Genre: Contemporary Romance
Heat Level: 4.5/5
Publisher: Cygnet Books
Publishing Date: December 22, 2013
Series: The Renegades, #2
Format: Digital + Print coming soon
Words: 90-100k
Back Cover:
Sassy, smart, and sexy, former supermodel-turned-tech guru Rubi Russo has it all—looks, money, confidence and freedom. Her life is a whirlwind of fast cars and fleeting affairs—and she likes it that way. With a past like Rubi’s, forever isn’t part of her vocabulary. So when studly Renegade stuntman Wes Lawson wants to take their friendship to the next level, she’s all out.
Raised a simple country-boy, Wes knows the brazen Rubi isn’t his type. But after spending time with her, he discovers she’s everything he’s ever wanted in a woman. To win her wild rebel heart, he’ll have to prove he sees behind her smokescreen to all the goodness she tries to hide. Then it’s just a matter of crushing her fears, shattering her barriers, and convincing her that loving him is everything she’s been missing in her life, too.
Piece of cake.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18590853-rebel
Review
**ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review**
In book one, readers are introduced to Jax’s sexy, good guy best friend, Wes and Lex’s stunningly beautifully, feisty sidekick, Rubi. Wes and Rubi spark an instant attraction to one another – all it takes is one short, witty conversation outside of an airport. From there, they spend the next two months getting to know one another and becoming great friends with a lot of sexual attraction buzzing between them. The problem with that is that Wes and Rubi cannot be farther apart in terms of what they want out of romantic relationships.
Rubi is a one and done kinda gal – no attachments/nothing permanent. Rubi doesn’t know any other way due to her father’s neglect her entire life. Wes isn’t a one night stand kinda guy. He is searching for the one; someone he can share is life with in a forever kind of way. Regardless of how wrong Rubi thinks they are for each other, the spark between them remains undeniable. Wes just wants a chance with Rubi, but she’s afraid it will ruin their friendship because she’s “defective.”
“’I want to be different, Rubi,’ he said between kisses. ‘I want to feel you. Every inch of you.’”
Wes slowly tears Rubi’s walls down and helps her to see that their relationship doesn’t have to be only about sex, and despite Rubi’s fears, she realizes that Wes is worth the risk. That doesn’t mean having a relationship with each other is not an uphill battle. There is still plenty of miscommunication and Rubi’s irrational feelings, but Wes is willing to do whatever it takes to get the woman he knows is the one.
“But I couldn’t, because the fact is that you are to me what Lexi is to Jax – everything I’ve always hoped for and dreamed of all in one mind blowing package.”
Rebel is a fantastic read. Skye Jordan knows how to create sexual tension between her characters and boy oh boy can she write some steamy sex scenes. The club scene where Wes and Rubi are dancing is one of the hottest sex scenes I’ve read, and I’ll never look at chocolate ice cream the same! Ms. Jordan also creates well developed characters. As readers, we are able to see why Wes and Rubi are the people they are because of how they grew up. Sometimes in romance novels, characters are created who have all of these issues, but it is never made clear as to why they are that way. It is clear why Ms. Jordan’s characters are who they are. Jax and Lexi are well developed in book one and the same can be said for Wes and Rubi in Rebel. The book is filled with great dialogue, hot sex, and a group of supporting and main characters who make every scene entertaining.
A minor issue is the ending; it feels a little too rushed, but it probably felt that way to me because I always need the HEA, especially when the relationship for most of the story was a bit tumultuous. I need more of an epilogue to know Rubi is in it for the long run, but hopefully, as the series continues, readers will get more of Wes and Rubi and see how they are doing with their happily ever after.
This is a series to definitely one-click! Both books had me hooked from the very beginning, and the cast of characters makes this series a MUST read!
4.5 poison apples!
Excerpt
Following Jax’s voice, Rubi strolled through a truly magnificent office. Through the French doors at the end, she saw Lexi and Jax standing out on the terrace, Lexi in one of the sophisticated dresses she always wore at work—her own designs, of course—and pumps, her hair coiled into a sleek twist. Jax was in his worn jeans, biker boots, and leather jacket. The sight made Rubi grin. It also made her go a little gooey inside. As much as she missed Lexi, as much as not seeing her every day, not being her confidante anymore, left part of Rubi lonely, she wouldn’t want it any other way. Jax was so good to her. He loved her so much. They were so perfect together.
“I’m loving what we’ve got going here, baby.”
Wes’s words shot an extra jolt of emotion through her chest. That had been the most amazing sex she’d had in…a really, really long time. But it wasn’t just the sex that kept him on her mind constantly. It was him.
She shook her head, trying to push it out of her mind, and ran her hand along the decorative molding covering the edge of the floor-to-ceiling bookcases. She glanced at the huge wraparound desk, the plush desk chair similar to the chairs Lexi had in her studio for customers.
Outside, Lexi had her hands wrapped around the top of an iron railing remarkably similar to the stunner in the foyer and Jax stood behind her, his hands flanking hers as they looked out at the view.
