| Title | : | Arouse (Spiral of Bliss, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 346 |
| Publication | : | First published December 24, 2012 |
"Be ready to feel every single emotion possible." -TotallyBooked Blog
A brilliant professor. An innocent student. An intense love that could save or destroy them both.
❤️
They promised each other a sweet, hot forever. But a promise isn't enough.
After escaping the demons of her past, college student Olivia Winter finds shelter in the arms of handsome, captivating professor Dean West. Though Dean is struggling with his own family battles, he wants nothing more than to claim the shy, sweet Liv as his own.
As he draws her into lessons about desire, trust, and love, the spark between them ignites into a firestorm. And their desperate need for each other grows into an unbreakable bond.
Then one simple question provokes an alarming chain of events that threatens to rip them apart forever.
Liv and Dean would never lie to each other...until they do.
They would never betray a trust...until they do.
They would never be apart...until they are.
★★★★★
Welcome to the Spiral of Bliss. Liv and Dean's everlasting romance will melt your heart and enchant you with the power of a love that is more than love.
The first three books in the Spiral of Bliss series can be read as a complete trilogy!
AROUSE
ALLURE
AWAKEN
You can also enjoy the full story of Liv, Dean, and their Mirror Lake friends and family in the following order:
AROUSE
ALLURE
AWAKEN
ARRIVE
BREAK THE SKY
ADORE
ALWAYS
★★★★★
"This series is brilliant." -Vilma's Book Blog
"This book right here is why I love to read...and did I mention the super-hot alpha who calls his woman 'Beauty'?" -Sugar and Spice Book Reviews.
Arouse (Spiral of Bliss, #1) Reviews
-
5+++ achingly intense and arousing stars.*****Review completed February 4, 2013
Wow, what a fantastic book! Loved, loved it! Arouse is achingly beautiful in its intensity but at the same time also very steamy and arousing. If you are on the lookout for a read that provides a great, thoughtful story combined with enticing as well as fierce sex scenes then look no further. You have found it.
Arouse starts off in early August and the main events take place over a time span of four and a half months. Also, the author goes back in time and shows us how Dean and Olivia met, how they had to deal with Liv's difficult and painful past and fell in love with each other eventually. I felt intrigued by the premise of Arouse and the story is very well-structured and doesn't confuse the reader. Arouse is mainly told in first person from Liv's POV, but during the second half of the story it switches a couple of times to Dean's POV. I'm grateful for this change because I really understood how Dean felt; his jealousy was utterly palpable.
Our hero, Dean West, is a tall, broad-shouldered, handsome man with a distinguished appearance who is nine years older than his wife, Olivia. Without doubt Dean is gorgeous and experienced, has a commanding presence that exudes both authority and sex appeal. Although he displays a great deal of self-confidence, it doesn't come as a surprise considering the man's pedigree. Bachelor's degree from Yale, PhD from Harvard, guest lectures at European universities, etc. Two years ago he was offered a tenure-track position at King's University, a private and prestigious university in Mirror Lake. It's a Midwestern town with a beautiful lake surrounded by gorgeous mountains (I liked the lovely setting). Dean is spearheading a new Medieval Studies program at King's.
Arouse is a roller coaster ride of emotions…
After Dean and Liv got married she wanted to support him while he established his career. Liv was happy being Professor Dean West's wife, watching his success and didn't mind her part-time jobs either. Except now they have been in Mirror Lake for two years and she came to a dead end. She feels restless and sort of impatient with her position.
At the beginning of Arouse we see a happily married couple who is madly in love and can't keep their hands off each other. Everything seems to be all right, however, their marital issues begin after a possible and unwanted Even though Liv seems to be relieved, appearances can be deceiving. Liv told Dean before He understood her reasons and never tried to convince her to change her mind.
Olivia is almost thirty-years-old and an attractive woman. Liv and Dean met when she was twenty-four and had been accepted to the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a transfer student (don't get the wrong idea now because Dean was never her teacher.) As a matter of fact, Dean is not only an excellent teacher but also an expert at courtly love and he tried to lure Liv with library call numbers…PR9199.3 R5115 Y68. I ran my finger along the rows of dusty, old books before I came to the correct volume. My heart thumped as I pulled it off the shelf and looked at the title.
Your Mouth Is Lovely.
I smiled.
Liv has had a tough childhood and Her mother was very self-centered and a lousy parent and she's been surrounded by plenty of insignificant men who were sometimes violent. Olivia's psyche was damaged and before she met Dean she'd been reluctant to seek a relationship with a man because of her mother's behavior. Despite her shortcomings Liv wanted to learn how to trust a man, she wanted to find the courage to be vulnerable on her own terms.
"Liv," he said, his voice rough with tenderness, "you don't have to be afraid."
"Why not?"
"Because I'll slay monsters for you."
When Liv met Dean the only constant in her life were anxiety, shame, inadequacy, inhibitions, and loneliness. But her scarred soul did not deter him at all. If anything, she could explore new horizons with him, mainly the but at the same time Liv's self-confidence grew immensely and she learned to trust a man without reservations.
"One day I'm going to touch you in a thousand different ways and show you how to touch me."
"Waiting has never been so hot." He paused. "Thanks for trusting me."
Dean is the love of her life. Dean feels solid and secure. He's been her tower of strength, the one man who hasn't abandoned her or given up on her. The one man who encourages and protects her. She always thought they would be happy however, suddenly she starts to scrutinize her beliefs and their future. Besides, she begins sensing that something is off with Dean and the sudden distance between them is unsettling. She can't believe that the mere idea of would cause such a discord between her and Dean. There has to be more that's not visible yet and the anxiety evoked by shadows of the past is back.I love him to my bones, but suddenly I'm wondering what I might have been without him.
It's that I'm uncertain about my own husband's faith in me. In us.
It's quite a revelation for Liv when she eventually realized that Dean had been in control of everything that could have hurt her. He was her shield to keep the bad stuff away but she didn't want that anymore. It was painful to witness how they kept hurting each other again and again. Their marriage had always been a safe place and slowly yet steadily everything was falling apart. Ugly accusations and insinuations are flaring up; the secrets Dean and Liv harbored go so far that they wouldn't ruin the illusion of who they were supposed to be. With that said, everything starts to crumble to dust when the successful overachiever and the good girl don't know how to resolve their problems.
"You're so damn strong, Liv, and you don't even realize it. I'm the one who's always had to show people I'm successful, an achiever, the best at everything I did. I'm the one who's always been a goddamn egotist. A groveler. And you…you're the first person who's ever…Christ, Liv, sometimes the way you look at me makes me feel like I can hang the f@cking moon."
I was ready to bawl my eyes out at 64 % when Liv I wanted to yell at her not to do it. Sheesh, I was so angry. Many aspects of Arouse felt achingly familiar to me and it was hitting too close to home. The author did a fabulous job portraying two complex characters and their marital problems. Granted, there is plenty of intense sex but also plenty of story and on top of that, she doesn't scrape the surface. She really delves into their minds and lets me, as a reader, partake in their lives in a very believable way. This may be only fiction, however, at the same time it was very real. Their heartache and sorrow are palpable and I could feel their frustration as well as perplexity of not being able to fix their problems. Overall the story is so authentic that it simply blew me away. Hence, the author totally drew me into the plot and was able to keep me focused and invested in Dean and Liv's lives. I was sort of reliving their difficulties.
Lying by omission…Dean kept a secret from Liv because he wanted to protect her but he ended up hurting her,
For what it's worth, lying or only lying by omission is not the right thing to do because sooner or later the truth will out. Always. It may be an ugly truth but it's better to face the music and deal with it ASAP. If you are lucky you will be able to fix your problems and get back to being happy and content. And in case everything goes awry you will be relieved when you're over and done with it without suffering great harm. It may be disconcerting in the beginning but also very liberating. After all, a new beginning means a new chance at happiness. Also, it's a lucky strike when you have a wonderful, no-nonsense friend along your bumpy road who is supportive and gives it to you straight. Someone like Kelsey--Liv's best friend--who will point you in the right direction, who will open up your eyes and lets you know that you are strong and special. Someone who believes in you that you will make the right decision.
"Christ, Liv," he whispers. "What the hell are we doing to each other?"
I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.
I press my hands against my eyes to try and stem the tears that will not stop.(…)
Hot, fierce, intense sex…
Nina Lane writes highly seductive sex scenes. As a matter of fact, the sex in Arouse is very steamy, completely arousing and extremely delicious. These scenes display a breathless sensuality and eroticism that will absolutely captivate you.I roll to my side, loving the scent of him on my skin, the delicious soreness between my legs--evidence of his complete possession.
(…)
"Don't leave, beauty." His voice is a rough whisper.
"Never."
Arouse ends on a surprising yet hopeful note.
Isn't it the very best feeling when you start reading a book without having any high expectations and then you end up devouring it--wishing it would never end? Arouse is such a book. I'm looking forward to reading Dean and Liv's sequel Allure. In fact, I've already read the teaser and I. Cannot. Wait! Highly recommended."Since the day we met, I haven't wanted anyone but you," Dean says.
My heart jumps a little.
"Never looked at another woman," he continues, "Never thought about one. It's always been you, Olivia."
Steam 4
On a personal note
Why would have anyone have a shoebox filled with loops of string?
"What's this for?" I asked, holding up the string.
"String figures."
That's another reason why I love Dean. Making string figures was one of my favorite pastime when I was a child.
P.S. I'd love to read Kelsey's story. *hint* *hint* -
WARNING/Contains/Spoilers ahead...
I wish I have known this before started reading this book!
.Guess what happens when you trust your friend too much???..
.I will tell you.......
She will shamelessly kiss your husband and rub herself all over him “just to prove” a point that....
”You can like kissing another person. It’s normal. Hell, it’s human. Just because you’re married doesn’t mean you shut off a natural, biological reaction.”
Ok...the author is trying to justify the friend that just slants her mouth and body on the husband of her own friend that it was a natural biological reaction to feel desire when the very husband's wife kissed another man and “liked it” So the friend kissed the heroin’s husband just to prove that “he can like it too” with her even if being married!
WOW... what a great way to justify someone’s cheating....So she thinks it GIVES HER THE RIGHT TO KISS “another woman’s husband” just to prove a point that it’s ok to feel pleasure because it is a “natural biological reaction”??? (Maybe people need to try that method in reality....I wonder if their response would be the same as the friend’s theory)???And wait she’s not finished.....
...
She says....
“For the record, Dean, I didn’t kiss you just to make a point.”
“Then why?” “I always suspected it’d be good with you,” she replies. “Thanks for proving me right.”
