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Second City
An exciting and steamy dark, dystopian romance.
Being born on a man-made island that is virtually impossible to leave is bad. Growing up on that island as it falls to pieces is worse. That’s life for Lara Miller, a bounty hunter on Golden Island- a place where golden dreams turned to ash.
When one wrong move leaves Lara indebted to one of the most dangerous men on her Island, Gideon Bennet, Lara’s whole world turns on its head. For added entertainment, he’s decided to hold her father hostage until she pays her debt.
Gideon’s choice of repayment?Sending Lara to infiltrate the criminal organisation of his rival, Roman Black. The other most dangerous man on the island.
The issue? Roman might not be the monster he is made out to be.
Nothing could have prepared her for seeing him in the flesh. He is arrogant, cocky and infuriatingly attractive. It’s not long before Lara realises being close to Roman is dangerous in more ways than one. When their relationship grows, her heart is on the line no matter what she does. She must help take Roman down to save her father, but it’s not that simple.
Not anymore.
Being born on a man-made island that is virtually impossible to leave is bad. Growing up on that island as it falls to pieces is worse. That’s life for Lara Miller, a bounty hunter on Golden Island- a place where golden dreams turned to ash.
When one wrong move leaves Lara indebted to one of the most dangerous men on her Island, Gideon Bennet, Lara’s whole world turns on its head. For added entertainment, he’s decided to hold her father hostage until she pays her debt.
Gideon’s choice of repayment?Sending Lara to infiltrate the criminal organisation of his rival, Roman Black. The other most dangerous man on the island.
The issue? Roman might not be the monster he is made out to be.
Nothing could have prepared her for seeing him in the flesh. He is arrogant, cocky and infuriatingly attractive. It’s not long before Lara realises being close to Roman is dangerous in more ways than one. When their relationship grows, her heart is on the line no matter what she does. She must help take Roman down to save her father, but it’s not that simple.
Not anymore.
344 pages, ebook
Published June 2, 2023
2 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 22, 2024
Wow this book was epic I literally couldn’t put it down. Mafia vibes, waring factions, our fMC is out in the middle by blackmail and she learns that Roman isn’t as his reputation makes him. Fighting to save her dad she makes impossible choices and mistakes that may cost her everything. Omg this was a heartstopper I was reading the last chapters saying no no no not wanting to find out what happened but needing to know omg my heart was in my throat. Betrayal, love, heartbreak it’s all here and it’s gut wrenching. Book two please.
June 4, 2023
Second City by Chelsea Burke is an action packed dystopian thriller with a nice dash of romance.
In a future where the world is ravaged by chaos, the rich elite build their paradise island in the Atlantic Ocean. When chaos reaches the Island, they retreat behind the walled safety of Golden City to live a life of luxury, leaving the impoverished citizens of Second City and Purgatory to their fate.
Lara, a twenty-five year old bounty hunter, works tirelessly to rid crime-ravaged Purgatory of those who prey on the weak. Aided by her badass partner Chase, her father and the rest of her team, they fight the good fight in a world spiralling into anarchy. The capture of her latest bounty sends her on a collision course with feared crime-lord Gideon.
In order to free her father from captivity, she must infiltrate the gang of Gideon’s most feared rival, Roman Black. But as all-out war threatens the Island, can she resist her attraction to Roman or will she gamble everything and follow through on her deal with the devil?
Overall, a fantastic and well weaved story. Realistic and sharp characters and tense scenes guaranteed to hook the reader in. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
In a future where the world is ravaged by chaos, the rich elite build their paradise island in the Atlantic Ocean. When chaos reaches the Island, they retreat behind the walled safety of Golden City to live a life of luxury, leaving the impoverished citizens of Second City and Purgatory to their fate.
Lara, a twenty-five year old bounty hunter, works tirelessly to rid crime-ravaged Purgatory of those who prey on the weak. Aided by her badass partner Chase, her father and the rest of her team, they fight the good fight in a world spiralling into anarchy. The capture of her latest bounty sends her on a collision course with feared crime-lord Gideon.
In order to free her father from captivity, she must infiltrate the gang of Gideon’s most feared rival, Roman Black. But as all-out war threatens the Island, can she resist her attraction to Roman or will she gamble everything and follow through on her deal with the devil?
Overall, a fantastic and well weaved story. Realistic and sharp characters and tense scenes guaranteed to hook the reader in. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
April 29, 2024
If you’re looking for a good read, a book with drama, enemies to lovers, look no further. “ Second City" by Chelsea Keogh is a captivating exploration of urban life, filled with poignant observations and vivid imagery. Keogh's prose effortlessly transports readers to the streets and hidden corners of three cities, where characters grapple with love, loss, and the search for meaning. The novel's richly drawn characters and layered storytelling make it a compelling read from start to finish, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who ventures into its pages. Keogh's debut novel is a triumph, showcasing her talent as a storyteller with a keen eye for detail and a gift for capturing the complexities of human experience in an urban landscape. I found the book difficult to put down, as the flow had me eager to continue reading.
