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The Poet: Book 1
Publisher: Gatekeeper Press

The Poet by Stephanie Jo Harris revolves around Rebecca Paige, the administrator of a psychiatric hospital, and a mysterious man named Jack Shelley that she meets while on vacation.

Rebecca's job is not without its stress, but the main purpose of her getaway is to rekindle her romance with her boyfriend of three years, Tom. She specifically selected the location for its remoteness and the ability to disconnect from their phones and laptops and simply reconnect with one another. However, the way their relationship has been going, it comes as no surprise when Tom makes up some excuse to skip it and Rebecca goes alone to the GetAway Resort. She spends her time people-watching and relaxing on the balcony overlooking the lovely lake. She is intrigued by Jack, the handsome and aloof stranger in the room next door and when the pair begin talking, they don't stop for hours. She senses danger in the man, especially when an impromptu make-out session reveals he is armed with a gun, but she still invites him back to her room. Then he states he has something to take care of before returning that evening. Well, he wasn't kidding.

Meanwhile, later that evening Rebecca finds herself roughly rousted from her cabin by several armed men who were also staying at the resort and they seem to be looking for someone. Could they be hunting Jack? What she does know for sure is that these men are dangerous and she can't be certain she and the other guests will live out the night. Rebecca must use her wits and training in psychology if she hopes to keep herself and the others safe until help comes, but considering their remote location, what are the chances of that? Fortunately for Rebecca and the others, Jack has accomplished his sinister task and doesn't take kindly to the disruption of his potentially romantic evening with Rebecca. Who knew that the prison transport of one Mafia-connected prisoner could cause such an uproar to so many people?

Before long, Jack (actually named William) learns that Rebecca is no damsel in distress and he begins to feel a bit more than just lust towards her. Rebecca is thoroughly smitten with dark and dangerous Jack, but she has no idea just what makes this man tick and when she finds out, will she still feel the same way?

Personally, I love a good nail-biter novel, especially when it involves remote cabins and armed gunmen. Strange, I know, but the setup tends to make for a good story. Couple that with an intriguing backstory involving a quiet and withdrawn young orphan who is raised in a Catholic boys home, only to become a deadly assassin called The Poet and you have the makings of a good book. I really enjoyed the read and devoured the book in one day and, since it is the beginning of a series, I am interested to see where these characters go. If you like a thriller with some action and romance, you'll probably like The Poet. Look for our upcoming review of the sequel, The Poet Recusant.



-Psibabe, GameVortex Communications
AKA Ashley Perkins
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