Submerged

4.25 stars--SUBMERGED is the second instalment in Kaylea Cross’ contemporary, adult KILL DEVIL HILLS erotic, romantic suspense series. This is former security contractor Jared Blackmore, and widow Harper Sorenson’s story line. SUBMERGED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Harper is Bowie Davenport’s sister (Undercurrent #1).

Told from several third person perspectives including Harper and Jared SUBMERGED follows eighteen months after a mission to Aleppo, Syria went all to h*ll wherein Jared’s best friend Peter Sorenson was killed, and Jared was gravely injured. Peter’s widow Harper begins an investigation of her own only to discover that nothing is as it seems. As members of the original security team are turning up dead, Jared Blackmore is alive and well, and our heroine blames Jared for everything that went wrong but Jared is struggling to uncover the truth, a truth that places our couple in the direct line of fire. Someone has targeted Jared and Harper, and Jared begins to suspect someone close to his original team. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Harper and Jared, as Jared tries desperately to stay one step ahead of the people trying to take them down.

Harper Sorenson blames Jared Blackmore for the death of her beloved husband but the truth is hidden behind walls of secrets and lies, and in this, Jared battles with demons from his past, and the men he once considered brothers and friends. Jared never expected to fall for his best friend’s widow but a death bed promise meant Jared found himself guardian and protector of the woman with whom he would fall in love.

The relationship between Jared and Harper begins acrimoniously as Jared comes to Kill Devil Hills in an effort to uncover the truth. Harper has been investigating and digging into the mission that went all to h*ll, an investigation that places Harper in the direct line of target. Jared and Harper have but minutes to escape with their lives, and spend the next several days in one another’s company. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including many of Jared’s former security team. We are reintroduced to Harper’s brother Bowie and his wife Aspen, as well as Bowie and Harper’s sibling and Hollywood stunt double Chase, his friend Ryder, and actress Becca Sandoza. The requisite evil has many faces.

SUBMERGED is a story of betrayal, vengeance and greed; a story of forgiveness and revelations, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is intriguing and imaginative; the romance is seductive and captivating; the characters are dynamic, spirited and tragic. SUBMERGED is a dramatic and energetic addition to the series.

Suspenseful and gripping mystery, telling the story of Harper and Jared, in this second book of this KDH series. This author has a way of pulling the reader in with her endearing characters and creative storytelling. Well written and simply a real pleasure to read her books.

Awesome and exciting. This was so great fast paced and fun. Wonderful chemistry between Harper and Jared. I love this series and can’t wait for Adrift,the next volume