CROSS MY HEART (Wilde Ways 14) by Cynthia Eden-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 22, 2022.

There are some cases you never forget.

Former FBI agent Elijah Cross tried to put the past behind him. For years, he spent his days and his nights tracking some of the most brutal killers in the US. Now? He protects the rich and famous while working at Wilde. Less danger, more glamour…and a whole lot more cash. His latest gig has taken him to the sandy beaches of Florida’s Gulf Coast, and it’s on one of those gorgeous beaches where he comes face to face with the woman who haunts his dreams.

There are some people you can’t leave behind.

She was the last victim he saved at the Bureau. Penelope Kostas. The woman who survived a nightmare. He’d carried her out of hell in his arms, and Elijah had sworn to always protect her. But that promise had been given before his job at the Bureau had imploded. Before he’d broken every rule that mattered…for her. Only to have Penelope run from him.

There are some promises you must keep.

The serial killer who targeted Penelope was never apprehended, and Penelope fears that he could be hunting her once more. But this time, she will not be his victim. She wants Elijah to help her hunt him. To help her stop the killer before he can strike again. And she will pay any price for Elijah’s help. He’s the only man she trusts…and, once upon a time, Elijah had offered to do anything for her…even kill to keep her safe.

There are some desires that can’t be controlled.

Elijah still wants her just as badly. Penelope still needs him just as much. Lust, obsession—they always twisted together for them, and the longer that they are together, the more that dark and consuming need just grows and grows. Elijah will do whatever it takes to protect Penelope. She’s not the same woman he knew before. Not lost, not afraid. She’s determined to fight, and he will be at her side every step of the way. The killer won’t escape again. And Elijah will not lose the woman who owns his heart.

••••••••

REVIEW: CROSS MY HEART is the fourteenth instalment in Cynthia Eden’s contemporary, adult WILDE WAYS romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women who work and operate Wilde Ways security. This is former FBI agent Elijah Cross, and event planner Penelope Kostas. CROSS MY HEART can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from several third person perspectives including Elijah and Penelope CROSS MY HEART follows approximately one year after FBI agent Elijah Cross rescued event planner Penelope Kostas from an unknown serial killer. A forbidden affair, a broken heart, resulted in Penelope walking away, and Elijah handing in his gun and his badge. Fast forward to present day wherein Elijah Cross, now working for Wilde Ways Security on assignment in Florida, finds himself face to face with the woman he loves, a woman who believes the killer has returned to finish the job. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Elijah and Penelope, and the potential fall-out as a killer sets their sights on our story line couple.

Penelope Kostas is the only known survivor of a serial killer but no one believes Penelope when she claims the killer has returned to finish the job. Hiring Elijah Cross as her personal security forces Elijah to take back control of an investigation that was never far from his mind. Having never stopped loving our story line heroine, Elijah battles between head and heart believing he is just as bad as the monsters he is hired to take down.

The relationship between Elijah and Penelope begins when Elijah rescues Penelope from a serial killer. A short lived, forbidden affair finds Penelope walking away to save Elijah’s job but Elijah refuses to buckle under the pressure of the people in charge. The $ex scenes are passionate and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters play an integral role in the build up of the story line premise. We are introduced to Elijah’s former FBI partner Izaak Jones, Detective Melissa Wright, ask well as Wilde Ways agent Gideon Rainer and his partner, attorney Aspen Gray (Pretend You Want Me 13).

CROSS MY HEART is a story of betrayal and vengeance, jealousy, obsession and rivalry, love and acceptance. The premise is intriguing, engaging and suspenseful; the romance is seductive; the characters are strong, charismatic and edgy.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Protecting Piper
Guarding Gwen
Before Ben
The Heart You Break
Fighting for Her
One Hot Holiday
Ghost of a Chance
Counting on Cole
Chase After Me
Say I Do
Roman Will Fall
The One Who Got Away
Pretend You Want Me

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy