Ruthless (A Lawless Novel)

Riley Lawless is an attorney and he, his brothers and sister are trying to take down the people that killed their parents. Ellie is buying her partner out so he can retire. She inherited her dad's stock in the company when he died. She hires Riley to make sure everything goes smoothly. What she doesn't know is Riley and his family plan to take her and the company down. He will do anything to get justice for his parents, even sleep with her. Her dad, his partner Steven, and a woman named Patricia is who had his parents killed.

Riley doesn't expect is to fall in love. But when the tables are turned on them and she is threatened he'll have to decide if getting revenge is more important than the girl.

I absolutely loved this book! Sex, revenge, double crossing, and murder. I can't wait for the rest of their stories.
*BOUGHT FROM BARNES AND NOBLE *

Excellent new series mystery romance. Lexi Blake is a must buy, must read author. This stand-alone story has twists, emotions and psychological effects. Believable characters with distinct personalities and strength of purpose. Interesting and snarky dialogue.

I will re-read this story and always look forward to, pre-order when possible, works by this author.

Yesterday the final book in the Lexi Blake LAWLESS series dropped, so I’ve been reading the series. I had decided to wait until all three books were available so I could do a binge read, and it just happened to time out perfectly since The Man has gone back to work and I can pull off the whole “sit on the couch, watch soap operas and eat bon bons” thing. <snicker> [Yeah, like that would ever happen while Kid War 734 rages around me…]

So… Lexi Blake. You may be more familiar with her for her “Masters and Mercenaries” series, heavily featuring the MacKay Taggert Security Team with its BDSM-y settings. [Book #1 is FREE, “The Dom Who Loved Me”, and Book #14 is due out mid-August, so if you start now, you’ll be ready for it when it drops LOL!!) If you’re a fan, you’ll be happy to know that Case Taggert (& Mia Lawless, naturally!) have supporting roles in each books. If the sex stuff puts you off, don’t worry – this family has a War Room, not a Play Room. I’d say it’s about a 95% romantic suspense, 5% sex split.

First of all, at over 350 pages, you definitely get what you pay for – and considering it is cheaper to purchase the paperback (especially if you purchase it used) I’d have to say that if you don’t have a true preference in format, this is yet another example of why I think the digital pricing structure is screwed up. But I won’t get on that soapbox this morning. This could be a really straight forward romantic suspense but Lexi Blake is a genius at finding ways to create loopholes and twists in a plot that will delight the reader, because she is also a genius at creating characters that are so multi-faceted that you just never want to leave them! If you are still unsure about trying out this series, and you’re trying to figure out if you should believe me and take a stab at it… have you read the Rebecca Zanetti SIN BROTHERS series, it’s the same style – mystery, tortured family past, romance. (That recommendation goes both ways, too – if you’re already a committed Lexi Blake fan and looking for something similar, check out Sin Brothers!).

Originally posted at SnarkyMomReads so sorry if portions of this seem out of context!

Dirty dealings and the hunt for justice. Interesting characters, some hot sex, danger. Oh, yes. Blake does give good book. I had a good time with Ruthless.

The quick of it is that Riley and his siblings have spent decades plotting vengeance against the people who murdered their parents and they're finally ready to make a move. Their in? Ellie Stratton who is set to take over the company that destroyed the Lawless family all those years ago. They're going to use her to take down the current owner. Yeah, things get messy as you can imagine. Especially after her luscious curves and kind heart catch Riley's eye and start to change his focus.

Okay. Ellie and Riley. He's the hot, sexy, ruthless lawyerly type. She's the focused businesswoman with a heart of gold but that tends to be naive. They were fun characters and pretty easy to like. Had great chemistry and played off each other nicely. There were some funny moments and some where sparks were just flying.

The quest for revenge and watching the dirty behaviors of the bad guys unraveling was nicely done. Though really I was totally on board with one of the guys who was like seriously let me just hire an assassin and take care of this. Yes! You should have done that! lol

While I enjoyed the book overall I did have some problems. One being that, yet again, another heroine who hit her hero. Gah! Had he really messed things up? Yeah. But the whole hitting then I deserved that agreement. meh. And then I really am not a huge fan of deception and that's what the start of this romance (and about half the book) relied on as he infiltrated her life. It's just not a set up I love most of the time even if I get the reasoning for it, ya know?

I'm definitely looking forward to more from the series, though. These siblings are pretty damaged by their childhoods and I'm curious to see how their drive for justice/revenge will play out as they start to heal from everything they've been through. It's an interesting group for sure. Blake has a way of creating characters you just can't help but love and root for...and want to spend more time with.

I wavered a bit on rating between a 3.5 and 4 star but went with a 4 mainly because I loved one of Riley's brothers so dang much and he just tipped the scale for me.

**I received a copy of Ruthless in exchange for my opinions--negative or positive.

I had to wait until my brain stopped screaming "This is the best!" before I could even attempt to write this review. Not only was I super excited to get more of the Lawless family, but I was extremely happy with the story Lexi Blake delivered to us. I loved Riley and Ellie!

Ruthless is the start to the Lawless series which follows Riley, Drew, Brandon and Mia Lawless as they attempt to get revenge on those responsible for their parents' death. When they were kids they never believed the cops had the full story, which was that their father murdered their mother and attempted to kill all of them too. Now that they're older and they have the money to fund their vengeance they're ready to take down those responsible.

Ellie Stratton is prepared to inherit StratCast and take over running the company after her father's death. She hires Riley as her lawyer to get everything prepared, not knowing the danger she's bringing into her company. Her father was one of the people responsible for the death of his parents, and Ellie unknowingly plays right into the Lawless siblings' trap. But while Riley is working with Ellie, and working against her, he gets to know the woman she is and he's not sure if he can betray her like planned.

Riley, oh Riley. He's my new fantasy man. So ladies, back up because I am prepared to fight for him! He was everything I could possibly want in a book boyfriend. He had the intensity, the sensitivity, the sexiness, and the passion for doing what was right. Just perfect is how I would describe his character. We slowly got to learn about his life growing up after his parents' death and some of it broke my heart, but it also made me admire him for becoming so successful after all of that.

With this book, you didn't just get a romance between two characters, you got this whole world of corporate espionage that kept you in suspense the entire time also. There was a lot happening throughout it, but the book never got to be too much, instead everything that was happening just added to the story to make it better. And woven in between the big Lawless plan was the parts with Ellie and Riley that made my heart skip a beat. The late night dinners at the office they shared, the flirting, it was all just wonderful.

Bottom line, Ruthless is a must read. I promise you that you want to meet these characters and you will love at least most of them. Brandon is the more laid back brother and, so far, my second favorite. His story is next so I'm very much excited for that. Drew is the hard character to like, but once I was able to learn a little more about him I changed my opinion about him. I can't wait for his book, because I know there are definitely going to be some surprises he has in store for us. Really, I'm just too excited to even handle this series.

