A Delicate Negotiation

Endless Obsession #3

by Layne Daniels

Until one of my operatives located Piper Clark in a rundown warehouse, tied up and desperate for a savior, I would have claimed to be a decent man doing bad things for the right reasons. Now I know the truth. I’m a wicked man, doing even worse things, for one reason alone.

Giving Piper the world is the only thing I care about anymore, whether she realizes I’m the wizard behind the curtain or not.

Before her abduction, Piper was a cam girl, so I know she’s used to being watched. A smart girl. I know she feels my eyes on her now. Feels the way my obsession mounts with every deep inhalation of her meditations. Senses my presence when she wakes from nightmares in the bedroom I arranged for her in the complex one of my shell companies owns.

The only real question is, when Piper discovers what a dangerous man she’s driven to madness, will she be smart enough to deny me? Not that it matters.

Piper Clark belongs to me. I keep what is mine.

These characters appear in the book A Delicate Proposition, the story of how Aullie and Graham broke bad and found the love of a lifetime. This book is a standalone, but does share characters with A Delicate Proposition.

Genres: Contemporary

61 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 10, 2022

Reviews

[vxhexn reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this story could be read as a standalone, the experience is enhanced when you read A Delicate Proposition first. There you will meet Aullie, Graham, and Jaythan. You will also get a preview of Hale as Aullie’s boss and handler.

In the last book, A Delicate Proposition we saw the conditions Piper was rescued from, and I was anxious to know that outcome. I appreciated the refresher the author added to the beginning of this book so I didn’t have to go back and hunt down the scene too.

Learning that Piper has become an obsession for Hale, one that he simply cannot let go, could come across as an undesirable situation. Yet seeing how Piper reacts to his monitoring left me swooning for that type of treatment. I truly enjoy how the author brings you into the little slices of life she creates for her characters. You come to relate to their desires, emotions, wants, and needs.

Hale doesn’t push Piper past her limits, he allows her to heal while studying her life. He learns the foods that she enjoys, the toiletries she prefers, he even goes as far to learn her cycles so she is never left without something she needs. He buys her the best clothing to keep her warm and comfortable, never anything scratchy. He helps her with a psychologist/psychiatrist so she can heal her mind after the events that transpired.

I especially enjoyed how Hale waited until she understood the magnitude of her future before he went to her and made his presence known. He wanted to ensure that it was Piper’s decision that led to their new life together. Watching their romance unfold is definitely worth the read.



𝓋𝓍𝒽𝑒𝓍𝓃 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓈
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[Oriana Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piper was abducted and saved by Hale and his employee. Now Piper lives a lavish lifestyle and doesn't really know why.... Or maybe she does 😉 Hale saved Piper and as soon as he met her he fell hard and fast. But she needed time to heal and to be ready to be Hales everything. He is obsessed and a kind of sweet stalker too. 😍 I really loved how in love and obsessed Hale was. Instalove, sweet, romantic, steamy, dark and safe with a sweet HEA and no drama😍😍😍😍

[Syd Springer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hale and Piper were wonderful together. I loved the obsessed and protective Hale and how Piper loves him for it. This was a intense gripping book and I had a hard time putting it down.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[T Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

HEA
Standalone, interconnected characters
Rescuer
The Delicate series Book 1
Endless Obsession series Book 3

*over 18 readers only*

Trigger warnings
Trafficking
Vigilante Justice
Murder
Kidnapping
Abuse by stepfather



Piper Clark (mfc, cam girl)
Hale Andrews (39ish, mmc)

Aullie Same Peters (contract assassin)
Jaythan Peters (nephew of Graham)
Graham Peters (Aullie's husband, billionaire)
Meredith (housekeeper for Peters)

Aullie killed the men who were holding and trafficking Piper. She knew not to take Piper with her, so she made Hale come get her. He took her to the hospital. Before her abduction, she was a cam girl. He scrubbed her from the internet. [Honestly, I would have expected him to have Graham, the tech genius, do this.] Hale suspects her ex set her up to be abducted, but he's making sure she will be safe from now on. Aullie has even made herself available for friendship. Piper knows there will be a price to pay for everything Hale is doing for her, but she's putting it off as long as possible.


You do not have to read these in order, but it helps. I did not. I read them as 4,3,1,2. This one really does need to come after ADP, but it has an intro in case you read out of order.

Delicate series
A Delicate Proposition
A Delicate Negotiation
A Delicate Omission
Unfairest

[Anna M_82 · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this follow up from “Delicate Proposition” we are blessed with the story of Hale and Piper. This is still a standalone but that book gives readers the introduction to these characters as well as more of their backstory. Plus it’s a fantastic book so you will want to read it anyway!!!

