Scandal Never Sleeps (The Perfect Gentlemen)

Lexi and Shayla have done it again!! I was completely psyched about this new book series and after reading Scandal Never Sleeps, I wasn't disappointed. I love the characters in this new series! Gabe and Everly are a dynamic couple.
I am looking forward to Connor's story next. This series can only improve with each new book??

I enjoyed reading this book by two excellent writers. I had to put it down a few times to read other books I'd promised to get to, and I had no trouble picking it back up where I left off.
The story was well written, seemed to drone on towards the end with both lead characters feeling like they weren't good enough for the other etc. Lots of suspense and drama which kept the book exciting to the end.
"She made him a better man." "He wanted her to know that when his hands were on her body, she would always be satisfied."

"Like him, she wanted this magic to go on forever." "No one else can make me feel like you do."

"The damn woman so rarely stayed where he put her." "He wanted her without all the doubts and suspicions and danger."

I know it's supposed to be fiction, but the story wasn't even a believable fiction. I truly enjoyed the author's 'wicked lovers' line , in particular 'Delicious', so much.
The characters, and certainly the plot was just too way out there. The love making scenes were all boring.
I think I continue to follow Ms. Black because I'm waiting for another Luc and Alyssa.

If you like the typical Shayla Black story-weak female and domineering male-then this book is for you. Female seems to be a strong character, but her "No," "I'm leaving," " You knocked me out?" "But I'll stay because I can't resist you or throwing myself at you." attitude is typical Shayla. And our domineering male who always knows what's best is typical, too. There are a few shining, "I've grown a backbone and brain" moments for the female character but not enough to make me want to read more of this series. But, if you like typical Shayla, then this series is for you.

I'm so gonna need book two now! Black & Blake have me seriously smitten over their new series The Perfect Gentlemen and Scandal Never Sleeps. Heat, scandal, danger, sexy as hell hero and a heroine who is solid through and through...definitely a fun ride. Add in an incredibly intriguing secondary cast and, yeah, these ladies totally rocked it and left me panting for more.

The quick of it is that Gabe and his friends met back in prep school and formed a group--The Perfect Gentlemen (of which they most certainly are not lol) and they've become powerful, wealthier and deliciously sexy as they've aged. *noms* But tragedy struck and they've been hit by a death in their own ranks. A death tinged with suspicion and that has Gabe dealing with the messy life his friend left behind and questioning everything. Including the sexy woman who helped ease his heartache the night of the funeral and may have had a curious relationship with the best friend he'd just buried.

I love, love, loved Everly. She was an awesome heroine. Sexy and smart, willing to get a little wild. And when Gabe started being a jerk, knew her worth and wasn't going to accept it. I was seriously cheering this chick on. And, Gabe, despite some oh-you-need-to-be-pinched moments was one sexy sonofagun. I loved his connection to his friends, his loyalty, the passion in him and even his struggles.

Heat-wise it edged on erotic but I think was more contemporary that had high heat. Verra good though. These two had scorching chemistry--I mean toe curling fan yourself goodness-- and quite the stormy relationship as their one night stand turned into more. The sex scenes were luscious for sure.

The suspense was intriguing as they found themselves faced with the suspicious death, trying to unravel what really happened to their mutual friend and realizing that maybe you don't always know the people you love as well as you thought you did. It was nicely done with twists, surprise discoveries, danger all twining together. I liked the hints and teases about the other Perfect Gentlemen that it brought into the mix too. These men are just fascinating together.

All in all, Black & Blake have another winner on their hands. Scandal Never Sleeps kept me up late into the night and and was totally worth every single second of lost sleep. It was a stellar start to the series and I can't wait for more.

I only gave this book three stars not because it is an average book, but because it is the first book in the series . . . and that is not fair.

We are introduced to six major characters in the prologue. We are introduced to six different personalities. We are given hints of how these six different characters will mature (or not, as the case may be.)

And that is a lot to absorb in a matter of a few pages.

I felt like I should be taking notes on who everyone was and their personality traits. I keep harping on their personalities because they are a diverse group of best friends/brothers.

Unfortunately, I never got past that state of confusion.

The story itself is excellent. Everly is a wonderful girl who gets in over her head with Gabe. Gabe is not a bad person, but he has always been entitled and his attitude reflects this. However, in Everly, he has met the one person who means more to him than even his friends. His problem is convincing Everly of that.

There is a strong, overarching storyline (Maddox’ death) . . . and that was another problem for me. I expected this plotline to be resolved. Instead, I was only given clues about the next book. The relationship between Gabe and Everly is settled and firmly on the way to a HEA. However, the reason Maddox is killed is not explained.

I don’t like cliffhangers, in fact, I hate them. I would not have read this book if I realized there was going to be one. What I would have done is wait for the series to be complete and then read them all at once.

Book two, Seduction in Session, is due out in January 2016. And yes, I will buy it as well as the others. I just hope the ending of this one is more settled.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

5 Mysterious stars

I’m a huge fan of Shayla Black and this is my first Lexi Blake read. Scandal Never Sleeps is the first book in The Perfect Gentlemen series and is a standalone. Each book will be focused on one of the guys in the group.

Six guys went to the same prep school together, Gabe, Dax, Connor, Zach, Roman and Maddox (Mad). This is Gabe’s story.

Mad dies and it has left the group with a bucket full of questions. What did Mad get himself involved with prior to his death? Everly works for Mad’s company and was really close to the guy. After Mad’s death, he leaves Gabe’s sister pregnant. Gabe is very protective of his family and questions what really happened to Mad before he died.

The first question Gabe wants answered is who is Everly and why was she so close to Mad if Mad wasn’t sleeping with her?

First off, I want to say this isn’t your typical Shayla Black read (I haven’t read a Lexi book, so I have nothing to compare it to). This isn’t your overly romance book, BUT I really loved that. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of steam and tension. But, it’s a super suspenseful read with so much that goes on. I couldn’t get enough. I was consumed with the plot and I was gripping the pages. I needed to find out what was going to happen next.

I’m sad that Mad dies, it’s not like we got to know him but throughout the book, we kind of do as the main characters uncover his secrets. I kind of hope his book will be written in the future *hint *hint, please. I absolutely loved this book. I’m of suspense and I love a good mystery book, but what really worked for me was that I was completely stumped throughout the whole book. I really liked that.

I had no idea what was going on and every time I got a clue, my little eyes got super excited. I was like a little toddler getting a treat here and there as I kept on reading. I felt like I was in with it with Gabe and Everly. I was trying to figure out the clues and wondering who they could really trust.

I love the banter between Gabe and Everly too. When Gabe and Everly first meet, sparks fly and everything is spicy. Then as they get to know each other, we get tension. Gabe doesn’t fully trust Everly because he thinks she had a fling with Mad. I know, I love and hated Gabe at the same time. He can be so brooding, but so sexy. It was perfect. Everly isn’t some damsel in distress. I love how she holds her own and stands up to Gabe. She doesn’t let Gabe push her around and it makes Gabe wiggle a bit. I loved reading those parts.

"Buttering me up with compliments won’t change my mind”

“I wasn’t buttering you up. I was gloating because all this pretty flesh is mine"

I love that each book focuses on a Hero and each Hero has his own quirks. I’m highly interested in Zack, who is the president!

This book got me hooked from page one. It will make you feel a roller coaster of emotions and you will be in the thick of the drama. I am so eager about this series and I can’t wait for the next story!

An ARC was provided

If you like the typical Shayla Black story-weak female and domineering male-then this book is for you. Female seems to be a strong character, but her "No," "I'm leaving," " You knocked me out?" "But I'll stay because I can't resist you or throwing myself at you." attitude is typical Shayla. And our domineering male who always knows what's best is typical, too. There are a few shining, "I've grown a backbone and brain" moments for the female character but not enough to make me want to read more of this series. But, if you like typical Shayla, then this series is for you.

I'm so gonna need book two now! Black & Blake have me seriously smitten over their new series The Perfect Gentlemen and Scandal Never Sleeps. Heat, scandal, danger, sexy as hell hero and a heroine who is solid through and through...definitely a fun ride. Add in an incredibly intriguing secondary cast and, yeah, these ladies totally rocked it and left me panting for more.

The quick of it is that Gabe and his friends met back in prep school and formed a group--The Perfect Gentlemen (of which they most certainly are not lol) and they've become powerful, wealthier and deliciously sexy as they've aged. *noms* But tragedy struck and they've been hit by a death in their own ranks. A death tinged with suspicion and that has Gabe dealing with the messy life his friend left behind and questioning everything. Including the sexy woman who helped ease his heartache the night of the funeral and may have had a curious relationship with the best friend he'd just buried.

I love, love, loved Everly. She was an awesome heroine. Sexy and smart, willing to get a little wild. And when Gabe started being a jerk, knew her worth and wasn't going to accept it. I was seriously cheering this chick on. And, Gabe, despite some oh-you-need-to-be-pinched moments was one sexy sonofagun. I loved his connection to his friends, his loyalty, the passion in him and even his struggles.

