Black Listed: A Benediction Novel

Just when I think Shelly can't give us better, she does! We first met Lisa Smith in the White Collared books and frankly, I didn’t like her much. I thought her conniving and was always feeling as if Kate needed to watch her back with her. I guess there was a good reason for that…she’s a con artist. Not just someone who manipulates to get things her way but an all-out, criminally minded, con artist, who came from a family of con artists, and is now hiding out from them—and her husband, Sawyer Hayes. Lisa’s real name is Annaliese Hayes nee Hunt. She married Sawyer Hayes, the sexy billionaire computer genius who helped clear Rachel and Logan of murder in BLUE BLOODED. She married him because that’s what her father wanted her to do then divorce him for the money, only he changed his plans and decided she should kill him instead, and take it all. Only one problem with the old man’s plan…Lisa had fallen in love with Sawyer, so she took enough money to appease her hateful father, and left. She left the man she loved, the life she wanted with him, and took along with her a Black List that could put her entire family away for a very long time…her included. She warned her father that if anything happened to Sawyer, the list would go straight to the FBI. She gave up her life to save Sawyer’s. All was well until her picture appeared in the newspaper and Sawyer showed up at Cole and Danielle’s wedding. Lisa asks him for a divorce. Sawyer says he’ll agree only if she agrees to spend one week as his submissive. Seeing that he was, and still is, her only Master, Lisa agrees because she still craves this man, still loves this man, and wants to protect him by making sure he goes away and stays away from her. The problem is…if Sawyer could find her…so could her father, her brothers and any one of the many marks, she’s defrauded over the years. As I read each book in the Benediction series, I think Shelly Bell can’t possibly thrill or keep me enthralled as well as the one before but she can, and she does. Having just come off reading RED HANDED immediately before reading BLACK LISTED, I thought nothing could surprise me more, but it did. BLACK LISTED, book three in the Benediction series by Shelly Bell is raw, rough, suspenseful, and not for the faint of heart when it comes to sex scenes but it’s also, beautiful, emotional, passionate, and overflowing with an intense love between two perfectly matched characters that are getting a second chance at love, marriage, truth, and the future. We are used to second chance romances where a couple who had unspoken feelings for each other come back together and reignite their love and relationship but this time, in BLACK LISTED, this is a married couple, a Master and Sub, two people who had already committed themselves and their hearts to a union torn apart by secrets and lies. It’s unique, it is heart wrenching, and we can’t help but be drawn into their world, their love, and feel the same sense of healing when the truths—all of them—finally come out. I highly, highly recommend that if you love good suspense, characters rich in realism, a world of the sexually unusual—one that intrigues and makes you wish you were brave enough to venture into—and experiencing love that you wish could exist outside the realm of romance novels then please…read BLACK LISTED by Shelly Bell, and welcome the addiction. ***eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

What happens if all you know and been taught to do is con people? What happens when you find the love of your life but the con requires you to do them harm? Lisa was faced with this dilemma so she did what she does best, she runs but not just from the con, her family too. She builds a new life for herself away from all the con’s, starts a career and feels normal. But then, Sawyer, her last con and husband, strolls back into her life. She loves Sawyer but fears for his life if her family finds them. When crazy things start happening to Lisa that puts her in danger, how will she protect herself? Sawyer loves Lisa and was determined to find her after she walked away from their marriage so he doesn’t plan to let her go now. Will he be able to protect her? Will she be able to let him and tell him the truth? This was an amazing, sensual, erotic and heart-stopping ride. There is a great mystery embedded that kept me guessing to the very end.

Lisa Smith has a secret. Five years ago she was forced to run a high-end con, hustle Sawyer. It included learning the ins and outs of BDSM and seducing her mark, into marriage. Along the way, she falls in love. In order to save the life of the man she’d come to love (her father wanted to kill Sawyer so she could inherit his money), she leaves him, without a trace. Five years later, Sawyer tracks her down, intent on learning why she broke his heart and ran. Striking up a deal, he coerces her into an agreement; spend the next seven nights with him and he’ll grant her a divorce. This book was incredible. I love a bit of whodunit with my romance. The interactions between Lisa and Sawyer were realistic and hot without difficulty following all the action. Even so, it keeps you guessing till the end. The author takes a fresh approach to BDSM, making the scenes exciting and leaving you wanting more.

