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*** A USA TODAY BESTSELLER ***

Tori…
For the record, I’m not going to hook up with my boss.

I'm a lot of things—a screwup, a basket case, a flunky. But when I take a nanny job to be near my pregnant sister, I swear to myself I’ll walk the straight and narrow, which means I cannot fall for my insanely hot boss.

I don't want to be tempted by that rugged rancher. By his chiseled muscles or southern charm or the way he snuggles his kids at bedtime. Ethan Carter won't get the key to my heart, no matter how much I want him. 

Ethan…
Between us, she's the last thing I need as I finalize my hellish divorce. 

What sane man trying to rebuild his life wants a hot nanny with long, sexy hair, curves for miles, and a smart mouth? A perfectly kissable, pouty mouth that I shouldn't notice.

My focus is on my kids and my ranch, not the insufferable siren who sleeps in the room next to mine. It doesn't matter that she wins over my kids in a heartbeat or runs my life better than I do. Tori Duran is the one woman I can't have and shouldn't want, no matter how much I crave her.

RECKLESS is a standalone companion novel in the Texas Nights series. BREATHLESS, Joey and Logan's book, releases Feb. 18, 2020!

408 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 20, 2018

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About the author

Lex Martin

27 books5,274 followers
Lex Martin is the USA Today bestselling author of Varsity Dads, Texas Nights, and the Dearest series. She writes contemporary romance novels, the steamy kind she hopes her readers love but her parents avoid. A former high school English teacher and freelance journalist, she resides in Texas with her husband and twin daughters. Drop her a line. She loves hearing from readers.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,061 reviews
Profile Image for Cristiina♡Reads.
576 reviews3,329 followers
February 21, 2018
➳When you combine a single father of two, who works in a farm with horses, and a feisty nanny who is there to save the day and express love towards a new family, you have a masterpiece created by the one and only Lex Martin...



➳A romance that not only captivates you to wanting to read more of Ethan and Tori's love journey, but also intrigues you to the life style of working with horses, being with two beautifully behaved children, a life style that can be considered old-fashion, but also a story with a family that has been broken for a while and has healed with the presence of someone who oozes passion and love to others. To me, I found this story just beyond endearing. Just the amount of everything that a romance should have; passion, chemistry, love, admiration, a plot that thickens no matter what (the pun intended), and characters that know how to attract you to the page.

➳I am honestly finding it hard to see what could be wrong with with story. Everything about it has become such a sweet sensation that has a ride of a lifetime. I have missed Lex's writing and throughout the years, you can tell her writing has evolved in a superb way.

➳Talking about Tori and Ethan is one thing that I have slowly learned to love. Both of them are two individuals in which at first you think "what the heck? These two will kill each other if they keep up the bickering!" However, because Lex is a tease at first, she slowly teaches us that Tori and Ethan are just meant to be in everything way. The past that Ethan has had with his ex-wife, the mother of his two beautiful kids, has brought chaos and obstacles to his present and what he wants to be a happy future for his kids, and now Tori. For her however, it is something that she is new to since she has never been a motherly figure before now, and one that is at its best as well, but she also understands her presence as someone that Ethan seems to cherish in every way possible.

➳The passion both Tori and Ethan have is one that really burns the page. I was sweating at one point because Ethan is such a guarded, scruffy, alpha male that makes you pant for more of his possessive ways. I find it fascinating how someone so rough around the edges with everyone that passes his way, is also the same person who show an abundance of affection towards his little girl and boy, but also shows that same passion towards Tori. This is a fictional novel of course, but it is one that will lead you towards a cave of emotions that can slowly drown you towards the writing from Lex.



➳Overall this romance is one that I highly recommend for those who are looking for a single father and nanny romance. It is indeed lengthy in every way (pun intended... again...) but you get a little bit of everything that combines and makes this story such an amazing masterpiece of a romance novel. Thank you for much to Lex for providing a generous advanced copy of this beauty. I will cherish this story so much and hopefully get to re-read it in the future.

➳ARC kindly provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review...

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Profile Image for Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️.
1,862 reviews30.1k followers
March 4, 2018
3 Stars

I am definitely in the minority on this one based on the ratings I am seeing. Everyone seemed to love this one and I am just in the "it was average" corner.

It definitely picked up at the end...which is why I gave it a solid three stars instead of something lower, but it just wasn't enough to salvage the total for me.

This wasn't a bad read by any means, I just felt like it was a little weak for me in certain areas.

description

The vast majority of the story was taken up by the inner thoughts of Ethan and Tori (mainly Tori) which resulted in a lot of them TELLING me how they saw and felt about things - things they SPECULATED about the other person and other people in the book, and what had happened in the past (you know, to explain their behavior now).

Meaning there was a lot of telling and not showing.

Also, I would have liked the time frame to have been a little different. If Tori had been with Ethan and his family a little longer and they had more interactions on page which were palpable (and not basically overwhelmed by the inner thought narration mentioned above), their relationship would have felt more real to me. Their attachment more real.

Instead, things felt a little rushed and superficial.

There were also a few romance book cliches that made me roll my eyes.

1) Tori moaning all ridiculous and sexual-like when eating ice cream with Ethan.

description

I hate when romance authors do this.

Seriously, it's such a cheap plot ploy that has been so overdone in the past and, quite frankly, it just makes me roll my eyes.

2) Tori screaming bloody murder and Ethan running to her rescue thinking she's in danger, but really it's cause she *drum roll please* saw a fucking spider.

