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Killer Style #1
Killer Temptation
Sylvie Bissette may be one of Harbor City's youngest glitterati, but only her best friends know her most closely guarded secret. She's the woman behind The High-Heeled Wonder, a must-read blog for fashionistas everywhere. Gossip, fashion advice, exposés. Too bad some people can't take a little criticism. When an internet troll discovers her secret identity and escalates from stalking her to threatening her life, Sylvie turns to security expert Tony Falcon for help. The investigator from the other side of the tracks is the olive oil to her Evian water and aggravates her to no end, but it's not just her temper he's inciting...
Tony Falcon wouldn't know a kitten heel from a tabby cat, but since most of the bad guys he tracks down aren't wearing stilettos, it's never been a problem...until he meets Sylvie. When a murder investigation leads him to the same place Sylvie works, he realizes the feisty fashionista may be his best chance at catching the criminals who killed his best friend. It all leads back to the cut-throat fashion world. But solving that case means going after the people Sylvie cares about, and soon his attraction for her--and the danger she's in--has him wondering if solving the case is worth hurting the woman he can't stop fantasizing about ...
When Sylvie's almost run over in broad daylight, Tony goes undercover as her boyfriend to infiltrate the close-knit fashion community. And when they discover Sylvie's stalker may be linked to Tony's own investigation, what started as a simple plan to find his friend's killers turns into a hot bed of secrets and revelations. In a world full of overblown egos and dog-eat-dog ambition, Tony and Sylvie must work together to find her revenge-obsessed stalker before Sylvie ends up with a literal knife in the back.
Tony Falcon wouldn't know a kitten heel from a tabby cat, but since most of the bad guys he tracks down aren't wearing stilettos, it's never been a problem...until he meets Sylvie. When a murder investigation leads him to the same place Sylvie works, he realizes the feisty fashionista may be his best chance at catching the criminals who killed his best friend. It all leads back to the cut-throat fashion world. But solving that case means going after the people Sylvie cares about, and soon his attraction for her--and the danger she's in--has him wondering if solving the case is worth hurting the woman he can't stop fantasizing about ...
When Sylvie's almost run over in broad daylight, Tony goes undercover as her boyfriend to infiltrate the close-knit fashion community. And when they discover Sylvie's stalker may be linked to Tony's own investigation, what started as a simple plan to find his friend's killers turns into a hot bed of secrets and revelations. In a world full of overblown egos and dog-eat-dog ambition, Tony and Sylvie must work together to find her revenge-obsessed stalker before Sylvie ends up with a literal knife in the back.
181 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 27, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
October 7, 2014
Originally posted at The Book Nympho
Avery Flynn does a great job of mixing fashion, suspense and romance in High-Heeled Wonder . I'm no stranger to Flynn's writing, this is the third book I've read by her. I went in thinking this will be a sexy, sassy and fun book. Then add in a touch of a thriller element and you have a winner. Think Sex in the City if Carrie was a fashion blogger with a stalker out to kill not only her blog but her.
Sylvie Bissette is the "High-Heeled Wonder", a fashion blogger that's a the daughter of two fashion designer dads. Sylvie uses the HHW as her blogging name so if her opinions on fashion make people mad they don't take it out on her dads. And she didn't want to use their names to help launch her blog into the huge success it is today.
But after Sylvie starts getting threatening emails from an online stalker she starts to wonder if her secret is safe or if someone on the very short list that knows she's the HHW let the fact slip. Sylvie is not convince that her stalker is really dangerous but thanks to her over protective dads, they have hired a bodyguard for her. One she doesn't know about.
Once Sylvie meets Tony at her little sisters wedding sparks fly. But she quickly finds out that Tony is the bodyguard that was hired to shadow her for the last month.
Tony is an ex-cop that's turn to the private security business. He is still working the case to solve his partner's murder while trying to protect Sylvie from her stalker and he's having a hard time keeping their relationship strictly business. She's his client, he can't sleep with her no matter how much they both want it.
High-Heeled Wonder is full of high stake fashion and one dangerously sexy ex-cop. If you're looking to dip your toe in the Romantic Suspense genre you should give Avery Flynn a try. She brings sassy to the thrills.
Avery Flynn does a great job of mixing fashion, suspense and romance in High-Heeled Wonder . I'm no stranger to Flynn's writing, this is the third book I've read by her. I went in thinking this will be a sexy, sassy and fun book. Then add in a touch of a thriller element and you have a winner. Think Sex in the City if Carrie was a fashion blogger with a stalker out to kill not only her blog but her.
Sylvie Bissette is the "High-Heeled Wonder", a fashion blogger that's a the daughter of two fashion designer dads. Sylvie uses the HHW as her blogging name so if her opinions on fashion make people mad they don't take it out on her dads. And she didn't want to use their names to help launch her blog into the huge success it is today.
But after Sylvie starts getting threatening emails from an online stalker she starts to wonder if her secret is safe or if someone on the very short list that knows she's the HHW let the fact slip. Sylvie is not convince that her stalker is really dangerous but thanks to her over protective dads, they have hired a bodyguard for her. One she doesn't know about.
Once Sylvie meets Tony at her little sisters wedding sparks fly. But she quickly finds out that Tony is the bodyguard that was hired to shadow her for the last month.
Tony is an ex-cop that's turn to the private security business. He is still working the case to solve his partner's murder while trying to protect Sylvie from her stalker and he's having a hard time keeping their relationship strictly business. She's his client, he can't sleep with her no matter how much they both want it.
High-Heeled Wonder is full of high stake fashion and one dangerously sexy ex-cop. If you're looking to dip your toe in the Romantic Suspense genre you should give Avery Flynn a try. She brings sassy to the thrills.
January 27, 2014
Bogie Meets Gracie Lou Freebush and they “make it work.”
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Then purchased the book for my private library.
Sylvie Bissette was the mastermind behind the popular, "High-Heeled Wonder," a blog that exposed all of the fashion industry’s dirty little, and not so little, secrets. Her scoops garnered her a huge fan base, the ire of both a magazine’s editor-in-chief and a self-absorbed, talentless designer and her very own cyberstalker. This troll indicated he/she would stop at nothing to reveal Sylvie’s identity and take down her blog.
After a very public attempt on her life, she relented to having Tony Falcon, former cop turned security expert, pose as her boyfriend to discover who was threatening her. At the same time, he was trying to track down the criminals who killed his best friend. Tony, who never had a problem maintaining his distance from his charges, met his match in feisty Sylvie, who was determined to “help” with the investigation. As the threats against Sylvie escalated, so did Tony’s innate need to protect her. The more time they spent together, the more problematic their mutual attraction became. When they finally gave in to temptation, it culminated in a fully clothed, sultry exploration that only heightened their appetite for each other.
Clues were pieced together to deduce the identity of the perpetrator, while Sylvie and Tony continued to become close. He narrowed down the list of suspects. Unfortunately, that list included people Sylvie cared deeply for. Hell-bent on retribution, yet blinded by hurt, Tony uttered one of the most touching boy-loses-girl lines “You’re going to hate me later. You will and when you do, promise you’ll give me the chance to fix it,” as he broke Sylvie’s heart – along with his own.
Like a delightful visit to Imelda Marcos’ legendary shoe closet,
High-heeled Wonder took readers on a sexy, chick lit ride worthy of early Helen Fielding or Sophie Kinsella. Additionally, Avery Flynn added classic thriller plot twists, thrills and surprises. Her characters were multilayered, balanced and intelligent. Sylvie was a fully developed, professional woman who overcame a tragic childhood and Tony was the wounded alpha, with a heart of gold, who needed her to begin to heal. A colorful and motley crew of secondary characters - their families, friends, and coworkers, provided further action, suspense and comic relief.
Both my inner fashionista and nerd girl appreciated the references to the fashion industry, as well as, the nod to Doctor Who and the gaming world. High-heeled Wonder earns an old-school, "Men on Film," two-snaps in Z-Formation and my recommendation as a great book to curl up with on a cold winter’s day. I look forward to Ms. Flynn's next book.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Then purchased the book for my private library.
Sylvie Bissette was the mastermind behind the popular, "High-Heeled Wonder," a blog that exposed all of the fashion industry’s dirty little, and not so little, secrets. Her scoops garnered her a huge fan base, the ire of both a magazine’s editor-in-chief and a self-absorbed, talentless designer and her very own cyberstalker. This troll indicated he/she would stop at nothing to reveal Sylvie’s identity and take down her blog.
