Novella Review of Covert Desires by Sondrae Bennett

Title: Covert Desires

Author: Sondrae Bennett

Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance

Release Date: December 5th, 2012

Will desire be enough once all their secrets are revealed?

Still recovering from a traumatic assignment, Amber is wary of the man who shows up at her door with a plate of cookies and a welcoming smile. Instinct warns her he’s not all he seems. Then again, neither is she. Since she was sent to root out the secrets of the town and its people, she might as well accept his invitation to dinner. But when things start to heat up between them, will her loyalty lie with her job, or the man trying to win her heart?

Danny knows Amber is an FBI agent. Tasked by his brothers and the shifter council to keep her from discovering too much, he sets out to seduce her, a perfect cover to keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn’t learn about his pack or their society. He hadn’t counted on a blazing attraction at first sight, though. His wolf knows Amber is his mate, and he’ll do anything to keep her safe and happy. But how can he reveal everything he is, and everything he’s been keeping from her, without losing her forever?

Summary from Goodreads.com

My Review: I have said it before and I will say it again, I am not normally one who likes novellas. I have tried quite a few of them and I always end up feeling like I was cheated out of something. Whether it was the plot or character development, I usually finish up the story and feel frustrated. However, I will never say that about Sondrae Bennett’s novellas. They are just hands down amazing! She manages to pull off an incredible story, well developed characters that are impossible not to love, and some sizzling romance that always heats up the pages. I have read some full length novels that don’t even come close to making me feel the kind of connection I always get out of one of Sondrae’s books.

In Covert Desires, we pick up right where we left off in Worth Fighting For. Danny has been enlisted by his siblings to get close to the FBI agent, Amber, and keep her off the trail of what really goes on in their town. They don’t want to drive her away or harm her, they just don’t want her discovering that shifters live in Alpine Woods. Danny, who is usually the quiet one, begrudgingly accepts the job and hopes that he can just get it over with quickly. That is until he meets Amber and all logically thought goes straight out the window.

Amber is still reeling from some pretty traumatic personal issues when she comes to Alpine Woods on assignment. She is hoping to use this trip to prove herself as an agent, but she is also struggling with where she fits in. She lives in DC, but has no real ties there and is drawn to the cabin she is staying in while in Alpine Woods. She desperately wants to find somewhere she belongs, but has built so many walls around herself, she keeps everyone she meets at arm’s length.

Since Danny and Amber are not really sure if they can trust one another, they take the relationship very slow. The side effect of this was a delicious build of tension that oozed off the pages. I was so absorbed in the story and the romance between Danny and Amber.

I also enjoyed seeing past characters come back and weave into the story seamlessly. Amber does not get along with Danny’s family right away and the conflict that arose because of this was very interesting to watch.

Overall, I cannot say enough good things about Sondrae. She is an amazing writer who I always know I can turn to when I am looking for an engaging story filled with hot shifters and even hotter romance. You can read these novellas out of order, but I highly recommend starting at the beginning of the series and working your way through. Trust me, it is worth it! I am very eager to see whose story Sondrae will bring us next.

FTC: I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.