Hale and Piper are obsession trope perfection!! After Hale rescues Piper from a living nightmare he becomes consumed with all things Piper. He loves and breathes her in every waking moment and even every sleeping moment. He tries to be patient with her healing even if every moment without her is tortuous. Piper can feel him watching her and she longs to know who is her safe place but she holds back. These characters and the writing of this book had me enthralled every moment! I couldn’t get enough and I even read it twice already! The world Layne Daniels created in these two books is fascinating and I’m thrilled that I got to be part of the ride.

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rebecca Grove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hale is trying to make the world a better place but he's not doing it legally. He has operatives that he sends in to kill bad guys and save good guys. He also has a clean up team that cleans up after the operatives. This story is a side story to A Delicate Proposition with two new main characters. When Aullie comes in and kills two human traffickers, she calls Hale in to clean up. When he sees their victim Piper, Hale becomes immediately obsessed. He is always watching her and making sure that she has everything she needs. He would make his move sooner but she has a lot of emotional stuff to work through. He even pulls Aullie in to help her feel more secure. Piper has been told that there is an important folder in the study when she is ready to take the next step. Piper knows that she is being watched but it almost makes her feel protected instead of afraid.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Raecharmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hale takes care of bad guys to he can do his part in keeping people safe. When he is called to take care of a cleanup of two bad guys that were killed because they were trafficking women. When Hale sees Piper one of their victims, he is drawn to her. He wants her to get better because he wants her for his own. So he starts watching her as well as having other people help him. Piper can sense that she's being watched but she isn't fearful. She just waits for the person to come out of the shadows. Will Piper ever be able to move on with Hale?

This a great story that will captivate you from beginning to end. This is a well written and very entertaining story. It's a book that any book lover would enjoy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sommer Lovett · Rating 4 out of 5]

SLOW Burning Book 📖 Will Read More by this Author ✍️

I believe this is the first I read by this author. It was written well. The one and only sexy scene was pretty good but short considering it is the only one. The reason for 4 stars 🌟 is because there was only one scene, lol, and didn’t happen until after 80%. I understand the reason to wait, but I expected to have a little bit more chapters and at least one more sexy scene but the next chapter was the epilogue.
I read this through KU and I am not going to buy it but will read more. You will like this book if you like OTT Alphas who are not all that law-abiding of a character. 😈. If you want the OTT Gray Area Male MC with erotica mixed in that is not this book. If you like slow burn but not all cookie cutter characters then you will like this book. A good book to read on KU for sure.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can I sign up for a Hale?

I really liked this story a lot. It was entertaining and enjoyable although it briefly touches on human trafficking and violence. The characters were interesting and likable. Aullie seemed interesting and I would love to learn more about her. The relationship between Aullie and Piper seemed like it was a good one but it would have been nice to see that relationship. Hale rescued Piper but he also decided that he was going to keep her. He was protective, possessive, and obsessive even though he tried to give her time to heal. Piper knew that she was being watched. Instead of being afraid, she felt safe and seen. Their relationship goes from zero to one hundred super fast. I liked how the story ended. I do wish that there was another epilogue further out but that’s just me. I recommend reading this book.

[CLorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Layne Daniels always gives us such interesting characters. This book starts where book 1 ends. Aullie is busy taking out the trash, ably assisted by Graham and monitored by Hale. When she rescues Piper, she leaves Hale to do the extraction. Once Hale sees the vision that is Piper he is beyond smitten. He makes it his life's work to protect her and give her all of the opportunities she lacked before. If his protection looks a bit like stalking then so be it!! I loved seeing where Aullie is and how her relationship with Graham is unfolding. Hale is a wonderful hero and his version of love is extremely compelling. I absolutely enjoyed this quick, hot story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kristine L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hale was the one that carried Piper out of the wearhouse after she had been kidnapped by human traffickers. He set up his Condo so that Piper could heal after being abducted. Piper feels him in the Condo watching her but she's not scared. Hale is waiting for Piper to read the envelope. I love the characters, and finally the interaction when they meet. It was so hot that I had smoke coming out off my Kindle. Can't wait to read the next "Obsession" story. Highly recommend reading A Delicate Proposition first which introduces you to Aullie and Graham. Beautiful ending.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[casvec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hale helped rescue her from being trafficked, and now he wants her for his own, he just needs to wait for Piper to be ready for him.

Piper was a cam girl, used to being watched, but in this new place she knows whoever has eyes on her will not hurt her. She just needs to be able to accept the truth.

