Carter Reed (Carter Reed Series Book 1)

A thrilling story that kept me at the edge of my seat with the perfect blend of sexiness, intrigue and danger. 4.5 stars!ABSOLUTE ADDICTION. Intriguing. Dangerous. Daring. Bold. With an unstoppable chemistry that sets the pages ablaze. I had never read a book by Tijan, but the synopsis begged for the story to be read. Tijan’s writing style is quite unique. With the guise of a seemingly simple and straight-forward narrative, she packs swift punches that keep you completely absorbed by the story. It reads like a series of quick jabs, the story rapidly unwinding as we move from one action-packed scene to another. There’s not a lot of fluff, not a lot of build-up, it’s in your face boldness.And speaking of boldness, immediately we begin with a scene so awful, so violent and revolting that it completely shocked me. When Emma walks in to her apartment, her best friend and roommate is being raped. She takes justice into her own hands and kills the guy… the son of a powerful mafia leader. This one decision would alter the course of her life, and many other lives, from this point forward. Left reeling and uncertain of what to do, she recalls the fateful words of her murdered brother…“You don’t trust anyone, no one except Carter. Go to Carter. He’ll take care of everything. He’ll take care of you, Ems. I promise.”In efforts to fix the precarious problem she finds herself in and to help her now broken roommate, she goes to Carter Reed.Carter Reed. The Cold Killer.Carter is her brother’s old best friend… a friend that she too grew up with. A friend that suddenly disappeared from her life after the brutal murder of her brother. Despite seeing him over the years from a distance, there’s been no communication. So who is Carter Reed?“He was perfect. And he was a killer.”Carter is a ghost, a fearless predator. He’s a “deadly panther”… lithe and menacing… a force to be reckoned with. Since he joined one of the mafia families and garnered infamy as a ruthless killer, he’s widely known… and feared by everyone. And that includes Emma. With their past so long behind, she’s not sure what to expect when she finds him. When she finally comes face to face with Carter, she is simultaneously filled with an unquenchable desire and a foreboding trepidation as she realizes her once normal life is certainly no longer. Standing in front of this gorgeous man with a body defined by pure muscle and eyes that gaze upon her coldly, she’s not so sure she made the right choice. However, what ensues is undeniable proof that she needed protection as the mob launches a search to find her, seeking retribution for the death of the man she killed.Carter turns out to have a soft spot for Emma and we realize he never really abandoned her. From conversations I’ve had on this book, I know some of you think this was insta-love as they both succumbed to their desires… but to me, I feel like their connection started long ago and was interrupted before anything ever happened. I think the absence of the other over the years, coupled with watching each other from a distance, has ignited the spark that had been ready to burn for so long.“You’re mine, Emma. You always have been. I won’t let you go.”With danger imminent, Carter is willing to do anything… kill anyone… to protect Emma. He knows no boundaries for the woman he has loved for so long.“You did all of that for me?I would declare war for you.”Tijan does an great job at fueling the desire between them, teasing us for so long with moments where a single glance scorches and a touch dissolves all bodily control. I couldn’t wait to get to the part where they finally gave themselves to each other.“As soon as we get home. You won’t walk for a week.”Truth be told, I think that the build-up was stronger than the satisfaction of them finally getting together, but I didn’t complain too much because I loved watching the dynamic between them. Without revealing too much, the story line packs a lot of action with dark and violent plot twists that had me furiously flipping pages to see what would happen next. I thought Emma was a good heroine, ready to go to war herself to protect the man she loved, gathering more resolve as her character evolved throughout the book. And holy hotness, Carter Reed! Dark and dangerous, he is forever alluring to a girl like me!!! I just loved him and was completely intrigued by him. He’s a powerful, complex and enigmatic character that I wanted to learn more about. I would LOVE to see a second book that gives us more insight into their past as well as into his head and heart. I think that will also go a long way into deepening the connection on an emotional level between him and Emma and also give the reader better understanding into his relationships with other supporting characters like Noah and Gene. I felt like there was more there. So, yes, I think there’s some additional plot development that can make this story even tighter, but sometimes I frankly suspend analysis and realize this was just a damn good book to read! It was fun, addicting and I couldn’t put it down. I look forward to reading more from Tijan.“I have always loved you… I will always love you, Emma. There’s been no other for me.”

