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wendydawn21's review against another edition
DNF @ 39%
I guess this was one of those books that everyone else loved but me.
I guess this was one of those books that everyone else loved but me.
cheriea0221's review against another edition
5.0
Unique story line, don't think I've read this before.
Will for sure continue to book 2.
M/F, BDSM, Adult
Will for sure continue to book 2.
M/F, BDSM, Adult
mandyreads's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely AMAZING! 6 Stars!
Aleatha Romig is an absolute GENIUS! From page one, I was truly captivated by writing and the storyline. I went into this book blind not reading the blurb, which ended up enhancing the story even more for me. In a time where erotic billionaire romance stories are a dime a dozen, Miss Romig easily managed to break the mold and tell a completely original story.
The story opens where we meet Alexandria “Alex” Collins being summoned to the manor where she grew up in Savannah, Georgia. Alex comes from a very wealthy, cold, and gritty family who believes that she has obligations to her family and family name now that she has graduated from Stanford. But Alex has other plans. She is headed to Columbia Law School and plans to make a name for herself and wants nothing to do with her family’s eponymous name. Alex is not close with her mother and loathes her over bearing, slimy step-father who thinks that he has the rest of Alex’s future planned out.
“It didn’t matter that this was the twenty-first century-not to the bluebloods. This was and would always be the world where appearances were essential. The secrets that darkened the corridors and doorways were forever left unspoken.”
One of the things that I loved the most about this novel was how it was narrated in the past and the present. It’s told mostly from Alex’s point of view, so I really felt that I was able to know her character so well. Because the time line of this novel kept going back and forth, I was always left on the edge of my seat at the end of a chapter. Never knowing if the next part of the book would be told in the past or present.
The chapters told in the past dealt with the one week that Alex and her best friend Chelsea, spent at a posh resort in California. There Alex meets a domineering alpha and steps outside of herself to spend the week with him.
“Everything about this man screamed confidence. Not the cocky kind I’d seen in Max. No, this man wasn’t a college kid who specialized in picking up girls. This man dominated every situation. He was a man who knew what he wanted and took it.”
Nox spots Alex near the pool, and immediately becomes taken with her. From that moment the chemistry between the two of them is electric and palpable. Alex feels the same exact way about Nox, even though she does have her hesitations.
From just about that moment on, the two spend the majority of their time at this resort getting to know each other. Both of them break their own personal rules when it comes to dating, relationships, and the opposite sex. They decide for this one week to not talk about their real lives and only go by their first names as to not complicate their little “paradise bubble” with reality. Once the two of them agree on their ground rules, they both experience nothing but pleasure. Something that both of them have been lacking in their daily lives.
Every single word and moment in this book had me absolutely riveted. It was so deliciously messed up, in the best was possible. At one point on New Years Day, my mom asked me to run to the grocery store for a few items and on the way I ended up in a church parking lot in my car with my ipad, glued to the story! It was that good that I didn’t want to put it down even for a single moment. This book does end on a cliffhanger, but the good news is that Cunning will be released on January 19, 2016. I also can’t tell you how many different passages I have highlighted because the writing, emotions, suspense, mystery, and jaw dropping moments were just that GOOD! I have officially been Aleatha’d and so happy to finally understand why everybody just raves over her books. She has become one of my new favorite authors and Betrayal is my first favorite read of 2016 and is on my all-time favorites list. I can’t wait to see what happens next in this series and characters that I’ve come to love. I just now that whatever happens, I’m going to enjoy having my mind blown by Aleatha Romig.
For more reviews please visit me at https://bookspieandcoffee.wordpress.com/
Aleatha Romig is an absolute GENIUS! From page one, I was truly captivated by writing and the storyline. I went into this book blind not reading the blurb, which ended up enhancing the story even more for me. In a time where erotic billionaire romance stories are a dime a dozen, Miss Romig easily managed to break the mold and tell a completely original story.
The story opens where we meet Alexandria “Alex” Collins being summoned to the manor where she grew up in Savannah, Georgia. Alex comes from a very wealthy, cold, and gritty family who believes that she has obligations to her family and family name now that she has graduated from Stanford. But Alex has other plans. She is headed to Columbia Law School and plans to make a name for herself and wants nothing to do with her family’s eponymous name. Alex is not close with her mother and loathes her over bearing, slimy step-father who thinks that he has the rest of Alex’s future planned out.
“It didn’t matter that this was the twenty-first century-not to the bluebloods. This was and would always be the world where appearances were essential. The secrets that darkened the corridors and doorways were forever left unspoken.”
One of the things that I loved the most about this novel was how it was narrated in the past and the present. It’s told mostly from Alex’s point of view, so I really felt that I was able to know her character so well. Because the time line of this novel kept going back and forth, I was always left on the edge of my seat at the end of a chapter. Never knowing if the next part of the book would be told in the past or present.
The chapters told in the past dealt with the one week that Alex and her best friend Chelsea, spent at a posh resort in California. There Alex meets a domineering alpha and steps outside of herself to spend the week with him.
“Everything about this man screamed confidence. Not the cocky kind I’d seen in Max. No, this man wasn’t a college kid who specialized in picking up girls. This man dominated every situation. He was a man who knew what he wanted and took it.”
Nox spots Alex near the pool, and immediately becomes taken with her. From that moment the chemistry between the two of them is electric and palpable. Alex feels the same exact way about Nox, even though she does have her hesitations.
