Giving it Up by Amber Lin

Allie prowls the club for a man who will use her hard and then ditch her. Hey, it's not rape if she wants it. Instead she finds Colin, who looks tough but treats her tenderly, despite her protests.

He tempts her, but kindness and a few mindblowing orgasms aren't enough to put her back together again. Allie has no hope for a real relationship. Two years ago her best friend betrayed her in the worst possible way – she’d be stupid to trust a man again. Besides, she has her daughter to think of, the only good thing to have come from that dark night.

But when her rapist returns, threatening her sanity and custody of her daughter, Allie turns to Colin. Under his protection and patient touch, Allie begins to heal and learns to hope. Colin’s no saint, though, and his criminal past draws danger of its own. Allie must fight to protect her child and the man she loves, hoping her newfound power will be enough to save them all.

Rhonda's Review

Over the past couple of years, I have had the pleasure of making some great author contacts and recently Amber Lin was one of them. I was very excited to be given the opportunity to read and review this novel. As I had hoped, Lin did not disappoint!! She brought a dark edgy element to her story, and I have discovered within the past year that I like reading this type of story, I love it when an author can get my emotions flowing! I think Lin has done an excellent job with her story and giving her characters life.

Giving It Up is a first person narrative of Allie Winters who at a young age was a victim of rape, a betrayal of her best friend that also left her with a child. One of the saddest parts of her story is that it’s not the only time her trust is violated. This was such an emotional journey into the mind and heart of a young lady that after two years still hasn’t come to terms with what happened to her. Allie thinks she is in control of her life, but really she’s letting the events of her past control her. She of course still harbors the self blame, and is on a path of self destruction until the night she encounters Colin, who on a night of a random sexual encounters she craves, gives her the experience she’s never had. This night setting in motion the events that will change Allie’s future.

Colin owns his own restaurant and has plenty going for him, Allie wonders why he would even want her, a damaged single parent with deep issues. But Colin has secrets and a past of his own. He has shady business dealings with his brother Philip which land directly at Allie’s doorstep. Although Colin is a man of few words, I can really relate to him because he reminds me a lot of my husband. Colin is there for Allie when her rapist / daughter’s father shows up. Allie is afraid he will try to take her daughter from her, so she turns to Colin for help, which Colin is more than happy to give. I thought Colin was very sweet toward Allie’s two year old daughter, but their happy little bubble is short lived when more secrets, lies and betrayal come to the surface. There were times I was a little frustrated at Allie and Colin’s lack of communication, but that is part of what makes the story.

I don’t want to give up too many details here, but I will say that the secondary cast of characters were wonderful, from Shelly who is Allie’s best friend, and also Philip who is Colin’s brother. I was also very excited to learn that these two will be getting a story, and I’m very much looking forward to them especially Philip! I also have to give a shout out to Linda, their neighbor. For all her quirkiness she turned into a bit of a mother figure for Allie.

This story was heartbreaking, and dark, and very emotional. It was suspenseful, and erotic, and best of all it was the journey of a young woman coming to terms with what happened to her and finally gaining some control over her life. I was very moved when she finally opened up about her experiences, and started to believe in herself and her worth. I’m definitely looking forward to more from Amber Lin.