Friday, August 25, 2023

Release Blitz & Review - PEARL by Freya Barker

Title: Pearl (Gem Series, #2)

Author: Freya Barker

Genre: Romantic Suspense-Slow Burn Romance

Release Date: August 25, 2023

GEM: a privately-funded organization operating independently in the search for—and the rescue and recovery of—missing and exploited children. Although, at times working in conjunction with law enforcement, GEM aims to ensure the victims receive justice…by whatever means necessary.

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Operator Pearl; layered, mysterious, a protector.

She masks as delicate, analyzes, and moves stealthily.

Hot on the trail of a young accomplice in a child exploitation ring, Pearl finds herself posing as a teenager to get close. Unfortunately, joining a group of kids on a wilderness quest means stepping out of her comfort zone and into uncertainty. But with the target in her sights her focus stays razor-sharp.

The last thing she needs is the dogged journalist who’s been close on her heels catching up and rattling her cage. When he inserts himself into her investigation, she has no choice but to go along.

Thrown together in a mutual pursuit of justice, the negative energy between them sparks up in a new way.

AMAZON | APPLE BOOKS | NOOK | KOBO |

5 Stars

Book 2 of the GEM Series and we are one step closer to bringing down this horrible trafficing ring. Freya has once again worked her magic into a riviting suspenseful tale full of twists and turns, strong willed characters, wit & banter and multifaceted storyline.

Pearl is hyperfocused on her work and puts her everything into finding these children in any way she can find. She knows all to well what it is like to be lost to the dangers of the system when the wrong people get involved. Her past his her driving force in her work. She is used to hiding behind her work to keep herself closed off from people and possiblities for hurt.

Lee is a journalst who has earned his stripes with hard work and is determined to make a difference with his words. His loss of his mother and the story behind it, pushes him toward the GEM crew as they have a connection they didn't see coming. When Lee finds himself entangled in the current GEM investigation, he finds himself working side by side with Pearl. He has been drawn to her since their first meeting but quickly noticed her barbs and is proceeding with caution.

It amazes me how Freya can take good strong characters and still provide so much character growth throughout a story. In this book the healing that occurs and the slight changes that give us an even better version of that character.

I have so many unanswered questions with this series that I am already chomping at the bit, waiting impatiently for the next book. Grab your copy today and be ready for book 3.

*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ***

USA Today bestselling author Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories. With forty-plus books already published, she continues to create characters who are perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy. Recipient of the ReadFREE.ly 2019 Best Book We've Read All Year Award for "Covering Ollie, the 2015 RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for Best First Book, “Slim To None”, Finalist for the 2017 Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, and Finalist for the 2020 Kindle Book Award with “When Hope Ends”, Freya spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!