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Quentin Security #1
The Devil You Know
After escaping a killer, Dr. Victoria Carr fled her hometown and changed her name, seeking sanctuary in a small Texas town. Now working as a psychologist, Victoria has spent the past ten years trying to leave her gruesome past behind. But a chilling phone call in the middle of the night confirms her worst fear—the killer is back.
The newest addition to Quentin Security Group, Blake Lawson jumps at the chance to accept a position at the Healthplex where Victoria works. Intrigued by the feisty brunette, he’s determined to break through her carefully constructed Ice Queen exterior to reach the passionate woman beneath.
As the police scramble to apprehend the person responsible, Victoria finds herself quickly falling for Blake. When secrets from the past come to light, a terrifying revelation threatens to change her life forever...
The Devil You Know is the first standalone in the Quentin Security Series.
The Devil You Know - Blake and Victoria
Devil in the Details - Xander and Lydia
Devil in Disguise - Gavin and Kate
Heart of a Devil - Vince and Jana
The newest addition to Quentin Security Group, Blake Lawson jumps at the chance to accept a position at the Healthplex where Victoria works. Intrigued by the feisty brunette, he’s determined to break through her carefully constructed Ice Queen exterior to reach the passionate woman beneath.
As the police scramble to apprehend the person responsible, Victoria finds herself quickly falling for Blake. When secrets from the past come to light, a terrifying revelation threatens to change her life forever...
The Devil You Know is the first standalone in the Quentin Security Series.
The Devil You Know - Blake and Victoria
Devil in the Details - Xander and Lydia
Devil in Disguise - Gavin and Kate
Heart of a Devil - Vince and Jana
350 pages, ebook
Published October 10, 2019
337 people are currently reading
840 people want to read
About the author
Morgan James
47 books405 followersMorgan James is a USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty romantic suspense novels. She spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book and cut her teeth on the likes of R.L. Stein and Christopher Pike. When not writing, she can be found at her home in Ohio with her husband and two kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
February 13, 2020
Dr Victoria Carr is trying to pick up the pieces from 10 years ago when she was an innocent teenager name Bekah. The night her decision cause her best friend Leah to be brutality raped and murder. Now how do you live with the guilt of surviving the killer and missing your best friend everyday. You move from your little town where everyone knows you with your grandparents change your name from Bekah to Victoria Carr, move to Texas and go to school to be a psychologist to help people like you her get through tough times. However the killer is back and police is struggling to figure out who is behind all the gruesome murders, especially when the killer calls you from the crime scene saying its almost that time. That is when the building manager hires a security firm Quentin Security Group to watch over the building you work in. The day Dr Carr meets Blake Lawson from GSG she immediately knew he would be trouble for her with his beautiful smile and sleek looks but what does Victoria do, rip him to shreds, but the hero in Blake the ex retired military it brings him to have closer relationship to Victoria. Now he will not rest until this threat over her life is found. Which makes the killer angrier because he wants Dr Victoria Carr all to himself.
August 19, 2020
A little too naive and TSTL to be believable.
Bekka Baker/Dr. Victoria Carr, Ph.D. was a little too naive to fit her psychologist profile. Supposedly, she lives through a horrible ordeal as a teenager, creates a new persona including her name, and moving, in her adult life, and then
Bekka Baker/Dr. Victoria Carr, Ph.D. was a little too naive to fit her psychologist profile. Supposedly, she lives through a horrible ordeal as a teenager, creates a new persona including her name, and moving, in her adult life, and then
October 10, 2019
Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
“But this kiss, with this woman…he couldn’t get enough.”
One of my favorite parts of being a newer romance blogger is being introduced to new authors…to me. Morgan James is one of those authors. She reached out to me through my social media accounts, introducing herself and telling me a bit about her new book, The Devil You Know. From the outset, I was intrigued, as this book is equal parts romance and suspense with a little bit of psychology thrown into the mix. There is something engaging about reading a book that leaves you guessing about the villain of the story, and Morgan James’s book does just that.
While I love reading new authors, I have read enough of them to know that it can be a bit of chance. Will I like the writer’s style? Will the story be predictable? What is this author offering that other authors aren’t? As I was reading James’s The Devil You Know, I was initially struck by her style and syntax. I’m a word lover. This may sound strange, but I need the words to flow melodically over the page, or I struggle with a book. And this is exactly what it’s like reading James’s words. I didn’t struggle. Through her words, the story moves easily along, building in intensity as the story progresses. Her images and the pacing of her story keep the reader guessing until the reveal of the book’s secret. I picked up the book in the morning and finished it later in the day because her story compelled me forward. To me, that’s the mark of a good book.
Since this is romantic suspense, there is usually some clever surprise. Sometimes, it is easy to figure out the surprise. Not with this book. She did a fantastic job of hiding the villain. In retrospect, it might be easy to determine, but James conceals the surprise fairly well, only incurring a bit of suspicion to the villain.
Even more, this story deals with trauma and its effects in a way that’s responsible. The heroine of the book, Victoria/Bekah, endures a trauma as a teenager. She changes her identity as protection from the trauma, and she seeks out counseling to help her move forward. The story jumps ahead, and Victoria is a psychologist, helping others through their psychological issues. She begins to be threatened by the perpetrator of her original trauma. These new threats bring the hero into her life as a protector. Blake, the hero of the book, is a new partner in a security firm. He is tasked with providing security for the building where Victoria works. From the outset, these two clash, but also feel a magnetic pull to each other. As the story progresses, Victoria and Blake begin to grow feelings for each other, progressing their relationship. Unfortunately, Blake was never looking for a long commitment, and Victoria’s past continues to haunt her. Even more, her life becomes more and more endangered. Will Blake protect Victoria? Will they find their happily-ever-after?
As Victoria’s story progresses, James shows us the importance of healing from trauma without hiding one’s self away. Victoria’s life is structured to the point that any changes bring about anxiety. She has carefully constructed this new life as a response to her earlier trauma, but it causes her to be closed off to Blake. It makes it difficult to trust him. Even as he changes his thoughts about relationships, Blake struggles against Victoria’s anxieties. However, he works hard to help her feel safe and protected, while also challenging her for her future. Their chemistry is clear, and you cannot help but root for them to succeed.
What I struggled a bit with is really related to character development. I would have liked for Victoria and Blake to develop their feelings for each other more slowly in the beginning. When Blake believes Victoria is the “one” early on, I wanted to question how he knew this. I think sitting with attraction for a bit makes the story truer to life. I would have preferred for him to know her persona more before letting physicality determine his need for her. Additionally, Kate, Victoria’s friend, plays a major part in her life. Yet, when she struggles with her feelings for Blake mid-way through the story, she becomes silent in the story. I would have expected her to return to the storytelling sooner than she does.
Beyond that, Morgan James’s The Devil You Know drew me in quickly and captured me. Blake and Victoria offer us a story that reminds us that to live we have to move past our comfort zone, that we need to let the past remain in the past, and that we can find safety in a love that is whole. Morgan James has quickly become an author I want more from. The Devil You Know has everything you love in a good romantic suspense: characters with chemistry, a surprise twist, and a story that keeps you glued to your chair.
“She wanted to stare into his eyes every day for the rest of her life. This was what she’d waited her whole life for. She’d been waiting for him.“
“But this kiss, with this woman…he couldn’t get enough.”
