by Samantha Young
Series: Hero #1.5
Series: Hero #1.5
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Samantha Young
Publication Date: December 5th 2017
Source: ARC received for review
Rating: ★★★
The sexy and emotional companion novella to the New York Times bestselling romance HERO.
Nadia Ray is not just a broadcast meteorologist. She’s Boston’s morning television It Girl. Successful and independent, she’s put a past she’s ashamed of behind her and is forging a future she can be proud of. However, when her new boss discovers her secret he blackmails her, intent on using Nadia’s popularity to make them the number one morning show in Massachusetts. He wants her to be part of uncovering the city’s biggest scandal – a secret billionaire Caine Carraway is hiding.
Soon Nadia is thrown into the path of Caine’s best friend: sexy, wealthy bachelor Henry Lexington. But she doesn’t encounter the dashing high society gentleman Henry is purported to be. Instead she’s faced with an insulting and defensive villain who misjudges her at every turn.
When Henry finally realizes the truth, and decides to make amends, Nadia wants nothing to do with him. But she underestimates his determination and charm and soon they find themselves embroiled in an intense, passionate affair.
An affair Nadia knows must come to an end before their feelings grow any deeper and he discovers her secrets.
After all, Henry Lexington isn’t the only one who played the part of a villain once...
I'm a huge fan of Samantha Young's On Dublin Street series. I always reread them every now and then. While Hero isn't my favourite, Henry made an impression on me and I was excited when I found out that Samantha's releasing a novella with him and Nadia as the main characters.
Villain is set in Hero's timeline, but you don't need to read Hero to enjoy Villain. The story is told solely from Nadia's POV. I admire Nadia's character a lot for her strength and determination to prove that she's more than just her looks. The first couple of chapters were hard to read considering Nadia was being harassed and blackmailed by her good-for-nothing boss (trigger warning for attempted sexual assault). I was as frustrated as Nadia was with the treatment she received from her male superiors, but luckily it didn't last very long.
Henry and Nadia didn't get off on the right foot the first time they met each other, since Nadia was supposed to write an exposé on Caine Carraway's sordid past, and Henry as Caine's best friend would do everything in his power to not let that happen. I enjoy seeing the overtly smooth Henry failing to charm the cynical Nadia, but kept trying anyway. There were some issues they need to overcome to be together--mainly Nadia's insecurities and Henry's flirtatious nature. I would have liked Villain to be full-length so that Henry and Nadia's relationship can be fleshed out a little more, but overall it was an entertaining read. I recommend it especially if you're a fan of Samantha's Hero; Lexie and Caine had quite a few scenes in Villain too.
Villain is set in Hero's timeline, but you don't need to read Hero to enjoy Villain. The story is told solely from Nadia's POV. I admire Nadia's character a lot for her strength and determination to prove that she's more than just her looks. The first couple of chapters were hard to read considering Nadia was being harassed and blackmailed by her good-for-nothing boss (trigger warning for attempted sexual assault). I was as frustrated as Nadia was with the treatment she received from her male superiors, but luckily it didn't last very long.
Henry and Nadia didn't get off on the right foot the first time they met each other, since Nadia was supposed to write an exposé on Caine Carraway's sordid past, and Henry as Caine's best friend would do everything in his power to not let that happen. I enjoy seeing the overtly smooth Henry failing to charm the cynical Nadia, but kept trying anyway. There were some issues they need to overcome to be together--mainly Nadia's insecurities and Henry's flirtatious nature. I would have liked Villain to be full-length so that Henry and Nadia's relationship can be fleshed out a little more, but overall it was an entertaining read. I recommend it especially if you're a fan of Samantha's Hero; Lexie and Caine had quite a few scenes in Villain too.
Out December 5th in digital edition.
Preorder Links:
AMAZON US - http://amzn.to/2giFLfF
AMAZON UK - http://amzn.to/2yxhpZz
KOBO US - http://bit.ly/2i1siJr
KOBO UK - http://bit.ly/2yQpdGp
iBOOKS UK & US, & GOOGLE PLAY Links Coming Soon!
About the Author
Samantha Young is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of adult contemporary romances, including the On Dublin Street series and Hero, as well as the New Adult duology Into the Deep and Out of the Shallows. Every Little Thing, the second book in her new Hart’s Boardwalk series, will be published by Berkley in March 2017. Before turning to contemporary fiction, she wrote several young adult paranormal and fantasy series, including the amazon bestselling Tale of Lunarmorte trilogy. Samantha’s debut YA contemporary novel The Impossible Vastness of Us was published by Harlequin TEEN in ebook & hardback June 2017. Play On is an adult contemporary romance and the first in a brand new series set in Scotland. Villain is a companion novella to the New York Times bestselling romance HERO.
Samantha has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for On Dublin Street, Best Romance 2014 for Before Jamaica Lane, and Best Romance 2015 for Hero. On Dublin Street, a #1 bestseller in Germany, was the Bronze Award Winner in the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2013, Before Jamaica Lane the Gold Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2014 and Echoes of Scotland Street the Bronze Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2015.
Samantha is currently published in 30 countries and is a #1 international bestselling author.
