Ruin, #3
by Rachel Van Dyken
Release Date: October 6th, 2014
Source:
Author
eARC received for honest review
Synopsis:
Everything done in darkness, will eventually be brought into the light.
I ran, but all it did was keep me one step ahead of my past. I tried to start over; new name, new identity. But you can't change your soul.
A fresh start at college was just what I needed. For a while, it worked. I was the party girl, the one that seemed confident, but it was a lie.
When guys kissed me--I felt only pain.
When they touched me--Nothing but fear.
Deep inside, every girl wants to be the beauty in the story, to find someone that will see you as their world.
But the truth? I was the beast. And as much as I wanted redemption, I wasn't fool enough to think I'd ever get it.
Until he walked into my life.
I wasn't prepared to fall for someone. My scars were too deep, the wounds too raw. But he offered me peace, he offered me security. I should have known it was just another lie--I should have known that falling in love with my professor was a bad idea.
But I was powerless to stop myself from falling.
And he was powerless to catch me.
Because the darkness finally caught up to me, and as fate would have it, a cruel twist almost bled me dry. But I'm stronger than I knew. I'm stronger than you think.
You think you know my story, but you don't....after all everyone has Shame in their lives-- and I'm no longer afraid to show you mine.
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Review:
Holy Moly! What an intense reading escape!
Shame, which is the last installment in the Ruin Series, was nothing like I expected! I knew that Lisa's book was going to be an emotional rollercoaster ride, but sweet mother of God!!!!! It was freakin' heartbreaking!!! By the end of the story, I knew everything about Lisa. There is not one thing that was left out!
Lisa is determined to forget about her past. It's dark, scary, heartbreaking and painful. Starting a new life is never easy, but with the help and support of great friends it's easier. Everything seems to fall into place until the demons of her past come back to haunt her. Not only does she have to deal with her past, but also with a mysterious new teacher who is turning her world upside down. Tristan wants answers. The only way to get them? Get close to Lisa. When he went looking for those anwers, the last thing he expected was to fall for the one woman he should stay away from. Their pasts connect in the most tragic way. Both have secrets that could tear them apart. Will they be able to find a way to overcome all the obstacles life has thrown their way?
We first met Lisa in Ruin. She's such an amazing friend to Wes, Kiersten, Gabe and Saylor. I loved her from the moment she was introduced in this series, and I was really happy to learn that she was getting her own book. I fell in love with each and every one of these characters. Rachel Van Dyken writes the most amazing characters! When you read one of her books, these characters catch your attention from the very beginning and they never let go! These books linger with you way after you have finished reading them.
I really liked Lisa and Tristan together. They had great chemistry and their banter was fun. This was an interesting teacher/student romance. They both had secrets and let me tell you that once those secret were revealed, it was heartbreaking! It wasn't an easy road for them. A lot of things happened in both their lives. It was a new beginning not only for Lisa, but for Tristan as well. I don't want to say too much about the stories because I don't like giving out spoilers in my reviews, but this I will say ... expect the unexpected! I thought that I knew where the story was going, but boy was I wrong! I was able to connect some of the pieces to this amazing suspenseful puzzle, but the missing pieces fell in to place with a BANG! This story left me at the edge of my seat until the very end. I had no more nails left by the 80% mark. The journal entries that were included before each chapter made my heart beat faster. I could not wait to finish a chapter and start reading a new entry. This book is full of unexpected twists. You won't be disappointed!
I was happy that Wes, Kiersten, Gabe and Saylor had scenes in Lisa's story. They are all pretty amazing! The friendship that they share is beautiful and the banter between them is crazy addictive! I loved how Wes and Gabe protected Lisa, and how Kiersten and Saylor were always there to support her.
Overall, The Ruin Series totally rocked my world! It's one of my favorite series! If you have not read this series you are seriously missing out! It will make you feel all kinds of different emotions. It will make you swoon, laugh, cry and most of all it will leave you with a heart bursting with happiness. Rachel Van Dyken has written another fascinating series that I will forever keep close to my heart. The epilogue in this book is one of the best that I have ever read! I was crying so much by the end of it! Wes is in my top book boyfriends. He's incredible! What a beautiful gift Rachel Van Dyken has given her fans with those final words. It was an epic conclusion to an unforgettable series!
Rating:
I give, Shame, by Rachel Van Dyken 5 poignant, suspenseful, healing, intense stars!
Excerpt & Teasers:
I closed my eyes and leaned my forehead against hers. A shaky breath escaped her lips. “I’m going to kiss you now.”
“Are you trying to prepare me or ask permission?” she whispered, her voice beckoning me like a siren’s call.
“Both.” My lips hovered near hers. “I figure it’s only fair.”
“Fair?” She pulled back slightly. “How so?”
“Ten thousand.” I angled my head and watched the pulse jump on her neck. “That’s how many nerve endings, on average, are in your lips. Consequently, when your body anticipates pleasure, the build-up is the best part. Imagine, those ten thousand nerves are swelling, allowing blood to surge through them in anticipation of… what?” I swept my tongue across her lower lip and whispered, “Of being touched. I ask permission, not because I’m being a gentleman. It’s actually the complete opposite. I ask permission so your brain anticipates the pleasure before I’ve ever even touched you.”
