Book Review: Selling Scarlett by Ella James

Selling Scarlett (Love Inc #1) by Ella James
Genre: Adult Fiction (Contemporary Romance) 18+
Date Published: April 14, 2013
Publisher: Barkley's Books

The Blurb:
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 a 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.***

My Review:

Selling Scarlett by Ella James is the first book in the Love Inc Series. I have to break this book into two parts. While reading the first half of the book, I was frustrated most of the time with many things. I really didn't like Priscilla. You're not supposed to like her, but I could have done without her whole story line altogether, and I absolutely hated that a part of Hunter started to like what they did together (even though he hated himself for liking it). I think he could have gotten out of the situation at any time, but  he never did. These things bothered me a lot, and kind of ruined him as a love interest in my eyes. So, it was hard for me to get excited about his relationship with Scarlett. Aside from his looks, I'm not entirely sure why Scarlett liked Hunter so much.

The second half was much more enjoyable. For one, you see less of Priscilla. Yay!  Also, the plot really starts to take off during the second half and you figure out what's going on and who's behind it all.

I will be reading book two, Taming Cross. Even though we didn't see Cross too much in this book, what little bit I got to know of him, I liked. Plus, he's Scarlett's closest male friend. Taking the little bit we know of him, maybe Scarlett should have tossed Hunter out and went for Cross instead. I'm sure there's more to him. I guess we'll find out in Taming Cross.

Selling Scarlett by Ella James was provided to me by Mark My Words Book Publicity for review. The opinions are my own.

Extra: Vegas Royals is an intro to the to the Love Inc series by Ella James. I read this one wondering if I'd learn more about Hunter to make me like him. Short answer? No. I actually thought this was a prequel, but it's the first few chapters of Selling Scarlett, which I already read. So, I didn't learn anything new. On the upside, I still do like Cross and Marchant, and it was fun being back in their world again briefly.

About the Author:
Ella James is an Colorado author who writes teen and adult romance. She is happily married to a man who knows how to wield a red pen, and together they are raising a feisty two-year-old who will probably grow up believing everyone's parents go to war over the placement of a comma. Ella's books have been listed on numerous Amazon bestseller lists, including the Amazon Top 100; two were listed among Amazon's Top 100 Young Adult Ebooks of 2012.

To learn more about Ella James and her books, check out Ella James' blog and visit her on Goodreads, Facebook and Twitter.