Review: This sequel just wasn't for me.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 07 19, 2014
Chloe finally opens up to Ethan about her past, events that she's never shared before - exposing herself in a way that she never wanted. But Ethan made her feel safe, she trusted him... until she didn't. When reality hits her in the form of the man who ruined her life standing in the doorway of Ethan's house she runs. Bound and determined to erase the last few weeks from her life... her heart.Ethan has all the money a man could want or need, he finally found a woman that seemed to see beyond his wealth to the man he was - who he wanted desperately to be. But poor Ethan can't seem to not hurt Chloe as he tries to protect her. As he struggles to right the wrongs of her past, his present and a chance of a future begins to unravel.These two are consumed by the way they feel about each other - addicted to the craving they can't seem to get enough of. But with each step forward something from their past continues to push them two steps back.I wanted to love this book. I remembered how much I loved Ruined and how eager I was for the sequel to this story and then I had it and then it all just fell apart. I've thought about what it was that didn't work for me in this story and I think it all boils down to Chloe. I had whiplash from her back and forth and was so tired of how weak she seemed. Now, I get she suffered from a traumatic event but at some point the constant woe is me, and repetitiveness of being broken just became too much to take. There is a distinction between a victim and a survivor. Chloe never came across as a survivor for me, she was merely a victim of the events of her past. My inability to connect with her on any level was a major roadblock.I felt like this story was a rotation of three basic events... fighting, wallowing in self-pity then make up sex. Wash, rinse and repeat.Ethan was my only saving grace while reading this. He was sweet and once he worked up enough nerve turned into a sexy alpha. I loved the concept of this kind of hero. A rich CEO that had a decent heart that wanted to do good things with what he was blessed with. I think being stuck in Chloe's head was just too much. Had this switched over to a dual POV with some insight into Ethan I think that would have balanced it out a bit.