationship with the Kingston’s is dangerous and dark, a relationship that continues to fester with secrets and lies.

The relationship between Eric and Harper is one of second chances; a forbidden romance, of a sorts, between two people connected by marriage, and the mutual betrayal by someone close. Eric’s distrust of Harper goes beyond their one-night stand, mistrust that continues to build as secrets are revealed. The $ex scenes are passionate, intimate and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic, language and text. The palpable sexual attraction is heavy and real.

The world building follows the tempestuous and caustic relationship between Eric Mitchell, and the family thast refuses to acknowledge his existence. As the bastard son of Jeff Kingston, Eric’s presence is unwelcome but it is his relationship with Harper Evans that forces a show down between brothers, and father and son. As Harper and Eric begin an investigation into Kingston Motors, our couple are targeted from both inside and outside the family.

We are introduced to Harper’s mother; Eric’s grandmother Gigi; his half-brother Isaac, and father Jeff Kingston. The dysfunctional family dynamics are incredulous-trust is absent; doubt and uncertainty, secrets and lies are facts of life.

THE BASTARD is an intriguing, engaging and intelligent story line. The premise is imaginative and energetic; the characters are sassy, spirited and strong; the romance is sensual and provocative. Lisa Renee Jones pulls the reader into a thrilling, impassioned and suspenseful story of family, power and greed. THE BASTARD ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

GOODREAD: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2589225298


AMAZON.COM: https://www.amazon.com/review/R1LQKKQ1YQ4LMM/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B07GM14GTR


BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/4241795223

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