Narration by Alexandra Shawnee

I had high hopes for <a href="http://www.the store.com/dp/B01JBB77HC/?tag=audiogalsnet-20" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #5f2e50;">Ruthless</span></strong></a>. The blurb had me enraptured. Being a big fan of twisty, romantic suspense titles, this revenge-based plot turned into love held much appeal for me. Unfortunately, while I enjoyed the underlying story of corporate espionage, the “ruthless” tactics for both taking over and taking back a company, and the suspense around a mysterious fourth person involved in the murder plot, I just didn’t feel the romance. In particular, I felt like it held too much of an insta-love feel for me. How a man, and later his brothers, who had lived their whole lives to seek their revenge for their parents’ death (and the takeover of their business), could do a 180 so quickly, and actually become the champions and protectors of their parents’ killers’ daughter, just didn’t convince me. <span id="more-37013"></span>Additionally, while the narration was decent, it also didn’t particularly make me feel the emotion of the story. All that said, I recognize that this story has been a hit for many others, so it just may be a case of the wrong time for me to have listened to this story as it came on the heels of another audiobook that was absolutely splendid in its slow reveal and development of the romantic relationship between the hero and heroine, and where I really could feel the connection laid between the hero and heroine before the pronouncements of undying love.

Riley, Drew, Brandon, and Mia Lawless (yes, that’s actually their last name!) have been waiting for twenty years to exact their revenge on the people who ordered their parents’ deaths in order to steal their ownership of a company that was built on a software program that their father developed. Following their parents’ deaths, they were forced to live in foster homes and orphanages (some better than others), and their lives completely changed. But the siblings persevered and today Riley (our hero) is a corporate lawyer and Drew, the oldest brother, is a well-known business titan. The Lawless siblings plan to use their hard-earned success primarily for one goal: to avenge their parents’ deaths and regain control of the company that is rightfully theirs.

See the full review at AudioGals.

Riley is seeking revenge along with his siblings for the deaths of his parents at the hands of a ruthless corporate shark. He will do whatever it takes to get back at the people who ruined their lives. Even sleep with the enemy. Which turns out not to be such a hardship, but can he keep his emotions in check and concentrate on the job at hand take down Castlleno's company or will finally falling in love bring down Riley instead.

Ellie's father told her a terrible secret on his deathbed, she knew he was a horrible man but never thought he he would go so far as to commit murder. Ellie plans to take steps to make things right, can she erase the damage her father did or will she be destroyed in the process?

This is the first book in the Lawless Series and once again Lexi Blake hits it out of the park. I was entralled iwth the characters from the first chapter. Ellie has been through a lot in her life a neglected childhood and then working her way up the ranks in her fathers company she never had time for love. Then lawyer Riley walks into her office and turns her orderly world upside down. He literally takes over and in away Ellie realizes she needs that someone on her side someone to take care of her. But is it real?

Riley wants to avenge his parents' deaths but he never expected to fall for the beautiful Ellie. When he does he falls hard. I loved Riley, he was all alpha male and take charge just what Ellie needed. Ellie thinks she can't trust anyone around her even her friend Lily and especially her half sister. Riley makes himself her go to guy, until he betrays her trust OMG that was tough to swallow but as always Lexi Blake gives us twists, and turns that shock and amaze. The Lawless siblings were so fun to read as well, their love and loyalty to each other was so real. I also like the character of Hatch would love to know more of his back story.

I could not put this book down and I am so excited for the next books in the series. Brandon's story is going to be awesome a teddy bear with a dark side!

If you like your romance with suspense and lots of drama this is the book for you.

The Lawless siblings’ lives were changed forever when their parents were murdered twenty years ago. Now all grown up they’re hell bent on revenge against the people responsible for their deaths and Riley believes he knows exactly how to achieve their goal. In a bid to expose Phillip Stratton’s crime, Riley, the middle brother, takes on the position of attorney for StratCast and begins a seduction of Ellie, Phillip’s only daughter. Unfortunately he never anticipated falling in love with Ellie or prepared for the emotional fallout associated with trying to figure out a way to prove her father’s guilt without losing Ellie’s love and trust. Ellie is busy trying to run her father’s company and right the wrongs she knows he did during his lifetime so she’s completely oblivious to the manipulative and betraying behavior going on around her.

While RUTHLESS is the first title in Lexi Blake’s LAWLESS series, it is a spin-off of sorts from the MASTERS AND MERCENARIES series (Mia, the youngest of the Lawless siblings, story was told in DOMINANCE NEVER DIES). With vengeance, betrayal, deep dark secrets, passion and hurt spiraling throughout the storyline readers can’t help but become intrigued by Riley and Ellie’s tumultuous relationship. It’s extremely easy to empathize with the Riley and Ellie and their situations and at times it seems that their missions are at odds with each other but maybe that’s because they’re so secretive about their own plans. Romantically they’re a great couple who simply didn’t have time to cement a relationship before chaos ensues and threatens to destroy everything. I genuinely enjoyed Riley and Ellie’s story and definitely look forward to Drew and Brandon’s stories – and will have to go back and read Mia’s as well since I loved ‘meeting’ her and her husband, Case.
This is definitely an author and series you should add to your TBR pile.

RUTHLESS is the first title in the LAWLESS series. Book 2, SATISFACTION is due to be released January 9, 2017. And Book 3, REVENGE is slotted for release on June 20, 2017

courtesy of Romance Junkies

*Note rating was updated after reading this one again before book two*

To get to the bottom of your parent’s murder what would you do? Would you do whatever it took, even if that means lying and hurting someone you want if it is for the greater good? Would you be ruthless in your pursuit, so much so that the person you love could get hurt themselves? Who can you trust, who was involved, and who else are possible victims in their schemes? You ask yourself all of these questions while reading Ruthless. Be prepared to be sucked in, to think you have some of the things figured out only to be proven wrong after a chapter or two.

Riley will make you want to slap him for what he does but you can’t help but want him to get the answers he needs for his brothers and sister and understand what is driving his determination. I loved Ellie, and hated what was happening to her, I wanted her to not be sucked into the evilness that was her father and stay on track on having the reigns of her company.

Don’t be surprised if you see a certain last name mentioned a time or two, this is a series of it’s own but we all need some sexy security in our lives don’t you agree. Hint hint. I wonder why type of crazy ride we are going to go on with the rest of the brothers, I think as readers we will be in for a suspense filled treat.

Lexi Blake is one of my favorite BDSM novelist and the absolute best when it comes to writing erotic stories that are not only off the charts steamy, but intriguing as well. Yeesh, found within the pages of her books are some of the sexiest flogger-wielding Alpha-Doms ever. (I freaking love all the McKay-Taggart hotties in the Masters and Mercenaries novels). When finding out there was a new series coming along, I jumped at the chance to get my hands on the first installment, Ruthless.

Even though Riley and Ellie’s romance was a departure from Blake’s BDSM style that I adore, it was no less captivating. Ruthless had everything I love whenever reading this author’s tales ~ an exceptionally written nail biting story line whose plot twists had me on edge; An un-be-lievably hot yet romantically sweet hero; a sassy heroine; And a cast of colorful characters that left me wanting to discover their stories. From the emotionally heartbreaking prologue that had me all teary-eyed, through to the last page, Ruthless was an angst filled passionate read that I consumed in just one sitting.

As children, Riley Lawless and his siblings suffered the horrific tragedy of their parents’ murder, which was rooted by corporate greed. After years of plotting and positioning, it was time for those responsible to pay for their crimes. It was Riley’s responsibility to insinuate himself into Eleanor Stratton’s company and seduce her. Her firm, StratCast, was founded on stolen technology and his parents’ blood shed. Regardless of the fact that Ellie was not directly responsible for the Lawless’ death, she was instrumental in the grand scheme.

Using her was just part of the plan. Consumed with vengeance, Riley was ruthless in his pursuit of bringing down his targets but surprised when the unthinkable happened… he fell hopelessly in love with Ellie.