One of my favorite parts of being a newer romance blogger is being introduced to new authors…to me. Morgan James is one of those authors. She reached out to me through my social media accounts, introducing herself and telling me a bit about her new book, The Devil You Know. From the outset, I was intrigued, as this book is equal parts romance and suspense with a little bit of psychology thrown into the mix. There is something engaging about reading a book that leaves you guessing about the villain of the story, and Morgan James’s book does just that.
While I love reading new authors, I have read enough of them to know that it can be a bit of chance. Will I like the writer’s style? Will the story be predictable? What is this author offering that other authors aren’t? As I was reading James’s The Devil You Know, I was initially struck by her style and syntax. I’m a word lover. This may sound strange, but I need the words to flow melodically over the page, or I struggle with a book. And this is exactly what it’s like reading James’s words. I didn’t struggle. Through her words, the story moves easily along, building in intensity as the story progresses. Her images and the pacing of her story keep the reader guessing until the reveal of the book’s secret. I picked up the book in the morning and finished it later in the day because her story compelled me forward. To me, that’s the mark of a good book.
Since this is romantic suspense, there is usually some clever surprise. Sometimes, it is easy to figure out the surprise. Not with this book. She did a fantastic job of hiding the villain. In retrospect, it might be easy to determine, but James conceals the surprise fairly well, only incurring a bit of suspicion to the villain.
Even more, this story deals with trauma and its effects in a way that’s responsible. The heroine of the book, Victoria/Bekah, endures a trauma as a teenager. She changes her identity as protection from the trauma, and she seeks out counseling to help her move forward. The story jumps ahead, and Victoria is a psychologist, helping others through their psychological issues. She begins to be threatened by the perpetrator of her original trauma. These new threats bring the hero into her life as a protector. Blake, the hero of the book, is a new partner in a security firm. He is tasked with providing security for the building where Victoria works. From the outset, these two clash, but also feel a magnetic pull to each other. As the story progresses, Victoria and Blake begin to grow feelings for each other, progressing their relationship. Unfortunately, Blake was never looking for a long commitment, and Victoria’s past continues to haunt her. Even more, her life becomes more and more endangered. Will Blake protect Victoria? Will they find their happily-ever-after?
As Victoria’s story progresses, James shows us the importance of healing from trauma without hiding one’s self away. Victoria’s life is structured to the point that any changes bring about anxiety. She has carefully constructed this new life as a response to her earlier trauma, but it causes her to be closed off to Blake. It makes it difficult to trust him. Even as he changes his thoughts about relationships, Blake struggles against Victoria’s anxieties. However, he works hard to help her feel safe and protected, while also challenging her for her future. Their chemistry is clear, and you cannot help but root for them to succeed.
What I struggled a bit with is really related to character development. I would have liked for Victoria and Blake to develop their feelings for each other more slowly in the beginning. When Blake believes Victoria is the “one” early on, I wanted to question how he knew this. I think sitting with attraction for a bit makes the story truer to life. I would have preferred for him to know her persona more before letting physicality determine his need for her. Additionally, Kate, Victoria’s friend, plays a major part in her life. Yet, when she struggles with her feelings for Blake mid-way through the story, she becomes silent in the story. I would have expected her to return to the storytelling sooner than she does.
Beyond that, Morgan James’s The Devil You Know drew me in quickly and captured me. Blake and Victoria offer us a story that reminds us that to live we have to move past our comfort zone, that we need to let the past remain in the past, and that we can find safety in a love that is whole. Morgan James has quickly become an author I want more from. The Devil You Know has everything you love in a good romantic suspense: characters with chemistry, a surprise twist, and a story that keeps you glued to your chair.
“She wanted to stare into his eyes every day for the rest of her life. This was what she’d waited her whole life for. She’d been waiting for him.“
June 23, 2021
I’m hooked on Morgan James!
I first found this series through Bookbub. I enjoyed Heart of The Devil so much I have started with book one. I love Morgan’s writing style. I love men in uniform….and suspense. The books are stand alone. But I like starting from the beginning…
I first found this series through Bookbub. I enjoyed Heart of The Devil so much I have started with book one. I love Morgan’s writing style. I love men in uniform….and suspense. The books are stand alone. But I like starting from the beginning…
January 24, 2020
Oh.My.GAWD. I had no idea this suspense was going to turn out the way it did. I could NOT figure out who the bad guy was, AT ALL, until maybe 90% into the book. I was hooked on The Devil You Know from the prologue up until the very end. Blake and Victoria are great. Blake has the ex-military macho protector thing going for him that I love. Victoria is smart and a fighter who has dealt with her fair share of traumatizing events in her life. I really liked some of the secondary characters too. Can we talk about Con & Kate for a minute? I really want them to be the couple for book 2. They have no interaction with each other in this book but my readers intuition tells me they would make a fire couple. This book lays a great foundation for several more books in the Quentin Security Series. I'm very excited to see what the next few books have in store for us.
June 17, 2020
Quentin Security Series
Just finished, The Devil You Know, from the Quentin Security Series and I have bought 2 books and I hope she writers many more in this series. Blake and Victoria kept my interest from page one and hated to put the book down. I will start, Devil in the Details, next and was wondering when will Devil in Disguise be out. I loved Blake and Victoria’s chemistry from the first time they met.
Just finished, The Devil You Know, from the Quentin Security Series and I have bought 2 books and I hope she writers many more in this series. Blake and Victoria kept my interest from page one and hated to put the book down. I will start, Devil in the Details, next and was wondering when will Devil in Disguise be out. I loved Blake and Victoria’s chemistry from the first time they met.
January 26, 2020
Finding home
The first thing capturing my attention is the characters introduced are filled in, interesting and immediately likeable. The suspense drives the story and I found myself holding my breath at what could be coming. The Quentin Security group has more great stories to tell involving returning military vets and Morgan James will do a great job telling them!
The first thing capturing my attention is the characters introduced are filled in, interesting and immediately likeable. The suspense drives the story and I found myself holding my breath at what could be coming. The Quentin Security group has more great stories to tell involving returning military vets and Morgan James will do a great job telling them!
February 25, 2021
The Devil’s in the details
Really an enjoyable read. Just the right amount of fun, romance, and intrigue. Just enough misdirection that you can’t be certain who did it until the bitter end. Definitely like the direction this series can go with all the possibilities of the Quentin Security Group
Really an enjoyable read. Just the right amount of fun, romance, and intrigue. Just enough misdirection that you can’t be certain who did it until the bitter end. Definitely like the direction this series can go with all the possibilities of the Quentin Security Group
September 5, 2020
Brilliant
I was so intrigued love Blake and Victoria story
The author did and amazing job can’t wait for the second book
I was so intrigued love Blake and Victoria story
The author did and amazing job can’t wait for the second book
March 26, 2021
All I can say is WOW! This book hooked me right from the very beginning and never disappointed! Great story and wonderful characters!
May 30, 2022
Well, OK. I read the book, Twisted Devil, listed as book #0.5 and didn’t care for it, but it was short and I thought the writing style was good enough to deserve another look. Unfortunately, I was wrong.
In the advertising blurb on Amazon this statement appears: “As of September, 2021 The Devil You Know has been completely revised and rewritten in first person point of view to match the rest of the series!” Bad idea. Revisions appeared to be involved with changing the pronouns from “he/she” to “I.” I’m unimpressed with the rewrites. There are a lot of sentences that seem awkward when using first person. There is too much awareness, making the actions of the speaker seem purposely contrived. They would make sense if in third person. For example:
“A smile tipped up the corners of my mouth…” makes the narrator too aware, as if she is scheming to make an impression with a little smile. In third person, it makes more sense: “A smile tipped up the corners of her mouth….” That sentence makes us want to know why, and what she is thinking about.
