Book Review: Black Lies by Alessandra Torre

Wow. What can I say! I was hooked from the start. Black Lies by Alessandra Torre is a messed up, brilliantly written story. It's a love story but not like any other love story. It is powerful, raw with enough suspense woven in with a cocktail of lies, secrets, and adultery.

Brant: Became a tech billionaire by his twentieth birthday. Has been in a relationship with me for 3 years. Has proposed 4 times. Been rejected 4 times. 

Lee: Cuts grass when he's not banging housewives. Good with his hands, his mouth, and his body. Has been pursued relentlessly by me for almost 2 years, whether he knows it or not. 

Go ahead. Judge me. You have no idea what my love entails. 

If you think you've heard this story before, trust me - you haven't.

This book came highly recommended. It also came with a warning - keep and open mind and trust the Author. I was also told that once I had read it, I would want to re-read it as this story will leave me stunned. Well, not only was I stunned, I was speechless. It was unlike any other and yes, I have not heard this story before. 

This well-crafted story had me forgetting the list of chores along with everything else. I just could not put it down. Like any superbly written book, it made me think, question and feel the emotions that the characters were going through. I JUST had to know what the secret was. I also needed to understand how an earth could this woman, who is deeply in love with one man, cheat on him with another? What is wrong with her and most importantly what is this secret?

There is a twist. One that is cleverly set-up.  As the pages fly by, the truth is gradually and very brilliantly revealed.The layers of deception and lies come together to showcase the lengths a person, a very smart person, will go through and endure. By putting things in motion, you can only hope that the gamble pays off ensuring that the sacrifices and decisions made irrespective of any moral code of conduct is justified to keep and protect the love they have for each other.

I have not read any of Alessandra Torre's prior work. Needless to say, I will be on the look out for her work as she was a total genius in her writing of Black Lies.

Rating: 5 stars

Book Review: The Boss Series by Abigail Barnette/Jenny Trout

The Boss series by Abigail Barnette/Jenny Trout comprises of The Boss, The Girlfriend, a novella titled The Hook-Up, The Bride and The Ex. The Baby is the next book in this series and is expected to be published this year sometime.

The series explores the Domination and submission relationship between 24 year old Sophie and Neil who is a 48 year old billionaire. Each book is well written and filled with drama and constant sex.

The first book, The Boss, introduces Sophie and Neil to the readers. Their relationship which starts of as purely sexual becomes more when their emotions come into play and despite the huge age difference; they are well into each other as well as into the BDSM aspect of their relationship. The interactions between the characters are believable and their banter made me laugh. It was definitely fun and hot read!

The second book, The Girlfriend, sees Sophie and Neil go through a fair bit and it is not as light-hearted as the first book. From unexpected pregnancy to leukaemia to dealing with the ex-wife and other sexual partners, it has it all. However, this does not stop them from having kinky sex while dealing with all the ups and downs of life and mortality. It was heart wrenching to read particularly around the despair, loneliness and frustration felt by Neil and Sophie whilst he underwent chemotherapy.

In The Girlfriend, Neil and Sophie meet Emir who plays a starring role in their sexual encounters while Neil watched on unable to participate due to the strain his body is going through due to his treatment. The Hook-Up is a short story and follows on from The Girlfriend. This short story is told in Neil's POV and it is centred on his night with Emir which Sophie setup. The roles are reversed in this book, with Neil submitting to Emir, making this the second time he has ever submitted to anyone.

The Bride is the third instalment in this series. The name is a bit deceptive as it gives the impression that Sophie is the bride. However, that is not the case. There is a bride, in fact two brides, but it is not Sophie. The bond between the Neil and Sophie does deepen as they deal with issues that keep cropping up. Like the others in the series, the book is just as hot and kinky.

Sophie and Neil are now an established couple and in The Ex, they plan for their big day but at the same time they are confronted with personal issues. This book also touches on substance abuse and how they both deal with it. The interaction between the two is very life like — from their banters, arguments, how they deal with everyday problems and work-life balance. With the added spice of threesomes and changing partners, they continue to push and explore boundaries together whereby Sophie discovers that she is bi-sexual too.

The writing is really good and draws you in, making you want to know what happens next. All in all, I enjoyed reading this series and look forward to the next instalment.

Book Review: Crossfire Series by Sylvia Day

I first came across the Bared to You, the first instalment in Sylvia Day's Crossfire series in 2013 and I was hooked. Making myself comfortable, I ignored everyone around me and sunk into the story of Eva and Gideon, unable to put it down and when I got to the last page I wanted more. The chemistry between Evan and Gideon is intense and scorchingly hot. They are so messed up that I can't help but fear that they will destroy what the feel for each other.

“We don’t fight, angel. We just have to learn not to scare the hell out of each other.”

“You make it sound so easy,” I grumbled. To call either of us virgins would be ridiculous, yet emotionally that’s just what we were. Fumbling in the dark and too eager, completely out of our depths and self-conscious, trying to impress and missing all the subtle nuances.

Eva compares their emotional status to virgins - they definitely have intense chemistry and the sex is off the charts, but emotionally they have a lot to deal with, baring their souls and sometimes hurting each other with actions and words. Yet they try their best to overcome obstacles, develop trust and make their relationship work.

The moment I completed Bared to You, I had to get the next two books that completed the series: Reflected in You and Entwined with You. I had to know if Gideon and Eva could make it considering their past and their emotional state of mind.

Reflected in You was just as gripping as the first book. This book delved deeper into the addiction they have for each other. The chemistry between them is of the charts. The sex between them was overwhelming - their need to connect and be one was through sex, outside of that, they struggled to function especially apart. They are overly addicted to each other, overly possessive, overly obsessed and overly controlling.

I’d kill for you, give up everything I own for you but I won’t give you up.

Eva's nightmare makes a re-appearance, and as a reader, I was taken on an emotional roller coaster ride. I couldn't help but feel for Eva when Gideon pulls away, but at the same time, what he does for her - the suppression of emotions, asking for blind faith, made me feel that he was still into her and that whatever was going on, he was trying to protect and keep Eva safe and he will do anything to make sure of that. However Eva's anguish and confusion over his actions comes across fairly strong.

The third instalment of the series, Entwined with You picks up from where Reflected in You ends. Eva knows what Gideon did for her and they resume their relationship after the distance Gideon enforced in Reflected in You. However, as much as they want everyone to know that they are a couple, their relationship is to be kept a secret from everyone and they do so successfully. Gideon seduces Eva to agree to getting married and they tie the knot in a secret ceremony. However, once they are back in the real world, they announce their 'engagement' and continue their dysfunctional relationship.

In this book, the women in Gideon's life (past and present) are out in force to cause a rift between the couple. From attempted suicides, to threats, to national exposure, there is a lot of drama in-between the bouts of intense and extremely hot sex! I must admit, I thought the ending was rather abrupt. Did they survive the external pressures? Did they become stronger as a couple? Did they start communicating with each other without fear of the other running away? Would they actually talk through their disagreements rather than jump each other's bones and try and control the situation?

As this book left me hanging, I turned to Google and found out that there was more to come. Only problem was that there was a bit of a wait - over a year! When I finally got myself the fourth book, Captivated by You, I read a couple of pages and couldn't go on. The story continues, where book three ended and I couldn't recall what the last scene was. As I read the first few pages, some of the story did come back to me, however, I felt that I was missing the connection. So, I shelved it and went back to the start - I re-read all three books in one weekend and got re-acquainted with the drama that is Eva and Gideon. I am now wondering if I should have waited till book 5 is released as I am bound to be in the same situation when that comes out!

Nevertheless, I read Captivated by You, that same weekend and the drama is still there, Gideon is still making decisions for Eva, not communicating, and not doing much of anything other than dominating her senses.

“I told you I was going to fuck this up. I’ll fuck up again. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but God… I love you. I love you so fucking much. I can’t do this without you. I can’t live without you.”

The sex is still hot; they are still trying to make their relationship work and are planning a future together. However, Gideon's past still haunts him, he is still can't sleep in the same bed as Eva and still makes decisions that he thinks is best for her without consulting her or telling her when it is a bit too late. One particular decision causes her to see red and they break up! The positive I got from this is that, Gideon is now ready to face his past in order to save his future! Not only that, the story ends with them talking through what they are feeling rather than jumping each other for another bout of extremely hot sex!

So, the Crossfire series, which I initially thought was three books, is now five and there is no date as to when the final book, One with You will be released. Hopefully, it will be soon as I would very much like to know how it ends and if they have the strength to take their love for each other and build a successful and healthy relationship.