The chemistry between this couple was scorching. With their whirlwind insta-romance starting off hot and heavy, but based on Riley’s secrets and lies, I found myself anxiously holding my breath waiting for everything to unravel as the story progressed. All the passion and deceits frayed my nerves. On top of all the relationship angst, there were plot twists, bad guys and circumstances that had me on edge as well. Secrets, betrayals, murderous plots, unending suspense… with each revelation more questions arose as I became fully immersed within Riley and Ellie’s story. I just love when a book is so gripping, each intricate detail has a meaning, and I’m forced to pay close attention while piecing together the puzzle. Ruthless was exactly that type of read.

Riley was delectably sexy and so tenderhearted, he had me swooning. A shrewd lawyer with a plan of attack, he was fueled by his family’s need for justice. I loved the way his character journeyed from the stone cold man solely focused on revenge, to a true and dedicated hero willing to sacrifice everything for Ellie. And when her world came crumbling down, it was Riley who came to her rescue. Desperate for her forgiveness and affections, Riley worked hard to right the all wrongs that destroyed Ellie, despite his family’s thirst for vengeance. Once deceptive and later sincere, he won me over with his overly romantic ways.

Poor Ellie. She was everyone’s pawn and so eager to trust those who were part of her close circle. Friends, colleagues, family… all took advantage of her sympathetic heart. A businesswoman with ethics, Ellie found herself surrounded by conniving vipers, including the man of her dreams. Living a lonely life, she took a chance on Riley, which in the end shattered her to pieces.
As naive and insecure as she first appeared, Ellie developed a backbone when her life spun out of control, and I admired the way she stubbornly stood her ground against those who betrayed her. But above all, Ellie was compassionate and regardless of her dire circumstances, she opened her heart to the entire Lawless clan. In the end, her love for Riley was genuine ~ she was the perfect woman to break through all of his defenses and help heal past heartaches.

Ruthless was an extremely intense novel that had all the feels. I loved the McKay-Taggart connection and the Lawless family dynamics. Riley and Ellie’s journey was just the beginning of an intricate story line and I can’t wait for it to continue in Brandon and Andrew’s romances. Another great read from Lexi Blake and a perfect choice for lovers of steamy romantic suspense.

4.5 stars

The Lawless clan was first introduced in Mia and Case’s story Dominance Never Dies in the Masters and Mercenaries series and I couldn’t wait to find out more about them. (If you haven’t read that book yet, don’t worry- everything you need to know is explained in Ruthless so it can be read completely as a standalone.)

Of the 4 Lawless siblings, only Mia ended up in a good place after the death of their parents and she was the only one with any sort of normal childhood. Her 3 brothers Drew, Brandon and Riley had to learn to fend for themselves in far less than ideal circumstances, and they kept their sanity by focusing on the future when they could avenge their parents’ murder. Drew is now a very wealthy businessman known as a bit of a recluse, but that is by design to make it easier to execute his plans so that he doesn’t have a recognizable face. Riley’s law degree was earned with the sole purpose of being able to take apart their enemies from a legal aspect, and target #1 is up: Ellie Stratton, the daughter of their father’s former business partner Philip Stratton.

Despite the sheer number of hours of research Riley has put into getting to know the enemy, he is stunned by 2 things: the fact the Ellie is an optimist and gentle soul who is nothing like her cutthroat father, and her pictures absolutely do not do her justice. Suddenly going to any lengths to achieve their goals doesn’t seem like it may be such a bad thing. But the more time Riley spends with her, the harder he finds it to keep revenge as his primary motivation as Ellie proves over and over again that she is the polar opposite of her father. He slowly starts to let her see small bits and pieces of the real Riley even as he worries how she will react when she finds out the truth.

There is plenty that Riley and Drew don’t count on, starting with human nature itself. Case warns Riley that their clinical view of their plan’s execution doesn’t account for the unpredictability of human nature and that it will come back to bite them in the end. Their time in the group homes and foster care caused them to forget the finer points of having love and compassion in their lives, and Drew in particular became a coldhearted jerk who is focused on the endgame and only the endgame. The few times that he bends to accommodate his family’s wishes are done grudgingly at best, and when he finally falls down the rabbit of hole of love, I am going to seriously enjoy him eating crow for everything he has said and done to Mia and Riley so far.

Lies, deceit and unexpected twists kept me turning the pages as I waited for the truth to come out, and oh boy did it turn explosive when it did! Fortunately Ellie and Riley both knew that they had found something real before everything prematurely swirls around the drain thanks to the unexpected moves of her father’s former business partner. The question becomes whether tender-hearted Ellie can find a way to trust Riley ever again despite the love she knows she still feels. Riley has to become very good at groveling and reminding her exactly why she fell for him in the first place, and his family is happy to help his cause when they realize exactly how much their brother loves Ellie.

Ruthless was a wonderful read that I couldn’t put down once I started it! The story is far from over as new twists and turns revealed new dimensions to their history that they now need to account for. This book doesn’t contain any of the BDSM elements of the M&M series, but Riley and Ellie still absolutely steamed up the pages without it so don’t hesitate to give Ruthless a try! Bran is the lovable soft hearted member of the family but he was badly emotionally wounded by his childhood; his story is up next and I am already looking forward to it!

What a fantastic start to a brand new series from Lexi Blake. Ruthless has it all - corporate wranglings, a hot and sexy romance and family wrongs that need righted.

I have a confession to make. I started Ruthless a few months ago, and around 10% in, I had to take a break. And it was mostly because I really liked both Riley and Ellie, but I hated what Riley was planning on doing to her. I understood WHY he felt he had to do it. But, that didn't mean I was happy about it. And, that discomfort over his planned actions gave me a bit of pause. I knew I would get back to the story eventually - I just needed some time to digest the beginning of the book before I continued.

When I came back to the story, though, I was immediately thrust back into it as Riley continues lying to Ellie in order to gain access to her company so that he can take it down from the inside. Now, that's simplifying things greatly - there's no way I can go into all the corporate subterfuge that is going on on all sides, but that's essentially it. Ellie's father and her father' best friend conspired to kill Riley's parents, and he and his siblings have dedicated their lives to exacting revenge. And no one will stand in their way - not even sweet and innocent Ellie.

Except, as is usually the case, there comes a point where Riley's priorities shift. And that comes after a few super hot nights and meaningful conversations with Ellie. Now, Riley wants it all - to take down the company and protect Ellie in the process. Why did he not think she might have a problem with his initial intentions or his final goals???

I'm a very character-driven reader, and, despite Riley's initial plan to use Ellie and then get rid of her, I still loved him. I loved how he started to question big brother Drew's plan when it started not feeling right to him. I loved how he started planning to protect Ellie when he developed feelings for her. And Ellie was the perfect blend of strength and sweetness. She had a ton of heart, but when it mattered, she wasn't afraid to stand up for herself. And, when Riley betrayed her, she didn't make it easy for him - not one bit.

I enjoyed getting to know Riley's three siblings. Drew wasn't always my favorite person, but I loved Mia and Bran. It was interesting how each of them have processed the death of their parents, and how that event, and the immediately follow-up events in their lives have shaped how they have chosen to handle their roles in this revenge plot.

Ruthless kept me guessing as twists and turns I didn't see coming changed my thoughts on what would happen next. I love being surprised, and Ruthless surprised me more than once. I can't wait to read the next book in this series now - I'm expecting big things.

Drew, Riley, Bran and Mia Lawless have never forgotten the night their parents died or who was responsible for their death. After twenty years of strategizing the Lawless siblings are about to bring to life their revenge and Ellie Stratton heir to her father’s share of StratCast is the first in line as they settle the score. What happens when a plan for revenge becomes much more than anyone could ever think?

I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Lawless boys have thought of only one thing after they found out that their parents were murdered. They have spent years planning their revenge on the three other members of the company their father helped found, and subsequently died for. Everything they did down to what careers paths they took were all to make sure their plan goes off perfectly.

Eleanor (Ellie) Stratton knows what a bastard her father was. He wasn’t any better to her but she still loved him. Now that Ellie is supposed become CEO of StratCast, she has everything to prove to the board of directors that she is the right choice including that her father was wrong about her being too soft. She may come off soft-hearted and naïve but she has her ideals and morals in place. Ellie is really only looking for the things her father never gave her, unconditional love and acceptance for who she is.

The first meeting between Ellie and Riley, she couldn’t help but be attracted to the gorgeous lawyer recommend by her father’s retired lawyer. Riley likes what he sees and more than that he actually likes her for who she is. The chemistry between these two simmers for a while as Ellie is fighting the attraction. Riley is a persistence alpha man who knows what he wants but Ellie turns out to be nothing like he expected. His focus might be on revenge but he can’t help but notice what a remarkable woman Ellie was. The closer they get to each other the attraction becomes over-whelming and more powerful than either one ever thought they would ever experience.

Lexi Blake wrote a marvellous story that teaches you things aren’t always what they appear and people can surprise you in both good and bad ways. Years of planning revenge can jade a person but Riley sees past all his anger and sees just who Ellie is and how she is just what he needed. The problem with revenge is that someone almost always gets hurts in the process and Ellie is the lucky person to be hurt by more than just the Lawless siblings. The twists and turns Lexi has in this story keeps her readers guessing who did it and just how they could pull off such a plan. Lexi did a great job of pulling off a story about planning revenge while trying not to fall in love and anticipate anything the others will throw at you. This was a refreshing change from other books I’ve read lately and can’t wait to see what happens next for the Lawless siblings in “Satisfaction”.

Friends Till The End Book Blog: (...)

First off, I love love love Lexi Blake and especially her Masters & Mercenaries series. When I heard there was going to be a spin-off with the Lawless brothers that was non BDSM/military I was excited and a little apprehensive. I just adore M&M series and I was really hoping this new adventure could live up to my expectations. Well, long story short...IT DID!

Ruthless is the first book in the Lawless series and can be read as a complete standalone in regards to the Masters & Mercenaries series. There are some familiar characters woven into this world, but it’s done in a way where you understand everything, but you might get a little curious about those characters and where they come from. Which in and of itself makes this an excellent gateway drug. Ruthless has the same kind of wit, charm and sexiness I am used from Lexi Blake, without being as sexually descriptive or edgy as her M&M books. A nice taste of what the woman can do and you can decide if you want more. Just between us...she is one of my favourites.

Ruthless tells the story of Riley Lawless and Ellie Stratton. It’s a book about revenge, betrayal, corporate espionage and the two people stuck in the middle of a whirlwind. The Lawless brothers lost their parents when they were still kids and now they are out for vengeance, against the people who took everything from them. It’s fast paced, packed with some heavy plot and twists. There is no easy sailing here. The story is gripping, the characters are well fleshed out and truly engaging. Just what I was used to get from Ms. Blake and I can’t wait to see what the other Lawless brothers have in store for us. All in all, a well done read and an excellent start to a new romantic suspense series. I’m hooked.

Not having read any other works by the author before, I was really interesting in reading Blake's newest book/series. Needless to say, I was really impressed with the fluidity of the story and of the characters. The Lawless series is supposed to be about four siblings who are out to take revenge for what happened to their parents twenty years ago. Their parents' murder pulled the family apart, and now as adults they are together again to finally put an end to the StartCast empire once and for all.

In Ruthless, we get to meet Ellie Startton, heir to the empire that her father and friends built. Being the only daughter of the CEO, she has eyes on her constantly and doubts of her ability to take the company to the next level. To get the power that she needs, Ellie must get more shares to have the ultimate power. With that she has hired Riley as her lawyer, yet her attraction to him is magnetic from the very beginning and soon the two start to trust in each other. She tells him her hopes and dreams for the company and little did she know that Riley would use that against her when the time comes.

On the other hand there is Riley, who thanks to his brother he is now a lawyer ready to take down the company that ended his parents' lives. When he first got to the company, he had only one intention and that was to fill the purpose that he intended to finish, but new obstacles are threatening to take away what he had build with Ellie and he is willing to go against his family in order to protect her.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ruthless, it was filled with steamy scenes and twists that took the story to the next level. It's evident that the characters have a connection from the very beginning, but it is up to them to discover if there could be something more between them. Ellie goes through ups and downs as she gets used to the fact that she will have to take over the company some day. But not everyone likes the idea and that is when she has to face obstacles to get what she wants. Though in this case the leading hero is not the big CEO, Riley is still quite wealthy and his killer looks could get him just about anything that he wants. He is also sweet and caring, he falls for Ellie rather quickly, but it works out for them. He takes charge when Ellie is powerless, and the two make quite the pair. I love the ending, it's sweet and works well with the story. I would highly recommend reading this book it's definitely worth it. :)

***ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.***

*Note rating was updated after reading this one again before book two*

To get to the bottom of your parent’s murder what would you do? Would you do whatever it took, even if that means lying and hurting someone you want if it is for the greater good? Would you be ruthless in your pursuit, so much so that the person you love could get hurt themselves? Who can you trust, who was involved, and who else are possible victims in their schemes? You ask yourself all of these questions while reading Ruthless. Be prepared to be sucked in, to think you have some of the things figured out only to be proven wrong after a chapter or two.

Riley will make you want to slap him for what he does but you can’t help but want him to get the answers he needs for his brothers and sister and understand what is driving his determination. I loved Ellie, and hated what was happening to her, I wanted her to not be sucked into the evilness that was her father and stay on track on having the reigns of her company.

Don’t be surprised if you see a certain last name mentioned a time or two, this is a series of it’s own but we all need some sexy security in our lives don’t you agree. Hint hint. I wonder why type of crazy ride we are going to go on with the rest of the brothers, I think as readers we will be in for a suspense filled treat.

Lexi Blake is one of my favorite BDSM novelist and the absolute best when it comes to writing erotic stories that are not only off the charts steamy, but intriguing as well. Yeesh, found within the pages of her books are some of the sexiest flogger-wielding Alpha-Doms ever. (I freaking love all the McKay-Taggart hotties in the Masters and Mercenaries novels). When finding out there was a new series coming along, I jumped at the chance to get my hands on the first installment, Ruthless.

Even though Riley and Ellie’s romance was a departure from Blake’s BDSM style that I adore, it was no less captivating. Ruthless had everything I love whenever reading this author’s tales ~ an exceptionally written nail biting story line whose plot twists had me on edge; An un-be-lievably hot yet romantically sweet hero; a sassy heroine; And a cast of colorful characters that left me wanting to discover their stories. From the emotionally heartbreaking prologue that had me all teary-eyed, through to the last page, Ruthless was an angst filled passionate read that I consumed in just one sitting.

