Review - High-Heeled Wonder (Killer Style, #1) by Avery Flynn

Synopsis:

Sylvie Bissette may be one of Harbor City’s youngest glitterati, but only her best friends know her most closely guarded secret. She’s the woman behind The High-Heeled Wonder, a must-read blog for fashionistas everywhere. Gossip, fashion advice, exposés. Too bad some people can’t take a little criticism. When an internet troll discovers her secret identity and escalates from stalking her to threatening her life, Sylvie turns to security expert Tony Falcon for help. The investigator from the other side of the tracks is the olive oil to her Evian water and aggravates her to no end, but it’s not just her temper he’s inciting... 


Tony Falcon wouldn't know a kitten heel from a tabby cat, but since most of the bad guys he tracks down aren't wearing stilettos, it's never been a problem...until he meets Sylvie. When a murder investigation leads him to the same place Sylvie works, he realizes the feisty fashionista may be his best chance at catching the criminals who killed his best friend. It all leads back to the cut-throat fashion world. But solving that case means going after the people Sylvie cares about, and soon his attraction for her—and the danger she’s in—has him wondering if solving the case is worth hurting the woman he can’t stop fantasizing about…

When Sylvie’s almost run over in broad daylight, Tony goes undercover as her boyfriend to infiltrate the close-knit fashion community. And when they discover Sylvie’s stalker may be linked to Tony’s own investigation, what started as a simple plan to find his friend’s killers turns into a hot bed of secrets and revelations. In a world full of overblown egos and dog-eat-dog ambition, Tony and Sylvie must work together to find her revenge-obsessed stalker before Sylvie ends up with a literal knife in the back.

My Review - 4.5 Stars

What a great romantic suspense set in the fashion industry. This book had everything in a story that I look for – snarky dialogue, lots of heat, a great mystery, and a sexy hero and strong heroine who just can’t deny the sparks that are between them.

As the un-named person behind the popular High-Heeled Wonder fashion blog, Sylvie Bissette tells it like she sees it in the fashion industry – not worried about making and keeping friends since she hides behind her High-Heeled Wonder persona. When Sylvie begins receiving threats directed at her through her blog, she doesn’t think too much about them. But when those threats escalate and someone tries to run her down in the road, she is forced to hire protection to keep her, and the secret of her identity, safe.

Tony Falcon retired from the police force after his best friend and partner was killed in the line of duty. After opening his own personal security firm, he has continued to pursue leads to bring his partner’s killers to justice…and his investigation has lead him to the door of the design house that Sylvie’s adoptive fathers run. With a series of manipulations, Tony gets himself hired by Sylvie as her bodyguard, but when Sylvie insists that Tony pose as her boyfriend, Tony finds he not only has to protect Sylvie from her stalker, but he also has to find a way to protect himself from the undeniable attraction that sets off sparks every time Tony and Sylvie are near one another.

When the investigation heats up and truths are told, Tony finds that it’s not only Sylvie’s life that is on the line, but his heart is on the line as well.

I just loved Tony, from his Italian heritage to his sexy, alpha ways.

“What is with you and food?”
“I’m Italian.” He shrugged. “Eat.”

The dialogue between Tony and Sylvie had me laughing out loud at times and the heat between the two was steamy. Sylvie was great, finding strength when her past had left her a bit broken, giving back just as good as she got when it came to Tony. She was fiercely loyal and protective of those she loved, but has come realize that sometimes you have to reach out and grab for what you want – and it didn’t hurt that what she wanted was Tony!

The secondary characters in the book were great. From the flamboyance of Sylvie’s fathers, to the fierce protectiveness of Sylvie’s sister Anya and her friend Drea. Tony’s team also had a great set of characters, and I hope we get to learn more about them all in another book (or books!)

All in all, a fun, quick read that had wonderful characters and a great plot, with enough twists to keep me guessing and turning the pages right to the end.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.