Pierced

TRIGGERS Yes STORY LINES 5 stars CHARACTERS 5 stars CONFLICT 5 stars STEMY SEX SCENES 5 stars Pierced by Sydney Landon Book 1 in a three book series (Lucian and Lia) Lucian Quinn is haunted by a past that’s been damaged in more ways than one. Publicly, he’s top in his field, young, rich, single, good looking and a magnet for women. Privately, he’s flawed, damaged, haunted and averse to intimacy that last longer than an hour. Lia Adams has been physically and mentally abused all her life by her mother and sexually physically and mentally by her step-father. Kicked out by her mother, she lived in her car until entered St. Claire’s University via a scholarship which only covered her fees, not accommodation, living and text book expenses. Financially broke, she became an escort for Date Night for men who just needed a date for the night. Although Lia is also haunted and broken by her past, she doesn’t let it define her. Lucian has a very small circle of friends who he sees as his family. His boyhood friend, his secretary, his chauffeur and his Aunt. Family for Lia is Debra from the laundromat, her roommate Rose, and Jake, Rose’s boyfriend. Lucian needs a date, and Lia just happens to be available. When these two come together, it’s with trepidation on both sides as they traverse unfamiliar territories, exploring unfamiliar feelings while fighting their own insecurities. Both people are guarded when it comes to letting a stranger come close. Lucian wants to care for her, because she needs caring for, Lea doesn’t take anything she hasn’t earned, but they work out something that slowly grows into something more, something they both weren’t expecting. A ghost from Lucian past seems to be resurrecting themselves, and Lea’s step father has been released from jail. This ends on a cliffhanger, and what an ending it is. I loved Pierced, and I’m now settling down with the second book in the series, and inserting myself back in the world of Lucian and Lia with Fractured.