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Graphic designer Lynda Shelton has agreed to marry Mergers and Acquisitions legend Merrick Dalton for one reason only. To save her family’s company. She’s warned this is a marriage in name only. Merrick will never love her. That’s fine with Lynda because she has sworn off men.

Merrick Dalton has wanted Shelton Energy for a long time, so when he’s asked to save the company, he jumps at the chance. He has vowed never to love another woman, but Merrick can give Lynda what he’s been assured she wants. Material comfort and social standing.

The one place where Merrick and Lynda connect is in bed. She has a penchant for his kinky tastes, and he stirs desire in her like she’s never known. But when their secrets surface, the reason they married turns into a dangerous game of illusions and lies.

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Published June 22, 2016

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About the author

Ravenna Tate

41 books83 followers
Ravenna Tate lives in the Midwest where it’s cold six months out of the year, but inside her stories you’ll find plenty of heat. The sex is hot, the men are alpha, and the women give them a run for their money.

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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Profile Image for KnottyGirl Reviews.
848 reviews33 followers
May 25, 2017
Sometimes a book comes out that you just can't put down. Unfortunately, between appointments, chores and that crazy thing called sleep, I had to keep putting this book down. Boy, was I mad. You know how it is, you really get into an amazing book, and then life has to interrupt. That's how good Unyeilding is.

Can't say I'm surprised though, Ravenna Tate is just that great of a writer, so I knew going in that this would be something special. And I'm glad to say I was right.

In Unyielding, Lydia Shelton has just come into ownership of her families failing company.Her father has convinced her that the only way to save the company is to marry mergers and acquisitions guru Merrick Dalton. Meanwhile, Merrick has been told that Lydia just wants a marriage where she can be kept in comfort and maintain her social status. Neither realises they have been played.

Lydia has sworn off men due to her past experiences, which she lies to Merrick about, too embarrased to admit the whole truth. Merrick refuses to tell Lydia about his past and the reason why he's not the "Hearts and flowers" type of guy.

But as we get into the story, truths come to light. Will their marriage of convenience turn into more? Or will it be over before it begins? You have to pick up a copy of Unyielding to find out. And trust me, you want to. It's that incredible.

This is just the first book in the Tortured Love series and I certainly am excited for more. The sex is off the charts! Merrick is the type of Alpha male every woman swoons over with his twisty soul. And Lynda is a kick ass heroine!
Profile Image for Pam.
401 reviews2 followers
April 28, 2017
Unyielding is the first book in the Tortured Love series by Ravenna Tate. It's the unique story of Merrick Dalton and Lynda Shelton and is the beginning of a series of unconventional stories that will not just hold your interest but will make you want to read each book in one sitting. That's just how good these books, and this one in particular, are.

Merrick's beloved wife, Theresa, is gone due to a senseless murder. He's lost, inconsolable, totally unable to comprehend who could have done this horrific act to the woman he loves more than life itself. Why? He can't understand why. And he is filled with rage and fury. He doesn't just want justice. He wants revenge. He swears he will find those responsible and make them pay. He also vows he will never love another woman. He cannot go through this agony, this heartrending pain, not ever again.

Lynda Shelton has been betrayed in the worst way possible. The man she has loved, lived with, devoted her life to for seven years, Rey Santos, has violated her privacy, destroyed her trust, and left her alone and broken. Quite by accident, Lynda discovers Rey has been recording their sex life and edited the videos to show her in the worst possible light. Not only that, he has been engaging in sex with other women, recording those encounters and posting them on amateur porn sites. Lynda, furious, confronts Rey, who admits everything. In Lynda's presence, he burns all the recordings of their sex life, swears he has posted nothing involving Lynda on the internet, and tells her there are no other copies of the recordings. She has to take his word. She has no proof to the contrary. She ends their relationship, swearing to never trust another man. If she couldn't see this side of Rey during their seven years together, she would never trust her judgment regarding another man again.

Years later, both Merrick and Lynda meet at a church. They are about to get married and both are anxious and ill-at-ease. They've only met once, years ago, for a few brief moments, at a party given by Lynda's father for business associates when Lynda was only 15 and Merrick was 26. Merrick wants her father's company. Lynda's father will only agree if Merrick marries Lynda. It's a simple business transaction. That's all. They will be married in name only. Since both Merrick and Lynda have no interest in love, it should be the perfect solution for both of them. Merrick has become immensely wealthy and can provide Lynda with everything money can buy, which her father has assured Merrick is all that matters to Lynda. By now, Lynda is a freelance graphic designer who couldn't care less about money. She was raised in a mansion surrounded by everything money could buy but left all the money and trappings of wealth behind years ago. She cares about her art and her business, nothing more. She's only doing this to save her father's company from bankruptcy.

The wedding proceeds as planned. It's beautiful and everyone seems happy and carefree. No one suspects the marriage is a sham. Then comes the honeymoon night and everything changes. Life explodes, and not in a good way, for both Merrick and Lynda. Lies have been told, secrets hidden. Suddenly nothing is as it seems and both Merrick and Lynda need to not only reexamine the past but deal with the present and try to figure out the future. Can they make a life together with their own hidden pasts, uncertain present and the threat of total disruption of their lives as their future or will their pasts come back to haunt and destroy them?

