I requested this several years ago and I don't think it's a book for me anymore. So I will not be reviewing at this time, but if I do read it, I will update this review. Thank you for the opportunity.

I posted my review on goodreads, but didn't update here for some reason. This book wasn't for me. I didn't like the writing, it felt more like a draft than a finished product. The characters got on my nerves and I ended up not finishing it.

What a wonderful start to this series for Ms. Alexander with this book. I was totally engrossed and really enjoyed the main characters and everything they've been through in their pasts and everything they go through on their journey to happy ever after.

Scarlett has assumed a new identity after her rich life goes up in smoke due to her father's sins. She's now Lily Barns and it's completely understandable why she does this. Moreover, I loved her strength, determination and integrity in order to make a new life for herself. Will she be capable of going it alone? Will she be able to make something of herself and not need to rely on money to get her by? There are moments when I wondered if she would give up but I'm glad she kept pushing herself. Besides, Trace is a nice distraction from how far her life has changed.

While Trace, he's a good man determined to be everything his young son needs him to be. His son has Asperger's and I enjoyed how Trace deals with the challenge of having a child with this syndrome. He's patient when at times it would be easy to completely lose it. Then again, with the ex-wife he has it's no wonder he didn't lose it a long time ago since his ex is a selfish witch.

Overall, Ms. Alexander has delivered a really enjoyable read with strong main characters that have plenty of chemistry. I also liked the secondary characters in Trace's brothers and can't wait to read more about them.

Dare Me Once is the first of a series by Shelly Alexander. The author is new to me but I enjoyed her at writing style and loved her take on this single dad romance. She was able to bring reality and romance to the tiny little town. I’m excited to see what else she has in store for the Remington men.

Trace and his brothers have returned home, one by one, to lick their wounds and start anew. They have slowly been take over the family resort from their dad but they all realize that they need a little help. I liked the dynamic between the brothers, their father and especially Trace’s son. The strong family bond that was created between the characters made it hard to set the book down.

Lily was a breath of fresh air. I loved the different sides of her. She was smart, funny, caring and determined to make her new job a success. I found myself wondering what she was going to do to make a difference and become successful in her new roll. I loved her transformation from her Jimmy Choo’s to the hiking boots.

Trace and Lily had immediate chemistry. The moments they shared while parenting and also behind closed doors were realistic and made the book more enjoyable.

Shelly Alexander begins a new series about a family of resort owners and a woman that comes into their lives with a secret and a mission to make their resort all it can be. I have enjoyed many of Shelly’s series in the past and when I read the synopsis of this story I was instantly drawn to it. Scarlett aka Lily has given up her life in New Orleans to travel to the Pacific Northwest to a small resort town in the hopes of escaping the stigma of her father’s crimes. When she arrives at her new job, she immediately knows she has her work cut out for her, and when she meets an attractive man she pushes him away, determined not to let a man distract her from her goals. Unluckily for her the man that she pushed away was her one of her new bosses. Trace Remington is drawn to the beauty and sweetness that Lily exudes, but he has too much on his plate to deal with a relationship right now, especially with his newest employee. The more time they spend together, the closer they get and the harder it becomes to deny the passion that flares whenever they are in one another's company. More importantly are the emotions that are being affected just as strongly as their hormones, especially as Lily has also fallen in love with Ben, Trace’s autistic son. I enjoyed getting to see Trace and Lily circling each other and fighting the attraction to one another, but more I loved seeing them falling in love and letting go of their hang-ups. Lily obviously has some serious issues and secrets that she needs to work on, ones that almost implode their young love, but as she comes to terms with her past, she will learn that her inner resolve and resilience are titanium strong. She was a sweet woman, one that could have been a total bitch with her upbringing, but luckily she had some good influences that kept her from being too spoiled. While I can’t say she didn’t make mistakes, she certainly did her best and tried to make amends for those mistakes and even mistakes that weren’t hers to own. Trace is the type of guy that sometimes just drives me a little nutty; he had one bad relationship, granted it was really bad, but to let that color every woman and relationship to come in his eyes seemed a bit excessive to me. So when he was such an ass to Lily in the beginning it made me hate him just a little, but overall he was a good guy, a great father, and a funny guy. I liked the side characters and the setting of the story and I’m very much looking forward to the rest of the series and seeing the types of women that grab the other Remington men by the balls. The beginning of another good series to be sure.

Scarlett and Trace were a red hot read! Heart tugging and emotional at times. fantastic story penned by Shelly Alexander!

I really enjoyed this book. The story grabbed me and didn't let go and by the end I wanted to live in their world! Devoured in one sitting.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a perfect feel good read. I would recommend to all who enjoy a light hearted romance.

Loved this book! Great "feel good" read. (I reviewed this before, I'm not sure where my review went?)

A normal love story for me, I can predict some of the scenes coming and not really anticipating what's going to happen next. It's an average story for me and I think it's ok to read but not for me.

