review: Masquerade by Nyrae Dawn

Masquerade by Nyrae Dawn

My rating:  4/5

Series: Games #3

DRC provided by NetGalley for an honest review

Published: 1.7.2014

Genre:  New Adult Contemporary Romance

Summary –

A biker. A tattoo artist. A love to last a lifetime.

Maddox Cross has always had to be tough. When his father went to jail for murder, the teenager took care of his sister and mother. Now on his own and working security at a night club, Maddox wants to become a tattoo artist-a dream that comes closer to reality when he falls for the hottest, most tatted woman he's ever seen. She's wild and beautiful, and Maddox will do anything to be with her.

Bee Malone came to town to open up her new tattoo parlor, Masquerade. Since being kidnapped as a young girl, Bee has had trouble getting close to anyone. But when she meets Maddox, she sees that under his hard biker's body is the sensitive soul of an artist. What starts out as a sizzling one-night stand soon becomes so much more.

Bee wants Maddox to join her tattoo business, but letting him into her life means revealing all her most intimate secrets. And as the past begins to intertwine with her present, Bee fears their love may not be as permanent as their ink . . . (Thanks to GoodReads.com for the summary)

My Thoughts -

Masquerade is an excellent addition to the Games series by Nyrae Dawn.  After reading Facade, I wanted to read Maddox's story and boy am I glad I did.  The cover on this is gorgeous as hell and the story is just as good!!

Bee is a complex character.  She really doesn't know who she is and isn't looking to let anyone get close enough to her to find out.  She is a strong, talented, survivor. 

Maddox is the best.  After looking after his sister for so long, he doesn't know what to do when she grows up and really doesn't need him like she used to.  He's driven to learn some thing that can shape his future and I admire that in a guy. 

The pair of them are just plain fracking awesome.  They work, create and love together very well.  I love their chemistry and think their sex scenes are wicked and fan worthy. 

Just a great job on this pair and this story.  I like how real these characters seem.  They aren't perfect and sometimes things arent' pretty, but that's ok, because Bee and Maddox are people you can envision and relate to in ways.  The writing is great, the use of modern language/dialogue is above par and the hold the story has on you while reading is intense.  GREAT JOB!!

review: Facade by Nyrae Dawn

Facade ~ Nyrae Dawn

4 of 5 stars

Published 7.2.2013

DRC provided by Net Galley

Can love save them?

After her father commits a crime that shatters her family, eighteen-year-old Delaney Cross is tired of pretending everything is all right. Packing up her car, she sets out to find the people her father hurt. Her search leads her to places she’s never been—and into the arms of Adrian Westfall.

To the outside world, Adrian is a sexy, charming ladies’ man. But his playboy persona is just an act. Secretly his soul is tortured by a memory too painful to share. Only Delaney seems to see through his façade to the real man underneath. And for the first time in his life, Adrian feels he can begin to open up about his past.

Together, Adrian and Delaney share a passionate love they never expected to find. Yet both still harbor their own secrets. When the dark truth is finally revealed, will it bring them closer together—or tear them apart forever? (thanks to GoodReads for the summary)

My thoughts-

Great story. I think the story is captivating and passionate. It is written well and is an easy read. The plot has depth and draws you into this set of character's lives so completely. I see that this is book #2 in a series, but I never felt I was missing anything relevant to this story - and I really thought that was great.

Laney and Maddox have taken on heavy burdens and are finally being weighed down too much by them. They really got screwed in the parent department, but they're doing their best to stay together and survive.

Adrian and Laney are just meant to be together in this story, but only after the truth is revealed and they forgive themselves. Adrian had a crappy go in the story as well. He lost the most precious thing a person could and really didn't know how to handle it, so he ran away and turned to drugs. That all changed when he met Delaney.

I liked all of the characters and thought this was an excellent story. Maybe more form this series?