Favorite Quote: “I know who you are… Who you really are.”
Five teenagers…
The St. Jude’s Home for Court Placed Juveniles is a nightmare run by an abusive pastor and his wife. Five teenagers try to band together for protection and safety. Carissa, the youngest and non-verbal. Rose, alone and pregnant. Simon, one mistake away from losing everything. Beth, a rich girl who is there for unknown reasons, and Tommy, the boy who loves her.
One deadly secret…
The only good part of living at St. Jude’s for Tommy is Beth and his love for her. When he and Beth are caught making out at school and a teacher tells the Pastor, it puts everyone in danger. Tommy is used to the beatings but when Beth is singled out for punishment, Tommy can’t sit back and let it happen.
A debt owed…
A single act seals their fate in the blood. When a mysterious man shows up, they are given one shot at freedom. The price? They owe a debt to him. And when he commands, they will come.
The Debt is a roller coaster ride as we are taken on a journey through a foster home run by a sadistic pastor and his equally cruel wife. Children are placed there for various reasons and struggle to stay healthy and alive until they are free. Fans of O’Keefe’s Bad Boy Romance series may notice some familiar names in here as this story is set in the same world. I can;t WAIT to see where O’Keefe runs with this. I do want to add a warning that this may trigger some as there is abuse, violence, and sexual assault.
As always, O’Keefe doesn’t hold back as she gives readers a front row seat to the dark and gritty edges life has to offer. O’Keefe offers no promises as she slowly peels back the layers to show us the truth and the price some pay for it. Though this novella is only fifty-two pages long, it reads like a full-length novel with a strong emotional storyline, intriguing characters, and a suspense-filled conflict. I was wiped by the end; completely wore out from the emotional avalanche I experienced while reading.
Heavily character driven, the story is told from alternating points of view. The dispassionate voices of these teenagers hits home far harder than if they were colored in fear and/or anger. O’Keefe does an excellent job setting the scene for the next book-Lost Without You-one of two full-length novels that make up the series. We are only given the bare bones of why these kids are in foster care but the overall feeling is they are victims of fate or bad parenting. We see the extreme length they are forced to go to and the price they have to pay.
This quick dark read is hard in the heart but necessary to understand the journey these kids will take in the future. I wholeheartedly recommend M O’Keefe’s The Debt and am looking forward to book two which releases June 19th. The Debt is currently being offered for free for a limited time. If you miss this deal, I am told this title will be included with book two.
What if Cinderella's parents were dead? And she was a high school student who stripped to survive? And her Prince Charming was actually her guardian? What if Cinderella's parents were dead? And she was a high school student who stripped to survive? And her Prince Charming was actually her guardian? And the wicked stepsister were actually five wicked brothers?
Well, then you would have Erin Watt's Paper Princess.
If dramalicious over the top YA is your drug of choice then look no further for your next fix. Watts takes the basic premise of Cinderella and slaps it around it to give readers a modern version that snatches you up and takes you on a wild, outrageous ride. Beware though, this devious writing duo leaves readers with a fist shaking cliffhanger. ...more
While this certainly parallels McKenna's Willing Victim to an extent, the reasons behind the protagonists actions are darker, resulting in a deeper meWhile this certainly parallels McKenna's Willing Victim to an extent, the reasons behind the protagonists actions are darker, resulting in a deeper mental and emotional baseline. A smooth flowing storyline addresses multiple subjects lines while slowly peeling back the layers of two extremely complicated characters. Pace handles these subject matters with grace and careful handling as both parties are far more fragile then first assumed. Sexually explicit scenes only add to the edgy intimacy that permeates the book. Though we aren't left with an HEA, Pace leaves readers with a sense of hope they could have a viable future together. ...more
Color me surprised, I actually liked this. Our hero is a jerk. I found his honesty refreshing and frankly funny at times. He trolls on line dating sitColor me surprised, I actually liked this. Our hero is a jerk. I found his honesty refreshing and frankly funny at times. He trolls on line dating sites for casual hook ups and once he's hit it...he quits it. In his defense, he's honest about it. He doesn't lie or use manipulation to score. The women know everything up front. It's one night and one night only of dinner and sex.
He has one online friend whom he engages in conversation and some naughty talk. When he finally meets her, he discovers everything about her is a lie. To late though, he has fallen for her and that angers him beyond belief.
The story is quick, unpadded, and lays it all out in a liner way with explicit terms. No real development doesn't allow for the reader to connect to the characters nor validate the connection they seem to be forming with each other. I can't say I really liked either of the protags. The hero has some deep seated issues and a potty mouth while the heroine is a liar.
The ending is melodramatic and stops on a dime. Heck of a cliffhanger. I got a deja vu feeling as there was another trilogy I read that used that same plot device at the end of the first installment. I am guessing the next two installments will devulge more into the MCs backgrounds and give us the needed information to see hows and whys to the way they are and if they stand a chance for something more.
I didn't like the the sense of double standard concerning the hero and his dismissal of the women who ignore his rules. He is portrayed as being mean and cruel for not softening his rules for the women trying to push him into something more both sexually and emotionally. If a man were to try and push a woman that way, we would be screaming he was being creepy, pushy, and crossing boundaries.
Regardless, I shall probably read the second installment. ...more
Hmmmm...I have mixed feelings for this book. The premise interested me-a semi autobiography story about a Master dom and his feelings on what BDSM is Hmmmm...I have mixed feelings for this book. The premise interested me-a semi autobiography story about a Master dom and his feelings on what BDSM is and what it entails from a male pov. Told in a narrative style using an interview to tell the story, it engaged me in the beginning. I enjoyed the authors views on BDSM especially as he explained what he felt being a dom meant and the different ways a D/s relationship can work. It's actually pretty much dummied down for the lay person-emotion not entering into it.
That being said, it began to unravel at the half way point when it abruptly introduced the romance. The author's voice switched from the detached in instructional style storyline to the arrogant billionaire erotic romance storyline when he began to spin his "stories" in order to titillate the woman interviewing him. We watch him reel her in only to slap her down as the classic issues plot line is slowly set up. I was disappointed in how quickly Leticia, the interviewer, lost her maturity and became a needy weepy lip biting mess whose attachment was better in line with someone who had actually been a relationship with the Master. I'm sorry, but a single kiss does not grant you rights to demand he or she loves you.
The ending is somewhat of a cliffhanger and I give it to author that the great reveal is not one normally employed. I was hoping for something a little more awe inspiring or darker in nature but, what can you do? We are also given clues that there is a second woman who will employ a Machiavellian MO in the future to keep the Master with her.
All in all an interesting book that had it's moments. Will I read the next one? Probably. While I didn't buy the romance, it definitely needs more development and depth, I did find the Master and his stories interesting. ...more
Satin and Steel reads like SOA fanfic. While I have no problems reading pubbed fanfic, I don't like when it's blatant. We have the Phantoms M2.5 stars
Satin and Steel reads like SOA fanfic. While I have no problems reading pubbed fanfic, I don't like when it's blatant. We have the Phantoms MC. Hawk-Pres. He and VP has issues. Dax- VP, blond hair viking. Girlfriend is a Dr. named Trish that he has been on and off with since high school. Wince- grunt w/mad computer skills. Young and tattooed up. Various other members that don't have a place in the story. The MC runs guns and are fighting with a Hispanic gang called the Chicos. If the Neo Nazis or Irish had been introduced, I would have just called it quits and left.
Despite my issues, Jayne does develop a unique storyline despite the familiar set up. I would have liked a better balance between the romance and the conflict. We spend way to much time in hero and heroine's head and don't get much of the surrounding story. The scenes drag in places, especially since heroine doesn't communicate well and the hero spends a majority of his time apologizing. There is a cliffhanger that made me want to stomp my kindle.