ARC Review: The Negotiator (Games People Play #2.5) by Helen Kay Dimon

Lauren Gallagher’s life changed almost three years ago. After her husband disappeared at sea, she was left with a failing pleasure boat company and more than a few secrets. Now, after years spent rebuilding the business and paying off the pile of debts, she finally feels in control. But when she finds her husband, actually dead, on the floor, she becomes the leading suspect in his murder investigation.

Garrett McGrath wants Lauren in his bed, not his heart. He doesn’t do emotions, but every time he sees her, holding himself back gets harder and harder. When Lauren comes under suspicion for killing her previously presumed-dead husband, he knows he has to help her, any way he can.

But as the danger becomes more intense and Garret and Lauren grow closer than either planned, they’re in danger of losing everything…including their hearts.

This novella in the Games People Play Series is my first foray into the world that the author has created and it has me wonderfully invested from the get go.

The Negotiator itself has a very interesting plotline – a woman’s husband back from the dead? A calm, patient yet a charming hero? Exactly why I signed up to review this beauty – and it wasn’t a decision I regret (not even if it put a couple of more books on my TBR :P).

While the plot-line sometimes did veer into the predictable area; it was the writing and the little non – relationship between the MC’s: Lauren and Garrett that had me invested in the book. Garrett was honestly delectable and endearing, Lauren though at times made me want to slap her silly – it still was an entertaining read; enough so that it had me on the computer to get the rest of the books available in the series the moment I was done with it!

But I do believe, a reader who has been with the characters from the start would have gotten more from this novella than a first – timer like me did. But it did its job – it got me interested in a new to me author and series!