Review & #Giveaway: Caio (Limerent #1) by LS Delorme
- Merissa
- Apr 28
- 4 min read
@lsdelormeauthor @GoddessFishPromotions
@lsdelormeauthor @goddessfishpromotions
Sarah Baker is a paralegal in a law firm in modern-day Brooklyn. Her life is bouncing between her abusive lawyer boyfriend, the voices she hears in her head and her soul-sucking work at the law firm. On a New York spring day, she meets Caio as he plays basketball on a street court.
He is alluring, intriguing and young. Yet that’s the least of his mystery, for Caio was beaten, thrown into a hole and left to die. In 1905.
Sarah tries to understand this enigmatic stranger while juggling the dubious ethics of her law firm and the ghosts in her head. As she struggles with loss, grief, love, beauty… and lawyers, she will need to summon the strength to break all of society’s rules, save several lives and step into a new and potentially magical life.
Caio is the opening book of a new series of supernatural romantic thrillers that will pull on your heartstrings, challenge your perceptions and lead you on a singular journey of discovery and revelation.
As she got closer, she saw the tall, red-haired boy miss a shot and retake the ball. He was one of the regulars. When the red-haired boy landed, he jostled one of the other boys near him. That boy staggered, regained his footing, and in the process deftly stole the ball. When she saw his face, Sarah actually heard herself gasp. The boy who had been pushed, the one who now had the basketball, was the boy she had seen before. She hadn’t noticed him because his appearance was quite different. His shoulder-length dark hair had been cut. He had on a red-and-black striped shirt that didn’t look expensive, but did look brand new, as did the matching shorts. His sneakers were black with pristine white soles. And right at the moment, he was dribbling the ball down the court—straight at her.
Sarah froze. She was standing on the sidewalk behind the basket on the other side of the chain-link fence. She felt like her feet had grown roots as she watched him set up, jump, and make the basket. He came down right in front of her. As he landed, before turning to run back down the court, he stopped and caught her eye. His eyes widened ever so slightly, and he smiled.
For a moment, he looked directly in her eyes, and she felt a strange dizzy feeling in seeing him and being seen by him. No one in her life ever seemed to actually see her. No one ever had.
5 out of 5 (exceptional)
CAIO is the first book in the Limerent series and let me tell you, I'm hooked! It is a supernatural thriller/legal mystery that will push at your boundaries. It made me think and I loved that.
Sarah is a qualified attorney who let her license lapse and can only find work as a paralegal. She is in an abusive on-off relationship with her husband's friend. Her husband died but took up residence in her mind, along with her mother and father, so she has no escape from the constant scathing comments or verbal/emotional/mental abuse. She has dreamt of a boy down a hole for her whole life. Then she meets Caio. More to the point, he sees her. And then the fun really starts.
The character-building in this story is outstanding! Sarah goes from beige to bold, with a spine of steel. She is scared, yes. Anyone in their right mind would be, but she still does the right thing. Caio is excellent with how he acts in public vs. private. So well-written! The supporting characters are also brilliantly written, but Val and Larry deserve a special mention.
As for the story itself, you get a dark mystery that is layered and will keep you guessing. There are topics and conversations here that are not pleasant reading but are integral to the story. Once again, check the TWs! The ending does NOT wrap everything up neatly in a bow, but parts of the story are concluded (for now.) It left me wanting to pick up the next book immediately and lose myself in this world again.
A fantastic read that surprised me again and again. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found HERE
Lexy Delorme is a wanderer and storyteller at heart. Raised as a “military brat” by United States Navy Captain, she has lived on three continents, across four countries, nine states, and 21 cities. Now based in Paris with her charming French husband and two very cool sons, she is a full-time author—a journey that has taken her from being a rock musician to a science graduate to an attorney at law.
A passionate fan of fantasy and science fiction, Lexy created the Limerence universe, which includes Caio, Bright Midnights, Fanning Fireflies, and Ghosting Academy. Her book Bright Midnights was named a Publishers Weekly (BookLife) “Editors’ Choice Pick” and was a finalist Golden Wizard Award Competition in 2024. She is currently working on the latest instalment in the series.
Lexy is an active member of the British Fantasy Society, the Science Fiction Writers Association, the Horror Writers Association, IBPA, and ALLi.
Website: https://www.lsdelorme.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lsdelormeauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lsdelormeauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexy.delorme
Tour hosted by: Goddess Fish Promotions
This looks like a very good book.