Hot, steamy with a bit of intense moments as Piper recovers from her ordeal. Hale finds that she is his world and can't wait for to be hers. Great story that grips you from the start and holds you with each turn of the page.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

He’s Always Watching…
And Piper is all for being watched. She’s been a cam girl, then a victim of human trafficking; now that she’s steady again, she wants to know about the man watching her. Hale is completely obsessed with Piper, providing for her every need, watching her silently until she’s ready for more. This story is a delicious build up of tension, watching and waiting, that when Hale and Piper finally come together it’s both explosive and a relieved sigh. I always love Layne Daniels’ over the top alpha males and strong females, and this story is no exception.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

After saving Piper Hale becomes obsessed with her and goes into protective, creepy watching over her mode. I loved the tie into A Delicate Proposition from the Criminal Desires multi-author series. This is a short and steamy insta lust story with mystery, suspense, and intriguing characters who fall for each other in an interesting way. The writing is good, the story is a great addition to the multi-author Endless Obsession series. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our hero is not a particularly nice guy, but someone about our heroine brings out his better instincts. Can he pull it off without scaring her away?

The story is well written and easy to read with a very intriguing plot to it. Our hero is walking a fine line with out heroine and it is quite engaging to watch.
Things proceed at a good pace and do result in plenty of steam. Beyond that, you are really just going to have to read it to figure out how it works. But I do believe it will be worth it.

Highly recommended.

I received an ARC from Booksprout for review purposes.

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Piper was rescuers from human traffickers she never met the man who held her. Hale couldn’t let her go. Maybe he wasn’t with her but he was watching and waiting for her to heal. He needed her like he needed air. This was an amazing story. It was a quick read. I loved the storyline and the characters. It had so many emotions. I would definitely recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Natasha Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Hale rescued Piper from human traffickers he was instantly in love. His obsession was born. He waited and watched and kept her safe while she healed physically and emotionally. She knew he was watching, could feel his eyes on her. He was completely obsessed, she was his one! Dark, steamy, instalove romance. Fantastically written with amazing chemistry and a beautiful HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sabrina Flachsmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good. It's a continuation of A Delicate Proposition, the story of how Aullie and Graham meet. Piper has had it rough. We meet her at the end of the previous story when Aullie goes on a mission. It's really Hale that rescues her though. He knows she needs time and strives to give it to her. I loved the premise of this one, the characters made it interested to read and overall enjoyed it a ton.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piper is saved by Aullie (her story is A Delicate Proposition) doing a job for Hale. Hale sees Piper and knows she is his, but he knows he has to wait due to what she has been thru.

Piper knows she is being watched, but is does not scare her, it makes her feel safe. When is he going to come out of the shadows and show himself?.

I received an Advance Readers Copy of this book with no obligation to write a review.

[Joyjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was more interested in their friends

Set your expectations. This is a series with over the top novellas about obsession and morally gray guys. I liked this story. It was super stalkery but heroine doesn't get creepy vibes which makes it feel less dark. No cheating, no cliffhanger, is a standalone but with interconnected stories. I'm totally checking out Aullie and Graham's story because they seem to be more colorful characters.

[Amie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows what happens to someone after an abduction and the strength a single moment together will bring to two people that find love with each other. Hale obsession with Piper is what makes this a good love story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mistie Best · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really good. Hale knew right away that he'd do anything to protect and care for Piper, even if he had to do it behind the scenes. Piper knew she was being watched, but she knew her protector would always look out for her. The two of them were sweet and steamy. I really enjoyed their dynamic.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Hale rescued trafficked Piper it became thebstart of his ibsession, but he watched from afar, she knew he was watching and just waiting for the r9ght time to claim what's his. Well written steamy spicy obsessive short romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to be honest that I liked the first book better. Hale rescues Piper but then she's on her own for 3/4 of the book. There was no chemistry buildup or interactions between them. The end was steamy and while this was enjoyable, it wasn't as good as the first book in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sarah Nielsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good safe stalking romance but it isn’t my favorite trope. The story was really well written and I did enjoy it. Piper and Hale had a very unique connection and that made for an interesting storyline.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Hale really is obsessed with Piper. Piper is a Camgirl who's boyfriend sets her up to be taken by traffickers. Aulie saves her. While Hale saves & gets her out, he falls in love. He protects, watches over (really watches) and gives her everything she could ever need... Really good.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars
A very interesting and entertaining short story that was a wonderful read. I loved the mystery, suspense and drama surrounding the characters. I loved the fascinating reveals which heightened my emotions and enjoyment. I loved that it was another look inside this intriguing world.

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tracy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Delicate Negotiation: Endless Obsession
by
Layne Daniels

The story and characters, Piper and Hale are well written.I love the growth and the space that Hale gave Piper to feel safe with him. Such a great story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lizette Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Layne has given us such a great read in the Endless obsession series. She always gives us the greatest characters and stories. Hale is so protective and he will stop at nothing to keep and protect her. An insta love ending for these two incredible characters.

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has given us a wonderful story that pulls us into the lives of Hale and Piper and does not let go. The story keeps us turning the pages with fear, danger, obsession and steam.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.