After months of teasing, postings about her discussions with Kane, and images of these two characters, we finally got an early release for this third installment in the Awakening Series.  While this can be read as a standalone, the characters from the other books make appearances.  The other two books were good. I loved Michael, probably the best, as a character, but Jackson was a perfect match for dear Zach.  And while both books were entertaining, neither held the grit that this one did for me.  Part of it may be that I immediately fell hard for both characters.  From their initial meeting, they were undeniably explosive together.

Kane was perfectly portrayed as an abused man with so many emotional walls. After a quite abusive relationship in his teen years, he shut himself completely off from any type of emotional connection with anyone and it is not until Ryker that the walls start to shatter. Ryker is just the perfect pairing for being able to see through the bullshit and see into the truth that is in Kane’s heart.

I’d built a wall around my heart and locked it inside an impenetrable barrier, but he seemed to have the damn key.

Ryker…absolutely perfect image.

There are some rough scenes between these two. Some harsh words and difficult situations and there are moments when you want to smack Kane upside the head and make him see reason. But there are the tender aww moments too that make you see inside of Kane and see exactly what Ryker sees.  #singlerose

And while there is the infamous drama around 85%...it worked for me.  There were issues and doubts from both parties and again trust is something that does not come easily for some and with Ryker’s history it was something that needed to be addressed.

Overall, this was just so well-crafted and told in such a beautiful way.  They grew as a couple and formed such a strong relationship knowing and loving the bad with the good.  It worked.

“Because dammit, Kane, you’re all I want. You are everything in a man that infuriates the hell out of me, but I keep coming back for more. Even though you’re stubborn and have asshole tendencies… even though you’re unfiltered and arrogant… I see you. The real you.” He smiled before pressing our heads together. “I’m aware of how stupid that sounds, but it’s true. There are moments when you look at me where I see your kind heart and your passion. Sometimes there’s a light in your eyes after I kiss you, one that you then hide.”

I couldn’t speak, so I stayed quiet and just let him do the talking.

“And the way I feel around you is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before,” he continued, pulling back and looking into my eyes. “I can’t get you out of my head, and I’m tired of fighting it. You might be an asshole… but I want you to be my asshole.”

And an asshole you can’t help but love to pieces.

Ryker smiled. “You ramble a lot when you’re nervous.”

“I’m not nervous.” I looked into his blue eyes and felt my heart twinge. He was too damn handsome. “Okay, maybe I am a little. Throwing you on the bed and fucking you senseless is easy, but taking you out to dinner makes my palms all sweaty.”

I adored the relationships they held with their families as well.  And while unconventional, everything seemed so genuine and real.  As for Devon…I wanted to kick his ass but I also kinda want his “Awakening” as well.  LOL He has a story to tell for sure.

And as a sidenote, I loved the addition of the relationship with Nemesis.  Such a beautiful way to show the love and understanding Kane has in his heart and a sort of recognition of the life he has had.  He is to Nem as Ryker is to him.  Heartwarming to say the least.

**Highly Recommended**

It felt right kissing him. Having him so close, our mouths moving together, made me come alive inside. He completed me, as if I’d been waiting for him my entire life to bring me the piece of myself I’d been missing. A part that only he carried, and now that he was with me, the pieces merged and slid into place.