The Librarian Principle
   by: Helena Hunting

Publication Date: Dec. 21, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Erotic Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by BocciPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 298 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Annaliese Harper knows that one tiny mistake can jeopardize a career before it’s even begun. Letting your boss find the extensive collection of porn on your personal laptop is one way. Sleeping with him is another. Liese manages to do both.

As the new librarian at a prestigious small-town private high school, Liese is drawn to her sexy, charismatic principal, Ryder Whitehall—an attraction she refuses to acknowledge given their relationship and her recent liberation from a delusional ex-boyfriend.

Liese is certain Ryder’s flirtation is the product of her sex-deprived imagination—until he discovers her digital porn stash during working hours and demands a private meeting. Behind closed doors, their attraction explodes into a dangerous, passionate affair that not only threatens their jobs and reputations, but most of all, their hearts.

 As a teacher myself, I have to admit- when I first heard the premise of this one, I was beyond excited. A forbidden workplace relationship that just so happens to take place between a principal and a teacher? Oooh boy. However, what really seals the deal is how their relationship begins. Hunting had me chuckling one minute and then wanting to hide my face the next because I was so embarrassed for our female lead, Liese. Hunting did a great job of taking something so scandalous and turning it into a seriously sexy time though.

Liese has just taken the open librarian position at a prestigious high school in the town of Fullerton and has been harboring secret lustful thoughts for her new principal ever since she interviewed. Her best friend Marissa finds it extremely entertaining to photoshop Liese and Principal Whitehall (Ryder) into very sexy, very compromising videos.... which she keeps stored on her personal laptop. Naturally, when Liese can't find her flash drive to save something she's working on with Ryder, she brings her entire laptop to school with her... and accidentally clicks on the naughty stash for him to see. So... talk about embarrassing! As angry and affronted as Ryder seems upon finding himself involved in such actions, he's actually incredibly turned on by what he finds and has barely been keeping it together when it comes to Liese. 

I was afraid I wasn't going to like Ryder very much for the crap he pulls on Liese after their first night together. I'm still not thrilled with his reasoning behind why he acted the way he did, but I did eventually get over it. He is a good guy though and afterwards goes above and beyond to prove this to Liese. Liese, however, was so awesome. She refuses to put up with his crap and isn't afraid to call him on it. I was really proud of her! She is no weak heroine who will let a few pretty words make everything ok. She makes him work to earn her trust! He does redeem himself for the standoffish way he acted the morning after their first time together though. He doesn't want to let her go and wants to pursue a relationship with her, despite their precarious situation. They are treading very dangerous waters with their relationship, especially since they can't seem to keep their hands to themselves! I loved the flirty, sexy touches though- it really ramped up the sexual tension between them. Plus, the fact they could get caught is definitely a bit exhilarating.

I really enjoyed our side characters Marissa and Blake. Marissa is Liese's best friend and is really there for her whenever she needs it. She worries for her friend's safety when it comes to her stalker of an ex and she definitely is Team Ride-Me. I mean, Ryder. Blake is Liese's co-worker and I was a little wary of him in the beginning, but he was actually a good guy also. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. This was a fun story that managed to make me blush, giggle, and gasp as I read. I liked Ryder and Liese's chemistry and watching them navigate the forbidden waters of a relationship while trying to keep their careers intact. They walk a very dangerous line, but the reward is worth the risk.

  

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The Librarian Principle

by: Helena Hunting

Contemporary Romance

 

 

Annaliese Harper knows that one tiny mistake can jeopardize a career before it’s even begun. Letting your boss find the extensive collection of porn on your personal laptop is one way. Sleeping with him is another. Liese manages to do both.

As the new librarian at a prestigious small-town private high school, Liese is drawn to her sexy, charismatic principal, Ryder Whitehall—an attraction she refuses to acknowledge given their relationship and her recent liberation from a delusional ex-boyfriend.

Liese is certain Ryder’s flirtation is the product of her sex-deprived imagination—until he discovers her digital porn stash during working hours and demands a private meeting. Behind closed doors, their attraction explodes into a dangerous, passionate affair that not only threatens their jobs and reputations, but most of all, their hearts.

