As a fan of other Jen McLaughin books, I downloaded this with the hope I would enjoy it. Unfortunately, I couldn't get into it at all. I initially took a break from it, intending to return to it later, but I've since lost interest. Thank you for providing a copy for review consideration!

First off, lets talk about the cover of Dare to Lie. Seriously, it is drool worthy. Sigh. Okay, moving on. We finally get to Scotty Donahue. Scotty wanted to make a change, and clean up Steel Row, which is a tough rode ahead. Anyway, working for the DEA he felt he could. Now the leader of Son's needs a favor done, and he felt that Scotty would be perfect to watch over his baby sister.

Okay, I struggle with the beginning of this story. I wasn't sure I was going to finish the story, but I press forward. Dare to Lie did get better as the story moved on. I really enjoyed the end of the story. However, getting to the end was a little of a struggle. I liked Scotty and Sky together. It was struggle for them to be together. Overall, it was an okay read.

Copy provided by Berkley via NetGalley

Loyalty vs morality is a dangerous game….

Secrets. They never turn out well. Keeping them is never easy but when your life is on the line the stakes are very high. And what happens when the lies feel too much? When keeping things hidden means more pain, more hurt. Well, that’s when the situation becomes even deadlier…

Scott is a double agent in the neighborhood he grew up. He is DEA but he is also a brother in the Sons of Steel Row. He straddles the line between good and bad because he wants to make life better for the place he calls home. It’s never easy but it’s worth every sacrifice. Until now… Skylar is the boss’s beloved sister, but Tate has been keeping secrets from her as well. When Sky and Scotty are thrown together, they are attracted to each other but ‘they’ can never happen. It must not happen…

I enjoyed this tension, suspense-filled ride where lies abound and life-threatening danger is around every corner. Scotty and Sky have great chemistry so the back and forth between them – the passion, the revelations, the fear of losing it all – was all that I hoped for. The bonus to it all was the relationships they had with others – Sky’s brother, Scotty’s colleagues – they were just as deep and meaningful.

I loved how the author brought things to an end for this loving couple and the teasing glimpses has me eagerly looking for Tate’s story.

FULL REVIEW posted via link.

When I had first heard about this book I was excited as I have not read many MC romances in awhile, that when I saw this up for grabs I was all over it. Despite it being book 3 in the series it has a good back story with an intense start that captures you from the very beginning.

Scotty and Sky were two opposites of a coin. They had great chemistry but it seemed that outside the bedroom they were all bad for each other. Once Scotty got over his aversion to wanting, craving, his alter ego's boss's sister, he was different with Sky. They connected on a deep level even if he hurt her just because of her affiliation. Sky decides that even though Scotty has a past and present that is mysterious and dark but she cannot seem to stay away. She will risk her life, heart, and brother for him.

Overall, this book seemed like some others I have read but I love a good girl gone bad book. The camaraderie between the Sons was strong but seemed to much like Sons of Anarchy. Its hard to have a MC romance without it sounding like the TV show or other MCs.

reviewed by Tiffrz

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro

Let’s get one thing clear. I loved Dare to Lie, I loved Skylar, I loved Scotty, I loved this book! Now, moving on.

Dare to Lie is the third book in the Sons of Steel Row series by author Jen McLaughlin, where Scotty an undercover DEA agent is auctioned off to the Sons of Steel Row’s leader Tate’s sister Skylar. After spending a night together getting to know each other -just talking nothing else- these two start a secret heated relationship too dangerous to put everyone at risk.

My favorite characters by far were Skylar and Scotty. Skylar wasn’t your typical romance character. She knew the boundaries and respected them, and never asked Scotty for more. Scotty was different, he was the first one to set the boundaries and the first one to question them, but I liked that about him because he was the one to see that they were good for each other, and that he would protect her.

It had been a while since I had read something like Dare to Lie and instantly love it. The story progressed at a good pace and didn’t drag, and since this is the third book in the series, those who have read the previous books can get a glimpse and mentions of past characters that turn out to be acquaintances of Sky and Scotty.

