A heady blend of fast-paced romance and psychological suspense.
Two women make a dangerous connection in Hess’ dark erotic romance.
Dylan Rivers’ birthday celebrations always start the same way: She has a one-night stand with a random woman who means nothing more “than any other ingredient in her recipe for the ritual.” The celebrations also always end the same way: with a self-cutting session that leads to a powerful orgasm. The scars that cover her body are the sole outward evidence of her lonely life as a coder at a brokerage firm who does nothing but work, but she has plenty of emotional scars, as well. For her 40th birthday, her fleeting companion is Abby Stratton, a stripper who seems more interested in spending time with Dylan than anyone ever has before. It turns out that Abby has a shady plan—one that she has been working on for a while and which requires someone she can count on who will ride it out with her to the end. Dylan has the potential to give Abby what she needs most, but is a shared death wish enough to bring them together? As their twisted, whirlwind romance unfolds, the two troubled women find a lifeline in each other and form an unexpected bond that may nonetheless end in tragedy. Hess’ novel is a well-balanced tale of escalating gore and desire in which two deeply damaged characters bond over shared wounds. It’s a short, sharp, and weird story that offers moments that blend blood and lust, violence and tenderness: “Abby simultaneously lowers both her mouth and the razor, and the mix of sensations sends current like lightning bolts into Dylan’s clenched toes. It is otherworldly; she can’t believe the intensity.” There’s a push and pull of subtle coincidences that underscore the plot as each woman’s past traumas are slowly unveiled. It may be too disturbing for some, but readers with an appreciation for this variety of horror are sure to find it rewarding.
A heady blend of fast-paced romance and psychological suspense.Pub Date: June 20, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-64396-267-2
Page Count: 216
Publisher: Down & Out Books
Review Posted Online: June 26, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Packed with riveting drama and painful truths, this book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse—and the strength of...
Hoover’s (November 9, 2015, etc.) latest tackles the difficult subject of domestic violence with romantic tenderness and emotional heft.
At first glance, the couple is edgy but cute: Lily Bloom runs a flower shop for people who hate flowers; Ryle Kincaid is a surgeon who says he never wants to get married or have kids. They meet on a rooftop in Boston on the night Ryle loses a patient and Lily attends her abusive father’s funeral. The provocative opening takes a dark turn when Lily receives a warning about Ryle’s intentions from his sister, who becomes Lily’s employee and close friend. Lily swears she’ll never end up in another abusive home, but when Ryle starts to show all the same warning signs that her mother ignored, Lily learns just how hard it is to say goodbye. When Ryle is not in the throes of a jealous rage, his redeeming qualities return, and Lily can justify his behavior: “I think we needed what happened on the stairwell to happen so that I would know his past and we’d be able to work on it together,” she tells herself. Lily marries Ryle hoping the good will outweigh the bad, and the mother-daughter dynamics evolve beautifully as Lily reflects on her childhood with fresh eyes. Diary entries fancifully addressed to TV host Ellen DeGeneres serve as flashbacks to Lily’s teenage years, when she met her first love, Atlas Corrigan, a homeless boy she found squatting in a neighbor’s house. When Atlas turns up in Boston, now a successful chef, he begs Lily to leave Ryle. Despite the better option right in front of her, an unexpected complication forces Lily to cut ties with Atlas, confront Ryle, and try to end the cycle of abuse before it’s too late. The relationships are portrayed with compassion and honesty, and the author’s note at the end that explains Hoover’s personal connection to the subject matter is a must-read.
Packed with riveting drama and painful truths, this book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse—and the strength of the survivors.Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5011-1036-8
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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