 

 

Liese was in the middle of adjusting her skirt when her phone chimed. She rummaged around inside her purse and found Marissa had sent her a message. Against her better judgment, she checked it. There was no text, only a photo, and it was too small in the message window to adequately discern the content. She clicked the image, and it expanded on the screen.
A noise that sounded vaguely like a cat dying escaped her. Marissa had done it again. Ryder's head was superimposed onto the body of yet another well-hung porn star, and this time the image also included a woman—superimposed with Liese’s face—sprawled out over a desk, much like the one she stood in front of now.
“Hi there.”
Liese screamed, caught completely unaware. She turned to find Ryder standing in her office doorway, leaning against the jamb, his coat thrown over his arm, briefcase in hand. His suit jacket was unbuttoned, giving him a more relaxed look than usual. And sexier. If that was possible.
“Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you,” he said. “You seemed rather invested in whatever you were reading just now.”
Liese hit the button on her phone, and the screen went blank. “It was my girlfriend,” she explained.
Ryder stared at her, unblinking.
At his lack of reaction, she elaborated. “My best friend—she's expecting me later this evening. She was just checking in.”
“Oh.” He sounded relieved for some reason she couldn't fathom. “Am I keeping you? We can reschedule for next week if you need to go.”
“No, no, it's fine. I'm happy to meet with you, unless you have another engagement.”
Liese slid her phone back into her purse, turning off the volume as she did so.
“I have no prior engagements.”
They stared at each other for a few interminable seconds before Liese realized they were on her territory, and she should invite him in. “Would you like to work in my office or out there?” Liese gestured to the empty library beyond.
He glanced over his shoulder and then surveyed their current surroundings. “I think your office would be more private.”
“Sure. Right.” Liese nodded, clutching the back of her chair.
“Unless you'd be more comfortable working out there,” Ryder supplied, watching her speculatively from his spot in the doorway.
“What? Oh, no. Not at all. I'm perfectly comfortable with you in me.”
His shock formed a counterpoint to her horror.
“In my office! I'm perfectly comfortable working with you in my office.”

 

Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She’s putting her degree in English Lit to good use by writing contemporary erotic romance. She is the author of Clipped Wings, her debut novel, and Inked Armor.​

 

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Cracks in the Armor (Clipped Wings #2.5)
   by: Helena Hunting

Publication Date: June 23, 2014
Publisher: Pocket Star
Genre: Contemporary
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 72 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Chris, a sexy tattoo artist, tries to win the heart of Sarah, a grad student with little interest in him, in this second e-short and follow-up to Helena Hunting’s gripping love story, Clipped Wings—“twisted, dark, incredibly erotic…a love story like no other” (USA TODAY bestselling author Alice Clayton).

Part owner of the Chicago tattoo shop Inked Armor, Chris Zelter is a talented artist who decorates skin with gorgeous designs. He might look the part of the typical jacked-up, inked-up bad-boy, but underneath is a fiercely loyal, complicated man. Kicked out at sixteen, Chris has had to fend for himself for the last twelve years, making his Inked Armor crew as much family as they are business partners. For him, it’s enough—until he meets Sarah Adamson.

A grad student waitressing at the local strip club, Sarah is used to propositions and crude comments. The job is a means to an end—finish her MBA, pay off the tuition loans, and get a good job. Then she won’t have to rely on anyone to take care of her. So when brawny, tatted up Chris begins hanging out at the club, she rebuffs his advances. At first. But Chris isn’t like her usual clientele: despite his hard exterior, he’s almost…sweet.

Sometimes, the people with the roughest edges have the biggest hearts.

 

 

When I first heard Helena was doing another novella from Chris's POV, I was ecstatic. I really loved reading Between the Cracks, which was also from his POV and seeing his and Sarah's relationship begin to develop into more. However, Between the Cracks, while from Chris's POV, really served as a 'bridge' novella between the first and second books. While I enjoyed this novella, it wasn't quite what I was expecting. I expected it to focus more on Chris and Sarah and their relationship, and serve as a transitioning piece to their full length novel. Instead, it felt more like filler, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I think I would have just preferred Sarah and Chris's book instead.

 

Chris really cares for Sarah and the smallest gestures speak volumes. He wants to move forward with her but is afraid of her reaction. He doesn't want to mess up what they do have by pressuring her for something she may not be ready for.

 

Sarah also cares for Chris and she's afraid of what that means. She is afraid to get close to him for fear of him letting her down. Chris leaves his apartment key for her every night, and as much as she wants to keep it for herself, she wants him to tell her to keep it. She knows he hates her working at The Dollhouse, but she needs that money. Hell, she hates working there and there are some nights she can't bear to be with Chris because of the shame she feels after being pawed at. Time with Chris is precious as it is with work and school and her upcoming internship.

