King: A Steamy, Suspenseful Stand-Alone Romance

Cassia Leo grabbed my attention at the beginning and kept it till the end. I was turning the pages from the beginning. There was action and suspense. As I kept reading I was not sure where things were going. I have to say something was missing from the ending for me. It seemed rushed. In my opinion, things seemed to be a little too opened ended for my taste. Even with that said I enjoyed and was entertained. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader's copy.

3.75 stars--KING by Cassia Leo is a contemporary adult, POWER PLAYERS stand alone, erotic romantic suspense story focusing on twenty-two year old Isabel ‘Izzy’ Lake, and former US soldier Kingston ‘King’ Jameson. Told from dual first person points of view (Izzy and King) jumping between present day and the recent past KING follows Isabel Lake as she struggles to remain one step ahead of anyone looking for a missing one- point- four million dollars. A few weeks earlier, desperate for cash Izzy spent one night in Vegas as part of the world of legal prostitution that ended before it got started with a dead man on the toilet, and our heroine on the run with a suitcase full of cash, and a secret item hidden in the lining. Changing her identity, and settling down in Valdese, North Carolina, our heroine would soon meet her new neighbour, a sexy contractor who knows more about our heroine than he is willing to admit. Having no idea as to the identity of the man who died on the toilet, Izzy will discover that the politically powerful have set their sights on taking her down. What ensues is the building relationship between Izzy and King, and the fall-out as King is contracted to kill the girl, and return the suitcase and all of its’ contents as soon as possible. Kingston Jameson is desperate to return the suitcase to its’ rightful owner but desperation comes with threats against the people he loves, people he is willing to protect, to get the job done. Working as a go-between for the politically connected criminal underground, Kingston is unaware that his latest target is a woman that will call to his heart. The relationship between Izzy and King is one of immediate attraction but a relationship built upon a number of lies. Izzy is wary of anyone who tries to get up close and personal, and King is slowly falling in love with the woman he has been ordered to kill. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. We are introduced to Izzy’s boss Edie Bryant at the local construction rehab store The Junk Drawer; King’s friend and army comrade Santos, as well as the requisite evil who are desperate for the return of the missing suitcase. The world building follows dual timelines: Kingston as he is questioned by the local police; and Izzy and Kingston’s building relationship as they dance the dance of a romantic relationship built upon a series of lies. KING by Cassia Leo is a quick read covering several weeks in the life of Izzy Lake as she settles into a routine of normal life having no idea that the man with whom she will fall in love battles between head and heart for our story line heroine. The premise is entertaining and inviting; the romance is sweet and impassioned; the characters are colorful and energetic. On the flip side, I did have a few issues including the author’s use of the phrase or parts thereof –cocks, cock, cocking an eyebrow used twelve times, or some action involving eyebrows nineteen times. I think a good editor or beta reader should have caught the multiple instances of said phrases and words. Overall, KING is an intriguing and entertaining story of enemies to lovers, romance on the run.

I have never been disappointed with anything that Cassia writes and this was no different. Izzy is attempting to be a prostitute but things don't go as planned, she comes across a suitcase full of money and makes the choice to take it and leave town. She ends up in a small town, hoping no one finds her. King is hot on her trail to find out where she hide that suitcase. There is some twist and turns and keeps you on the edge. I love the banter and connection between these two. A definite must read!!.