Unyielding is another compelling novel by Ravenna Tate. It is full of twists, turns, and totally unexpected events when you least expect them. The characters of Merrick and Lynda are completely believable, captivating and intriguing. You won't want to put the book down! It's just that good. Ms. Tate has the capacity to develop the characters so completely that you feel as if you are part of their lives as you read their story. If you've never read anything by Ravenna Tate, this would be an excellent book to start with. If you have read her other books, you will not be surprised at the way you are drawn into the lives of her characters. And although this is the first in the Tortured Love series, each book is a complete standalone book.

One final note. This is an amazing book but it is also an ADULT book. It contains explicit language and explicit sexual scenes. If you do not enjoy thriller/mysteries with erotic romance and sexual scenes then please carefully consider your purchase before starting this series. PLEASE DO NOT BUY ANY BOOK IN A GENRE YOU KNOW YOU WILL NOT ENJOY AND THEN LEAVE A NEGATIVE REVIEW OF THE BOOK AS IT IS NOT FAIR TO THE AUTHOR! She works hard to provide a quality work product and if you know before you purchase a book that you will object to the subject matter contained therein, you will be doing not only yourself, but the author, an extreme disservice.

Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!
Profile Image for Liz ~ Liz's Reading Life.
858 reviews31 followers
June 23, 2016
Merrick Dalton is a man that has seen the devastating effects greed can cause. Because of that, he's built walls around his heart to protect himself from the hurt that has made him the man he is today.

Lynda Shelton is a woman that as been betrayed by those she has loved, people that she thought would protect her and love her as she loved them. Because of her past, she been a bit of a loner and distanced herself from the lifestyle she was born into.

Circumstances arise that bring these two lonely souls together. So can a real relationship grow between the two that started out as just a business arrangement? Can they bring down the walls that they built around their hearts enough to let each other in? And how will their relationship be effected when the secrets each have kept come to light, will they be able to move past the lies to learn to trust each other?

Unyielding is a captivating story about two people that never thought a business deal would lead to a love that would heal their broken hearts. Merrick and Lynda went into their marriage believing lies about each other, but as they got to know each other they began to uncover the truths.

What I loved most about these two was their connection, and not just in bed. I loved how they were able to move past the reasons they got together to really get to know each other, the heart of each other. Neither had a stellar past, but they worked through issues together, leaning on each other. You are able to watch them fall in love even as they both fought their feelings.

Merrick is just as demanding in the boardroom as he is in the bedroom. The things to says and does will have you panting and wishing you were Lynda. That man is truly on sexy beast. I adore how he protects Lynda, the way he fights for her, the way he stands up for her. That makes him extremely swoon worthy.

Lynda is a simple person not needing all the materials things others would desire, she's a down to Earth kind of woman. I love how she stays true to herself no matter what. Where others would have falling, she is strong enough to keep standing and holding her head high.

This was an enchanting book that captivated me from the start until the very end. It kept me guessing on what was going to happen next. So many questions to answer... how is Merrick and Lynda going handle the next obstacle thrown in their path; would those that betrayed them be brought to justice; would this end up being a cold marriage or something deep and profound?

Unyielding is a remarkable beginning to this series and I can't wait to see what the next book will bring.
Profile Image for Doris.
322 reviews187 followers
June 29, 2016
What can I say about this book, other than I loved it Unyielding is a fantastic start to a new series, with a hero to die for and a heroine, you cannot help but love. The series is called Tortured Love, and I have to say it fits perfectly, because both Lynda and Merrick are indeed tortured. Badly hurt in love in the past neither one of them finds it easy to trust again, let alone love.

I loved the journey the author took us on in this book. We're with Merrick and Lynda every step of the way, as they try to make this marriage arrangement work, and deal with the demons from their past, and other current issues which threaten to derail them before they even have a chance to get to know each other.

Ravenna dug deep with the emotions in this story, and takes both her characters and the reader on a roller coaster ride. I laughed, and I shed a few tears, and let's not forget the scorching sex scenes.

A fabulous read all round, so go forth and read it. You won't be disappointed, and I'm looking forward to the next story!
July 14, 2016
New series from Ravenna Tate. A little different type of hero but a hero just the same. Getting to the truth can be hard. Getting over past hurts and drama only adds to it. Ravenna has mixed the perfect potion for this series. I'm waiting for the next one impatiently.
Profile Image for Rhonda.
2,936 reviews65 followers
April 29, 2017
When Lydia agrees to marry Merrick, she thinks it's going to be in name only. She's been burned before and has not plans to fall for another man. Merrick wants to save the company and agrees to marry Lydia. He has also vowed to not fall for a woman again. But things are not always what they seem and they start to fall for each other. When secrets are revealed, will they be able to save their marriage? Or will they even want too?

I love the start of this series by Ravenna Tate. The reader is totally drawn into the plot of the story and you just can't put it down. I can't wait until the next book!
Profile Image for Ashley.
85 reviews
August 25, 2016
I am surprised at how much I loved this book.

First and foremost, I really hated Rey. He's such an asshole. I mean why would you film you and your girlfriend having sex without her permission? Ugh, I swear, he makes me so mad. I was so glad when Merrick got him arrested. And the thing with Lynda's uncled and father IT JUST MAKES ME WANT TO GO APESHIT, tbh. Her father's a real piece of work. These assholes deserve more than what Merrick did to them.

I also hated that Lynda snooped through Merrick's stuff in order to find out about his secret. Things like that just make me mad. But while I hated that, I loved that both of them don't assume. Well as much as possible, they don't assume and they also try their best to understand each other when they know the other needs it.

While the sex was great in this book, I just feel the need to say that it was exaggerated sometimes. But other than that, their sexual exploits were great. The entire book was great.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews

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