The Many Faces of Romance: Exciting New Read: TAKEN by Cynthia Eden- Tour with Review & Excerpt

The hunt for a serial killer just got very personal . . .

TAKEN

LOST Series #5

Cynthia Eden

Releasing Nov 29th, 2016

Avon Books

In New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden’s latest novel, the Last Option Search Team (LOST) returns— and for one agent, the hunt for a serial killer just got very personal . . .

HE SWORE TO PROTECT HER . . .

Bailey Jones somehow survived her harrowing abduction by the infamous Death Angel. But while her physical scars have healed, she can’t stop wondering about a woman she helped to escape, who simply disappeared. When LOST agent Asher Young is assigned to her case, Bailey instantly feels an attraction to the intense ex-SEAL who seems to be carrying dark secrets of his own.

BUT KEEPING HIS PROMISE . . .

Asher can’t afford to let his growing feelings for Bailey distract him from his job. Only she can soothe his horrific nightmares, but the last thing he wants is for the demons from his past to ever hurt her. Bailey has gotten past his guard, and the emotions he feels for her—they’re as dark and dangerous as the past he doesn’t want to face.

COULD COST BOTH THEIR LIVES

When corpses begin surfacing—all marked with the same tattoo depicting the Death Angel’s calling card—Asher must race to stop a twisted killer who wants nothing more than to claim his next prize: Bailey . . .

Cynthia Eden is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors and TAKEN is another great addition to the "Lost" series. The story is dark and intense and it grabs your attention with a kick-ass heroine and the broken hero who believes in her.

Bailey is the only survivor of a serial killer and suffers from PTSD. One of her main problems is that she can't get anyone to believe that there was another woman there the night she was rescued. Not her therapist and not law enforcement. Knowing that she will never move forward knowing that she had helped the other woman escape that night, she takes matters into her own hands and goes to the LOST organization for help. Asher is assigned to the case and from the start, he feels that Bailey is being truthful. He has some baggage that he deals with and feels a kindred spirit with her.

The story takes off after Asher comes to town and that worries someone. Soon, Bailey's life is in danger again, but this time she has someone who believes. When Asher sometimes wants to investigate on his own, Bailey lets him know that she is no hothouse flower and she going to be part of the investigation. She needs to find that woman especially since she sometimes doubts her own sanity. Sparks fly between them and as they spend more time together, they help each other heal.

I thought the story was exciting and there were lots of twists and turns. You had no idea if the killer was still around or if he was a copycat. I had a hard time trying to figure out who the bad guy was and I was glad that law enforcement began to take Bailey seriously, especially since her life was still in danger. I also cared for Asher and Bailey and was touched by how together they found the person who soothed and restored their once broken souls. I love this series and look forward to another. What an intense read!

“Bailey Jones . . .” Asher said her name softly, as if tasting it on his tongue. “There are a few things you should know about me before we begin.”

There are things you should know about me, too. But I’m not going to tell you . . . or you won’t help me.

“First, you don’t have to fear me. Part of my job at LOST—well, let’s just say Gabe hired me on because he wanted a bit more muscle. Protection is my role. I’ll keep you safe and track down any clues about that missing woman. On my watch, nothing will happen to you.”

She nodded even though—

I don’t believe you. There is no safety. I learned that.

“And second . . . you don’t have to bullshit me.”

Now she blinked in surprise.

He laughed, a deep, rough rumble of sound that Bailey found she liked to hear.

“You think I can’t tell when you’re wearing a mask? You’ve got yourself locked down tight, under careful control, don’t you? But you don’t have to do that with me. I’m not one of the North Carolina deputies. I’m not going to judge you. And I’m not some lame-ass reporter who wants to splash your story all over the world.”

I wear a mask all the time now because something is wrong inside of me. It has been, ever since that fire. That hole. That hell.

“So let’s put a no-bullshit rule in effect,” he murmured.

Her hands curled around the steering wheel. “Liking rules, is that more of a military thing again?”

“Wanting to break rules . . . that’s why I left the SEALs.”

He’d been a SEAL? She turned to look up at him. “Is there a rule number three?”

“We’ll get to that rule later . . .”

She started the vehicle. “I’ll follow you to your place.”

“Do you have any rules for me?”

Don’t hurt me. Don’t judge me. Don’t pity me. Bailey cleared her throat. “I’m sure we can get to those rules later, too.”

He slammed her door shut. Through the window, Bailey watched as he strode away—not to another car, but to a shiny, big monster of a motorcycle. He climbed on, revved the engine moments later, and that rumbling growl filled the parking garage.

Asher slid the helmet over his head—a black helmet with a dark visor that completely obscured his face. Her heart beat faster as she stared at him.

Dangerous.

That had been her first thought when she’d seen him in the conference room.

But he was on her side. Not a threat to her. He’d help her.

At least, that was what she hoped. Because if something didn’t change soon, Bailey was afraid that the deputies would be right about her. Her shrink would be right.

I may go crazy.

Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes dark tales of paranormal romance and romantic suspense. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader bestseller. Cynthia is also a two-time finalist for the RITA® Award (she was a finalist both in the romantic suspense category and in the paranormal romance category).

Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written more than thirty novels and novellas. She lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast.