A. S. McGowan

Analise has been in a terrible accident and when she wakes up from the hospital bed, she learns that her parents have been killed and her home has been given to her father’s business partner, Matt. Matt vows to always take care of her until she turns twenty one. This is when she is entitled to her inheritance. Matt and Analise decide the best course of action would be a marriage in name only in order to protect her reputation from gossip. Analise very much wanted a real marriage, but Matt always kept her at arms length. When Analise turned twenty one, she finally had enough of her fake marriage and decides to leave to find herself as a woman and perhaps find the love she so rightly deserves. With the arrival of Matt back in her life some months later, should she give this marriage another chance? Or will secrets between them have the capacity to get her killed?

I really had high hopes when I started For the Love of a Centaur. I love the fake marriage trope in romance, so I happily anticipated reading this story. While there are many things I like about the story, there are a few things that did not work for me. I really liked Analise. She has been sheltered most of her life and treated as if she were a child by her husband and once she leaves home she finds herself, makes friends, and is able to get on with her life. Matt is a strong male character, but often at odds over his feelings for Analise. He is attracted to her, but there are secrets he is keeping that could have major repercussions in his marriage. While I did enjoy both characters I never made a deep connection with either of them. I felt like I just touched the surface with getting to know them. What I did like most about the story was the suspense. The suspense started off slow and really had a good build up and kept me interested.

Another thing I was a little leary about was the title of the book. I was a bit confused and at the same time a bit intrigued as to what a centaur had to do with romance, but once you start reading it all makes sense.

All in all, For the Love of a Centaur, was an easy light read. The story is sweet with a bit of excitement thrown in that will keep you engaged right up until the end.
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Stella is back in the second installment of the Centaur Agency. Working as a housekeeper for Analise (Heroine in book 1 of the Centaur Agency) is what keeps her going. She has secrets regarding her past and about her real job and she thought no one would ever be able to find her. When she receives a video of a family member being murdered, Stella knows she has been outed by a killer determined to go through everyone she loves and holds close to her heart. Twelve years earlier, Stella was married with a young son. Things came to a standstill when she opened up a package with a severed head, forcing her to go into hiding under a new identity. She thought she along with her family was safe all these years later, until now. What is going to happen when she comes face to face with the family she left all of those years ago. Will they ever be able to forgive her?

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed The Ghosts of a centaur. I was able to connect with Stella and also her family and felt that I really got to know each one individually. The story was really well written and I loved the suspense and intrigue surrounding the killer. There are twists and turns that I never even saw coming and it kept me glued to the pages trying to figure out what was going on. The story was fast paced and secrets are still being revealed that are central to the story. I do have to say that the killer is pretty darn creepy and seems to hold the strings. He is one step ahead of the game and it feels like he will never be caught. He was just so evil and dangerous.

The Ghosts of a Centaur really had me engrossed in the storyline. I feel that the series as a whole is getting better which each new release. I am hooked and need to find out what happens next in the Centaur Agency. I am definitely going to have to pick up the third installment, The making of a Centaur
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