NOW TELL ME... WHAT SORT OF A FRIEND WOULD DO THAT TO HER FRIEND’S HUSBAND???..
WHAT KIND OF A FRIEND IS THAT??? That crosses a 'friendship line" like that??? The line was crossed so callously, I would personally cut ties with this friend permanently!And guess what the husband’s reaction was...?
...
HE DID NOT STOP THE KISSING.....(I just could not believe he did not stop and continued...even his wife did not go that far with the kissing scene with the OM) He was rubbing his hard erection against her...in fact he “LIKED IT”...so much that...
“he wouldn’t be surprised if she started stripping. He wouldn’t be surprised if he let her.”
WOW....(I was utterly shocked that he had no control over himself and could "do all those things" that should be "shared only with his wife") The thought of “what would happen” if the friend did not pull away made me sick... the heroin’s husband was obviously ready for more than kissing.. I would seriously think twice about “his lack of control over other females” He evidently cheated...because even though his friend started this...he participated all the way.. responding to it completely....
“Soft. She’s soft. Thin and wiry, but soft with nice breasts… and Jesus, her nipples are hard and poking against my chest. My*** twitches, swells. She presses closer. She runs her hands across my abdomen, down to my waist, then around to grip my ass.
Before I can think, I grab her hips and haul her toward me. A moan escapes her throat. I clasp the back of her neck, angle her head to a better position, and kiss her deep.
She tastes sweet, like apples and sugar. My blood simmers. Her tongue sweeps across my teeth, her
breath hot. I put my other hand on the small of her back and shove my hips against her, forcing her to feel the full length of my erection. She started it, so now she’ll get all of it"......
I am like WHAT?...... he was so into it he even did not stop it first.......(So what does that prove?) He would have sex with her no doubt....At that moment I felt his “love for his wife” was very very thin!) After that I wanted him to question himself...WHY HE ALLOW IT? And continued so enthusiastically?...I wanted him to reflect on his actions..But there was NO GUILD NO REFLECTION, NOTHING It was so disappointing the author failed for me by making the resolution “realistic one” in “both” cheating incidents of the hero & heroine: In heroin’s case she was “THE FIRST” to stop the kissing with the OM and realized it was not what it should be. However, the hero “DID NOT STOP” the kissing with the “friend” but his friend did....and what would have happened if it would be one of his student’s female? In fact one of them was coming on to him... even tried to manipulate his wife with some insinuations of "them" at the university. Based on the “friend Kiss” He would have acted the same! Isn’t that what the author implies by her so-called “resolution” that it's normal, its human to like to kiss someone else? But is this resolution credible? I DON'T THINK SO!
The heroine was not even angry when her friend confessed her “kiss” with her husband....And I am Like WHAT...WHAT? ... Would you not be at least territorial and suspicious??? So the hero can be angry with the heroine by kissing OM but the heroine cannot be angry with him by kissing OW especially “HER FRIEND”? So he was angry with his wife for kissing OM, but what he did with the friend did not count as cheating to him? If he felt he did nothing wrong so why then he was angry with his wife for kissing OM? DO YOU SEE THE HYPOCRISY HERE? And Where is the justice here??? So he can just get away with it? HE DID GET AWAY WITH IT! And it made me feel depressed that the author had no integrity to make it fair for "both sides" So the wife was feeling guilty for cheating on him, but her husband was having a good time with his infidelity and had absolutely no guilt about it? Year right talk about double standards!!! So the message here is that: MEN CAN GET AWAY WITH CHEATING BUT WOMEN NOT! It saddens me that this book reflects the very gender inequality and this was written by a "female author herself"
So where does that leads the reader? YEAH the author’s resolution is “just because you’re married doesn’t mean you shut off a natural, biological reaction” but is it justifiable to let it happen...like the hero did???
So what about control? And where was his control??? ...
But seriously doesn’t the author think there are “other ways” by solving marriage problems...and “kissing your friend’s husband” to prove a point is THE ONLY WAY TO ACHIEVE THAT?
Let me tell you... people who LOVE THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS stop themselves before they do something that could hurt those they love and cause them great shame...they also would deal with their resentments for any risks that may inflict pain on the one they love. The husband dealt with the “friend kiss” situation very poorly and there was ABSOLUTELY NO RESENTMENT ON HIS PART, NO GUILD, NOTHING!
I just could not care for the characters that could do that “with another person” when they suppose to love each other
The heroine was upset about her husband’s mistrust for not telling her something important from his past and rightly so, but it is very wrong for the author to exercise that device for the heroine to use that as an excuse to justify her behavior by kissing another man and blaming it on her husband. It seems here..the author is trying to cover up the heroin’s cheating mistake by allowing her husband to do the same with “her friend” to make it look less horrible on the heroin’s part.... but it just looks so BAD on the author to handle the “cheating” in a very inappropriate, nonsensitive and objectionable way, cheating can hurt deeply and leave mental scars for life, it should not be dealt so casually, as the author did in this book.....
Just let me be clear... A NATURAL BIOLOGICAL REACTION DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE LICENCE TO CHEAT!!!
How can you justify the biological reaction to every cheating? Otherwise, if everyone excuse their behaviors, we would never have people controlling themselves or even trying because they already would have the excuse to cheat by "HAVING A BIOLOGICAL REACTION" -
Review posted at:
Swept Away By Romance
Huge 5 Stars
Outstanding read! This book blew me away!
I loved everything about this very emotional, very heart-wrenching, and very beautifully written story. There was so much heart-and-soul poured into this book that it was sometimes staggering. This author had an amazing ability to let the reader experience this married couple's genuine love for each other while, at the same time, allowing the reader to recognize the devastating damage being done as this couple tries to resolve the break down of their marriage due to unwise choices.
I'm so glad I listened to my Goodreads friends and gave this book a try even though it has a hopeful, yet slight cliffhanger, ending. I very much look forward to reading the rest of their story. It BETTER leave me with a smile on my face! After all, this couple, like all couples who unitedly make the effort, deserve to have their marriage work. -
★★★★★! Arouse, book 1 of 3! Professor Dean West’s marriage to his Beauty is rocked by secrets & miscommunication!
“Instead he just waited. I had the strange thought that he would wait forever.”
“Instead she stepped toward me. I had the strange thought that she wanted to come even closer.”
Books in the Spiral of Bliss Trilogy should be read in order:
Book 1:
Arouse
Book 2:
Allure
Book 3:
Awaken
Arouse (book 1) opens up three years into Olivia West’s marriage to Professor Dean West. They had met when she was an undergraduate student at University of Wisconsin-Madison and Dean was doing his post doctorate teachings. They married two years later. Story will provide flashbacks into their meeting and courtship set against the backdrop of marriage troubles. Most is what any normal couple goes through; some are misunderstandings and miscommunications, but also their pasts coming back to haunt them.
Arouse offered me the very best of a hero, sizzling sex scenes and enough drama to keep me at the edge of my seat glued to me Kindle. But it also provided a glimpse into a normal couple; two tangible and lovable characters dealing with life’s ups and downs.
“Christ, Liv, sometimes the way you look at me makes me feel like I can hang the fucking moon.”
Professor Dean West has been his wife’s rock and savior but we will see his position waiver, even crumble at times. With Dean’s POV being introduced in part III we learn that behind the façade of this smart, successful and very strong man hides humbleness, confusion and regrets.
Seven words to describe Dean: Captivating, strong, assertive, commanding, noble, obtuse and unforgettable.
“As self-possessed as he is, when he’s tired from working too hard, his whole demeanor softens with vulnerability… which makes me want to tuck him right beneath my heart and hold on tight.”
Olivia West, Liv aka Beauty has had a troubled upbringing with many secrets most of which are unfolding with her flashbacks. She has followed her husband in the pursuit of his career and along the way lost her footing, her identity.
Six words to describe Liv: Strong, endearing, lost, insecure, naïve and conflicted.
“So pretty with her long hair and bright eyes. And so pure and damaged at the same time, like a priceless vase threaded with cracks.”
As much as I was rooting for Dean and Liv I have to admit there were times I just wanted to keep Professor West all to myself! Arouse ends with a cliffy, but no worries just have to book 2,
Allure handy for the continuation of their story!
Captivating plot! Spellbinding storytelling! Interesting Characters! Fascinating, lovable and unforgettable hero, Professor Dean West! I am smelling an epic read! 6-star shelf and top-10 hero!
“I can’t tell her that our recent troubles have tilted my entire world off its axis. I can’t tell her that for the past four months, I’ve been terrified.”
***
Hero rating: 5+ stars
Heroine rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 5+ stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Storyline concept rating: 5+ stars
Storytelling skills rating: 5+ stars
Story ending rating: N/A
Book editing rating (5 = no edits spotted): 5 stars
*********************************************
Overall rating: 5+ stars
Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
-
***I was provided a copy of this book, through Netgalley.com, in exchange for honest feedback.***
Whew! What an emotional journey this was! This book gutted me. I keep going back and forth over whether it is a 4-star read or a 5-star read. I just can't decide, but it was fantastic either way.
Liv and Dean have a seemingly perfect marriage, until a pregnancy scare exposes cracks in their relationship that they never knew existed. Suddenly, everything Liv thought she knew about her husband and her solid marriage is called into question. When a big secret of Dean's is revealed, Liv is left wondering what else he could be hiding from her.
I loved Dean and Liv as characters. They were an unlikely pair, but they worked. Each of them was flawed, but still very easy to relate to. I felt vested in their happiness and wanted to see them work out their problems. Like their friend Kelsey said, if they couldn't make it, then there's no hope for the rest of us.
Reading this book was so painful at times. It was heartbreaking, but beautiful. The author alternates the uplifting joy of watching the beginnings of their relationship with the gut wrenching breakdown of their marriage years later.
My emotions were all over the place. I went from elated and content, to forlorn and heartbroken with the flip of a page. So, I had a very love-hate relationship with this story.
That being said, I've always felt that the best books are those that can make you feel. Man, did this book ever do that! I can't stop feeling the emotions this book brought out.
While some of the "twists" were predictable, they still elicited the desired response. Like watching a train wreck in slow-motion, you know it's going to happen and you can't do anything to stop it, but the knowledge doesn't make it any less devastating when it does happen. Brace yourself. This book will rip your heart out and slowly piece it back together.
