Rating: ★★★★✬ (4.5/5 Stars)
Title: Kings of Mayhem
Author(s): Penny Dee
Character(s):
― Indigo Parrish: 30 years old, Blonde, Blue Eyed
― Cade Calley: 30 years old, Black, Blue Eyed
Setting: Destiny, Mississippi
Tag(s): Romance, Contemporary
Content Rating: R
POV: Alternates between Heroine/Hero; Present/Past
Smexy Level: Hot
Favorite Quote(s):
― "Get in and get out. No distractions. That was the plan."
― "Twelve years of silence filled the space between us. Loudly."
― “It rips my heart out to know that the one thing I couldn’t protect you from was me.”
― “If I thought for one moment you wanted to kiss me, Indy, then I’d spend the rest of my life kissing just you.”
― “Tell me how I let you go without it killing me and I will,” he said, his voice rising over the rain. “Tell me how I live without you without it destroying me.”
Overall Opinion:
Falling for the girl next door is never easy especially when a dire mistake changes the lives of Indigo and Cade forever. The opening sequence left me on the edge of my seat. It was an unexpected surprise that helped showcase the close, heartwarming relationship between the two childhood friends turned lovers. The narrative alternative between the heroine and hero from past to present, and was a great way to present how and when they fell in love, and most importantly, how it all fell apart. The overall premise is about second chances and learning to forgive.

The story follows the main heroine journey back home. With the sudden passing of Indigo estranged father, she finds herself back home in Mississippi for his funeral after running away from all whom she loved: family, friends and Cale. Lingering feelings, accidental touches and misunderstandings push and pulled the hero and heroine together. Knowing their days together are numbered, Cale is doing everything in his power to gain her forgiveness and despite the twelve long years of silence, she has always been his endgame. It has always been her. Only her. And he's ready to show that to her.

The general flow and pace of the story was ideal, the characters were likeable and nothing seemed forced. There is definitely more to the story than meets the eye and the only negative I can point out is that I really had wished the writer would have explained the reason behind Cale's father actions and why he caused the rifted between the main characters. Maybe he was just being a dick which is a trend I've noticed from a lot of the older secondary characters in the story minus grandma because she's badass or is there an actually reason behind everything? Maybe I'm just looking way too much into it!

Overall, with this being the first Penny Dee novel and book one of the “Kings of Mayhem” series I've read, I am highly impressed. I look forward to reading more of her works and the upcoming sequel of this fantastic book! Additional to that, the novel ended in a high note with an unexpected cliffhanger and I can't wait to read what happens next!