Sharp Edges

by Kristen Middleton

Lindsey Shepard thought she had everything- a wonderful marriage, two beautiful children, and a peaceful home in the suburbs, until the day she catches her husband, quite literally, with his pants down. As she tries to come to grips with a broken marriage, Lindsey clashes with a psychotic cop who begins terrorizing her. Frightened and alone, Lindsey turns to her sexy, new neighbor, Detective Jake Sharp, for assistance. Just when things begin to heat up between them, Lindsey learns that Sharp may be carrying some of his own dark secrets...

A story of deception, heartache, and murder; a mystery that will leave you guessing... until the very end.


Due to strong sexual content and language, this book is recommended for 17+
Adult Contemporary Women

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Mystery, Contemporary, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

316 pages, Paperback

First published December 27, 2012

About the author

NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Kristen Middleton, is from the Midwest and not only enjoys writing, but connecting with her readers. Kristen also writes gritty biker books under the name Cassie Alexandra. She is also involved with raising money to help locate missing and exploited children, helping other authors succeed by sharing what she's learned in the self-publishing industry, and volunteering resources or her time whenever she can. "Besides having a passion for writing, I adore children, suspenseful movies, watching Shameless and The Walking Dead, traveling, Moscato wine, Chianti Grill, Savoy Pizza, and meeting new friends."



















Kristen Middleton lives in Minnesota
Favorite Quote (Henry Ford)

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right."

Reviews

[Taria Reed · Rating 1 out of 5]

**THIS REVIEW IS FULL OF SPOILERS**


Lindsey was so fucking odd. The story started off ok. Lindsey had a good life then she caught her husband Scott cheating. She kicks him out and he begs her to let him back into the house. Two weeks go by and Scott is still not in the house but Lindsey is panting over the hot neighbor Jake. Jake went from stranger to best friend in like a day or two. WTF! Jake finds out that Scott cheated on Lindsey and makes his move. Jake is disturbingly upfront with Lindsey regarding his intentions for her. SO sidebar. While Jake and Lindsey are becoming friends Lindsey witnesses a woman's abuse and reports it to Jake. Oh Jake is a narcotics detective. So Jake stops by and takes a look and sees what's going on. Well The dude isn't too happy that his business (i.e. beating his wife) is being put on front street and he threatens Lindsey. Someone breaks into Lindsey's house and threatens to kill her and kill her kids if she talks to anyone else. Well instead of going to the police about the break in or anything she keeps it to herself and then she notices a guy following her around, driving in front of her house. She confesses everything to Jake and he says "I got this" and she's all like "ok". Well sugar turns to shit and her husband scott ends up dead. Oh I forgot to mention that during the 3 weeks her and her husband are separated she and jake are rounding those freaking bases like speed demons. So right after Jake eats Lindsey for lunch the police knock on his door looking for Lindsey to tell her her hubs was shot in the back of the head. She cries and then she tells the kids and they cry then it's all let's have pizza as if dad has been dead for YEARS instead of hours. then the same evening she finds out that her husband of 15yrs is dead, the man who gave her 2 kids, the man she came very close to boning the day before; she is in bed being handcuffed to the headboard by jake and is about to have her world rocked. c'mon son!!! this shit is beyond ridiculous. NOW jake is kinda skeevy to me. he went from the neighbor who never really talked to lindsey to the dude who's sexually harassing her and her stupid ass is falling for it. His dirty talk MAY have been hot if the entire situation (and writing) was different. And seriously that whole pseudo bdsm shit was so forced and unbelievable.

and seriously her reaction to having her husband and her best friend murdered in less than 48hrs was epicly unbelievable.

Who the hell is Carter and what was the point of adding the boys in the prologue? Oh and Lindsey has her BFF, her husband, Jack's friend (Carter?) murdered and not to mention the traumatization of having her kids and mom duct taped to chairs in their home by a psychotic cop and less than a year later she's married to Jake AND pregnant with his baby? Oh and his initial reaction to the baby news was seriously full of WTF!?!?!?!?! Don't you think the subject of having more kids would be discussed BEFORE you up and marry this guy? And the whole honeymoon fiasco and baby thing? I. CAN. NOT.