Heat-wise it edged on erotic but I think was more contemporary that had high heat. Verra good though. These two had scorching chemistry--I mean toe curling fan yourself goodness-- and quite the stormy relationship as their one night stand turned into more. The sex scenes were luscious for sure.

The suspense was intriguing as they found themselves faced with the suspicious death, trying to unravel what really happened to their mutual friend and realizing that maybe you don't always know the people you love as well as you thought you did. It was nicely done with twists, surprise discoveries, danger all twining together. I liked the hints and teases about the other Perfect Gentlemen that it brought into the mix too. These men are just fascinating together.

All in all, Black & Blake have another winner on their hands. Scandal Never Sleeps kept me up late into the night and and was totally worth every single second of lost sleep. It was a stellar start to the series and I can't wait for more.

I only gave this book three stars not because it is an average book, but because it is the first book in the series . . . and that is not fair.

We are introduced to six major characters in the prologue. We are introduced to six different personalities. We are given hints of how these six different characters will mature (or not, as the case may be.)

And that is a lot to absorb in a matter of a few pages.

I felt like I should be taking notes on who everyone was and their personality traits. I keep harping on their personalities because they are a diverse group of best friends/brothers.

Unfortunately, I never got past that state of confusion.

The story itself is excellent. Everly is a wonderful girl who gets in over her head with Gabe. Gabe is not a bad person, but he has always been entitled and his attitude reflects this. However, in Everly, he has met the one person who means more to him than even his friends. His problem is convincing Everly of that.

There is a strong, overarching storyline (Maddox’ death) . . . and that was another problem for me. I expected this plotline to be resolved. Instead, I was only given clues about the next book. The relationship between Gabe and Everly is settled and firmly on the way to a HEA. However, the reason Maddox is killed is not explained.

I don’t like cliffhangers, in fact, I hate them. I would not have read this book if I realized there was going to be one. What I would have done is wait for the series to be complete and then read them all at once.

Book two, Seduction in Session, is due out in January 2016. And yes, I will buy it as well as the others. I just hope the ending of this one is more settled.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

5 Mysterious stars

I’m a huge fan of Shayla Black and this is my first Lexi Blake read. Scandal Never Sleeps is the first book in The Perfect Gentlemen series and is a standalone. Each book will be focused on one of the guys in the group.

Six guys went to the same prep school together, Gabe, Dax, Connor, Zach, Roman and Maddox (Mad). This is Gabe’s story.

Mad dies and it has left the group with a bucket full of questions. What did Mad get himself involved with prior to his death? Everly works for Mad’s company and was really close to the guy. After Mad’s death, he leaves Gabe’s sister pregnant. Gabe is very protective of his family and questions what really happened to Mad before he died.

The first question Gabe wants answered is who is Everly and why was she so close to Mad if Mad wasn’t sleeping with her?

First off, I want to say this isn’t your typical Shayla Black read (I haven’t read a Lexi book, so I have nothing to compare it to). This isn’t your overly romance book, BUT I really loved that. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of steam and tension. But, it’s a super suspenseful read with so much that goes on. I couldn’t get enough. I was consumed with the plot and I was gripping the pages. I needed to find out what was going to happen next.

I’m sad that Mad dies, it’s not like we got to know him but throughout the book, we kind of do as the main characters uncover his secrets. I kind of hope his book will be written in the future *hint *hint, please. I absolutely loved this book. I’m of suspense and I love a good mystery book, but what really worked for me was that I was completely stumped throughout the whole book. I really liked that.

I had no idea what was going on and every time I got a clue, my little eyes got super excited. I was like a little toddler getting a treat here and there as I kept on reading. I felt like I was in with it with Gabe and Everly. I was trying to figure out the clues and wondering who they could really trust.

I love the banter between Gabe and Everly too. When Gabe and Everly first meet, sparks fly and everything is spicy. Then as they get to know each other, we get tension. Gabe doesn’t fully trust Everly because he thinks she had a fling with Mad. I know, I love and hated Gabe at the same time. He can be so brooding, but so sexy. It was perfect. Everly isn’t some damsel in distress. I love how she holds her own and stands up to Gabe. She doesn’t let Gabe push her around and it makes Gabe wiggle a bit. I loved reading those parts.

"Buttering me up with compliments won’t change my mind”

“I wasn’t buttering you up. I was gloating because all this pretty flesh is mine"

I love that each book focuses on a Hero and each Hero has his own quirks. I’m highly interested in Zack, who is the president!

This book got me hooked from page one. It will make you feel a roller coaster of emotions and you will be in the thick of the drama. I am so eager about this series and I can’t wait for the next story!

An ARC was provided

Title: Scandal Never Sleeps
Series: The Perfect Gentlemen
Author(s): Shayla Black & Lexi Blake
Release Date: August 18, 2015

4 out of 5

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This is the beginning of what is the Perfect Gentleman series. It was a fabulous ride though it does contain some turbulence. The story takes us to New York the world of the rich and famous where these best friends are pulled into a mystery after the death of one of their own.

Under all the mystery is the love story of Gabriel Bond & Everly Parker two individuals whose paths may have never crossed if not for Maddox Crawford. The issue is can they overcome their own whispers of insecurity to find happiness or will they forever be separated by those insidious voices in their own heads. All of this while trying to figure out whether Mad’s death was due to a storm or if he was murdered.

I couldn’t wait for the next one to come out which was Seduction Sessions Seduction in Session (The Perfect Gentlemen Book 2). Shayla Black & Lexi Blake make for a fabulous writing team.

If you are a fan of any of the following you gotta jump on board this plane: Shayla Black, Lexi Blake, Wicked Lovers Series, Masters & Mercenaries Series, Doms of Her Life, steamy romance, and just a great romance.

Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: SCANDAL NEVER SLEEPS (The Perfect Gentlemen, Book 1) by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-2R4
Publication Date: August 18, 2015
Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 5 Stars

REVIEW:
I'm hooked! "Scandal Never Sleeps" had everything I look for in great story! It was a sexy thrill ride with a mystery that kept me guessing. "Scandal Never Sleeps" is the first book in Shayla Black and Lexi Blake's new series The Perfect Gentlemen. The series will feature a group of powerful men than met in boarding school. I love the characters and I'm excited about all the possibilities for the future books in this series. I can't wait to read each Perfect Gentlemen's story. In this first book, "Scandal Never Sleep," Gabriel Bond and Everly heat up the pages and work together to uncover a mystery. I recommend this book for romantic suspense lovers that want a hot love story with the mystery. This series is a new favorite and I'll be stalking the next release!

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a book so much that I was compelled to write a review. This is the first book I’ve read from either author and wow did they hook me in. What I like is that it is stand alone book about Everly and Gabe. She is firstly and smart which leads to some steamy scenes and head butting too. Then the authors really pull me in with a conspiracy/suspense plot with lots of action - twists and turns that keep you guessing on who really are the good guys. The most brilliant part is that Gabe has this group of good friends who are pretty much his brothers. This group of wealth handsome guys make up the Perfect Gentlemen. The series will continue to unravel the conspiracy theory in the next books about another brother from the Perfect Gentleman’s group. I cannot wait to see what happens next. This is a perfect blend of action, adventure, and romance.

The extremely talented dynamic duo are back with a brand new, scorching hot, scandalous, and shocking series! Brace yourselves for one HELL OF A RIDE! I was fascinated, I was amazed, and I was hypnotized till the very end. SCANDAL NEVER SLEEPS is just one piece of the steamy and mysterious puzzle. Black and Blake are just getting started!

Gabriel Bond and Everly Parker, two people who have lost someone very special in their lives, end up meeting in a bar. Neither one of them realize the connection they share, but all they want to do for that one night is get lost in each other's bodies. They want to feel something aside from their numbness and grief. They want an escape.

This one night stand ends up being so much more than either of them expected. The passion and immediate connection they share, fuels the fire that brings them closer still. But scandal is the name of the game, and it follows them wherever they go. Mystery, deception, secrets, and lies. When the dust settles and the scandal breaks, who will you trust?

OMG! Everything about this book was fantastic! I couldn't read fast enough. But this is no surprise when you have the talents of two of my favorite authors working together to create a sexy and mysterious masterpiece. Separately, Shayla Black and Lexi Blake have turned out such great stories, blowing my mind page after page, chapter after chapter, book after book. Together, they have taken this genre to new heights. They are dominating the romance genre, one sexy title at a time. Like Gabriel and Everly, these fabulous authors give us characters that embed themselves into the reader's hearts, so that we only have to hear their names, and flood after flood of emotions come pouring out, taking us back to their stories, making us remember and experience it all over again.

Black and Blake has created something special here. Of course, Gabriel and Everly get their happily ever after, but the mystery remains unsolved. You get a taste of The Perfect Gentlemen, meeting the members and achieving some sort of connection with each one, learning a little bit of their past and how they came to be what they are today. Breadcrumbs are all that remain. Pieces of the puzzle scattered all around in your mind, just waiting, craving the minute they all come together to reveal the truth.

Scandal Never Sleeps is bursting with so much erotic goodness, tons of alpha males, and enough mystery to make your head spin. Get ready for a heart-pounding, mind-spinning, sexy good time!

*Gifted copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

4.5 stars

Scandal Never Sleeps is the first book in a new romantic suspense series by Lexi Blake and Shayla Black. I’ve read some of their other collaborations and this writing duo make a great writing team. I enjoy series by both of these established authors but when they write together it’s incredible, and puts them in a league of their own.

Setting up the “world” in a new series can sometimes weigh down the book and cause it to drag a bit, but not in this case. From the first page I was hooked and more than intrigued with the key players. We have a group of six guys who call themselves the Perfect Gentlemen, all classmates at their boarding school, Creighton Academy. The title is quite ironic seeing that they are considered anything but gentlemen. They stay in trouble and I can only imagine that during their enrollment they caused much havoc, especially since the opening scene places us in the headmaster’s office and he’s deadset on expelling them all. The authors did a great job describing each of the boys’ personalities, and honestly I could have read more of their earlier years. So yeah… I LOVED the prologue.

Fast forward almost twenty years and they are attending the funeral of one of the pack, Maddox. Gabe is really unsettled by Mad’s death. For one, Mad was his best friend and two, the last time they spoke an argument ensued and Gabe said some things he wished he could take back. After the funeral Gabe sees a woman he’s completely taken by. Everly is so unlike any woman he’s ever seen or dated and he is drawn to her immediately. Their chance meeting leads to what is supposed to be a one and done but ends up being anything but. Based on half-truths, deceit and lust their relationship gets complicated really quick. Nothing is as it seems. Hold on for the ride because there are twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I really enjoyed this story, especially the characters. Not just the main characters, but the rest of the pack as well. They are all highly successful overachievers in different fields, but as you’ll discover they are all intertwined making the story that much more compelling. In fact, I was so excited and engrossed in the story the first time around, I’ve already reread it, and I’m eagerly anticipating the next addition in January 2016. This is a happily ever after romance but the mystery part will be an on-going arch throughout the series. I’d also like to mention this story kept me guessing the entire time. I have a few of my own theories and I can’t wait to see how everything plays out.

The writing duo of Shayla Black and Lexi Blake never disappoint. Scandal Never Sleeps was a fantastic beginning to what will for sure be another winning series full of passion, mystery, and intrigue.

Review copy provided for an honest review.

I can not empathize enough how much I recommend Scandal Never Sleeps to another reader, I could assure any reader that they will also be staying up all night with the Perfect Gentleman.

I love each author in their own accord in their style of writing as well as when they came together for the Masters of Ménage series. Scandal Never Sleeps brings their steamy artistic style of writing to another level and this book leaves you constantly on the edge.

The book starts off with a story of the closeness that the men have formed in college, each character so different and unique in their own way but have bonded a closeness in a sense of a brotherhood. Supporting one another in every which way possible.

When tragedy occurs, you feel the pain and the impact that happens to each person and the way they cope. In the form of grieving, two people have what was intended to be a one night stand turn into a weekend. They connect with each other that they haven't been able to with anyone else. They want more but both are not in a position to have more than a weekend. They both end up their separate ways that was not easy for either one of them only to find each other where they least expect.

There is so much that occurs in this story that no small detail is left unnoticed where the small details end up being a huge part of a scandal...or should I say scandals. Leaves the reader wanting more, trying to figure out the mystery of what happened, happens, and will happen. Just when the reader thinks they have figured it out, you find out your nowhere close and continuing to turn the pages faster, weaving though the beautifully written twists and turns.

I can not say enough about this book but I'm thrilled that this new series from Black & Blake has brought their work to another level that leaves the reader in awe. I can not wait for the next book Seduction in Session. January 2016 can't arrive fast enough!

Dubbed the "Perfect Gentlemen of Creighton Academy," Maddox, Gabe, Roman, and Zack are inseparable – especially when it comes to trouble. There is never a time when they don’t have each other’s backs. But with Mad’s unexpected death, all their lives are thrown into turmoil – especially Gabe, whose sister is pregnant with Mad’s baby.
Devastated by his friend’s death and the mess he left behind, Gabe’s left to clean up, Mad's company and see that Sara and the baby are okay. Gabe finds comfort and solace in the arms of a one-night-stand, only to discover that the woman he slept with is a key player in Maddox’s company – and according to others, she was also his lover.

Everly was unaware of Gabe’s friendship with Mad or that he’d be stepping in at the company to fix the company problems. She’s certain she’s about to lose her job, and Gabe’s furious that she was Mad’s lover, especially when it’s his sister who’s carrying Mad's baby. With rumors swirling about the Perfect Gentlemen, Mad's untimely death, and Everly’s involvement with him, it’s a tension filled situation. Throw in their intense attraction to each other and things are about to get really heated super-fast.

SCANDAL NEVER SLEEPS is an emotional ride from the very first page right to the end. You have to admire the men who make up the Perfect Gentlemen for their achievements and hell raising ways. While it’s sad that Maddox has died when the story begins, it’s also the beginning of an intriguing plot that involves all the members of their close-knit group. Throw in the romance between Everly and Gabe, and this book is practically impossible to put down.

In typical Shayla Black & Lexi Blake fashion, the erotic romance aspect of this book is smoking hot but tempered well with the rest of the plot. I absolutely loved getting to know all of the Perfect Gentlemen and really admired Everly's bravado when so many people think so negatively of her. SCANDAL NEVER SLEEPS is a great, fast-paced read, full of memorable characters with a suspenseful storyline that keeps the reader guessing.

Here are the titles in Shayla Black & Lexi Blake’s THE PERFECT GENTLEMEN series.
SCANDAL NEVER SLEEPS
SEDUCTION IN SESSION
BIG EASY TEMPTATION

I received a copy of this book for an honest review. Chrissy Dionne, Romance Junkies 5 hearts

1st Third of the book: 5 Stars
Last Two-Thirds of the book: 3 Stars
Heat Level -- 5 Stars
Total -- 3 ½ Stars

The first third of Scandal Never Sleeps was excellent. It pulled me into the story of a group of boys from a private boarding school. Years later, they are attending the funeral of one of their own and Gabe sees a beautiful woman. They meet at a gathering at a bar after the service and decide to spend the weekend together. After the weekend is over we learn that Gabe has inherited Maddox Crawford’s company and Eve is a security executive for the company. This is where things go south. Gabe is an Alpha-Hole. He keeps accusing Eve of sleeping with Maddox. He hires investigators to get the dirt on Eve. It doesn’t seem to matter how much she denies sleeping with Maddox, Gabe doesn’t believe her. Then he begs her forgiveness. Gabe didn’t grovel enough for me and Eve forgave/trusted him to easily. Eve is not TSTL, she is a smart, strong woman. But she should have made Gabe grovel. He didn’t.

There is more murder, mystery and espionage to uncover. One of the villains really surprised me, but Eve figured it out quickly. I told you she was smart. And this book is only the beginning. I’m off to read Book 2.

The Perfect Gentlemen series will follow a group of powerful men who bonded with one another at an elite prep school some twenty years ago. Their power status runs the gamut from the President of the United States to the CIA to corporate moguls. They are fodder for the paparazzi and the object of feminine desire.

In this first installment, Scandal Never Sleeps, a member of the group, Maddox Crawford, has been killed. The gentlemen come together to lay Maddox to rest and uncover the truth about his death. It is this situation that brings together our first couple, Gabriel Bond and Everly Parker.

Gabriel is one of the corporate moguls, CEO of Bond Aeronautics. Gabriel has been named interim CEO of Maddox's company, but because of some family drama and because Gabriel's company built the plane that Maddox crashed, he is also the lead suspect in Maddox's death. Everly had a special relationship with Maddox Crawford, the rumor being that they had an affair as this is the only reason they will believe for Everly's quick rise to the top as Maddox's head of IT Security. Everly grew up as the daughter of a cop, but her penchant for hacking got her in trouble on occasion. The job from Maddox was really a dream come true for Everly, and now that her mentor is dead, she has to worry about what the future holds.

The relationship between Gabriel and Everly starts off hot and heavy in a weekend fling with neither party knowing who the other one is. Things turn rocky and stay that way once all is revealed. But once both Gabriel and Everly are in danger, they start working together to solve the mystery. The mystery aspect was done fairly well, even if it was a bit predictable, I still enjoyed the suspense. I actually liked the relationship between the band of brothers more than I liked the romantic relationship. Gabriel and Everly were fine in and of themselves, but I just didn't feel it between them as a couple as much as I would have liked. The sultry factor was mediocre, not quite up to the level I am used to seeing from Shayla Black and Lexi Blake.

I think my favorite of this group of illustrious gentlemen is going to be Conner Sparks, the dark and dangerous CIA Agent. Luckily for me, Conner's book, Seduction in Session, is up next. I did this book in audio, so I'm going to read the next one to see if that allows me to connect to the story a bit more.

3.5 stars / 3 flames.

Scandal Never Sleeps should have been added to my Top 2015 Favorites, but I finished it right after I created my list of Favorites. So this will be considered #11 on that list since I loved every bit of this book.

I've read at least one book from Shayla Black, but never had a change to read any of Lexi Blake's books. I will need to rectify that this year because this book was hard to put down. Between the suspense of the story and the erotic moments between the two main characters I was on the edge of my seat.

The story starts off in the past between friends who have been inseparable since boarding school. They are known as the Perfect Gentlemen and they definitely are 'perfect'. The first perfect gentleman that gets his story is Bond….Gabriel Bond. Sorry had to it since he has Bond as his last name. :) He definitely is one sexy character that will be hard to forget. He's Perfect Book Boyfriend Material.

Scandal Never Sleeps is going to bring the friends together due a sudden death to one of them. In comes the scandal, not only due to their friend, Maddox Crawford dying, but what scandal maybe happening in Maddox's company. The night of the funeral, Gabriel meets beautiful Everly Parker. One night stand leads to them not knowing they actually are about to get to know each other better due to Maddox Crawford.

My favorite things about Scandal Never Sleeps:

- Suspenseful storyline. The characters have to find out what really happened to Maddox and what was Maddox's secrets.

- The tension. Gabriel and Everly together are tense. They fought their feelings after their one night stand, but there was a reason they fought it.

- The perfect gentlemen. Everyone one of them are interesting and I can't read ALL about them, especially Connor.

- Everly Parker. Her strong determined-will to find out the truth and how she handled Gabriel at times.

- Gabriel Bond. He's sexy, unforgettable, and protective of his family and friends.

One thing that did bother me was between the two main characters and one particular scene, but I won't get into it because I'll give something away. Nope no spoilers. Plus, I have way more favorite things about Scandal Never Sleeps.

I give this book 4.5 stars, and definitely recommend to readers who enjoy their Romantic Suspense with some heat. Believe me there is a lot of suspense in their story, and lots of romance too. Shayla and Lexi place my favorite elements in a story with a amazing storyline and addicting characters.

I look forward to reading the next Perfect Gentlemen story from these authors.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

So this was an awesome book! Someone recommended this series to me and I had no idea what I was getting into, and I am pleasantly surprised and so glad that I picked this up! I sometimes find mystery or suspense books a little cheesy or the suspense bores me, that is not the case here! I don’t know how the authors came up with this and I can’t wait to see where they take it in the next book.

This has the perfect blend of mystery and romance. The romance was great and so sweet and the mystery was so well written, I never knew where this story was going to go. It had so many twists and turns.

I can’t wait to read the next one. What is going to happen and what is going on?? I can’t even guess.

Everly’s world took a nose dive when her friend and boss died in a plane crash. Now she has a new CEO who may fire her on the spot, cyber-security issues that threaten the company and a one night stand that feels like so much more…and those are the easy problems.

Hold on to your hats fearless readers, this is a bumpy ride with so many twists, turns and layers, I thought I was going to need oxygen at one point.

Both Lexi Blake and Shayla Black are known for writing intricately built worlds where just when a reader thinks they are going to zig, they zag. I couldn’t help but love every single minute of it. I’ve read everything Ms. Blake has ever written and this new series holds true to her writing skills. I got lost in this world of the privileged where life isn’t nearly as cushy and smooth as having money should make it. I loved the whole premise of a group of friends who share a bond forged by a common distaste for the life they’re forced into. They all know their futures are planned out and they have a duty to fulfill. It doesn’t mean they have to like it and it certainly doesn’t mean they have to fall in line quietly. In fact, thanks to the ring leader of this band of high society sons, Maddox Crawford, they’ll draw all kinds of attention before they assume their rightful places. But then Maddox had to go and die. It changed everything.

Gabriel Bond, Gabe to his friends, stands to both win and lose the most with Mad’s death. I like how Gabe is both alpha male and yet it’s clear his feelings for his friends and family run deep. It made him seem reachable and vulnerable and yet I had no doubt he’d get to the bottom of the problems Mad’s death caused. Gabe is also faulty. He has a short temper that tends to make him say things before his brain has time to consider otherwise. It gets him into hot water more than once in this novel. At the same time, when Gabriel wants to be smooth, he’s practically silk. Everly didn’t stand a chance.

Everly is one those heroines that I love pretty much immediately. She’s a geek and truly nice to everyone who isn’t crazy mean. I say that because there is a crazy mean girl in the picture. Seriously, this girl has issues but she isn’t Everly’s main problem, just a side slice of pain in her behind. I had no problem at all in cheering for Gabe and Everly’s HEA. They had so much chemistry. I also love that she isn’t afraid to walk away from Gabe, she doesn’t want to but she’ll stand up for herself even if it means losing him.

Readers who enjoy a hot romance with lots of non-sexual action and suspense outside the bedroom should give this series a read. This is book one in the Perfect Gentlemen series. It gives the overall back story and introduces the men who’ll star in the next books. They’re all so different and I can’t wait to be a part of their stories. This is a must read!

originally posted at long and short reviews

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A one night stand, can two strangers figure out who killed Maddox before something happens to either one of them?

Opening Sentence: “Gabriel Bond really wanted to murder his best friend.”

The Review:

Gabriel is helping put together the funeral for his best friend Maddox, who also happens to be the father of Sarah’s unborn baby (Gabriel’s sister), when he meets Eve and decides to have a one night weekend with her. Eve or Everly is the head of cyber security for Maddox’s company and pretending to be someone else for the weekend just might help her deal with her boss’s death. After the weekend ends it soon becomes clear there is so much more going on here than a weekend. Eve finds out that Gabriel is a super rich playboy, and Gabriel hears rumors of Maddox’s affair with Everly, except he hasn’t quite figured out that Eve and Everly are the same person.

Before they even begin to figure out things between them Eve starts receiving texts from a mysterious informant who warns her not to get too close to Gabriel. Gabriel finds out that he is the number one suspect in Mad’s death and things just keep getting deeper and deeper. As Eve and Gabe get closer to each other, they also get in deeper trying to figure out why and who murdered Mad.

This is one where it was hard not to say so much more about the book to avoid spoilers. Some of the information doesn’t seem spoilery, but it is and you have to read this book without spoilers! This book was great, I really like Eve, she was super smart and really unwilling to put up with a lot of BS. Gabe was okay, but he did improve by the end of the book. The mystery was really good, I did suspect one of the people before it was revealed but I really didn’t get the whole picture until the author laid it out. Plus, there was so much in the revelation department that you really didn’t get a good feel for the whole ending until all the pieces were laid out.

Eve and Gabe are the romantic couple in this book, and they start off as strangers who fall in bed, than in love all while trying to figure out who to trust and solve Mad’s murder, with some help from the other Perfect Gentlemen. Considering this is a new series, I thought it was really bold that the authors’ killed off one of the Perfect Gentlemen in the first book. But a in some ways a smart move, because it really allows them to introduce the remaining group and get a sense of them before their books are even written. Plus, all of them are in the other books as well! So, if you like your romance shaken, not stirred, then read Scandal Never Sleeps! It’s got everything from mystery, to sex trafficking, murder and love!

Notable Scene:

“His words shook her to her core because the feel of him, of this shared pleasure, haunted her, too.”

“And this situation is going to get worse before it gets better.”

“She had until then to find everything she could about Maddox’s death and decide what she would do next.”

“It was time to figure out who her informant was and what the hell he knew.”

“As Everly stared at the woman, a flood of fear paralyzed her.”

FTC Advisory: Berkley/Penguin provided me with a copy of Scandal Never Sleeps. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Very good book. I enjoyed this more because it wasn't predictable. Maybe the Female MC got a little whine in spots, but over all a strong female lead. I found that I wanted to know more about the Male MC, and what he was thinking. I'm not sure why but I related to him more...well as long as I related to a character the authors job is done in that department. She hooked me.
Now I need to read the rest of the series, because usually I have these kinds of things pegged, but I was lead by my nose throughout this whole book. I was suspicious, and right about some things, but there were still more surprises to be had that I didn't see coming. Most times the author lets go of there secrets to quickly. Shayla Black had me sitting there with my lock picks, waiting for the tale tell click, but it only happened when she decided.
I love authors that can surprise me.

A story of scandal amongst five childhood friends, Shayla Black and Lexi Blake draws you in with murder, intrigue, suspense, and smoldering intense sexual tension.

From the moment I picked up Scandal Never Sleeps till the very last page, I couldn't put it down. I WAS HOOKED. The reader is pulled quickly in from the very beginning, it's a classic whodunit. Maddox Crawford the childhood friend of Gabriel Bond is dead. Plan and simple except maybe it's not. Gabriel isn't so sure that his best friend's death was as innocent as a plane crash.

I absolutely loved the dynamic between Gabriel and his buddies from school. Each character unique, each with an obvious story to tell, and all of them in one way shape or form play a significant role in this book. I love knowing that each of the following stories in this series will be based around this one. I mean it has to. I hope it does. I had no idea who to believe in this oh so wicked web of intrigue. Black and Blake did a phenomenal job of juggling secrecy, scandal, and sex. I didn't know what I wanted to have happen. The dynamic between Everly and Gabriel was some of the best push and pull, sexual tension I've ever read.

