LUCA (Hunting Her #5) by Eden Summers-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 23, 2020.

Luca dragged me from hell and delivered me to salvation.
At least that’s what I thought.

I hoped this would be a new life. A fresh start.
But the pain followed.
I’m certain the monsters did, too.

I’m told it’s paranoia. Trauma. PTSD.
Nobody believes my truth.
But they’ll soon learn.

We all will.

Because as much as I want to forget the mantra from my nightmares, it hasn’t stopped being true.
The good guys never conquer. Evil always wins.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: LUCA is the fifth instalment in Eden Summers contemporary, adult HUNTING HER romantic suspense series, and part two of Penny Decker and ex Navy SEAL Luca Hart’s duet. LUCA should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events of book four SAVIOR wherein Penny and several women were rescued from a sexual slave operation. The story ARC begins in book three TORIAN.

SOME BACKGROUND: Approximately two years earlier Penny Decker disappeared and had been held captive in Greece, as a sexual slave along with several other women, by crime lord Luther Torian. Luther Torian is the estranged father of Cole Torian (Torian #3) and Keira Torian (Decker #2). In book four SAVIOR, Penny, along with the other women were rescued and brought back to safety in the USA but trouble has followed our heroine home.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Luca and Penny) LUCA focuses on Penny’s recovery from months spent serving a monster but all is not well in Penny’s life as she continues to struggle with PTSD and issues of trust. Currently under the care, and living at the home of Luca Hart, Penny remains withdrawn and unsure, unable to move beyond the pain and damage of what happened or why. As Luca’s attraction to Penny grows with every encounter, Luca battles between head and heart knowing Penny has suffered greatly at the hands of Luther Torian and his second in command Robert. What ensues is the slow building romance and relationship between Luca and Penny, and the fall-out as Penny and the women remain virtual captives of their past but a past that is continuing to affect their present.

Penny Decker believes she is unworthy of happiness or love, and her personal pity parties often become self-fulfilling prophecies as she is unable to move beyond the past-two steps forward, one step back- our heroine‘s emotional struggles, and refusal to talk, are affecting her relationship with our leading hero. Luca Hart’s attraction to Penny was immediate upon their first interaction at the compound in Greece but Luca refuses to cross the proverbial line, a line Penny is hoping did not exist.

The relationship between Penny and Luca begins in book four SAVIOR and continues to build in the current time line. Living at Luca’s house, Penny busies herself cooking and cleaning but is unable to let go of what happened in Greece believing herself a victim of circumstance and life. Luca knows Penny is the woman that calls to his heart but even his heart knows that Penny is going to take time to heal. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Cole Torian and Anissa Fox, Sebastian Decker and Keira Torian, Luke Hunter, Cole and Keira’s half-brother Tobias; security operative Sarah; Luca’s brother Benji, and Benji’s wife Layla. The requisite evil has many faces.

LUCA is a story of betrayal, vengeance, and obsession; healing, relationships, friendships and love. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are energetic, dynamic, broken and lost. LUCA ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Hunter
Decker
Torian
Savior

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Eden Summers is a bestselling author of contemporary romance with a side of sizzle and sarcasm.

She lives in Australia with a young family who are well aware she’s circling the drain of insanity. Eden can’t resist alpha dominance, dark features and sarcasm in her fictional heroes and loves a strong heroine who knows when to bite her tongue but also serves retribution with a feminine smile on her face

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