Overall, Dare to Lie is a great romance book where the main characters deal with knowing their own boundaries and when they can cross them in order to be with one another. I really recommend this book if you’re looking for something romantic and refreshing to read.
Reviewer’s note: Playlist song – Wildest Dreams by Taylor Swift, for Sky and Scotty.

Living a double life is never easy. For Scott Donahue - he walks a thin line between his job as a DEA agent and the gang he has infiltrated. It is a constant struggle for Scott to keep his identity concealed within the confines of The Sons of Steel Row. Those limits are tested when Tate - the leader of the Sons - asks Scott to take on a special assignment. One that Scott clearly never could have predicted.

Tate has a sister that he has kept hidden from everyone. Skylar is enjoying life at college. Clearly oblivious to the world that her brother is involved with. Tate asks Scott to take his place in a bachelor auction for Skylar’s sorority. The two quickly realize that they have an immediate attraction. A problem that Scotty clearly needs to avoid to keep his cover intact. With Skylar’s safety on the line thanks to a rival gang, Tate asks Scotty to protect his sister at all cost.

Every attempt that Scotty makes to keep things ‘casual’ between Skylar and himself quickly blows up in smoke. The attraction too much to bear. Things become even more difficult when Tate asks Scotty to move into an apartment right next door to Skylar. Facing the object of his thoughts day in and day out is pretty hard to ignore. For Scotty - his attempts to push Skylar away because he isn’t good enough for her fall on deaf ears once the two begin spending more and more time together.

It’s a recipe for disaster if all of Scotty’s secrets can be hidden. With a gang war heading in a dangerous direction, Scotty must face the unraveling of the world he built to keep Skylar safe. Where will Scotty’s loyalties lie once the dust has settled? Will there even be a relationship to salvage with Skylar? Only time will tell which Sons of Steel Row will be left standing in the end.

What a wild ride!! I was looking forward to the release of Dare To Lie, and unraveling all of the layers to Scott Donahue. So many secrets to keep hidden. So many lives on the line. What I couldn’t have predicted was the intensity or action we would be privy to in this book!! What an amazing and engaging turn of events. Each step leading back to all of the choices the Sons of Steel Row have made. The chemistry between Scotty and Skylar was spectacular. Who knew that they would face so much turmoil in such dangerous times. It definitely left me wanting to learn more about TATE as well!!

Dare to Lie was slammed full of tense moments, forbidden romance, and the unraveling of secrets that threaten to ruin all of the Sons. Where will it all lead? You will just have to read it to discover which side of the fence that Scotty lands on when the dust settles. Another great addition to the series!!

After book two in Jen McLaughlin’s The Sons of Steel Row, I really needed to know how Chris and Scotty were going to get themselves out, ALIVE, from the mess they’re in. Turns out, it wasn’t so easy. But man, I was on the edge of my seat most of the ride!

Dare to Lie picks up almost immediately after Dare to Stay. Chris and Scotty, along with other gang members, are headed to a funeral when their ride over is slightly “delayed”. Because of this delay, Tate, one of the leaders, asks Scotty to do him a favor and go in his place to a charity bachelor auction that Tate’s sister has organized. With the warning, “Don’t touch my sister,” ringing in his ear, Scotty heads off to his doom…

I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker for impossible situations that manage to resolve to a happily ever after. And if they can do it without a hail mary pass thrown in from seemingly no where, I’m absolutely ecstatic! Dare to Lie actually got so deep in lies, covers, and “What the heck is he going to do NOW?”‘s that I had no clue how this plot could solve itself without that hail mary from it’s own 10 yard line (sorry, Super Bowl on the brain). But it did! And it did it through natural story progression. The story was paced well, even if the romance was slow to start.

