Dare Me

3.5stars—DARE ME is the first instalment in Samantha Chase’s contemporary, adult THE DONOVANS romance series. This is twenty-three year old, radiation therapist Arianna Donovan, and thirty-two year old architect Will Jameson’s story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives DARE ME follows the second chance relationship, of a sorts, between twenty-three year old, radiation therapist Arianna Donovan, and thirty-two year old architect Will Jameson. Approximately one year earlier, Arianna Donovan met Will Jameson in San Francisco, twenty-four hours before returning home to Laurel Bay, North Carolina. Believing she had found her soul mate, Arianna tried desperately to convince Will they were meant to be, with the hopes of a long distance relationship in their future but Arianna had no idea that Will knew exactly who she was, and he wasn’t willing to cross the line with his ‘best friend’s’ little sister. Fast forward to present day wherein Arianna is considering leaving Laurel Bay, in search of her own independence away from her suffocating family but Arianna is blindsided when the man she has never forgotten has taken a job working for her brother Liam. All does not go well as Arianna’s family sets a plan into motion to set up Will with Arianna’s older sister Ryleigh, a plan that forces Will into a fake relationship with someone he doesn’t want. What ensues is the rebuilding friendship but secret relationship between Will and Arianna, and the potential fall out when the Donovan family uncover the truth.

The relationship between Arianna and Will is a rekindling relationship that struggles in the face of secrets and lies, and the ongoing interference from the Donovan clan. The Donovan family is controlling and obnoxious, constantly getting involved in one another’s lives, involvement that is pushing away their youngest daughter. The parents try to control their daughters’s lives; the brothers are a constant source of heart ache and intrusion. The family tries desperately to keep the siblings under control but everyone refuses to help our story line heroine when she first returned to Laurel Bay. There are no $ex scenes-everything is implied.

We are introduced to the over protective, over bearing and often irritating Donovan siblings: Liam, Patrick, Ryleigh and Jamie; their unpleasant parents Kate and Shane Donovan, and uncle Ronan.

DARE ME is a story of family, relationships, friendships and love. The premise is entertaining but I struggled with the Donovan family dynamic and their overwhelming need to interfere and control which made my reading experience difficult and anxiety-filled affecting the overall enjoyment. DARE ME is a well written story line but the character's attitudes, personalities and presentation were problematic for this reader.

This story just warmed by heart! Will and Arianna are just so sweet together and they made me laugh-out-loud with all their truth or dares. The realistic banter made me feel like I was right there in Laurel Bay with all the shannigans. This is a fabulous start to a new series and I can't wait for all the sibling's stories (especially how their mother tries to set them up). After all, all she wants is for them all to be settled down and giving her grandkids. The Donovan clan is going to be so much fun!

Will and Arianna meet on their last day in San Francisco and it's a day that neither of them will ever forget. But Will ghosts Arianna for the following year. Then, he shows up with her brother that was in the military and they are going to start a business together. For a whole year Arianna's heart was broken, but now that Will showed up in her hometown ... she's just angry. After this and the fact that her family still treats her like a little kid, she decides to look for a job away from everyone. Will really didn't want Arianna's brother Liam to beat him up, so when he put two and two together and realized that Arianna was the sister that Liam was VERY protective of, he decided that he wouldn't contact her. When Will and Liam get out of the military, Liam talks him into coming home with him. Will just couldn't refuse because he wanted to see Arianna just one more time. But his feelings for her are just as strong as they were a year ago and all he has to do is to convince the very angry Arianna to forgive him ... good luck!

I received an early copy courtesy of Valentine PR in exchange for a honest review.