April 8, 2019
Bell’s mixed third Forbidden Lovers kinky contemporary (after His to Claim) gives readers a healthy dose of admirable integrity and a full measure of questionable ethics. A brutal attack leaves parole officer Dreama Agosto with a fear of being touched by men, which greatly diminishes her enjoyment of sexual masochism. However, it doesn’t stop her from having naughty thoughts about the hot new parolee she’s been assigned. Cash Turner doesn’t remember the accident that killed his wife and unborn son and got him sentenced to eight years in prison, but he’s positive he didn’t get drunk that night, despite what several witnesses claimed. Dreama’s mission is to give her parolees a second chance, and she’s sure the chivalrous Cash, whose calm presence helps her through her panic attacks, is not the monster he’s made out to be. When notes in his file don’t add up, the two embark on their own investigation. More tangled webs are woven when Cash, a dominant, begins to help Dreama overcome her phobia in hot scenes that fuel the fire between them. The characters are complex, and the plot is solid with just enough suspense. Readers willing to ignore the crossing of ethical lines in favor of truth, justice, and unadulterated passion will find this a satisfying venture. Agent: Jessica Alvarez, BookEnds Literary.
Starred review from May 1, 2019
Ever since her experience with a home intruder last year, Dreama Agosto has slowly been adjusting to her new normal of limited mobility and severe nerve damage. Formerly a submissive who delighted in experiencing pain, she lost the urge once chronic pain, and a phobia of men touching her, became part of her life. When she returns to her job as a parole officer, she is shocked to find that desire rekindled by Cash Turner, the burly, recently released prisoner who is also her parolee. Cash doesn't feel he deserves any affection since his drunk driving led to the deaths of his wife and unborn child ten years ago, but his inner Dom reemerges every time Dreama is near. As the pair awaken their dormant D/s appetites with each other, secrets come to light that Cash's case might not have been drunk driving after all. But as Dreama investigates and gets closer to the truth, she gets nearer to mortal danger as well. Action-packed and enthralling prose shapes an unnerving murder mystery alongside a kinky (and somewhat taboo) romance in this latest from Bell (At His Mercy). Cash's conventional masculinity is refreshingly tempered by his tenderness for animals, while Dreama's navigation of sex, love, and life with chronic pain is a much-needed representation in the erotic romance genre. VERDICT A perfect blend of kink, sweetness, and intrigue. Highly recommended.
Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.