Title: Pistol
Author: Max Henry
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 10, 2014
Synopsis
Stephanie Drake, or Steph as she’s known to her friends, is lost. Somewhere between the end of her childhood, and the day her loser of a boyfriend called it quits on their so-called relationship, she forgot who she was. She lives each day in a perpetual routine, stuck in the confines of her normal, safe life. If she doesn’t take a risk, she won’t get hurt—right?
Then she meets Pete—or Pistol to his friends.
He’s blunt, arrogant, and straight forward about what he wants. And as it turns out, he wants her.
Should she take a walk on the wild side, risk being burnt, and lay her heart on the line? Something in the way he makes her feel tells her ‘yes’, but her friends aren’t so sure this emotionally shut-off man has a place in her life. Why should she listen to them, though? After all, they don’t know a thing about him …
… do they?
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Kota's Review
Pistol is the story of Steph and Pete. Steph is a young lady fresh out of a relationship with a bloke who is an arrogant arse and treated her poorly. While she tries to come to terms with her life after this relationship and who she has become, she starts to question her place in the ‘normal’ world of her peers.
Pete is an Irish rogue – of the hot, tatted and dangerous kind. He has immigrated to Australia to start a clean life, but it is harder than he anticipated. Then he meets Steph and it becomes a whole lot more complicated.
Steph has some friends that she leans on to help guide her, such as Cassie and Ivan. When she starts to rebuke their views on Pete though, these friendships become strained.
Max Henry has created characters that draw you in. Pete starts out like a hot alpha who makes your insides squirm, he then shows his colours that range from bastard to arsehole, yet at the same time, we are introduced to his broken soul, and his past that has tainted his heart. His inability to communicate how important Steph becomes to him is as frustrating for the reader as it is for Pete.
Steph quickly learns that her needs and wants do not fit the stereotype set by her friends and family. She is a little left of centre and unique, and it is not until she understands Pete that little bit more, that she starts to truly embrace that side of her personality.
As a reader I was initially sceptical of this story – what was its point of difference? would I really engage with the characters who initially seem superficial? Would the instalust be a turn off for me? Before I knew it, I was at 70% in the book and at that point I could not stop – I had to know what happened.
This story is a part of a series, so be aware going in – all is not resolved in this story. Are we kept wondering? Definitely… Is this a good or a bad cliff hanger? I am undecided, mainly because where the story ends has the potential to turn everything on its head, and I am not sure I can wait to find out what happens.
I found that this was not a perfect book. Ms Henry has mixed darkness and light, sex, love and kink and sometimes that mix was seamless and other times not. The introduction of kink between Steph and Pete seemed somewhat unbelievable, but the rationale behind the actions made it almost work.
I was sucked into this story – more so Pete’s and where he is going on his path to redemption – if he gets there of course, and I felt that Steph was a good accompaniment to his story. I am not sold that this will be a partnership worth savouring, but I am keen as to find out!
A solid 4 stars.
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About The Author
Max Henry is a wife, and mother to two young boys. Originally born and bred in New Zealand, she now calls Australia home, and is proud to call herself a ‘Kiwi-Aussie’. Life can be hectic at times, and sometimes she may not be able to write as often as she would like, but she wouldn’t change a thing.
When she’s not writing, she can be found at the gym brain-storming while she lifts weights, or out having a ball 4wd-ing with the family.
Pistol is Max’s first Contemporary Romance, however she already has two paranormal titles under her belt: Battle to Become, and Methods for Mayhem. Max’s books can be found at Amazon, Kobo, and iBooks.
Excerpt
The lights spilt a soft creamy glow over the walkway as he approached. Had she thought he would turn up? Or had she hoped he lied? Pete stopped outside the plain black door to her unit, and drew a breath to compose himself. He needed to remain cool, distant, and unaffected—no matter what she did to unnerve him. Not that it usually took much. He lifted his hand, and knocked. Small scuffs were audible from the other side, but no shadows played across the low light to indicate close movement. The lock on the door clicked, and it opened, slowly, but past the limit of a chain. She drew it wide, and greeted him with a smile. He stared, and inwardly screamed at himself for being this deep already. Show no emotion. Show. No. Emotion. Steph stood in radiant beauty; the lamp-light cast an enticing glow over the out-fit she wore —if he could call it that. Her perfect curves were draped in another oversized t-shirt; the large neck dropped over one shoulder to reveal the tattoo he knew she had already, and more. She didn’t wear anything underneath it. Lord have mercy. Pete swallowed hard, and willed all the blood from his groin back into his head. “Well?” She crossed her slender ankles as she leant into the door. “Are you coming in?” He raked his gaze over her body; the t-shirt had lifted on the opposite side she leant on, and exposed smooth, creamy skin on her upper thigh. Fuck. I’m fucked. He managed a shrug, and mentally patted himself on the back for not drooling. “I don’t think I need to.” She stuck her head out the door, and checked both ways. “You want me to come out there?” Her eyebrow rose, as did a corner of her velvety lips. A shiver ran down his spine. Damn, he wanted to bite those lips so fuckin’ hard. “I won’t stay long.” He cringed inside at how callous his tone came across. But it worked. She dropped her gaze, and drew her arms over herself. He’d crushed her. Like a squishy little bug under his boot. You’re an arsehole, O’Malley. “I only wanted to stop by and wish ya luck in yer new place.” Her eyes lifted to his, and the unshed tears she tried so hard to hold back glistened in the glow of the distant street-light. “You’ve been fun. This—” he gestured between them, “—has been interestin’.” Her chin quivered, and she ducked her head to swipe at her face with a careless hand. “Yeah, okay. Whatever. I guess, um, I might see you round.” “Maybe,” he shrugged again. “Thanks for stopping by.” She looked at him a last time, and the tears broke free as she took a step back to shut the door. He lifted his hand to stop her closing it, to say something, to ease the pain of his heart as it tore in two and became a cold, tar-covered abscess in his chest. But she was quicker.
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