Badass Bloggettes: *** 5 STARS FOR SHAYLA BLACK & LEXI BLAKE *** SMOKE AND SIN BOOK 4 (THE PERFECT GENTLEMEN by Shayla Black & Lexi Blake

Kindle Edition, 428 pages

Published September 26th 2017 by Black Oak Books, LLC

Original Title; Smoke and Sin

ASIN: B074GLXX7H

More than a decade ago, Roman Calder had a scorching affair with the sister of one of his best friends. Augustine Spencer drove him so crazy he thought of nothing but her. The only thing they did more often than heat the sheets was fight. Unprepared for the intensity of their relationship, Roman broke things off and concentrated on things that made sense to him: his career and putting his best friend, Zack Hayes, in the White House.

Gus Spencer is known to Washington insiders as the president’s secret weapon. Gorgeous and brilliant, Gus runs the press pool with the determination of a shark. No one dares to cross her, not when she’s known for having a spine of steel…but long ago one man melted her down. Despite the fact that she’ll never forgive Roman for breaking her heart, now that they work together she can’t get him off her mind.

When a dangerous investigation leads both Roman and Gus to London, the heat between them becomes unbearable. As they begin to unravel an international conspiracy, they find themselves falling all over again. But when a killer threatens their world, can they fight to stay together or will the sins of their past keep them forever apart?

Smoke and Sin is my favorite so far in The Perfect Gentlemen series. It has everything that pushes my buttons:

ü Second Chance – Roman Calder and Augustine Spencer had a love affair thirteen years ago that went south. Not because they didn’t love each other, but it wasn’t the right time for several reasons.

ü Forbidden A friend’s sister – Augustine (Gus) is Dax’s sister. Dax is a friend and fellow Perfect Gentleman.

ü Hot, sexy, dirtbag - Roman can be a bit of a jerk, but there is something underneath the jerk that makes me love him.

ü The series arc is cranking up. More clues are revealed. **I’m rubbing my hands together waiting to find out who is behind all the intrigue and espionage.

With all the above what’s not to like? Yet there is more!

Roman and Gus share their past in this book. It is so obvious to the reader that they are meant to be. The chemistry between them is burning up the pages. Unfortunately, a stupid argument causes a chain reactions that neither can forget—until a Presidential trip to England. An investigation throws them together even though they fight it. They are forced to share what happened, how they changed over the years, and attempt to rebuild a friendship.

Gus is one of my favorite heroines. She is loyal, strong, career driven, and not afraid to stand up for herself and the people she loves. I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t embrace a friend like Gus. Roman has many of these qualities too, but he has so much baggage from his childhood, that it is hard to find his loving core. Without a doubt, he is loyal to his best friend, Zack and the other Perfect Gentlemen. It is the people not in that little clique that pay the price of his skeptical nature.

Talk about a satisfying ending, Smoke and Sin blew the roof off. I am so excited about the conclusion to this book and the need to confirm or debunk my theories of the people behind the scandals, I’m going to jump in the next book immediately after writing this review.

I decided to listen to this series. (I’m going to order the books from Shaylablack.com) It is an excellent decision as each book is beautifully narrated. There is a change in narrators for Smoke and Sin, which often throws me off. However, Greg Bordeaux does an excellent job bringing these characters to life. In some ways, this was the perfect book to make a switch as we are moving into the president’s inner circle. Kaelo Griffith’s narration was wonderful in the first three books, but Greg Bordeaux pulls off the change smoothly and perfectly. I highly recommend this book and/or audio. You won’t be disappointed.