Keep reading ~ Iva has reviewed both Dark Universe (book 2) and Sapphire Universe (book 1)
Title: Dark Universe (The Universe Series #2)
Author : Devon Herrera
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 28, 2013
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Hosted by: Love Between the Sheets Promotions
Synopsis
What do you do when your whole life is played out as atonement for someone else’s mistakes?
Lola has spent her life in the shadow of her older brother, until one day he does the unforgiveable and is disowned from the family. Now her parents are putting pressure on her to get married, have children, and live the perfect life. If she can do all this, maybe it will wash away the guilt they harbor for her brother’s mistakes. She’s completely set against it, and refuses to ever fall in love. Until Drake Thomas knocks on her door.
What do you do when the one person you trust the least is yourself?
Ever since Drake was a boy he’s been alone. That was the way he wanted it. His father was abusive and he learned at a very young age that he has the same anger living inside of him. Terrified that he’ll one day become the man who ruined his life, he stays away from relationships of any kind.
Will they be able to move past their misconceptions about themselves and each other, or will they learn that not only can they love, but together they are stronger? Only the Universe knows.
Excerpt
My hackles rise and I look him dead in the eyes and plant a finger in his chest. “What exactly do you want with her, Connor? Because these questions, they come with some heavy answers. Nina isn’t going to be easy or normal and it’s going to be rocky, so if she is just a challenge or some passing fling in a small town you’re visiting, you better just cut your losses now. I had no control over her being hurt the first time, and failed at protecting her the second, so I will not allow there to be a third. You get me?” I stab my finger deeper into his chest and glare up into his baby blues, putting every ounce of threat I can muster into my words.
“You don’t need to worry about that. I’m more likely to get hurt than she is at this point.” His words completely shock me. Guys don’t ever admit to things like that. “Now, I hate to be rude, but Nina is going to be out of the shower any minute now and I have some things to say to her when she does. If you’re here when she gets out, she’ll use you as an excuse to get out of facing whatever progress I made with her last night.”
I smile wide at him and pat him on the shoulder. “It’s about time that girl had someone to care about again.” I walk towards the door and turn around before exiting, to hammer the point home. “Connor, I like you, but if you hurt her, I will not hesitate to nail your balls to my fence post and leave you for the birds, understood?” Connor’s hand instinctively goes to protect the object in question and swallows.
“Like I said, unnecessary, but yea… I hear you. You know, you’re sort of scary.” I look up at the hulking man who outweighs me by at least seventy pounds and has a good eight inches on me and smile.
Iva's Review
Devon Herrera's Dark Universe is a romantic story about a man despairing about his past and a woman rebelling against hers.
It is the second book in the Universe Series and although you could read the second book as a standalone it is much better to have read Sapphire Universe first, as the timeline coincides and some plot points from Sapphire Universe are mentioned in Dark Universe.
Lola Chase's mother wants Lola to find the perfect man, settle down and produce some grandchildren. The problem is that what Lola's mother thinks is the perfect man happens to be the exact opposite to what Lola wants, so Lola is surprised when she finds the latest man her mother has arranged for her to meet is a mouth watering cowboy, with dark eyes and an attitude to match.
Drake Thomas has a deep hatred for his father and despairs that he has his fathers fondness for swinging his fists. Not willing to put anyone at risk, Drake has adapted a love 'em and leave 'em approach to relationships, but there is something about Lola that has him sticking around.
Dark Universe has two narrators; Lola who is the daughter of wealthy country club parents and finds her mothers constant matchmaking tiresome and Drake, the boy from the wrong side of the tracks. The transitions between the two characters narrations are smooth and come at appropriate times. The characters have an authenticity to them that is palpable. Dialogue matches the characters descriptions and adds to the feel of the story.
Lola Chase is a fiesty blonde who likes to get the last word in and enjoys keeping men on their toes. She has a slight resentment towards her parents thinking she has to be the perfect daughter to atone for her older brothers sins, but has a warm and caring heart.
Drake has a calm intensity that is delicious. It's like he has all his emotions tightly caged underneath the surface, but you know that when he allows himself to feel, it's going to be with overflowing passion. Devon Herrera has done a fantastic job with conveying Drakes fear and hatred of himself. It's there in his dialogue, gestures and actions, but you also feel his overwhelming need to protect and ability to care.
