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Torrid Tarot
Gallant
No escape. No turning back. And no resisting a storm of desire...
When Reno Arjona surfaces from a dive to discover he and his boss’s woman have been left behind, he knows one thing: he’s on his own. His undercover mission to bring down Vasco, a notorious Colombian drug lord, is too important to risk blowing his cover.
Once he tows Lacey Manning through miles of stormy ocean to a deserted island, all they have to do is wait. Because Lacey belongs to Vasco, and Vasco always comes for what’s his.
Since the moment she accepted Vasco’s friendly invitation for a drink, Lacey has lived in terror, an unwilling “guest” watched day and night. Only in her bodyguard’s arms, she feels safe. And on the island, there are no distractions from the forbidden sexual tension between them...
But the storm is only the start of the danger they're in. And the only way to save Lacey may be to break his silence—and pray that when the bullets start flying, it won’t be friendly fire that destroys their hearts.
When Reno Arjona surfaces from a dive to discover he and his boss’s woman have been left behind, he knows one thing: he’s on his own. His undercover mission to bring down Vasco, a notorious Colombian drug lord, is too important to risk blowing his cover.
Once he tows Lacey Manning through miles of stormy ocean to a deserted island, all they have to do is wait. Because Lacey belongs to Vasco, and Vasco always comes for what’s his.
Since the moment she accepted Vasco’s friendly invitation for a drink, Lacey has lived in terror, an unwilling “guest” watched day and night. Only in her bodyguard’s arms, she feels safe. And on the island, there are no distractions from the forbidden sexual tension between them...
But the storm is only the start of the danger they're in. And the only way to save Lacey may be to break his silence—and pray that when the bullets start flying, it won’t be friendly fire that destroys their hearts.
140 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 9, 2008
About the author
Melissa Combs
21 books55 followersMelissa writes for herself and creates her worlds for her characters. She's authored stories in several different genres of romance, including paranormal, contemporary, suspense, dark fantasy, historical, futuristic, and horror. Besides writing under her own name, she's collaborated with Mechele Armstrong. She's been interested in the human psyche and paranormal activities since she gained eyesight at the age of twenty-two. She's earned dual MAs in English and creative writing and advocates for the blind.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 13, 2021
Actually 3.5 stars
Ex-Navy SEAL turned undercover agent Reno Arjona is playing bodyguard and dive instructor or his drug dealer boss's girlfriend when their boat disappears. He gets himself and Lacey Manning to safety (on a deserted island) where he discovers Lacey is not with her "boyfriend" by choice. However, he can't risk letting on his real identity and blowing the whole case.
If this had been a full novel, it might have been a full five stars. While the writing is good and the characters are interesting, Gallant feels incomplete. Who is Reno really and why does he hate this drug dealer so much? What is the organization he's working with? Why did the bad guy choose to kidnap Lacey and what has she been through? I wanted more.
Ex-Navy SEAL turned undercover agent Reno Arjona is playing bodyguard and dive instructor or his drug dealer boss's girlfriend when their boat disappears. He gets himself and Lacey Manning to safety (on a deserted island) where he discovers Lacey is not with her "boyfriend" by choice. However, he can't risk letting on his real identity and blowing the whole case.
If this had been a full novel, it might have been a full five stars. While the writing is good and the characters are interesting, Gallant feels incomplete. Who is Reno really and why does he hate this drug dealer so much? What is the organization he's working with? Why did the bad guy choose to kidnap Lacey and what has she been through? I wanted more.
January 20, 2021
This was a super quick read as part of the Susan Stoker world. I’m assuming bits were adjusted to fit the series as it was originally written in 2008. Kind of wish more story was added too because everything just rushed by and didn’t feel overly believable. The heroine is kidnapped by a drug lord while on vacation and for months has been his prisoner. There are a few perks like luxury yachts, being spoiled and having her own security, but of course all the heroine wants is to escape and she can’t. On an excursion snorkeling with one of her guards, the two rise only to find the boat gone and them stranded in the middle of the ocean. Luckily she’s with a military man who will not only battle beasts in the water but help her stay alive. They find themselves on a secluded island and have one night of passion before her captor claims her back. Being undercover is hard for the hero and no matter his feelings for the heroine he can’t blow his cover without completing his mission. The short length of the book made things a bit harder to believe but it wasn’t a bad read.
March 7, 2023
The start is strong. The sex scenes are unabashedly kinky and well written. The story is... well, it is certainly a simplified version of the already simple fairy tale we all know: The miller brags to the king about his daughter's ability to spin straw into gold. As a result, the king imprisons her in his castle, forcing her to spin a room full of straw into gold for three nights, with the promise that he will marry her upon completion of her task.
This story begins at Johann's imprisonment, and we do not even meet the king. Eventually, the king proposes to the miller's daughter, and then we meet some new characters that were not in the original fairy tale, and then the story takes a completely unexpected turn.
This isn't so much a retelling as a completely new story with a couple characters and a scenario borrowed from the Grimm tale. The story was working well up until the ending, which felt abrupt and unsatisfying. I would have liked to see the author keep the erotic angle while staying more true to the original tale, or at least building up to the new ending.
This story begins at Johann's imprisonment, and we do not even meet the king. Eventually, the king proposes to the miller's daughter, and then we meet some new characters that were not in the original fairy tale, and then the story takes a completely unexpected turn.
