"I started LOST so other families would have a choice, so they could find their loved ones and not have to face the monsters out there." A muscle flexed in his jaw. "I didn't want them pushed to the edge the same way I was, because when you're pushed too far —"
"There's no going back," she finished softly.
"There's no going back," she finished softly.
────── ♔ ──────
Broken by Cynthia Eden
Standalone - LOST #1
Release - March 31, 2015
Genre - Romantic Suspense / amnesia / serial killer
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 3.5 / a few scenes
Format/Source - ebook borrowed from the library / I own the paperback
Length - 384 pages
Publisher - Avon Books
Release - March 31, 2015
Genre - Romantic Suspense / amnesia / serial killer
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 3.5 / a few scenes
Format/Source - ebook borrowed from the library / I own the paperback
Length - 384 pages
Publisher - Avon Books
Ex-SEAL and LOST founder Gabe Spencer is accustomed to the unusual in his job. But when knockout Eve Gray steps into his office, he's rattled. For the mysterious woman is a dead ringer for the heiress thought to be the latest prey of the serial killer who goes by the name Lady Killer.
When Eve awoke in an Atlanta hospital, her past was a blank slate. Then she recognized her own face in the newspaper and vowed to learn the truth. Determined to confront the nightmares hidden in her mind, she never expects to find a partner in Gabe.
As Gabe and Eve work together, their explosive attraction becomes irresistible. Gabe knows that his desire for Eve is growing too strong, bordering on a dangerous obsession, but nothing pulls him away from her. And when another Eve lookalike disappears, Gabe vows to protect Eve at all costs. While Eve may have forgotten the killer in her past, it's clear he hasn't forgotten her.
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My Two Cents
4 "He's closer than you think" stars
When you wake up with horrific scars and no memory of how you got them, the best thing to do is to consult a professional. And that's just what Eve did. She knew that she had survived something terrifying, but whether she was the only surviving victim of a prolific serial killer or just a woman who fell into something rough... she just didn't know. Gabe was the man to call. He had dedicated his life to finding those who were gone without a trace. Finding out who Eve really is might be the only thing that saves her life.
I found a lot of enjoyment with this story. There were a wealth of suspects, at least in my mind, and I loved how the author didn't give me enough to draw my conclusions too early. I honestly didn't know who the killer could be. All I knew was that he was creepy and scary and somewhat hilarious.
While the relationship developed pretty quickly between Gabe and Eve, it worked. They were in an intense situation, which would obviously draw out some intense emotions. The way they worked together, without the heroine trying some crazy stunts, only made me enjoy this story more.
Excerpt
“Do you think I’m a con artist or a victim?”
“I think you’re a woman who has been hurt.” No denying that. “One of my team members, Wade Monroe, is contacting the Montgomery family. We’ll get DNA from them and find out—”
“If I’m Jessica.” There was hope in the words. Enough hope to break his heart.
Gabe nodded.
“When will we know?”
It would take a few days, even with the strings that he could pull. “As soon as possible,” he said, not wanting to give her a specific timetable.
“Thank you.” Then, just like that, she was across the car, giving him a tight hug. “Thank you.”
His arms wrapped around her, an instinctive response. She smelled faintly of flowers, a sweet scent that teased his nose, and her body was soft against his.
She tried to pull away, as if realizing what she’d just done.
For an instant he was tempted to hold her, to keep her close.
She’s a client. Focus.
He let her go, but his body ached.
“I … um … I should get inside.”
Yes, she should. While he was still clutching tight to his control. The control that said he shouldn’t push her. Shouldn’t want her so much. Not when she’d already been hurt so badly.
Her fingers reached for the door.
“Let me,” he said, voice rumbling, and Gabe climbed from the Jag. In seconds he was on the passenger side, opening her door for her. She rose, and her body brushed against his.
He stepped back. Distance. He seriously needed to put some distance between then. But even with some fast steps back, he could still smell that light and sexy scent that clung to her body. And he still wanted her.
“Your shrink asked me a lot of questions about you,” Eve told him as she stood temptingly close.
Gabe inclined his head. “I’m sure—”
“I think she wanted to know why I respond so much to you.”
Oh, hell, she’d just said … He cleared his throat even as part of his body surged in quick response to her. “It’s a tense situation, you’re—”
“You don’t look at me as if I’m a victim.”
He stopped talking.
“I mean, you know what I am, but you still look at me and seem to just see me … as a woman.”
“Others see you the same way.” Doc Tyler sure did. Bastard.
“It’s different with you,” she murmured as she stepped even closer to him. Her head had tilted back so she could look into his eyes. “I don’t know what I’ve felt for other men before.”
Why did the idea of others have his body knotting with tension?
“But I know that when I see you, I want.” A hushed confession. “I just … I needed to tell you that.”