3.75 stars.🌟🌟🌟
Nice and also kind of cutesy small town romance. Well written and easy-flowing read.
I really liked Lily, a strong heroine and no pushover. She really did have a good moral compass, acting with integrity- even though she has this really big secret that she feels compelled to hide from everybody in Angel Fire Falls.
Trace was fine as the single father managing a kid with Asperger's but somehow his personality never really came across that much in reading this book for me unlike Lily or Ben ( Trace's son).
Absolutely adored the ducks ( yes- there really is a family of motherless ducklings included).
Trace's ex however, was definitely more than a little crazy and also an extremely pathetic excuse for a mother but fortunately she only features fairly minimally in this story.
Overall I found this to be a really fun and entertaining read by Shelly Alexander.

ARC received from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

An entertaining story, this was my first Shelly Alexander read and I'm looking forward to reading more of her books. Romance, a past family scandal, plenty of chemistry against an idyllic setting makes for a good read. Of course there's some animosity from Trace when it comes to Lily because Trace thinks no one can know what's best for the resort if they're an outsider, but seeing how his son takes to Lily? Trace seems to be rethinking his stance and feelings for Lily. Definitely a good start for this series, and I can' wait for future books.

This book was fantastic, well written, engaging and was just perfect. I will surely read it again. Kudos to an amazing writer. Definitely recommend to all book lovers out there

This is a woman falls for her boss book and it could be like all the others but it's not because the heroine is so dang different and nice. She's not the usual whiny, angst type that we normally get and I loved that this was a departure than what I'm used to. This was really a great little story to be able to read and it didn't take long to read it. I finished it in a couple of hours and I would definitely read this author again if given the chance.

I originally hesitated reading this book, not sure why I was hesitant or frankly why I had requested an ARC of this book but that was one big MISTAKE! This book is PHENOMENAL, Dare Me Once is the first book I have read by Shelly Alexander and I know it now won't be my last. This book will tear at your heart strings one moment then be swoon-worthy the next is just one of the reasons this read is tremendous! The compassion & understanding written into Lily's character when dealing with Trace's son, as well as how Trace's character deals with his son's autism....well lets just say reading this book will definitely will help anyone who mildly understand autism, understand it just a little better! Kudos to you Ms Alexander for how you put spotlight on Trace's son & autism in a positive manner! With that being said, the secondary characters most notably, Trace's family add alot to the storyline. I wouldn't describe this as a hot & steamy romance as there is not any overly described steamy encounters although Trace & Lily do have some hot chemistry but in a different way but for more, you will have to read the book! This book does have it all, sweet, sexy, romantic, life lessons, but what I took away from this one is there will be misunderstandings but what's important is how they are handled and how Trace handles them make him swoon-worthy and the perfect A+ book boyfriend! I did end up staying up all night reading this book because I couldn't put it down, YES this book is that amazing! Told from dual POVs, Dare Me Once is one book you don't want to make the MISTAKE of missing it from your Kindle library, I dare you to one-click Dare Me Once!
By the way, I can't wait to read book 2 in the Angel Fire Falls series, Dare Me Again.
I am voluntarily leaving this voluntary review, but for full disclosure I did receive an review copy, ARC, of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

Scarlett Deveraux is running from her past, and when she finds herself fighting the attraction to her new boss, she knows she's in way over her head. This book is filled with some of the best humor I've read, while also keeping you guessing as to the characters secrets that might come back to haunt them. A hilarious romance mixed with mystery - you can't go wrong!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
I enjoyed this excursion to Angel Fire Falls. It was everything I wanted in a book. A little mystery, an overprotective dad, and a resort that needs a lot of help to keep it afloat, it was a perfect Saturday afternoon read.

Lily is at the resort because she doesn't think she get a better job – especially if she uses her real name. Changing her last name to Barns is her effort at starting over, to get away from the scandal that has rocked her family.

Trace doesn't care who his father has hired to run the resort – he doesn't believe some outsider knows what's best for the hotel or his family. Surprisingly, his son takes to Lily and Trace has to re-evaluate his opinion about Lily.

I think the author did a wonderful job of telling a story about how a family learns to raise a child who has been diagnosed with Asperger's – a form of autism. Trace's devotion to his son is palpable and the way he explains it to Lily is something we can all take and use in our day-to-day lives.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the first book in a new series, and I think it definitely promises some fun reads ahead. There is an element of world building, but in an organic and relaxed way.

Having worked in hospitality myself, I am always interested in how a hotel/resort is used in the furtherance of a romance. Here, Shelly Alexander does an excellent job of finding plenty of opportunities and fun events to weave into the story of Trace and Lily and very importantly, his son Ben. From the very first incognito meeting at the airport, to the mercy dash to the vets, we get a sense of the chemistry between these two characters, and it is delightful seeing how they cannot avoid succumbing to the pull. Both of them have issues which make them wary, and concerned for each other's best interests, but luckily the attraction and a dose of honesty help resolve the issues eventually.

