Covet Thy Neighbor by Jessica Frost

ecm-jf-smom-covettheyneighborTitle: Covet Thy Neighbor

Series: Sexy Men of Mystery 02

Author: Jessica Frost

Genre: Mystery, Paranormal

Length: Novella (120pgs)

Publisher: Siren-BookStrand (15th April 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½ – 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Detective Nicola Dupree is back at work after a six-month sick leave, but he’s still haunted by his sister’s tragic death. When Captain Moore gives him an unofficial undercover assignment to befriend the sexy, charming Nero Thorn, the erotic writer Nicola idolizes, he quickly accepts. He thinks it’s an easy job until he gets to know the mysterious BDSM author. Overwhelming emotions he can’t explain draw him ever closer to Nero.

Nero Thorn’s a recluse and he likes it that way. When he literally bumps into his shy, handsome new neighbor, Nicola Dupré, sparks fly. He’s drawn to Nicola like a moth to a fire and he quickly falls in love. But he has a dark, dangerous secret he’s kept hidden from the world for years. If Nicola ever finds out who he really is, he’ll run away in fear.

There’s a serial killer out there, and the murder of his sixth victim was written in Nero’s last novel before it ever happened. There’s a connection between Nero, the sixth victim, and the killer, and Nicola has to figure it out before the killer strikes again.

Purchase Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/covet-thy-neighbor

Review: Nicola is asked to go on an unofficial undercover assignment as his first job back after taking a six-month leave following the brutal murder of his sister. All Nicola has to do is befriend erotic romance writer Nero Thorn and do a little digging to see if he has any connection to a series of killings. When Nero bumps into his new neighbor, Nicola, he feels an instant attraction, but he can also tell Nicola isn’t telling the whole truth. But, then Nero is also hiding a dark secret. Getting involved with charismatic Nero isn’t part of Nicola’s plan, but he can’t resist the sexy man. But, with the serial killer still loose, Nicola has to decide if his judgment has been compromised or if he can truly trust his instinct about the mysterious Nero.

This is quite a good mystery story that has an interesting paranormal twist. Nero has secrets in his past. It’s a door he closed many years before, but he knows that he will have to tell Nicola if they are going to stay together. But, first he has to deal with the shocking truth about Nicola. Nicola finds him in deep when he goes undercover. He begins to fall for the suspect, Nero, never realizing that the secret that Nero has is more shocking than anything he could have thought of. With the killer still on the loose and still hunting for victims, Nicola has to keep his head in the game. Is Nero just an author whose muse guided him to write a murder that came true or is he a psychopath who takes pleasure in murder?

I actually really enjoyed this story until near the end. I was really into the characters of Nicola and Nero, and I found them both really interesting. Nicola has suffered from both loss and guilt. Nero has suffered the same years before, and both men connect on a level which has sparks flying between them. Nero’s first secret was really interesting and fit perfectly into the story. Adding a touch of mystery and intriguing me. The storyline keeps you reading as you try to determine who the serial killer is. Nero and Nicola keep it spicy and yeah, while you have to suspend belief over the police investigation, it is still interesting.

Now I will be honest and say the ending was rushed, unbelievable and wasn’t needed. The second secret that Nero had wasn’t needed in the least and really it nearly ruined the book for me. the way that Nicola reacted was unbelievable and the story should have finished without the big revelation. The author should have just left it with Nero forgiving Nicola and them having hot sex, because the ending really was rubbish; that paranormal revelation wasn’t needed in the least and nearly ruined everything that had come before. Don’t get me wrong, I really did enjoy this story and I was going to give it a higher rating until I got to those last few pages, the ending revelation was just unneeded.  

I will recommend this to those that love paranormal/psychic abilities, hot great characters, an interesting storyline and a happy ending.