After a very public attempt on her life, she relented to having Tony Falcon, former cop turned security expert, pose as her boyfriend to discover who was threatening her. At the same time, he was trying to track down the criminals who killed his best friend. Tony, who never had a problem maintaining his distance from his charges, met his match in feisty Sylvie, who was determined to “help” with the investigation. As the threats against Sylvie escalated, so did Tony’s innate need to protect her. The more time they spent together, the more problematic their mutual attraction became. When they finally gave in to temptation, it culminated in a fully clothed, sultry exploration that only heightened their appetite for each other.
Clues were pieced together to deduce the identity of the perpetrator, while Sylvie and Tony continued to become close. He narrowed down the list of suspects. Unfortunately, that list included people Sylvie cared deeply for. Hell-bent on retribution, yet blinded by hurt, Tony uttered one of the most touching boy-loses-girl lines “You’re going to hate me later. You will and when you do, promise you’ll give me the chance to fix it,” as he broke Sylvie’s heart – along with his own.
Like a delightful visit to Imelda Marcos’ legendary shoe closet,
High-heeled Wonder took readers on a sexy, chick lit ride worthy of early Helen Fielding or Sophie Kinsella. Additionally, Avery Flynn added classic thriller plot twists, thrills and surprises. Her characters were multilayered, balanced and intelligent. Sylvie was a fully developed, professional woman who overcame a tragic childhood and Tony was the wounded alpha, with a heart of gold, who needed her to begin to heal. A colorful and motley crew of secondary characters - their families, friends, and coworkers, provided further action, suspense and comic relief.
Both my inner fashionista and nerd girl appreciated the references to the fashion industry, as well as, the nod to Doctor Who and the gaming world. High-heeled Wonder earns an old-school, "Men on Film," two-snaps in Z-Formation and my recommendation as a great book to curl up with on a cold winter’s day. I look forward to Ms. Flynn's next book.
January 12, 2015
What a great romantic suspense set in the fashion industry. This book had everything in a story that I look for – snarky dialogue, lots of heat, a great mystery, and a sexy hero and strong heroine who just can’t deny the sparks that are between them.
As the un-named person behind the popular High-Heeled Wonder fashion blog, Sylvie Bissette tells it like she sees it in the fashion industry – not worried about making and keeping friends since she hides behind her High-Heeled Wonder persona. When Sylvie begins receiving threats directed at her through her blog, she doesn’t think too much about them. But when those threats escalate and someone tries to run her down in the road, she is forced to hire protection to keep her, and the secret of her identity, safe.
Tony Falcon retired from the police force after his best friend and partner was killed in the line of duty. After opening his own personal security firm, he has continued to pursue leads to bring his partner’s killers to justice…and his investigation has lead him to the door of the design house that Sylvie’s adoptive fathers run. With a series of manipulations, Tony gets himself hired by Sylvie as her bodyguard, but when Sylvie insists that Tony pose as her boyfriend, Tony finds he not only has to protect Sylvie from her stalker, but he also has to find a way to protect himself from the undeniable attraction that sets off sparks every time Tony and Sylvie are near one another.
When the investigation heats up and truths are told, Tony finds that it’s not only Sylvie’s life that is on the line, but his heart is on the line as well.
I just loved Tony, from his Italian heritage to his sexy, alpha ways.
The dialogue between Tony and Sylvie had me laughing out loud at times and the heat between the two was steamy. Sylvie was great, finding strength when her past had left her a bit broken, giving back just as good as she got when it came to Tony. She was fiercely loyal and protective of those she loved, but has come realize that sometimes you have to reach out and grab for what you want – and it didn’t hurt that what she wanted was Tony!
The secondary characters in the book were great. From the flamboyance of Sylvie’s fathers, to the fierce protectiveness of Sylvie’s sister Anya and her friend Drea. Tony’s team also had a great set of characters, and I hope we get to learn more about them all in another book (or books!)
All in all, a fun, quick read that had wonderful characters and a great plot, with enough twists to keep me guessing and turning the pages right to the end.
I received and eARC from the publisher for an honest review.
As the un-named person behind the popular High-Heeled Wonder fashion blog, Sylvie Bissette tells it like she sees it in the fashion industry – not worried about making and keeping friends since she hides behind her High-Heeled Wonder persona. When Sylvie begins receiving threats directed at her through her blog, she doesn’t think too much about them. But when those threats escalate and someone tries to run her down in the road, she is forced to hire protection to keep her, and the secret of her identity, safe.
Tony Falcon retired from the police force after his best friend and partner was killed in the line of duty. After opening his own personal security firm, he has continued to pursue leads to bring his partner’s killers to justice…and his investigation has lead him to the door of the design house that Sylvie’s adoptive fathers run. With a series of manipulations, Tony gets himself hired by Sylvie as her bodyguard, but when Sylvie insists that Tony pose as her boyfriend, Tony finds he not only has to protect Sylvie from her stalker, but he also has to find a way to protect himself from the undeniable attraction that sets off sparks every time Tony and Sylvie are near one another.
When the investigation heats up and truths are told, Tony finds that it’s not only Sylvie’s life that is on the line, but his heart is on the line as well.
I just loved Tony, from his Italian heritage to his sexy, alpha ways.
“What is with you and food?”
“I’m Italian.” He shrugged. “Eat.”
The dialogue between Tony and Sylvie had me laughing out loud at times and the heat between the two was steamy. Sylvie was great, finding strength when her past had left her a bit broken, giving back just as good as she got when it came to Tony. She was fiercely loyal and protective of those she loved, but has come realize that sometimes you have to reach out and grab for what you want – and it didn’t hurt that what she wanted was Tony!
The secondary characters in the book were great. From the flamboyance of Sylvie’s fathers, to the fierce protectiveness of Sylvie’s sister Anya and her friend Drea. Tony’s team also had a great set of characters, and I hope we get to learn more about them all in another book (or books!)
All in all, a fun, quick read that had wonderful characters and a great plot, with enough twists to keep me guessing and turning the pages right to the end.
I received and eARC from the publisher for an honest review.
January 24, 2014
Review can also be found on my blog.
First off thank you to Entangled Publishing for sending me an ARC of this book to read. Secondly, this is more a 3.5 than a 3 but goodreads still doesn't allow half stars.
This was a fast, easy and enjoyable read. It’s a beach type read. The big thing that bothered me was that I found the mystery part of the book too easy to figure out. I figured out early on in the book who was responsible for the various things and for me that took a bit away from the book. I think the plot wrapped up a little too quickly, it felt like as soon as they found a little the issue was resolved. The pace of the story was off, everything just moved too fast for me. I liked Sylvie, she’s snarky, has a good amount of flaws, and she’s still a strong character.
Overall I wish she’d have focused more on either the mystery or the romance. As is both don’t feel like they are fully developed and leave me wanting more from it. I did enjoy reading this book and I look forward to more stories by Flynn.
First off thank you to Entangled Publishing for sending me an ARC of this book to read. Secondly, this is more a 3.5 than a 3 but goodreads still doesn't allow half stars.
This was a fast, easy and enjoyable read. It’s a beach type read. The big thing that bothered me was that I found the mystery part of the book too easy to figure out. I figured out early on in the book who was responsible for the various things and for me that took a bit away from the book. I think the plot wrapped up a little too quickly, it felt like as soon as they found a little the issue was resolved. The pace of the story was off, everything just moved too fast for me. I liked Sylvie, she’s snarky, has a good amount of flaws, and she’s still a strong character.
Overall I wish she’d have focused more on either the mystery or the romance. As is both don’t feel like they are fully developed and leave me wanting more from it. I did enjoy reading this book and I look forward to more stories by Flynn.
Want to read
September 28, 2015Love Avery Flynn. I loved this story and the characters and can't wait to see more of the others getting their stories.
This is the story of Sylvie, who is a successful fashion blogger. She has had some threats about her blog from someone and not sure who. Her fathers are both worried about her and are hiring security for her. This will help her be safe and also make them feel safe. They are bringing in one of the top Security Teams, and the Head of Security is Tony, whom she has met.
Tony is the head of his own security company and has been put in charge to protect Sylvie. Tony has some ulterior motives also, he is searching for the killer of his old partner and good friend. He thinks that these are one in the same person. Tony is trying to protect Sylvie and not fall for her. He knows that he does not need to mix business & pleasure.
This was such a great story. I love the characters, the secondary characters were also great and looking to see some more stories about them, especially Cam. He just sounds hot.
Thanks for writing another great book Avery and can't wait to read more stories.
This is the story of Sylvie, who is a successful fashion blogger. She has had some threats about her blog from someone and not sure who. Her fathers are both worried about her and are hiring security for her. This will help her be safe and also make them feel safe. They are bringing in one of the top Security Teams, and the Head of Security is Tony, whom she has met.
Tony is the head of his own security company and has been put in charge to protect Sylvie. Tony has some ulterior motives also, he is searching for the killer of his old partner and good friend. He thinks that these are one in the same person. Tony is trying to protect Sylvie and not fall for her. He knows that he does not need to mix business & pleasure.
This was such a great story. I love the characters, the secondary characters were also great and looking to see some more stories about them, especially Cam. He just sounds hot.
Thanks for writing another great book Avery and can't wait to read more stories.
September 9, 2015
I want to go shopping now! Sylvie and Tony were a blast to read. I really enjoyed the banter between both the hero and heroine. The book had a great twist at the end *shush* that I won't mention here. AND- the heat between both characters sizzled off the pages. All in all, I would read another Sylvie adventure in a heart beat.
I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2014
I was super-lucky to get an ARC of this book, and all I can say is, hot, hot, hot! Sylvie and Tony steamed up my e-reader from the first page they were together, and it only got sexier as I clicked. The suspense plot had me hooked, and the great secondary cast rounded out another great offering by Flynn. Can't wait for the rest of this series!
March 12, 2014
Avery Flynn introduces her Killer Style collection with a saucy, sexy little number destined to be a hit on the romantic suspense runway. High-heeled Wonder is a clever, compelling, high-energy whodunit starring a heroine who isn't afraid to ask for what she wants—or who she wants—and a hero determined to keep things strictly business. Yeah, Tony, good luck with that—they don't call her Sylvie the Bulldog for nothing.
His thick, black hair, combed only by his fingers no doubt, touched the collar of his vintage motorcycle jacket. It didn't just look old, it was old. The black leather had faded creases on the inside of the elbows and the sunburnt outline of a badge that probably hadn't been attached to the jacket for decades. Underneath he wore a gray, ribbed Henley pulled taut across his muscular chest and tucked into a pair of jeans, soft from wear. A few days' growth highlighted his square jaw and shadowed the chin dimple Sylvie had first noticed in the Grand Hibiscus Hotel garden.
Can you blame her for wanting him? Yet underneath Sylvie's self-confidence lurks a fear of rejection, and Tony's brusque professionalism hides a self-doubt that's made him desperate. Solid character flaws and motivations, funky friends and family and distinctive details like Sylvie's asthma and Tony's knack for Italian cooking all help the author keep her characters far, far away from cardboard land. And the reader rapt. Of course, the hotter-than-hellfire sex might have a little something to do with that, too.
When Sylvie discovers what Tony's been up to, things go south quickly, and there are few red herrings to tease the reader, but Flynn treats us to twists aplenty, and the climax remains a chilling surprise. My favorite aspect of the story? The humor. Avery Flynn's voice has sass that just won't quit. When you're not wincing on Sylvie's behalf or drooling over Tony or rooting for the two to just get busy already, you're laughing out loud as you read snark-alicious passages like this one:
Anders' homage to The Muppets had been awful. Matching felt vests and miniskirts. Miss Piggy ears on the runway. Rainbow-patterned parachute pants. However, because Anders was the fashion world's latest l'enfant terrible, hardly anyone uttered a peep of criticism. The temperamental designer did not take kindly to the High-Heeled Wonder's declaration that the collection should be worn only in case of a Fraggle Rock apocalypse.
Avery Flynn's High-heeled Wonder is a high-fashion hoot. It's also a polished and fast-paced suspense lavish with personality and flair. I can't wait to see what's next for the Killer Style line!
His thick, black hair, combed only by his fingers no doubt, touched the collar of his vintage motorcycle jacket. It didn't just look old, it was old. The black leather had faded creases on the inside of the elbows and the sunburnt outline of a badge that probably hadn't been attached to the jacket for decades. Underneath he wore a gray, ribbed Henley pulled taut across his muscular chest and tucked into a pair of jeans, soft from wear. A few days' growth highlighted his square jaw and shadowed the chin dimple Sylvie had first noticed in the Grand Hibiscus Hotel garden.
Can you blame her for wanting him? Yet underneath Sylvie's self-confidence lurks a fear of rejection, and Tony's brusque professionalism hides a self-doubt that's made him desperate. Solid character flaws and motivations, funky friends and family and distinctive details like Sylvie's asthma and Tony's knack for Italian cooking all help the author keep her characters far, far away from cardboard land. And the reader rapt. Of course, the hotter-than-hellfire sex might have a little something to do with that, too.
When Sylvie discovers what Tony's been up to, things go south quickly, and there are few red herrings to tease the reader, but Flynn treats us to twists aplenty, and the climax remains a chilling surprise. My favorite aspect of the story? The humor. Avery Flynn's voice has sass that just won't quit. When you're not wincing on Sylvie's behalf or drooling over Tony or rooting for the two to just get busy already, you're laughing out loud as you read snark-alicious passages like this one:
Anders' homage to The Muppets had been awful. Matching felt vests and miniskirts. Miss Piggy ears on the runway. Rainbow-patterned parachute pants. However, because Anders was the fashion world's latest l'enfant terrible, hardly anyone uttered a peep of criticism. The temperamental designer did not take kindly to the High-Heeled Wonder's declaration that the collection should be worn only in case of a Fraggle Rock apocalypse.
Avery Flynn's High-heeled Wonder is a high-fashion hoot. It's also a polished and fast-paced suspense lavish with personality and flair. I can't wait to see what's next for the Killer Style line!
February 3, 2024
HIGH-HEELED WONDER was crazy good!!! Never reading Avery Flynn's work before I didn't know what to expect and I have to say I was impressed. She is definitely on my must-read auto-buy author's list from now on. Her story line was well-paced, had more that one surprise and I'm not easily fooled. The writing flowed smoothly and includes great dialogue with plenty of humor and very witty banter. Her characters were well-developed and believable, the sexual chemistry and tension between Tony and Sylvie was palpitable, steamy, teasingly delicious, and when they touched it was OMG, it's getting hot in here!! HHW was a thrill ride from start to finish in more ways than one and I could not put down this book until it was done.
Sylvie Bissette was a blogger who hid behind the moniker "High-Heeled Wonder" and exposed dirty little secrets within the fashion industry. She was hugely popular with her fan base but not so much with designers, models, and magazine editors. Someone begins cyber-stalking her and making threats, eventually making an outright attempt on her life. Her two fathers, also in the fashion industry, convince her to accept protection from Tony Falcon, sexy and gorgeous former cop turned security expert. But she only allows it under her terms, he must pose as her boyfriend while trying to discover who was threatening her and allow her to participate in the investigation. Sylvie is a very independent woman and definitely no pushover which at many times in the story makes life very hard for Tony.
While protecting Sylvie, Tony is also trying to track down the criminals who killed his best friend. As a matter of fact that is what lead him to her case. He tries really hard to keep a professional distance, but as the threats escalate their time together increases and she becomes harder and harder for him to resist. It doesn't help that Sylvie is just as attracted to him and sees no reason why she shouldn't indulge herself. And frankly, that Alpha man never stood a chance against a woman who knew what she wanted and just how to get it, but the struggle between their two strong wills was certainly a pleasure to read!!
Ms. Flynn also gives her readers a great cast of secondary characters to fill out and balance the story as well as add to the mystery. Definite possibilities for a sequel, but either way whatever she publishes next, I'm on that! This book is more than worth my five star rating. I absolutely enjoyed every minute of it!!
*I received this ARC ebook from Ignite Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Sylvie Bissette was a blogger who hid behind the moniker "High-Heeled Wonder" and exposed dirty little secrets within the fashion industry. She was hugely popular with her fan base but not so much with designers, models, and magazine editors. Someone begins cyber-stalking her and making threats, eventually making an outright attempt on her life. Her two fathers, also in the fashion industry, convince her to accept protection from Tony Falcon, sexy and gorgeous former cop turned security expert. But she only allows it under her terms, he must pose as her boyfriend while trying to discover who was threatening her and allow her to participate in the investigation. Sylvie is a very independent woman and definitely no pushover which at many times in the story makes life very hard for Tony.
While protecting Sylvie, Tony is also trying to track down the criminals who killed his best friend. As a matter of fact that is what lead him to her case. He tries really hard to keep a professional distance, but as the threats escalate their time together increases and she becomes harder and harder for him to resist. It doesn't help that Sylvie is just as attracted to him and sees no reason why she shouldn't indulge herself. And frankly, that Alpha man never stood a chance against a woman who knew what she wanted and just how to get it, but the struggle between their two strong wills was certainly a pleasure to read!!
Ms. Flynn also gives her readers a great cast of secondary characters to fill out and balance the story as well as add to the mystery. Definite possibilities for a sequel, but either way whatever she publishes next, I'm on that! This book is more than worth my five star rating. I absolutely enjoyed every minute of it!!
*I received this ARC ebook from Ignite Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2014
High Heeled Hit
Avery Flynn kicks of a new series in style with this story. This book had it all, romance, intrigue, snark, drama, gossip, hot sex, fun characters, killer fashion quotes, and a surprise at the end.
I absolutely loved these characters, Sylvie Bissette and Tony Falcon were so much fun to read. How could you not love a book that starts with the heroine about to hurl all over her sisters wedding dress and makes you want chuckle about it.
Sylvie was feisty, saucy, strong and had me in stitches with some of her thoughts like " she had a Pavlovian response to the hotness Tony exuded" but she also had her fears that made you want to hug her and tell her that it will all be ok. Tony, with his awesomely named business, close nit family and hot leather jacket is the perfect guy for Sylvie. My favourite bit from him is " He had to get the woman out of the room or he was going to go all Hulk on the defenceless tomato can". Seriously this man oozes hotness from the page.
Throw them together and you get a hot, fun, spicy mix, " he'd made her come so hard she'd turned into a sex zombie".
When fashion blogger Sylvie is targeted by a psycho, her dad's hire a security expert to keep her safe. Tony is an ex-cop who is more than willing to help, anything to get closer to the truth about his partners death. Even if it means deceiving Sylvie.
What neither counted on was the attraction that springs to life when they first meet. When the threats become more insidious, Tony whisks Sylvie away to safety and together they start to dig into the mystery of the threats. But what they discover was more than anyone expected. Can Sylvie forgive Tony after his secret comes out and keep him in her life? Will they find the stalker ? Plus can Sylvie's blog survive the drama? How will the world know what not to wear without it.
I will be clamouring for the next instalment in this series, there are some secondary characters that I hope are part of those stories. Like Tony's sister Ryder, his second in command Cam and Sylvie's friend Drea.
Avery Flynn is an auto buy author for me, and with this book, I'm sure she will be for others too. Bring on the next book.
This ARC was supplied by the author for an honest review.
Avery Flynn kicks of a new series in style with this story. This book had it all, romance, intrigue, snark, drama, gossip, hot sex, fun characters, killer fashion quotes, and a surprise at the end.
I absolutely loved these characters, Sylvie Bissette and Tony Falcon were so much fun to read. How could you not love a book that starts with the heroine about to hurl all over her sisters wedding dress and makes you want chuckle about it.
Sylvie was feisty, saucy, strong and had me in stitches with some of her thoughts like " she had a Pavlovian response to the hotness Tony exuded" but she also had her fears that made you want to hug her and tell her that it will all be ok. Tony, with his awesomely named business, close nit family and hot leather jacket is the perfect guy for Sylvie. My favourite bit from him is " He had to get the woman out of the room or he was going to go all Hulk on the defenceless tomato can". Seriously this man oozes hotness from the page.
Throw them together and you get a hot, fun, spicy mix, " he'd made her come so hard she'd turned into a sex zombie".
When fashion blogger Sylvie is targeted by a psycho, her dad's hire a security expert to keep her safe. Tony is an ex-cop who is more than willing to help, anything to get closer to the truth about his partners death. Even if it means deceiving Sylvie.
What neither counted on was the attraction that springs to life when they first meet. When the threats become more insidious, Tony whisks Sylvie away to safety and together they start to dig into the mystery of the threats. But what they discover was more than anyone expected. Can Sylvie forgive Tony after his secret comes out and keep him in her life? Will they find the stalker ? Plus can Sylvie's blog survive the drama? How will the world know what not to wear without it.
I will be clamouring for the next instalment in this series, there are some secondary characters that I hope are part of those stories. Like Tony's sister Ryder, his second in command Cam and Sylvie's friend Drea.
Avery Flynn is an auto buy author for me, and with this book, I'm sure she will be for others too. Bring on the next book.
This ARC was supplied by the author for an honest review.
February 17, 2014
Story Rating ~ 3.5 Stars
Hero Rating ~ 4 Stars
Heroine Rating ~ 4 Stars
Romance Level ~ 3.5 Stars
Heat Level ~ 3.5 Stars
Ending ~ 3.5 Stars
Overall Rating ~ 3.5 Stars
The beginning of this story was just enough to keep me interested. I liked the hero Tony and the heroine Sylvie and thought they had a fantastic back story. As the story moved along, I just felt that the romance and suspense were lacking. Then WHAM! Right around the 70% mark, this story finally picked up and captured my full attention. The suspense and action increased and with that, I finally felt Tony and Sylvie’s attraction for each other. I found myself wishing at that point, that if the story had revolved more around the murder of Tony’s partner and Anders, the evil villain that killed Tony’s partner, this story would have been much better. With the demise of Anders, I thought the story was all wrapped up, and then I got another whammy and with it more action. It seems Anders was not the only villain in this story, and the twist of events leading to the capture of the second villain was really exciting.
I felt, if there had been more action in the beginning, this could have been a 5 star read. The action that we did get was REALLY GOOD, just a bit too late in coming for me. Even though we did get a happy ending, I felt it was done too quickly, leaving me wishing for an epilogue that we did not get.
*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Hero Rating ~ 4 Stars
Heroine Rating ~ 4 Stars
Romance Level ~ 3.5 Stars
Heat Level ~ 3.5 Stars
Ending ~ 3.5 Stars
Overall Rating ~ 3.5 Stars
The beginning of this story was just enough to keep me interested. I liked the hero Tony and the heroine Sylvie and thought they had a fantastic back story. As the story moved along, I just felt that the romance and suspense were lacking. Then WHAM! Right around the 70% mark, this story finally picked up and captured my full attention. The suspense and action increased and with that, I finally felt Tony and Sylvie’s attraction for each other. I found myself wishing at that point, that if the story had revolved more around the murder of Tony’s partner and Anders, the evil villain that killed Tony’s partner, this story would have been much better. With the demise of Anders, I thought the story was all wrapped up, and then I got another whammy and with it more action. It seems Anders was not the only villain in this story, and the twist of events leading to the capture of the second villain was really exciting.
I felt, if there had been more action in the beginning, this could have been a 5 star read. The action that we did get was REALLY GOOD, just a bit too late in coming for me. Even though we did get a happy ending, I felt it was done too quickly, leaving me wishing for an epilogue that we did not get.
*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
February 16, 2014
When Sylvie Bissette starts receiving hate email because of her fashion blog, High-Heeled Wonder, her two fashion-designer fathers call in the guards: Maltese Security. At first, the fierce fashionista resists the idea of a bodyguard. But then when Tony Falcon shows up and Sylvie recognizes him as the fiery hot Italian guy she’d confided in at her sister’s wedding about her ex’s shocking betrayal, she relents (after all, Tony put the “body” in “bodyguard”). As the threats against Sylvie’s life intensify, so do the sparks between her and Tony. But he keeps pushing her away, and it isn’t just because she’s his client. Tony’s got a secret. And if Sylvie finds out, it could destroy his chances with her. Forever.
If you’re hungry for action, and I’m not just talking about plot, then High-Heeled Wonder is the book for you. I felt the heat between Sylvie and Tony (in places I don’t care to mention) from the first time they met. And I loved the fact that issues from their respective pasts—Sylvie’s heartbreaking childhood and Tony’s tragic experience on the police force—were reflected in their relationship. Because I know that if I’m going to wrestle with old demons, I definitely want to do it with a hot-blooded and hot-bodied Italian who cooks for me and cuddles me and, well, you know.
If you’re hungry for action, and I’m not just talking about plot, then High-Heeled Wonder is the book for you. I felt the heat between Sylvie and Tony (in places I don’t care to mention) from the first time they met. And I loved the fact that issues from their respective pasts—Sylvie’s heartbreaking childhood and Tony’s tragic experience on the police force—were reflected in their relationship. Because I know that if I’m going to wrestle with old demons, I definitely want to do it with a hot-blooded and hot-bodied Italian who cooks for me and cuddles me and, well, you know.
January 25, 2014
Full review to come!
Read
November 27, 2022An ex-cop now in security is hired to protect The High-Heeled Wonder from a stalker. Despite his attempts to keep it professional, neither of them can resist their attraction to each other. This was my first Romance Suspense. I like mystery, I like romance, but this book did neither genre justice. I couldn't care less about the fashion industry, but at least I got through a book.
February 4, 2014
High-Heeled Wonder is Avery Flynn’s newest release and it focuses on the tension filled fashion industry and the shady dealings that go down daily. As a fashion blogger with a lot of connections Sylvie knows all the ins and outs and writes snarky but informative blogs about everything and everyone fashion related. She’s made some enemies along the way but luckily only a few people know her true identity….until now. Someone is playing a dangerous game and threats against Sylvie are quickly mounting resulting in her hiring a PI to help her figure out whats going on.
Tony may be a PI working for Sylvie but he has his own reasons for taking the case. His drive to find out what really happened the night his partner and friend died are all the really matters to him and he thinks Sylvie may hold more answers than she thinks. What starts out as a means to ends quickly becomes much more as Tony and Sylvie are forced to work together and feelings become apparent. Tony may have to rethink where his loyalties and priorities lie because it may cost Sylvie a lot more than a few blog entries.
This was a very fast read that captured my attention early on with the chemistry between Tony and Sylvie. Flynn excels at drawing out the tension between her characters as long as possible. Tony delays intimacy between himself and Sylvie for much of the novel because he’s afraid of skewing his attention but also because he’s simply afraid. Finding out who murdered his friends has been forefront in his mind for so long that he’s unprepared when his focus starts to shift to protecting Sylvie. I wish he wouldn’t have held out so long because I wanted there to be more between the sheets time, but it did alright as wrote.
As far as the mystery surrounding the attacks on Sylvie go, I figured it out pretty easily early on. Take that as you may but I felt it was pretty transparent in that respect. There was plenty of action to keep me entertained regardless and I loved the character interactions. Sylvie is a flawed heroine and yet she manages to hold her own throughout several incidents and she doesn’t crumble. She’s realistic and likable in her flaws and attributes and her witty dialogue was spot on.
The angle of the fashion industry must be ripe with exploitable plots. All the intrigue, backstabbing and secrets could fuel Flynn’s writing fire for quite some time. I look forward to seeing where Avery takes this series!
I give High-Heeled Wonder by Avery Flynn 3.50 stars!
Tony may be a PI working for Sylvie but he has his own reasons for taking the case. His drive to find out what really happened the night his partner and friend died are all the really matters to him and he thinks Sylvie may hold more answers than she thinks. What starts out as a means to ends quickly becomes much more as Tony and Sylvie are forced to work together and feelings become apparent. Tony may have to rethink where his loyalties and priorities lie because it may cost Sylvie a lot more than a few blog entries.
This was a very fast read that captured my attention early on with the chemistry between Tony and Sylvie. Flynn excels at drawing out the tension between her characters as long as possible. Tony delays intimacy between himself and Sylvie for much of the novel because he’s afraid of skewing his attention but also because he’s simply afraid. Finding out who murdered his friends has been forefront in his mind for so long that he’s unprepared when his focus starts to shift to protecting Sylvie. I wish he wouldn’t have held out so long because I wanted there to be more between the sheets time, but it did alright as wrote.
As far as the mystery surrounding the attacks on Sylvie go, I figured it out pretty easily early on. Take that as you may but I felt it was pretty transparent in that respect. There was plenty of action to keep me entertained regardless and I loved the character interactions. Sylvie is a flawed heroine and yet she manages to hold her own throughout several incidents and she doesn’t crumble. She’s realistic and likable in her flaws and attributes and her witty dialogue was spot on.
The angle of the fashion industry must be ripe with exploitable plots. All the intrigue, backstabbing and secrets could fuel Flynn’s writing fire for quite some time. I look forward to seeing where Avery takes this series!
I give High-Heeled Wonder by Avery Flynn 3.50 stars!
June 16, 2014
Four Romp Stars!
Contemporary Erotic Romance
Release: January 21, 2014
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Sylvie Bissette may be one of Harbor City’s youngest glitterati, but only her best friends know her most closely guarded secret. She’s the woman behind The High-Heeled Wonder, a must-read blog for fashionistas everywhere. Gossip, fashion advice, exposés. Too bad some people can’t take a little criticism. When an internet troll discovers her secret identity and escalates from stalking her to threatening her life, Sylvie turns to security expert Tony Falcon for help. The investigator from the other side of the tracks is the olive oil to her Evian water and aggravates her to no end, but it’s not just her temper he’s inciting...
Tony Falcon wouldn't know a kitten heel from a tabby cat, but since most of the bad guys he tracks down aren't wearing stilettos, it's never been a problem...until he meets Sylvie. When a murder investigation leads him to the same place Sylvie works, he realizes the feisty fashionista may be his best chance at catching the criminals who killed his best friend. It all leads back to the cut-throat fashion world. But solving that case means going after the people Sylvie cares about, and soon his attraction for her—and the danger she’s in—has him wondering if solving the case is worth hurting the woman he can’t stop fantasizing about…
When Sylvie’s almost run over in broad daylight, Tony goes undercover as her boyfriend to infiltrate the close-knit fashion community. And when they discover Sylvie’s stalker may be linked to Tony’s own investigation, what started as a simple plan to find his friend’s killers turns into a hot bed of secrets and revelations. In a world full of overblown egos and dog-eat-dog ambition, Tony and Sylvie must work together to find her revenge-obsessed stalker before Sylvie ends up with a literal knife in the back.
MY REVIEW:
I completely spaced on writing a review on this, and I have no idea why! This book was totally cute, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
The whole undercover, mastermind of fashion blogs turned potentially deadly is something new and engaging for readers in the market. I loved how well everything turned about, how the reader is kept constantly guessing “who done it” and how much chemistry exploded between Sylvie and Tony.
This is a read you won’t be able to put down, one you’ll want to read over and over again. It’s definitely made me a fan. Get it today!
Contemporary Erotic Romance
Release: January 21, 2014
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Sylvie Bissette may be one of Harbor City’s youngest glitterati, but only her best friends know her most closely guarded secret. She’s the woman behind The High-Heeled Wonder, a must-read blog for fashionistas everywhere. Gossip, fashion advice, exposés. Too bad some people can’t take a little criticism. When an internet troll discovers her secret identity and escalates from stalking her to threatening her life, Sylvie turns to security expert Tony Falcon for help. The investigator from the other side of the tracks is the olive oil to her Evian water and aggravates her to no end, but it’s not just her temper he’s inciting...
Tony Falcon wouldn't know a kitten heel from a tabby cat, but since most of the bad guys he tracks down aren't wearing stilettos, it's never been a problem...until he meets Sylvie. When a murder investigation leads him to the same place Sylvie works, he realizes the feisty fashionista may be his best chance at catching the criminals who killed his best friend. It all leads back to the cut-throat fashion world. But solving that case means going after the people Sylvie cares about, and soon his attraction for her—and the danger she’s in—has him wondering if solving the case is worth hurting the woman he can’t stop fantasizing about…
When Sylvie’s almost run over in broad daylight, Tony goes undercover as her boyfriend to infiltrate the close-knit fashion community. And when they discover Sylvie’s stalker may be linked to Tony’s own investigation, what started as a simple plan to find his friend’s killers turns into a hot bed of secrets and revelations. In a world full of overblown egos and dog-eat-dog ambition, Tony and Sylvie must work together to find her revenge-obsessed stalker before Sylvie ends up with a literal knife in the back.
MY REVIEW:
I completely spaced on writing a review on this, and I have no idea why! This book was totally cute, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
The whole undercover, mastermind of fashion blogs turned potentially deadly is something new and engaging for readers in the market. I loved how well everything turned about, how the reader is kept constantly guessing “who done it” and how much chemistry exploded between Sylvie and Tony.
This is a read you won’t be able to put down, one you’ll want to read over and over again. It’s definitely made me a fan. Get it today!
February 13, 2014
After a very long week, I was in need of something fun and flirty to read. High Heeled Wonder fit the bill perfectly! A strong, sarcastic fashionista. A PI whose abs should be considered a deadly weapon. A mystery seeded deeply into the inner workings of the fashion industry. What's not love? I placed myself squarely into Sylvie Bissette's heels, and set off on what I hoped would be one smoldering adventure.
This was a quick read. Avery Flynn wastes no time pulling the reader into the tension filled world of fashion. I was introduced to key players, seduced with talk of perfectly tailored suits and designer clothes, then charmed with Sylvie's razor sharp wit. In fact, Sylvie's character was actually a huge surprise for me. Despite being part of the "gliteratti", she was so down to earth. Sylvie is strong, funny, and not afraid to go for what she wants. Points to Avery Flynn! This is a girl I can get behind.
Speaking of getting behind someone, I can't deny I fell head over heels for Tony Falcon. Please ignore his rather cliche name, because this man is perfection. Tony was instantly likeable. He's sweet, fiercely loyal, and just all around adorable. I loved the banter between Tony and Sylvie. These two had sparks flying between them the entire book, and I loved every minute of their chemistry.
I do have to say that I felt a little shortchanged on the overall romance though. High Heeled Wonder walks the line between romance and mystery. However I feel like, because of that, each aspect wasn't as fully realized as it could have been. I was able to figure out the mystery pretty early on. Then I was even further disappointed by the big reveal at the end. It felt so cliche. Most frustrating of all, that build up took away from "between the sheets" time. Come on, we all know we read these books for those scenes.
