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The Thin Line Between Love & Hate
by Gwyn McNameeSeries: The Thin Line Duet #1
Published by Self-Published on October 29, 2026
SubGenres: Contemporary Romance
Format: eArc
Pages: 330
Source: the author
Audience: 18+/Adult
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The line between love and hate is so thin that it's almost transparent.Sometimes, I don’t even know what side I’m on.After the torture I’ve endured…What I’ve somehow managed to survive…The last place I thought I’d find myself was back here, behind these high walls and massive iron gates.Home.Where I should be safe.But it still feels like the prison it was when I was a child.All I find here are complicated feelings about my past and more fear of what is to come…Until Ellis becomes my refuge from the storm life has become.His strong arms, intensely protective nature, and promises to slay my demons give me something I’ve never had before—hope.Except, it turns out, there are some things you can’t outrun.Hate is easy.Lust is primal.Love is dangerous.And I don’t know if I’ll survive them…
The Thin Line Between Love and Hate is the first book in the brand new angsty contemporary romance duet from USA Today Bestselling Author Gwyn McNamee featuring a woman on the run returning home to seek refuge, scorching attraction, an obsessive, protective billionaire hero, intense spicy scenes, a reverse age gap, and secrets that will leave you reeling.
I’ve read several of Gwyn McNamee’s books, but The Thin Line Between Love & Hate stands out as edgier and spicier. It’s the first in a duet, and luckily, the wait for the finale isn’t long. After that cliffhanger, I can’t wait for the second book.
I really liked how Gwyn McNamee set up the points of view in this book. One is from the heroine, and the other is a mystery character the reader has to figure out, especially since this person is clearly up to something sinister.
Lorelei, the heroine, is on the run and has come back home, where she has a lot of painful memories and trauma, especially because of how her father treated her and how her mother ran away from her responsibilities. Now that her father is gone, she’s still not comfortable being in the house she’s grown up in, and I don’t blame her. Some things are revealed about how she was treated, but she also gets into how she was when she was younger. She wasn’t such a nice person, but it’s obvious she’s changed. The more she is at home, the more she starts to realize that her past may end up coming back to haunt her. When she meets Ellis Thatcher, who is handling her father’s will and estate, he will become someone integral in her life who will help her get through being back home, as well as figure out other things that trouble her.
I really liked Lorelei’s character and am glad the book is told mainly in her POV. It’s obvious from the get-go that she is in danger, not only from her past, but from what happens in her present. She doesn’t really have anyone to turn to in the book until she meets Ellis. I feel for her character, even if she thinks she was a bad person in her past. Everyone can change.
I’m glad Lorelei had someone like Ellis, who ends up in her life, even though he has somewhat of a mystery with him. He has Lorelei doing things that she normally wouldn’t do, but it’s undeniable that the two have an instant attraction to one another. He does have a specific kink that throws off Lorelei and me. I didn’t expect it from his character, but it definitely made the story very interesting in the bedroom. If you have a thing for guys with glasses, you will definitely like Ellis. He’s described as wearing them, and let’s just say Lorelei loves his glasses on him.
This first book in the duet is full of mystery, suspense, secrets, threats, and some very spicy scenes. I’m sure Gwyn has even more surprises in store for the second book, especially after that shocking cliffhanger. Here was one reader who was in shock and needs the second book like yesterday. Overall, it’s a heart-pounding, suspenseful read, and I give it 4.5 stars.
Cliffhanger: Yes.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, absolutely. If you like dark, angsty romances with mystery, suspense, and spice, this one’s for you.
What to expect:
✔️Billionaire Romance
✔️Reverse Age Gap
✔️Protective & Obsessive Hero
✔️Woman on the Run
✔️Very Spicy
About Gwyn McNamee
USA Today Best Selling author Gwyn McNamee is an attorney, wife, and mother. Originally from the Midwest, Gwyn relocated to her husband’s home town of Las Vegas in 2015 and is enjoying her respite from the cold and snow. Gwyn has been writing down her crazy stories and ideas for years and finally decided to share them with the world. She loves to write stories with a bit of suspense and action mingled with romance and heat.
When she isn’t either writing or voraciously devouring any books she can get her hands on, Gwyn is busy adding to her tattoo collection, golfing, and stirring up trouble with her perfect mix of sweetness and sarcasm (usually while wearing heels).
Gwyn’s debut novel, Savage Collision, the first book in The Hawke Family Series, was a 2017 Romance Writers of America Passionate Plumes Contest Finalist for excellence in contemporary steamy romance.
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