Once the two main protagonists tussle in the sheets they quickly find themselves stuck with each other trying to figure out what really happened to Maddox. Both from two different sides of the track, both can't decide if they can trust each other, neither of them wants to stop touching each other. That tension, you know when you can't decide if you want to kiss him or throttle him? Yea that tension is hard to write but this dynamic writing duo hit that nail right on the head. I found myself rooting for Gabriel only to switch sides and start rooting for Everly. I didn't know what I wanted have the time which was good because neither did they.

Add to all of that the main plot of murder and mayhem and you have the perfect recipe for a sexy, scandalous story. I read the book quickly and felt that wonderful stated happiness you only get from a well told book. The one and only thing that would have made it perfect, not ending it so abruptly. I just felt like the ending was a bit rushed. I would have liked to savor the finish. Other than that you're gonna love Scandal Never Sleeps.

*A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Scandal Never Sleeps (The Perfect Gentlemen #1)by Shayla Black

Maddox Crawford’s sudden death sends Gabriel Bond reeling. Not only is he burying his best friend, he’s cleaning up Mad’s messes, including his troubled company. Grieving and restless, Gabe escapes his worries in the arms of a beautiful stranger. But his mind-blowing one-night stand is about to come back to haunt him . . .
Mad groomed Everly Parker to be a rising star in the executive world. Now that he’s gone, she’s sure her job will be the next thing she mourns, especially after she ends up accidentally sleeping with her new boss. If only their night together hadn’t been so incendiary—or Gabe like a fantasy come true . . .
As Gabe and Everly struggle to control the heated tension between them, they discover evidence that Mad’s death was no accident. Now they must bank their smoldering passions to hunt down a murderer—because Mad had secrets that someone was willing to kill for, and Gabe or Everly could be the next target.

My Review:
You know those big giant mystery romances that include cops but they play absolutely no role in solving it?
Their position comes across more as a footnote than anything else. Cops are involved but hey, we're millionaires lets solve this on our own anyway. Also not convinced of the millionaire thing.
However I got more laughs out of Scandal Never Sleeps than I expected though because Gabe reminded me of a male dog who shoves his nose into someones crotch that can't be moved. He bit, he snarled, he threw tantrums, and sex was the only thing on his mind. Then there is poor Everly... the girl who can't say no.
Gabe starts sniffing and she can't wait to open wide - *Spoler* Even when he acts up, even when he makes accusations, even though he thinks she slept with his best friend. Dammit they just couldn't resist, and those poor pathetic cops that kind of just disappeared behind all the paparazzi fell by the way side while they banded together with the rest of Gabe's friends to solve the mystery behind Mad's death.
Turns out Everly is more involved than they and even she first assumed and everything you thought you could avoid and knew from the beginning is turned on its head. Its that saying that your enemies are closer than you think defined and given a whole back story.
Just when you think you have it all solved there's a super cliff hanger ending letting you know the secrets don't just end with Everly or Mad.
Scandal Never Sleeps was funny, it was exciting, a little bit silly, a little bit childish, but toss in some passion and plenty of secrets and you have a fairly entertaining read ahead of you.

My Rating:
4 Stars

Reviewed By: Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews
http://kkmalott.booklikes.com/

This was my first time reading a Shayla Black and Lexi Blake collabo and I honestly had no idea what to expect... All I knew was that that blurb sucked me in and I couldn't wait to dive into this baby. And now that I've finished? Well, now I'm waiting not so patiently for the next book in this series!

So what's it all about? Everly and Gabe meet a at bar following their mutual friends' funeral, but neither of them know that they're both dealing with the same loss. The sparks start flying between them from the get-go and they agree to one night, which then turns into them spending the entire weekend together.

But what happens when they show up at work, the company their mutual friend, Maddox, owned, and find out that Gabe is Everly's new boss? What's worse is that Gabe finds out that Everly is supposedly the mistress Maddox left his pregnant sister for... So to say they get off on the wrong foot is a serious understatement.

Being the first book in a new series, Scandal Never Sleeps has a major case of information overload, which, unfortunately made this one a little hard for me to get into... But once the ball really got rolling? I was hooked!

Everly and Gabe definitely have a lot of obstacles in their way, most of which is thanks to Maddox and the big mystery around his death, and I did get a little frustrated with the back and forth. The sexual tension is so palpable between them, but at times I felt like that was all their relationship really was, especially as they tried to navigate their feelings and trust issues.

Along with romance there's a whole lot of suspense in this one that kept me on the edge of my seat, along with some twists and turns that I did not see coming. We're left with a pretty big cliffy regarding Maddox's death that will carry over to the next book in the series, but Everly and Gabe did manage to get their HEA in the end.

Even though this one took me a little while to get into, it turned out to be a great read in the end. And I absolutely cannot wait to see what's in store for us in the next book!

*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

**3.5 Stars**

Everly Parker isn’t like most girls. She has hacking skills that put her at the top of her job fast, and she’s gained the mentorship of her playboy boss because of it. With his sudden loss, she’s feeling vulnerable and sad for the loss of her friend. Running into Gabriel in the bar is exactly what she needs to de-stress and relax. It isn’t her norm to have a one night stand, in fact she’s never done it before, but something just feels right with him. Their chemistry is palpable, and the weekend they spend together is like nothing she’s ever felt before. But it all comes crashing down around her come Monday morning.

Gabriel is part of The Perfect Gentlemen. Having met his buddies in boarding school their tight bond has held over the years even if they haven’t keep in contact as closely as they once had. When they lose Maddox, he’ll begin to realize that there were things going on that he wasn’t aware of. Things he wishes he could go back and help with. When it comes out that his death is ruled a homicide, it becomes even more clear that whoever did this is after not just Maddox. That there’s a much deeper, more sinister plot than he ever expected. He’ll have to do everything in his power to protect those that he cares about…most especially Everly.

I really enjoyed the storyline. The plot, the mystery, and the cast of characters. It excited me for the rest of the stories to come with each man. I felt like the problems that arose between Eve and Gabe, while understandable, were both sort of pushed around and shoved under the rug interchangeably. I wanted more of one side sticking to their guns rather than the flip-flopping that ensued, and Eve not letting her attraction make her decisions for her. She’s smart, strong, and I expected the sexual attraction to not have such a strong hold on her as it did. It might have been like that to add to the tension of the suspense and overall story, but it wasn’t necessary. I am more than looking forward to the next part in this story, and love that the main arc is going to carry on throughout each book. Shayla and Lexi write flawlessly together, and told a suspenseful, rich tale of the things people do to get money and what lengths they’ll go to in order to keep it.

**Received an early copy in exchange for an honest review**

Reviewed by Francesca and posted at Under The Covers Book Blog

I have a confession to make. It’s been years since I’ve read a book by Shayla Black. I used to jump on every single one of her releases and then I stopped. But when this showed up at my door, it just seemed like something I wanted to try. And you know me, never reading blurbs and all, I really had no idea what it was about other than the title and the fact that this is co-written with Lexi Blake.

SCANDAL NEVER SLEEPS is full of…well…scandal. This series centers around a group of college buddies that are all rich and successful. Some went on to run massive companies, some went on to be top CIA agents, and one even became the President of the USA. But they never broke that bond of friendship. They are more like brothers. And when one of them mysteriously dies in a plane crash, they all rally to investigate why that happened and who could be behind it. Even one of them might be a suspect.

Hooked yet? Well, the premise of this book was extremely interesting and fresh! With the suspense element that you can expect from a Black/Blake read, SCANDAL NEVER SLEEPS keeps you on the edge of your seat. Entwining that with a hot romance between Gabriel and the head of internet security of his dead friend’s company, Everly Parker.

The storyline in this book doesn’t have a final resolution and it’s one of those threads that I imagine will continue throughout the series. There is a bigger mystery than just solving the one case, a bigger reason why things are happening. And I can’t wait for all the clues to fall into place to figure it out. But I won’t be telling you! You have to read it and find out.

As far as the romance, I found it hot and the progression was ok but I just couldn’t buy into the quick-love thing that was happening. Lust yeah, sure. I’m glad this didn’t quite suffer from insta-love but it was pretty quick to get there and it seemed like there were too many unknowns to overcome for it to have happened so fast. Nevertheless, that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story. And surprisingly for me, this didn’t include BDSM!

For fans of a good mystery and political intrigue, packed full of intense alpha males with over the top lives and lots of hot sex….then this is the read for you!

This is the first in The Perfect Gentleman series, about 6 childhood friends who have all attained positions of power or prestige (or both) as they’ve graduated from their boarding school past into the real world. Unfortunately, one of them, Maddox, has also ended up dead. The mystery of his death and the romantic entanglements of the five men left is the basis of the series.

