Damage Control: A Dirty Money Novel

Shane and Emily finally must confront the secrets they both are keeping, as Emily's past is revealed to be anything but true. Shane thinks she's there to ruin him, to take part in his family problems, but she just wants to protect him, from herself and the secrets she runs from. She runs, but Shane can't seem to let her go, he cares more than he's willing to admit. Despite their desire to protect the other they start to lean on one another, finding a way to face both their problems together. As Shane faces his family he sees that his mistrust in Emily was wrong and that she's the strength he needs to lean on.

"'I wonder,' I say, my gaze finding hers, heat simmering low in my limbs, one part lust, another part fury, 'how it is that I didn't taste your lies. I wonder if they'll taste differently now that I know they exist.'"

Is it possible this book was better than Hard Rules? Yes, definitely. There is so much development in the story and from the Shane and Emily, as well as from the the secondary characters of Shane's family members and the two men he trusts as he works to take his brother down. I really enjoyed how much Shane and Emily changed, their relationship grew a lot in this novel and how they lean on one another showed true caring. Emily, on her own, has quite a history and I cannot wait for that to be delved into even farther. Shane, though dealing with his family, was always showing his true colors and despite her secrets, it seems Emily was as well. Emily's running and Shane's family and the drama surrounding both were really well developed in Damage Control. I felt like I finally had really jumped into a suspense novel, especially with the cliff hanger ending.

"He wants what is real, but that is dark and blood-laden, and he doesn't deserve it."

Lisa Renee Jones' writing is, as always, incredible. The scene is easy to picture, each character well described, even their different POV's and voices felt unique to them. There are a lot of answers in this book, more questions added, and the story line of Shane's family continues to develop in increasingly dark ways. I loved that there was always something going on in the book even as Shane and Emily's relationship continued to develop. I think it takes a lot of skill to write a romance into a book that's filled with suspense, violence, and threats that could change everything.

"Lies destroy, but I fear the truth is worse. Maybe lies are better. Or maybe they're arent."

Damage Control is a must read, you will not be able to put it down, and it's the perfect sequel to Hard Rules. I am on pins and needles waiting for the next two releases already, Lisa Renee Jones has me hooked.

The mystery and danger continue in this the second edition of the Dirty Money Series. Lisa, gives us more of Shane, Emily and the Brandon empire and all that it entails. This book reveal some secrets and give us more drama than the first book. Drama, danger and more heat and passion than the first book.
Shane, strong, protective realizes that Emily is the one for him and will do anything to protect him even from his ow family.
Emily reveals some of the dangers and secrets that she has been running and hiding from, dangers that could bring more problems to Shane.
Exciting and filled with heat this book is addicting!

WARNING! If you have not read Hard Rules yet, stop here! Book 1 must be read before Damage Control

Damage Control picks up immediately after the last sentence of Hard Rules as Shane is questioning Emily about her true identity. He knew that she had secrets, but Seth's digging has opened up a whole lot of questions about just who she really is, and with the war for control of the Brandon family intensifying, he needs to know who he can trust now more than ever. She is determined to keep him safe from the demons hunting her down and tries to push him away long enough to disappear again, but he won't allow it.

Even as she knows she is going to lose the battle when Shane puts his mind to something, Emily can't help but contemplate what her life has become as she allows her secrets to be exposed to the one man she can't seem to say no to. Those secrets become another burden and a hurdle to be overcome when Shane learns them, but he is startled to realize that he has willingly taken them on. Emily has become his port in the storm, and he needs her to help keep him from straying too far off the path of what is right. His instinct to protect her at all costs is high, but she won't allow herself to become a distraction from the primary target: extricating his company's business from the mess it is in and learning what his father's end game is. She has learned to depend only on herself in the recent past, and she is far from weak with a good read on how to handle the machinations that seem to constantly surround Shane, making her a valuable asset and his heart's weakness all at once.

"Secrets. Lies. Trust. Love. Hate. Family. Sex."

That series of thoughts that runs through Emily's mind is pretty much the summary of Damage Control in a nutshell. Chess pieces are being moved around the board by Shane, Derek, and their father just to name a few. The games are escalating, and for every potential solution to a problem that tries to present itself, Shane seems to find himself facing two new issues that crop up that make the previous ones pale by comparison. The Martina cartel gets bolder, Derek's hatred of Shane grows to dangerous levels, and Shane steps closer to embracing his family member's easy acceptance of the fact that sometimes you have to play dirty to win.

Shane is essentially a good man who is caught in a bad situation, and he is trying to reconcile how to retain his integrity with potentially becoming the person he fears he must be in order to bring an end to the threat to his company, his family and the woman he loves. But will it all be worth it in the end if he turns into exactly the type of person he is trying to stop? He knows he possesses a certain amount of darkness within him and it scares him to realize he may need to unleash it before all is said and done. He has never wanted a relationship in the past, but he can't deny his feelings for Emily even as it means that he now has an exposed weakness and it makes her a target in the war against him. All of these conflicting emotions are swirling through his mind on a daily basis, and something is going to have to give soon. He finally gives in to the desire to share everything with Emily rather than holding back to protect her, and I have a feeling it may just save both of them in the end.

Seth, his trusted friend and the man who handles the questionable duties that Shane should not be associated with, is working overtime in this book and I am sure he is going to be even busier in the upcoming Bad Deeds. The gauntlet has been thrown down between the brothers, and loyalties are still unclear when it comes to their mother and father. Their dirty little secrets continue to reveal themselves a little at a time, and it seems as though the scales may be tipping in Shane's favor with his father at the end of this book. But that man is a master manipulator and a tangled web has been woven so I am half expecting for him to pull the rug out beneath Shane somehow before too long. After all we are only half way through the story arc, and I will definitely be anxiously waiting for book 3 to be released in August!

Whew.

This one starts about 6 seconds after Hard Rules ends. This is a good thing if you have read Hard Rules, as you want to know what in the world is going on.

Now is a good time to mention, this is not a standalone. You do have the author, thanks for this, in the notes at the beginning, give a sum up of what has happened. But it is a sum up and you are in no way ready to start the ride at this one.

And, what a ride. With spoilers around every corner. I loved Emily and Shane even more in this one than I did in the first. I loved finding out more about her. And, in a way, this was Emily's book. Yes, there were still the issues with Derek and the father that were in the 1st one, but I really felt that the last book, I got to know Shane and what made him tick but in this one, I got to know Emily.

The writing, as always with Ms. Jones, was perfect. The pacing excellent and it kept the story moving at the perfect speed, with the right amounts of tension and romance. The opening "chase" if you will, the revelation of Emily, the hunt for the people involved in the reason she is keeping the secrets...all excellent and interesting.

The first few chapters are especially riveting and compelling, and I was not sure who I wanted to win...although I can't say more than this because it would be a spoiler of epic proportions and no one likes those.

I am keeping this short to avoid giving things away...but read this. You really want to...but read the first one before!

Amazingly Damage Control is only the second book I have had the chance to read by Lisa Renee Jones. I really need to read more of this talented lady's work because I have certainly enjoyed Hard Rules and Damage Control.

Damage Control picks up Shane and Emily's story right where it left off at the end of Hard Rules. So you really need to read Hard Rules before you read Damage Control. I loved that Ms. Jones added a few refresher details at the beginning so I could remember exactly what was happening at the end of Hard Rules and I was completely prepared and ready to dig into Damage Control.

Shane is a good guy that is trying so hard to keep things on the up and up. Each time he thinks he has the business issues under control his brother, Derek, throw yet another crooked twist into the mix.

Emily has a huge secret that she has not revealed to Shane in Hard Rules. I don't want to tell you too much about the secret but I will tell you that Shane's ultimate reaction made me adore this guy even more. My bond with Emily quickly returned and my heart went out to her. I cheered her victories, my heart broke for her sadness, and my pulse increased with the thoughts of the danger she is in.

One of my favorite aspects of this book is the few selected people that work for Shane and always have his back. This guy really needs those true friends that can help him try to stay that one step ahead of his wicked brother. His family certainly doesn't have his back so it's great to see that he has someone to help him out.