As children, Riley Lawless and his siblings suffered the horrific tragedy of their parents’ murder, which was rooted by corporate greed. After years of plotting and positioning, it was time for those responsible to pay for their crimes. It was Riley’s responsibility to insinuate himself into Eleanor Stratton’s company and seduce her. Her firm, StratCast, was founded on stolen technology and his parents’ blood shed. Regardless of the fact that Ellie was not directly responsible for the Lawless’ death, she was instrumental in the grand scheme.

Using her was just part of the plan. Consumed with vengeance, Riley was ruthless in his pursuit of bringing down his targets but surprised when the unthinkable happened… he fell hopelessly in love with Ellie.

The chemistry between this couple was scorching. With their whirlwind insta-romance starting off hot and heavy, but based on Riley’s secrets and lies, I found myself anxiously holding my breath waiting for everything to unravel as the story progressed. All the passion and deceits frayed my nerves. On top of all the relationship angst, there were plot twists, bad guys and circumstances that had me on edge as well. Secrets, betrayals, murderous plots, unending suspense… with each revelation more questions arose as I became fully immersed within Riley and Ellie’s story. I just love when a book is so gripping, each intricate detail has a meaning, and I’m forced to pay close attention while piecing together the puzzle. Ruthless was exactly that type of read.

Riley was delectably sexy and so tenderhearted, he had me swooning. A shrewd lawyer with a plan of attack, he was fueled by his family’s need for justice. I loved the way his character journeyed from the stone cold man solely focused on revenge, to a true and dedicated hero willing to sacrifice everything for Ellie. And when her world came crumbling down, it was Riley who came to her rescue. Desperate for her forgiveness and affections, Riley worked hard to right the all wrongs that destroyed Ellie, despite his family’s thirst for vengeance. Once deceptive and later sincere, he won me over with his overly romantic ways.

Poor Ellie. She was everyone’s pawn and so eager to trust those who were part of her close circle. Friends, colleagues, family… all took advantage of her sympathetic heart. A businesswoman with ethics, Ellie found herself surrounded by conniving vipers, including the man of her dreams. Living a lonely life, she took a chance on Riley, which in the end shattered her to pieces.
As naive and insecure as she first appeared, Ellie developed a backbone when her life spun out of control, and I admired the way she stubbornly stood her ground against those who betrayed her. But above all, Ellie was compassionate and regardless of her dire circumstances, she opened her heart to the entire Lawless clan. In the end, her love for Riley was genuine ~ she was the perfect woman to break through all of his defenses and help heal past heartaches.

Ruthless was an extremely intense novel that had all the feels. I loved the McKay-Taggart connection and the Lawless family dynamics. Riley and Ellie’s journey was just the beginning of an intricate story line and I can’t wait for it to continue in Brandon and Andrew’s romances. Another great read from Lexi Blake and a perfect choice for lovers of steamy romantic suspense.

4.5 stars

The Lawless clan was first introduced in Mia and Case’s story Dominance Never Dies in the Masters and Mercenaries series and I couldn’t wait to find out more about them. (If you haven’t read that book yet, don’t worry- everything you need to know is explained in Ruthless so it can be read completely as a standalone.)

Of the 4 Lawless siblings, only Mia ended up in a good place after the death of their parents and she was the only one with any sort of normal childhood. Her 3 brothers Drew, Brandon and Riley had to learn to fend for themselves in far less than ideal circumstances, and they kept their sanity by focusing on the future when they could avenge their parents’ murder. Drew is now a very wealthy businessman known as a bit of a recluse, but that is by design to make it easier to execute his plans so that he doesn’t have a recognizable face. Riley’s law degree was earned with the sole purpose of being able to take apart their enemies from a legal aspect, and target #1 is up: Ellie Stratton, the daughter of their father’s former business partner Philip Stratton.

Despite the sheer number of hours of research Riley has put into getting to know the enemy, he is stunned by 2 things: the fact the Ellie is an optimist and gentle soul who is nothing like her cutthroat father, and her pictures absolutely do not do her justice. Suddenly going to any lengths to achieve their goals doesn’t seem like it may be such a bad thing. But the more time Riley spends with her, the harder he finds it to keep revenge as his primary motivation as Ellie proves over and over again that she is the polar opposite of her father. He slowly starts to let her see small bits and pieces of the real Riley even as he worries how she will react when she finds out the truth.

There is plenty that Riley and Drew don’t count on, starting with human nature itself. Case warns Riley that their clinical view of their plan’s execution doesn’t account for the unpredictability of human nature and that it will come back to bite them in the end. Their time in the group homes and foster care caused them to forget the finer points of having love and compassion in their lives, and Drew in particular became a coldhearted jerk who is focused on the endgame and only the endgame. The few times that he bends to accommodate his family’s wishes are done grudgingly at best, and when he finally falls down the rabbit of hole of love, I am going to seriously enjoy him eating crow for everything he has said and done to Mia and Riley so far.

Lies, deceit and unexpected twists kept me turning the pages as I waited for the truth to come out, and oh boy did it turn explosive when it did! Fortunately Ellie and Riley both knew that they had found something real before everything prematurely swirls around the drain thanks to the unexpected moves of her father’s former business partner. The question becomes whether tender-hearted Ellie can find a way to trust Riley ever again despite the love she knows she still feels. Riley has to become very good at groveling and reminding her exactly why she fell for him in the first place, and his family is happy to help his cause when they realize exactly how much their brother loves Ellie.

Ruthless was a wonderful read that I couldn’t put down once I started it! The story is far from over as new twists and turns revealed new dimensions to their history that they now need to account for. This book doesn’t contain any of the BDSM elements of the M&M series, but Riley and Ellie still absolutely steamed up the pages without it so don’t hesitate to give Ruthless a try! Bran is the lovable soft hearted member of the family but he was badly emotionally wounded by his childhood; his story is up next and I am already looking forward to it!

What a fantastic start to a brand new series from Lexi Blake. Ruthless has it all - corporate wranglings, a hot and sexy romance and family wrongs that need righted.

I have a confession to make. I started Ruthless a few months ago, and around 10% in, I had to take a break. And it was mostly because I really liked both Riley and Ellie, but I hated what Riley was planning on doing to her. I understood WHY he felt he had to do it. But, that didn't mean I was happy about it. And, that discomfort over his planned actions gave me a bit of pause. I knew I would get back to the story eventually - I just needed some time to digest the beginning of the book before I continued.

When I came back to the story, though, I was immediately thrust back into it as Riley continues lying to Ellie in order to gain access to her company so that he can take it down from the inside. Now, that's simplifying things greatly - there's no way I can go into all the corporate subterfuge that is going on on all sides, but that's essentially it. Ellie's father and her father' best friend conspired to kill Riley's parents, and he and his siblings have dedicated their lives to exacting revenge. And no one will stand in their way - not even sweet and innocent Ellie.

Except, as is usually the case, there comes a point where Riley's priorities shift. And that comes after a few super hot nights and meaningful conversations with Ellie. Now, Riley wants it all - to take down the company and protect Ellie in the process. Why did he not think she might have a problem with his initial intentions or his final goals???

I'm a very character-driven reader, and, despite Riley's initial plan to use Ellie and then get rid of her, I still loved him. I loved how he started to question big brother Drew's plan when it started not feeling right to him. I loved how he started planning to protect Ellie when he developed feelings for her. And Ellie was the perfect blend of strength and sweetness. She had a ton of heart, but when it mattered, she wasn't afraid to stand up for herself. And, when Riley betrayed her, she didn't make it easy for him - not one bit.

