Page Princess: TOO MUCH TO LOSE by Samantha Holt

Title: TOO MUCH TO LOSE

Series: Dirty Little Secrets

Author: Samantha Holt

Publish Date: 09.05.14

Publisher: Samantha Holt

Category /Genre: Romance

Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content and violence

Grammar/editing: A – near perfect

Received from: Samantha Holt (in exchange for an honest review)

Tour by: My Family’s Heart Book Tours

Goodreads link: Too Much to Lose

Date completed: 09.06.14

Description from the publisher:

Have you ever been so desperate you made a decision that would haunt you forever?

Jess has.

She became a porn star.

Jess is on the run from her past. She has no friends, no life. She tries to forget everything that happened to her all those years ago. After changing her image, leaving her home and getting a new job, she’s determined it won’t happen again. If that means never being close to anyone ever again, the so be it.

If only Hunter O’Reilly didn’t make her wish things could be different. Hunter needs this job. After being screwed over by his partner—make that ex-partner—his investigation business is on the line. Already in debt, he eagerly takes on the job of finding some stolen money at triple his going rate. He expects problems at that price. But he doesn’t expect to fall for her.

However, no job is ever that simple. When he’s forced to spend more time with her, the lines between business and pleasure are blurred. And once Jess’s life comes under threat, they have to make a decision, can they both overcome Jess’s past?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

R rated

“I won’t apologize for behaving like a gentleman,” I snap.

Both brows rise and she crosses her arms across her chest. “Is that what that was? Behaving like a gentleman? Because it looked to me like you were acting like… like…”

“Say it.”

“Like a fucking jilted lover.”

Godammit. Now I’ve got visions of all the things I would do to her if I really were her lover. I can just imagine peeling off that tight t-shirt, taking down those little shorts. Tearing into her tights. Feeling that warm skin against mine. Tasting it. I hold back a groan and focus on her blazing eyes. And not on the way the street lights highlight her slightly golden skin, or brings out tiny blonde streaks in her hair.

“You know what, it’s too much. Just back off, please.”

I stiffen. What the hell?

“Just because I’m handling your account and you come to the bar a lot doesn’t mean we’re friends. And just because I—”

“Hit me in the head with a door?”

“I said I was sorry! Look, I think you should find somewhere else to drink from now on. The regulars won’t welcome you back.”

Christ, if I’d been thinking with my head instead of my cock, I would have played this whole thing better. I am better than this. Problem is, if I’m not following her or spending time with her, she’s all I think about. I have been acting crazy. And I’m just about to screw up the best paying case of my life. I need to salvage this. Fast.

“I’m not going anywhere.” I take a step forward and see the flutter of panic in her eyes. “I like you.

“Hunter—” Her hands land on my chest as I come closer. If I glance down will I see smoke rising? As it feels as though her palms must be singeing a hole in my shirt. I don’t even want to think about how hot and hard my cock is.

“I don’t know why, Jess, but I can’t stop thinking about you…”

At some point I’ve stopped lying. Shit, what is it about this woman that makes me lose control of my mouth?

“Well, I don’t like you,” Jess declares.

”Sure about that?” I murmur as I lower my head.

She looks up at me, the whole deer caught in the headlights expression on her face, and I feel gratified she’s as lost as I am. If I don’t get to taste those lips, I’m going to go insane. I need to know.

“Just one taste,” I whisper against her lips.

She nods. I think. Well, she doesn’t move. Jess seems to be frozen but her fingers dig into my chest and I take that as the go ahead. I skim my lips over hers and dart my tongue out to sample the seam of her lips. She tastes so good. My body is on fire with need. Hands landing on her hips, I hold her close and pin her forcefully against me. She gasps, giving me the opportunity to take her mouth in a deep, desperate kiss. Her tongue meets mine and I close my eyes so I can concentrate on the sensation.

Jess bunches my shirt in her hands. I think I hear a button snap. But it’s not enough. If I’m going to do this once, I’m going to do it properly. I bring my hands up to her face and cup both cheeks, bending her back marginally. She’s vulnerable and open to me, her breasts are crushed against my chest and her heart thuds wildly against my skin.

Rocking my hips into her, I press deeper still, holding her face vehemently. The tiniest moan echoes between us and I answer it with a groan.

“So good.” I break away briefly to drag my lips across her cheek to her ear. “You taste so good.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is the first book in the new Dirty Little Secrets series. There is no cliff-hanger, so I believe they will each stand on their own without need to be read in order.

Jess has a secret. She has moved to London to escape the knowing looks and whispers of her former friends and built a new life, but someone knows her secret and is stalking her. Hunter thinks she has a different secret. He is a private investigator who is also tracking her to find the money she is reported to have stolen. He doesn’t expect his “thief” to be so innocent-looking and sweet. What happens when they meet is an immediate spark of interest that erupts into flames of lust for both of them. Can she trust him with her secret when so many others have failed her? Does he trust the girl of his heart or the client who has accused her? Can he protect her from the stalker or has she earned the threats?

I love both Jess and Hunter. They are strong, intelligent, complex people who each are harboring secrets that can destroy their burgeoning relationship. How they handle each other’s secret is realistic. Ms. Holt creates relatable characters who provide entertainment, passion, and a break from reality.

While I considered this to be a “comfortable” read, meaning that it doesn’t add to the stress of my day with an overabundance of angst, there was an element of mystery and suspense that kept me engaged until the very end. As always, I love this book as much as every one that I have read from Ms. Holt. I look forward to many more stories from her.

My personal philosophy of the subject matter would be to say that everyone has secrets. We have all made mistakes in our past that we would rather never discuss. Some are earth-shattering. Some are personally shattering. Some are just personal (and may seem like nothing to another person). The past cannot be changed, so love the person they are today. Their past is part of what made them the wonderful person they are now.

Other Books from Samantha Holt:

Not Another Soldier
The One Knight Collection
A Summer Siege
The Crimson Castle
The Angel’s Assassin

Borderland Legacy Series:

Borderland Bride
Borderland Beauty
Borderland Betrayal

The Highland Fae Chronicles series:

To Steal a Highlander’s Heart
To Dream of a Highlander
To Avenge Her Highland Warrior (coming soon)

AMAZON-US

GIVEAWAY PRIZES

1 x $25 Amazon Gift Card

2 x ecopies of Not Another Soldier

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Samantha lives in a small village in England with her gorgeous twin girls and husband who is a trained bodyguard and ex-soldier. She traditionally writes historical romances involving chivalrous knights and hot highlanders, but occasionally dabbles in contemporary romance.

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