 

These two definitely have their own obstacles to overcome, but I think with a bit more communication they can really make it work.

 

I did like that we checked in with our favorite characters and saw them through Chris's eyes. Hayden and Tenley are happy, having just moved in together, but are not without their issues. Hayden really struggles with his OCD and there are still things in Tenley's past that come back to her haunt her. It will take time, but these two are headed in the right direction.

 

Overall, while I would have just preferred Sarah and Chris's book, I did enjoy catching up with everyone, but I would have preferred it centered more around Sarah and Chris.

 

Inked Armor (Clipped Wings #2)
   by: Helena Hunting

Publication Date: May 13, 2014
Publisher: Gallery Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 368 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks
My Rating: 5/5 stars

In this follow-up to Clipped Wings, the emotional love story continues between Hayden and Tenley; two young people who desperately want to love and be loved but are afraid to completely let go of their pasts.

In the wake of losing Tenley Page, tattooist Hayden Stryker's tumultuous past is haunting him. Plagued by nightmares about the murder of his parents, Hayden reaches out again to Tenley. Having run from the man she doesn't believe she deserves, Tenley finally lays her guilt to rest. Despite their intense physical attraction, Hayden and Tenley struggle to repair their fragile emotional connection. As Hayden gets closer to the truth, he must find a way to reconcile his guilt over his parents' death in order to keep the woman who finally cracked his armor, and found her way into his heart.

 

 

I honestly don't even know where to begin! I am so in love with this series and this book was such an emotional one to read. Where Clipped Wings really dealt with Tenley and getting her to open up to Hayden and watching a relationship develop between them, I felt this was Hayden's book. He is laid bare for the world to see and my heart broke over and over for him. We knew from the first book that he too has a very painful past, but we really get to see just how much he is affected by it here. Helena Hunting has done such an incredible job with these characters and their journey and I don't want to let them go!

 

Pacing: I felt this read quite a bit faster than Clipped Wings did. Clipped Wings was really character driven and while this one was too, I felt there was so much more going on and at stake. I read with some serious apprehension because I was so afraid shit was going to hit the fan and I was going to be a weeping mess.

 

Storyline: Clipped Wings ended with a sucker punch to the gut. Hayden and Tenley's world has been thrown into further chaos and while Tenley is trying to lay her past to rest, Hayden's is coming back with a vengeance. He is plagued with vivid, horrifying nightmares and is a complete mess. He feels betrayed and abandoned and no matter what his friends try to do, he's not coping. Tenley is trying to settle her past and I love that she's not letting herself be manipulated and scared off by her brother-in-law Trey. She is determined to get back to Hayden and she hopes that it's not too late to make amends and salvage their relationship. This book primarily focuses on Hayden and Tenley working to pick up the pieces and get that emotional connection back. Their chemistry is out of this world and are just stronger when they are together. We do have some added mystery in this book surrounding the murder of Hayden's parents. Between dealing with the intensity of their emotions for one another (both physically and emotionally), Hayden's past, and what their future holds, Hayden and Tenley's story is one you will not forget.

 

Characters: Both Tenley and Hayden are very needy, dependent characters. While that would normally bother me, Hunting really makes you look at these two and their connection and say: I want that. It is intense, emotional, and not one that they can just throw away. Hayden really had to come to terms with his demons in this book and I'm glad he finally was able to come to a place where he realized that he had to do something instead of continue on the path he was taking. He needs Tenley. Without her, he isn't able to function. Hayden has some very compulsive tendencies and Tenley seems to balance him out when he needs her to. He is really stronger and able to face the pain of his past, but only because she's there with him every step of the way. She keeps him from slipping into the blackness that threatens to consume him and while she hurt him deeply, he is able to forgive her because plain and simply: he can't survive without her. Having lost his parents in the way he did, Hayden is desperate for stability. Tenley has upset that stability and his world has crashed down around him. While I don't agree with her for going the route she did, I understand her at the same time. She wants to feel like she's worthy of him and she can't feel that way with her past life still hanging over their heads.

 

I felt she was the crutch in this book and the one to remain strong, where it was all Hayden in the first book. She loves him and needs him as much as he needs her. Coming back from dealing with her past, Tenley is a bit more timid and withdrawn, which angers Hayden. As upset as he is with her for leaving, her well-being comes first for him and is there to protect and support her no matter what. As the book progresses and the two work to overcome the tension between them, we do see that timid nature dissolve, but she will always have triggers of the past and thankfully Hayden to lean on during those times. He brings her back to the present and convinces her it will be okay and I just freaking loved that about their relationship. It's give and take, passion and heat, love and kindness.

