Nick doesn’t want to be a hitman. The mobsters holding his younger sister hostage have other plans. With the threat of her death looming, Nick’s only option is to follow orders. Repeatedly. Getting mugged isn’t on Scarlet’s agenda when her janky car breaks down, and she opts to walk home rather than pony up for a cab. But being rescued by a dreamy, brooding, knight-in-shining-hoodie almost makes … almost makes up for it.
Nick’s decision to step out of the bloody shadows and be her hero has dire consequences, shifting pieces in a sick game and setting into motion a plan that’s decades in the making.
With their smoldering chemistry impossible to fight, Nick’s midnight murder trail is at risk of exposure. And wanting what he shouldn’t have could put his heart as the next target, or his loved ones in the crosshairs of a mad-man.
****
Held is a multi-pov romantic suspense novel set in a fictional town with dirty streets and dirtier cops. Run by two mob families with an uneasy truce, Twin Bay is in constant flux. The anti-heroes and heroines struggle, curse, bleed, and die for the love they so desperately want. Each of these novels has dark themes, intense action, meaningful intimacy, rewarding love, & guaranteed happy endings.
Take a walk on the mob side.
CONTENT ADVISORY*
This book contains acts of violence, strong language, and situations that some readers might find triggering.
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I would call this a DARK romance. A steamy Romance. Down right sexy. The tension that arises from Scarlet and Nick’s initial run in…he saves her life….escalates into the many characters lives intersecting in dark places. There are triggers of sexual assaults , Stockholm syndrome, murder, blackmail, manipulation. All sounds not very romantic at all but it is steamy, hot and primal. Nick doesn’t have time to keep saving Scarlet from her sadistic co-worker, he needs to save his sister. He can only save her by earning her freedom in the most damning way. I don’t want to give too much away on the way the three different couples all need one another to get through. In Nick’s own words: “The Universe was Sadistic.” On the bright side, chapter 24 will knock your socks off.
HELD is the first in the Twin Bay Saga series that focuses on a mob run town that is occupied by not one, but two rival families. And when I say rival I mean this is a long, deep, and twisted battle between the two that takes NO prisoners. No one is safe from the corruption and devious minds of those in charge.
Unfortunately for Scarlet, she finds this out first hand when she gets mugged one night. Fortunately this turn of events brings a sexy hero to her rescue. The mysterious stranger saves her from a potentially horrible fate and entices her in a way she never expected.
But Scarlet’s hero is a rather tortured soul and even though he is completely attracted to his damsel in distress, he knows the complications and dirty reality of his life are far too much for her to be burdened with. So he pushes her away.
Fate, in the form of a rather sinister villain, steps in and not only throws Scarlet and Nick on the path to each other over and over with each interaction steadily growing as the threat surrounding them intensified. Even though the only other woman in Nick’s life, his baby sister Anna, is in the grip of a madman and even though he worries the same will happen to Scarlet, the two are helpless to fight the palpable chemistry between them.
Held is the definition of a page turner with a story that grips you by the throat and refuses to let go until the final page.
The good news: This is only book one in a thrilling upcoming series.
The bad news: You’ve gotta wait a few more weeks for book two!
What you need to do: Run out today and grab a copy of Held then smash the preorder for Hidden because you’ll need to find out how Anna’s story ends… and it certainly isn’t on the last page of Held!
Loved the book it was great, the story was well written and the characters are interesting. This book was a bit different but still good, I enjoyed the action the twist and the chemistry between Nick and Scarlet.
Thank you for allowing me to review your book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What would you do to keep a loved one safe?
Held is the first book I have read by T.K. Barber. I was not sure what to expect but the book description looked very interesting plus I always like to discover a new author that I like. So I picked up this book in hopes that I would be right on both things…………..and I was!!!
This is a dark and really suspenseful romance story between Nick and Scarlet. Nick is just your normal guy with a heart of gold. He has been raising his little sister and working at a hardware store. That is until it all blows up when his sister is kidnapped and he is forced into a no win moral decision. In order to keep her safe and hopefully get her back he must follow the texts he receives and kill people. This is over and over again as she is held for weeks. After each successful kill he is able to talk with his sister.
