Cross My Heart by Paris Brandon

Late night radio talk show host Valentine Cross and police detective Jack Sutton’s ideological differences mattered until it came to down-and-dirty-up-against-the-wall sex. The conflagration seemed worth a relationship where all they ever seemed to do was have sex or fight. Until Jack issued an ultimatum that Val was afraid would destroy them both.

Six months after stalking out of her life because she refused to marry him, Jack’s boss hands him an assignment that sends him right back into the fire. Val might be hiding his suspect and she’s in danger. Oh yeah, there’s also the little problem of not being able to stop having mind-blowing sex with his ex long enough to solve the crime and figure out how they’re going to make it all work this time.

Oh, what a great read. The voice in Cross My Heart is very real, as though it’s someone talking to you—at least that’s how it came across to me. The language is up-to-date and I settled into the tale right from the get-go.

I loved the tension between Valentine and Jack—they split up a while back, for deeper reasons than we’re aware of at first, and the “Ah” moment is revealed, giving Jack an insight into Valentine’s thoughts and emotions. If only they had been aired earlier, these two wouldn’t have had a horrible few months apart. But, I liked that aspect. It’s real life—people don’t always say what they mean, how they really feel, for fear of being seen as weak. Valentine is a tough cookie on the outside, so I understood her reasoning completely.

Jack. Now he’s a sexy one. He adores Valentine, simple as that—wish he adored me, the sexy-azzed, want-him-for-myself beast—and once he asks her to help him on a case, the sparks start flying once more. They’ve always had chemistry, and absence made their hearts grow fonder and their lust for one another stronger.

As well as the fabulous dynamics going on between the hero and heroine, there’s a great storyline involving Valentine’s job as a radio talk show host, which has led her to knowing information Jack needs. It’s tense, it’s fast-paced, and it’s a book you don’t want to miss if you enjoy biting your nails while reading. I nearly bit mine off completely. My manicurist is going to have a hard time sorting these babies out and will kick my azz!

Advice—wear rubber gloves when reading.

I only noted one best bit, because the other best bits are the book, the plot, and the voice.

...next to the redhead, who then started bashing said fucker on the head with her purse. (Rolling around on this one! Caught my funny bone HARD!)

If you want an alpha hero with a tender heart—and my god he’s tender. And sexy, sweet, yummy, want him, want him, want him—and a heroine who is strong yet vulnerable, a kick-azz plot and a superb writing voice, Cross My Heart is definitely for you.

Now, go forth and purchase, because you don’t want to miss out!