Mr. Remington Senior struck gold when he hired Lily, as she not only restores the resort to its former glory, but brings a new lease on life to his eldest son. Who will come along for his two other sons? I am guessing we will find out in future books!

It’s sweet, sexy and heartwarming. It will captivate you from the beginning as it takes you through an emotional ride with it’s heartwarming and heartbreaking moments. You will fall in love with the characters. I loved the connection and chemistry between the characters. I enjoyed reading about their journey as secrets are revealed. It’s an entertaining read and look forward to reading more.

Seriously, I ADORED this one!

Picture it. A strong willed woman tricycling (because two wheels just won't do!) like a road demon dragging two suitcases behind her and carrying a collection of quackers in her basket... 😂...sound hilarious? Well, okay, so it is, but it gets so much better, and so much worse. From the discovery of who "the Voice" from the airport was (after some WAY descriptive sexting 🔥!) to the realization that our leading lady's attempt at hiding out, I mean starting over, wasn't going to go quite as smoothly as she thought, there are bundles of love, laughs, and sexy times to be had.

Lily is an absolute gem, feisty, determined, and with such a wonderful heart. She was dealt the aftermath of a bad hand, but everything she did, every life she touched, she left a mark, and it was for the better. The way she handled the aging cook, how she turned the tide for the elderly gent, her interactions with Trace's young man (such patience and care!), the temporary home she gave to the ducklings that followed her home (so to speak), and even how she handles things when they turn sour (totally saw the finger painting scene play out from a mile away!), all speak to a woman of substance, a woman rising above the crap-shoot life delivered determination, gumption, and a heck of a sense of humor. Trace was a total alpha, but in the best ways possible. He's handsome, hardworking, dedicated to his son, always there for his family, and willing to go the extra mile for those he cares for. He came back to the family business burnt by love, sealing that part of his heart off evermore, or at least until a particular Cajun-tinged redhead blew into town...or excuse me, biked with all her might into town. (I'm sorry, but that's a scene I won't be forgetting soon...) He never saw her coming, and yet his heart was ready for her all the same...even if it took a bit to kickstart it again.

Picture it. A strong willed woman tricycling (because two wheels just won't do!) like a road demon dragging two suitcases behind her and carrying a collection of quackers in her basket... 😂...sound hilarious? Well, okay, so it is, but it gets so much better, and so much worse. From the discovery of who "the Voice" from the airport was (after some WAY descriptive sexting 🔥!) to the realization that our leading lady's attempt at hiding out, I mean starting over, wasn't going to go quite as smoothly as she thought, there are bundles of love, laughs, and sexy times to be had.

Lily is an absolute gem, feisty, determined, and with such a wonderful heart. She was dealt the aftermath of a bad hand, but everything she did, every life she touched, she left a mark, and it was for the better. The way she handled the aging cook, how she turned the tide for the elderly gent, her interactions with Trace's young man (such patience and care!), the temporary home she gave to the ducklings that followed her home (so to speak), and even how she handles things when they turn sour (totally saw the finger painting scene play out from a mile away!), all speak to a woman of substance, a woman rising above the crap-shoot life delivered determination, gumption, and a heck of a sense of humor. Trace was a total alpha, but in the best ways possible. He's handsome, hardworking, dedicated to his son, always there for his family, and willing to go the extra mile for those he cares for. He came back to the family business burnt by love, sealing that part of his heart off evermore, or at least until a particular Cajun-tinged redhead blew into town...or excuse me, biked with all her might into town. (I'm sorry, but that's a scene I won't be forgetting soon...) He never saw her coming, and yet his heart was ready for her all the same...even if it took a bit to kickstart it again.

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In the end, did I mention I LOVED IT? Yeah, because I did, for as much the story as the endearing characters that inhabit the pages. My only qualm with the whole thing was how quick forgiveness was given after a particular betrayal of sorts...personally, I would have held out, or at least made them work for it, but I suppose love IS blind, and really, they were made for each other. What's that? Which two am I talking about? Oh, you'll see, but you'll have to crack the spine on this dynamite read yourself....I DARE YOU 😉...

I have enjoyed Ms. Alexander's writing in the past, but I think this is my favorite of her books. Start with a single dad of a special needs son, add in a supportive family and watch what happens when a beautiful young woman takes refuge in the family's business as a way to hide from her past.

Every story has a moment of conflict, so the characters can deal with it and get their happily ever after. I really dislike when the conflict is the result of a "misunderstanding," and either one or both of the characters overreact. I sometimes see the situation coming and it always makes me cringe. There was no such issue in this story. Lily had a secret, and we always knew that Trace and his family would find out about it, most likely not from Lily herself; what we didn't know was how they would resolve it so they could be free to have their happy ending.

Having a special needs son myself, I could relate to Trace's struggle to care for his child and often feeling like he wasn't doing enough for him. I enjoyed getting to know Trace's brothers, and look forward to Elliot and Spencer's stories as the Angel Fire Falls series continues.