In this particular story, after we’re introduced to the main characters, it’s Gabriel, the billionaire aeronautics playboy, who will be searching for his happy ever after. When he meets a lovely woman at a bar after his best friend’s funeral, a one-night stand quickly turns into a whole weekend of passionate lovemaking. But come Monday, when it turns out the woman he was with, Everly, worked for Maddox in cyber security and that the company has become Gabriel’s via Maddox’s will, their anonymous encounter has far-reaching implications. Rumors abound that Everly and Maddox were intimately involved, and as Gabriel’s pregnant sister had been involved with Maddox (who for unknown reasons had unceremoniously dumped her prior to his death), his duty to family insists that he fire Everly. But his attraction to her is too strong, and when it appears that Maddox’s death was no accident, they are both caught up in a dangerous game of lies and mistrust. The clock is ticking and as the investigation takes a sinister turn, one of them could wind up dead– unless they can find out the truth and learn to trust each other.

It should be noted that while this book is quite lengthy, the full mystery of Maddox’s death remains unsolved though lots of things are revealed and there is a fair amount of action and suspense. If you are looking for a story with a complete resolution, you won’t find it here. However the romantic story arc between Gabriel and Everly is complete, and it’s clear that the next story will involve another of the perfect gentlemen even while continuing the suspense plot introduced in this one. The story has a lot going for it, with continual eyebrow-raising surprises from one chapter to the next. In fact, just when I thought I knew what was going on, I was blindsided by another plot twist, so if you enjoy that kind of story, you’ll definitely like this one.

The romance between Gabriel and Evelyn started out great, with their weekend of fun sexy times to forget their troubles. As the story progressed, I felt like their romance got overshadowed by the rest of the plot and they go through an on again/off again relationship. There was a lot of mistrust on Gabriel’s side in the beginning in believing that Everly hadn’t been sleeping with his friend (even though she’s quite truthful about their platonic relationship) and then once Gabriel has decided that he believes her, she freezes him out for a while too. The sex between them is definitely steamy and well written. But I would have liked to see them trusting each other a little sooner, the back and forth got a bit tiresome. Gabriel also starts out as a more alpha male character at the beginning, but kind of stepped back and his character didn’t have the same zing for me as it did at the start. I liked Everly and it was great to see a female character in the geeky computer role, though she did seem a bit naive to me at times and I felt like there were some computer issues that she should have been able to figure out sooner based on her job. Still, the two of them together made a likable couple. Gabriel does a good job of making Everly understand that she is beautiful even if she’s a bit curvier than his usual women.

By the end of the story there’s been a lot going on, many character introductions, and still unresolved plot lines that hopefully will be addressed in the next book in the series, which I’m looking forward to reading. 3.5 stars.

4.25 stars--SCANDAL NEVER SLEEPS is the first installment in Shayla Black and Lexi Blake’s adult, contemporary The Perfect Gentlemen romantic suspense series focusing on six friends –Gabe, Connor, Dax, Zach, Roman and Maddox. This is billionaire CEO Gabriel Bond, and IT/computer nerd Everly Parker’s storyline.

Told from several third person perspectives SCANDAL NEVER SLEEPS focuses on the investigation into Maddox Crawford’s sudden death in an airplane accident and resulting fall out of rumors, innuendo and accusations. What ensues is the unleashing of a firestorm of information regarding Maddox’s connections to Everly Parker, and the nightmare from years of family secrets, blackmail and international ties. Coded messages, cryptic emails and threatening letters are only the beginning of an investigation where several people will not survive.

Because SCANDAL NEVER SLEEPS is the introductory storyline there is a copious amount of information supplied to the reader throughout the story. With the introduction of six life long friends-their backgrounds, history with one another, and connections to the political and powerful elite-as well as Everly Parker’s backstory, the reader may feel slightly overwhelmed with the info-dump that tends to run amok in many inaugural stories but saying that, all of the information is necessary as it pertains to their current situation and potential future storylines.

The relationship between Everly and Gabriel is one of immediate attraction; the sexual tension is strained when the truth about one another’s identities is revealed, and the potential for professional suicide and personal regret is high on the list of reasons not to pursue a continued relationship. Gabriel is a man who doesn’t do love but his need for Everly finds our storyline hero desperate for her love and affection-if only he would learn to trust the woman with whom he is falling in love. The $ex scenes are numerous, seductive and erotic. Gabriel can’t seem to keep his hands off of Everly Parker.

The numerous secondary and supporting players all play an integral role throughout the story thusly building a framework for their own future storylines. The prologue looks at six young men –teenage boys- and how the earlier versions of themselves result in a prophetic tale of tragedy and success.

The world building looks into the death of Maddox Crawford-his business, his lifestyle, and the woman that he loved. There is no resolution to the investigation into Maddox’s death but there are a number of potential villains with grudges against Maddox and all of his friends.

SCANDAL NEVER SLEEPS looks at the power players and political elite in the world of high finance, government espionage and international struggles. Shayla Black and Lexi Blake’s SCANDAL NEVER SLEEPS is an intoxicating read with memorable characters and thrilling action. The twists and turns are revealing and brilliant-get ready to be pulled into the intensity and the drama.

Scandal Never Sleeps (The Perfect Gentlemen book #1) authors, Shayla Black and Lexi Blake for yet another brilliant read! These two ladies are my go-to authors when I want a scorching HOT read packed full of story, and Scandal Never Sleeps was EXACTLY that… SCORCHING! I’m sure my Kindle would have asked me for a cigarette if it could I couldn’t put this sexy, edgy, mysterious read down!

Shayla Black and Lexi Blake are brilliant at creating sexy alphas to make a woman lose her mind over! I dare you not to swoon over these Effing-Sexy gentlemen. A strong, charismatic, businessman, lawyer, Naval officer, spy and politician…Need I say more Thank gawd this is the first book in a series because there is far too much hot and sexy for just one book. This girl is hooked and I can’t wait to see what happens with the rest of the Perfect Gentlemen

I haven’t slept much the last couple of nights because I couldn’t put this book down. I love a fabulous well written mystery, one that keeps me guessing—no predictability. Scandal Never Sleeps had me on the edge of my seat. So many facades to this brilliant mysterious story and it’s characters. Definitely not a predictable read.

If you’re in the mood for sexy read but want something that isn’t too deep, a story that you won’t be able to put down because you’re on the edge of your seat wanting to know what happens next… Scandal Never Sleeps is the book for you! One-click your copy today and take a sexy gentleman to bed with you tonight Nic

**I was provided with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review**

Ok let me start off by saying I checked this out on audio from my local library. I didn't buy it but I will certainly do so once the series is complete so my thoughts on this book are completely my own and not paid for in any way. Now with that said. Wow! I'm a huge fan of both authors collaborations and individual writings. Individually they really know how to make a story move. Shayla Black's Wicked Lovers series usually has the dark and dangerous types while Lexie Blake has the shot first ask questions later and tie you up for fun types. If you are a fan of their Masters of Menge series before warned this is not that series. I like that series a good deal but this one felt more developed to me.

The story starts off with the introduction of the "Perfect Gentlemen" Gabe, Dax, Maddox (Madd) Zach, and Roman. The intro gives a few laughes and the impression that these young men will one day be a force to be recokend with and always stick by each others side.

Flashfoward. Opening line Gabe Bond wanted to kill his best friend. Hold up wait a second. Maddox is dead? The intrigue doesn't stop from that moment on. Gabe has his first encounter with Everly when leaving the church after Madd's funeral. He wants her the moment he sees her but thinks he can't have her. They later meet up face to face at a local bar. Sparks fly and a heated weekend begins. Everly Parker is in for a shock on Monday morning when she discovers Gabe is now her new boss. Sparks are still there but also large amounts of distrust.

The two along with the Madd's remaining friends quickly are caught in a scandal/ murder investigation. They must decide if this thing between them is more than the hot Wall Street bad boy and the hacker supreme can make their differences work or walk away. The story is full of action and twist and turns. A few I saw coming a mile away but some where out of left field. Great book for a start of a series and I will look forward to reading the others. I have a feeling that we haven't heard the last from Madd but I guess we will just have to wait and see.

The OH SO SEDUCTIVE narration by Kaleo Griffith is absolutely panty-meltingly amazing. Mix that with some incredibly hot dialog and it is sure to make any reader completely hot and bothered.

The suspense part of this novel is sensational. It is anything but predictable and fabulously so.

The perfect gentlemen are a group of powerful and rich men that have known each other since they were kids. The bond between them defines the word brotherhood.

While I have categorized this book under Rich Racy Romeos, I like how the money doesn’t play into the seduction between Gabe and Eve. In fact, it almost works against Gabriel.

I absolutely love the setting as one scene takes place in a brownstone in New York that it was used as a speakeasy during prohibition. I love how it fits so nicely into the story and assists with the character development and history.

I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

Wow. Just wow. This book caught my attention and held it from beginning to end. The story revolves around six prep school buddies who’ve maintained their close friendship for their entire lives. When the most outrageous member of the group dies under mysterious circumstances, the others have to pull together to discover just what’s going on. What follows is both romance and mystery, which take off at a breakneck pace leaving the reader breathless. I can’t wait to read more about the Perfect Gentlemen.

