DARK 'N' DEADLY by Tee O'Fallon

Secrets will tear them apart.

Some secrets are not worth keeping

It's impossible not to love anything by Tee O'Fallon. I first fell in love with her writing style with Blood Money. She has this way of blending suspense and intrigue together that bleeds into the romance rather than depending on it. Every element has a purpose and you can't help but be hooked by the story. In Dark 'n' Deadly, each action had a realistic reaction and the secrets that were destined to be revealed held so much weight, giving this story its heft and its depth, allowing the characters to grow and evolve, letting what developed seem almost natural.

What I liked:
I actually loved Eric Miller. As an ATF agent, he was great at his job. He was a man of integrity, honor, and someone deserving of my respect. He was content to live a life of his own, on his own, and yet opened up his home and his heart. He showed his caring in so many big and small ways and it was easy to fall for him.
The relationship between Tess and her little brother. Even though they were apart for ten years, their love for one another didn't fade. It was a bit like falling into old habits, but in a good way. Her brother was super sweet and I felt bad for the guy and the situation his naiveté put him in.
The drama. As much as I don't like secrets and as much as I didn't agree with Tess keeping them, or her reasons why, I did like how they fed the story. I was constantly on the lookout for when she or her brother would slip. I was on edge waiting for the moment when Eric would finally figure it all out. And I was eager to see what the fallout would be. The author didn't skimp on the intensity of the angst.
I love how much love there was for canines. Whether they were K-9s or domesticated dogs, the love was real. And the dogs were beautiful!

What I didn't like:
😢 Tess. I know... what? But it was hard to connect with her character from the get-go. From the start, she was a liar. Then when Eric let her in, into his home and into his heart, she was looking to change him. His home was too stark for her tastes and as his temporary forced guest, she decided to inject some color. When he takes her out to buy some necessities, she forces him to shop for antiques, knowing he isn't at all interested. She was constantly suspicious of his motives (like she was in the clear) when he did nothing to provoke her distrust. He went above and beyond and she still expected more. She sees that he just finished his own intense workout and forces him to try to embrace her love of all things yoga. Between her crystals and her chi and the amount of times she tried to argue and force her beliefs down his throat to choke him, I had had enough.

If you like your romance to be high in suspense and love, you'll love the story of Eric and Tess and the mess she created and the mess he cleaned up. It was filled with moments of sweetness, fear, love, and it made for some amazing entertainment.

Find your copy of Dark 'n' Deadly here:
Goodreads | Amazon | Google | iBooks | B & N | Kobo

Synopsis

ATF Special Agent Eric Miller and his explosives detecting K-9, Tiger, pull over a truck, the contents of which are explosive. Literally. More shocking, the driver is the kid brother of a woman he left behind. One who still haunts his days and his nights.

They’d never so much as kissed, but Tess McTavish never forgot the handsome, dangerous agent who vanished in a shroud of mystery. Now the last thing she needs is an ATF agent with his own agenda. Doesn’t matter that Tess and her brother are innocent. If Eric learns the truth of their past, they’ll never be free.

Eric’s drive for revenge against the man who targeted him and his colleagues in a deadly explosion still burns hot inside him. Another bomb is about to be detonated and he’s sure there’s a connection between that man…and Tess’s family. But Eric and Tiger will do everything they can to protect the woman he’s falling for from what’s coming...

About Tee O'Fallon

Tee O’Fallon has been a federal agent for twenty-three years, and is now a police investigator, giving her hands-on experience in the field of law enforcement that she combines with her love of romantic suspense. Tee’s job affords her the unique opportunity to work with the heroic men and women in law enforcement on a daily basis. Besides writing, Tee loves cooking, gardening, chocolate, lychee martinis, and all creatures canine.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads