Masked Innocence by Alessandra Torre

By: Unknown on Monday, June 16, 2014

Title:  Masked Innocence

Series:  Innocence #2

Author:  Alessandra Torre

Published:  February 25/14 by Harlequin HQN

Length:  304pgs

Format:  ecopy

Genre:  Contemporary romance with suspense

Shelf:  review

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The man was sinful. It wasn't just the looks that made him dangerous, it was the cocky confidence that dominated every move, every touch. And the frustrating yet ecstatic fact about the whole package was that he could back it all up…

Julia Campbell never knows what to expect with win-at-all-costs Brad De Luca. And she's starting to like it that way. She gave up safe, conventional relationships when she let the elite divorce attorney seduce her into his world. Now that he's determined to strip her naked of every inhibition, she's in danger of falling too deep and too fast.

But their affair begins to feel even more dangerous when a murder leaves a trail of suspicion that points straight to the mob…and Brad. Trusting a man with a bad reputation and a past full of secrets seems like a mistake. But when she's forced to make a choice, the consequences will take her further than she could ever have imagined.

Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.

My Review:

Before I get started, let me just say that I haven’t read the first book in this series yet. I spent the first couple of chapters playing catch-up, but by then I was wrapped up in this story. I was on the edge of my seat, jumping from scene to scene, needing to know what happened next. There were times my emotions were running wild, and times when my heart was in my throat. This story was also hot as all-get-up (even if it is somewhat out of my usual ballpark). I almost found that there were 2 parts to the story. The first was the characters getting comfortable in their relationship. The second was the suspenseful, ‘what will happen now?’ portion. They did meld together quite well but there was a distinct change in the story at one point to make the shift.

I found the characters in this novel to be quite intriguing. Both are on a journey of self-discovery, getting to know who they truly are and can become. At the same time, they are holding on dearly to who they are. That is not to say that the characters are at all similar. They contrast each other, adding a layer of realism to the story. I love how the male lead was strong and alpha-ish while still compassionate & caring (even if he didn’t want to admit it). The female lead was naive in some respects, but willing to learn.

Overall, this was a spicy, suspenseful read that kept me on my toes. It was my first novel by this author and I would read more of her work in the future. I also definitely need to know how this couple’s story ends.

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