“…before shyly straddling his waist…” also seems a bit conniving. How does a narrator know she is straddling a man shyly unless it is a deliberate act? As a third person observation, it makes sense. We can be led to wonder what makes her so shy around him. In first person, the sentence needs a rewrite, something like “I felt myself blush as I straddled his waist,” or some such. A good editor would come up with something better.
This book is a super common trope: young woman full of fears, needy, self-deprecating, virginal, with poor body image and a possessive alpha male who is devastatingly handsome, loves curves, and promises to protect her forever. She is Victoria, the same female stereotype as Chloe and he is Blake, the same male stereotype as Jason, both of whom we read about in Twisted Devil.
Blake calls Victoria “strong,” just as Jason calls Chloe “strong” in Twisted Devil. And, as with Chloe, Victoria is not allowed to be strong, dynamic or forceful except during the narrow confines of a story device. For the lion’s share of the book, Victoria is needy, whiny, and extraordinarily malleable (she follows other people’s advice rather than making a decision on her own). She accepts no responsibility for others being hurt because of her. To one woman, her friend, she apologizes and that’s it…because she is so involved with Blake.
I do not understand what Blake sees in her. I do see what Victoria sees in Blake; he is a protector and does she ever need protecting…often from herself. Their chemistry is nonexistent. They perform sex without being emotionally connected to each other. The changing POV during sex scenes is vaguely off-putting and does not seem genuine. And sex without a condom? They remembered once, then it was perfectly fine not to use a condom. Remember, they’ve just met and he certainly has a sexual history.
The writer persists in refreshing readers’ memories with reminders of her characters’ traits. Johnathan comes from nothing, wants success and more money. Blake is brimming over with self-confidence. Kate is crushed by her husband’s infidelity. Victoria’s horrible experience as a teenager has allowed her to keep everyone at arm’s length. As readers, we won’t forget what comprises these characters and we do not need to be reminded of them in every other chapter.
There are a number of discrepancies in the book. For instance, Victoria is a psychologist and yet she says she wasn’t an expert on behaviors. She’d better be. Her patients are paying good money for her expertise. Also, after an incident in her office building, she tells the police that she’ll give them her statement in the morning. The next day, she states she told the police she would come to the station in the afternoon.
Victoria is professionally and personally irresponsible in her behavior towards Johnathan. He wants to be more than friends and she knows this. She refuses to discuss their relationship openly and directly with him because she “doesn’t want to hurt him.” She has numerous opportunities to tell him, but she just can’t do it. This is a serious character flaw. She is a psychologist and should have a higher regard for others. Johnathan is not a particularly sympathetic character, but she keeps him hanging and that’s callous. Shame on her.
Sometimes the changes in scenes are too rapid. For instance:
“With another hug I said goodbye and headed home. I disengaged the alarm and kicked my shoes off with a little sigh of relief.” This is from one paragraph. In the first sentence, Victoria is in a hospital room with Kate. In the next sentence, she is at home. There is no transition.
It’s a small point, but Blake is described as “a golden-haired man, tall and broad-shouldered.” So who’s the handsome dark haired man on the cover of the Kindle book?
There are some errors, most dealing with the change in POV; for instance:
“His eyes quickly swept over me, catching on the reddened flesh of her knees.” The move from third to first person POV missed part of this sentence. It’s Victoria narrating and the flesh is on her own knees and it should read, “…on the reddened flesh of MY knees.”
“Being very average herself, I looked up to almost everyone.” Again, Victoria is narrating and she is commenting on her average height. The change from third to first person was not successful in this sentence either. It should read, “Being very average MYSELF….”
“’Hey,’ Victoria said, pitching my voice low.” Again, Victoria is speaking and again, the change from third to first person POV was not done well. It should read, “’Hey,’ I said, pitching my voice low.” And again, this is an oddly contrived act. In third person it is appropriate; in first person, it is a little devious.
The book moved so slowly! This was partly caused by the constant iteration of character traits. There is a great deal of unnecessary repetition. At 35% completion, I started speedreading through the repetitive narratives. At 50% I began skimming and at 75% I started skipping whole pages. I did not miss a thing. The villain was precisely whom I anticipated and he performed exactly as expected. The writer laid down more than enough clues to figure it all out.
I rated this book 2½ stars and rounded down because while the bones of the story were good, the execution was not. The characters were remakes of the first (#0.5) novella. I was disappointed in Victoria who could have been a worthy heroine for the former marine, Blake, who deserved someone with a personality. It was an average story of a common trope that probably should have been left in third person, even with the other books in the series being written in first person. Nix on the other books in this series.
In the advertising blurb on Amazon this statement appears: “As of September, 2021 The Devil You Know has been completely revised and rewritten in first person point of view to match the rest of the series!” Bad idea. Revisions appeared to be involved with changing the pronouns from “he/she” to “I.” I’m unimpressed with the rewrites. There are a lot of sentences that seem awkward when using first person. There is too much awareness, making the actions of the speaker seem purposely contrived. They would make sense if in third person. For example:
“A smile tipped up the corners of my mouth…” makes the narrator too aware, as if she is scheming to make an impression with a little smile. In third person, it makes more sense: “A smile tipped up the corners of her mouth….” That sentence makes us want to know why, and what she is thinking about.
“…before shyly straddling his waist…” also seems a bit conniving. How does a narrator know she is straddling a man shyly unless it is a deliberate act? As a third person observation, it makes sense. We can be led to wonder what makes her so shy around him. In first person, the sentence needs a rewrite, something like “I felt myself blush as I straddled his waist,” or some such. A good editor would come up with something better.
This book is a super common trope: young woman full of fears, needy, self-deprecating, virginal, with poor body image and a possessive alpha male who is devastatingly handsome, loves curves, and promises to protect her forever. She is Victoria, the same female stereotype as Chloe and he is Blake, the same male stereotype as Jason, both of whom we read about in Twisted Devil.
Blake calls Victoria “strong,” just as Jason calls Chloe “strong” in Twisted Devil. And, as with Chloe, Victoria is not allowed to be strong, dynamic or forceful except during the narrow confines of a story device. For the lion’s share of the book, Victoria is needy, whiny, and extraordinarily malleable (she follows other people’s advice rather than making a decision on her own). She accepts no responsibility for others being hurt because of her. To one woman, her friend, she apologizes and that’s it…because she is so involved with Blake.
I do not understand what Blake sees in her. I do see what Victoria sees in Blake; he is a protector and does she ever need protecting…often from herself. Their chemistry is nonexistent. They perform sex without being emotionally connected to each other. The changing POV during sex scenes is vaguely off-putting and does not seem genuine. And sex without a condom? They remembered once, then it was perfectly fine not to use a condom. Remember, they’ve just met and he certainly has a sexual history.
The writer persists in refreshing readers’ memories with reminders of her characters’ traits. Johnathan comes from nothing, wants success and more money. Blake is brimming over with self-confidence. Kate is crushed by her husband’s infidelity. Victoria’s horrible experience as a teenager has allowed her to keep everyone at arm’s length. As readers, we won’t forget what comprises these characters and we do not need to be reminded of them in every other chapter.
There are a number of discrepancies in the book. For instance, Victoria is a psychologist and yet she says she wasn’t an expert on behaviors. She’d better be. Her patients are paying good money for her expertise. Also, after an incident in her office building, she tells the police that she’ll give them her statement in the morning. The next day, she states she told the police she would come to the station in the afternoon.
Victoria is professionally and personally irresponsible in her behavior towards Johnathan. He wants to be more than friends and she knows this. She refuses to discuss their relationship openly and directly with him because she “doesn’t want to hurt him.” She has numerous opportunities to tell him, but she just can’t do it. This is a serious character flaw. She is a psychologist and should have a higher regard for others. Johnathan is not a particularly sympathetic character, but she keeps him hanging and that’s callous. Shame on her.
Sometimes the changes in scenes are too rapid. For instance:
“With another hug I said goodbye and headed home. I disengaged the alarm and kicked my shoes off with a little sigh of relief.” This is from one paragraph. In the first sentence, Victoria is in a hospital room with Kate. In the next sentence, she is at home. There is no transition.
It’s a small point, but Blake is described as “a golden-haired man, tall and broad-shouldered.” So who’s the handsome dark haired man on the cover of the Kindle book?
There are some errors, most dealing with the change in POV; for instance:
“His eyes quickly swept over me, catching on the reddened flesh of her knees.” The move from third to first person POV missed part of this sentence. It’s Victoria narrating and the flesh is on her own knees and it should read, “…on the reddened flesh of MY knees.”
“Being very average herself, I looked up to almost everyone.” Again, Victoria is narrating and she is commenting on her average height. The change from third to first person was not successful in this sentence either. It should read, “Being very average MYSELF….”
“’Hey,’ Victoria said, pitching my voice low.” Again, Victoria is speaking and again, the change from third to first person POV was not done well. It should read, “’Hey,’ I said, pitching my voice low.” And again, this is an oddly contrived act. In third person it is appropriate; in first person, it is a little devious.
The book moved so slowly! This was partly caused by the constant iteration of character traits. There is a great deal of unnecessary repetition. At 35% completion, I started speedreading through the repetitive narratives. At 50% I began skimming and at 75% I started skipping whole pages. I did not miss a thing. The villain was precisely whom I anticipated and he performed exactly as expected. The writer laid down more than enough clues to figure it all out.
I rated this book 2½ stars and rounded down because while the bones of the story were good, the execution was not. The characters were remakes of the first (#0.5) novella. I was disappointed in Victoria who could have been a worthy heroine for the former marine, Blake, who deserved someone with a personality. It was an average story of a common trope that probably should have been left in third person, even with the other books in the series being written in first person. Nix on the other books in this series.
October 10, 2019
Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
“But this kiss, with this woman…he couldn’t get enough.”
One of my favorite parts of being a newer romance blogger is being introduced to new authors…to me. Morgan James is one of those authors. She reached out to me through my social media accounts, introducing herself and telling me a bit about her new book, The Devil You Know. From the outset, I was intrigued, as this book is equal parts romance and suspense with a little bit of psychology thrown into the mix. There is something engaging about reading a book that leaves you guessing about the villain of the story, and Morgan James’s book does just that.
While I love reading new authors, I have read enough of them to know that it can be a bit of chance. Will I like the writer’s style? Will the story be predictable? What is this author offering that other authors aren’t? As I was reading James’s The Devil You Know, I was initially struck by her style and syntax. I’m a word lover. This may sound strange, but I need the words to flow melodically over the page, or I struggle with a book. And this is exactly what it’s like reading James’s words. I didn’t struggle. Through her words, the story moves easily along, building in intensity as the story progresses. Her images and the pacing of her story keep the reader guessing until the reveal of the book’s secret. I picked up the book in the morning and finished it later in the day because her story compelled me forward. To me, that’s the mark of a good book.
Since this is romantic suspense, there is usually some clever surprise. Sometimes, it is easy to figure out the surprise. Not with this book. She did a fantastic job of hiding the villain. In retrospect, it might be easy to determine, but James conceals the surprise fairly well, only incurring a bit of suspicion to the villain.
Even more, this story deals with trauma and its effects in a way that’s responsible. The heroine of the book, Victoria/Bekah, endures a trauma as a teenager. She changes her identity as protection from the trauma, and she seeks out counseling to help her move forward. The story jumps ahead, and Victoria is a psychologist, helping others through their psychological issues. She begins to be threatened by the perpetrator of her original trauma. These new threats bring the hero into her life as a protector. Blake, the hero of the book, is a new partner in a security firm. He is tasked with providing security for the building where Victoria works. From the outset, these two clash, but also feel a magnetic pull to each other. As the story progresses, Victoria and Blake begin to grow feelings for each other, progressing their relationship. Unfortunately, Blake was never looking for a long commitment, and Victoria’s past continues to haunt her. Even more, her life becomes more and more endangered. Will Blake protect Victoria? Will they find their happily-ever-after?
As Victoria’s story progresses, James shows us the importance of healing from trauma without hiding one’s self away. Victoria’s life is structured to the point that any changes bring about anxiety. She has carefully constructed this new life as a response to her earlier trauma, but it causes her to be closed off to Blake. It makes it difficult to trust him. Even as he changes his thoughts about relationships, Blake struggles against Victoria’s anxieties. However, he works hard to help her feel safe and protected, while also challenging her for her future. Their chemistry is clear, and you cannot help but root for them to succeed.
What I struggled a bit with is really related to character development. I would have liked for Victoria and Blake to develop their feelings for each other more slowly in the beginning. When Blake believes Victoria is the “one” early on, I wanted to question how he knew this. I think sitting with attraction for a bit makes the story truer to life. I would have preferred for him to know her persona more before letting physicality determine his need for her. Additionally, Kate, Victoria’s friend, plays a major part in her life. Yet, when she struggles with her feelings for Blake mid-way through the story, she becomes silent in the story. I would have expected her to return to the storytelling sooner than she does.
Beyond that, Morgan James’s The Devil You Know drew me in quickly and captured me. Blake and Victoria offer us a story that reminds us that to live we have to move past our comfort zone, that we need to let the past remain in the past, and that we can find safety in a love that is whole. Morgan James has quickly become an author I want more from. The Devil You Know has everything you love in a good romantic suspense: characters with chemistry, a surprise twist, and a story that keeps you glued to your chair.
“She wanted to stare into his eyes every day for the rest of her life. This was what she’d waited her whole life for. She’d been waiting for him.“
“But this kiss, with this woman…he couldn’t get enough.”
One of my favorite parts of being a newer romance blogger is being introduced to new authors…to me. Morgan James is one of those authors. She reached out to me through my social media accounts, introducing herself and telling me a bit about her new book, The Devil You Know. From the outset, I was intrigued, as this book is equal parts romance and suspense with a little bit of psychology thrown into the mix. There is something engaging about reading a book that leaves you guessing about the villain of the story, and Morgan James’s book does just that.
While I love reading new authors, I have read enough of them to know that it can be a bit of chance. Will I like the writer’s style? Will the story be predictable? What is this author offering that other authors aren’t? As I was reading James’s The Devil You Know, I was initially struck by her style and syntax. I’m a word lover. This may sound strange, but I need the words to flow melodically over the page, or I struggle with a book. And this is exactly what it’s like reading James’s words. I didn’t struggle. Through her words, the story moves easily along, building in intensity as the story progresses. Her images and the pacing of her story keep the reader guessing until the reveal of the book’s secret. I picked up the book in the morning and finished it later in the day because her story compelled me forward. To me, that’s the mark of a good book.
