ARC Review: Darkest Night by Tara Thomas

Darkest Night
Author: Tara Thomas
Series: Sons of Broad (Book 1)
Publication: St. Martin's Paperbacks (February 27, 2018)

Description: In this first novel in the explosive, brand-new romantic suspense Sons of Broad series from Tara Thomas comes a novel of deadly secrets and hidden danger. In the sultry streets of Charleston, one family, ruled by its powerful, take-no-prisoners sons, has risen to the top. But a merciless enemy is out to destroy them…and everyone they hold close…

SHE THOUGHT SHE’D LOST HIM FOREVER
Tilly Brock has learned―the hard way―how to take care of herself. Once a pillar of Charleston society, her family lost everything in the wake of a shocking scandal. And then Tilly lost the only boy she ever loved.

BUT NOW THAT HE’S BACK IN HER LIFE
Keaton Benedict is Charleston’s most notorious bachelor. But in spite of all his advantages―the money, the women, the family name―he longs for more: the heart of the young woman he still can’t forget.

THE DANGER HAS JUST BEGUN…
When Keaton re-enters Tilly’s life, after all these years, she is torn between feelings of doubt and desire. Can they put the past behind them and learn to love again? Tilly is willing to try. But Keaton is afraid that a vengeful enemy is watching―and waiting to destroy them. Can the rekindled flame of their love defeat the deadliest rival and light their way forward in the darkest night?

My Thoughts: This first Sons of Broad book is romantic suspense with a heavy emphasis on suspense. Someone wants Tilly Brock dead. That same someone also wants to bring down the wealthy and powerful Benedict family.

Keaton Benedict is the youngest of the three Benedict brothers. He's a recent college graduate who wants to begin a division in Benedict Shipping for charitable giving. He's with some friends at a gentleman's club celebrating his graduation when he spots Tilly.

Keaton and Tilly were best friends on their way to a romance when she disappeared from his life. He was told that her father embezzled from the Benedict Company, was fired, and moved the family to Texas. In fact, they just moved to a different part of Charleston and dropped out of the upper social circle. Her father and mother both died leaving Tilly to struggle to make her way through college - thus the reason for working at a gentleman's club.

Soon after they met again, bodies started appearing around them. First Tilly's friend from work. Then two of the dancers from the club. Keaton's older brother was briefly a suspect in the second dancer's death.

Added to the confusion, a young woman who is determined to marry Keaton and who is a family friend has come to spend the summer with the Benedicts. She is not above using blackmail or murder to get her way and convince Keaton to marry her. At first, I wondered if her actions and presence were another attempt by The Gentleman. I don't think so but am still not sure.

Then there is the villain of the piece - The Gentleman - and his henchwoman/victim Jade. The Gentleman is involved in all sorts of crime in Charleston including human trafficking and he's the one who wants the Benedicts destroyed. Jade is an interesting character because she has been raised and brainwashed by The Gentleman to hate the Benedicts but is starting to question what she has been taught.

The romance storyline between Keaton and Tilly is brought to resolution in this book but the suspense plot will need resolution in the upcoming books in the series. This was a busy story with lots of threads.

Favorite Quote:

"The same blond ones from earlier?" The evil little scumbags.

She nodded. "You  know,they aren't natural blonds."

"There wasn't much of them that were natural, if you know what I mean." He waggled his eyebrows to lighten the mood and smiled when that got a laugh out of her.

"True. I remember one of them saying they got boobs for graduating from high school."

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