Review of Shattered Pieces (Heathens Ink Novel #4) by K.M. Neuhold

by K.M. Neuhold

4.5 stars

“I was sure my heart had withered away years ago, but then you smiled at me, and I felt it beat again.” ~Gage
Years ago, I fell in love with my best friend’s little brother. Then, he took his own life, leaving me shattered and unable to piece my heart back together. I’ve been a zombie for nine long years. Until a crazy, gorgeous man walked into Heathens Ink and injected color back into my world of gray. No matter how hard I try to resist Beck, he just won’t give up on me. I would need steel willpower to withstand his gorgeous long legs in those high heels and his drawer full of lacy lingerie. But is this just a kinky hook up or does it have the possibility for more?

“We’re both broken, but our jagged edges fit together well” ~ Beck
When you’re half of a whole you never contemplate what life would be like without your matching piece. Since my twin sister, Brianna, died last year, nothing I do seems to quiet my soul. I know there has to be some way for me to feel happy and whole again. And, when I look into the pained eyes of the tattoo artist at Heathens Ink, I feel like I have a purpose. I can’t explain it, but I feel like I have to find a way to put him back together.

We have been anxious waiting for book #4 in the Heathens Ink Series, and Shattered Pieces does not rest of the fantastic-ness of the previous books.  It delivers another stunning story of mending broken souls.  Shattered Pieces is not a light fluffy story, if you know anything of Gage’s story he is a shattered shell of a man, grieving 10 years after the loss of a loved one, there are times that we grieved, raged and hurt with Gage.  It is not easy, but so rewarding.

What did we love? (so so so many things!)

-                      Dealing with Loss:  We really appreciate that K.M. Neuhold tacked Gage dealing with Jay, his first love.  Sometimes other books with this trope just rush over grief when a new love interest appears, but Shattered Pieces really deal with the grief, even years later of loving someone who is gone.  It is heartbreaking to see Gage struggle, but adds so much to his story.

-                      Dual POV:  We love a dual POV!  And this one is done so well, there wasn’t a time that we had to flip back to figure out who was speaking.  The character both have such unique voices, it was a please to be inside their heads.

-                      Beck:  Yes, we loved a character.  Beck is bright sunshine, full of life and was a ray of hope in this book.  And his mannies, so hot!

-                      Between the Sheets:  K.M. Neuhold can create some serious steam between the sheets, and Shattered Pieces is amazing.  There is a chemistry between Beck and Gage that started in the last book, and you feel the connection between these men. 

What didn’t we love?

-          Friends:  this didn’t take away from the book, but we needed more of the other Heathens Ink boys.  We love all the other characters and we miss them – give us more!

Shattered Pieces is a wonderful book, but not an easy read.  Being #4 in the series, you do need to read the whole series to get the most enjoyment form Beck and Gage.  Many books skirt with the true feelings of grief and loss, but Shattered Pieces is true to Gage and honors his feelings.  And like finishing the last book, we need more of the Heathens Ink boys!

Up for the Challenge by Riley Hart & Devon McCormack

by Riley Hart & Devon McCormack

3.5 Stars

ETHAN:

I’m not used to anyone having the upper hand over me, and in a single night, Sean Wright rescues me twice. That’s why he intrigues me—why for the first time, I want another man. I’m used to getting what I want, and I don’t plan to let anything stop me. Only…he continues to get the best of me, and it only makes me want him more. When I start to see Sean’s not just good looks, hot sex, and constant competition, I realize I’m in over my head…and I might like it. He makes me laugh and he understands the pain I feel over my past, a pain we share. Even more than that, somehow, Sean *gets* me, but I’m not going to lie and pretend that giving my heart doesn’t scare me.

SEAN:

The night I rescued the presumably straight Ethan Harris…twice, I figured that would be the last time I saw him. However, he keeps finding his way back into my life and into my bed. Guess he wasn’t as straight as I thought. Ethan’s full of surprises, though, and being bi is just one of them. As cocky as he can be, he’s also sharp and witty...and even when he’s being his most arrogant self, he’s charming as hell. He likes to win, but so do I. However, as we get to know each other, I realize there’s more to us than the games we play in and out of the bedroom. It’s a game neither of us have played before—one we could both wind up losing. And with our hearts on the line, the real question is, when push comes to shove, are we both UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?

Up for the Challenge is another collaboration between Riley Hart and Devon McCormack.  It is a fun, easy, low-angst read with lots of good sexy between the sheets action.  

Loved?

-      -    Connection: There is a serious chemistry between Sean and Ethan, from the very moment they meet, there are sparks, and we can feel them being drawn together, even as they try hard to resist the pull.

-      -    Banter: there are some true laugh out loud moments, it is a humorous book.  But the real gem is the banter between Ethan and Sean, it is sexy, smart, and so fun, we wish there was more of it.

-      -    Bi vs. GFY: We really liked that these men were Bi, and not GFY, it was a nice change instead of another gay-for-you story-line.  It made the journey of their relationship and journey of actually accepting who they are. 

-     -     Secondary Characters:  Loved Sean’s parents – so much fun and added so much to this story.

-          Filthy:  Let’s get honest, Devon McCormack and Riley Hart can be filthy, and this book delivers.  The sex is searing, and so passionate, and so so so so filthy.

Meh?

-      -    Immature: Sean and Ethan are positioned as professional mid-thirty men, and instead if felt a little like college bros speaking to each other. 

-   -       Something to happen: as we said this is an easy read, and a bit too easy a love-story.  It is low-angst, which we loved, but sometimes a bit of angst id good.  We missed the friction, the rub in their relationship. 

Up for the Challenge is a fun enjoyable read, but it might not be of those memorable stories that you come back to over and over again.  We have always liked the collaboration between Riley Hart and Devon McCormack and can’t wait for many more stories!