I enjoyed getting to know Riley's three siblings. Drew wasn't always my favorite person, but I loved Mia and Bran. It was interesting how each of them have processed the death of their parents, and how that event, and the immediately follow-up events in their lives have shaped how they have chosen to handle their roles in this revenge plot.

Ruthless kept me guessing as twists and turns I didn't see coming changed my thoughts on what would happen next. I love being surprised, and Ruthless surprised me more than once. I can't wait to read the next book in this series now - I'm expecting big things.

Drew, Riley, Bran and Mia Lawless have never forgotten the night their parents died or who was responsible for their death. After twenty years of strategizing the Lawless siblings are about to bring to life their revenge and Ellie Stratton heir to her father’s share of StratCast is the first in line as they settle the score. What happens when a plan for revenge becomes much more than anyone could ever think?

I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Lawless boys have thought of only one thing after they found out that their parents were murdered. They have spent years planning their revenge on the three other members of the company their father helped found, and subsequently died for. Everything they did down to what careers paths they took were all to make sure their plan goes off perfectly.

Eleanor (Ellie) Stratton knows what a bastard her father was. He wasn’t any better to her but she still loved him. Now that Ellie is supposed become CEO of StratCast, she has everything to prove to the board of directors that she is the right choice including that her father was wrong about her being too soft. She may come off soft-hearted and naïve but she has her ideals and morals in place. Ellie is really only looking for the things her father never gave her, unconditional love and acceptance for who she is.

The first meeting between Ellie and Riley, she couldn’t help but be attracted to the gorgeous lawyer recommend by her father’s retired lawyer. Riley likes what he sees and more than that he actually likes her for who she is. The chemistry between these two simmers for a while as Ellie is fighting the attraction. Riley is a persistence alpha man who knows what he wants but Ellie turns out to be nothing like he expected. His focus might be on revenge but he can’t help but notice what a remarkable woman Ellie was. The closer they get to each other the attraction becomes over-whelming and more powerful than either one ever thought they would ever experience.

Lexi Blake wrote a marvellous story that teaches you things aren’t always what they appear and people can surprise you in both good and bad ways. Years of planning revenge can jade a person but Riley sees past all his anger and sees just who Ellie is and how she is just what he needed. The problem with revenge is that someone almost always gets hurts in the process and Ellie is the lucky person to be hurt by more than just the Lawless siblings. The twists and turns Lexi has in this story keeps her readers guessing who did it and just how they could pull off such a plan. Lexi did a great job of pulling off a story about planning revenge while trying not to fall in love and anticipate anything the others will throw at you. This was a refreshing change from other books I’ve read lately and can’t wait to see what happens next for the Lawless siblings in “Satisfaction”.

Friends Till The End Book Blog: (...)

First off, I love love love Lexi Blake and especially her Masters & Mercenaries series. When I heard there was going to be a spin-off with the Lawless brothers that was non BDSM/military I was excited and a little apprehensive. I just adore M&M series and I was really hoping this new adventure could live up to my expectations. Well, long story short...IT DID!

Ruthless is the first book in the Lawless series and can be read as a complete standalone in regards to the Masters & Mercenaries series. There are some familiar characters woven into this world, but it’s done in a way where you understand everything, but you might get a little curious about those characters and where they come from. Which in and of itself makes this an excellent gateway drug. Ruthless has the same kind of wit, charm and sexiness I am used from Lexi Blake, without being as sexually descriptive or edgy as her M&M books. A nice taste of what the woman can do and you can decide if you want more. Just between us...she is one of my favourites.

Ruthless tells the story of Riley Lawless and Ellie Stratton. It’s a book about revenge, betrayal, corporate espionage and the two people stuck in the middle of a whirlwind. The Lawless brothers lost their parents when they were still kids and now they are out for vengeance, against the people who took everything from them. It’s fast paced, packed with some heavy plot and twists. There is no easy sailing here. The story is gripping, the characters are well fleshed out and truly engaging. Just what I was used to get from Ms. Blake and I can’t wait to see what the other Lawless brothers have in store for us. All in all, a well done read and an excellent start to a new romantic suspense series. I’m hooked.

Not having read any other works by the author before, I was really interesting in reading Blake's newest book/series. Needless to say, I was really impressed with the fluidity of the story and of the characters. The Lawless series is supposed to be about four siblings who are out to take revenge for what happened to their parents twenty years ago. Their parents' murder pulled the family apart, and now as adults they are together again to finally put an end to the StartCast empire once and for all.

In Ruthless, we get to meet Ellie Startton, heir to the empire that her father and friends built. Being the only daughter of the CEO, she has eyes on her constantly and doubts of her ability to take the company to the next level. To get the power that she needs, Ellie must get more shares to have the ultimate power. With that she has hired Riley as her lawyer, yet her attraction to him is magnetic from the very beginning and soon the two start to trust in each other. She tells him her hopes and dreams for the company and little did she know that Riley would use that against her when the time comes.

On the other hand there is Riley, who thanks to his brother he is now a lawyer ready to take down the company that ended his parents' lives. When he first got to the company, he had only one intention and that was to fill the purpose that he intended to finish, but new obstacles are threatening to take away what he had build with Ellie and he is willing to go against his family in order to protect her.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ruthless, it was filled with steamy scenes and twists that took the story to the next level. It's evident that the characters have a connection from the very beginning, but it is up to them to discover if there could be something more between them. Ellie goes through ups and downs as she gets used to the fact that she will have to take over the company some day. But not everyone likes the idea and that is when she has to face obstacles to get what she wants. Though in this case the leading hero is not the big CEO, Riley is still quite wealthy and his killer looks could get him just about anything that he wants. He is also sweet and caring, he falls for Ellie rather quickly, but it works out for them. He takes charge when Ellie is powerless, and the two make quite the pair. I love the ending, it's sweet and works well with the story. I would highly recommend reading this book it's definitely worth it. :)

***ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.***

Eleanor Stratton has been trying to prove that she's more than worthy to become the CEO of StratCast, the company her late father and his close friend started years ago. She's set to take over and she wants to purchase the current CEO's shares, but her new lawyer wants her to hold off, citing discrepancies in the contract. Riley Lang seems to know what he's talking about and he insists he'll always have Ellie's best interests at heart. But Riley Lang isn't even his real name. He's Riley Lawless, second son of the couple Ellie's father and his business partner had killed two decades ago. He and his siblings have been focused on one goal but now their plans are experiencing an unexpected complication: Riley's intensifying feelings for Ellie. Now, Riley'll have to choose: the vengeance that is his life or the woman who has become his life.

I do love me a well-crafted romantic suspense novel, and with Ruthless being the series starter to Lawless, featuring the three Lawless brothers--Andrew, Riley, and Brandon--who seek revenge and justice for the murder of their parents twenty years prior, I believe I've found myself a new collection of books to obsess over. This also happens to be my very first Lexi Blake read, and because this series is a spin-off of her bestselling Masters and Mercenaries books, I can't help but wonder what took me this frickin' long to read her stuff, especially since the most recent release, Dominance Never Dies, features Mia, the youngest and only girl among the Lawless siblings. With the second book in the Lawless series set for release in January 2017, I'm hoping to have sufficient time to read through the original series before diving into Satisfaction.

