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Nick
Armstrong has held a grudge against Henry Ash for years. Nick believes
that
Henry took advantage of his dad years ago at a time of grieving, and
the
Armstrong family lost everything. In the proceeding years, Nick had to
watch
over his family – his alcoholic father, his mentally challenged brother
and his
sister Emily, who lost her chance to attend college.
Nick worked hard for years overseeing his
family and started his own painting company, Horizon Painters.
Nick’s
long-time grudge against Henry Ash might just be at a time for payback
when
Henry’s daughter, Lauren, hires Nick to paint her house. Nick’s first
reaction
to Lauren is one of attraction; her beauty is a sight to behold. But
Nick knows
that Lauren is out of his league and watches her from afar. When Nick finds Lauren’s journal, The
Red Diary, and reads her secret
fantasies, Nick can’t help but think of it as a way to get back at the
Ash
family through Lauren. Nick will make every fantasy she’s had, a
reality; make
her fall in love with him…only to break her heart in the end.
But Nick
soon finds himself in over his head and developing feelings for Lauren,
which
he never counted on. Can Nick obtain his
goal of revenge or will he be the one falling in love?
How will Lauren react to the truth if she
finds out?
From page
one Toni Blake captures her audience with The
Red Diary. Nick and Lauren are fascinating and passionate
characters
who seduce their way into each other, and the reader’s heart. With heat, sexual tension, smoldering
passion, compassion and a writing that speaks to a reader, The
Red Diary is one story that just can’t be missed!
Watching
Nick let go of the past, realizing his mistakes and finding a peace
within
himself thanks to Lauren’s love, was profound to see unfold. Ms.
Blake’s first
single title delivers a message to readers of revenge being a danger to
one’s
heart and soul, and was well written and significant to the story. I
loved the
characters growth in this story, as well as the family bonds and heat
between
Nick and Lauren. Even though the sexual
tension would need to be cut with a very sharp knife and it was
enjoyable, the
learning and self-discovery of both the main characters was outstanding.
Given The
Road to Romance Reviewer’s Choice Award, Toni Blake’s The
Red Diary is truly a class act. She writes everything in
this contemporary romance that I love to read and she connects with her
audience through her great characters. This
is an author to put at the top of one’s auto-buy list!
Reviewed by Tracey West
for The Road
to Romance
September 9th,
2004
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