Sin and Ink

DNF at 41%. First off, let me say that this is my fault, I failed to see that this book was labelled as erotica (okay I just saw that gorgeous cover and hit the request button so hard I damaged my finger!). Knox used to be a famous MMA fighter until the day his younger brother Connor died after a fight. Now he owns a tattoo parlour and employs his sister-in-law, Connor's widow, Eden as a receptionist. Eden is everything he isn't: clean; pure; perfect, and he has lusted after her since the first moment he saw her. Eden loved Connor but he has been dead for a while now and she needs to move on with her life, she wants to start by moving out of her mother-in-law's house. She also has started to have lustful thoughts for her brother-in-law but the only time she even sort-of made a move he shut her down and leapt away as though he'd been scalded, but nevertheless he's been there for her. This was typical NA/YA fare. Lots of plump lip biting, swearing, tattoos, angst-angst-angst etc. Also lots of push-me, pull-me back and forth between wanting each other and feeling inadequate. Disir is someone whose reviews I trust (don't always necessarily agree with), she wrote a brilliant review here and I think it sums up my feelings far more eloquently than I can. Having read that the rest of the book was more of the same I decided to bail. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

4.25 stars--SIN AND INK is the first instalment in Naime Simone's contemporary, adult SWEETEST TABOO erotic, romance series. This is former MMA fighter and tattoo artist Knox Gordon, and receptionist Eden Gordon's story line. Told from dual first person perspectives (Knox and Eden) SIN AND INK follows the forbidden relationship between former MMA fighter and tattoo artist Knox Gordon, and receptionist Eden Gordon. Five years earlier, Knox and his brother Connor came face to face with their future but Connor married Eden, and Knox remained on the sidelines lusting after his brother's wife. A tragedy in the MMA arena made Eden a widow, and Knox grieving the death he blamed on himself. Fast forward to present day wherein Knox's feelings for Eden continue to grow, as Eden slowly becomes aware of their burgeoning attraction to one another. What ensues is the building but forbidden relationship between Eden and Knox, and the potential fall-out as Knox's guilt over his brother's death continues to ride heavily on our leading couple. Knox Gordon struggles to get past the guilt of his brother's death, a guilt that is exacerbated by his mother's accusations and inability to let go, as well as his attraction, and love for his late brother's wife. Eden Gordon knows it is time to move on but moving means letting go of what was, and into a future of what will be. The relationship between Knox and Eden is one of the forbidden but a relationship that has been developing for several years. Knox's guilt, not only for his brother's death, but also his attraction towards his brother's wife is compounded by the promise he made to keep his distance from the woman he loves. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense. We are introduced to Knox's brothers Jude and Simon, as well as their parents Dan and Katherine Gordon; and Knox's former trainer Jake Reece. I am hoping the author has plans for future story lines focusing on Jude and Simon. The world building follows the building relationship between Eden and Knox, as Knox tries desperately to stay clear of his late brother's wife. The MMA story line focuses on Knox's return to the ring, a return met with controversy and grief. SIN AND INK is a dramatic tale of death and loss, lust and love, forgiveness and moving forward. The premise is engaging and emotional; the characters are broken, colourful and dynamic; the romance is a second chance at happiness, seductive and heart breaking. The story line ends on a happily ever after -for now-here's hoping, once again, the author has plans to further their story.

***4.5 Stars*** Hello Feels. And I mean ALL. THE. FEELS. I’m not sure if I should categorize this one as a roller coaster or a yo-yo with the way it had my emotions going crazy, but it was one hell of an intense one that yanked me in from the first page and had me #multitasking because putting it down wasn’t an option. The need to know how everything with Eden and Knox played out was intense and I didn’t stop turning the pages until there were no more words to read. I loved and adored Eden and Knox. Eden is sweet and sassy in equal measure, despite the fact that her heart is still healing over the loss of her husband. But the woman is strong and I loved watching as she took the steps to start truly living again. Knox. OMG this man. I spent the ENTIRE book wanting to hug him and Gibbs smacking some sense into him in equal measure. He keeps himself so walled off from everyone and everything that it’s painful because the heart that beats beneath all those layers of protection is a golden one that only wants to love and protect those he calls his own. Eden and Knox’s journey to their HEA was a rocky one, not that it’s a surprise considering how they are connected, but while I found myself frustrated with them on numerous occasions with the whole push/pull thing, I never had the urge to toss my Kindle into the freezer because everything they felt was their truth in that moment and they needed to work through it all in this new situation they found themselves in. The smexy between them was nuclear aka have that B.O.B. on hand or an ice bath ready to go HAWT, but it was that intangible connection they had with each other, that easy flow when they were together and just being, that had me rooting for them. Now there were many, many roadblocks they had to traverse, one that actually had me all kinds of growly and wanting to gut a certain character with a spoon, but I liked how they worked through them all in the end. Being a fan of the author’s thanks to her WAG’s series, I jumped at the chance to read this baby and boy did it take me on one hell of an emotional ride. Though funnily enough, the emotions that had me wanting to grab a spoon and do harm were towards a secondary character, who I had empathy for, but very little sympathy when everything was said and done. As for the rest of the supporting cast we meet, I don’t have an ultimate favorite, but more of an overall need to know more about all of them. So bring on the next book! ~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~