Fairest Of All Book Reviews

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***Arc was provided by author in exchange for an honest review***

Love triangles…I have to admit – I’m not much of a fan of them. It’s hard for me to see past all of the betrayal and lies, so going in to Used, I wasn’t sure if this was going to be a book for me.  But, in my opinion, this is not your typical love triangle because Denver is not your typical heroine. Denver is 100% a product of her environment.  When you grow up with a mother who is considered the town slut, it’s fairly easy to allow the rumors and name-calling to get to you and even change your own perception of yourself. Not only does Denver have to deal with the town’s disdain for her mother and by extension herself, but then when you throw in a revolving door of her mother’s ex-husbands who either make a pass at her or attempt to violate her, the self loathing Denver feels makes sense.

“I’m strong. I’m brave. I’m independent.”

This is Denver’s mantra…her way of attempting to get past a mother who doesn’t love her and a group of peers who shun her. But it’s all an act. The confidence she exudes is her armor…just like calling herself a slut before anyone else can. People are going to think whatever they want to regardless of the truth, so Denver feeds the gossip…she does what she thinks she has to do – she becomes the “user”; she uses her “slut DNA,” but it’s not the way everyone thinks.

The two men in this triangle – Greer and Ransom – couldn’t be more different.

Greer grew up with Denver; he’s the one she’s been “using” for quite some time, but in my opinion, he’s been using her right back. Their relationship is extremely unhealthy, and while I do feel bad for him at times in the story, I just can’t see Denver choosing him. Their relationship is more of a habit than anything. I don’t doubt that Greer loves her, but readers definitely see his true colors three-quarters of the way through the book.

Ransom – boy would I like to spend some time with him;) He doesn’t want to want Denver, but he can’t help it, and while he questions if she’s worth it, the time they spend together in the latter half of the book proves his first thoughts about her were correct. Ransom truly sees Denver – beyond the mask she puts on for everyone else. He’s the man Denver needs to slay her demons and get past her nightmares.  He’s the one she doesn’t want to “use.” But Ransom comes with his own baggage and secrets, and it isn’t quite clear how everything is going to pan out at the end of Used.

Overall, I really enjoyed Used. It was a bit difficult at first to get into the story…I didn’t feel like all of the flashbacks were necessary; Denver’s self loathing is pretty clear from the start, and readers can pick up on the push and pull in her relationship with Greer early on.  But I also understand that the repetitive nature of the back story illustrates how deeply scarred Denver is and how much Denver and Greer are tied together in a twisted way. Where the book ended also made sense to me…I feel like readers are going to see a different Denver in book two – a healthier one as she deals with the aftermath of what has happened and learns to lean on others more for help.  I can’t wait to see what happens.

4 poison apples!

 

 

 

 

“I really don’t understand what you see in a slut like me, Greer.” His eyes flash, but I don’t let him argue with me. “But I am grateful.” And on that note, I bring his lips to mine. It’s been so long since we’ve tasted each other. We’ve been “seeing” each other for two weeks. Sweet, platonic dates that have ended with a sexually frustrated Denver.

I moan the instant our lips meet. I meant it to be a quick, reassuring, friendly kiss, since we agreed to refrain from that physical side of our relationship for a while, but my body has other ideas. She knows who’s been responsible for her pleasure in the past, and she wants some of that now.

Threading my fingers through his curls, I pull him in and shift my mouth, fitting my lips to his. My tongue darts out to tease his bottom lip, and he opens for me. “Oh, Greer,” I murmur before teasing him lightly. He’s so wet and so delicious. His now hard length rests against my thigh, and I groan. Oh, I want him. I want him now. “Greer, I want you,” I whisper against his lips before kissing him lightly. “Have you been with anyone else?” I screw my eyes tight because I hope not, but I would understand—we all have needs.

He stiffens against me for a second before he whispers gruffly, “Hell, no. Denver, you’re it for me, you know that.” His tongue tangles with mine, searching, destroying. He pulls back and utters, “I want you too. So bad.”

“Let’s go somewhere,” I coax. “There are lots of little trails for us to go get lost on.”

“Mmm … how ‘bout I make you feel good right here?” He nips at my bottom lip. “Right now?”

“What?” I breathe through my haze. “We might get caught.” He recaptures my lips with his and works me over with his tongue. Suddenly I’m reminded of the time we sneaked off during our prom. Oh my God. It was … mind-blowing. The thrill of getting caught. The thrill of our dates waiting for us in the ballroom of the hotel while we fucked each other hard, up against a wall in the housekeeping closet. Yes, please. I want that.

I’m jerked from my thoughts as he pulls me from the truck bed. I latch my legs around his waist, not certain where we are going, but along for the ride, nevertheless. He doesn’t take me far. His truck is farthest from the little party on the creek. He doesn’t open the door though. Just pins me to the truck and lets me slide down, drops one of my legs, and pulls the other high on his hip. He nudges my free leg between his and squeezes me tight.

“You ready? Hold on,” he commands before I can answer.

“What? What are you doing?”

“Trust me,” he says, as he buries his mouth in the hollow of my throat. His hands slide in my back pockets, grasping and squeezing. “We promised. No touching like that. No sex. Even though I can’t wait to be inside you again, this is gonna have to do.” He drops his forehead on mine. Those fiery eyes meet mine, igniting a blaze. “The best non-fuck fuck of your life.” And those words douse it with kerosene, creating an inferno. A tremble works its way through me, and I almost come right then.