Book 2 of 3.

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CHARACTERS:
** Kassen: **
~ Sexually abused with a horrific past, he’s been isolated and secluded for the last eleven years.

**Gemma Ashcroft:** Age: 26, Rock Climber
- Gemma made a name for herself with her extraordinary climbing skills. Her You Tube channel catapulted her to a successful and financially profitable life.

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OVERALL PLOT:
When a new post on a climbing website catches Gemma’s attention, she knows she needs to check it out. However, when Gemma stumbles across a mansion in the middle of the forest, she’s not prepared for the man (or is it a beast?) who takes her captive and changes her life forever.

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BOOK 2:

Book Two picks up where the cliffhanger left us dangling in book one - which was literally on the edge of a cliff.

Gemma feels guilty and she’s not willing to just abandon Kassen, so she climbs down the cliff to make sure he’s still alive. Kassen is barely breathing so Gemma forgoes her escape plan to nurse him back to health.

Kassen has a severe concussion and a broken arm, but his biggest medical problem is his mind. He switches between lucid “present” moments and flashbacks riddled with horrific memories. His personality literally alters right before Gemma’s very eyes and there was a point where Gemma never really knew which version of Kas she would encounter.

Kassen’s flashbacks were VERY hard to read. The sexual abuse he endured was horrendous and heartbreaking. These sections were descriptive and disturbing, showing the evil of human beings who abuse for their own pleasure.

The story itself was riveting in some ways, but there were a few reasons I dropped this down to 3 stars. Here’s the good and the bad…..

- Good: Kassen was a character I was completely rooting for. He’d been through hell, he’d survived on his own for 11 years and he completely deserved to have the best of everything at this point. My heart broke for him at times and there were so many moments I wanted to wrap him up in a hug.

- Bad: this was soooooooo repetitive. Gemma wanted to run away, Kassen’s health / mind worsened, she stayed to help, Kassen hurt Gemma (either with words or actions). Rinse wash repeat. The story was too long and some of the repetition needed to be cut out.

- Bad: the sex/connection/chemistry - there wasn’t any sex until about the 60-70% mark and then it was quite a bit. Kassen was always hard and ….trigger

Spoiler

he even raped Gemma at one point (although he was lost in his mind and thought she was someone else).

So the sex between them didn’t really feel like they were building something. Except for a really touching bath scene, most of their encounters were raw and gritty because they couldn’t control their lust and it seemed more about seeking pleasure than building a strong connection between the H/h. The heart-connecting chemistry was lacking.

- Bad: I didn’t feel like the story moved forward. Same basic plot as last book. Gemma wanted to leave, Kassen didn’t want her to. It was mostly a battle of wills between these two. I mean, how many times did she need to be choked??

- Bad: Kassen’s character didn’t seem to grow. Yes, he’s totally f’d up in the head. But, he didn’t want to try to work on anything related to his health. Suppression was the only way his mind survived and he wasn’t willing to consider a different way of handling his past. I get it, I wouldn’t want to work through those memories either. But, it just made his character feel stagnant.

- Good: the writing. Pepper’s writing was stellar. Her storytelling ability is always amazing. And even though I was frustrated at times, I kept flipping pages. So, that’s certainly a testament to her ability to weave a captivating story. Also, I was sure I knew what the cliffhanger would be at the end of this book, and of course, I was wrong. Pepper is not predictable and it’s one of the reasons she’s one of my favorite authors.

- Good: the flashbacks and connection to Kassen’s past. Although horrific, understanding what he went through and the family that was built among the nine abused kids was critical to the story. It was heartwarming and heart wrenching to get glimpses into what Kassen was willing to endure to protect the other children.

- Good: the last few paragraphs. I was debating if I even wanted to read book three and go through the same repetitive scenes again. But, with the introduction of the new character I’m super excited to see where this story goes.


****“I don’t know who you are or why you found me. I don’t know how you made me feel such things or why my thoughts aren’t nearly as black when I’m in your company. I don’t trust you. I don’t know how to figure this shit out. All I know is, I would rather you kill me than live another day without you, so...I’m happy with either option.”****

This one immediately began where book 1 left off. The complex characters of Gemma and Kas are interesting as we really delve in Kas' past. There is A LOT that went on and ups and down's with this part 2. I'm just ready and can't wait for the finale.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I'm just speechless. Pepper never fails to amaze me. What happened in this book wasn't anything I fully expected, and yet was an absolute mind bomb. Gah, I love Gem and Kas and learning more about both of them will leave you feeling everything. I cannot get enough of this story and though that ending might kill me, I am so ready for the final book. You will only thank me if you go and start this series right now!

Oh the dark, psychological intrigue that is the beautiful mind of Pepper Winters. The fable continues, back through the woods we go to the shiver-inducing and isolated old mansion wherein lurks a dark and broody beast of a man. But there is no happiness here. Book 2 picks up right in the midst of the book 1 cliffhanger that left us reeling. Adrenaline junkie adventurer had found quite a pulse spiking adventure within the walls of Kassian’s mansion, and the finale saw our heroine climber accidentally plummeting our growly hero over a cliff. In Book 2, we find her abandoning her quest to escape in order to heal him. And, of course, the angry, frustrating, shut down shell of a man does not make an easy patient- as the captor finds himself a captive, both his injured condition and reluctant nurse as well as a perpetual prisoner to his own past pain and trauma. Their relationship gets more complicated, their motivations more blurred, as they struggle with the inexplicable need for each other as well as the desire to see the other be free. And, of course, Pepper leaves us with yet another heart stopping cliffy that has us all wondering just what is next.

Psychologically, Kassian is an incredibly interesting, but an incredibly painful hero to read about. He’s unpredictable, unhinged- and the ramifications of his heartbreaking abuse and long term suffering create a character of many shades, of multiple personalities that juxtapose both the violent aspects of his minds and the broken. His hold on reality is always in question- and while it makes a deeply emotionally tumultuous and gripping experience for the reader, it means at times we’re grappling with reality too- getting lost a pick in the mix. The relational pattern felt a bit repetitive to me for a stretch, but I can’t deny these two have a carnival chemistry that is intoxicating and transfixing. It certainly kept the angst high. They have so many issues and baggage to work through- and the root is the challenges of their minds, of their hearts.

Kass is increasingly earning my heart, and Pepper is writing such an intricate and complex story. And I can definitely appreciate the intricacies of Pepper’s narrative approach and the vivid and psychological play on setting. Looking forward to seeing where this goes next!

This book could have been edited down to a novella. Cut the novella in half, and then added to the first and third book.
This trilogy should have been a duet.
Book 2 should have not existed. The characters were so repetitive and frankly neither of them were likable.
I’m literally continuing the series solely because I want Kas to get better and I need to see it happen with my own eyes

Update.
The third installment was worse.
I dnf the series

Spoiler:
Her magical vagina cured him
Never mind that he’s got decades worth of trauma and PTSD due to being a literal sex slave. Her hooha is made of the right stuff.

Ohmygawd I’m mad I even wasted this much time on these books

Book 2 gives a much more in depth look into the characters, their past and deepens the foundation their present in built on. I loved every moment of it. The intrigue the angst. Had me on the edge of my seat and begging for more. The twists I never saw coming. I’m super invested and glad I started this journey. Can’t wait to see where it goes next!

It’s dark and angsty. Full of mystery that captures your soul.

The audiobook is absolutely amazing!

Wow that was a rollercoaster. Heartbreaking, and intense. I didn't want to put it down. I am starting to get a little impatient with the internal dialogue but hopefully the last book doesn't have as much.