Blurb:

After being a soldier, working as a bodyguard should have been simple: keep the owner of DC’s ultra-secret club safe, don’t think about his midnight eyes or his devil’s smile, don’t surrender my body to his wicked desires.

But I underestimated Mark Trevena and the power of his dark, seductive world. I underestimated the hold he’d have on me, the way I would do anything for him at all. And so when he asks me to escort his soon-to-be bride home, I can only—miserably, broken-heartedly—say yes.

Isolde is nothing like I expect, however. Quiet and lonely and sharp. A girl who likes knives and God. A girl whose nightmares echo my own. And one night while sailing under the cold stars, we share a reckless, tear-soaked kiss.

I’m doomed. Falling in love with Mark was one thing, but his bride too? Being in love with a husband and wife at the same time?

Torture. Misery. A tragedy if tragedies came with bruises, sweat, sighs.

But it isn’t enough to merely fall into the forbidden.

Because in Mark Trevena’s world, the fall is only the beginning…

My 5* Review:

Salt Kiss is book one in Sierra Simone’s new Lyonesse series. Be prepared to be captivated by this very steamy bodyguard / boss romance between Mark Trevena and Tristan Thomas. It is a complex story involving a complicated love triangle, unrequited love and a hint of revenge. Will you be seduced by the devious Mark Trevena just like Tristan and Isolde? Could you fight the temptation or resist the desire he conjures up so easily? 

After reading the excellent prequel Salt In The Wound, I was on tender hooks throughout this book just waiting for Mark to show his true colours. The prologue got me intrigued as we are introduced to Mark’s family. He has a twin sister Melody, who is the deputy director of the CIA and they are attending the wedding of their sister Blanche to Ricker Thomas, Tristan’s father. There is obviously far more to this story than I first thought because Mark and Melody discuss if his plans have changed and she warns him not to do anything that would hurt their sister. 

Tristan is struggling after leaving the army and trying to adapt to civilian life. He is haunted by his past and suffers from PTSD. He has has no idea what to do until his uncle-in-law Mark, offers him to be his bodyguard. His father warns him Mark is an an evil man, an assassin and spy but he takes the job. He is shocked and fascinated by the club and learns about the different types of  kink. Mark has a way about him that excites and intrigues Tristan but also unnerves him and unsettles him because he gets obsessed and attached very quickly.

The author cleverly draws you in and at the start I could understand Tristan’s confusion and worries. Mark plays on his inexperience and insecurities. I can’t work out if what is happening between them is real or if Mark is manipulating him like he did Isolde. It all starts with a kiss between them and escalates from there. Tristan feels ashamed of wanting his boss and is scared over what his feelings will lead to. One moment Mark is a charming club host then changes to a controlled dominant with absolute power. He tells Tristan he craves him and teaches him about sex and being a submissive. He totally corrupts him even though he explains it will complicate things in the future. He has lived through war so can he survive Mark?

A trip away for the pair is very enlightening as the author teases us with snippets about Mark’s past. There’s an incident at the club which brings some suspense into the story but also brings a shocking revelation for Tristan. He has let Mark use him for his pleasure but never expected him to be so cruel. He can’t understand why Mark has kept this secret from him and then asks him to do something so hurtful. Can he find the courage to do it when he could lose Mark. 

We follow Tristan as he goes to collect Mark’s fiancé Isolde from Ireland and bring her back for the wedding. The moment he sees her every thought about her goes out the window and he’s totally taken aback. She tells him about the arranged marriage, her lost dreams and how she wants to hate Mark for making her believe what they had was real. They have both been affected and manipulated by him. The author now gives us another love story as the pair fight their attraction to each other, even though it’s very dangerous for both of them. Loved seeing a different side to Tristan as he changes from submissive to dominant. 

What will Mark do if he finds out, has he set Tristan up to fail by telling him to step into his footsteps and do what he’d do? Can they keep their relationship as secret or do they end it? Poor Tristan ends up loving two people and realistically can’t have either of them. I still can’t stop trying to work out Mark’s plan and constantly wonder what he is hoping to achieve. Why did he choose Tristan and what will happen to him and Isolde when his plan comes to fruition? In the prologue Melody passes a comment that stuck with me about Mark suffering a loss and she understands how he could be looking for revenge? Is this what is behind his plan? Book two can’t come quick enough especially after the shocking warning Tristan gets when he arrives back with Isolde.