Series & Title: Vigilance, Book 2: Without Warning
Author: Desiree Holt
Author Links: Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Book+Main | Bookbub | Book Lemur | Pinterest | Newsletter
Publisher: Kensington Publishing: Lyrical Liaison
Release Date: March 20, 2018
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense, Romance
ARC Received From & Reviewed For: Wickedly Innocent Promotions
When you don’t know how the story will end . . .
After years of hard work honing his craft, Blake Edwards is now an international bestselling author. But one thing he never imagined was that his fictional world would become all too real. When a stalker turns Blake’s latest book tour into a treacherous and nearly deadly trap, it’s time for Blake to hire protection. But the body assigned to keep an eye on him is someone he never wants out of his sight . . .
As a bodyguard for Vigilance, the private security agency in Blake’s hometown of Arrowhead Bay, Samantha Quenel has found the perfect outlet for her military experience. But her latest client is also a former high school flame, which might explain her willingness to protect Blake at all costs—even if that means staying in the same room with him, on the same bed, under the same torrid sheets . . .
Sam and Blake shared a brief (very brief) thing in high school. However, stupidity burned that bridge before they could completely cross it. Grown and hopefully wiser, they are successful in their own ways and about to be reacquainted in the least likely of ways: Blake as an author, Sam as his bodyguard.
This is a long overdue second chance at romance for both but there are hurdles to get over before their tentative love can become a forever love. The most important, as it's why Sam is watching over Blake, is a stalker. It was interesting getting to see the story through the stalker's eyes. It gave the story added depth since those machinations are usually kept hidden from the reader. Being able to see inside the stalker's mind was awesome.
The other matters that needed attention were Sam's reluctance to engage in a relationship with Blake. There's a reason, other than professionalism, for her hot/cold reaction to him. Those times of coolness were astounding compared to the times of barely restrained heat, and getting to know the woman behind the toughness was enlightening.
Blake's redemption of his mistake years ago was humbling. What he felt for Sam then grew to epic proportions when he came face-to-face with her, and he knew that she was still the one he wanted. And while the stalker was never far from his mind, a future with Sam wasn't either. It was just making it happen that proved to be the challenge.
I can't recall reading anything by Ms. Holt so I'm not familiar with her style or voice, but this is an excellent introduction for me. She writes with precision and created a world that mirrored reality without overwhelming me with it. I read to escape, including mystery/suspense romances, and this was a beautiful offering for a few hours of escape for me.
Desiree Holt is the world’s oldest living published author of erotic and spicy romance. A graduate of the University of Michigan with double majors in English and History, her earlier careers include agent and manager in the music industry, public television, associate vice president of university advancement, public relations, and economic development.
She is three times a finalist for an EPIC E-Book Award (and a winner in 2014), a nominee for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, winner of the first 5 Heart Sweetheart of the Year Award at The Romance Studio as well as twice a CAPA Award winner for best BDSM book of the year, a USA Today Bestselling author and winner of the Holt Medallion for Excellence in Romance Literature.
She has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and in The Village Voice, The Daily Beast, USA Today, The (London) Daily Mail, The New Delhi Times, The Huffington Post and numerous other national and international publications. She is also the Authors After Dark 2014 Author of the Year.
“Desiree Holt is the most amazing erotica author of our time and each story is more fulfilling then the last.” (Romance Junkies)
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