Erotic Romance published by Story Witch Press 30 Nov 21
This story made me cry, it made me laugh, it made me rejoice, and, most importantly, totally blew me away. Joey Hill has taken the difficult subjects of extreme mental illness, along with physician-assisted death and teamed them with a love story for the ages to deliver a compelling story that will reach in and grip you and never let go. All through the book, I was rooting for Abby, but even more I was rooting for Neil, chanting “Choose him, choose him, choose him.” I enjoy Ms. Hill’s writing, but this might be her best piece work yet.
Neil is a special operator, trained to make split-second decisions with hair-trigger precision. People’s lives depend on it. He knows Abby is it for him, from the moment that he meets her. While there seems to be an answering chord of attraction, there also seems to be something holding Abby back. When he is confronted with Abby’s breakdown and episode, no one, least of all her friends, would blame him for walking away. But Neil is there to stay. For a SEAL there’s no giving up. He’s going to use his formidable talents and skillsets to find a solution that will allow him to have her to love forever, while managing her illness in a healthy way.
On the lighter side is Abby’s flirtatious run in the park, where she knows Neil usually exercises with his retired SEAL buddies. Oh, boy! The steam that rises up during that scene had me fanning myself. Abby is a Domme and that is one way she can exercise control, even as she is losing control in other aspects of her life. When her illness progresses to a stage where she has to consider giving it up, it’s the uber dominant Neil who finds a solution, gives her the ultimate gift of allowing her to exercise that part of her under his loving support.
The story is very intense and sometimes dark but with a lot of threads of light running through it. Abby is fortunate in her choice of friends. I truly can’t wait to see each one of the mistresses find their HEA as the series progresses. The coup de grace is the surprise that Neil plans for Abby where he plights his troth not just to her but to the five ladies who share and share alike. This book might not be for everyone with the subject matter, but if you’re brave enough to read it, it’s a story like no other.
Grade: A+
Summary:
Two Dominants.
One a Navy SEAL.
One a Mistress facing a hell she can’t escape.
Luckily, hell is just another day at the office for a SEAL…
Abigail Rose is CFO for Thomas Rose Associates, a successful New Orleans marketing firm she runs with her best friend Rosalinda Thomas, and their three fellow executives, Cyn, Vera and Skye.
Since all five are Dommes, they work and play together. However, Abby has lived with the threat of a severe mental illness for most of her life, and now the monster has come out of the shadows. Everything that defines her–including her control as a Mistress–is shattering.
Neil Shepherd is so calm under pressure, his SEAL teammates know he’ll hold the line, no matter what goes down on a mission. At home, he finds his peace navigating the waters of the Louisiana bayou. As a Dom himself, he shouldn’t be attracted to Abby, but Fate doesn’t consult the power exchange playbook when it comes to who is meant to be together. From the first time they meet, he knows he wants her. Even the shadows that are trying to claim her won’t stop him.
Other books in this series:
