Release & ARC Review: The Oath We Give (Hollow Boys, #5) by Monty Jay

 

The Oath We Give by Monty Jay is live!

The fifth and final book in The Hollow Boys series, this is Silas’ hotly anticipated story. It’s a fake relationship, marriage of convenience, forced proximity romance that is dark and sexy, with fantastic chemistry and a gorgeously heartfelt love story.

 

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Blurb

“On this day, I vow to make your rage my own, to weather the storm of your revenge, and keep you forever safe.”

Two years.
That’s all the peace we had before our past awoke from the dead.
Rose from the grave with malicious hands, famished, and ready to bury us six feet below. The tombstones of our enemies have been overturned, and we are reminded that we can never escape the chains of the corrupt.
Seeking retribution for my lost love consumed my past, but that violence and desire for punishment now jeopardized the future of those closest to me.
We are given one choice, a singular option.
Return to Ponderosa Springs. Or reap the consequences.
But it’s more than the infamous Hollow Boys in danger this time.
It’s her.
The cursed one.
A mirage of a woman too stubborn for her own good.
Coraline Whittaker and I share a common enemy. Her fear of him and his possession over her is the only reason she agrees to work with me.
We promise to protect one another. Share the weight of his return and the misery his presences brings; Till death do us part or the man plaguing her dreams is finally sent to the grave.
What she doesn’t know is there is more than a villain weaving us together.
It’s not just the revenge I want. It’s not the satisfaction of ruining the town that tainted us.
I want her.
Once again, I’ve taken a vow to protect someone, took her vengeance and made it my own.
Still waters have always run deep.
Ponderosa Springs isn’t the only one with secrets. I’ll let the world know mine before they take her away from me. That rotting town knows what I do to people who take things that belong to me.
A mistake repeated?
Not even God himself will deliver them from my evil.

 

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Review

4 stars

The fifth and final book in The Hollow Boys series, this is Silas’ hotly anticipated story. It’s a fake relationship, marriage of convenience, forced proximity romance that is dark and sexy, with fantastic chemistry and a gorgeously heartfelt love story.

Though these books all feature different characters, the series follows a continuous story, so I would not recommend reading this one as a standalone.

The Hollow Boys are a fierce and slightly disturbed bunch. Childhood friends, their lives were rocked by the murder of Silas’ girlfriend, and they have been on a mission of vengeance ever since, inadvertently uncovering a kidnapping and smuggling ring in their home town and taking no prisoners as they worked to bring it down. Silas has been through hell since his childhood love was taken and murdered. He’s suffered horribly, but he’s pulled himself out of his downward spiral and is now back in Ponderosa Springs, strong and stoic, and preparing to take over the family business from his beloved father.

Coraline was the victim of the trafficking ring that the boys bought down. For two years she was held captive, and she’s been left physically, mentally and emotionally scarred by all that she endured. When she hit rock bottom, it was Silas that she turned to, and he helped her through some very dark times. And now, she’s trying her best to move on with her life.

“Life left you empty so that you’d have room to fill it. We are not hollow if we allow ourselves to remain that way … You lived for a reason. Figure out why.”

When the nightmare from her past reappears, Silas once again steps in to help the girl that fascinates him so deeply and, needing a marriage to secure his own future, they agree to a fake marriage to ensure her protection. But it very soon becomes more than that.

It’s like he knows how to keep me rooted in the present. With two hands, he holds me to the earth, refuses to let go, and makes me feel everything.
It’s terrifying.

It’s a great set-up, and such a fantastic dynamic to explore. Coraline lived her life feeling unwanted. The only person she cares for, and that cares for her, is her younger sister. And suddenly she has this alpha male all up in her business wanting to protect and care for her – and he’s such a sweetheart about it! He’s so beautifully gentle with her, giving her time and space and gentle reassurance, but he’s got a badass edge and he still pushes her boundaries. And though Silas has been through a lot and he’s got challenges that he’s facing in the future, he clearly feels something for Coraline. The sexual tension is so good! It’s a fabulous back-and-forth, sexy and a little bit dirty, and it’s a delicious slow burn as we watch them grow close and fall for each other.

“This is fake, Silas.”
Like she’s trying to remind herself of that, like she’s trying to force herself to believe it when I don’t think we’ve ever been fake. Not once have I ever faked anything with her.
“But it feels real, doesn’t it?”

But danger is lurking closer, and with their friend in danger, the Hollow Boys pull together and are reunited in the town they grew up in, so the couples from previous books are a part of the action. They are still a twisted and dangerous bunch, but the dynamics are great to watch, and I enjoyed seeing them all together again.

The mystery/suspense is there, but not as intense as in previous books of the series, and this one doesn’t feel as dark as the earlier books. That’s mostly because of Silas, who is not as dark as his best friends, and is so much more than who I was expecting. He’s a good guy with a big heart, he’s close with his family and he loves hard. He’s not as badass as his friends, but he’s still fierce and all alpha in all the ways and he’ll do anything to protect what is his.

The town may call this man a villain, but inside, he’s a lover … Good intentions and romance. His tender hearts bleeds all love the ones he cares for … Someone who would give absolutely everything for those he loves.

Silas and Coraline are great characters that I really enjoyed getting to know, and their love story is really beautiful as these two damaged people learn how to open up to somebody and love with their whole hearts. It’s sexy and intense, with a nice amount of emotion, and I loved their story.

Though this series is over, Monty Jay is staying in this world, bringing us a new series featuring the next generation of Hollow Boys, and I’m really looking forward to more.

This is a great read, and a good finish for the series.

4 stars.

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

The Hollow Boys

       

The Lies We Steal (#1) (Alistair)
Review
Buy:  Amazon

The Truths We Burn (#2) (Rook)
Review
Buy:  Amazon

The Blood We Crave: Part 1 (#3) (Thatcher – book #1 of duet)
Review
Buy:  Amazon

The Blood We Crave: Part 2 (#4) (Thatcher – book #2 of duet)
Review
Buy:  Amazon

The Oath We Give (#5) (Silas)
Review
Buy:  Amazon

Also check out the second-gen spin-off series, River Styx Heathens

 


Meet the Author

Monty Jay likes to describe herself as a punk rock kid, with the soul of a gypsy who has a Red Bull addiction. She writes romance novels about insane artists, feisty females, hockey players, and many more.

When she isn’t writing she can be found reading anything Stephen King, getting a tattoo, or eating cold pizza.

 

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