And considering the characters and their personalities, a slow romance is what this story called for…. a very reluctant romance. Scotty, of course, wants nothing to do with having a girlfriend. His life can’t handle that pressure. So he has to be a “love” ’em and leave ’em kind of stud. But Skylar, Tate’s sister, is a whole other story. This girl is complicated AND simple at the same time. She doesn’t have time to date because she’s in medical school. And she doesn’t want to date because of her brother’s protectiveness. None the less, Tate keeps trying to fix her up with guys he thinks are appropriate for her to date. Tell me when that ever went well…

I really liked both Scotty and Skylar. I was still nervous about them even after the story resolved and I started reading the epilogue. I liked that they were physically different than the usual protagonists you read (both are redheads) and they were both intelligent. I enjoyed the banter immensely because it was witty. I have simple needs and witty banter is one of them 😉

Ms. McLaughlin left a little story thread open so I’d like to see if she’s going to put the entire neighborhood of Steel Row to rights once and for all. I’d personally like to see that neighborhood get cleaned up, what the brothers and Chris wanted to do all along. It would make a perfect HEA, wouldn’t it??? (hint, hint)

At last! Yes, I have been waiting for Scotty Donahue’s book since that zinger of a last scene in Dare to Run. Now with book three, comes Scotty’s story. He walks the line between two dangers and lives a lie within a lie. This may be a romance, but the story surrounding it is intense and a real page turner.

Dare to Lie is the third entry in the Sons of Steel Row series. I suppose a reader could get by reading it out of order, but would miss out on Scotty’s intro in book one, the surrounding cast of characters, and a better picture of what exactly is going down in this one.

At this point, I’m going to pause and say that if you have any plans to read the series that though I will keep as much of the series spoilers back as I can, there is definitely one that I can’t avoid to do my review so you might want to put this on pause until you’re done with at least book one.

Dare to Lie begins close to when Dare to Stay leaves off. Scotty, Chris, and the rest of the Sons of Steel Row gang are leaving the meeting house for a Sons’ funeral when they are hit by the Bitter Hill gang. The Sons fight them off, but it is just one more chilling reminder that the rival gang really needs to be taken out before more killings happen. Scotty’s pretty sure his handlers in the DEA would be all for taking out the other gang who deals in drugs, but he’s waiting for the day to come when the DEA does joint operations with the ATF and then he’ll have to choose. His loyalties are divided. The Sons gave him a chance to stay off the streets and be safe in the protection of the brotherhood, but his dream to clean up his Southie neighborhood of Steel Row is what made him choose undercover police work and he is not unaware that the Sons are no charity group.

Speaking of charity groups, Scotty is never more surprised in his life when his gang leader, Tate Daniels, informs him that he has a younger sister, but that he wants Scotty to go to her charity bachelor auction function in Tate’s place. Tate makes it clear that Skylar is off limits to Scotty. Only when Scotty arrives, he becomes a source of curiosity and then burning attraction and intrigue for studious good girl, Skylar. Skylar believes she has a gift in reading people and what she gets from staring deep into the man her brother sent to take his place leads her to wanting something she shouldn’t. Scotty makes it clear that he’s no good for her and she would get hurt, but she plunges ahead and goes on instinct instead of the smart choice for the first time.

Scotty’s secrets, Skylar’s identity as Tate’s sister, the escalating gang war, and a romance that should not be all make for a combustible situation that might leave everyone hurt and dying.

Alright, as I said, this was the book I wanted so badly I could taste it. I was not disappointed in the way Scotty Donahue was portrayed or the situation with the gang and his undercover work. He really is a man pulled so many directions at once and now his attraction and need for Skylar really amps that up.

Speaking of the romance between Scotty and Skylar, yeah, that first scene with them together almost had me setting the book down in the second chapter. I am not a fan of how Skylar’s libido came rushing to the surface like a forest fire and became all-consuming just at the sight of Scotty and that special tingle that happened when they touched. Fortunately, I wanted Scotty’s story badly enough that I ignored the first meet and settled in to enjoy what came afterward. They are a passionate pair and a passion in a developed romance is always welcome.

Skylar is so much more than she seems at first glance. This relieved me to no end because she had to have inner strength and the ability to understand and connect with a complex guy like Scotty. She got hit with several shocks and a betrayal, but she stayed the course. I loved these two together and particularly because Scotty needed something good to happen in his life.

And just when I thought that my need for more from this series had died down, the enigmatic Tate moves out of the shadows. The Sons leader has been present since the beginning, but in getting to know Skylar in this book, Tate is revealed a little too. Yeah, I’m going to need more Tate especially after that teaser ending in this one.