 

There are some incredibly sexy scenes in this book and I love that Hunting didn't hold back. Tenley and Hayden are wild and unashamed of their raw passion with one another, so it wouldn't make sense to downplay their sexual relationship.

 

Tenley and Hayden's friends are present in this book also and I really loved that they are a family. They support one another, watch out for one another, and love unconditionally. Tenley and Hayden are lucky to have people like that in their corner and I'm glad Hunting placed such emphasis on the secondary characters.

 

I will admit I felt a couple of storylines could have used a bit more resolution. I have a hard time believing Trey would just admit defeat after the lengths he went to for the estate and I am curious as to the deeper meaning behind Hayden's nightmares. He experiences the same ones over and over and I felt they were foreshadowing, but we didn't really see anything come of them. Still, those two things were minor and they in no way changed how I felt about the book or how it ended.

 

Final Thoughts: I can't recommend this series enough. I love how the characters have developed, the role ink plays and how significant it is to these characters' lives, as well as the fact that even the most broken of characters can find the strength and will to fight for what they love as well as their inner demons. Hunting has such a detailed, but beautiful writing style and I cannot wait to read more by her!

 

 

Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She's putting her English degree to good use by writing popular fiction. She is the author of Clipped Wings, her debut novel, and Inked Armor.

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CUPCAKES AND INK:

 

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CLIPPED WINGS:

 

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BETWEEN THE CRACKS:

 

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CRACKS IN THE ARMOR:

 

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Between the Cracks (Clipped Wings #1.5)
   by: Helena Hunting

Publication Date: May 6, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count:
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 5/5 stars

Tattooist Chris Zelter doesn’t always make the best decisions when it comes to the people he cares about, or the women he gets involved with. Things have changed recently, though. Chris has lost interest in casual flings as he finds himself wrapped up in Sarah Adamson, a waitress at the local strip club he frequents. It takes months of persistent attention before she finally agrees to date him, and he's determined not to mess it up.

Just as things are finally going his way, Chris receives a troubled phone call in the middle of the night from Hayden Stryker, his best friend and business partner. Unexpected revelations and the sudden departure of his girlfriend, Tenley, has nearly sent Hayden over the edge. Add in a speeding ticket and an impounded car, and Hayden is balanced on the precipice of a total meltdown. Worried about his friend, Chris sets out on a rescue road trip, first to get Hayden, and then to bring back Tenley. The two men run into unforeseen roadblocks, proving even the best intentions don’t guarantee results.

Chris and Hayden return to Chicago empty handed, and Chris is left feeling as if he’s let down all the people who matter, especially Sarah. But Chris discovers that sometimes the best way to deal with failure is to find a way to forget about it. And losing himself in Sarah is the perfect way to do just that.

 

 

 

I am a huge fan of this series and I am was so excited to learn that Chris got his own novella! I wasn't sure what to make of him at first in Clipped Wings, but this novella really shows how loyal and good of a friend he is to Hayden. He doesn't have all the answers or really understand why Tenley has done what she has, but regardless Hayden is like a brother to him and he will be there for him no matter what. I love their bromance!

 

I really enjoyed this novella, as it is a really great bridge to the next book in the series. It gives you an idea of how Hayden is doing and feeling after everything that went down with Tenley in the first book. And I have to say- my heart is broken for him. Not only him, but everyone close to him and Tenley have been affected, especially Sarah- Tenley's neighbor.

 

I really enjoyed Chris and Sarah's budding relationship in the first book. They have some really steamy chemistry together and I am thrilled they are getting another novella later this summer.

 

Overall, I felt this novella was really important to the series, as it gives you an insight of just how much of a mess Hayden is. He is upset and vulnerable and Chris is seriously worried he won't come back from this. I am ready to dive into Inked Armor so I can find out just what Tenley is thinking.... and how she's going to proceed from here!

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Between the Cracks (Clipped Wings #1.5)

by: Helena Hunting

New Adult Contemporary Romance

 May 6, 2014

 

Tattooist Chris Zelter doesn’t always make the best decisions when it comes to the people he cares about, or the women he gets involved with. Things have changed recently, though. Chris has lost interest in casual flings as he finds himself wrapped up in Sarah Adamson, a waitress at the local strip club he frequents. It takes months of persistent attention before she finally agrees to date him, and he's determined not to mess it up.

