Man, where to begin with this one?


One important thing first: Heed the trigger warning, folks! Of course, I completely overlooked it before I began reading. I wouldn't go as far as saying that it was a mistake, because I got through the scenes intact and still liked the book. But I do think that the description and picturing of self-harm in all its' complexities and backrounds is done very realisticly. They are intense and real. This was not done by an author who had no idea what she was talking about and it showed in a way that might not be as "harmless" to other readers as it was to me. So, again, please heed the warnings.

What else? Yes, Ryder! Ryder breaks your heart - probably more than once. He is so many contradictory things at the same time, it made my head spin and still allowed me to understand him completely. He was so strong, yet felt so weak at times, it was almost impossible for him to bear. He seems so confident, but really has no feelings of self-worth, sometimes not even self-preservation. Hence, the abuse of alcohol and other substances.

And then we have Mason. My problem probably was, that as connected as I felt to Ryder, I didn't quite get the same grasp on Mason. At least not in the beginning, all the more though during the end.

I enjoyed the flow of the story very much. Their battles, their struggles, their communication and their communication problems drew me in and held me captive. And let's be honest, the sexual side of this relationship was pretty damn hot. And that's something I don't say too often in the "porn star" trope, mainly because I don't like "my" sex too porny, which annoyed to me quite often when reading "porn star" books. But it was well done here, so no complaints on that front. Parts of the dialogue and descriptions of feelings might have been a little bit too over the top if you ask me, but not overly so.

I also liked the development around the little "mystery/crime" part, even though it problably wasn't the most believable plot line. But that's when I actually connected fully to Mason.

About Ryder's mother thoough (his father is not worth even that much): Uhm, no. I didn't get her, I didn't believe her and I certainly couldn't forgive her. At all. Her regret didn't faze or touch me. Too little, too late.

All in all a solid read for me, at times a little too much, at times unebelievably intense, but still really good.

Oh my. It's one thing to read a book with a character like Ryder in third person. But to read it in first person. Wow! To get directly in his head I think it what totally made this book.

Although it was first person, I'm glad it switched between Ryder and Mason. I would have been disappointed to only get one POV. I really loved this book.

And I can't wait for Matt's story! That's gonna be fun.

Book: Taming Ryder (Souls of the Knight #2)
Author: Nicola Haken
Publication Date: 9/29/2014
Reviewed by: Tammy Payne- Book Nook Nuts
My Rating: 5 Stars

REVIEW
I was totally captivated by this story. Ryder we met in book 1 and you could tell he had a horrible past he was keeping to himself.

In this book we learn everything about Ryder and why he hides in the spotlight. He meets Mason who is now working with Back Door Productions and lets him move in with him. They quickly become good friends but something more. However Ryder will not get close or even think of falling in love with anyone.

Mason has just as many demons in his past as does Ryder so he doesn’t understand why Ryder is keeping himself some what distant. He has fallen hard for Ryder.

Can Ryder open up and learn to let love in his life?
Can Mason be what Ryder needs?

Grab your copy and find out !

I was gifted a copy of this book and I am giving my honest review

[a:Nicola Haken|7094294|Nicola Haken|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1368978448p2/7094294.jpg]

Book: Taming Ryder (Souls of the Knight #2)
Author: Nicola Haken
Publication Date: 9/29/2014
Reviewed by: Tammy Payne- Book Nook Nuts
My Rating: 5 Stars

REVIEW
I was totally captivated by this story. Ryder we met in book 1 and you could tell he had a horrible past he was keeping to himself.

In this book we learn everything about Ryder and why he hides in the spotlight. He meets Mason who is now working with Back Door Productions and lets him move in with him. They quickly become good friends but something more. However Ryder will not get close or even think of falling in love with anyone.

Mason has just as many demons in his past as does Ryder so he doesn’t understand why Ryder is keeping himself some what distant. He has fallen hard for Ryder.

Can Ryder open up and learn to let love in his life?
Can Mason be what Ryder needs?

Grab your copy and find out !

I was gifted a copy of this book and I am giving my honest review

[a:Nicola Haken|7094294|Nicola Haken|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1368978448p2/7094294.jpg]

26/3 - I just finished digesting Pretty Little Dead Things, fiction's answer to the stodgy, boiled plum pudding; now I need something light, so I thought I'd try a new (to me) Stephanie Laurens, which I've come to think of as fiction's answer to pavlova - light and fluffy, full of nothing but sugar and air. After reading the last four of Laurens' more recent releases I've come to expect Chick Lit from her rather than the romance of her good old days. If I go in with those lower expectations the story might be able to squeeze more than a disappointed three out of me, maybe. We'll see... To be continued...

Later, on page 68 - Best start to a Stephanie Laurens romance since On a Wicked Dawn. I love Ryder! I don't remember reading of any other heroes of his type that 'decide' it's time for them to marry and immediately focus all their thoughts and actions on one girl. Usually, they're unable to admit they've found the one or think she's just the one for right now. Laurens' writing seems to have become too wordy as she's gotten older, but I'm really enjoying the descriptions of Ryder stalking Mary from one event to another. I can't wait to see her reaction when he tells her the truth. To be continued...

Two pages later - "Waltzing with him was like whirling freely within a fragile, essentially intangible construct...", what the hell does that even mean? And what's with all the fragmented sentences? A basic rule of writing is that each and every sentence needs to make sense in it's own right, it shouldn't have to rely on what a previous/future sentence says in order to make sense to the reader. Laurens didn't write like this in her earlier books, I wonder what precipitated the change and why her editor has pulled her up and re-explained the rules of writing to her.

Luckily Mary and Ryder are two of the more engaging characters I've read this year, so I can skim the waffle without too much irritation because I want to continue reading of our couple's adventures in married life (and there are adventures because someone's trying to kill or injure them). To be continued...

 

29/3 - This was almost a return to the Laurens of the Captain Jack's Woman days. The romance was hot and romantic feeling, even with the waffle unnecessarily doubling (if not tripling) the length of the scenes; the characters had great chemistry; Ryder and Mary both had strong individual personalities; and I liked the reunion (and possibly the setting of the scene for a new series of Cynster romances featuring everyone's children) epilogue. I haven't read most of the earliest books in the original series, so while I know of the couples who attended the reunion picnic I haven't actually read their stories. Since this appears to be the end of the Cynsters, at least for the moment, I think I'll see if I can get my hands on the first book in the series (can't wait to read a Laurens book that I don't feel worried isn't going to live up to expectations, or if you consider the last four books, does live up to expectations). If you read the stories of Heather, Eliza, Angelica, and Henrietta and were dreadfully disappointed give this last one a go, it really did impress and surprise me with how much I enjoyed it.