Review: fabulous fascinating sensual follow up.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 30, 2014
Secrets and Sins: Raphael, Naima SimoneReview from Jeannie Zelos book reviewsI missed the first in this series, but loved the second, Malachim, so was pleased to get book three for review. I love the way the four men are so close, their childhoods were all different, and yet they each had problems that brought them together, cemented by an incident in which they all helped cover up a man's death. Awful you think – but it was self defence, and when it finally came out many years later they were cleared of murder.Raphael is determined not to get caught a second time in a pregnancy trap – last time he thought he was the father, then a DNA test proved the woman he thought he loved had been lying to him all along. He's not going to get fooled a second time, so when Greer comes to him after their one hot night and says she's pregnant and its his child he isn't convinced, though she says she hadn't been having sex with her fiancé. He's been murdered, and for a while she was the main suspect, now someone is targeting her with threats and she's concerned for herself and the baby. She's hurt that he doesn't believe her, but not surprised. She knows nothing of his history but can see from his look that he isn't convinced. Still, he is in the business of security and takes her into his home for protection. The threats escalate from letters to car vandalising to attempts to kidnap her...and all the while she and Raphael are fighting a sizzling, sensual attraction. Greer doesn't want to rely on yet another person who will let her down, the only ones so far not to have done are her brother and her best friend Noah. She low on self esteem, and thinks Raphael will get tired of her, bored with her and let her go. She knows that will leave her broken hearted, already she has deep feelings for him, so she's trying to keep herself detached. Its tough though with a sensual, hot man helping her, especially when she sees a kinder, softer side to him. I loved Greer, she was tough – she'd had to be with parents like hers, and strongly independent and yet she accepted help for the sake of the baby. Sensible balance between relying on someone for everything and being so stubborn she's risking danger.Raphael, wow – hot or what! That one night in the back-seat of his truck was far hotter and meant more to Greer than anything she'd experienced before. She knew she didn't love her fiancé, nor he her, but thought they had enough respect and closeness to make a successful marriage, plus she'd finally done something her domineering father was proud of. She didn't want to be like her mother, so obsessed with love she ignored her children and let their dad emotionally abuse them. Raphael is protecting her as best he can while his friends help him untangle the mystery of who and why Greer's life is being threatened.  He lets Greer help where she can without getting into danger, and respects her as an intelligent person. He's getting to know her too, and finding she's not the shallow socialite he thought she was, like the lady who let him down before, but still he's trying to keep himself from getting attached.Its a great read, sensual and seductive with elements of danger that need to be solved. I didn't guess “who dunnit” - got that very wrong....and that's great as it shows how well the mystery was covered up. Sometimes its obvious who the perpetrator is and I'd much rather be kept in suspense til the end.Stars: Five, its a great read, one for the keeper files for re reading. I look forward to the next story.ARC supplied via Netgalley