Since this is romantic suspense, there is usually some clever surprise. Sometimes, it is easy to figure out the surprise. Not with this book. She did a fantastic job of hiding the villain. In retrospect, it might be easy to determine, but James conceals the surprise fairly well, only incurring a bit of suspicion to the villain.
Even more, this story deals with trauma and its effects in a way that’s responsible. The heroine of the book, Victoria/Bekah, endures a trauma as a teenager. She changes her identity as protection from the trauma, and she seeks out counseling to help her move forward. The story jumps ahead, and Victoria is a psychologist, helping others through their psychological issues. She begins to be threatened by the perpetrator of her original trauma. These new threats bring the hero into her life as a protector. Blake, the hero of the book, is a new partner in a security firm. He is tasked with providing security for the building where Victoria works. From the outset, these two clash, but also feel a magnetic pull to each other. As the story progresses, Victoria and Blake begin to grow feelings for each other, progressing their relationship. Unfortunately, Blake was never looking for a long commitment, and Victoria’s past continues to haunt her. Even more, her life becomes more and more endangered. Will Blake protect Victoria? Will they find their happily-ever-after?
As Victoria’s story progresses, James shows us the importance of healing from trauma without hiding one’s self away. Victoria’s life is structured to the point that any changes bring about anxiety. She has carefully constructed this new life as a response to her earlier trauma, but it causes her to be closed off to Blake. It makes it difficult to trust him. Even as he changes his thoughts about relationships, Blake struggles against Victoria’s anxieties. However, he works hard to help her feel safe and protected, while also challenging her for her future. Their chemistry is clear, and you cannot help but root for them to succeed.
What I struggled a bit with is really related to character development. I would have liked for Victoria and Blake to develop their feelings for each other more slowly in the beginning. When Blake believes Victoria is the “one” early on, I wanted to question how he knew this. I think sitting with attraction for a bit makes the story truer to life. I would have preferred for him to know her persona more before letting physicality determine his need for her. Additionally, Kate, Victoria’s friend, plays a major part in her life. Yet, when she struggles with her feelings for Blake mid-way through the story, she becomes silent in the story. I would have expected her to return to the storytelling sooner than she does.
Beyond that, Morgan James’s The Devil You Know drew me in quickly and captured me. Blake and Victoria offer us a story that reminds us that to live we have to move past our comfort zone, that we need to let the past remain in the past, and that we can find safety in a love that is whole. Morgan James has quickly become an author I want more from. The Devil You Know has everything you love in a good romantic suspense: characters with chemistry, a surprise twist, and a story that keeps you glued to your chair.
“She wanted to stare into his eyes every day for the rest of her life. This was what she’d waited her whole life for. She’d been waiting for him.“
September 6, 2021
When you read the first book in a series you want to be engaged, you want to love the characters and root for them.
The Devil you know is a great first book to a series. Romantic has action and it keeps you guessing.
Quentin Security looks to be a series not to miss.
Morgan James has created perfect characters along with a awesome storyline.
The Devil you know is a great first book to a series. Romantic has action and it keeps you guessing.
Quentin Security looks to be a series not to miss.
Morgan James has created perfect characters along with a awesome storyline.
July 30, 2021
Yet another captivating book by Morgan James. I absolutely adore her writing style, mostly how effortlessly Morgan James writes characters that are easy to connect with.
This story was perfection. Raw, suspenseful, sexy, and full of twisty turns! Can't wait to read more of this series!
This story was perfection. Raw, suspenseful, sexy, and full of twisty turns! Can't wait to read more of this series!
August 7, 2021
Yet another captivating book by Morgan James. I absolutely adore her writing style, mostly how effortlessly Morgan James writes characters that area easy to connect with. This story was perfection. Raw, suspenseful, sexy, and full of twisty turns! Cant wait to read more of this series!
August 19, 2021
Can you ever escape your past that haunts you every day? Morgan does an amazing job of keeping you on the edge of your seat with The Devil You Know. The twists and turns that she throws at you has your stomach in knots.
Dr. Victoria Cara is a psychologist trying to live her life and forget about the tragedy that happened ten years ago. She has moved away and changed her name, but is that enough. Her practice is doing well however she has one patient. Greg, that has been a little too forward and has her feeling unsettled. Victoria gets a call one night from a number that she did not know but it shook her soul. The person used her old name Bekah and tells her it's time. Shaken, she tells the security about feeling unsafe in the building. Quentin Security is hired to be the security for the building and Blake Lawson is the man they have working there. After a couple of uneasy meetings with Greg, she has decided to transfer him to a colleague, Johnathan. Was this a smart idea? At the initial meeting with Blake, she is not impressed with him however she did notice that he is very handsome. Can he keep her safe in the building? After one of her patients is commits suicide, Victoria has a breakdown in her office and Blake finds her. Will his comforting lead to something more? When her best friend is attacked in the building and Victoria walks in on it what will she do? Who can this person be? Will she ever be able to trust men? Can she let Blake in and help her heal? Is he the one that heals her and shows her that love is worth it?
Blake is ex-military and is a partner in a security company that he and his friend just started. Their first job is to be security for a health care building. This is not the best job but it is a job. Meeting Victoria, Blake is not impressed with her. She is cold and confrontational but beautiful. The more interactions he has with Victoria the more she warms up to him. His world shook when he found her in her office having a breakdown after the funeral of her patient. He comforts her and feelings start to come to the surface. As more incidents happen in the building and involve Victoria he is drawn more and more to her. Blake finds he has an uneasy feeling about Johnathan and his closeness to Victoria. Could it be because he is jealous or does his military background have him thinking something is off. When Victoria's house is vandalized and a necklace is left on the scene, that has a past with Victoria, he decides to look into Greg because of what she has said about him. What does he find out about him? Can Blake figure out who is haunting and threatening Victoria? Will his feelings get in the way? Will he be able to break down her walls and let him in?
Just when you think you know what is happening Morgan throws your thinking for a loop. Her writing is outstanding and the detail is gripping. I was unable to put this one down because I had to see if my thinking was correct on who the person was. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. I have an idea that they will be just as gripping as The Devil You Know.
Dr. Victoria Cara is a psychologist trying to live her life and forget about the tragedy that happened ten years ago. She has moved away and changed her name, but is that enough. Her practice is doing well however she has one patient. Greg, that has been a little too forward and has her feeling unsettled. Victoria gets a call one night from a number that she did not know but it shook her soul. The person used her old name Bekah and tells her it's time. Shaken, she tells the security about feeling unsafe in the building. Quentin Security is hired to be the security for the building and Blake Lawson is the man they have working there. After a couple of uneasy meetings with Greg, she has decided to transfer him to a colleague, Johnathan. Was this a smart idea? At the initial meeting with Blake, she is not impressed with him however she did notice that he is very handsome. Can he keep her safe in the building? After one of her patients is commits suicide, Victoria has a breakdown in her office and Blake finds her. Will his comforting lead to something more? When her best friend is attacked in the building and Victoria walks in on it what will she do? Who can this person be? Will she ever be able to trust men? Can she let Blake in and help her heal? Is he the one that heals her and shows her that love is worth it?
Blake is ex-military and is a partner in a security company that he and his friend just started. Their first job is to be security for a health care building. This is not the best job but it is a job. Meeting Victoria, Blake is not impressed with her. She is cold and confrontational but beautiful. The more interactions he has with Victoria the more she warms up to him. His world shook when he found her in her office having a breakdown after the funeral of her patient. He comforts her and feelings start to come to the surface. As more incidents happen in the building and involve Victoria he is drawn more and more to her. Blake finds he has an uneasy feeling about Johnathan and his closeness to Victoria. Could it be because he is jealous or does his military background have him thinking something is off. When Victoria's house is vandalized and a necklace is left on the scene, that has a past with Victoria, he decides to look into Greg because of what she has said about him. What does he find out about him? Can Blake figure out who is haunting and threatening Victoria? Will his feelings get in the way? Will he be able to break down her walls and let him in?
Just when you think you know what is happening Morgan throws your thinking for a loop. Her writing is outstanding and the detail is gripping. I was unable to put this one down because I had to see if my thinking was correct on who the person was. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. I have an idea that they will be just as gripping as The Devil You Know.
April 21, 2021
It was... disappointing. There was a tragic past, a killer in the present and a romance but nothing to the level I wanted it to be.
Ok, yes, the hero moved quickly in this relationship which to someone as inexperienced as Victoria might seem the speed of light, even if he was just talking about possibilities and whatnot, and not making solid plans yet. But she was not someone that appealed to me at all.
"You’d matured into this beautiful, intelligent woman, but inside you were still the same scared little girl you were ten years ago."
I agree with . He put it just right. Not even the sex could mask the fact that she was acting like a kid. And not like an adult woman and a doctor that she was. She was incredibly naive, easy to manipulate, delicate in that way that might be destroyed with a simple touch. Her ways of being subtle and friendly, and "sparing feelings" meant she was unable to say what she really thought, or say no. A doormat, I'd say. There were flashes where she acted like a mature person but most of the book, I couldn't stop thinking of her as a baby. Even in the prologue when she was much younger than in the rest of the book, she seemed more mature. And I get that trauma can change a person but considering her profession, I'd think she could deal at least a little. Hiding behind baggy clothes, shying away from every littlest touch, nodding and agreeing to things she didn't want because she couldn't give an honest answer. How is it sparing someone's feelings by not telling them it's just business and nothing more which basically means stringing them along, giving hope?
Throughout the whole book, I couldn't see her as the supposedly adult woman, just couldn't. And yes, Blake's admission of love was given early but romance books are known for those. After that, Victoria seemed more like a young teenager with her first heartbreak where she blames the guy but doesn't acknowledge her own mistakes. I just frowned a lot, saying 'WTF?' and 'is she serious?'. Not even the mystery and crime made the book better so I was generous with the 3 stars. The main characters weren't a romantic fit to me, more like he was a babysitter or a teacher to her being the kid needing to learn and be supervised.
Ok, yes, the hero moved quickly in this relationship which to someone as inexperienced as Victoria might seem the speed of light, even if he was just talking about possibilities and whatnot, and not making solid plans yet. But she was not someone that appealed to me at all.
"You’d matured into this beautiful, intelligent woman, but inside you were still the same scared little girl you were ten years ago."
I agree with . He put it just right. Not even the sex could mask the fact that she was acting like a kid. And not like an adult woman and a doctor that she was. She was incredibly naive, easy to manipulate, delicate in that way that might be destroyed with a simple touch. Her ways of being subtle and friendly, and "sparing feelings" meant she was unable to say what she really thought, or say no. A doormat, I'd say. There were flashes where she acted like a mature person but most of the book, I couldn't stop thinking of her as a baby. Even in the prologue when she was much younger than in the rest of the book, she seemed more mature. And I get that trauma can change a person but considering her profession, I'd think she could deal at least a little. Hiding behind baggy clothes, shying away from every littlest touch, nodding and agreeing to things she didn't want because she couldn't give an honest answer. How is it sparing someone's feelings by not telling them it's just business and nothing more which basically means stringing them along, giving hope?
Throughout the whole book, I couldn't see her as the supposedly adult woman, just couldn't. And yes, Blake's admission of love was given early but romance books are known for those. After that, Victoria seemed more like a young teenager with her first heartbreak where she blames the guy but doesn't acknowledge her own mistakes. I just frowned a lot, saying 'WTF?' and 'is she serious?'. Not even the mystery and crime made the book better so I was generous with the 3 stars. The main characters weren't a romantic fit to me, more like he was a babysitter or a teacher to her being the kid needing to learn and be supervised.
November 5, 2022
It’s always the one who’s right under your nose that you least expect. Always. I put down romantic suspense novels in favor of light rom-coms a while back. I never stopped liking the suspense ones, I just need something lighter in my life right now. I knew this one would put me back into the more serious realm. I guess I was ready for it!
Dr. Victoria Carr has created a whole new life for herself. She used to be known as Bekah. That was ten years ago. She fled her past by putting thousands of miles and a decade between then and now. She is happy. She is successful. She pretty much has it all. All but her trust in stepping into a meaningful relationship. She has a very good friend, Dr. Jonathan Martin, who would like to fulfill that role, but she can’t see him as anything other than a good friend. Her best friend, Kate, keeps trying to tell Victoria that she is too trusting and doesn’t really see Jonathan for who he is.
Blake Lawson is going into business with his best friend. He recently left the military as a special forces operator and starting a private security company is right up his alley. One of their first jobs is to provide extra security for a healthplex where one of the doctors is experiencing suspicious phone calls and activity surrounding her. Can you guess who's getting those calls? Yep, Dr. Victoria Carr.
And we’re off and running. Things build quickly between Victoria and Blake yet it doesn’t really feel that way. Ms. James packs so much into each page that you don’t realize the true timeline of events. The entire story takes place in a month or less. It sure doesn’t feel like it. The story in no way drags, there is just so much going on. It took me a little while, but I had my suspicions as to the culprit about halfway through. I waffled for a while, though. You don’t get confirmation until the last couple of chapters. This is a well-written, bizarre but believable, story that will have you on the edge of your seat at times and swooning over Blake at other times. My only complaint would be that Victoria was so insecure in herself. However, her past trauma fully explains all of her insecurities. She is a strong woman in her weakness. I will definitely be reading more from Ms. James and the QSG.
Dr. Victoria Carr has created a whole new life for herself. She used to be known as Bekah. That was ten years ago. She fled her past by putting thousands of miles and a decade between then and now. She is happy. She is successful. She pretty much has it all. All but her trust in stepping into a meaningful relationship. She has a very good friend, Dr. Jonathan Martin, who would like to fulfill that role, but she can’t see him as anything other than a good friend. Her best friend, Kate, keeps trying to tell Victoria that she is too trusting and doesn’t really see Jonathan for who he is.
Blake Lawson is going into business with his best friend. He recently left the military as a special forces operator and starting a private security company is right up his alley. One of their first jobs is to provide extra security for a healthplex where one of the doctors is experiencing suspicious phone calls and activity surrounding her. Can you guess who's getting those calls? Yep, Dr. Victoria Carr.
And we’re off and running. Things build quickly between Victoria and Blake yet it doesn’t really feel that way. Ms. James packs so much into each page that you don’t realize the true timeline of events. The entire story takes place in a month or less. It sure doesn’t feel like it. The story in no way drags, there is just so much going on. It took me a little while, but I had my suspicions as to the culprit about halfway through. I waffled for a while, though. You don’t get confirmation until the last couple of chapters. This is a well-written, bizarre but believable, story that will have you on the edge of your seat at times and swooning over Blake at other times. My only complaint would be that Victoria was so insecure in herself. However, her past trauma fully explains all of her insecurities. She is a strong woman in her weakness. I will definitely be reading more from Ms. James and the QSG.
