Hello, and welcome back! I'm still hoping for an end to the heat we've suffered through for so much of this summer. I know it's going away eventually, and I'll be able to take my books outside to sit and enjoy again, but it's not happening nearly fast enough to suit me. Here's hoping to an early autumn!

This time out, I have Shayla Black's Mine to Hold (Heat, purchased), latest in her "Wicked Lovers" series. Bad-boy cop Tyler Murphy has wanted his best friend's wife Delaney longer than he can admit. And after his friend winds up in a wheelchair from a work-related shooting, and asks Tyler to make love to her, there's no longer any way to hide the way he feels about her. But when his friend realizes what he's unleashed, he flips out, and Delaney asks Tyler to go. Fast forward two years, and Delaney needs Tyler to protect her when a story she's been investigating turns deadly. Tyler can't think of anything better than having Del back in his life and in his arms, but the past two years have been difficult for her, and trusting Tyler now is going to be challenging. Still, the ex-cop is determined to prove her wrong, even after she 'fesses up to the secret she's kept all this time. That only makes him want to protect her even more, and he'll pull out all the stops to win her heart. Delaney may have had a rough time since Tyler stepped out of her home and her life, but she's developed a strong armor to keep herself going. She knows turning to him will be life-changing, but she has no idea just how much her life will be turned upside-down. Tyler is a great alpha hero, strong without being overbearing, and sexy as hell. He's willing to push boundaries, and break down any barriers she tries to put between them, all in the name of love. Delaney is terrific, too, smart, careful, and fragile without being a doormat. There's simply no way she's going to be able to resist Tyler, especially after their one and only night together two years ago--it was just the beginning for them, but she has to figure that out for herself. I'm borrowing four of Cupid's five arrows for this one. Make sure you have a cool drink handy when you pick this one up.

Until next time, happy reading!

Shayla Black

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