Enemies and Playmates [Kindle Edition]

Darcia Helle (Author)

Book Description

When the abused decide to fight back, the abuser's world might just shatter.

Lauren Covington's family maintains a grand facade that belies the life they live behind closed doors. Alex Covington, Lauren's father, keeps a tight rein on his family through dominance, abuse, and obsessive control. Consequently, Lauren doesn't believe she could ever trust a man, much less fall in love with one.

When Lauren meets Jesse Ryder, her carefully constructed protective wall shatters. She falls hopelessly and completely in love. It's only fitting that Jesse is a private detective who had once worked for her father, had defied him, and was now the subject of Alex Covington's wrath.

Amidst devastating loss, betrayal, and her father's destructive pursuit of Jesse, Lauren finds the trust and love she had always longed for.

Product Details

• File Size: 424 KB
• Print Length: 337 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1442187697
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002ECEKBW
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,655 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

198 of 210 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Dark and disturbing November 8, 2010

By Jaleta Clegg

Format:Paperback

I confess, I didn't finish this book. Not because of the writing or characters, both of which are well crafted, but because the subject is just too dark. I read for escape. I prefer my books light. Enemies and Playmates is neither. It deals with abuse very frankly.

Lauren Covington's father is a highly successful businessman who shows the world a face of compassion. But to his family, he is brutal, vicious, and unforgiving. Lauren wants to escape, to just live a normal life of a college student, but feels trapped by her mother's helplessness and the need to protect her younger brother. She meets Jesse at a bar, feeling an instant attraction to the man, without realizing that he works for her father, handling contract jobs her father wants kept off the book and out of sight.

Darcia doesn't hold anything back in this story. This story went places I just didn't want to go. I couldn't finish it. If you want a compelling story dealing with abuse, I'd recommend this book. If you want a beach read, try something different. This book will give you nightmares.

70 of 75 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read! September 15, 2009

By SillyMoose VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Very well written! Interesting, entertaining and overall a great read. I was at first worried about the name and the picture on the cover, but after reading two other books by the author first, No JusticeNo Justice and Hit ListHit List, I realized that the author simply writes well all the time.
Something else I noticed about this author: she manages to add unpredictable and thrilling turns in all her novels when you at least expect it.
And yes, you kind of know that the two main characters will find their happy end, but you will never be able to guess all the "how it will happen", which, of course, makes this book such a "take a break from the day and get lost in a good escape-book" read.

52 of 57 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars a book with an important message July 6, 2009

By michael a. draper TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

What happens to the abuser when the person being abused fights back?

Lauren Covington, age 23, seems like a happy person when out with friends but at home, her father, Alex, is a domineering control freek who physically and verbally abuses his family.

Lauren gets her biggest break when she meets Jesse Ryder. Jesse is a private investigator and the two are immediately attracted to each other.

Jesse had been doing work for Alex Covington's law firm but when the asked Jesse to fake some evidence and set up someone to be framed Jesse tells them to forget it.

Lauren keeps the abuse to herself but when her brother overdoses, she can no longer stand it and confides in Jesse. Jesse then decides to take action against Alex but Alex has influential friends and hires some muscle to do the dirty work for him.

Darcia Helle tells an inticing story. She states that she has been influenced by Tami Hoag, John Sanford and Janet Evanovich. Her story has such a strong message that copies should be distributed at women's shelters.

The story is well told, Jesse Ryder is a likable character with a strong sense of morality. Lauren and her mother are somewhat meek but perhaps this is a trait common to the abused.

Copies of the book can be found at the author's website [...]
or through Amazon by searching under the title and indicating, paperback copy. Read it, it's worth the effort and you'll have an enjoyable experience.

More About the Author

Darcia Helle lives in a fictional world with a husband who is sometimes real. Their house is ruled by spoiled dogs and cats and the occasional dust bunny.

Suspense, random blood splatter and mismatched socks consume Darcia's days. She writes because the characters trespassing through her mind leave her no alternative. Only then are the voices free to haunt someone else's mind.

Join Darcia in her fictional world: http://www.QuietFuryBooks.com
The characters await you.