Review: an OK read but recommend you read Killer Next Door Series first
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 02 3, 2014
***Complimentary copy provided by author / publisher for an honest review***Beholden to you is the stand-alone spinoff from Carlie Sexton's Killer next door. It's a story of two people, who come together through mutual friends but have both suffered tragic loss in their lives and connect and get each other. They become acquainted and while on a trip with their friends in Vegas to help celebrate their upcoming nuptials, Mac and Natalie spend time together and get to know one another. But what happens in Vegas is not always remembered the morning after and these two awake in bed together only to realize they are now married, technically only after their first date.Natalie has suffered tragic loss along with heartbreak over the past several years, first him mom dying and her dad shortly after and we pick up the story shortly after losing her younger sister. She is also still reeling from a bad breakup with Ty, her first love who broke her heart. She is afraid to let anyone in, afraid to loss someone else she cares about and has a hard time letting her walls down to let Mac and anyone for that matter, in.Mac has also suffered the loss of his parents at a young age and understands Natalie's loss. He is smitten right from the start with her and after realizing they are married, he has decided he is going to break those walls down and sweep her off her feet, he plans on being her prince charming and never let her go. I must say for a business mogul as big and as rich as Mac Carter, he doesn't come off as arrogant and truly is a romantic at heart pulling out all he had to win her heart over, he is quite swoon-worthyI did enjoy reading this book and enjoyed the characters but I did have several issues with it. First was the insta-love connection Mac and Natalie shared. It happened way to quick and was a bit too unbelievable for me to enjoy their romance.Second was the fact this was supposed to be a standalone spinoff. I have not read the other series and felt I would have understood a lot more parts in this book had I read them. The characters from the series were in this one quite a lot, a lot more than most spinoffs. Also there were a lot of parts mentioned in this book but never explained so a first time reader would understand them. I didn't understand all the references to the parts of the series storyline that carried into this one, so either they should have been better explained or recommended to read the series first.Third there were inconsistencies, I know most were little things, but I am OCD when it comes to things, especially time lines in a book, and they just really bug me and pull me away from the story.Last, the storyline was way too predictable and just didn't keep me engaged. I love a great contemporary romance with all the sappy love moments, it's my favorite type to read but they were a bit too sappy for me. Nothing in this book surprised me, the progression of their romance and all the drama that unfolded were way too predictable. I needed those OMG moments, it's what I love most about reading, but sadly this book didn't have those for me.