I would give 10 stars if I could. You have edge of your seat action, sex, heart pounding suspense. When these two women get together to write you know you can expect AWESOMENESS!
Gabe, Roman, Connor, Dax, Zack, and Maddax went to boarding school and have been like brothers since. When Mad is killed in a plane crash, Gabe is left with his company and everything. Everly is a computer nerd. Mad had her into an executive position fast. Everyone thought they were sleeping together and she was the reason Mad left Gabe's pregnant sister. They meet at a bar after the funeral and spend the weekend in bed. When she goes to work on Monday, she finds out the man she spent the weekend with is her new boss. Now they have people trying to kill them while they figure out what happened to Mad.
I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK! It left you with some unanswered questions.
*Won a copy in a contest

This is an intriguing romantic suspense that starts a new series. This author collaboration has been a winner for me in the past and I could not pass up reading about these six friends who are now caught up in mystery and danger.

Creighton Academy is a prestigious boarding school where six young men met and continue to be good friends to this day. They are all successful in their adult lives and often do not see each other, but when one of their friends is killed, they come together to get answers, and what they find are more questions and that danger is closer than they think.

Gabe Bond is a wealthy businessman who is devastated when one of his best friends is killed in a plane crash. While attending the funeral, he meets a woman he can’t seem to forget and they spend an amazing weekend together before coming back to earth Monday morning. When they see each other again it is to come to terms with the fact that he has inherited his friend’s business and she is an employee.

Everly Parker worked for Maddox Crawford as head of security. They became good friends during her employment, although many thought there was more to their relationship. When she meets Gabe she decides to enjoy a guilt free weekend with a stranger but things turn uncomfortable when they meet again. And questions about Mad’s death have them running for cover.

I truly enjoyed this suspense filled romance with enough heat and danger to satisfy many who enjoy this genre. These successful friends are all swoon worthy and I look forward to learning more about them as the series continues.

Everly is an interesting young woman who was raised by a cop after her mother disappeared; she is a computer geek who enjoys a quiet life. She likes her job as head of security but is cognizant of the fact that she is young and inexperienced. I really like how she defends Mad, even though he was hiding many secrets, some that affect her, but she knew a different man than most and she is very protective.

I like Gabe, although there were times when I wanted to throttle him because of issues between him and Everly. But I think his relationship with his friends is amazing, the camaraderie is heartwarming as they come together for Maddox. Everly and Gabe’s connection is electric, and the chemistry created is amazing; these two writers know how to heat up a scene.

The pace of the story is fast, it is a page turner from the start as questions mount and the danger ramps up. The six friends are all intriguing and extremely important people in their own right, I am excited to find out their secrets. It is also good to note that this has a definite continuing story arc as things are not totally wrapped up, and we find Conner who works for the CIA, featured next and I can hardly wait to see what is uncovered. I highly recommend this romantic suspense full of intrigue and action that features these enigmatic friends and their loves.

Also posted at Ramblings from a Chaotic Mind

Copy from the publisher for an honest review

This book had it all. Great characters who the reader falls in love with from the opening pages. A storyline that has so many twists and turns you feel like you are on a rollercoaster. So many lies, deception, angst and bad guys with guns that you would think that you were in the mafia. And last but not least a love story that pulls everything together with friendship and lust. Wow, what a great book. I cannot wait for the next one in the series.

This was an amazing read. Suspense and mystery abound in a erotically charged romance. Scorching hot "gentlemen" all tweaked my heart in various ways and at the same time, the suspense spurred me into constantly theorizing and conjecturing with the turn of every page. Excitement and tickles kept me on edge and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. Gabriel may currently possess my being but he has stiff competition from his best friends. May the "best" gentleman prevail.

I loved this story by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake. What a great start to this new series! There was so much intrigue, suspense and scorching hot sex scenes page after page. I really enjoyed the loyalty and friendship between all the sinfully sexy guys and how they had each other's back no matter what. Gabe and Everly had incredible chemistry and I loved them together. They had so much to overcome and I really enjoyed following their journey. I could not wait to read the next book in this series.

Gabriel and Everly met at a bar after a funeral. They spent a steamy weekend together. Afterward they found that Gabe was Everly's new boss. Complications abound as they try to find who killed their friend, Maddox. I love the Perfect Gentlemen. Their friendship extends to family & girlfriends. They can have fun and tease each other but when the chips are down they are there for each other. This is another awesome start to a Shayla Black series. I look forward to reading the rest of the books.

Reviewed by Laura

After discovering that their friend’s death was no accident, Gabriel Bond and Everly Parker struggle to unravel the secret that Mad was willing to die for in this thrilling contemporary romantic suspense. This fascinating new series brings readers some sexy, privileged men to lust after while providing lots of complex suspenseful events in a conspiracy filled setting that adds to the ambiance. I was completely caught up in the story from the very beginning and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

See my full review at: Paranormal Haven .com

Why you should read it: I love the idea behind a group of close heroes each getting their book and Happy Ever After. Shayla Black and Lexi Blake do the best combustible attraction and energy between heroes and heroines, and Scandal Never Sleeps is no exception. Gabe is hot, alpha, and the way he connects with Everly is just wow! Definite recommend for Shayla Black and Lexi Blake fans as well as readers looking for something hot and sizzling.

INTERVIEW WITH SHAYLA BLACK

Tell us about this new series!

Shayla: Think spicy romance meets nighttime soap. Each book contains its own happily-ever-after and a new mystery to solve. We're excited for you to meet The Perfect Gentlemen. Between us, they can be anything but … however, that's part of their charm. They're a wealthy, powerful brotherhood of friends who dominate in industry, espionage, society, politics and love.

How do you balance the mystery, suspense and steam?

Shayla: Both Lexi and I approach plots very similarly. We devise internal and external conflicts that feed off one another and create these suspense elements we both love to write. The steam actually balances the tension of the mystery woven throughout this book and this series. So all the facets of the plot might leave you breathless but for different reasons. And while Scandal Never Sleeps is sexy (but not erotic), we wanted to give it a healthy dose of heat. What good is a bad boy who can't make you blush a little?

To read more of Shayla's interview head over to the HEA Blog!

Shayla Black never fails to grab my attention with any of her books and here she has done it again.

As a true fan of her Wicked Lovers series, this romantic suspense had me from the beginning and I could not stop until she had me twisted and turning. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, WHAM!

Another series to get totally invested in and I am already impatiently awaiting the next book in the series to see where the rest of this story goes and just how Connor gets what's coming to him!

Holy crap this was good! Like freaking amazingly good! I cannot stop thinking about these characters!!

Gabriel's best friend has recently died in a plane crash, at the wake of his funeral he meets Eve and is immediately attracted to her. He decides to approach her for a night of passion, needing comfort from the grief he is feeling at the loss of his best friend.

Everly is also seeking comfort after the death of her boss and mentor. When the handsome and charismatic Gabriel approaches her in the bar she decides to do something out of character for her, indulge in a one night stand to take her mind off the sadness she is feeling.

Neither one knows of the others connection to Maddox, and they're about to get a shock once the weekend is over! And with Maddox's death not being all as it first seemed and it becoming clear somebody is deadly intent on covering up what really happened, these two are thrust together to solve the mystery and stay safe in the process.

Now, I have to thank these two authors, Shayla Black and Lexi Blake were both new to me, this is the first book from either of them I've read but now I'll definitely be checking out both of their back catalogues. So I'd been in a horrible book funk for the last several weeks where I'd struggled getting into almost everything I picked up and it was taking me over a week to finish a book (definitely not normal for me, I'm a book a day kinda gal ordinarily!) This book cured me!! I picked this up and from the first page I barely put it down! I was hooked, desperate to know what the hell was going on in the world of the Perfect Gentlemen. I needed answers, and I also could have done with a buddy to read along with because I found myself talking to friends, who had no clue what I was talking about, about my need to discuss theories on where the story was going. Yes, I was probably quite annoying while I was reading this haha!

This book is incredibly well written, I can't wait too see what The Perfect Gentlemen get up to next, this group of men has piqued my interest and there's a guy in this mix to suit anyone's taste in alpha males.

So if you like your stories with some mystery and intrigue, some toe-curling racy sex scenes and a super sexy alpha male with a bossy and over-protective streak then this book is definitely for you!

Six young men went to the same Academy school together, called themselves the Perfect Gentlemen, and has remained friends into adulthood: Gabe, Dax, Connor, Zach, Roman, and Mad.

This is Gabe’s story…

Everly Parker is heartbroken over the death of her boss, Maddox “Mad” Crawford. She is in conflict with some of her colleagues because they feel that she does not deserve her position even though she is more that qualified. This becomes more evident after Mad’s death and the spearhead leading the group is none other than Gabriel Bond…one of Mad’s best friends.

