Nefarious

Rock Candy Romantic Suspense #1

by Tina D.C. Hayes

Harlie Steele is building a new life for herself and her two-year-old daughter, away from her controlling ex-husband. When she falls in love with rock legend Lex Callatori, their whirlwind romance pulls her away from her small-town home and sweeps her into his tempestuous world of paparazzi, tabloids, and bodyguards. She wonders why he’d fall so hard for her when he could have his pick of buxom blonde groupies, and whether the tabloid reports of his violent temper, womanizing ways, and drug addiction could be true. She opens her heart to Lex while emotional scars from years of domestic violence begin to fade.

But trouble looms near, casting a sinister shadow on Harlie and Lex as their passion grows stronger. Driven by jealousy, someone is hell-bent on ending their relationship, one way or the other. Harlie literally fought to stay alive when she left her abusive ex and has no intention of being anyone's victim ever again, but when an obsessed stalker raises the stakes, her strong spirit and will to survive are put to the test.

Genres: Suspense

323 pages, Paperback

First published February 14, 2014

About the author

Tina DC Hayes writes romantic suspense and cozy mysteries with a paranormal twist. She lives down a little country road in western Kentucky with her husband and four children. A few pampered pooches and two parrots keep her company while they stand guard against writer's block. In her spare time she reads, hangs out with friends and family, watches movies, plays guitar, and indulges her inner Foodie in the kitchen and by chowing down at cool restaurants. Currently up to her elbows in diapers, she's an expert at 4 a.m. bottle feedings and Patty Cake.

Reviews

[Courtney Vail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feisty single mom, Harlie, is hoping to have a normal life with her daughter after she escapes the clutches of her abusive husband, but barbs keep popping up on her path to happiness and calm. She's not sure love is in her future because her trust has been broken, as well as some bones. But when she catches rocker, Lex Callatori's eye at a show, she gets pulled into his charm and sex appeal and launches into a wild, hot romance with him. She and Lex soon find themselves hunted by paparazzi and someone much more sinister, who will do anything to rip them apart. Ms. Hayes does an excellent job of balancing the heated romance with the thriller aspect of this book. This novel is as heart-pounding as it steamy and tender, especially when the psycho tightens the noose on this pair. Definitely check this out if you love rocker romance with a strong heroine and crave extra plot substance to a story.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads as part of their giveaways. All in all, this book kept me enthralled. The author does a great job of helping you connect to the characters no matter how rough or unpolished they are. So even though I found myself annoyed at times by them, I still ended up rooting for them in the end.

[Lesli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book is a good mix of romance and suspense. took me longer than normal to figure out who the bad guy was. enjoyed the book.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book... I had a hard time putting it down and missed a few subway stops in the process, it was a mix of Romance and Suspense. A very worth while read.... highly recommended...

[Vonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book from the author, and I loved it. Can't wait to read more from her.

[Lorrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5