Young Enough (The Age Between Us Part 2) by Charmaine Pauls

Young Enough by Charmaine Pauls is part two in the Age Between Us series. This book is a direct continuation of Old Enough, so part one must be read first. In Young Enough, Jane and Brian continue to fight for their relationship. As time passes, Jane and Brian's obligations pull them away from one another.  

The younger man, older woman taboo is handled nicely in the Age Between Us series. Brian is what Jane needs to feel whole after a series of losses. Jane shows Brian his current way of living will not work out as he planned. They help one another grow, make each other better. Relating to Jane proved to be difficult at the start for me, but in the end, I understand the actions she took. Her priorities are not wrong. Brian makes some bad decisions, but his intentions are always pure. In the end, he does the best he can.

After reading the first novel, I was absorbed in their story. It was not hard to wish the best for Jane and Brian. Given the suffering they experienced, it was a long time coming when it finally happened. Charmaine Pauls does her tortured heroes well, with emphasis on tortured. I highly recommend this dark romance. I received this book from NetGalley for my honest opinion. I encourage all readers to reach their own conclusions.

Amazon Link

Old Enough (The Age Between Us Part 1) by Charmaine Pauls

Old Enough by Charmaine Pauls is part one of two in the Age Between Us series. Having read Charmaine Pauls work before, and enjoying it, I was eager to give this book a try. Warning, this book ends on a cliffhanger, and for me this book went extremely fast. I recommend having both parts on hand when beginning Old Enough.

Jane, for the most part, has been able to go on with her life after the death of a previous lover over a decade ago. On the anniversary of his death, she mourns him deeply, then returns to her husband and daughter. She considers Francois her best friend, however, a passion for him is lacking. When he asks Jane for a divorce, it still comes as a shock to her. 

Brian is a student in college. He is trying desperately to care for his emotionally troubled mother and his younger sister. A chance meeting at a bar, with a man determined to ruin Jane's life, puts Brian on Jane's path. From the moment Brian sees Jane, his gravitation to her is instant.

When Jane and Brian meet, seemingly by chance, they quickly begin an affair. Watching the romance grow, steeped in a passionate dominant-submissive intensity, was alluring.

Brian is mature for his age, having to become the head of his household at a young an age. Everything Brian does is for the benefit of others. He protects his mother, sister, and, almost immediately, Jane. The perfect balance of compassion and assertiveness, Brian is appealing as the romantic lead. 

Jane has a hard time recovering from the changes in her life. Her old friends, her ex-husband, her job, all seem to drag her further into despair. Brian becomes the one good thing in her life, and soon, even their affair becomes impossible for her to believe will survive. I felt sorry for Jane. I spent a lot of time frustrated with the treatment she endured from her family and friends. So frustrated, in fact, that I began not relating to her very well.

Unfortunately for Brian and Jane, their romance is ill-timed. Jane is dealing with her divorce, as well as the prejudice regarding her relationship with Brian. Brian is desperately trying to avoid involvement with the gang in his neighborhood. He realizes dealing with the crime family head-on, rather than avoiding it, is the only way to ensure his loved ones will remain safe. These outer influences make it appear their relationship will not survive.

Charmaine Pauls knows how to write dark, taboo romances. Her couples have to work hard for their relationship, but the payoff is better for it. I received this book from NetGalley for my honest opinion. I encourage all readers to reach their own conclusions.

Amazon Link

Midnight With the Devil by Emma Castle

Midnight with the Devil by Emma Castle is an enjoyable concept. The approach here is a deal with the Devil. Diana's father is in the hospital, dying of cancer. Lucian Star, as the Devil calls himself in this instance, overhears Diana's plea for her father's life. Realizing Diana could be useful to him, Lucian agrees to save him. His general goal is the corruption of her soul, to safeguard the gates of hell with the act.

Diana's part of the contract requires Friday nights, for three months, be spent in Lucian's company from dusk till dawn. Lucian is, of course, the ultimate bad boy. And bad boys are an attraction. Diana spends a good deal of time fretting over the attraction/lust she feels for Lucian. Finally giving into her primal urges, Diana discovers there are many things she got wrong about the Devil, and how he fits into her sense of morality.

Overall I enjoyed this story. The mythos created here was entertaining. In a dominance story, the women are occasionally too submissive, but in Midnight with the Devil, I never felt that way about Diana. She kept a level head and realized when she had things wrong. Lucian is what you would expect from the Devil if the Devil wasn't evil incarnate.

However, something felt off to me. Maybe it was the flow between actions. Segues did not always seem smooth to me. There were times I felt there should have been more to the scenes, or maybe some further background to things. In the end, the mythology kept me intrigued, and the chemistry between Diana and Lucian was engaging. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest opinion. I encourage all readers to reach their own conclusions.

Amazon Link

Broken Ground by Val McDermid

Broken Ground by Val McDermid is part five of the Karen Pirie series. I had no problems following the events or the relationships presented in Broken Groud. The author gives readers enough that the novel works fine as a stand-alone. DCI Karen Pirie of Police Scotland's Historic Cases Unit is good at her job. With Karen deeply involved in three separate cases, I worried the plot would suffer from overload. Honestly, at times it did to a degree. However, the mysteries unfold in a way that kept me intrigued. I felt sympathy and remorse for the victims and was eager for the DCI to bring them justice.

Intelligent and strong-willed, Karen is a female protagonist I enjoy. Despite the loss of a loved one, Karen retains healthy relationships with those around her. She even gets the opportunity to explore a new one. Karen is proud of her job. She gives it her best and expects the same from her team. Confronted with the constant condemnation from her direct supervisor, eventually leads to a gratifying encounter between the two.

Overall, Broken Ground was an enjoyable crime mystery novel. As previously stated, I did get slightly bogged down by the multiple plots, but it was never so much I did not enjoy the novel. I would recommend this story to those looking for a decent mystery from abroad. I was granted an ARC copy of this book by Grove Atlantic, through NetGalley, for my honest opinion. I encourage all readers to reach their own conclusions.



Amazon Link