Review: Simmer....then Sizzle!
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 01 9, 2014
***ARC given for honest review on blog tour*** For unedited review and more info: [...]3.5 out of 5 Frustratingly Heart Squeezing Stars!This book was a lovely little surprise. It was set to a slow simmer at the beginning, but soon switched to a sizzling passion filled with sexual tension and mysterious undertones. I didn't read the first book in this series, but you don't necessarily have to read them in order. The first book, Without Boundaries, is about Declan's cousin Talon. After reading Without Doubt, I am definitely going to read the first one!  Declan is one hot bad boy fighter that melts the girls panties right off without even trying.Declan is the typical bad boy that every girls swoons for. Ava is a hard working, driven, tough girl who is set on a quest to better her life. The beginning had the familiar set up of boy-meets-hot-girl-he-wants-more-than-any-other-girl-he-has-ever-wanted, but girl-denies-overwhelming-pull-to-have-what-she-most-desires. Of course Ava's attempt at denying Declan, only makes him yurn for her even more. The thing that makes this story different, is the mysterious reasons as to why she's denying her womanly urges for him. Ava believes that her life is far to complicated for anyone to be a part of it and once Declan finds out the truth he will go screaming for the hills. Declan decides that he must know Ava and decides to be there for her in any way he can, even if it's just as friends...for now. A friendship grows between them, which comes to mean a lot more to her then she ever thought possible. After a big misunderstanding fueled by jealousy on both sides, Declan decides to give Ava some space. This space forces her to come face first with her undeniable feelings for Declan. Ava finally makes the jump to get him back in her life and tell him the truth in hopes he will stick around. Declan surprises the hell out of her by not only being understanding of her situation, but also stacking a possessive ownership of her and her baggage. Ava finds out that Declan is much more than just a rough, sexy as sin, bad boy fighter everyone thinks he is.The connection that Declan and Ava share is unbearably scorching, but also filled with much emotional depth. They both want each other, but Declan tames his lust, so he can prove to her how much more she means to him. Their relationship flourishes and everything seems to be growing naturally between them. That is until some horrible force of nature comes barreling in to trample their little slice of paradise.  I pretty much pieced together what was going to happen, only because I tend to question every bit of detail that is given. I was filled with dread and fist pumping frustration when all the drama was unloaded and left there to fester. I usually don't mind giving a away little bits of spoilers if it doesn't take away from the overall story. In this case however, I will leave the mystery and intrigue right where it is (insert evil doctor laugh).They both think they are doing what's best for everyone involved, but in Ava's mind she couldn't let it go and felt utterly betrayed by the man she loved. She has dealt with too much  abandonment in her life to give up the last thing in her life that she loves.  Declan knows his love is pure and forever, but Ava can't drive that deeply seeded feeling of doubt out of her mind. Will they be able to overcome their stubborn idealistic views and reach an agreement. Or will the actions involved just drive them apart for good?I enjoyed this read. It was a bit of a build up to the good stuff, but once it got there...the angst and passion made up for everything else. I was quite satisfied with the storyline and the characters. Like I said before, I kind of saw everything coming, but I read like a wannabe Sherlock Holmes, so it takes some very skilled trick writing to sneak too much past me. I would recommend this book to my fellow readers out there.Find me at:Facebook:[...]Website:[...]Goodreads:[...]