Customer Reviews

Dare to Love

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

`Dare to Love' is the story of Lucille `Lucy' Fairchild and Jake Dalton two of the most unlikely lovers I think a reader could envision. Lucy comes from the social `elite' and is a successful lawyer and partner in her father's law firm. Jake is a new owner of a construction company, comes from the `wrong side of the tracks' and has worked extremely hard to achieve business success.

Ever walk along a sidewalk where there is a construction project underway and admire some of the handsome man flesh in the vicinity? Well, one of those hotties could be Jake Dalton, tall, rugged, handsome, intelligent and determined to be successful. Lucy walks by Jake's construction site and through a series of rather comical incidents ends up agreeing to go out on a date with him.

Raymond Fairchild, Lucy's father is a controlling, snobbish, manipulative man with Machiavellian tendencies, who has intensions of marrying his daughter off in a `business arrangement', to this slimy repulsive millionaire named Alex. Jaci wrote Raymond Fairchild to be extremely repulsive and I have to say, "I hated that guy"!!!

Needless to say, when Jake turns up at the door of the Fairchild mansion to take Lucy out, old Raymond very nearly busts an artery. Jake and Lucy have `nothing in common', don't you know, because of her `social status'.

Lucy, against her better judgment, opens up to Jake about her father's attempts to control her life and arrange a marriage for her. Jake takes pity on Lucy and presents her with a plan to foil old Raymond by `pretending' to be her boyfriend.

The romantic plot written for these two lovers can only be described as a roller coaster ride as they try and maneuver through barriers of social class, their own preconceptions about each other, and Raymond and Alex's interference.

The love scenes once again are tasteful and written into the plot with perfection. As Jaci likes to say there is no "swinging from the chandeliers", sex in this novel but it is rife with sexual tension and sweet moments. I have to say though, "the trampoline scene" is great fun! Jake and Lucy's story is endearing as it tells a tale of a love strong enough to survive social, personal, business and family conflict.

Lucy Fairchild was frustrated beyond belief. Her father had just dropped a bomb on her. Lucky her - he found her a husband! He was trying to dictate her life, and she was not going to stand for it. The man he wanted her to marry was the most vile man she had ever set eyes on. When she met a workman at a local construction site, she accepted a date with him all the time knowing how much her father would hate it. Keeping that information at the forefront, she wrote her address on the back of her business card, so he could pick her up.

Jake Dalton knew the second he extended the offer of a date to Lucy; it had been a colossal mistake. He had no business taking the attractive attorney out anywhere. They were different people from different backgrounds, and nothing could ever be between them. He just wished his head could relay that message to his heart because after only spending a short time with her, messages like forever kept running through him.

When Lucy introduced Jake to her father, he was horrified at the choice she had made, but she had no idea of the lengths he would go to for that control. The all-powerful Raymond Fairchild wanted to be in charge of every facet of her life. Jake just hoped they could survive the interference because they learned the hard way that he played for keeps.

This is a more traditional style romance that is very sweet. There are a few sensual moments, but this book is more about the story than the heat. Lucy and Jake are challenged at every turn, and will have to fight to be together.

When Lucy Fairchild first meets Jake Dalton her nose is all bent out of joint. Jake is an owner of an up and running construction company and his men can't help but yell out some sexy compliments whenever she walks past the work site. Another woman may find it flattering, but to Lucy who is a lawyer, she thinks it is insulting. She tells Jake how she feels but he shrugs it off thinking that Lucy is just a rich snob who can't have any fun. These two are as different as night and day but both cannot deny their attraction for each other. Jake wants to take Lucy out on a date even though he knows she will refuse. Lucy shocks him and takes Jake up on his offer.

Lucy's father wants her settled, which means being married to the man he has picked for her. Lucy enjoys being single even though the men she has dated in the past are nothing compared to the blue collar Jake. Knowing nothing can come out of it, she goes on her date with Jake thinking it will be a one time only deal. But then he kisses her and sets Lucy's heart aflutter.

Jake would love nothing more than to get Lucy into his bed and even comes up with a plan to keep her old man off her back. She will pretend to date him so Lucy's father can back down. Lucy finds merit in the idea and as these two act like a couple, things change from pretend to reality.

Jaci Burton is one author you can always count on to write wonderful, sexy romances. Dare To Love is a great story where opposites attract. The rough and hardworking Jake finds love and happiness with Lucy, the proper and rich socialite who is not what she originally seems to be. These two may not get along in the beginning, but by the time they are locking lips, both these two get along perfectly in many other ways. Also, Lucy's relationship is a very interesting one with her father who is not above using guilt and some shady undertakings to get what he wants. You may be surprised by what he does, but Lucy's reaction and final decision between her father and Jake is one you won't want to miss!

Dare To Love has some nice love scenes and Jake is one man you wouldn't mind taking home to meet your parents. If you haven't had the chance to pick up a Jaci Burton novel, I recommend you start here with Dare To Love.

Katiebabs

When Lucy Fairchild stomps out of her office after her domineering father announces that he has selected a husband for her, she gets heckled at a construction site. This is more than she can take, and she gets into an argument with the owner.

Jake dares her to go out on a date with him - thinking that this spoiled little princess won't be able to handle being in his world. But Lucy surprises him at every turn.

Jaci Burton is a fantastic storyteller and Dare to Love keeps you glued to your seat from the very beginning. I read this all in one sitting - I could not put it down. The characters are so real and believable. Lucy's initial reaction to Jake is charming and funny. They both struggle with their own issues of insecurity and together they discover a lot about themselves. I am Joyfully Recommending Dare to Love and it is definitely one for the keeper shelf.

Vivian
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Its true,there is no hot,monkey sex in this story,but this story does just well without it.Though I've seen the premise before(let's pretend to be in love so father,sister,brother,etc),it still works here.In the midst of pretending to be in love they actually fall in love(and lust).I have enjoyed Jaci Burton's other work(esp.Nothing Personal) which reminds me of this story,they fall in love when they least expect it.Though there are no fireworks here,I enjoyed the story-you might too.wise sam

I have read other Jaci Burton books and enjoyed them alot. This one is good, but the story is just not that deep. It is nice light reading that only took me a couple hours to finish. Would of preferred something with more plot. Overall not a bad read if you are looking for a nice romance.

This was another great read from Jaci. Hot, sweet, and so real! Loved the characters, the interaction between them and it was hot! Jaci's an auto buy for me for many reasons, but this was one of those sweet love stories that you might hear from good friends -- with the bonus hot details that is! Enjoy!
billi jean

Just couldn't get into this book. I love Jaci Burton. But this book fell very flat.