So in summary, this one delivered on the passion, danger, and overall story leaving me needing more of the Sons. This one is for those contemporary romance and romantic suspense fans who enjoy hitting the hard streets in a gritty street gang romance series.

My thanks to Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Scotty, a Fed for the DEA, is deep undercover and a member of the ruthless Sons of Steel Row gang. Scotty is pulled aside by head of gang, Tate, and told a huge secret... Tate has a sister who knows NOTHING about his gang life. He wants Scotty to attend a charity bachelor auction his sister Skylar is hosting, but if he touches her, his life is forfeit.

Skylar, a hard-working, independent 23-year old medical school student, is holding a charity bachelor auction. When she meets Scotty, she knows it’s a destined-to-be arrangement and bids on Scotty for herself. Even though he tells her he’s no good, Sky cannot stay away.

Dare to Lie was a mixed bag for me. Honestly, the first quarter of the book irritated me. There were too many issues and eyerolling moments. Yet, I stuck with it, and after the halfway mark, I couldn’t put down the book. Scotty and Sky do make a good couple, despite their dishonest start. The couple keeps secrets within secrets, neither being 100 percent upfront, so of course, there are major issues once the truth slowly works its way into the light. I didn’t mind the secret-keeping parts because it was all part of the bigger story, but I did have issues with other aspects of the book.

First of all, Sky is portrayed as a woman who has an amazing gift of seeing people for exactly who they are on the inside. Yet, she supposedly has no clue her brother is the head of a ruthless gang. While this is eventually addressed, it comes of as an inconsistency in the character development and bothered me more than once. Also, this…

"because even though I hadn't looked at him yet... Something about him brought me to life."

Sky literally bumps into Scotty for the first time, and without even looking at him or hearing his voice, they have a connection? Just no. This did not work for me at all.

One other thing that bothered me up front was the humanizing of Tate, the head of SoSR. This is a Southie (Boston) gang known for utter violence. Yet here is Tate, suddenly a softy in many ways. It didn’t sit well with me. One cannot be the leader of a gang like this without being cutthroat and amoral. I need my bad guys to be bad.

Even with these upfront issues, I kept reading the book, and suddenly found myself glued to my Kindle. The layers of subterfuge unraveled, keeping me on the edge of my seat. The back and forth between Scotty and Sky worked, and even broke my heart a bit. And although everything tied up a bit too neatly for me, I liked the ending and was glad I read the story.

In the end, Dare to Lie was a fairly engaging story. There were definitely some eyeroll-moments, and it was a bit too shiny for a gang book. However, I liked Scotty and Sky together, despite the hokey "we are destined to be" opening. It was tough watching them seesaw through their issues, but it gave me an emotional connection to the pair. It was a rough start for me, but about 50% on, I couldn't put down the book.

My Rating: B- Liked It, but I had a few small issues

The Sons of Steel Row are an influential gang in South Boston. They're teetering on the brink of a full-fledged war with their rival Bitter Hill. I'm a new reader to this series, but I was able to understand the basic bones of what led to this point in the continuing plot without any confusion. I quickly realized that the hero, Scott, is the younger brother of Lucas from book one Dare to Run. Lucas is a former Sons member who is believed to have been killed. Since then, Scott has ventured into a dangerous life splitting him in two directions.

He's joined the gang as an undercover DEA agent, hoping to clean up the crime and violence-ridden streets where he grew up. But there's a lingering sense of loyalty to the gang who saved his family after their father abandoned them.

Skylar is the sister of Tate, the Sons' leader. When Tate sends Scott to her sorority bachelor auction in his place, he never expected the immediate intense attraction that was tugging on both of them. But getting mixed up with your boss's sister? Foolhardy. When you're undercover in a gang....you would have to have a death wish to act on your desires. There was just something about her that broke through all of his defenses. He's used to putting on a front. In every corner of his life, he's playing a dangerous game of artifice. But Sky's intuition tells her a lot more about him at their first meeting then he's willing to leave bare.

As hard as Scott tries to leave her alone, he's stuck living next door to her after Tate asks him to watch over her. Attempts to stay distant and platonic are doomed from the start. Gang tensions are escalating, and her safety may be jeopordized. She is Tate's one soft spot, and his enemies wouldn't hesitate to harm her in the war against him. Scott wages his own war within himself. Sky deserves a man much better than him: a man who can afford to give her promises of tomorrow. It becomes increasingly clear that she may be the one worth risking everything for. But when the truth is revealed, how could she ever look at him the same way again?

I enjoyed Sky, she was tough, intelligent, and didn't cow down to the alpha type men who surrounded her. She also was a hell of a lot more knowledgeable than anyone gave her credit for. She sees and knows things, but chooses to remain silent and allow her brother the secret side of himself he wishes to remain hidden. There is no judgement, only a fear for her brother's safety. He's stood by her all her life, after her father discarded her. He would lay down his life for her in a heartbeat. But accepting her love for a traitor in their midst may be more than he has to give.

I liked the forbidden aspect to Sky and Scott's love story. It created a level of conflict that kept me reading at a fast clip, trying to work out how they would find an escape from the situation they landed in. I felt like they made a perfect pair, their family background allowed them a deeper understanding of each other and a respect that they'd be hard-pressed to find in others. And they had a chemistry between them that sparked fast and never faded.

Although this is the third book in the series, you can read this easily without having read the others previously. They are connected standalones, but the author does a great job catching you up to speed. This book wasn't what I would call dark or especially gritty, but it had a definite edge to the characters that I found pretty refreshing. This was a great introduction to Jen McLaughlin's writing-she brought the heat, the tension, and the emotion to the forefront of the story and didn't disappoint.

***ARC Provided by the Publisher and NetGalley***

I am picky. I know this. People who deal with me on a daily basis have definitely figured this out. So, giving a 5 star review to a book is something I have to think about. Usually.

In this case, it was easy. The chemistry between Scott and Skylar was immediate, it was intense and it was scorching. It jumped off the page and captured the reader almost immediately with that angle of the story.

This was not a simple story. Scott is an active member of The Sons of Steel Row, and also a DEA agent. The conflict with this gives some of the most interesting parts of the story, as he works his way through those conflicting loyalties and the goal he has to make the area safe again.

Skylar is the pampered sister of the head of The Sons of Steel Row...although she is not fully aware of the details of what her brother, or Scott for that matter, are actually involved in. This also makes for an interesting tension with the 2 of them, and occasionally with Tate thrown into the mix. This is done in a way that the situation is compelling without dragging down the story or the pacing.

The writing is strong, as is the pacing. I believed and related to the characters, I thought their decisions and moral dilemmas made sense and were the kinds of things people in this situation would deal with. I liked that Scott, and the others, really accepted the reality of their lives, that this was a part of who they were and not a plot point to focus on to move the story.

I enjoyed this book a lot, and it was the first I have read in the series. I am definitely interested in the others and REALLY look forward to Tate's story, which I am hoping was set up in the end of this one.

Dare to Lie is my first Sons of Steel Row book but I have been wanting to check them out since book 1! Scotty is an undercover DEA agent and member of the Sons of Steel row gang. He grew up in Steel Row as a poor kid and never left. His brother Lucas, was the hero of book 1 and I am certainly curious to go back to his story and check it out!

Scotty gets roped into being man candy for a charity auction that Skylar Daniels (the sister of the gang leader, Nate) is having for underprivileged children in South Boston. Scott and Skylar have an instant attraction, and Skylar is not going to let Scott ignore it. But Scott knows being with Skylar cannot happen. He has secrets and Nate would kill him for messing with his sister. Scott gives in to temptation and makes a surprising discovery about Skylar and while he knows this should change nothing, it changes everything.

I liked Skylar. A sweet girl who grew up in Steel Row after her father abandoned her and her mom, Nate took care of her when she was in high school and he was making bank. So, people assume she is a sheltered princess, but she knows what its like to go without. She is in medical school and uses Nate's money for good :) Skylar just sort of puts all her feelings out there and I thought that was brave. She wasn't manipulative or anything like that so I found it refreshing! Scott was a bit more of a struggle for me to warm to. He is a dichotomy of a man: gang member and DEA agent; manwhore and good guy. I like a character with layers and complexities, but Scott was difficult for me to get a feel for. Perhaps because I hadn't read the previous books I was at a disadvantage in understanding him. I did warm up to him eventually though!

