ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

"Every look and word I exchange with that man was both sexual and adversarial."

Nick Rogers knows that Faith Winters is part of the connection between his father and her mother, both recently having passed from suspicious heart attacks. What he doesn't expect is to find a connection with the beautiful, haunted artist whose life has been on a downward slope since her fathers passing two years prior. What starts as a desire to claim her then ruin her becomes more when he allows emotion into his life for the first time ever. They share moments of lust and affection, of honesty and trust, but the secrets between them could ultimately break one or both of them.

"If she's innocent, I'm a bastard in every sense of the word. I kiss her again, and this time there is anger on my tongue, accusation, my own lies, and maybe hers."

At first slow, Provocative grows increasingly more intense with its story of sex, love, deceit, and murder from the perspectives of two main characters, Nick and Faith. I was enamored with Nick from the start, despite the weariness Faith has with him, his honest perspective is refreshing. He's handsome, independent, and nothing at all like he is first perceived to be. Faith is clearly hurting, broken from a past that she doesn't know the full truth of. Both hold secrets, though it is unclear whose are true and whose could possibly ruin them. Like most LRJ novels, the characters are easy to connect to, written with so much depth and complexities that they are more than name on paper. Not only was I intrigued by the connection between Faith and Nick, and the relationship they are getting closer to having, but their individual pasts also tell a separate story all their own. The story builds from their first meeting, introducing new questions and fewer answers, creating a romantic mystery type story readers will find so hard to put down.

"I want more from this woman, who might just literally be the death of me if I'm not careful. And yet, that doesn't matter. I still want more."

I am always a fan of Lisa Renee Jones work, and it takes a lot for me to pick a favorite, but I enjoyed Provocative so much and I love that it is a duet rather than a lengthy series. Readers of romance and mystery will be seduced by Provocative, it's a must read filled with passion and twists. I absolutely cannot wait for book two, Shameless. ( )

Faith and Nick burn up the pages, in that smoldering, smiley way that leaves you satisfied but also wanting more. There's more to Faith than meets the eye; her passion for her art, her tumultuous past with Macom that still haunts her, and her possible connection to her mother's and Nicks father's deaths. Nick, aka Tiger, also has depths yet explored, yet his heart was left wide open as his reason for pursuing Faith is tested again and again. Things really get heated up, trust is developing between these two as they've not felt before, when a revelation drops that could change everything.
Lisa Renee Jones is brilliant as always, introducing and building her characters and their stories into a captivating plot. I can't wait to read the rest of Faith and Nick's story! ( )