A review by joreadsromance
Naughty or Nice by Rachael Stewart

5.0

Very, very nice!
5 stars

[a:Rachael Stewart|15103378|Rachael Stewart|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1526372299p2/15103378.jpg] has really made the Harlequin / Mills & Boon Dare line for me - and I know that I can pick up one of her books and receive a fantastic blend of smart, hella sexy and devastatingly beautiful romance. Which is exactly what you get from this story.

Eva is exactly the kind of heroine that I love to read about. We meet her when she’s 18 and wearing her heart on her sleeve - optimistic and enthusiastic - and about to have her heart broken. 10 years later, she’s a successful businesswoman and is fierce, in control and knows what she wants and goes out to get it. But she’s still optimistic, enthusiastic as well as being kind and generous. I loved her, rooted for her and aspired to be her. She’s a kind, kick-ass businesswoman in cute outfits and killer heels!

But my heart absolutely fell for Lucas and surprisingly not because he was estranged from his surrogate family - or at least not only because of that. I expected a grumpy alpha single-mindedly bent on revenge. But that’s not what we get. Lucas is definitely an alpha male and he does have a slightly stubborn streak - handy for a billionaire businessman - but he so refreshingly honest with his feelings that I fell in love on the first page. It’s disarming and so wonderfully refreshing. You don’t get many heroes who have that equal blend of emotional awareness with the alpha goodness we all love. If Ms Stewart it taking her inspiration from the men in her own life then she needs to introduce me to them right now!

Even with my love of Eva and Lucas separately - it’s together that the pair really shine. The chemistry is so palpable I felt like I was in the room with them. And that room was HOT! From their first encounter at Eva’s launch event, it sets the tone for the pair’s interactions. Neither can hide their feelings for each other and again it’s refreshing that neither use sex as a weapon against the other. Oh, there’s definitely still some unfulfilled moments, shall we say, but it all happens realistically and works with the progression of the story. And did I mention it’s HOT?!

From the blurb of this book we’re sold a tale of heartbreak, betrayal and revenge - but that’s really selling it short. It’s got everything that you want from a Dare romance or just a romance in general. And okay, so this is a Christmas book and I’m reading it in March - but it’s definitely an ‘anytime of year’ kind of story. There’s a delightful twinkle of festive-ness that just adds to the romance whatever month you read it.

All in all, I loved this story and [a:Rachael Stewart|15103378|Rachael Stewart|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1526372299p2/15103378.jpg] has once again proved to me that she’s the queen of Mills & Boon Dare romances and now an auto-buy for me. Highly recommended and a very worthy 5 stars.