One night after one of his late night jobs he sees Scarlet and she needs some rescuing. There is an immediate attraction and fireworks between them but he cannot risk becoming involved with anyone while his life is in chaos. However, they keep encountering each other over and over until finally some things breaks wide open.
Held is a very interesting story-line that held my attention and kept it. I enjoyed reading my first book by T.K. Barber and look forward to reading the next in this series when it is published.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are all my own.
HELD is the first book in The Twin Bay Saga and what a great beginning.
This is a mafia romance with great character.
The story is well written, beautiful suspense romance with touch of violence . This book keeps your interest from the start and keeps it until the very end. I am looking forward for more in this great new series.
I read and reviewed a copy of this ARC
Heart gripping story with an epic HEA!!!
Where to begin? This mob suspense STORY will stick with you for days, weeks, and months all the while having you checking the calendar for the release day of book 2. YES! This is a series. And when I saw who the main character was on the cover of book 2, I ugly cried some more. Seriously. All the waterproof mascara, people. Back to this book. So. This book will leave you raw. In the best way. Your feelings are taken on an amazing journey through a story crafted by a master. Really. I felt like I was in that apartment sitting down next to that wicker placemat. Nope. I’m not gonna spoil anymore. This author knows how to tell a story. The characters each have their own story to tell and I am super happy this is not the last we will see of them. It better not be…is it?!?!?!? Great, now I am crying again. Okay, deep breath. I love dark stories where the main charterers walk the line of good and bad so I was HOOKED at the first paragraph. This story will have you screaming and crying and sighing. Nick and Scarlet=HOT. A leading lady who is not afraid to speak her mind. A leading man who wars with his. <3 I cannot wait for book 2.
I really enjoyed this mafia romantic suspense. The characters are well written and I found myself pulling a bad guy that is really a good guy. I’ll definitely be reading more of TK Barber’s books.
Her words will leave you spinning, her characters with your heart aching yet somehow full of hope. Nic is a beautifully broken male lead with a complex layer of motivations and triggers, quite literally. Take a deep breath, have the comfort vices ready, and jump into this breathless ride of a T.K. Barber read.
Wow! First time reading from this author and what a dark treat it was!
If dark Mobster romances are your thing, this is a must read for you.
I loved the multiple POVs and the simultaneous storylines that intersected with one another.
Scarlet and Nick, Tommy and Annalise, and even a few other relationships that are cleverly hinted at.
Extremely violent and gritty environment where true passion and love developed during desperate times.
Well written tale woven to create a deeper storyline that was fast paced, exciting and edgy.
Not all of the answers are given in this book, but no cliffy and a truly satisfying HEA for the main couple Nick and Scarlet.
This was a genuine find!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I don’t normally read romance. Having said that, Held is so much more than just a romance novel. There are elements of mystery, suspense, thriller and crime all wrapped up in the love story of Nick and Scarlet. These characters have depth and believability. The plot is quick paced and keeps you wondering what’s around the next corner, a love interest or a gun!
Twin Bay is a seedy, dirty town where law abiding citizens find themselves on the endangered list. I was caught up in the intrigues between the families running this town. Mobsters with hearts and without clash in an escalating cycle of violence and passion that can only end one way. And that way is … you’ll have to read the book to find out. And it’s just the first book told in this setting.
Held is a stunning novel from an exciting new voice in multi-genre romance. I look forward to TK Barber’s next novel. Five stars all the way!
Tk Barber does an amazing job of pulling you into the lives of Nick, Scarlet, Annalise and Thomas. I fell in love with the four of them from the very beginning, but especially Thomas. You feel their pain and heartache as you read Held. Nick and Scarlet are perfect for each other but Thomas and Annalise stole my heart, they are absolutely adorable together. I couldn’t put this book down, I had to know what was going to happen next. TK did a great job at keeping me guessing throughout the book. I never would have anticipated the ending or my broken heart.