June 3, 2023
So much happens in this book and it is a lot. We are following Lara as she navigates her life as a bounty hunter in Second City. She brings in a perp and her life spins on an axis. She is forced to make decisions to save her dad’s life but ends up ruining everything. I really hope we get a second book so I can feel some closure from the roller coaster that is Lara’s life. This is an enemies to lovers to enemies trope with lots of heartbreak and fast paced action. This book has some subjects that may be triggering for people. Be aware before you read.
February 15, 2024
I really enjoyed this. Exactly the type of book I enjoy. Roman Black is delish ❤️
Well written, great dialogue (which is so important for me) and an interesting story to accompany the romance.
Hope book 2 isn’t too far away.
Well written, great dialogue (which is so important for me) and an interesting story to accompany the romance.
Hope book 2 isn’t too far away.
January 24, 2024
this was AMAZING i need book 2 rn omfg🙏🏻🙏🏻
March 21, 2024
If ever your heart was conflicted after a book…. Wow! Not all monsters are truly monstrous while some are worse than you could ever imagine. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
February 27, 2026
3.5.
This was recommended to me as a “12 recs from 12 friends”. I don’t think I would have read it otherwise.
It was a good read.
This was recommended to me as a “12 recs from 12 friends”. I don’t think I would have read it otherwise.
It was a good read.
June 9, 2024
Mafia romance with more than one love interest and a kick ar5e FMC.
Lara is a bounty hunter. Unfortunately, her latest bounty is connected to one of two crime lords that run the island she lives on. To save the lives of those she loves, Lara is blackmailed and must agree to infiltrate the opposing mafia boss’s entity.
This is an incredible read with action, adventure, romance, spice, world building, suspense, mystery, intrigue, hear break - it.has.it.all!
I can’t recommend this book enough, l couldn’t put it down! I can’t stop thinking about the characters in this story and where they’re heading to next.
I was sent this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.
Lara is a bounty hunter. Unfortunately, her latest bounty is connected to one of two crime lords that run the island she lives on. To save the lives of those she loves, Lara is blackmailed and must agree to infiltrate the opposing mafia boss’s entity.
This is an incredible read with action, adventure, romance, spice, world building, suspense, mystery, intrigue, hear break - it.has.it.all!
I can’t recommend this book enough, l couldn’t put it down! I can’t stop thinking about the characters in this story and where they’re heading to next.
I was sent this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.
February 10, 2025
ARC Review, no spoilers.
Oh my god. I loved this book and the whole concept of it. Dystopian romance is not typically a genre I read but I am so glad I gave it a chance starting with this book. It was not what I was expecting at all, it was 100x better!!! I don't think there are any characters in this book I particularly dislike, apart from the obvious antagonists of course.
Lara Miller is possibly one of my favourite FMC's ever. She is such a badass but also so sweet and vulnerable at the same time. I love the concept of a female bounty hunter and going against all stereotypes of it being a predominantly male occupation. She has such great relationships with everyone on her team and I love the backstory behind each character that makes them so relevant and useful to the team.
Now, I don't even know where to start with this one. ROMAN BLACK!!! My new favourite book boyfriend. Safe to say I am obsessed with every last inch of this man. The way he is obsessed with Lara and has been since they first met has me melting. He has such chemistry with Lara and I love his backstory to it all and how they both have a common goal. Within two minutes of reading about this man, I knew he was going to be at the top of my book boyfriend list and he would be a difficult one to beat.
Very well written and I will be looking out for the next book, which I hope will hold the HEA I'm anxious to read about. I feel so honoured to have been one of the first people to read this book and will 100% be recommending this book to other people ready for its release date :)
Oh my god. I loved this book and the whole concept of it. Dystopian romance is not typically a genre I read but I am so glad I gave it a chance starting with this book. It was not what I was expecting at all, it was 100x better!!! I don't think there are any characters in this book I particularly dislike, apart from the obvious antagonists of course.
Lara Miller is possibly one of my favourite FMC's ever. She is such a badass but also so sweet and vulnerable at the same time. I love the concept of a female bounty hunter and going against all stereotypes of it being a predominantly male occupation. She has such great relationships with everyone on her team and I love the backstory behind each character that makes them so relevant and useful to the team.
Now, I don't even know where to start with this one. ROMAN BLACK!!! My new favourite book boyfriend. Safe to say I am obsessed with every last inch of this man. The way he is obsessed with Lara and has been since they first met has me melting. He has such chemistry with Lara and I love his backstory to it all and how they both have a common goal. Within two minutes of reading about this man, I knew he was going to be at the top of my book boyfriend list and he would be a difficult one to beat.
Very well written and I will be looking out for the next book, which I hope will hold the HEA I'm anxious to read about. I feel so honoured to have been one of the first people to read this book and will 100% be recommending this book to other people ready for its release date :)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews