Entice (Exquisite #2) by Ella Frank

SYNOPSIS

What if everything you think you want isn’t what you actually need…

Dr. Shelly Monroe is a woman who doesn’t shy away from going after what she wants, but lately good sex has been hard to find. Shelly’s become increasingly frustrated with the men she’s been dating and the men she believes are the right choice.

Joshua Daniels is certainly not even close to the right choice. In fact he is exactly the wrong choice. For one thing, he’s Mason Langley’s best friend and best man. Second he’s too much of a risky complication for Shelly to even consider.

Then why can’t she stop thinking about how delicious he looked that first night she met him at Exquisite? Why is it so imperative to keep her lusty desire for a man that doesn’t meet her preconceived mold hidden from Lena and Mason, her trusted friends?

It seems unreasonable that being with a man completely wrong in theory could somehow feel so right. Then why is it the more she sees him the more enticing he becomes?

Purchase the EXQUISITE SERIES BOXED SET Below

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Reviewed by Gitte & Jenny 3.5 Stars 

Gitte:I was so excited to start Entice after having loved Exquisite as much as I did and started a reading frenzy as soon as it landed on my kindle. To begin with Jenny I was loving it because of Josh, shallow yes, do I care…well no. The first half of this book was pretty amazing; it was hot, exciting, sexy and thrilling. The POV’s were fabulously written and this Author sure knows how to write sexual tension!

Unfortunately half-way through it kind of nose-dived for me, which really hurts my heart to say, but as always I have to be honest. The reason for why this story moved from a 4.5 down to a 3.5 was down to one scene which I just could not get my head around. The heroine’s actions so extreme under the circumstances that the storyline that ensued was in my eyes not really a storyline but rather the aftermath of a woman’s unnecessary histrionics. Did you feel the same Jenny, or was that just me?

Jenny:  No, it wasn’t just you, I agree with you completely.I had been hanging out for this book.  I absolutely loved and devoured Exquisite in one sitting and was so looking forward to meeting Josh! I was the same as you Gitte.  The minute that Entice ARC was on my Kindle I put the “do not disturb” sign up to the family and prepared myself to become totally enthralled with Shelly and hot Josh.
And devour the book I did, well, for the first half that is.  Ella Frank sure does build up the sexual tension and writes some amazing scenes, both in the lead up to and the act itself. She certainly raises the steam factor and introduces some very unique scenes in her books which I love.

I am absolutely gutted to say I had the same feelings as you.  I struggled with this book after the halfway mark.  I was so over Shelly….I was still madly in love with Josh, but too frustrated by Shelly and for the life of me I couldn’t understand her behaviour.  The dual POV’s were done really well and if anything, hearing form Josh made me even more frustrated with Shelly.  I just felt sorry for him at times.

Gitte:  So our heroine, Dr Shelly Monroe (Lena’s best friend) is intelligent, confident and stunningly beautiful. She pretty much has it all except that one great guy. Shelly is adamant to avoid scroungers who live hand to mouth in ripped jeans with a slap dash view of life and responsibility. She wants someone responsible and successful, someone she can be proud of who won’t break her heart. Shelly has real “Father Issues” and creates this exterior to hide her pain. She pushes people away, won’t let them in and adopts every avoidance tactic under the sun. Did I feel sorry for her, yes of course I did, and I really did like her to a point, however, there is only so much I as a reader is willing to go through in the “will she won’t she drama.”  When it gets to the stage that I feel sorry for and sympathise with our hero more than our heroine I know the Author has lost me a little bit. I am not sure whether this is just me or other readers feel the same. Perhaps some readers felt for Shelly and thought Josh’s consequent actions after “the scene” were frustrating…who knows?! I just know that I was completely team Josh for the last part of the story and I understand his actions; which at the end of the day were spurred on in order to guard a vulnerable heart!

“You’re not ready for me, Georgia,” he told her softly. “And that’s a real shame…”

Jenny: I absolutely adored Lena and even though they are very different personalities, I expected to have the same feelings towards Shelly as I did Lena.  I really did like her for the first part of the book but then we sort of lost that connection.  Shelly’s indecision drove me crazy.  As you say, there’s only so much to-ing and fro-ing you can tolerate before the character becomes a bit grating, and unfortunately Shelly just pushed the envelope a little too far for me.  I absolutely connected with Josh 100%.  I loved that guy and hedid have to take pretty extreme measures to convince Shelly to let down her guard.  I loved the interactions between Rachel, Lena, Mason, Josh and Shelly and the scenes with them all together were a pleasure to read and so entertaining.

Gitte:  I agree Jenny, I loved when all the characters were together, those scenes were fab. Right, so our hero; Josh Daniels, an old friend of Mason’s, moves back to Chicago having recently left a deceiving and demanding girlfriend behind. He wants the simple life back; his work and a decent woman.

“He was not in the market for upper class and high maintenance. He wanted middle class and low mainenance.”

Josh is every woman’s fantasy. The complete package.  I fell in love and lust with this gorgeous, sexy dirty talking alpha man!

The attraction between Josh and Shelly was instant and extremely sexy and intense. Yet both knew the other was the exact type they were meant to stay away from.

The “relationship” between Josh and Shelly had such an explosive beginning as I mentioned before and the well written alternating POV’s had such a huge impact I immediately connected with the characters. Oh and not to forget the extremely well written sexual tension.

So overall, did I enjoy Entice? Yes I did, but I just couldn’t love it as much as I loved Exquisite. Would I recommend it? Absolutely, as this Author is pretty amazing and is a brilliant writer.

I have to say as well that I cannot wait for Rachel and Cole’s story which we got a bit of an introduction to. I have a feeling I am going to LOVE that one already!

Jenny: Where do I start with Josh?  Complete and utter love and lust.  No doubt about it, this guy had it all.  The sexual chemistry between these two was felt on every page, it was scorching.  I did enjoy this story, just not as much as Exquisite.  I would absolutely recommend this book.  This author certainly can write a captivating, hot, funny, warm, steamy read with characters you’ll fall in love with.  Oh definitely bring on Rachel’s book! Can’t wait for that one!

Arc provided by author for an honest review

You can purchase Exquisite here 

Exquisite (Exquisite Series)

You can purchase Entice here 
Entice (Exquisite Series)