4.5  Star review of Resist (Wicked Ways #1) by K Bromberg
Whenever I see the name Kristy Bromberg I know I am in for a great read and Resist was no exception. However firstly be prepared this is a duet so you need to know that going in and be prepared. 
From the first to the last chapter, I was riveted to the story that Ms. Bromberg wove. I loved the characters of Ryker Lockhart and Vaughn Sanders. Vaughn will do what ever she has to to look after her family and pay off her debits, she is feisty and I really liked her; Ryker at the end of the story I did not like.
This is an emotional and intense story that ends in one heck of a cliff hanger. As I have come to expect from her books, this author has delivered strong characters written with depth and an ending that will leave you wanting all the answers now.
Cannot wait for the second book Reveal.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher through Netgalley.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Just to get this out of th eway, this book definitely ends in a cliffhanger.   That will absolutely frustrate some.   haha.
this book was a rollercoaster, no lie.    i can't wait for the next book!

If I was being petty, I'd deduct a star from my rating simply because this book ends in a CLIFFHANGER and NO WHERE does it say in the synopsis that is the case. I almost threw my Kindle across the room when I realized this. A warning would have been nice since I would have probably skipped this book and just waited until both books were out. Imagine my surprise when I"m on Chapter 55 (yes, there really are that many chapters, some are long, some are just two pages), and then the book ends abruptly with the hero doing something stupid and the heroine running away. At that point I'm flipping back to make sure some chapters weren't missing. But to my dismay, I then see that other reviewers have now noted it was a cliffy, ugh. 

OK, *deep breath* ... moving on. The book was actually pretty good and I'll definitely read the next book in the series. It was a bit slow at times and now knowing it ended up a cliffhanger, I really think the author could have removed some of the chapters that just seemed to be filler. But it certainly did keep my attention, especially the last half. 

Vaughn is a Madam, but don't let that fool you into thinking you really know the type person she is. Turns out, she doesn't sleep with clients and only runs the business to pay off her debts so she can get custody of her niece. So not all is as it seems. Ryker is what he seems though. He's a high-powered divorce attorney who only represents men. She meets Ryker when she takes the place of one of her girls that Ryker paid for after an incident puts the other girl out of commission for the night. So he's someone that pays for no-strings company and is a ruthless attorney to boot. But, you'll quickly see a heartwarming side of Ryker that just makes you begin to like the guy.

Vaughn and Ryker are both attracted to one another, but they are both hesitant to start a relationship.  They're also both incredibly stubborn - so much so that it becomes annoying when they intentionally say and do things to hurt the other. Both characters were pretty unlikeable for half the book. But in the end, I actually believed they could be the real deal. That is all TBD after the ending, so we'll see what other drama is stirred up. There is A LOT of drama in this book, by the way. From corrupt politicians to a crappy social worker not doing her job. So while this is a romance, it's more-so a suspense book with some romance to go with it.

Side note: I have a VERY hard time believing that medical debt is counted against you in a child custody case. It's mentioned many times that Vaughn's debt to income ratio is too high because of all the medical bills she has to pay for both her sister and her niece's treatment and therefore she isn't fit to be a parent. Medical debt doesn't even count against you when you're getting a home loan. Yes, it can affect your credit score, but the debt does not go against your debt to income ratio. Having dealt with social services before and child custody for years in the past, it's always about what's in the best interest of the child. If you can pay your bills and prove you can provide for the child, then you're a fit guardian/parent and then it's up to a judge. A social worker doesn't have the final say, it's the judge. The social worker would just provide his/her honest opinion and observations to the judge to help make their case against/for the individual gaining custody. So maybe this was just a state-specific issue or the author made assumptions and didn't do proper research on child custody.

This book. I don't even have words. Vaughn is a head strong, beautiful woman who is handling her own and I love her. Ryker is a gorgeous, arrogant a** that I love to hate lol. This book is a roller coaster and I'm still riding it. Cant wait until September for the rest of the story!!!!  It seems SO far away!!!!

OH. MY. GAHHHHH....

What just happened?!?! I NEED MORE!

(NON-spoiler review)
The book started with an interesting premise, and morphed into a story where I was rooting for the H/h. Even though my liking towards Ryker at first was a little bumpy, he had my attention from the start and eventually, my opinion changed, for the most part.

I was Team Vaughn the entirety of the book, and don't plan on changing my tune on her anytime soon. She was fierce and spoke her mind, but not to the point that it was annoying.

To say I can't wait for book #2 is putting it mildly! 

