Well after that downer of a story this was better. And yes, it's actually horror. I think Reeds did a good job with a haunted house story with some teeth to it. It made me think a little bit of Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting of Hill House". The ending was a nice surprise (in a bad way) so I liked that too.

Newcomer Ana moves back to her husband's hometown into a ramshackle Victorian home. Ana loves to restore homes, but the old house seems dark and something seems to be taking over her husband. With her toddler daughter to care for, Ana tries to find help with the local populace, but it seems as if deaf ears and eyes are turned away.

I liked Ana and felt for her. You get how increasingly alone she feels with no job and nothing to do but focus on her daughter and the home. Her husband changes slightly as soon as they move in and then you get to see the bigger ways. And you get the vibe the in-laws don't like her at all. 

I could picture the home and the little town that wanted nothing to do with her. A solid ending to this collection which was honestly 90 percent a miss with me. 

Book source ~ Kindle First

Veronica Cavanaugh and her husband Micah have been having a difficult time of getting pregnant for all of their marriage. After a round of IVF they had Elizabella and she’s a miracle. When Bella’s three they finally get pregnant with twin boys only to lose them. Even so, they keep trying, but in the middle of their next round of fertilizing eggs Micah just disappears. And his disappearance triggers an investigation that has Veronica sitting at the very top of the suspect list. As the police dig deeper more and more things about Micah come to light and Veronica can’t seem to catch her breath. On top of all of this, Bella has an imaginary friend who drops tidbits about Micah. The most devastating of which is that Micah is dead. What?!

Veronica is losing it. Or thinks she is. Hit after hit keeps coming and with the police breathing down her neck, she’s beginning to wonder if her mom’s mental illness has been passed along to her after all. Things come to a head in the Florida Keys, but before that Veronica’s world is forever and always changed.

This book is at times wonderful and other times frustrating. It clips right along and then slows down to an unbearable crawl. Veronica is also not very likeable at times and other times really stupid. Not all the time, just enough to irritate. The mystery of Micah keeps the book intriguing and is the reason I had to keep reading. And let me tell you, I was totally not expecting that last part of the book. I had theories, but wow. I did not see that coming. Any of it. Totally worth my time.

Cassaundra AKA Cass meets Andrew AKA Drew at their mutual therapist's office.  At first, she is not sure if she has more than friendship to give.  They are both in therapy, after all.  Denying the attraction is not working, so she might as well give it a shot.

Andrew AKA Drew is excited the hot woman is willing to go out with him.  They have a lot in common.  She makes him feel better than he has in a long time.  Being a police office takes it toll after a while and she is a soothing balm.

These characters needed one another and it was so nice to read how they came to be a couple.  The attraction and heat was there from the beginning.  This was a great story that helps you understand and feel for the main characters plight.  I enjoyed this and am excited to read the rest of the Kingsley series.  I give this a 3/5 Kitty's Paws UP!

 Raven:

I’ve spent my life depending on one person: myself. I’ve learned the hard way other people will only let me down. I’ve worked for everything I have, but thanks to my drug-addicted mother, I’m about to lose the one thing I’ve craved for years. Needing to make some extra cash, I ask my boss at Restrained Fantasies, a Dallas BDSM club, for some extra shifts. Much to my chagrin, Master Carter Burkes is with him, and Carter leaps to my rescue, bound and determined to save me—only I’m not the kind of girl who needs to be saved.

Carter:

I can’t sit by while Raven, a recurring figure in my fantasies, is in trouble. My job as a detective keeps me busy, but I’m not looking for a relationship, just a sub to assist with a class I’m teaching: Reading Your Submissive. Raven always claimed she wasn’t a member of the lifestyle, so imagine my surprise when I discover a budding submissive inside her. She gets under my skin in ways I can’t fight, but emotions are dangerous. I learned that the hard way.  Is getting close to Raven a mistake? Will I destroy her life like I destroyed the life of the only woman I’ve ever loved?

This is book two in the Restrained Fantasies series but can be read as a standalone.

Publisher’s Note: This romance is intended for adults only. It contains elements of danger, suspense, mystery, BDSM, sensual scenes, romance and adult language. If any of these offend you, please do not purchase.

@GoddessFish, #BDSM, #Erotic, #Romance

Amazon prime members can get a free kindle edition ARC* of one of these Amazon published choices (or a discounted hardcover ARC).  See https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/firstreads 

(SIde note, still the Amazon,com bug with 2017-2018 books -- I had to add all 18 of 19 editions of these to the library plus none would "+" to this post or show in search by ISBN or ASIN -- and the 19th was a kindle edition someone added cover-less while I was working on these.)

*well, Trespassing - Brandi Reeds  is a reprint.