Reading Write Now: Unsettled by SC Ellington with Giveaway

Synopsis

After a horrific breakup with her long time boyfriend, Brooklyn Caldwell is completely disenchanted with the notion of mingling with the opposite sex. Damon Williams had been everything she thought she wanted…until he wasn’t.

In an attempt to escape her heartbreaking past, Brooklyn seeks refuge in bustling Washington DC where she folds into the fast paced society unnoticed…until she meets a young entrepreneur, Logan Colton.

Brooklyn is surprised to find that while she has been successful in keeping the opposite sex at bay, somehow she is defenseless against Logan’s confidence and charm—and it doesn’t hurt that he is absurdly beautiful. While thrilled with Logan’s candor, Brooklyn hesitates, as she can’t seem to move past the heartache that she suffered at the hands of Damon.

As much as Logan didn’t plan on pursuing her, he is drawn to Brooklyn’s muted beauty and her witty persona. For all his success, Logan is ensnared in the coveted world of unequivocal wealth and power, but behind closed doors is taunted by demons and an undeniable need to atone for a monumental mistake.

As the two embark on a tumultuous obstacle course saturated with unknown twists and turns, Brooklyn is left to question whether she can endure the journey ahead.

Excerpt

"I couldn’t breathe. I saw her below me. I couldn’t make out her face, but I knew she was someone close. Something was wrapped around her ankles, I thrust myself deeper into the darkness. The salty red water was all around me. Claps of thunder rang in my ears, but I plunged further into the bottomless abyss. Intense fear gripped my heart valve so tightly I thought it would burst, but I knew she needed me."

Kota's Review

I have really struggled with how to write this review, and I think it is because this story definitely left me ‘unsettled’. The other consideration I have is how do I adequately express my views on aspects of this story without spoilers. On this basis, if this review seems vague, I apologise in advance, it has been written that way to avoid ruining it for others.

In unsettled, we meet Brooklyn, a young executive assistant who has moved away from family to make a fresh start after college. Her best friend Alex has moved with her, and Alex’s boyfriend Jay also makes himself at home with the girls.

Brooklyn was running away from heartache after her then boyfriend destroyed her with his infidelity.

Fast forward three years – to Brooklyn, working for an ass in a job she hates – but needs. She wants to move on with life, but cant move past her hurt, and therefore does not trust easily, so men are not a big feature in her life.

Enter Logan Colton, millionaire entrepreneur, driven and powerful, yet emotionally limited due to his own past.

A chance meeting between the two starts these guys on the path of learning to love, and trust and they experience many firsts together. Brooklyn is independent and not swayed by the dollar signs attached to Logan, and this is a significant part of the draw for Logan himself. To be seen and cared for as a person, not as a social standing or an extravagant date.

Logan and Brooklyns courtship was sweet. This is probably the best way to describe it. There were definitely some emotional obstacles to challenge them, but these seemed reasonably easily resolved. Even the reappearance of Damon, Brooklyn’s ex – who wants her back – seemed to be anti-climactic to the overall story. I suspect this is because his appearance enabled Brooklyn to unleash some of the hurt and move forward.

SC Ellington writes in a manner that is easy to read and keeps you turning the pages. As an overall consideration, this story was enjoyable to read, written well and generally packaged nicely. The secondary characters while integral to Brooklyn’s journey, didn’t make a huge impact on me, but they were likeable.

I was unfortunately disappointed in the end of this book. This book has a cliffhanger, and there is no ifs or buts about it – it finishes mid story. While I am on the fence about whether I do or don’t like cliffhangers, this one was not a winner for me. I can be drawn in to the cliffhanger standpoint if the climax is so intense that my heart is racing, and the cliffhanger has me grabbing on by my fingernails, with the blood pumping and a desperate need to know more. When a story finishes almost mid sentence, I struggle to see the value of stopping it at that point.

I also unfortunately found the dramatic conclusion unbelievable. I understand the implication regarding Brooklyn’s trust issues, but the reaction to the scene, the words exchanged and the ultimate ending did not fill me with heartache for Brooklyn, rather I kept thinking, as if you would do that… I just didn’t believe it – so then for the cliffhanger to be what it was – the implication leaves Brooklyn with no credibility in my eyes at all.

I am undecided if I liked the story enough to even see where it heads.

I am going to rate this a 3 ½. It was not a bad read – and I can see it appealing to many a reader, SC Ellington shows great potential – the writing is of a high standard and with some experience along the way, depth within story telling will naturally follow – but Unsettled, did not work for me so much!

I am going to rate this a 3 ½ hearts

Meet the Author

S.C. Ellington is an up and coming author who enjoys expressing her creativity through frequently writing adult, contemporary romance novels that readers can relate to, but more importantly, enjoy.

Aside from writing, Ellington enjoys curling up with her e-reader and absorbing herself in novels loaded with emotion, desire, and passion. She also likes to spend sunny, wistful afternoons, in her hammock thinking up new ideas for great stories.

Ellington currently resides on the west coast with her beautiful family and loving friends.