Overall, I thought this was an excellent read. It was slow-moving at times, but well worth the time and effort. It does end with a bit of a cliffhanger that will make you want to start the next book immediately. Luckily, this book has been out for awhile and I won't have to wait for the sequel. I've already downloaded the Audible version of 'Allure' and will be starting it ASAP. -
FULL REVIEW NOW UP (spoiler-free!!) 4.5 stars
We’ve all read the stories of first love and second-chance love… but few stories are actually about a marriage.“No,” I murmur against her hair… “We are not freakishly happy. We are not freakishly anything. We’re two people who love each other. We had a tough time. We worked it out because we want to be together. Because we can’t imagine being with anyone else. Because we don’t want to be.”
Arouse is a beautifully detailed, thoughtful, and introspective story that truly makes you feel for the strength and resilience of a marriage based on true love. It takes you through the struggles, through the pain and the heartache and then brings you through to the other side.
This is a spoiler-free review.
I’m always on the lookout for “different” reads and what made AROUSE stand out and grab my attention was that it was about an already married couple. It seemed to almost start after the point where most books would end. It was almost like the post-epilogue book. So often the books we read are about a couple who meets and falls in love and then their story ends with them ready to forge a life together, but we rarely see a story (that isn’t in the middle of a series) start out with an already established couple.
Arouse was the literal continuation of a happily ever after, and while most books end there, after the couple has made their connection, fallen in love, and cemented their relationship, this one actually began several years into Dean and Liv’s marriage. Theirs was a marriage built on love, trust, desire, and a strong sense of security in each other… But this book explored what happens when something as little (and as big) as one tiny question lead to a ripple effect that could threaten their happily ever after? What happens when no matter how hard they tried to fix their relationship, things continue to spiral out of control?
I fell in love with Dean and Liv. As a couple, they stole my heart. I loved them, individually and as together. They were the ideal couple – crazy about each other, supportive, understanding, passionate, and yet neither of them were perfect. They had insecurities, jealousies, misunderstandings… and secrets.
Every part of this story felt real, believable, and understandable. The drama came from such things you’d expect any couple to deal with and while there were some things that I felt both Dean and Liv over reacted to, I always could understand where their feelings came from.
There was angst, but it wasn’t the rip-your-heart-out kind, but rather it was the quiet kind that you feel subtly throughout the whole book.
When they first met, Dean could tell Liv was different. She was strong, and yet damaged and scarred from a childhood’s worth of trauma. He understood that about her. He knew that her heart needed protecting and he wanted to give that to her.“I don’t want you to walk away,” I said.
“Good.” The lines between his eyes eased with relief.
I gripped his wrists, a knot of fear binding my throat. “But you… you might want to go,” I warned.
Darkness flashed in his expression. “Why?”
My eyes stung. I swallowed hard.
“Here be monsters,” I whispered.
A heartbeat of silence, brewing with danger, filled the space between us. Then Dean tightened his hold on me and, with his thumbs, brushed away the tears that spilled down my cheeks.
“Liv,” he said, his voice rough with tenderness, “you don’t have to be afraid.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ll slay monsters for you.”
Because I’ll slay monsters for you. **MELT**
But after they got married, they moved for his work. Liv wanted to support him and was happy to move – at first content with being Professor Dean West’s wife. But she thought she’d find a little something of her own, something to work towards for herself. A few years and many closed doors later, she finds herself feeling a little lost despite loving her husband dearly.
I fell hard for Dean. He was described as a cross between a hot hunk and a brilliant professor at the university (though, NOT her professor) and my sweet heaven was he SWOONY. He calls Liv “beauty”… in a deep voice.“Come here, beauty,” he says, “You need to be kissed.”
I don’t know why but with his character, I could so clearly hear his voice in my head when I was reading which rare. I usually visualize, but with him, I heard. He was just so protective and yet gentle with her. You could just feel how much he loved his wife – completely, with all his heart. There was no room for anyone else in there and I loved that about him. Throughout all their ups and downs, all their struggles, the one thing I never doubted about him was that Liv was it for him.“Since the day we met, I haven’t wanted anyone but you…Never looked another another woman… Never thought about one. It’s always been you, Olivia.”
“Don’t you want to touch me?” I whispered.
“More than I want to breathe… One day I’m going to touch you in a thousand different ways and show you how to touch me,” Dean slid his hand over the back of my neck. “But right now, were just going to make out.”
The imagery is very vivid. And there was this undercurrent throughout the story… something that you couldn’t put your finger on at first. Something hidden that would change things for them.
I watched them fall apart but I didn’t understand why at first. There are natural consequences to miss-communication and to a lack of communication. However, its also human nature to hide things. And sometimes we’re trying so hard to do what’s right for the other person that it’s easy to forget that it should be their choice.
Secrets have a way of always coming out. And when you’re in a relationship with someone who is supposed to know all of them, finding out there is still something your partner is hiding from you can be potentially devastating. So when the secrets come out, it puts the strength of their marriage to the test.”Don’t leave me, beauty.” His voice is a rough whisper.
“Never.”
This is a very real story. I don’t know a single couple who has a perfect marriage. And that’s because no one is perfect. Dean and Liv were no different. They loved each other, that was undeniable. But it didn’t stop them from hurting each other – however unintentionlally.
Mostly, the story is told primarily from Liv’s POV although, around 60% in, we start to get Dean’s POV which was a very welcome switch at the time because I felt I had a really strong handle on Liv and her thoughts, opinions etc but I needed to get inside Dean’s head to complete the picture.
This book is definitely adult. The title does not lie – The sex scenes are beautifully erotic. They weren’t just hot, but were also emotional which I loved.“Easy, beauty,” He presses his mouth to the tears that have slipped from the corners of my eyes and down my temples. His breath rasps against my ear. “Come first, and then I’ll fuck you.”
I will say that there were a few slow points in the story for me, but in a realistic way I guess. In real life, issues aren’t always resolved overnight and this book reflected that well. And it didn’t stop me from crying when they worked it all out. *sniff* I was so emotional at their resolution point. I just needed that relief after all the heart ache.“His hands tighten on mine. “You’re so damn strong, Liv, and you don’t even realize it… And you… You’re the first person whose ever… Christ, Liv, sometimes the way you look at me makes me feel like I can hang the fucking moon.”
The ending was what I’d call a ‘happy-for-now’ ending. No brutal cliffhanger, but something happened at the end (a good something) that has me wanting the next book like now!
I started the review with this quote and I’m going to end it with this quote, because of all of them, I feel this one represents the story the most:“No,” I murmur against her hair… “We are not freakishly happy. We are not freakishly anything. We’re two people who love each other. We had a tough time. We worked it out because we want to be together. Because we can’t imagine being with anyone else. Because we don’t want to be.”
♥
4.5 stars
Here's my casting for Dean & Liv (also see above pic):
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SPOILER FREE REVIEW -mature content reader discretion is advised.
5 STARS out of 5
Genre: Adult Romance Erotica
My first 5 STAR RATING in 2013!!!!!!!
My Casting
‘We look at each other for a long moment. Something is off. I don’t know what it is.’
Not even sure I have the words adequate enough for a review. There is no big intricate plot. No suspenseful revenge driven characters. You meet two people in love and fighting to stay afloat after a secret from the past surfaces and changes everything.
Omission – to leave out, to neglect, to exclude, to disregard…
When was the last time you omitted information from the one you love? And how do you think they would feel once they knew the truth hidden in the omission?
‘There was a time when I never thought I’d have the life I do now. Never thought I’d be safe or have a home. I certainly never thought I’d fall in love. But all of that happened because I met Dean. He’s the one who turned my whole world right side up, who transformed all my warped ideas about relationships. Who proved that white knights really do exist. Who discovered alongside me that we are so much better together than alone.’
Olivia Winter was living a solitary life as an undergrad student; trying to get her degree when she crosses paths with professor Dean West. Her attraction to him is immediate as is his attraction to her. As fate would have it Dean is not her professor. And because of this they are able to explore their attraction to its fullest.
Nina Lane definitely has a style of writing that agreed with my taste buds. She slowly pulled me in and at around 36% I knew these characters would forever stick with me. The emotional anguish was heavy. I was a teary eyed mess…. She has this way with words.
The book starts in the present then occasionally goes back to the past to show us how Liv and Dean met and fell in love. We also learn why Liv has led an isolated life and how Dean pulled her out from the dark past she couldn’t seem to escape.
‘He is the one who once rescued me from bitter isolation.’
There is one of many pivotal moment when she tells him it won’t be easy for them to be together. Basically handing him his walking papers before things progress between them.
“I don’t want you to walk away,” I said.
“Good.” The lines between his eyes eased with relief. I gripped his wrists, a knot of fear binding my throat.
“But you… you might want to go,” I warned. Darkness flashed in his expression.
“Why?”
My eyes stung. I swallowed hard. “Here be monsters,” I whispered.
And his response
“Liv,” he said, his voice rough with tenderness, “you don’t have to be afraid.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ll slay monsters for you.”
After five years their happy union is put to the test when Liv makes a life altering decision. One Dean is not in agreement with. Weeks go by without them discussing the issue that has totally interrupted their happy life. Not to mention it effects their steamy love making sessions.
When they finally talk and flush out their feelings the truth emerges. Dean has been withholding vital information from his wife and she is none to pleased about it.
“You didn’t think I could handle it.”
“No. I wanted to protect you.”
“So you lied.”
“I didn’t lie.”
“By omission, yes, you did.” For God’s sake. Our marriage is not supposed to have lies. My stomach roils with a surge of nausea.
…‘Now I know my instincts were right. I haven’t known my husband completely.’
I love how we get glimpse from Dean’s pov towards the end of the book. This took my feelings to a whole new level. He was intense, both his thoughts and emotions jumped off the pages.
I completely connected with Liv and Dean; more so Liv because I’m a woman. I've had her thoughts and felt her emotions at one point or another in my life. I have questioned my decisions and wondered if I did things for me or my husband.
The story lines carried an authentic tone thus creating a sense of familiarity within me. Again this is a nod to Lane’s excellent story telling skills..
My Thoughts
EXCELLENT! All married women should read this book!
Why did I give this 5 Stars? Because I simply loved it! I strongly felt the depth of this couples love for one another. I could feel the intensity in their thoughts, actions and just about every word they spoke to each other. We get great secondary characters were the author offers up just enough to make you want more. As a matter of fact she offers two secondary characters I would love to get to know better. Tyler and Kelsey.
My Ratings
Characters- Lovable
Writing Style- Excellent
Plot/Storyline- Gut-Wrenching, Soul Searching and Emotionally Charged
Steam Factor- High/Very Steamy
Overall- I LOVED IT!!! READ IT!!!
Now go forth and read. Then come tell us about it on Goodreads!
For more reviews got to
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*ARC copy kindly provided by author for an honest review* -
"Come here, beauty," he says. "You need to be kissed."
"One day I'm going to touch you in a thousand different ways and show you how to touch me."
