Review: Convicted (Consequences, #3), by Aleatha Romig

Convicted by Aleatha Romig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The third book in the ‘Consequences’ series, ‘Convicted’ definitely takes the story of Tony and Claire in a new direction. Like earlier books in this series, I could not tear myself away. Even as I struggled to adjust to the new direction that this story was headed, I was completely enthralled.

This book sees Tony’s behavior transforming, as he tries to make amends for his past transgressions. Initially, I had a difficult time with the “new and improved” Tony. After all, he is one of the most controlling and manipulative characters I’ve ever encountered. For a while, I wondered if he had received a personality transplant. The changes that began in ‘Truth’, with regards to his attempts to respect Claire’s autonomy, finally take in ‘Convicted’.

All of the lies and deceptions finally come to light in ‘Convicted’. Some things were already known, some were suspected, while others were a complete surprise. Finally, all of the pieces come together and all of the players are revealed.

Tony is held accountable for his actions, at last. The tables are turned on him and he gets a taste of his own medicine. I had mixed feelings about this, but I think it was necessary in the end.

The danger is at an all-time high for Claire and her family. It seems that every time her and Tony start to make progress, something happens to wreck their happily ever after. This is especially true in ‘Convicted’. (Don’t worry though. It all works out in the end.)

The toll of the stress is especially tough on Claire. She is certainly changed in this book, almost unrecognizable for much of this book. It was very tragic in that regard.

Similar to ‘Truth’, the supporting characters in ‘Convicted’ play a major role. Some take on a nurturing, protective role. Others have their duplicitous natures exposed. Each plays a critical role in the story.

I am being intentionally vague because I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone. This book brings everything full-circle. I cannot get enough of Tony and Claire. Every time that I thought I knew where this story would lead, Aleatha Romig would surprise me. This series continues to blow my mind away.

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Review: Truth (Consequences, #2), by Aleatha Romig

Truth by Aleatha Romig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While the ‘Consequences’ series is one of my all-time favorite series, ‘Truth’ is my absolute favorite book in the series. That isn’t to say that all of the books in this series aren’t wonderful — they are. However, this book is so damn great that I can’t even begin to express how much I love it.

I frequently find myself returning to this book and rereading my favorite parts. I’m a glutton for punishment that way. Never has a story made me feel more conflicted…or more addicted, than the story of Tony and Claire. I just cannot get enough of this screwed up, controversial and suspenseful story.

After the huge upset at the end of ‘Consequences’, it is no surprise that ‘Truth’ takes Claire and Tony’s story in a new direction. So much has changed. Yet, so much remains the same.

While many of Claire’s actions continue to be irrational and perplexing, I am so glad that Aleatha Romig dreamed up her character. Otherwise, I would have never experienced this phenomenal story. While all rational thought should send Claire running as far away from Tony as she can get, I’m so glad that she continues to defy all reason and repeatedly engages in his games. I cannot get enough of it!

In comparison to her demeanor in ‘Consequences’, ‘Truth’ shows a more independent and strong-minded version of Claire. She is no longer trapped at Tony’s mansion, at the mercy of his violent whims. This book sees Claire pursue more of an “offensive” approach to her interactions with Tony, whereas Claire had previously been limited to a sort of passive resistance.

Nevertheless, Tony is not one to be out-maneuvered. Time and time again, he proves that he is still in control. The back and forth antics of Tony and Claire keeps me flipping the pages every time I read this book.

Even though I should hate Tony, I just can’t. That is the beauty of this series. In fact, as “truths” are revealed and more of his horrendous actions come to light, I find myself trying to fight a stronger pull to him. He is the epitome of an anti-hero. I love him more, despite all reason, with each new detail shared. I can relate to Claire in that regard.

This second book in the series begins a slow unveiling of Tony’s motivations. Little by little, Claire begins to unearth details of a their families’ shared past. The depth of Tony’s hunger for revenge is astounding. Claire tries to gather clues to figure out exactly where she fits into the picture.

This book was jam-packed with information. Blink and you’ll miss something. Each time I read it, I pick up on something else that I overlooked before.

Not only are “truths” revealed in this book, but new mysteries surface. For every question answered, more questions arise. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Once again, Claire finds herself in danger. Only this time, the person trying to harm her is unknown. Is Tony really trying to turn over a new leaf or is he up to his old tricks? Can Claire ever trust him after everything that he’s done? Is there somebody else that wants to do her harm?

In addition to all of the facts that are unveiled in this book, the introduction of several new characters makes for a multi-dimensional story. Claire finds an unlikely friend in Amber, the fiancée of her recently deceased ex-boyfriend. Amber’s brother, Harry, also plays a pivotal role in this book, helping Claire adjust to her new life. Phil, a private investigator hired by Tony, also ends up being a key player this time around. The introduction of Derek and Sophia Burke adds yet another layer to this story, while familiar characters like Courtney and Brent evolve further.

I don’t want to give too much away, as I believe that this series should be experienced. I cannot begin to coherently state how much I love this series, or why. It is simply spectacular!

If you like darker reads, full of suspense, romance and mystery, then this is one is a must-read. You have to go into it with an open mind though. This story is not for those with “triggers” related to abuse, etc. It is full of controversial, offensive subject matter. However, if you love stories that mess with your head and make you step outside of your comfort zone, then you don’t want to miss it.

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Review: Entrapment (Infidelity, #4), by Aleatha Romig

Entrapment by Aleatha Romig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Intense

The fourth book in the ‘Infidelity’ series, ‘Entrapment’ serves to build tension and keep you on the edge of your seat. With only one book remaining in the series, this books paves the way for what is bound to be an explosive ending. Of course, you’ll be left hanging for a while longer, dying to know what fate awaits Alex and Nox, until the last book is released. Surely, you didn’t think your questions would be answered yet.

Picking up where the last book left off, Alex is back under the control of the diabolical trio–Alton, Suzanna and Bryce. Every move she makes is watched and her free will has been forfeited. The constant threat of having her mother harmed or being denied access to her mother is used to keep her in line.

Meanwhile, Nox and his father team up to try and rescue the women that they love from their house of horrors. Despite their troubled history, they have finally found some common ground and put their differences aside temporarily. It was nice to see the father-son duo working together for a change.

While I found Alex’s choices to be pretty frustrating in this book, I can see that the groundwork has been laid for an amazing finale. I spent a lot of time wanting to shake some sense into Alex this time around, much like Nox, I’m sure. Time after time, she placed herself in increasingly compromising positions. It was like she lost all sense of self-preservation.

Chelsea plays a more pivotal role in this installment as well. Her character really kept me engaged in the story. It was clear that she was suffering even more than Alex. Yet, she hung around out of a sense of loyalty to her best friend, despite being treated horribly. I gained a whole new respect for Chelsea.

Bryce also showed his true colors in this book. We’ve seen glimpses of his arrogant, ill-tempered behavior before, but now we’re given the whole, ugly truth. He is a psychopath!

When he was in a scene, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. This guy is a violent predator that gets off on humiliation and domination. Rest assured that Bryce probably has a string of victims everywhere he’s traveled.

Oren and Adelaide’s history continues to be revealed little by little. I enjoyed every little crumb of their story that was thrown my way. Poor Adelaide deserves to have someone watching out for her for a change.

Patrick also plays a crucial role in this book. I just love his character. Like Chelsea, he proves to be a loyal friend to Alex. His mother also stepped up to help out in this book, which was a nice twist.

While I loved the way everything seems to be coming together and building up to a big ending, I have to admit that I’m ready to see this series come to a close. With each book, this story gets more complicated and convoluted. I’ve enjoyed it, but I’m ready to see things come to a close.

The things that Alex and her mother have endured for the sake of money, all while claiming not to care about the money, is ridiculous. Why they just haven’t given Alton the middle finger and walked away is beyond me. It is kind of unbelievable, especially when they’ve both had incredibly wealthy men that have wanted to play knight in shining armor. I just don’t get it.

Overall, I thought this was another great addition to the series. In spite of my few reservations, I continue to enjoy this series. After the huge cliffhanger that this book ended with, I am dying to see how everything ends.

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Review: Fidelity (Infidelity, #5), by Aleatha Romig

Fidelity by Aleatha Romig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Aleatha Romig is one of my all-time favorite authors. She has a way of pulling me into her stories and keeping me utterly captivated from start to finish. I am addicted to her special brand of antiheroes. Nobody can craft a guy that you love to hate and hate to love quite like her.

It goes without saying that I devoured every word of the ‘Infidelity’ series. I loved the taboo and twisted circumstances that surrounded Nox and Charli throughout this series. They were nothing, if not complicated.

That being said, this series was not my favorite of Ms. Romig’s series. While I love the way she takes the time out to develop her characters and the storyline, at times that meant that the story seemed to move at a snail’s pace. There were several times when I found myself questioning the necessity of some of the redundant details while reading this series. Book 4, in particular, seemed to have several slow spots for me.

The fifth, and final, book in the series, ‘Fidelity’ ties up all of the loose ends. I wasn’t left with any lingering questions. I also felt quite satisfied with the way everything worked out, which was a far cry from how unsettled I felt at the end of the last book.

As expected, Nox and Charli, aka Alex, are a huge part of this book. However, I found myself equally intrigued with Oren and Adelaide’s story. Some of the supporting characters seemed to become a more important part of the story this time around, giving way to some new questions. I wonder if any of them will get their own spin-off books.

I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Fidelity’. It was a fantastic conclusion to a great series. As much as I enjoyed this series, I have to say that I’m glad to take a break from the Montagues, Fitzgeralds, Demetris and Spencers. It was nice to see things eventually work themselves out, but it was definitely exhausting.

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Review: Deception (Infidelity, #3), by Aleatha Romig

Deception by Aleatha Romig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In this third book in the ‘Infidelity’ series, Alexandria’s life continues to prove to be ever more complicated than imagined. Betrayal after betrayal comes to light, revealing a complex web of deceit. The manipulations and lies are everywhere, with her own family seemingly controlling things from afar.

Despite a few rough patches, this book shows Nox and Charli settling into a more stable relationship. However, secrets revealed about Nox’s business affairs may prove to haunt them yet. It seems that his life is not entirely his own, much like Charli’s.

What made this book memorable to me was the history between Oren and Adelaide. As their past relationship was unveiled in small pieces interspersed among the present-day viewpoints, I found myself having to fight the urge to skip ahead until the next tidbit of their story was told. I was, and still am, dying to learn the full extent of what transpired between them.

Adelaide also proved to be the most interesting character for me in the present-day storyline as well. Finally, she is growing a spine and setting out to right some wrongs. Aside from her past with Oren, more details are provided about her past at Montague Manor, which provide more insight. She’s finally trying to fight back, even if doing so places her in grave danger.

Like each of the earlier books in this series, ‘Deception’ ends with a cliffhanger. Ms. Romig has dropped a big bomb and we’ll have to wait until September to see where she’s going to take us. With Alex back Under the influence of her crazy stepfather, there’s no telling what’s to come.

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Review: Cunning (Infidelity, #2), by Aleatha Romig

Cunning by Aleatha Romig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Picking up where the first book left off, Nox now “owns” Alex for a year. Gone is the considerate man she was falling in love with in Del Mar, replaced by a cold, shut-off stranger, determined to degrade and punish her. Alex is determined to make it through this year and to leave him wanting her when their time is up.

As Alex and Nox’s story unfolds, they begin to reconnect again. Nox has some serious control and trust issues to work through. Meanwhile, Alex’s past refuses to go away and she has yet to explain everything about who she is to Nox.

When Alex’s best friend and roommate is attacked, they take a trip back to San Francisco. While there, Alex is confronted with some abhorrent accusations about Nox. Being far from forthcoming about his deceased wife, Nox inadvertently causes Alex’s suspicions to mount.

Flashing back in time, the story of Alex’s mother, Adelaide, unfolds. It seems that her relationship with Alex’s step-father, Alton, is more miserable than it first seemed. I actually felt bad for Adelaide as she recounted the events that led up to her marriage to Alton.

Talk about cold and calculating! This family is more screwed up than I could have imagined. It seems that Alex has more weight on her shoulders than she ever could have known.

Little by little, the mysteries surrounding Alex and Nox are beginning to be exposed. I enjoyed this chapter in their evolving story, but have to admit that I didn’t love it as much as I expected to. I expected some darkness and a twisted, disturbed anti-hero in Nox, reminiscent of Tony Rawlings. It didn’t happen. This book felt like it provided the necessary background information for things to come, but never really built to a climax for me.

Usually, Ms. Romig has me on the edge of my seat. This time around, the story seemed kind of “flat” for me. I kept waiting for something big to happen, but it never came. There was a bit of a twist at the end, but I’m sure it will be explained as a play on words in the next book.

Overall, I give it a solid 4 stars. Despite my gripes, Ms. Romig still writes a fantastic story. At her worst, her books are still far superior to most of the books I read. I’ll definitely be continuing this series. I only hope that the next book is a little more eventful. So many seeds have been planted now and I’m dying to see what becomes of them.

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Review: Betrayal (Infidelity, #1), by Aleatha Romig

Betrayal by Aleatha Romig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What A Ride!

I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in this series! I don’t think I’ve ever one-click, pre-ordered so quickly! The suspense is going to kill me while I wait two more months for the next book to be released.

After graduating from Stanford, Alex decides to spend a week with her best friend at a resort, cutting loose before she moves to NYC to begin law school at Columbia. She vows to have a week of fun, the likes of which responsible Alex never allowed herself to have before. Assuming the name of “Charli”, her free-spirited, fun-loving alter-ego, she finds more than she’d bargained for when she falls for the enigmatic Nox.

One week of fun was all it was supposed to be. No last names. No personal details. It was what they agreed upon. Alex couldn’t have imagined that one week would change her life so drastically.

Shortly after her time with Nox, Alex finds her world being turned upside down again. Summoned to return home by her mother, Alex is plunged back into a world she thought she’d left behind.

In no uncertain terms, she’s informed that she’s expected to marry and continue her family name. Until she does as she’s told, she won’t have access to her trust fund, or the means to support her lifestyle or pay her tuition. She’s allowed to complete her first semester at Columbia, only because it was already paid for.

Arriving in New York City, Alex is desperate. Her situation leads her to make some decisions that she never would have considered before, even a month prior. Unexpectedly, her past soon collides with her present reality.

The book ends with a cliffhanger that will keep me guessing until the next book is released in January 2016. I loved this story, but am kicking myself for doing this to myself. I knew I’d have to wait for the next book to be released and that it would kill me. So, let the waiting begin!

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Review: Away from the Dark (The Light, #2), by Aleatha Romig

Away from the Dark by Aleatha Romig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

***I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley.com, in exchange for honest feedback.***

Aleatha Romig is one of my favorite authors. Ever since reading ‘Consequences’, I one-click anything she writes. She’s never let me down. Her books always mess with my mind and tear me up inside in the best possible way. She has a way of making me question all of the things that I thought I knew, obliterating any clear sense of right and wrong. She makes me explore those gray areas, where things aren’t always clear-cut.

While ‘Into the Light’ was full of questions and mystery, ‘Away from the Dark’ is full of answers. The pieces of the puzzle slowly piece themselves together, providing a comprehensive view of “The Light”. However, some truths are more terrifying than the lies.

As Sara’s memories come back to her, she is faced with the grim reality of her situation. She is fully aware of the evil that surrounds her, but powerless to stop it. Trying to save herself only lands her in greater danger, forcing her to rely upon the very man that she’s trying to escape.

Regardless of the situation, Sara fell in love with Jacob. After his true identity is revealed to Sara, they both struggle to come to terms with what that means for them. Can you really love an illusion? Does the end justify the means? Both Sara and Jacob do a lot of soul-searching in this book.

Admittedly, the book started a little slow for me. It went back in time a little to provide a more complete description of the events leading up to Sara’s escape at the end of the first book. While that information was critical, it killed me to be moving back in time versus forward. I was dying to know how everything would work out and patience isn’t a strength of mine.

That being said, once things started to move forward, I could not put it down. I literally fell asleep with my iPad on my chest and woke up in the middle of the night when it fell over and smacked me in the face, nearly breaking my nose! It is one of those books.

There were some twists and turns along the way. The suspense was incredible. Even the revelation of things that were known to readers at the end of the first book, seemed shocking – again – as Sara discovers them for the first time. I could feel the betrayal and heartache as if they were tangible.

As is the norm for Ms. Romig, the characters and storyline are extremely well-developed. The plot was complex and brilliant. The ending gave me chills.

If you love a story that is a little dark and full of suspense, this is a fantastic choice. I won’t give it away, but it is sooo worth it. I absolutely loved this unique story.

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Review: Into the Light, by Aleatha Romig

Into the Light by Aleatha Romig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As always, Ms. Romig has weaved an intricate web of deception that has completely captivated me. Nobody writes an antihero better than she does. Each of her books leaves me a twisted up, confounded and conflicted mess…and I love it!

This book tells the story of Stella and Sara, two seemingly different women with vastly different lives. One woman is fiercely independent and focused on her career. The other lives a life of submission, with virtually no control over her own life.

Stella is an investigative reporter looking for clues to her best friend’s disappearance. When she begins to dig deeper, she begins to unearth some disturbing facts about the number of females that have disappeared, or been murdered, in the area. She places herself in dangerous situations, causing her detective boyfriend to grow increasingly concerned.

Sara wakes up in a hospital following a bad car accident. She has no recollection of her life or any of the events preceding the accident. By her side from the time she awakens is a man she doesn’t remember, but who claims to be her husband, Jacob. She struggles to re-learn the ways of her life and the religious teachings of their community leader, Father Gabriel.

From beginning to end, I was completely absorbed in this story. I couldn’t read it fast enough, only to curse myself once it was over. This book blew my mind!

I thought I knew exactly what was going on pretty early on, but I was wrong. By about halfway I had figured part of the plot twist out, but had to await confirmation. However, I never figured it all out. This book surprised me around every corner.

I won’t say much more because I don’t want to give anything away. This is a book that needs to be experienced firsthand. It is hands-down, one of my favorite books of the year! I highly recommend this book. It is phenomenal!

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