Book 2 of the Games series
Can love save them?
After her father commits a crime that shatters her family, eighteen-year-old Delaney Cross is tired of pretending everything is all right. Packing up her car, she sets out to find the people her father hurt. Her search leads her to places she’s never been—and into the arms of Adrian Westfall.
To the outside world, Adrian is a sexy, charming ladies’ man. But his playboy persona is just an act. Secretly his soul is tortured by a memory too painful to share. Only Delaney seems to see through his façade to the real man underneath. And for the first time in his life, Adrian feels he can begin to open up about his past.
Together, Adrian and Delaney share a passionate love they never expected to find. Yet both still harbor their own secrets. When the dark truth is finally revealed, will it bring them closer together—or tear them apart forever?
Charade(Book 1): Goodreads/Amazon/B&N/Kim's 4 star review
(Charade is Currently on sale for 99 cents)
"...real life isn't made of happily-ever-afters."
Delaney is also traumatized by her past. The people who should have been there for her, ruined her young life. Through no fault of her own, she feels guilt for another family's tragedy. She is on a mission to try to make amends for a wrong that she did not commit, but because someone close to her made a horrible mistake. The only person she has to support her is her brother Maddox. She seeks out Adrian in order to try to make it better and try to help in some way. She is caring, nurturing, and really has everyone's best interest at heart. Even if her logic is kind of faulty. She does not expect to begin to like him or care about him. And as time goes on and feelings emerge, it just makes it harder to keep her secret from him.
Even though Adrian doeesn't know it, we're tied together. Like there's this thin thread connecting us that Adrian can't see. He's been bleeding for four years because of something my father did and I can't let that go.
Or it might the be the ghosts in her eyes. The dark shadows that lurk there and make me wonder what's chasing her when the light go out.
"I want you to bare to me, my little ghost. I don't know all your secrets and you know none of mine, but I don't want to wear masks with you right now. I want to see all of you. Show me those ghosts in your eyes and I'll try to kiss them away. Let me bare my scars to you and feel your lips on them." Because fuck if I don't need to tear down this facade. I know she sees how broken I am, but to admit it is different. To acknowledge the masks are there--regardless if she knows what they are or not--and to feel her try to comfort me. To give her that in return is a burning need inside me.
Thanks to Nyrae Dawn, Forever(Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Masquerade(Book 2): Goodreads
After meeting Adrian in Charade, I have been looking forward to his story. But I never dreamed how tragic and difficult his story would be.
"...real life isn't made of happily-ever-afters."
The pain that is hiding under his facade is deep, intense, and suffocating. He hides by masking it with drugs, alcohol, and women. But he can't forget. He is broken, ravaged by guilt and regret, and does not love himself. He has run from his past and his family. He is alone, but for his friends and they do not even know the real Adrian. I wanted to hug him, soothe his demons, and make it all okay for him. It was heartbreaking, raw, and overwhelming.
Pain grabs hold of me, threatens to pull me under, and for the millionth time I wonder why I don't let it. It would be so much easier than walking around in the masks I do now.
Pain grabs hold of me, threatens to pull me under, and for the millionth time I wonder why I don't let it. It would be so much easier than walking around in the masks I do now.
Delaney is also traumatized by her past. The people who should have been there for her, ruined her young life. Through no fault of her own, she feels guilt for another family's tragedy. She is on a mission to try to make amends for a wrong that she did not commit, but because someone close to her made a horrible mistake. The only person she has to support her is her brother Maddox. She seeks out Adrian in order to try to make it better and try to help in some way. She is caring, nurturing, and really has everyone's best interest at heart. Even if her logic is kind of faulty. She does not expect to begin to like him or care about him. And as time goes on and feelings emerge, it just makes it harder to keep her secret from him.
Even though Adrian doeesn't know it, we're tied together. Like there's this thin thread connecting us that Adrian can't see. He's been bleeding for four years because of something my father did and I can't let that go.
Or it might the be the ghosts in her eyes. The dark shadows that lurk there and make me wonder what's chasing her when the light go out.
They both are broken, shattered, and lost. They have ghosts in their eyes, put on a front, and have secrets simmering under the surface. But they begin to break down the walls and get inside each other bit by bit.
My heart hurt for them from the beginning of this book til the end. It was seriously gut wrenching, deep, intense pain that these two faced. But I think because of that, it made their connection so much more special. It was heartfelt and beautiful how deeply their souls seemed to touch and how desperate they were to make a that connection.
"I want you to bare to me, my little ghost. I don't know all your secrets and you know none of mine, but I don't want to wear masks with you right now. I want to see all of you. Show me those ghosts in your eyes and I'll try to kiss them away. Let me bare my scars to you and feel your lips on them." Because fuck if I don't need to tear down this facade. I know she sees how broken I am, but to admit it is different. To acknowledge the masks are there--regardless if she knows what they are or not--and to feel her try to comfort me. To give her that in return is a burning need inside me.
But eventually the secrets and lies had to come to the surface and rock their fragile bond to the core. It was an intense, emotional journey towards forgiveness and redemption. I devoured every page and held out hope that Adrian and Delaney could begin to heal each other and themselves. It made me feel, made me cry, and made me want to hug them both.
I loved her bossy, protective, caring motorcycle riding, big brother Maddox who will be the subject of the next book Masquerade. He has all kinds of potential. And I enjoyed seeing more of Colt and Cheyenne and how their relationship has progressed since Charade. They are such a support for Adrian even before they truly understand. I still love them together.
This book was raw and powerful. The words weren't always pretty, but the emotion was there throughout. There were twists and turns, dramas and heartbreaks, and moments of pure sweetness. I literally gasped out loud at several times during this book. There are so many feelings of loss, regret, guilt, sadness, and personal pain. But through the journey these two took together, you began to see the beginnings of forgiveness, redemption, reconnection, support, and love. But it is not an easy road. Nyrae Dawn has a way of taking people in horrible circumstances and make you feel everything they do. Every ounce of pain, sadness, and small joys. I was completely drawn in and engaged throughout. This is not a story I will forget easily.
Thanks to Nyrae Dawn, Forever(Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am a compulsive reader and writer who loves YA fiction.
I love nothing more than writing about young adults. There is something so fresh and fun about it. You can pretty much always find me with a book in my hand or open document in front of me.
I live in Southern California with my husband and two children.
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