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Review
3.5 stars
This is a dramatic, romantic story with elements of mystery and suspense, and an intense, fast-paced romance between a broody alpha hero, a feisty independent heroine.
Camille Logan is from a wealthy, privileged background. But regardless of that, she is determined to make her own life and she works as a fashion model with dreams of starting her own design business. Her father is a well-known businessman with questionable ethics, and when the safety of his only daughter is threatened he calls in a professional bodyguard to protect her.
Jake Stone is a gruff and broody ex-soldier. He works in personal security, and when he is tasked with the job of protecting Camille from an unknown threat, he thinks he has her all worked out – a vapid party girl with little substance and poor judgement. But he soon learns that that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The initial interactions between Cami and Jake are full of anger and antagonism. Neither of them want anything to do with the other and they are both incredibly stubborn so there is lots of aggression, and Cami does everything she can to give Jake the slip, while he barges on into every aspect of her life (including a highly entertaining lingerie shopping spree). But underneath it all is a fizz of sexual tension that only continues to grow as they spend time together and get to know each other. But while Cami is all too willing to go there, Jake is tormented by demons from his past, and refuses to expose Cami to that.
There feels like no way out.
It’s the oddest feeling of tranquillity and terror. She’s a young, bright woman with a shining future. Me? I’m a disturbed, twisted arsehole with a black soul and a hard heart. I shouldn’t risk infecting her with my demons. Yet at the same time, I’m full of hope that she could be the cure that I haven’t been looking for.
Their blatant attraction to each other builds, becoming harder and harder to resist until neither of them can hold back any longer, and their coming together is full of desperation and need, and dripping with intensity.
“Take it all,” he commands hoarsely, motioning down his tall body. “Please, just fucking take it all.”
I gulp, I swallow, I start to shake like I’ve never shaken before. I want it. All of it. All of him.
This is a really fast-moving romance. Cami and Jake give themselves completely over to everything that is building between them and their relationship is passionate and super-sexy with deep feelings that develop quickly. They don’t hold their feelings back, and they know that what they have is life changing.
“You calm me, regardless of the fact that you’ve actually made my life the most chaotic it’s ever been. You’ve found me, despite the fact that I never wanted to be found.” I grab her hands and squeeze, desperate for her to understand the depth of impact she’s had on me. She looks stunned but calm. “You’re the missing piece I wasn’t looking for, angel. And now I’m scared of being incomplete again. I’m so scared of being without you.”
I really liked that there was no game playing between Cami and Jake. They are both open about the depth of their emotion and what they want from each other, and they slip so easily into a relationship that is functional and angst free, but high on passion. But Jake is hiding secrets – he guards his past fiercely, and despite his willingness to give Cami everything, there are parts of himself that he doesn’t feel ready to share with her. But his battle with his demons becomes a significant part of their story as Cami’s presence in his life forces him to finally confront his past.
I’m going nowhere. She is my fate.
In addition to all of the romantic and personal drama, there is a thread of mystery / suspense that is woven through the story as Jake works to uncover where the threat to Cami is coming from. He is an incredibly intense character and his alpha protectiveness is kicked up a notch once he realises that he needs Cami in his life, and it adds an extra sense of desperation to his need to protect and defend. And I was theorising right alongside him as Jake works to figure out the mystery and the reason behind it all.
All of the story threads come together to deliver an emotional and exciting climax with an ending that I didn’t see coming, and I really liked that element of surprise. The different elements are all finished off well, with all loose ends tied up, and the story ending at a good place.
“You’re my home now,” I tell him. “Wherever you are, that’s my home.”
I enjoyed this book. The relationship is intense but functional and super passionate, and the mystery part of the story was interesting and had me guessing all the way through. The reveal of Jake’s secrets was well done, and I was satisfied at how it all played out. I didn’t get as invested in the story as I was hoping, but it was still a good read.
3.5 stars.
Note – I listened to this as an audiobook, and honestly I wasn’t a fan of the narration. Jake sounded like a brutish asshole ready to commit murder at any moment, and Cami sounded like she was running a meditation session. Not sure if this impacted my feelings on the book, but I don’t think it helped :\
Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.