Pearl
GEM, #2
by Freya Barker
Release Date: August 25th 2023
Genre: Romantic Suspense-Slow Burn Romance

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 |

The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . PEARL (GEM, #2) . . . We got a glimpse of this pint sized dynamo in book one of the series, OPAL. Each of the women, Opal, Pearl, Onyx (code names for Kate, Janey and Raj) are apart of a dynamic team that helps find missing children. Pearl/Janey puts a tiny hurting on the journalist, Lee. The same journalist that happens to be snooping around her current investigation. The same journalist that happens to spark a little fire in her.

This indeed was a slow burn romance, but there was no denying the chemistry between Pearl and Lee. These two on the surface were oil and water. Both had a reason to be sticking to this case like glue. There was a deep need in the both to move forward no matter the cost. Things get complicated but that is where all the good stuff keeps happing. There are twist, turns, and hospital stays. Lies, deceit and half truths lay around each corner and behind every door.

Pearl got us a little closer to the end of this story that started so many years ago. On to the next one, Onyx.

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!