King (King #1) by T.M. Frazier

Homeless. Hungry. Desperate.

Doe has no memories of who she is or where she comes from.

A notorious career criminal just released from prison, King is someone you don’t want to cross unless you’re prepared to pay him back in blood, sweat, pu$$y or a combination of all three.

King’s future hangs in the balance. Doe’s is written in her past. When they come crashing together, they will have to learn that sometimes in order to hold on, you have to first let go. 

There is no secret that Frazier's The Dark Light of Day is one of my all time favorite book. And I proudly own it in my bookcase!

But the post that I'm about to write about King  might not be what most of you expected to read.

I mean...

my exact reaction while reading through the entire book.

King is not your average asshole. The asshole that every good girl would fall for. King is a freaking moron. Now put that gun away, I'm not finished yet. In fact I'm just getting started.

This is one of those rare book that makes me hate the  guy and love the girl. The more I read about King, the more I  dislike him. 

 I'll get right to the point and make a scheme out of the whole thing

The main characters

Doe

"We met on the night I decided to sell myself for a hot meal and a place to sleep. I was about to suck on this guy's d**k when he realized that I was being skittish about it and threw me out [...] . he brought me back to his house for a bath and a conversation about how I was now his possession and didn't have a choice about it. "

I really, really felt sorry for this girl.

King 

"I had the overwhelming urge to wrap my hands around her throat and strangle her. Better yet I wanted to unravel one of the belts and tighten it around her neck."

Their love story

King : Shut up.

Doe : But...

King : Shut up !

Doe : ...but...

King : SHUT THE FUCK UP !

***

King : You are mine ! Mine ! MINE ! You are gonna go there. You are gonna have the tattoo I designed for you.  Shut the hell up! You do what I say ! You eat now! You! Go to bed ! Now! SHUT THE FUCK UP ! Did I mentioned  yet that you belong to me? Just reminding you.

That possessiveness of his makes him sounds like a freaking psychopath.  In a non sexy way.

King's trustworthy friends

Bear

I don't even...want to read his story . I already hate him.

He first calls King and warns him about how his father is so pissed off and how he  is on King's tail. He advises King to move town, go hide for a while, whatever. The next thing you know he invites King at a party and tells him that his father wants to shake hands with him.

And King , being the idiot that he is ,  went straight into the lion's mouth.

It isn't enough that you took plain stupid decisions  twice, you have to do it the 3rd time. Just to make sure. 

King knew all along who Doe was, but he  decided to just have a little fun before she got "broken" and he decided to get rid of her. And a trade is planned.

And , oh the glorious ending! 

Yeah, the ending  was epic and King deserved it all the way   Karma is a bitch and will  come and slap you across your face when you are being plain stupid.  

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The Fractured Heart (Second Circle Tattoos #2) by Scarlett Cole

ARC was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

All things, when placed under pressure, eventually break or leave a mark.

Tattoo artist Brody "Cujo" Matthews knows how to keep things simple. In life and in love. Abandoned as a child by a mother who refused to stick around to raise three boys she didn't want, he's intent on staying clear of complicated women. The only things complicated in Cujo’s life are the killer tattoos he designs and inks. That all changes when he’s asked to help organize his best friend Trent's engagement party, which means working with Trent's fiancée's best friend, Drea, the definition of high maintenance and sizzling curves. And the one woman he doesn’t want to walk away from.

Andrea "Drea" Caron is broke and tired. After years of caring for her ailing mom, she's at the end of her rope trying to manage the piling medical bills, two jobs, and a life placed on hold. She certainly doesn’t need the added frustration of a sexy playboy tattoo artist messing up her best friend’s engagement party or her carefully balanced life. But when Drea witnesses the abduction of a woman from the café she works at, she can’t help but turn to Cujo who’s determined to prove to Drea that he’s someone she can count on forever…but as they attempt to bring the truth to light, someone is working to bring that forever to a sudden, deadly halt.

This is the second book from the Second Circle Tattoos series. Yes, it can be read as a standalone.

This book tells the story of Brody "Cujo" , a tattoo artist who is in search for answers about his mother who left when he was eight years old..

"It reminded me of you...bitter, without a hint of sugar." - Brody

And Drea , a hard working girl who tries to take care of her sick mother. 

"For us to work, I need to come to you whole. Not in pieces, expecting you to be the glue." - Drea

The characters were alright., the plot was a little bit tangled and somehow you need to try and keep up with all the subjects. The author tried to blend in a romance story (between Brody and Drea) ,  crime/ mystery (the abduction of the woman from the cafe store, Brody trying to  find answers about his mother), detective / police (Drea trying to help find the missing woman and making her own investigations ) and also keep up with the romance story between the second characters ( Harper and Trent from book one, The strong steel ).All in one book!  It is difficult to pull up such a mix and it didn't quite worked out for me.

I did enjoyed the story and I really want to give it more stars but the rating will remain to 3, maybe  3.5 stars. Another reason would be because in some parts of the plot there are some mistakes and characters/ situations tend to contradict  - like the part when Drea notice that the internet was down and doesn't remember when was the last time she paid the bill, yet she goes online and makes some research. Then the second morning she was glad that the internet was back and the company didn't cut her off.

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