First Touch by Laurelin PaigeMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
5+++ Stars
This is one of those books which makes you want to cry out, “what have I just read?”, quickly followed by “I don’t know, but it was freakishly brilliant”. From the taboo to the impossibly wrong, but oh so right, this story gives its readers a real taste of a richly sweetened darkness.
From the start, the story had a suspenseful edge to it as we get to meet Emily Wayborn who sets off in search of her ex-best friend who has left a plea for help with her mother. Knowing from Amber’s choice of words that she is in danger, Emily heads off in search of the last man she knew Amber had been seen with, Reeve Sallis.
Reeve is the epitome of a brooding and disturbingly beautiful stranger and Emily soon realises that trying to seduce him will not be as easy as she expects. However, Reeve begins to wonder just who his fingers had punished and decides to track Emily down to see why his body responds to her the way it does. Emily and Reeve quickly start down the path of an explosive and brutal sexual relationship and Reeve is more than happy to push Emily, sexually, as hard as she needs him to.
With Emily’s darkened past, she finds something in Reeve which makes her unable to resist his charms and whilst still trying to find Amber and, assuming that he, or the Greek Mob which he is presumed to be connected to are involved, places herself in danger but it’s a danger that feeds Emily desires.
The story continues as Emily tries to put together the pieces of the jigsaw that she has managed to uncover about Amber. With most leads heading to Reeve, and his previous partner already dead, Emily fears for Amber’s life and wonders if she has finally bitten off more than she can chew.
I haven’t read any of the author’s previous works and simply read this because I received a Netgalley widget. However, what I found was a chillingly good story which is difficult to put into words. From Emily and Reeve’s sexual connection and especially his need to dominate her, the story theme had highs and very low, lows. I loved the emotion which continued through the book. It bubbled away almost imperceptibly as we were treated to the author’s interpretation of how two such characters would interact and respond to each other’s domineering personalities. Only Emily could push Reeve as hard as she does and live to tell the tale!
This book does end on quite a cliffie though and it’s not going to be an easy wait in order to find out what the future has in store for Reeve and Emily.
Copy provided by the publisher, author, and Netgalley in return for an honest review.
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