Once Upon A Romance

Once Upon A Romance's Review Of...
A Kiss to Die For by Gail Barrett

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Cover art: A Kiss to Die For Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: A Kiss to Die For - 2nd in the Buried Secrets trilogy/series
Author: Gail Barrett
Publisher: Harlequin Suspense
ISBN-13: 978-0373278367
Release Date: August 2013
Genre/Sub-genre: Romantic Suspense
Year/Setting: Current/Baltimore
Overall Rating: 4.5
Sexual Content Rating: Sensual
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: Mild
Violent Content Rating: Minimal
Gail's Website/Blog: www.gailbarrett.com


Sullivan Turner is an Army veteran and while his service was honorable, he feels anything but. On his last mission, he lost all of his men, including his best friend. All he has left is the home his friend left him in the will. The house is empty of everything but memories, thoughts Sully doesn’t know if he can handle. Alcohol becomes his new best friend because at least it holds off the memories for a while. He is losing the ability to see or hear what is going on around him until one night he hears sounds outside that breaks through the memories.

Haley Barnes started her life as a debutante but being the second daughter, she was used to living in the shadows. When her older sister died, she became non-existent and making a mistake cast her even further away from her parents. In fact, it pushed her to living on the streets. She found a new family for herself and her baby with B.K. Elliott and Nadira al Kahtani.

Unfortunately, these three young women were witnesses to something they never intended and have been on the run ever since. Haley is finally creating a life for herself. She lost her baby while on the streets and she is determined that no other girl will suffer that same fate. Establishing a shelter for them has given her life purpose and each of these girls becomes her own. When one is missing, she risks her own life to help. One such event happens outside the home of a homeless man who quickly comes to her aid and becomes a key factor in saving them all.

The second in The Buried Secrets Trilogy is every bit as good as the first. A Kiss To Die For is a continuation of the illustration of life on the streets. The poignancy of the life facing children on the streets is really well shown. The reader gets a sense of what these children are facing but it is done in such a way as befits a fictional piece. I commend the author for this. Gail Barrett did a really good job with setting the scenery and created some good word pictures for the reader’s mind.

The best part of the manuscript, however, is the characters. Haley and Sully each have inner conflicts they are trying to solve for themselves but coming together makes them both stronger. One note about the trilogy, yes the book can be read as a stand-alone but having read the first story did help with some background. The only thing I would have liked to seen a touch more realistic was the alcohol addiction Sully had. Having lived through something similar with a family member, the DTs would have been a bit tougher but the sake of the story this process made sense.

A Kiss To Die For is well done and I am greatly looking forward to the next installment.

Lori

Question or comment regarding the review or the book? Click here and let Lori know.





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