What do you think?
Rate this book
Evan Arden #2
Otherwise Occupied
Evan Arden is a hit man for a Chicago mob boss. He lives his life day to day with the company of his dog, Odin. He has to work hard to get back into his boss’s good graces, but the target proves to be difficult. As demons of his past begin to haunt him, he seeks the comfort of sleep from an unlikely candidate, but will confiding in her be his undoing?
He’s struggling to forget his past, and keep himself Otherwise Occupied.
He’s struggling to forget his past, and keep himself Otherwise Occupied.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
Shay Savage
46 books3,679 followersShay Savage is an independent author from Cincinnati, Ohio, where she lives with her family and a variety of household pets. She is an accomplished public speaker and holds the rank of Distinguished Toastmaster from Toastmasters International. Her hobbies include off-roading in her big, yellow Jeep, science fiction in all forms, and soccer. Savage holds a degree in psychology, and she brings a lot of that knowledge into the characters within her stories.
From the author: “It’s my job to make you FEEL. That doesn’t always mean you’ll feel good, but I want my readers to be connected enough to my characters to care.”
Savage’s books many books span a wide variety of topics and sub-genres with deeply flawed characters. From cavemen to addicts to hitmen, you’ll find yourself falling for these seemingly irredeemable characters!
From the author: “It’s my job to make you FEEL. That doesn’t always mean you’ll feel good, but I want my readers to be connected enough to my characters to care.”
Savage’s books many books span a wide variety of topics and sub-genres with deeply flawed characters. From cavemen to addicts to hitmen, you’ll find yourself falling for these seemingly irredeemable characters!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 449 reviews
June 20, 2013
*Speechless.*
That's how I felt after reading this story. I'm not even sure what it is exactly that I read, since it is so unlike anything I've ever read before. All I know is that I enjoyed reading every second of it and ended up LOVING it to pieces.
I was already a huge fan of Shay Savage's writing style after having read Surviving Raine but from now I think it's safe to say, I will for sure be reading each and every single one of her future books. There's just no other author who can create such flawed, bad ass yet irresistible male characters the way she does.
The basic contents of this novel are:
Action ✔
Suspence ✔
Intrigue ✔
Bad ass alpha male ✔
A lot of unpredictability ✔
To me this turned out to be the perfect mixture of ingredients to keep my mind occupied and focused on nothing else but finishing this story ASAP.
Otherwise Occupied picks up right were the prequel Otherwise Alone left off. Once again, the story is told from Evan Arden's point of view, and I have to say, it was refreshing to read such a no-nonsense, tough ass male POV for once, instead of the typical female POV.
★ Evan Arden ★
"If I believed in a god, it would be the god of woman's asses."
Yep, that's the kind of person Evan is; honest, straightforward, a little crude and never afraid to do some dirty work. He's the kind of jerk-like chracter you know you shouldn't like, but who you end up falling for anyway because he does have quite some redeemable qualities. Evan is the kind of guy who doesn't relationships and he's known to showing no emotions whatsoever on the outside. On occasion though, his "softer" side tends to come out and shine a whole new light on his personality.
"I could just imagine the words on the page:
Evan Arden does actually have an emotion in there somewhere."
A few years ago, Evan used to be a succesful lieutenant in the military. But after having been kidnapped and held captive for a year and a half during one of his missions, Evan was discharged from the army.
Now, he works as a hit man for a Chicago mob boss. Whether it's a man or a woman on his hitlist, he's known to get the job done, no questions asked. With no other ties or responsibilities, he's loyal to only one person: his boss. And it's that same boss who sent Evan on exile to the Arizona desert after a job went wrong. It's that same boss who has now allowed Evan back into society with a chance to make things right.
This time, there's no room for failure. The job needs to be done and it needs to be done without a hitch, which is why Evan needs to commit his full attention to this project.
But as memories from his past start to haunt him and as his mind often starts to drift back to the beautiful brunette, Lia (you know, the one who he spent a memorable night with in his cabin during his months of exile in the desert), Evan needs to find other ways to keep himself otherwise occupied.
"Keeping myself occupied usually came in one of three forms: throwing myself into exercise, spending all my free time with a hooker in my bed, or focusing on work."
But sometimes those things aren't enough to keep his mind from wandering back to old memories...
**
"How do you think your experiences changed you?"
"They didn't."
"Evan, no one comes out of something like that without some damage."
"Not a mark on me - they were really careful about that."
"There are other kinds of scars."
**
The events that transpired during his time in the military, might have not left him with any physical scars, but mentally, that's an entirely different story.
"You endured more than most men ever will," (...) "You've had it worse than anyone you've ever killed. They died quick and easy. You've been dying since they brought you home from that war."
The memories about his past haunt him daily and prevent him from falling asleep at night. And when he finally does find sleep, there are always the terrible nightmares... Having no one else to turn to, Evan seeks the comfort of sleep from an unlikely candidate. But will confiding in her be his undoing?
"You are going to crack one day, aren't you, Lieutenant?"
