Title: The Shrink
Series: Love Nests #2
Author: Sophia Karlson
Genre: Dark Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 30, 2020
Blurb
Apparently she’s a bit crazy.
Apparently he’s the shrink who will cure her.
Apparently they aren’t allowed to fall for each other at all…
Stacey Sinclair’s mother died in a gruesome car accident six years ago,
and now everybody thinks she is finally losing it. Surely a few crazy actions
on her part don’t justify her seeing a shrink for months on end?
and now everybody thinks she is finally losing it. Surely a few crazy actions
on her part don’t justify her seeing a shrink for months on end?
For a psychologist, Dr Ivo Linder is too decent, too caring, and too
handsome to get a glimpse of what really goes on in her head. Stacey’s
unforeseen feelings towards him make her retaliate — she taunts him, never
expecting to fall with him into forbidden lust.
handsome to get a glimpse of what really goes on in her head. Stacey’s
unforeseen feelings towards him make her retaliate — she taunts him, never
expecting to fall with him into forbidden lust.
As their attraction intensifies, the old adage stands: it doesn’t
matter, as long as nobody finds out. But someone always finds out and when they
do, will Stacey and Ivo risk everything to give their love a chance?
matter, as long as nobody finds out. But someone always finds out and when they
do, will Stacey and Ivo risk everything to give their love a chance?
Author’s Note: This book contains graphic content and themes that might trigger some readers.
Purchase Links
Free in Kindle Unlimited
Excerpt
Once outside the bar, Ivo let go of her wrist. Stacey
stepped away from him, eyes sparkling with wrath. She wrapped her arms around
her body, closing up. The crowd on the inside had spilled out to the sidewalk,
and if he didn’t move quickly, she could disappear in the ill-lit surroundings.
What a dump. The need to get her away from the seedy bar quadrupled.
stepped away from him, eyes sparkling with wrath. She wrapped her arms around
her body, closing up. The crowd on the inside had spilled out to the sidewalk,
and if he didn’t move quickly, she could disappear in the ill-lit surroundings.
What a dump. The need to get her away from the seedy bar quadrupled.
He peeled his jacket off and held it out to her. “Come on,
you’re cold.” What the heck was she thinking, wearing a strapless top and a
cock-tease mini-skirt in the heart of the Cape winter?
you’re cold.” What the heck was she thinking, wearing a strapless top and a
cock-tease mini-skirt in the heart of the Cape winter?
Stacey shrugged. “I’m good.”
In my opinion, you’ve never been worse. He stared at
her, but she met his gaze head-on. “Where’s your car?”
her, but she met his gaze head-on. “Where’s your car?”
“Not here.” She looked as if she wouldn’t answer him, but
capitulated. “I took an Uber here.”
capitulated. “I took an Uber here.”
And was she going to take a taxi home? Or hitch a ride with
her hook-up, spend the night with some dick, only to flounder home at some
point tomorrow morning? Hung over, humped by some stranger, and then attempt
her exam? No wonder she kept on flunking. He tried to keep a straight face, but
in this environment, with her here, barely dressed, every control centre in his
brain was having a breakdown. “I’ll take you home.”
her hook-up, spend the night with some dick, only to flounder home at some
point tomorrow morning? Hung over, humped by some stranger, and then attempt
her exam? No wonder she kept on flunking. He tried to keep a straight face, but
in this environment, with her here, barely dressed, every control centre in his
brain was having a breakdown. “I’ll take you home.”
At this, she laughed. “Dr Linder, I don’t think that’s a
good idea.”
good idea.”
“And why’s that?”
She was spelling it out for him, all right. But he could be
bloody stubborn and thick-headed too. “My type…you’re so not ready for me.” She
blinked at him, flirting with her eyelashes.
bloody stubborn and thick-headed too. “My type…you’re so not ready for me.” She
blinked at him, flirting with her eyelashes.
Every tendon in his body tightened, every muscle pulled
towards his centre where his dick rose without invitation. Who mentioned ready?
towards his centre where his dick rose without invitation. Who mentioned ready?
