Break the Sky
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A sizzling hot, new SPIRAL OF BLISS spin-off novel from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nina Lane 

“Do you ever let go, storm girl?” he asked. “Ever lose control? Ever surrender?” 

“Never,” I whispered. “I never surrender.” 

A smile of both promise and warning curved his beautiful mouth. 

“You will.” 

Atmospheric scientist Kelsey March is under siege. Her tornado research project is on the skids and she’s fighting conflict in her university department. So when irresistible bad boy Archer West suggests a hot, wild fling while he’s in town, Kelsey is unable to resist his sexy offer. 

Kelsey and Archer embark on a intense, exhilarating affair. But soon their differences and private battles encroach on their desire, and Kelsey discovers that Archer is a storm she can’t control.

After working on the house all day Sunday, I called Kelsey the following morning. I had a limited time with her. I wasn’t going to waste it by dragging things out. Especially now that I’d had a taste of her explosive heat. A taste of the fire that melted all her ice. “Hello?” Her voice was scotch and honey. 

“What’re you wearing?” I asked. 

“A frown.” 

“Mmm. Sexy.” 

“Archer, I’m at work,” she said tartly. 

“In a classroom?” 

“No. I’m in my office.” 

“Alone?” 

“Yes.” 

“So tell me what you’re wearing.” 

There was a pause. Taut energy crackled over the line. 

“Archer, I had rules because I have boundaries—” 

“One rule,” I told her. “No boundaries. Not with me.” 

“Or what?” she challenged. 

“Or you don’t get fucked.” 

She inhaled sharply. “You are so crude.” 

“Uh huh. And you like it. What are you wearing?” 

“A suit.” She sounded cross. “A tailored, gray wool suit.” 

“And underneath?” 

“A blue, Brooks Brothers dress shirt.” 

“And under that?” 

“I’m not going to tell you.” 

“I dare you to tell me,” I said. 

“I do not accept the dare.” 

“Then I double-dog dare you.” 

She gave a muffled laugh, like she was trying not to. “What are you wearing?” 

“Jeans and T-shirt. I’m all hot and sweaty from working.” 

“Really?” Now she sounded intrigued. “Are you wearing a tool belt?” 

“I was.” 

“Hmm.” 

“Tell me about your sexy underwear,” I said. 

“No.” 

“You’ve got a bad attitude, lady. You need to be spanked as well as fucked.” 

She made a noise that sounded like a half groan, half laugh. “You do go all out, don’t you?” 

“You haven’t seen anything yet. You ever been spanked?” 

There was a second of silence, as if she was thinking. 

“No.” She almost sounded surprised. “I haven’t.” 

“First time for everything. What color is your bra?” 

A sigh came over the line. “Blue, okay? Dark blue silk with white trim.” 

“Matching panties?” 

“Yes.” 

“Are they wet?” 

“God, Archer. Yes.” 

I rubbed my erection through my jeans. “What about your shoes?” 

“Navy pumps with three-inch heels.” 

“I’ll be at your place at seven,” I said. “I want you waiting in your heels and lingerie. Nothing else.” 

“And if I’m not?” she replied, putting some of that ire back into her voice. 

“You’ll be in trouble.” 

“So if I am, I avoid… um, punishment?” 

I laughed. “Nice try, storm girl. But you’re getting spanked no matter what.”

Kelsey and Archer meet in a steamy encounter that neither expected to find, nor did they know exactly who they were interacting with at the time. When they make the connection later, their reactions to the revelation said so much about each of their individual personalities.

Archer is continually underestimated, by everyone around him. When he arrives in Mirror Lake to meet his nephew and perhaps spend some times with his brother, he is met with suspicion and hostility. Each time his motives were questioned or his rough past brought up, I hurt for him.

Kelsey had a slightly easier road than Archer, though it was still filled with heartbreak and challenges. Facing tenure at the university and the challenge of funding a research project that was slow to produce results, Kelsey had plenty of things to juggle as she explored her feelings for Archer. We learn so much about Kelsey’s past in this one, things that I never would have guessed she had been through. It was enlightening to learn about how she chose meteorology and became a professor. 