The hotness level of this book, mostly in the last half, was off the charts. Chemistry was the same as well!

This is actually my first time reading K Bromberg, and I have to say, WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG?! I fully plan on a binge of her books this summer. 

No excuse me while I go one-click some K Bromberg books....

Complex and captivating, Resist draws you into a storyline that is anything but typical. Normally, I’m not someone who would enjoy a book featuring a madam of a escort service and a client of her service - it’s truly a testament to how outstanding K. Bromberg’s writing is that I loved this book. The story follows Vaughn, a normal woman who has found herself in a totally abnormal profession - she needs to pay off the mountain of bills she’s acquired taking care of her family, so she’s running a business that will help her expedite the process. When one of her girls is injured on the job, she finds herself stepping in with an important new client. Ryker, a successful divorce attorney, has been burned by women too many times (and sees the wreckage they leave in the wake every day at work), so he’s enlisted the services of an escort. Ryker finds himself drawn to the strong and fiery Vaughn in a way that he never expected, but she resists his advances at every turn. 

The push-pull relationship between Ryker and Vaughn takes center stage here, and the story just pulls you in. Vaughn has become jaded by powerful men, so Ryker’s money and power don’t impress her, and Ryker’s skills as a lawyer mean that he knows how to wear down her defenses. This book wouldn’t work if both characters were not truly likeable, and that is definitely the case here. Neither one is perfect, but they are extremely relatable, and as we begin to understand their motivations better, it becomes difficult not to root for them. Please be aware that this is in no way a light or easy read (and there are plenty of triggers relating to sensitive subjects), but it’s an engrossing story that’s hard to put down. And yes, it does end in a cliffhanger - I cannot wait to read the next book. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is a fantastic book and hopefully the wait for the conclusion will be a short one.

3 1/2 Star Review.....

Resist is an intense, emotional and seriously sexy read, that unfortunately ends in a frustrating cliff-hanger! And I for one HATE cliff-hangers!

So, with that off my chest, I can move on to say this is a riveting read that definitely draws the reader in and holds on tight until the very end (not end) of the story. I enjoyed the character dynamics and the overall plot and world building throughout; I just wish I didn’t have to wait an unknown length of time to find out how it all ends. So, let’s hope all will be revealed in the next book, as I don’t think I could survive another non-ending.

The good things first:   It's a fun and sexy book.    The characters are likable on their own.   When they are together, the chemistry is explosive.    The banter and conversations are terrific and sassy...

Bad things (or at least things that I wish are different):  It ends on a cliffhanger…….      The ending...  Argh!!!   I need the next book quickly!

Just when I thought that this author couldn't blow me away, she did it again!!! what in the world! I need book 2 now!!

I usually don't like to read a series without all books being published. I hate having  to wait for the next release to know what is going to happen. But, as this is one of my favorite authors, I really couldn't resist. Yes, also, the book is really hard to resist. Without giving anything away, I have to say this is completely different read from K. Bromberg. The first two chapters are enough to keep you hooked and to want to know what happens. The sexy scenes are as always hot and thrilling. Loved both characters and their development towards each other. Counting the days until the next one comes out. As I said, hate no knowing whats going on :)

WOW!! How on earth can I do this mindblowing book justice!!
I was hooked from start to finish and really cannot wait for the next part of this duet. Im upset for Vaughn. I loved the way she was trying to do her best at making money to pay off her debts and to support her niece, family love knows no bounds. 
When the escort service she runs has an issue and she steps in, needless to say when she meets Ryker, lets just say you can feel the sizzling tenson between them. Yes, she was very sassy and fierce and I admired her for the way she was with him, however there are definitely some parts of her personal life she is desperate to keep hidden and it's no wonder why. You will understand when you read it.
But Ryker, the rather controlling man has a soft side when it comes to her, he is unsure why but is he really being who he is or showing a different face??? The end??? The end just stumped me, I had my mouth hanging open is disgust at the betrayal...who is Ryker???? What will happen next??? Im dying to know...I need the next part right now!!! So mindblowing!!!!!

***This ARC was generously given by NetGalley***

WOW!!! That was amazing!! I wish that it didn't end on a cliff hanger BUT I will definitely be getting the second book! You definitely will love this book!!

Vaughn is a woman who is trying to get custody of her neice but first she has to settle some debt at any cost!

Ryker is a lawyer who doesn't believe in love until he meets Vaughn!

