Obsession

This has got to be the best “click bait” for books. For those who don’t know what “click bait” is, it’s when you go to a website and click on a video that has the picture of what you expect to see. Only it goes through 5 minutes worth of stupid and nothing with the video you hoped it would show. This is similar. I got hooked on the free kindle chapter called “Craving”. Figured it would be worth the $6.99 for the next book to finish up this particular storyline of the Steel Brothers. No such luck.

I purchased the 2nd in the series and was sorely disappointed when it pretty much ended. . .again. . .with no closure to the storyline. Granted, we got a bit more in clues for the saga, but it only made me mad I could finish up the storyline so I could get on to a fresh story in the series.

I WOULD HAVE considered purchasing future books by this author but it started to feel like the “Red John” situation on the t.v. show The Mentalist. This particular character always being in the background and even several secondary storylines being referenced. Gets rather tiresome dragging on that particular chapter with no resolution. I feel the same with this book.

Don’t get me wrong. The characters got me hooked and the heart-wrenching past had me wanting to see those responsible pay for their horrific part. But I feel slighted that I have to keep paying more for what. . .7 more chapters. . .just to hear what happened to ONE of family members.

Maybe if the third chapter comes to Kindle for free, I might continue to catch up with these characters. But for now, I’m willing to tap down my curisoity in favor of saving my pocketbook.

The book is good, but I don’t like that it just cuts off and you have to keep buying the next in the series…..Books are made to have endings, and if this was meant to be a 9 part book it should have been presented that way. I feel cheated that I have to keep spending the money to find out the ending.

This book was so perfectly titled. I have become seriously obsessed with this series!
While Book 1, “Craving”, was a wonderful beginning to the Steel Brothers saga, Book 2 is where the bold, fearless beauty of Helen Hardt’s writing bursts into brilliant life. I was so blown away by this section of Talon and Jade’s story, I’m not even certain where to start on the raving. Let’s just say that while I adore an amazing tormented hero, it’s also tough to give me one that pulls me deeply into his soul. Well, Talon Steel has now hit my Top 5 of Best Tormented Guys. GAH, how he has twisted me, broken me, simply compelled me to fall in love with him! Jade is his perfect heroine: smart, strong, persistent, and most of all, compassionate. I also loved how the supporting cast were all given more development and “time on stage”, helping to move this incredible plot along.
Sometimes, you can think of a thousand superlatives for a book–and sometimes, you just have to collapse on the couch and surrender to just one word.
WOW.

The best part of starting a series when most of the books are available immediately is the ability to jump right into the next book without taking a breath. Instant satisfaction! Obsession by Helen Hardt begins immediately following Craving. One of the facets of this series that makes is so interesting is the complex cast of characters that capture my heart and imagination. There are beautifully sexy men, forceful and resilient women and a group of severely detestable bad guys. Obsession continues the tale of Talon and Jade. Talon is at the point that he knows therapy is needed to deal with his past so he can be whole for Jade. Dr. Melanie Carmichael is helping.

Obsession, and the entire Steel saga is dark and mysterious. Ms. Hardt does an excellent job of dropping breadcrumbs about what is in store for the characters, Talons past and the Steel’s future At the same time, she throws in some unexpected events that cause the reader to question how everything will play out continually.

Obsession continues telling the tale with the alternating points of view of Jade and Talon. It is often heartbreaking to experience the fear and pain that Talon works through daily. It is also sad but hopeful to know what is going on in Jades head. I love Jades courage. She is a good friend of Marjorie Steel. It is refreshing to have a character cheer for a relationship between a best friend and a sibling. It gets a little old sometimes to always have this scenario cause a rift between friends. Marj sees how perfect the relationship can be and champions Jade to Talon.

I love how Jade is all-in helping Marj find what her brothers are keeping from her. Sometimes it is to help her friend and sometimes to help the man she loves. Jade puts on her sleuthing hat and using the tools available to her as assistant district attorney. The work setting adds another level of mystery to the story. Jade works for a sleazy, unethical district attorney who is out to get the Steels. It makes me wonder what his problem with them is. It concerns me a little that Jade appears to be a bit disloyal to the man she loves at times. I have confidence that she will do the right thing, but honestly, Im not sure where this heading.

In Obsession, the XXX-rated scenes continue. You’ve gotta love that! Talons dirty mouth is sexy as hell. Also, Talon is showing more of his dominant side in the bedroom and Jade is enjoying it–so is this reader. Unfortunately, Talon also pushes at Jade away in a hateful manner that makes me yell at him on occasion. Jade doesnt give up or give in to Talons mixed signals. She stands her ground and allows Talon to work on his demonsanother aspect of the characters that makes the story captivating. Rarely do characters stay in my head like the Steels, et. al. I am at the point where I believe I know them personally and I want to know more. I so need Talon to find happiness, and I love that he is trying to get his life together by seeing Dr. Carmichael.

The book is full of mystery and suspense about the growing romance that it is impossible to put them down after starting. The stories are so good that I went back and ordered the audio for these first two books with the audio and ebook for Possession. The narrators for Talon’s story are Sebastian York and Neva Navarre. Adding their voices to the mix adds additional insight into the Steels universe.

Helen Hardt is doing an excellent job creating intrigue not only with the storyline but with multi-dimensional characters. These characters are going to stay with me for a long time. Every chapter flows so smoothly from page to page then from book to book making the experience entertaining and entrancing. Now Im off to start reading Possession, book 3 of the series while keeping the events of Obsession circling in my brain. I highly recommend this series. Im confident that you will love it.

Talon and Jade’s mercurial relationship continues. Revelations about the Steels continue to unfold both with Marj and because of Jade’s investigation. Her boss, under guise of a confidential “need to know” investigation, has directed Jade to dig onto the Steel financial dealings. Although she’s uncomfortable with it, this investigation works in her favor too. Maybe she can get some answers about Talon. Meanwhile Talon is a mess, he realizes that the only way he can ever really have a relationship with Jade is to deal with his past. He and his brothers both know it’s time.

Helen Hardt has created such an intriguing plot that putting this book down was darn near impossible. She’s slowly unwinding the horrendous events of Talon’s past throrugh flashbacks and memories. It’s the perfect formula for an edge of your seat romantic suspense.

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