And he needed to make his self-control a hell of a lot stronger. Her lips were just inches from his, and he wanted her mouth beneath his. Wanted her lips open. Needed to taste her.
“You’re the first man I’ve wanted since I opened my eyes in that hospital.”
He could actually feel his control splintering. Client. Cli—
“You probably don’t want me. I—I might not be your type.”
Now her gaze had fallen, as if in embarrassment. Had she really just asked if she was his type? She was probably every damn man’s type.
“But you make me feel normal again, so I had to tell you—”
His fingers curved under her chin. “Eve …”
Her smile was a little too big. Too bright. “I don’t think I can handle anything else right now, I’m …” She pulled away. Stumbled onto the sidewalk. “I just wanted to tell you how I felt,” she told him again.
Then she walked into the shelter, her steps hurried. As if she were running.
From him.
He stared after her. She wanted him.
And she was so f--king beyond his reach.
“I think you’re a woman who has been hurt.” No denying that. “One of my team members, Wade Monroe, is contacting the Montgomery family. We’ll get DNA from them and find out—”
“If I’m Jessica.” There was hope in the words. Enough hope to break his heart.
Gabe nodded.
“When will we know?”
It would take a few days, even with the strings that he could pull. “As soon as possible,” he said, not wanting to give her a specific timetable.
“Thank you.” Then, just like that, she was across the car, giving him a tight hug. “Thank you.”
His arms wrapped around her, an instinctive response. She smelled faintly of flowers, a sweet scent that teased his nose, and her body was soft against his.
She tried to pull away, as if realizing what she’d just done.
For an instant he was tempted to hold her, to keep her close.
She’s a client. Focus.
He let her go, but his body ached.
“I … um … I should get inside.”
Yes, she should. While he was still clutching tight to his control. The control that said he shouldn’t push her. Shouldn’t want her so much. Not when she’d already been hurt so badly.
Her fingers reached for the door.
“Let me,” he said, voice rumbling, and Gabe climbed from the Jag. In seconds he was on the passenger side, opening her door for her. She rose, and her body brushed against his.
He stepped back. Distance. He seriously needed to put some distance between then. But even with some fast steps back, he could still smell that light and sexy scent that clung to her body. And he still wanted her.
“Your shrink asked me a lot of questions about you,” Eve told him as she stood temptingly close.
Gabe inclined his head. “I’m sure—”
“I think she wanted to know why I respond so much to you.”
Oh, hell, she’d just said … He cleared his throat even as part of his body surged in quick response to her. “It’s a tense situation, you’re—”
“You don’t look at me as if I’m a victim.”
He stopped talking.
“I mean, you know what I am, but you still look at me and seem to just see me … as a woman.”
“Others see you the same way.” Doc Tyler sure did. Bastard.
“It’s different with you,” she murmured as she stepped even closer to him. Her head had tilted back so she could look into his eyes. “I don’t know what I’ve felt for other men before.”
Why did the idea of others have his body knotting with tension?
“But I know that when I see you, I want.” A hushed confession. “I just … I needed to tell you that.”
And he needed to make his self-control a hell of a lot stronger. Her lips were just inches from his, and he wanted her mouth beneath his. Wanted her lips open. Needed to taste her.
“You’re the first man I’ve wanted since I opened my eyes in that hospital.”
He could actually feel his control splintering. Client. Cli—
“You probably don’t want me. I—I might not be your type.”
Now her gaze had fallen, as if in embarrassment. Had she really just asked if she was his type? She was probably every damn man’s type.
“But you make me feel normal again, so I had to tell you—”
His fingers curved under her chin. “Eve …”
Her smile was a little too big. Too bright. “I don’t think I can handle anything else right now, I’m …” She pulled away. Stumbled onto the sidewalk. “I just wanted to tell you how I felt,” she told him again.
Then she walked into the shelter, her steps hurried. As if she were running.
From him.
He stared after her. She wanted him.
And she was so f--king beyond his reach.
About the Author
Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.
Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.
Visit http://www.cynthiaeden.com/ for more information!
4 comments
ooh this book sounds so fun here. I definitely need to try this author out. I do have this one in print I won at a convention so I should grab it up. It's especially my catnip when the pair in question work together through the story instead of unnecessary angst
ReplyDeleteGreat review you have there.
Yeah, it's really not that common. I love when it happens and this book was super good. Not to say that the heroine didn't have her moments, but they were understandable and didn't take anything away from the story.
DeleteTry her out! I don't think you'll be disappointed :)
Ooo! I loved the sound of this one based on the blurb, but then I read your review. I really want to read it now! Another for my TBR.
ReplyDeleteSweet! I hope you LOVE it!! 🌸
DeleteThank you for taking the time to leave a comment because I absolutely love getting and giving them!