Oh this book! It’s my first by K. Bromberg and she got me, got me good. Through out this whole book I felt disconnect to both characters and couldn’t get into it fully. However about 60% it sucked me in and I was invested and then the ending made me so mad!!! Ugly cliff hanger!!! I hate them so much you try to turn the page for more and nope sorry not happening !!!!!!

Let me tell you I’ll be grabbing the next one. I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Wow, K Bromberg does it again. This book is magic . It started off slow and I found my self having a little trouble getting into it , so I waited read something else and then began it again, and let me say I’m so very glad I did. It was intense and let me say , oh holy cliffhanger . You are going to love this story , i can't wait for book 2. I highly recommend this book and this series.

What started off as an slow read, ended with me not being able to put it down. The story builds at a great pace. I’m looking forward to reading how it all comes together in the next book.

Well this was a sexy,intense and emotional read, I enjoyed most of it!The beginning was intresting and I was intrigued!
 
Vaughn and Ryker have a unique connection.I liked the relationship between these two!They were passionate,flirty and sensual. 

The romance is addictive in this story and the ending make me crave for more!I really can't wait to see what will happen next.Resist has a little bit of everything,tension, angst,hot moments and a sexy hero!

There’s a cliffhanger!!!  While I knew this was book 1 of a series, I stupidly assumed each book would be intertwined but a standalone. Dumb. Anyway, good read. As always, Bromberg’s characters are interesting and developed and the plot moves along and doesn’t get dull. My only complaint is the cover:  it’ll turn off anybody who isn’t a romance reader. Those won’t even think twice when deciding to read it which is too bad as it’s so much more than the cover. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Can’t wait for book 2! 3.5/5 stars

I really enjoyed this unique story, and I pretty much love Ryker. I believe he is more than he seems, and is playing his cards close. V deserves him at his best, and I have faith that she'll get exactly that in the next book!
*this is the first book in a duet*

I wasn’t aware that this was going to be a Duet/Trilogy when I picked this book up. So readers make sure you understand this story doesn’t wrap up with this book and we are in CLIFFHANGER CITY!! 

Without giving too much away, this story follows two strong characters who are both living double lives. I love the secret life troupe so this was right up my alley. I really liked Vaughn as a heroine. I love when characters do whatever it takes for the people they love. Her devotion and love to Lucy was wonderful. Plus I just find being the Madam of an escort service to be a kind of bad ass book profession. There was a lot of push and pull between her and Ryker and at times I wanted to shake them both. But overall the writing and the story was really well done and I’m very curious to see what happens next. 

** ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review **

Kristy Bromberg has left me with the biggest book hangover this weekend. I love reading her stories and was excited to start this new Wicked Ways series. Resist was such an emotional and heartbreaking romance that left me feeling so many different ways. This put was unputdownable. 

Within the first chapter, I was hooked. I was transported to the world of Vaughn and Ryker. These were some dynamic characters. I always enjoy reading Kristy's stories because the characters have a backstory that has affected who they are all while leaving room to learn and grow. 

Vaughn, also known as Vee, is a tough woman. She has been through hell and back and is still making the best out of her situation. She runs an escort business and works other jobs just to help take care of her niece and pay off debts. I don't want to reveal too much about her past, but I don't know how she can still push through on most days. Many would have given up and been fine and settling for what position they are in. She is persistent and will do whatever it takes to take care of the ones she loves. 

Ryker is a high profile divorce attorney who doesn't do relationships. He is sexy, dominant, and always gets what he wants. He seeks out Vaughn's business and is set up with a woman who has gone through all the screenings necessary to fulfill the role as his "companion". When plans change, Vaughn is faced with a decision. This is the point at which she has to decide how far she will go to protect/take care of the ones she loves. 

Vaughn decides to be his companion but no sex will be involved. Their chemistry is through the roof, but both have a tough time letting their guards down. 

I love how much of a difference I saw in the characters over time. I was in awe of Kristy's writing. She has the exceptional talent of being able to get you hooked and invested in the characters. So, when I learned about what Vaughn has been through it broke me. I understood why she is focused on her business life yet so closed off in her personal life.  With Ryker, he has demons to deal with as well. He has been burned by women before and doesn't believe he has the capacity to open his heart again.

I was blown away by the book and I want more. That cliffhanger left me SPEECHLESS. 

I give Resist 5 stars. It was a romance that was dynamic and compelling. It took a look at how our past affects our present. It brought up the question of "how far would we go to save those we love?" and Kristy showed us just how committed these characters can be. I am a little nervous and thrilled to see how the story will turn out in the end, but I ready to take this journey.