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charlottenw1's review
2.0
I was really looking forward to this book. It's my first LJ Shen book and as much as I liked the sound of it, I just didn't enjoy the characters.
Maybe it was the audio or just the fact that I couldn't click with the characters overall. I really enjoyed Beat and loved some of his more tender moments when he was with Preston. Preston's character confused me. She was so switched on at times and then came across as a dumb blonde in the next scene. I understand why she was doing it to make others believe it but when it was her own narrative, it really frustrated me.
There were a fair few characters and I did get confused with who played what role in this kidnapping and the whole grand scheme of it all. At the same time there actually wasn't that many characters but I just couldn't pin point who was doing what and master minding all this.
I will try and read some of LJ Shens other stuff because I have her books but this one didn't set me on the right foot.
Maybe it was the audio or just the fact that I couldn't click with the characters overall. I really enjoyed Beat and loved some of his more tender moments when he was with Preston. Preston's character confused me. She was so switched on at times and then came across as a dumb blonde in the next scene. I understand why she was doing it to make others believe it but when it was her own narrative, it really frustrated me.
There were a fair few characters and I did get confused with who played what role in this kidnapping and the whole grand scheme of it all. At the same time there actually wasn't that many characters but I just couldn't pin point who was doing what and master minding all this.
I will try and read some of LJ Shens other stuff because I have her books but this one didn't set me on the right foot.
read_on_reader's review
5.0
Beat and Pea
This story was unique in a way that I ended up loving it. It starts off intense and the more you read and get through the book the more action packed and suspenseful it becomes. It honestly has my emotions all over the place because there are some really funny moments and then a lot of heart breaking ones. I loved how the two characters found love and passion for each other during the chaos that is their lives. Beat thinks he’s all some in this world but once he acknowledges his attraction and love for Pea he is devoted to her 100% and the same for Pea she has had a rough life lately and trusts no one but once she lets Beat in their chemistry is off the charts.
This story was unique in a way that I ended up loving it. It starts off intense and the more you read and get through the book the more action packed and suspenseful it becomes. It honestly has my emotions all over the place because there are some really funny moments and then a lot of heart breaking ones. I loved how the two characters found love and passion for each other during the chaos that is their lives. Beat thinks he’s all some in this world but once he acknowledges his attraction and love for Pea he is devoted to her 100% and the same for Pea she has had a rough life lately and trusts no one but once she lets Beat in their chemistry is off the charts.
chivon's review
5.0
Bonnie and Clyde love drama story .
It was an epic wild ride with emotional and traumatic twist and turns . LJShen always delivers with the sexy enemies to lovers stories and I was not disappointed. This is a re read for me but I loved it like my first time . Beat and Prescott are my favorite tortured opposite attract soul mates !
It was an epic wild ride with emotional and traumatic twist and turns . LJShen always delivers with the sexy enemies to lovers stories and I was not disappointed. This is a re read for me but I loved it like my first time . Beat and Prescott are my favorite tortured opposite attract soul mates !
daisyknox's review
5.0
All reviews posted at Tales of Love, Life, and Murder
I’ll get right to the point here and say flat-out that this is an amazing story with awesome characters, so good I’ve read it more than once. I’ve read everything in the LJ Shen catalog and this is one of my favorites. It’s very different from her usual plot but it’s a fast-paced book with an intriguing premise and characters you shouldn’t like but can’t help loving.
Prescott Burlington-Smyth is the most badass, kick ass heroine ever written, better than any superhero. She grew up rich with an absentee mother and her corrupt politician father. The only good thing in her life was her brother, Preston, who was disowned by his parents at eighteen when he came out to his family. He disappeared shortly thereafter and finding Preston is the only reason Prescott has stayed in California because there’s nothing she wants more than to leave this life behind. A few years back, she fell in love with the son of her father’s business partner and she had no idea what she was getting into with Camden Archer.
He’s the son of organized crime boss Godfrey Archer and Prescott suffered unimaginably at his hands, first as his naive young lover and later as his captive. She managed to escape from him at one point, taking enough of his dirty money to disappear across the Atlantic and start a new life in New York City but her own father ratted her out the Archer. He begged her to come home because her brother was missing and she’d felt guilty leaving him at home when she moved to London with Camden, so she went back to California against her better judgment only to find Archer and his henchman waiting for her. Prescott is resourceful and managed to escape captivity. She collaborated with a local motorcycle club who had a drug territory beef with Archer’s organization. Camden, Godfrey and Godfrey’s right hand, Sebastian, were supposed to die that night, but Camden escaped while the others went to prison and they’ll never stop hunting Prescott. She survived on the streets of Stockton for a bit, selling drugs stolen from Archer in the failed massacre attempt but they’ve managed to find her once again.
Prescott is now being held hostage by two low-level soldiers. She sees an opportunity with Nate “Beat” Vela and tries to convince him that they should be allies. When that doesn’t work, she seduces him and her new plan is foolproof. Not only is she young and beautiful, Nate was recently released from prison and he’s a young guy full of testosterone who’s been denied female contact for years. His story is almost as sad as hers. Nate’s a good guy who went to prison for defending his mother from his viciously abusive father. He hasn’t had an easy life and he’d kill again in a heartbeat but Nate has standards and is only violent to those who deserve his wrath. It’s vigilante justice but Nate is a likable, sympathetic character and I was rooting for him the whole time.
They forge an alliance to seek vengeance on those who have wronged Prescott, with a specific plan to split up at a certain point and go separate ways. It has to happen so they can stay alive and out of prison, but they quickly develop feelings for each other and that could cost them everything. This isn’t a story for the faint of heart and it’s a nail-biter. This is one of those books you read through in one sitting because it’s impossible to walk away from for any length of time. There’s a lot going on and too much at stake, so this isn’t a casual read of a chapter here, a few pages there. This book hooks you right from the start.
The tension is almost unbearable in some parts and the sexual tension between these two is off the charts. It’s a very steamy read and the love scenes are some of Shen’s best. It’s a story of loss and suffering and redemption and it’s worth every minute of your time.
chiklet09's review
2.0
Let me start by saying that I am a huge LJ Shen fan.....BUT.....Blood to Dust was not for me. I haven't taken 5 days to read a book in a long time, but I just could not get into this one.
Prescott was strong, yes...but I feel like there were too many bits and pieces to her story that were missing or didn't make sense. Nate was just an idiot, blinded by love.
Also....why on Earth was one of his journal entries dated February 30th?!?!?! It bothered me on a whole other level, and I am still thinking about it today. Overall, Blood to Dust was okay. It's not one I will read again, and cannot recommend...though it did have a lot of potential....it just didn't do it for me :(
Prescott was strong, yes...but I feel like there were too many bits and pieces to her story that were missing or didn't make sense. Nate was just an idiot, blinded by love.
Also....why on Earth was one of his journal entries dated February 30th?!?!?! It bothered me on a whole other level, and I am still thinking about it today. Overall, Blood to Dust was okay. It's not one I will read again, and cannot recommend...though it did have a lot of potential....it just didn't do it for me :(
brittanyreads07's review
5.0
I loved Blood to Dust! This story was filled with action, suspense and passion! I'm a fan of how L.J Shen writes dark stories and still allows her readers to feel the raw emotions between her characters. I rate this book 5 stars!
violetsbookjar's review
4.0
*le sigh*
Every girl, or guy (I don't judge), needs to come across a Nathaniel Thomas Vela. At least once in their life. ;)
Every girl, or guy (I don't judge), needs to come across a Nathaniel Thomas Vela. At least once in their life. ;)
kfriend's review
4.0
Holy smokes- what did I just read? I was expecting the more brooding, high emotional and turbulent love stories we normally get from LJ- but this knocked my socks off. We still get the great love story, complex characters, and rocky road to love, but we also get an epic Bonnie and Clyde type tale full of action and intrigue. So interesting- I couldn't put it down!