Having started the series with its prequel, Tough Love (Stripped 0.5), I kind of knew what to expect - or so I thought, because I ended up getting something much different than I had anticipated.
Not at all bad different, just... different.
When I started reading Love The Way You Lie, I hoped for a lot of Clara, and a lot of Giovanni.
Tough Love (you can find my review here) was written from Clara's point of view, and focused, amongst other things, on her feelings for Giovanni. Clara however only has small cameos throughout Love The Way You Lie, and her past love-interest barely gets a mention at all. After having read Tough Love, I honestly thought the blurb of Love the Way You Lie indicated that it, too, would – despite the physical differences sported by the covermodels – be from Clara's point of view...
…instead, book one in the Stripped series is written from Honor's point of view, and follows her journey of protecting herself and Clara, her little sister, from their past – including Honor's (ex-)fiancé, Byron, a corrupt cop gone mafioso, and their father, who used to be king of the mob and was planning to marry her off in order to secure his status and lifestyle.
Violence and life in their golden cage are just two of the things they mean to leave behind, but does the outside world really promise a better life?
Their deceased mother's tracks take them to the town of Tanglewood, where Clara is forced to hide out in a shabby motel room, while Honor gets herself a job as a stripper, working the pole and pleasing customers, hoping to be able to maintain a low profile while trying to make ends meet. In addition to money and a certain amount of protection, her boss promises to do some research about their mother – whose supposed cause of death Honor has long stopped to believe.
While neither of them is too fond of their new lifestyle, they seem to accept it despite all the sacrifices it forces them – and especially Honor – to make. She does her job, survival and protecting Clara the only things that matter – that is, until one dark, mysterious and very hot customer throws her off guard. Kip is interested in more than just a lapdance or a good time in one of the VIP rooms, and it doesn't take long before she finds herself drawn to him, too. Neither one of them can deny their attraction to one another, and soon enough, lust seems to no longer be the only feeling they spark in each other.
Yet, Honor can't shake the feeling that Kip is dangerous.
And Kip... Kip even tells her that if she was smart, she'd stay away from him.
Neither one of them listens to their own - or the other's - advise though, and before they know it, their past catches up with them, uncovering lies and bearing more danger and violence than either one of them had seen coming.
Was it wrong of Honor to trust Kip? Should she have listened to her intuition, and stayed away from the danger Kip was radiating? The danger, that was drawing her in? Or will Kip protect her when she needs him most? And what is Kip's connection to Byron? - Those questions will definitely get answered in Love the Way You Lie, a dark and yet cute lovestory that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page, containing both surprising elements as well as steamy scenes.
I did at times – but really only at times – have trouble with the character of Honor, because she started coming across as too naïve and young, as too much like her younger sister as she was portrayed in Tough Love. Kip on the other hand I couldn't get enough of!
I am a little disappointed that the novel didn't, at all, give away what happened to Giovanni – I really hope that he made it out alive, and that there'll be a story to tell about Clara and him – I'd really be looking forward to reading more about them! (;
I'll be patient for now though, as I am also looking forward to the release of the next installment in the series, Better When It Hurts, which is set for release on June 4th.
4/5!
I’ll do anything to get safe, even if that means working at the scariest club in town.
I’ll do anything to stay hidden, even if it means taking off my clothes for strangers.
I’ll do anything to be free. Except give him up. When he looks at me, I forget why I can’t have him. He’s beautiful and scarred. His body fits mine, filling the places where I’m hollow, rough where I am soft.
He’s the one man who wants to help me, but he has his own agenda. He has questions I can’t answer. What are you afraid of?
You.
Her books are raw, sexual and perversely romantic.
Love The Way You Lie (Stripped #1) on goodreads || amazon
Tough Love (Stripped #0.5) on goodreads || amazon || my review
Better When It Hurts (Stripped #2) on goodreads || amazon
*** I was generously provided with a review copy by the author ***
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