*** ARC kindly provided by Ardent Prose in exchange for an honest review. ***
Elise needs answers! She lost her mother to cancer and now she needs to know what happened to her father. She’s sure he’s dead too and the answer can be found on the Blackwood grounds. The hot, brooding owner didn’t give her permission but that doesn’t stop her. Until she gets attacked by boars and has to depend on that same man to heal her. But there is more that gets healed. Garrett is broken and became a recluse. But when ‘Red’ knocks on his door he wants to be the big bad wolf to ‘hurt’ her but he wants to save her from his proclivities. Will Elise find the answers she needs? Will Garrett be able to keep his hands of her? Will Elise stop him? Will she get devoured by him?
Read this wonderful, dark, erotic romance to get the answers. I loved every second of this suspenseful, well written story. The chemistry between them … H.O.T.!! Both characters are strong and amazing.
What I did miss was an epilogue. I would have loved to have had a look in their future. I also wouldn’t mind a book on Garrett’s brother Hart.
A short warning. There might be some triggers in this story … breath play, consensual non-consent.
Before I forget to mention this… I loved the cover! The perfect Garrett … another reason to read the book 😉
This reminds me I still have to finish the Acquisition series… another great dark book by Celia Aaron.
Author’s Note: This is a mystery/suspense romance with violence and explicit sex. Trigger warning.
He laughed, this time the sound rich and sultry. It reverberated inside my chest. Something about it reminded me of the forest, the way the sunrise warmed it but couldn’t quite reach its dark heart.
“You don’t like my beard?” He sat next to me, much closer this time.
My pulse ratcheted up, and I took in a quick breath.
“Well?” He grinned and took my wrist.
I tried to pull it away, but his grip was like an iron shackle. He eased the back of my hand down his cheek. “Not so bad, is it?”
It wasn’t. Not exactly soft, it felt thick and masculine. Rich. “What are you doing?” I leaned back until I pressed up against the headboard.
He moved closer, his woodsy scent a mix of smoke and soap. Maybe he didn’t need a shower after all. I didn’t turn away, not even when his lips were only inches from mine.
“I just wanted to see.” His eyes flickered to my lips.
“You’re about to see what a vicious head butt looks like.” My rapid pulse infected my voice, making it quaver.
“Yeah?” He squeezed my wrist harder. “I don’t believe you.”
“Fuck you.” I stared into his eyes, searching the stormy irises for some way to solve the enigma of Garrett Blackwood.