Book Review for BEFORE BEN by Cynthia Eden

Enemies make the best lovers. 

It was a one night stand with her worst enemy. Ben Wilde was cocky, charming, and sexy as the best sin. He was also Courtney McKenna’s weakness. Every single inch of his muscled perfection was trouble and temptation. They’d sparred in the courtroom more times than she could count, and the tension between them had always been red-hot. One night should have been all she needed to get the guy out of her head and her dreams. Only…it wasn’t. 

Because before Ben, life was easy. Life after Ben? Hot. Dark. And dangerous. 

Courtney tries to fight her scorching desire for Ben even as they plan to face-off in court once again. Even as they fight for power. But once you cross some lines, there is no going back. And Ben doesn’t plan to let her go anywhere. 

He’s had a taste, but Ben wants a whole lot more. 

Ben Wilde has never believed that opposites attract, but there is something about button-downed, prim and proper Courtney that has always driven him wild. And when he gets her in his bed, the attraction he feels for her changes into a sensual obsession. Sure, they can be enemies in the courtroom, but in the bedroom, they are meant to be something else entirely. 

Be careful what you want… 

Someone out there doesn’t want Ben to have Courtney. Someone who will do anything to stop their attraction. But that predator in the dark is messing with the wrong man. When it comes to Courtney’s safety, Ben will break every rule in the book. He will stop pretending to be nice and show the world just how wicked and dangerous he can truly be. Because Courtney is his, and Ben will play dirty, he’ll play rough, and he will destroy anyone who threatens her.

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I have a serious obsession with this series, and I am not ashamed to admit it. This is the perfect stay up late at night binge reading until the perfectly swoon-worthy ending that leaves a big smile on your face afterward cause it is just so good in all the possible ways series... 

The books in the series are stand-alone stories, that gets wrapped up within the covers yet the characters do walkthroughs in the other books, and you get to know them even better or just visit with them for a minute. Ben has been in the stories since the book one, so his cocky, sure-of-himself ways and attitude was well known before I immersed myself into the book. The beauty of the writing is that while Ben is at times over the top alpha - with his protective mind and overly defensive attitude towards his loved ones - he never crosses the line from alpha to ass jerk, he has a heart of gold, he truly cares, and he is an honest, loving, affectionate, and lovable guy. I loved him in Protecting Piper, and that feeling was just validated in Before Ben. 

And Courtney McKenna is the one - and the only - woman that can match Ben, and bring him to his knees. One of my favorite things about this series is the strong, successful, capable, female leads and secondary characters that are presented in the stories. I admire them, I love them, I cheer for the success they accomplish, and I want just all the best for them because they have worked hard to get where they are and they deserve all the happiness in the world.

The suspense is dark, it is deadly, it is dangerous, twisted, and personal. The case was so well presented that it managed to surprise me with some turns of events. 
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That dark, chilling danger is well balanced with quick, smart banter, humor in unexpected moments that had me cackling, and the ardent romance that burned so hot, so fierce, and so earnest, it floored me. 
~ Five Spoons

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Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes dark tales of paranormal romance and romantic suspense. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Cynthia is also a three-time finalist for the prestigious RITA® award. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over eighty novels and novellas.

Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.

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