ARC Review: The Sapphire Affair by Lauren Blakely

The Sapphire Affair
Author: Lauren Blakely
Series: A Jewel Novel (Book 1)
Publication: Montlake Romance (July 12, 2016)

Description: Seduction hotter than stolen jewels in this new series from the New York Times bestselling author of Big Rock.

Bounty hunter Jake Harlowe knows how to track a criminal. So when a group of swindled shareholders hire him to trail their former CEO, Jake expects a quick trip to the Cayman Islands to close another case. Until a devastatingly beautiful woman gets in the way.

Steph Anderson is visiting the Caymans for a rock climbing and dive trip—or so she tells Jake. She’s really trying to find out whether or not her stepfather embezzled money from his company. The last thing Steph needs is the distraction of a sexy, charming man whose kisses drive her wild.

Soon, the pair discover they’re after the same target—and millions in jewels. While Jake can’t be certain Steph isn’t working for her stepfather, and Steph can’t be certain Jake isn’t after the diamonds for himself, they can agree the heat between them is intense, and neither can deny the passion for long.

But the morning after, Steph discovers that she just might have slept with the enemy, and now she’ll have to outwit him to get everything she needs…

My Thoughts: First, I hate cliffhangers and this book ends with a cliffhanger of massive proportions. I'm sure this will color what I have to say about this book.

Both Steph Anderson and Jake Harlowe are intent on finding out if Steph's ex-stepfather embezzled $10 million from hedge fund he managed. Jake has been hired by the other shareholders; Steph is on a self-appointed mission because she feels her mother was treated badly during the divorce.

Steph is in the Caymans, where her father has opened a new club, because she runs a company that plans adventure tours. She is man-shy because her former boyfriend trashed her business reputation when she broke up with him. Jake is not eager to work with a woman either because his last female partner almost got away with the art the two had recovered from the thieves. Jake runs a recovery business where he tracks down missing things. He is qualified because he was a former military intelligence officer. He is also using his earning to send his younger brother and sister through college.

The two are attracted but neither really trusts the other. They go from distrust to hot foreplay at the drop of a dime. I never really felt comfortable with their sexual attraction since it seemed to me just based on each one's physical appearance. Not only was their relationship left hanging at the end of this story but so was the mystery. Readers will need to read the next book for resolution of both the romance and the mystery.

Favorite Quote:

His plan might be grade-A insane, and lord only know that the last time he'd worked with a woman, he'd been burned. But he had no plans of letting her into his heart. Nope. This was only work. Nothing more.

I got this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. You can buy your copy here.