(Wild #2)
by Adriane Leigh
Published: March 2, 2014
I'm a player. I'm an asshole. I'm someone you should stay away from.
I have demons.
I've made mistakes.
And the biggest can't be taken back.
I've gone to hell and back in twenty-nine years and I'm only now coming to terms with moving forward, righting my wrongs, and making amends. Except not everyone deserves forgiveness. Sometimes the damage done is beyond repair.
Everyday is exactly the same. I focus on the pain, in the quest to feel and forget, but I remember everything. When I close my eyes the darkness encroaches and some days it feels like the things that kill me are the things that make me feel alive.
(Wild #2)
by Adriane Leigh
ARC Review
Published: March 2, 2014
My rating: 4.5 of 5 ⭐️
Despite the fact that Ridge is now a succesfull restaurateur and no longer the drug addicted delinquent he once was, he still won't let himself live down his failures. The largest of which the one that drove the last nail in the coffin of his relationship with his brother, namely sleeping with his fiancee. It doesn't matter that Mia turned out to be his reason to get up in the morning, their relationship would always be tainted with the stain of betrayal, and the connection of blood is not something that can be replaced.
Determined to start with a clean slate he attempts to sever any ties to his past mistakes and forces himself to make choices based on sensibility, not on need or want. For a while that seems to work for him, but his darker side won't allow itself to be suppressed for very long and he craves the one who knows and sees him better than anyone.
A pattern of self destruction emerges, pulling along everything and everyone in its wake. And when it appears even the smallest have fallen victim, Ridge finally has to recognize the biggest mistake of all and can only hope there is anything left to salvage.
****
High intensity!!! Not just a light Sunday afternoon read.....
A fantastic, dark and painful journey through guilt and self-flagellation to love and acceptance, described by the amazingly talented Adriane Leigh.
To be able to appreciate this story, be sure to leave your judgement at the door, pity is not welcome either, but a healthy amount of empathy, acceptance of human imperfection and an open mind are not only welcome but encouraged.
RIDGE can be read as a standalone novel, and although it would help create context around this story to read WILD, book one in the series, first, it is not necessary.
This is a story about tortured beings who somehow have found each other and manage to soothe the others' soul. There are those who might say theirs is not a 'healthy' relationship because of their strong co-dependency, I beg to differ - I believe the acceptance they give each other in every aspect of their lives is one they cannot find anywhere else and it has a healing effect. Is that not what a good relationship should do? Accept the other fully...warts and all??
Ridge has been drifting through life, having become dislodged and then displaced at a young age, after which he has done everything - and everyone - to try and numb his pain. When he meets Mia, he finds his anchor, but loses his brother.....his family....his blood.
Mia has an important, but secondary role to Ridge in this novel, but it is important to know that she too, has some seriously dark demons she battles, and Ridge means much the same to her, as she does to him.
A phenomenally insightful character study, intelligently written by Adriane Leigh. Describing the excesses of dark and dangerous indulgences and the road to, through and from them.
✨A haunting, wickedly sinful search for absolution.✨
**ARC provided in return for an honest review.**
"Come here.” I pulled her into my arms. She shook and trembled, without saying a word. I stroked her back, down her long hair and sucked in the heady scent of her damp skin clinging to me.
"I brought food. It’s going to be all right, My,” I murmured against her cheek before I glanced down to see a river of red streaking the tile grout.
Jesus Christ what was happening?
"Mia.” I swallowed and pulled at her hand, the one clenched in a tight fist. "Fuck Mia, give me your hand.” I pried her fingers open to find a razor blade cutting into her palm.
"I tried not to, I didn’t want to, but I’m losing it.” She sobbed and dropped the razor from her hand. It fell in her lap, bright red marring the fluffy white towel wrapped around her.
My hands shook as I looked around for something to wrap her hand in. I had to stop the bleeding. I didn’t know anything about this. Was it too deep? Did she need stitches? Fuck, maybe I should call an ambulance.
"Jesus, Mia, you should have called me.” I pulled my shirt over my head and wrapped it around her open palm, pressing to stop the bleeding.
"I was just holding the razor so tight, I didn't even realize that it cut me.”
"I know, baby.” I rained kisses across her forehead.
A soft sob escaped her throat.
"If it happens again, call me. Talk to me. Take it out on me, baby. I’m here for you. I know this is so fucking hard but you’re not alone, I’m here, My.”
She licked her lips and her deep green eyes turned up to me. Silent tears fell as I held her cut hand in my own.
"Christ, come here.” I heaved her into my arms and carried her out the door and laid her on the bed.
"Listen to me. I’m taking you somewhere tomorrow. Therapy, whatever you need. Take the time off work, you went back too soon, I shouldn’t have left you alone, fuck.” I was rambling, but I was terrified. I’d never seen her like this. Despondent, empty, numb. Jesus Christ, my beautiful, fiery girl was numb.
"Losing her, it just brought me back. After Josh killed himself, they disappeared. They were there, but they weren't.”
"I know, baby. I know.” I rocked her across my lap on the bed.
"Let me be strong for you. Let me take the pain away. Remember what we used to do, baby? The pain, the pleasure? I’ll be that for you, again. Take it out on me.”
Her eyes held mine, passion surged before she straddled my waist, wrapped her fingers in my hair and pressed her lips to me in a punishing kiss.
Copyright 2013 by Adriane Leigh
Adriane Leigh was born and raised in a snowbank in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and now lives amongst the sand dunes of the Lake Michigan lakeshore. She graduated with a Literature degree but never particularly enjoyed reading Shakespeare or Chaucer.
Adriane is married to a tall, dark and handsome guy, plays mama to two sweet baby girls, and is a voracious reader and knitter.
SLADE (Wild #3)
Behind every beautiful thing, there is some kind of pain...
Always overlooked. Always just there. That's what Dillon was to me.
Until one night.
In one night she flipped my world on its axis and there's no going back. But she has secrets, and secrets fester like an open wound. They color the past and forecast the future, but I'm determined to open her up; free her from her memories so she can live in the light and have the life she deserves.
It's just too bad that she wants nothing to do with me. But I'm nothing if not persistent and I'm not a man that gives up without a fight. I've had a taste and there's no walking away.
I just have to convince her that I'm not what she fears, I'm what she wants.
Slade, like Wild and Ridge, is a standalone.
Reading Wild and Ridge first will provide some back story, but is not required to read Slade.
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