Seth, Shane's right hand, is one of those guys I'd want in my corner if I was in danger or trouble. This guy can get anything done and fix things in the blink of an eye. He's good!

Jessica is Shane's friend and assistant in the office. She's the other person that really has Shane and Emily's back. I like Jessica and her just enough touch of sassy attitude that she gets things done.

Shane and Emily are good together. They work well together and oh wow they sure do warm things up at home and in the office. They have so many obstacles in their path and so many things going on. I was on the edge of my seat for a good portion of this book wondering what was going to happen next. There are plenty of interesting twists to keep the pages turning.

I can not wait to see what happens with Shane and Emily next. I'm curious to see how Shane handles his family and deals with Emily's problem. I can not wait to read Bad Deeds. I will be anxiously awaiting it's release.

Over all this book has all those things that make for a fabulous read. There characters are great. The story line is full of action, drama, suspense, and some steaming hot scenes to warm things up.

I was given the opportunity to read this awesome story and it has been my pleasure to share my thoughts with you.

Lisa Renee Jones picks Damage Control up where Hard Rules left off at and believe me I was really anxious to start reading the second book in the Dirty money series. I wanted to find out about Emily’s real identity and why she has been running. I also wanted to know why she would want to run away from Shane in the first place. I know for a fact I wouldn’t want to run away from Shane. He’s sexy, protective, and dominant. He’s SHANE and I love Shane! ? Even, when he’s being secretive in the second book in the series.

Lisa definitely kept me turning the pages (or in my case swiping my finger to the next page on my kindle) due to where the story was going. Damage Control opens up Emily to the drama she has been dealing with and why she has a hard time believing in happily ever after. She is one strong female character though and refuses to be beat down. She also wants to help Shane, which is one reason why I adore how she handles Shane’s family. Although, Shane’s dad is different in this book then he was in the first book. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still a jerk, but he has a different side, especially when it comes to Emily.

Shane’s family drama and business drama is becoming a real nuisance for him. I feel for Shane in the second book. He has some serious issues. Although, he does have support to help him through the drama. He has Emily mostly, but he’s the over-protective man that wants to help her. Shane though showed another side of himself in this book, but Emily was able to handle him. In fact, she wanted to help him even more after the incident, which is why these two are definitely meant to be.

Don’t even get me started with the scenes between him and Emily. Lisa definitely knows how to bring the heat between the characters.

If you haven’t read Hard Rules, I highly recommend you do. You’ll want to start the series off at the first book to be introduced to Shane and Emily and also both of their dramas they are dealing with. Lisa definitely has intrigued me with the Dirty Money series and I really look forward to the next book in the series, even more especially with another shocking ending.

I give this book 5 stars and highly recommend it to readers that enjoy drama and romance in there stories.

I was provided a complementary copy by the author / publisher but this in no way influenced my thoughts or opinions

4.5 stars---DAMAGE CONTROL is the second installment in Lisa Renee Jones’s contemporary, adult DIRTY MONEY romantic suspense series. DAMAGE CONTROL is the continuing story of attorney/billionaire businessman Shane Brandon, and PA Emily Stevens, and should not be read as a stand alone as the story picks up immediately upon the events and cliff hanger ending of book one HARD RULES..

DAMAGE CONTROL begins with an introductory prologue from the author recounting some of the major events of book one keeping the read up to date and refreshed about what happened and to whom.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Emily and Shane) DAMAGE CONTROL sees the Brandon family begin to implode as the ailing Brandon Senior continues to pit his sons against one another. Derek Brandon has dirtied his hands with illegal drugs, and connections to the cartel, while Shane fights back trying to clean up the mess his brother continues to build. Meanwhile Shane’s relationship with Emily takes a step towards permanency but threats against our heroine’s life may be coming from a couple of directions. When Emily reveals the truth about he past, Shane and his men try to contain any fall out from landing into the present.

DAMAGE CONTROL is a story of family, suspense, romance, and intrigue. Lisa Renee Jones pulls the reader into a captivating tale about betrayal and revenge, money and power, lies and deceit. The complex world building continues to focus on the dysfunctional family dynamics, and the battle to take over a once –thriving business whose hands are now mired in illegal activities unraveling our hero’s well-ordered life. The premise is spirited and intense; the characters are colorful and dynamic; the romance is passionate and deep. Lisa Renee Jones’s DAMAGE CONTROL will take you on a remarkable journey of drama and love.

Emily is determined in running away. Though she does everything possible to keep Shane at arm's length, the man refuses to let things lie. Part of her understands why he's doing what he's doing. He cares for her just as much as she cares about him, though she won't openly admit it. Deep inside, she wants nothing more than to walk away from the life of deceit and lies she's built around herself. If she wants to get to the truth, however, she'll need to stick it out to the very end. The question is, how much more must she suffer before each and every one of her secrets comes back to haunt her?

Another awesome addition to the Dirty Money series, Damage Control gives us more insight into the plight Shane and Emily found themselves in within the last book. These two don't have things easy. Bursting with love for one another, they do their best to deny their feelings in the hopes of setting all wrongs to right. What they find along the way, however, drives more nails into their coffins than they care to admit.

Lisa continues to expand on the world she's created around these lovely characters. We get to see their pain, their heartache, and the constant indecision they experience while trying to assert themselves in the world they live in. Shane and Emily have shown us that it's not easy living in a world where secrets can kill you. Their world is dark, dirty, and downright painful. Nevertheless, they're willing to find the silver lining behind the clouds that surround them.

While this series is far from finished, we've been given a dark and gritty story that makes you want to delve further into the secrets that surround each character. While I don't know what's coming next for Shane and Emily, I confess I'm looking forward to what's coming. I truly hope they get their happily ever after. One can hope, right?

"Secrets. Lies. Trust. Love. Hate. Family. Sex."

Damage Control is the continuation of the 'Dirty Money' series. It is intense! Connections are made, the dirty truths are revealed and the game continues.

I 100% recommend you read Hard Rules first. Hard Rules introduced us to Shane Brandon and Emily Stevens, two people with deep secrets. Damage Control is the second book in the series that picks up right after the huge cliff hanger in Hard Rules.

Emily comes clean with Shane and it's not pretty. She's running from trouble and Emily doesn't want to bring Shane any further danger. Shane has his hands full with saving his family's company and legacy.

"How do I protect her when our families are basically two tornadoes about to sideswipe us at any moment, or worse, collide, with devastating results?"

The characters are drawn tightly together by similar circumstances. They both have corrupt families that have forced them to leave behind their lives. They now only have each other and their attraction is hot!

Damage control begins to connect the dots but also sets the stage for war. It left my head spinning. Damage Control is intriguing, the Brandon family is cunning, viscous and understands how to play the game. Emily's brother remains elusive and dangerous. There are still plenty of moves to be made. The ending is another big blow. I can't wait for the next book in the series. 5 Stars!

The Dirty Money series should be read in order:
Book 1: Hard Rules
Book 2: Damage Control
Book 3: Bad Deeds
Book 4: End Game

Impressive. A brilliant, serious undertaking that any suspense romance lovers will appreciate it.

I relish the quality of this author's narrative that is only equaled by the sheer intensity of every scene and the clever plotting.

Many-layered dangers surround Emily and Shane, the main characters in the second part of the Dirty Money series. They have to juggle threats on multiple fronts, and every move forward is crackling with tension and foreboding.

The very beginning of this novel is a fantastic, secret-ridden, furious confrontation between Emily and Shane as he discovers she's more than what she seemed. It's a real battle of wills and fear and guilt and betrayal, and love. Without missing a beat of pure energy, they launch themselves into investigations, armouring themselves against countless enemies, while holding onto each other like they are the last surviving male and female on Earth. Wow.

I was engrossed in the way their relationship deepens in the face of demons from within and without. The passion that consumes them is stunningly detailed. I can only praise the delicacy in the feelings as much as the thought put into the tangled web of deceit, intestine war, power control and strategy of the plot.

Even though there is no cliffhanger per se, the last part is brimming with corruption, dark pacts, murder and vicious violence, hungry passion and an ongoing family feud that I'm eager to see the result of.

(I'm happy to share my honest opinion of a book I first reviewed on my blog Literaria)

Lisa Renee Jones delivers with Damage Control (Dirty Money book 2) and the reader is body slammed right back into the drama surrounding Shane and Emily. The romance is heating up and the reader can definitely feel the heat between the sexy leading couple but there is just so much more yummy goodness going on here ... oh my ... no words ... just read it.

There is conflict coming at Shane and Emily from all angles. Will their fall come from Shane's sexy brother Derek who is in deep with the cartels and is determined to take over the family's business interests. Will it be Mr. Brandon (calculating bastard) who is determined to maneuver everyone exactly where he wants them. Maybe, the matriarch of the family is working behind the scenes in order to steer the Brandon family's interests. It will be interesting to see who actually comes out on top. Not to mention, the not so sweet Emily has her own demons following close behind her that will add another level of danger for this leading couple.

This second installment to the series was an exciting read and I wish I had the next installment now. Damage Control is fast paced and will keep any readers eyes glued to the page. This series has that conniving family dynamic with villains you to love and hate at the same time. The book also has heroes that you want to pull right out of the pages into reality. As always, Happy Reading Everyone!

Review on behalf of The Book Boyfriend Addict

“The only enemy I can’t fight is the one I don’t know.”

Damage Control is the second book in the Dirty Money series and it just keeps getting better! This story brings you further into Shane and Emily’s individual histories and the lengths they are willing to go in order to protect each other. The most notable change in this book is the growth both Emily and Shane do. They go from an “I” to an “We” and they couldn’t be a more powerful team. The suspense keeps up and will keep you wondering who to truly trust and just what their intentions are.

“We can do everything together as far as I’m concerned. You know everything now, Emily. I wasn’t trying to shut you out. I was just trying to protect you.”

The start of the book picks up exactly where it left off with Shane confronting Emily on who she really is. Emily being the martyr is willing to protect Shane from the danger she is in by any means necessary even if it means sacrificing her chance at happiness after already giving up so much. Shane has to work hard to make sure Emily knows he is willing to go to the ends of the earth in order to keep her safe not only from her family but his too. The more they share their secrets the closer they become and they realize what they have is real and worth fighting for.

“I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart, but you need to say the same thing. No more running. Not from me.”

This book will have you questioning things you thought you were sure about in the first one and have you starting to trust characters you thought you couldn’t. There is a lot of suspense in this book and I can only share so much without spoiling anything. What I can say is if you were on the fence after the first one this one will certainly win you over!!

Damage Control by Lisa Renee Jones is book two of four in The Dirty Money Series.
This is not a standalone.
Please read book one " Hard Rules " first.
Damage Control picks up where Hard Rules ends.
Shane confronts Emily about her secret, a secret he knew a long time ago about. He doesn't trust her anymore, because the truth is very important to him. Seth, his right hand man stokes this mistrust. Emily refuses to tell him about her past. She rather runs.
Shane has now not only to solve Emily's problems, but has also to get rid of a drug cartel. A drug cartel his brother has brought on their doorstep.
There are problems over problems.

Meet again Emily Stevens, 27 year old PA of Brandon senior.
And Shane Brandon,32 , lawyer and determined to safe the family's empire. His older brother is about to destroy everything.
Are Emily and Shane a team? There is murder, the FBI and more danger.
Where does this leave Emily and Brandon?
Attention ! this book ends in a cliffhanger. Their story will be continued in the next installment.

Just like Hard Rules , Damage Control left me at the edge of my seat. I literally couldn't put this book down. I had to know- and this ASAP- how the story continued.
This book gutted the hell out of me. I felt every single one of these characters emotions and I loved it.
I highly recommend this book and this series.
5 Stars and Thank you Lisa Renee Jones.

Damage Control picks right up where Hard Rules ends. The Brandon family is full of lies, secrets, and questionable motives, and Emily has her own share of secrets she's been keeping. Emily is determined to leave Denver, and Shane, behind but Shane's need to fully understand exactly who she is and what danger she may pose to him is greater. Shane is continuing to plot and plan in an attempt to outmaneuver his family to ensure he takes over the company rather than his brother, Derek. At the same time, he's trying to keep a relationship with Emily going in spite of the secrets, lies, and betrayals that quickly accumulate around them.

Shane and Emily's connection grows stronger as some of the secrets are revealed. The danger for both becomes more intense as Derek, Shane, and their father all make their own moves in a bid to take control of the rapidly changing situation and retain power. More players are introduced as connections are unveiled.

Damage Control is full of suspense and heat as Lisa Renee Jones dials up the intensity. It's a battle of wills on multiple fronts where loyalty is questioned and sides are taken. This series is meant to be read in order, but Lisa Renee Jones provided a really good summary of how Hard Rules ended and a summary of the key players as a helpful reminder.

I received a copy from NetGalley.

Another amazing book by Lisa Renee Jones. In Damage Control we finally get Emily's story, or do we? For some reason I just have this feeling that there are more twists to her story ahead and I can't wait.

Shane and Emily are just so perfect together. And I absolutely love Jessica, her snark and intelligence and how she always seems to be able to finish Shane and Emily's thoughts.

After reading Damage Control I'm more curious than ever to find out how this all plays out. The author is keeping us on our toes with this series at this point I can't figure out anyone's end game.

No one does romantic suspense like Lisa Renee Jones does. The romance and the suspense are off the charts and the Dirty Money series is a must read!

Wow!!! This is one of my favorite series. What more could you want, hot alpha male, steamy romance & lots of excitement!!! This is a true page turner, which keeps you on edge. I really enjoyed Hard Rules but Damage Control just pulls you further in this twisted tale and leaves you wanting more!

Shane will have you from the start; this man is all alpha male with a very caring side. He goes to no end to protect and fight for what he feels is his. Emily is just what Shane needs a bright light in the darkest of times. She is fierce and refuses to give in when it seems there is no hope to find.

Biting my nails until I can get a hold of Bad Deeds sound and feels like this one is going to be filled with lots more twist and turns!!!

I received an advance copy from the publisher and author for my honest review. This is the second book in Lisa Renee Jones' new series Dirty Money and different from the inside/out series. There is drama, suspense, erotica, and much more. This book continues where the first one left off and it keeps you pulled into the story just like the first book. The main characters Emily and Shane both have chemistry from the first moment they met. Lisa doesn't disappoint us as her writing talent shows. Emily has secrets and we get to find out what they are in this book. I couldn't put down this book once I started reading it as per my usual with any of Lisa's books. It's that good! I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Damage Control, book two in the Dirty Money series, is chock full of steamy romance, action, suspense, secrets and lies. Shane is trying to do damage control to keep his family business legitimate and falling for Emily. We do find out who Emily really is and what happened to make her go on the run. Shane and Emily are great together and make a captivating couple. So many more questions to be answered and problems to be solved as Shane and Derek battle for control of the company. Can't wait for the next book!

Damage Control continues right where Hard Rules ends. It's explosive from page one all the way through to the ending. Shane is as angry & protective as Emily is loving & protective as the book begins with the battle of who will win being more stubborn. I love the rapport between Shane & Emily. It feels so connected and deep. Lisa Renee Jones, as the master of romance and suspense, weaves a story that captivates true love with fighting a real fear that is often unseen. Page after page more of the pieces come together but somehow so does the intensity of the suspense and definitely the romance. I love this series and can't wait for Bad Deeds!!!

Lisa Renee Jones jumps right back in to our story of Shane and Emily, who we first met in Hard Money. Be sure you have a comfy chair, because you will be glued to it as you whip through the pages desperately seeking the answers right with them.

Emily has secrets, we already know that, and while some were hinted at, the depth and destructive potential of these secrets is powerful, and serves to fuel much of the action and tension in this book. More importantly, Shane, the only member of his family with a moral compass, learned the lessons of single-minded determination and ruthless judgments to reach that goal from this family, and he is unafraid to take charge and act to both unearth the dangers and protect Emily, even as she hasn’t been entirely honest or open with him.

Oh what a fun ride this story was! More than once I found myself holding my breath as the action and danger hit a fever pitch, only to have a moment to breathe where Shane and Emily take time to explore the connection that draws them together. The moments build on one another, as the relationship strengthens when secrets are revealed, and their chemistry sings.

Shane is a wonderfully strong hero: alpha, driven, protective and concerned with both protecting Emily and discovering the danger that will allow her to live in peace. For Emily, she’s coming into her own and showing more of who she is, without struggling between keeping the ‘persona’ she ran with and her own self, allowing her heart and true personality to shine through.

Following much the same arc as the Inside Out series, fans of that series are certain to love this one, but be warned: you can’t read Damage Control without reading Hard Money: you will be hopelessly lost and confused. Trust me, it’s no hardship: both of these books are read in one sitting, demanding your attention and emotions from beginning to end.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

This is the newest addition to the Dirty Money series and this one blew me away! I highly recommend reading the previous books in this series before taking this one on since so much happens before this story takes place and Damage Control picks up right after the intense cliffhanger that the previous book titled Hard Rules left off on. I'm actually a huge fan of cliffhangers if they're done well and this author knows how to leave you desperately wanting more and I love this! Shane's family is one for the record books and they bring disfunction to a whole new level! I can't even imagine living in a world where the people closest to you are the ones who are the most likely to go for the jugular. At first I worried that Emily was getting herself into more than she could ever hope to handle, but I must admit that she had a few surprises up her sleeve and there's so much more to her than I first assumed. This entire series is addictive and hard to put down and I highly recommend reading all of these great books to anyone! I reviewed this for Reviews from the Heart.

SQUEEEE!!! This series keeps getting better and better! What a tangled web of lies, deceit, and betrayal Lisa Renee Jones has written! The plot just continues to thicken and the characters have become even more complex. There are so many twists and unexpected revelations... my head is spinning! Shane and Emily are burning up the pages with their intense chemistry. This book is both thrilling and super sexy. I am LOVING every minute of it. I can't wait for more of Dirty Money!

♥ Review by Lys

This second book in the Dirty Money series is even better than the first! The story picks up where Hard Rules left off. Shane and Emily have even more challenges to face, both personally and professionally, and their families are even more twisted. This book is full of intrigue, suspense, mystery, and steamy romance. Just when you think it's time to take a relaxing breath, the action twists and puts you back on the edge of your seat! I cannot wait to see what's next for these characters.

I hate cliffhangers. I mean, who doesn't, right? I get they're there for a valid reason--though I have a feeling they're partially there to mess with us and test our patience--but argh! I desperately need to know what's going to happen with Shane and Emily because these two are in the thick of a war that may very well end up with no winners. I mean, yes, someone may come out of it a victor, but at what cost? Shane's older brother, Derek, is a thorn, not just in Shane's side, but in Emily's as well. I swear, the man is a selfish bastard, never taking into consideration how his actions may reflect on their family and Brandon Enterprises but what it may end doing to their legacy. But then it's not just Derek who's iffy as far as the Brandon family is concerned. It's difficult to know who you can and can't trust in Shane's world, even within his family, but that's all part of what makes this series so damn addictive. I found myself trying to analyze everything the characters were doing and saying in both Hard Rules and Damage Control.

We're halfway through this series, and I'm guessing that means that we're not going to get everything resolved when the third book, Bad Deeds, releases in August. It's going to be a rather long wait for the fourth and final one, End Game. As in nearly a year. But if there's one thing that Lisa Renee Jones has proven to me with both this series and another one of hers that I read and finished earlier this year, she makes the wait worth it. Can I also say how much I love the fact that Jones takes the time to recap whatever happened in the previous novel? I noticed her doing that in that other series of hers that I read and she's done it again here. That doesn't mean, though, that you can read book two without having read book one. READ THE BOOKS IN ORDER! Things have just gotten more complicated in this second book, but I like how Shane and Emily's relationship has deepened--it's hotter and heavier. I know there'll be more romance, sex, and suspense in the next two books. Five stars for Damage Control. ♥

4 "True Allegiances?" Stars!

Lovers of torrid family dramas, steamy romances, and mysterious backgrounds to slowly reveal and solve, will enjoy the second installment in the Dirty Money Series, Damage Control. Please note though that this series must be read in chronological order, so if you have not yet read Hard Rules, please see my review for that title as this review may contain spoilers for that debut book in this series. Additionally, the story continues in book 3 (scheduled to be released in August of this year) and book 4 (planned for release in February of 2018), so only undertake this journey if you're willing to read all of the books in this series. For once you've started, you will no doubt be compelled to take this journey to its end to reveal all of the answers!

Book 2 picks up where book 1, Hard Rules leaves off. There is a shroud of secrecy surrounding our heroine, Emily, and our hero, Shane, is determined to figure it out. Moreover, he is equally determined to protect her from the danger she is no doubt fleeing. So strong is his conviction that though he may not know who she really is, she is not part of the family coup that backs his brother in the fight to win his father's company. All that said his advisors are not so sure and continue to investigate her. Is Shane correct to trust Emily? And just what kind of trouble is Emily in the web of?

Even as we are treated to small glimpses of the truth in Damage Control, Lisa Renee Jones continues to weave an even more intricate plot with the Martina Drug Cartel, Shane's Father, and even Shane's Mother, playing crucial roles in both the future of Shane's family's business and the fate of Shane's and Emily's love. Moreover the rift and true alliances to whom Shane's brother is truly beholden continue to evolve adding even more questions to the mix.

With such an action-packed booked it is no surprise that there is no idle minute in Damage Control. Fans of Ms. Jones' classic style of romantic suspense, as well as, readers who have already been ensnared by the pull Hard Rules will definitely be anxious to read this next installment in the twisted and yet romantic journey of the Dirty Money Series.

Now if only I could get my hands on Bad Deeds (Dirty Money 3), so I can continue to unravel this tale which holds two hearts and the future of a business empire in its grasp!

Source: Review copy provided in exchange for a review.

Ahhhhh!!!!! Lisa Renee Jones never ceases to amaze me as she continues to knock out another amazing seductive romantic suspense in the second installment to the Dirty Money Series. In Damage Control, Lisa continues to lead her readers down the proverbial rabbit hole of suspense, mystery, chicanery,and passion. With her mastery and virtuosity of words, Jones will define the hard rules of trust, duplicity, and love as she takes reign of the meaning of damage control.

If you didn’t read Hard Rules, then I am here to inform you that you can’t read Damage Control as this book continues where it last left off with Shane and Emily. And what a sexy, intricate, and heart-stopping journey it is. As secrets are slowly unraveled and the players are known, all there is left is figure out what moves will be made. And did I mention that Lisa Renee Jones turns up the heat. Yes, Shane and Emily’s relationship gets scorching hot.

I know that I haven’t revealed much as to what happens in the story and that is because this book is layered with so much intrigue, raw emotions, mystery and suspense that readers must see how everything unfolds with Shane and Emily. As secrets are revealed, danger is imminent and will either of them come out alive?

Damage Control was everything you could have wanted and expected from Lisa Renee Jones as she didn't hold anything back. This book was just as riveting, intense, and sexy as the first book. I loved how Lisa Renee Jones slowly dissected every facets of truth, lies, secrets, and chicanery in her seductive manner. She engages readers. Well scratch that. She entices readers to beg for more. More truth. More suspense. More danger. And more of Shane and Emily. So are you ready to get lost in this wickedly intense story whereDamage Control is a necessity?

Lisa Renee Jones jumps right back in to our story of Shane and Emily, who we first met in Hard Money. Be sure you have a comfy chair, because you will be glued to it as you whip through the pages desperately seeking the answers right with them.

Emily has secrets, we already know that, and while some were hinted at, the depth and destructive potential of these secrets is powerful, and serves to fuel much of the action and tension in this book. More importantly, Shane, the only member of his family with a moral compass, learned the lessons of single-minded determination and ruthless judgments to reach that goal from this family, and he is unafraid to take charge and act to both unearth the dangers and protect Emily, even as she hasn’t been entirely honest or open with him.

Oh what a fun ride this story was! More than once I found myself holding my breath as the action and danger hit a fever pitch, only to have a moment to breathe where Shane and Emily take time to explore the connection that draws them together. The moments build on one another, as the relationship strengthens when secrets are revealed, and their chemistry sings.

Shane is a wonderfully strong hero: alpha, driven, protective and concerned with both protecting Emily and discovering the danger that will allow her to live in peace. For Emily, she’s coming into her own and showing more of who she is, without struggling between keeping the ‘persona’ she ran with and her own self, allowing her heart and true personality to shine through.

Following much the same arc as the Inside Out series, fans of that series are certain to love this one, but be warned: you can’t read Damage Control without reading Hard Money: you will be hopelessly lost and confused. Trust me, it’s no hardship: both of these books are read in one sitting, demanding your attention and emotions from beginning to end.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

So first, make sure you read Hard Rules before picking up Damage Control, as it picks up where Hard Rules left off. This episode gives you lots of answers, leaves you with even more questions, but it is a supremely satisfying read. I flew through it, and Shane's family will make even your most dysfunctional family seem functional, lol. Damage Control will have you second-guessing everything you think you know about the family business, throw some mafia related business in there, and scorching hot scenes between our hero and heroine, and you have a recipe for success.
The stakes are high, the steaminess is off the charts, and Ms. Jones' writing leaves you craving more. I adored this book, and absolutely cannot wait for what comes next.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the newest addition to the Dirty Money series and this one blew me away! I highly recommend reading the previous books in this series before taking this one on since so much happens before this story takes place and Damage Control picks up right after the intense cliffhanger that the previous book titled Hard Rules left off on. I'm actually a huge fan of cliffhangers if they're done well and this author knows how to leave you desperately wanting more and I love this! Shane's family is one for the record books and they bring disfunction to a whole new level! I can't even imagine living in a world where the people closest to you are the ones who are the most likely to go for the jugular. At first I worried that Emily was getting herself into more than she could ever hope to handle, but I must admit that she had a few surprises up her sleeve and there's so much more to her than I first assumed. This entire series is addictive and hard to put down and I highly recommend reading all of these great books to anyone! I reviewed this for Reviews from the Heart.

SQUEEEE!!! This series keeps getting better and better! What a tangled web of lies, deceit, and betrayal Lisa Renee Jones has written! The plot just continues to thicken and the characters have become even more complex. There are so many twists and unexpected revelations... my head is spinning! Shane and Emily are burning up the pages with their intense chemistry. This book is both thrilling and super sexy. I am LOVING every minute of it. I can't wait for more of Dirty Money!

♥ Review by Lys

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

Damage Control is the second book in the Dirty Money series. I was sure that I knew and figured out everything there was to know about Shane and Emily. Boy was I wrong!! Surprises abound in this next installment so much so, that I was in shock with Emily's revelations! Are you kidding me!! Lisa Renee Jones has written another winner. You have succeeded in my sitting, literally, on the edge of my seat talking to myself! Linda-Rose

This second book in the Dirty Money series is even better than the first! The story picks up where Hard Rules left off. Shane and Emily have even more challenges to face, both personally and professionally, and their families are even more twisted. This book is full of intrigue, suspense, mystery, and steamy romance. Just when you think it's time to take a relaxing breath, the action twists and puts you back on the edge of your seat! I cannot wait to see what's next for these characters.

I hate cliffhangers. I mean, who doesn't, right? I get they're there for a valid reason--though I have a feeling they're partially there to mess with us and test our patience--but argh! I desperately need to know what's going to happen with Shane and Emily because these two are in the thick of a war that may very well end up with no winners. I mean, yes, someone may come out of it a victor, but at what cost? Shane's older brother, Derek, is a thorn, not just in Shane's side, but in Emily's as well. I swear, the man is a selfish bastard, never taking into consideration how his actions may reflect on their family and Brandon Enterprises but what it may end doing to their legacy. But then it's not just Derek who's iffy as far as the Brandon family is concerned. It's difficult to know who you can and can't trust in Shane's world, even within his family, but that's all part of what makes this series so damn addictive. I found myself trying to analyze everything the characters were doing and saying in both Hard Rules and Damage Control.

We're halfway through this series, and I'm guessing that means that we're not going to get everything resolved when the third book, Bad Deeds, releases in August. It's going to be a rather long wait for the fourth and final one, End Game. As in nearly a year. But if there's one thing that Lisa Renee Jones has proven to me with both this series and another one of hers that I read and finished earlier this year, she makes the wait worth it. Can I also say how much I love the fact that Jones takes the time to recap whatever happened in the previous novel? I noticed her doing that in that other series of hers that I read and she's done it again here. That doesn't mean, though, that you can read book two without having read book one. READ THE BOOKS IN ORDER! Things have just gotten more complicated in this second book, but I like how Shane and Emily's relationship has deepened--it's hotter and heavier. I know there'll be more romance, sex, and suspense in the next two books. Five stars for Damage Control. ♥

4 "True Allegiances?" Stars!

Lovers of torrid family dramas, steamy romances, and mysterious backgrounds to slowly reveal and solve, will enjoy the second installment in the Dirty Money Series, Damage Control. Please note though that this series must be read in chronological order, so if you have not yet read Hard Rules, please see my review for that title as this review may contain spoilers for that debut book in this series. Additionally, the story continues in book 3 (scheduled to be released in August of this year) and book 4 (planned for release in February of 2018), so only undertake this journey if you're willing to read all of the books in this series. For once you've started, you will no doubt be compelled to take this journey to its end to reveal all of the answers!

Book 2 picks up where book 1, Hard Rules leaves off. There is a shroud of secrecy surrounding our heroine, Emily, and our hero, Shane, is determined to figure it out. Moreover, he is equally determined to protect her from the danger she is no doubt fleeing. So strong is his conviction that though he may not know who she really is, she is not part of the family coup that backs his brother in the fight to win his father's company. All that said his advisors are not so sure and continue to investigate her. Is Shane correct to trust Emily? And just what kind of trouble is Emily in the web of?

Even as we are treated to small glimpses of the truth in Damage Control, Lisa Renee Jones continues to weave an even more intricate plot with the Martina Drug Cartel, Shane's Father, and even Shane's Mother, playing crucial roles in both the future of Shane's family's business and the fate of Shane's and Emily's love. Moreover the rift and true alliances to whom Shane's brother is truly beholden continue to evolve adding even more questions to the mix.

With such an action-packed booked it is no surprise that there is no idle minute in Damage Control. Fans of Ms. Jones' classic style of romantic suspense, as well as, readers who have already been ensnared by the pull Hard Rules will definitely be anxious to read this next installment in the twisted and yet romantic journey of the Dirty Money Series.

Now if only I could get my hands on Bad Deeds (Dirty Money 3), so I can continue to unravel this tale which holds two hearts and the future of a business empire in its grasp!

Source: Review copy provided in exchange for a review.

“ Promise. And I never break a promise.”

Damage Control is an awesomely intense read, full of questions, anxiety, lust and suspense.

After the cliffhanger in Hard Rules , I was desperate to know what will happen to Shane and Emily- so many twists, so many questions left unanswered… I was left craving for more.
Shane and Emily are battling with an onslaught of different emotions. Emily wants answers and is going to do all she can to stay strong.
Neither one is willing to relinquish control and that really brought out an explosive dynamic between them that is equally endearing and sizzling to watch.

“I’d bleed for you. That’s what you don’t seem to understand.” “I don’t want you to bleed for me. That’s what you don’t seem to understand.”

Shane is more than never determined to take control of the Brandon Empire. He is ready to go to war against his father, his brother and whoever will be on his way. He struggles , however, with his feelings for Emily.

“ you’re a drug to me. The only addiction, outside of success, I’ve ever had.”

Emily wants to be part of his plan and help him but she has also demons to fight and problem to sort out.
The author allowed us to see the struggles Shane constantly faced with his actions towards Emily.

This was an awesome sequel to the first book. We got some answers, and even more questions.

I am loving this series. It encompasses all of the elements in a great read for me.
The story is so unpredictable, you never know what will happened next. It’s angsty, twisted and I couldn’t put it down.
I can't wait to see what unfolds for Shane and Emily.

“That’s what it’s about. You’re the future, not the past. You’re the good that I need while I get rid of the bad.”

Ahhhhh!!!!! Lisa Renee Jones never ceases to amaze me as she continues to knock out another amazing seductive romantic suspense in the second installment to the Dirty Money Series. In Damage Control, Lisa continues to lead her readers down the proverbial rabbit hole of suspense, mystery, chicanery,and passion. With her mastery and virtuosity of words, Jones will define the hard rules of trust, duplicity, and love as she takes reign of the meaning of damage control.

If you didn’t read Hard Rules, then I am here to inform you that you can’t read Damage Control as this book continues where it last left off with Shane and Emily. And what a sexy, intricate, and heart-stopping journey it is. As secrets are slowly unraveled and the players are known, all there is left is figure out what moves will be made. And did I mention that Lisa Renee Jones turns up the heat. Yes, Shane and Emily’s relationship gets scorching hot.

I know that I haven’t revealed much as to what happens in the story and that is because this book is layered with so much intrigue, raw emotions, mystery and suspense that readers must see how everything unfolds with Shane and Emily. As secrets are revealed, danger is imminent and will either of them come out alive?

Damage Control was everything you could have wanted and expected from Lisa Renee Jones as she didn't hold anything back. This book was just as riveting, intense, and sexy as the first book. I loved how Lisa Renee Jones slowly dissected every facets of truth, lies, secrets, and chicanery in her seductive manner. She engages readers. Well scratch that. She entices readers to beg for more. More truth. More suspense. More danger. And more of Shane and Emily. So are you ready to get lost in this wickedly intense story whereDamage Control is a necessity?

Damage Control picks right back up where Hard Rules left us in the fetal position on the floor! Lisa Renee Jones (LRJ) gives a nice refresher to get you back up to speed in case it's been a while since reading Hard Rules. This is book two of three and cannot be read as a standalone or out of order.

While many questions are answered in Damage Control, you're still asking more by the end. LRJ is great at romantic suspense! I love the dynamic between Emily and Shane. And I'm rooting for their HEA. You won't be disappointed in Damage Control. The plot thickens, there's twists and turns, and Shane and Emily heat up the pages. I don't include spoilers in my reviews, but prepare yourself for another epic cliffhanger!

My reviews are always honest, so I'll explain why this is a 4 star and not a 5. I read an ARC, but grammar and punctuation needed a lot of work, especially in the first quarter of the book. I hope that the purchased product received another hard edit before it hit release day. I'm only mentioning this because it's VERY unlike a LRJ book to have so many errors, and I've read many of her ARCs. Lastly, some of these books are starting to sound the same...and only the names have changed. While the suspense is still there and the story is still intriguing, they're starting to sound familiar. Keep in mind I've read all of LRJ's books since If I Were You. I was stoked after Hard Rules because it was fresh, but instead of staying the course, Damage Control veered back into formulaic land.

Over all, I recommend Damage Control for LRJ fans, romance lovers, and romantic suspense fans. My criticism above isn't stopping me from continuing to read and enjoy LRJ's books, or from anticipating the next, and it shouldn't you either!

ARC received in exchange of an honest review.

This book is book is awesome awesome awesome! It picks up right where the last book left off. This was very comforting. Because these books are so good you immediately want to know what's going to happen. Once you start you will not be able to put it down. This book is hot steamy, sexy, happy, sad and action packed to name a few. I love reading Lisa's books. I can. It wait for the next one. I'm still excited after reading this one.

This is quite a tricky review to write. I thoroughly enjoyed book #1, Hard Rules. It's a gripping story filled with murky secrets and great characters.
Although I did enjoy this book, somehow it felt like a filler to me. I think that there was so much left unsaid in the first book that as a result the second is crammed with information. Lots is revealed - although not everything - and it kind of lost me a little. It became so plot driven, that I lost that feeling of connection to the characters.
That being said, the characters are great and seem to evolve as the story moves forward. Shane is as protective as ever and there's so much hanging in the balance that it still kept me hooked.
I'm really looking forward to book #3 and highly recommend both Hard Rules and Damage Control.

Finally, we are starting to get some answers. Damage Control is the second book in the series so make sure you read Hard Rules first or you will be completely lost.

Secrets are revealed and love is in the air. All through the first book we are wondering about Emily. Well in Damage Control we get answers. Things start to make sense and of I course I just got more excited about the series.

Shane opens up some and things with the Brandon's are coming to an head. There is so much going on. Betrayal and even Murder. This series is exciting and it will keep you on your toes. I'm loving it and can't wait to get the next installment. This is better than any soap opera. I'm on the edge of my seat hanging on.

After reading Hard Rules last year, I didn't think I was invested enough in Emily and Shane to continue their story. I am so glad I gave it a chance.

I love it that the author included a recap of book one and that this book picks up right where the first one left off. Corruption, lies, secrets, murder, hostile takeover, cartel, and a dangerous hacker group all play major roles in this suspenseful and intriguing drama. Oh, did I mention the sizzling action between Emily and Shane? Oh Yeah, it's smoking hot.

This book has so much detail, making it a slower read, but it's one you can't put down. I just hate I don't have Bad Deeds so I can continue with the madness.

I voluntarily read an Advanced Readers Copy of this book. Lisa Renee Jones has done it again wow what an amazing book. This is the second book in the series and in this one all secrets are on the table. This book has chemistry, thrills, suspense and for sure will have your heart beating a 100 miles an hour. This is a must read.

This is the second book in the Dirty Money series and picks up straight after where the first book, Hard Rules, ended.

The power control between the two Brandon brothers continues for control of their father’s empire. Derek being in the dark murky world of corruption and Shane, trying to pull the business away from the shady side. There is a lot more of the story that unfolds but the suspense and tension continues. Shane, never having anyone to trust is conflicted with his feelings for Emily. He knows she is holding back on something and he waits for her to reveal all to him. We finally get to know what Emily is running from and who the mysterious person she speaks to on the burner phones. But again there is still more to be revealed and an added danger to the couple.

I loved the chemistry and passion between Shane and Emily and how their relationship builds into something neither of them were expecting or thought they needed. Shane is one hot alpha man who takes control of everything and he struggles with the danger his brother keeps pushing them towards. There is no love lost between the brothers and whilst it was bearable in the first book, things creep up a notch to build an ice cold wall between them. When outside influences become bolder, Shane knows he needs to take drastic measures to keep everyone safe plus protect the business. His father was such an enigma in the first book and I kept wondering of his bizarre actions but here we dig deeper into his mind and come to understand more about who this enigma of a man is and what he once was. Shane’s mother remains as much the same but even she was hiding something.

There is so much tension, suspense and danger lurking throughout the read which is cleverly intermixed with lots of hot steamy passion and romance. I was hooked from the start until the very end and if it wasn’t for basic human needs, I would have sat and devoured the whole book in one sitting (it’s a bit too long to be able to do that plus do my day job!)

This read so much like a movie as the story unravelled from the flicks of pages on my kindle. This series is so brilliantly written and the plotline out of this world. It is a definite must read series and a high five stars from me.

“I wonder,“ I say my gaze finding hers, heat simmering low in my limbs, one part lust, another part fury, “how it is that I didn’t taste your lies. I wonder if they’ll taste differently now that I know they exist.”

