Since moving to beautiful Cedar Tree, Colorado, Emma Young, mother of one adult daughter, has worked from home doing some online bookkeeping and baking for her best friend’s diner to supplement her disability pension. Life has been pretty good, that is until she received a strange phone call that starts an alarming chain of events.
Investigator Gus Flemming is hot on the trail of a bail skip … bail skip with organized crime connections that bring him to Cedar Tree. Once there, the focus of his investigation lands squarely on the gently rounded shoulders of a vivacious red haired Emma, whose physical limitations have done nothing to damped her zest for life.
When it becomes clear that Emma is at risk, Gus does’t hesitate to step in and protect her. Call it a job with some very hot benefits……
Due to content of a sexually explicit nature, this book is recommended for a mature audience only.
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“Fantastic Debut Novel Full of Love, Intrigue, and Spicy Lovin’!”
– Author Gina Sorelle
“Freya’s writing and storytelling had me pulled me in from the start…”
– Book Loving Pixie Blog
“I fell in love with Emma and Gus in Slim To None. Freya Barker has created these characters so well they will melt your heart.”
– Debb’s Reads Blog
“Loved this book! Don’t want to give anything away….because you MUST read, but I will say this: For a debut novel, Freya hit this one out of the park!”
– Author R.B. Hilliard
“This is a story with brilliant and outstanding characters that you all should read!! Slim to None is original, mysterious, sexy and absolutely amazing!”
– Mia’s Point Of View
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Good characters in a well written interesting story
When an author has to open a book with a graphic sexual scene, I figure they have no imagination and therefore a weak story. Deleted this book from my reader and cloud after finishing the Prologue at a skim.
I just love how the guys are hunky and a bit alpha and the women are real, flawed and have tons of sass to go around. You get to start to know others in town as well as get drawn into a suspenseful and steamy read that had me starting the next book as soon as I put this one down!
Absolutely loved this book.
Loved the storyline and all the characters.
Fell in love with Emma and Gus. Wow how hot and steamy they could get in and out of the sheets.
Loved the connection between them all especially Arlene and Emma.
The whole group of this story were amazing and will keep you on the edge of your seat. I couldn’t put this book down…I just needed to get to the end and my God was it worth the read.
You will truly go on an unexpected journey with this book.
Another fabulous story by Freya Barker! I am definitely behind since it looks like this was published in 2014, I have so much to look forward to! Like so many people who have reviewed this book, I loved that her books features mature characters with a sexy storyline. I loved both Gus and Emma so much. Emma is a strong and feisty heroine, who even with her disability does not give up, she has the guts to live for herself now. Gus is just plain awesome, he is the ultimate alpha male who is also so freaking sweet! I loved the way he treated Emma, not as an invalid but as a woman he could not keep his hands off of.
The suspense portion definitely kept me intrigued, at one point I thought all was resolved and then realized that I was only a little over 60%. Talk about twists and turns in this story!
As much as I loved this story, I am still not a huge fan of the older woman/younger man scenario. Granted, they were both in their forties and at this point, age should not matter so much, its just a quirk of mine, still loved the story though.
I can not wait to continue on with this series, the secondary characters were amazing and to see their happily ever after would be awesome.
Favorite Quotes:
“Finally! You get some action, and it has had to be from a stranger on the phone? I’m dying here…”
“Hells bells, if I didn’t know any better, I’d swear you were trying to give each other an endoscopy by tongue.”
“If I could, I would stop time, – right here in this moment.”
“He never had known this kind of feeling before, but he was sure this had to be it. A moment in time where everything could stop, just as it was and never change, and it would be absolute perfection. This was it. Happiness. Who’d have thought?”
My Review:
I have a new favorite author, Freya Barker is the bomb! This is my first time perusing her work and I am hooked and rejoicing in the knowledge that I have 5 more of her books already loaded on my beloved kindle. I adored the characters in this book – they were delightful to read with their free flowing expletives and naughty banter, something not usually seen written for ladies in their forties. These gals were feisty, fun, witty, and more than surviving under duress. Being on the other side of 40… um – okay 50… reading books about 20 year olds becomes more than a bit tiresome. So I absolutely reveled in this story and gobbled up Ms. Barker’s crisp, descriptive, and humorous writing style. The writing was engrossing yet comfortable, easy to follow, intriguing, and sizzling with sensuality. I was entertained from the first to the last page. More!
Even though I read book two of the series first, I was anxious to read Ms. Barker’s Slim to None before proceeding in the series. I love a writer who can bring characters to life that are real and not perfect. We all know people who are like the characters in this series, full of flaws but true blue in their emotions and actions. As I read through the book, I could identify people from my life that were very much like the people of Cedar Tree. The dialogue between characters is realistic and very concise.
The plot is well thought out and developed, it plays well into the upcoming books in the series. I love a good story filled with suspense and intrigue and Ms. Barker supplies that and much more. While her characters are mature they are certainly not celibate, even if they may have physical limitations which call for creativity. The writing is loving, sensual and damn sexy. The relationship between Gus and Emma may seem to blossom overnight, but mature characters know what they want in life and don’t need to play the games new adults do. While Emma may seem disabled, she is a fiercely independent woman and I adore her spunk.Through no fault of her own she is pulled into a dangerous situation, while Gus is determined to protect her. As all women tend to be, she tends to doubt herself and the ability to be attractive to a man, especially a strong alpha like Gus. Good thing Gus knows exactly what he needs in his life, even though he might not have been actively looking.
If you are looking for a series that incorporates suspense, humor, and sensual relationships. Visit the Cedar Tree series and start with Slim to None, you’ll be glad you did.
4.5 STARS
Slim to None is an intriguing, sexy, fast paced suspenseful story.
Emma is a real woman with real life issues. Like many women, she is not feeling like she is up to par as a result of her disabilities and her current stage in life. That being said she decided to put herself first and moved to her dream spot to be with a soul friend leaving her daughter Kara behind to live her own life. Emma does not take instructions well and can be a little feisty.
Without knowing it Emma finds herself in the thick of things and that is where she meets Gus. Handsome, strong, sexy, protective, take charge Gus. Emma and Gus have a fast connection but Emma is reluctant to put herself out there. Gus does not come solely he brings a team full of wonderful people who are completely enveloped in the story.
With many twists and turns throughout the book it causes that, one more chapter reading. Before you know it you have finished and are in love with all the characters.
This is a well written descriptive book. Great Job Freya! I look forward to seeing what might happen next in Cedar Tree.
Great start to the series! Most definitely drew me in. I read all six books that are currently out and am anxiously anticipating future releases in this series.
I’m a huge fan of romantic suspense, and adored the fact that these characters were in their 40’s. The hero and heroine were fantastic together. Gus and Emma had so much chemistry both in and out bed. Don’t be fooled by Emma’s physical impairment either, that woman is a force to be reckoned with.
But what really drew me into continuing this series were the secondary characters. Freya lets these characters shine so brightly, you can’t help but want to read further to witness them get their HEA.
An absolute five star read for me! Loved the writing, loved the story development as well as all the characters.
Could not get interested in any of the characters in this book. Not much of a storyline. Did not hold my interest.
Well, you are warned it is for a mature audience. I enjoyed the story because the main characters were real, flawed, struggling and were people of character and honor. Sometimes you have to make yourself take a chance with life.
I did not finish this book. I agree with other reviewers who said that too much was made of the h’s physical limitations- which for 25% of the book were nebulous in nature, but come to find out were RA and osteoarthritis. I couldn’t connect with these characters and felt the opening scene was off putting. A strong independent woman doesn’t stay on the phone with a filthy talking man she doesn’t know. I won’t read others by this author.
Good plot mysterious overall a good read I enjoyed the entire series