Truth. Pain. Freedom. An awakening like no other. When life is determined to buck you off, dig in and ride hard. The bull. The most dangerous lies are the ones we tell ourselves. To survive, I have to face the truth. Easier said than done when it’s not all black and white. There’s the in-between, and this murky void is where I always tend to land. The horns. Lies don’t always hurt. My lies protected me, but when they are exposed and I can no longer outrun the many shades of truth, I’ll be in for one hell of a reckoning. The ride. From the outside, my life looks like one big adventure after another. But, there is no freedom in anarchy, and that’s the way I’ve lived my life. Until now. Until Ransom. Denver Dempsey was a slut for oblivion. Now, she’s a slut for love. And it’s that kind of thinking that got her in trouble in the first place. Ransom awakens Denver in ways she never imagined, but when her true feelings send her reeling, will they catapult her into the arms of Greer—her ex best-friend-with-benefits? After never loving anyone, herself included, she now loves two. One kept her alive. One teaches her how to live. If they didn’t both love her … if hearts weren’t bound to be broken, it would be the stuff dreams are made of. Will Denver remain locked up in the bullpen, or is she strong enough to open the chute and be freed?
Colliding.
Climbing.
Seeking.
Dissolving.
Loving.
An awakening like no other.
Freed is the second book in the Unlovable series. It is a story about truth, pain, love, and freedom. I wasn't sure how to feel about this book when I was about 20% in, not necessarily in a bad way but I guess I was more surprised at the direction of this story turning into BDSM because we really didn't find out about this turn until maybe the last few pages of Used. But I will have to say I was very happy that the BDSM didn't get to out hand in this book. It was just the right amount of control that I like. Don't get me wrong we all loved 50 shades of grey but really I haven't found a book yet that was heavy on the BDSM that I didn't feel like that were copying off of 50 shades, but this book definitely didn't copy thank goodness! So that being said I really did enjoy this story and the way the first book left off I really did anticipate finally getting my hands on it so I could see how the story unfolded. It was told in Ransom and Denver's POV. This is not a standalone you have to read Used before Freed or you will never follow the story line.
I will not go into great detail about the first book but will give a short recap-- The first book it is a little of a love triangle between Denver, Greer, and Ransom... and well when Greer does something awful it throws Denver into a downward spiral. Ransom finds her all disheveled and takes her to his apartment where they create a bond so strong that Denver isn't sure how to take it at first. Ransom has never felt that way for a woman so the first book ends with him giving her an opportunity for an arrangement of sorts to help her recover from all that has happened in her life and all that has happened with Greer. Freed picks up with Denver trying to decide if she wants to accept this so called arrangement with Ransom or is it not something she could ever do? Could she submit to a man and give over all control when she is so used to be in control of all her sexual situations? I mean that is how it always was with Greer she was the aggressor, the user. But now Ransom wants to reverse that in her and make her realize that she can let go of control and love and trust someone again. Will these 2 get more than they bargained for? Will she finally be free from all of her past mistakes and realize she isn't a whore like her mother? Can Ransom finally free her of all her angst, worry, and hate towards herself but simply having her submit to him? Can she finally find love and make amends with her past?
Well pick up this book and find out! Even though it doesn't end in a cliffhanger, it will leave you with an open ended ending that hopefully will get another book?!? Thanks for a great ride and I absolutely love Ransom--who doesn't like a hot cowboy who boxes too?! I look forward to much more from this author and maybe more from these characters not just the main ones but all the side characters too!
**4 Stars**
Here is some great lines from this book:
Denver: He didn't just find me at the bottom of the stairs the night my entire life changed. He'd found me at rock bottom. That week, I'd had moment after moment of trying to get up and dust myself off, only to be constantly stumbling from the residual debris that kept coming at me. And just before Ransom sat me down and had his "talk" with me, I had been buried under a pile of boulders. You know what they say-- the only way to go from here is up. I'm digging myself out, getting my ass up, and doing something about my issues once and for all.
Ransom: "Slow and steady. I've got you. I'll never let you fall" I barely finish my promise as her lips press against mine, strong and full of promise.
I've loved someone else, and for me, once I love, I don't stop. I don't think anyone truly does. Only this is, while I may still hold onto a certain kind of love, I'm certainly not in love with that person anymore. Nope, my heart is completely and utterly owned by one hot, little barrel racer. I remember how bad it hurt when Victoria upended my world by admitting she'd cheated on me while she was at college. She knew I'd never get past it and be able to be with her, but I respect the hell out of her for telling me. I thought I'd never feel pain like that again, but just the thought of loving Denver like I do, and losing her to Greer, nearly brings me to my knees.
"God woman. You're the bulls, the horn, the whole fucking ride----everything."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Who the
fuck wants perfect? I just want you.” - Ransom
I want to
start off by saying that I loved Used, book one. I am a lover of angst, bad boys
and love triangles. The more emotion, the more I like a book, story, characters.
I am really invested in this series. I love the characters and their stories
that make them who they are today and who they are growing into becoming.
Like Used,
Freed is written for the POV of both Denver and Ransom and the reader gets to get
to know each of them a bit better. But this book should not be read as a standalone.
You would be completely lost if you skip over everything that happened in Used.
And boy, did a lot happen. So, if you haven't read it yet, I suggest that you
stop reading this review because it contains spoilers from book 1.
The end of
Used really threw me for a loop when Ransom propositioned Denver with an arrangement
of sorts. As in a BDSM arrangement. I am NOT a fan of BDSM. Coming from an
abusive background, some aspects of
BDSM make me upset, unsettled, disturbed and lots of other feelings that I won't
bore you with. A submissive's role during the waiting position, makes me want
to come out of my skin and there is no aspect of spanking that I will ever
understand, but I think that that stems from being spanked by my father with
his hand, belt, scrub brush, and whatever else was handy. I could NEVER give
ANYONE that much control over me. I have no problem with blind folds and being
tied up, but I just don't understand the draw of wanting to be punished/given
pain or giving the punishment/pain.
“The
point of your waiting position is to get you in the proper head space and
demonstrate that your sole purpose is to please me and present me with what I
long for most—complete control over you and only you—my submissive. The way in
which you perform that is a direct reflection of your respect for both yourself
and for me."- Ransom
OMG just re-reading that makes me uncomfortable!
Submissive. A word
that I’m pretty sure I’d never even said aloud before a few nights ago. A word
I would never have
thought applied, much less appealed, to me. Oh, I’ll admit I read the books,
looked up the terms, and became intrigued by that world, but it was more like a
distant, unattainable, yet entirely hot,
fantasy—it was safe to imagine thinking I would never have the
situation presented to me. Does the fact that this concept turns me on mean
that I am submissive? In the bedroom, I think it does, which is odd because I
had always taken the lead with Greer. - Denver
With all of
that being said, I loved this book but at 25% I had to call a friend who was
also reading it to see if I should keep reading because I was starting to worry
about where the story was going. I powered through and I am happy that I did.
...to give
someone that kind of power, even reciprocal power as Ransom had explained it,
scares the living shit out of me. To trust someone with all that I am, and
willingly give them the power to destroy me? Sounds ludicrous for someone like
me since I’ve never allowed anyone that close—not my parents, not my former
so-called friends, not Greer—no one, ever. - Denver
Greer made a
few appearances, and my heart breaks for him and the unforgivable things that
he did. But I don't hate him, I feel sorry for him to have made a few bad decisions
that caused lasting wounds. In a perfect world, where Denver's step dad didn't
try to rape her and she had a mother that gave a shit., Greer and Denver would
have been the perfect happy couple and sharing their love of ranching and
horses. But, unfortunately there is no such thing as perfect.
My heart
beats with joy as I think about all my new friends. Greer and I had been so
foolish, wrapping ourselves in our damaged, little cocoon with only each other
to feed on. Secrets, lies, and betrayal becoming our only other sustenance. No,
that’s not fair. We managed to weave beautiful moments in there too. And even
though the ugly is hideous, we’ve got some good to work with. - Denver
Even though I
am not happy with the direction that the book took with the BDSM aspect, I
still really liked the book. And the sub/dom story line did not dominate the
book. So, I am giving it 4 stars because I love these characters and their
journeys into adulthood. I will be anxiously awaiting Redeemed.
Since the dawn of time, Lynetta Halat has lived to read and has written innumerable stories and plays. A lover of good books, bad boys, and kickass tunes, she'd always dreamt of penning books that people could connect with and remember. She also has a secret penchant for wringing the emotions out of unsuspecting readers, and she collects reader's tears in much the same way that wine connoisseurs collect their favorite vintage.
Her first novel, Every Rose, was the perfect catalyst to launch her into the world of publishing, effectively burrowing her way into the hearts and minds of readers throughout the world. Everything I've Never Had was her follow-up adult romance novel. Now, she has penned Used, a New Adult Romance that she hopes sinks its teeth into you and doesn't let go.
Her love of the English language prompted her to pursue a Master's degree in English from Old Dominion University in Virginia, where she also minored in snark and interpretive dance. She lives somewhere along the Mississippi Gulf Coast with her adorable husband, two amazing sons, and two loveable dogs. When she's not writing riveting stories, she likes to focus on her macramé art and her scouring of eBay, where she buys locks of hair from her favorite rock stars, most especially Bret Michaels and Dave Grohl.
