ARC Review: This Year's Black by Avery Flynn

Avery Flynn’s Killer Style series is officially my new romantic suspense-lite crack. Having thoroughly enjoyed the first entry in the series, HIGH-HEELED WONDER, reading its follow-up—THIS YEAR’S BLACK—was a no-brainer. Like with its predecessor, Ms. Flynn delivers a fun, action-packed romp with plenty of emotional depth and scorching sexytimes wrapped in delightfully approachable writing and her trademark witty humour. Though technically the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone—but why would you want to miss out on Tony, the other delightful characters, and the cheeky fashion epigraphs that populate this series?

THIS YEAR’S BLACK sees tough-chick private investigator Allegra “Ryder” Falcon of her brother Tony’s Maltese Security firm (unwillingly) teaming up with tattooed ex-MMA-fighting Devin Harris, general merchandise manager of high fashion’s exclusive Dylan’s Department Store, to catch an embezzler that could derail the company’s much-needed merger with an international fashion powerhouse. To make things even more interesting, Ryder and Devin know each other, intimately: after a wild night of earth-shattering sex, Ryder snuck out of Devin’s bed and cut off all contact with him. What’s more fun than a man (sort of) scorned and a woman committed to not seeing the same man twice stuck on a South American island paradise trying to catch a thief before the thief finds (and kills) them—all whilst fighting their scorching attraction? As per usual, Ms. Flynn does an excellent job creating two protagonists that are impressively emotionally complex and relatable given the book’s short length. Ryder is all ass-kicking, bitch-please, go-it-alone attitude, but her tough façade belies a deep vulnerability and doubts about her instincts. A long string of loser boyfriends and falling for a catfish scheme that earnt her a trip to the hospital has left her with serious doubts about her man radar and the reliability of her instincts, prompting her to embark on a year of no commitment or getting personal to reboot her life. Her immediate attraction to Devin—whom she sees as just the type she’s trying to wean herself off—and the fact that she wants more with him from the moment they meet is what prompts her to turn tail and run until they’re forced to work together and she finally throws off the yoke of self-doubt caused by her dating history. Devin has his own touch of emotional damage and an overdeveloped sense of self-flagellation stemming from his part in ruining his genius kid brother’s life and his bully of a father’s constant scorn. But he’s relentless when he knows what he wants (namely one stubborn Ryder Falcon), and his single-minded determination to get her to give in to what’s between them is heartwarming and sweet. And HOT—the two of them have some serious sexual tension and chemistry going on!

Once again, Avery Flynn delivers a fast-paced, engaging tale with heaping spoonful of sexy and a double dose of snark that had me alternately laughing and reaching for a fan. Anyone looking for a little suspense with their sexy, witty romance should give THIS YEAR’S BLACK and this series a try, and I look forward to more Killer Style books!

**ARC provided by Author**

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