Dark Romance Book 3

 Ruin You by M. O'Keefe

This was much faster paced than the previous two books and I liked that we got the entire story in just one book instead of breaking it up over two books. Simon is an investigative journalist. Penny is a chef. She is also the daughter of the healthcare/medicine maker that caused the death of Simon's mom and led to his dad's suicide. It is time for Simon to pay his debt and he is sent to a charity event to determine if Penny is there or not. She is. She and her business partner opened an inn and restaurant. Carissa breaks into his room and gives him an envelope with his next task: find her mom's laptop, make a copy of the files, and send them to Bates. Simon searches the entire inn and doesn't have any luck with the laptop, but he does have luck with Penny. She finally takes him back to her trailer and after a very energetic night she falls asleep and he is able to search the place. He finds the laptop and leaves. Their reckoning is devastating for Penny. Then, her father shows up and Simon goes with her to protect her. He makes a scene. Then Bates shows up. Simon decides not to kill her father when Bates gives him the option and Bates takes him out and has him arrested. Penny tells Simon to write the story and her father is sentenced to life. He shows up at the inn every week and they slowly rebuild their trust. He even introduces her to Tommy and Beth. He goes to Bates' office and Simon asks him how that was him fulfilling a debt and Bates says that it wasn't Simons' debt, it was his. Simon realizes that he was also a foster kid who was abused by the pastor and he didn't do anything about it, so this is his way of dealing with his guilt. Bates doesn't confirm or deny it but he does tell him that he found Rosa. That's where the book ends, with Simon tasked with approaching Rosa. This wasn't as dark as book one, but we are reminded of the circumstances repeatedly. I like the audiobook narrators better than the story, but I did like this story better than book 1. I am interested in how the final book is going to play out.