I seriously LOVED this book. It was original, captivating and the main characters, Dean and Olivia, managed to capture my heart to the point where I wanted to hug both of them and tell them everything was going to be alright (after I made them sit down and address all the issues they had, that is!).
Arouse is an intense and emotional journey of a married couple, Dean and Olivia, who still love each other deeply but who are now struggling to keep the cracks in their marriage from breaking them apart.
This quote by Pablo Neruda is the opening line to the story and to me, it describes the beginning of Olivia and Dean's relationship perfectly...
Dean West --
Olivia Winter --
Dean West and Olivia Winter have been married for three years. Ever since they met five years ago, they've been happily in love..."Since the day we met, I haven't wanted anyone but you," Dean says. "Never looked at another woman," he continues. "Never thought about one. It's always been you, Olivia."
My white knight. I reach over to squeeze his hand.
At the beginning their relationship wasn't always easy. When they met, Olivia was a twenty four year old student struggling to find her path in life; while Dean, at the age of thirty three, was a already a successful and well established college professor. So, there was the fact that their relationship might have been considered to be "inappropriate" in college terms. But to Dean and Olivia that was never an issue. What was more of a struggle was Olivia's troubled past and the fact that she's never been nourished and cared for by her closest family members. She's had a very rough childhood and she still caries around the dark memories of that time in her life.
"But you...you might want to go," I warned.
Darkness flashed in his expression. "Why?"
My eyes stung. I swallowed hard.
"Here be monsters," I whispered.
A heartbeat of silence, brewing with danger, filled the space between us. Then Dean tightened his hold on me and, with his thumbs, brushed away the tears that spilled down my cheeks.
"Liv," he said, his voice rough with tenderness, "you don't have to be afraid."
"Why not?"
"Because I'll slay monsters for you."
Dean manages to win over Olivia's heart, body and soul. He becomes her everything. He becomes her knight in shining armor. But due to a course of events, Dean and Olivia slowly begin to fall apart without either of them realizing it at first. And when they do, Olivia begins to wonder what her life without Dean in it would have been like.
"I love him to my bones, but suddenly I'm wondering what I might have been without him."
Dean and Olivia both have their flaws; she tends to be a little too dependent of has trouble finding something to occupy her free time aside from being "the professor's wife". Dean, on the other hand, tends to be a bit too overprotective which leads to . But I did love the fact that he always tried to put her needs first and it was so sweet each time he called her beauty. *sigh*
"He is the one who once rescued me from bitter isolation. I need him to defeat it again."
The physical aspect of their relationship has always been an important one and throughout the story they often intend to rely on that aspect instead of talking things through. Those scenes really did show that the passion isn't lacking in their relationship at all.
"Easy, beauty..." He presses his mouth to the tears that have slipped from the corners of my eyes and down my temples. His breath rasps against my ear. "Come first, and then I'll fuck you."
But, as the cracks in their marriage begin to grow wider, their physical connection might not be enough to keep them together. Throughout the story they desperately try to restore what they had and get back to what they once were, but when old and new secrets are revealed, it becomes difficult for them to trust each other...
"Maybe this was meant to happen, this discovery of cracks where now a different, new light can shine through."
Most of the story is written in Olivia's POV but toward the ending we also get a few chapters from Dean's POV. I always love getting the male point of view and this time was no exception! Those chapters showed a much more vulnerable side of Dean and they made me understand where he was coming from much better.
What I loved about this book so much is the fact that it was about a married couple. Lately all I've read were either books about teenagers/young adult relationships or couples in their late twenties-early thirties, so it was very refreshing to read about a marriage and all its highs and lows. The story was flawlessly written and had a very realistic feeling to it which made me love it even more. Aside from the main characters, I also adored Kelsey, Dean and Olivia's best friend. She really managed to keep her head cool throughout the entire story and I loved her little "interventions" and funny remarks.
Overall, Arouse was a beautifully written love story that made me become a huge fan of the author
Nina Lane. At the end of this first part of the series there wasn't a real cliffhanger, but it did end in a way that managed to surprise me and that makes me want to second part ASAP!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~"We're not freakishly happy. We are not freakishly anything. We're two people who love each other. We had a tough time. We worked it out because we want to be together. Because we can't imagine being with anyone else. Because we don't want to be."
4.5 WONDERFUL AND AROUSING STARS. -
AMAZON FREEBIE!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ATUZ76S/r...
4.5 Stars!
Everything about this book is refreshing! I think I'm addicted...
From its honest style of writing, to the author's unique approach to storytelling, Arouse defies the typical romance novel formula. Rather than conforming to what would be considered 'right', this book focuses on what is real...and real life isn't always pretty. Instead of shooting for 'predictable', this book became relatable...and, simply put, I loved it.
To be completely honest, I had mixed feelings about this book at first; it initially felt like an extremely mundane tale of a once exciting marriage drifting into a state of jeopardy. The characters used sex to deal with their issues, and I felt detached from the entire scenario.
However, as the story progressed, I became more connected—until I was completly wrapped up in every word and absorbed by every emotion. There was no highly profound plot. No bells and whistles. But this simple, touching story hooked me into captivity...and that was the beauty of it.
Olivia and Dean's relationship has only ever known 'perfection'. Dean exudes self-control and confidence and is intent on supporting Liv--and Liv happily basks in the safety of his fierce protection. When real life relationship issues arise, they are both ripped off the pedestals the other has created, and neither of them is equipped to deal with the heartaches of broken trust and betrayal.
Dean has been in control of all the barbed-wire things that could hurt me. And I have been willing to let him be my shield, to keep the bad stuff away.
Except now the bad stuff is like quicksand beneath my feet, pulling me under, and my husband can’t rescue me from it.
I loved that this book alternated between past and present settings, and the occasional switch to dual perspectives was a nice touch. The tone of this story varied a bit; on one hand, it was erotic and slightly dark—but then there was a peaceful, undeniable innocence that formed a contrast with the rest of the story, successfully enhancing it.
The characters, although well-fleshed out, displayed a certain reserve—even from the reader. It was as if we had to work a little to get to know them better, and I thought that fell nicely into the flow of the story. This in no way limited my understanding; it felt intentional and strategic and I enjoyed being slowly introduced to their lives.
I truly loved Dean and Olivia—both individually and as a couple. Their touching story was realistically portrayed and there was an honest beauty in their flaws. Let's face it, life's much easier when we're not expected to be perfect; why should our fictional characters be entirely faultless? A beautiful, authentic read!
Book Stats:
▪ Genre/Category: Contemporary Romance/Erotica
▪ Steam Caliber: Maximum steam
▪ Romance: Passionate but damaged
▪ Characters: Protective, alpha hero. Innocent but aware heroine.
▪ Plot: A once passionate couple meet at crossroads in their weakening marriage.
▪ Writing: Simple yet compelling and addictive.
▪ POV: 1st Person: Dual perspectives.
▪ Cliffhanger: None. Open ending.
▪ Next Installment: Follow up has been released.
-
Why has it taken me so long to read this?!?!?!
Arouse is a gut-wrenching portrayal of how miscommunication and secrets can wreak havoc on a happily married couple. Insecurity and mistrust cause Dean and Liv question things they've never questioned before. And things quickly spiral out of control, leaving them both unsure of how to move forward. Can love overcome all?
“Liv,” he said, his voice rough with tenderness, “you don’t have to be afraid.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ll slay monsters for you.”
I found myself completely captivated by Dean and Olivia's story. It's realistic and honest, and at times I found myself holding my breath. I was so afraid for them, nervous about what was to come. Their love shined through each page, but their turmoil was just as tangible. The writing, the story, the characters, everything was simply perfect. This was an excellent read, sensual yet filled with emotion and heartache. I am so glad I have the next book waiting!
"Maybe this was meant to happen, this discovery of cracks where now a different, new light can shine through." -
5 BRILLIANT STARS
WOW.....Just...WOW.!! I’m emotionally spent but in a good way. You know a lot of times we read books because we’re looking for an escape! We’re looking for a fantasy, to be swept off our feet by a hot alpha male, or sexy athlete or some kind of prince charming. We love the chase and possession of a female lead by a male character. Those are some of the things that make us tick and keep us enjoying a book. But you have to ask yourself how many times does a book feel real? Like EVERY word could happen. Where the actual story and subject matter feel like a TRUE life thing? It’s not that often that I read something and think, “Holy crap, this!! This could totally and completely happen in a marriage and I get it.” Yes, this is a fictional story, but I felt like this was an AUTHENTIC LOVE STORY that was being torn a part in tatters. You could see how the breakdown of a marriage could happen in a blink of an eye.
I know when I was reading Arouse, I felt like my mind and heart were being put to the test. I was hurting so badly for Dean (main character) and Liv (his wife) that there were points for me personally where I need a breather. I had to put the book down, walk away, and take a minute. It was so angsty, I felt like I was on the edge of a cliff. I can’t explain it but there were definitely moments where I wanted to close my eyes and scream “NO MORE!! I JUST CAN’T SEE THEM HURT ANYMORE.”
MY LIV
The writing was incredible and let you fall in love with the characters one word at a time. To see the relationship turmoil before your eyes was like experiencing the same disintegration of your marriage/relationship. The pain and heartbreak was so saddening. It was amazing just how involved and apart of the story I got!! There were parts of the book that I hated Dean and wanted to kick him in the balls and bust him upside the head. I know at one point I was screaming at Liv that “WE” wanted a divorce...hahaha! That’s how involved I got that I actually wanted a divorce from a fictional character.
[image error] -
A really good marriage in trouble romance albeit probably way too sweet for my jaded self...
What troubled me, though, is that creepy AF scene in which the heroine's best friend kissed the heroine's husband (???) in order to help (???) the main leads realize how much they love each other... Perfectly reasonable thing to do when a couple is in the middle of a marriage crisis, what can I say?
Also the hero had some erotic fantasies going through his head during the kissing session and the kiss was intense. He also is said to love his wife very much.
The icing on the cake was the heroine's reaction when she learned about this WHICH IS no reaction whatsoever on her part.(????) -
“Since the day we met, I haven’t wanted anyone but you,”
“Never looked at another woman,” he continues, “Never thought about one. It’s always been you, Olivia.”
Arouse is a very passionate and intense love story!!Nina Lane takes the reader on a journey through the trials and tribulations of married couple Dean and Liv West.As their story unfolds the book goes back and forth between present day and the past giving the reader glimpses into how Dean and Liv first met and fell in love...
When something happens to shake the foundation of their relationship both Liv and Dean have to figure out what they want out of life and love and their relationship...