She had a bad memowy wif spiders when she was a wittle kid and so she's more scawed then a regular girl.

Blah.
Blah.
Blah.

description

Of course, she was in the shower at the time, so HAD to jump into Ethan's arms all naked and soaking wet.

description

Other than that, as I said, everything felt kind of rushed and superficial.

But maybe my expectations based on the blurb and high star ratings just didn't align with what I got, which is no fault of the book.

Mostly though, I think it's that I just don't love books where the majority of the text and story come from the insecure, self-doubting thoughts of the main characters.

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Profile Image for Hanne.
656 reviews68 followers
February 20, 2018
I have read every novel by Lex Martin and I loved them all. I know I’ll reread some of them one day. I couldn’t start Reckless fast enough and I devoured it. I loved every second I spent reading it. Reckless is so good! It’s an emotional, hot, beautiful and funny book that ends with a beautiful epilogue.

I absolutely loved Tori and Ethan! Tori is feisty, genuine, passionate, kind, funny and loving. She’s a little lost at college and in relationships. During the summer vacation, Tori will be the nanny of the children of a rancher named Ethan. She isn’t too sure about her summer job at the beginning and what to do about her attraction to her boss. Tori will find a home with Ethan and a family to be part of. Tori deserves all love and happiness she has in the end.

Ethan is hardworking, caring, genuine, reliable, loving and a little closed off. He’s great with horses. Ethan is an amazing dad. His children are his world and he would do anything for them. Owning a ranch and making it successful are hard work, but he always makes time for his kids and they have his attention then. I didn’t like the children’s mother at all. I’m happy that Ethan will find true love with Tori.

Reckless is a slow burn romance. Tori and Ethan both haven’t had the best experience with love and relationships. Both of them weren’t looking for love when they met. They were attracted to each other from the start and that feeling only grows when they get to know each other. But Tori and Ethan try to keep a distant from each other for their own reasons. When they become a couple, they give it their all to make it work. Their first kiss and them as a couple were worth the wait. I adored them together!

This book has amazing secondary characters. Mila and Cody are Ethan’s children. They are sweet and adorable. They adore their dad, just like Ethan adores them. Tori gets along great with Mila and Cody. They do many things together and the kids like her. I really liked Ethan’s brother, Logan, and I really hope the author decides to write his story. If she does, I hope he ends up with the woman I want him to see with.

Tori’s sister, Kat, and her husband have their own book, Shameless. I loved that book. I was so happy to see them again in Reckless and to get a look into their future. They are still very much in love and very happy with their life. I loved Kat and Tori’s band. The sisters are different from each other, but they are so tight and supportive. Tori is happy to live near her sister again.

-- My honest review is based on an advanced reader copy of this book. --
Profile Image for ~**Anna**~ A Romance Reader.
598 reviews325 followers
February 19, 2018
*4.5 stars*

I loved this book!

Ethan is one of the best heroes ever! He’s hard working, loyal, loving, so sexy and an all around nice guy. He has 2 kids, Mila and Cody from a previous marriage and needs a nanny. In comes Tori, a smart, sassy, sweet, loving woman who rocks his world!

The relationship between Ethan and Tori was so beautiful. They start out as boss/employee but quickly become friends. Their chemistry was off the charts from the start, but what I really liked was that they actually talked and knew each other before anything else happened. I loved that and really enjoyed seeing their relationship grow.

I also loved the relationship between Tori and his kids, it was so sweet and fun. Mila and Cody are so cute!

Logan, Ethan’s brother, was amazing too! I hope he gets his own book. That’ll be a fun one to read for sure!

Overall this was a great contemporary romance that I highly recommend to everyone! Another winner for me and a new 2018 favorite.

arc
Profile Image for SueBee★bring me an alpha!★.
2,417 reviews14.2k followers
Want to read
February 20, 2018
LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK | B&N | KOBO |


RUGGED RANCHER!

Stand-alone.
LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK | B&N | KOBO |
Blurb:
Tori…
For the record, I’m not going to hook up with my boss.
I'm a lot of things—a screwup, a basket case, a flunky. But when I take a nanny job to be near my pregnant sister, I swear to myself I’ll walk the straight and narrow, which means I cannot fall for my insanely hot boss.
I don't want to be tempted by that rugged rancher. By his chiseled muscles or southern charm or the way he snuggles his kids at bedtime. Ethan Carter won't get the key to my heart, no matter how much I want him.
Ethan…
Between us, she's the last thing I need as I finalize my hellish divorce.
What sane man trying to rebuild his life wants a hot nanny with long, sexy hair, curves for miles, and a smart mouth? A perfectly kissable, pouty mouth that I shouldn't notice.
My focus is on my kids and my ranch, not the insufferable siren who sleeps in the room next to mine. It doesn't matter that she wins over my kids in a heartbeat or runs my life better than I do. Tori Duran is the one woman I can't have and shouldn't want, no matter how much I crave her.
Profile Image for Bookgasms Book Blog.
2,789 reviews1,379 followers
February 20, 2018
This book was so adorable. SO. ADORABLE. Ethan and Tori were a delight to meet and fall in love with and boy, did I ever fall in love. From the ovary explosion of the hands-on single dad, to the shock waves through my heart from the palpable chemistry sparking between Ethan and Tori, this book hit all my sweet spots and I sailed through it with a goobery smile plastered on my face.

I mean, it wasn't all fun and games. There were some dramatic emotional moments. My heart hurt and I got angry a couple times. I wanted to shake Ethan to knock some sense in him (but thankfully there were some secondary characters on hand to do that for me). But over-all, this book just felt good. It's a quick, easy read. It made me laugh, it set my heart fluttering, and the heat?

Let's talk about the heat for a second.

With several years of romance reading under my belt, I feel like I'm immune to most of the hot scenes these days. I tend to skim over them and they're definitely not what draws me to a book. I could generally take them or leave them. But let me tell you - I was glued to every scene in this book. Something about how they're written with equal parts emotion and sensuality with a couple extra kicks of naughty. Hot damn. Super scintillating and super satisfying in a way that I was completely not expecting!

Overall - this was a fantastic feel-good book. I loved the story. I loved the characters. I loved the ooey gooey ending. Definitely do not pass this one by! ~ Shelly, 4.5 Stars

***

Good lord, there is nothing I love more when reading a book than amazing, strong female leading characters. And wow, Tori Duran ticks off all the boxes. She’s smart, caring, willing to stand up for herself and those she loves, and completely unaware just how she affects those around her by her every day, normal actions.

But Tori is also a bit self-conscious regarding her past mistakes. Mistakes she’s not willing to make again. Especially those mistakes made when allowing a man into her life and into her heart. And no matter how attractive, how amazing, how perfect for her Ethan Carter may be, she’s not going to mess around with her boss.

Ethan just needs some help taking care of his kids while his mother takes a long overdue vacation. He will not let his dick lead him astray again. No matter how amazing Tori is with his children, no matter how tempting her personality and beauty is to him. She’s off-limits.

Off-limits? Oh, Ethan and Tori. You two don’t have any clue what off-limits really means. Sigh. I loved how they tried to deny their feelings. Loved how they tried to skirt around the looming cloud of lust that hung around everywhere they were. Until they just couldn’t avoid it anymore. And wow, was their connection worth the wait.

I loved Ethan. Loved how he put his children first. Loved how he loved working his ranch. Loved his every interaction with his family and especially when dealing with his brother, Logan’s shenanigans. (I am dying for Logan’s book, BTW.) And I especially loved how he interacted with Tori. Their romance was beautiful, and real and so perfectly imperfect. I couldn’t get enough.

Reckless was fun, sexy, flirty, real, and amazing. My first read of Lex Martin’s books, but definitely not my last! ~ Missy, 4.5 stars
Profile Image for Gi's Spot Reviews.
1,092 reviews1,197 followers
February 20, 2018
4.75 ‘Worth it all’ Stars

WOW.... Reckless was Magnificent!
Seriously, Tori is up there with my all time fav Romance heroines! She was so genuine, so funny, so heartfully emotional and overall kickass. I adored her! And Ethan... Yes, the saying ‘Save a horse, ride a cowboy’ applies to a T here. This man was not only absolutely drool worthy, but so caring and loyal, he just stole my heart. And the kids... Arghhh, so freakin adorable! I love a good single parent/nanny trope and this one was just PERFECT!

One year ago, Victoria, better known as Tori to friends and family – Kat’s sister, from Shameless, which you need to read btw – life came tumbling down thanks to a huge deceive from her then boyfriend, aka, the disgusting and cheating bastard. From that point on she stepped away from the opposite sex, and has been struggling to find her place in the world.

Besides, me? Have a family? I feel sorry for those hypothetical offspring already. I can’t even balance my checkbook, not that I have much to balance.
I don’t totally understand what’s going on in my head, because when it comes to doing something for my sister or family, I’d gladly crawl over broken glass, but when I have to do something for myself, I can’t seem to care.


My heart really hurt for her, and her loneliness, even given her big family, her constant feeling of misfit and misunderstood always lingered no matter what. That is until a job opportunity comes to her (or better yet, she’s pushed into by Kat, lol), and even though she doesn’t feel it may be for her, maybe been this family’s nanny is just what the doctor ordered.

It’s bad enough living with a stranger, but a sexy one? Rugged and tatted up, someone who looks like he wrestles bears in his spare time? He’s definitely not on my diet plan.

The kind of guy to make a girl ache in just the right ways, if he were another guy and I another girl.


There was only one problem. A big, muscle, tattooed hot cowboy of a problem, because their instant attraction has trouble written all over it. On both fronts.

Ethan hasn’t had what you may call an happy marriage – how could he, with a selfish b!tch like his ex? – and it’s been a struggle to keep afloat since his father passed away, drowning in work, and trying to built his family business as well as keeping his children healthy and happy, has been tough. So he knows he needs help, but what a shock it is when the help comes in the shape of a real life ‘mermaid’ full of sass and fire?! Yep, sparks do fly!

“Must be nice to have something you love so much.” A cool breeze blows through the barn, and she tilts her head and closes her eyes. “To have something that’s so a part of you, you feel it all the way down to the soles of your shoes.”

It was amazing to see Ethan and Tori’s relationship develop after that first fiery meeting, how naturally they passed from boss/employee, to each others support in an easy friendship, until they gave freedom to their magnetism, and took the next step.

One of the things that I loved most about this book was how very realistic their struggles and their problems were. I could feel Ethan’s physical and financial struggle as well as Tori’s inner conflict and self doubt. So very real, and so very understandable. That just enhanced their pull even more, imo, but even after giving in to their sexual attraction, it was not an easy task, with how much baggage they both had, from their previous relationships.

If that experience with Jamie taught me anything, it’s that guys like Ethan don’t settle down with girls like me. I’m a fun fuck. A good time. A way to burn off steam or sow some wild oats. Not a forever girl. Not someone you keep.

I cried for Tori, she touched my heart with her hidden fragility, with all that vulnerability and sweet and caring heart behind that sassy and fiery personality. Her self deprecation was painful to see at times, but so very realistic, that we could just feel her pain, and how she saw herself, and never truly hoped to have more. But Ethan was right there to show her he loved all parts of her.

Damn it, I like this girl and how she’s all bluster and ball-busting when she’s pissed, but sweet and vulnerable at other times.

From sweet and caring to his adorable children one minute, to sexy and sassy spitfire the next, this woman really was the whole package, and I loved how perfectly she is described and written. I connected with her in a way I felt what she was feeling, and like I’ve said she became one of my all time fav heroines.

“Why, Ethan Carter, are you saying you want the uncensored version of me?” She tsks. “I’m not entirely sure you can handle that.”
I take a step closer and tug on a strand of her hair. “Try me.”


And OMGGGGGG, this insane chemistry translated in this blazing steamy scenes that almost burn up the pages with how HOT theses two went at it! Lordy, you will definitely need to cool down after you feel the thick sexual tension Ethan and Tori transpire!

That silly saying comes to mind: Save a horse. Ride a cowboy.
I am so down with this.

Burning hot but shivering.
Terrified but trusting.
Overwhelmed but wanting.


Not only do their sexy scenes show you how these two are perfect together, but their love story, their slow developing feelings, their growing affections, and their overall love for one another, will reveal how they are indeed each others other half. Each others perfect counterpoint, soulmate.

I have no idea when this man dug through the defenses I spent the last year building, but he’s burrowed into me now, and I suspect nothing short of open-heart surgery can remove him.

For once in my life, I’m not afraid of the future or my place in this world. Because Ethan brings me hope that maybe my past happened for a reason. That it brought me to this place with him. And I wouldn’t change that for anything.


Tori’s true place really is with, and as part of this family. She brings even more light to these children lives and a much needed breath of fresh air, and new beginning and true love to their father’s existence. She was made to fit right there in this family. Her fated place in this world is by Ethan’s side.

In this moment, in our quiet bubble, all the heartache of the last few years is worth it. The divorce. The self-doubt. The loneliness. I’d do it again. Because it brought me to this place with this incredible girl.

She’s turned everything around. My outlook. My attitude. My expectations for my family.


Lex Martin gave us such an emotional, realistic, sexy, and beyond amazing in Reckless, that she managed to surpass, for me, the already huge success of Shameless, with Ethan and Tori’s love story. Beautifully developed main characters, extraordinary secondary characters, and intricate and organically natural plot, make this book that much more memorably rich. Reckless is a definite must read, a story I won’t soon forget and will just keep begging to see more of! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

“Does this mean we get to ride off into the sunset?”
Gently, he lifts my face to his and wipes away the tears. “Absolutely. You’ll be mine,” he whispers. “Always and forever.”
I smile against his kiss. “Always and forever.”



ARC kindly provided by the author via Give Me Books Promotions for an honest review

For full review with Release Blitz and Giveaway, check out my Blog post,
http://gisspotreviews.com/index.php/2...
Profile Image for Nadine Booklover.
786 reviews111 followers
November 29, 2018
"Whatever it is, I think I'm addicted."

Well, this quote sums it up pretty well. I just couldn't put down this page-turner.
Reckless is my first book by Lex Martin and she totally flashed me with this one.

"I don't care that this thing between us could go wrong in a hundred different ways. I don't care that I could fall way too hard for him."

OMG, I fell hard, harder, hardest. For Tori, for Ethan, for Mila, for Cody, for Logan. All of them are so adorable and easy to love. I had so much fun sharing their path finding love again. Reckless is everything a romance readers heart is begging for. Best go in blind and just let the story guide you.

"It's and eternity setting because that's how long I plan to love you."

Lex has an incredible talent to write her characters so vivid, that they seem to jump right out of the pages into the same room with you. It was so damn easy to picture them, to follow them. I truly wish someone pics up this book and turns it into a movie.

"Once upon a time, I didn't believe in fairy tales. But then I found my prince. And we saved each other."

Reckless is a book that just screams for 5 star ratings. The story is incredible entertaining, the characters are simply amazing and the writing style is captivating. If I had have the time, I would have read it in one sitting.
February 20, 2018
What I liked:?
I liked the relationship she had with her sister.

I also liked the relationship she had with the hero's kids. These kids needed someone that could be there for them since their father worked all the time and their mother was a harpy.
I also like that the heroine never talk bad about his ex wife to the kids in fact she went out of her way to reassured the kids that the harpy loved them even though the harpy never showed them.

I respected the hero when he didn't want to bad mouth his ex wife. He also defended her against anyone who called her a bitch even though she was, but I'm sorry I do think he should have put her in her place from the beginning.

What I didn't like:?

I hated her parents, they made her feel like she wasn't important as her sister was just because she was a screw up or a college dropout. Yes it pissed me off that she dropped out of college

Unnecessary OW/OM drama.

The advice the heroine was giving the hero's brother about his best friend. You see the brother is a huge manwhore so the heroine was giving him advice about going after his best friend, I was like bad advice, poor girl is probably a virgin and she's telling the manwhore to go after her.

The brother asked the hero about setting up a date with OW and he said yes but he forgot all about it and he already started liking the heroine when he say yes. But he didn't go on the date. Probably because the heroine finds out and the ow asked the heroine to baby sit for her.

