Braced by Stacy Gail

I missed you, and I needed to see you again.

And that’s the last thing Lilah Ledbetter wants. She’s been down that road with Finian Brody, and she’ll be damned if she’ll let him hurt her again—no matter how hot he still makes her burn.

You deserve better, and I want the chance to give you better.

Epic truck sex should never be followed by a broken heart, but that’s exactly what Fin gave Lilah, all those months ago. Nudging her into a job at Green Rock Ranch is hardly the way to make amends, though her body doesn’t seem to get the message.

Tell me you want me, Lilah. Say it.

Heaven help her, she does. Avoiding Fin when they’re working together is next to impossible. He’s still arrogant as hell, but there’s something different this time around.

He’s changed.

But so has she.

Feel all of me with all of you, sunshine, and know this is where you belong.

Fin might be sure they belong together, but Lilah will have to bury the past before giving Fin—and love—a second chance.

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press – Harlequin

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
I loved Lilah's reaction to Fin's advances. No woman wants to be on the receiving end of a "hit it and quit it" speech right after sex, and when Fin gives her his version of that speech, she knows she's done. Lilah has been in love with Fin since she was a kid, they even got "married" when she was six.

When Fin shows up at the vet clinic where she's working and insisting that she's the on-call tech for his ranch, she's confused. He told her that he wasn't into her but now he wants to talk and explain.

Not only does Lilah have to deal with Fin and what he thinks he wants, she also has to deal with her mother. Her mother is of the mindset that Lilah is not good enough for Fin, that he is out of her league and does everything in her power to make Lilah believe that.

Lilah's reactions to Fin are spot on. No one trusts a guy whose initial reaction after sex is one thing and a few months later comes back with the "I didn't mean it like that" speech.

I'm ready for the next book in series.


Lee’Anne – ☆☆☆☆☆
I was completely addicted to this book from the very first page, I really didn’t want to love it as much as I did because Finian Brody is kind of an ass but… I loved it. Lilah’s mother worked for the Brody family, meaning that Lilah grew up with the Brody brothers, practically a sister and definitely a best friend. Lilah was closest to Fin and wound up letting him take her virginity, quickly followed by him completely crushing her and sending her away. Now, months later, Lilah is 100% focused on finishing veterinarian school and working alongside the local vet, Dr. Petrosian. Fin realizes that he doesn’t want to live life without Lilah but Lilah giving him a second chance isn’t going to be easy, especially when she has a little birdie in her ear telling her she isn’t worthy.

Lilah’s veterinary work had me cracking up laughing – the book starts out with her literally chasing goats and I laughed throughout the whole book. She and Fin’s characters are definitely perfect matches and I was really excited that we got glimpses of the other Brody brothers too. Fin Brody takes alpha male to a whole new level.

The thing I didn’t love about this book was Lilah being so dang oblivious! Fin literally did everything but actually say the words to show her he loved her, and she was completely in the dark. Plus, Fin was the most controlling human ever – I don’t know how the author managed to write a character that I hated and loved all at the same time. It made me love the book more though and I’m literally on the edge of my seat waiting for the next one. The Brody brothers are the most surly of men and this author does a phenomenal job with their personalities.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series – and I think you would benefit from reading Branded first, as this explains just how awful the homelife of these men was, and does explain some of their hang ups! In Branded I was incredibly angry with Fin's brother Ry, but this time Fin's behaviour made much more sense.

Lilah and her brother grew up alongside the Brodys, as their mother ran the office at the ranch. Lilah has been in love with Fin ever since he saved her from a bully, so when he finally paid her some attention, she allowed him everything. He, however, made some horrible remarks and broke her heart. As we find out, that really was inexcusable, but when taken with her mother's exhortations that she is not worthy of a Brody, it has really destroyed Lilah's confidence. Therefore, when Fin suddenly wants to be around her again, she is very skeptical and extremely nervous.

As the story unfolds, and we get to see how hard Fin is trying to explain the change in his behaviour, we can only hope that they act on the amazing chemistry that exists. I love some of the humour in this book – often involving her pets, especially Elmo. There are some clever twists and more secrets of the Brody past are revealed, which will no doubt be important in future books – I cannot wait!

Also Available in The Brody Brothers Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press

For reviews & more info, check out our Branded post.

A competitive figure skater from the age of eight, Stacy Gail began writing stories in between events to pass the time. By the age of fourteen, she told her parents she was either going to be a figure skating coach who was also a published romance writer, or a romance writer who was also a skating pro. Now with a day job of playing on the ice with her students, and writing everything from steampunk to cyberpunk, contemporary to paranormal at night, both dreams have come true.

Connect with Stacy

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads
Google+  ~  Instagram

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Branded (The Brody Brothers #1) by Stacy Gail to read and review.