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When I Break #1
When I Break
What happens when a sex addict falls for a virgin?
Knox Bauer's life has unraveled to the point of no return. Fighting to fill the emptiness inside himself, he seeks solace in unfamiliar beds with unfamiliar women. As guardian to his three younger brothers, he can't seem to do a thing right. But this can't go on...they look up to him in every way and all he’s done lately is prove how messed up he really is. Needing a change, he attends a local Sex Addicts Anonymous meeting, where he finds himself tempted by the alluring instructor, McKenna.
Twenty-one year old McKenna is trying to make amends. After losing her parents in a horrific accident, she knows if she can just be good enough, maybe she can forgive herself for what happened. With her newly acquired degree in counseling, she begins leading a sex addicts group where she meets the troubled Knox and her life takes on complications she never bargained for. She doesn't have time for a bad boy who only wants to take her to bed, even if her body disagrees. The fixer in her wants to help, but trusting Knox's true motivations might take more courage than she has.
Warning: This book is intended for a mature reading audience and contains adult language and themes. Contains a stubborn alpha male with addiction issues and loads of sexual tension between two damaged characters. Read at your own risk. When I Break is book one in a series by New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Kendall Ryan. Please note this is not a standalone, as the story continues in book two.
Knox Bauer's life has unraveled to the point of no return. Fighting to fill the emptiness inside himself, he seeks solace in unfamiliar beds with unfamiliar women. As guardian to his three younger brothers, he can't seem to do a thing right. But this can't go on...they look up to him in every way and all he’s done lately is prove how messed up he really is. Needing a change, he attends a local Sex Addicts Anonymous meeting, where he finds himself tempted by the alluring instructor, McKenna.
Twenty-one year old McKenna is trying to make amends. After losing her parents in a horrific accident, she knows if she can just be good enough, maybe she can forgive herself for what happened. With her newly acquired degree in counseling, she begins leading a sex addicts group where she meets the troubled Knox and her life takes on complications she never bargained for. She doesn't have time for a bad boy who only wants to take her to bed, even if her body disagrees. The fixer in her wants to help, but trusting Knox's true motivations might take more courage than she has.
Warning: This book is intended for a mature reading audience and contains adult language and themes. Contains a stubborn alpha male with addiction issues and loads of sexual tension between two damaged characters. Read at your own risk. When I Break is book one in a series by New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Kendall Ryan. Please note this is not a standalone, as the story continues in book two.
226 pages, Paperback
First published February 22, 2014
406 people are currently reading
10898 people want to read
About the author
Kendall Ryan
121 books18.2k followersA New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 3 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine. She lives in Texas with her husband and two sons.
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February 3, 2015
4 Stars
When I see this at the begining of a book- it makes me excited to read...
When I Break is the story of Knox and McKenna. Two people who meet under interesting circumstances.
First there is McKenna. McKenna is a twenty one year old virgin. She is fresh out of college and leading a sex addicts group as their counselor. After both of her parents passed away when she was a teen, she’s been pretty alone. She doesn’t have any other family, not many friends and spends all her free time volunteering.
When Knox meets McKenna at his mandated sex addicts meeting, there is something different about her. She sees him in a way others don’t.
Even though it probably isn’t the best idea for a sex addict and his counselor to spend time together, they do. McKenna meets Knox’s brothers and sees the real side of Knox. The more she gets to know him, the more she wants to know.
Both McKenna and Knox use something to make them feel better. McKenna overexerts herself into volunteering, and Knox uses sex.
Knox has someone in his life that understands him. Someone he can talk to and will listen without judgment.
Knox and McKenna. I loved them both! McKenna’s a sweet girl. She has issues just like Knox, but choses to deal with them in a more positive way. Knox is a broken guy, he’s sexy as hell and he knows it. He uses women. All that being said, you will adore him. The way he is with his brothers- that made me swoon over him. If Knox and McKenna can deal with their issues together, I think they might just make it. I guess we’ll have to wait for book 2 to find out...
Overall, this was an enjoyable read for me. A little on the short side, but sweet, sexy and emotional. There is a cliffhanger- but book 2 comes out very soon- April 7th :D
When I see this at the begining of a book- it makes me excited to read...
Contains a stubborn alpha male with addiction issues and loads of sexual tension between two damaged characters. Read at your own risk. Due to mature content, it is recommended for ages 17+.
When I Break is the story of Knox and McKenna. Two people who meet under interesting circumstances.
First there is McKenna. McKenna is a twenty one year old virgin. She is fresh out of college and leading a sex addicts group as their counselor. After both of her parents passed away when she was a teen, she’s been pretty alone. She doesn’t have any other family, not many friends and spends all her free time volunteering.
I knew how pathetic I was. A sexual addiction counselor and technically still a virgin.Then there is Knox. Knox seems like this big playboy, but he has an entirely different side. Ever since his mother died and his father took off, Knox has taken over as ‘dad’ for his younger brothers. He is their guardian, and it’s a lot of responsibility for someone his age. Knox does the best he can, but sometimes things get a little overwhelming.
I tried to do all the right things since our father left- I worked hard all week, took care of my brothers, and paid the bills. But when I sought a little relief during my free time, I always found myself in a pile of shit.
When Knox meets McKenna at his mandated sex addicts meeting, there is something different about her. She sees him in a way others don’t.
Even though it probably isn’t the best idea for a sex addict and his counselor to spend time together, they do. McKenna meets Knox’s brothers and sees the real side of Knox. The more she gets to know him, the more she wants to know.
I wanted to learn everything there was to know about this troubled, beautiful man.
Both McKenna and Knox use something to make them feel better. McKenna overexerts herself into volunteering, and Knox uses sex.
Perhaps Knox and I weren't so different after all. He just medicated himself in a very different way.For two people so different, they are more alike then they would have thought.
Knox has someone in his life that understands him. Someone he can talk to and will listen without judgment.
"After everyone goes to bed, the emptiness and loneliness become too much. I need relief and that's how I seek it."McKenna is different from any other girl he’s been with. McKenna is starting to have feelings for Knox. Feelings she shouldn’t be having for a guy in a sex addicts group. She can’t help it. She wants to be with him, to fix him. And Knox wants her more than anything. But it can’t be like it usually is. He actually wants to take it slow with McKenna.
The craziest thing was, I didn't want to rush her. I mean, yeah, I wanted to pull her panties down her legs, but in a way, I didn't. I liked that next time there would be more for us to discover. I was going slow with a girl. And I liked it.The author hit the nail right on the head with her note- stubborn alpha male, loads of sexual tension between two damaged characters. McKenna and Knox have some intense chemistry, but how far will things go between these two?
Knox and McKenna. I loved them both! McKenna’s a sweet girl. She has issues just like Knox, but choses to deal with them in a more positive way. Knox is a broken guy, he’s sexy as hell and he knows it. He uses women. All that being said, you will adore him. The way he is with his brothers- that made me swoon over him. If Knox and McKenna can deal with their issues together, I think they might just make it. I guess we’ll have to wait for book 2 to find out...
Overall, this was an enjoyable read for me. A little on the short side, but sweet, sexy and emotional. There is a cliffhanger- but book 2 comes out very soon- April 7th :D
During quiet times like this, I loved how open and exposed he made himself to me. II knew it was a side of himself he didn't share with anyone else, and that feeling was addicting.***ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review***
September 1, 2016
This was a pretty typical NA, M/F story... and by that I mean it was terrible.
I'm all for forbidden romances, but this one was ridiculous. Knox is a bad boy with a sex addiction, and McKenna is his virgin sex addiction counselor. First of all, in what kind of world would that happen? But don't think about it too much because logic is not this story's friend.
In the first scene, Knox is pretty bad ass... and by that I mean hot tempered and crazy. He is punching holes in his wall, ordering a girl to give him a blow job, and acting like an insane person. Interestingly enough, I would have kind of enjoyed reading a book about a person that messed up. But for some reason, after that scene, Knox settles down and becomes this tame little puppy.
In order to impress McKenna, or due to some sort of noble longing (??), he suddenly stops whoring himself... which makes me wonder why they set him up as a sex addict if it was so easy to break him of that habit? No sense...
He is also the guardian of his younger brothers (awwwww), which makes me wonder again who was caring for everyone while he was out getting it on? His teenage brothers maybe? This book tried to simultaneously paint him as uber-responsible and uber-irresponsible.
And don't even get me started on McKenna. Poor sweet naive virginal McKenna, who's sexuality miraculously came alive when she saw Knox for the first time. Where have I heard that before?
Worse than the flat, formulaic characters was the repetitiveness of the book. Yes, we get that he has dreamy eyes and an awesome body. Yes, we get that you feel guilty over your parents' death, McKenna. Yes, we get that you like to smirk, Knox.
And the dom/sub dynamic that was strangely inserted into the story? McKenna isn't a submissive as much as she is insecure and mousy.
Remind me not to read any more NA for next time, please.
February 18, 2017
I originally gave this book 4 stars because in the moment I was just crazy impressed with this book. It's probably because this is like the first NA Contemporary I didn't dnf 10 pages into the book. However, I still really enjoyed this, but I did get annoyed at the characters at some points in the story and there were parts where I was bored and waiting for things to get better. However, it isn't a bad book hence the 3.5 stars!
Knox is a sex addict and is also the guardian to three younger brothers. Not wanting to influence his younger brothers of his wrong behavior he attends a Sex Addicts Anonymous group in order to get rid of his addiction and become a better role model towards his brothers and a better person. The counselor of the group is McKenna and they feel an attraction, but they cannot be together because then what the fuck is the point of this story.
KNOX IS MY FUCKING SON. He's a sex addict and people judge him and thing bad of him just because of that label. But what people don't know is what shit he has gone through and how lonely and broken he is. He is loving towards his brothers and does everything he can to make sure his brothers have a better life. Like, the dude's been through so much shit and neglect which is why he finds solace through sex. It isn't good for him obviously, which is why he goes to the group.
McKenna is also a lonely and broken girl who carries the guilt of her parents death. She tries to help out and volunteer whenever she can no matter what. She's innocent sweet and kind and falling for Knox. I liked her though sometimes she got on my nerves.
I really enjoyed reading this book and reading about these two broken characters. The things they went through in the past and the fact that McKenna is Knox's counselor forbids them from having a proper relationship. At some points I got really annoyed at Knox and McKenna's relationship. It bored me at some points, but still a fun read, nonetheless.
