(Pretty #2)
by M. Leighton
ARC Review
Published: January 26, 2014
My rating: 4.5 of 5 ⭐️
Hanging out in one of his clubs with his brother and his girlfriend, Reece Spencer never expected to see the one girl who had burned herself In his guilty memory for over a decade, dancing on his stage. Back then he had been young and still fairly innocent, wanting to distance himself from his bastard of a father, but had ultimately been unsuccessful. Now he had years of playing hard, building an empire and living a life without emotional attachments under his belt, and yet it took only one look at her to break through his shell.
Hanging out in one of his clubs with his brother and his girlfriend, Reece Spencer never expected to see the one girl who had burned herself In his guilty memory for over a decade, dancing on his stage. Back then he had been young and still fairly innocent, wanting to distance himself from his bastard of a father, but had ultimately been unsuccessful. Now he had years of playing hard, building an empire and living a life without emotional attachments under his belt, and yet it took only one look at her to break through his shell.
For years after Reece left her, Kennedy Moore struggled with the life she was left to face alone. Finding a love in dance and strength in what she has endured, she single-mindedly pursued her dream of dancing professionally and to that end she was working at the club. One day she hoped to score an audition with a well known dance theatre. Had she known the club belonged to the man who once left her fifteen year old heart in pieces, she would have thought twice.
Disturbed by the impact seeing Kennedy has on him, Reece is determined to work her out of his system once and for all. To that end he contacts her and offers her a deal, for a few weeks of work on one of his yachts, he can get her an audition with the dance theatre in return. Ambivalent, but knowing she will never have an opportunity like that on her merit, Kennedy accepts. But when she finds out Reece has plans that surpass a working relationship, Kennedy is quick to point out that she will not go down that path again.
Accustomed to getting what he wants, Reece sets out to win Kennedy over, but despite her still-present feelings for him, her sense of self preservation is stronger. It isn't until a moment when her defenses are low that Reece finds an opening to convince her to give him another chance. It leaves Kennedy to wonder whether she has just set herself up to be heartbroken again once their feet hit solid ground.
****
Great spicy read!!
M. Leighton's descriptive abilities are just about the best in the business when it comes to 'love' or 'sex' scenes. Somehow she manages to be explicit without being too crass or too crude, and neither does she venture into the much feared (by me!!) flowery side. No, she is able to describe a scene in all detail, while maintaining the feelings surrounding it....of intimacy, love, heat, impatience, wonder, lust, tenderness....NONE of those emotions get lost. I find that amazing!!
The story itself was a tad predictable, although I must say there were a few twists at the end that were nicely played!! The characters were well portrayed in that we are clear on who they were fourteen years ago, and we are clear on who they are now, but I was missing a bit of development for the missing years. Just seemed like a bit of a jump. Especially since they came back relatively quickly to the feelings they left behind.
Both Kennedy and Reece have had a rough go in their childhood, although in hindsight I'd have to say that Kennedy pulled the short stick on that one. She seems to have lost a lot, her family, her innocence, her heart. And as a result is not as quick to make connections, leaving her with few people to relate to. Still she worked hard to overcome.
Reece hasn't had it easy either, but he made certain choices himself. Went a certain direction with his life, needing to show his father up, while at the same time indulging in the benefits. He opted to remain firmly rooted in his self-righteous anger, which he uses to justify everything he does and is. But he never evolved out of it until Kennedy showed up and caused him to have a good look at himself.
Be prepared for a bit of a scorcher.....this book is hot! Not over the top crazy kinky, but what is there, is done so well, it fogs up the glasses!!
It also describes some abuse issues, so those who are sensitive to that, be aware it's there, however not particularly descriptive.
✨An intense, haunting and seductive quest for a second chance.✨
**ARC provided in return for an honest review.**
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