Heroine crying all the time.

Hero saying that if his wife returned he probably would accept her back. This was before he met the heroine. But during the year that they were separated he tried to reconciled with her only she didn't want to and she was the one asking the divorce.

The whole drama at the end. Where the wife and the heroine's ex cheater boyfriend (btw the heroine was the OW, only she didn't know she was the ow.) gang up on the heroine in front of the hero. I lost all respect for the hero. The heroine was manhandled by her ex and was thrown out on her ass literally by the cheater ex and yes I guess is not the hero's fault since he wasn't there after he left to attend his kid who had fallen and gotten hurt but before that he was there and this ow and this asshole was ganging up on the heroine and he just stood there asking the heroine if what the harpy and the cheater bastard was saying the truth. Some of it was truth. Like how she drove her friends with empty containers of alcohol in her freshman year and got a DUI, she drank alcohol and drove like that, I don't condone driving while intoxicated. She was very irresponsible like I said she was a screw up. Anyway like I said I lost all respect I had for the hero.

So I'm only rating this 3 stars.

IMO the harpy of the ex wife should have been dealt with from the beginning, they would have spared all of this. And oh I forget to mention the heroine's cheater of ex boyfriend is the hero's friend.

Safety Info:
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Melanie (mells_view).
1,728 reviews352 followers
March 13, 2018
Sweet and emotional, slow burn romance.
Tori is a recent college drop-out who is a little stagnant in life because of circumstances with an ex she regrets. She doesn’t trust her own judgement, because she was burned so badly.
Ethan is a single dad just trying to maintain his ranch, love his children, pay the bills, and manage a relationship with his soon to be ex-wife.
Tori reluctantly comes to work for Ethan as a nanny. He needs a nanny, but he’s not sure the young, sassy, and gorgeous Tori is the right fit.

I really loved Tori and Ethan. I loved that their relationship wasn’t solely based on physical attraction. I’m not usually a HUGE fan of slow-burn, but Reckless did it well and kept me interested in the characters stories that weren’t just romance. But when the romance comes its sweet, and so worth the wait.

If you like single dads falling in love with their sassy nannies, then Reckless is the book for you. This story goes far beyond the usual you get from this trope. It’s deep and emotional!

Side note - give us Logan!
Profile Image for NMmomof4.
1,548 reviews3,974 followers
February 26, 2018
3 Stars

Overall Opinion: Meh. I didn't find this all that exciting tbh. I know that I had a lot of other stuff going on this weekend to distract me from reading this quickly like I usually do, but I still feel like I wasn't dying to get back to it either. The h grated on my nerves at times, but the H and the kids were fun! Overall, I just didn't love it (but I also didn't hate it either) 🤷🏻‍♀️

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Tori and Ethan's story. Tori gets hired as a live-in nanny for Ethan's two small children. Tori is at a rough patch in her life and Ethan's in the process of getting divorced, so they are not ready for each other. The more time they spend together, the harder they find it is to fight the pull they feel towards one another. There is some ex drama, some sexy times, and some sweet moments...and they get a HFN ending.

POV: This alternated between Tori and Ethan's POV.

Overall Pace of Story: Good until the rushed ending. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well otherwise.

Instalove: No, but yes to instalust.

H rating: 4 stars. Ethan. I liked him. I loved how he was with his kids.

h rating: 2.5 stars. Tori. She was okay. She was a little too much of a downer for me at times.

Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed

Push/Pull: Yes

Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.

Descriptive sex: Yes

OW/OM drama: Yes

Sex scene with OW or OM: No

Cheating: Not between the mcs

Separation: Yes

Possible Triggers: Yes

Closure: This had alright closure but what felt like a fast-forward ending. I would call this a HFN ending, but others might be okay in labeling this a HEA .

Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Profile Image for Fanny.
2,202 reviews54 followers
May 13, 2018



Reckless de Lex Martin narra la historia de Tori ( hermana de Kat, protagonista de Shameless ) y Ethan, un nuevo personaje.

Me da un poco de verguenza admitirlo pero desde que hace un par de años descubri a Lex Martin, cada par de semanas la stalkeo para saber si ha publicado algun libro nuevo, en la actualidad es una de las autoras que mas me gusta y nunca me decepciona. Simplemente las historias que crean son mi paraiso personal, siempre tienen esa chispa que me cuesta encontrar en las novelas romanticas.

La historia de Ethan y Tori es tierna, adorable y hermosa, admito que inicie la lectura predispuesta a que me encantara, no solo porque la autora es una de mis preferidas sino tambien porque Shameless es una novela a la que le tengo un amor especial, ademas me apetecia muchisimo saber mas de Tori, ya que su personaje me gusto mucho en la historia de Kat y Brady.

En resumen, Reckless es una novela con un ritmo muy natural y fluido, unos personajes muy bien construidos y una historia que es tan entretenida y agradable que se te pasara en un suspiro.

Totalmente recomendada y espero que la autora publique pronto la novela de Logan y Joey, preveo que sera una historia impresionante de la que me enamorare!