We've got ourselves the very interesting family dynamic among Drew, Riley, Bran, and Mia, each sibling distinct but every single one unified by their love and loyalty to the memory of the parents they lost too soon as well as to one another, and it's a loyalty that's tested by the inclusion of Ellie in Riley's life. Among the four, it's only Mia who wasn't forced to live in a group home after their parents were murdered, so her childhood was far more different compared to that of her brothers. Riley is not just haunted by the deaths of his father and mother but also by one particular experience while in foster care. The Lawless brood didn't just have their parents taken from them, but also the life they could have had, a life they think Ellie enjoyed due to her father's actions. Only, Ellie's life under her father's thumb was so far from an ideal one.

I applaud the author for coming up with a cast of characters that are multi-dimensional. You want to learn what lies beneath the need for revenge and if there's anything or anyone that can divert the attention of the three older Lawless siblings. Riley and Ellie survived--him after the loss of his parents and her while her father was still alive. They both carry the legacy that their parents left behind and the weight that they've taken on is a heavy one. They're good people who deserve to have peace of mind and happiness with each other, but getting there isn't going to be easy, especially when the truth comes out. The mystery aspect was one I reveled in, with a sufficient number of twists, majority of which I didn't see coming. With that epilogue, I'm already counting the days until the release of the second novel. Five stars for Ruthless. ♥

Ruthless is the first solo Lexi Blake book I have read. I have read other books that Lexi has co-authored and just like them I really enjoyed Ruthless.

Talk about a book that has a little bit of everything. This book is filled with lies, secrets, betrayal, romance, and extremely steamy sex scenes ;) This storyline will have you on the edge of your seat for the majority of the book. Lexi did an amazing job keeping her readers guessing. I loved all the twists and turns that were thrown at us during this story.

My only real complaint about this book was that there were times I felt the storyline dragged a little. I thought some of that extra stuff could’ve been cut out. By having a little too much filler in the story, kind of made the ending seemed rushed. There were some twists and turns I thought could’ve come out a little sooner, but I still really liked this book and would recommend it to all my reader friends.

Ruthless is the first in Lexi’s Lawless Series. This series is going to follow the Lawless Siblings….Riley, Drew, Bran and Mia. This first book is Riley’s story. I believe each of these books can be read as standalones but I can also see where the storyline might continue into the next books. I think each couples story will be completed at the end of each book, but I think questions will linger and maybe be answered in the other books. This series is basically about the Lawless siblings seeking revenge on the people who are responsible of murdering their parents when they were younger in which lead the siblings to being separated. This is where all the secrets, lies and betrayal play a big part in their plan. That is about all I plan to say about this storyline.

I will say that I really liked Riley and Ellie. Riley was extremely swoony and I melted with every word he said. I was afraid that I might not like Riley or the Lawson siblings, but I loved them all and I am looking forward to each of their books. Ellie was a great heroine, maybe a little too naive and trusting, but still strong in her own way. I really hope we get to see Riley and Ellie in other books.

Again I would recommend this book to all my reader friends. If you are interested in a book that is filled with romance, suspense and mystery, this is the book to read!! You won’t be sorry. I think the Lawless family is one everyone should meet.

RUTHLESS is the first installment in Lexi Blake’s contemporary, adult LAWLESS erotic romantic, suspense series focusing on the Lawless siblings: Riley, Drew, Brandon and Mia. This is attorney Riley (Lang) Lawless, and heir to the StratCast company and Ellie Stratton’s story line. There is a bit of a cross over/spinoff with Blake’s Masters and Mercenaries series with the appearance and ongoing role for Mia and Case (Dominance Never Dies), and the McKay –Taggart Security Service.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Riley and Ellie) RUTHLESS follows the Lawless siblings as they set out on a path of revenge for the murder of their parents twenty years earlier, and their first target is the daughter of their father’s late partner Phillip Stratton-Ellie Stratton-a woman whose world is about to crumble and fall. Riley’s need to destroy Ellie Stratton comes to a screaming halt when our hero begins to fall for the daughter of the man that destroyed his life. Twenty years earlier Benedict Lawless and his wife were murdered in a house fire intended to kill the entire family-a murder for hire where greed and power were the precipitating factors. Fast forward to present day wherein the Lawless siblings seek vengeance against the people who stole everything from their life. What ensues is the building relationship between Ellie Stratton and Riley Lawless –the man she hired to assist in a business buyout- and the take down of one more person responsible for the death the Lawless parents.

The relationship between Riley and Ellie begins as a business deal wherein Riley is hired to facilitate a buyout between Ellie Stratton and Steven Castalano-another business partner targeted by the Lawless siblings. Riley is a man determined to get in, destroy, and get out but finds himself falling in love with his beautiful mark. Ellie not only has to deal with the betrayals of her father, her father’s current business partner, and people she once called friends, but she must also face the lies and deception of the man with whom she is falling in love. The $ex scenes are erotic, seductive and intense.

All of the Lawless siblings play secondary and supporting roles. We are introduced to Drew, Brandon, Mia and Mia’s husband Case, and one of Benedict’s former partners Bill ‘Hatch’ Hatchard-a man who all but raised the Lawless siblings. I suspect there is a story about Hatch, and his role in the entire family saga. There are a number of Ellie’s co-workers and employees, as well as Ellie’s PA Lily, and Steven’s son Kyle. Brandon’s story will be told next in Satisfaction.

The world building focuses on vengeance and justice, and the interesting family dynamics between the Lawless siblings each brought up through the Child Welfare System but only the youngest child Mia found a permanent family and some semblance of love.

RUTHLESS is an intriguing tale of retribution and retaliation. It is a story about greed and privilege, murder and survival, family and the future. The premise is entertaining and engaging; the characters are broken, colorful, animated and intense; the romance is provocative but will falter in the face of lies and more betrayal. Lexi Blake pens another wonderful start to a new and intriguing series

Lexi Blake has created the perfect spin-off to the Masters and Mercenaries series. She has put together a diverse blend of characters and made them family.

The Lawless children, (Drew, Riley, Bran and Mia) have had to endure more than one family should have to endure. They deserve justice even in the form of revenge. But revenge often has casualties. It's then we learn whether or not the Lawless children can live with themselves in the end.

Ellie Stratton daughter of Phillip Stratton and business parter of Steven Castalano. These two men and Patricia Cain were the orchestrators of the murders of Benedict and Iris Lawless.

Quote: "The sins of the father were about to be visited on the daughter's doorstep. Ellie Stratton would have to pay her father's debt."

The plan was twenty years in the making and Riley will integrate his way into Ellie's life. But no matter how perfect the plan is not every contingency can be foreseen. Like caring about the person you are about to destroy or the person you want to destroy having his own plan.

I loved Ellie the moment I read about her. She is a truly good person, that wants nothing but the best for the people that work for her. She has those rose colored glasses on and never takes them off. My heart hurt thinking that she was the one that Riley had to use and eventually destroy, but I was also really torn because I felt for the family. They already had their lives destroyed and they need justice in order to more on. Does having a good reason excuse the family from intentionally hurting this woman?

The Lawless children were great compliments to each other. First you have the ultra-serious Drew, who can only see revenge all the way to Bran who is the rock of the family. Mia is the wild child, who was able to get Case to see how good she was for him. And finally we have Riley, who is a little bit of all them. He understands that he is going to put his family first and do what he has to do so they can all move on with their lives.

One of the things I really liked about this book was that we got to revisit Case and Mia. Case was a voice of reason in this book, which he really wasn't in Dominance Never Dies. He and Mia are so good together.

In closing, I loved this book and can't wait for the second addition to this series.

I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Intense, sexy, riveting, and absolutely consuming are just the few words that comes to mind when describing any book from Lexi Blake. In Masters and Mercenaries Series, readers were introduced to Drew, Mia and the Lawless siblings and so you could imagine my excitement when I discovered that Lexi Blake was writing a whole new series on the Lawless siblings and their quest for revenge and justice for their parent’s death.

“It might be wrong. It might be completely unprofessional, but she was going to have him. She was going to sink herself into an affair with him and not worry about the consequences. For once in her life, she was going to do something wild, something for herself. She gave herself over, letting go of everything but the feel of those lips on hers.”

The Lawless siblings consist of Drew, Riley, Brandon and Mia. Their lives were turned upside down when their parents were brutally assassinated and murdered. The siblings had to be split off in different foster homes until Drew was old enough to get back his siblings and reunite the Lawless family and their vendetta of revenge on the people who betrayed their parents. Money is the root of evil and money was the reason why their parents were murdered. As the Lawless siblings grew up, revenge fueled their desire for justice.

First order of business is to take care of StratCast and it’s CEO Phillip Stratton and his partner. Stratton and his associates were the ones who orchestrated the death of the Lawless parents. Since Phillip is no longer alive, the company will be passed onto his daughter, Ellie who plans to buyout her father’s partner. And Riley’s objective is to get close to Ellie. We all know the saying keep your enemies closer, well Riley never thought he would fall for Phillip Stratton’s daughter.

“I’ll have you naked. I’ll get rid of every single thing that comes between us. I’ll strip you and then touch every inch of your body. You might be the boss in the boardroom, but I intend to lead here. I intend to have you every way I can have a woman, Ellie. Once I’m inside you, I won’t want to leave.”

Ellie was nothing like what Riley would have expected. She was beautiful and kindhearted. She was the epitome of beauty and brains. Riley knew once he crossed that line that will blur his end goal and objective, the task of bringing justice got a whole lot complicated when Ellie Stratton rocked his world. She was the game changer that brought this ruthless bastard to his knees. What happens when Ellie discovers Riley and his siblings's secret?

“Ellie needed a place where she could go wild. He intended to be that for her. He would protect her from the fallout. He would keep her safe. She might lose some face, the stock might fall momentarily, but he was being optimistic. He could do this. He could come out of this with revenge and the girl. Because he’d decided he really wanted the girl. F%$!, he wanted her so bad.”

In this corporate game of chicanery and espionage, Lexi Blake engages her readers on a suspenseful and passionate journey of love, revenge, and secrecy. Ruthless was a story that was layered with so much depth, betrayal, duplicity, and intensity that readers are thrown into a whirlwind of chaos and love. I loved everything about this book from it’s cunning characters to the vehement and ardent love of two unlikely strangers. So if you are looking for a book that was somewhat like Romeo and Juliet meets Wallstreet then Ruthless is definitely for you. I seriously can’t wait for the next installment as another Lawless sibling is ready to take down the other person who was involved in their parents death.

Oh my goodness, Ruthless blew me away in more ways than one. Lexi Blake really knows how to garner the reader’s attention and keep them captivated until the very end. And even when you reach the end, you’ll be yearning for more.

Riley and his siblings were dealt a serious blow when they were younger, one that changed their world from happy and loving, to sadness and alone. But from out of the ashes a plan was hatched, a goal to achieve. And it’s taken many, many years but the prize seems to be close at hand.

Ellie is finally within reach of gaining control of her company, she just needs to get through this buyout in order to finally being able to do some good. After learning of her father’s unspeakable actions, she vows to make things right to people he’s hurt. She’s nothing like her father; she’s got a heart of gold.

When Riley and Ellie meet, the sparks fly with every smoldering look, every sensual smile, and every dirty word. Their connection is undeniable, even though they try to fight it. But you can only fight the sexual tension for so long.

However, just as things start to between Riley and Ellie, the floor falls out from under them in ways they never expected. Has Riley found something more important to him than “the plan”? Can their new relationship survive this catastrophe or will they crash and burn under the pressure? Will the Lawless’ finally get their man or will they learn there is more to their story.

Ruthless is a brilliantly told story about two people who didn’t think that love was for them. They lived their life for their job, alone. Finding each other changed everything; their life was given a new purpose. I adore how when Riley makes a commits to something, he does it with every fiber of his being. He’s man true to his word, and that is total turn on. And the things that comes out of his mouth is oh so deliciously seductive, your panties will melt right off.

I enjoyed getting to meet the rest of the Lawless siblings. Each has their own problems, but I love that they are always there for each other. I look forward to the next chapter in this series.

Lexi Blake’s new Lawless series starts off a sexy tale of murder, revenge, and romance with Ruthless. The Lawless siblings – Drew, Riley, Bran, and Mia – lost their parents in a fire that was no accident. Due to their ages, they were separated and raised separately with foster parents and in foster homes, until the eldest, Drew could gather them together again. They are on a mission – to prove the guilt of the parties involved in their parents’ deaths. Their father had developed a software program that was coveted by his partners and when he died, they went on to make a fortune. Proving what really happened is all that the siblings think about.

The CEO of Stratcast has recently died, and his daughter Ellie is in a delicate business negotiation to buy out her father’s partner Steven when Riley and Drew start the first step of their plan. Riley is hired as Ellie’s lawyer, but his real goal is to tank the buyout and get the evidence they need against Steven and Ellie’s deceased father, two of the perpetrators of his parents’ murder. Ellie is attracted to Riley and he makes it clear that the feeling is mutual. Despite her reservations, Ellie enters into a heated affair with Riley. But when things go spectacularly wrong, will her choices come back to haunt her?

This is a good start to what looks to be an intriguing series. It’s a spin-off of the author’s Masters and Mercenaries series, with Mia having captured the heart of Case Taggart in Dominance Never Dies. Here, we see her and Case as secondary characters, as well as Drew and Bran. The main focus of the story is on Riley and Ellie, but there are several scenes with the siblings that give you a good feeling about what each character is like and the dynamics of their interactions show a family that cares about each other. They’ve plotted for a long time together to get revenge on the people who perpetrated their parents’ deaths. Nothing is going to get in their way, including possible collateral damage, such as Ellie the daughter of their enemy. Well, this is the attitude at first, but as Riley gets to know Ellie, he has a change of heart and realizes that he wants to protect her from the fallout of their actions. Because there definitely is going to be some fallout.

I don’t want to give away too much of the plot but suffice it to say there is a lot of action, drama and intrigue as the story progresses. Riley and Ellie are drawn to each other from their first meeting and they share some steamy scenes as they grow closer together, even as they both are clear that this is a sex-only fling and neither is looking for commitment. It’s Riley that soon realizes he’s in over his head, though, and he knows he’s going to break Ellie’s heart when she finds out why he’s working for her. There are lots of twists and turns to the story, and some things happen that I did not see coming!

Surprisingly, I did find that there were some slow scenes, and sometimes the dialogue was a bit stilted. But I still wanted to continue reading the story at every opportunity and see how everything would turn out. Riley’s redemption as a character first bent on revenge then realizing the human cost was a favourite part for me. Drew remained a somewhat mysterious character as the older reclusive brother while Bran seemed to be almost a bit simple, in his actions and speech. Both Riley and Bran have some issues left over from foster care that also get discussed and make it clear that none of them have had an easy path. In the end, I was quite satisfied with the romance between Riley and Ellie, and I definitely plan to read the next in the series.