Not really sure how I feel about The Colonel's Daughter. Normally I love Amy Andrews. Ms. Andrews brings fresh, unexpected and amusing stories and characters to whatever she writes. This read was all of those things. The mishaps and antics were funny, Seth was sexy and the story flowed nicely. Could not say the same for Ivy. I rotated between amused and irritated. I received an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review. The Colonel's Daughter is a pleasing read. I just was not a fan of Ivy. ( )

3.5 stars

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Ivy has a couple months to escape her over protective father and live her life the way she wants to. Working as a bartender, she gets a taste of life and finds herself attracted to one of the bouncers. Dean is more than a bouncer however, his real name is Seth and he is working undercover for Ivy's father. The Colonel once saved Seth's life and as a favor he is watching over Ivy. When Ivy witnesses a drug dealer's execution, Seth's bodyguard duties ramp up. Ivy and Seth end up spending some one on one time together and Ivy pushes for it to become high quality time. Seth wants to tell Ivy the truth but with their safety in question and Ivy's father breathing down his neck, he is stuck between a rock and a very hard place.

The Colonel's Daughter was a little bit of right book at right time for me; it was a quick read, engaging, and sexy, all things I was looking for. That being said, the first half worked immensely better than the second. The story starts right out the gate with some flirtatious looks from Ivy and Seth trying to remain aloof and then Ivy witnessing a murder. Our couple ends up in protective custody stranded in a hotel for a couple days. While we do have Seth lying to Ivy about his true identity, I liked how the author showed his visible struggle with it and how he refused to have sex with Ivy until she knew his true identity. They spend a couple days expanding on their initial insta-lust with talking and learning about one another. These moments have Ivy making small and not so small sexual advances and teasing towards Seth peppered in between.

Seth had more depth to him than the average alpha guy of these types of stories. His background painted a lonely stoic boy who believably grew into a stoic distanced man. His responses, talking to Ivy, and overall personality were a treat to read. Ivy's desire for freedom was a little much to take at times; she had a tendency to come off as bratty. The reasons her father had for fearing for her safety were legitimate and in turn made Ivy dismissing him seem petulant and even younger than her 23yrs old age. Together, I liked their flow and dynamic, they were at turns cute and sexy.

As I mentioned, I really liked the beginning but the second half almost seemed like a rehash of the first. Seth and Ivy have to hide out again, except this time at Seth's house and Seth is still trying to fight his attraction to her. The action plot points also don't really stand up to inspection, why did Seth have to wear colored contacts, they're in danger because a drug dealer put a hit out on them, no wait!, people connected to Ivy's father's line of work are being targeted, err wait!, it's a misguided co-worker? A little too many hands in the cookie jar made Ivy and Seth's circumstances seem a bit fantastical.

However, if you focus on strictly Ivy and Seth's relationship, how they interact with each other, you won't be disappointed. There was an ease to the author's dialogue that will have me looking up her other works. I haven't read the other books in the series and it didn't lesson my enjoyment of this one at all. If looking for a quick steamy read with a heroine who is still experiencing some growing pains but a very likable hero, the writing here is quality for a quick grab up.
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Army brat, Ivy Danforth is breaking out from under her father's military style over protective surveillance. Spending the summer away from home for a few weeks, having fun with her bestie and hopefully hooking up with a hottie, is at the top of her to do list. But 20 years of living in a certain way has made her cautious about giving away a precious part of herself. She is crushing heavily on Dean, a bouncer at the club where she works but she can't muster up enough courage to approach him and time is running out.

Dean is actually on assignment, playing watchdog for her father and concealing a lot more than his attraction to Ivy. But it all blows up when they both witness a murder and a hit is put out on them. Now they are both stuck together, in protective custody, in close proximity to each other and the chemistry is explosive.

It's only when Dean or rather Seth realizes that he's going to lose Ivy, that he realizes what he's feeling for her is a lot more than just attraction and he's willing to risk the Colonel's wrath just for a chance to tell Ivy how he really feels,

Free copy provided in exchange for an honest review ( )

Finally out from under her father's overprotective thumb, Ivy Danforth is traveling around Australia experiencing life. Her last goal before returning home is having some fun sexy times. Hopefully with the hunky bouncer working at the same bar she is. Seth Rodrigo owes his life to Ivy's father. For that reason he agreed to keep an eye on her while she's away from home. All he has to do is keep his libido under control and not let her know anything about his connection to her father. Everything is going well until they witness a crime and are forced into protective custody. Alone. In a hotel room. With a huge bed.....

This was a very entertaining read. Loved the characters. Bits of the story were pretty predictable though but overall a good read. ( )

The Colonel's Daughter by Amy Andrews is a 2015 Entangled publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This story had many elements to it that I usually enjoy in a contemporary romance/ romantic suspense novel. I love military heroes and dangerous situations. But, this one didn't quite measure up to my expectations.

Ivy is finally out from under her father's thumb, or so she thinks. Working in a bar in Sydney, she is determined to shed her sheltered life and live a little, and finally get rid of her pesky virginity.

But, little does she know, her father has hired the head of a security firm to watch over her. Enter Seth Rodrigo, a ex-military guy indebted to Ivy's father. He accepted the job the colonel hires him to do, but never expected to find Ivy so attractive.

When danger finds them, Seth and Ivy wind up in close quarters for a while and of course they begin to talk and get to know one another. Ivy has one thing on her mind and Seth is perfect for the job, but Seth's honor prevents him from acting on his desires.

Will Ivy still feel the same way about Seth once she learns the truth?

Well, I've written and deleted this review three times now because I'm struggling with want I want to say, as I have very mixed emotions about it, but the honest truth is I didn't like the characters in the book or their attitudes.

Growing up in a strict household I could relate to Ivy feeling controlled and smothered to the point of snapping. But, the way she carried on about still being a virgin was off putting. She behaved as though being a virgin was like having the plague and planned on giving it away to any old someone, just to be rid of it.

Then when she and Seth finally did reach the tipping point, it wasn't the romantic interlude I was hoping for. In fact, I really felt kind of weird about the whole set up.

Then there was the Colonel. That guy was just too over the top and frankly, someone that obsessed with his daughter is not mentally healthy and needs the help of a good therapist.

Seth was not much better as he also manipulated Ivy, was not totally up front with her, and couldn't seem to decide where his loyalties should lie.. with Ivy or her father? I was beginning to think the Colonel was going to win out, especially since it seems they were practically dancing with one another there towards the end.

The mystery plot was pretty thin and didn't play a big role in the story, other than to keep throwing Ivy and Seth together.

Ivy needs to grow up some more and should have more time to feel her true independence before embarking on a new relationship with yet another controlling, “I'll keep you safe all the time”, type guy. But, at least there was a happy ever after, with the promise of a long term relationship between the two, so at least there was that.

Overall, this one gets a 2. ( )