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Dare to Love

by Jaci Burton (Goodreads Author)

3.65 · rating details · 260 ratings · 34 reviews

Lucy Fairchild's father has found her the perfect man.

Published May 1st 2009

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Jan 11, 2009

Lea rated it

· review of another edition

‘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 ...more‘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 one of the most malignant antagonists I’ve read in a long time. Man, 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. Jake and Lucy’s story is endearing in that it tells a tale of a love strong enough to survive social, personal, business and family conflict. (less)

like 3 likes

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Mar 09, 2011

Shxrxn rated it

· review of another edition

Mortal embarrassment obviously outweighed politeness.
- Lucy
You’ll never know what you missed.
- Jake
Go out with me. Take a walk on the wild side. Or are you too afraid you’ll get your perfectly manicured hands a little dirty?
- Jake
She’s not my type.
- Jake
That’s what we all say. Right up until they lead us down the aisle.
- Bob
He knew all about want. There were a lot of things he wanted in life. Some he’d managed to get. Some he hadn’t gotten yet, a...more

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Jun 06, 2009

Erotic Horizon rated it

· review of another edition

Lucy Fairchild of the San Francisco Fairchilds has always done what is expected of her. She follows her father into the family law firm, a career which is so far removed from what she really wants to do. When her father goes out and declares that he has found his choice of husband for her, she realizes she has to put a stop to her father’s controlling ways, and quickly. But does she have the strength to choose for herself and make her own destiny?

Jake Dalton, an up and coming contrac...more

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Sep 19, 2011

Elizabeth rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, romance

Almost a five star book, really loved it. Likeable characters, believable plot, smoking scenes. One of those books where I got to the end and I was disappointed that it was over because I liked the characters so much that I just wanted to spend time with them. Everything I'm hoping for in a contemporary romance.

(My only nitpick was I'm not completely convinced the main characters biggest desire in life is to be a kindergarten teacher.)

This is the first book I've read by Jaci Burton ...more

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Sep 15, 2010

Judith rated it

· review of another edition

Fascinating to watch a highly successful attorney who has been manipulated and controlled by an emotionally unavailable father as she meets and falls in love with a full-fledged, authentic alpha-male who hides the fact that he is well-educated, self-made, and successful in his own right behind his "construction boss" persona. A story of discovery of one's own value apart from one's career--what it means to be real and accessible in an authentic love relationship. Burton knows how to ...more

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Dec 14, 2009

Eastofoz rated it

· review of another edition

Recommended to Eastofoz by: Auntee

Shelves: contemporary, erotica, books-with-cooties

A plotless wonder mixed with boredom, an unlikeable hero and a wishy washy heroine, this book just didn’t work for me and I had high hopes seeing as it was my first Jaci Burton.

Lucy the heroine meets Jake the construction owner on a worksite. She gets the stereotypical catcalls and dog whistles as she demands to speak to the boss. Problem: her “demanding” is very weak for a lawyer and this is only the beginning. You’d think a lawyer described as she was (the chew ‘em up and spit ‘...moreA plotless wonder mixed with boredom, an unlikeable hero and a wishy washy heroine, this book just didn’t work for me and I had high hopes seeing as it was my first Jaci Burton.

Lucy the heroine meets Jake the construction owner on a worksite. She gets the stereotypical catcalls and dog whistles as she demands to speak to the boss. Problem: her “demanding” is very weak for a lawyer and this is only the beginning. You’d think a lawyer described as she was (the chew ‘em up and spit ‘em out kind) would have a fair amount of strong self-confidence and know how to talk, well not Lucy. She seemed more like a lowly office worker slumming because her dad had tons of cashola which she raked in as the heir to the family fortune. Jake dares her to go out with him to spite her daddy and because he thinks she’s a snob who would never dare lower herself to go out with him but she takes him up on it to prove him wrong. What could’ve started out as a good love/hate-screw-you-buddy attraction was just blah. Jake’s too cocky and has this thing about being a self-made man that’s really annoying. He’s a little psycho on proving that he can do it all on his own and doesn’t need a crutch like Lucy does with her dad. You have to wonder why he even bothers to be with her. Mr Boulder on My Shoulder wants to snub Lucy but it comes across more as resentment towards Lucy’s financial situation and that makes him look cheesy and sucky babyish.

