Blurb:

Summer nights and star-crossed lovers! From USA Today bestselling author Sarina Bowen.

Once upon a time, he gave me a summer of friendship, followed by one perfect night. We shared a lot during our short time together. But he skipped a few crucial details.

I didn’t know he was a rock star.

I didn’t know his real name.

Neither of us knew I’d get pregnant.

And I sure never expected to see him again.

Five years later, his tour bus pulls up in Nest Lake, Maine. My little world is about to be shattered by loud music and the pounding of my own foolish heart.

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John AKA "Jonas" is happy to go back to his special summer place.  He cannot help but think back to the person who made it so wonderful for him.  She was a good friend, a fine cook, and an amazing woman.  Then he sees Kira and thinks he may be imagining things.

Kira has hidden so much from Jonas.  She did not know how to get a hold of him at first, and then time just passed.  Now she is uncertain they can find common ground.  Then he kisses her and her body remembers.....

Starting off with a bang, so to speak, this new story left me breathless and satisfied at the same time.  These characters were complex.  Their story was heartfelt.  I honestly cannot wait for the next installment in the new Hush Note series.  I give this book a 5/5 Kitty's Paws UP!


***This ARC copy was given in exchange for an honest review.

Book source ~ Kindle First

Jan is reuniting with her “vacation friends” she and her ex-boyfriend Marcus hooked up with five years ago. They are rich and travel in much more affluent circles than her and Marcus, but Jan wants to recapture the fun. Except, was it as fun as she remembers?

Oh, for fuck’s sake. Jan is unlikeable, but the other two couples are worse. Well, ok, one of them is okay. I don’t remember her name, but she is the actress. The rest are terrible. Marcus is a decent guy. Jan is pathetic, but at least she knows she is. She comes through in the end, but otherwise, gugh.

Now for the writing. No. It’s awful.

The plot. Could have been really something, but the characters and the writing drag it down into the Pit of Despair.

There are current scenes and flashback scenes until it’s all current events. If the writing was better this could have worked out, but as it is, it’s annoying.

And as a final word, good lord, can these characters drink or what? Why would anyone think it’s fun to do nothing but drink? Especially when you’re vacationing in such a gorgeous spot as Crete? No. Just, no.

All-in-all I do not recommend this book.

by Jeremy Bates

This had me unsettled right away. Katrina is driving with her Boxer dog to a new city to start a new job. Rain is pouring down and when she passes a man hitchhiking, her humanitarianism outweighs her caution about being a woman alone and she offers him a lift. However, within minutes he makes her feel unsettled and having already lied about her destination, she pulls over and demands that he get out of the car.

The little white lie that she was turning off at the next stop seems harmless, but it will set in motion a series of lies that escalate until Katrina finds herself wrapped up in a horrific situation, one lie at a time.

The plot is extremely well done. The spreading of the web of lies and the complications that result was at a pace and done with an artistry that you could easily imagine actually happening, apart from a few events towards the end that felt a little rushed.

The one thing that wasn't realistic was Kat's responses that got her into so much trouble. Mr. Bates should have asked a few women how they would handle the situations because part of being female 101 is how to lie to creepy guys that make you uncomfortable.

Rule number 1: you NEVER cop to living someplace, real or not. Creepy guys are too inclined to follow you home. Whatever the truth is, you're going to someone else's house for an unpleasant reason and no, it wouldn't be okay for someone to go along with you. They might get shot/contaminated or whatever.

You sure as Hell don't mention what street you live on and no, you can't invite people because it's not your cabin and you're just moving out from a violent ex.

How hard is it? Sorry guys, blame the creeps in your midst. For us, it's survival.

If you've pressured a woman or even curb crawled to insist she give you her phone number, don't complain when it turns out to be the number for the local police. I had that one memorized by the time I was 11.

Again, towards the end a few of her actions were outright stupid. I don't want to give spoilers but if you've established someone is dangerous, you get as far away from them as you can and let the police handle it.

The suspense and characterisation were very well done and I will continue to count Jeremy Bates as a Modern Master of Horror, but he really does need to talk to some women about 'what would you do' situations.