Review: Intensely Emotional Read With Immensely Likable Characters
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 2, 2013
After reading the previous book in this series, Giving It Up, I was left wondering what ever happened to the hooker with a heart of gold Shelly.  In this story Shelly proves that she's much more than that as she continues to try to make her life better after turning informant for policeman Luke.  Getting out of the business isn't as easy as she thinks as self-doubts lead her to one last party that ends with her and the girl she saves on the run from the law and having to rely on people she never wanted to have to count on.  And having to count on others is not something Shelly's good at.From the moment she was young she's been a plaything for men, but after feeling used for so long she finally decides to use others first.  It's made her tough, sarcastic, and living life for the moment as her life constantly feels out of control.  The only person that's been able to give her a glimpse of something better, and the only man she feels she can trust, is policeman Luke who's still on her mind even though she's no longer his informant.  She wants to be something better for him but her low self-esteem holds her back from leaving the life she knows behind.  When she's accused of murder they're forced into working in close quarters which forces her to admit her true feelings about him and address the old demons that have kept her feeling unworthy of a better life.  Seeing her slow climb to self-betterment is an admirable journey with emotionally painful bumps along the way.  Her life is again put in jeopardy as the story progresses and as her and Luke get closer to the true murderer she learns some very gutwrenching truths from her childhood that show how strong her survival instincts are.Luke too has had a hard life growing up which has led to his strong desire to protect others.  He wants a better life for Shelly and will do whatever he can to help her realize her self-worth.  As the two of them traverse through the gritty underside of the city they draw closer together as each learns more about the other and Shelly can no longer hide behind her snarkiness.  There are certain truths that Luke can no longer keep hidden from Shelly that will bind them together even further but are extremely gutwrenching to hear.Luke is a true romantic with Shelly.  He wants to give her the wooing she missed out on and it leads to some delightfully fast-paced yet sweetly sensual banter.  The sexual interludes between them are steamy and get more intense as the trust between them builds. Seeing Shelly with Luke shows the shift in her thinking and proves that sex isn't always about business and that she's entitled to find satisfaction too.We see characters from the previous book which made for a nice catch up of their stories.  I was particularly excited to see the return of Phillip whose still as jaded as ever.  There's a lot of hurt he hides behind his hardened demeanor and his interactions with Ella, the girl Shelly saves, show a Phillip left off kilter by the feelings she arouses in him.  I love his conflicted nature and am intrigued by what Ella could bring to his life.  She's a sarcastic girl who's been through some rough times but has remained pure, which is something unexpected to him.  With this in mind I'm definitely hoping his story is told next.Amber Lin is an author that shows life as it is, nothing is sugar coated. Her characters are put through the wringer but come out the other side stronger for everything they've been through.  As a reader I found myself fully immersed in the story and personally invested in the lives of these truly likable characters who deserve happiness after all the pains they've suffered.  Readers definitely need to experience this book, and series, as it's unforgettably intense with characters you're easily drawn to.