May 30, 2022
Violently Sweet and Action Packed
This was a good pallet cleanser. Quick read in just a few hours. It has enough action and romance to keep the story uplifting and vibrant while there is also an underlying murder to solve.
Blake, an ex-marine, is put on the protection detail of a soft and closeted psychologist, Victoria. Victoria is soft and closeted due to a major trauma of her past that may be catching up with her almost a decade later. In a quick enemies to lovers fashion, the two butt heads and grit and bare it until a tragedy opens a door to hidden emotions. The major antagonist is not hidden (but not confirmed til the end) and hints are dropped throughout the book from flashbacks and insinuation.
Victoria and Blake explore each other as a new relationship buds in the chaos of the crimes around them. They work through each of their insecurities together and there is good character development that doesn't feel completely forced. I did have a anti-hallmark thought as the relationship goes from 0-100 in like four days, but I digress.
Overall a good read.
Spice 2/5 exists but is vanilla and but not thoroughly detailed.
- This is not a bad thing. The scenes were well written and fit the story.
TRIGGER WARNINGS
Murder
Kidnapping
Rape
Dubious Consent
Stalking
This was a good pallet cleanser. Quick read in just a few hours. It has enough action and romance to keep the story uplifting and vibrant while there is also an underlying murder to solve.
Blake, an ex-marine, is put on the protection detail of a soft and closeted psychologist, Victoria. Victoria is soft and closeted due to a major trauma of her past that may be catching up with her almost a decade later. In a quick enemies to lovers fashion, the two butt heads and grit and bare it until a tragedy opens a door to hidden emotions. The major antagonist is not hidden (but not confirmed til the end) and hints are dropped throughout the book from flashbacks and insinuation.
Victoria and Blake explore each other as a new relationship buds in the chaos of the crimes around them. They work through each of their insecurities together and there is good character development that doesn't feel completely forced. I did have a anti-hallmark thought as the relationship goes from 0-100 in like four days, but I digress.
Overall a good read.
Spice 2/5 exists but is vanilla and but not thoroughly detailed.
- This is not a bad thing. The scenes were well written and fit the story.
TRIGGER WARNINGS
Murder
Kidnapping
Rape
Dubious Consent
Stalking
July 30, 2023
Atrocious Editing.
This book showed potential, having a fairly unique and exciting plot, good characters, and a very nice storyline arc, with a well thought out climax and a complete ending- not a cliffhanger. I could have liked this book; unfortunately, the author made one fatal mistake. She either chose the wrong editor, or made do without an editor at all. Her writing and grammar were fairly good, but that is no excuse for poor or non-existent editing. Most errors were fairly obvious word choice errors e.g. saying 'precipitous' when the context clearly called for 'ubiquitous', or saying "in lieu of today's events" when it clearly should have been "in light of today's events", or use of redundant terms, but there were also some hilariously awful errors like the lovely phrase "I cleared her throat", which ends up sounding more like a CPR maneuver than a prelude to an awkward conversation. Seriously, editing can make or break your book. Don't neglect it.
R for sexual content, language, and violence. Themes include rape, murder, obsession/stalking, psychological manipulation, compelled alienation from friends and support groups, murder-suicide.
Owned in the "Stay With Me" protector romance collection
This book showed potential, having a fairly unique and exciting plot, good characters, and a very nice storyline arc, with a well thought out climax and a complete ending- not a cliffhanger. I could have liked this book; unfortunately, the author made one fatal mistake. She either chose the wrong editor, or made do without an editor at all. Her writing and grammar were fairly good, but that is no excuse for poor or non-existent editing. Most errors were fairly obvious word choice errors e.g. saying 'precipitous' when the context clearly called for 'ubiquitous', or saying "in lieu of today's events" when it clearly should have been "in light of today's events", or use of redundant terms, but there were also some hilariously awful errors like the lovely phrase "I cleared her throat", which ends up sounding more like a CPR maneuver than a prelude to an awkward conversation. Seriously, editing can make or break your book. Don't neglect it.
R for sexual content, language, and violence. Themes include rape, murder, obsession/stalking, psychological manipulation, compelled alienation from friends and support groups, murder-suicide.
Owned in the "Stay With Me" protector romance collection
February 5, 2021
I did enjoy this book, it was good but think way more could have been done with it.
Victoria is a psychologist looking to help others after a vicious attack left her friend dead and her running for her life. Originally known as Beka, she changes her name, moves from her home town and starts a brand new life.
When a random phone call from a murderer alerts her to the fact the attacker knows where she is, reinforcements are called in. Blake is tasked with making sure Victoria is safe and comes to no harm, he didn’t bank on falling for her.
The idea for this story is good. I was kept interested the full time. Although the bad guy is so glaringly obvious that I thought I was being led down the wrong track because it was THAT obvious.
I also don’t believe for a minute that there’s no way she couldn’t have recognised her attacker, considering how close he was to her every day life.
I’ll admit though I didn’t feel that Victoria lived up the the strong female type of character. She struck me more as still being a teenager, rather than an adult with a extremely responsible job.
Although yes, she had limited experience with men romantically, that didn’t account for her attitude at times.
As I say I enjoyed the booked but it definitely won’t be a favourite.
Victoria is a psychologist looking to help others after a vicious attack left her friend dead and her running for her life. Originally known as Beka, she changes her name, moves from her home town and starts a brand new life.
When a random phone call from a murderer alerts her to the fact the attacker knows where she is, reinforcements are called in. Blake is tasked with making sure Victoria is safe and comes to no harm, he didn’t bank on falling for her.
The idea for this story is good. I was kept interested the full time. Although the bad guy is so glaringly obvious that I thought I was being led down the wrong track because it was THAT obvious.
I also don’t believe for a minute that there’s no way she couldn’t have recognised her attacker, considering how close he was to her every day life.
I’ll admit though I didn’t feel that Victoria lived up the the strong female type of character. She struck me more as still being a teenager, rather than an adult with a extremely responsible job.
Although yes, she had limited experience with men romantically, that didn’t account for her attitude at times.
As I say I enjoyed the booked but it definitely won’t be a favourite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
May 12, 2021It's a little more than "borrowing inspiration" when you use near exact and vivid details of an actual situation a person was very lucky to have survived.
I started reading this book and realized the abduction "Victoria" survived sounded extremely familiar. Then at 10% of the book the killer mentions returning to Ohio and "although the tragedy had died down over the years, people still remembered it like it was yesterday." And then it hit me..
The abduction of those two girls resulting in the death of one and the other surviving being choked with her own shoelaces and thrown off a bridge was very real. My friend is the woman who survived this nightmare. This work of "fiction" seems like not only a sick invasion but also completly undermining and belittling what "Bekah" has survived in her real life.
Not only profiting off of this woman's very real nightmare but to also portray such a strong, smart, and capable woman in real life as this "Victoria" feels like an insult. I'm livid for her!
This is a DNF for me.
I felt like without a prior warning about "based on actual events and names have been changed to protect those involved" (which the names weren't changed that much to legitimately protect any privacy) that the details weren't used legally and are insensitive.
