by Meli Raine
Series: Harmless #1
Genre: Political Thriller/Romantic Suspense
Release Dates: October 18th, 2016
Blurb:
Blurb:
Four years ago I lost my virginity on live, streaming television.
Too bad I wasn’t awake for it.
The video went viral. Of course it would. A Senator’s daughter on camera? Wouldn’t you click “share”? Besides, that’s what three of the four guys in the video did.
Share.
They shared me.
But that fourth guy? The nondescript one in the background in the upper left corner of the screen, just sitting on the couch? The only one who did nothing?
Not one single thing.
That was my boyfriend, Drew.
And that was the last time I saw him.
Until today, when my father—now on a path to the White House—hired him as head of security for my new team as I return home after four years of “recovering” in an undisclosed location that involved white lab coats, needles, pills and damage control.
You see, the other three guys never went to jail. Never had charges pressed.
Until today, when my father—now on a path to the White House—hired him as head of security for my new team as I return home after four years of “recovering” in an undisclosed location that involved white lab coats, needles, pills and damage control.
You see, the other three guys never went to jail. Never had charges pressed.
Never faced consequences.
Until today.
Game on.
* * * A Harmless Little Game is the first in this political thriller/romantic suspense trilogy by USA Today bestselling author Meli Raine.
* * * A Harmless Little Game is the first in this political thriller/romantic suspense trilogy by USA Today bestselling author Meli Raine.
Excerpt:
Short, clipped chestnut hair. Brown eyes the color of well-worn leather, eyes that blaze with intelligence and a guardedness no one could ever breach. He’s bigger than the last time I saw him, four years ago. Broader. More muscular. He’s a controlled, contained man who has a James Bond air to him.
And he’s looking at me right now with eyes so cold they might as well be icebergs.
“Lindsay, let me introduce you to Andrew,” Stacia starts.
Drew. Oh, God, it’s true.
“Andrew Foster will be your new security specialist. He and his team will keep you safe.”
I snort.
He stares.
Stacia’s eyes leap from Drew to me and back. “Is there a problem?” she asks, brows turning down. That’s more emotion than I’ve seen in her for four years. Her gaze darts between me and Drew, assessing the situation. No matter what, I lose if she decides something’s going sour here.
Even if Drew is the one gone bad.
“No.” Drew and I say the word at the exact same moment, in the same tone of voice. It sounds like a sharp clap, a single sound that shatters noise.
“You two know each other?” Stacia asks, her fingers caressing the paper. Without that discharge form, I can’t leave. If Drew ruins this for me, it will be the second time in my life he’s fucked up.
The first time was four years ago when he let three of our friends rape me.
COMING SOON IN THE HARMLESS SERIES:
A Harmless Little Ruse
by Meli Raine
Series: Harmless #2
Release Date: November 18th, 2016
by Meli Raine
Series: Harmless #2
Release Date: November 18th, 2016
A Harmless Little Plan
by Meli Raine
Series: Harmless #3
Release Date: December 13th, 2016
Series: Harmless #3
Release Date: December 13th, 2016
About the author:
Meli Raine writes romantic suspense with hot bikers, intense undercover DEA agents, bad boys turned good, and Special Ops heroes - and the women who love them.
Meli rode her first motorcycle when she was five years old, but she played in the ocean long before that. She lives in New England with her family.
Giveaway:
My review:
This is such a suspenseful story that will keep you glued to the pages.
The Story:
Four years ago Lindsay's virginity was brutally taken by three men while being live streamed on TV. Now she is back home after spending the last four years in a mental institution, isolated from the world and cut off from everything that's been going on after what had happened to her.
Lindsay had enough time in this place to plan what to do when she was out. She seeks revenge on those guys that did horrible things to her. And her boyfriend?! He was just watching and doing nothing to help her back then. She hates him so much that she is dumbstruck when she finds out that he's hired by her father as her security. The irony isn't lost on her how this guy is supposed to keep her safe when he couldn't even save her four years ago.
We get to know what Lindsay had to endure the last few years in an emotional way. First of all did she learn in this institution to keep her true feelings hidden in fear of the consequences for her. It was so hard for me to get over the fact that what happened to her was rather suppressed in this institution instead of really dealt with. The past four years in this clinic didn't help her at all, those years were just taken from her and now since she's back she has to deal with the flood of emotions overwhelming her.
Lindsay realizes that even the people closest to her, her friends and family, did not welcome her home into open arms. Her father just lives for his job and everything that's not according to his plan has to be dealt with in the way he deems appropriate even if it's not the right way. Lindsay learns this the hard way and when she can't endure this anymore she finally speaks up. And even though Lindsay wished for nothing more than for those criminals that stole her virginity to face their consequences, she had hoped that when she was finally home she could resume a normal life.
Thoughts:
The story was suspenseful and had a good flow though sometimes Lindsay’s monologues slowed the story down a bit. I also couldn't fully warm up to Lindsay despite my sympathy for what she's been through.
It was nonetheless well written especially with a topic this sensitive.
This story was really twisted and you didn't know who to trust anymore. Lindsay’s parents were just plain horrible and I felt really bad for what she had to endure not just those 4 years ago with the gang rape but all those years in this rehabilitation center and even now at home.
I never knew what to think of Drew and no matter what happened later I couldn't deal with Lindsay's love for Drew when she also hated him for not helping her back then. I wish there was more loath on her side.
Something else that bothered me was that even though four years passed since that horrific event took place, a lot changed which I just can't believe to have happened and developed in such a 'short' time. Even though I may be wrong it felt a bit exaggerated.
The ending took me a bit by surprise though it was not as much a cliffhanger as I feared it would be but this book was suspenseful enough for me to want to continue reading =) I can't wait for the second book!
-- I received an ARC of this book from Give Me Books Promotions in exchange for an honest review. --
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