Okay honestly though this book isn't really anything special but i still loved it so much. Like, there's just something about this book that makes it so interesting to read and had me hooked, but it's also as equally shitty and made me want to scream.
I highly recommend!
*Also I'll add some quotes later bc for some reason I'm trying to view my highlighted quotes but gr isn't letting me*
Knox is a sex addict and is also the guardian to three younger brothers. Not wanting to influence his younger brothers of his wrong behavior he attends a Sex Addicts Anonymous group in order to get rid of his addiction and become a better role model towards his brothers and a better person. The counselor of the group is McKenna and they feel an attraction, but they cannot be together because then what the fuck is the point of this story.
KNOX IS MY FUCKING SON. He's a sex addict and people judge him and thing bad of him just because of that label. But what people don't know is what shit he has gone through and how lonely and broken he is. He is loving towards his brothers and does everything he can to make sure his brothers have a better life. Like, the dude's been through so much shit and neglect which is why he finds solace through sex. It isn't good for him obviously, which is why he goes to the group.
She was a sweet, blue-eyed, petite little thing. Soft and innocent looking too. An angel amongst devils.
McKenna is also a lonely and broken girl who carries the guilt of her parents death. She tries to help out and volunteer whenever she can no matter what. She's innocent sweet and kind and falling for Knox. I liked her though sometimes she got on my nerves.
I really enjoyed reading this book and reading about these two broken characters. The things they went through in the past and the fact that McKenna is Knox's counselor forbids them from having a proper relationship. At some points I got really annoyed at Knox and McKenna's relationship. It bored me at some points, but still a fun read, nonetheless.
Okay honestly though this book isn't really anything special but i still loved it so much. Like, there's just something about this book that makes it so interesting to read and had me hooked, but it's also as equally shitty and made me want to scream.
I highly recommend!
*Also I'll add some quotes later bc for some reason I'm trying to view my highlighted quotes but gr isn't letting me*
January 23, 2015
I started this audiobook, after reading the Filthy Beautiful series by Kendall Ryan. I love that series and I decided to catch up on her other books. So when I started I didn’t really know what this one was about, and I definitely didn’t know it was a cliffhanger. Luckily all the books are out so I don’t have to wait.
I really enjoyed our heroine, McKenna. She is such a strong character, but also so broken. On the outside she seems perfect. She does her volunteer work and is completely selfless, but on the inside she is struggling with the guilt of her parents death. McKenna is constantly trying to make up for the past, so she overcompensates by going above and beyond to be a good person. Her new adventure is serving as a sex addiction counselor.
Knox is a sex addict and a lot of people would immediately judge him and move on, but that would be a mistake. He is so much more than an addict. Knox has been the parent to his brothers since their mother died and their father left them. He is just as selfless as McKenna, but his selflessness isn’t as obvious to outsiders looking in.
Knox and McKenna meet in group and there is an instant attraction. McKenna sees something in Knox and wants to help him, even though he is completely reluctant to open up. McKenna’s willingness to step outside of her comfort zone allowed them to build a connection. While initially it may seem like McKenna is saving Knox, in reality they are saving each other.
I loved both of these damaged characters and I cannot wait to see what happens next. I love Kendall’s writing and how it is to get pulled in, very addictive. If you haven’t read this one, I highly recommend it!
I listened to the audio verision of this book, I really enjoyed the male narrator.
I really enjoyed our heroine, McKenna. She is such a strong character, but also so broken. On the outside she seems perfect. She does her volunteer work and is completely selfless, but on the inside she is struggling with the guilt of her parents death. McKenna is constantly trying to make up for the past, so she overcompensates by going above and beyond to be a good person. Her new adventure is serving as a sex addiction counselor.
Knox is a sex addict and a lot of people would immediately judge him and move on, but that would be a mistake. He is so much more than an addict. Knox has been the parent to his brothers since their mother died and their father left them. He is just as selfless as McKenna, but his selflessness isn’t as obvious to outsiders looking in.
Knox and McKenna meet in group and there is an instant attraction. McKenna sees something in Knox and wants to help him, even though he is completely reluctant to open up. McKenna’s willingness to step outside of her comfort zone allowed them to build a connection. While initially it may seem like McKenna is saving Knox, in reality they are saving each other.
I loved both of these damaged characters and I cannot wait to see what happens next. I love Kendall’s writing and how it is to get pulled in, very addictive. If you haven’t read this one, I highly recommend it!
I listened to the audio verision of this book, I really enjoyed the male narrator.
consider-later
February 28, 2015
FREE on Amazon US today (2/27/2015)
BLURB:
What happens when a sex addict falls for a virgin?
Knox Bauer's life has unraveled to the point of no return. Fighting to fill the emptiness inside himself, he seeks solace in unfamiliar beds with unfamiliar women. As guardian to his three younger brothers, he can't seem to do a thing right. But this can't go on...they look up to him in every way and all he’s done lately is prove how messed up he really is. Needing a change, he attends a local Sex Addicts Anonymous meeting, where he finds himself tempted by the alluring instructor, McKenna.
Twenty-one year old McKenna is trying to make amends. After losing her parents in a horrific accident, she knows if she can just be good enough, maybe she can forgive herself for what happened. With her newly acquired degree in counseling, she begins leading a sex addicts group where she meets the troubled Knox and her life takes on complications she never bargained for. She doesn't have time for a bad boy who only wants to take her to bed, even if her body disagrees. The fixer in her wants to help, but trusting Knox's true motivations might take more courage than she has.
Please note this is not a standalone, as the story continues in book two.
http://www.amazon.com/When-I-Break-Ke...
February 25, 2014
Overall Rating :: 2.5 stars
Series :: Book 1 of ?
Hero/Heroine :: Knox/McKenna
POV :: Alternating
Cliffhanger :: Apparently so, yes.
HEA ::
I have a few issues with this book.
1. The cliffhanger. What the hell was that? I truly think there should be some sort of disclaimer when a book ends with a cliffhanger. Aside from the fact that it's frustrating as a reader, but it takes me out of the story completely. If I have to wait months between books, I forget details. I lose interest in the characters and forget what they've previously gone through to get to where they are. Why are they mad at each other again? Who is that character? Ugh, why is that happening? It's disorientating. Perhaps this is my fault. I didn't go in knowing that detail - I thought I was getting a complete book. Shame on me, I guess.
2. The relationship construct. Kendall Ryan is no stranger to writing about forbidden relationships. In Resisting Her, she focused on a cop taking care of and ultimately falling in love with a woman he rescued from a cult compound. In Unravel Me, she writes about a psychology student who falls for a patient in a ward at her local hospital that she happens to be studying for her thesis paper (and who doesn't even know who he is, mind you). Original ideas, which is great, but the conflict of interest in all of these stories (but in Knox and McKenna's case in particular) is a glaring issue for me. These "well-developed" characters are falling in love with emotionally damaged (and LEGALLY off-limits) individuals. I believe all the characters involved need to take a step back and reevaluate their own priorities, and stop thinking with their dicks... or their lonely vaginas, or whatever. I mean, if you're leading a Sex Addicts Anonymous group, you probably shouldn't get sexually involved with one of the members of the group. Seems a little counter-productive to the healing process, and perhaps a little... predatory?
3. Repetitive statements.
"Volunteering was my escape. I lost myself in the servitude of others. I used their problems and misfortunes to remind myself that people out there had it worse. Perhaps Knox and I weren't so different, after all. He just medicated himself in a very different way."
[insert small paragraph here about Knox's penetrating gaze and the delicious tension]
"I couldn't stand to be alone with my grief, so I threw myself into work. Knox threw himself into the arms of women. We forced our pain away by chasing after distractions. Sleeping around was his version of volunteering.
Me: Yeah... I get it. You mentioned it just a moment before. It was a revelation for you initially, and now it's getting old the second time around. Move on.
4. The length. This may actually be related to the first point a bit. If the author is going to end a book on a cliffhanger, and it takes me less than five hours to read the entire first book... I can probably wait a few extra months for the author to just finish writing the whole thing in its entirety. What happened to the idea behind writing a five-hundred-or-so page book with a beginning and an end? Again, this must be my fault. I could have just looked that up. What a fallible reader I am.
I think I read a different book than everyone else. I mean, look at that average! Well, if someone could lend me their copy of the book, maybe I'll get it this time.
March 11, 2014
I was debating with myself how to rate this book and if to rate it at all for some time now and finally decided to give it a go.
It's a fairly typical NA story - a sex addict falls for his counselor who happens to be a 22-year old virgin. Hmm, it's not the perfect setting but sparks fly and there is a constant sexual tension between the characters, something which I liked in this story. Knox and McKenna even develop some sort of friendship.
He has some issues (rather serious and realistic), she has some issues (over the top for me), they try to open up to one another and just when things between them start happening, the book ends. It's not even a cliffhanger, it's just a half book. Actually, a third of a book, since it will be a trilogy. This would have been a much better book if it was completed. I'd be more understanding if there was a cliffhanger even, but the story just ends out of the blue in the middle of nowhere.
To say that I was disappointed would be an understatement.
It's a fairly typical NA story - a sex addict falls for his counselor who happens to be a 22-year old virgin. Hmm, it's not the perfect setting but sparks fly and there is a constant sexual tension between the characters, something which I liked in this story. Knox and McKenna even develop some sort of friendship.
He has some issues (rather serious and realistic), she has some issues (over the top for me), they try to open up to one another and just when things between them start happening, the book ends. It's not even a cliffhanger, it's just a half book. Actually, a third of a book, since it will be a trilogy. This would have been a much better book if it was completed. I'd be more understanding if there was a cliffhanger even, but the story just ends out of the blue in the middle of nowhere.
To say that I was disappointed would be an understatement.
October 4, 2015
Hmmm...Where to start with this one!?! I have mixed feelings about this story. It was very entertaining and compelling. The story kept me engaged start to finish. Yet, I spent a fair amount of time wanting to strangle McKenna.
I know, everyone's thinking "Poor McKenna," blah, blah, blah. Let's not forget that she was his group counselor for a sex addicts support group! Aside from the fact that she must have slept through Ethics 101, she has the gall to play the victim when Knox doesn't give up his womanizing ways for her overnight! I know she's supposed to be innocent and naive, but seriously! She is his counselor for his sex addiction! Does she need it tattooed on her forehead? Note to self, SAA meetings are probably not a good place to look for a long-term, monogamous partner!
Honestly, the fact that she is engaging in a taboo relationship with Knox is her biggest redeeming quality. Otherwise, she'd just be one of those irritating do-gooders that pisses the rest of us off! She should drop the guilt and embrace this naughty side of herself.
Now that I got that out, let me say that Knox is a major hottie. The whole taking care of his younger siblings at such a young age thing, is very endearing. Once he gets past that man-whore thing he's got going on, he'll be quite the catch.
I have a feeling that these two are going to work this out. C'mon McKenna, let your bad girl out to play! The only thing missing from this story is a little more heat!
I know, everyone's thinking "Poor McKenna," blah, blah, blah. Let's not forget that she was his group counselor for a sex addicts support group! Aside from the fact that she must have slept through Ethics 101, she has the gall to play the victim when Knox doesn't give up his womanizing ways for her overnight! I know she's supposed to be innocent and naive, but seriously! She is his counselor for his sex addiction! Does she need it tattooed on her forehead? Note to self, SAA meetings are probably not a good place to look for a long-term, monogamous partner!
Honestly, the fact that she is engaging in a taboo relationship with Knox is her biggest redeeming quality. Otherwise, she'd just be one of those irritating do-gooders that pisses the rest of us off! She should drop the guilt and embrace this naughty side of herself.
Now that I got that out, let me say that Knox is a major hottie. The whole taking care of his younger siblings at such a young age thing, is very endearing. Once he gets past that man-whore thing he's got going on, he'll be quite the catch.
I have a feeling that these two are going to work this out. C'mon McKenna, let your bad girl out to play! The only thing missing from this story is a little more heat!
October 21, 2018
Do you remember what I said, a couple hours ago:
"What happens when a sex addict falls for a virgin?"
you better be perfect. like "dying to touch her but not just her body but her soul etc," or like "he is all giver and possessive but at the same time afraid to take and mark". you better.
IT WAS PERFECT.
Not bc of my expectations come true or I read bunch of disaster books before this.
Did you realize, wat I expect is very, very, very cliché. Very. So am I judging unjust, hell no.
It's all about pen, the way you write it. Your descriptions for situations, your choices of words, your character's developments.
If u'll be a dark romance, make me chill, or an emotional make me moved to tears, or an funny chick-lit make me laugh. But more importantly make me feel. Make these things not just with your words but core of your characters, progress of story.
Probably I wrote too many things can u consider as SPOILER so be aware.
Knox is a sex addict, at least wat he has been told. He is raising his three old brothers and sometimes baby-sitting to his neighbor's baby. Working so hard in every possibility to feed them or for their future.
The most beautiful thing I loved is their poverty. It felt like "you don't have to dress like a king to make a woman week in knees or to look confident and attractive". He is wearing second handed or old clothes.
HE WAS NOT AN ASSHOLE. That doesn't mean he don't have a cocky smile. He has beautiful flaws make you blush. He was afraid of his feels most looks like an sexual-emotional urge for McKenna, and wants her but not pushing, not manipulating. He makes you believe he wants her for everything, and her everything in every way.
He was sweet but harsh, possessive but timid, sexy but pudent.
AND he was not addicted, he was desperate. My opinion.
McKenna was a different story. She is a sexual addition counselor and still virgin. Losing her family at a car accident and living with her friend Brian who comes with her to the city and gives 'I'm in love with you' signs to us and her. She was beautiful, educated, intelligent, submissive, petite, pure, innocent. An angel (he gave that nickname to her) and these are his words, not mine. And she was a fighter and believer.
She didn't run, didn't think silly things, didn't make stupid choices. And bc of they have common issues, not having a mom & dad and dealing with painful nights, story seems more realistic somehow. Like 'not just physical call'.
It was first sign. It was kinda insta. But not insta-love or insta-lust. I mean of course it was but their behaviors and thoughts makes u believe that dis was not temporary, rushed feels. Cock-minded but heartfelt and soul-toucher.
"Listening to her and watching the way her mouth moved around her words penetrated my walls, reached deep inside me and went straight to my dick."
If I delete 'walls and deep inside' parts from this sentences, you can understand wat I'm trying to tell. It is that simple. I'm this much effortless.
He is drawing. For the love of God Jesus and Mary. We just saw sketches of his mother. I'm dying to see his "beauty of my McKenna" drawings. UUUGGGHHH!!!
I need to tell this too. They didn't have sex. They didn't even kiss, touch for a very long time although their attraction. I needed to wait until the end of book for a relief lol (still, not sex, just touching) Instead of THEY SPENT TIME TOGETHER, and with his brothers. They did things for each other. They opened up to each other. They talked. They apologized. He tried to keep his hand to himself even she demanded for those hands on her body. And he rejected her, a few times. He asked for permission. I loved, loved that but I would still love if they had sex. Or if he'd tried to make her submit to himself at very first moments. Insomuch that I was hopeless to see him as a caveman and all macho. I never ever say no to real dirty talks. Yummmy.
Before he approved, she claimed he is a DOMINANT. I can't wait to see him in bed as a dominant, too. Kissing and touching and making come wasn't enough. Have mercy.
“If we have any chance, you have to trust me, angel.”
Her eyes flashed on mine. “Do you trust yourself?”
I leaned closer. “Around you? No.”
I knew there would be a cliffhanger, a tradition. But I like that one cuz' that happened before the sex. I wonder wat gonna happen when she learn the truths, that he didn't sleep with someone else, that he is trying.
AND AND AND the beginning. Oh my oh my oh my. Someone can find this insulting but for me one of the hottest thing. Wat I'm talking is, Oh my...
At the end he still don't know she is virgin. Hell yeah.
you better be perfect. like "dying to touch her but not just her body but her soul etc," or like "he is all giver and possessive but at the same time afraid to take and mark". you better.
IT WAS PERFECT.
Not bc of my expectations come true or I read bunch of disaster books before this.
Did you realize, wat I expect is very, very, very cliché. Very. So am I judging unjust, hell no.
It's all about pen, the way you write it. Your descriptions for situations, your choices of words, your character's developments.
If u'll be a dark romance, make me chill, or an emotional make me moved to tears, or an funny chick-lit make me laugh. But more importantly make me feel. Make these things not just with your words but core of your characters, progress of story.
Probably I wrote too many things can u consider as SPOILER so be aware.
Knox is a sex addict, at least wat he has been told. He is raising his three old brothers and sometimes baby-sitting to his neighbor's baby. Working so hard in every possibility to feed them or for their future.
The most beautiful thing I loved is their poverty. It felt like "you don't have to dress like a king to make a woman week in knees or to look confident and attractive". He is wearing second handed or old clothes.
HE WAS NOT AN ASSHOLE. That doesn't mean he don't have a cocky smile. He has beautiful flaws make you blush. He was afraid of his feels most looks like an sexual-emotional urge for McKenna, and wants her but not pushing, not manipulating. He makes you believe he wants her for everything, and her everything in every way.
He was sweet but harsh, possessive but timid, sexy but pudent.
AND he was not addicted, he was desperate. My opinion.
McKenna was a different story. She is a sexual addition counselor and still virgin. Losing her family at a car accident and living with her friend Brian who comes with her to the city and gives 'I'm in love with you' signs to us and her. She was beautiful, educated, intelligent, submissive, petite, pure, innocent. An angel (he gave that nickname to her) and these are his words, not mine. And she was a fighter and believer.
She didn't run, didn't think silly things, didn't make stupid choices. And bc of they have common issues, not having a mom & dad and dealing with painful nights, story seems more realistic somehow. Like 'not just physical call'.
It was first sign. It was kinda insta. But not insta-love or insta-lust. I mean of course it was but their behaviors and thoughts makes u believe that dis was not temporary, rushed feels. Cock-minded but heartfelt and soul-toucher.
"Listening to her and watching the way her mouth moved around her words penetrated my walls, reached deep inside me and went straight to my dick."
If I delete 'walls and deep inside' parts from this sentences, you can understand wat I'm trying to tell. It is that simple. I'm this much effortless.
He is drawing. For the love of God Jesus and Mary. We just saw sketches of his mother. I'm dying to see his "beauty of my McKenna" drawings. UUUGGGHHH!!!
I need to tell this too. They didn't have sex. They didn't even kiss, touch for a very long time although their attraction. I needed to wait until the end of book for a relief lol (still, not sex, just touching) Instead of THEY SPENT TIME TOGETHER, and with his brothers. They did things for each other. They opened up to each other. They talked. They apologized. He tried to keep his hand to himself even she demanded for those hands on her body. And he rejected her, a few times. He asked for permission. I loved, loved that but I would still love if they had sex. Or if he'd tried to make her submit to himself at very first moments. Insomuch that I was hopeless to see him as a caveman and all macho. I never ever say no to real dirty talks. Yummmy.
Before he approved, she claimed he is a DOMINANT. I can't wait to see him in bed as a dominant, too. Kissing and touching and making come wasn't enough. Have mercy.
“If we have any chance, you have to trust me, angel.”
Her eyes flashed on mine. “Do you trust yourself?”
I leaned closer. “Around you? No.”
I knew there would be a cliffhanger, a tradition. But I like that one cuz' that happened before the sex. I wonder wat gonna happen when she learn the truths, that he didn't sleep with someone else, that he is trying.
AND AND AND the beginning. Oh my oh my oh my. Someone can find this insulting but for me one of the hottest thing. Wat I'm talking is, Oh my...
At the end he still don't know she is virgin. Hell yeah.
Chemistry. Tension. Intense. Emotional. Sweet.
xoxoxo
iko
February 18, 2014
ARC kindly provided by the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review.
I have a few favorite authors that I know will never disappoint me. When I'm in a book slump - I just have to pick up one of their books and I'll devour it's goodness in one sitting. Kendall Ryan is one of those authors and I LOVE her writing.
What I haven't been loving lately are cliffhangers. BUT, I knew this one was going to have a not-so-happy ending before I even began and that got me through. Also knowing I won't have to wait too long before I get the rest of Knox and McKenna's story helped me suffer through that brutal ending.