4.75 Estrellas!!
Profile Image for Olga therebelreader.
888 reviews697 followers
February 21, 2018
In short:
Hero 5/5 | Heroine 5/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 4/5 | Writing Style 4/5 | Steam 4/5 | Romance 5/5 | Angst-Suspense 4/5 | Darkness 0/5 | Humor 3/5 | Secondary Characters 4/5 | Drama-Conflict 4/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 3/5 | Pace Steady | Action 2/5
Profile Image for Jonetta.
2,242 reviews968 followers
November 30, 2018
Ethan Carter is a soon to be single father of two young children trying to manage their care and his ranch near Austin, Texas. His mother is helping out with his children but the demands of a toddler and a 4-year old is proving too much. Tori Duran needs a job since she detonated her life a year ago after a relationship that soured in the worst way. When her brother-in-law recommends her to be the nanny to his friend Ethan’s children, she reluctantly pursues it as it will put her near her very pregnant sister. However, Ethan is also reluctant once he takes a look at the very appealing Tori.

This is such a great story. After a very rocky start, Ethan and Tori work well together as a team in the care and nurturing of the children. It’s not long before their relationship evolves and that care and nurturing extends to each other. Both have recently emerged from bad unions and are wary of moving into another too quickly but these two really are well suited. There’s lots of humor, family drama and romantic moments, so very well written and delivered. The pacing is flawless as the story moves from one scene to another with ease. I adored Tori who has a big heart, a quick wit and a propensity for getting into trouble, unintentionally of course. Ethan is honorable to a fault and is a devoted father, working tirelessly to keep everything together. You just couldn’t help liking each of them individually and rooting for them as a couple.

I’m thrilled that I agreed to listen to this story as both narrators seem to capture the essence of Ethan and Tori’s personalities while effectively managing the other characters nicely. I especially liked how Tori was portrayed, delivering her self-deprecating lines in a way that endeared me even more to the character. This was a wonderful reading experience and now I need to go back and listen to the first connected story, Shameless.

(I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review)

Profile Image for Grecia Robles.
1,521 reviews366 followers
June 13, 2020
AAAAY QUE BONITO!!!
SOO CUTE!!

I know, I Know que en mis últimas reseñas he puesto que bonito a los libros que me gustan pero es que este libro si está bien bonito, me gustó demasiado es bien lindo y tierno.

Es que es single dad y luego la niñera cliché, cliché pero amo el cliché y sobre todo cuando están tan bien escritos y bien llevados.

El libro de Shameless me gustó mucho pero siento que este los disfruté un pelín más y no lo comencé luego de terminar ese libro porque Tori no me había agradado tanto y esperé a que se me fuera el sentimiento y para ser más objetiva y desde luego que sirvió porque Tori me sorprendió porque su personaje me gustó mucho era una chica que a pesar de haber cometido muchos errores y que le rompieron el corazón muchas veces, es valiente, divertida, es muy cariñosa y familiar, es trabajadora y tiene mucho amor que dar.

Ethan también es un protagonista muy bueno al principio es todo gruñón pero es un hombre muy tierno y cariñoso sobre todo con sus hijos, trabaja siempre para el bienestar de su familia.
Tori y él como pareja eran muy bonitos.

No sé porque no había leído estos libros antes pero me han dejado con un gran sabor de boca.
Y ya me voy a leer el libro de Joey y Logan porque pues es FRIENDS TO LOVERS y ya saben lo que significa.
Profile Image for Ella Fields.
Author 31 books4,392 followers
February 18, 2018
I’d forgotten just how easy it is to be swept into the pages of a Lex Martin book.
Ethan and Tori gave me feels of every degree. A heartwarming tale of second chances and new beginnings that I couldn’t inhale fast enough.
February 14, 2018
With Shameless being on the shelf of my “Top Reads Ever” I was highly anticipating this book and it definitely met all my expectations. I have come to know that anything Lex publishes will be amongst my favorite reads and top recommendations.

This story is so full of emotions. Ethan is a single dad, overwhelmed by the demands of his ranch, raising kids, finances, and lack of time to stop and catch his breath.
Tori is in need of a fresh start, not feeling the love or approval from her parents, and trying to move forward from the horrible end of relationship. Her very pregnant sister (our heroine from Shameless) has convinced her to take the nanny position at Ethan’s ranch, which is very close to where she lives.
The story is kind of like a hate-to-friends-to-lovers, as they don’t get off on the right foot when they meet. Tori’s sassy mouth and Ethan’s chip on his shoulder don’t bode well in the beginning. Her hesitancy to take the position as his nanny jeeps her guarded and unsure about staying with the job. She outdoes herself with good, hard work, as she battles her insecurities. When Ethan begins to notice Tori’s work ethic, love and care for his kids, and her initiative to make sure he is taken care of as well, he begins to warm to her, snark and all. His need for companionship wins out and they start a routine of watching baseball and hanging out after the kids are asleep at night.
But what happens when the vindictive and nasty soon-to-be ex wife tears her ugly head? What about that awful ex of Tori’s and how badly he humiliated her? See what happens when the past collides with the present!

reviewed by Sweet Spot Sisterhood
Profile Image for Rejane.
1,342 reviews63 followers
Shelved as 'nope'
February 20, 2018
Maybe Alex, Kiki, Dilek, Leonor, Lu, Book Bosomed , ReadingIsMyEscape, might read it?!
Waiting on you girls... lol

UPDATE: Thanks to my GR friend Leonor who really took a big one for the team I am moving this to NOPE shelf. It sounds like a mess, too much om/ow drama and a weak, passive hero. Terrible combo.
Leonor’s review 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Profile Image for Sabrina.
3,380 reviews1,991 followers
February 26, 2018
NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK



I was really iffy about reading this since the blurb mentioned the Hero was going through a divorce and that's just not my favorite type of drama. In the end, though, I'm super happy I gave it a chance because I ended up loving these characters. They started out with this bickering type sexual chemistry but it quickly turned into something sweet and as adorable as a hunky cowboy can be. I really liked that we got to see how they progressed from avoiding each other to trying to find alone time and it let me connect to their characters and fall in love with both of them.