Books in Dirty Money series should be read in order:
Book 1: Hard Rules
Book 2: Damage Control
Book 3: Bad Deeds
Book 4: End Game

In Hard Rules, book 1 job candidate Emily Stevens, on the run from something, met attorney and heir Shane Brandon. And so she was pulled into a fight for control over a fortune between a deathly ill father, a meddling mother, one good brother and one who seems to have fallen from grace.

Damage Control, book 2 opens up to distrust. While Shane and Emily battle out their insane attraction… in the bedroom, the world around them is caving in. They will find themselves entangled with mobsters and hackers in a power game riddled with secrets, greed, deception, danger and conspiracy.

SHANE BRANDON: 32 years/$$$$/Heir/Harvard Law/Attorney/Dark hair/Gray eyes/6’2”/Tattoo.
Nine words to describe Shane Brandon: Noble, perceptive, loyal, dutiful, dominating, powerful, conflicted, enigmatic and private.

EMILY STEVENS: 27 years/Aspiring law student/Secretary/Brown hair/Lt blue eyes/Orphan.
Nine words to describe Emily Stevens: Secretive, loyal, cautious, naive, smart, perceptive, confused, vulnerable and desperate.

Damage Control, told from dual POVs, is a suspenseful whirlwind romance featuring a struggle between right and wrong; good and evil in a fight over an empire, a legacy and a fortune. It ends leading right to book 3, Bad Deeds for the continuation of their saga!

A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.

DAMAGE CONTROL is the second book in the Dirty Money series. They must to be read in the order of release. If you have not yet read HARD RULES, stop now and read it first.

Our story begins seconds after Hard Rules ended – Thank God and LRJ! – and I was sucked right back in. The book is fast paced and there is a lot going on. Pay attention! We finally start getting answers to the bajillion questions left at the end of HARD RULES. But, remember, this is book two of four, so you’re not going to get all of the answers! This game of chess has only just begun.

The romance is hot. Scorching hot! It is also sweet, tender, and all-consuming. Emily and Shane are just so perfect together that I wonder if anything could tear them apart. Shane, who doesn’t let anyone see his softer side, has allowed Emily to see everything in him. That, my friends, is trust and love.

Another cliff-hanger…. That’s your warning. Lisa Renee Jones gets me every time! I’m trying to turn pages that don’t exist – except in the next book and that’s where I’m going!

Note: while I was given this book as a gifted ARC, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

Title: DAMAGE CONTROL
Series: Dirty Money #2
Category /Genre: Contemporary Romance
Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing: book received as an unedited ARC / errors excused
Received from: St. Martin’s Press (via NetGalley)

Lisa Renee Jones has delivered another novel filled with twists and turns that will leave the reader questioning who will win control of the Brandon empire.

This story from the opening pages starts off with a bang. Emily and Shane are struggling to deal with the revelations that were revealed at the end of the Hard Rules. Even with the amount of stress these two are under, they still remain relatively the same. Shane is still battling for the morality of his company and himself, while protecting the people he loves, and Emily is still running, although the reader finds out along with Shane what she is running from. The chemistry between these two is still as electric as it appears in book one, and it becomes more with this book as true feelings are shared and explored between these two. Their journey through this book serves to make them a stronger couple.

As always, Lisa Renee Jones delivers a story that will keep readers riveted to the pages. There are so many players in this game, so many duplicitous activities, and so much treachery that readers end up desperately trying to figure out all the pieces along with the characters. Even though much more is revealed in this book in regards to allegiances and players in this chess game, there are still many questions unanswered and man wildcard characters who can change the game quickly, so I am intrigued to see how Ms. Jones is going to wrap up this series.

Lovers of suspense and romance should absolutely pick up the Dirty Money series. The layers of the plot, the characters you love and the ones you love to hate, and the chemistry between Emily and Shane are sure to entertain.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Damage Control starts off right where Hard Rules left off. Once again we read the lies, deception and secrets that the Brandon men have. In the second book of the Dirty Money series, we see some of these secrets revealed. Who is Emily? What is she hiding? You will find out the answers to these questions and more. This is a great follow up to Hard Rules. The last quarter of this book is intense. Be prepared to hold on tight to your ereaders. The roller coaster ride isn’t over with this one. The plot thickens and intensity is turned up. I can’t wait for Bad Deeds.

Damage control is the correct title for this second installment of Dirty Money. That is all Shane has been doing to minimize the impact of all the wheeling and dealing his brother Derek and his father are cooking up.

From deals with the mob, blackmailing, murders, and more, both Shane and Emily are caught in an impossible web of lies and moves worthy of the finest chess players. All is not as it seems. Nothing can be taken at face value. You really have to be on your toes to keep up with all the machinations the Brandon family is capable of... including the mother!

Emily has her own past to deal with. Secrets upon secrets, you don't know who to trust and who will be stabbed in the back next. The only way to survive is to keep your own secrets and trust only the few remaining people who have been at your side all along.

As usual, Lisa Renee Jones delivers one stunning book of treachery and suspense. I can hardly wait for the conclusion. Between you and I, I sure hope Derek goes down for being such nasty character. JUSTICE!

I am voluntarily reviewing this book because I am hooked on this amazing series. Thank you for providing me a copy!

**ARC Review**
Received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Once again this book begins with a brief summary of the first book and all the characters. I love that because it helps refresh my memory.

I love how Shane and Emily are evolving as a power couple. Little by little they are trying to learn how to work together and lean on each other.
Shane's is having a power struggle with his brother because Derek has involved very dangerous people into their lives. Shane is trying to fix it but there is a lot that he has to do in order for him to cut ties with those people.

I can't wait for the next book to come out and see how it all ends. Buy it but start from the first book or you will be missing out.

I was gifted this book for an honest review.
Dirty Money Series By Lisa Renee Jones {Hard Rules, Damage Control, Bad Deeds} Book Review | ContemporaryCween
Posted on August 13, 2017 by BazingaBooks
Dirty Money Series #1-3 by Lisa Renee Jones

Bad Deeds lisa Rene Jones contemporarycween

Returning to a life he ran from to save his family was proving harder than Shane Brandon expected. Helping them escape jail didn’t softer his brother or father toward him. All three Brandon men were fighting for power. His father already had it but with his cancer getting worse he put his sons against each other for his own entertainment. Shane couldn’t understand their motives. Didn’t they want operate in a legal way. Wasn’t it easier if they legitimized their business instead of getting involved with the mafia. Shane wasn’t going to wait for his father to do before he would do something about the Brandon name. He would would prove them wrong. Everything wasn’t about the money.

With all these hardened men around Shane should have been able to rely on his mother. That was absolutely not the case she was just as manipulative as the males in her life. So when a cute girl accidentally stole his drink it was hard to imagine if it was a fate or a trick of his family. Either way he wanted her with him. Something about her intoxicated Shane.

Emily had her own secrets from her past. A past that could catch up to her at any moment. She didn’t want Shane to get caught in the cross fire, but he just wouldn’t let her go. She literally ran away from him but he made quick work of finding her. He was a drug to her and as much as her mind was telling her it was a bad idea to stay, her heart and body was willing her to stay. Shane seemed to have so much going on in his life that she vowed not to be a distraction but an asset. So she got caught up in his family dynamics.

When you mix mafia, family loyalty, the prospective of power, and falling in love, you get a disaster waiting to happen.

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Review

So like with so many of the other arcs I’ve read I was just too lazy to read the bio. When I started I wanted a bunch of books just so I could produce more content for his blog. Not realizing that I would not be able to keep up with the reading and reviewing. Not to mention owning a bunch of book that I had no interest in reading. Well you learn with time. I evolved to skimming the bios before I request a book. That being said this just wasn’t the type of book I was interested in reading. I had requested the entire series so it had to be done.

When i started the first book Hard Rules it took me a long time to get into. Now looking back it was building up the backstory. I just wish that there was something that pulled me in the first book. It was just a bunch of sex scenes for me. So why then did I continue, because it ended on a sort of cliff hanger. Shane was told something about Emily and he was about to confront her. I only read on to see what would happen. Damage Control had me thinking like well I already started it I might as well finish. I gave the first two books 3/5 stars. Well I had already started the series so I might as well finish. Only it it got so much more interesting in Bad Deeds. I was now invested in the love so I wanted to make sure the author didn’t break them up. I was really invested in the 3rd book. I believe I read it one day. It won me over you guys. I gave it 4/5 stars. The worse thing happened though you guys. It ended on one of the worse hangovers!!! I mean what is she trying to do to me. On top of all that the final book isn’t being released until January. What is a girl to do?