Dare to Lie was everything I was hoping for. I enjoyed the gritty gang aspect and the insta-love romance. I loved that Skylar identified and vocalized the insta-love factor. I think addressing it made it more believable for me. The action and danger was great as well. You can bet I will be grabbing the other books in the series and I am looking forward to more Sons of Steel Row.

From the moment we found out about Scotty and the fact that he was an undercover agent, I’d been waiting for his story. I mean, reading about criminals who have a change of heart is all fine and dandy, but reading about an agent who’s been undercover for so long, who has so much invested in this, and who has done things he’s not proud, all for the sake of trying to make his old neighborhood a safe place again. Something about that just really drew me in. You knew you weren’t going to be in for just a normal bad-boy good-girl romance.

I liked both Scotty and Sky’s character. Sky is the sister to the leader of the Sons. You would think she’d be some calloused chick who doesn’t take crap from anyone. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. When she was young, her parents got a divorce and her father took her brother and her mother took her. While her brother was groomed to take over the gang, she was leading a normal life. She has no connection to her brother’s gang and no one in the club even knows she exists. Well, that is until Scotty is tasked with keeping her safe. Heck, her brother hid her ties to him so well that even the DEA didn’t know the leader of the Sons had a sister. So yeah, she was not your typical biker chick.

Like the previous two books, there’s a layer of suspense because you are reading about characters who are in a gang, who are always getting shot at. However, the stakes are much higher because not only are they sort of at war with another gang, but Scotty’s secret identity at the DEA is kind of huge. You’re always wondering if anyone suspects, if he will be found out, that you’re kind of on the edge of your seat the whole time. So I feel like this one had more suspense than the others because so much could go wrong for Scotty and none of the ending results are good for him. It’s not simply a “should I stay in or try to get out” sort of thing like the previous two books, he’s a sheep in wolves skin and things could go down horribly for him if anyone found out about him.

One thing I love about this series is that you think you know something, and then you realize you don’t know a darn thing. The author adds so many twists and turns that you’re never sure what you’re going to get. While I felt like the romance moved a little too fast and that aspect wasn’t all that surprising, I did find some developments that left me with my jaw open. Not to mention that the hint at who the next Sons story will be, I can’t WAIT!

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Dare to Lie by Jen McLaughlin
Book Three of the Sons of Steel Row series
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Publication Date: February 7, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

As an undercover DEA agent in the most powerful gang in Boston, Scott Donahue accepts the risks of living a double life. But when Tate Donovan, leader of the Sons of Steel Row, assigns Scotty to take his place in a bachelor’s auction sponsored by his sister’s sorority, he’s exposed to a whole new level of danger. Even though Tate makes it very clear—Skylar is off limits—the second Scotty sees her, he’s a goner. But how does he tell Sky she’s falling for a man who doesn’t exist?

Sky can’t resist Scotty’s cool confidence or the raw, edgy power oozing from his perfect body. She’s always been the good girl, but he brings out the bad in her. And even though she knows so little about who he really is, Sky’s willing to take the biggest risk of all. But putting her heart on the line is no guarantee that Scotty won’t slip through her fingers...

What I Liked:

Dare to Lie is the third book in the Sons of Steel Row series, and at the moment, it looks like it will be the last. This novel follows Scotty Donahue and Skylar Daniels, and it's easily the riskiest and the trickiest of the three novels (in terms of how high the stakes are, for Scotty, and Skylar). Dare to Run (book one) remains my favorite, but this one is probably my second favorite, ahead of Dare to Stay. I really hope there is at least one more book in the series though!

