TWISTED (Lost #2) by Cynthia Eden-a review

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About the book: Release Date April 28, 2015

In the second seductive LOST novel from New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden, an obsessed Last Option Search Team agent goes looking for trouble—and finds her in the Big Easy.

Dean Bannon comes to New Orleans for one reason only: to track down a missing sixteen-year-old girl. That’s before he meets the drop-dead gorgeous con artist who makes him want to lose his legendary control.

With her past, Emma Castille doesn’t claim to be psychic. She just notices things other people don’t. Like the fear in a runaway’s eyes—or the pain in an ex-FBI agent’s heart. Her chemistry with Dean is blistering, but Emma follows her passion . . . not someone else’s orders.

Then a madman breaks into Emma’s home and leaves a twisted message: You’re next. Now Dean refuses to let her out of his sight until he pries every last secret from her full, sexy lips. And suddenly Emma’s aching to give him everything he wants.

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REVIEW: TWISTED is the second installment in Cynthia Eden’s adult, contemporary LOST romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for LOST (Last Option Search Team). This is former FBI special agent Dean Bannon ( first introduced in book one BROKEN ) and Emma Castille’s storyline. Although TWISTED is the second storyline in the series, it can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

Told from several third person points of view including the killer himself, TWISTED focuses on the search for a serial killer in New Orleans, Louisiana- a man Dean Bannon believed to be dead. Dean Bannon has struggled for five years with the death of an informant caught in a serial killer’s web but with the recent number of missing men and women, Dean believes the killer has returned and has set his sights on Emma Castille. What ensues is a developing relationship between Dean and Emma as Dean convinces Emma that he is her best protection against a psychotic killer. When the FBI become involved things go from bad to worse as Dean’s prior history with the Bureau makes for some unwelcome partnerships and exchange of information.

The relationship between Dean and Emma is quick to develop; an immediate attraction between two people whose lives are about to be targeted by a man seeking revenge for the sins of the past. When a woman fitting Emma’s description is attacked and left for dead, Dean and the agents from LOST begin an investigation of their own.

The colorful and charismatic secondary characters include the members and agent of LOST: LOST’s owner and lead investigator Gabe Spencer, forensic specialist Victoria Palmer, psychiatrist and profiler Dr. Sarah Jacobs, and former detective Wade Monroe; FBI agents Kevin McCormack and James Elroy, as well as a Julia Finney-the young woman who becomes the target of a serial killer and the FBI. We are also introduced to Jax Fontaine-a hard as nails bad boy, bar owner who has eyes and a protective side for Sarah Jacobs. Jax is introduced as Emma’s ex lover, and his presence adds a little twist of jealousy to Emma and Dean’s relationship.

TWISTED is another suspense filled storyline with a ‘twisted’ path to reveal. Although I guessed the serial killer’s identity early on, some readers may be kept in suspense until the clues begin to reveal. Expectation, presumption and the possibility of two killers on the loose, adds another layer of unexpected tension and drama.

Cynthia Eden has the ability to connect with her readers; she knows what we like and continues to deliver with every storyline and series.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Edelweiss

Reviewed by Sandy