Zephanie belongs to one of the most powerful criminal clans in the tunnels under London.there is a whole different society in the undergrounds than above. Zephanie and her family live and have their business in the Midnight. Zephanie’s family makes a living setting up negotiations between criminals most of the time. This way there is a safe place for the criminals to meet. Zephanie enjoyed her simple life leading people into the tunnels content not to be in charge. Even though she is the rat princess. But then her family’s business is attacked with some of her family killed and also some of their clients. Why were the Rawheads all of a sudden attacking the Midnight after all these years. Zephanie knows she must step up and be the Rat Queen and lead her people. But she needs Tom's  help to find a hacker who had been kidnapped during the attacks. Tom is a private detective that is pretty successful at finding missing  people.  However ten years ago his son came up mysteriously missing and his marriage crumbled as his wife blamed Tom. but Tom hasn’t given up on his son. Zephanie tells tom she may have some information on his son but in return he has to help her find the hacker she is looking for. Zephanie thought she knew everything about London’s underbelly but Zephanie finds out that there was a lot she didn’t know as Tom and her start investigating the missing hacker. Also the world's most dangerous terrorist was in London- Rander MacMurphy. Tom and Zephanie hunt for the hacker and Tom’s son but also an evil group working with the Rawheads- an underground species. They have to find this evil group before it takes over the world. Tom and Zephaniah go through mental institution, underground buried cities, buried ancient temples, and horrible mazes to stop the evil group. Zephanie and Tom seem to fall for each other as they go on with their investigation.

This book was interesting and I can certainly say very different. In this case that was a good thing. I love how Tom refused to give upon his son and didn’t become bitter like his ex wife. He still  had hope even after ten years. It was a good plot even with a different type of story I didn’t really care that all of a sudden Tom and Zephanie were in Insta love which I am not really a fan of as I feel that it just lust really. But that is my opinion. I loved the twists and turns of this story. The characters are unique but very  good. I recommend this story especially if you want a different read that will keep your interest.

I was contacted by the author to see if I was interested in getting a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.  I jumped at the chance as I was really pleased at how much I liked the first book in this series.  And the second installment did not disappoint.

 

This book is set in Great Britain, it follows a completely different set of lead characters.  The main female is Zephanie Sweetly, her and her family live underground in the Midnight, they work as caretakers keeping the Midnight safe for the people who aren't always accepted up top.  Until one day her family is attacked, family members and clients are killed, while one client is kidnapped.  After narrowly escaping the attack, Zephanie hires Thomas Coyle, a famous missing persons expert to find her client.  Little does Coyle know Zephaine has an agenda all of her own.  Together Zephanie and Coyle team up with some American's to find out what happened to her client, and why after all these years they're being targeted by the creatures that live in the Midnight.

 

I really enjoyed this book, more then the first one really.  I liked the hero in this book better, I felt that Jack from the first book was a little on the whiny side.  Both Jack and Tom had horrible things happen to them and were both well written, but I enjoyed Tom's character better then Jack's.  Another nice thing about the characters in this book is how the author created all new lead's, while incorporating a few of the minor characters from the first book to make the connection between the two.  

 

The romance was well done, in my opinion anyway.  It wasn't overpowering, the author did a good job combining a good mix of soft tender moments and thrilling action scenes.  

 

I felt that the world building was well done, even though it's a second book, the first one was set in NYC, and there were still a lot of differences between the Midnight of Great Britain and the Underground of NYC.  I also liked how the author used a different name for the mole people.  In Britain they are called Rawheads and in the United States they are called Moles.  It makes sense that two different countries would use different terms, it made it feel more real.  Speaking of feeling real, the dialogue was very well done too, using a lot of English slang and terminology.

 

On a whole this was an enjoyable read, I was more then happy to read and review this one.  I'm glad that I was able to get my hands on this book and as it's the third book I've read by this husband and wife writing team, I would be happy to read any future books they write. 

3½ out of 5 stars.

*I received this copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

The cover grabbed my attention straight away; it looks dark and kinda scary. I like to read a bit of everything as long as it has some romance to it, so.

The prologue definitely grabbed my attention and left me wondering what was down there in the tunnels under New York City.

Fast forward eighteen years, Lindsay and Jack now are thirty-three, and she needs his help. When she finally manages to get him to agree, they head underground and I was amazed at the detailed description of the communities they come across, and the variety. Some seemed rather crazy while others were pretty laid back. It was interesting.

We see from both Lindsay and Jack’s POV, which turns out to be very interesting. He tries to act like he doesn’t care about her (in Lindsay’s POV), I think in an attempt to keep himself removed from the rest of the world after what he went through at the hands of the Moles. Then seeing from his own POV that he does care and that he does want to help her. I like him: a LOT.