I adored Knox and McKenna. He is a tough guy on the outside, but once you see him with his brothers and see him confide in McKenna, you can't help but swoon and fall in love with him. And McKenna, although living with so much sorrow and guilt over her own tragic past - she is sweet and kind - making it her life's mission to help others. But she will find out that her desire to help Knox turns into so much more when they have an undeniable chemistry sizzling between them.
There just wasn't enough!! I NEED MORE. I barely got my feet wet and then it was over. Ms Ryan, you broke my heart, but I forgive you because I know you'll give me more soon and I can't wait!
I have a few favorite authors that I know will never disappoint me. When I'm in a book slump - I just have to pick up one of their books and I'll devour it's goodness in one sitting. Kendall Ryan is one of those authors and I LOVE her writing.
What I haven't been loving lately are cliffhangers. BUT, I knew this one was going to have a not-so-happy ending before I even began and that got me through. Also knowing I won't have to wait too long before I get the rest of Knox and McKenna's story helped me suffer through that brutal ending.
I adored Knox and McKenna. He is a tough guy on the outside, but once you see him with his brothers and see him confide in McKenna, you can't help but swoon and fall in love with him. And McKenna, although living with so much sorrow and guilt over her own tragic past - she is sweet and kind - making it her life's mission to help others. But she will find out that her desire to help Knox turns into so much more when they have an undeniable chemistry sizzling between them.
There just wasn't enough!! I NEED MORE. I barely got my feet wet and then it was over. Ms Ryan, you broke my heart, but I forgive you because I know you'll give me more soon and I can't wait!
April 4, 2015
"I don’t know what you’ve done to me. You’ve gotten inside my head, fucked with who I am.”
Due to a DUI Knox Bauer has a choice to make, jail time or therapy. He wisely chooses therapy. His therapist on her time redirects him to a group for sex addicts. Per his own definition he doesn't need it, he's not a sex addict, he's an opportunist. Who is he to turn down a willing woman. What a gentleman…..
The group he is assigned to happens to be lead by newbie counselor McKenna. This will be the first group she will be leading on her own and apart from one certain patient she is doing pretty well. The patient in question is of course Knox and despite her job forbidding her to hook up with a patient she still allows herself to develop feelings for Knox. And he just can't deny her….Her being a willing woman and all.
“Brian?” Her brows pulled together. “He’s just a friend.”
“No boyfriend then?”
She shook her head. “No. No boyfriend. What about you?”
"I prefer females. I thought we’d established that was my main problem.”
Knox is a bit of an asshole who lives according his base instincts. Which basically comes down to lots of sex and booze. He brings girls home, or wherever he "takes" the girl, for a lay but as soon as the deed is done he sends them on their way home. But for him to have been eighteen when he became the legal guardian of his younger brothers couldn't have been an easy feat. Even when dealing with his sexcapades he does his best to keep that part of him away from his brothers. Doing anything to protect them, anything to prevent them from becoming like him. So he has some good qualities too, just have to do a little bit of digging to get to them.
“When she looked at me, she didn’t just look at me. She looked straight into me, like she could see into my soul. I liked being seen for the man I was on the inside, not just the fuck-up everyone saw on the outside. And since McKenna was here, it meant she wasn’t judging me based on what she saw.”
It takes some getting used to Mckenna, with her being a sexual addiction counselor, not so much because she is a virgin counselor.... okay maybe because of that too but more so because she goes and falls for one of her patients. She knows he is a sex addict and still she thinks, or hopes, he will change his ways for her.
“Are you sure it was wise coming here? Hanging out with me alone?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
He swallowed, his lips moving in a distracting way. “I’m a sex addict.”
My heart sped up as his words ricocheted through me. “Should I be afraid of you?”
"I wouldn’t hurt you, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to do some other things.”
She had expected great adventure after moving to Chicago for her new job. But she is disappointed when she slips into a routine of work, volunteering and then coming home to an apartment she shared with her friend Brian (who just had to relocate with her). No dancing, clubbing or dating for her. But Knox brings a little excitement to her life, he overwhelms her. A part of me can't help but wonder if that's why she's falling for him? She even goes as far as to compare their situations.
“Watching his sad eyes, I thought I understood what he was saying about the darkness. It was the same feeling that haunted me. I didn’t have bills and siblings to worry about, but my parents’ deaths had left a hole in my heart. I couldn’t stand to be alone with my grief, so I threw myself into work. Knox threw himself into the arms of women. We forced our pain away by chasing after distractions. Sleeping around was his version of my volunteering.”
Mckenna is curious and wants to fix him. She's a temptation to Knox that he actually wants to stay away from because he knows he's no good to her. At the end of the day she's still the counselor and he's still the patient. Their relationship, or whatever it is they have, can very well endanger her job and his sanity.
This part is a good start to this series of three, it does raise some questions and I'm hoping that we'll get answers in the next two parts. I'm really curious how things will progress between Mckenna and Knox and if he'll get "cured" of his addiction. I'm really loving his bad mouth and her compassionate character, there's no doubt that they are good together, good for each other. But how long will things remain 'good' between them? This book ends with a semi cliffhanger. As this is part one of three, I'm thinking the second part will end with a cliffhanger too....I don't really care but please don't make me wait too long for the next book...Which she didn't btw.
Due to a DUI Knox Bauer has a choice to make, jail time or therapy. He wisely chooses therapy. His therapist on her time redirects him to a group for sex addicts. Per his own definition he doesn't need it, he's not a sex addict, he's an opportunist. Who is he to turn down a willing woman. What a gentleman…..
The group he is assigned to happens to be lead by newbie counselor McKenna. This will be the first group she will be leading on her own and apart from one certain patient she is doing pretty well. The patient in question is of course Knox and despite her job forbidding her to hook up with a patient she still allows herself to develop feelings for Knox. And he just can't deny her….Her being a willing woman and all.
“Brian?” Her brows pulled together. “He’s just a friend.”
“No boyfriend then?”
She shook her head. “No. No boyfriend. What about you?”
"I prefer females. I thought we’d established that was my main problem.”
Knox is a bit of an asshole who lives according his base instincts. Which basically comes down to lots of sex and booze. He brings girls home, or wherever he "takes" the girl, for a lay but as soon as the deed is done he sends them on their way home. But for him to have been eighteen when he became the legal guardian of his younger brothers couldn't have been an easy feat. Even when dealing with his sexcapades he does his best to keep that part of him away from his brothers. Doing anything to protect them, anything to prevent them from becoming like him. So he has some good qualities too, just have to do a little bit of digging to get to them.
“When she looked at me, she didn’t just look at me. She looked straight into me, like she could see into my soul. I liked being seen for the man I was on the inside, not just the fuck-up everyone saw on the outside. And since McKenna was here, it meant she wasn’t judging me based on what she saw.”
It takes some getting used to Mckenna, with her being a sexual addiction counselor, not so much because she is a virgin counselor.... okay maybe because of that too but more so because she goes and falls for one of her patients. She knows he is a sex addict and still she thinks, or hopes, he will change his ways for her.
“Are you sure it was wise coming here? Hanging out with me alone?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
He swallowed, his lips moving in a distracting way. “I’m a sex addict.”
My heart sped up as his words ricocheted through me. “Should I be afraid of you?”
"I wouldn’t hurt you, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to do some other things.”
She had expected great adventure after moving to Chicago for her new job. But she is disappointed when she slips into a routine of work, volunteering and then coming home to an apartment she shared with her friend Brian (who just had to relocate with her). No dancing, clubbing or dating for her. But Knox brings a little excitement to her life, he overwhelms her. A part of me can't help but wonder if that's why she's falling for him? She even goes as far as to compare their situations.
“Watching his sad eyes, I thought I understood what he was saying about the darkness. It was the same feeling that haunted me. I didn’t have bills and siblings to worry about, but my parents’ deaths had left a hole in my heart. I couldn’t stand to be alone with my grief, so I threw myself into work. Knox threw himself into the arms of women. We forced our pain away by chasing after distractions. Sleeping around was his version of my volunteering.”
Mckenna is curious and wants to fix him. She's a temptation to Knox that he actually wants to stay away from because he knows he's no good to her. At the end of the day she's still the counselor and he's still the patient. Their relationship, or whatever it is they have, can very well endanger her job and his sanity.
This part is a good start to this series of three, it does raise some questions and I'm hoping that we'll get answers in the next two parts. I'm really curious how things will progress between Mckenna and Knox and if he'll get "cured" of his addiction. I'm really loving his bad mouth and her compassionate character, there's no doubt that they are good together, good for each other. But how long will things remain 'good' between them? This book ends with a semi cliffhanger. As this is part one of three, I'm thinking the second part will end with a cliffhanger too....I don't really care but please don't make me wait too long for the next book...Which she didn't btw.
April 28, 2014
Firstly, take note that this is book 1 of 3 as the Amazon product description tells you book 2 is now available but not that this is a three part story (why oh why do authors keep dragging their stories out is beyond me).
I have read a few of this authors books. The earlier ones I enjoyed but the last few have been disappointing so when I saw this was free I thought I would give it a go. All I can say is I'm glad I didn't pay for it. One of the books I liked by this author is called Hard to Love. I noticed some plot similarities in this one in that the hero has to care for his family and the heroine spends a lot of time turning up at his house.
Knox Bauer is guardian to his three younger brothers. To deal with his life, he drinks and sleeps with women. After been caught drink driving, he is let off because he is guardian to his brothers but told to attend counselling. Now rather than counselling for his drinking, he is bizarrely sent for sex addiction counselling which just seemed ridiculous to me. Even more ridiculous, his counsellor is 21 year old virgin, McKenna.
The first time these two meet and having exchanged very few words, she ascertains he's an alpha male and a dominant and he can tell she's innocent and submissive?! Just to clarify, at no point in this book does Knox come across as either an alpha male or a dominant but McKenna comes across more like a drip than a submissive! McKenna is instantly drawn to Knox so when he leaves a notebook behind after a counselling session it is easy for her to google his address because his name is so unusual! Turning up at his house she finds out he's guardian to his brothers (the youngest is 7). After that she keeps turning up all the time. At one point, she turns up late at night, the front door is open so she lets herself in, walks up to Knox's attic room to find he is not there. She's then devastated when she wonders if he is out having sex. Now McKenna is actually a counsellor in lots of areas and volunteers at lots of places so it struck me as odd that she didn't find anything amiss with Knox out looking for sex and his front door being open when his three brothers are inside?! We then learn that over the years Knox has left his brothers alone most nights and gone out looking for sex so in my opinion, rather than having counselling for sex addiction, he needs counselling in child care!!
