You'll definitely want to spend your "off duty" time with DEA Agent Arden Jones!

ByCorduroyon March 20, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Normally, it's not the cover art that reels me in. However, one peek at the male on the cover "Taken by Love" and I decided his picture should be in the dictionary as the definition of "eye candy" - no further definition in words needed. Thank goodness it's a book cover as I know I was staring! Staring at one hot, handsome, fit, sexy male with incredible eyes. Did I mention hot? Oh my! I couldn't wait to discover more about him and the lucky woman that had undoubtedly caught his eye as illustrated by that captivating glance over his shoulder. I turned to Chapter 1 and met DEA Agent Arden Jones and his girlfriend Lucy Farris, owner of a florist shop in Seattle.

"Taken by Love" has everything that a reader wants to savor in romantic suspense - romance and page-turning suspense in riveting situations that could be torn from the headlines. This romance also delights with terrific humor.

Here are two (2) of my absolute favorites of Lucy's humor. I was giggling out loud.
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I teased Arden when I opened the latest gift from him, a book called The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook. I'd read the cover and laughed. The book included how to escape quicksand and wrestle an alligator. I rarely traveled and I'd never seen an alligator in Washington, except maybe in a zoo, and I didn't intend to climb into the reptile enclosure.

Arden smiled and kissed me softly. "Honey, accidents happen. You need to be prepared."
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I need to spend more quality time on the treadmill, not casually walking while reading the latest gossip magazine. Because running several blocks shouldn't have me gulping for air for God's sake.
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It's also a special treat to find two (2) wonderful features that have been in each short story I've read by Sharon Kleve. The first special treat in addition to the wonderful human characters in each story is that the reader is always treated to an introduction of extraordinary pets. This time the pets are Siamese cats, Aldo and Hades, and I wish I could meet them in person. The wish is due to Sharon's wonderful descriptions of the cats from their "pitter-pattering" to the descriptions of their actions in expressing disapproval to their "freight train purring". Every cat owner will be instantly smiling and nodding their head, reaching down to pet their little fur face curled up alongside them for reading time. At the end of each story, Sharon Kleve shares her "Love of Animals". The second treat of each story is that one of the deliciously described foods mentioned in the story becomes the feature recipe at the end of the eBook. Both of these special treats help to give the magical and personal insight to the author's heart and home that is so obviously filled with love. How lucky for us as readers that she's sharing her love with us through each written story.

I'm so delighted that this story is being introduced as the first in a series as I can't wait to learn the next steps for Arden and Lucy. It seems a guarantee following their adventures will be exciting and always fun!