Keep by Karyn Lawrence Virtual Book Tour+ Giveaway

BLURB:

Billionaire CEO Shawn Dunn has plenty of sex, power, and money. A woman turning down his advances? Unfathomable. Yet that’s what she does, again and again.

Kara Hayward is supposed to be off limits. Her sister is hiding from the dangerous assassin she escaped from, and it’s best for everyone if Shawn keeps his distance. Certainly as far as Kara is concerned. Shawn’s only after one thing and then he’ll walk away, just like her ex-husband.

But Shawn has larger desires and he’s used to getting what he wants. He doesn’t care if being together is dangerous. He doesn’t believe that threat to him, or his empire, is real. Right up to the night he has everything taken away.

EXCERPT:

If she weren’t so emotionally and physically exhausted, she’d be immune to him. Maybe immune wasn't the right word. Resistant, perhaps.

They hadn't taken their clothes off. Shawn had barely touched her. And still, the encounter left her desperate and shaky. Filled with need for him. Wanting him. It had easily been the hottest twenty minutes of her life.

Good-looking, her sister had warned her once about Shawn. Not even close. Jason was good-looking in a rough and tough sort of way. Her sister had always liked the bad boys and while Jason, the head of security, looked more conventionally dangerous, Kara knew better. That the taller brother in the suit was cunning and manipulative, making him far, far more dangerous than the one that carried a gun.




MY REVIEW:

 

Keep by Karyn Lawrence
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Keep by Karyn Lawrence is a 2014 Shady Creek publishing release. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had no idea what to expect when I started this book other than it was listed as a romantic suspense novel. This is the second book in a series, but you can read it as a stand alone.

Well, I can tell you right up front, this is not the usual thing I think of when I think of RS. This one borders on the erotic side of contemporary romance for a good portion of the book then suddenly the story takes on a completely different tone as our protagonist is thrown into a nightmare of a situation.

Kara is divorced and putting her life back in order, although she is not all that contented with her job, she is finally gaining back some control over her life. Her sister Laurel is happily married, living in Germany, and expecting a child. This is wonderful news since the mad man who terrorized her is now behind bars and she can enjoy her life. But, when she learns Kara has narrowly escaped a dangerous situation she sends her brother-in-law, Shawn to check on her.

Shawn is delighted to check on his sister-in-law, Kara. He has a strong physical attraction to her and intends to act on that. After all he is a billionaire and always gets what he wants, and right now that would be Kara.
Well, when you hear the phrase, “Sparks fly”, this couple pretty much defined that. A power struggle of epic proportions ensues when the alpha personality of Shawn meets the independent, but often stifled, Kara. These two made a terrific couple since Shawn was exactly what Kara needed, especially when it came to her sexual needs. But, when Shawn's brother, Jason, finds out what he has been up to, he forbids him to pursue Kara because she is family and she deserves better than a one night stand.

But, before the couple have a chance to get their relationship woes in order, the man who terrorized them all in the past, breaks out of prison and now it seems Kara is the one in danger. Can Shawn save her?
I have to admit this story is a little steamier than what I normally read, but I could not put this book down. I also confess to wondering if I misunderstood the genre this book belonged in, since the suspense element didn't show up for awhile. However, once the action started it didn't slow down. I enjoyed the sharp dialogue and the honest depiction of how a victim might feel after going through a trauma, like Kara does, and watching the big strong alpha male, Shawn turn into a big old marshmallow when it comes to love and making Kara happy.

This was a very enjoyable and entertaining novel and is recommended to those who like their romantic suspense served on a super sexy hot plate. 4.5 rounded to 5

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Karyn Lawrence is an author, graphic designer, and screenwriter. She published a nonfiction book about color guard after an editor discovered her blog, way back in the infancy of the Internet and long before blogging was really a thing.

She has been a screenwriter for more than fifteen years, with rather mild success, and grew tired of her stories only reaching a handful of readers. The decision was made to try fiction in early 2013 and once she figured out how to write internal dialogue again, the prose came fast and furious. She most enjoys writing smexy (smart-sexy) books featuring a lovable SOB hero and a tough-as-nails heroine.

Karyn is a Chicago native who lives in Kentucky with her epic husband and two adorable sons.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karynlawrenceauthor

Twitter: @karynsloan

Website: www.karynlawrence.com