From just about that moment on, the two spend the majority of their time at this resort getting to know each other. Both of them break their own personal rules when it comes to dating, relationships, and the opposite sex. They decide for this one week to not talk about their real lives and only go by their first names as to not complicate their little “paradise bubble” with reality. Once the two of them agree on their ground rules, they both experience nothing but pleasure. Something that both of them have been lacking in their daily lives.
Every single word and moment in this book had me absolutely riveted. It was so deliciously messed up, in the best was possible. At one point on New Years Day, my mom asked me to run to the grocery store for a few items and on the way I ended up in a church parking lot in my car with my ipad, glued to the story! It was that good that I didn’t want to put it down even for a single moment. This book does end on a cliffhanger, but the good news is that Cunning will be released on January 19, 2016. I also can’t tell you how many different passages I have highlighted because the writing, emotions, suspense, mystery, and jaw dropping moments were just that GOOD! I have officially been Aleatha’d and so happy to finally understand why everybody just raves over her books. She has become one of my new favorite authors and Betrayal is my first favorite read of 2016 and is on my all-time favorites list. I can’t wait to see what happens next in this series and characters that I’ve come to love. I just now that whatever happens, I’m going to enjoy having my mind blown by Aleatha Romig.
For more reviews please visit me at https://bookspieandcoffee.wordpress.com/
slowlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Admittedly, I found this story slow going at first and wasn't expecting to like it. But wow, I'm glad I stuck with it. At around 50%, the setup ends and things really pick up. To the point where I'm sitting there, angry, wanting to yell into my Kindle at all the jerkwads in the story (you'll know who I mean when you get there). To my surprise, I thumbed the last page and wanted more. What can I say? This author sure knows how to spin a yarn.
lifeasjanedoe's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
pamgodwin's review against another edition
5.0
This might be my favorite AR book yet. Oh, how this effusive plot pulls you in, plunges you beneath the smoke and mirrors, and leaves you with a gnashing set of teeth to gnaw your way out.
This compelling, sexy story befits its empowered heroine, evoking something intrinsic about the loneliness of life in a wealthy and powerful family. Wealth and power doesn’t always provide stability. In Alex’s case, it might very well result in ruination.
But Alex is strong. Determined. Admirable. She makes drastic decisions, not without cautious hesitancy but with a daring amount of ambition. She’s the kind of heroine you love to root for. You want her to succeed. To overcome her family’s pressures. To muscle through her financial struggles. To find love. To find happiness with a man who doesn’t have a last name.
Nox is mysterious, dashing, devoted, and he’s not going to let her go. AR wanted to leave you wanting more at the conclusion of this book, and holy hell, she succeeded. I read the last page with a smile, a ragged sigh, and a whole lot of clenching WANT in my gut. She gives just enough to satisfy the heart...with a string attached, one she pulls ever-so-slightly with those delicious last words.
CUNNING will be worth the wait because AR never disappoints. Her skill at plotting and characterization is sexy, smart, and unforgettable. I anxiously await the continuation of this brilliant story.
This compelling, sexy story befits its empowered heroine, evoking something intrinsic about the loneliness of life in a wealthy and powerful family. Wealth and power doesn’t always provide stability. In Alex’s case, it might very well result in ruination.
But Alex is strong. Determined. Admirable. She makes drastic decisions, not without cautious hesitancy but with a daring amount of ambition. She’s the kind of heroine you love to root for. You want her to succeed. To overcome her family’s pressures. To muscle through her financial struggles. To find love. To find happiness with a man who doesn’t have a last name.
Nox is mysterious, dashing, devoted, and he’s not going to let her go. AR wanted to leave you wanting more at the conclusion of this book, and holy hell, she succeeded. I read the last page with a smile, a ragged sigh, and a whole lot of clenching WANT in my gut. She gives just enough to satisfy the heart...with a string attached, one she pulls ever-so-slightly with those delicious last words.
CUNNING will be worth the wait because AR never disappoints. Her skill at plotting and characterization is sexy, smart, and unforgettable. I anxiously await the continuation of this brilliant story.
onlyadream223's review
5.0
Wow! A definite must read.
I've heard so many great things about this author and wanted to give her a try. Imagine my delight when I saw that this beauty was free.
This book has everything I enjoy. A well written book, fleshed out characters and although it is a cliffhanger, the ending will have you wanting to buy the next one right away.
Alexandria "Charli" Collins is a lot of things... she's rich, smart and seems to have all she wants but, that is all an illusion. Alexandria is bound by family traditions and expectations and with the help of her best friend, sets it all aside for one week... that week marks the beginning of her end.
Normally, I go deeper into all of the main characters when I write a review. For the sake of this story, I have kept it vague. After all, that's all part of the allure, right?
As previously mentioned, this book ends in a cliffhanger and should be read in order. Book two was released in January 2016 so no wait is required. Happy reading!
I've heard so many great things about this author and wanted to give her a try. Imagine my delight when I saw that this beauty was free.
This book has everything I enjoy. A well written book, fleshed out characters and although it is a cliffhanger, the ending will have you wanting to buy the next one right away.
Alexandria "Charli" Collins is a lot of things... she's rich, smart and seems to have all she wants but, that is all an illusion. Alexandria is bound by family traditions and expectations and with the help of her best friend, sets it all aside for one week... that week marks the beginning of her end.
Normally, I go deeper into all of the main characters when I write a review. For the sake of this story, I have kept it vague. After all, that's all part of the allure, right?
As previously mentioned, this book ends in a cliffhanger and should be read in order. Book two was released in January 2016 so no wait is required. Happy reading!
dayveni's review against another edition
4.0
What a great start to the series! Aleatha is a master at pulling you in and I'm already invested in Charli and Nox. Diving straight into book 2!