Review: Wow this was bad....
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 06 24, 2013
*****Spoiler*****I am very surprised that KA wrote this book.  For the most part all of her H's are very alpha but this H truly was stomach turning.  I really, really hated this guy.  The only other KA H that I hate is the guy in Three Wishes that allowed the h to be slapped by his dad.  I still can't get over that one.  I mean what kind of man would allow that?  Not surprisingly, this H had a lot in common with this one.First off, the H unethically and illegally makes the h sign her life away to him by mind control even though she does not want to be with the H.  Her family gives her no support and instead gives her a guilt trip.  With limited choices, the h ends up being the H's concubines, which essentially is akin to a highly paid mistress.  No matter how much the H argues differently, his treatment of her is so poor that a mistress would actually be a step up from a concubines.  There were very little differences.  The H was married to someone else, expected fidelity from the h but he was not expected to give her the same, she was put up in a nice house, she was expected to be available at his whim, he bought her expensive gifts, she was to behave as he wanted, etc.  The financial compensation that the h receives is the most redeeming quality of this H.  I completely missed the "sweet" that the h refers to.  The H manipulates, controls, humiliates and sexually punishes the h continually throughout the book.  I am not referring to the fun kind of punishment.  I actually wondered how the h could stand this guy touching her after the second time he does it.  His treatment of her was so bad that when the H almost kills the h by drinking too much blood, he actually blames the h saying, "it was your fault" because she was too excited.  I know, I know...KA h's spine melts every time the H is near and they are usually all talk BUT really?  To blame the h for being almost killed?  Ridiculous.  Is that like, you made me hit you?  Ugh.  How does that show that the H cares about the h or that he felt any remorse over physically hurting the h after she had trusted him after he promised he wouldn't loose control?  There was no remorse after he hurt her with his sexual punishment either.  Supposedly he felt bad but if the h would get a little mouthy then he would threated her with punishing her again.  I crossed from dislike to hate with this H when he went to another woman.  I don't care that he didn't complete a sexual act with the other woman.  The fact that he had her naked and drinking from her was a huge betrayal to me.  The fact that he went to the h right after was just horrible.  This causes the h so much pain that she decides to give in finally breaking the h as was his goal.  The only thing she asks in return is for the H not to call her "pet".  "Pet" is not only too close to home but the h knew that was what he called the OW as well.  I really pitied the h in that scene and I loathed the H when he did not even give her that to save some of her pride and allow her to heal.  The real kicker of all of this was that after this happens, the h ends up apologizing to the H for saying mean things to him.  Could not believe it.  So basically, it would be ok to treat a person horribly (I'm including almost killing them here too) and then taking them shopping the next day to make amends for all that.  Because the H gives her one day to do whatever he wants after sequestering her and buys her pretty things, he is no longer a selfish d-bag, now he was "sweet".  As a female, I am beyond peeved to think that anyone would think that such placation would be acceptable means of making amends for the manner in which the H treated this h.  I have so many issues with the way this h was treated I can go on and on.  I was expecting the H to at least improve but d-bag to the end, he says things to really hurt the h towards the end of the story.  What can I say?  At least the d-bag is consistent.  While the h is contemplating her next move she is attack and decides it is too much and leaves the H.  The glimmer of hope that I had that the H would win me over here was completely decimated when he finds her and instead of having to prove to the h that he loves her, he focuses on the attack, sprinkles an "I love you" and panties off, all is well again.  The H didn't even need to break a sweat.  And despite the fact that the H and h are no longer in a paid-mistress-like relationship, in the end, the subservient role that the h would have to endure with him did not make for a HEA for me.  I don't care how many shoes, houses, cars or shinny things this guy would buy.  Being treated like a pet is not worth  all the gold in the world.  She would have been better off if she kept running and finding herself a hot guy that didn't need to feed his ego by humiliating her.Clearly, I didn't enjoy this book.  I will say that this author has some other great stories.  The sequel to this book is much better if you want paranormal and so is Golden Dynasty.  Both are much better than this one.  The only reason I gave this book 2 stars in stead of just 1 is because despite my loathing for the H and the inequitable relationship that was romanced, this author once again develops her characters in an amazingly human manner which makes the readers emotionally invested in the outcome of their fictional existence.