Review: Ruthless (Lawless, #1) by Lexi Blake

The Lawless siblings are bound by vengeance. Riley, Drew, Brandon, and Mia believe the CEO of StratCast orchestrated their parents’ murder twenty years ago to steal their father’s software program. And there’s only one way Riley can find some solid evidence...

Heir to the StratCast legacy, Ellie Stratton hires a new attorney to handle a delicate business matter—and she’s shocked by her attraction to him. Over the course of a few weeks, Riley becomes her lover, her friend, her everything. But when her life is threatened, Ellie discovers that Riley is more obsessed with settling an old score than in the love she thought they were building. And Riley must choose between a revenge he’s prepared for all his life and the woman he’s sure he can’t live without..

Ruthless is a spinoff of the Master and Mercenaries series and the first of the Lawless novels.  The Lawless family had been destroyed and now the children are out to settle the score.

I am a huge fan of the Master and Mercenaries series and I couldn’t wait to meet the Lawless family. The story is filled with angst, manipulation, twist and turns and what an ending! I didn’t see it coming. Who doesn’t love a family with a war room?

Ellie Stratton is planning on taking over her father’s company once she buys out his business partner who is planning on retiring. She hires an attorney to assist her with the business exchange but she hadn’t expected the ‘Greek God’ who wants to help her out with more than just paperwork.

“The sins of the father were about to be visited on the daughter’s doorstep. Ellie Stratton would have to pay her father’s debt.”

Riley Lang and his siblings are out for revenge and possibly justice. Phillip Stratton and Steven Castalano were involved in their parent’s death. Unfortunately, Phillip is now deceased and it’s Ellie who is caught in a war that’s been brewing for the past twenty years.  The Lawless family is no joke! They have a war room where they plan the destruction of the people who were involved in their parent’s murder. Their life focus has been set on revenge including their career choices.

It doesn’t take long for Riley to feel drawn to Ellie. His priorities begin to change and he begins to see beyond his need for revenge.  He wants to protect Ellie but he soon discovers there is more than one war brewing.

The story had me on a rollercoaster ride straight to the end. You don’t see it coming until it hits you over the head. Lexi Blake never fails at keeping you in suspense.  This was a riveting start to the new series. 5 Stars!