Review: 4.5 stars. Loved it - imperfections and all.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 4, 2013
I wasn't sure what to expect of this one, as the blurb wasn't giving too much away and I had never read anything from this author. Having waded through way too many disappointing reads of late, I decided to play it safe and sample it. Immediately, I could tell the author was technically proficient and the plot was engaging, so I went the full download.Well, many hours later, I read the last page of this one with a very satisfied grin. It wasn't perfect - the plot was a bit ludicrous in places - but it was so enjoyable. Belle Aurora knows how to write engaging characters and knows how to develop the relationships between them.The heroine, Delilah (Lily), is a strange mixture of feisty and naive. Lily has lived most of her sheltered life through the pages of her romance novels - and it shows. Backed into a corner, she's not going down without a fight, but nor does she really seem to appreciate just how much danger she (apparently) is in. She's funny in a self-deprecating way, but she's not without a backbone. She's the sort of girl you'd happily have in your friendship circle - once she learns to stand up to her over-protective father, that is.The hero, Nox, is Lily's means of doing just that. Nox is a bit of a mystery, even by the story's end. You get the impression he served in the military and, at 28, has gone ghost mercenary due to an untimely 'end' in his service career - but he is very much alive, don't worry about that! Nox is HOT. He's a big, gruff, dominant guy who's great at his job and even better at keeping emotions out of it. But Nox is ill-prepared for Lily. She's different and she's getting under his skin.The snippy exchanges between Nox and Lily are fun to read. The growing sexual tension is slow and steady and, when it does come to fruition, it's realistic. There isn't a lot of spice in this book, it's more of a sweet (but still graphic) romance with a dash of bitter thrown in.The whole story takes a twist about 2/3 in and starts racing toward a conclusion where you begin to panic and reach for the tissues. The plot does go a bit silly in parts and I found myself eye-rolling a few times about some of the characters' behaviours. Nevertheless, I wasn't putting it down, not by a long shot. Lily does get her HEA, though it isn't necessarily everything you think it's going to be. Tears will be shed.Really enjoyed it and now determined to explore some of the author's earlier works.