There’s quite a bit of dialog, which you would think kept the story moving, but it just never sounded right and the fake fighting came across as childish and not as a sexual tension builder. Plus the story never really went anywhere. It’s like she meets Jake, a sort of blue collar worker, she’s Ms Money Bags trying to downplay that, they do the fake relationship thing so that her dad won’t force her to marry some other guy who works for his business, they start to fall for each other but he has "issues", there’s the stupid arguing (and arguing can be very smartly done to advance the plot and the relationship but not here) so he storms off like the two year old that he is and you’re going “what the…???” The guy needed to be kicked to the curb and she needed to stop playing the role of the doormat heroine. Her character was contrary to what the author described. A woman who’s a go-getter, ambitious, stops at nothing and knows how to get what she wants doesn't act like caged bird. Sure she has a vulnerable side but Lucy was described one way and acted another. There’s also this pukey family get together scene where you’ve got the fun loving relatives, their lovely children and the backyard bbq, all that was missing was a fireside rendition of Kumbaya :-/

Though it had the essentials of a good story it was poorly put together making for a tedious read with annoying characters. You start counting those pages to the end way too early. This one’s hollerin’ “cootie shelf, here I come” ;-)
(less)

like 8 likes

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Nov 20, 2009

Tammy rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-reads, books-with-nookie, contemporary-romance

The only risk I thought I would take by reading this book was death by boredom. Or maybe death by bad dialogue and lack of plot. I've always been a take-the-challenge kind of girl, so I thought I would give this one a shot in spite of the warnings and bad reviews.

Lucy and Jake first meet at a construction site. Lucy is heckled by several construction workers and demands to speak to their employer. Enter Jake. Verbal sparks fly. Jake insinuates that Lucy is a snob and then dares her t...moreThe only risk I thought I would take by reading this book was death by boredom. Or maybe death by bad dialogue and lack of plot. I've always been a take-the-challenge kind of girl, so I thought I would give this one a shot in spite of the warnings and bad reviews.

Lucy and Jake first meet at a construction site. Lucy is heckled by several construction workers and demands to speak to their employer. Enter Jake. Verbal sparks fly. Jake insinuates that Lucy is a snob and then dares her to go on a date with him. She accepts, but with hesitation because what would daddy think?

The "verbal sparks" that fly between Lucy and Jake during the initial meeting stunk on ice. It didn't add up to flirtatious banter or snappy dialogue. It read more like a barrage of bad insults between a couple of junior high kids. Bleck!

Lucy is not true to her character. She is referred to as a vicious "courtroom lawyer" (I assume the author meant she was a trial attorney). She is supposed to be a 30-year-old, succesful, independant woman. However, Lucy lives at home with her daddy, works for her daddy and is a virtual doormat. She constantly worries about what people think. She is upset that her daddy is arranging her marriage. Frankly, this girl would have never made it through her first pre-trial hearing, let alone survive law school!

And Jake? Poor Jake. He had a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas. I like a good, flawed character as much as the next gal, but Jake was a mess. Too bad cuz he had potential to be a real sweetie pie.

One thing that almost threw me completely out of the book - Lucy realized that Jake "had a generous wit and intelligence that belied his occupation". Well of course Jake was right! She was an uptight snob! And the author was insulting blue collar workers to boot. Thankfully I stuck with the book and Lucy (partially) redeems herself later when she realizes that she judged Jake based on his occupation and social class, not who he was as a person.

These two should have skipped the formalities and gone straight to knocking boots. This author can write a hawt sex scene. I'll give her that much. Jake and Lucy deserved a smokin' hot affair. Not an entire book with a HEA. I ended up skimming through the awkward dialogue, ignored the bad plot and read her lovin' scenes. :)

(less)

like 12 likes

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May 23, 2009

Shawna rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Fans of contemporary romance & opposites attract

Shelves: jaci-burton, contemporary-romance, 2009-reads, quick-read-romance, i-read-own-faves-keepers, hero-alpha‎, hero-stud-mantel-hall-of-fame, 4-stars

4 stars – Contemporary Romance

I’m stuck between 3 and 4 stars for this one because although I love Jaci Burton and am a fan of the whole ‘rich girl/former poor boy from wrong side of the tracks opposites attract’ theme, it just didn’t quite curl my toes. I enjoyed it well enough and it’s a lighthearted, super fast read, but the characters were all a little bit irritating to me and the romance wasn’t nearly as steamy as I had expected (and hoped).

Lucy Fairchild is a high ...more4 stars – Contemporary Romance

I’m stuck between 3 and 4 stars for this one because although I love Jaci Burton and am a fan of the whole ‘rich girl/former poor boy from wrong side of the tracks opposites attract’ theme, it just didn’t quite curl my toes. I enjoyed it well enough and it’s a lighthearted, super fast read, but the characters were all a little bit irritating to me and the romance wasn’t nearly as steamy as I had expected (and hoped).

Lucy Fairchild is a high powered lawyer in her father’s successful San Francisco legal firm and Jake Dalton is a self-made owner of a start up construction company. Lucy passes by Jake’s construction site everyday on her way to the nearby coffee shop and one morning the whistles and cat calls push her too far and she throws a fit and demands that Jake put an end to his workers’ less than chivalrous ways. He accuses her of being a pretentious uptight snob, so to prove him wrong she agrees to a date. Lucy’s father is attempting to arrange for her to marry a law firm CEO, whom she despises, so Jake soon agrees to play the boyfriend role to get her father off her back. Jake sees it as an opportunity to stick it to the wealthy arrogant SOB who reminds him of everyone who’s ever put him down in his life and told him he wouldn’t amount to anything.

