Whenever I take up a book written by Cynthia Eden I know I am in for a thrilling ride and Broken did not disappoint. It was what I was expecting and more! She is one of those authors whose book I would read without having prior knowledge of what it’s all about.
Broken is the first book in the Lost series and it’s off to a fantastic start. Lost tells the story of Gabe Spencer and Eve Gray. Gabe is an ex-navy seal and the founder of LOST (Last Option Search Team). The goal of the team is to find missing persons that the authorities had lost any hope of finding. The team was formed because Gabe had experienced a loss of his own and as such he wanted to help families who have suffered under similar circumstances. Eve is a woman who has endured torture and near death simply to wake up not being able to remember her past. In a bid to uncover her past, she sought the services of the LOST team.
I enjoyed reading about all the characters, but my favorites are Gabe and Eve. They both suffered pain in the past making them easy to relate to. I found Eve to be strong yet vulnerable. She has grit and determination and is motivated to uncover her past, even if it meant that doing so could be deadly. I thought Gabe was a bit overly protective of Eve to the point of being possessive. I understand that he could not help being attracted to her, but I felt he should have been more careful as he could have been setting up himself for heartbreak in light of the fact that Eve’s past was an enigma. I do believe he allowed his feelings to cloud his judgement at times.
The romance took place very rapidly. The attraction between them was instantaneous and electrifying. They did not have time to get to know each other before falling in love. Well, in light of the fact that Eve had no memory this would have presented a challenge. In my view I believe that more stress was laid on the suspense, even so it was nicely balanced out with the love story.
From the minute I began reading I was pulled into the story. The prologue was so intense that I could not help but to continue reading. I literally could not put the book down. Lost is the kind of story that gives you chills and will have you jumping at the faintest of sounds. There was never a dull moment with this story. It had a lot of twists and turns that will keep you guessing at every page turn. Just when I thought I figured out who the killer was the author threw in a twist that had me second guessing myself. However, when the truth was finally revealed, I thought to myself I knew it.
Lost is an explosive, fast paced, psychological and suspenseful read. It will keep you up at nights and have you talking about it for some time to come.
BROKEN by Cynthia Eden – Excerpt
“Do you think I’m a con artist or a victim?”
“I think you’re a woman who has been hurt.” No denying that. “One of my team members, Wade Monroe, is contacting the Montgomery family. We’ll get DNA from them and find out—”
“If I’m Jessica.” There was hope in the words. Enough hope to break his heart.
Gabe nodded.
“When will we know?”
It would take a few days, even with the strings that he could pull. “As soon as possible,” he said, not wanting to give her a specific timetable.
“Thank you.” Then, just like that, she was across the car, giving him a tight hug. “Thank you.”
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 she’d just done.
For an instant he was tempted to hold her, to keep her close.
She’s a client. Focus.
He let her go, but his body ached.
“I … um … I should get inside.”
Yes, she should. While he was still clutching tight to his control. The control that said he shouldn’t push her. Shouldn’t want her so much. Not when she’d already been hurt so badly.
Her fingers reached for the door.
“Let me,” 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.
“Your shrink asked me a lot of questions about you,” Eve told him as she stood temptingly close.
Gabe inclined his head. “I’m sure—”
“I think she wanted to know why I respond so much to you.”
Oh, hell, she’d just said … He cleared his throat even as part of his body surged in quick response to her. “It’s a tense situation, you’re—”
“You don’t look at me as if I’m a victim.”
He stopped talking.
“I mean, you know what I am, but you still look at me and seem to just see me … as a woman.”
“Others see you the same way.” Doc Tyler sure did. Bastard.
“It’s different with you,” she murmured as she stepped even closer to him. Her head had tilted back so she could look into his eyes. “I don’t know what I’ve felt for other men before.”
Why did the idea of others have his body knotting with tension?
“But I know that when I see you, I want.” A hushed confession. “I just … I needed to tell you that.”
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.
“You’re the first man I’ve wanted since I opened my eyes in that hospital.”
He could actually feel his control splintering. Client. Cli—
“You probably don’t want me. I—I might not be your type.”
Now her gaze had fallen, as if in embarrassment. Had she really just asked if she was his type? She was probably every damn man’s type.
“But you make me feel normal again, so I had to tell you—”
His fingers curved under her chin. “Eve …”
Her smile was a little too big. Too bright. “I don’t think I can handle anything else right now, I’m …” She pulled away. Stumbled onto the sidewalk. “I just wanted to tell you how I felt,” 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 fucking beyond his reach.
***