Review: Just One Tease by Carly Phillips (Dirty Dares #5)

November 11, 2023

Note: An advance reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author via Give Me Books Promotions.

Just One Tease is the fifth and final full-length novel in Carly Phillips's Dirty Dares series, although there is a novella still to come in January of next year which will close out the series. Zachary Dare is the last Dare sibling who has yet to get his happily-ever-after, but it's not like his wanting in the other aspects of his life. He's got a family he adores and is supportive of him, a best friend who always has his back, and businesses that have allowed him to create his wealth independently of his family's. But Zach has never forgotten the girl who had his heart when he was nearly eighteen and she was sixteen. She upped and disappeared without a word nor a trace, and eleven years afterwards, she shows up at his bar with her younger sister in tow. Mia Roberts is now Hadley Stevens, and the girl has become a woman--one in desperate need of Zach's help. He'll give her the assistance and protection they need, but can he afford to give her his trust and heart too?

Second chance is one of those romance tropes that have a couple of prerequisites from a reader like me--the reason for the end of the relationship has to be something substantial and a degree of groveling is a must. Now, I'm not going to say whether or not Zach and Hadley's story has either, both, or neither of those things--because hey, sometimes, an author's writing will just sweep me away and the prerequisites won't matter--but I did quite love how everything played out between these two. Hadley had her reasons for leaving, and it was up to Zach to let go and move forward. I'm a sucker for open and honest communication, and they had it in spades. I loved how they rediscovered things about each other while creating new memories, and Hadley's sister, Dani, was a standout supporting character. And of course, Zach's family being present is always a bonus. Five stars for Just One Tease, and I look forward to Maddox's novella plus Remy's novel soon!

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Read my reviews for the Dirty Dares series: