Raze by Tillie Cole- Review!!

"They were always meant to be together, one boy and one girl, two hearts split into two, sent to far-off lands on their own. For God wanted to see if true love could be tested. He wanted to see if two halves  of one soul could find each other again, even against the odds. Years would pass. They would both be hurt. They would both be sad, but one day, when they least expected it, they would stumble into each other's paths. The question is: would they recognize each other's soul? And would they find their way back to love...?"

First, can we just talk about this cover?!?! I love it. It's intense, dark, and enticing... It's perfect for Raze! Next, let's talk about how talented Tillie Cole is :) I love her and her writing style. I've read most of her books and really enjoy them. I also met her in person back at the Author event in Atlanta this year and she's just as great to talk with in person! 

Now, for Raze... Where to begin? We start the book in Boy's hell. It's the beginnings of Razes' 'stay' at the Gulag and his cruel induction into this new world. Throughout the book we learn of the torture Raze experienced while fighting to the death in the Gulag, with only one thing left to be certain of in Raze's mind: 

Alik Durov.

Brooklyn, New York.

Revenge.

Kill.

Now, let's talk about Alik and Kisa. Alik and Kisa are engaged, though Kisa seems less than thrilled about it and it seems the marriage is more for the family business than anything. Kisa was Luka's from the time they were children and inseparable, but then Kisa was told Luka did a terrible thing and he was taken away. Since losing Luka, Kisa didn't feel very passionate about anything but Alik made sure to scoop her up. Now, Kisa was his and no one else's, just as Alik had always wanted...

Alik is crazy. Like, seriously. He's a killing machine and is uncontrollable. He's the mafia's number one killer, but no one wants to get on his bad side because no one knows what to expect from him. He is ridiculously possessive over Kisa, and not in the way that all us female readers go, 'awww' about- he takes dominant to a different level, almost soulless. The only time he appears to even show any humanity or feelings of love or remorse is when he's with Kisa and she can calm him.

Do you know where this is going, yet? Raze comes into town, looking for revenge on Alik, although he has no recollection why. He and Alik take an instant disliking to each other, while Raze and Kisa instantly feel connected. Kisa sees something, feels something, in Raze that binds her to him. Upon getting a good look into Raze's eyes, instantly she knows. It's him... It's her soul mate, the one that she thought she'd lost.

Raze can't remember much, but his body knows he knows Kisa in his soul. He slowly starts remembering bits and pieces of his life, before the Gulag, and every memory has Kisa in it. She is the only thing is his life that he knows and he can't be without her. Unfortunately, she doesn't belong to him anymore...

Alik and Raze schedule their fight. Alik goes in, wanting to kill Raze and keep control over Kisa. Raze goes into the fight searching for revenge, but also to to rightfully make Kisa his and protect her. Both will go into to the fight with hate for the other, only one will leave the cage alive. 

That's all the details I'm going to give you for this one! If it sounds good, please check it out! I think it was great, my only complaint is I will now have a serious book hangover! 

Purchase links here:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1zNHGxQ

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1BkyMEZ

Also, a big thanks to Tillie for providing me an ARC for a honest review! I'm happy to have the chance to read and review another great story by you- bravo!

Real by Katy Evans - Review

 There's only one warning I will give for this book before I start my review...it's sexy as hell and you will be.....

Okay where do I even begin with this story?!?!? I mean MY GOD it was crazy perfect. As ya'll know I love sexy, rough and tough alpha males in the books I read but when you toss in a dash of a mental health illness, shit just got real.

Remington "Remy" Tate is like no other male character I've read in a book; he is the ultimate alpha male. He's definitely got the whole sexy charisma going on but as you read it's like he reaches into the depths of your soul and touches you in ways you didn't know existed...that's how good of a writer Katy Evans is.

Remy is a fighter in an underground fighting circuit and it's here that he meets Brooke Dumas. She shows up at one of these fights and is instantly captivated by everything that is Remy. I mean who the hell wouldn't!! Brooke and Remy's first meeting holds one of my all time book quotes

 "What's your name?"

"Brooke."

"Brooke what?"

"It's Brooke Dumas."

"Brooke Dumas."

"He just fucked my name right in front of me."

 Say what?!?!?!?!?!?

I'm not going to go into too much detail with my review because you just have to read this story. Brooke and Remy are unlike any two characters I've read. You have Brooke who wanted so badly to be a competitor in the Olympics and trained hard to accomplish that dream but due to an injury she's taken a path in sports medicine. She then goes to work for Remy, training him for his fights. This is where all the tension and passion starts to build. One of the best aspects of this book is the way Remy expresses himself...through music. No he doesn't play an instrument but rather he chooses songs where the lyrics are exactly what his mind and heart are saying and makes Brooke listen to them. He speaks to her through lyrics of songs...God Bless America folks WINNER!!!

I loved this book. I loved Remy and Brooke. I loved the realness (no pun intended) of the entire story. Not only do you get a male character with a dark, scary, uncrontrolled side but you also get a heroine that doesn't shy away, she's his saving grace.