Title: No Lucky Number
Author:  Angel Payne & Victoria Blue
Publisher/Year:  Waterhouse Press 7/10/18
Length:  184 Pages
Series:  Secrets of Stone #5

Overview

Business trip or trip of a lifetime?

Talia Perizkova has been working toward this moment her entire career. Now she finds herself sandwiched between two of the most eligible bachelors in the country and can barely focus on the task at hand.And that’s fine by Drake Newland and Fletcher Ford.

They’re all business around the office, but when they get Talia to themselves off the clock, things really heat up. Now if they can just convince her a three-way relationship could fit into her world…

Will Talia take a chance on her newly discovered feelings? Or is their weekend of passion destined to end them before they’ve even begun?

My Thoughts

This new spin off taking us on a journey with Talia re-energizes the series for me. I really liked how we left off with Michael and Margaux, but this is a completely fresh perspective, story and level of depth and intensity. Definitely a good refresh.

We knew very little about Talia’s backstory so far. We know that there was a moment in time that she was living in Killian’s apartment in Chicago but no understanding as to why. We got a sense that there was a boyfriend that wasn’t the best to her but that’s really it. So here we get a great intro to that bit.

The nice way that our authors wrote this one is that we get a glimpse into the past by about a year – seeing how things happened to get us to current day. Talia’s from a very traditional family that has expectations about how she is to live, whom she shall live it with and etc etc. So, when that doesn’t work out the way that people want, since she’s not willing to accept being abused, she’s forced to flee. Thank goodness for the Stones right?

Killian’s two buddies that we met in books past, Drake and Fletcher make an appearance in a big way here. They are not just his best friends but they play an important role in his business. This is where the path crosses for Talia as they are all working closely on the cosmetics brand launch.

Drake and Fletcher don’t just have a strong friendship, they are almost the same person. They share the same interests and most of the time the same woman. So, imagine the drama that can and will ensue when they set their sites on Talia.

The journey that they take is one that’s heated, intense, spicy, and full of so much unknown that you have no choice but to read and read quickly. Talia knows that she’s attracted to them but she’s so guarded and shy that there’s a wonder if these men will ever succeed in their goal. The guys are quite possibly two of the most attractive yet sensitive men on the planet and while they have raunchy reputations, they never push too far for anything.

There’s a scene at the beginning of the book that i’m still trying to sort out as whether it was real or a dream, and i think that it’s a dream – but a very hot and intense one. Very foreshadowing to what could be if allowed.

The way they interact is seamless and steamy, but there are so many reasons why it can’t happen. Talia’s family would never be ok with her choices, and there is the concern of the implication to Talia’s professional reputation. She doesn’t want anyone to think that she got to where she is because of their relationship and she doesn’t want to be judged by her friends. The challenge of course is that there’s a chemistry that can’t be denied.

So while progress is made in this fifth installment, i’m not sure that we’ve made enough. Their story is only just beginning now and i can’t wait to see where it goes. Enjoy!