Even though I was worried about the ex drama llama making an appearance I was actually okay with how everything played out with that. I thought it brought a lot of intrigue to the story and had me dying to find out what was going to happen. So overall I very much enjoyed this book and I can't wait for Logan, Ethan's brother, to get a story.
Profile Image for Michelle Claypot_Reads.
2,210 reviews65 followers
February 20, 2018
Absolutely LOVED this story!!! 2am and my eyes are burning but I have a big dopey smile on my face 😊😊😊

Ethan is the very best kind of BBF - HAF single dad, kind & honourable with just the right dash of alpha. I loved Tori and all her supposed faults. She was genuine, loving and just what Ethan needed. Her sass and humour made me LOL many times and her vulnerability made me want to hug her. So many funny one liners in this story, coupled with plenty of real emotions and just the right amount of toe curling barn shaking sexy times.

Definitely recommend this one and hope Logan gets a book next.

I received an ARC of this book.
Profile Image for Rozberry&#x1f353;.
278 reviews98 followers
June 27, 2021
Shameless - 4 stars
Reckless - 3.25 stars
Breathless - TBR



I liked Reckless ok…but well hmph, that wasn’t quite what I expected. It had its moments. Nonetheless of the Lex Martin books I’ve read, Reckless is the most frequently disconnected I’ve felt about any of her couples or the stories. I never felt LM’s writing played it this safe before from the perspective of emotions & connection (to each other, to me as the reader) as I did here from Ethan & Tori. It wasn’t absent all the time, yet still, a bit more often than I would’ve liked or I am accustomed to from LM books. It wasn’t until the last few chapters, I felt that the most steadily & palpably about them together or individually. >>> Val ⚓️’s review nails it so well imho & further elaborates so much better why I felt this way about Reckless - albeit not so bad a book - & how it missed the mark a bit for me.
Profile Image for Jessica .
2,129 reviews13.8k followers
February 21, 2018
I fell in love with Lex Martin's writing when I first read Shameless and experienced the emotional roller coaster of Kat and Brady's story. I couldn't wait to read another book in that small town, farm life world!

Tori is used to screwing up and disappointing everyone in her life. And when she finds out that the man she actually saw a future with was a complete lie, she accepts that she will never amount to anything and is destined to be alone. When her pregnant sister sets her up with a nannying job for a single dad who owns a ranch, Tori is determined to prove she is worth something. Ethan is trying his best to keep his ranch and family afloat, but it's hard juggling everything while dealing with the rough divorce from his wife. When he hires Tori to watch his kids, it's hard for him to ignore the attraction he feels for her. But the last thing he needs is to fall of this nanny, no matter how right it feels.

I've got to say, Tori was a character that I'm not used to reading about and I actually found her very refreshing. She had made so many mistakes in her past, flunked out of college, and was "the other woman" in a relationship that really broke her when she learned he was married. She was so determined to succeed at something and I loved how natural she was with Ethan's kids. Just like Izzy in Shameless, I absolutely loved Mila and Cody and think they added something so special to this story.

Since Tori and Ethan were so against starting a new relationship, this was definitely more of a slow burn romance where it took them awhile to even hang out in the same room together. Tori tried so hard not to get in the way, but I loved how it was impossible for her to ignore the hot, sweaty rancher she was living with. I also really loved how close Kat and Tori were in this book and how present Kat and Brady were in Ethan and Tori's lives. There were so many friends and family and I really loved the whole crew of characters we got.

Overall, this was everything and more that I wanted from this book. If you love single dad romances or small town, ranch romances, you are going to LOVE Reckless. You won't be able to get enough of these characters or the slow development of Tori and Ethan's sweet romance. You definitely have to pick this up!
Profile Image for Laura.
2,352 reviews111 followers
February 18, 2018
***ARC Provided by the Author and Give Me Books***

4.5 Stars

Whew. This was an emotional read. There was so much for Ethan and Tori. You wanted things to be better for each of them, you like them, you sympathize with them, and you want all of the good things to happen to them. You are angry at the things that happen to them, frustrated with them, there is some angst, and there are moments when Ethan shows just how much Tori means to him that just leave you a little in love with him, and how much he cares for her.

Ethan is a good guy. The way he treats Tori, the way he respects her, the way he loves her for who she is and appreciates her, it's wonderful. Tori is a handful, and there have been some things in her life that have made her feel that who she is as a person isn't quite good enough. I loved that Ethan doesn't see this. Yes, he sees her faults, but he doesn't want her to be anything but who she is.

There is a lot going on. Kids, brothers, ex wives and boyfriends, sisters and parents. It could have felt crowded, but the secondary characters were balanced well and really didn't feel like there was too much time spent with them.

Tori and Ethan have chemistry. They strike sparks against one another from the beginning...although, Ethan's first appearance might have been the hottest first impression of any hero, ever. They fight the chemistry and there is a lot of them ignoring and pretending they don't feel the attraction.

The night under the stars is hot, and romantic, and different, and I loved not only the way it was handled, but the glimpse into how much Ethan really feels for Tori by his actions and the things he does, and doesn't do. I loved the choices he makes for her, the things he does out of respect for Tori and the relationship they are building.

I enjoyed this book, and I recommend it.

***This and other reviews featured on our blog Booked All Night http://bookedallnightblog.com/***
Profile Image for Korrie’s Korner.
1,120 reviews13.6k followers
June 16, 2020
These books are my drug right now!

I am loving this series with a passion. Single dad that loves his kids, and runs a horse cutting farm. Catnip. Throw in tattoos, a Texas southern drawl, and pure alpha maleness..Yesss please!

“Here’s the thing no one ever tells you about love. It turns to hate pretty f**king fast when the object of your affection hurts your kids.”

I haven’t read many single dad stories with custody so this was nice. Him falling for his sassy, super smart, heart bruised nanny...so dang good. So many heart wrenching emotions, angst and a beautiful hea.
Profile Image for Jasmine.
443 reviews712 followers
February 19, 2018
***Actual rating: 3.5/5 Heart-Protecting Stars***

I start to wonder, if he’s that gentle with his daughter, maybe he’s the type of man who could be gentle with my heart too.


Reckless is a rather light-hearted read for me because the story flows wonderfully with the author’s superb writing style and the characters are pretty lovable as well. The story follows a 23-year-old college dropout, Tori, who parties hard and has been dating an older guy for half a year before accidentally finding out that he’s married. Heartbreaking and frustrated, she starts guarding her heart carefully and never lets herself fall for anyone easily ever since.

Enter Ethan, a hot, tatted, beyond gorgeous single dad of two who works hard on his own ranch by taking good care of the horses and giving horse riding lessons but is going through a tough, reluctant divorce with his wife. Thanks to Tori’s passionate sister, Kat, Tori is hired by Ethan as a temporary nanny. Ethan’s kids are extremely adorable and clever; honestly, I’ve never considered children cute or angelic since I sort of have a distaste for them but this book definitely changes my perspective of viewing kids.

At first, Tori and Ethan both couldn’t tolerate each other because they just went through some real ugly failure in the field of romantic relationship but I’m glad they sort things out eventually. What I appreciate most about this book is how natural Tori and Ethan’s friendship-turned-relationship-turned-marriage seems. They don’t fall for each other at the first sight despite the irresistibly strong physical attraction and I really love the interaction between Tori and Ethan’s kids. She undoubtedly brings out the best side of a mother even though she’s young and reckless; better yet, she doesn’t let her terrible ex haunt her and bravely takes the initiative to embrace another man.

Besides, the sex scenes in this story aren’t too disturbing as I usually find in other new adult books so I think it’s a plus for this book. However, as much as I enjoy reading Tori and Ethan’s relationship grows (and how Tori takes care of Ethan’s kids as if they were her own flesh and blood), there’s something missing in the plot. The whole story mainly revolves around Tori and Ethan’s daily life, including spending time with the children, organizing farm business, solving financial problems, dealing with the legal process of Ethan’s divorce and his ex-wife’s huge amount of alimony and of course, trying out different sexual positions in various places. I would appreciate more if there were something else happening in the story such as an unexpected twist or simply a better insight into the characteristics/lives of those supporting roles.

The lack of surprising factors and the narrow scope of Tori and Ethan’s experiences are unfortunately the reason I can’t fully love the book the way I want to. Despite the fact that there’s room for improvement regarding the plot design, Reckless is a quick, fun read for me and I still have a great time reading it.

***Thanks to the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
Profile Image for Lanie .
1,075 reviews
February 20, 2018
an arc was freely given by the author. thank you so much lex!

LIVE!! - http://amzn.to/2CQVkWo

Firstly, I want to give Lex my heartfelt thanks for sending me an arc of this book. I cannot express enough my appreciation to her sweetness and thoughtfulness.

Secondly, I want to ask Lex not to take too long in releasing a book! It’s been ages since I read a book of hers and I really miss her writing! No wonder, when the arc landed on my kindle, I immediately dived in and devoured her book like it’s my last meal!

Reckless was everything I look forward to a book by hers! It’s funny, genuine, lighthearted and really entertaining! With all the angsty books left and right, it’s definitely like an oasis in the middle of a desert.

Tori, who is Kat’s sister from the book Shameless, has a playful nature and I love that about her. She’s good with kids and I love that she cares for her sister so much that she will do anything for her to be near her.

Ethan is a single dad that is undergoing a really bad divorce. I love that he’s a responsible dad and that he loves his kids so much, he’s willing to do anything for them so he can save the ranch, the source of their income, which was left by his dad.

If this book is a meal, it’s sumptuous enough to be a feast. It has all the flavorful and delicious food for the book-hungry.
Single dad, check
Adorable kids, check
An annoying but really caring brother, check check (By the way, I really want a Logan book! Please make it happen Lex!)
A mom who likes to tease, check again
Another protective brother (hi Brady!), check once more
Appearance of a lovable pet, check once again
A feisty, funny and super loving heroine a big fat check!

What more could you ask for? This book is definitely an enjoyable ride and you’ll absolutely have fun reading this.

I love all Lex’s books! I suggest to check out her other books. All of them can be read as standalone. They are worth every penny bec the reading experience is more than pleasant and satisfying.
Profile Image for Annuccia Palmeri.
1,067 reviews64 followers
April 6, 2021
4+ inizio super, a metà arranca un po' allungandosi inutilmente e poi finale ben movimentato. Adesso aspetto il 14/04 per Joey e Logan: FRIENDS TO LOVERS ALLERT.
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