The Bribe by Willa Nash

 

Book: The Bribe (Calamity Montana #1)

Author: Willa Nash AKA Devney Perry

Type: Standalone

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

POV: First Person - Dual

Date Read: Dec 7, 2020

Page Count: 322 (Kindle Edition)

Publication Date: Oct 15, 2020

*(Subject to change)*

4.28

Lucy Ross - 28

Duke Evans - 33

Death of a sweet, furry, precious little dog (very briefly mentioned, but still). I'm going to hug my Toffee now. Oh, and also contains murder but who cares? The dog is dead! *cries while hugging Toffee*

Duke Evans didn’t expect to interrupt a beautiful woman in a staring contest with a bison on his favorite hiking trail. He also didn’t expect to see her again after rescuing her from the surly beast. As the sheriff in Calamity, Montana, he’s had his fair share of surprises but none as pleasant as pulling over a shiny black car and finding his mysterious hiking companion behind the wheel.

Only, she lied to Duke. She gave him a name as fake as her hair color. According to her driver’s license, her real name is Lucy Ross, the famous country music singer whose sudden disappearance has been a hot topic in the media over the past two weeks.

He’s not sure why Lucy lied about her identity or why she’s in Calamity. And she’s not talking. Instead, she offers him a bribe to keep her secret.

But Duke doesn’t want her money. He wants to know why this woman is on the run. And as long as the star shines on his badge, he’s going to find out.

We had hundreds of Calamity events in our future. Of nights together, sharing moments under the stars. There’d been a lot of moments lately. I’d only be satisfied with a lifetime more. She was special and I wasn’t letting her go.

How does Devney Perry continue to blow my mind with her romances? From 'The Birthday List' and 'Letters to Molly' to 'Tattered', she continues to make me fall in love with her characters. Her writing style is so beautiful and the words just flows across each page; truly an amazing author. I fell in author-lust with her when I read 'The Birthday List' and I will forever be a fan after that. It is still my favorite book from her and I believe nothing can top that just because it was so heartbreaking. This one is a close second. The Bribe was everything I expected from her and more. All characters, main and secondary, were fleshed-out and endearing and not once did I ever get fed up with any of them.

Never in my life had I longed to be with a person the way I craved Duke’s presence. I’d take him every minute of every day.

I absolutely loved Lucy's character, even when she was being a bit of a pessimist but that's given knowing what she went through (the dog!). The connection that Lucy and Duke started to form made my heart skip a beat, it was simply beautiful. I did love Lucy, but I have to say that it was Duke that shined the brightest in this book. What can I say, I have a thing for hot guys in uniforms carrying guns. Duke was strong, loyal, passionate, caring and everything you can wish for. The plot was very interesting and captivating with a bit of mystery and suspense thrown in. The story was really cute with a little dark fairytale-like quality to it. I especially loved the small town location and I wanted more of Cheddar (not the dog that gets killed. Oh that innocent baby).

And for the next book, we have (brace yourself):
Hot dad + ex-convict + tortured artist + marriage of convenience? = *my demon voice* Where is it?!

If you’re looking for a passion filled romance that’s sexy, swoony, full of alpha goodness and will give you the feels AND contains a little dark content, The Bribe is one you need to check out.

• ❝I loved this man with my entire being. If that meant sacrificing my superstar career so he could stay here, where he belonged and was happy, then I’d make that choice. I’d choose him every day, because it didn’t really feel like a sacrifice.❞

• ❝There was no hiding who you really were. Not from the outside world. And not from yourself.❞

• ❝We had hundreds of Calamity events in our future. Of nights together, sharing moments under the stars. There’d been a lot of moments lately. I’d only be satisfied with a lifetime more. She was special and I wasn’t letting her go.❞

• ❝“You’ll never be alone,” he promised. “As long as there is a beat in my heart and breath in my lungs, you’ll never be alone.”❞

• ❝Complicated creatures, teenage boys.❞

• ❝“In public, you’re Jade. But behind closed doors, you’re—”

         “Lucy?” she breathed.

          I shook my head. “Mine.”❞

• ❝He stood and handed me a wallet, opening the front flap to reveal a gleaming silver and gold badge. “Sheriff Duke Evans.” Sweet lord, I nearly swooned. He had a great name. I’d always been a sucker for a great name.❞

• ❝“That’s not how the world works.” “Maybe.” He sighed. “But this is Calamity.” A world of its own. A world where good men existed. Where I wouldn’t be exploited or betrayed or despised.❞

• ❝Never in my life had I longed to be with a person the way I craved Duke’s presence. I’d take him every minute of every day.❞

• ❝“Do you believe in destiny? Because I was just thinking . . . I’ve caught a lot of lucky breaks. My career, mostly. But this one, finding you here, doesn’t feel like luck. It feels like something bigger.” His gaze softened, the crinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening. “It sure does.”❞

• ❝The shelter I’d craved for years was right here in his arms.❞

• ❝“Your life was a lot simpler before I showed up in Calamity.”

      “My life was lonely before you showed up in Calamity. These past few weeks, it’s been the best time I’ve had in years. Maybe ever.”

My heart melted. “Me too.”❞

• ❝I was a woman running through a storm, searching for a haven against the onslaught of rain.❞

• ❝“Why are you with me, Sheriff?” She held her breath, the world around us disappearing as those green eyes searched mine.

• “Because when you’re in the room, I can’t seem to focus on another person. Because you consume my thoughts, day and night. Because your smile makes my whole damn day.” I bent low, speaking so only she could hear me. “Because I don’t care if your name is Jade Morgan or Lucy Ross as long as at the end of the day, you’re mine.” ❞

(*swoon*)

Willa Nash is USA Today Bestselling Author Devney Perry’s alter ego, writing contemporary romance stories for Kindle Unlimited. Lover of Swedish Fish, hater of laundry, she lives in Washington State with her husband and two sons. She was born and raised in Montana and has a passion for writing books in the state she calls home.

Devney is the USA Today bestselling author of the Jamison Valley series. Born and raised in Montana, she loves writing books set in her treasured home state. After working in the technology industry for nearly a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to enjoy a slower pace at home with her husband and two sons. Writing one book, let alone many, was not something she ever expected to do. But now that she’s discovered her true passion for writing romance, she has no plans to ever stop.

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