I don’t love the characters but I am invested in the story. I would suggest this to anyone who is a lover of Empire. I gave up on that show after season 2.

Deceit. Corruption. Death. Lies. Truths. Lust. Sex. Money. Drugs. Danger. Secrets Revealed. Secrets still kept.
Oh, the tangled web they weave.

Oh man, things are really taking a turn in this second book (you really need to read Hard Rules before reading this book as this picks up right where HR left off). Shane is determined to find out all of Emily's secrets. But once she reveals them, will he regret his decision to want her in his life? There are still so many things that needs explaining. And we are now getting a glimpse of who Emily truly is.

On top of that, Shane is still battling Derek for control of the company and he is not liking where his investigation is leading. Nor, that Emily could get caught up in the dangerous business of his family. He doesn't want her to be a pawn in his fathers game. They vow to protect each other, but ow can they do that when they are more players in the game, some they may not even know yet.

Through all this, one thing remains a constant. Shane's attraction to Emily. She's in his blood, in his heart maybe, but she's definitely under his skin for sure. And he likes her there. She's the only woman who he has let close enough to him to actually see HIM.

---“Shane, I don’t need you to do this. I need you. Not clothes, but I don’t want to sound unappreciative. You doing this is special, but I don’t need you to take care of me.”
“No,” he agrees. “You don’t. And somehow that only makes me want to take care of you more. I’ve never had anyone I wanted to take care of until you.”

In-between all the lies, deception and danger, you get a bond formed between Shane and Emily that's undeniable. It's hot, it's sexy, it's intense, it's fierce. Miss Jones sure knows how to write a steamy story with lots of danger, lots of hotness, and lots of detailed information. She captures your attention and keeps you on your toes. Weaving a tale so intricate that you try to piece it all together yourself and when you think you have all the pieces, she throws in a new twist to keep you guessing again. Definitely a great read. Excited to see where Bad Deeds (book 3) takes us on this thrilling ride!

Review by Michelle

“The people closest to you can hurt you the most.”

Omg! What a BREATHTAKING read! I am totally enthralled by the DIRTY MONEY series, and though I am not typically a binge reader, DAMAGE CONTROL was so riveting I could not put it down! With precision and prowess, the mega talent Lisa Renee Jones serves up a fusion of heart palpitating drama, scintillating passion and thrilling suspense, which left me deliciously satiated yet still hungry for more!

Since books one and two were spaced pretty far apart can I say how APPRECIATIVE I was that the author added a recap of book one, HARD RULES, in her acknowledgement section? It saved me the trouble of having to reread! So muchas gracias for that, Ms. Jones!

Picking up right where book one left off, we are thrown immediately into the action in this second installment, as an incensed Shane confronts, Emily, the beautiful and mysterious woman who he has let into his company fold—and into his heart--who clearly isn’t who she claims to be. He fears everything she’s told him is a lie and that the woman he entrusted implicitly has been aligning herself with his greatest enemies.

“How is it that I didn’t taste your lies? I wonder if they’ll taste differently now that I know they exist.”

Even after he presents her with tangible incriminating evidence that exposes her deception, Emily tries to keep her guard up—and her lips sealed—to protect the man she desperately loves from being thrown into the path of destruction. Which further incites Shane’s ire. But then he sees the genuine terror in her beautiful eyes and is thunderstruck with the very real possibility that her very life could be in jeopardy, and realizes deep down she is not a traitor. Nevertheless they are both at loggerheads. The woman he’s falling in love with is trapped in her own lies and he is just as desperate to unravel her secrets as she is to keep them under lock and key.

“I can taste her fear, her guilt, but more so, I can taste her submission, not to me, but to us. To a bond neither of us expected, or looked for, but it happened, and while it’s indefinable, it is also undeniable.”

The last thing Emily wants is to drag Shane into the kind of trouble that she knows could cause them BOTH to crash and burn, but like a dog with a bone, he refuses to let her run away from him—or the soul-shattering truths that have been dogging her for so long. And as their passion reaches a fever pitch and Emily finally gives him the answers he seeks, Shane vows to protect her at all costs, even as he fights valiantly to save his family's dynasty from corruption, looming danger from the Martina cartel, and financial ruin. But deceit, treachery and unspeakable danger would be the final straw that brings the entire Brandon Empire tumbling down--and decimate their love in the process… and it’s a race against time to salvage everything they hold dear!

As with book one, I was swept up into the perilous lives of Shane Brandon and Emily Stevens, his devious, filthy rich family and all the other friends and foes!! This action-packed erotic thriller is filled with a plethora of spine-tingling twists and turns and the electrifying chemistry between Emily and Shane just OOZES off the page. As their bond deepens in this book, I was even more invested in this beleaguered couple surviving amid all the danger, deceit, backstabbing and treachery! Shane is in full throttle protector mode in this book—and OMG I was swooning like CRAZY over how this sinfully sexy corporate hotshot will stop at NOTHING to safeguard what’s his!

"He is power. He is passion. Everything about him is too much. Too extreme. Too mighty. Too right and wrong at the same time."

And holy smokes can I say how explosively hot and INTENSELY EROTIC their love scenes were?! I am still fanning myself off!

My only slight disappointment in an otherwise stellar novel is that overall this book was more suspense/mystery driven than romance-centric and I would have liked to have seen the developing relationship between Emily and Shane to be more in the forefront at times for a better balanced read. There was a ton of push-pull between them in the first third but then once Emily bared her secrets they kind of slipped into a pattern of domestic bliss and the main focus of the plot shifted to the external drama. I loved this couple—HARD!—and just wish we had MORE emotionally-charged Emily and Shane scenes, and a little less of the cloak and dagger stuff.

But as for the drama and intrigue, Lisa Renee Jones was at the top of her game! The stakes are higher than ever, war is still raging for control of Brandon Enterprises, murder and mayhem abounds, loyalties are sorely tested, and it's unclear who Emily and Shane can REALLY trust. And of course, by book’s end, the author dishes out another cliffy that keeps us dangling! Fortunately, book 3 is hot off the presses and we can dive right in….

Eeeeep…can’t friggin wait!

Wall Street meets the Sons of Anarchy in Damage Control, the smoldering, scorching next novel in the explosively sexy Dirty Money series.

The only thing more dangerous than a dark secret is a damaged heart…

Shane Brandon has been pushed to the brink, torn between his corrupt family and his explosive, all-consuming desire for Emily Stevens, who he now knows is not who, and what, she seems. Has he trusted the wrong person? Will she, not his brother Derek, be the ultimate destruction of his family Empire?

Emily tries to run from Shane, but he will stop her, confront her, force her to reveal all — one hot touch and kiss at a time, under every intimate detail of who this woman is, and what she wants, is exposed. But as he tears away the dangers of the unknowns with the woman in his bed, and in his heart, The Martina Cartel has set their sights on his company, his family, and the one piece of leverage they believe he won’t gamble with: Emily.

Review:

This is the second book in the series by Ms. Jones and like the first is full of backstabbing and intrigue all centered around Shane Brandon's family business empire. This second book picks up exactly where the first book leaves off. This book ends with a open ending so if that bothers you, luckily the third book came out this week so you can read two in a row. Now that the truth behind Emily has come out, she and Shane must work together to protect her and save his family's company. Full of intrigue, you never know who to trust as you read the story. The excellent drama continues in this installment and kept me enraptured throughout. Shane's and Emily's united front makes them a couple that you keep rooting for. Their chemistry is super hot and there are lots of sexy scenes to keep the blood pumping.

Again, this story is not wrapped up at the end of this book and continues in the next book in the series.

4Stars
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*