This was the stupidest shit I've ever had the misfortune to torture myself with.



story - 1 concept was good but that was about it.
narrator - 0.5 NO NO NO NO NO!!

[Tanya Reeves · Rating 1 out of 5]

Think of all the terrible things that could befall a character to give a story forward progress. Infidelity, murder times three, lying, financial trouble, new love interest, zany relatives, abuse, stalking, etc. All that and more are crammed into this book with a lead character who's so ditzy you are unsure if she even has feelings. I wanted to stab myself in the eye in order to make reading this book bearable. Yikes!

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is a reason this book was free...

The concept was good and at first so was the writing, however somewhere along the way something happened. I cannot put my finger on it, but it felt rushed. There wasn't a ton of character development. With a little work and a longer better developed story this could have been a 4 star read.

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt there was just so much going on to one person that it made it too confusing.

[Candice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was debating between 2 and 3 stars for this one, but I had to go with 2 in the end.

Here's why:
You say you need space, but you're crushing hard on the neighbor, who by the way kind of creeped me out. He's a cop, yet, he was WAY too straight forward and wouldn't take a hint or no for an answer. Anyways, you say you need space to think about what's going on in your marriage, but you're crushing on the Detective and when Scott tries to talk to you you push him away. Fine, I understand, but either talk to someone (attorney, counselor, etc.) or actually THINK about your marriage. Then he's out for 2 weeks only to be found dead. Grieve. You still love him, you were married for 15 years! Instead you go and have sex with your hottie neighbor. THEN, you find out your BFF is dead and less than a year later your married to the hottie Detective. Ummm...I think I would be much more of a hot mess if I lost 2 people I loved in like a week's time. Marriage would NOT be on the radar. WAY too soon.

What was with the prologue? Who were the little boys? Was it Jake and his brother? Was it Jerry and his brother's mom?

Why didn't Jake ever really talk about his family? They skimmed it while running, but nothing major. Why write the prologue if it's not really talked about in the book? I don't understand.

There were just too many unanswered questions for me and Jake the creeper was not smooth at all.

Sorry, this one just didn't work for me.

[Hbeebti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good RS. loved Detective Jake. Just when I thought it was over at the end, I realized that it wasn't over just yet. This had cheating, spousal abuse, mystery , murders and two people falling in love. Although I wish that there was more info, more something with the last chapter. It felt like it was missing something. But overall it was very good.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great premise but a wee bit drawn out in parts. There were some believability issues for me with the dropping bodies all around and the marathon epilogue. However, great main character finding herself and also finding her hot cop neighbor!

[JaHy☝Hold the Fairy Dust · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I am too critical of books. I expect the characters to be realistic and this heroin's grief/ anything but. I will say the suspense was well played out but I couldn't get past Lindsey's actions.

[April ♥"LOS" ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had way more twists and surprises than I was expecting, which is great. However at times I was a little thrown off track and confused by some of the characters. Luckily, it all came together in the end (with yet another shocking twist)!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was on the edge of my seat with this story. There wasn’t a dull moment. So many twists towards the end was great. I just didn’t like the whole thing with the husband Scott. It didn’t feel very plausible. Other than that, it was great.

The narration wasn’t very good. I almost stopped listening to it, at times it was good. Mainly when she was doing a character’s voice. She was excellent at that. It was the in between “telling” that sucked. Like a robot reading it in a bad voice. Not the worst I’ve heard but not the best either.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful read.
I thought it was a sexy suspenseful read.
Jake, the sexy detective next door is instantly attracted to his married neighbor Lindsay but decides to be her bud instead. Downtrodden Lindsay has seperated from her husband after discovering his secret on their anniversary. Feeling unattractive and dull she decides to get her hair cut. Now feeling like a new woman she starts taking stock of her life and vows to change.
After meeting another mother in the park and discovering abuse she informs Jake who goes and checks it out. Jake finds out the abusive husband is also cop, but he also feels that something is not right in that house, so he will keep on eye on them. Lindsay starts fearing for her family and herself after being threatened and harassed, she gets real scared and finally confesses to Jake. But more things start to happen and people start coming up dead and she doesn't know who to trust anymore.....even the man she is coming to love!
There are lots of twists and turns in this book. Once you think you know the bad guy.....Wham! Something else happens. A very entertaining read...lots of emotion and suspense.....kept me on the edge of my chair. The ending was priceless!!!
Kristen Middleton has become a new favorite writer of mine after reading a few a her books.

