Broken

Gabe Spencer, a former SEAL, started his company, LOST, after losing his sister to a killer. When Eve Gray wakes up in a hospital with terrible injuries not knowing who she is, she takes on a new name, moves to a shelter when she is released, and goes to Gabe for help in figuring out her identity. Her only clue other than the brutal scars, is a newspaper article featuring the victims of a serial killer, and one of them, Jessica Montgomery, looks just like her. Almost as soon as Gabe agrees to help Eve, it becomes apparent that she is in danger. They travel to Jessica's home on Dauphin Island, where the FBI is still uncovering victims of the serial killer.

While on Dauphin Island, Eve will have to deal with her brother, former lovers, a vicious storm that is headed their way, and the killer who isn't finished with her yet. In the midst of all of this, she and Gabe develop strong feelings for one another, and he will do anything to keep her safe.

I found this book to be very enjoyable, as well as quick and easy to read. I felt so sorry for Eve when she had so obviously been through something horrific at the beginning of the book. She was a very strong woman to try so hard to find out what happened, even knowing that it was going to be something awful. I liked the way she and Gabe bonded, but it seemed almost too quick to be credible, based on the interaction they'd had to that point. Gabe was a good character, and I enjoyed how protective he was toward Eve.

The storyline was fast-paced, suspenseful, and had me wavering back and forth between a couple of characters as the most likely villain. The Dauphin Island setting as a storm is bearing down added a great deal to the atmosphere that was already established with the serial killer on the prowl. It gave it an ominous feel that was in character with the storyline. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

I’m branching out and reading some romantic suspense, and how could I possibly go wrong with a title from Cynthia Eden? Broken is the first title in her new series, Lost, that focuses on a team, the Last Option Search Team, a group of elite ex-military men tasked with finding the missing.

Gabe Spencer is the founder of LOST, a former SEAL, he’s one of those prototypical alphas: loyal, protective, passionate and determined to follow the mission through. The death of his sister spurned this change of course in his career, and while he’s all about the mission, there is some emotional tumult deep down that he doesn’t acknowledge.

Eve Grey woke up in a hospital with no memory or past, and no clue who she really is. She approaches Gabe and the LOST team for help in unraveling the mystery, brought to a head when she sees a photograph of a woman who looks just like her, thought to be the most recent victim of the Lady Killer, a serial murderer.

I loved Eve for the most part: she was unflinching in her determination to unravel her own past, even if the newspaper that triggered her visit to LOST means that she is in danger. Her ability to find the core of strength even when things got hairy, while often emotional, never had her dissolving into a pity party, even though she did engender that feeling in me.

The instant attraction between Gabe and Eve was palpable, but the relationship felt a bit rushed: while Gabe didn’t push Eve, and he was incredibly patient with her actions (some not so great), his own confusion with the emotions that were brought forward by Eve was frustrating. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe the emotions were real or valid, but with so many unanswered questions and danger around every turn, it didn’t feel in keeping with Gabe’s character as a mission-first kind of guy.

That in no way meant I didn’t love every moment of their interactions: the connection was that “across a crowded room’ sort of zing to the gut that everyone wants once in their life. And with the tension and twists thrown in as Eve’s life is in jeopardy and we are discovering more about her past and life as well as her potential connections to the Lady Killer, you won’t be able to put this book down.

I thought I had the case solved, then I had pages of ‘oh but it could be’ moments that just had me shutting off solve it thoughts – although every time I had to put the book down they came back stronger than ever. For me, these moments of turning the story over in my head, trying to come up with an answer, and rushing through the story are hallmarks of a great suspense story. Needing to know the answers, and enjoying the ride that the author creates will keep me reading this series, following each story with anticipation.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

As posted on The Smutty Kitty reviewed by KittyKelly

5 out of 5 Licks

Another winner from Cynthia Eden! I was hooked from the first sentence and didn't put it down until I was done. I loved the premise of this book and Cynthia did a great job with the mystery aspect of this book, I had it down to two people but was never sure which one it was until the end. Each member of the LOST team has such an interesting past. I feel like we got just enough info about each of them to make me crave more. Cynthia is great at writing dark heroes. If I didn't know better I would think the hero was the bad guy at times. Gabe's intensity for Eve is borderline scary. Eve feels just as strongly for him she just didn't know if the cause is his willingness to help her or actual feelings. I don't want to giveaway anything, but this book is full of twists and turns that are sure to leave you dying for more. This is a fantastic start to a new series and I can't wait to read more.