Other than that, I can't say much more about the storyline, because that would spoil the experience. All I can say is that there was never a dull moment and that the story itself kept surprising me until the very last page. Towards the ending, there were some shocking revelations...
And some nerve-wrecking scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat...
The way the story ended, sort of left me with a feeling of dispair...
But, at the same time, it also provided me with hope for the future. So, . And I wouldn't exactly call it a cliffhanger, although in some aspects it kind of was one... Either way, it made me very anxious to get my hands on the next part of Evan's story!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The only thing I'm sad about right now is: having to wait for the next book to come out...
Other than that, I very much enjoyed this unique, emotional and exhilarating story.
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to read something unpredictable and different than your average romance novel!
BUT if you haven't read Otherwise Alone yet, you should read that short novella first. It will provide you with some essential information that you'll need before diving into this one. :)
***ARC provided by L.J. Anderson in exchange for an honest review***
January 6, 2014
Well the first one was short and interesting…. This one was full on INTERESTING. Loved it, not my typical read. Gritty, violent, sad …
This one picks up just where the last one finished and I needed some answers
EVAN is intriguing….. I want him to have his HEA but just not seeing it without a lot of heartache and pain.
I am usually a sucker when it comes to dogs in books. Loved Odin and surely a guy who loves his dog as much as Evan loves Odin must have a heart of gold???
There was no way I could turn my back on him now …..
No, I couldn’t so I had start the final installment straight after finishing this one….
This one picks up just where the last one finished and I needed some answers
EVAN is intriguing….. I want him to have his HEA but just not seeing it without a lot of heartache and pain.
“NO BLUE-COLLAR GUY GOES INTO A WHITE-COLLAR PROFESSION WITHOUT PISSING OFF HIS DAD.”
ROSES ARE RED
VIOLETS ARE BLUE
I’M JUST A FUCKED UP HIT MAN
AND NOTHING RHYMES WITH THAT
“You’ve had it worse than anyone you ever killed. They died quick and easy. You’ve been dying since they brought you home from that war.”
I am usually a sucker when it comes to dogs in books. Loved Odin and surely a guy who loves his dog as much as Evan loves Odin must have a heart of gold???
There was no way I could turn my back on him now …..
No, I couldn’t so I had start the final installment straight after finishing this one….
July 28, 2013
WOW..WOW...WOW... This book...Evan Arden...
Another 5 star plus read for me!
Gripping, exhilarating, heart stopping, surprising, suspenseful and emotionally draining- these are just a few of the things I felt while reading this book about hit man, Evan Arden.
I am so impressed by the way Shay Savage writes from a male POV. I read Surviving Raine and fell hard for Bastian, but I fell even harder for Evan. Gawd…. he is just so broken and haunted by his unloving childhood in a convent to his 18 months of torture in the middle east to his rejection by the military that he gave everything for.
Now he is doing what he does best- kills people. Evan is a hit man for a mob boss and he does not want to disappoint his boss, Evan just wants approval from his boss-
“No good can come of what you’re doing, son,” he said. “One of you will get hurt.” I looked up at my boss and shrugged one shoulder again. The word “son” flowed over my skin and warmed me as I answered him. “It won’t be me.”
Even though Evan is the best at what he does, he was sent away to the Arizona desert for a temporary exile where he met, Lia (must read Otherwise Alone first.) He is now back in Chicago making hits and protecting his boss, Rinaldo Moretti. But no one is protecting Evan from his awful nightmares. Even his beloved canine companion, Odin can’t keep the horrible dreams away. The only way Evan can get some much-needed sleep is to seek comfort in the arms of a prostitute named Bridgett.
Evan makes it perfectly clear that his need for Bridgett is simply for-
“We’re just fucking here, Bridgett”
But is it more? Why does he keep thinking about Lia? Why is Evan upset when Bridgett walks out on him and he tries to apologize for his cold actions-
“Roses are red, Violets are blue. I’m just a fucked up hit man, and nothing rhymes with that.”
Effed up hit man is an understatement and with continued lack of sleep and some serious PTSD, Evan is on the verge of losing it, Big Time and his boss sees it coming-
“If there comes a time I need to put you down, I will,” he said. “If there comes a time you want me to put you down, you let me know. You can go now, son.”
The ending totally blew me away with heart racing anxiety and fear over what Evan was going to do. I was hanging on every move he made in hopes that something, someone would save him… and then-
"I couldn’t take my eyes from the shining quarter necklace and the familiar face above it. Lia.”
Okay, my fellow readers... run right now and pick up these two books. Number three cannot get here soon enough!
Another 5 star plus read for me!
Gripping, exhilarating, heart stopping, surprising, suspenseful and emotionally draining- these are just a few of the things I felt while reading this book about hit man, Evan Arden.
I am so impressed by the way Shay Savage writes from a male POV. I read Surviving Raine and fell hard for Bastian, but I fell even harder for Evan. Gawd…. he is just so broken and haunted by his unloving childhood in a convent to his 18 months of torture in the middle east to his rejection by the military that he gave everything for.
Now he is doing what he does best- kills people. Evan is a hit man for a mob boss and he does not want to disappoint his boss, Evan just wants approval from his boss-
“No good can come of what you’re doing, son,” he said. “One of you will get hurt.” I looked up at my boss and shrugged one shoulder again. The word “son” flowed over my skin and warmed me as I answered him. “It won’t be me.”
Even though Evan is the best at what he does, he was sent away to the Arizona desert for a temporary exile where he met, Lia (must read Otherwise Alone first.) He is now back in Chicago making hits and protecting his boss, Rinaldo Moretti. But no one is protecting Evan from his awful nightmares. Even his beloved canine companion, Odin can’t keep the horrible dreams away. The only way Evan can get some much-needed sleep is to seek comfort in the arms of a prostitute named Bridgett.
Evan makes it perfectly clear that his need for Bridgett is simply for-
“We’re just fucking here, Bridgett”
But is it more? Why does he keep thinking about Lia? Why is Evan upset when Bridgett walks out on him and he tries to apologize for his cold actions-
“Roses are red, Violets are blue. I’m just a fucked up hit man, and nothing rhymes with that.”
Effed up hit man is an understatement and with continued lack of sleep and some serious PTSD, Evan is on the verge of losing it, Big Time and his boss sees it coming-
“If there comes a time I need to put you down, I will,” he said. “If there comes a time you want me to put you down, you let me know. You can go now, son.”
The ending totally blew me away with heart racing anxiety and fear over what Evan was going to do. I was hanging on every move he made in hopes that something, someone would save him… and then-
"I couldn’t take my eyes from the shining quarter necklace and the familiar face above it. Lia.”
Okay, my fellow readers... run right now and pick up these two books. Number three cannot get here soon enough!
June 19, 2013
WOW, I am speechless at the moment. I have never read anything like this book and it blew my mind. Original and captivating story, intense and messed up hero, brilliant writing. EXCELLENT COMBINATION!
I loved Otherwise Alone and I was extremely excited to read this sequel. Otherwise Alone is really short but attention-grabbing novella you definitely need to read before diving into this amazing book!
My Evan Arden:
In Otherwise Occupied, Evan Arden tries to get back to good grace of his mob boss after he messed up big time couple of months ago and was sent to exile. Now back in Chicago, Evan gets easily annoyed, prefers to be on his own and keeps thinking about Lia, woman he met while hiding in cabin when being in exile but cannot have. But when nightmares from his military days force him to stay awake every night and make him uncapable of doing his job properly, he seeks distraction in the most unlikely person. How long can he keep pretenses and avoid inevitable???
No one can write such dangerous, jerk-like but irresistible heroes as Shay Savage. You know you should not like them but you end up accepting them anyway because they are honest and so damn charismatic no matter what they do. And that is exactly the case with Evan Arden in whose POV is this whole book written. All the time I was telling myself that probably I should not like this extremely dangerous exmilitary-turned-hitman but I could not help myself. Evan was never intentionally cruel and being in his head helped me to see things from his perspective. Even if it was quite messed up perspective.
Usually I would hate such a character but he was depicted in such a perfect and detailed way that made me feel like he was a real person whom I have known for years. I just accepted him the way he is.
I liked how perceptive Evan was but his memories from war were terrible and it gave me goose bumps every time he remembered something from his military times. It gave this story quite serious and depressive feel. It pained me to see how broken he became and to see all his despair...
It takes very talented writer to achieve what Shay Savage did with this book. She took me on emotional and adrenalin ride and I was still able to enjoy it immensely. Otherwise Occupied is rough, raw and heartbreaking story without restraints. Kudos to author for creating this un-down-puttable and unforgettable story!
If you are looking for traditional "bad boy falling in love" romance kind of story, you will not find it in this book. But if you want to read something trully original with brilliant writing and fascinating insight into damaged and messed up man, definitely go for this book. It will leave you thinking long after you finish it!
*ARC provided by L.J. Anderson as an exchange for honest review*
MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG Reading Is My Breathing
I loved Otherwise Alone and I was extremely excited to read this sequel. Otherwise Alone is really short but attention-grabbing novella you definitely need to read before diving into this amazing book!
My Evan Arden:
In Otherwise Occupied, Evan Arden tries to get back to good grace of his mob boss after he messed up big time couple of months ago and was sent to exile. Now back in Chicago, Evan gets easily annoyed, prefers to be on his own and keeps thinking about Lia, woman he met while hiding in cabin when being in exile but cannot have. But when nightmares from his military days force him to stay awake every night and make him uncapable of doing his job properly, he seeks distraction in the most unlikely person. How long can he keep pretenses and avoid inevitable???
No one can write such dangerous, jerk-like but irresistible heroes as Shay Savage. You know you should not like them but you end up accepting them anyway because they are honest and so damn charismatic no matter what they do. And that is exactly the case with Evan Arden in whose POV is this whole book written. All the time I was telling myself that probably I should not like this extremely dangerous exmilitary-turned-hitman but I could not help myself. Evan was never intentionally cruel and being in his head helped me to see things from his perspective. Even if it was quite messed up perspective.
Usually I would hate such a character but he was depicted in such a perfect and detailed way that made me feel like he was a real person whom I have known for years. I just accepted him the way he is.
I liked how perceptive Evan was but his memories from war were terrible and it gave me goose bumps every time he remembered something from his military times. It gave this story quite serious and depressive feel. It pained me to see how broken he became and to see all his despair...
It takes very talented writer to achieve what Shay Savage did with this book. She took me on emotional and adrenalin ride and I was still able to enjoy it immensely. Otherwise Occupied is rough, raw and heartbreaking story without restraints. Kudos to author for creating this un-down-puttable and unforgettable story!
If you are looking for traditional "bad boy falling in love" romance kind of story, you will not find it in this book. But if you want to read something trully original with brilliant writing and fascinating insight into damaged and messed up man, definitely go for this book. It will leave you thinking long after you finish it!
*ARC provided by L.J. Anderson as an exchange for honest review*
MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG Reading Is My Breathing
August 15, 2013
4.5 mind-blowing and I don't know what stars!!!
This book was brilliantly written, what blows my mind is that it was written by a woman! I mean I've read books where it's from the male POV but something always gives it away. If I could get into a guys head, I think this is exactly what it would be like minus the hitman for a mob boss part!
Otherwise Occupied picks up where Otherwise Alone left off. Evan Arden is back in Chicago trying to get back into his bosses good graces. With thoughts of Lia still lingering in his mind he has trouble focusing on his job, he finds comfort in an unlikely person.
Meanwhile his boss gives him a job to do, this could be it, the one thing that could get him back to his old status with his boss. He start's planning the perfect hit,but memories from his past keep getting in his way and he finds himself relying on one person too help chase his demons away.
Evan isn't a perfect man in fact he's a man full of flaws. But he's taken what life has handed him and done what he can with it. Everyone thinks they have him figured out but no one really knows what goes on in his head. Yes he's badass, yes he don't take shit but he had this deep craving, this need for acceptance. God that's sounds so corny, but he did! He surrounds himself in this seedy, shady world not because he has no other choice but because he doesn't think he deserves any better. I think that stemmed from him having never known his own parents.
When Evan has a hit to complete, he gives it his all, He definitely didn't hold back with the one his boss gave him! I mean I was a tad bit shocked, I thought he was gonna go all the way! Which would have been interesting for such a strong alpha male! Haha!!!
And every time he finished a job to perfection or got rid of an annoying character I was like.
But unfortunately he had a nemesis, who used something very close to him against him, because he wanted to take him out. I never saw it coming one minute I was like "Okay, relax Christine he'll be fine, this shit is gonna sort itself out!" But I guess it wouldn't have been real if it hadn't worked out the way it did. But not to sound like a ninny or anything but I had some tears in my eyes...
And I was somewhat angry at Evan...
But then shit got real, I mean it got up close and personal!!! I was in a state of panic and then it happened and I was like nooooo!!!
But at the same time I was like...
I was riveted, this book is a page turner. I won't call it a romance, it's Evan Arden's story. It's gripping and I can't wait for the next book!
ARC provided by L.J. Anderson in exchange for an honest review!
This book was brilliantly written, what blows my mind is that it was written by a woman! I mean I've read books where it's from the male POV but something always gives it away. If I could get into a guys head, I think this is exactly what it would be like minus the hitman for a mob boss part!
Otherwise Occupied picks up where Otherwise Alone left off. Evan Arden is back in Chicago trying to get back into his bosses good graces. With thoughts of Lia still lingering in his mind he has trouble focusing on his job, he finds comfort in an unlikely person.
Meanwhile his boss gives him a job to do, this could be it, the one thing that could get him back to his old status with his boss. He start's planning the perfect hit,but memories from his past keep getting in his way and he finds himself relying on one person too help chase his demons away.
Evan isn't a perfect man in fact he's a man full of flaws. But he's taken what life has handed him and done what he can with it. Everyone thinks they have him figured out but no one really knows what goes on in his head. Yes he's badass, yes he don't take shit but he had this deep craving, this need for acceptance. God that's sounds so corny, but he did! He surrounds himself in this seedy, shady world not because he has no other choice but because he doesn't think he deserves any better. I think that stemmed from him having never known his own parents.
When Evan has a hit to complete, he gives it his all, He definitely didn't hold back with the one his boss gave him! I mean I was a tad bit shocked, I thought he was gonna go all the way! Which would have been interesting for such a strong alpha male! Haha!!!
And every time he finished a job to perfection or got rid of an annoying character I was like.
But unfortunately he had a nemesis, who used something very close to him against him, because he wanted to take him out. I never saw it coming one minute I was like "Okay, relax Christine he'll be fine, this shit is gonna sort itself out!" But I guess it wouldn't have been real if it hadn't worked out the way it did. But not to sound like a ninny or anything but I had some tears in my eyes...
And I was somewhat angry at Evan...
But then shit got real, I mean it got up close and personal!!! I was in a state of panic and then it happened and I was like nooooo!!!
But at the same time I was like...
I was riveted, this book is a page turner. I won't call it a romance, it's Evan Arden's story. It's gripping and I can't wait for the next book!
ARC provided by L.J. Anderson in exchange for an honest review!
June 20, 2013
Evan, Evan!!! What are you doing to me?!?! I just can't bring myself to five star this...same as with the first...because the cliffhanger is one of the WORST I've EVER read!!!! And we all know how grumpy I get about cliffies. This one left me in a sort of catatonic, zombie like state...
DEEP BREATHS!!!!...........AND ANOTHER!!!............ONE MORE.......
Okay...
MY SYNOPSIS:
Since being called back to Chicago by his boss, Evan hasn't been able to forget about Lia. She comes to mind far too often, and whereas she brought out the gentle animal in him before, she now brings only restlessness and sleeplessness. Evan is exhausted. And in a world in which his mind should be remaining sharp, exhaustion can be dangerous. When he tries to recreate the soothing touch that Lia gave him for that one short time back in Arizona, it's evident that the romance from Otherwise Alone is missing.
Amid his personal problems, we get to see that Evan's ruthless nature has returned full force. This is not a nice guy. He does a lot of very bad things.
MY THOUGHTS:
Well, this definitely wasn't what I expected. There isn't much romance here. This is more of a book that lays Evan out for the world to see, in all his messed up glory. Geez, this guy is so very alone!! Which makes Otherwise Alone a bittersweet memory, and it's events all the more poignant. I miss Lia! Evan misses her, for sure. But he's got a job to do, and holy hell, is this guy ruthless. And yet somehow, I still love him! I mean, he's the lapdog of an evil guy...he does all of the dirty work. At least he takes no joy from it. In fact, the only joy that he takes from life seems to be spending time with his dog Odin...
which to me, shows that he really does have a compassionate side to him, somewhere in there. But Evan is so stuck with his demons from the past that it's hard to see how he can pull through and live like he has a sould again. His Prisoner of war days haunt him, and he lives without love, light, or laughter in his own prison now...the one in his head.
I still see Evan as Chris Evans, albeit a lot more angry than in the first book.
I am hoping and praying for a happy ever after for Evan. And Miss Savage did ease my mind by informing me that there will for sure be another book. Here's hoping that Evan gets more Lia to drag his humanity kicking and screaming into her loving and gently arms!!
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
DEEP BREATHS!!!!...........AND ANOTHER!!!............ONE MORE.......
Okay...
MY SYNOPSIS:
Since being called back to Chicago by his boss, Evan hasn't been able to forget about Lia. She comes to mind far too often, and whereas she brought out the gentle animal in him before, she now brings only restlessness and sleeplessness. Evan is exhausted. And in a world in which his mind should be remaining sharp, exhaustion can be dangerous. When he tries to recreate the soothing touch that Lia gave him for that one short time back in Arizona, it's evident that the romance from Otherwise Alone is missing.
Amid his personal problems, we get to see that Evan's ruthless nature has returned full force. This is not a nice guy. He does a lot of very bad things.
MY THOUGHTS:
Well, this definitely wasn't what I expected. There isn't much romance here. This is more of a book that lays Evan out for the world to see, in all his messed up glory. Geez, this guy is so very alone!! Which makes Otherwise Alone a bittersweet memory, and it's events all the more poignant. I miss Lia! Evan misses her, for sure. But he's got a job to do, and holy hell, is this guy ruthless. And yet somehow, I still love him! I mean, he's the lapdog of an evil guy...he does all of the dirty work. At least he takes no joy from it. In fact, the only joy that he takes from life seems to be spending time with his dog Odin...
which to me, shows that he really does have a compassionate side to him, somewhere in there. But Evan is so stuck with his demons from the past that it's hard to see how he can pull through and live like he has a sould again. His Prisoner of war days haunt him, and he lives without love, light, or laughter in his own prison now...the one in his head.
"You endured more than most men ever will," Rinaldo said quietly. "You've had it worse than anyone you ever killed. They died quick and easy. You've been dying since they brought you home from that war."
I still see Evan as Chris Evans, albeit a lot more angry than in the first book.
I am hoping and praying for a happy ever after for Evan. And Miss Savage did ease my mind by informing me that there will for sure be another book. Here's hoping that Evan gets more Lia to drag his humanity kicking and screaming into her loving and gently arms!!
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2020
4.5 Lost, Continued Adventure, The Bean Stars
* * * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
Evan continues his journey back to Chicago hoping to get back into good graces with his crime family boss. While he was away doing his penitence for offing the nephew of another crime family member others have tried to take his place... which does not sit well with him. Evan is not someone to have things "not sit well"... so he is wound tight and things start to happen because of this hyper-awareness.
In this book, we learn quite a bit about Evan... the why and how damaged he is...
The why comes from the mental scars left by being a POW for over 18 months. By being the only survivor of his command and by being tortured with another captive, being forced to watch this other man beg to be spared, only to be shot next to Evan, then have this moment played on the media over and over again, only to have the deepest scar be the service saying he wasn't fit anymore. He was only left to try to understand what he was to do with the sharpshooter skills he had excelled in.....
The damage is always a hair-trigger away from the surface... Evan's flashbacks and night terrors keep him off-center and inflict such pain. He sometimes is physically affected. His flashbacks disrupt his sleep.
And then there was LIA....a brief oasis during his time in exile...
Lia, who replays in his mind..
Lia who was a comfort, a soft home, and who can never be....but he still wants.
These are just the basics Evan deals with in this part of his story. The writing goes fast as it continues through his POV and we are there every step of the way... wondering if he will be able to skirt the law; will those after him within the crime family succeed in setting him up for the fall and will he be able to just get his head clear.
We are taken on a journey which presents this man who makes us root for him even while he pulls the trigger... and we will follow him anywhere because we are invested in finding out how he will get himself out of the predicament he is in at the end of this book...
The only way out of this for me is to continue with Otherwise Unharmed.
Otherwise Alone (Evan Arden, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Otherwise Occupied (Evan Arden, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Uncockblockable (Evan Arden, #2.5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Otherwise Unharmed (Evan Arden, #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Isolated (Evan Arden, #4)
Irrevocable (Evan Arden, #5)
Otherwise Complete (Evan Arden, #1-3)
Evan Arden: The Complete Boxed Set
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
Evan continues his journey back to Chicago hoping to get back into good graces with his crime family boss. While he was away doing his penitence for offing the nephew of another crime family member others have tried to take his place... which does not sit well with him. Evan is not someone to have things "not sit well"... so he is wound tight and things start to happen because of this hyper-awareness.
In this book, we learn quite a bit about Evan... the why and how damaged he is...
The why comes from the mental scars left by being a POW for over 18 months. By being the only survivor of his command and by being tortured with another captive, being forced to watch this other man beg to be spared, only to be shot next to Evan, then have this moment played on the media over and over again, only to have the deepest scar be the service saying he wasn't fit anymore. He was only left to try to understand what he was to do with the sharpshooter skills he had excelled in.....
The damage is always a hair-trigger away from the surface... Evan's flashbacks and night terrors keep him off-center and inflict such pain. He sometimes is physically affected. His flashbacks disrupt his sleep.
And then there was LIA....a brief oasis during his time in exile...
Lia, who replays in his mind..
Lia who was a comfort, a soft home, and who can never be....but he still wants.
These are just the basics Evan deals with in this part of his story. The writing goes fast as it continues through his POV and we are there every step of the way... wondering if he will be able to skirt the law; will those after him within the crime family succeed in setting him up for the fall and will he be able to just get his head clear.
We are taken on a journey which presents this man who makes us root for him even while he pulls the trigger... and we will follow him anywhere because we are invested in finding out how he will get himself out of the predicament he is in at the end of this book...
The only way out of this for me is to continue with Otherwise Unharmed.
Otherwise Alone (Evan Arden, #1) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Otherwise Occupied (Evan Arden, #2) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Uncockblockable (Evan Arden, #2.5)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Otherwise Unharmed (Evan Arden, #3)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Isolated (Evan Arden, #4) Irrevocable (Evan Arden, #5) Otherwise Complete (Evan Arden, #1-3) Evan Arden: The Complete Boxed SetFor more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
September 29, 2013
Another fabulous read from Shay Savage!Evan is now back in business working for the mob. He's still trying to get back into his boss' good graces, playing the good, little hit man. At least he has Odin. However, his demons aren't ready to let him go. Evan is plagued by nightmares and he's going to snap... soon. ...he seeks the comfort of sleep from an unlikely candidate, but will confiding in her be his undoing?My one though throughout the whole book:...he seeks the comfort of sleep from an unlikely candidate, but will confiding in her be his undoing?I bet I know what you're thinking when you read this. Well...Thing again!
But his eyes... they had been haunted and haunting.
I loved Evan. Hated most of the choices he made, but loved him anyways. Shay savage's male characters are so complex and full of depth... she really does an amazing job. The story was hypnotizing and I couldn't even entertain the thought of putting it down. It was that good. If you haven't read this series yet than you have to pick it up!
But his eyes... they had been haunted and haunting.
I loved Evan. Hated most of the choices he made, but loved him anyways. Shay savage's male characters are so complex and full of depth... she really does an amazing job. The story was hypnotizing and I couldn't even entertain the thought of putting it down. It was that good. If you haven't read this series yet than you have to pick it up!
June 17, 2013
Shay Savage Does It Again!!!..
My mouth was just hanging open at the end of this book... holy shit.. holy freaking shit! This one picks up right after Otherwise Alone and you need to read that one before you venture into this one.
Evan is a hit man for the Chicago mafia and a former marine.. he's got issues all over the place.. he's a troubled man. He's not the good guy but he's not the bad guy either... when we first met Evan in Otherwise Alone, the first book ( Which is really short and you can probably read it in under an hour) he is in isolation in a cabin in the middle of nowhere due to an unsanctioned hit he took. Boss man wasn't happy and sent him away until things cleared up.. It was here that he met Lia and she really got under his skin. They were not together long before she went back home and he ended up being called back to his "job". I admit to really hoping we'd have a lot more Evan and Lia in this story and we didn't get that. But I really ended up being ok with that once the story took off. This is NOT a romance.. although Evan does find someone he's hooking up with and protecting in a sense.. that's not the focus of this story.