Anyway, therein lies the reason I gave High Heeled Wonder a three star rating rather than a four. I loved the premise, and the characters, but wasn't perfectly satisfied with the execution. Still, if you're looking for a fun and flirty read? One with a delicious male lead? High Heeled Wonderis a good one to get lost in.
This was a quick read. Avery Flynn wastes no time pulling the reader into the tension filled world of fashion. I was introduced to key players, seduced with talk of perfectly tailored suits and designer clothes, then charmed with Sylvie's razor sharp wit. In fact, Sylvie's character was actually a huge surprise for me. Despite being part of the "gliteratti", she was so down to earth. Sylvie is strong, funny, and not afraid to go for what she wants. Points to Avery Flynn! This is a girl I can get behind.
Speaking of getting behind someone, I can't deny I fell head over heels for Tony Falcon. Please ignore his rather cliche name, because this man is perfection. Tony was instantly likeable. He's sweet, fiercely loyal, and just all around adorable. I loved the banter between Tony and Sylvie. These two had sparks flying between them the entire book, and I loved every minute of their chemistry.
I do have to say that I felt a little shortchanged on the overall romance though. High Heeled Wonder walks the line between romance and mystery. However I feel like, because of that, each aspect wasn't as fully realized as it could have been. I was able to figure out the mystery pretty early on. Then I was even further disappointed by the big reveal at the end. It felt so cliche. Most frustrating of all, that build up took away from "between the sheets" time. Come on, we all know we read these books for those scenes.
Anyway, therein lies the reason I gave High Heeled Wonder a three star rating rather than a four. I loved the premise, and the characters, but wasn't perfectly satisfied with the execution. Still, if you're looking for a fun and flirty read? One with a delicious male lead? High Heeled Wonderis a good one to get lost in.
January 29, 2014
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
Sylvie Bissette has quite the hangover. Tony Falcon is an observer at a wedding reception when someone catches his attention. Avery had me hooked by the end of the first chapter. But I do have a question for our author; did I catch a hidden movie reference? You’ll have to see if you don’t see the same thing I do.
Each chapter starts with some interesting quotes by those in fashion or who are known for their fashion sense. Avery must have spent a lot of time finding just the perfect quote to go with each chapter. This is one thing that always impresses me about the authors. Some readers don’t seem to realize the amount of work involved because all they see is the finished product.
This book has a couple of things that will get your blood pumping. One is the physical attraction between Tony and Sylvie. Our couple also gets hot and heavy - some of their scenes get pretty graphic. And the second is the mystery and suspense that draws these two characters together.
I don’t usually follow the fashion blogs but Sylvie has piqued my interest as to what she talks about with her followers. But you don’t have to like following fashionista blogs to like this book either. The only thing you’ll find missing in this book are pictures but you can take care of that by using your mind’s eye.
One thing I’ve learned is to make sure that you read all the way to the end. If you don’t then sometimes you miss some interesting things. In this case, our author has a request and if you’re creative enough maybe you can accommodate her. Then I’d be interested to know how you did it.
My recommendation is that you get this book. It’s a mystery/suspense that has just the right amount of romance and sex. You can complete the book in just a couple of days. And after you finish reading this book, you may decide to see what else Avery has to offer.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
Sylvie Bissette has quite the hangover. Tony Falcon is an observer at a wedding reception when someone catches his attention. Avery had me hooked by the end of the first chapter. But I do have a question for our author; did I catch a hidden movie reference? You’ll have to see if you don’t see the same thing I do.
Each chapter starts with some interesting quotes by those in fashion or who are known for their fashion sense. Avery must have spent a lot of time finding just the perfect quote to go with each chapter. This is one thing that always impresses me about the authors. Some readers don’t seem to realize the amount of work involved because all they see is the finished product.
This book has a couple of things that will get your blood pumping. One is the physical attraction between Tony and Sylvie. Our couple also gets hot and heavy - some of their scenes get pretty graphic. And the second is the mystery and suspense that draws these two characters together.
I don’t usually follow the fashion blogs but Sylvie has piqued my interest as to what she talks about with her followers. But you don’t have to like following fashionista blogs to like this book either. The only thing you’ll find missing in this book are pictures but you can take care of that by using your mind’s eye.
One thing I’ve learned is to make sure that you read all the way to the end. If you don’t then sometimes you miss some interesting things. In this case, our author has a request and if you’re creative enough maybe you can accommodate her. Then I’d be interested to know how you did it.
My recommendation is that you get this book. It’s a mystery/suspense that has just the right amount of romance and sex. You can complete the book in just a couple of days. And after you finish reading this book, you may decide to see what else Avery has to offer.
May 31, 2025
Killer Temptation bk 1 [Killer Style series]
The 1st book in the killer style series and this book follows Tony and how he falls in love.. This book has some steamy parts so i would say this book is for over 18+ readers also has a Romantic Suspense theme as well
The relationship between Tony and Sylvie is awesome, sweet and fun to read.. You got to know more about Sylvie and her past and also you got to learn more about Tony's past too.. Every book in this series follows a different character that works for tony..
Fav characters:
Tony [ Boss and Friend to Carlos and cam, Brother to Ryder]
Sylvie [ high heal wonder blogger, Best friends with Drea]
Cam [ Works for Tony, best friends with Reggie, Carlos and Tony]
Drea [ Make-up artist, Best friends with Sylvie]
Carlos [Works for Tony, best friends with Cam, Ryder and Tony]
Ryder [ Sister to Tony, Works for tony, Best friends with carlos and cam]
Once he met Sylvie things started to change for him and he started to feel for her and wanted a more than fake dating which was nice to see that he opened up.. The relationship between Tony and Sylvie is awesome, sweet and fun to read and i am glad they both got a happy ending..
This book is packed full of:
⦁ Awesome characters
⦁ Private Security Trope
⦁ Fashion Blogger/Private Security Romance
⦁ Strangers to Lovers
⦁ Fake Dating Trope
⦁ Hero was an Ex-Detective
⦁ Heroine has a Hidden Identity for her Job
⦁ BodyGuard Trope
⦁ Some steam with a bit of outdoor play [under the stars]
⦁ Content: Heroine getting stalked & Attacked, Harassment, Drama, Heroine has Asthma Attacks, Talks of drugs in the past, Hero talks about his friends death
⦁ Tattooed Hero
⦁ Hero saves heroine
⦁ Protective Hero
⦁ Dark themes
⦁ Forced Proximity
⦁ Heroine has to win the heroine back
⦁ Strong friendships
⦁ Strong family Relationships
⦁ Fast read
⦁ Action packed
⦁ Mystery
You will see Tony, Ryder, cam and carols in all the books.. I am glad that everything worked out in the end of the book..
The 1st book in the killer style series and this book follows Tony and how he falls in love.. This book has some steamy parts so i would say this book is for over 18+ readers also has a Romantic Suspense theme as well
The relationship between Tony and Sylvie is awesome, sweet and fun to read.. You got to know more about Sylvie and her past and also you got to learn more about Tony's past too.. Every book in this series follows a different character that works for tony..
Fav characters:
Tony [ Boss and Friend to Carlos and cam, Brother to Ryder]
Sylvie [ high heal wonder blogger, Best friends with Drea]
Cam [ Works for Tony, best friends with Reggie, Carlos and Tony]
Drea [ Make-up artist, Best friends with Sylvie]
Carlos [Works for Tony, best friends with Cam, Ryder and Tony]
Ryder [ Sister to Tony, Works for tony, Best friends with carlos and cam]
Once he met Sylvie things started to change for him and he started to feel for her and wanted a more than fake dating which was nice to see that he opened up.. The relationship between Tony and Sylvie is awesome, sweet and fun to read and i am glad they both got a happy ending..
This book is packed full of:
⦁ Awesome characters
⦁ Private Security Trope
⦁ Fashion Blogger/Private Security Romance
⦁ Strangers to Lovers
⦁ Fake Dating Trope
⦁ Hero was an Ex-Detective
⦁ Heroine has a Hidden Identity for her Job
⦁ BodyGuard Trope
⦁ Some steam with a bit of outdoor play [under the stars]
⦁ Content: Heroine getting stalked & Attacked, Harassment, Drama, Heroine has Asthma Attacks, Talks of drugs in the past, Hero talks about his friends death
⦁ Tattooed Hero
⦁ Hero saves heroine
⦁ Protective Hero
⦁ Dark themes
⦁ Forced Proximity
⦁ Heroine has to win the heroine back
⦁ Strong friendships
⦁ Strong family Relationships
⦁ Fast read
⦁ Action packed
⦁ Mystery
You will see Tony, Ryder, cam and carols in all the books.. I am glad that everything worked out in the end of the book..