Scotty Donahue is a DEA agent, working undercover as a Son of Steel Row. He is a lieutenant of the Steel Row gang and very good at his job - both of them. When Tate Daniels, leader of the Sons of Steel Row, asks him to go in his place to a charity auction that his little sister is hosting, Scotty knows better than to refuse. He doesn't expect to be captivated by the stunning - and innocent - med student. Both the DEA and Tate ask Scotty to watch over Skylar, because of rising tensions between the Sons and Bitter Hill. But what happens when Skylar finds out about Scotty? Or worse - if Tate and everyone else finds out who Scotty really is?

In Dare to Lie, we're lead to believe that Scotty is a bad guy, trying to harm his brother. But Scotty is an undercover agent and he was trying to protect Lucas. He gets Lucas and Heidi out of the state and covers up their disappearance with a fire and fake deaths. Scotty is young - twenty-five - but he knows Steel Row better than most. He is a hardened man playing two roles, and he is determined to see Steel Row become a better place. Scotty is young (as the Sons like to remind him), but he is definitely a rugged alpha and he proves it several times over, in this book. I personally loved how protective he was over Skylar, and how much he cared about his family and Chris and Molly.

Skylar, on the other hand, is completely innocent. She isn't involved in the crime life at all, and she doesn't want to be. She has no idea that Scotty is a Son of Steel, or that he is a DEA agent. She's a twenty-three-year-old med student who studies a lot and lives a lonely life due to her overprotective older brother, Tate. Skylar is a sweet girl who likes the consistency of her life, but also wants more. When she sees Scotty Donahue at her charity auction, she has this feeling that he is the one to shake up her life.

The romance took off pretty quickly. Skylar and Scotty have intense chemistry, and they recognize the attraction between them pretty quickly. They throw down the very first night after they meet, and they continue to see each other. At first, their connection is completely physical, and they can't get enough of each other. But they start to open up to each other (well, for Scotty, as much as he can, which is very little), and they realize that they like each other, besides being in lust with each other.

So, the romance was pretty steamy, and that happened quickly. There were plenty of steamy scenes throughout the book. This pair is really passionate and there is an energy and a fervor to them that is different from the other pairs in the previous books. Skylar is an actual "good girl" with no taint, and Scotty is the "baddest" of bad (especially being a double agent). The sparks (read: inferno) really fly between them, and I love how they connected.

Of the three books in the series, this one had the most intense story, in terms of the Steel Row/Bitter Hill war. Everything escalates to a frightening level, in this book - much deadlier than in Dare to Run and Dare to Stay. The stakes are so high for Scotty, because he could get outted to either side. The stakes are high for Skylar (despite her not being aware), because Bitter Hill is coming after the loved ones of Steel Row members (and she is Tate's sister). The stakes are high for the pair, because Tate will kill Scotty if he finds out about them. The scene when he inevitably finds out... I was pretty surprised at how that went down. Anyway, things get intense on a larger scale, and it's not just about our main couple. It was so cool to see how McLaughlin made the Steel Row/Bitter Hill war such a big part of the story, and how it affected everything Scotty did.

The climax and ending was a whirlwind of decisions, bloodshed, and shock. There was a lot going on in the end, both good and bad. I was a tiny bit sad at first, but reading the epilogue made me feel better. I do like the ending and it's very worthy of the struggle and the pain and the passion of the story before the ending. I'm happy with how Scotty and Skylar's HEA came to be.

What I Did Not Like:

There was nothing really major that I didn't like about the book, just some minor things. I really thought the author could have went a little easier on Scotty (he's banged up a lot, in this book). Scotty is such a good guy but he always seemed to be getting the short end of the stick.

I also think there could have been a little more variety in the sex scenes? Is that weird for me to say? They seemed to follow the same pattern. I loved the varying intensity (some were definitely more lusty than others, though all of the scenes were pretty fiery), but the physical acts were pretty much the same. I don't know why I feel awkward typing this.

Would I Recommend It:

I highly recommend this series in general. It's a great romance series but there is so much more than just the romance. The crime and the gangs and all of the high stakes and sneaking around and double-crossing gets really intense, really quickly. All three books are very engrossing, and hot. Dare to Lie does not disappoint!