This is where I had a little trouble with the story. For one thing, Lucy is supposed to be an ambitious, successful courtroom attorney, but she acts like an insecure doormat to both her father and Jake and is constantly apologizing, even though her main fault is just being too nice. I thought Jake was a hypocrite and a jerk a lot of the time with a definite chip on his shoulder. He grew up poor, had an abusive father, and had to work hard to make something of himself, but he makes just as many false assumptions and judgments about Lucy for being rich as he accuses her of doing to him, if not more so. Eventually the pair begin to see past each others upbringings and financial and social positions and realize how much they actually have in common. There are some sweet romantic moments, but not nearly as steamy as I would have preferred.

Overall, Dare to Love is a quick, easy read with an opposites, who aren’t quite so dissimilar after all, attract theme and is a sweet contemporary romance. It’s really more of a 3.5 star read for me, but because I like Jaci Burton’s writing style, I’m bumping it up to 4 stars.(less)

like 5 likes

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May 12, 2009

Auntee rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Fans of sexy contemporary romance of social opposites

Shelves: erotic-romance, jaci-burton, 2009_reads

This was a cute, easy read--it sort of reminded me of a sexed-up version of a Harlequin Blaze. Jaci Burton has an easy, breezy style that's easy to get into. This story wasn't real big on substance, and the characters had some annoying flaws, but if you're looking for an uncomplicated couple of hours of reading, this one will do the trick.

Lucy Fairchild is a 30 year old lawyer working in her well-to-do father's firm. Her manipulating, controlling father thinks it's high time she g...moreThis was a cute, easy read--it sort of reminded me of a sexed-up version of a Harlequin Blaze. Jaci Burton has an easy, breezy style that's easy to get into. This story wasn't real big on substance, and the characters had some annoying flaws, but if you're looking for an uncomplicated couple of hours of reading, this one will do the trick.

Lucy Fairchild is a 30 year old lawyer working in her well-to-do father's firm. Her manipulating, controlling father thinks it's high time she got married and produced a grandchild to carry on the family name, and he's got just the pretentious, obnoxious blue-blooded man for her.

Lucy's furious, and walks by a local construction site, blowing off some steam. She's tired of her father trying to run her life. She meets sexy, 35 year old blue collar construction company owner Jake Dalton, who's about the farthest thing from what her father would pick for her. After some sassy banter between the two, Jake asks her (or maybe dares her) to go out with him. He agrees with Lucy that the only way to get her father to quit pushing a man she can't stand on her is if she makes him believe she's serious about another man--and he volunteers to be that man. They agree that this wouldn't be a 'real' romance, but after meeting Lucy's snobbish father, he wouldn't mind ticking him off. But what happens if their plan to get Lucy's father off of her back turns into something more than that? What if they develop real feelings for each other? Will either be brave enough to admit it?

I liked this little story for the most part. Jake was real hero material--a self made man with a rocky past on the verge of making it big. I thought he was perfect for Lucy. I had a little trouble with Lucy. Yes, she had some good points--she was sweet and cute, got along with Jake's friends, loved children and dogs, and really seemed to click with Jake. But I had a hard time believing she was a lawyer--she just seemed so meek. Yes, she started out all combative and sassy with Jake, but when she started having feelings for him, she was too afraid to tell him how she felt--good or bad. I wanted her to lay her feelings on the line. And the way she let her overbearing father treat her? I had a hard time believing she was a successful 30 year old--she acted more like a teenager. I know she just wanted his love and attention, but she needed to put her foot down and stand up to this guy. She was definitely under her father's thumb. Thankfully, the more time she spent around Jake the more she seemed to grow a bit of a spine, but still...It took until near the end of the book for her to stand up for herself and when she ultimately did, I think I actually uttered "finally!"

There were a couple of pretty hot sex scenes (one even using a trampoline, but probably not how you'd think), and Jake and Lucy's romance was believable and seemed to be heading for a HEA, but I think this couple hasn't heard the last of meddling Daddy.

For fans looking for an easy, sexy, contemporary between two socially opposites, or the rich girl /(almost) poor boy theme--this one delivers. Not the most challenging read, but a pleasant enough diversion for an afternoon. 4 stars. (less)

like 11 likes

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May 09, 2011

Bookwormgirl rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: romance

Where was the spine in this woman? Cliches abound in this one, from frustrated kindergarten teacher/lawyer to evil fathers to a hero whose past you never really find out about (he ran away at 16 and felt he need to be a success to prove his dad wrong, okay why? what was the motivation for running away and being relationship shy for most of his life?). The story could have been great if the characters had been more fleshed out.

