Naughty Stranger

4 1/2 stars. This was such an awesome romantic suspense from Stacy Kennedy. I really enjoyed the wonderful use of balance between the sweet and sexy and the suspenseful and scary. I love Peyton and Boone as characters and as a couple. Both have been torn apart by their pasts and even though their situations are different, they are no less life changing. They meet when Peyton moves to the small town of Stony Creek where Boone is a police officer. Initially neither wants anything serious, but they become super close during the murder investigation surrounding Peyton's shop and soon they know they never want to be apart. Great story! I am really looking forward to Book 2 after that teaser! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Stacey Kennedy knew what she was doing when she titled this one Naughty Stranger! This story was full of sizzling chemistry, romance, lust, love, great secondary characters, secrets, and suspense that kept me glued to the pages. Peyton Kerr has left Seattle and moved to Stoney Creek, Maine because it was the last place that she was happy. Unable to continue to just survive, after losing her husband, she needed to breathe and live again. Using all the life insurance money she purchases a lingerie store “Uptown Girl” and a house on the lake. When she wanders into the bar by her store she meets the owner and has a few drinks. But what she didn’t count on was meeting Boone Knight and kissing him. Boone Knight is a hotter than hot, sexy, detective for the small town of Stoney Creek, who has been burned already by love. He isn’t into relationships , but when Peyton kisses the hell out of him, and then stay clear of him, he just can’t stop that kiss from constantly playing in his mind. All he wanted to do was recreate that kiss again. But when a murder occurs in Peyton’s store and he is assigned to the case, Peyton would just have to give up some of her secrets and some of the distance she had been creating between them. Because Boone was determined to keep her safe These two strangers unexpectedly come into each other’s lives and heat up each other to a lethal level of lust and needy rawness. Their affection for each other is intense, full of pure need and sweet affection. Leading them out the other side of their difficult pasts to a HEA. Captivating Romance at its best. This had my full attention and I cannot wait to see what happens next in Book two of this series, “Wicked Sinner”, Remy and Asher’s Story. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

This was a good second chance story for both our main characters. It isn't a second chance for them as a couple but more like a second chance in life. Peyton was happily married, living a normal life back in Seattle with her husband when tragedy strikes. A year after her husband was killed in a car accident, she goes back to the place where she was last happy, Stone Creek. Boone's a changed man. After moving back home after his wife betrayed him, he doesn't think marriage will ever be an option for him again. When Peyton moves to town, there's an undeniable attraction between them. First, I am so happy that this series is set in a small town in Maine. I always seem to enjoy books set in a small town in Maine and this has proved to be the same. I love when you get a several side characters that really add to the story. When a setting is in a small town, you get that. I loved all the side characters but I'm cautious about Rhett. You'll know why when you read this book. Secondly, despite Boone and Peyton starting out not wanting relationships, their story never felt casual. That's a good thing for me. I never like casual so I was happy to see these two were invested even if they didn't think they were. Boone drew me in right away. His physical description, the fact that he's a detective and very protective, and even the fact that he rides a motorcycle. Peyton wasn't really all that special but she was a nice person, got along with everyone and you do get a couple of fun girlfriends in Kinsley and Remy. I enjoyed Boone and Peyton's story and I'm looking forward to what's to come next.