How it began…
One day I was a high school teacher on summer break, leading a relatively uneventful but happy life. Or so I told myself. Later, I’d question that, as I would question pretty much everything I knew about me, my relationships, and my desires. It all began when my neighbor thrust a key to a storage unit at me. She’d bought it to make extra money after watching some storage auction show. Now she was on her way to the airport to elope with a man she barely knew, and she needed me to clear out the unit before the lease expires.
Soon, I was standing inside a small room that held the intimate details of another woman’s life, feeling uncomfortable, as if I was invading her privacy. Why had she let these items so neatly packed, possessions that she clearly cared about deeply, be lost at an auction? Driven to find out by some unnamed force, I began to dig, to discover this woman’s life, and yes, read her journals—-dark, erotic journals that I had no business reading. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. I read on obsessively, living out fantasies through her words that I’d never dare experience on my own, compelled by the three men in her life, none of whom had names. I read onward until the last terrifying dark entry left me certain that something had happened to this woman. I had to find her and be sure she was okay.
Before long, I was taking her job for the summer at the art gallery, living her life, and she was nowhere to be found. I was becoming someone I didn’t know. I was becoming her.
The dark, passion it becomes…
Now, I am working at a prestigious gallery, where I have always dreamed of being, and I’ve been delivered to the doorstep of several men, all of which I envision as one I’ve read about in the journal. But there is one man that will call to me, that will awaken me in ways I never believed possible. That man is the ruggedly sexy artist, Chris Merit, who wants to paint me. He is rich and famous, and dark in ways I shouldn’t find intriguing, but I do. I so do. I don’t understand why his dark side appeals to me, but the attraction between us is rich with velvety promises of satisfaction. Chris is dark, and so are his desires, but I cannot turn away. He is damaged beneath his confident good looks and need for control, and in some way, I feel he needs me. I need him.
All I know for certain is that he knows me like I don’t even know me, and he says I know him. Still, I keep asking myself — do I know him? Did he know her, the journal writer, and where is she? And why doesn’t it seem to matter anymore? There is just him and me, and the burn for more.
One day I was a high school teacher on summer break, leading a relatively uneventful but happy life. Or so I told myself. Later, I’d question that, as I would question pretty much everything I knew about me, my relationships, and my desires. It all began when my neighbor thrust a key to a storage unit at me. She’d bought it to make extra money after watching some storage auction show. Now she was on her way to the airport to elope with a man she barely knew, and she needed me to clear out the unit before the lease expires.
Soon, I was standing inside a small room that held the intimate details of another woman’s life, feeling uncomfortable, as if I was invading her privacy. Why had she let these items so neatly packed, possessions that she clearly cared about deeply, be lost at an auction? Driven to find out by some unnamed force, I began to dig, to discover this woman’s life, and yes, read her journals—-dark, erotic journals that I had no business reading. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. I read on obsessively, living out fantasies through her words that I’d never dare experience on my own, compelled by the three men in her life, none of whom had names. I read onward until the last terrifying dark entry left me certain that something had happened to this woman. I had to find her and be sure she was okay.
Before long, I was taking her job for the summer at the art gallery, living her life, and she was nowhere to be found. I was becoming someone I didn’t know. I was becoming her.
The dark, passion it becomes…
Now, I am working at a prestigious gallery, where I have always dreamed of being, and I’ve been delivered to the doorstep of several men, all of which I envision as one I’ve read about in the journal. But there is one man that will call to me, that will awaken me in ways I never believed possible. That man is the ruggedly sexy artist, Chris Merit, who wants to paint me. He is rich and famous, and dark in ways I shouldn’t find intriguing, but I do. I so do. I don’t understand why his dark side appeals to me, but the attraction between us is rich with velvety promises of satisfaction. Chris is dark, and so are his desires, but I cannot turn away. He is damaged beneath his confident good looks and need for control, and in some way, I feel he needs me. I need him.
All I know for certain is that he knows me like I don’t even know me, and he says I know him. Still, I keep asking myself — do I know him? Did he know her, the journal writer, and where is she? And why doesn’t it seem to matter anymore? There is just him and me, and the burn for more.
Thessa's Review:
A Strong 4.5 Stars
He shoved me
against the wall and then tore down my panties. His lips pressed
close to my ear, his breath hot on my neck, as he said, ‘you know
the rules, you know I have to punish you.’
**Fans self** Holy
hell.
This book exceeded my
expectations. The storyline was unique for it was two stories woven
into one. We have Rebecca’s journals, which are the catalyst for
the whole thing, and then there’s Sara’s side. Aside from
Rebecca’s journal entries, this tale is told in Sara’s POV.
Sara’s meek little
life as a school teacher is about to change when she finds Rebecca’s
journals from an abandoned storage unit that her neighbor, Ella,
purchases for profit. The journal entries immediately draw Sara’s
attention. The entries are filled with Rebecca’s mysterious erotic
love life. They are very personal and very private. Why would Rebecca
just leave these lying around? Did something happen to her?
These are the questions
that drive Sara to look for her. Following a small amount of clues
that she gathers leads her to the Allure Gallery, where Rebecca was
last known to work. What she didn’t expect was to be hired as
Rebecca’s fill in after she encounters the Gallery’s manager at a
function. Sara has always dreamed of working in the Art Industry.
This is perfect way to not only make her dream a reality, but to also
learn more about Rebecca.
While at the Gallery,
she meets the most interesting people, particularly Mark Compton, her
manger, and Chris Merit, a well known artist. Both men are sexy as
sin, but are opposite in many ways. Mark is dominating, intimidating,
curt and demanding. He’s got this dangerous air about him, but oh
is he alluring. Is he the mystery man mentioned in Rebecca’s story?
He certainly fits the bill.
“Nothing has
changed, Sara. I’m still not the guy who’ll give you a white
picket fence.” ~ Chris Merit
Then there’s Chris.
Sara and he instantly hit it off. Chris is controlling, but in an
extremely sexy, panty dropping way. He’s charming, and even though
he’s a rich and famous artist, he’s very humble. Sara, as well as
myself, fell head over heels in lust for this man. He seems to be
very protective of Sara when it comes to Mark. Chris certainly has a
way of marking his territory when it comes to her. Chris and Sara
ultimately begin a torrid sexual relationship. Their chemistry was
off the charts. Holy hell, it’s HOT. However, is their relationship
purely sexual or is there something else brewing between them? Can
Sara trust him?
In regards to its
similarities to Fifty Shades, I don’t really know what to say. Yes,
Chris & Mark are Doms. Yes, the heroine has moments of clumsiness
and she definitely doesn’t believe the effect she has on her male
counterparts. Yes, the setting in San Francisco adds a little bit of
an allure and mystery to the story. And a big YES: The sex scenes are
unforgettable and blisteringly hot. But aside from that, that’s it.
At least that’s all I could find. Or maybe I was just too busy
enjoying the story itself to even care to look for similarities. I
don’t know. I don’t care. I absolutely loved it.
This first story in the
trilogy left you with a huge cliffhanger and multiple questions that
have yet to be answered: What happened to Rebecca? Who is the mystery
man mentioned in her journals? Where is Ella? (Something about her
jetting off like that didn’t sit right with me). Who was the creep
at the storage facility? Is Chris going to ultimately push Sara away
because he isn’t relationship material? Gahhhh! There are so many
freaking unanswered questions, I can go on and on about it. To say I
want the next book now is an understatement.
Thank you Lisa Renee
Jones and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book :)
1 comment:
I'm dying to read this one, it sounds great, but I'm a little nervous about the cliffhanger....What do, what to do??
Great review! Thanks!
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