MJ Nightingale
Ronnie Sears has a college degree, a promising future, a boyfriend, and a plan. But, her perfect life comes crashing down around her in the blink of an eye. Arrested, framed for drug smuggling, and facing years behind bars, Ronnie sees no choice but to run. Only she can prove her innocence.
Nikko Marino is a sexy, devastatingly charming bounty hunter. His job, as told to him by his older brothers, is to keep an eye on the curvaceous blonde. Make sure she doesn’t run. But what his brothers don’t know is that he and Ronnie have a past. He and the Ice Princess are more than mere passing acquaintances. She makes his blood burn, and he knows how to warm up this woman.
Nikko wants to prove himself, but this beauty might just take him down. With his reputation on the line, will Nikko, the hot-blooded youngest Marino, fall for this temptress? Will he be able to protect this beautiful bounty from herself, from the man who framed her, but most importantly can he protect his heart?
Beautiful Bounty is the first book in The Bounty Hunters – The Marino Bros.
Suspenseful, erotic, and romantic, these books are packed with passion, sex and characters you will love. What more could you want?
This book is intended for a mature audience. 18+
Returning home from a pre-graduation cruise, Ronnie was left holding the bag quite literally when her now ex-boyfriend Gary planted drugs in her scuba gear. Not small amounts either. Now she faces jail time for something she didn’t do. At her bail hearing she hears her Mom put up her house and her Mom’s best friend Ava gives a check to the last person on earth she expected, Nikko Marino. He and his brothers have a Bail Bondsman Company and agreed to post the 250,000 dollar bond for her release. In order to prove himself to his brothers he is the one entrusted with the task of keeping her from running and causing everyone to lose everything.
Ronnie is embarrassed and upset by this turn of events. She and Nikko almost had something going at his brother’s wedding a year previous. She still finds him devastatingly irresistible, yet a player and he is remembering her as the Ice Princess he almost thawed. This is a favorite scene the morning after he is assigned to keep an eye on her.
“What are you really doing here, Nikko?” she demanded. The edge in her voice threw him momentarily off guard, that and his wayward thoughts.
He was at a temporary loss, but quickly recovered. “Really?” he sighed, giving her a sheepish grin. At her nod, he continued. “I have to submit some papers to the court here in the county regarding this case. And here,” he used his finger to indicate her home with a circular gesture, “Because I genuinely like your daughter, and thought she could use another friend around, distract her. Keep her company, give moral support. We met last summer, you know,” he gently reminded her.
Lou looked at him sharply. “I don’t know about the distraction part, but yes, she could use all the FRIENDS and support she can get right now.” Nikko clearly got the message. “Are you watching her for business purposes, too?” she added without a pause.
The woman was sharp. He’d give her that. “Yes.” He, too, answered without pause. Honesty was the best policy.
He didn’t want to make an enemy of this woman especially since he wasn’t sure about his feelings for her daughter.
“When my brothers and I post bond for someone, we do like to stick around for a while. See the client’s routine, hangouts. That sort of thing. But, Mrs. Russell, I really am here this morning as a friend. She is more than just business. I like her. Ronnie will go stir crazy staying put, doing nothing but worrying. If I can help to keep her spirits up, then that’s what I’d like to do.”
Lou’s eyes narrowed, but she nodded, and gave him a small smile. She turned to retrieve the pot of coffee, and then poured him a cup.
“Okay, Nikko Marino. I agree she could use a friend, someone to keep her mind off all this, all the time. But she, and I want to be clear, needs only friends right now. I don’t think it would be fair to you or her to complicate matters if you know what I mean?” Her eyes searched his for something. Understanding.
He took her pointed reference and stress on the word friend for a second time. “I understand, Mrs. Russell. I don’t want to complicate the situation for her. I really don’t.”
Just as he finished speaking he heard a door open. Lou looked past him, eyes widening, and made a shooing gesture with her hands. He couldn’t help but turn to look behind him. And there she was, dripping wet, in nothing but a towel, a rather small towel. God help him, he thought, he definitely wanted to be more than friends with Miss Ronnie Sears. He was glad a rather tall counter separated him from the girl’s mother.
“Oh!” Ronnie gasped in surprise. “I didn’t think anyone was here. Jay left for work, and . . . oh, I’ll just be out in a jiff,” she responded, holding her towel closely, water dripping over her shoulders from her unwrapped hair, down her throat and chest.
He could see the rivulets of water, wanted to trace the same path down her skin with his tongue. He was all of a sudden very thirsty as she quickly ducked out of sight into her room, and shut the door.
Nightingale, MJ. Beautiful Bounty (The Bounty Hunters-The Marino Bros Book 1) (Kindle Locations 1119-1143). MJ Nightingale. Kindle Edition.
This gets hotter and very interesting from here. I love how the relationship develops and also her trust issues make perfect sense due to his reputation and her current circumstances.
However the only way Ronnie can see to prove her innocence was to go after the real culprit Gary. Not a smart move especially without backup.
A steady paced, intriguing and hot read. Unfortunately I found a couple of my pet peeves.
Your instead of you’re: “I know your twenty one now, but you know your mom,” he told her contritely, winking at Nikko and shrugging his shoulders.
Nightingale, MJ. Beautiful Bounty (The Bounty Hunters-The Marino Bros Book 1) (Kindle Locations 126). MJ Nightingale. Kindle Edition.
There instead of they’re: “Yes, the Brimeyers,” he told her as she laid there mute with shock. “There a local drug scum outfit.
Nightingale, MJ. Beautiful Bounty (The Bounty Hunters-The Marino Bros Book 1) (Kindle Location 3834). MJ Nightingale. Kindle Edition.
But this popped me out of the story, putting Lou instead of Ronnie as she was going to talk to her friend and get her hair changed.
Pulling into the shopping complex on the corner of Spring Hill Drive and Mariner Blvd., Lou quickly got out of her mother’s car, grabbed her purse, and locked the doors.
Nightingale, MJ. Beautiful Bounty (The Bounty Hunters-The Marino Bros Book 1) (Kindle Locations 2008-2009). MJ Nightingale. Kindle Edition.
4 Purrs for the story and 2 Hisses for editing for M.J.
MJ Nightingale is the author of the Secrets & Seduction Series, and The Bounty Hunters; The Marino Bros. She writes romantic suspense and erotica. She began writing young, and will soon pursue her dream of writing full time. But reading has been a part of her life since she was a child. She has been an avid lover of romance novels, and they have always held a special place in her heart.When not working, or writing, or spending time with her children, she devours books all summer long, and any type of fiction; thrillers, crime, suspense, contemporary, and drama.
In 2016 MJ will begin rolling out her new series of romantic suspense novels; Mystic Nights. It will feature Mystic Nights Casino and the family that runs it.
She currently lives in Florida with her wonderful husband, and sons. And, she loves to hear from her readers.