Seeing the occasional flashback of Jack’s time being held underground by the Moles was kinda creepy. What they did to him… *shudders*

It’s hard to go into too much detail about this book without giving some stuff away but I was drawn into the book easily. Maybe it was the romance aspect that was present from early on or maybe it was the mystery about what was down in the Undercity. Whatever it was, I liked it.

I enjoyed this book, it was not overpowering on the romance, but it was main part of the book. Although, without the romance portion of the book I think the book would have felt incomplete. I also really liked the concept of a secret world deep underground, it's something that hasn't been explored by many fantasy/paranormal writers.  The cool thing is that there really are whole societies that live under most of our major cities.

 

The big bad was pretty cool in this book too, they were like these mole people who have been living under our cities for many years, and they're anything but human!

This book is amazing. Is the perfect blend of romance, mystery and thriller. The writing is flawless and mature and had me hooked from the prologue until the epilogue. There isn't a dull moment in this and I finished it in one evening, sleepless night and all. I hope more people know about this amazing book, it definitely deserves more recognition.

The cover is a bit misleading as both the main characters are suppose to be in their 30s. The setting of the book is about the subterranean culture below New York City and I am amaze with the blend of facts and fictions revolving the underground community. I did a google to assure myself that some of these are indeed real.



Lindsay only surviving family member, Seline had gone missing after her recent trip to the underground tunnel for her research. After failing to get additional help from the police force, she ended up reunited with her high school crush, Jake Cole. He is deemed the ultimate urban spelunker and had quite a reputation in the academic field. But when she met him, he is living in a dingy basement with a black drifter, Reggie and appear to be at his lowest point of his life.

'Her teenage crush had turned into a brooding stranger, yet he still fascinated her, filling her heart with a cacophony of emotions.'

Jake Coleman had been fascinated with the underground since young and had dedicated his life and career into understanding the subterranean culture across the globe. But his last mission to the New York underground had left him captured and trapped below ground for two years. It had left him broken and scarred. We had some flashback scene on the tortured he had endured at the hands of The Moles.

I'm glad that we have dual POVs from both Lindsay and Jake because without it Jake will just appear as a brooding asshole most of the time. From his POV, I feels his vulnerability and insecurity due his past ordeal. Is lucky for him to still be sane despite some of his awful memories. He had some self loathing going on there, he felt worthless and disgusted with himself, but we know he is more of a man than anyone will ever be. He is honorable and selfless, he make sacrifices for his friend without a blink of an eye.

"You think if you ask enough questions you'll figure me out and fix me. Only what happens if you can't? You'll have taken me apart and left me in pieces, and I'm already broken without you making more of a mess."

The mystery surrounding Jake's past and Seline's current disappearance weave together perfectly. It kept me on the edge of my seat to find out all the missing puzzle. By half of the book, we were given a lot of explanation about what is happening and I wondered what is yet to come. Of course, things isn't as simple as it seem and large thing is at play. There are some twist and turn that keep us engage.

Reggie, Jake's best friend is such an endearing character, he is like the gentle giant. They both had a strong friendship built from overcoming life and death together. Reggie brings some fun and light moments in this otherwise a dark and gloomy setting.

Not only that Jake was quite an enigma in this book, the heroine Lindsay is absolutely amazing. Is a rare occasion that I had such a strong feeling for the heroine. You know, some author wants to make the heroine appear kickass and independent by making her contradicting and questioning everything that the hero said, sometimes that is very annoying. Lindsay is a very mature character, she knows when to listen, when to follow and never tried to question Jake's expertise. She is so patience in dealing with Jake because she understands him. At the same time, she isn't a doormat either. I like how she will put him in his place when he tested her patience too far. She will take charge when he appear indecisive. These two have an amazing chemistry together.

"Take me home, Linds. I can't be alone, anymore."

For such a serious tone of the book, the romantic in me didn't expect to be much smut here, but I was surprised. In the beginning there are some unrequited love and sexual tension between these two. Lindsay had a successful career and everything going in her life, while Jake is living like a bum. But these two had been having a crush on each other since they were young. I just can't wait for them to pour their soul out and get it going. There are also two sex scenes that were told in quite an explicit details,much to my absolute enjoyment.

"-a gorgeous, half-naked man was in the next room, sending off more mixed signals than a broken traffic light."



Despite being Book 1 of a series, the ending doesn't left us hanging. Things are pretty much resolve, but we know there are more that yet to come. I'm so desperate for Jake and Lindsay's HEA that we are treated to a HEA for now with is sweet and touching. It left me feeling anxious to read the next book because all I want is for Jake to be safe, happy and content with his life. He deserves this.

He turned to her and the sun glowed warm on his face. "Because she burns so bright. Better than anything I could ever imagine."