January 27, 2014
This was a quick, easy read, yet another successful book out from Entangled. I'm so glad to be as involved with them as I am.
Sylvie is a great woman with an interesting job - she blogs about the fashion industry. That seems to be a growing profession in books, making a living writing a blog about something. This is at least the third book in the past year I've read with that as a profession. She's got her sad history, and lordy it's very sad. But she definitely grows over the course of this novel and it was a pleasure to see her realize where her boundaries had been set and then charge through them in pursuit of the man she's falling in love with.
Tony. Well, Tony. I don't approve of the initial way he started slithering into her life (the real reason is revealed a good portion of the way through the book), but he didn't let it stop him from actually stepping up and being the body guard it turned out that she needed. It's hard not to love and respect a man who literally will throw himself in front of a moving vehicle to protect a girl, and Tony does just that.
There was a lot of push and pull, but these two really needed each other to heal from past wounds. The thing that kept me from giving this five stars is the fact that I just didn't feel the danger Sylvie was in. Oh sure, she dodged some bullets, has a break-in, and all that, but for some reason the suspense part just didn't fly with me. On a nice note, I definitely didn't guess who done it, and I always like that. I just wish I'd had more "heart in my throat" moments, gross as that sounds.
Thankfully they get their happy ending and I'm curious to see what's next in the series from Ms. Flynn!
Sylvie is a great woman with an interesting job - she blogs about the fashion industry. That seems to be a growing profession in books, making a living writing a blog about something. This is at least the third book in the past year I've read with that as a profession. She's got her sad history, and lordy it's very sad. But she definitely grows over the course of this novel and it was a pleasure to see her realize where her boundaries had been set and then charge through them in pursuit of the man she's falling in love with.
Tony. Well, Tony. I don't approve of the initial way he started slithering into her life (the real reason is revealed a good portion of the way through the book), but he didn't let it stop him from actually stepping up and being the body guard it turned out that she needed. It's hard not to love and respect a man who literally will throw himself in front of a moving vehicle to protect a girl, and Tony does just that.
There was a lot of push and pull, but these two really needed each other to heal from past wounds. The thing that kept me from giving this five stars is the fact that I just didn't feel the danger Sylvie was in. Oh sure, she dodged some bullets, has a break-in, and all that, but for some reason the suspense part just didn't fly with me. On a nice note, I definitely didn't guess who done it, and I always like that. I just wish I'd had more "heart in my throat" moments, gross as that sounds.
Thankfully they get their happy ending and I'm curious to see what's next in the series from Ms. Flynn!
January 30, 2014
This novel is a contemporary romance set in the fashion world of New York. It has suspense, great characters, and lots of steam and sizzle. Plus fabulous shoes! What's not to like?
Sylvie Bissette is a fashion blogger using the name High-Heeled Wonder. Very few people know her blogger name, and being anonymous works to her advantage, Sylvie is not afraid to go after the kings and queens of fashion. But, she's been getting hate mail, starting out laughable, then becoming more threatening.
Her family does not think it's at all laughable. Her family consists of two fathers, Anton Bissette and Henry Collins who are fashion designers, and a sister Anya. After being shifted from multiple foster homes, being adopted by these kind and loving men and her sister included, was a dream come true.
Tony Falcon is a former police officer who started Maltese Security. He left the police force when his partner was killed, but not a day goes by that he doesn't search every lead to find his murderer. Anton and Henry secretly hire Tony to watch Sylvie, but Tony has some secrets of his own. As he gets to know Sylvie, and care for her, his secrets start to haunt him.
Tony learns quickly there is a genuine threat to Sylvie's life, with way too many suspects. The action and suspense pick up quickly, and keep you guessing till the very last chapter, and I was still surprised! I loved this inside look at the fashion industry, and my favorite quote says it all. "Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world." ~ Marilyn Monroe.
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January 29, 2014I’m happy to report as one non-fashionista to any others that may be reading this, any knowledge or hardcore interest in fashion is not a requirement for this TV crime dramedy style whodunit by Avery Flynn. In High Heeled Wonder, Ms. Flynn does all the heavy world building behind the text, placing the reader in a fully formed world where fashion is king and backstabbing his queen.
Summary: Sylvie Bissette is the adopted daughter of two of the hottest designers in Harbor City, the owners of BC. Beyond her elevated position as the offspring of fashion royalty, Sylvie is also the anonymous blogger behind High Heeled Wonder, a fashion blog that lampoons some of the people her family associates with on a regular basis while touting the virtues of fashion for everyone. She’s used to getting nasty emails from angry readers over some of the articles she posts, but when the threats escalate, her fathers decide to call on Tony Falcon and Maltese Security for help.
At first, Sylvie is reluctant to accept Tony’s help. But after narrowly escaping being mowed down in broad daylight and realizing that the police aren’t going to take the threat to her life seriously, she agrees to hire Maltese Security on one condition: Tony must go undercover as her boyfriend so no one gets suspicious. Read More
Summary: Sylvie Bissette is the adopted daughter of two of the hottest designers in Harbor City, the owners of BC. Beyond her elevated position as the offspring of fashion royalty, Sylvie is also the anonymous blogger behind High Heeled Wonder, a fashion blog that lampoons some of the people her family associates with on a regular basis while touting the virtues of fashion for everyone. She’s used to getting nasty emails from angry readers over some of the articles she posts, but when the threats escalate, her fathers decide to call on Tony Falcon and Maltese Security for help.
At first, Sylvie is reluctant to accept Tony’s help. But after narrowly escaping being mowed down in broad daylight and realizing that the police aren’t going to take the threat to her life seriously, she agrees to hire Maltese Security on one condition: Tony must go undercover as her boyfriend so no one gets suspicious. Read More
February 1, 2014
3.5* out of 5*
After reading the books from "The Layton Family" series I was looking forward to reading this book.
Sylvie had been receiving threats for some time, but she herself thought it would blow over soon enough. But her fathers didn't like the sound of that and hired Maltese Security to keep an eye on her. With Tony posing as her bodyguard.
A good decision on their part, cause if anything the threats were escalating. While Sylvie was ticked off when she found out what her fathers had done, she too began to see the danger she was in. So she gave in, on condition that Tony would pose as her boyfriend.
Tony had ulterior motives though, he used the opportunity to investigate his partner's murder. Why? cause all the tracks lead to Sylvie's fathers. But what started as a means to an end morphed into something scorching.
After reading "High-Heeled Wonder" I couldn't help but compare it to the author's previous books. I liked those a bit better…. But this book is still a good read, it had the same formula and had a good combination of romance and suspense. I liked the unexpected twists and turns, that I should have seen coming….but didn't. To sum my opinion of this book in one expression:
For more reviews stop by http://yougottaread.com
After reading the books from "The Layton Family" series I was looking forward to reading this book.
Sylvie had been receiving threats for some time, but she herself thought it would blow over soon enough. But her fathers didn't like the sound of that and hired Maltese Security to keep an eye on her. With Tony posing as her bodyguard.
A good decision on their part, cause if anything the threats were escalating. While Sylvie was ticked off when she found out what her fathers had done, she too began to see the danger she was in. So she gave in, on condition that Tony would pose as her boyfriend.
Tony had ulterior motives though, he used the opportunity to investigate his partner's murder. Why? cause all the tracks lead to Sylvie's fathers. But what started as a means to an end morphed into something scorching.
After reading "High-Heeled Wonder" I couldn't help but compare it to the author's previous books. I liked those a bit better…. But this book is still a good read, it had the same formula and had a good combination of romance and suspense. I liked the unexpected twists and turns, that I should have seen coming….but didn't. To sum my opinion of this book in one expression:
For more reviews stop by http://yougottaread.com
January 23, 2014
I received and ARC of this book for an honest review.
Now that the lame legalese is out of the way, lemmie tell you something about High-heeled Wonder. I opened it, drawn in by the promise of stilettos and sizzling smexy times and this girl was NOT disappointed. From page one, you fall in platonic woman love with Sylvie. You literally want to be Sylvie, or at least I did. Impeccable fashion sense, two doting dads and a shoe collection that would make Imelda Marcos jealous. But her anonymous blogging has drawn some unwanted attention so her Dads hire Tony.
Now let's talk about Tony.
Damn.
That doesn't do it? Ok. Well, how about he's private security, Italian with a big loving family, Italian, he can cook. He's basically awesome in every way that a hero can be.
I refuse to spoil this book for people that has yet to read it, sufficed to say that I cannot wait for whatever Avery Flynn comes up with next. I laughed from start to finish with this book, and when I wasn't laughing, I was sitting in front of my freezer with a fan blowing full blast.
Yeah, it was like that.
You need to read this book. Only, wear something nice when you read it. I feel woefully under-dressed. Where did I put my Jimmy Choo's?