Grieving over the death of one of his oldest, dearest friends, Gabriel “Gabe” Bond is determined to uncover just what Mad was into before his death. An unexpected coping mechanism leads to a spectacular one night stand with Eve on the night of his memorial service. Afterwards it turns out that Eve is none other than Everly Parker. The woman whom Gabe thinks the only reason she got her job was by sleeping with Mad.

A battle of the wills between Everly and Gabe brings forth more than just sexual tension. Murder and mayhem raise their ugly heads and are persistent in claiming them as their next victims. Will Everly and Gabe be able to escape their evil clutches before it is too late?

Scandal Never Sleeps is an awesome romantic suspense that will have you hanging on the edge of your sit with spine-tingling excitement. Readers, you are in for a treat with this novel. The plot is filled with trickery, naughty sexual encounters, rich playboys, secrets, lies, powerful friendships, strong personalities, mystery, jaw-dropping moments, and scandal…all the makings of extraordinary novel.

I really like Everly’s character. She is smart, sassy, and very strong-willed. She knows her worth and she refuses to allow Gabe and his friends to man-handle her. Which makes her the perfect match for Gabe because he is a true alpha male to the core with “follow my order” qualities. I also appreciated the interactions and loyalty with Gabe and his friends. I found them to be a fascinating group of men. I anxiously await for each of the men’s individual stories.

On the whole, Scandal Never Sleeps is one thrilling novel not to be missed! This breathtaking pag-turner had me hooked from page one. I found myself reading well into the night eager to discover all the deep, dark secrets and how the storyline would unfold. I am honored to bestow Scandal Never Sleeps a Joyfully Reviewed Recommended Read!

This book was reviewed by Nikita Steele for Joyfully Reviewed (JR), and was provided by the publisher/author at no cost to JR for the purpose of being reviewed.

Review for Scandal Never Sleeps by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake

Scandal Never Sleeps is the first book in The Perfect Gentlemen by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake. I’m a huge fan of these authors, they write amazing romantic suspense novels with erotica thrown in. The moment I saw they had a new series coming out I was on pins and needles waiting for it — millionaire alpha men? Sign me up all day long.

Maddox Crawford is one of Creighton Academy’s Perfect Gentlemen, when his plane crashes questions arise about the circumstances surrounding that crash. Accident or murder? As the remaining Perfect Gentlemen grieve their friend and begin investigating Mad’s death on their own pieces to a puzzle that is so much bigger than they can imagine start to fall into place.

Gabriel Bond is deep in his grief when he meets Everly at a bar after Mad’s funeral. The pair spend an intense weekend together, but Gabe leaves quickly when it comes to an end and Everly is sure he won’t be contacting her again.

I’m not going to go into any further details on how they reconnect, but I’ll tell you that I really hated Gabe. My heart ached for Everly and I was so glad that she kept her backbone and didn’t let him run roughshod over her. There is no denying the pair has chemistry, their weekend proved that without a doubt, and they definitely have sparks throughout the book.

I had some issues with how things between them played out and the storyline in general had so much happening that things got convoluted at times. This book set up the series well though, I’m excited to read about the other characters and find out what really happened to Maddox. Lots of mystery and intrigue mixed into the romance.

Three Stars for storyline and Four Wet Panties for smut.

ARC Review by Miranda at Mommy’s a Book Whore.

Shayla Black and Lexi Blake have teamed up to bring readers a super sexy, suspenseful new book, Scandal Never Sleeps. It is the first in their new Perfect Gentleman series focusing on a group of men who went prep school together at Creighton Academy. They have gone on to have lives of their own but they are still tied together by shared friendship and secrets. This is Shayla Black like you've never read her before. It's something new and different and Blake's influence is certainly felt. There is passion, suspense, intrigue and so much more going on in this one. It's going to cause many sleepless nights!

Shayla Black is well known in erotic romance circles and Lexi Blake may be new to me, but she has several books in the genre herself. I wasn't sure what to expect with this collaborative effort. Sometimes more than one author in one book can be a disadvantage. It makes the voice not as consistent and gives the action a jerky kind of motion. But in this one the transitions are seamless. I don't know what each author contributed or how the tasks were split up, but it never shows in this book. The flow is smooth and fast paced. With this much suspense it would have to be or it would certainly take away from the overall consistency of the book.

'Mad' Maddox Crawford is dead. But the circumstances surrounding his death are anything but normal. His former classmates and good friends have their suspicions about what Mad was up to before his death. The main character in this book is Gabriel Bond, one of Mad's closest friends and the one who has to pick up the pieces with Mad's company after his demise. When Gabe accidentally has a one night stand with one of Mad's employee's things get a little complicated since he's the new boss. Everly Parker is said employee and the female lead for the book. Both characters are what you would expect from the CEO and a high profile executive. They are used to getting what they want. The trouble comes in when they decide they want each other. And boy does it get steamy.

This book being an erotic romance has a lot of sex. That's to be expected. One of the things that I liked about this part of the book was Everly's adventurous side. She was by no means a wallflower. She had a little bit of wild side to her that really suited Gabe. They played well together and were a match that seemed if not perfect, definitely very plausible. I think people who have power, whether it be as the CEO of a company or some other sort, seek that out in those they chose to be with. It made for some interesting romps between these two.

Gabe is your typical corporate man. But something about Mad's death just keeps nagging at him. He is a true friend in the sense that he has to have some kind of resolution in this. The secrets just seem to keep turning up. Cleaning up Mad's mess turns into a full on suspenseful story. I liked the fact that Gabe was hotter than a firecracker in business and in his personal life. He commanded the power he had well and he acted like I expected someone in his position would. Everly was the only thing that set him off his game and that made the romantic connection between some much more palpable. You could feel the energy coming off them and off the pages.

Bottom Line:

Black and Blake did a fantastic job of making the suspense plot the main focus and the romance the added bonus. It gave the story more substance and kept it book sensual and edgy. This is the kind of plot that will keep you up at night wondering how in the world this guy got himself mixed up in all this and wondering when Everly and Gabe are going to figure it all out. The passion is hot and spicy and the characters are well suited for it. A very good new book from two great authors.

I am usually a fan of spoilers and finding out what happens in books, but I have to say I'm quite proud that I didn't peek to find out who was behind the murder of Maddox Crawford. I actually wanted to see everything unfold on its own for once! I really loved the element of suspense in this book. It was more than just a romance, though that does play a huge role in the book.

I really like Everly and Gabe together. Their romance moves kind of fast and it's borderline insta-love, but with everything else going on around them, trying to find out Mad's killer and if they are the next targets, it really didn't bother me that much. What starts off as a one night stand turns into more and I really liked the guy Gabe was with Everly. He is not perfect and makes his fair share of mistakes where she's concerned. He does prove himself worthy of her though and I was happy she decided to follow her heart.

I loved how prominent the secondary characters were in this one. Having all attended school together, the Perfect Gentlemen, as they've been dubbed, are the best of friends. They have been through a lot together and I love how protective they are of one another, even years later. After Maddox (Mad) is killed, the group comes together and is determined to get to the bottom of it. Maddox has always been a playboy, but had fallen for Gabe's sister, Sara. He swore she was the only one for him, but unexpectedly ends things with her, and he is suspected of having another woman on the side. There are so many factors at work here, but I don't feel I can really delve much deeper, as I don't want to ruin those extra twists and turns!

While this is a companion series, I feel reading these books in order is going to be critical to the development of future books. So much will intertwine and while the plot may be different, I still think they are going to be connected to one another. Connor's book is up next and after his role towards the end of this book I am super intrigued for his story!

Gabe and Everly are explosive together and I liked seeing them become a true couple and form a partnership based on trust and respect. Pinpointing who was behind everything was not an easy task and I can't say that I was able to figure it out ahead of time. I was starting to suspect everyone! Sexy, seductive, and full suspense, Scandal Never Sleeps definitely delivered for me.

The story draws you in from the first page. Strong, smart yet vulnerable characters. Great intrigue and romance. Fast pace keeps you turning the pages. Nice conclusion to this first in a series. Looking forward to seeing if I'm right about a loose end I assume will be solved later in the series.

WOW!! This book had it all!! It is suspense, seduction, angst wrapped up in perfect pages. Flaweless. I could not get enough.

Gabe and Everly meet through a night of wanting to forget pain and it becomes a memorable weekend. But when one believes something the other didn't do it becomes a mess with the hearts. And all of this while trying to figure out a mystery and murder. LOVED IT!!!!

The 1st book in the series... Looking forward to the rest of the series. We get introduced to all of the characters, I look forward to learning more about each of them. This has everything you could need with romance and suspense!!!

I like this book very much... I laughed, and held my breath, cheered...... characters were good....... I am half way thru book 2, and I have to say, Lara Armstrong is possible the least likable heroine I have ever read..... but I also have book 3 ready when I am done.

Wanted to start reading books by different authors because I am so tired of waiting for sequels that take years to come out! Got this book from library and was shocked at how much I liked it. Good book

I sure hope there is more of this story, because I loved it. Even playboys have to slow their roll sometime. Shayla Black and Lexi Blake never disappoint. Please never stop writing these stories I love them..