Review: Suspenseful and Romantic
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 10, 2013
Taming Cross is a suspenseful, dark romance that was exceptionally unique and a very enjoyable read. I loved the characters and I especially loved the plot. After reading several new adult novels that all seemed to share the same plot characteristics, this book was a welcome relief.I love Cross! He has suffered a lot over the last year and it has put a lot into perspective for him. He realizes that he has taken so much for granted and he made so many mistakes. He feels guilty for Meredith's predicament and he wants to rectify the situation. He doesn't know what to expect but he is definitely surprised by what he finds and he can't help his attraction to her. He definitely realizes that there is so much more to Merri than he thought and as he learns her story, he finds himself falling for her. Cross is a man who knows what he wants and when he realizes that is Merri, he does everything he can to make her see that.Merri has been through and unthinkable ordeal and she has all but given up on life when Cross comes to her rescue. She had made decisions in her life that she realizes were wrong but she has lived a lonely life and all she has wanted was to be loved and cherished by someone. Unfortunately someone like that generally attracts all the wrong attention. Cross is her savior and he puts himself in danger multiple times to save her and she finds herself falling for him. When she finds out who he really is, she has no hope that they can be together and she runs. I felt so bad for Merri because she truly believed that she had no one and she wouldn't allow herself to see that Cross wanted to be with her.The plot was action packed and I was on edge as Merri and Cross ran for their lives. Even though Cross was rescuing Merri from the drug cartel, I felt like she rescued him too. Cross was at a place in his life where he felt hopeless and depressed. Merri gave him light and a reason to be happy again. It was unexpected for both of them. Even though they were exactly what each other needed, Merri really struggled to see that and I wanted to shake her each time she tried to run from Cross. She just couldn't believe that he would want her or could love her and I was glad that Cross was determined to prove her wrong. He fought for her until the end and I was so glad that he opened her up and made her realize that he wasn't going anywhere and that she deserved him.Overall, I was very impressed with Taming Cross. While this was about Cross and Merri falling in love and saving each other with their love, it also had an excited and thrilling plot. Just when you think they are in the clear and they've escaped danger, they are rocked by another violent encounter and their lives continuously hang in the balance. Poor Cross, that man spent more time in a hospital bed than he did in a regular one. Ella is a fantastic author and I knew this after reading the Stained series but I was thoroughly impressed with her ability to write a completely different type of story and that had a well-developed plot and excellent characters.