Padme's Library: Too Much to Lose by Samantha Holt

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Too Much to Lose by Samantha Holt

TITLE – Too Much to Lose

SERIES – Dirty Little Secrets

AUTHOR – Samantha Holt

GENRE – Contemporary Romance

PUBLICATION DATE – 5th September

LENGTH (Pages/# Words) - 75000

Summary:
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, then 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 and all leads point in Jess’s direction. 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?

This is one of those stories that make you just want to reach into the book and bang the main character's heads together and yell at them "Talk to each other!" Lack of communication about each of their pasts has the potential to really blow everything to hell, you just keep expecting the ball to drop at nearly every turn of the page. Of course, it wouldn't be much of a story if everything was out in the open, but it doesn't stop the reader from wanting to pound some sense into Jess and Hunter. Sometimes I'm asked about angst levels, which is hard for me to determine because what most people classify as angst I call drama. I think there's a double layer of suspense here. First, you have the job that Hunter is hired to do but you also have the "will this be the page that their secrets come back to bite them in the ass?" suspenseful anticipation shadowing their every moment together.

Rating:

“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.”

Please tells us a little bit about the main characters of your book:
Hunter O’Reilly
Originally from Ireland, Hunter came over to the UK as a boy when his mother left his alcoholic father. Determined and intelligent, he will do all he can to prove he’s nothing like that man who abandoned them. After being screwed over by his business partner, his private investigation company is sinking and he’s about to lose everything. Which is where Jessica Callahan comes in…

Jessica Callahan
Jess has just scored a decent job working in a bank after two years of studying hard and working for crappy tips in a London Irish bar. No one has figured out who she is since moving to London and she hopes to keep it that way. Finally her life is coming together. After running away for an abusive home and falling into the world of porn, she never wants to go back to that life and she will do all she can to keep it hidden—to the point of keeping anyone and everyone out of her life. Even the gorgeous Hunter O’Reilly can’t be allowed into her life, no matter how hard it is to deny him.

Author Bio:
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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