Genres: Romantic Suspense, Dark Romance
Published by Indie/Self Published
Released on July 10, 2018
Pages: 319
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
The Delight
Buckled is the second book in this dark romance series and I didn’t know what to expect. Knotted wrung me out and left me in a puddle mess. What could they do to top that, well, I hoped nothing bad. While this is still a dark romance, it is quite a bit lighter than the first book. There is no instalove or really instalust, but there is a lot of cat and mouse games between the two that makes it more likable if a tad annoying as well.
Review
Maybe Quinn wants a story. Not just any story, but one she is holding close even if she is giving out a story about people going missing, felons mysteriously skipping out on their parole and one family at the center of it all. She’s not all she seems, but she’s hiding it well if only she believes that. Getting her story, even the secret one isn’t going to be easy, but she needs answers and only one man can give them to her.
Jarret feels the pull to Maybe, but will protect his family. There isn’t a line he won’t cross to keep the family secrets, secret. When Maybe comes a knocking on their bar table, he decides to keep her close and find out all her secrets before sending her on her way back to wherever she came from….with no answers and no story.
Maybe has gone through a lot and come out strong if bruised emotionally. Her story comes out slowly bit by bit over time and you get more of the overall story that had some holes from the first book. She lives out of her car, rations her food, but her one goal is worth it all. She just needs that in to the Juliep Ranch to find all the skeletons they are hiding, because the answer to her questions just has to be here. She’s tough, strong even if she is slightly submissive. Submissive in no way takes away from her strength. Some stupid things were done, naive in believing someone and now without much to her name, she strikes out to find out what happened to the life she thought was wonderful.
Jarret values nothing more than family. He will do anything it takes to protect his family. The first book opens with a horrific event he was made to witness. His best friend is in jail for killing a man. He just wants to work hard on the ranch and live a simple life without the deceit that has ruled most of his life. Wicked sense of humor, a dark romantic side and more loyal person you couldn’t find. I loved his character. While his twin brother was intense, Jarret balanced it with a more sensible side.
I’m generally not a big fan of dark romances. I don’t really know why I read the first book, but after I had I was invested in the series and wanted Jarret’s and Lorne’s story since they were both so much affected by the events in the first book. This is a well thought out addition to the series that gives you lust, love, violence, hard work, baring of a souls and healing as they all have their own crosses to bear. Jarret may come across as the nice guy, but he has an intense side that even Maybe gets to see. Maybe has her good side and bad. Redemption isn’t what they are seeking, but through their actions, they are building themselves back into what they wanted all their lives.
This ended up being my favorite book in the series. Jake and Conor were set into motion on pain and betrayal from page one. Jarret and Maybe have a lower mountain to get over. Lorne will be out of jail soon and his heroine has just as many problems, but I will get into that in their story.
I wouldn’t recommend this story if you haven’t read the first because it would be harder to understand the plot. If you can’t read the first book, then I suggest leaving this one alone. It isn’t for everyone and normally it wouldn’t have been for me. I just happen at times to be too stubborn to give up on a story. This was one series I had to complete.
Check out the Series – Trails of Sins
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Shari
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Sometimes, whether a book is way out of the comfort zone or not, it catches you at a right mood right time moment. I’ve read a few that were well past comfort and yet I couldn’t stop reading. Looks like it got even better in book two. 🙂
The first book was so violent in the first fourth of it. Once I read that I had to find out what happened to Conor as she was so young, strong and put in a bad situation with a parent when that parent should have been there for her. Jarret was not as big in the first book, but you could see how some of Jake’s actions bothered him. Then again Jarret wasn’t in love with Conor, she was like his sister so he didn’t like Jake’s way of doing things. Jarret isn’t as laid back as you would think,… Read more »
Thank you for well written reviw
You are welcome. Hope it helps to make a decision to read the series or not.
I don’t think I ever read a dark romance, glad you enjoyed it even if it was a bit different for you
I don’t read them often and I can’t remember why I even picked up the first book. After I read that one I wanted to know what happens to them all. Definitively out of my comfort zone, but sometimes I need a push.
I really should try book 1!
You need book 1 to understand just what happened to shape these characters. It’s hard to get through the first part and I can’t say it gets easier.
Sometimes it’s nice to read something that we don’t normally read. I do that from time to time. This has me intrigued.
One more book in the series to review and it got darker than this one again. Lorne gets out of jail, so it’s a doozie. These books cleared the palette of romances I have read lately. I need a break from dark now. This did me in.
I don’t think that I have really read many dark romances. I am quite curious about this series. Glad you enjoyed it!
Dark series aren’t my thing, but every once and a while they draw me in.
I love reading things outside of my comfort zone. Sometimes you learn that you actually like something. Like I was scared to read my first HR and now that is my fave genre.
I’m so happy this turned out good for you! 😀
Sometimes we need to push outside the comfort zone to get perspective.
This does sound good, and I’ll admit I’m not typically a fan of dark romances, either. But some authors have managed to hook me. This sounds like the series has reeled you right in!
Great review.
The internal conflict was deep and I needed to find out how the author was going to overcome it. Kept me wanting to read to find out the next clue and answer.