Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: January 29, 2019
~Synopsis~
Delaney Mills is haunted by darkness. Not of a spiritual kind, but a terrible past that all the rum in the world cannot chase away. Enter Valentine King, a sexy and irresistible man with connections to the world of Voodoo—a world that Delaney is desperately trying to break into.
Chicago-native Delaney follows her dissertation research all the way to the streets of New Orleans. With King’s help, she uncovers a covert group called the Bondye Saints. The group wants to remain a secret and will do whatever it takes to keep the two quiet. But threats and attacks on her life don’t deter Delaney’s desire to expose the Saints’ sins.
While she’s willing to risk her own life, Delaney hates that the one man who can chase away her darkness is put in danger. But Valentine King refuses to let her go. Because in his world built on faith, Delaney Mills is the one thing he believes in.
Chicago-native Delaney follows her dissertation research all the way to the streets of New Orleans. With King’s help, she uncovers a covert group called the Bondye Saints. The group wants to remain a secret and will do whatever it takes to keep the two quiet. But threats and attacks on her life don’t deter Delaney’s desire to expose the Saints’ sins.
While she’s willing to risk her own life, Delaney hates that the one man who can chase away her darkness is put in danger. But Valentine King refuses to let her go. Because in his world built on faith, Delaney Mills is the one thing he believes in.
~Review~
4.5 Stars
Troubled by tragedy, Delaney Mills, 32, sets her
sights on New Orleans to refocus and complete her doctorate degree in
sociology. There she meets and is assisted in her research by local Valentine
King, 26.
I liked King right off the bat. He’s smooth in a
cute, not cocky, way and laid back. I wanted a hug too. ;-)
“‘I’m not trying to claim what belongs to me. I’m simply declaring my desire to belong to you.’”
Whatever missteps Delaney made (and she made a few),
I was always on King’s side and felt his reactions appropriate. King balanced
his faith and a grounding in reality well. His protectiveness of her made him a
real keeper.
“But his words touch me, they seek out the deepest cuts and heal them over like they never existed.”
Delaney is determined and stubborn, possibly to the point
where she lacked a healthy sense of self-preservation. While I understood she
didn’t necessarily believe and was also struggling with her own emotional
demons, I also found her a bit reckless with her safety in the face of real
world threats at times.
Which bring me to the voodoo premise— major points
for originality there. It was intriguing. This romantic suspense has some thriller/mystery
touches, but it’s not what I’d call PNR.
The budding romance and hot, steamy times interwoven with some
sleuthing, prophecies of danger, and an action-suspense climax balance together
nicely. The writing paints the scenes well. I’ve never been to the Big Easy,
but I could envision Delaney’s surroundings based off the narrative.
It was also refreshing to see the depiction of an
interracial couple. Diversity in the romance market tends to be a bit lacking.
“‘You are always beautiful…but when you fall apart like that, you are everything, all at once.’”
It was easy to feel the attraction between Delaney
and King from the start, which made the almost OM scene disappointing. Never the less, the side
characters all added something to the story, and they weren’t necessarily your
usual cookie-cutter side characters. The story kept me engaged, and I liked the
way the pieces came together even if I had a few lingering questions/things I
wanted to know more about.
Told via Delaney’s first person POV, if you enjoy
romantic suspense or are simply looking for a break from the same old/same old
in the romance market lately, this is one certainly worth taking a look at.
AMAZON B&N Kobo iTunes
*ARC received from the author. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions.
*ARC received from the author. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions.
~Character Interview~
Book Boyfriend Data Sheet
Name: Valentine King
Age: 26
Birthday:🎂 Jan 29 ♒
Birthplace:🌎 New Orleans, LA
Measurements: 📏
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 195 lbs
Length: Long and to the left
Girth: My girl can't wrap her hand around it
Turn-ons:👍 Live music, classic cars, smart girls.
Turn-offs:👎 Liars, cold weather, drugs.
Guilty Pleasures: Reese's peanut butter cups, '90s rap 🎶
Age: 26
Birthday:🎂 Jan 29 ♒
Birthplace:🌎 New Orleans, LA
Measurements: 📏
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 195 lbs
Length: Long and to the left
Girth: My girl can't wrap her hand around it
Turn-ons:👍 Live music, classic cars, smart girls.
Turn-offs:👎 Liars, cold weather, drugs.
Guilty Pleasures: Reese's peanut butter cups, '90s rap 🎶
Ambitions: Finish school, be a positive part of the community.
People I Admire: My father and my grandmother
First thing I do in the shower: 🚿 My face
Favorite Book:📖 The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses
My idea of the perfect date: A quiet place for dinner, then a walk to Jackson Square to have our fortune's told, drinks and jazz on Frenchman Street, late night snack of beignets, and a kiss to say goodnight. 💏
Sunrise or Sunset? Sunrise. Every day is another chance to get things right. 🌅
Ice or Whipped Cream? Ice. Definitely ice.
Next thing I plan to buy: A ring for my girl ⚭
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