The Darkest Link
Second Circle Tattoos #4
By: Scarlett Cole
Released: August 30, 2016
Self-Published
When her car breaks down off the
side of a lonely highway far from her sunny Miami home, tattoo artist Lia never
expected her very own white knight to ride up on the back of a barely street-legal
motorcycle...and she never expected to fall for her dark savior. After a string
of failed relationships and a bruised heart Lia is not looking for forever, and
the hot mechanic, with his sexy scruff and shaggy hair, is simply impossible to
resist. He's the perfect candidate for a mind-blowingly-perfect,
no-strings-attached one-night stand.
Reid left his life in Chicago far
behind him and hasn't been back, but he's never been able to escape the guilt
he feels about his own painful role in inviting a monster into his baby
sister's life. A monster who almost destroyed her. Being with Lia is an
unexpected gift, one he doesn't feel he deserves, and their one night together
has him wanting more than he should. When he surprises her at her tattoo
studio, Second Circle Tattoos, in Miami, he's in for a shock—and a fist to the
face—when his past and present collide.
With
secrets coming to the surface, Reid and Lia are thrown into a world of betrayal
and lies that threatens to pull them under, and the last link to his former
life may be the darkest of them all.
Julianna "Lia" Carlisle is the feisty, 50's pin-up styled
tattoo artist at the Miami based Second Circle Tattoo shop and she is a far cry
from what her wealthy father wanted her to be, especially with his decision to
run for of Governor. But Lia doesn't care about her father wants; she only
cares about her Mother and protecting her like her Granny Emmeline wanted her
too. But right now Lia's mind is on the tattoo conference, but then the unexpected happen, when her car
Cherry broke down. Luckily Lia had a smoking hot knight in shining armor ride
up to save the day! And Kenny also made it quite clear that he liked Lia more
than her car.
Reid "Kenny" Kennedy was mesmerized by the sight of Lia, and
after a wonderful night together, Reid (Kenny) couldn't wait to see Lia again!
And when he found her bracelet in his bed, it gave him the excuse he needed to
see Lia sooner than expected. But what he wasn't expecting was to see his
sister Harper again, after 6 long years or to receive a punch to the face by
her fiancé Trent. Eventually all of the truths come out, and they decide to
move on.
But when Lia is hit by a car and Reid's garage burned in an arson
attack, Reid assumes that it's his history coming back to destroy everything he
has now. But can he stop the attacks before another person is hurt? And how
will everyone react when the truth is revealed.
I LOVED this freaking book SO much! I couldn't put it down! The plot
twists kept me gripped and I was surprised by who the real villain was it the
end! The fact that the heroine was a curvy women whom embraced her curves and
went with a look that shows her sassy side and emphasizes her curves, totally
made the book for me!!
The writing was smooth and delicious and the plot was gripping and full
of twists, though I would like to know more about the fall out between Harper
and Reid's parents. I think the only draw back for me was the many names the characters had for
themselves, no more than Reid's character, when it started out as him referring
to himself as Kenny, but the author put the name Reid, I had to go back and
re-read parts…which is all honesty was NOT a hardship for me.
As I said before, I loved this book and I'm kicking myself that I
didn't find this series before now, but I'm going to rectify that situation
ASAP by reading the other 3 books and and then The Darkest Link again! Hopefully
before the next book in the series is released.
I give The Darkest Link 5 stars!
“What is this?” she asked, running
her hand over the elongated hood.
“A 1958 Ford Thunderbird. It was a
shell when I bought it. Was found in an unused barn with a bunch of other old
classics.”
The wheels were black with white
faces, and the soft top was a creamy white. Reflections from the chrome cast
light onto the white walls.
“I love it,” she said, excited to
sit inside.
“Hood up or down?” Kenny asked,
slipping her cases into the trunk.
“Oh, most definitely down,” Lia
said. Screw the victory rolls, she could always put her hair into a high
ponytail and add the red ribbon she had in her purse if her scarf failed. She
reached into her bag to find it and tied it around her head.
“I like this,” Kenny said, fingering
the knot under her chin gently. The way his eyes crinkled at the corners made
her feel all kinds of gooey inside. Perhaps it was a good thing they lived a
long drive away from each other. His very presence made it difficult to remember
why she was taking some time off from men. But a little harmless flirtation was
adding to the adventure of a few days off work. There couldn’t be any harm in
that.
Once inside the car, Kenny took her
hotel details and plugged them into his phone. “There are few downsides to the
classics, but lack of sat-nav has to be one,” he said, turning the radio on.
“Ready?”
“I feel like Thelma and Louise about
to drive over the edge of the cliff,” she said with a laugh.
“Close. That was a 1966 Ford
Thunderbird, eight years younger than this baby. Does that make me J.D.?”
“That depends. Are you planning on
driving me to a motel, having your wicked way with me on the dresser, then
stealing my life savings?”
“I know a motel, don’t know if they
have a dresser, but more than willing to do a drive-by to find out.”
Lia laughed. “I was joking.”
“I wasn’t. Say the word, Red.”
He revved the engine several times,
the low growl sexy as all hell, and grinned as he roared out onto the street.
Lia watched his hand as he shifted the stick. He caressed the gear stick. The
more she stared, the more turned on she became until she had to cross her legs
and look out of the window.
Damn him for getting her so hot and
bothered. She spared a glance back toward him, just as he turned to face her.
And he winked. Because he knew.
And that
just turned her on even more.
Scarlett Cole is a writer of
contemporary romance and a two-time RITA finalist. Her debut, THE STRONGEST
STEEL, has already become an Amazon best seller in romantic suspense, was a
Best Debut Goodreads Author Finalist 2015, and Authors On The Air Global Radio
Network Contemporary Romance Pick of 2015.
When Scarlett isn't writing, she spends
her time reading, hoarding mason jars, and working out to off-set an epic sour
candy habit. She likes hot men, cold beer, and expensive shoes.
Having travelled the world for work and
fun, Scarlett is a citizen of both Britain and Canada. A true city-dweller, she
considers Toronto and Manchester home and likes to set her books in vibrant
locations such as Miami and Los Angeles.
Rep'd by Beth Phelan at The Bent
Agency, and published by St. Martin's Press.
She'd love to hear
from you on twitter @itsscarlettcole
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