Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Tell No One

AUTHOR:  Barbara Elsborg

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:   280 pages

RELEASE DATE:  September 29, 2022

BLURB: 

It’s not every day that a total stranger asks Tag if he’s…ahem…well endowed. Of course he’s not going to say no. When he’s offered a life-changing amount of money to go to a party, he’s not going to say no to that either, even though he suspects sex will be involved. But sense prevails and Tag decides to stick to his principles and not go, except things take an alarming turn. Suddenly, he can’t say no. Not if he wants to see another day.

Tell no one. Trust no one. The unbreakable rules that keep Delaney alive. He’s got a role to play at this so-called party, but the cheeky upstart who’s supposed to be part of his cover seems to be going out of his way to be as aggravating as possible. When Delaney finally registers that unlike the rest of the entertainment, Tag isn’t a willing participant, they join forces and set in motion a chain of events that leads to them both running for their lives.

Tag might be one of the most irritating guys Delaney has ever met, but his resolute cheerfulness and bravery begin to have an unexpected effect as Tag worms his way through Delaney’s defences. Keeping him safe now seems the most important job Delaney’s ever had. Suddenly the operative who’s never trusted anyone finds himself letting Tag into his heart. And wishing for a future that can never be.

REVIEW: 

Tag is a guy working as a waiter who is made an offer he sort of can’t refuse.  Then he gets sacked and he definitely can’t refuse.  The invite to the party is shady – he knows there will be sex involved and he’s never stooped to selling himself for sex no matter how desperate things have become.  But when he’s then strong-armed into the party with offers of more money and threat of violence, he goes.  And what a surprise he finds there.  Something he’s never done and he’s caught up with a Russian guy who seems to be irritated with him despite purchasing the evening with him.  Then things get really weird and they both escape.  This is just the beginning.

After Tag finds Delaney (seems he’s not really a Russian) it seems the murder and mayhem are on the table.  Delaney and Tag run but somebody wants what they have and wants them dead.  Luckily Delaney is really good at his job and keeps them just far enough ahead.  But he needs to take down the bad guys.  Tag is a sitting duck without Delaney so Delaney keeps him with him as they bounce around the UK on the trail of the bad guys who seem to have a long reach.  And these guys are really really bad.  If they play their cards right, they can hopefully catch them with the right bait and take them down.

Honestly is there a story this author cannot write?  This was a crazy good read.  Easily one of my favorite books so far this year and I almost passed it up!  Go me 😀  This is a thrill ride through the UK and I was totally there for it.  Delaney and Tag are amazing characters that we discover slowly throughout the story.  Tag hasn’t had anything easy in his life.  But he just kept going.  Amazingly courageous and persistent and while jaded in a lot of ways, he was as equally determined to get through Delaney’s walls.  Delaney is his job.  Until he discovers Tag – who is not what he was led to believe.  Normally he doesn’t let anyone or anything get in his way, but Tag is different.  For some reason he can’t understand he wants to protect Tag – especially since Tag did not sign up for what he was thrown into.  From the very beginning of this story – which was a total surprise BTW – to the end, I just wanted Tag to be OK and for Delaney to realize that he had a real gem on his hands 😉  Despite the crazy that comes at Tag, he handled it amazingly well and earns Delaney’s begrudging admiration.  The bad guys are truly bad and I wanted Delaney to take them down.  I loved that Tag was snarky and funny and kept up the constant banter, much to Delaney’s dismay (even though he secretly enjoyed it I know).  These two were opposites in so many ways, yet they complemented each other well. Through the twists and turns of this story (and there were MANY) I loved every wild and vulnerable moment with these guys.  I believed they would be better together and that their bond would actually make them stronger together.  Highly recommended!  This is a great book 😀

RATING: 

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