#ShelfLove Review ~ Selling Scarlett ~ Ella James

Selling Scarlett by Ella James
Love, Inc #1
Release Date: April 13, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
Elizabeth DeVille doesn't belong at a party like this--one where the gowns cost more than her Camry and cigars run higher than her grad school utility bills. Dragged out of seclusion by her best friend Suri, Elizabeth is merely playing dress-up, rubbing elbows with a crowd that banished her troubled family years ago.

Hunter West is tired. Tired of parties, tired of pretending, and tired of trying to right a wrong that haunts him every day. Bourbon heir and professional poker player by day, by night Hunter is gambling with his life in a high-stakes game of crime and blackmail.

When Elizabeth stumbles into Hunter's den of vices, she's a light in the darkness, a flame in the void. And, just like everything he touches, Hunter mars her in record time. To rectify the damage done, Elizabeth needs money she doesn't have, and she's come up with a foolproof way to get it.

Follow Elizabeth--code-named Scarlett--to the lush Nevada brothel where she'll auction her virginity and risk the only thing that's not for sale: her heart. The highest bidder is a familiar face, with wicked hands and the devil's mouth. And a secret so dark that it could cost her life.

***Recommended for Readers 17+ due to sexuality and mature language.***

I'm a fan of Ella James, having read and enjoyed several of her fairytale retellings and a YA PNR. And all those previous reads always gave me a little something unexpected. Why, then, did I think Selling Scarlett would be any different? Who knows? But Selling Scarlett was much more than what I was expecting.

Elizabeth DeVille is a young woman, who despite being an heiress, has had anything but a pampered life. Thank goodness she has good friends. So good, in fact, that she'd do anything for them. So when one of her very best friends needs help, Elizabeth decides to cash in the one card she's been hanging on to - her V-card.

Hunter West has so many demons, it's amazing the man can function. He does everything with determination though, so when he becomes embroiled in a scandal, he does his damnedest to figure out who's really pulling the strings - not only to protect his neck but to protect Elizabeth's as well.

Hunter and Libby, as he refers to Elizabeth, first met when she was only 16. Libby has had a prolific crush on him since then and Hunter, though he is loathe to admit it, was affected by her as well.

All three of these elements combined with a cast I'm quite eager for more of, created a compelling story of love, lust, greed, and maybe a touch of crazy. The mystery and suspense was the more I hadn't been expecting and it made what could have been a good but ordinary story an extraordinary one. The only thing keeping this from being a 5 bookworm read is the ending. I thought it was a little too neat and quick. But if you're looking for something a little different in an NA read, Selling Scarlett will fit the bill. I'm anxious to start Taming Cross, the second book in this series.