This story is stronger than Sapphire Universe, and I think it is because the characters feel more thoroughly thought out. In Sapphire Universe it felt like the characters fears were stacked upon the story, whilst in Dark Universe the pain is interwoven in the text.
There are a few editing errors with incorrect names and word usage that I am sure will be fixed along the way but they are only minor irritations and not enough to distract from the story.
Dark Universe by Devon Herrera is a very good book. I found myself swept along in the story and developing an emotional connection with the characters. The writing is superior to the first book in the series and I believe that this will continue to be the case with all future Devon Herrera books.
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Buy the Book
Book One - Sapphire Universe
Synopsis
Rule #1 Do not ignore the signs.
Rule #2 Pay attention.
Rule #3 The less they know about you, the harder it is for them to hurt you.
Rule #4 Comfort is dangerous. It can be taken away.
Rule #5 Need is a handicap. It can cripple you.
Rule #6 He isn’t what he seems. Don’t trust him.
Simple rules made for a simple purpose. Nina Ryan learned early on in life that if you want to avoid being hurt, you need to be proactive. If you pay attention the Universe will always steer you in the right direction. It will help keep you safe. So, she follows the rules, and she is safe.
Until Connor Wright barges his way through all her carefully laid defenses and threatens to destroy the comfortable life she has created. Faithfully following her #1 rule, Nina tries to accept that the Universe has pushed Connor and her lives together for a purpose. Determined to make Nina his, Connor chips away at the walls Nina has placed around her heart and her secrets.
Is Nina following the signs that will lead her down the right path, or does Connor hold secrets of his own that will ruin Nina for good?
Only the Universe knows.
Iva's Review
"The whole idea of one grand gesture is bull shit. If you're with someone who never shows you they care in the little ways and then they do one huge drastic thing; that's not love, that's desperation. It's not what really matters. The small gestures are what count; the little things."
Devon Herrera, Sapphire Universe, pg 235
Devon Herrera's Sapphire Universe is a romantic novel of two people overcoming traumatic pasts to find love and happiness.
Nine years ago Nina Ryan was broken. Her trust in love shattered by three different people in a short span of time. Since then she has used her sharp tongue as a sword to keep people, and especially men at a distance in case she is betrayed by love again.
But the universe has something else in store for Nina.
Connor Wright evades her sharp tongue and injects himself into her life. He seems to know just what she needs in order for her to trust and love again and it's not long until Nina finds herself more than half in love with him before she realises it. But how will he react when she tells him how badly broken she is? And what is it that makes him nervous talking about New York?
Sapphire Universe is told from Nina's perspective in present tense. It is a pleasing story about love and healing and has a slight element of intrigue, which helps the story along during the latter part of the novel.
Nina is a music teacher with bruised and battered feelings towards men and love. Her character evolves throughout the book and we get to see her both fragile and feisty, cold and loving. Once she decides to trust Connor and love him, she does so wholeheartedly and I must admit to feeling a little piqued at how fast she moved once she did so.
Connor Wright has a caring and sweet personality. He knows Nina is terrified of giving her heart to someone in case they betray her and knows how to do all the little gestures to make her accept him into her life. I felt there was a change in his background part way through the story. Not in personality, but with a couple of incidents that were given some emphasis but no satisfactory explanations.
The introduction of the minor characters allows you to see more of the main characters personalities. Minor characters are well utilised and give the story the edge it needs. You know there is something developing between several of these characters and it sparks your curiosity for other books in the series.
There are some parts of the relationship building that slow the pace of the book. It didn't have the emotional pull some romance stories do and several scenes that should have made me anxious were over before I could get that delicious tendril of fear. But as a whole it is quite a good story and with a little more writing experience Devon Herrera will blossom into a much sought after author.
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About the Author
I am a wife of a U.S Army Soldier and mother of a beautiful little girl. I work for the Wyoming Department of Revenue in Cheyenne Wyoming, and no we don't still ride horses out here. I've been in love with reading since I first discovered the Harry Potter series in 4th grade. I don't just read a good book I devour it. After reading hundreds of novels I finally bit the bullet and sat down to write one of my own. I had an idea in my head and as soon as I started writing, the story seemed to play out right infront of me. Nothing has ever felt so natural. About 10 chapters into it I decided that I was going to take the plunge and get it self published as an Ebook. "Sapphire Universe" is a Contemporary Romance novel for adults, because lets face it, I'm female. Romance is what I like to read so it's what I'm going to write. Thank you so much for your support, and I can't wait for you to read The Universe Series.
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