Review: Jagged

Jagged by Lauren Dane
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

The second book in the Whiskey Sharp series is not to be missed. When it comes to Ms. Dane, I can rely on her to move and seduce me with her characters. The two characters in this story made me fall in love with her all over again. This story is best read after reading the first book. This can be read as a standalone but it is so much better after reading the first one.

Vicktor Orlov a sexy man who runs a bakery with his family. He originally had other dreams in his life, but a tragedy in the family pulled him into the family business. It's a good thing too, because he meets Rachel Dolan in a round about way through his mother and their shop. Rachel is puzzle for him in some ways because she is so strong and left a life he had wanted. Yet she is fragile in ways that only a damaged woman would show. The good thing about damaged people is, they know they can survive. And survive, Rachel does, despite her overbearing parents.

Vicktor's Russian heritage makes me think of him like a big burly bear, ready to charge and defend a moment's notice. Yet his a big cuddly teddy bear when he wants to hold Rachel close to him. Rachel's past life in the FBI ended when she became the hunted. To bring her out of her depression and move on, she started a new life as a tattoo artist. She is really good at it and it brings her a peace of mind that she enjoys. Getting involved with a Russian bakery who may or may not have ties to the Russian Mafia is the last thing she wants. Yet she can not help but be charmed by his gifts of ... sweets.

These two characters are adorable together. I love Vicktor and how he interacts with his family and Rachel. Since his cousin is head over heels in love with Rachel's sister, it is another advantage he uses to pull Rachel closer to him. What he doesn't realize is how far Rachel's parents will go to keep them apart and Rachel by their side.

If a reader read the first book, there is already background knowledge of Rachel's heinous parental units. Her father is a petty tyrant and it comes out clearly why he wants Rachel in his grasps. When Rachel learns more about what her parents did to her younger sister, it breaks her heart and forces her to remove these toxic people out of her life. What surprised me is how much harder her parents pushed and how they really think they are in the right. It baffles me and disgusts me. The way Ms. Dane writes it, I can see it so clearly and it is a fear that any adult would appreciate. It is not unheard of for family to try and declare an adult not towing the line as incompetent and try to commit them. I have always thought this was one of the more abused uses of power. Ms. Dane shows how easily a person can loose control of their life. It's scary, that is for sure. The contrast between Rachel and Vicktor's family only makes it more glaring how terrible her can be.

This story is more than dysfunctional families. The heart of it is what a loving and accepting family can be. The romance and chemistry between these two characters is heartwarming. The scenes where they are intimate are special. The way Ms. Dane brings us along Vicktor's slow and sweet courting of Rachel may make a reader sigh in envy. His old world charm clearly comes through the written word. When it comes to writing moving romance, Ms. Dane is one of the best. This erotic romance is highly recommended to readers who love happily ever afters.

*provided by Netgalley