Warning: This book includes mature content such as: sexual content, and/or drug and/or alcohol use, and/or violence.
Series: Fearsome #2
Published by Selfpublished on 7 April 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Format: eARC
Source: Xpresso Booktours
*This is a stand-alone sequel to Fearsome. No cliffhanger!
Dylan Blackard is back in town and certain everyone knows his secrets.
Putting away his notorious reputation as the wild guy with a womanizing past, he’s now on a new path, wanting to be the good guy his brother can stop worrying over. As long as he gives up his old vices—including women—he can keep himself on the straight and narrow and finally live up to everyone’s expectations.
However, obsessing about his lack of self-control is making Dylan one humorless, cranky hermit. That all changes, though, when his brother hires a new employee, the stunning Emma Keller, who will be sharing an office with him and all of his tightly wound nerves.
Emma, a spunky young woman from New Jersey, isn’t about to feel sorry for Dylan and his situation. She is beyond distracting to him, and that is enough to turn his emotional balancing act upside down. Not only is she intelligent, and a smart aleck, she’s also very determined to pull the sexy Dylan Blackard out of his self-imposed isolation.
From the moment he meets her, he feels alive again, but Emma doesn’t come as a gift with a pretty bow; she comes with major baggage—a family embedded in its own tumultuous history.
Will Emma be the tipping point that causes Dylan to regress into his past destructive behaviors…or will he actually pursue her for keeps?
*Due to adult language and sexual content, this New Adult Contemporary Romance is intended for readers over the age of 18.
*I received a free ARC of Freedom from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange of an honest review*
Welcome to my stop on the blogtour for Freedom, hosted by Xpresso Book Tours. My stop includes my review, my favorite quotes and an international giveaway.
My Freedom Review:
In Freedom, Dylan has calmed down so much he almost isn’t even living anymore, until Emma shows up all he is doing is working, running and seeing his doctor. But something happens to him when he gets to know her, and it’s a good thing, too. Life is supposed to be lived, and Emma sure shows him that she can take it. Emma also has her own problems, and once they follow her to Hera, Dylan shows how much he cares for her, even while he is still trying to keep his distance.
Freedom is written in dual points of views, first person, from both Dylan and Emma’s perspective. And as usual, I love the dual point of view, because I really get to know and understand the characters this way. And I already really enjoyed Dylan in Fearsome, even if he wasn’t always being very nice. Getting to know him better, and also to understand what being bipolar did to him was actually good, especially because he never tried to make excuses for his past behavior. He was working very hard on being a better person right now and in the future, though, so his character has been through a big change, even if it’s still obvious that he is Dylan.
The side characters are well fleshed out, too, even if they are in the background for a lot of the action in Freedom. Some of the characters I already knew from Fearsome, but it is completely possible to read Freedom as a stand-alone, as the relationships between are well explained to Emma. This way, the readers get a grip on who is who as well, so that is another thing that was very nicely done.
The romance between Dylan and Emma is quite quick, but under the circumstances, it made a lot of sense. Freedom is a mix of the friendships that were already in place, the romance, and there is a lot of thrilling action-like scenes as well, when Emma’s ex shows up with the mob on his tail and Dylan feels like he needs to protect her. If you are looking for a hot and quick read for the beach, the mountain or just your couch, be sure to pick up a copy of Freedom – it is well executed with very likable characters, and some delicious hotness to boot.
Some of my favorite Freedom quotes:
“He’s recently been replaced by a surly, alien pod person,” Daisy says to me as she waves her hand in Dylan’s direction. “This way,” he says and turns. I notice he is wearing faded, relaxed jeans as I follow his splendid butt down the hall to our office.
As I talk, I rub my head. It gives me a good excuse to avoid seeing his goddamn handsome face. I hate good-looking pricks. I like when and ass looks like an ass. It makes the work environment easier.
If this is fucked up, then why does it seem like the right thing to do? And why do I feel alive for the first time in months? I mean, really alive and invigorated. Every part of my being is strumming along with a great buzz. My meds don’t make me high, so it has to be her.
Freedom Giveaway:
About S.A. Wolfe:
S. A. Wolfe lives with her very loud, opinionated children and husband. She is a voracious reader and passionate about writing, and when those two activities don’t keep her locked away in her room, she loves roaming the streets of New York City. Sometimes she even hikes mountains, but most of the time she finds excellent ways to procrastinate.
Thanks for stopping by today, good luck in the Freedom giveaway!
I kinda skimmed, Lex, since I haven’t started it yet but I’m glad Dylan seems to have made you happy. 🙂 Once I finish it, we can discuss. *ha*
Happy Tuesday! I know you’ll be missing Colleen but I hope her visit was everything you’d hoped it would be!! **BIG HUGS**
I totally get it, Brandee! You are going to totally love this, though, I know it 🙂
I will miss Colleen, we had such a great time. We’ll make sure to have another vacation together before too long, though 🙂 *BIG HUGS*
Glad you liked it, Lexxie! This is just the kind of read I love to escape into when I just want something quick for the beach. I like how character driven it sounds – even with the side cast! Great review! 🙂
Yeah, Giselle, Freedom was awesome! It even gave me a great idea for a new tattoo 😉
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
The cover is both intriguing and intimidating 😉
I know, right? Dylan is both as well, Christina! 😉 I’m pretty sure you’d like him, though.
I love me some broken characters so I think I’ll add this to my list when I need a break from my usual genres. Dual POVs are a great way to really connect with characters. I especially like that it can be read as a stand alone! That’s for sharing another good one Lexxie 🙂
Twitter: talksupeblog
I hate good-lookin pricks too! LOL
I can’t stop looking at that cover, the angle is so strange…but um nice to look at lol. I love dual POV too, it really does help with understanding what a character is thinking or feeling. I find it especially important for the male POV, when the guy is being a bit of an ass – hearing his perspective helps understand where he’s coming from.
As long as it makes sense, I don’t care how quick the romance develops in a book, and I love it when even the characters in the background are fleshed out, so I will definitely be adding this one, Lexxie. Great review and great quotes!