Rating:

3.5 stars -> rounded up to 4 stars. I liked this book but I liked Dare to Run more, and I wasn't totally crazy about this one overall. I liked it but it's not a new favorite. I'm going to be really disappointed if this is indeed the final book in the series! I had hoped that we would get to read Tate's story, or maybe Marco's... who knows!

Dare to Lie has to be my favorite book yet of Jen's. It gave me all the feels and then some. I couldn't get enough. The emotions I got while reading were seriously intense. Jen can sure write a romantic suspense story with the best of them. Great character depth, the storyline was grade A perfection! I absolutely couldnt put it down!! Great work!

Dare to Lie is my favorite of Sons of Steel Row Series to date. ~ White Hot Reads

"He was too real. Too raw. Too cocky. Too... dangerous." <------ He is the epitome of the alpha male and exactly what I want. What about you?

Boston. Darkish. Alpha Men. HOTTTTTT! Dangerous.

The Sons of Steel Row isn't exactly what it seems. Going in it seems as though it's a dark and dangerous world of guns, drugs and the danger that is Southie. But it's so much more. It's a community full of love, survival and taking care of each other. Scotty is H.O.T!! He's dangerous, alpha and I'd like to keep him for my own!

Skylar is off limits for Scotty but that doesn't stop him. Their chemistry is off the charts. But will they stay together? Or will their world be blown apart by lies?

Grab your favorite snack, beverage and head to a quiet reading place because once you start Dare to Lie, you won't stop until the last page is turned!

The Sons of Steel Row series has been quite the entertaining book series. I’ve enjoyed both previous books in the series, and I had high hopes for Scotty’s story in Dare To Lie, especially because it was bound to be an intense one with him being an undercover agent. Scotty was a great hero. I really loved being inside his head, especially with all that protectiveness and loyalty he had towards the people he cared for. He has that mysterious thing going for him that made him very attractive. Sky was just as great of a heroine. She’s smart, and very much had a no-bullshit attitude, and went after what she wanted. Dare To Lie definitely had that sense of danger I was looking for when I dove into the story. And I thought the forbidden-ish romance between Scotty and Sky was freaking hot! Unfortunately, there wasn’t much of a build up to the romance, in my opinion. I was able to see the physical connection between the two, without a doubt, but I wanted to also see more of their emotional bond throughout Dare To Lie. I didn’t mind the insta-love here, but I feel like the story would have been much stronger for me had the author taken the time to build up the romance a little slowly. It’s hard to complain though when the chemistry is as smoking as the one between Scotty and Sky. We also get to see a lot more of the leader of the Sons of Steel Row, Tate, in this installment, and let me just say, I am beyond hooked to his character and I can’t wait for the author to release his book. With the little snippet we got to his potential love interest at the end of Dare To Lie, it’s going to be a very fun book.

I have enjoyed the Sons of Steel Row but I was a bit nervous about Scotty’s story. He is an undercover DEA agent and I was worried that it may not be accurate or true to life for me. Jen McLaughlin did an excellent job at moving this romantic suspense along and making it seem probable that Scotty could actually be an undercover DEA agent. Scotty’s role in the first two books gives us just enough to want more and to know what is going to happen to him. He is walking a fine line of deceit and treachery to stay entrenched in the Sons of Steel Row and you worry that there may be no way out for him.

To make matters worse, Scotty is given the worst possible mission: babysit a hidden sister of the boss. No one knows about her and Scotty needs to make sure it stays that way. Tate Donovan, his boss, also makes it clear to keep his hands to himself. Once Scotty meets Skylar, he quickly realizes that proposition is going to be extremely difficult.

The stakes become even higher when his DEA boss tells him to use Skylar for information.

I enjoyed this book. The pacing was perfect, action at every turn and the romance was hot. As a reader, you keep flipping pages because you just can’t imagine how Scotty and Skylar are going to make it out of this not only as individuals but as a potential couple. Scotty’s lies and deceit start to stack up and he realizes that he may have no choice but to sacrifice Skylar in the process and he doesn’t want to do that to her. By the end of this book, you can’t help but love both of these characters and are just praying they come out unscathed. And somehow, Jen McLaughlin made me want to know Tate Donovan’s story and he oozes bad….I guess we will wait and see.