This isn't so much a retelling as a completely new story with a couple characters and a scenario borrowed from the Grimm tale. The story was working well up until the ending, which felt abrupt and unsatisfying. I would have liked to see the author keep the erotic angle while staying more true to the original tale, or at least building up to the new ending.
May 20, 2018
Good story.
This was a well written quick read. I liked the characters, there are some mentioned that I would like to see get their own stories. The storyline is fast paced and detailed.
This was a well written quick read. I liked the characters, there are some mentioned that I would like to see get their own stories. The storyline is fast paced and detailed.
September 7, 2020
Good read
Reno was one of Lacey's bodyguards. They were scuba diving and when they reached the surface the boat that had taken them was gone. Reno managed to help her swim long enough to make it to an island. There they found shelter and each other.
Reno was one of Lacey's bodyguards. They were scuba diving and when they reached the surface the boat that had taken them was gone. Reno managed to help her swim long enough to make it to an island. There they found shelter and each other.
March 23, 2021
Another incredible book by Melissa Combs!!!!
One of my favorite authors! Great read! Fast paced book with lots of ~ s t e a m ~ which I’m all about! Plus action?! Yes this book was EVERYTHING! I wish there was more!
One of my favorite authors! Great read! Fast paced book with lots of ~ s t e a m ~ which I’m all about! Plus action?! Yes this book was EVERYTHING! I wish there was more!
December 13, 2017
Lots of drama for such a short book.
September 30, 2019
I liked this... but needs some proof-reading. Silly spelling mistakes... 'shiela' instead of 'sheila'... 'ascent' instead of 'assent' took away from the reading. Silly & avoidable. But I liked it!
March 22, 2021
Great read! Fast paced book with lots of ~ s t e a m ~ which I’m all about! Plus action?! Yes this book was EVERYTHING! I wish there was more!
October 11, 2014
Reviewed by Lori
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
This was a really short but highly entertaining read. That being said, this is going to be a challenge to review because I don’t want to give anything away for the reader. The two protagonists don’t address each other by name, only Sir and Girl. I really liked that, the characters were cloaked in secrecy from the reader. They could be anyone. They could be me, they could be you. That kind of suspense is something I really like. Girl wants very much to please Sir, she tries very hard to follow the dictates that they agree upon. As an aside, if you are reading this review and BDSM books are your thing, then no explaining is necessary, if you don’t know anything about BDSM please know that this is what Girl wants and she is in no way forced into anything that Sir desires of her. Girl is devoted to Sir and Sir is all about worshiping Girl. It’s beautiful to read how much they desire each other. Sir is all about domination and control over Girl. Not in a abusive non consenting control. He wants to help Girl be a better woman and he loves her very much. I love the after care when a scene is completed. It’s amazing how much the man is all about making sure his woman is cared for and comforted and is ok after a scene. I love reading that. As you can read from the blub, Girl is in for some delicious punishment when Sir gets home, but there is so much more to this then meets the eye and I hope that you give this little short story a chance.
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
This was a really short but highly entertaining read. That being said, this is going to be a challenge to review because I don’t want to give anything away for the reader. The two protagonists don’t address each other by name, only Sir and Girl. I really liked that, the characters were cloaked in secrecy from the reader. They could be anyone. They could be me, they could be you. That kind of suspense is something I really like. Girl wants very much to please Sir, she tries very hard to follow the dictates that they agree upon. As an aside, if you are reading this review and BDSM books are your thing, then no explaining is necessary, if you don’t know anything about BDSM please know that this is what Girl wants and she is in no way forced into anything that Sir desires of her. Girl is devoted to Sir and Sir is all about worshiping Girl. It’s beautiful to read how much they desire each other. Sir is all about domination and control over Girl. Not in a abusive non consenting control. He wants to help Girl be a better woman and he loves her very much. I love the after care when a scene is completed. It’s amazing how much the man is all about making sure his woman is cared for and comforted and is ok after a scene. I love reading that. As you can read from the blub, Girl is in for some delicious punishment when Sir gets home, but there is so much more to this then meets the eye and I hope that you give this little short story a chance.
December 25, 2013
Night Owl Review
Original Review Published here: http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Rev...
Victoria is looking for a ménage; she wants a dom and a sub. She is very realistic in not many dom’s want a sub that has a sub with them. When she finally meets a dom that is willing to take both of them on is she will to surrender?
The chemistry between Victoria and Ben, her sub is amazing. When you add Jethro as the dom of both Victoria and Ben, the chemistry off the charts. The sex was hot and steamy.
The one complain I had was I felt as if I was missing something, like there was a book that goes with this one to complete the tale. Overall, this was a short but great read. It was the right mix of sex and story without too much of either.
Original Review Published here: http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Rev...
Victoria is looking for a ménage; she wants a dom and a sub. She is very realistic in not many dom’s want a sub that has a sub with them. When she finally meets a dom that is willing to take both of them on is she will to surrender?
The chemistry between Victoria and Ben, her sub is amazing. When you add Jethro as the dom of both Victoria and Ben, the chemistry off the charts. The sex was hot and steamy.
The one complain I had was I felt as if I was missing something, like there was a book that goes with this one to complete the tale. Overall, this was a short but great read. It was the right mix of sex and story without too much of either.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews