STEALING TIME by S.L. Siwik

STEALING TIME

by S.L. Siwik

ARC Review

Release: April 6th, 2014

My rating: 4.5 of 5 ⭐️

One night, one man, has thrown Delany Beaumont off her game. Accustomed to numbing herself with piles of work during the week, building her reputation as graphic artist, and alcohol and meaningless screws with nameless men on the weekend, she keeps a safe distance from all emotions that are safely tucked somewhere deep inside. The hard and abbrasive outer shell she has worked years on perfecting has always been enough to turn away anyone with illusions of sliding in too close to her. That is, until Jackson.

The moment successful tattoo artist, Jackson Turner sets eyes on Laney, he is completely absorbed by her forward spirit. The woman before him is fearless and free, apparently moving through life with total abandon. She simply is herself in all her glory and Jackson can't help but fall under her spell in a few short hours. But when by the next morning he realizes she has no recollection at all of the night before, he realizes that there is a whole lot more to Laney under the surface.

Determined to stick to her pattern, Laney intends to disappear, but Jackson is not that easily put off. And it seems that aside from some unfamiliar flashes of memory of their time together that plague Laney, fate also appears intent on throwing Jackson back onto her path. With her usual protective pattern broken, Laney feels her heart come alive for the first time in years, and it hurts. 

Jackson recognizes the need to tread carefully. If he wants to keep Laney in his life, he will have to give her space. But with Laney you won't know if she will stay or run...

******

A unique and transformative love story with a very dark and angsty edge.

First off I have to say, I would have loved to give this story a higher rating and with some tighter editing/proofing and deeper exploration of just a few scenes, I would have handed out five stars.  Just a little tweak here and there! It has the potential of a knock out novel!! 

I have fallen in love with the main characters, even though they are far from perfect. I understand them. I get where they are coming from. 

Jackson is a very successful man, still quite young at thirty-two, but already has made a name for himself as a tattoo artist and business owner. He really has little left to prove. He has never experienced romantic love before, so when Laney knocks him on his ass, he is completely taken by surprise, but he knows right away she is THE ONE for him. He just needs to learn how to manage his overwhelming feelings in the face of Laney's reluctance.

Laney is an anger-ball. She is pissed at the world. The same type of people who once teased and bullied her for the way she looked, now wanted her for her body - and the one person who loved her with all her imperfections was taken from her. Her current lifestyle is as much a way to forget, as it is a way to hit back. Except that now Jackson sees the real her, through all her layers, her ugliness. Warts and all, he falls for her, and makes her slowly feel whole.

The character transformations are phenomenal in both, but more obviously so in Laney, for whom this change is completely altering her self-image and value. Hers is a behavioural AND emotional switch, while Jackson's is more an emotional change.

The chemistry is off the charts combustible and wild and almost tangible. Delectably intense and explicitly described by S.I. Siwik, with a distinct difference between the nameless, meaningless sexual encounters and the hot, sensual, almost frantic coupling between Jackson and Laney.

Such a wonderful example of a meaningful and erotic, romantic novel. Now next time please that little bit of tidying up and Ms. Siwik, you could have something superb on your hands!! Bravo!!

✨A gripping, potent and unapologetic love story.✨

**Copy provided in return for an honest review.**