Storm of Attraction

Willowdale #1

by Lily Black

Love is worth fighting for.

Alexa Wolving has just one rule: never give a guy a second chance. That works just fine in the safe life she’s built. In the charming town of Willowdale, her day job as a librarian balances perfectly with her evening job as a black belt instructor. But when she attracts the attention of a stalker, Alexa’s carefully built world begins to crumble.

Drew Cosimo knows he broke Alexa’s heart five years ago when he took his first Ranger assignment and disappeared from her life. Now that he’s out of the army, he’s moving back home to Willowdale. He’s not looking for a fight, but making peace would be easier if Alexa hadn’t told the entire town he was a money-grubbing jerk. Despite the tension between them, Drew is quick to offer his protection when a stalker forces Alexa from her home.

As the stalker’s attacks escalate, Alexa and Drew are forced to face their painful past and the simmering attraction between them. They must fight to save each other before everything they care about goes up in flames.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Fiction

250 pages, Paperback

First published February 13, 2017

About the author

Lily Black believes in true love, but she is also quite certain that going after it is the scariest thing we'll ever do. She explores this dynamic in her romantic suspense novels, which are set in the small imaginary town of Willowdale, where people dream big, love deeply, and kick butt if necessary.

Lily has a black belt in Chung Do Kwan Tai Kwon Do, and she has also trained in everything from judo to broadswords. She lives in North Carolina, where she tries to divide her free time between the mountains and the sea. She shares her home with a very patient and loving husband and their teenage daughter.

Reviews

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexa Wolving what a wonderful name, is a self-sufficient woman that is proud of her work with the children of the town teaching the inner strength as well as martial arts.

Alexa had a relationship that ended unexpectedly and without closure. Now Drew was back in town, she was untrusting and he was very charming.

There was more than just an attraction as the title implies there was also a storm. This was an interesting and intense read. The emotions were apparent and raw.

I am posting this review during Mystery Thriller Week. The annual event to celebrate mystery and thriller authors, bloggers, and fans.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Storm of Attraction, by Lily Black, which is the first book in her Willowdale series.
Full-time librarian and part-time black belt instructor, Alexa Wolving has built a life for herself in the charming town of Willowdale. Her world begins to fall apart when she attracts the attention of a stalker.
Army Ranger Drew Cosimo broke Alexa's heart 5 years ago. Now that he is back in his home town of Willowdale will Alexa accept his offer of protection.
As the danger escalates so do the sparks between Alexa and Drew.
A page turning mystery/romance that has me looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an arc of this novel.

[Linda Strong · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars


Alexa Wolving has one dating rule .... never give a guy a second chance. She has seen other women fall into that trap .. one was almost killed ... and she is just not going there.

When Drew Cosimo shows up in town, she's torn between anger and protecting her heart from ever being hurt again. They dated 5 years ago and she really, really thought they had a future. But then Drew made a mistake, and being young and stupid, he walked away from Alexa without telling her why.

Meanwhile, she's attracted the attention of a stalker... and the stalker is escalating. First there were the gifts and cards and then he took out her frustration on her 3 cats. Thankfully, they were okay but now she's scared.

Scared enough to accept Drew's help. He was a Ranger and he's also a brown belt. He promises to protect Alexa with his very life.

Despite the tension between them, they will have to put to rest the bad feelings from before in order to save themselves from someone hell bent on killing them.

Less than 200 pages, this is a quick read. As in most Romantic Suspense, the characters are almost too good to be true. Drew is one ... he's the man all women would like to have in their lives. Alexa is a strong woman ... has a black belt. And though she seems fragile a few times, she's not afraid to physically fight if she has to. There's the standard girlfriend who cheers her on.

It's not terribly suspenseful as I had the stalker identified early on. But it was enough to keep me reading.

Many thanks to the author / Red Adept Publishing, LLC Netgalley for the digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexa learned the hard way that sometimes love hurts like a sucker punch to the gut. She never got over Drew and has sworn he will never get a second chance to crush her again. Five years later, he is back in town to stay and her resolve is getting as weak as her knees when he is around. Her carefully crafted life is about to go tumbling down like a house of cards and not just because of Drew.

There is a stalker on the loose and they are after Alexa. As their threats get closer to home, Drew is the one who gives Alexa a shoulder to lean on, a shoulder she knows could disappear once again without a trace. But has Drew changed? Was their young, whirlwind romance important to him, too? Why did he go off to join the Rangers without a word once he was gone? Was Alexa fooled into believing she meant something to him? Now that he’s back, she has so many questions, but will he ever answer them and put her out of her misery? There are at least two sides to every story and it’s time for Drew to share his…but first, he must protect her from her mysterious stalker, because, no, he never forgot her…

Lily Black’s STORM OF ATTRACTION is a tsunami of emotional baggage for Alexa and Drew that must be unpacked and put to rest. The stalker? In some strange and twisted way may be the catalyst that will bring two souls back together where they belong. High tension, some pigheaded moments, and the discovery of who they each are today, romance at its finest with a touch of suspense tossed in! Ms. Black has done a remarkable job of giving second chance love a “chance” to re-kindle that old flame!

I received an ARC edition from Red Adept in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Willowdale - Book 1
Publication Date: February 13, 2017
Publisher: Red Adept
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Print Length: 176 pages
Available from: Amazon | Red Adept
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Chitra Iyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storm of Attraction by Lily Black is a novel that has equal measures of romance and suspense in it. The balancing of the two is impressive and thus, makes for a great read for a weekend or stormy night.

Alexa Wolving is a librarian by day and a black belt trainer by night. After a few date experiences, she has come to form a rule – never to give a guy a second chance. And she applies the same when her ex, Drew Cosimo, re enters her life. In the little town of Willowdale, Drew is all set to open a rival martial arts centre to Alexa’s Crouching Tiger, where she is an instructor. Alexa finds herself attracted to Drew but the attraction doesn’t stop there. A stalker is behind Alexa and she is only about now to find out how dangerous he is.

I’d like to share my opinion about the book first before going into the technicalities. I loved the book! As mentioned earlier, there is a perfect balance between the romance part and suspense in the story, which is awesome! Usually, one overtakes the other, but thankfully, that isn’t the case here. Alexa is being followed and the tense atmosphere has been accurately created by the author. Not to mention the heart racing moments of romance between the two, lovely!

The pace of the story is fast and the writing style, impeccable. The climax was written with such finesse that the reader is drawn into the suspense. And I must mention Drew’s house, oh-so-perfect! It has been described as a perfect, cozy atmosphere and it has a library with a fireplace! A library with a fireplace! Could it get any more cozier?!?

Overall, I really liked how the book was written, kudos to Lily Black, the author! A must read if you’re into suspense and/or romance, you’ll not regret it.

[Aure #SlavaUkrain · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced love story with a mystery on top!

This book was a pleasant and a quick read. The story is about a young woman who got burned in a relationship before. So when her old flame comes back in town there’s all kinds of mixed feelings going on! And let’s not forget about the mysterious stalker, who becomes scarier and scarier, to me at least.

Also seems that this book is first in a new series, which is yay! I highly anticipate the next book and hope I’ll have the opportunity to review it too.

Peace,
A.

P.S. Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC for an honest review!

More reviews here:

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is a profanity free zone and it's nice to read a book that doesn't use cuss words in every sentence. That is worth being noted.

Alexa is the town librarian and also teaches at the local dojo. When an old flame, Drew, also and Army Ranger, returns to town to live and open a mixed MMA studio she is not happy for two reasons. One, she takes offense to his opinion of the kata and two, he left her after three weeks of amazing time together where she really thought they had a major connection five years ago and it hurt. She just cannot let that go.

As the books starts off you see very quickly that there is a suspicion of her having a stalker. She has been receiving gifts with no notes, then a not so nice card and note and now someone has slashed her tire. Perfect timing even though she doesn't realize it at the time or want it Drew is there and respectfully takes control of the incident.

Things escalate further and it becomes obvious the someone is not just stalking as an admirer but who wants to hurt her. That's when her friends and someone that has cleared steps up and works to protect her

This book is full of light action, loyalty, bravery, the push and pull if love, and friendship.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Book Lover · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the kindle version.

Alexa Wolvering is a librarian by day and at night is a black belt teaching martial arts and self-defense classes at a local dojo. She doesn’t believe in second chances for any guy she’s dated.

Drew Cosimo has returned to his small hometown after serving with the Rangers for the last 5 years. He is opening a martial arts studio that will be in direct competition with Alexa’s dojo. He’s also her ex.

When a stalker threatens Alexa, Drew steps up to protect her.

These two spent an intense 3 weeks together 5 years ago before he left for basics. No promises had been made, she knew he was leaving. Granted, he didn’t do it in the nicest way, but they were very young. I didn’t feel the heat between these two.

I guessed the stalker right away. The story has potential but needs more development. It just didn’t work for me. Too much in their heads and not much actual interaction.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley.

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alexa Wolving runs into her old boyfriend after five years. She has every intention of just ignoring him and getting on with her life. Drew Cosimo is back and he wouldn't mind getting back what he threw away five years away. When a stalker's attention turns deadly, Alexa knows she needs Drew, even if for just a little while.

Not bad! I did like the storyline and the characters and felt it had a lot of potential. But the execution didn't quite come through. My main issues with the story would be mostly with the romance elements. I didn't feel the chemistry. The mystery part was intriguing though and I kept with the book because I wanted to know. Looks like this is a fairly new author and I think this may be an author to watch for.

I received this book from NetGalley for a fair and honest review

[Tressa (Wishful Endings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

STORM OF ATTRACTION is a suspenseful romance on the lighter side with some fun characters set in a small town. Those who enjoy reading in this genre may enjoy this one.

Let me start with what I did like... I liked the characters, both the two main ones as well as some of the side characters. They were interesting and easily pulled me into the story. I also liked the small-town setting. There was a slight underlying feel of tension, both on the suspense side and on the romance side, the whole way through the book.

Then there were a few things that didn't work for me... I was a little thrown by Alexa's vehemence towards Drew. It was really strong for her supposedly dating him years previously. It also made her come off as a little unhinged. I would have liked the issues with the stalker to be a little more mysterious and the characters to slowly come to conclusions instead of things almost just being stated and the reader having to accept that. The suspense could have been worked through the story better. On that note, the ending didn't work for me. For being who Drew is and who Alexa is... Yeah. Things wouldn't have played out as they did.

In the end, was it what I wished for? Parts of this were great! The romantic tension and the banter was really sweet, but other areas of the story needed more development.

Content: Innuendo, descriptive making out, references to love scenes, some mild language.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book cover! so want pulled me into wishing to read it, Lily is a new author to me, and I am happy to say I can't wait to see what else she will be writing in the near future, super excited!! I would love to take a self-defense class again, 1st one i took with my Mom, I think every one need to be able to defend themselves, it has been so many years ... great exercise and a great many tools to have in your back pocket so to speak, if you might need those much needed skills to ever defend you or your family. this is a second chance romance, so much tension, it is a fast paced read, so exciting. I couldn't put it down, i love a good read, ones like this that suck ya in and you look around like where did the time go??! so glad Lily did contact me to read it ... well done. I am sold. I wish you all the best, Lily. such a fan!! Must read!! ( ;

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A complex tale of rivalry, obsession and passion erupts into a fantastic romantic thriller in author Lily Black’s Storm of Attraction. Here’s the synopsis:

Love is worth fighting for.

Alexa Wolving has just one rule: never give a guy a second chance. That works just fine in the safe life she’s built. In the charming town of Willowdale, her day job as a librarian balances perfectly with her evening job as a black belt instructor. But when she attracts the attention of a stalker, Alexa’s carefully built world begins to crumble.

Drew Cosimo knows he broke Alexa’s heart five years ago when he took his first Ranger assignment and disappeared from her life. Now that he’s out of the army, he’s moving back home to Willowdale. He’s not looking for a fight, but making peace would be easier if Alexa hadn’t told the entire town he was a money-grubbing jerk. Despite the tension between them, Drew is quick to offer his protection when a stalker forces Alexa from her home.

As the stalker’s attacks escalate, Alexa and Drew are forced to face their painful past and the simmering attraction between them. They must fight to save each other before everything they care about goes up in flames. 

This book was a very fast paced yet well developed read. The complex history between the two protagonists made for a wonderful look into relationships and how sometimes time apart can lead to unexpected reunions. Whether they be good or bad is up to you to decide, but in author Lily Black’s novel readers get to see an intoxicating relationship form between these two complex and emotionally scarred people. The edge of your seat thriller explores the danger of obsession and how that danger presents itself. It allows readers to see that asking for help and looking to others isn’t a sign of weakness, and by working together terrifying threats can be manageable. The best part of this though is seeing how the danger of this stalker brings these two driven yet emotional people closer together than they ever anticipated.

Overall I loved this story. The characters were engaging to the point where I’d love to read more stories featuring these two protagonists, and the big reveal of the stalker will leave the reader floored. This was a well rounded and emotionally driven read, and I highly recommend checking it out. If you haven’t yet be sure to grab your copies of author Lily Black’s Storm of Attraction today!

[Stuart Aken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storm of Attraction is a romantic thriller with an understandable bias in favour of female readers. After all, most romance readers are women. As a mature man, and the author of a romantic thriller, I’m able to enjoy the genre in a way a lot of men can’t imagine.
Told very much from the woman’s point of view, this story dwells quite heavily on the emotional aspect of the relationship between the two major protagonists. The peril facing the heroine is introduced early, but in a subtle and clever way that illustrates the difference in attitude between an independent woman and the man who would like to protect her. The antagonist, introduced without flags early in the story, only becomes an identified character as the denouement unfolds, though the threat he poses is clear much sooner. That threat level escalates as the climax builds to a tense action-packed series of events concluding in the only possible outcome.
An engaging story, peopled with characters I found easy to empathise with, and a book I read at one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK.  Bear with me here.  There is an awful lot to like about this book, there really is.  My biggest issue with it?  The apparent depth and strength of feeling after a relationship (5 years ago) which lasted weeks.  

However, if you can get past that, then you have the bones of a good story.  I enjoyed the way that the tension built alongside the rekindled relationship between Alexa and Drew.  The chemistry between them is perhaps more on the subtle, slow burn side, but in the context of the story and the author's writing style.

I look forward to seeing more of this series.

I voluntarily reviewed a reviewer copy of this book.

[TDCbookreviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storm of Attraction by Lily Black

Genre: Romance

About the book: Alexa is the type of person who has a rule where no one gets a second chance. But now that someone is stalking her, Drew, the man who broke her heart, has offered her his protection. Will she forgive and forget or just use him for the security he can insure her.

Review: This book was a very good read. It made me change my mind several tines trying to figure out the stalker. I liked the ending but I want more.

Author Page/Website: http://www.lilyblackbooks.com/lilys-a...

Link where you can purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Storm-Attracti...

Overall Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 5 out of 5 stars

[Marie Brown (Marie's Tempting Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marie's Tempting Reads Netgalley ARC Review:

A romantic suspense that heart thumping AWESOME with intelligent characters and a smart plot that you can easily follow and romance that sure sizzles! Lily Black is a "New To Me" author and one that writes a book that instantly reminded me of Tiffany Snow. Storm Of Attraction just had that action that left me sweating and on the edge while the romance and sex was scorching. When everything is combined it was an incredibly whirlwind story full of...EVERYTHING.

Storm of Attraction gets an AMAZINGLY WRITTEN FIVE SHOOTING STARS! If you like books similar to Tiffany Snow's romantic suspense, I am positive you will enjoy Storm of Attraction!

[Kindra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read, and I enjoyed the martial arts aspects woven into the story line. The author also does an excellent job of exploring the subconscious forces influencing behaviors and unrecognized beliefs, and she lets the backstory unfold naturally. There is definitely plenty left to explore and develop in the relationship of the main characters, so it will be interesting to see what future holds in the series!

[Mona williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a awesome book you wrote! its about two people who dated in the past. they meet up again years later. there is a stalker after her. he must protect her with his life. will these two get back together? read to find out what happens. thanks for giving me a chance to read this book!

[Eccentric Trilogy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hiya, its Lydia here. Today I'm posting a review on the book Storm of Attraction by Lily Black. I hope you guys enjoy the review as much as I loved reading the book.

Author: Lily Black
Published: January
Publishers: Red Adept Publishing, LLC
Length: 250 pages
Genre: Romantic, Thriller, Contemporary

Description from Amazon

Alexa Wolving has just one rule: never give a guy a second chance. That works just fine in the safe life she’s built. In the charming town of Willowdale, her day job as a librarian balances perfectly with her evening job as a black belt instructor. But when she attracts the attention of a stalker, Alexa’s carefully built world begins to crumble.
Drew Cosimo knows he broke Alexa’s heart five years ago when he took his first Ranger assignment and disappeared from her life. Now that he’s out of the army, he’s moving back home to Willowdale. He’s not looking for a fight, but making peace would be easier if Alexa hadn’t told the entire town he was a money-grubbing jerk. Despite the tension between them, Drew is quick to offer his protection when a stalker forces Alexa from her home.
As the stalker’s attacks escalate, Alexa and Drew are forced to face their painful past and the simmering attraction between them. They must fight to save each other before everything they care about goes up in flames.

I recommend that future readers should only read this book if they are fifteen and above.

Review

Romantic and intriguing are two of the many words I would use to describe this novel, while it was heart warming, it was also racing and hair-raising. I'm not the sort of reader who usually goes for thriller themed books, I would most likely let the other bloggers read and review it. However Storm of Attraction has opened up a new and interesting genre for me to explore in the future.

The plot and storyline was written well, it wasn't too fast-paced, and yet it wasn't too slow that the reader fell asleep. The reader is taken on a climbing journey, that meets a climax towards the end of the novel that wonderfully reveals the face of Alexa's stalker. Even though I liked how the stalker was unmasked, I felt that the suggestion of the stalker written to near the beginning, and that it would have been better for the writer to let the reader discover for themselves why all these strange and eerie things were happening to Alexa. However this is just my opinion and format as a writer emerging into this review.

When reading I instantly knew that the author is a feminist, much like myself. However while most female readers love an independent and strong minded heroine, they don't need to be told this all the way through the novel. I understood that Alexa was an emancipated young woman from a few simple descriptions, but from reading this in almost every chapter it made Alexa's sense of independence repetitive. But what I did like about Alexa is that she realised that her almost extreme sense of independence was stopping her from ever finding love and happiness in the future, and for me personally this the characters realisation of her faults was my favourite part of the book. It showed the true essence of being human, understanding our faults and finding a way to overcome them. For myself, this is what makes a really good writer, someone who captures a sense of human life within language, and Lily Black did just that.

Another aspect I found interesting about Storm of Attraction was it's parallels between love and obsession. This gives the reader the clues and makes them aware of the difference between the two emotions. The stalker is most indefinitely a psychopath, and wants to possess and control Alexa. The reader sees this from the third person narrative Black uses, where we can see into the mind of the stalker and hear his twisted and dark thoughts. This although can be disturbing for some readers, but again I like how there was a sense of darkness that contrasted with the light of Alexa and Drew's relationship.

The books other main character Drew Cosimo, is a kind hearted and basically any persons dream guy. He cooks, he's handsome and he likes cats. However what I liked most about his character is that he desired Alexa in the beginning, but that sense of lust changed into something futuristic and long-term, and within this he realised that he wanted to progress in the direction of a stable and martial relationship. Personally this is how love progresses, you desire another person, and then once you've spent a substantial amount of time with them you develop a sense of protection and deep respect for them.
While I did like Drew, at times I felt that Black didn't let me discover his sense of character for myself and that she told me all of his feelings. The book had quite a telly narrative, and for some stories it can work quite well, however when it is used excessively it can make the reader feel as if they can't think for themselves.

Aside from the small things I criticised, overall I throughly enjoyed reading this book, and highly recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging and gripping read.

[Vera mallard · Rating 4 out of 5]

STORM OF ATTRACTION BY LILY BLACK:

Alexa Wolving, black belt martial arts instructor at night and librarian by day, has a full life without men. Five years previously, Drew Cosimo, Army Ranger, broke her heart. Since then, her principle's simple: never give men a second chance. But that trusty rule's about to be tested. Drew Casimo, has come back to Willowdale; opening a karate school in competition with Crouching Tiger.

Angry, determined to ignore Drew, and all he stands for, Alexa will find fate's her master. For Alexa has a stalker bent on having her at all costs. Drew and Alexa are drawn together as the stalker comes closer and closer. My suspense romance book reviews of Storm Of Attraction follows.

CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, DEVELOPMENT:

Storm Of Attraction's filled with suspense, mystery, emotion, and romance. A fast paced read, it grabs the reader immediately and does not let go. Lily Black drew the suspense and mystery out; not revealing the stalker's identity until the last possible moment. What a surprise; I had no idea he was the stalker! The romance in Storm Of Attraction's slow and easy; a sweet romance with heavy kissing, a little grabbing, and intense emotion. Lilly Black stated: it was given a four on the blush scale. For those of us who do not like descriptive or graphic sex, Storm Of Attraction hits the romance spot. Black did not rush her characters into a relationship, as Alexa has issues she must resolve. Will she ever forgive Drew? You will have to read the book to find out.

I loved Alexa's character; strong, determined, independent, and caring. As Black developed and matured Alexa, I could feel her confusion, anger, and questioning. While Drew is uncertain of his feelings, he can not help his attraction to Alexa. He's a strong man with morals and principles; a man of honor who matured and regrets his past actions with Alexa.

With a mixture of romance, suspense, mystery, and martial arts, Storm of Attraction's a solid well-written book. Also, Black included secondary characters which enrich the story-line. Black's characterization and creation of the stalker's truly vile; I rooted for him to get his " just desserts". What a sick man Lily Black skillfully crafted. Black's writing's solid, easy to follow, and her scenes transition smoothly from scene to scene. With an explosive ending, you will close this book with satisfaction. A perfect read for a lazy afternoon in your favorite chair with a beverage by your side.

STORM OF ATTRACTION RECOMMENDATION: STARS 4

FINALLY, PLEASE NOTE

Additionally, I received this book from the author. I chose to voluntarily review the book with honest suspense mystery romance book reviews. Lastly, book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion. Consequently, all book reviews on-line and on my blog, are my opinions. In addition, no one influences my voluntary suspense mystery romance book reviews.

[Books Laid Bare · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the delivery of the story was not only well conceived but also beautifully packaged, the author writes well, uses her grammar creatively and is more than able to weave a mystery that kept me thoroughly engaged but I just wasn’t sure that the characters dug deep enough.
Their past was one that obviously had unfinished business but now that they are back in touch, albeit on very shaky terms, it is all very quickly side-lined almost by the events that are engulfing Alexis.
Because despite the fact that she is a strong woman, a professional with a responsible career, top that off with the knowledge that she is also a respected martial arts practitioner …it came as a bit of a surprise to discover that she is being stalked…someone has a definite screw loose!!!
Drew regrets with everything that he has not only the fact that what he had with Alexis came to an end but moreover the manner in which they parted ways but now he is back, he doesn’t initially ingratiate himself by opening another martial arts academy – one that will be in direct competition with Alexis.
You would think that the emotional push and pull between the two of them would be enough to keep the pages turning but the author loaded the story with a darn sight more angst and attitude and that because the threat to Alexis from her stalker is genuine and Drew cannot just stand by and do nothing about it, after all as a former Ranger it is inbuilt in him to protect and with Alexis his feelings only intensify that desire.
Can Alexis let her guard down enough to let Drew back in and if she does will it be in time to save her from the danger that seems to be drawing in with every chapter?
I thought this was a proper romance with a little bit of everything thrown into the mix and for me that made it a super Sunday afternoon read.

[Megan | A Page to Turn · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The combination of this beautiful library and it's sexy owner was just a tad overpowering."

Alexa is a force to be reckoned with... she's a badass black belt and she's also armed with knowledge as a librarian! It's kind of a beautifully odd combination! When we meet her, she's focused on her daily life and the struggles that come with it - including some unwanted attention from an 'admirer'.

Then, in walks Drew. A blast from her recent past, and the man she never really got over. Life jump starts quick as the two are forced to deal with a crazy ordeal, as well as face their bottled up feelings.

I really loved the way that Lily Black wrote this book in third person. I am usually not a fan of 3rd when it comes to romance, but this book having a little more suspense definitely called for it, and I believe it was done well. I didn't feel the disconnection from the characters that usually comes with a third person POV. I feel like we got a very well-rounded, well told story, and I understood these characters well. It was interesting seeing them deal with the situations at hand, and in the end, find a way back to true love.

[Sharon Grow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexa Wolving has a carefully constructed life as a librarian and her evening job at a dojo as a black belt instructor. She tried love once and now is content with her life…until she realizes that she has a stalker. Drew Cosimo, her first love, has returned to Willowdale from the military sand hopes to have a second chance with Alexa. Will she give him a second chance? When Drew realizes that Alexa has a stalker and the stalker is getting more and more bold, he knows that no matter what he will be there to protect her. Alexa is a strong woman, but accepts Drew’s offer when she must leave her home while they make plans for her safety. Will the police and Drew be able to keep her safe? A wonderful, action packed mystery as Drew and Alexa fight their renewed attraction and the stalker. Danger can be a lot closer than they think. Ms. Black has written a wonderful debut novel, full of suspense and romance, and I look forward to the next in the series. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to give an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

[Book Lover · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alexa Wolvering is a librarian by day and at night is a black belt teaching martial arts and self-defense classes at a local dojo. She doesn’t believe in second chances for any guy she’s dated.

Drew Cosimo has returned to his small hometown after serving with the Rangers for the last 5 years. He is opening a martial arts studio that will be in direct competition with Alexa’s dojo. He’s also her ex.

When a stalker threatens Alexa, Drew steps up to protect her.

These two spent an intense 3 weeks together 5 years ago before he left for basics. No promises had been made, she knew he was leaving. Granted, he didn’t do it in the nicest way, but they were very young. I didn’t feel the heat between these two.

I guessed the stalker right away. The story has potential but needs more development. It just didn’t work for me. Too much in their heads and not much actual interaction.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley.

[Madonna Blackburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Storm of Attraction by Lily Black

Lily Black introduces us to Drew & Alexa is this romantic suspense drama Storm of Attraction. Drew & Alexa have a history however, Alexa holds animosity towards Drew for the way he abruptly ended their relationship so many years ago. Alexa is thrown together with Drew in varying different scenarios throughout this book & although she wants to keep her anger towards Drew alive, she finds that to be an ever increasingly difficult task.
This story was just an OK read for me. It was very predictable and I didn't really feel much depth in the characters. The ending was a bit disappointing in that with the experience that both Alexa & Drew have in in their respective fields, they failed dismally to keep themselves safe...it just didn't ring true.
A bit of believable sexual tension as well as some actual sex would have made this story more likable.
3⛤

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This romantic suspense book will keep you guessing as to who is after Alexa. I know I didn't figure it out but there was a clue or two that might help you figure it out ahead of time.

The great thing about the romantic suspense genre is that you get 2 great genres in one book. The suspense side kept me on the edge of my seat at different times. Then the romance side, while it took awhile to get there due to emotional baggage, a past between Alexa and Drew, and just general timing issues, finally did culminate in something more between them. There was a good balance of sexual tension and misunderstandings that extended how they acted and reacted to and around each other.

The book takes place over about 2 weeks but there are a few flashbacks to Alexa and Drew's past so that we gain a better understanding of what happened.

Overall very enjoyable!

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a debut novel from this author, and my word, she has done an amazing job, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future. Alexa and Drew had a parting of the ways 5 years previously, and it was not a harmonious breakup. Now Drew is back in town, and is determined to protect Alexa from a stalker. No spoilers; this one is a must read, you will not be disappointed!
This is an action packed storyline, which has suspense, mystery, and love. I highly recommend this authors work for all lovers of second chance romances.
Great work Lily!!

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the book was okay. It started off good but it sort of leveled off for me. I just thought that despite what pulled Alexa and Drew apart years ago didn't seem to hold up well. Somehow, them being at each other's presence just didn't seem to have enough friction for me. It just felt that Alexa would be embarrassed and leave, but there wasn't enough angst. I thought the idea of the book was good, but could have been executed better- mainly the stalker bit and the romance between the 2 of them.

[Margery Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!
What a terrific first book for this (or any) author. I was hooked from the very beginning and only took a break because I had to get "some" sleep. Grabbed my coffee in the morning and went right back to reading. The characters, story, and writing are great.
I'm anxiously awaiting another book by this author.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[Sam Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed the relationship between Alexa and Drew, simple ex lovers, still with strong feelings- yet nothing overly unrealistic. The suspense plot was pretty good and I only figured it out shortly before Drew did.