HOW TO CON A CRIME BOSS (WILDE WAYS : GONE ROGUE 3) by Cynthia Eden -a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 25, 2023

His life is in her hands.

Seth Wellington needs protection, but he never expects for that protection to arrive in the ever-so-sexy form of Harley Adaire. Their initial meeting is electric, and each time that he is around the deceptively delicate Wilde agent, his attraction to her grows. But this isn’t the time for Seth to be falling for someone. The world thinks he’s a master criminal. Just because his father maybe, sorta, okay, yes, was a master criminal. Now the FBI wants Seth to take over his father’s organization. The Feds want him to work undercover and bring down some very, very bad people.

The problem is that those bad people want to destroy him.

So in strolls Harley. A woman with a thirst for adventure, a smile meant to tempt, and a body that will rule his fantasies for years. She can be his bodyguard and his partner. She’ll stay by his side, and they’ll trip up the criminals surrounding them. Sounds easy. But…it isn’t. Because Seth has to pretend to be someone completely different. Someone dark and dangerous, and the more he pretends, the more he starts to lose sight of his real self.

And the more he wants her.

Possessive, passionate, deadly—that’s the man Seth has to be. Only when he’s with Harley, the possessiveness and the passion are all too real. Too bad they are surrounded by criminals who are hell bent on wrecking Seth’s world. The danger is mounting, the desire Seth feels for Harley is raging out of control, and, unfortunately, the body count may be starting to rise.

Because when you try to con a crime boss, you’re playing a very, very dangerous game…

Step Show no fear.
Step Prepare to fight dirty.
Step Become the man everyone fears. Everyone, but her…

A man isn’t supposed to get territorial when it comes to his bodyguard, but Harley is no ordinary bodyguard. She’s the woman who is quickly coming to obsess Seth. In this new, dark world around him, she’s also the only person he trusts. Now, if they can just stay alive and bring down the bad guys, maybe he can get his bodyguard to fall for him. Maybe.

••••••

REVIEW: HOW TO CON A CRIME BOSS is the third instalment in Cynthia Eden’s contemporary adult WILDE WAYS; GONE ROGUE erotic, romantic suspense series-a spin off from the author’s WILDE WAYS series. This is security specialists Harley Adaire, and heir to a criminal empire Seth Wellington. HOW TO CON A CRIME BOSS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from omniscient dual third person perspectives (Seth and Harley) HOW TO CON A CRIME BOSS follows our couple to NOLA, as Seth is hoping to gather information about his father, and the death of someone close to his heart. Hiring security specialist Harley Adaire is a bit of a distraction for our story line hero, a distraction that is about to become a target when our couple p*ss off the man in charge. Upon his father’s murder, Seth Wellington inherited the mantle of crime lord but Seth wanted nothing to do with his father’s organization but someone else is hoping to take control, and Seth is standing in the way of criminal domination. What ensues is the building but acrimonious relationship between Seth and Harley, and the potential fall-out as secrets, lies and double crossing agents threaten everyone involved.

The world building is detailed and complex. The number of players involved include dirty cops, crime lords, power hungry bosses, and plenty of acting all around. Seth is hoping to find the person responsible for destroying his life but he will come face to face with a past he knows nothing about.

The relationship between Seth and Harley begins as an assignment. Harley has been hired to protect our story line hero but Seth struggles with placing Harley in the direct line of fire when he discovers that his need for revenge has placed a target on the woman with whom he is falling in love. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top sexually graphic imagery language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters are numerous and mostly not who they present themselves to be. We are introduced to crime boss Fabian Butler, and his right hand man Justin Florient, as well as Harley’s older brother, FBI agent Ford Adaire, and FBI agent Brent Marchello. The requisite evil has many faces.

HOW TO CON A CRIME BOSS is a story of twists and turns, secrets, lies and manipulation; family and relationships, acceptance and love. The premise is surprising and intriguing; the romance is provocative and steamy; the characters are desperate, determined and dynamic.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book two HOW TO HEAL A HEARTBREAK

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy