REVIEW: Filthy Rich by Dawn Ryder

In Filthy Rich by Dawn Ryder, Businessman Nartan Lupan may have all the money he could ever want, a beautiful house, and luxury cars, but deep down he would rather share it all with someone who can appreciate him for who he really is. And that would be an Apache who struck it rich paying his dues in the gold mines of Alaska. Instead, Nartan has played things casual on the romance front, until he gets to know Celeste Connor at his close friend’s wedding. She pushes buttons he didn’t even know he had, and considering that he’s dominant, feisty Celeste should make Nartan turn the other way. But he can’t walk away. Not when he has to figure out how to win her heart.

“You play the game, but it leaves something in you unsatisfied.”

His lips thinned and he reached out to cup her elbow. He stroked it, sending a shiver down her. “There will be nothing…unsatisfied between us, Celeste. I promise you. Nothing.”

Now there was a promise…

Celeste will admit she couldn’t take her eyes off of ruggedly handsome Nartan at her best friend’s wedding in Alaska. But she’s sworn off men after finally getting free of her ex-husband and the torment he put her through. Too bad that Nartan won’t back off and that Celeste finds herself wanting to cave in to his dominance. She should be terrified of him considering he and her ex look relatively the same on paper. Although in real life, Nartan would do anything to keep her safe and prove his worth to her. That might just come in handy when the threat of her ex resurfacing puts them in danger.

“You didn’t say you loved me.”

“I told you…you make me rich.” His breath was hard and his tone low next to her ear. He cupped her nape and raised her face so that their gazes met. “The single thing in this life that only my soul mate can do. It’s more than love, Celeste. It’s completion on every level.”

Filthy Rich may have been a super sexy erotic romance about a millionaire businessman and his love interest, but it also had a heartwarming message that having money isn’t what makes you rich…only love and family can do that.

I’ll admit it right away: I waffled with the characters in this one. But I think that was what made me enjoy the story overall in the end. Both Celeste and Nartan grew quite a bit as the story progressed and we got to see who they really were. I think Nartan probably surprised me most. I won’t go into specifics as I don’t want to give away the whole plot, but he proved that he was so much more than just a guy who struck it rich and owns multiple businesses. I loved his Apache background and that it came to the forefront as he explained what he needed from Celeste. Nartan was a very swoon-worthy man who had just that right amount of dominance to be protective without being uncaring. Gotta love that.

Celeste, I started off liking right away and could understand her need to steer clear of another relationship given that her last one ended so badly. But then when she (abruptly) left Alaska to travel back home to California, things got a little dicey for me. It’s definitely a woman’s prerogative to change her mind, but wow. She kept going back and forth between wanting to pursue Nartan and then giving up. I did like how she was very assertive in her job as a lawyer and that she had done what she could to take back her life after what her ex put her through. But I liked it even better when she finally made the decision to let Nartan into her heart. Then the magic truly happened. Especially their HEA. *happy sigh*

If you’re looking for an erotic romance that also incorporates family dynamics and a thread of suspense, you might want to give Filthy Rich a try.

Book Info:

Published February 3rd 2015 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

SHE’S FIGHTING FOR CONTROL…

Celeste Connor swore that she’d never be a victim again. After the hell of her abusive ex, the last thing she needs is to be under another man’s thumb. But when she catches the eye of fiercely dominant Nartan Lupan at her best friend’s wedding, Celeste finds herself drawn into a glittering world of wealth and power that has her body aching and her mind reeling.

HE’S FIGHTING TO MAKE HER HIS…

Nartan is a filthy rich businessman who works hard, plays harder, and doesn’t take no for an answer-and he wants Celeste with a hunger he’s never before felt. He’ll do whatever it takes to have her. But Nartan didn’t expect that he’d want still more…