[Michel Reinhard (Saucy Southern Readers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!!!!!!

I am a devout fan of romantic suspense books. I stumbled upon this book on Amazon and downloaded it to my kindle. I have not heard much about this author but the description sounded good. What a good choice I made. I think this is one of the best romantic suspense novels I have read. I read so many books that I can usually predict the "who done it" or the direction the book is going. With this book every time I thought I had it figured out the next chapter would throw me for a loop and I would be suspecting someone else. It was the very last pages that revealed the true murderer.

The story had a great flow, an intense story that draws the reader in immediately, great characters, super hot & sexy love scenes, and a lot of suspense.

I highly recommend this book. I hope the author will write more romantic suspense books....she has a true gift for this genre.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok the mystery and the tiwst were really good I could not figure out who the bad guy was but some of it did not sit well with me such as when a loved one is murdered I did not feel the pain of their family and it was like no big deal sure they cried but I just did not feel those emotions

[Lindsey]

Amazon (ebook) freebie 2/15/13

[Barb Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh Jake, what a sweet sexy man.
This book was pretty good, even though it had so much potential to be much more. But all in all, good book.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Lindsey, life was good—doting husband, loving kids, and good friends. There was a time when she used to turn heads like her friend, Darcy; but now she gets her jollies staring at her hot, new neighbor. Jake Sharp is as hunky as they come.

Sex life with her husband was not that exciting anymore, especially when he finishes first. He couldn’t be having an affair, could he? Then she catches him with his pants down…literally! Her world just falls apart. Of course, she couldn’t help but fall into Detective Jake, who seemed nice and easy to talk to.

Not only does she get involved with Jake, but she also gets involved when she thinks one of her neighbors is being abused by her cop husband. She is then frightened by an intruder, one who is watching her and threatening her children. Makes her glad that she had the protection and trust in hunky Jake, who wants her more than anything.

“All I could think about was the man who’d broken into my home and threatened my children, and the other man who’d lived in my home and threatened our marriage.” (187)

Jake was strong, confident, and street-smart. Was there something dangerous about Jake, something sharp?

This was a scintillating read from beginning to end, and although the heat was sensual, it wasn’t a high level, certainly not what the cover lends you to believe. I also think we could’ve heightened the suspense angle a bit, but, overall, I thought this was good.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I obtained this free e-book from Amazon and I am voluntarily writing a review. Lindsey interrupts her husband of fifteen years on the day of their anniversary in his office with his pants down with two women. She leaves him knowing she will never get that image out of her head or knowing she will never trust him even though they have two children together. While out with her best friend before they get out of the neighborhood a woman flags down the car and begs for help she is terrified of her policeman husband and is sporting bruises but he convinces her to go back into their home with him. Worried about the safety of the woman Lindsey confides in her next door neighbor who is a narcotics detective with the police force. He pays a late night visit to check on the woman. After that Lindsey is assaulted in her bedroom by a masked man with a knife who threatens to kill her children and her if she goes to the police.

[Winta Semere · Rating 1 out of 5]

F***ing ehhh?!!! I really had high expectations from this author but this got to be one of the worst books I have ever read. I liked how the first chapter started but boy was I misled. The narrators level of calmness is so nerve wracking that I wanted to stab her face so I could be sure she feels. At one point I actually threw my phone across my bedroom.

Especially this one where at this point her husband, bestie since grade school and one hired to protect her were all MURDERED because of her and she fucking says
"what a day huh?"?!!!!!!!!!! Really bitch

[Rosemary Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this story as bonus part of "Luring the Biker" by Cassie Alexandra

This is a very disquieting story, for a young woman, befriending another woman in a park, leads to threats of death of those close to her.
Plus, fifteen years of marriage is thrown away, by the man she believed loved her.
Yes, very thought provoking, as to the young woman's own reactions to what is happening, now, in her world.
An intense and dramatic tale, that kept this reader reading well past the time she would normally put her book away.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an intense, gripping, suspenseful and tragic story with so many twists that every time you think you've figured out who the bad guy is, you have to think again. And then again. It'll have you so confused and intrigued that you can't put it down. Lindsey is put through so much drama and trauma, betrayals and lies and shocks, it's a brilliant story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Booksprout. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not Romantic

The story a little over the top. Yes it keeps you guessing but when you get the answers some are a little disappointing. Lindsey see-saws back and forth so much it made my head spin. It was an interesting book but the ending left me feeling let down.

[Kasey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Choppy

Great story plot but the writing is very elementary. The author needs to work on her flow and become one of her characters.

[Joy Greenwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book lots of twist in it too.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Mary B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Probably not what I would usually read, but I enjoyed this book. Good mix of broken trust, lust and mystery.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was kept on edge the whole way through this book and liked the way the characters were written. Good read.

[Ivana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read

Another thriller that leaves you replaying every scene in your mind until you get it back in your hands !

[Janejellyroll · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book would have stretched the limits of credulity even if the action had been more spread out, but having all these improbable things happen so rapidly doomed any chance the book had of approximating reality.

Our MC finds out her husband is cheating on her (the circumstances of his affair were so ridiculous that I assumed there would be later follow up to show what really happened, but nope), her smoking hot neighbor falls head over heels for her, she stumbles into a deadly feud with a pair of misogynistic violent cops hellbent on destroying her life, her husband is killed, her best friend is killed, and she begins a long term relationship with said smoking hot neighbor despite the fact that her husband has only been in the ground for a few minutes. There's probably other stuff that I'm forgetting. It's a lot and none of it makes much sense.

The main impression I got from this book is how little connection the MC seems to have to the two most important people in her life, to the extent that their violent and sudden murders are little more than plot beats in a novel. She's more annoyed than sad to find out that her husband was murdered because she's mentally already moved on to the next one. Her best friend, who was also suddenly murdered, vanishes from the plot almost instantly. Gail Simone invented the term "fridging" to describe how violence against women is often used to drive plots forward - even though the MC is a woman and one of the people thrown on her plot point woodpile was a man, this is the term that kept coming to mind as I read this book.

The end is ridiculous. Honestly, this whole thing felt like it was plotted out in a couple of hours and then written in a rush. It's totally possible that I spent more time thinking about how this plot worked than the author herself did.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is really good. I couldn't put it down lol. this book is a page turner.

her husband scott was a real jerk. this whole thing on how her husband died was very sad.

the whole thing on her neighbor was omg really good. it just got better and better.

one thing I didn't like the end. it ended to fast.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lindsey and Scott have been together since high school. On the day they should be celebrating their fifteenth wedding anniversary, Lindsey catches Scott celebrating with two women at his office. Once of which is on her knees. Lindsey is devastated and throws Scott out.

Jake the sexy, single neighbor is interested in Lindsey. When he finds out her husband cheated on her, Jake sees his chance. It helps that Jake is a cop because Lindsey has made an enemy and he's threatening her. When Scott is killed, Jake does what he can to help protect Lindsey and her kids. Will he be too late?

Jake is nice guy. He's up front with Lindsey about his feelings toward her and does what he can to be helpful and protect her. Not once did he give her a reason to doubt him. Yet on two separate occasions, Lindsey jumps to the wrong conclusion about something she misunderstands without even attempting to ask Jake his side first. Both times she's put in danger because of her stupidity and both times, Jake laughs it off. Lindsey is a weak character that I had trouble connecting to.

Overall, this book was okay. There were several little plots going on and I had difficulty keeping up. It's a fiction story, however some things were even hard for me to believe as fiction.