He dropped his gaze, only to see chills sprouting on her
arms and over her exposed chest; her fingers folded over her arms, turning
white because of the cold.
arms and over her exposed chest; her fingers folded over her arms, turning
white because of the cold.
He swallowed, unable to respond verbally without melting
into her and holding her close, mouth against mouth, lips teasing. With one
step, he closed the gap between them and dropped his jacket over her shoulders.
into her and holding her close, mouth against mouth, lips teasing. With one
step, he closed the gap between them and dropped his jacket over her shoulders.
She shuddered at the gentle gesture. “I don’t need you, Doctor.
And you don’t need me blazing your life into the ground.”
And you don’t need me blazing your life into the ground.”
He was in her face now, their bodies sinfully close, his
hands still on his jacket but resting on her shoulders. “I’m exactly what you
need.”
hands still on his jacket but resting on her shoulders. “I’m exactly what you
need.”
She chuckled. “What about never having sex with me?
Anywhere?”
Anywhere?”
“Stacey,” he sighed, resisting to urge to drop his forehead
to hers. “I’m taking you home.”
to hers. “I’m taking you home.”
“And then?”
His control slipped. The day was too long. The past three
hours too intense. “Then, over the next few weeks, I’m going to take a bottle
of paint stripper and brush you down. Layer by layer, until we find the real
you and you stop pretending. So, cut it out.” The words came out in a way he
should never talk to a patient. Being human sometimes interferes with the
job.
hours too intense. “Then, over the next few weeks, I’m going to take a bottle
of paint stripper and brush you down. Layer by layer, until we find the real
you and you stop pretending. So, cut it out.” The words came out in a way he
should never talk to a patient. Being human sometimes interferes with the
job.
MY REVIEW:
Soul crushing emotion! A slow–build, taboo romance as the Shrink and his patient embark on a relationship that could ruin both of them. Ethics are in the forefront for both the doctor and the future accountant. Plus, both have a tortured past with so much heartbreak. I loved Stacey in the Paris Apartment and was excited to fill in the gaps of her heartbreak and devastation. It was so much more than what I expected. The emotions were high as her story unfolded in excruciating slowness when the gentle doctor pulled the pieces out of her. A horrible event with the long lasting consequences that’s utterly heartbreaking! Ivo’s past is sadly heartbreaking too. He is a terrific hero and such a relief with his gentle patience and control compared to all the rough alphas that are flooding the pages these days. I’m an Ivo fan! Sexy, strong and tender. This author‘s writing is fabulous and pulled me in from the beginning. After the previous book in this series I was looking forward to more of her lovely words and wonderful characters. I was all in until the last reveal in Stacey story. It was one step too far for me and just icky. But the last reveal in Ivo’s life was a surprise. The resolution happened a little fast without the expected drama. I loved where Stacey and Ivo ended up. The Sinclair family is wonderful. The glimpses of Mila and James were wonderful as they get on with their life together. I would have liked an epilogue in the future for Stacey and Ivo. All in all this is a solid read full of heartbreak, emotion, and tragedy along with a lovely romance.
Also Available
Free in Kindle Unlimited
Author Bio
Sophia
Karlson writes sensual, emotional, and evocative contemporary romance, often set
in far-flung settings. She used to work in the travel industry before turning
to full-time writing. Her first book, Perfect Mistake, was a finalist for the
Daphne Award for Romantic Suspense and won the Kathryn Hayes award in 2019. All
her novels can be read as standalone, although she tends to write about
siblings because family dynamics are so intriguing. Taking readers on a journey
of their own with her books is part of the plot. Bon voyage!
Karlson writes sensual, emotional, and evocative contemporary romance, often set
in far-flung settings. She used to work in the travel industry before turning
to full-time writing. Her first book, Perfect Mistake, was a finalist for the
Daphne Award for Romantic Suspense and won the Kathryn Hayes award in 2019. All
her novels can be read as standalone, although she tends to write about
siblings because family dynamics are so intriguing. Taking readers on a journey
of their own with her books is part of the plot. Bon voyage!
Author Links
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