Not a lot happens in this story. I felt no connection between Knox and McKenna. There is not much sex going on, just a bit of foreplay and Knox hasn't yet realised McKenna is a virgin but does tell her he likes to dominate during sex. McKenna's character irritated me. She shares an apartment with her childhood friend Brian. It's obvious he wants to be more but rather than ever sitting down and having the conversation, she either runs to her bedroom or to Knox's house. There was a lot lacking in this story. The cliffhanger ending was predictable. I have no interest in reading the next two books but have no doubt that Knox will clean up his bad boy ways and they will both live happily ever after, no doubt in a Dom/Sub relationship!
I have read a few of this authors books. The earlier ones I enjoyed but the last few have been disappointing so when I saw this was free I thought I would give it a go. All I can say is I'm glad I didn't pay for it. One of the books I liked by this author is called Hard to Love. I noticed some plot similarities in this one in that the hero has to care for his family and the heroine spends a lot of time turning up at his house.
Knox Bauer is guardian to his three younger brothers. To deal with his life, he drinks and sleeps with women. After been caught drink driving, he is let off because he is guardian to his brothers but told to attend counselling. Now rather than counselling for his drinking, he is bizarrely sent for sex addiction counselling which just seemed ridiculous to me. Even more ridiculous, his counsellor is 21 year old virgin, McKenna.
The first time these two meet and having exchanged very few words, she ascertains he's an alpha male and a dominant and he can tell she's innocent and submissive?! Just to clarify, at no point in this book does Knox come across as either an alpha male or a dominant but McKenna comes across more like a drip than a submissive! McKenna is instantly drawn to Knox so when he leaves a notebook behind after a counselling session it is easy for her to google his address because his name is so unusual! Turning up at his house she finds out he's guardian to his brothers (the youngest is 7). After that she keeps turning up all the time. At one point, she turns up late at night, the front door is open so she lets herself in, walks up to Knox's attic room to find he is not there. She's then devastated when she wonders if he is out having sex. Now McKenna is actually a counsellor in lots of areas and volunteers at lots of places so it struck me as odd that she didn't find anything amiss with Knox out looking for sex and his front door being open when his three brothers are inside?! We then learn that over the years Knox has left his brothers alone most nights and gone out looking for sex so in my opinion, rather than having counselling for sex addiction, he needs counselling in child care!!
Not a lot happens in this story. I felt no connection between Knox and McKenna. There is not much sex going on, just a bit of foreplay and Knox hasn't yet realised McKenna is a virgin but does tell her he likes to dominate during sex. McKenna's character irritated me. She shares an apartment with her childhood friend Brian. It's obvious he wants to be more but rather than ever sitting down and having the conversation, she either runs to her bedroom or to Knox's house. There was a lot lacking in this story. The cliffhanger ending was predictable. I have no interest in reading the next two books but have no doubt that Knox will clean up his bad boy ways and they will both live happily ever after, no doubt in a Dom/Sub relationship!
May 11, 2014
Ug. Ever since the 50 Shades trilogy authors seem to think its perfectly okay to stop a story smack in the middle and call it a cliffhanger. No me gusta.
I can handle the hero sleeping around because hello he's a sex addict and the blurb gives us fair warning. I can handle the hot therapist who leads his group sessions being the cliche virgin who crosses professional boundaries. I can handle (and even encourage) the resulting angst.
What I can't handle though, is happily reading along and there's this big development between the two and BAM book is over be sure to buy the next one available now!
No thank you. I'm all for having a series but when you stop a story in a place like that feels more like a marketing ploy then a natural place to stop, it doesn't make me want to continue reading.
That said. I liked this book. I enjoyed the angst and the hero's background and his struggle with his behavior and his brothers and I liked our heroine even though the psych student in me cringed at just how many professional and ethical lines she crossed.
I just won't be continuing the series.
(apologies for any typos as I'm on my kindle)
I can handle the hero sleeping around because hello he's a sex addict and the blurb gives us fair warning. I can handle the hot therapist who leads his group sessions being the cliche virgin who crosses professional boundaries. I can handle (and even encourage) the resulting angst.
What I can't handle though, is happily reading along and there's this big development between the two and BAM book is over be sure to buy the next one available now!
No thank you. I'm all for having a series but when you stop a story in a place like that feels more like a marketing ploy then a natural place to stop, it doesn't make me want to continue reading.
That said. I liked this book. I enjoyed the angst and the hero's background and his struggle with his behavior and his brothers and I liked our heroine even though the psych student in me cringed at just how many professional and ethical lines she crossed.
I just won't be continuing the series.
(apologies for any typos as I'm on my kindle)
February 23, 2014
...It had to end friggin' there didn't it! But I can forgive 'cos April's not that far off and I thought this book was ...
...OMG! These 2 together, and Knox is just - wow. Am kinda nervous about what's to come, but still knock-my-socks-off-excited to find out.
August 15, 2014
oh, Knox! I want to smack you round the head and climb you like a tree.
full review to come.
full review to come.
February 27, 2014
2.5 stars- at best.
***Minor Spoilers Ahead***
What can I say? This certainly does not feel like what I've come to expect from Kendall in terms of quality of writing. I found myself asking "WTF?" over and over again during this and trying to mold what I know Kendall is capable of with what I was reading. This was choppy, full of holes, not well researched (if at all- to be honest) and felt like it was written by a first time author.
I hand wrote notes while reading (not uncommon for me!) and I'm just going to share bits and pieces of that to hopefully show some insight into my rating:
13% in: We've barely met the H/h and certainly haven't gotten to know them at all yet. So how is it that they are so carelessly being slapped with labels such as "submissive" and "dominant?" It makes zero sense to me. And seriously- what shrink would send her BRAND NEW patient to SAA without ever having had one session with him? Again- it makes NO SENSE whatsoever.
20%: I don't get it, how is McKenna a counselor? She's only 21. She only has a bachelors. Statements like "all those years of school" are tossed around but I ask myself "what years? You've barely gone!" To my knowledge it takes a hell of a lot longer (and a TON more experience) to be a legit counselor- let alone be let loose with your own addiction group to lead. So again- none of this makes sense. I also don't fully understand how she's "so broken" after her parents death. Four years ago. It just doesn't add up. Even with her little "confession" later on in the following chapter. Yeah, it sucks that she lost her parents. But get over it already. The way it's given to us, it just doesn't seem like it should still be affecting her SO MUCH this far after the fact.
***Small rant*** Brian?? Where the heck did he come from? If feels like he was just dropped in and then a rushed excuse was written in as to why. He also makes no sense to me. Throughout the book- he just doesn't seem to really fit in at all.
29% Really? Knox didn't completely flip his lid when McKenna just showed up unannounced at his house? Um...I don't get it. Everything we've learned about him to this point would indicate that he'd be pissed. Not warm, inviting and asking her to stay for lunch.
38% Seems to be a smoother journey. The writing isn't as choppy and the storyline is molding itself a little better. But we're still missing...something...from the characters. I don't feel as if they are connecting with us, the readers, let alone with each other. I feel like they're just going through the motions- if even that- almost like actors doing a walkthrough of their play- just reading the lines and not putting forth any real effort or emotion into it.
78% Knox and McKenna just had their first "encounter" together. And I was quite disappointed. How many times do we have to hear about Knox being "so hard" with everything that's being done? (Or what little is being done actually) Was he up, down, up, down, up, down? Cause really? How many times can he "get so hard" in one part of a chapter? It felt amateurish and immaturely done. Like he was a boy who just saw his first porno or something.
79% Here we go again. Throwing around the term "dominant" again when it comes to Knox. It still makes NO SENSE. In fact, it makes even LESS sense now to me. NOTHING we've read supports this claim at all. Is Knox moody and intense? Sure he is, but that makes him a dude, not dominant. Is he controlling and always demonstrate that NEED to be in control? No. Not in the least.
95% (these are the % on my kindle-so yeah- this was actually the end of the story) WTF was that ending? Can you even call that a cliffhanger? I suppose it IS because it leaves things unresolved, but it just stops. It's not a natural break. It's not "OMG WHAT HAPPENED I WANT TO READ MORE NOW!" sort of moment. It. Just. Stops.
Overall- I think the concept is on par with what Kendall does best. Taboo and forbidden relationships seem to be her thing. But this- this fell way way short of what she's capable of as an author. This, to me, felt rushed, unplanned and under researched. It left me sorely disappointed since her last book was AMAZINGLY WELL DONE! I have no idea if I will continue reading on after this one. I'm fairly confident in already being able to guess what will happen.
On the positive- the editing and grammar are decent, so no issues there. And I really liked the brothers. Especially Tucker.
***Minor Spoilers Ahead***
What can I say? This certainly does not feel like what I've come to expect from Kendall in terms of quality of writing. I found myself asking "WTF?" over and over again during this and trying to mold what I know Kendall is capable of with what I was reading. This was choppy, full of holes, not well researched (if at all- to be honest) and felt like it was written by a first time author.
I hand wrote notes while reading (not uncommon for me!) and I'm just going to share bits and pieces of that to hopefully show some insight into my rating:
13% in: We've barely met the H/h and certainly haven't gotten to know them at all yet. So how is it that they are so carelessly being slapped with labels such as "submissive" and "dominant?" It makes zero sense to me. And seriously- what shrink would send her BRAND NEW patient to SAA without ever having had one session with him? Again- it makes NO SENSE whatsoever.
20%: I don't get it, how is McKenna a counselor? She's only 21. She only has a bachelors. Statements like "all those years of school" are tossed around but I ask myself "what years? You've barely gone!" To my knowledge it takes a hell of a lot longer (and a TON more experience) to be a legit counselor- let alone be let loose with your own addiction group to lead. So again- none of this makes sense. I also don't fully understand how she's "so broken" after her parents death. Four years ago. It just doesn't add up. Even with her little "confession" later on in the following chapter. Yeah, it sucks that she lost her parents. But get over it already. The way it's given to us, it just doesn't seem like it should still be affecting her SO MUCH this far after the fact.
***Small rant*** Brian?? Where the heck did he come from? If feels like he was just dropped in and then a rushed excuse was written in as to why. He also makes no sense to me. Throughout the book- he just doesn't seem to really fit in at all.
29% Really? Knox didn't completely flip his lid when McKenna just showed up unannounced at his house? Um...I don't get it. Everything we've learned about him to this point would indicate that he'd be pissed. Not warm, inviting and asking her to stay for lunch.
38% Seems to be a smoother journey. The writing isn't as choppy and the storyline is molding itself a little better. But we're still missing...something...from the characters. I don't feel as if they are connecting with us, the readers, let alone with each other. I feel like they're just going through the motions- if even that- almost like actors doing a walkthrough of their play- just reading the lines and not putting forth any real effort or emotion into it.
78% Knox and McKenna just had their first "encounter" together. And I was quite disappointed. How many times do we have to hear about Knox being "so hard" with everything that's being done? (Or what little is being done actually) Was he up, down, up, down, up, down? Cause really? How many times can he "get so hard" in one part of a chapter? It felt amateurish and immaturely done. Like he was a boy who just saw his first porno or something.
79% Here we go again. Throwing around the term "dominant" again when it comes to Knox. It still makes NO SENSE. In fact, it makes even LESS sense now to me. NOTHING we've read supports this claim at all. Is Knox moody and intense? Sure he is, but that makes him a dude, not dominant. Is he controlling and always demonstrate that NEED to be in control? No. Not in the least.
95% (these are the % on my kindle-so yeah- this was actually the end of the story) WTF was that ending? Can you even call that a cliffhanger? I suppose it IS because it leaves things unresolved, but it just stops. It's not a natural break. It's not "OMG WHAT HAPPENED I WANT TO READ MORE NOW!" sort of moment. It. Just. Stops.
Overall- I think the concept is on par with what Kendall does best. Taboo and forbidden relationships seem to be her thing. But this- this fell way way short of what she's capable of as an author. This, to me, felt rushed, unplanned and under researched. It left me sorely disappointed since her last book was AMAZINGLY WELL DONE! I have no idea if I will continue reading on after this one. I'm fairly confident in already being able to guess what will happen.
On the positive- the editing and grammar are decent, so no issues there. And I really liked the brothers. Especially Tucker.
June 14, 2023
MALDITA SEA!!!
Pensé que era libro único y resulta que es trilogía.
Él es adicto al sexo y está en un grupo de apoyo para superar la adicción y ella es su consejera y desde la primera vez que se vieron surgió la atracción.
Se que Él es un adicto pero que no se frene ni por ella me causa issues.
Odio tener que verme obligada a leer los demás.
Pensé que era libro único y resulta que es trilogía.
Él es adicto al sexo y está en un grupo de apoyo para superar la adicción y ella es su consejera y desde la primera vez que se vieron surgió la atracción.
Se que Él es un adicto pero que no se frene ni por ella me causa issues.
Odio tener que verme obligada a leer los demás.
March 1, 2015
Knox Bauer’s life is complicated. When he loses his mother and his father disappears, he steps up to raise his younger brothers. But he needs something to help chase away the demons. Sex. A chance to bury the past and to get lost in between the sheets and just let go of it all. The only problem is that when he is forced to enter therapy due to a DUI his shrink thinks he’d be better off in a sex addiction group. For Knox, he doesn’t view his need to stick it in countless women as an addiction, but he knows he has to follow through for the sake of his brothers.
McKenna finds herself leading the group sessions for sex addiction. Sure she’s qualified education wise... there’s just one little problem; McKenna’s a virgin. After losing both her parents, she emerges herself in countless projects of helping others. Day in and day out, she does for others – never taking for herself. But that is about to change when Knox catches her eye during their session. Sure she wants to help him, but there is something deeper going on. She can’t seem to stay away from him. Toss in the way it feels to be part of a family when she’s surrounded by his brothers, McKenna is getting a taste of something she lost a long time ago.
Sex addict. Virgin. YES PLEASE! This book has sat on my Kindle for so fucking long. It was one of those books that was an instant one-click after I had read Kendall’s Unraveled series but for some reason I just never got around to reading it. I loved every second of this book. Although the first installment is all chemistry and angst – a build up to book two; these two rocked this book. I adored Knox. All his damaged parts were like perfection. McKenna was this innocent heroine but not dense. It’s hard to balance out the chick in these books – making them likable and vulnerable without creating a weak character that is far more annoying than lovable. With McKenna – I adored her.
I can’t wait to see what happens between these two in When I Surrender. Another fantastic book by Ms. Ryan.
McKenna finds herself leading the group sessions for sex addiction. Sure she’s qualified education wise... there’s just one little problem; McKenna’s a virgin. After losing both her parents, she emerges herself in countless projects of helping others. Day in and day out, she does for others – never taking for herself. But that is about to change when Knox catches her eye during their session. Sure she wants to help him, but there is something deeper going on. She can’t seem to stay away from him. Toss in the way it feels to be part of a family when she’s surrounded by his brothers, McKenna is getting a taste of something she lost a long time ago.
Sex addict. Virgin. YES PLEASE! This book has sat on my Kindle for so fucking long. It was one of those books that was an instant one-click after I had read Kendall’s Unraveled series but for some reason I just never got around to reading it. I loved every second of this book. Although the first installment is all chemistry and angst – a build up to book two; these two rocked this book. I adored Knox. All his damaged parts were like perfection. McKenna was this innocent heroine but not dense. It’s hard to balance out the chick in these books – making them likable and vulnerable without creating a weak character that is far more annoying than lovable. With McKenna – I adored her.
I can’t wait to see what happens between these two in When I Surrender. Another fantastic book by Ms. Ryan.
May 26, 2016
This book made me mad - I don’t know where Kendall Ryan is taking this story and maybe I should wait until I read the other two books before I make a judgement call BUT……………here is what we get.
The book description - issues a warning and that it is intended for mature reading audience because it contains a stubborn alpha male with addiction issues and loads of sexual tension between two damaged characters - she then goes onto advise - read it at your own risk.
The story is meant to be about two damaged characters - each with baggage. Knox Bauer is guardian to his three brothers. We are led to believe that his life is so empty that it unravels to the point of no return and his way of dealing with this is to find solace in lots of beds with random women - lots of them.
So here in lies my first problem - I didn’t get this. Nope not a stubborn alpha male, the sexual tension or the addictive sex . It just wasn’t there.
Knox is forced to attend anger management sessions but we are told that his “issues” are not related to anger and he lacked an ability to maintain a healthy relationship. Knox doesn’t agree and believes that he is just horny and he liked pussy. His nickname was Worm (he wormed his way into many a girls panties) but that didn’t make him an addict right? He was an opportunist why would he turn down a willing female? The counsellor tells him that “a sex addict is someone whose deviant sexual behaviour interferes with daily life - their relationships, job etc and she believes that Knox uses sex as an escape. Because of this she refers him to Sex Addicts Anonymous where he meets McKenna (we don’t know her surname) a sexual addiction counsellor and of course a virgin.
This is where I began to have issues with this story. What this book delivers is a huge conflict of interest and a doubtful plot.
Addiction must be hard - I have never been there and I cannot imagine what it must be like to crave something. So the last thing you would do would be to dangle the very thing that creates the addiction in the first place. Would you open a bottle of vodka and drink it in front of an alcoholic? Would you pop a pill and swallow one in front of someone who was addicted to painkillers or would you light up a cigarette and blow smoke in someone’s face if they are trying to stop smoking?
So why would a sex counsellor get involved with a sex addict? Someone she is supposed to help get over the addiction? Remember he is a user of women.
So although they don’t “do it” Mckenna does things to him that would end up with her losing her job and being put on a sex offenders register. She sleeps in the same bed as she believes she is doing something right and that her “hard work” was paying off “ She wanted to try something with him despite she knew how “hard” it would be for him - being physical without having sex - but it would be good for him like stretching before a workout, he had to develop these muscles if he wanted to grow stronger, if he wanted to heal!!!!!!!!
Quote ‘and the fact that I turned him on despite my lack of knowledge I wanted to touch this beautiful broken man to be part of making him whole again’
‘he was beautiful, and he wasn’t broken like he though’ ‘ even though I was breaking all the rules with Knox behind closed doors, I certainly wouldn’t broadcast in public’
Seriously?
Well we can guess what happens in the next book “when I surrender” so it will be interesting how Kendall Ryan takes this forward.
Next:
The book description - issues a warning and that it is intended for mature reading audience because it contains a stubborn alpha male with addiction issues and loads of sexual tension between two damaged characters - she then goes onto advise - read it at your own risk.
The story is meant to be about two damaged characters - each with baggage. Knox Bauer is guardian to his three brothers. We are led to believe that his life is so empty that it unravels to the point of no return and his way of dealing with this is to find solace in lots of beds with random women - lots of them.
So here in lies my first problem - I didn’t get this. Nope not a stubborn alpha male, the sexual tension or the addictive sex . It just wasn’t there.
Knox is forced to attend anger management sessions but we are told that his “issues” are not related to anger and he lacked an ability to maintain a healthy relationship. Knox doesn’t agree and believes that he is just horny and he liked pussy. His nickname was Worm (he wormed his way into many a girls panties) but that didn’t make him an addict right? He was an opportunist why would he turn down a willing female? The counsellor tells him that “a sex addict is someone whose deviant sexual behaviour interferes with daily life - their relationships, job etc and she believes that Knox uses sex as an escape. Because of this she refers him to Sex Addicts Anonymous where he meets McKenna (we don’t know her surname) a sexual addiction counsellor and of course a virgin.
This is where I began to have issues with this story. What this book delivers is a huge conflict of interest and a doubtful plot.
Addiction must be hard - I have never been there and I cannot imagine what it must be like to crave something. So the last thing you would do would be to dangle the very thing that creates the addiction in the first place. Would you open a bottle of vodka and drink it in front of an alcoholic? Would you pop a pill and swallow one in front of someone who was addicted to painkillers or would you light up a cigarette and blow smoke in someone’s face if they are trying to stop smoking?
So why would a sex counsellor get involved with a sex addict? Someone she is supposed to help get over the addiction? Remember he is a user of women.
