MINE TO HOLD is a story about how complicated pasts can lead to heartbreak. But for LAPD Detective Tyler Murphy, he isn't willing to give up just yet.

Tyler had a best friend in Eric Catalano. In a tragic accident, Eric became crippled and in the shock, Tyler and Eric's wife, Delaney became a support system for each other. When Eric initiates a night of sexual reverie for the three of them, it ignites a passion within Tyler that confuses him. He suddenly sees Delaney, his best friend and partner's wife, as a beautiful, desirable woman. Unable to handle the heat, Delany wishes for Tyler to go away so that she doesn't have to deal with the emotions muddling her brain.

After two years, Delaney returns to Tyler, seeking help and this is when Tyler learns that she is hiding a secret. Typically, I'm not a fan of stories that have too much back-story between the hero and heroine before the book begins, but Shayla Black is able to evoke a lot of emotions through her sex scenes that definitely make it more easier to accept.

Through the series, Tyler had been the most easy-going of the group. However, in his book, we see another side of him that is eye-opening about his character. Though he takes much of what Delaney throws at him in stride, I was most impressed by his possessiveness. Because of what he and Delaney had been through together, his possessiveness doesn't feel at all forced or fake. You can feel the genuine concern for Delaney's well-being.

Black usually employs a suspense subplot that is one of the reasons why I love this series so much. She doesn't add too much suspense in this one, but the pacing is great regardless.

MINE TO HOLD is a definite must-read for fans who enjoy passion, suspense and off-the-charts chemistry. For me, Shayla Black is an auto-buy author.