I tasted her lower lip again and abruptly dipped my tongue into her mouth. Then just as quickly retreated. “The human body is an instrument. Know how to master it… and well…” I let my voice drop as I moved my hands slowly to her shoulders and tugged her body flush against mine. Our mouths met softly at first. I deepened the kiss, memorizing her taste, knowing I wouldn’t experience a kiss like this again in my lifetime. The way her scent, her soft moans destroyed my body, wrecked me from the deepest part of me, was nothing short of life-altering.
And I’d like to think I’d kissed a lot of women.
I’d studied the psychology of sexuality.
I was an expert in pleasure.
But she was schooling me, absolutely wreaking havoc on every logical thought as her soft whimper cascaded over me. Blood surged through my body as it tightened with awareness at her proximity.
She pulled back, her lips swollen. “That was… not a good enough warning.”
Laughing softly, I cupped the back of her head and gently drew it toward mine and kissed her again, angling my lips differently, searching her, consuming her, drawing pleasure from her lips as if it was my life goal to discover every single secret she owned.
Her arms wrapped around my neck. She was shy; she didn’t push against me, didn’t wrap her legs around me or moan into my mouth like I was having sex with her rather than kissing her.
My hands moved down her corset to her hips, and I lifted her into the air and walked her backward toward the brick wall. The whole time, our masks collided. In frustration, I ripped hers off, then mine. The shadows of moonlight hid our faces as I kissed her harder, losing myself in her.
Her nails dug at the back of my neck as she jerked my head harder. Groaning, I let her fall to the ground as I placed my hands on the brick wall to keep myself from ripping the dress from her body.
Shouting started from the ballroom.
“Ten, nine…!”
“Eight,” I whispered against her mouth.
“Seven.”
“Six.” She sighed, her breathing labored as her tongue found mine again.
“Five.”
“Four, three.” I pulled back and trailed kisses down her neck.
“Two.”
We broke apart, both breathing heavy. “One.”
People burst out onto the balcony as the fireworks started, lighting up the sky. And our faces.
And the only thing I could say as she gasped in horror was “Oh, sh*t.”
“Are you trying to prepare me or ask permission?” she whispered, her voice beckoning me like a siren’s call.
“Both.” My lips hovered near hers. “I figure it’s only fair.”
“Fair?” She pulled back slightly. “How so?”
“Ten thousand.” I angled my head and watched the pulse jump on her neck. “That’s how many nerve endings, on average, are in your lips. Consequently, when your body anticipates pleasure, the build-up is the best part. Imagine, those ten thousand nerves are swelling, allowing blood to surge through them in anticipation of… what?” I swept my tongue across her lower lip and whispered, “Of being touched. I ask permission, not because I’m being a gentleman. It’s actually the complete opposite. I ask permission so your brain anticipates the pleasure before I’ve ever even touched you.”
I tasted her lower lip again and abruptly dipped my tongue into her mouth. Then just as quickly retreated. “The human body is an instrument. Know how to master it… and well…” I let my voice drop as I moved my hands slowly to her shoulders and tugged her body flush against mine. Our mouths met softly at first. I deepened the kiss, memorizing her taste, knowing I wouldn’t experience a kiss like this again in my lifetime. The way her scent, her soft moans destroyed my body, wrecked me from the deepest part of me, was nothing short of life-altering.
And I’d like to think I’d kissed a lot of women.
I’d studied the psychology of sexuality.
I was an expert in pleasure.
But she was schooling me, absolutely wreaking havoc on every logical thought as her soft whimper cascaded over me. Blood surged through my body as it tightened with awareness at her proximity.
She pulled back, her lips swollen. “That was… not a good enough warning.”
Laughing softly, I cupped the back of her head and gently drew it toward mine and kissed her again, angling my lips differently, searching her, consuming her, drawing pleasure from her lips as if it was my life goal to discover every single secret she owned.
Her arms wrapped around my neck. She was shy; she didn’t push against me, didn’t wrap her legs around me or moan into my mouth like I was having sex with her rather than kissing her.
My hands moved down her corset to her hips, and I lifted her into the air and walked her backward toward the brick wall. The whole time, our masks collided. In frustration, I ripped hers off, then mine. The shadows of moonlight hid our faces as I kissed her harder, losing myself in her.
Her nails dug at the back of my neck as she jerked my head harder. Groaning, I let her fall to the ground as I placed my hands on the brick wall to keep myself from ripping the dress from her body.
Shouting started from the ballroom.
“Ten, nine…!”
“Eight,” I whispered against her mouth.
“Seven.”
“Six.” She sighed, her breathing labored as her tongue found mine again.
“Five.”
“Four, three.” I pulled back and trailed kisses down her neck.
“Two.”
We broke apart, both breathing heavy. “One.”
People burst out onto the balcony as the fireworks started, lighting up the sky. And our faces.
And the only thing I could say as she gasped in horror was “Oh, sh*t.”
About the Author
Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.
She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers!
You can follow her writing journey at
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