So although they don’t “do it” Mckenna does things to him that would end up with her losing her job and being put on a sex offenders register. She sleeps in the same bed as she believes she is doing something right and that her “hard work” was paying off “ She wanted to try something with him despite she knew how “hard” it would be for him - being physical without having sex - but it would be good for him like stretching before a workout, he had to develop these muscles if he wanted to grow stronger, if he wanted to heal!!!!!!!!
Quote ‘and the fact that I turned him on despite my lack of knowledge I wanted to touch this beautiful broken man to be part of making him whole again’
‘he was beautiful, and he wasn’t broken like he though’ ‘ even though I was breaking all the rules with Knox behind closed doors, I certainly wouldn’t broadcast in public’
Seriously?
Well we can guess what happens in the next book “when I surrender” so it will be interesting how Kendall Ryan takes this forward.
Next:
March 4, 2014
**ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review**
~~ 5 "I Don't Know How I Feel" Stars ~~
" I couldn't stand to be alone with my grief, so I threw myself into work. Knox threw himself into the arms of women. We forced our pain away by chasing after distractions."……McKenna
I don't even know how to express my feelings about this book. I loved it, as I do any Kendall Ryan book, but I also have mixed feelings about it. One of the reasons I loved it was because I love Kendall's writing style. She has the ability to suck you into a story and never let go. This book was truly unlike any of her other books….which I truly loved because I didn't know what to expect. This storyline was unique in the fact that I haven't read a story like this one before. This book will definitely take your heart and emotions on a roller coaster ride. One minute you will be happy and smiling, then the next you will be pissed beyond belief. I really can't say anymore without ruining this book, this is one you really need to go into blind and just read it to get the full experience of it.
Knox Bauer is your ultimate bad boy, but he was so much more then that. Deep down inside he was a broken man that just wanted to make a better life for his 3 younger brothers. I truly had a Love/Hate relationship with Knox. I love him because I know in my heart, that deep down in his core he is a good man who wants to change his life so that his brothers have a better role model, but just when I think things are going in the right direction for him…..he does something to fudge it up. That's where the Hate part of it comes in. I wanted to smack Knox so many times. But I am not willing to give up on him just yet. This is only book 1 to this series, so I am holding out hope that he turns out how I want him to, without causing too much damage to McKenna in the process. I will say that McKenna and Knox were 2 completely different people on the outside, but truly are kindred spirits on the inside. These 2 were completely broken souls from things that happen in the past. I really liked McKenna, but I think she needed to grow a back bone. I also think she needed to be in therapy herself. She harbors a lot of guilt from the death of her parents. I think some of her behavior in this book wasn't very healthy for her and needs to be corrected. I loved that she believed in Knox and was willing to help him be a better person, even if she has to push him to do it.
Now I can't say a whole lot about the story because it would give to much away. I will say that this book ends on a To Be Continued ending. Kendall does leave us slightly hanging, but I guess it just makes you want the next book that much more. Something is revealed at the end of this story, that I have my theories on and I don't think it is what it seems like. So I am very anxious to see how this story pans out in the next book. If you are a person who doesn't like to be left hanging then I would suggest waiting until book 2 comes out because this book will leave you hanging and frustrated….LOL :)
I would definitely recommend this book to ALL Kendall Ryan fans. This is a series you aren't going to want to miss. This is unlike anything else she has written.
For more reviews go to www.bookbitchesblog.com
~~ 5 "I Don't Know How I Feel" Stars ~~
" I couldn't stand to be alone with my grief, so I threw myself into work. Knox threw himself into the arms of women. We forced our pain away by chasing after distractions."……McKenna
I don't even know how to express my feelings about this book. I loved it, as I do any Kendall Ryan book, but I also have mixed feelings about it. One of the reasons I loved it was because I love Kendall's writing style. She has the ability to suck you into a story and never let go. This book was truly unlike any of her other books….which I truly loved because I didn't know what to expect. This storyline was unique in the fact that I haven't read a story like this one before. This book will definitely take your heart and emotions on a roller coaster ride. One minute you will be happy and smiling, then the next you will be pissed beyond belief. I really can't say anymore without ruining this book, this is one you really need to go into blind and just read it to get the full experience of it.
Knox Bauer is your ultimate bad boy, but he was so much more then that. Deep down inside he was a broken man that just wanted to make a better life for his 3 younger brothers. I truly had a Love/Hate relationship with Knox. I love him because I know in my heart, that deep down in his core he is a good man who wants to change his life so that his brothers have a better role model, but just when I think things are going in the right direction for him…..he does something to fudge it up. That's where the Hate part of it comes in. I wanted to smack Knox so many times. But I am not willing to give up on him just yet. This is only book 1 to this series, so I am holding out hope that he turns out how I want him to, without causing too much damage to McKenna in the process. I will say that McKenna and Knox were 2 completely different people on the outside, but truly are kindred spirits on the inside. These 2 were completely broken souls from things that happen in the past. I really liked McKenna, but I think she needed to grow a back bone. I also think she needed to be in therapy herself. She harbors a lot of guilt from the death of her parents. I think some of her behavior in this book wasn't very healthy for her and needs to be corrected. I loved that she believed in Knox and was willing to help him be a better person, even if she has to push him to do it.
Now I can't say a whole lot about the story because it would give to much away. I will say that this book ends on a To Be Continued ending. Kendall does leave us slightly hanging, but I guess it just makes you want the next book that much more. Something is revealed at the end of this story, that I have my theories on and I don't think it is what it seems like. So I am very anxious to see how this story pans out in the next book. If you are a person who doesn't like to be left hanging then I would suggest waiting until book 2 comes out because this book will leave you hanging and frustrated….LOL :)
I would definitely recommend this book to ALL Kendall Ryan fans. This is a series you aren't going to want to miss. This is unlike anything else she has written.
For more reviews go to www.bookbitchesblog.com
March 4, 2014
I've enjoyed some books by Ms. Ryan, others I haven't liked at all. Unfortunately this book falls into the latter category.
McKenna is a 21 year-old virgin who is the counselor for a group of sex addicts. Her parents were hit and killed by a drunk driver when she was in high school and she blames herself. To make amends, she spends all her waking time volunteering for places like homeless shelters, soup kitchens etc trying to keep herself from thinking about what an awful person she is. (No, she wasn't driving the other car, she had argued with her mom at home and that caused her parents to leave the house later than usual. If she hadn't been so selfish they would still be alive!!!) You'd think if she has a degree in counseling she would be open to getting some counseling but that would make too much sense.
Knox is a 22 year-old man whose mother is dead and father abandoned him and his brothers. He's been raising them since he was in high school and is doing a pretty good job. He uses sex as a release and for some reason his therapist thinks he's a sex addict so forces him into the group sessions. (I actually liked his character, hence the 1 star.)
Since McKenna is Knox's counselor you would think there would be some sort of ethics dilemma to keep them from fraternizing but that doesn't stop McKenna because she wants him!! She shows up at his house and even though they don't have actual sex they do a lot of other things. (Uh, isn't she supposed to be HELPING him quit that?) One week at group Knox tells everyone it's been a week since he had sex and instead of congratulating him, McKenna is so upset she bolts from the session she's supposed to be running and hides in the bathroom. I doubt that'll keep her from him because SHE WANTS HIM!!!
My favorite quote in the book, guaranteed to induce eye-rolling:
"Your sad blue eyes wouldn't leave my brain. I couldn't stop comparing your subtle feminine scent to her harsh perfume. Your touchable soft waves to her too-stiff curls."
Seriously? This from a 22 year-old man-whore??!
I found this book offensive because Knox was in a position where he's required to attend group and should be able to trust McKenna. She is the counselor but manipulates and takes advantage of him. Shame on her and no thanks on book 2.
McKenna is a 21 year-old virgin who is the counselor for a group of sex addicts. Her parents were hit and killed by a drunk driver when she was in high school and she blames herself. To make amends, she spends all her waking time volunteering for places like homeless shelters, soup kitchens etc trying to keep herself from thinking about what an awful person she is. (No, she wasn't driving the other car, she had argued with her mom at home and that caused her parents to leave the house later than usual. If she hadn't been so selfish they would still be alive!!!) You'd think if she has a degree in counseling she would be open to getting some counseling but that would make too much sense.
Knox is a 22 year-old man whose mother is dead and father abandoned him and his brothers. He's been raising them since he was in high school and is doing a pretty good job. He uses sex as a release and for some reason his therapist thinks he's a sex addict so forces him into the group sessions. (I actually liked his character, hence the 1 star.)
Since McKenna is Knox's counselor you would think there would be some sort of ethics dilemma to keep them from fraternizing but that doesn't stop McKenna because she wants him!! She shows up at his house and even though they don't have actual sex they do a lot of other things. (Uh, isn't she supposed to be HELPING him quit that?) One week at group Knox tells everyone it's been a week since he had sex and instead of congratulating him, McKenna is so upset she bolts from the session she's supposed to be running and hides in the bathroom. I doubt that'll keep her from him because SHE WANTS HIM!!!
My favorite quote in the book, guaranteed to induce eye-rolling:
"Your sad blue eyes wouldn't leave my brain. I couldn't stop comparing your subtle feminine scent to her harsh perfume. Your touchable soft waves to her too-stiff curls."
Seriously? This from a 22 year-old man-whore??!
I found this book offensive because Knox was in a position where he's required to attend group and should be able to trust McKenna. She is the counselor but manipulates and takes advantage of him. Shame on her and no thanks on book 2.
September 3, 2015
3.5 not sure how I feel yet stars.
I liked this one even though I am not sure about Knox. Sometimes I feel like the heroine will be a doormat. She is the one, in my opinion, trying way too hard. I am not sure about the ending.
I love the way Knox is with his brothers. And I love how McKenna is with the brothers.
Also what I did not understand is that
09/03/15 - I am not sure if I will read the rest of the series. I love many of Kendall Ryan's other books, but this one did not grab me enough to spend $6.99 on complete series or $3.99 for book 2.
Side note: I had to stop listening to the narrated version of this book. Josh Goodman is reading both the hero and the heroine's voices and he is TOO monotone. It sounds like he is being forced to read the book. As if he needs the money and his agent called and said "read this and you will get a check".
I have a ton of suggestions for great male narrators. I recommend reading the book and not buying it on audio. However, I do want to add that I know sometimes a narrator may be amazing for one story, but not another. I am just giving my opinion about Josh Goodman reading dual POVs for this book.
