Xander Evans has been on the road for many years. Never settling. Always moving from one place to another, unable to let go of his past. He lived a tragic childhood, spending most of those years in foster care. He’s never felt like he’s had a home. That is until he stops in the small town of Truman Valley, Missouri, where he meets a woman who will change everything he’s ever known.
Paige Watson has it all. A loving family, beautiful home, and a great career. The only thing she’s missing….is love. After escaping an abusive relationship, she opens her heart up to a stranger. He is unlike any man she’s ever met. He came into her life and turned it completely upside down. Everything is perfect. That is, until one fateful night.
A night that would tear the Watson family apart, never to be put back together again.
A night that would send Xander away to prison for life.
“How about twenty questions?” I ask.
“I hate twenty questions.”
“How about five questions, then?”
He cracks a smile and lifts an eyebrow. “How about three?”
“Deal!”
“So, have I mentioned how much I fucking hate Tuesdays?” Brandi’s voice cuts right between us. Xander looks relieved.
Me? Not so much. “Damn it, Brandi!”
“What?”
“Oh nothing. Can you grab me Fireball though? Pretty please. Two of them.” I look at Xander. “You’re taking one.”
“Three. I am too, bitch! Fuck Tuesdays!” Brandi calls out from across the bar as she begins filling the shot glasses from the Fireball chiller.
“Question one. You said you’ve been traveling for a while now, right? Do you ever get tired of it? Ever feel like settling?”
“Damn. Starting out with the heavy hitters, huh?” He eyes the shot glasses as if hoping it will somehow make them fill faster.
“Need me to go easier on you? Maybe a finger or two first before I go in with the whole fist?”
He looks at me in disbelief. “Did you really just say that?”
“Just answer the question, two fingers or three?”
REVIEW
As I started to read I was curious to how the story would enfold but it enfolded in a manner that worked wonderfully. We start with Xander in prison… three years into his sentence. He proclaims his innocence and I wanted to believe him, I mean this is a book after all! If we are hearing from his POV he wouldn’t lie to us, right? But I was wondering how we would find out the truth.
From the beginning with Xander in prison we flash back three years to when he first met the Watson family and most importantly their daughter Paige. I will admit to thinking this may be a temporary flash back but the majority of the book stayed there and it worked perfectly. We got to see up close and personal the relationships develop, both with Paige and her family. It allowed us to see the progression, to get attached to the characters, to start rooting that Xander really was innocent and to plague our minds throughout the story as to who set him up. (I had two favorites that I was debating between and kept looking for clues throughout the book.)
I really enjoyed the writing style. The conversations felt real and not forced. The sex was HOT! The suspense had me glued to the pages (I needed to know if I was right!) And I adored watching Xander and Paige open up to each other.
This is one I just don’t want to say too much about – because of how it is written, you really need to read it yourself and come to your own conclusions.
One note, it is Book 1 in The Broken Outlaws series. If you are afraid that it ends in a cliffy, let me assure you that the main plot lines are all wrapped up at the end of the book. However it will leave you wanting more- wanting to see what is coming next (not in a throw your kindle across the room kind of way!)
I recommend this book. If you are looking for a book that is different than your ordinary read but has romance (friends to lovers story), suspense and a good dose of heartbreak then don’t miss out on this!
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.
Love Affair With Ficti 