Synopsis
Emma decided to skip the gym and went home early. It was the last easy decision she made because she found her roommate being raped by the boyfriend.
She had two choices. Call the cops and be killed by his family’s mafia connections or kill him first and hope to survive.
There was no choice to her. She killed the bastard first and went to the one person who could protect her. Carter Reed. He’s a weapon for the rivaling mafia family, but he’s also Emma’s secret. Not only was he best friends with her brother, but she’s the reason he became that weapon in the first place.
Excerpt
"Tell me what happened." His plea was so soft.
I broke. This wasn't the stranger anymore. This was Carter, the boy I had grown up with. I flung my arms around him and pulled him down. Instead of fighting, I clung to him now.
He wrapped his arms around me and rolled to his side. He patted my back and tucked his head into the crook of my neck and shoulder. I felt his lips brush there as he repeated, "You have to tell me. I won't hurt you. I will protect you."
A shudder went through my body. At last. Those were the words I was desperate for. He moved his hands, one sliding down to my hip and the other cradling the back of my head, he pressed into me. The last of my reserve fled then. A gasp escaped me and I pressed against him. I needed him.
"Emma."
Shame flooded me. He knew. What kind of person was I? Fighting, running away, and then starting to tremble in his arms?
His hand started to caress my hip. His fingers slid underneath my shirt and moved under my pants' waistband. He held me there, his hand splayed out. I tried to resist, but I wanted to wind my legs around him. I wanted to pull him on top of me and feel his hand between my legs. But I didn't do anything. I lay there, still, as my heart pounded inside of me. He could feel the beat against him. The thumping drowned everything else out.
He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead and raised himself up again. He looked down at me. The plea in his eyes was still there. As he brushed some of my hair from my forehead, he asked, "Do you not trust me?"
I nodded. "I'm scared of you."
A small grin appeared at the corners of his mouth. "You are?"
"I don't know who you are anymore." I couldn't believe I was admitting any of that, but I needed to trust someone. I had to if I was going to survive what I had done. Feeling a little bit brave, I touched his chest. My hand spread out like his was on my back. His heart was steady. I murmured, "I know who you are. I know you're the Cold Killer. I know what you did for AJ." A tear slipped from the corner of my eye. It fell unheeded. "I always wanted to thank you for that."
Review
OK so where to start – this is my first Tijan book – it won’t be my last!
As you know I read to review blind. I don’t pay attention to what’s going on around the traps, or do I read hype or criticism on social media. I didn’t know what to expect from this book, but from the cover I expected another fighter story!
Well I didn’t get what I expected that was for sure!
This is the story of Carter and Emma. There are a number of secondary characters of note, some good, some annoying!
I enjoyed this book – Carter by all accounts was HOT!! He is a deadly weapon in so many ways. This story was about the plot and the love story, the sex was a feature but it was not a dominating one.
Carter was Emma’s brothers best friend, who she hadn’t seen for 10 years. There was a lot of history between the two, which we got snippets of, but didn’t feel the emotional sides of it.
The depth in this book was lacking a bit – it was super busy, with so many elements that could have been further explored but weren’t.
I enjoyed the plot, I thought it was something slightly different in this genre, and that was pleasing. I suspect there is more to be told with this couple, but it seems to be a stand alone at the moment, and the ending was complete enough for that.
There were many twists and turns in this story – it was action packed, it’s a mafia story – so there is violence, so if you are not a fan of that – stay away! I wouldn’t say the violence was brutal and confronting – it fit the story.
I think my biggest disappointment was with the lack of depth with the characters and their relationship dynamics. I didn’t quite get buy the relationships with the work girls, including Theresa. I liked Noah, but needed more. The Amanda, Mallory, Ben friendship felt a little flat which was disappointing… and I only think that was because the emotional depth (considering everything) wasn’t quite there. Was it a case of too much action getting in the way of a good back story? – maybe… was it bad? – no not really… Did it affect the way I read the book? – not on the whole…
As for how to rate this story – I am a little torn. I liked it, the first ½ of the book really grabbed me, I expected this to be a story that I devoured in one sitting – the kind that you read for hours because you need to see what happens next. Did life get in the way of this – maybe a little bit, but it took me 2 ½ days to read it – and that has to be the deciding factor between raving about it, and just enjoying it.
So on that basis – I am rating Carter Reed 4 hearts. It was more than just good… so I am going with it was really good – but not without flaws.
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Purchase Link
About the Author
Tijan started writing later in life, after she had already graduated college with a different direction in mind and a different degree under her belt. Hitting the brakes on that path, she taught herself how to write a good book and began posting at sites such as Fictionpress, along with Wattpad. After receiving such encouraging messages from readers, she self-published Fallen Crest High and has continued throughout the year. She continues to keep writing NA books!
Playlist
Imagine Dragons: Radioactive •
AFI, song: Prelude •
AWOLNATION: Sail •
Alicia Keys: Girl on Fire •
Audiomachine: the whole albums: Epica and Helios •
Avicii: Wake Me Up •
Butterfly Boucher: Bitter Song •
Carrie Underwood: Blown Away, Two Black Cadillacs •
The Civil Wars: Oh, Mama •
Fall Out Boy: the entire album of Save Rock and Roll •
Florence and the Machine: Breath of Life, What the Water Gave Me, Seven Devils, Leave My Body •
Gossip: Listen Up, Yr Mangled Heart • OneRepublic: Counting Stars •
Otis Taylor: Nasty Letter •
The Pretty Reckless: Just Tonight, You, and Burn •
The Script: Hall of Fame •
Skylar Grey: Back From the Dead •
The entire soundtrack from The Hunger Games •
Charlie Mars: How I Roll •
Turin Brakes: Dark On Fire •
Susan Boyle: Hallelujah •
Sun Kil Moon: Heron Blue, Carry Me Ohio • Sara Jackson-Holman: Freight Train •
Hem •
Princess One Point Five: With Light There Is Hope •
Mumford and Sons: Broken Crown • Macklemore and Ryan Lewis: Ten Thousand Hours •
Almost anything from Mr. SuicideSheep on Youtube and Chillstep mixes!
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