Title: The Heir Apparent
Author: Tere Michaels
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Length: 200 Pages
Category: Contemporary
At a Glance: The Heir Apparent is an exciting, action-packed novel that offers up a hard fought but undeniably sweet and satisfying romance.
Reviewed By: Sammy
Blurb: The heir apparent to a vast international company, Henry Walker has focused his entire life on pleasing his cold and distant father, a futile effort that’s left him no time for life, love, or making his own decisions. He has just one friend—one dirty little secret—Archie Banks. Raised on the Walker estate alongside Henry, Archie is now Henry’s driver, bodyguard… and occasional lover. Archie is loyal, but he’s about to graduate from college and has plans for his life that don’t include living every moment at the beck and call of Henry’s father. Not even for Henry.
With no warning, a shocking kidnapping leads to tragedy and chaos, thrusting Henry and Archie into a dramatic struggle that threatens them individually and as a couple. Can they find a way to heal the hurt of the past, save the company that is Henry’s birthright, and find a future together?
Review: Henry is the next in line to take over his father’s considerable earnings and thriving corporation. His stern and demanding father has been grooming his son ever since he was born, and Henry feels the weight of a life that he’s not really sure he wants to embrace pressing in on him more heavily every day. His only respite from the hamster wheel that his life has become seems to be the time spent with his best friend and employee, Archie Banks. From the moment Archie arrived, at the tender age of five, to be with his mother, the Walker’s family cook, he and Henry have been cohorts in crime in the best way. Growing up together means that Archie can guess Henry’s every need, both inside and out of the bedroom. But theirs has always been a hidden affair. After all, Archie is driver and bodyguard for Henry—the hired help—and certainly not approved boyfriend material.
Circumstances beyond either man’s control are about to send their relationship and lives into a tailspin. Kidnapping, corporate espionage, and his father’s untimely death will force Henry into making choices that are difficult and potentially deadly for him and Archie. Whatever feelings the two men have for one another will have to remain hidden while they fight to find out who wants Henry dead, and why.
Author Tere Michaels offers up a fast paced mystery packed with action and romance in the re-release of her novel, The Heir Apparent. As always the characters this author creates are fascinating, realistic and so very easy to like. Henry is trapped in a life that he’s not sure he really wants. His affair with Archie has always been one of convenience. Now, with Archie’s graduation looming, and the very real possibility that he will be leaving the family estate and his position there, Henry feels so conflicted about how that makes him feel. Neither man has ever professed aloud how they feel about the other, always being so aware that they are from very different stations in life, and hardly a match made in heaven. But, lurking right beneath the surface is an attraction that has always lit them both on fire for each other, and it’s time to face the fact that it has progressed way beyond simple lust.
There is great chemistry between these two men. Their interactions are easy, natural and remarkably well written. The dialogue is sharp and intelligent, as is the plotline itself. While the mystery portion of this novel may have been relatively simple to figure out, it was still exciting to see it unfold. I enjoyed the supporting characters, immensely, and felt they added to the richness of the story while also affording us a further glimpse into what made Henry and Archie tick. With just enough background history fed to us throughout the various chapters, the novel felt complete to me—the men themselves, accessible and familiar, and the conflict realistic. I truly enjoyed this book and would love to revisit Henry and Archie a few years into the future, and see what has become of them and how their lives have changed, but, alas, I fear no sequel is in the offing on this one, as the ending tied up the story quite nicely.
The Heir Apparent is an exciting, action-packed novel that offers up a hard fought but undeniably sweet and satisfying romance. This is a book I most definitely can recommend to both mystery and romance lovers alike.
You can buy The Heir Apparent here:
[zilla_button url=”http://bit.ly/2hkB6xI” style=”blue” size=”medium” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Dreamspinner Press [/zilla_button][zilla_button url=”http://authl.it/B075T9P11W?d” style=”blue” size=”medium” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Amazon [/zilla_button][zilla_button url=”http://bit.ly/2hlP9mY” style=”blue” size=”medium” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Barnes & Noble [/zilla_button][zilla_button url=”https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-heir-apparent/id1281141805?mt=11″ style=”blue” size=”medium” type=”round” target=”_blank”] iBooks [/zilla_button][zilla_button url=”http://bit.ly/2hnoVQO” style=”blue” size=”medium” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Kobo [/zilla_button]