amber lin

Article first published as eBook Review: Selling Out by Amber Lin on Blogcritics.

Selling Out is the second book in the Lost Girls series by Amber Lin. I have read the first book, but it was a while ago so I don’t remember much detail. However, this didn’t matter as this book stands well on its own.

It tells the story of Shelly Laurent, a woman who escapes her life as a high-class escort. Unfortunately, though, her kind heart means she takes Ella with her. Ella’s young and terrified, and because their pimp doesn’t want to let go of either of them, he frames the two women for murder in order to keep them in line. Shelly’s had enough, though, and turns to the one man she thinks may be able to help her – Detective Luke Cameron. He knows a lot about the seedy world she inhabits and will do anything to get as many women out of prostitution as he can.

Together, Shelly and Luke do their best to unravel the tangled web of Chicago’s underworld without ending up dead. At the same time, they’re forced to face their respective pasts and do their best to get over them and work on a more positive future – hopefully together.

Selling Out is a very dark and dangerous novel. It has an exciting and intriguing plot, one that will keep you on the edge of your seat, keep you guessing and also throw a series of twists and turns at you that you won’t see coming. It’s easy to sympathise with the characters and follow their respective journeys, at the same time hoping they emerge from their life-threatening missions unscathed. Violent and gritty, yet hopeful and romantic, Selling Out is an excellent example of an erotic thriller, and one I’d definitely recommend to fans of the genre.

Available from:
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Loose ID

Article first published as eBook Review: Giving It Up by Amber Lin on Blogcritics.

Giving it Up is a novel which touches on many genres; erotica, romance, crime, thriller, and probably others I haven’t thought of. It deals with dark, very real issues and is a damn good read.

The main character, Allie, is seriously damaged – even by her own admission. She prowls clubs looking for men who will use her hard and then ditch her. An incident with her best male friend two years ago has seriously warped her attitude to sex, and this is her way of trying to deal with it. Unfortunately, she can’t just forget about it and move on, because she has a daughter – the only good thing to come from that terrible night.

One night in the club, she meets Colin. He certainly looks the part, but she quickly realises that although he looks like a tough guy, he isn’t the sort to treat her the way she needs him to. Somehow, though, the two of them forge a connection. Despite Allie’s issues, and the fact that Colin also has a shady past, they find ways to make each other happy. And when Allie’s past suddenly catches up with her – she relies on and trusts Colin more than she thought she could ever do with a man again.

Just as Allie thinks there’s a chance she can be happy, Colin’s past catches up to him, and suddenly Allie must be the strong one in the relationship. Can they pull through all their issues and make it work, or are the two of them just too damaged to function as a couple?

Overall, I thought this was a seriously good read. As I said before, it deals with very dark issues, but it’s done in a sensitive, realistic way. The book is well-written, keeps you guessing, has you on the edge of your seat, and throws in plenty of surprises. I found it really engaging, and was rooting for Allie and Colin throughout. So if you’re looking for an action-packed read and don’t mind darker elements mixed in amongst your sex and romance, then you should definitely check out Giving it Up.

Available from:
Loose Id