That's right babies- we finally have the story of our elusive Lisa. Her pain, her heartache, and most of all- her shame. Hers is a hard pill to swallow, the pain that she has endured throughout her young life at the hand of someone who claimed to love her so much- it is gut wrenching. It devastated me to have to see the things that Lisa endured at the hands of her ex- all in the name of the love she thought she had.
For a young girl to be so enraptured by her partner, that she completely turned into someone she hated, someone she couldn't even stand to see in the mirror- it was so sad. And I think that's what also made it so beautiful. Because, just like every other story in the Ruin series, Lisa's story is also one of pure, but tortured beauty. We've had to watch her be brave and strong for every one of her friends as they all received their HEA's, never knowing the pain that she was going through- the loneliness that she felt. Lisa needed her happy- her peace- her love, just as badly as everyone else.
So, when Tristan came along and stole her heart, even though it wasn't with the purest of intentions in the beginning, I think we all had the collective sigh escape our lips. We could finally feel the pieces of this little gang all mold together and start the beautiful journey that is their lives. Because, just as much as Lisa and Tristan needed the love that they found in each other, Wes; Kiersten; Gabe and Saylor needed it too. Their own lives would have never been at peace as long as Lisa's wasn't. Perhaps that's one of the reasons that I love this series so much. Not just because Rachel is an amazing writer and her work is phenomenal- but that these characters are truly family. They are so intertwined that when one hurts- they all do. I love it. Those are the kind of books that make me love the literary world- they make me keep coming back for me, knowing that I will never be able to get enough.
This was a fantastic addition to a wonderful series, and I highly recommend that, if you haven't already, pick them up now and absorb the beautiful words that Rachel has given us. You will not be disappointed- I can guarantee that.
5 stars yet again for Rachel!!!
Excerpt:
I closed my eyes and leaned
my forehead against hers. A shaky breath escaped her lips. “I’m going to kiss
you now.”
“Are you trying to prepare me
or ask permission?” she whispered, her voice beckoning me like a siren’s call.
“Both.” My lips hovered near
hers. “I figure it’s only fair.”
“Fair?” She pulled back
slightly. “How so?”
“Ten thousand.” I angled my
head and watched the pulse jump on her neck. “That’s how many nerve endings, on
average, are in your lips. Consequently, when your body anticipates pleasure,
the build-up is the best part. Imagine, those ten thousand nerves are swelling,
allowing blood to surge through them in anticipation of… what?” I swept my
tongue across her lower lip and whispered, “Of being touched. I ask permission,
not because I’m being a gentleman. It’s actually the complete opposite. I ask
permission so your brain anticipates the pleasure before I’ve ever even touched
you.”
I tasted her lower lip again
and abruptly dipped my tongue into her mouth. Then just as quickly retreated.
“The human body is an instrument. Know how to master it… and well…” I let my
voice drop as I moved my hands slowly to her shoulders and tugged her body
flush against mine. Our mouths met softly at first. I deepened the kiss,
memorizing her taste, knowing I wouldn’t experience a kiss like this again in
my lifetime. The way her scent, her soft moans destroyed my body, wrecked me
from the deepest part of me, was nothing short of life-altering.
And I’d like to think I’d
kissed a lot of women.
I’d studied the psychology of
sexuality.
I was an expert in pleasure.
But she was schooling me,
absolutely wreaking havoc on every logical thought as her soft whimper cascaded
over me. Blood surged through my body as it tightened with awareness at her
proximity.
She pulled back, her lips
swollen. “That was… not a good enough warning.”
Laughing softly, I cupped the
back of her head and gently drew it toward mine and kissed her again, angling
my lips differently, searching her, consuming her, drawing pleasure from her
lips as if it was my life goal to discover every single secret she owned.
Her arms wrapped around my neck.
She was shy; she didn’t push against me, didn’t wrap her legs around me or moan
into my mouth like I was having sex with her rather than kissing her.
My hands moved down her
corset to her hips, and I lifted her into the air and walked her backward toward
the brick wall. The whole time, our masks collided. In frustration, I ripped
hers off, then mine. The shadows of moonlight hid our faces as I kissed her
harder, losing myself in her.
Her nails dug at the back of
my neck as she jerked my head harder. Groaning, I let her fall to the ground as
I placed my hands on the brick wall to keep myself from ripping the dress from
her body.
Shouting started from the
ballroom.
“Ten, nine…!”
“Eight,” I whispered against
her mouth. “Seven.”
“Six.” She sighed, her breathing
labored as her tongue found mine again. “Five.”
“Four, three.” I pulled back
and trailed kisses down her neck.
“Two.”
We broke apart, both
breathing heavy. “One.”
People burst out onto the
balcony as the fireworks started, lighting up the sky. And our faces.
And the only thing I could
say as she gasped in horror was “Oh, shit.”
Release
day 10/6
Everything done in darkness,
will eventually be brought into the light.
I ran, but all it did was
keep me one step ahead of my past. I tried to start over; new name, new
identity. But you can't change your soul.
A fresh start at college was
just what I needed. For a while, it worked. I was the party girl, the one that
seemed confident, but it was a lie.
When guys kissed me--I felt
only pain.
When they touched me--Nothing
but fear.
Deep inside, every girl wants
to be the beauty in the story, to find someone that will see you as their
world.
But the truth? I was the
beast. And as much as I wanted redemption, I wasn't fool enough to think I'd
ever get it.
Until he walked into my life.
I wasn't prepared to fall for
someone. My scars were too deep, the wounds too raw. But he offered me peace,
he offered me security. I should have known it was just another lie--I should
have known that falling in love with my professor was a bad idea.
But I was powerless to stop
myself from falling.
And he was powerless to catch
me.
Because the darkness finally
caught up to me, and as fate would have it, a cruel twist almost bled me dry.
But I'm stronger than I knew. I'm stronger than you think.
You think you know my story,
but you don't....after all everyone has Shame in their lives-- and I'm no
longer afraid to show you mine.
BUYLINKS:
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00N5CL0FO
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ruin-series-boxed-set-rachel-van-dyken/1120262930?ean=2940046137149
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1vHtT6V
Even better news, the Ruin box set is on sale!!!!
About Rachel Van Dyken:
Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street
Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances.
When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and
plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.
She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing journey at www.rachelvandykenauthor.com
She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing journey at www.rachelvandykenauthor.com
Links:
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Van-Dyken/e/B0054TW5AA/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1407369649&sr=8-2-ent
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