Lawless

Aspen #2

by Cindy Stark

She committed the ultimate sin...

Ariana Trasatti betrayed her father, an organized crime boss, when she agreed to testify against him. Now the family will stop at nothing to silence her. But after eleven months in the witness protection program, her sanity is in as much danger as her life. When threatened with exposure, she's thrust into the care of a sexy small-town lawman who seems intent on distracting her from her fears.

He's searching for redemption...

Deputy Sheriff Milo Sykes couldn't turn down his old buddy's desperate call. There's a leak in the U.S. Marshals Service, and Milo is the only man he can trust. Milo never thought to provide protection for another witness, not after the tragedy he can't put behind him. But, one look into Ariana's eyes, and he knows he'll give his life to keep her safe.

Nothing is what it seems...

Milo soon realizes his biggest challenge isn't protecting Ariana from the mob, but protecting her from him. Temptation draws them in and passion ignites their world. But they're both headed for heartache when her past finally catches up to her.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Suspense, Fiction, Westerns

169 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 5, 2012

About the author

Cindy Stark lives with her family and a sweet Border Collie in a small town shadowed by the Rocky Mountains. She writes romantic suspense and contemporary romances, and she loves to hear from readers.

Connect with her online at:
http://www.CindyStark.com
http://facebook.com/CindyStark19
http://twitter.com/CindyStark19

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Thank you!

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this book right up until Ariana admitted to something that made her a little reprehensible in my eyes. No, I won't tell you what that something is, just know that she was very selfish and her actions put people in danger who were only trying to help her. I had a hard time getting around that and it made me question how she was worthy (for lack of a better word) of Milo's help and, potentially, his love. Up until that point, I liked Ariana. I liked the push and pull between her and Milo. I liked that she was willing to do the right thing and help put her father away for his crimes. I just had a really tough time with the some of her actions. A *really* tough time.

Okay, so I still ended up liking the book overall. I just lost a lot of respect for our main lady. I really liked all the innuendo and tension that sprang up between them. It turns out that I just can't say no to a good (literary) game of strip poker. Still... that one little thing gave me a sad.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short story. Characters created quite an attachment to one another rather quickly.
Nice, HOT sexy man with hot girl. They are brought together to save her life and find a bigger turmoil within themselves

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ariana Trasatti is in protective custody until she can testify against her crime boss father at his trial to put him away for life. She has been compromised and fearing a leak to the crime syndicate, Deputy Sheriff, Milo Skypes of Aspen, Utah has been asked to watch over Ariana for the last month before her father's trial. Her father wants her dead for the betrayal to her family; she wants a new life without the control, violence and fear of living under her father's control.

Romance and attraction grown although unprofessional behavior for Milo charged with Ariana's protection in Lawless. A fake marriage announcement to friends, a difficult explanation to his mother and two of her father's thugs coming after Ariana keep the story moving with lots of action. I loved the ending!

[Will Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those rare stories that just hit me in all the right places. While the main female starts out coming off very selfish, you soon learn there's a lot more to her and she just makes a few bad decisions. Yeah, I'm actually sticking up for her. Great character development, awesome dialogue, some out of this world suspense, and a nice touch of bedroom spice brings it all together. I don't normally read 2 books by the same other consecutively, but I am now just to see if this story was a fluke or if the author really is this great of a wordsmith. Loved it!

[Quinn Fforde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This just hits all the right notes with me, so I reread it occasionally.

[Diane Morrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read from Cindy Stark. I liked these characters and the plot. Looking forward to reading the next installment of this series.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ariana aka Anna is in hiding, awaiting trial to prosecute her mobster father where she is the key witness. Desperate to keep her safe, her handler sends her to stay with an old buddy, off the system since he believes there's a leak within his organization.

Milo is a small town sheriff,who's on leave after he was injured in a shootout. He eagerly takes the job, not wanting to have nothing to do for a couple of weeks. Ariana and Milo's attraction sizzles from the start, even though the princess is already bad-mouthing him and the entire situation before they even meet. He needs to keep his head and his hands off her to do his job. She's just bored.

Most of the time, I wanted to strangle them. Every time a wall crumbled between them, two more were erected. And oh man, Ariana, needed to have her head examined. She was one the most selfish heroine's I ever read. I understand her plight. I do. But you do not put others in danger because you were getting cabin fever.

That said, the story moved at a nice pace, kept me interested, and the love that grew between these two was believable (when they allowed it to happen). That kept me reading and is the reason for a four star review.

[Dalene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at A Date with a Book

My third book in this series and fourth book by this author. I am definitely going to consume all books written by Ms. Stark.

This story idea was fresh and new. I was a little apprehensive when starting this book thinking, how is she going to write a story with just Milo and Ariana and not have it boring or just complete sex scenes. Very creative. I love the little twist and the loop in with Milo’s mom. There was also a little bit of suspense in with this love story which just added to the enjoyment.

I love how the author writes the beautiful scenery in all of her books. I can just imagine myself in such a beautiful place. The descriptions are just enough without being overbearing in abundance.

Definitely a must read author and a must read series. I recommend this entire series to all romance readers. I just hope there is more of the Aspen series.

