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Review
4 stars!
Sweet, smart and sexy with great characters, an intense, chemistry-filled romance and a delicious twist that adds so much to the story, this is a fun and hot, yet beautifully heartfelt read, and I loved it!
“You’re that song. I don’t know any of the words, but the tune is so damn familiar.”
Rachel Martin is a grad student who also works full time at a bar. She’s working one night when she spies the man who broke her best friend’s heart, so she does what any girl would do and she gives him a serve. She ignores the fact that he’s the most gorgeous man she’s ever seen, and the spark that flares to life both in his eyes, and deep inside of her, and she lets him have it. Only to realize shortly afterwards that he is not the man she thought he was, and she’s just completely embarrassed herself to a total stranger. Things only get worse when she shows up to the new class where she is a Teacher’s Assistant, and that same gorgeous guy is her Professor, Caine West. Awkward!
Caine is a deliciously complex character. He used to be in a rock band, and he’s had some really hard experiences in life, but he’s now a professor of music theory. He’s definitely still got the bad boy vibe going on, and he’s a bit gruff and broody but it only adds to his appeal, and to Rachel, he’s the man she can’t stop thinking about. And it seems that the attraction she feels towards him is definitely not one-sided.
“Earlier I told you I didn’t bite students.” He smiled, and I felt the wickedness from it shoot down to some interesting places. “I don’t. But I make no promises about not biting feisty TAs.”
Ignoring their obvious chemistry, Rachel and Caine become friends, but as drawn as they are to each other, Caine holds back. Not only is Rachel his student, but he knows that she deserves better than him and his questionable history with women. It creates a sense of angsty anticipation as they spend time together, want each other, but don’t make that move. It causes some aggression but it builds the sexual tension wonderfully, and I was almost breathless waiting for it all to happen! And when a man from Rachel’s past comes back into her life, it triggers Caine’s need to claim the woman he wants to badly, damn the consequences.
He tugged his belt, and it made a sharp whooshing sound as he pulled it through all of the loops in one motion.
“Turn around. Hold on tight.”
Ho.ly. hell, this book is seriously hot! Caine is a dirty talking sex god who likes a bit of kink, and the sex is passionate and off the charts intense. There is an emotional element that is infused into every moment between the two of them, and that translates into the bedroom (and wherever the hell else they decide to get it on), and the connection between them is almost palpable.
The music blared.
The only thing I could see was blackness.
But God, could I feel.
Throughout the book we are given glimpses into Caine’s past – specifically to a time as a teenager that strongly impacted his life. When Caine discovers that a mistake he made as a 16 year old could impact on the relationship he is building with Rachel and hurt her badly, it throws his newfound happiness into turmoil. Will she be able to understand and forgive the decisions he made back then? Will he? Can they overcome the secrets of the past to build the future they both want so badly?
This twist in Rachel and Caine’s story brings a wonderful sense of drama that adds to the story but doesn’t overwhelm. It’s tied in so well to everything that is happening between them, and their individual character journeys, and I thought the way it played out was realistic and understandable, while bringing even more intensity to their situation. There are ups and downs as they work through it, but again, it only works to progress the story, and I loved watching it all unfold.
“Maybe I couldn’t get you out of my head because you’re supposed to be there.”
This was a really great read. It’s engrossing and intriguing, and I couldn’t help but be sucked into Rachel and Caine’s lives. I loved their palpable chemistry, their sizzling passion and the smart banter and sweet moments that was their relationship. And the swoon was gorgeous!
“You’ve always had my heart, and I don’t ever want it back.”
There’s a great epilogue which finishes everything off beautifully, and I finished this one with a big smile on my face.
I loved it – 4 stars.
Note – I listened to this one as an audiobook, and as expected Andie Arndt and Sebastian York did a wonderful job bringing this story to life. I thoroughly recommend giving this one a listen.
Check out our Vi Keeland Author Spotlight for more awesome reads!