Busted
A Barnes Brothers novel
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4.2 • 9 Ratings
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
From the national bestselling author of Wrecked and Razed comes an emotionally charged story of undeniable passion and life-affirming love…
Like his brothers Zach and Zane, Trey Barnes thought he had found the love of his life. But fate had other plans. A widower who’s had to raise his five-year-old son on his own, Trey has not allowed himself to be with another woman. Until he meets Ressa Bliss at—of all places—a children’s library program. The beautiful librarian is wonderful with his son, Clay, but every time Trey even considers asking her out, he is tortured by guilt.
Fate is indeed fickle. When the two meet again at a conference, this time the attraction is too powerful to resist. But is their connection and passion strong enough to survive Trey’s deep inner torment?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This third installment in Walker's Barnes Brothers series (after Razed) is a second chance at love for Trey Barnes, an author and single father who's still mourning the death of his wife after almost six years. When he meets sultry librarian Ressa Bliss, he's startled by the stirrings of long-buried emotions. Ressa, not realizing that Trey is a world-famous writer, quickly falls for the mysterious, tormented man and his adorable son. Though they try to resist the mutual attraction, all bets are off when Ressa and Trey run into each other at a conference, and soon they're building a fragile new relationship. But they both have secrets Trey's double life, Ressa's dark past that threaten to ruin the happiness they've found. Walker delivers a solidly satisfying romance, with tangible chemistry between the leads, a healthy dose of steamy sex, and a sweetly sentimental theme of family running throughout. Minor subplots left over from the first two books allow for a current of continuity, while still letting this one stand on its own. The interracial aspect of their romance (he's white, she's black) is treated with welcome casualness, leaving the focus squarely on the characters' undeniable love.
Customer Reviews
I loved this story!
Before I say anything else, can I please get a Hallelujah for that cover?! I love that this is a mainstream book by an author whose stories I love and admire and can be found in the main romance section of a book store. After all romance is read by all sorts of people and should emulate more of its readership than it does now. Yay for diversity!
This series has become my favorite of Shiloh Walker's. There's just something about the way she writes that pulls you in. All it took to capture my attention was the first chapter. I fell so hard for Clay, Trey's son and then with Trey. It's almost impossible not to fall in love with them. It wasn't just the fact that Clay was adorable, but it was how he was aware of not having a mother. That really pulled on my heart strings. Trey was an amazing father. It wasn't easy dealing with his wife's loss, but he made sure to be there for Clay.
I liked Ressa too. She's kind, caring, compassionate, and very hard on herself. She and Trey had me fanning myself. Those two danced around their attraction to one another like professional tango dancers. And when they gave in, it was like being in an inferno. Outside of their chemistry, I can't rave enough about the story. There are so many story arcs going on and I loved having an, "A ha!" moment when things finally clicked. There's mystery, suspense, some action, drama, and emotional moments as well. It's like the complete package.
I loved seeing the other Barnes brothers too. I was so happy to see Zach, Abigale, Keelie, and Zane doing well. I also loved seeing Trey interact with his twin Travis. That man is hiding a whole lot and I can't wait for his book to find out what it is! I'm also equally intrigued by Sebastian Barnes, the youngest brother who is a Hollywood heartthrob. While the story was layered and complex, I felt like not all of the questions that were raised were answered. I'm not sure if there will be another book or story that closes them, but I do hope to see more of Trey, Ressa, and Clay in the future!