They soon start to avoid each other.They don’t communicate and can’t seem to find a solution.Dean in his desperation to make things better confesses a secret he has been withholding from Olivia thinking that it might help her understand his actions.From that moment,a sense of betrayal clouds them,there is jealousy,anger,sadness and fear threatens to destroy their marriage...
“Christ, Liv,” he whispers. “What the hell are we doing to each other?”
"We can’t do this anymore. Can’t keep hurting each other. Our marriage has always been an island, a safe place where sea-dragons and monstrous creatures can’t reach us. Now we’re letting them in, gnashing teeth and all, and we are failing to protect each other."
OH GOD!!!Profesor Dean was amazing in the sense that he only had eyes for Liv!He was hot!!!
"He was big.Not bulky and heavy, but tall with broad shoulders, long legs, and that air of self-control that made him seem in total command. The wind flattened his shirt over his muscular chest, and I had a sudden image of folding myself against that chest and feeling his arms close around me.Safe.Protected."
His love was so focused on her.There was no doubt in my mind that he would ever look elsewhere!
Olivia had a troubled past with her delinquent mother and absentee father. Her way to survive was to isolate herself from people who could hurt her Dean has been her safe haven and her stability, like no one else has ever been. Coupled with her intense physical attraction to Dean, they have a strong connection. However, Olivia is struggling with a stalling career. She has moved with her husband so many times, so that he could further his career that the instability of it all has wrecked hers.Now that her and her husband are putting down roots Olivia is trying to find her own identity..
Their passion was raw and beautiful and their love was strong.
She gave all she had to him and he helped her to heal!!!
The author completely drew me into Dean and Olivia’s story as well as their lives.From beginning to end the journey is riveting!! -
5 Simply Beautiful Stars
The most beautiful people, are the ones that fell, got hurt and then stood up again.
The most beautiful couples, strip each other bear and hand their hearts into the other's keeping.
And the most beautiful stories are the quiet ones. The ones we write for ourselves. And we get up every day to whisper it to the person besides us.
Growing up, we were told that all fairy tales end with a happily ever after. The knight saves the damsel, the prince falls in love with the peasant, they marry and live in happiness. But our storytellers forgot to add:
Don't be silly child... You do realize that life always get in the middle?
Dean and Olivia fought hard to be where they are today. Happy and together.
Olivia, put her trust in Dean, she laid herself bare, she admitted hard to divulge secrets and she put her past behind. She is safe in Clay's capable hands.
Dean the medieval history professor, overachiever and brilliant, experienced and accomplished in everything he does, found the love of his life in Olivia. Taking care and providing for her, sheltering and protecting her, she is the meaning of his life and he lives to see her eyes light up every time they meet his.
“Liv,” he said, his voice rough with tenderness, “you don’t have to be afraid.” “Why not?” “Because I’ll slay monsters for you”.
One seemly innocent pregnancy scare will make them face hard truths about their relationship, reveal well hidden secrets, sow doubt and despair and will make them unravel, spiraling down and down like a feather falling for heaven, hoping to reach the ground still standing or at least, together holding each other hard enough to bruise and realize that it's all OK and they are still together. And stronger.
It's in the human nature to cheat and deceive. Lie to earn respect and be a hero but when the secrets are revealed you ought to go against your nature. To stay and fight for what you want and deserve and move past the betrayal.
This is their story. Of a man that loved a woman too much and he was ashamed of his past and a woman that knew only one man and she made him her own world. Will they manage to emerge stronger, to forgive and fall deeper in love with the real them?
Fall seven times. Stand up eight.
Simple, heartbreaking, thought provoking, arousing, sexy, intense and deeply emotional, this is an almost esoteric read. A psychoanalysis of a couple in crisis. No less or more. No other plots, sub-plots or agendas. Two people that loved so much that let their passion drown their wishes, dreams and fears. An amazing book about a realistic couple, who screw ups and is left to pick up the pieces of their marriage one by one, fighting tooth and nail for every winning inch.. A must read, Simply Beautiful.
Already started the next....
Thank you, Baba! As always you were right for this book...♥ ♥ -
Intriguing...angsty, emotional and unputdownable (in this case, that has to be one word!) are just a few terms to describe this story. I loved that the H/h were already a couple that had been together for five years and married for three. Since a lot of my friends love this series, I knew that it was going to be good so I was happy to finally get to it.
Dean and Olivia meet when she starts school at the college where he is a temporary professor. Luckily, they are not in the same area of study. After their first meeting, fate brings them together again and Dean can't stay away. And he doesn't stay away even when he finds out all of Olivia's secrets.
Those secrets are told in flashbacks, along with when they met and started dating. At first, we only get Olivia's POV but thankfully towards the end, we also get Dean's.
In the present, there's some problems and they culminate with a pregnancy scare. The story line really reminded me of the Gabriel's Inferno series by Sylvain Reynard.
There's plenty of other dramas as the story gets really developed and some issues come up that I was not a happy camper about. Both Dean and Olivia do things that seem out of character especially Dean. I was really upset at that whole locker room scene...he should have pushed away!
But you can't help but root for the two of them. They have such a great bond and the sex is pretty intense.
The story ends in a bit of a cliffy but thankfully, N.L. included the beginning of the next book, Allure, and it's already out so I didn't have to wait for once. ;)
Favorite quote:
♥ “Since the day we met, I haven’t wanted anyone but you,” Dean says.
My heart jumps a little.
“Never looked at another woman,” he continues. “Never thought about one. It’s always been you, Olivia.” -
4 "His Beauty & Her White Knight" Stars
Liv was proud of his husband (Dean), she loved watching his success. They really loved each other. They’ve built a lovely, normal, secure life together. Liv had a tough childhood and Dean was the one who turned her whole world right side up, who changed her ideas about relationships but now the mere idea of having a baby is causing a distance between them. Before they got married, Liv told Dean she doesn’t want kids and Dean accepted that but people change, right! That is the beginning of their problem and unfortunately, they did a lousy job trying to fix them!
Liv finished high school, graduated from college, met and married Dean, tried to find a stable job… just to prove something to herself and others! But she'd forgotten that she must believe in herself first! Oh, Dean! Her hero, her safety, the only one that she always can trust him, her savior! Well, if she finds out about the secrets that he his them from her, then will he still remain her white knight?
I really liked this book. I couldn’t stop reading it. I liked both characters even with their mistakes. It just the ending was a bit rushed. I don’t think they did a good job to solve their problems, actually they didn’t anything, apparently, they were solved by themselves!
Told in dual POV, 1st person. It’s the first installment in the "Spiral of Bliss" series. I don’t count it as a cliffy one, maybe a very very mild one. It’s well-written, a bit slow and angsty with likable characters. Looking forward to reading the next installment. And let’s not forget about the cover, love it! All in all, I liked it and hope you enjoy it as well! -
Lump in my stomach half the time reading this wonder how it would turn out for them..... and then I get to the ending! Thought it was a stand alone and it would end up nicely .... now I realise that it was a sort of cliffhanger - how many times have I told myself, stay away from those cliffhanger books. Still and all a good read - loved the 2 main characters and Kelsey. Kinda liked Tyler too. I hope it finishes with the next one and does not drag out for a third one.
I found my Dean and Olivia in Book 2, so just had to share them here also...
Professor Dean West
Olivia (Liv) West -
Why the hell I wait to read this book?
Professor Dean West, you totally stole my heart... :)
He's smart, so sexy and so caring. I loved him a lot. :)
Ps. I'll read the other books asap! <3
-
“One day I’m going to touch you in a thousand different ways and show you how to touch me.” Dean slid his hand around the back of my neck. “But right now we’re just going to make out.”
A few minutes before I reached the ending of this book ...
A few moments later , when the end was near ..
And finally when the ending struck like a lightening strike out of no where ...
And then finally it was ...
Ah Nina Lane , you've really struck a gold with this one on my heart .
I want to do with you what spring
does with the cherry trees — Pablo Neruda
This is one of my favorite Pablo Neruda quotes ever , and the fact that they made the opening lines of this book really made my heart warm up . That particular line means a lot to me , so the moment I read it here , I was a total gonner !!! In my heart , I kinda knew that I was going to end up liking this book . And lo behold , I did ! In fact I loved it !!! * sighs happily *
Arouse , for me is a story of a ' Happily ever after' gone bad . Let me explain . This book begins with the reader getting s glimpse in the married life of Olivia and Dean west . Olivia and Dean love each other , to the moon and back . They are all they have . But then one day Olivia losses her job . That one particular incident forces Olivia/Liv to question her decisions in life .
And if that wasn't enough , a pregnancy scare only adds fuel to the fire of indecision burning in her .
Dean is a professor of medieval history . Accomplished , dedicated , loyal and honest , he has eyes only for Liv .
"Since the day we met, I haven’t wanted anyone but you,” Dean says . My heart jumps a little.
“Never looked at another woman,” he continues. “Never thought about one. It’s always been you, Olivia.”
But Dean has a little secret . A secret that has the intensity and the power to break everything apart . Everything that he and Liv have worked for and built together . And its not just Dean and his secret . Liv and her insecurities , doubts and assumptions have the same destructive power over their relationship . What will become of Liv and Dean ? Will they succeed in protecting and saving their relationship ? Our will they succumb to the mess that's waiting to tear them apart ??
Okay , I really do a crappy job in summarizing a story , so please forgive me for that ! Because I think I haven't quite managed to bring out the beauty of this story . But I absolutely think , that this book is just sooo good that its worth a shot ! Soo please pick it up and read it !!! * pretty please with a cherry on top :) *
I've fallen in love with this book . No doubt about that . 2 reasons why :
Firstly , its about a married couple ! I mean I haven't read a lot of books about a married couple . For me , most of my reads have started from college going kids falling in love and then going through hell only to find their HEA .. By the time they are married , the book is finished ... over ! And secondly , if authors do begin their story by introducing us to a married couple , then I hardly find any chemistry between them . Because all the 'falling in love' thing has been done with ! But not here .. Arouse is divided into 3 parts . Part 1 deals with the intro of Dean and Liv , their life , a bit of their past , and that little incident that changes it all . Part 2 deals with the implications of that little incident and Dean's secret . Part 3 deals with Liv and her little mistake and the implication of that on her relationship with Dean . Also , them trying to work hard to get over those matters and go back to being the people they were , who loved each other like forever !
Nina Lane has created a very intricate and a delicate story of love and loss . She weaves a story of a journey of a married couple who stumble upon a rough patch in their happily married life . Their lack of communication , inability to share their thoughts with each other only makes things worse . They think being intimate through sex can undo the damage that has already made a hole in their sphere of happiness , but such is not the case .
The story is beautiful , the characters are flawed ..
Liv has suffered through her childhood , never had the happiness she has craved .. But meeting Dean changes all that ..
He is her knight in a shinning armor .
“Liv,” he said, his voice rough with tenderness, “you don’t have to be afraid.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ll slay monsters for you.”
Dean ..... Oh my god ! Quick , somebody get me a husband like him !
“Dean.”
“Easy, beauty…” He presses his mouth to the tears that have slipped from the corners of my eyes and down my temples. His breath rasps against my ear. “Come first, and then I’ll fuck you.”
I believe everyone of us have skeletons in our closet . Dean has them too . But that doesn't mean he is incapable of loving . There are times we question our ability to love . We try and find a way to find that special place with that special someone . That someone who can share our secrets and make the demons of the past go away . But sometimes , we just wonder , why bother . Why bother spilling that dark little part of our past and cloud our future . Let those skeletons be buried , deep within where no one can reach them . And Dean does exactly that . Is he right or wrong ? Well you be the judge of that .
The sex scenes in this book are amazingly hot ! But you know what I like about them . They aren't just fillers . They are soo much more than that . Brimming with emotions and intensity , they breathe their own life into the story ..
“Look at me.” His order is low, rigid.
I stare at him, his face glistening with sweat, the burn of his eyes. I’m aroused by his anger, by his unyielding control. It’s both an apology and a punishment, this frantic, desperate fucking.
My playlist:
1) Shy that way - Tristan Prettyman ft Jason Mraz .
2) Ain't Nobody - Clare Maguire ( Breakage remix) .
3) Tip of my tongue - The Civil Wars .
4) King of Sorrow - Sade .
5) Stay - Rihanna ft Mikky Ekko .
6) Just give me a reason - P!nk ft Nate Ruess .
7) Edge of Desire - John Mayer .
8) Heaven - Depeche Mode .
9) Perfect Stranger - Civil Twilight .
10) Let us move on - Dido ft Kendrick Lamar .
Arouse definitely makes it to my ' most fav read of 2013' and Nina Lane to the ' authors to watch out for ' list ! Absolutely loved it ! A must read ! -
The truth will set you free? Not necessarily!
Sometimes it's better to keep your mouth shut. It will save the others a whole a lot of unnecessary heartache :-).
Loved, loved, loved this book!
This book is about a couple, Dean and Olivia. They have been together for 5 years, 3 of them married. The story starts very slow but very sweet. Even though it starts kind of in the middle, later, with a glimpse into the past, it is explained how they met and why they fell in love.
He is a proffesor at King's who specializes in Medieval Studies (it's not as exiting as it sounds:)). He is very interesting character. He is tall, dark and handsome (duh). He is very intelligent, it shows in the way he talks about his work, how he talks to his students and coworkers. He is also very passionate about what he does. I personally think it is one of the sexiest qualities in a man, apparently so does Olivia. She doesn't understand half of what he's talking about, but it makes her want to rip her clothes, right then and there :-D.
" Did you finished your paper on the medieval sins of passion?"
He kisses the top of her head. "Excavation and archeology of a town originated by castle of the Teutobic Order."
Of course.
I tighten my arms around his waist. "Mmm. Dirty talk."
"Urban hierarchy." He slides a big hand down to squeeze my rear. He could say anything in that deep voice of his and I'd go all fluttery inside. "Vernacular architecture. Topographical analysis. Flexible growth."
Ah, good.
He has this hypnotizing authority about him. Every time he walks into a room, men's spines stiffen and women want to drop their panties. But the thing is, he is completely oblivious to other women's reactions, because he is completely and utterly in love with his wife.
Author doesn't go overboard trying to explain his feelings for Olivia. You get that from the way he looks at her, the way he talks to her, the way he touches her and the way he fantasizes about her (Yep ;-)). And the same goes for Olivia's feeling for him.
You get to know the characters, you fall in love with them. You see that the love is there, the chemistry and the passion is through the roof.
"One day I'm going to touch you in a thousand different ways and show you how to touch me." Dean slid his hand around the back of my neck. "But right now we're just going to make out."
Then, one day, something happens. A simple conversation leads to an argument which starts the domino effect.
The topic wasn't that big of a deal. It's something that every couple needs to talk about, at some point in the relationship. But both of their reactions made the other one question their relationship. It led to not talking, to brushing pass one another with awkwardness. It led to other discussions/arguments which had nothing to do with the "problem" that started it all. In the heat of an argument secrets and confessions started coming out. And it left me wondering "Do you really need to know everything about one another? Maybe sometimes it's better to leave past in the past?" It also makes you wonder if some truths are overrated.
All that truth coming out drives characters to do some stupid things, which poses a threat to lead their relationship to the point of no return. More tension, more sexual frustration, more heartache...
I, as a reader, was left heartbroken. At the beginning, their relationship felt solid as a rock. What happened? How did they got to this point?
The most of the story is told from her p.o.v and some of the parts from his. From their thoughts you can see that the love is still there, but the anger, frustration and jealousy have completely consumed them. There were a lot of times where I wished I could reach through the screen, grab them by their collars, shake them and shout "Sit the f*** down, you fools, and talk, goddamn it!"
You see that they both hurting and want to make it right, they want to fix it, what ever got them here. But none of them know how. They miss each other terribly, the good times that they've had. They both can't imagine being with anyone else. Reader gets that feeling too. They are perfect for each other. You see that the way they are behaving is just stupid, but at the same time, you see that both of them have a point. I think that I would have reacted in the same way, if I were in either of their shoes. And that's what makes the characters so easy to relate to. I'm sure we all have experienced the same thing, at some point in our lives. I have, and have heard similar stories from my friends, over and over again. It's much easier to get angry and storm out of the place, feel sorry for your self, blame the other, rather than sit down and address the issue.
At this point, the only thing they have going for them, is the physical thing. The familiar look, the longing glance, the comforting touch. It's easy, because you don't have to talk. The passion is still there. Sometimes they do it slow and some times they do it hard. But the sad thing about it is that when the moment it's over, they go to sleep with their backs turned to one another.
I think this is the first book that left me frustrated in a good way.
Supporting characters: I absolutely loved Kelsey! She was the sane one of the bunch. Everyone needs a friend like her :). She is a no BS persona. She will tell you how it is, no sugar coating. I think that Dean and Olivia are lucky to have her in their lives. She is funny, but honest and she doesn't tolerate bull sh**. She is not one of those friends who will tell you "Sure, wear yellow leggings, they look great on you." and rolls her eyes the moment you turn your back. She is more like "WTF? it's not 80's, go change, right now, or else!" :-D.
"So what... uh, what made you go back to guys?" Olivia asked.
Oh, a couple of studs my senior year, then a long-term boyfriends in grad school." Kelsey flips her hair away from her face and reaches for the wineglass. "Great guy, smart as hell. Great sex too. Made me realize I preferred hard muscle and hard dick."
***
I stalk towards the men's locker room. She follows.
"Back off, Kelsey."
"No."
I shove the door open. She bangs through it after me. A few half-dressed men by their lockers stare at her. One whistles.
"Hey, lady, this is the men's locker room," one of them snaps.
"Shut up, asshole. You've got nothing i haven't seen."
Kelsey stares him up and down.
"And I mean nothing."
***
"God, Kelsey." I rest my head in my hands. "Why aren't you a psychologist?"
"Because my friends are the only people I give a damn about."
"Will you please go explain all that to Dean?" I ask.
"Hah." Kelsey rolls her eyes. "He's a man. He'll give me a blank stare, tell me I'm full of shit, then go off to pummel a punching bag."
This was one of those stories where author was able to portray a relationship gone wrong in a very realistic and raw way. It was also a very big surprise, because it was very different from Nina Lane's first book. I did enjoyed the first one very much, but I could relate to this story more.
I hope this book gets the attention it deserves.
I'm glad that Dean's and Olivia's story is not over. Can't wait for the sequel. -
"Fall seven times. Get up eight."
Wow! I completely adored Arouse!
This is the story of Dr. Dean West and his wife Olivia Winter West. I loved the writing it was beautiful, steamy and utterly captivating.
Professor Dean West is one HOT husband! In the bedroom he is absolutely off the charts! Dean is so well accomplished in his career and he is just the right blend of sexy and nerdy! (He definitely gives Dr. Emerson a run for his money)
Olivia West is just lovely, sweet and well spoken. She has some insecurities but I found her to be completely relatable. She has hit a road block with her career and is trying to figure what is next.
Olivia has suffered a horrible childhood but has found love and safety with her husband. Their married life is pretty perfect till they have a pregnancy scare and things spiral from there.
Dean is so protective of his "beauty". He is her monster slayer, her protector but sadly he omits relevant information about his past. Even though his reasons were only of protecting his wife, this news along with their stance on a baby leads way for a rough patch. Can this couple find a way to come back to each other?
"Maybe this was meant to happen, this discovery of cracks where now a different new light can shine through."
Arouse was beautiful, sexy and real. Dean and Olivia are a wonderful addition to my favorite book couple list.
I'm excited to see where their story will go. What will Helene add to the story? (I hope nothing)
I don't want anything to stand in their way. These two are perfect together!
"Don't leave, beauty." His voice is a rough whisper.
"Never."
-
4.5 BEAUTY STARS! ★★★★☆
“I want to learn how to trust a man. I wanted to know what true, physical pleasure felt like. I wanted to find the courage to be vulnerable on my own terms, as my own choice.”
So I've finally made it to the Nina Lane party & after reading Arouse, I can definitely see what's the hype about ;) Also, GR really needs to start implementing the 0.5 stars in ratings because while I really did enjoy this book, it just didn't give me the 5-stars winner feel that I was hoping for.
******
Arouse is the story of Olivia & her husband, Professor Dean West. Being in marital bliss for 3 years, their marriage began to hit a rough patch when a certain event occurred which in turn, triggered a series of events that would lead our blissful couple to question everything about their relationship.
With secrets and old pasts coming to light, the question is, will their marriage survive through it all?
******
I'm starting to think that I really enjoy reading these marital books because they deal with the real issues everyone faces in their relationships. I love how realistic and relatable these stories are, we get to see that everything is not all sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes, the imperfections are what make all these reads very honest and real.Our marriage has always been an island, a safe place where sea-dragons and monstrous creatures can’t reach us. Now we’re letting them in, gnashing teeth and all, and we are failing to protect each other.
Arouse is exactly the type of story that I described above. It's beautifully written and despite them being a married couple, Nina Lane still managed to portray their relationship as a passionate and intense one. Sure there were moments that were a bit slow-moving at the beginning, but overall I found the story to be well-paced and did not rush into anything that is overly dramatic.
Also, I must commend Nina for doing a damn fine job in weaving the past and present together very well. Usually I'm not a huge fan of these past/present flashbacks because they confuse me and might give me a whiplash. But in this one, I thought it was brilliantly done at the right moments in the book, allowing us to experience and understand the very strong foundation of their relationship in the first place. Reading the past flashbacks definitely gave me the flutters as I witnessed first-hand their courtship days and how their relationship blossomed beautifully."For years, Dean has been my best friend , my confidante, the love of my life. We’ve fought for each other. My demons have cowered in the face of his strength. My secrets have always been safe with him."
Well, what can I say about Professor Dean West? A sexy professor is definitely someone right up my alley! He is wonderfully described as the white knight in this story; he's protective of Liv and you can just sense how strong his love is for his wife. The way Nina wrote Dean's character has certainly got my heart all mushy and nothing short of swoon-worthy. Sexy, brilliant, confident and possessive; Dean West fits the bill perfectly of my kind of man ♥“Liv,” he said, his voice rough with tenderness, “you don’t have to be afraid.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ll slay monsters for you.
Honestly, I thought I was going to settle for 4-stars but once I hit around 70% and the author gave us Dean's POV, that really made me upgraded my rating a little. Having it from Dean's perspective and understanding what he's equally going through really tugged at my heartstrings. Also not to mentioned, Kelsey was an amazing secondary character. Trust me, we all need someone like Kelsey in our lives ;)
Only a minor thing that bugged me was how the miscommunication between them was being dealt. I wasn't entirely happy when either one always walk out on each other after an argument and well, I kinda expected better from these two. But that's just my personal opinion ;)
******
Overall, Arouse is the first instalment of a heart-achingly beautiful story of Liv & Dean as you watched them overcome the trials and tribulations of their marriage. It also has the perfect balance of angst and erotica which keeps you captivated throughout the book. Although it ends off with a minor cliffhanger, this book seems to be a very promising start to a great series.
-
The thing that drew me to this book is that it's about a married couple. Most romance books seem to be about falling in love and not staying in love. That's not always easy, as Dean and Olivia West found out.
At first glance they seem to be the perfect couple. They have no money worries, they get a long great and their sex life is fantastic. Then Liv loses her job and she doesn't know what to do with herself. Meanwhile, Dean's career as a college professor continues to flourish. They slowly drift apart and then, through a series of misunderstandings and lies by ommission, their relationship continues to deteriorate even further. By the end of the book we're left with a cliff hanger that had me screaming at my Kindle that I want the next book right now!!
I enjoyed this book tremendously. I wasn't bored for a minute, the sex scenes were off the charts hot, and the character development was brilliantly done. Highly recommended for all erotic romance lovers. -
5 Soul Touching Stars!
I loved this book! Brilliantly Written and so Real you almost forget that this is fiction!
I can easily say this is fiction at its best!
I am as in love with Dean as Olivia is!
“Since the day we met, I haven’t wanted anyone but you, never looked at another woman, never thought about one. It’s always been you Olivia.”
The book is written between the present tense and the past.
We go through the relationship of Olivia and Dean, from where it began 5 years ago….
Dean...
From the stunning friendship, how Dean was patient with Olivia, helped her face her horrible past and how he became the first person to completely own her..
“Liv,” he said, his voice rough with tenderness, “you don’t have to be afraid.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ll slay monsters for you.”
Body, Mind and Soul…
“One day I’m going to touch you in a thousand different ways and show you how to touch me,” he said.”
To the present tense…
After 3 years of being married… A couple whose marriage is sooo strong neither of them could wish for anything more because they were each others dream come true. Dean and Liv are so stunningly attracted to each other after all these years that they burn with lust at the sight of each other.
Olivia is so proud of Dean, his accomplishments, he is like her real life hero…
“You’re so damn strong, Liv, and you don’t even realize it. I’m the one who’s always had to show people I’m successful, an achiever, the best at everything I did. I’m the one who’s always been a goddamn egotist. A groveler. And you…you’re the first person who’s ever…Christ, Liv, sometimes the way you look at me makes me feel like I can hang the fucking moon.”
After a pregnancy scare the once Blissfully marriage cracks slowly pushing them apart…
Sometimes sex isn’t enough…..
Marriage isn’t easy… we all know this….
Only one thing is certain- The overwhelming love they have for each other. A love so deep that I can feel it in to MY core!
Mistakes are made….
Secrets are revealed….
“I’ve given you all I have, all I am. You know that. Why didn’t you do the same for me?
Trust is broken…
When two people are pulled soo far apart, can they find their way back together?
“Maybe this was meant to happen, this discovery of cracks where now a different, new light can shine through.”
It is soo devastatingly beautiful to see the way Dean adores Liv.
This goes back to the foundation of this marriage and how much they really love each other that they will fight to save this beautiful thing they have together..
“I love him to my bones, but suddenly I’m wondering what I might have been without him.”
-
This book took me on a journey of how a wonderful marriage can crumble from lack of communication, misunderstandings, insecurities, and jealousy. How two people who love each other so very much can end up with such a gap between them when one of the people are being dishonest.
"Arouse", is a story about the marriage between Dean and Liv West and how two people who are so devoted to one another can drift apart from misunderstandings and dishonesty. Everything is going great in their lives up until Liv gets fired from her job and then life becomes very conflicting for her. She gets into a rut and slowly her smooth sailing marriage starts to develop some waves. Dean is a professor for the Medieval Studies program, and not only is he an extremely intelligent man but quite the hottie as well. There are plenty of students of the "female" variety that try to coax some "study" time out of their studly professor. He only ever has eyes for his wife though, and he is a supportive hubby on top of that devotion as well. Slowly though situations begin to happen and doubts are being formed in the marriage. Instead of Dean or Liv confronting certain fears that each one has, they begin to stop communication and resentment becomes deeper and deeper. So much happens throughout the story, and the couple tries at times to smooth things out, to have their foundation crash down again. Will they be able to rise above the indifference and become close again?
Nina Lane has written an intense emotional journey through this couples marriage. I was hooked from the first page, all of the way to the end. I became so absorbed in this story that I felt as if I was the one going through the angst and heartache that Dean and Liv were living through. The sex scenes were a nice addition to the story, that evened out the heavy emotion nicely. Also some of the secondary characters lightened the story up as well and I would love to see a story about Allie in the future! The end of the story left me with wanting more, and I'm happy to say there will be more! This book is a must read for anyone who likes substance along with some sizzle! I will be anxiously waiting for the next installment in this wonderful series! Nina Lane is an author who is on my auto buy list as well! -
3 Debbie Downer stars
Arouse was different than what I expected, to me it felt like what a downward spiral from an HEA would feel like. Where thoughts, intentions and actions are questioned setting off a series of unfortunate events and hidden secrets. Dean is perfection, and it is his perfection that makes Liv spin... This story left me feeling down and at times cold, I guess some would describe it as real. Arouse takes place after their HEA, but it also tell us of their past, guides us through their sticky present and leads us into their rocky future. I can deal with heartache and darkness as long as there is light and hope sprinkled throughout and this left me a bit off balanced. The writing you can feel, so it's no fault to the writers style or skill, it's more how the story made me feel that I base my rating and review off of. I'm not sure I'm ready to continue on the journey just yet, as much as I want their Happily-HEA...maybe someday.
ARC kindly provided by Snow Queen Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. -
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT on NINA LANE ON TOTALLYBOOKED TODAY 22/04/13
Cover Reveal, Synopsis and Teaser For Allure (Spiral of Bliss #2), Interview with Nina and a GIVEAWAY Too!!!
http://totallybookedblog.com/2013/04/...
Gitte: 5 amazing stars.
Jenny: 5 breathtaking stars.
Gitte: I absolutely loved this book. Can I put my finger on exactly why? Sure can. It was different! Very different to anything I have read recently. It was beautiful, emotional, heart breaking and sexy. The difference? Well, in this story we have a married couple who love each other with all their heart yet both have a past that has marked them and catches up with them emotionally through and because of betrayal, secrets and jealousy influencing their judgement and actions. I loved this Authors style of writing; it was beautiful and vivid and made for compulsive reading. Most of all, this story felt REAL! Be ready to feel every single emotion possible. You will feel: desire, love and jealousy, your heart will hurt and you may want to throw your kindle at the wall a couple of times. But you will laugh and smile too and I defy you not to swoon…..a lot!!!
Jenny: Oh Gitte, I loved this story so much I am going to go as far as to say this is up there as my favorite read this year and I have no doubt in my mind it will end up in my top books for 2013. I loved everything about it. It was certainly different to what we’ve rad lately. It was moving, emotional, warm, tender, funny, sensual, gut wrenching and I became absolutely and completely invested in Liv and Dean. They stole my heart. Both of them.
You’re so right, the writing is nothing short of beautiful. Every word, every nuance was so carefully and beautifully crafted that this book became an experience I could relive over and over again. Book love Gitte, is there anything quite like it? I definitely had it with this one.
Gitte: Absolutely Jenny, my favorite too so far this year, no question! Dean and Olivia’s story is told in three parts. Olivia’s which covers both the past and present and Dean’s POV which made such a difference to the story, as hearing his voice tells of intense love and heartbreak and helps the reader understand and connect.
So, undergraduate Olivia Winter meets Professor Dean West, a Professor of medieval history and the chemistry is intense and their attraction to each other immediate. When we meet them, Dean and Olivia have been together for 5 years, 3 of them as a married couple. The past catches up with them though a breakdown in communication and it snowballs from there. Highlighting just what secrets and betrayal can do to a marriage.
I thought the characters of Dean and Olivia were really well written; essentially deep down they both have issues in their own respective ways so I sympathised with both of them throughout this story.
I fell in love with Dean, not only is he a gorgeous, tall strong alpha male. He is also an intelligent and passionate professor who has no idea of how he affects women. Reason why? Because he is completely in love with his wife and totally devoted to her. He had such immense presence in this story I am still thinking about him days after finishing this story.
“One day I’m going to touch you in a thousand different ways and show you how to touch me.” Dean slid his hand around the back of my neck. “But right now we’re just going to make out.” – Dean
“Since the day we met, I haven’t wanted anyone but you,”
“Never looked at another woman,” he continues, “Never thought about one. It’s always been you, Olivia.” – Dean
I really felt for Olivia. She has had a really tough childhood yet this beautiful woman is endearingly sweet, slightly naïve, lonely yet so very strong. She hasn’t got much self-confidence and is yet to really find her place in the world.
