Review: Bailey takes her writing to another level and the depth and emotion that she has created will leave you desperate for more.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 14, 2014
I was recently introduced to the greatness known as Tessa Bailey, and after reading Protecting What's His, I completely fell in love with Derek, Ginger, and Willa. It is my favorite Brazen novel to date and I couldn't get enough of them. When I heard Willa was getting her own book, I admit- I was a bit disappointed at first. I knew it was too idealistic of me to think Willa would live happily ever after with her first love and high school boyfriend. I loved the little interaction we had between Evan and Willa in Protecting What's His, so I was afraid to see Tessa rock the boat, so to speak. This is one of those times I can honestly say- I've never been so glad things didn't work out the way I thought they should. Shane Claymore is the ultimate game changer. He has such a powerful, intriguing presence that you can't help but be magnetically drawn to him!Pacing: Excellently paced. I was engaged from start to finish and I love the slow burn of Willa and Shane's relationship.Storyline: I love reading about characters staying abroad. Having spent time in Europe myself, I know what it's like to be in awe of my new surroundings and how different the cultures are from my own. Willa knows her time in Ireland is temporary and she isn't there to make friends. She certainly isn't there looking for love, either. After the heartbreak of her last relationship, Willa is determined to find herself again. She spent 2 years of her life with Evan and never felt like she could truly be herself with him. He kept wanting to make her better and eventually Willa knew she couldn't let him keep trying to fix her. She is who she is- beautifully broken, and she knows she can't let him continue the path of reconstruction for her. This book is really centered around Willa's awakening, both sexually and spiritually. I loved the emotion and the depth Bailey brings to this story and I absolutely loved reading Shane and Willa's story.Characters: Willa and Shane have both grown up knowing hardships. They know what it's like to not have the support and love from their respective parents and that has really played a key role in shaping who they are and what they struggle with to this day. Ginger, Willa's sister, has been the one to take care of her from a very young age, when their mother was too strung out to do it herself. Naturally they have formed a very close bond and the few scenes where we got to see her interact with Ginger and Derek were really special.Willa is a spitfire. She isn't afraid to say what's on her mind or march to the beat of her own drum. That is definitely one of the first things Shane notices about her after she gives him the slip at the airport. When it comes to feeling and emotion, however, Willa is a master avoider. She knows that her time in Ireland is temporary and the last thing she needs is to form attachments to people she'll have to leave.Shane Claymore is a force to be reckoned with. He exudes confidence and strength and I like that he was more of a silent type. It just made his character that more powerful and when he does show vulnerability, you know it's serious. I wasn't sure if I would like that abruptness Shane had, but I actually loved it. He has not had a picture perfect past like Evan did, so Shane understands Willa on a level he wasn't able to. He doesn't want to try and change her- instead he wants her to embrace the passionate side of herself and let herself break free of the restraints she's placed on herself. He doesn't want her to hide from herself, but instead show the world who she really is- flaws and all. While not a full blown alpha like most of Tessa's other heroes, he definitely has alpha tendencies and I was in a constant state of swoon when it came to Shane. He doesn't wear his emotions on his sleeve and could be a bit difficult to read at times. However, when it came to showing how he felt, his actions spoke volumes.I also really liked Faith, Shane's sister. She is cheerful and sweet and a bit socially repressed. Her life is the bar and her family and she is upset that Shane would want to sell something that means so much to her. You can tell he's got the overprotective big brother role down pat, but Faith just wants to be able to LIVE and do it with a free spirit. She gravitates to Willa almost instantly and even though Shane warns Willa away, she can't help but not want to disappoint the sweet girl.Final Thoughts: I cannot impress upon you all enough just how much I loved this book. It has everything I could want in a New Adult book- the right amount of steam and sexual tension, great character development and discovery, and a hero who will make you swoon and fill your heart to the point of bursting. Tessa Bailey really takes her writing to another level here and the depth and emotion that she has created will leave you desperate for more.