[Brandi]

Arianna is a hard - to-keep-alive witness for a mobile trial against her father and he wants her dead. Though Arianna meant well, she's having thoughts of regret because her life has been turned upside down. Now she's on her fifth U. S. Marshall, Milo Sykes.

Ok, now here's what I think: there just wasn't enough story. This felt like part 3 of a five part series starring the same characters . There are glimpses of the characters' pasts but enough to be complete. The book is very entertaining but it was just missing something. I wish there was another part to this. (I have read Relentless but it really doesn't support this book).

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did think Milo would end up with sienna but I'm really glad Arianna came in to picture.
Arianna is a mob boss daughter and she's in protected custody till her fathers trial.
Arianna is placed with Milo hoping no one will find her in a quite little town in Aspen.
This book is mostly about Milo and Arianna building a relationship.
I would have liked the have a epilogue of maybe the wedding or something.
Otherwise great story.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. I'm not usually one that likes a "romance noval" so I was surpised at how much I enjoyed this book. There was a little crime drama and the country setting just sucked me in as it reminded me of a place I used to visit often. I found this as a freebie in the Kindle store and took a chance with it. If you like romance novels, I'm sure you will love this book. If you're not a fan of romance novels (like me) you may still enjoy this book.

[Mummy Cat Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this free from Amazon.

I have become to really like this author. I have read several of her books now and can say that this wasn't my favorite book of hers ut it was still good.
I like how she sets up her stories and her characters are enjoyable. This book lacked some depth to the characters and the ending was typical of the author but because of less character development, it felt lacking.
This is a quick read. Not clean. Ut not trashy.

[Siobhan Muir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cindy Stark does it again. I really enjoy her Aspen UT series. If you haven't tried her writing, what are you waiting on? This story has a mafia daughter hiding out for a month with an ex-marshal who has become the local deputy. The story is sweet and suspenseful as well as hot in the moments it needs to be. Don't get me wrong - this is NOT sweet romance, but the connection between the characters is wonderful and sexy. I highly recommend this author and this series.

[Angi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ariana has been under protection by the US Marshalls before she testifies against her Mob boss father and circumstances put her under Milo's protection. Milo, a former US Marshall, know that he shouldn't get involved with Ariana...however fate has other plans for them. Ariana has decided that she never knows what tomorrow will bring thanks to her father so she pushes Milo's limits until he finally gives in. The result is hot sex and possibly love??

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it!" Very sexy cop.You`re the...sexiest thing thats ever stumbled into my life.From the moment I saw you,Iwanted you.But you`re like the sweetest piece of candy I can`t have.The more I know you,the more I like you,but I can never have you.It`s a sick game the fates are playing with my head.Forgive me for my moment of weakness." Wow what a sweet talker :) loved Milo.

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book in the Aspen series. Lawless by Cindy Stark started out with potential but didn't quite keep it. It was a decent read but could have been better. That could have been due in part to the fact it was a short read and no time was spent in really developing the characters or the plot. That said I would probably still read other books by this author.

[Mothermayhem · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is predictable and the heroine is consistently idiotic. She continually makes bad choices and then hides them, putting people who've taken great risks to protect her in further danger. I think the author wanted her to come across as sweet and innocent in spite of growing up in a crime family but she is selfish and self centered.

[Anna Marie Leffew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cindy Stark has done it again! Another masterpiece

I cannot say enough about this book! It was full of action and emotions. The twist and turns, the ups and downs captured me and had me keep turning the pages. The characters were real to me. I felt their agony and their joy. I highly recommend this book.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great light read which I did enjoy
except for the fact the books are not longer..
I would have love to hear about the trail
and seeing the Milo there watching over her .
Something ... There are still some missing pieces
i believe to the story

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, liked the witness protection aspect. Enjoyed revisiting Aspen and some characters from the first novella. On to the last, still hoping to see a reappearance and comeuppance or personality change for a character from the first novella.

[Barbara Blanc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the Aspen series that Cindy wrote. This was number two and I look forward to reading anymore she has written or will write in this series. As a note I also read her two full length novels and loved them.

[Clancy Metzger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite Ariana's many (and I do mean many) screw-ups, I still really liked her. Not an easy trick to pull off. Milo, well... Milo is my favorite hero (again - or at least while I was reading this one). I realized pretty early in, I'd read this one before. Didn't care - worth reading again.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ariana is put in the protection of an ex-US Marshall, Milo Sykes, as she awaits her chance to testify against her murderous father. Ariana thinks the entire thing is a game and continually makes things harder on Milo, yet he still puts his heart and soul into protecting her.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book and would recommend it. It was a pretty girl-on-the-run and protector love story, but I liked the characters and the tension between them.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read. I enjoyed it a lot.

[BrazGirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars to be more accurate. Good storyline, but it lacked connection with the emotions and feelings of the 2 lead characters.

[Jen_C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had some really fun, flirty dialogue!

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good story with interesting characters. really liked it.

[Sandy Loyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I loved the characters and felt their attraction. Fun story that focused as much on the romance as on the action and suspense.