Reviewed by Cheryl K
TITLE: Taste of Fear
SERIES: Joker’s Sin
AUTHOR: Davidson King
PUBLISHER: Davidson King
LENGTH: 196 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 8, 2021
BLURB:
Ciro Navarro has never had it easy, but he learned to survive. Nightmares of a past he cannot erase plague him but thankfully, much of his horrible life is in the rearview mirror. He lives in the present, focusing on his found family, lifelong friends, and the job that fulfills him. Ciro’s circle is small but tight; if you’re in it, you are his world. And somehow he’s become a rescuer—at the slightest hint someone he cares about is in trouble, he comes running.
After years of hard work and patience, Xander has fulfilled his goal and made a name for himself as a world-renowned chef. He lives his dream every day: cooking up and serving recipes that bring people joy. Though he has restaurants in several locations, it’s Haven Hart Xander calls home, and he can’t imagine settling anywhere else. Life is good. In fact, everything in Xander’s life is perfect…until people from his past start turning up dead.
When word of a serial killer hell-bent on ending Xander comes to light, Ciro’s instincts kick in and he vows to keep Xander, the sweet and humble man he finds himself gravitating toward, alive. The seriousness of what is happening rattles Xander, and he allows Ciro into his home to protect him. Close proximity heats things up and shows Ciro and Xander how much they’ve come to mean to each other, but the precautions they’ve taken may not be enough to keep them safe.
When the unthinkable happens, they are put to the test. Can Xander and Ciro survive the crazed serial killer who stands in the way of their forever?
REVIEW:
This is the final book in the Joker’s Sin series, and I am sad to be leaving this world behind. I really love the gritty Haven Hart world Davidson has created.
Just a small warning, this book does include some on page torture scenes. If that is not your cup of tea, this book is not for you.
This book is not a standalone, as characters from the previous three books are lurking in the shadows.
This book focuses on Ciro and Xander. Ciro is the head of security for Joker’s Sin and Xander is a world-renowned chef. Ciro has been an enigma in the last three books, and he has finally emerged to get his own story. Whereas Xander is a crossover from the Haven Hart series and just happens to own the restaurant the men from Joker’s Sin like to dine at.
A serial killer has emerged and is targeting other world-renowned chefs, that Xander just so happens to have worked with. As it becomes apparent Xander is in the crosshairs of the killer, Ciro takes it upon himself to protect Xander. As Ciro takes an up close and personal approach to Xander’s safety, it reveals their feelings for each other.
The MO of the serial killer is to “play” with his victims and make them pay for perceived wrongs.
Davidson did a great job, here of throwing up a red herring for me, as to who the serial killer was. I was convinced it was one character and boy was I wrong.
Davidson creates these gritty, realistic worlds, that contain all kinds of shades of gray. Her characters are not necessarily the pillars of society, but they are down to earth men, who care passionately for each other. Once again in this book, the moral compass of the characters is tested to the breaking point.
When Xander is taken by the serial killer, just how far will Ciro go to save him? Will the men of Joker’s Sin ever be the same? Will Ciro be able to save Xander? All will be revealed when you pick up this story.
Another five-star read for me. I cannot wait to see what Davidson tackles next.
RATING: 
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