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This book was more of a 2.5 for me. I had read some good reviews for this book and I took a chance and picked it up.

The story was very well written and this is one of the best written erotic fiction that I've read so far. So the reason why I rated this so low was that I couldn't connect with the characters or even care if they achieved an HEA. What I really had trouble w/ was Vic. I struggled with his machismo/misogynistic mindset throughout the book. He ran so hot and cold that I really lost respect for Niall for putting up with it. Both of these people were very, very flawed and I think that the author played that up a bit too much. In fact, it's the comparison/parallel of Niall's and Vic's past that makes me dislike Vic soo much. We find out that Vic greatly distrusts women due to his former fiancee, to the point that he has justified his boorish and misogynistic behavior. Compare that to Niall's past and present tragedies and I just can't feel an ounce of pity for him. Niall is struggling and Vic does nothing but exacerbates that. In fact, he comes to such a huge misconception and never allows her to explain. Instead, he uses that as even more justification for treating her so badly. And Niall... she just kept going back for more and never holds him accountable for his horrible behavior. Instead, they sleep together and all is forgiven. I really liked this book in the beginning and boy, did it start hot and heavy from the get go. But as Vic started to "alpha" out and Niall became more and more "enthralled" with him and reached doormat status that I started skimming. I was desperately hoping that Vic would be redeemable and that Niall would grow a backbone, especially as her past is explained. But she ends up bending over backward to "win" him back, to the point, where she justifies and accepts him being with other women! At this point, I was pretty much done. And even when she does "leave" him, it's only for a day! And his great revelation about her past came too little too late and there was barely any apology/groveling from him.

I guess I'm very disappointed. This book had such potential and was very well written. So when I go in with good expectations and it starts out well, it hits me harder when I can't connect or care about the characters. Niall's tragic past/backstory had such great potential, but it was never fully fleshed out and she didn't really experience a lot of growth which I expected considering what happened. And Vic... he needed a swift kick in the ass and Niall should have been the one to do it. But instead, we get the stereotypical 180 degree change troupe (which occurred in less than a day)and he doesn't really change or need to because "he luuuuuvs her". I didn't buy it and if they were a couple in real life, I'd put good odds on the relationship dissolving down the road.

I'm very torn about this author. Like I said before several times, this was a very well written book and the erotic scenes were some of the best I've read. So I might give another book by her one more chance....