This was just okay for me.It starts out really interesting and sucks you in at page 1...literally! Our heroine, Emma, walks in on something horrible happening to her roommate Mallory and has to make a quick decision.Decision made, Mallory and Emma are on the run from the mob. After running and hiding as long as they can alone, Mallory convinces Emma to take them to Ben, a "friend" that's always had it huge for Mallory.They get there and Mallory, understandably is a disaster, so is Emma. One of Emma's best friends, Amanda, shows up to help take care of the situation.Right away you get there is something wrong with Ben.**Side Note:The writing style of this book makes it hard to understand exactly what is going on at this point. There are several flash backs that you don't get are actually flash backs until you go back and read. There are no notations or wording that set it up as a flashback, it's just written as if it's still current date/time with Emma. Also, I could tell the author was trying to depict Ben as a "strange" character, but again, the writing made it confusing as to how I was to feel about him. I mean, was he good, bad, scary, weird, misunderstood, not understood enough, normal and just Emma was weird...I couldn't tell what she was trying to say to us through her writing. This might have been intentional, but it just left me a little confused. However, it doesn't take long after Mallory leaves for us to realize how we should feel about Ben.**Mallory decides she can't stick with Ben any longer and finally gives into the urge to contact Carter Reed. Her dead brother's best friend and our hero. Her brother AJ had told her that if she ever needed help with anything, ever got into a predicament that she couldn't get herself out of, to go to Carter.The only way Mallory can think to get a hold of Carter is to go to one of his many clubs and hope he's there. He isn't there, but when he's notified Mallory is looking for him, he quickly has her taken to safety in his home and Mallory waits for him there.When Mallory wakes up after dozing off waiting for Carter, they finally come face to face after all these years ( I believe they were either in foster care together OR Carter's parents didn't care about him so he always sneaked into AJ and Mallory's house growing up so he'd have someplace to sleep. Something like that, basically, they've known each other forever, and Mallory has always harbored a crush.)Mallory knows that he's changed, he's harder...and he works for the mob.Knowing that Carter can help her and Mallory, Emma gives in and accepts Carters offer to keep them safe. Basically to give him control.Although, she slowly finds out his offer to keep "them" safe was really more of an offer to keep her safe.Blah blah blah...she meets a new friend and gets a promotion all because the owner of her company is also Carter's best friend.Her new friend, Theresa, whom is also her knew work partner, has it bad for their boss/owner of The Richmond, Noah. Noah is an ex MMA fighter who was trained by Carter.Okay, I can't tell you much more without spoiling more of the story.But basically, there's a lot of talking about how much Carter needs to keep Emma safe and how hard Carter works to keep Emma safe. How much Carter has done basically his whole adult life to keep Emma safe and how much he'd give his own life to keep Emma safe. However, Emma didn't appear to be in any trouble. With so much talk and chapters of anticipation that the mob was going to figure it out and strike back, nothing really happened to Emma. Kind of disappointing when scene after scene was just...well a scene....The relationship started off pretty hot with Carter and Emma...but I felt like it was just pretty boring after the first go round. The author was pretty descriptive with the feelings and the build up to the first scene of them finally being together, but all the sex scenes were, I felt, downplayed and not steamy at all.So in the end, I was disappointed with this read. The how I fell for the hot cover, the appeal of the characters and their situation...I felt it could have been so much more. I mean why have this seriously scary bad boy of a lover and no real scenes (other than a few gun fights where it was clear Emma wasn't in danger) where he has to save her or that she was in danger. I guess I just had my expectations set to high when I read what this book was about. I expected a lot more action and a lot less talking. I just felt like the dialogue just dragged on and on and I wanted them to stop talking and just start humping! Or maybe for Emma to get shot at more or just get shot (but obviously live)! Carter just got all the action and didn't share it much with Emma! But, as an Alpha, I GUESS that was his job LOL.I wouldn't say don't read this book, obviously it's pretty good, I just wanted more action for our heroine. The idea was great for this book and the Alpha was totally freaking alpha, I just wished the author took advantage of what great things she created and added more danger! But then...I do like to walk on the wild side, maybe it's me that should bring it down a notch?

I love Tijan books and i have weakness for mafia dudes, so you already know that i want a Carter for myself. But although i really like the characters, Emma sometimes irritated me, but considering everything that she's been through makes acceptable to endure. I really love Carter! He's the alfa male powerfull guy that you want to protect you without a doubt! Tijan, you Rock!!

