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Review

This is a quick read and an introduction to Emily and Sculpt (not his real name) of the Tear Assunder series, and it is recommended that you read this novella before starting book 1 – Torn from You.

Following an assault, Emily is looking for lessons in how to defend herself. She figures her best and fastest option is to approach underground fighter (and friend of a friend), Sculpt, for a few lessons. Sculpt is a cocky, arrogant, gorgeous, tattooed, motorbike-riding man whore (of course), and just to round out the NA cliches – he’s also the lead singer in a rock band which is close to hitting it big. He has no time for pure and innocent-looking Emily when she comes to him asking for help.

“I’m not going to fuck you. I may fight illegally, but I don’t fuck illegally.”
My sudden mind boggle vanished, and ire replaced it. “I’m twenty for your information, and I wouldn’t even consider having sex—”
He frowned, and his lips pursed together. The look sent a flush into my cheeks, because honestly, the guy looked even hotter with a scowl. “Having sex? Can you even say the word fuck?”
“Yeah. Fuck you.”

Intrigued, Sculpt agrees to give her a few lessons, and the chemistry between them soon explodes as Sculpt goes all caveman, telling Emily that he wants her, acknowledging that she wants him, and refusing to take no for an answer.

“I don’t play games, Eme. If you feel what I do then your time is up.”
“Um, what does that mean?”
“It means I don’t screw around. No games. You’re into me, so now I’m taking you.”
Holy crap. I was trembling, and all I could think about was him taking me. “Okay.”
“I wasn’t giving you a choice.”

Despite his alpha-ness, he’s not a total ass. He’s actually really sweet, and takes things slowly for Emily. She is shy and doesn’t have a lot of confidence, so he’s gentle and protective, and there are some really beautiful moments between them. Possibly verging on cheesy, but I get that this is a novella and the author has a lot of emotion to get across in only a short amount of time. And she certainly does that, with the intensity of feelings between Sculpt and Emily established really well. Sculpt is committed to her from the very beginning, with no intention of letting her go, and although he is a bit of a mystery with a past he doesn’t talk about, he is very open with his feelings for her.

He raised his head, both of us breathing hard, his hair falling in front of his right eye while he looked at me with haunted openness. “I’m not letting you go.”
I cupped his cheek with my shaking hand, my thumb stroking across his stubble. “Don’t ever hurt me.”
“Never.”

I enjoyed this book. While I would have liked a bit more dialogue – particularly from Emily, it provides a great introduction to the characters, and a nice set up to their relationship and the status of things between them before the HIDEOUS cliffhanger that leads into the next book. There’s no way I can sit on that one, so I’m diving into Torn From you right now!

3.5 stars.

The Tear Assunder series