I liked this one even though I am not sure about Knox. Sometimes I feel like the heroine will be a doormat. She is the one, in my opinion, trying way too hard. I am not sure about the ending.
I love the way Knox is with his brothers. And I love how McKenna is with the brothers.
Also what I did not understand is that
09/03/15 - I am not sure if I will read the rest of the series. I love many of Kendall Ryan's other books, but this one did not grab me enough to spend $6.99 on complete series or $3.99 for book 2.
Side note: I had to stop listening to the narrated version of this book. Josh Goodman is reading both the hero and the heroine's voices and he is TOO monotone. It sounds like he is being forced to read the book. As if he needs the money and his agent called and said "read this and you will get a check".
I have a ton of suggestions for great male narrators. I recommend reading the book and not buying it on audio. However, I do want to add that I know sometimes a narrator may be amazing for one story, but not another. I am just giving my opinion about Josh Goodman reading dual POVs for this book.
March 6, 2014
I... just... and... she... did...
Jesus.
Knox... you beautiful, misguided, sexy, imperfect man! I fell in love with his mind before I fell in love with his mouth, both dirty and down right delicious. He is all things alpha and dominant, but he is also a sex addict, and a yummy one at that!
When I Break has everything you could possibly want in a Kendall Ryan novel; the hot as hell bad boy with his share of problems, the virgin sex addiction counselor, and a whole heap of sexual tension.
Kendall Ryan has done it again with her captivating writing style, and unique plot lines that keeps you on the edge with every page. AMAZING!
Jesus.
Knox... you beautiful, misguided, sexy, imperfect man! I fell in love with his mind before I fell in love with his mouth, both dirty and down right delicious. He is all things alpha and dominant, but he is also a sex addict, and a yummy one at that!
When I Break has everything you could possibly want in a Kendall Ryan novel; the hot as hell bad boy with his share of problems, the virgin sex addiction counselor, and a whole heap of sexual tension.
Kendall Ryan has done it again with her captivating writing style, and unique plot lines that keeps you on the edge with every page. AMAZING!
March 15, 2017
No. Just no.
September 3, 2017
4.5 stars!
I really enjoyed it. I do love a complicated mess getting unravelled by two people that are falling in love!
There's plenty going on under the surface of this book - all isn't as clear cut as it first seems!
Straight into book 2 for me.
I really enjoyed it. I do love a complicated mess getting unravelled by two people that are falling in love!
There's plenty going on under the surface of this book - all isn't as clear cut as it first seems!
Straight into book 2 for me.
January 5, 2015
McKenna buries her pain and troubled past by devoting her life to helping others through various means: counseling a Sex Addicts Anonymous group and volunteering for the less fortunate or troubled. She doesn't expect an instant attraction and chemical reaction when she meets one of the newest members of SAA. Knox, also with a troubled past, has been court ordered for treatment after an OWI and some mouthing off to a judge. He can't believe his new counselor at SAA is a walking angel. The attraction is undeniable but when lines become crossed- is there anywhere truly to go?
I read this book as a reading club Book of the Month and didn't expect to become as engrossed as I was. I loved McKenna and Knox, despite their issues, both were wholesome and lovable characters- real, raw, and full of zest and passion for life. Add the two together and the passion was palpable through the book- I FELT everything along with them and found myself hoping Knox would change his ways and McKenna would truly "fix" him.
I also enjoyed the original and "forbidden" angle this book took- charge and counselor. Although, at times, I found the scenario unbelievable because of the character's ages. I mean.. there is NO way McKenna was a legitimate counselor at the age of twenty-one unless she was a genius. However, McKenna was characterized as an "average" girl so I couldn't find this part realistic and was a slight irritation while reading. Regardless, she knew what she was dealing with and I could feel her hope, dedication, and desperation as she tried to save Knox from himself.
Knox- loved him. He was so REAL and unapologetic for his ways. He knew what he was doing wasn't right but he never made excuses- "This is me accept me for who I am." Despite his transgressions I still thought he was a good guy and rooted for him.
All in all this book blew me away and I loved it. The ending left me with what could be called a "cliffhanger" but to me it was more of a cliff-drop as it abruptly ended. Don't get me wrong I love cliffhangers and they give me something to look forward to but ugh-come on Ms. Ryan I don't wanna wait until I can go shopping on Amazon again!
"She was beautiful. Educated. Intelligent. Submissive. It was that last part that got my blood pumping south."
I read this book as a reading club Book of the Month and didn't expect to become as engrossed as I was. I loved McKenna and Knox, despite their issues, both were wholesome and lovable characters- real, raw, and full of zest and passion for life. Add the two together and the passion was palpable through the book- I FELT everything along with them and found myself hoping Knox would change his ways and McKenna would truly "fix" him.
"There were so many layers to his personality, so many sides to him. I wanted to know each one, to turn him like a crystal in the light, to inspect his many facets."
I also enjoyed the original and "forbidden" angle this book took- charge and counselor. Although, at times, I found the scenario unbelievable because of the character's ages. I mean.. there is NO way McKenna was a legitimate counselor at the age of twenty-one unless she was a genius. However, McKenna was characterized as an "average" girl so I couldn't find this part realistic and was a slight irritation while reading. Regardless, she knew what she was dealing with and I could feel her hope, dedication, and desperation as she tried to save Knox from himself.
Knox- loved him. He was so REAL and unapologetic for his ways. He knew what he was doing wasn't right but he never made excuses- "This is me accept me for who I am." Despite his transgressions I still thought he was a good guy and rooted for him.
“I can’t be expected to watch you parade around in your tight jeans all night and not need a release.”
All in all this book blew me away and I loved it. The ending left me with what could be called a "cliffhanger" but to me it was more of a cliff-drop as it abruptly ended. Don't get me wrong I love cliffhangers and they give me something to look forward to but ugh-come on Ms. Ryan I don't wanna wait until I can go shopping on Amazon again!
February 26, 2014
Rating Clarification: 3.5 Stars
Darn those painful cliffies!!!
I knew going into this one that there would be a cliffhanger, and as much as I thought I was prepared for it... I was not. I had just picked up on the cadence of the story when all of a sudden the lights turned off, and I was left in the dark. Well past the midpoint of this book, Knox and McKenna were starting to accept their feelings for one another and getting to know each other when I stumbled on the last chapter. I really wish this book would have completed their story because I was really into it towards the end.
Overall, I enjoy Kendall Ryan’s books. She has a way of creating edgy male characters that are attractive and easy to fall for. However, what I felt was missing with Knox was that I didn’t feel he quite lived up to his reputation or supposed condition. I’m no psychologist by any means, and the most I have under my belt are a couple of college required courses on psychology, but am I the only one that feels he was misdiagnosed? I don’t think he encompassed what I believe an addict of any sort would be and a simple google search on the symptoms proved to me that he didn’t belong in SAA. Maybe I’m delusional or simply trying to excuse away the relationship between him and his counselor. However, I really didn’t feel he belonged in that counseling group, but if that’s what it took for him and McKenna to meet, well there you go!
On a different note, I have to mention how much I loved how Knox took care of his younger brothers. He was loving and responsible, and to see how much he sacrificed to make sure his family wasn’t torn apart was really inspiring and heart rending. In addition, it was nice to see McKenna find her way into the folds of Bauer family. She blended well with the brothers and I liked how she handled their tough questions. I was a bit confused about Brian’s role in this story. There were parts of me that felt sorry for him and wished McKenna would have appreciated him a bit more. I’m curious where his storyline will lead him because overall, he seemed like a pretty decent guy.
Lastly, I’m really looking forward to picking up where this book left off to see what comes of McKenna and Knox. Good beginning to what I hope will have a fantastic ending for these two characters.
Darn those painful cliffies!!!
I knew going into this one that there would be a cliffhanger, and as much as I thought I was prepared for it... I was not. I had just picked up on the cadence of the story when all of a sudden the lights turned off, and I was left in the dark. Well past the midpoint of this book, Knox and McKenna were starting to accept their feelings for one another and getting to know each other when I stumbled on the last chapter. I really wish this book would have completed their story because I was really into it towards the end.
Overall, I enjoy Kendall Ryan’s books. She has a way of creating edgy male characters that are attractive and easy to fall for. However, what I felt was missing with Knox was that I didn’t feel he quite lived up to his reputation or supposed condition. I’m no psychologist by any means, and the most I have under my belt are a couple of college required courses on psychology, but am I the only one that feels he was misdiagnosed? I don’t think he encompassed what I believe an addict of any sort would be and a simple google search on the symptoms proved to me that he didn’t belong in SAA. Maybe I’m delusional or simply trying to excuse away the relationship between him and his counselor. However, I really didn’t feel he belonged in that counseling group, but if that’s what it took for him and McKenna to meet, well there you go!
On a different note, I have to mention how much I loved how Knox took care of his younger brothers. He was loving and responsible, and to see how much he sacrificed to make sure his family wasn’t torn apart was really inspiring and heart rending. In addition, it was nice to see McKenna find her way into the folds of Bauer family. She blended well with the brothers and I liked how she handled their tough questions. I was a bit confused about Brian’s role in this story. There were parts of me that felt sorry for him and wished McKenna would have appreciated him a bit more. I’m curious where his storyline will lead him because overall, he seemed like a pretty decent guy.
Lastly, I’m really looking forward to picking up where this book left off to see what comes of McKenna and Knox. Good beginning to what I hope will have a fantastic ending for these two characters.
February 27, 2014
3 Sweet stars!
This was one short read!
So we have one hot and steamy sex-addict and his neerdy counselor...
See,I was waiting all book to finaly hell break lose,and he piiiip her brain out on kitchen floor or bathroom wall or something...
BUT NOTHING HAPPEND!!!
NADA...ZERO!!!
Hell I was disapointed!
And that fat ass cliffhanger...
Still a nice solid 3* read!
This was one short read!
So we have one hot and steamy sex-addict and his neerdy counselor...
See,I was waiting all book to finaly hell break lose,and he piiiip her brain out on kitchen floor or bathroom wall or something...
BUT NOTHING HAPPEND!!!
NADA...ZERO!!!
Hell I was disapointed!
And that fat ass cliffhanger...
Still a nice solid 3* read!
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