“Liv,” he said, his voice rough with tenderness, “you don’t have to be afraid.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ll slay monsters for you.”
I thought this story started off a bit slow but then it kept building and building sweeping the reader along for a rollercoaster ride with every word until the end which has a small but not unbearable cliff-hanger.
“You’re so damn strong, Liv, and you don’t even realize it. I’m the one who’s always had to show people I’m successful, an achiever, the best at everything I did. I’m the one who’s always been a goddamn egotist. A groveler. And you…you’re the first person who’s ever…Christ, Liv, sometimes the way you look at me makes me feel like I can hang the fucking moon.” – Dean
I cannot wait to read Dean and Liv’s sequel .
Jenny: Oh the “slay monsters” quote. That certainly moved us and had us texting and professing our love for Dean…..that one simple phrase moved me so much. I loved this story from the outset. From the very first moment I met Liv and Dean I connected with them and I was drawn into their story and became a part of them. I loved the flashbacks, giving us moments to reflect along with Liv and Dean. These tender, beautiful moments just captured my heart. Being with them through their troubles actually made my heart hurt. These characters came to mean so much to me, that when they hurt, I hurt. First there’s Dean. Gitte, I cannot begin to tell you how much I was drawn to this man. I think Liv describes him best:
” My husband is a handsome man, built like an athlete rather than a scholar…..he’s tall with hard muscles and broad shoulders, his dark brown hair threaded with a few distinguished strands of gray. He has beautiful eyes, chocolate-brown and framed with thick lashes that offset the strength of his cheekbones and jaw. He also has a great sense self-confidence and dignity”
Dean was protective, strong, loving and sexual and what a beautiful soul he was. He definitely made mistakes but his mistakes were borne out of trying to please others and trying to protect Liv…his heart was in the right place. He loved Liv without exception and this love for her was nothing short of breath taking and I was indeed swept along with them.
“Don’t you want to touch me?” I whispered. Liv
“More than I want to breathe” Dean
Liv was beautiful. She was tortured in so many ways, but so loving and so giving. Dean came along at a time when Liv was struggling with a tormented past. Dean was able to break down her walls and become the love of her life and her savior in many ways. He taught her to love….to love herself and to love Dean. Theirs is a romance that will capture your heart.
They have a beautiful marriage; they love each other deeply both on a physical and emotional level. They’re marriage is perfect until one day an issue arises which threatens to break apart their wonderfully constructed lives. I felt every single argument, every single bit of despair and sadness, I laughed with them, I cried with them and I loved with them.
“A strange calm settles in my heart. Maybe Dean needs to see me as more than the girl he needs to protect. And maybe I need to see him as more than my unwavering husband and the man who effortlessly takes care of everything” Liv
Yes Gitte, I’m with you. This story and these characters will stay with me for a long time to come and hearing the voices of both Dean and Liv took this story to another level for me. These characters are in my heart and I can’t wait to catch up with them again when they continue their story. I didn’t want this book to end and when it did I wanted to turn back to page one and experience it all over again. -
FIVE STARS!!
I haven't had much luck with books this year so far and I almost decided to take a break from books for a while..that's when my friend Karéz came up with this book and told me she wanted to BR it..I had no expectations for it, but I was curious..
I don't know why I had decided to put this off, but boy, I was missing out..
Gosh, I loved every minute, second, part of this book..even though it killed me.
My stomach was tied up in knots, I was anxious and my heart beat so fast..
Olivia and Dean have been married for three years. They have felt something for each other from the first moment they exchanged glances.
He teaches Medieval History at King's university , on the contrary Olivia has still to find a goal in her life..she hasn't had an easy life and she tries not to become like her mother..
Everyone pictures them as the perfect married couple.
What if things between them are not perfect like they used to believe?? What if some secrets have still to be releaved??
THIS BOOK. WOW. WOW. WOW.
I am at a loss of words because of this story. You know when you are reading such an amazing book and you're feeling 10 different types of emotions at the same time?? I wanted to savor every word of it, but at the same time I needed to know what was going to happen.
Why did I wait so long to read this series?? Nina Lane is now one of my favorite authors. The writing is compelling, exquisite, superlative.
This story is REAL, something that could happen to everybody, but at the same time, it's an epic love story.
You could feel their love, their struggle, their efforts to fix their relationship. I fell in love with their story and I could read 100 books about them and I know I wouldn't get tired.
I loved both characters. DEAN..Dean..I am so madly in love with him. Everyone should have a Dean in their lives. His love for Liv is so deep, she's the most perfect and beautiful creature in the world to his eyes. The way he felt about her wife, wow, Liv , you're such a lucky girl!
I could understand Liv in every decision she made. Liv doesn't know what's her place in the world, what is her purpose?? She feels useless. She still has to find herself.
I'm so happy that I finally read this one. I know that there are AMAZING books like this one out there and that I'm missing out!
The first book is still free on Amazon, so go get it and read it!!
A big thank you to Karéz!! It's because of her that I read this amazing book!
Thoughts after reading this one:
YAY!! A five star read.. FINALLY!
This book was everything .. I loved it to pieces ! Please, if you haven't read it yet, do it soon.
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5 'beautiful couple' stars!!
Have you ever met someone when you least expected it?"My name. Dean West"
"Oh. I'm-"
"Olivia," he said
The sound of my name in his deep voice rolled through like a breaking cloud.
"How did you know my name?"
"I saw your name on the paper at the registrar's office."
He handed me a couple of dollars. "I remembered it. Olivia R. Winter."
I rang up the order and counted out his change. "Why did you remember my name?"
"Actually..." He lifted the cup and turned to the tables. "I remembered you. "
Have you ever met someone who turned your world upside down?
Have you ever fell so deep in love with someone that they made you whole?"Since the day we met, I haven’t wanted anyone but you,” Dean says.
My heart jumps a little.
“Never looked at another woman,” he continues. “Never thought about one. It’s always been you, Olivia.”
Have you ever trusted someone with your whole being but then found out the secrets they kept from you?
Have you ever faked who you were so you couldn't break the illusion of how everyone saw you?“You’re so damn strong, Liv, and you don’t even realize it. I’m the one who’s always had to show people I’m successful, an achiever, the best at everything I did. I’m the one who’s always been a goddamn egotist. A groveler. And you…you’re the first person who’s ever…Christ, Liv, sometimes the way you look at me makes me feel like I can hang the fucking moon.”
"Because I've always believed you can."
Have you ever wanted more than anything to fix what was broken but didn't know how?"But I'm failing. I have no fucking idea how to fix what's gone wrong in our marriage. I have no idea if my wife will ever again look at me the way she used to."
Have you ever questioned if you were the reason why the things in your life went downhill?
Have you ever had skeletons in the closet that you didn't want to come out?“Maybe this was meant to happen, this discovery of cracks where now a different, new light can shine through.”
Have you ever betrayed the one you loved?
Have you ever felt as if the relationship you're in is so far gone, but you both don't know how to fix it?“We are not freakishly happy. We are not freakishly anything. We’re two people who love each other. We had a tough time. We worked it out because we want to be together. Because we can’t imagine being with anyone else. Because we don’t want to be.”
Have you ever had to question the person you love?
Have you ever been in tough times with someone but lacked communication?
Have you ever had a terrible childhood?
Have you ever felt like the person who was your Knight in shining armor suddenly turned into the monster?“Liv,” he said, his voice rough with tenderness, “you don’t have to be afraid.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ll slay monsters for you.”
If 'Yes' to some/most of the questions? I introduce you to Professor (my new book husband!!) & Beauty.
If 'No' to all the questions? Still, I introduce you to Professor & Beauty.
For more reviews!
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Awful. How this has such high ratings is beyond me. Here is our lovely “hero” cheating on his wife with their friend. The wife later finds out about it and finds it funny. Well I don’t. Prior to this the wife kissed another guy. But it didn’t go as far as this.
“Before I can react, she grabs the front of my sweaty T-shirt and pushes me back against the locker. Then she presses her mouth hard against mine. What the—Her lips pry mine open and her tongue pushes inside. She digs her fingers into my shoulders. She slides her body against mine. Soft. She’s soft. Thin and wiry, but soft with nice breasts… and Jesus, her nipples are hard and poking against my chest. My cock twitches, swells. She presses closer. She runs her hands across my abdomen, down to my waist, then around to grip my ass. Before I can think, I grab her hips and haul her toward me. A moan escapes her throat. I clasp the back of her neck, angle her head to a better position, and kiss her deep. She tastes sweet, like apples and sugar. My blood simmers. Her tongue sweeps across my teeth, her breath hot. I put my other hand on the small of her back and shove my hips against her, forcing her to feel the full length of my erection. She started it, so now she’ll get all of it. She’s not shocked. I should have known she wouldn’t be. Instead she grinds against me and licks my lips and splays her legs over mine. If we weren’t in a men’s locker room, I wouldn’t be surprised if she started stripping. I wouldn’t be surprised if I let her. Kelsey thrusts her hands into my hair, then pulls her mouth away from mine and steps back. We stare at each other, chests heaving. She looks as stunned as I feel. She swipes a hand across her lips. “So, uh… sorry,” she mutters. “What the hell was that?” My head is spinning. I stare at her mouth, reddened from the pressure of mine. Kelsey pulls in a breath. “Was it good?” “What?” “Was that a good kiss?” “You know it was, but what—” “Do you get it, Dean?” Kelsey asks. “You can like kissing another person. It’s normal. Hell, it’s human. Just because you’re married doesn’t mean you shut off a natural, biological reaction.” “You kissed me to make a point?” “I made it, didn’t I?” She steps forward and puts her hand on my chest. Something softens in her sharp eyes. “Look, Dean. Liv may have thought a ten-second kiss was nice, but she loves the hell out of you. That’s why she told you, because she doesn’t want to have any secrets from you. She loves you that much, enough to confess a huge mistake. But you keep punishing her for it, and you’re going to drive her away. Do you get it?” Her speech ricochets through my brain. She loves you that much… you’re going to drive her away… If six days without Liv makes me feel like this, I can’t imagine what—“Yeah.” I force my fists to unclench. “I get it.” “So she kissed another guy.” A slight smile curves Kelsey’s lips. “You kissed another woman. Call it even.” “Am I supposed to tell her about this?” “I’ll talk to her.” Kelsey turns and starts to leave. Then she stops and looks back at me. “For the record, Dean, I didn’t kiss you just to make a point.” “Then why?” “I always suspected it’d be good with you,” she replies. “Thanks for proving me right.” Then with a wink, she strides through the locker room and out the door. Fuck. Women make me crazy.”
If the friend didn’t stop it, I 100% believe he would have gone further.
