Blurb:

When her boyfriend breaks her heart, Alanna goes after his older brother in a quest for revenge.

It would’ve been simple… if he wasn’t also her soon-to-be boss.

My 5* Review:

Bittersweet Revenge by Catharine Maura is the prequel to her upcoming novel Bittersweet Memories. Originally a short story in an anthology, the author felt Alanna Jones and Silas Sinclair deserved a full length story. This novella is packed with mystery and intrigued, twits and turns and a very steamy ending to set us up ready for the rest of their story. I hadn’t read this author before and was very impressed with her style and storytelling. Totally recommend this compelling story.

It races along dropping teasers about the three main characters and leaves you mesmerised by what happens. We first meet Alanna working at a coffee shop and defending her boyfriend Ryan to her colleague, Savannah. She explains that Ryan is different with her, kind and good, not the obnoxious playboy he has a reputation for being. She wishes people could see the version of Ryan she gets on their dates. 

Things get a bit weird when a handsome stranger starts visiting the coffee shop only when she is  working and constantly watches her. Alanna isn’t worried because men like him don’t pay attention to girls like her. The stranger has left his past behind him but hints that Alanna is somehow part of it. He has always wanted her and is determined to make her his. One day he is so intense with his staring that she does feel nervous but she is too anxious about meeting Ryan’s family for the first time for dinner that night.

Then events escalate leaving Alanna heartbroken. She is angry and hurt so her rage leads to her looking for revenge for what has happened. Her spontaneous actions turn out to be less than satisfying but it leads to an interaction that under covers a version of herself she never knew existed. Some truths and feelings are revealed which increase the mystery but also leaves her worried about the consequences of her actions. 

I can’t wait to find out more about these two and to see what Ryan’s reaction will be to the events. What happened in their past and how they are connected. Will Alanna be full of anxiety over everything and be unable to enjoy what could be a relationship she deserves.