Just as things are finally going his way, Chris receives a troubled phone call in the middle of the night from Hayden Stryker, his best friend and business partner. Unexpected revelations and the sudden departure of his girlfriend, Tenley, has nearly sent Hayden over the edge. Add in a speeding ticket and an impounded car, and Hayden is balanced on the precipice of a total meltdown. Worried about his friend, Chris sets out on a rescue road trip, first to get Hayden, and then to bring back Tenley. The two men run into unforeseen roadblocks, proving even the best intentions don’t guarantee results.

Chris and Hayden return to Chicago empty handed, and Chris is left feeling as if he’s let down all the people who matter, especially Sarah. But Chris discovers that sometimes the best way to deal with failure is to find a way to forget about it. And losing himself in Sarah is the perfect way to do just that.

 

 

She sat down next to me and nabbed the remote, flicking on the TV. The Discovery channel came on, featuring some nature program. “Are you okay with this?”

Sarah lifted my arm, ducking under it so she could burrow into my side.“Sure. It’s cool.” We could watch static for all I cared. It was just nice to chill with her.

During the show, Sarah migrated from her own couch cushion to my lap. I liked that she was all tucked up against me. I dwarfed most women, but Sarah was tall, so I didn’t feel like I would break her if I hugged her. She snuggled in closer, the top of her head under my chin.

“What’s up, you okay?” I asked, giving her a squeeze.

“I just wish I knew what was going on with Tenley.” She traced the perimeter of one of the buildings tattooed on my arm.

“Yeah. That whole situation is messed up.” I kissed her hair.

She lifted her head. “Do you really think she'll be back?”

She looked so sad. It made me wish I’d done a better job of convincing Hayden to stay and work things out. “You said yourself she’s in love with him. That’s got to make it hard to walk away permanently. Especially after everything she’s already been through.”

She nodded, as if she wanted to believe it too. Neither of us looked away, and the heavy weight of her anxiety became something more like desperation, charging the air.

Her fingers skimmed my jaw, running over the stubble I hadn’t shaved because I didn’t want to use her razor without asking first. Sarah’s palm came to rest against the side of my neck. She lifted her chin and tugged, pulling my mouth down. It started out innocent enough, but that didn’t last. Sarah shifted around, straddling my lap as she sucked on my bottom lip. Her thumbs stroked down the side of my neck as she tilted her head and slipped her tongue into my mouth. She tasted like mint tea and some kind of sweet lip balm or whatever girls put on their lips to keep them soft and kissable. Which hers were.

I tried not to get too excited. Sarah was upset. Maybe she was looking for a diversion from the shittiness of the past couple of days. I knew I was, but I wasn’t going to make the next move, in case she regretted the decision when she wasn’t so keyed up.

I kept my hands on her waist, but the urge to move them higher or lower was pretty damn difficult to curb when she started making noises to accompany the tongue action. Those long nails of hers went under my shirt, but the thing was so tight she couldn’t get far. Sarah broke off the kiss and went for the hem, pushing it up until my abs were exposed. “Want to help me out here?” she asked, all attitude, even though she was breathless.

“Not when you ask like that, no.”

She stopping fighting with the shirt long enough to meet my gaze. I tried not to smile at her angry expression. Sarah was aggressive. It was part of the reason I liked her. She was also no nonsense and had a biting sense of humor.

She flipped her hair over her shoulder and batted her eyelashes. “Please?”

I lifted my arms over my head. “Will you look at that? Must be magic.”

 

 

 

Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She’s putting her degree in English Lit to good use by writing contemporary erotic romance. She is the author of Clipped Wings, her debut novel, and Inked Armor.

 

Clipped Wings (Clipped Wings #1)
   by: Helena Hunting

Publication Date: March 4, 2014
Publisher: Gallery Books
Genre: Contemporary
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 400 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

An emotional love story that follows the touch-and-go relationship of Hayden and Tenley; two young people who desperately want to love and be loved but are afraid to completely let go of their pasts.

As Hayden and Tenley navigate their newfound but slightly unstable relationship, they want to trust each other, but Hayden is hiding a dark and shameful past that he doesn't ever want Tenley to find out about. And Tenley has secrets of her own that could make Hayden run away forever. When Tenley asks Hayden to put a beautifully elaborate tattoo across her back, the two form what they thought was an unshakeable bond. But when Tenley's past shows up on her doorstep, will Hayden stand by her side...or run?

 

 

I decided to read Cupcakes and Ink, the prequel novella to Clipped Wings first and while it was not necessary to understand the latter, I'm glad I did because it really set the stage and gave me an idea of who these characters are and their initial thoughts of one another.

 

I will say this: these books pack an emotional punch. Lately, I have tended to stay away from those really heavy reads, but I could not pass this one up and I'm glad I didn't! It is a slower developing/ slower paced novel, so I will make that known first. That did not detract from my reading experience, though. If anything, I don't think Hunting could have accelerated those things without taking away from the story overall.

 

Tenley and Hayden are such beautifully broken characters and my heart absolutely ached for the both of them. They have known pain, suffering, and loss in their lives and are now slowly trying to move past that which has kept them shattered and broken for so long. They are drawn to one another, but don't jump right into anything. Both are interested, but Tenley's past is more recent than Hayden's, so she is more withdrawn and skittish than him.

 

I can't even imagine what Tenley's life must be like carrying both the physical and emotional scars she does from her past. She has moved to Chicago to escape the reminders and the crushing weight the past holds. She moves into an apartment that is across the street from Inked Armor, a tattoo parlor where a beautiful, dark-haired man works. He represents freedom by not conforming to society's norms, but rather expresses his individuality through his ink and piercings.

 

"Hayden was, in part, responsible for my inability to find solace. No matter how many times I spoke to him, the intensity of my reaction didn't wane. From a single glance it was clear that he was fearless, unchained, and unfettered by the confines of what society deemed acceptable; Hayden embodied everything I wasn't but wanted to be. I spent my entire life trying to color inside the lines, only to wind up restrained by them. Hayden obliterated social constructs. His presence alone made a statement. I found him captivating, which was why I attempted to keep a safe distance."

 

I feel this quote hits the nail on the head for what this book is about. Tenley longs for that reckless abandon, but is also living with the nightmare of what happened to her. She is afraid of what Hayden will make her feel and she is even more afraid that he will take her apart piece by piece and she isn't emotionally ready to be laid bare for all to see. She is also afraid to let him in for fear of losing him- and she can't deal with any more loss in her life.

 

Hayden, on the other hand, has his own share of ghosts and demons that he has had to overcome. His ink may now represent his freedom and individuality, but that's not what it started as. Hayden sought the pain and the numbness the needle provided. He has not lived a perfect life and had made a lot of mistakes in his past that he is still trying to stay on top of even to this day. Luckily, he has a great support system in his friends that work at Inked Armor with him.

 

Hayden and Tenley's relationship is a very fragile one. Both teeter on the edge of this great precipice, where one tiny thing could send them toppling over the edge and that upped the intensity of this book alone. I do love Hayden's persistence though. Tenley gets under his skin and for the first time in a long time he wants to explore this avenue and see where it takes him. There is this constant push and pull when it comes to Hayden. He has to be careful with Tenley, as she is already so skittish and has a hard time being around him because he is so intense. I loved when he pushed the boundaries though. A kiss on the cheek, a simple touch.... such small actions do not go unnoticed by her and while it makes her uncomfortable, she revels in those moments. The moment these two finally give in to what they have been denying themselves for months is explosive and I loved seeing these two come unraveled around one another.

 

Both are terrified of losing the other and fear their pasts will push them away, not realizing that by prolonging the inevitable, it will make things much worse. The book ends with a punch to the gut and I am dying to read Inked Armor. Tenley and Hayden have quite a bit to figure out and their pasts have been brought to the forefront of their lives and they can't just continue to push it away- they must deal with it.

 

I liked the side characters in this novel also. Lisa, Jamie, Cassie, and Sarah were great for both Hayden and Tenley. Chris is one of those characters that I felt torn over. Hayden and Chris are good friends and have been through a lot of shit together, but Chris angered me a bit. I thought it was wrong of him to bring Hayden back into the bear's den. I know Hayden is stronger than he once was, but bringing him face to face with a past he wants to let go of seemed unfair to me. Sarah ended up being great for Tenley and I loved how protective she was of her friend, especially towards Hayden.

 

How would I describe this book overall? Intense. Passionate. Emotional. RAW. Hunting has done a brilliant job of writing such a story and I was wrecked by what happened to both Hayden and Tenley. Yet, even after all of that there is such beauty to be found in the blackness. Tenley and Hayden have something special and their connection isn't one that can just be cast aside.