When a gorgeous young dancer walks through his door, a strip club owner must decide whether to follow his rules or his heart in the third novel by the author of One Tiny Lie and Ten Tiny Breaths.
Owning a strip club isn’t the fantasy most guys expect it to be. With long hours, a staff with enough issues to keep a psych ward in business, and the police regularly on his case, twenty-nine-year-old Cain is starting to second guess his unspoken mission to save the women he employs. And then blond, brown-eyed Charlie Rourke walks through his door, and things get really complicated. Cain abides by a strict “no sleeping with the staff” rule. But being around Charlie challenges Cain’s self-control…and it’s been a long time since any woman has done that.
Twenty-two-year-old Charlie Rourke needs a lot of money, really fast, in order to vanish before it’s too late. Taking her clothes off for men makes her stomach curl but Charlie tells herself that at least she’s putting her acting and dancing skills to good use. And though her fellow dancers seem eager to nab their sexy, sophisticated, and genuinely caring boss, she’s not interested. After all, Charlie Rourke doesn’t really exist—and the girl pretending to be her can't get distracted by romance.
Unfortunately, Charlie soon discovers that developing feelings for Cain is inevitable, and that those feelings may not be unrequited—but losing him when he finds out what she’s involved with will be more painful than any other sentence awaiting her.
Owning a strip club isn’t the fantasy most guys expect it to be. With long hours, a staff with enough issues to keep a psych ward in business, and the police regularly on his case, twenty-nine-year-old Cain is starting to second guess his unspoken mission to save the women he employs. And then blond, brown-eyed Charlie Rourke walks through his door, and things get really complicated. Cain abides by a strict “no sleeping with the staff” rule. But being around Charlie challenges Cain’s self-control…and it’s been a long time since any woman has done that.
Twenty-two-year-old Charlie Rourke needs a lot of money, really fast, in order to vanish before it’s too late. Taking her clothes off for men makes her stomach curl but Charlie tells herself that at least she’s putting her acting and dancing skills to good use. And though her fellow dancers seem eager to nab their sexy, sophisticated, and genuinely caring boss, she’s not interested. After all, Charlie Rourke doesn’t really exist—and the girl pretending to be her can't get distracted by romance.
Unfortunately, Charlie soon discovers that developing feelings for Cain is inevitable, and that those feelings may not be unrequited—but losing him when he finds out what she’s involved with will be more painful than any other sentence awaiting her.
Kathy says...
Cain is the owner/manager of Penny's Palace, a classy strip club in Miami. He keeps his establishment drug free and doesn't allow any funny business under his watch. He makes it a priority to see that his girls are taken care of. His less than stellar past leaves him feeling that he has something to prove to himself as well as everyone else. The minute Charlie walks into his office for a job, Cain knows he is about to break his biggest rule: no fraternizing with the employees. Cain feels an instant draw to Charlie that he hasn't felt with anyone in a very long time. Yet, he has no idea if Charlie will accept him for who he is, his past included. Plus Charlie has her own secrets to bear. She needs to make a lot of money so that she can run from a very dangerous situation. She doesn't have time to make friends and form relationships. She needs to do her job, stash away the money, and make a run for it. She needs to push away the attraction she feels for Cain...
I loved this story. It was intense. It was deep. It was honest. It was passionate. But most of all it was different. I really felt for Charlie. She lost her mother at a young age and she was manipulated into an ugly life by the only parental figure that she had left. She is such a sweet girl who didn't deserve the hand she was dealt, and I was really rooting for her to turn it all around and open herself up to the love she deserved. I could really feel her inner turmoil about hiding her true identity from Cain. Cain’s character was also very endearing. Here is a man who has turned his life around for the better. Those looking at him see a man who has it all...a successful business, financial stability, a great home, and great friends. Inside we see something entirely different... someone who is still haunted by his past. The entire story I was on the edge of my seat just waiting for the past and present to catch up to Cain and Charlie. I loved watching them blossom together as a couple. I loved watching them cope with their problems and ultimately fall in love.
This was a great romantic suspense that I would highly recommend! 4.5 stars for Four Seconds to Lose!
Four Seconds to Lose is book # 3 following Ten Tiny Breaths and One Tiny Lie but it can be read as a standalone.
Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons.
She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit.
Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.
She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit.
Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.
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