Now that the lame legalese is out of the way, lemmie tell you something about High-heeled Wonder. I opened it, drawn in by the promise of stilettos and sizzling smexy times and this girl was NOT disappointed. From page one, you fall in platonic woman love with Sylvie. You literally want to be Sylvie, or at least I did. Impeccable fashion sense, two doting dads and a shoe collection that would make Imelda Marcos jealous. But her anonymous blogging has drawn some unwanted attention so her Dads hire Tony.
Now let's talk about Tony.
Damn.
That doesn't do it? Ok. Well, how about he's private security, Italian with a big loving family, Italian, he can cook. He's basically awesome in every way that a hero can be.
I refuse to spoil this book for people that has yet to read it, sufficed to say that I cannot wait for whatever Avery Flynn comes up with next. I laughed from start to finish with this book, and when I wasn't laughing, I was sitting in front of my freezer with a fan blowing full blast.
Yeah, it was like that.
You need to read this book. Only, wear something nice when you read it. I feel woefully under-dressed. Where did I put my Jimmy Choo's?
January 25, 2014
ARC given by Netgalley for an honest review.
It is the first novel I read from this author, and I fell in love with it.. The story cover enough suspense and action behind the scene conspiracy of fashion world, with a dose of hot passionate encounter between the hero and the heroine. Slyvie Bissett is the daughter of the famous fashion designers who wrote anonymously as High-heeled wonder, a fashion guru that can make or break fashion trends. She is stalked by an unknown person, and almost being run over by the said person. Her overprotective fathers hire security expert, Tony Falcon to investigate and protect Sylvie. Little that they know, our hero seems have hidden agenda which conflicted with his growing desire towards his protectee.
This story brought a love-humor romance in laced with a very good action scenes. Some storybook told a cheezy unbelievable; a little bit too much action/suspense. But this story is balanced in telling chemistry and budding romance btw hero and heroine, with a very good suspense backstory. And the ending? No one would expect a very climax against another climax ending. Full stars all the way, recommended.
It is the first novel I read from this author, and I fell in love with it.. The story cover enough suspense and action behind the scene conspiracy of fashion world, with a dose of hot passionate encounter between the hero and the heroine. Slyvie Bissett is the daughter of the famous fashion designers who wrote anonymously as High-heeled wonder, a fashion guru that can make or break fashion trends. She is stalked by an unknown person, and almost being run over by the said person. Her overprotective fathers hire security expert, Tony Falcon to investigate and protect Sylvie. Little that they know, our hero seems have hidden agenda which conflicted with his growing desire towards his protectee.
This story brought a love-humor romance in laced with a very good action scenes. Some storybook told a cheezy unbelievable; a little bit too much action/suspense. But this story is balanced in telling chemistry and budding romance btw hero and heroine, with a very good suspense backstory. And the ending? No one would expect a very climax against another climax ending. Full stars all the way, recommended.
July 11, 2015
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.
I have a hard time reviewing books. I can tell people I really liked (or hated) a book. But I have a hard time putting into words WHY I like a book. I don't do book summaries. You can get that from the book blurb or numerous other reviews.
So, here it goes....
I LOVED this book. It has it all - humor, suspense, action, and chemistry!! It is a fun read that kept me up. There are several surprising twists along the way. And just when you think it's winding up, it doesn't. But that doesn't make the story drag out or seem too made up. It just sucks you in even more.
Sylvie and Tony are down to earth likeable characters. They are flawed and real. The secondary characters are also well-written and add much to the story with their relationships with the main characters. Ms. Flynn has created an entire cast you would like to know better. (Well, most of them, anyway.)
A totally enjoyable read. I can't wait to see what's in store for the next one!!
I have a hard time reviewing books. I can tell people I really liked (or hated) a book. But I have a hard time putting into words WHY I like a book. I don't do book summaries. You can get that from the book blurb or numerous other reviews.
So, here it goes....
I LOVED this book. It has it all - humor, suspense, action, and chemistry!! It is a fun read that kept me up. There are several surprising twists along the way. And just when you think it's winding up, it doesn't. But that doesn't make the story drag out or seem too made up. It just sucks you in even more.
Sylvie and Tony are down to earth likeable characters. They are flawed and real. The secondary characters are also well-written and add much to the story with their relationships with the main characters. Ms. Flynn has created an entire cast you would like to know better. (Well, most of them, anyway.)
A totally enjoyable read. I can't wait to see what's in store for the next one!!
January 24, 2014
I just finished reading High-Heeled Wonder, by Avery Flynn. Writing romantic suspense is difficult because of the careful balance between the love story and the suspense plot. Adding humor without making the story into a slapstick tale is close to impossible. Avery weaves the romance, the suspense, and the humor perfectly.
The hero and heroine have amazing chemistry and the secondary characters are hilarious. I thought I’d figured out the mystery, but the story contained fun subplots and completely unexpected twists. She had me guessing until the end.
My favorite line? “Good friends call. Great friends catch the red eye.”
In addition to the references to the fashion world in the story, Avery adds characters who love video games. Although I am not a fashionista, I love gaming and she added enough detail to make it a fun side story.
Keep writing, Avery. You were the best part of my children’s snow days.
*COPY PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
The hero and heroine have amazing chemistry and the secondary characters are hilarious. I thought I’d figured out the mystery, but the story contained fun subplots and completely unexpected twists. She had me guessing until the end.
My favorite line? “Good friends call. Great friends catch the red eye.”
In addition to the references to the fashion world in the story, Avery adds characters who love video games. Although I am not a fashionista, I love gaming and she added enough detail to make it a fun side story.
Keep writing, Avery. You were the best part of my children’s snow days.
*COPY PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
August 3, 2016
(3 1/2 stars)
This was a quick, light read. Avery Flynn writes with a quirky, breezy style that is a lot of fun to read--more than once her sense of humor here made me smile. Sylvie and Tony are both very likable characters, and I loved the fashion-themed quotes at the beginning of each chapter. Altogether fun!
However, both the mystery and the romance of the novel were a bit shortchanged (maybe a longer book would fix this?), and the pacing overall was somewhat uneven. The villain's big reveal had the feel of a mustache-twirling cartoon character's, and it was hard to take it seriously. We got our HEA in the end, but again, it was all on the quick side.
Still, I really enjoyed Ms. Flynn's style of writing and will definitely be on the lookout for more from her in the future.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a quick, light read. Avery Flynn writes with a quirky, breezy style that is a lot of fun to read--more than once her sense of humor here made me smile. Sylvie and Tony are both very likable characters, and I loved the fashion-themed quotes at the beginning of each chapter. Altogether fun!
However, both the mystery and the romance of the novel were a bit shortchanged (maybe a longer book would fix this?), and the pacing overall was somewhat uneven. The villain's big reveal had the feel of a mustache-twirling cartoon character's, and it was hard to take it seriously. We got our HEA in the end, but again, it was all on the quick side.
Still, I really enjoyed Ms. Flynn's style of writing and will definitely be on the lookout for more from her in the future.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 28, 2014
The title alone, HIGH HEELED WONDER creates in my head a scene of a woman happily skipping along the street wearing beautiful high heels. She is smiling and this makes me smile, too! Avery Flynn has created a joyful and spirited love story between fashion blogger Sylvie Bissette and security company owner Tony Falcon, who is hired to protect her. AND unbeknownst to her, he is also investigating Sylvie’s Fathers’ company to find out who killed his former partner. There is suspense, humor, bravery and lots of wonderful romance and love in this book. One of Avery Flynn’s wonderful additions is the quote she puts at the beginning of each chapter. My favorite one is “Bravery never goes out of fashion” – William Makepiece Thackery. This quote fits every aspect of the story. Read the book to find this quote!
February 11, 2014
Sylvie's two dads were famous in the fashion world. Sylvie was anonymously famous as the blogger "High-Heeled Wonder" or at least that's what she thought until someone outed her. That's when the threats started and in walks Tony Falcon, the owner of Maltese Security. Sylvie wants Tony and makes no secret about it. Tony wants her too but he's got ulterior motives for accepting the job.
This is a who-done-it kind of story. The setting is fantastic. The fashion industry is full of petty jealousy and assistants willing to tell secrets for the right price. Tons of action! Tony Falcon is a great character! I love how Sylvie knew what she wanted and went after it. All around a fantastic story with plenty of mystery. Looking forward to reading more from this talented author.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is a who-done-it kind of story. The setting is fantastic. The fashion industry is full of petty jealousy and assistants willing to tell secrets for the right price. Tons of action! Tony Falcon is a great character! I love how Sylvie knew what she wanted and went after it. All around a fantastic story with plenty of mystery. Looking forward to reading more from this talented author.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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