A very quick read.

· see review

Feb 02, 2010

The Pleasures Chest rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 144-books-in-2010

I've only read Unwrapped by Jaci Burton (Holiday Seduction Anthology) and I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed it enough to go out and purchase Dare to Love.

I was a little disappointed with this book. I didn't hate it, it was a fast read and it had a decent plot. I didn't feel there was any real chemistry between Jake and Lucy. There were a few moments that were sweet but it was lacking passion.

· see review

Oct 17, 2009

marlene rated it

· review of another edition

i wanted something fast with no plot. wink wink. well, i got no plot but i did not get the wink wink. there was no how, no way i could feel bad for Lucy. she's thirty years old and still crying because daddy tells her which boys she is allowed to go out with? sorry, but you do not have my sympathy. perhaps if she nipped that in the bud about oh say 12 years ago she wouldn't be in this position.

· see review

Feb 06, 2011

Irinak rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: romance, burton-jaci

Quick read, cute story line. Had a hard time imagining Lucy Fairchild as one of the top San Francisco trial attorneys who will let her father manipulate her life and arrange her marriage to the most despicable man. But otherwise, it’s a sweet love story, 3.5 stars.

· see review

Aug 31, 2011

E. rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: romance

A little formulaic, Jake Dalton relatively new owner of construction company has clawed his way up from poverty, crosses path with entitled lawyer, Lucy Fairchild. Sparks and misconceptions abide. Slight conflict but soon smoothed over.

· see review

Jan 04, 2012

Candace Brazier rated it

· review of another edition

I think this is Burton's best book that I have read. Jake was simply divine and Lucy fit together with him nicely. I was kinda hoping for a resolution between Lucy and her dad, but my imagination can fabricate that happening in the future.

· see review

Mar 11, 2010

Christine rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, march

Sweet contemporary romance. Loved both H/h (great chemistry), hated the heroine's father and had some serious problems with the sort of relationship she had with him but maybe that's just me.

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May 26, 2009

Darcy rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2009

I liked this book. It was pretty predictable and you knew what was going to happen. But a good way to spend a couple of hours with a book that was a fun ride, but will be easily forgetten.

· see review

Jan 01, 2010

Karen rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: trashyromancenovels, 2009

Generally enjoy Jaci Burton. Good characters, but more saccharine than most. Wanted to slap the heroine more than once.

· see review

May 08, 2009

Jen rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, other-romance, read-in-2009

Apparently lawyers are all snobby, repressed sexual beings, and builders are sexy masculine men burnished with rippling muscles and stamina. Oh golly, oh my. Suspend your belief in the downright ridiculousness of it all, and this is an OK romp into a predictable, mushy love story.

· see review

Feb 03, 2009

Dev rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2009, contemporary-romance, ebook

Very enjoyable story. Lucy and Jake are great characters and Jaci's writing sucked me right in.

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Nov 09, 2011

Deborah rated it

· review of another edition

...I do like Jaci's books. Got this on my nook.

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Sep 19, 2011

Marilyn rated it

· review of another edition

Nice little romance story. I have to say that I liked Burton's "Nothing Personal" better though. This is the type of story that makes you wonder why that doesn't happen in real life?

· see review

Nov 26, 2009

Elena Reeds rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: contemp-romance

This book is just sort of what you'd expect.

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Jul 29, 2011

Jenn Cunha rated it

· review of another edition

I would have loved an epiologue...

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Mar 27, 2011

Kris (KindleRomance) rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: kindle

I really liked this story. The guy's short fuse was the only annoyance for me, but he was also quick to apologize. I also got the feeling that he wouldn't normally be like that going forward and his behavior was just due to the extreme circumstances. However, it still brought the overall story down a notch for me. I liked both of the characters. They were both very kind, hard-working people. It was fun to watch them spend time together and really get to know each other. It was also somewhat ...more

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Nov 24, 2010

Leslie Crockett rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: nook-shelf

great book for the phone oor ur nook

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Oct 22, 2010

Sarah Horton rated it

· review of another edition

Was ok. Not my fav but not bad.

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Jan 26, 2012

Courtney rated it

· review of another edition

Sweet, sexy and daring! :)

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Jan 23, 2012

Shaineinok rated it

· review of another edition

Short and sweet.

· see review

May 19, 2009

Julie (jjmachshev) rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-reads

review to come

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About Jaci Burton

Jaci Burton is a New York Times Bestselling author who has written over fifty romances in multiple genres. She writes steamy stories for Berkley Heat and will have a hot new new romantic suspense series premiering with MIRA in 2011. Visit her website at www.jaciburton.com for excerpts, her blog and contest information.

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