** spoiler alert ** Ashley Bartlett is a writing goddess. I love her rapid, modern, free flowing prose, a style which describes perfectly the fast-paced life of Cash Braddock. The Price of Cash opens shortly after the dramatic ending to the first book in the series. Stop reading this review if you have not read Cash Braddock. This darker, more introspective second novel can only be appreciated with an understanding of this flawed yet lovable drug dealer.

The Price of Cash opens with Cash feeling betrayed, guilty, angry and bitter. Betrayed by Laurel and not able to reconcile her feelings with the knowledge that she was just another felon Laurel was investigating for drug trafficking.
Guilty that Nate’s education might be lost, that she’s put her neighbours Robin and Andy in harm's way.
Angry at herself, at Laurel, at Henry but mostly at herself for having fallen for a cop.
Bitter at the role she now must play to avoid jail time, CI (Confidential Informant) with Reyes and Kallen as her handlers.

Laurel is miserable. She is under suspicion that she is fraternizing with a CI and distracted from her duties. She still cares about Cash but is powerless to do anything about it.

And now someone is trafficking fentanyl to the same college kids who previously bought uppers and recreational drugs from Cash and Nate. Kids are dying from fentanyl overdoses, kids who are only a couple of years older than Andy. Her heart and her conscience force Cash to work with the police to hunt down these killers. In doing so she examines her own shaky moral compass.

I loved this read. I love these flawed, funny and above all, honorable characters Bartlett has created. I love the tension between Cash and Laurel and the recognition that what they have is so much more than their chosen professions and the expectations of others.

And I totally YouTubed the Top Gun high five because if Andy thinks it’s worth it, so do I.

ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.

I was unable to review this book because of a conflict in my schedule. Sorry for any inconvenience this has caused the publisher or the author of the work. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review for you and I look forward to reviewing for you in the future.

This story is told in first person and completely from the heroines point of view. Cash is a likable character and I enjoyed her story.

This is the second book in the series and while I was able to follow the 'bigger story', I must admit it took me a while to come up to speed with who was who.

Definitely worth a read.

Copy provided by the publisher, Bold Strokes Books, via NetGalley

I received an ARC from Netygalley and the Publisher

I could not connect with this book because
1. I could not get used to the writing style
2. I didn’t like the drug dealer issues and it didn’t seem believable enough for me
3. The relationship seemed forced to me
4. There were a lot if disconnects in the book.

The book continued the series with the provision of a nuanced, deeply resonant portrait of the life of a woman engaged in work that harms others, about which she is conflicted. Ms. Bartlett demonstrated her command of writing with her earlier "Dirty" series, which presented similarly flawed characters and intriguing premises about the factors motivating human action, but it is now that I fully appreciate her-when she has evolved greater dimensionality and introspection as an author. I initially experienced indignance and disapproval towards Cash in the novel that introduced her, but in this second volume, as she grappled with the conflict produced by her "trade" as well as the relationship that she shares with Laurel, I began to root for the anti-hero. I look forward to more in the near future.

This is the second book in the Cash Braddock series. To be honest, I just can’t get enough of this series. I did think book 1 was slightly better, but this book was still really good. If you do want to give these books a shot, I highly recommend reading Cash Braddock first. This book picks up shortly after that book ended.

In this book Cash’s life has been turned upside down. She is worried she lost important people in her life, and worried she might have to distance herself from others. With the cops breathing down her neck, Cash needs to focus on staying out of jail. When some college kids start dying from drug overdoses, Cash knows she must find out who is selling the bad drugs. Can Cash find out who it is before the cops decided she is the murderer?

There are no other series in lesfic like this one. While we have had books with criminals as main characters before, I can’t ever remember a main being a drug dealer. What makes Cash so likeable is she is a criminal with a conscience. She only sells prescription pills, and never to kids. She doesn’t want to hurt people and tries to do the right thing though it is not always easy. She is an antihero, but you root for her anyway. For anyone who was put off because of the drug dealing, consider giving this a chance. I would be shocked if you could read these books without caring for Cash. I really applaud Bartlett for taking this chance and being so different.

There was a big twist in book 1. I’m going to keep this review short and not explain much more. I would not want to ruin the twist for anyone new to this series. I will say these books have fantastic witty/sarcastic dialog. You have a little humor, a little excitement and a little romance. These are the only two books I have read under Bartlett’s name. If her other books are anywhere as good as this series, I really need to read them. This book did not end with as many loose ends as book 1, but there are still storylines open. I expect Bartlett will be writing a book 3. I honestly can’t wait for it and will absolutely be reading it.

An ARC was given to me by BSB, for a honest review.

Last year when I read Cash Braddock I was floored by the story’s paradox. Cash is a drug dealer with a heart of gold. You cannot help but love her soft heart, funny quips and bucket loads of sarcasm. Her career of choice is reprehensible, absolutely. The thing about this character is she makes you care deeply for her and the predicament that she finds herself in knowing that it is wrong but finding ways to justify her actions. This year, Cash Braddock is back in the Price of Cash. Life has changed immensely for the character and her growth is palatable.

Warning: If you haven’t read the first book and you are thinking that you might. Stop reading this review!!! I’m about to spoil a big reveal in Cash Braddock. Go read it. It’s amazing, I totally promise!
Cash comes back in the Price of Cash heartbroken, pissed and despondent at the curveball life has
thrown at her. 100% in love with Laurel all those feelings have to be pushed aside because her dream girl is actually an undercover police officer and now her handler. Cash must also take a good hard look at where her life is going. Is selling soft drugs any better for society as opposed to heroin or cocaine? A moral dilemma of epic proportions and one she will wrestle with throughout the story. Add to it that college students and former customers of Cash’s are now dead thanks to a new drug on the street.

While the book is written through Cash’s POV Laurel remains our other main character. As much as I love Cash, Laurel is the one I am most drawn to her. A stoic, tough law enforcement officer, Laurel struggles with her feelings for Cash. She absolutely wasn’t faking her feelings for her mark, more than anything she struggles with what to do with her attraction and love for Cash. She absolutely should not have these feelings but she cannot stop herself.

The chemistry between Cash and Laurel is fantastic. This match has tension, heartache that pulls you deep into their dilemma. You want them to go for it and damn the consequences. It is so good! The whole book is fantastic, the love story, the crime, supporting cast, really top notch. Ashley Bartlett has written a fabulous follow-up. I cannot say enough good things about this one. I am absolutely hooked on this series!

An honest review thanks to NetGalley. I love Ashley Bartlett, and this book was not a disappointment. You do need to read the first book in the Cash Braddock series; I highly recommend that. I loved how this book went right from the last one, right to Cash working as a CI for Laurel and Reyes. Cash as always is hilarious and amazing; I was a little disappointed to have less with Andy and Robin in this book, I did miss them. I really hope there is a third book in this series as I want to hear what is next with Laurel and Cash, they need a better ending then what was given!