“It’s only seven miles from your studio,” Jax said, his deep voice rising with hope. “Twenty minutes at the most, even in traffic.”
That was a huge improvement over the drive Lexi had been making to Malibu—forty-five minutes even with no traffic. And they did live in Los Angeles, after all. There was always traffic. Rubi knew the time Lexi wasted in the car had hurt her productivity at work, and it was really stressing her out. More stress on top of trying to manage a new line of lingerie and hiring new employees.
“You like this one the best out of everything we’ve seen,” Jax said, resting his chin on the top of her head. “I can tell. You can see the Los Angeles skyline from the deck off the main living room. And I’ve already gotten an estimate on what it would cost to make the pool into an infinite edge. We can look out over that view day or night from the water.”
“This is…” Lexi started, then paused. “Insane, Jax. Six million dollars? I can’t even fathom—” Anxiety bubbled in her voice. “I’ve been thinking about this, and I’m not sure it’s such a great time to buy. With what’s happening on the set, if Bolton falls through and they have to hire another actor, reshoot the first half of the movie—”
“Baby, that’s money for Renegades, not me personally, not us,” Jax reassured her. “This place is worth nearly twice what they’re asking. If it weren’t in foreclosure, it would go for ten million. In a few more years, it will be worth fifteen. We don’t have to stay here forever. Look at it as an investment I’d miss out on if it weren’t for you.”
Okay, seriously, Rubi couldn’t love that man for Lexi any more than she already did. Which was why she kept her distance and gave them room to grow.
Jax released the railing and slid his arms around Lexi’s waist. “I know this must feel overwhelming coming from a lunch bag…”
Lexi laughed and elbowed him at the same time, making Rubi smile. “My loft may be the size—”
“And shape,” he added.
“—of a lunch bag, but it’s an affordable lunch bag.”
“Affordability is relative. This house is very affordable for me. You’d feel better if you’d let me tell you about my finances.”
“No.” Lexi shook her head. “No, no, no. This is hard enough without knowing all the details of that filthy gold you’re hoarding in some vault.”
God that girl was as stubborn as Rubi when it came to their little psychoses or neuroses or whatever they were called.
Jax chuckled. “Bet the thought just makes your skin crawl, doesn’t it? Bet it just makes you want to shed those clothes and do me in front of all of Hollywood, right here on the balcony.” Lexi burst out laughing as Jax kissed her neck. “Don’t deny it.”
Okay…time to break this up.
Rubi walked to the open door. “No christening the new house until you own it.”
When Jax and Lexi turned toward Rubi’s voice, she cast a careless gesture with one finger toward the back of the house that looked out over the canyon. “Did I hear you’re going to make that pool an infinity edge, Chamberlin? Because as is, it so won’t do.”
“You’re such a diva,” he said, “and yes, we will… If we buy it.”
“Nice move, Jaxy-boy.” Rubi sauntered to their side with a soft click of her heels on stone. She stood next to Lexi and leaned on the railing. “I approve.”
A melodramatic whoosh of air exited his lungs, and he pressed a hand to his chest. “Oh, thank God. I can breathe now.”
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1959Nav
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/19l05pZ
SPECIAL SALE: RECKLESS (Renegades, #1) is $0.99 for a very limited time starting 12/23/13!
Buy Links:
Meet Author Skye Jordan:
Sometimes fun, sometimes naughty. Always romantic.
I am a NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author writing under the pseudonym Skye Jordan for my more … sexually heated … works.
My Skye Jordan novels are all about enjoying that little wild streak we all have, but probably don’t let out often enough. About those fantasies we usually don’t get the opportunity to indulge. About stretching limits, checking out the dark side, playing naughty and maybe even acting a little wicked. They’re about escape and fun and pleasure and romance.
And, yes, even love. Because even as Skye Jordan I’m just a happily ever after kinda gal. (Or, in some cases, happily for the foreseeable future.)
Website: http://skyejordanauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyeJordanAuthor
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Skye_Jordan
Tour Wide Giveaway Details:
Tour Wide Giveaway: (1) Kindle Fire HD, (1) Kindle, and (1) $25 eGC to Amazon or B&N will be gifted to three different lucky commenters from the tour. Please follow the Rafflecopter widget to enter to win at each stop. (Full Terms & Conditions located on the widgets.
Find more stops:
http://events.litconnect.com/rebel-by-skye-jordan/
Additional Upcoming Events:
Facebook Event: Wednesday, January 8
Twitter Event: Thursday, January 9; 8–9pm EST
Fairest Of All Book Reviews 
I really love this! Can’t wait.
This gets more and more interesting each day. Thanks for the tour =)
Loved the first. Need to pick up this one.
Great blog tour, thanks!
Nice review
thanks so much the book looks so good cant wait to read this denise smith denise226@verizon.net
Thanks for the post and your thoughts on Rebel. I love that Lexi and Jax are in this book, it is great to see how their relationship is growing stronger. I also love the playfulness of this series and am excited to read more about Rubi and Wes!
Thanks for the review and sharing the excerpt.
Congrats to Skye on the new release. Loved the first book in the series.