I started reading this book and realized the abduction "Victoria" survived sounded extremely familiar. Then at 10% of the book the killer mentions returning to Ohio and "although the tragedy had died down over the years, people still remembered it like it was yesterday." And then it hit me..
The abduction of those two girls resulting in the death of one and the other surviving being choked with her own shoelaces and thrown off a bridge was very real. My friend is the woman who survived this nightmare. This work of "fiction" seems like not only a sick invasion but also completly undermining and belittling what "Bekah" has survived in her real life.
Not only profiting off of this woman's very real nightmare but to also portray such a strong, smart, and capable woman in real life as this "Victoria" feels like an insult. I'm livid for her!
This is a DNF for me.
I felt like without a prior warning about "based on actual events and names have been changed to protect those involved" (which the names weren't changed that much to legitimately protect any privacy) that the details weren't used legally and are insensitive.
August 19, 2021
I would like to give this book the 5 stars it deserves, but the portrayal of the heroine brings it down to 2 stars. Our heroine is suppose to be a doctor, a psychologist task with counseling patients through their issues, but she has more issues that all her patients combine and don't seem to know it. For almost all the book she is protrayed as weak, whiny, annoying and in serious need of counseling herself. I get that she suffered a traumatic incident as a teen, but it is a little unbelievable that she could study, train and become a psychologist and not realize that she is the one who should be seeing a therapist daily.
That been said, great story line, fast pace plot and an otherwise great cast of characters. Will continue to read the other books in the series.
That been said, great story line, fast pace plot and an otherwise great cast of characters. Will continue to read the other books in the series.
November 8, 2022
I like the overall storyline. It was a sweet romance. But a couple complaints:
1: when the book started with Blake saying they bought a office building in Dallas for cheap that had been ravaged by a hurricane, I almost quit reading. DALLAS DOES NOT GET HURRICANES. Isn’t this something authors usually investigate when writing? That’s one star deduction.
2: there were a minimum of five times the author narration confusingly goes from 1st to 3rd person in the same sentence. Something like “I looked down at her pants.” No editing was done? That was another star deduction.
The romance was nice. I like Blake and Victoria. Although I do believe the identity behind her stalker was quite predictable. Not sure if I’ll keep going with the series or not lol
1: when the book started with Blake saying they bought a office building in Dallas for cheap that had been ravaged by a hurricane, I almost quit reading. DALLAS DOES NOT GET HURRICANES. Isn’t this something authors usually investigate when writing? That’s one star deduction.
2: there were a minimum of five times the author narration confusingly goes from 1st to 3rd person in the same sentence. Something like “I looked down at her pants.” No editing was done? That was another star deduction.
The romance was nice. I like Blake and Victoria. Although I do believe the identity behind her stalker was quite predictable. Not sure if I’ll keep going with the series or not lol
May 9, 2024
REVIEW
Score: 1.5/5
POV: Dual
Heat Level: 2/5
Tropes: Dr FMC; Military/Security/Bodyguard MMC; suspense
Yall this book sucked so bad. The FMC was the WORST! I’m sorry how can you be attacked at 17/18 and literally almost die by this person, who literally causes intense trauma, and then said person inserts themself in your life for like a few years and you don’t recognize them???? DUMB!
The romance was not romancing. I skimmed so much I can’t even lie. I forced myself to finish this book as I was reading it for a challenge so some skimming definitely happened.
Decided not to give an outright 1 because who knows maybe one day I’ll decide to read another book by this author but I would definitely never reread this.
1.5/5
Score: 1.5/5
POV: Dual
Heat Level: 2/5
Tropes: Dr FMC; Military/Security/Bodyguard MMC; suspense
Yall this book sucked so bad. The FMC was the WORST! I’m sorry how can you be attacked at 17/18 and literally almost die by this person, who literally causes intense trauma, and then said person inserts themself in your life for like a few years and you don’t recognize them???? DUMB!
The romance was not romancing. I skimmed so much I can’t even lie. I forced myself to finish this book as I was reading it for a challenge so some skimming definitely happened.
Decided not to give an outright 1 because who knows maybe one day I’ll decide to read another book by this author but I would definitely never reread this.
1.5/5
August 2, 2021
Love the cover, title, and the blurb cinched it! I love a man in uniform. Blake was so cocky and fun. Doc needed to lighten up a bit but this was a fun read.
What did I like? A start up security company for a group of ex soldiers. A serial killer who stalks a woman for years. While the read was predictable it was still enjoyable. I pretty much read this one in one sitting.
Would I recommend or buy? I’ll really read anything so this read is for suspense lovers. It has a romance dynamic but stays focused on the suspense of it. Author did a great job, I’d definitely read more!
I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!
What did I like? A start up security company for a group of ex soldiers. A serial killer who stalks a woman for years. While the read was predictable it was still enjoyable. I pretty much read this one in one sitting.
Would I recommend or buy? I’ll really read anything so this read is for suspense lovers. It has a romance dynamic but stays focused on the suspense of it. Author did a great job, I’d definitely read more!
I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!
May 31, 2022
Morgan James is a new author to me, and I came across The Devil You Know and thought it sounded amazing.
Dr. Victoria Carr is moving on with her life after an incident in her youth, that had her change her identity and move.
Then she gets a call from a murder at his crime scene.
She meets Blake Lawson from Quentin Security Group when her building hires him.
These two do not hit it off at first, other than some mutual lust.
As the danger gets closer to Victoria she and Blake become friends and then more.
A good read!
Dr. Victoria Carr is moving on with her life after an incident in her youth, that had her change her identity and move.
Then she gets a call from a murder at his crime scene.
She meets Blake Lawson from Quentin Security Group when her building hires him.
These two do not hit it off at first, other than some mutual lust.
As the danger gets closer to Victoria she and Blake become friends and then more.
A good read!
March 23, 2023
This book was really good in some ways, BUT...
This author did an incredible job of weaving drama and suspense throughout this book. Unfortunately, we are to believe that our heroine, who is now a psychologist, repetitively kept saying she needed to come clean about her feelings for Johnathan which leads to all sorts of side issues. Chapter after chapter after chapter she annoyingly would think or say it. In addition, This author couldn't seem to keep her first person straight from her second or third. This happened repeatedly: 'I cleared her throat'.
This author did an incredible job of weaving drama and suspense throughout this book. Unfortunately, we are to believe that our heroine, who is now a psychologist, repetitively kept saying she needed to come clean about her feelings for Johnathan which leads to all sorts of side issues. Chapter after chapter after chapter she annoyingly would think or say it. In addition, This author couldn't seem to keep her first person straight from her second or third. This happened repeatedly: 'I cleared her throat'.
May 20, 2023
The Devil You Know (Quentin Security Series #1) by Morgan James – So this had nice pacing and good tension! My only quibble is that the head of the security company said the expense to put a tracking device in a locket would be “astronomical” and Dr. Carr’s boss wouldn’t pay for it. They put microchips in pets, so how expensive can it be? But other than that throwing me out of the story for a bit, I enjoyed the suspense! Happy Reading!
August 21, 2020
The devil you know
Her past finds her ten years later. The fateful night when her friend lost her life and she only by luck survived. It has defined how she has lived ever since. Why she choose her profession. Kept men at arms length. Now that she has started to move on the horror has returned
Her past finds her ten years later. The fateful night when her friend lost her life and she only by luck survived. It has defined how she has lived ever since. Why she choose her profession. Kept men at arms length. Now that she has started to move on the horror has returned
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