Author Kei Swanson

Ebony Eyes

When Narcotics Detective Laine Tanizaki rescues the owner of the independent bookstore in Beverly Center Mall, he doesn’t know what he’s in for. The last thing Corie Rickman needs is a man who works at the burger joint fighting her battles. But there he is, soda in hand, putting his muscular body between her and a thug from her past. The attraction begins. So does the subterfuge. Can they keep their secrets and still fall in love?

Corie Rickman, from a prominent African American family, had a sheltered and indulged upbringing in LA. Once on her own, she sowed her wild oats by marrying a man her father warned her about.

It wasn’t until he beat her senseless that she discovered the only things Roland Reynaud wanted from her was her family’s name, position in society, and money. She escaped the aspiring crime lord and is trying to put her past behind her by toiling late into the night at her bookstore, A Literal Haven. She’s been safe for a year, now Reynaud wants the evidence of his illegal doings that Corie has and he’s willing to kill her to get.

Japanese-American Laine Tanizaki has taken care of people all his life, from his alcoholic father to his partner and best friend. Laine, in charge of a undercover operation, had partnered Russ with a rookie. The rookie made a mistake and they were both killed. Now Laine’s trying to atone by doing something he hasn’t done in two years—going deep undercover to infiltrate the narcotics ring working out of the fast food restaurant across from A Literal Haven. He didn’t count on the bookseller with a secret of her own. Distracted by his desire to take care of her, he risks blowing his cover to save her.

Corie and Laine struggle against their hearts, afraid that lowering the barriers to allow someone to love them will let their shame and secrets fall out. What they don’t realize is what they are hiding may get them killed.

"Swanson quickly engrosses the reader with her deep characterizations and plot in another of her multi-cultural contemporary romances - bravely going where others fear to tred. Born with the proverbial silver-spoon, her female lead Corie, had rebelled by going after a `bad boy' and getting more than she bargained for, so much so, that now she's disgusted with herself for being weak and ineffectual in re-claiming her life. Laine was developed with his own issues of having grown up on the other side of the tracks with an alcoholic father and knowing that even if he could reveal his true self, he could never fit in with the upper echelons of the society she came from. Swanson works magic in developing her characters so that all things become possible as Laine, through his love and patience, manages to give back to Corie her self-esteem and strength in order to re-claim that part of her life she'd lost. Additionally, the sizzling sensuality Swanson conveys as these two finally give into their overwhelming attraction and passion is nothing short of divine. This was a terrific read I recommend." Reviewer: M. Rondeau.