3 – 3.5 stars
hmm ok so I know a lot of people are loving this book right now but it just wasn’t quite everything I’d hoped for.
Maybe it serves me right for not doing my homework ‘cuz I went into this book blind not knowing anything other than the fact that a lot of people were enjoying it and it had a sexy fighter dude as the hero. That alone sold me on the idea.
It had a strong start. I loved the prologue and the tone it set for the story. I felt both riveted to the story and appalled at what was going on. But love the gritty feel of the it and was honestly hooked from there.
The story is about Raven, the daughter of an infamous Las Vegas pimp who essentially “bred” her (their word, not mine) off of her prostitute mother to literally create the ‘perfect’ hooker for his collection (I’m cringing a little as I write this).
Jonah “the Assassin” Slade is nearly undefeated in the Octagon and his life as a fighter has treated him well. But he does not do relationships. He does not bring girls home. And he never sleeps with the same one twice. He’s all about the fighting. Its his whole world.
Until Raven. Seeing her literally changes him and he falls hard and fast for her. But her evil pimp father has plans for her and is not going to let her go easily and soon Jonah finds himself literally fighting for her life.
“You’re a part of me now. I’d do anything for you. I’d fight for your life as I’d fight for my own.”
The writing style varied. I liked it in certain parts and disliked it in others. I felt the dialogue was much too ‘forced’ and unbelievable at times but at other times I found the writing style smart and almost witty. There were several laugh out loud moments and the first part of the story really flew by for me.
The story started to loose me a little though after the hero and heroine met. I’m very accepting of insta-love but, it has to be handled very carefully and in the case of this story, I just felt it was too much, too soon.
That being said, I did enjoy part of my read. But there were times when I felt that the story was being told to me rather than allowing me to experience it and the character’s inner monologue of constantly questioning themselves got to me a bit after a while.
I went back and forth between enjoying it and just feeling really disconnected from it. I almost put it down just cuz I really wasn’t ‘feeling’ it but in the end decided to keep going just in case.
I liked Jonah and he had a lot going for him – sexy tattoos and dimples for example – and he was sweet and considerate and VERY protective of her but I had issues with a few of his actions that really made him loose swoon points in my eyes. One was this scene where he pretty much just randomly looses it on her and calls her a ‘bitch’ when seriously, she didn’t do anything deserving of it. *shakes head* SO not cool! And then another thing that rubbed me the wrong way was this: “Fuck. She’s right… The most important thing is to keep Raven calm and safe. That’s where my focus needs to be, at least until this shit is over.” … I’m sorry, I get the whole keep her safe thing, but keep her CALM? Wtf? He was the one with the temper, not her. Ugh.
I feel like this story could be good. I love the cover, I love the premise and I really liked several parts of the book but over all there were too many things that jumped out at me for me to fully be able to enjoy it. I could see the themes that the author was going for here – feeling worthy of love, feeling appreciated, not judging a person on their background etc but it was the delivery that needed some work. I wanted more time spent fleshing out their relationship, some of the dialogue really needed to be smoothed out and it just needed a bit more… depth to it.
It wasn’t a bad read though and I know a lot of you have enjoyed it so who knows? Maybe you’ll like it? It just wasn’t really for me.
Elizabeth D says
Great Honest review. I know some people loved this book… it Just didn’t work for me ): Oh well, we can’t all have the Same taste – that wouldn’t be much fun. Have a great weekend!
Zita R says
Honest reviews are very much appreciated. I haven’t read this book and with 70+ items on my kindle to read that good solid reviews I probably won’t. But you never know. Have a good weekend!
pamelia says
Thank you! I am right there with you and having a really hard time slogging through this one.
One thing really bothering me (besides the stuff you already mentioned) is the UBER EVIL VILLAINS. Seriously, her dad makes absolutely no sense as a character. If someone does what he does and I can’t put my finger on motivation other than “SEE HOW EVIL I AM” I have a really hard time buying it.
Then you have Candy (the evil stripper) who is utterly OTT ridiculous.
One other thing that’s getting me a little blue is the obvious “virgins are good but girls who have sex are bad”. Even her friend Eve is shown as a poor sap.
I don’t know if I’ll finish this one. Parts of it seem worth it, but I am finding myself not caring what the next deadly drama is going to be.