BROKEN is Book one in Cynthia Eden's LOST series about a group of investigators who try to find missing people when everyone else has given up looking. Although I don't normally read romantic suspense, I love Cynthia Eden and am intrigued by missing person stories and the detectives and searchers who look for them. BROKEN pulled me in right away and I couldn't stop reading this incredibly exciting story.
BROKEN is Alfred Hitchcock meets Criminal Minds with a big helping of erotica thrown in. BROKEN is told primarily from three points of view -- Gabe Spencer, Eve Gray, and the unknown serial killer. For me, Eve Gray is the classic Alfred Hitchcock blonde. She goes to Gabe's organization, LOST -- as a woman suffering from amnesia and with reason to suspect that she is a woman who might be "the one who got away" from a notorious serial killer. Throughout BROKEN, Eve proves to be a fighter and a stronger person than others would first believe. Cynthia Eden does a wonderful job of creating all kinds of tension -- both sexual as well as the more spine-chilling variety.
BROKEN is a fantastic balance of intense, thrilling scenes and extremely passionate ones. I love the relationship that develops between Gabe and Eve. Despite being unsure about a lot of things due to her amnesia, Eve is sure about her feelings for Gabe. I like that she doesn't let anybody push her around. I also like that what Gabe likes about Eve is the strength and bravery he sees in her. Although she is a woman who is often in dangerous situations, she exhibits a lot of courage and quick-thinking.
BROKEN is a whirlwind of sensuality and suspense that is highly addictive. Cynthia Eden succeeds at creating another red hot romance with a compelling mystery. There are enough tantalizing clues littered throughout BROKEN to keep readers guessing the identity of the mysterious killer. Gabe's partners at LOST are equally interesting and I look forward to reading their stories in the future -- especially Sarah and Wade.
The first novel in New York Times bestselling author
Cynthia
Eden's sizzling LOST series introduces the Last Option
Search Team, an elite unit that must protect the only
surviving victim of a serial killer.
Ex-SEAL and LOST founder Gabe Spencer is accustomed to
the
unusual in his job. But when knockout Eve Gray steps into
his office, he's rattled. For the mysterious woman is a
dead ringer for the heiress thought to be the latest prey
of
the serial killer who goes by the name Lady Killer.
When Eve awoke in an Atlanta hospital, her past was a
blank
slate. Then she recognized her own face in the newspaper
and
vowed to learn the truth. Determined to confront the
nightmares hidden in her mind, she never expects to find
a
partner in Gabe.
As Gabe and Eve work together, their explosive attraction
becomes irresistible. Gabe knows that his desire for Eve
is
growing too strong, bordering on a dangerous obsession,
but
nothing pulls him away from her. And when another Eve
lookalike disappears, Gabe vows to protect Eve at all
costs.
While Eve may have forgotten the killer in her past, it's
clear he hasn't forgotten her.
βDo you think Iβm a con artist or a victim?β
βI think youβre a woman who has been hurt.β No denying
that. βOne of my team members, Wade Monroe, is contacting
the Montgomery family. Weβll get DNA from them and find
outββ
βIf Iβm Jessica.β There was hope in the words. Enough
hope to break his heart.
Gabe nodded.
βWhen will we know?β
It would take a few days, even with the strings that he
could pull. βAs soon as possible,β he said, not wanting
to give her a specific timetable.
βThank you.β Then, just like that, she was across the
car, giving him a tight hug. βThank you.β
His arms wrapped around her, an instinctive response. She
smelled faintly of flowers, a sweet scent that teased his
nose, and her body was soft against his.
She tried to pull away, as if realizing what sheβd just
done.
For an instant he was tempted to hold her, to keep her
close.
Sheβs a client. Focus.
He let her go, but his body ached.
βI β¦ um β¦ I should get inside.β
Yes, she should. While he was still clutching tight to
his control. The control that said he shouldnβt push her.
Shouldnβt want her so much. Not when sheβd already been
hurt so badly.
Her fingers reached for the door.
βLet me,β he said, voice rumbling, and Gabe climbed from
the Jag. In seconds he was on the passenger side, opening
her door for her. She rose, and her body brushed against
his.
He stepped back. Distance. He seriously needed to put
some distance between then. But even with some fast steps
back, he could still smell that light and sexy scent that
clung to her body. And he still wanted her.
βYour shrink asked me a lot of questions about you,β Eve
told him as she stood temptingly close.
Gabe inclined his head. βIβm sureββ
βI think she wanted to know why I respond so much to
you.β
Oh, hell, sheβd just said β¦ He cleared his throat even as
part of his body surged in quick response to her. βItβs a
tense situation, youβreββ
βYou donβt look at me as if Iβm a victim.β
He stopped talking.
βI mean, you know what I am, but you still look at me and
seem to just see me β¦ as a woman.β
βOthers see you the same way.β Doc Tyler sure did.
Bastard.
βItβs different with you,β she murmured as she stepped
even closer to him. Her head had tilted back so she could
look into his eyes. βI donβt know what Iβve felt for
other men before.β
Why did the idea of others have his body knotting with
tension?
βBut I know that when I see you, I want.β A hushed
confession. βI just β¦ I needed to tell you that.β
And he needed to make his self-control a hell of a lot
stronger. Her lips were just inches from his, and he
wanted her mouth beneath his. Wanted her lips open.
Needed to taste her.
βYouβre the first man Iβve wanted since I opened my eyes
in that hospital.β
He could actually feel his control splintering. Client.
Cliβ
βYou probably donβt want me. IβI might not be your type.β
Now her gaze had fallen, as if in embarrassment. Had she
really just asked if she was his type? She was probably
every damn manβs type.
βBut you make me feel normal again, so I had to tell you
ββ
His fingers curved under her chin. βEve β¦β
Her smile was a little too big. Too bright. βI donβt
think I can handle anything else right now, Iβm β¦β She
pulled away. Stumbled onto the sidewalk. βI just wanted
to tell you how I felt,β she told him again.
Then she walked into the shelter, her steps hurried. As
if she were running.
From him.
He stared after her. She wanted him.
And she was so beyond his reach.