Review: Masquerade
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 3, 2014
Masquerade is the third in the Games series and also my third experience of Nyrae Dawn's exemplary writing skills that can be both desolating and soul-stirring all at the same time.Maddox was first introduced to us in Facade, book two in this series. He is the older brother of Laney. Like his sister he has a destructive relationship with his mother and non-existent one with his father. He pours all his emotion into his artwork and aspiring to be a tattoo artist gains an non-paying internship with a local business. To make ends meet he already has a job working security at a busy night spot, and this is where he meets Bee. Their chemistry is vehemently intense from the get go especially when they are thrown together unexpectedly after their one night stand.Jesus, what are the odds of sleeping with one of the only tattoo artists in town? The only one left who hasn't already told me they're not looking? Especially when neither of us wanted to see each other again.Bee hides her vulnerability through her ironclad armor of ink and sharp retorts, but Maddox sees through it and even though neither of them planned it that way, they complement and mesh together effortlessly. They fall into the natural rhythm of a daily routine inside and outside work until its too late to walk away or is it?Bee runs away when she feels they are getting too close. She has always held people at arms length as she has a secret that she doesn't talk to anyone about. Maddox senses her fear and goes to find her. In his quest to find her he discovers her secret making him all the more determined to prove she can rely on him even if he is as broken as she is. That fact is what binds them the most.We're not perfect, though none of us are. We're work in progress and what matters is we're moving forward and we're doing it together. In LoveThis line could be said for every relationship out there. It's our life experiences, good and bad that are the making of us all. We are forever learning and adapting to those around us and so the author leaves you in poignant reflection as the book comes to a close. For me that is a sign of a good book when it still stirs something in your mind long after the last word has been read.*Arc kindly provided by publisher via netgalley for honest review*