No one knows how to adapt to their surroundings quite like Lisa Smith, changing personalities and identities is second nature to her, and really the only way she knows how to live. When you are raised by and surrounded by a group of con artists you really have no other choice then follow suit and do what your taught, even if it is wrong. When her father tells her to con, and marry, billionaire Sawyer Hayes, she is game to complete the mission, but things take an unexpected turn. Lisa ends up breaking protocol and winds up falling head over heels in love with Sawyer. Letting her guard down and falling for him wasn't part of the plan, but is sure felt good to finally feel like she had someone in her life who truly cared about her and her welfare. But things between them come to a screeching halt when her father demands she kill him and move on, she can't bring herself to end his life so she flees, with his money, and never looks back. But four years later Sawyer tracks her down, and makes her an offer she can't really refuse, he'll grant her the divorce she requested as long as she spends the next seven days being his love slave, which sounds plausible, but she's not so sure her fragile heart can handle being that close to him, and walking away from him again. Having been a while since my last book by Shelly Bell, I had forgotten just how much I enjoyed reading her stories, but after reading the first paragraph of this one I was quickly reminded of the literary treat her books provide! The story line was very engaging and action packed, and had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. The chemistry between Lisa and Sawyer was undeniable from the start, their relationship was fueled by loads of intensity and passion, and filled with lots of steamy action that left me blushing quite a few times! No one does sinfully sexy tales quite like Ms. Bell, she has a knack for putting the perfect amounts of naughty, romance and suspense into her stories, and giving readers a very well balanced and highly satisfying reading experience!! I have yet to read something from her that I haven't absolutely loved, and I highly recommend you give this read a try, it is sure to satisfy all your reading cravings...and then some!! ARC requested through Edelweiss, and kindly provided by Avon Red Impulse Publishing in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.

Lisa Smith was raised by con artists, and before she even knew that what she was doing was wrong, she was a part of their scams; it was the only life she knew. When her father told her to con, and marry, young billionaire Sawyer Hayes, things went awry. Lisa fell in love with Sawyer, for the first time of her life, she was really happy; she had found someone who cared deeply about her. But when Lisa’s father asked that she kill Sawyer, Lisa vanished to spare her husband’s life, however she took Sawyer’s money with her. After four years, Sawyer finds her, and he tells her that if she accepts to do all his sexual bidding for seven days, he will grant her the divorce she asked for. What Lisa fears is, that since she has never stopped loving Sawyer, that her heart will be broken again. But when Lisa’s life is also in danger, Sawyer and Lisa must do everything to survive… I was a bit apprehensive, given the warning about serious BSDM and ménage, but Ms. Bell handles everything extremely well. When she was married, Lisa was a collared slave to her Master Sawyer, and I never once felt it was degrading; it was what made Lisa happy, it was her choice, and surprisingly enough, I felt comfortable with the whole thing. Sawyer is really a great guy, and I really liked Lisa. I don’t like thieves and liars as heroes, and again the author makes it work: I understood where Lisa was coming from, and I had no problem with. Both characters have very interesting background stories; everything was totally believable. BLACK LISTED is as expected scorching hot, and all the sex scenes are very tasteful. Better yet, all this naughtiness is perfectly integrated with the suspense story, and the story is very solid. There are suspense elements on several levels: there are threats on Lisa’s life, are Lisa and Sawyer heading towards a reconciliation, who wants to harm them, and I didn’t have a clue. With BLACK LISTED, Shelly Bell strikes a perfect balance between a captivating suspense novel, a realistic love story, and BDSM that feels totally authentic. BLACK LISTED kept me riveted until the very satisfying conclusion. I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.