Carter Reed is a Mafia, brother's best friend, suspense romance by Tijan. It seems Tijan can write pretty much anything.Cole was my first introduction to Tijan's mafia writing skills and I loved it. Carter Reed does not disappoint.Carter Reed is dangerous, not just to whoever goes against him but to Emma too. He's everything your mother would warn you away from, but he's also the thing that makes Emma whole and saves her.Emma Martins did what she had to do to save herself and her friend but it opens up an entire world she shouldn't be a part of. Because she knows exactly what the consequences of that world will bring.There is plenty of suspense, but the heart of the story is Carter and Emma. She's in danger and he will do everything he has to, to make her safe. He left her alone after her brother died. He did everything he needed to while avenging her brother and making sure Emma was never touched by it again. Emma lost it all when she lost her brother but reconnecting with Carter she might just get it all back.I loved their past connection it made it so much easier for them to slide into a relationship, despite all the drama Emma is dealing with.Emma is clearly already tough with everything she's already been through but becoming someone who can stand by Carter's side in his world was fantastic to read.It's so good we aren't done with these characters yet and we'll get more of Emma and Carter in Carter Reed 2....Emma never thought she'd kill anyone ever but after walking into her house and see what she sees she has no choice. Her brother, AJ and his best friend, Carter always made sure she knew how to take care of herself. She just never thought she'd have to do it like this.Terrified for her and her best friend she runs, but having no idea where to go or how to keep them safe she just becomes more scared. Her friend may never recover from the events of that night and Emma sure isn't coping to well either.Emma knows they need a plan. They need someone bigger and scarier to help and she knows of only one person. Her brother told her before he died but she's never tried to reach out before. 'Go to Carter.'Carter isn't the boy Emma remembers anymore, he's cold, calculating, dangerous, and even more than the news say. Emma's not sure she's made the right choice.Carter has kept Emma safer from afar despite how much he wanted her close. Now she's come to him, he has no intention of letting her go again.Happy Reading.

There are so many things that I dislike about this book. The character, the story and just everything in general.Emma, as a character, is so irritating, too demanding, and acted like a spoiled brat. She has killed someone, abandoned her equally annoying friends, and let them be hunted by the mob, while she looks for shelter, to another mobster. When a mobster also happened to be your dead brother's best friend, and after seeing his GQ body, she forgot about the murder she JUST committed and starts lusting over him.Also, I can't believe this girl thinks she can have a say in all that was happening. She believed she has the right to complain when a Mob is trying to kill her, and she seeks protection; you need to sit yourself down and don't put yourself in danger just because you feel like it, or because you were lonely. And about Carter? I'm pretty sure even he was 100% done with Emma, with the disappearances he had made even when Emma begged him to stay.Carter could've been a good character, but he was so manipulative. But his confidence doesn't balance out how he turned into a sappy love-struck guy by the end of the book, falling in love with one of the most boring characters I've ever read. How he could've fallen in love with this girl is beyond me.The secondary characters were undeveloped and flat, and it was impossible to connect with any of them. The writing style is not enjoyable, filled repetitive sequences and cringe lines. This book was neither romantic or thrilling. The premise had so much potential for an action-driven storyline when in reality the story unfolded at a snail's pace.There was always something missing with this book. Perhaps a better backstory or Carter's pov from the past? Added depth from the characters was desperately needed, and I just wasn't connected with the two main characters in the slightest. There is zero chemistry at all between Emma and Carter.

I don't have the time to list everything that's wrong with this book. By the end of chapter 5 I just wanted Emma to die. At the point that Carter declared that he'd left the mob I was ready to kill both of them myself. Left the mob??? What?? Sorry?? I'm going to assume that this was a really early effort at writing for the author who was trying to put up something for the 'mob' trend and leave at that.Here's the thing that really upset me, Tijan is a master of characterisation when she wants to be and there is none in this book. The characters just overreact to events. She made things happen then forced a reaction . I'm struggling to understand it because she has written books that will get second, third and fourth reads from me. She excels when she's focused on intimacy, on characters who really learn how to know each other and support each other. This book is not that.

Well I have just finished reading Bennett Mafia . A great story by the way . But I noticed THIS Book and thought yes I've read that but a long time ago September 2013 so I have reread and found I never left a review the first time so am leaving one now a great story Well worth reading and am now of to buy book 2. Highly recommended