I loved the way Archer could so completely read Kelsey, and how Kelsey became a champion of sorts for Archer. Together they were exactly what the other never knew they needed. To me, this makes the perfect type of couple, even as it brings about it’s own set of challenges for the pair. 

The abundance of storm references, whether the tornados that Kelsey studies, or the state of their turbulent relationship, was a great connection to both characters. While the connection to Kelsey was obvious, Archer had just as much storm within himself that is was the perfect tie in for the relationship.

This book was as much the brothers remembering the relationship they once had as it was about Kelsey and Archer. I liked the steps the brothers take to repair their relationship, and the baby steps (and set-backs) they take give hope that someday they can find the common ground they once had.

I think I can say I liked this better than Dean and Liv’s stories. Kelsey and Archer pulled me in faster and more completely that the original trilogy did. To me, it was faster paced, more tumultuous, and more fun to read. But I also loved the bits and pieces we get of Dean and Liv after their story is complete.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Archer West is sex and sin on a stick.

When it comes to books centered around tatted and pierced, broody alpha males; I am like a junkie needing their next fix. Archer’s character was no exception to this rule. With just the synopsis, Nina made sure I needed him in my greedy little hands STAT. I was excited to see she pulled out all the stops when she wrote this character with the perfect balance of saint vs sinner. Our hunky bad boy was not anywhere close to being a disappointment.

Kelsey, although she was a refreshingly strong heroine, was wound so tight that she never let her crazy hang loose. Her actions, reactions, and decisions were carefully made with her career in mind. Archer, on the other hand, was THE EXACT opposite of his love; his crazy hung out proudly in all its glory. Together and individually, our main squeezes were fun and enticing, especially when our delectable bad boy brought out the wild, uninhibited side of our Storm Girl. 

Archer and Kelsey's contrasting personalities sucked me in quickly, as it added a certain spice to the dynamics of their relationship. When these two actually let the sparks fly between them, all bets were off. They pushed, they pulled, and they collided. And when they met in the middle, our MCs were positively fan yourself tantalizing. Between Archer's naughty talk and their sexual chemistry, they will set your sheets on fire.

The thing is...

As much as I enjoyed Archer and Kelsey’s characters, I also struggled with this couple. Their characters were perfectly developed, but their relationship left me feeling both highs and lows. There was never any doubt in my mind that Archer and Kelsey balanced the other one out and were exactly what each other needed in life. Nina provided us with great moments that really highlighted this; however, no matter how hard I tried, I just could not connect to them on a deeper level outside of friendship and lust. I felt as though each time I was given a taste of their emotional connection I was then thrown right back into their sexual chemistry. At these points, I yearned to go back to exploring them outside of the sex and physical attraction. A lot of that though has to do with the fact that I am totally an emotions kind of girl. My brain and heart thrive on reads that provide an intense roller coaster type journey; therefore, in instances like this, it truly is a “this is me, not you” type of thing. 

As you can see I enjoyed Archer, but my heart lies with Dean. Maybe that was my issue; I came into Archer’s journey with different visions and expectations. I guess I was expecting something more along the lines of Dean and Liv. They truly are a hard act to follow. Their journey was just so damn intense and magical that Archer and Kelsey’s relationship could not seem to meet the same level of appeal for me.

Speaking of Liv and Dean, I loved being able to spend time with them again. They have to be one of my all-time favorite book couples. Their family scenes held me captivated. Archer with his nephew was wicked sweet, probably my favorite parts of the book. Those two absolutely melted my heart. 

Overall, I enjoyed this story, but it was just missing a little somethin’ somethin’ for me to fall head over heels in love with it. Nevertheless, I would still totally recommend Break the Sky. Just because it did not work for me doesn't mean it will not be the perfect read for you. As a HUGE fan of Nina Lane, I am anxious to seeing what Nina hits us with next.

Thank you, Nina Lane, for a complimentary copy of Breaking the Sky.