Evan suffers from PTSD.... he deals with it the best he can. He has nightmares and the only thing that helps is a warm body beside him...that and whacking people.
Evan's job is take people out but there are those in the organization that don't want him around.. there's plenty of "oh shit!" moments.. like lots of OHFUCKINGSHIT OH NO HE DID NOT!! moments.. I was just floored a couple of times..... you know how in most books you have a pretty good idea what's coming around the corner... or a book gives you the impression that something is about to happen but you know it's not because that would be crazy....?? Hahahaha.. that is soooooo not the case here.... Shay Savage laughs in the face of the usual and smacks that bitch down. My heart still races thinking about some of the things Evan did. And as twisted and fucked up as he is.... I loved every psycho minute of him. This man has got some serious layers. He's definitely one of the very most interesting characters I've ever read. You have simply got to get to know him!!!
And that ending.. another holy shit moment..... HOLY SHIT. Yes, it's a cliffhanger but honestly.. I'd be OK with it ending there even though it was just insane. Don't let the fact that then ending is cliffy because reading this series right now is totally worth it. But don't go into this book looking for a love story. That's not what this is.. but it so f'king AWESOME!!!!!
Can't wait for more from Shay.. she has turned in to one of my favorite writers.. her voice is so unique and I can't get enough of her!
ARC provided by L.J Anderson For An Honest Review
My mouth was just hanging open at the end of this book... holy shit.. holy freaking shit! This one picks up right after Otherwise Alone and you need to read that one before you venture into this one.
Evan is a hit man for the Chicago mafia and a former marine.. he's got issues all over the place.. he's a troubled man. He's not the good guy but he's not the bad guy either... when we first met Evan in Otherwise Alone, the first book ( Which is really short and you can probably read it in under an hour) he is in isolation in a cabin in the middle of nowhere due to an unsanctioned hit he took. Boss man wasn't happy and sent him away until things cleared up.. It was here that he met Lia and she really got under his skin. They were not together long before she went back home and he ended up being called back to his "job". I admit to really hoping we'd have a lot more Evan and Lia in this story and we didn't get that. But I really ended up being ok with that once the story took off. This is NOT a romance.. although Evan does find someone he's hooking up with and protecting in a sense.. that's not the focus of this story.
Evan suffers from PTSD.... he deals with it the best he can. He has nightmares and the only thing that helps is a warm body beside him...that and whacking people.
Evan's job is take people out but there are those in the organization that don't want him around.. there's plenty of "oh shit!" moments.. like lots of OHFUCKINGSHIT OH NO HE DID NOT!! moments.. I was just floored a couple of times..... you know how in most books you have a pretty good idea what's coming around the corner... or a book gives you the impression that something is about to happen but you know it's not because that would be crazy....?? Hahahaha.. that is soooooo not the case here.... Shay Savage laughs in the face of the usual and smacks that bitch down. My heart still races thinking about some of the things Evan did. And as twisted and fucked up as he is.... I loved every psycho minute of him. This man has got some serious layers. He's definitely one of the very most interesting characters I've ever read. You have simply got to get to know him!!!
And that ending.. another holy shit moment..... HOLY SHIT. Yes, it's a cliffhanger but honestly.. I'd be OK with it ending there even though it was just insane. Don't let the fact that then ending is cliffy because reading this series right now is totally worth it. But don't go into this book looking for a love story. That's not what this is.. but it so f'king AWESOME!!!!!
Can't wait for more from Shay.. she has turned in to one of my favorite writers.. her voice is so unique and I can't get enough of her!
ARC provided by L.J Anderson For An Honest Review
December 4, 2013
4.5 Holy Shit Stars
Roses are red, Violets are blue. I'm just a fucked up hit man, and nothing rhymes with that.
This book gets a star just for having one of the best depictions of my home town I've read to date.
It gets another star for being entirely in Evan's POV and being written in such a way that allows you inside his mind in such a flawless way, the story completely enthralls you. The rest of the stars? For an incredibly told story. Period.
The second book in the Evan Arden Trilogy gives us a deeper look at the man behind the job.
This is not a love story or a romance, so don't be hoping to get that here. You won't find it.
Months after leaving the desert of Arizona and a woman that captured his interest in a way that no other ever has, Evan is now back in Chicago and trying to get his way back into his boss's good graces. But being the hit man for one of Chicago's biggest mob bosses is no easy task, especially when the demons from his past begin to surface
Add into the mix recurring nightmares and lack of sleep, and you have yourself one volatile hit man. He may be good at what he does, but that doesn't mean it's not taking a toll on him
Every day finds Evan with an even smaller grasp on his sanity.
So does he finally crack? Guess you'll have to read to find out because I refuse to ruin this book for you by giving away any spoilers.
What I can tell you, is that it was a whole lot of
Followed by
With an ending that will leave you feeling a little like
I devoured this book. Shay Savage did such a fantastic job in her portrayal of Evan I kept forgetting I was reading a book by a female author. Flawlessly written, with a captivating and suspenseful plot, this story will grab hold of you and leave you at the edge of your seat to see what comes next. It's no light and fluffy read. The author does not gloss over or sugar coat the dark details. But that just adds to the experience.
For more reviews visit
Roses are red, Violets are blue. I'm just a fucked up hit man, and nothing rhymes with that.
This book gets a star just for having one of the best depictions of my home town I've read to date.
It gets another star for being entirely in Evan's POV and being written in such a way that allows you inside his mind in such a flawless way, the story completely enthralls you. The rest of the stars? For an incredibly told story. Period.
The second book in the Evan Arden Trilogy gives us a deeper look at the man behind the job.
This is not a love story or a romance, so don't be hoping to get that here. You won't find it.
Months after leaving the desert of Arizona and a woman that captured his interest in a way that no other ever has, Evan is now back in Chicago and trying to get his way back into his boss's good graces. But being the hit man for one of Chicago's biggest mob bosses is no easy task, especially when the demons from his past begin to surface
Add into the mix recurring nightmares and lack of sleep, and you have yourself one volatile hit man. He may be good at what he does, but that doesn't mean it's not taking a toll on him
Tired of playing this role, tired of just moving through the city like I was some kind of god or demon here to bring Rinaldo Moretti’s version of justice to those who crossed my path. None of it even mattered to me – all I got out of it was a wad of cash and a twisted idea of loyalty to someone who told me I did a good job and occasionally called me “son.”
Every day finds Evan with an even smaller grasp on his sanity.
So does he finally crack? Guess you'll have to read to find out because I refuse to ruin this book for you by giving away any spoilers.
What I can tell you, is that it was a whole lot of
Followed by
With an ending that will leave you feeling a little like
I devoured this book. Shay Savage did such a fantastic job in her portrayal of Evan I kept forgetting I was reading a book by a female author. Flawlessly written, with a captivating and suspenseful plot, this story will grab hold of you and leave you at the edge of your seat to see what comes next. It's no light and fluffy read. The author does not gloss over or sugar coat the dark details. But that just adds to the experience.
For more reviews visit
August 6, 2016
This book grabs your attention in a vice grip and doesn't let up through the final pages... I couldn't put it down, and I rushed to pick up the third installment Otherwise Unharmed... Thank goodness I had it waiting, or I would currently be foaming at the mouth.
Evan Arden is descending into Madness...
He cannot sleep,
He's haunted by dreams of 18 months spent as a POW,
He suspects his colleagues of conspiring against him,
He's seeking the comfort of a hooker to warm his bed,
He's traveling the country taking down targets for the Mob,
He's trying to avoid thinking about the woman he left behind in Arizona...
He's slowly losing his sanity. Which is dangerous for an ex-Marine sniper turned hit man for the Chicago Mafia.
EVAN ARDEN
Former Marine, Current Hit Man
LIA ANTONIO
The Girl He Left Behind in Arizona
ODIN
Man's Best Friend
BRIDGETT
The Whore
RINALDO MORETTI
The Boss
NICK WOLFE,
The Uncockblockable Mob Son
TERRY KRAMER
The Scheming Nemesis
JONATHAN FERRIS
Ally and IT Genius
BRAD ASHTON
The Target
THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Evan Arden starts out as a sort of self obsessed jerk... 100% Ass (however attractive his ass may be) It's hard to have sympathy for a man who would rather hire a whore off a street corner than cultivate a relationship with anyone.
He cares about two things:
1. His Dog, Odin
2. The respect of his Boss, Rinaldo Moretti
Somewhere along the line, when Evan really starts to crack and pieces of his soul seem to scatter across the City of Chicago... I really started to feel for the character. When you're reading a story completely from Evan's Point Of View, his desperation and insanity is so much more moving...
So excited for Book three!!!
Some of My Favorite Moments:
My Other Reviews in the Evan Arden Trilogy:
(I will update the links as reviews become available)
1 - Otherwise Alone - See my Full Review HERE
2 - Otherwise Occupied - YOU'RE READING IT
2.5 - Uncockblockable - See my Full Review HERE
3 - Otherwise Unharmed - See my Full Review HERE
Evan Arden is descending into Madness...
He cannot sleep,
He's haunted by dreams of 18 months spent as a POW,
He suspects his colleagues of conspiring against him,
He's seeking the comfort of a hooker to warm his bed,
He's traveling the country taking down targets for the Mob,
He's trying to avoid thinking about the woman he left behind in Arizona...
He's slowly losing his sanity. Which is dangerous for an ex-Marine sniper turned hit man for the Chicago Mafia.
EVAN ARDEN
Former Marine, Current Hit Man
I felt like the end of an A-Team episode when everything worked out, and the heroes all got to go home and live happily ever after while the bad guys were put in jail. Except of course, I was the bad guy.
Whatever.
LIA ANTONIO
The Girl He Left Behind in Arizona
Lia. As soon as the name entered my head, I refused to think about her. I would not dwell on the woman who wandered into my sights and made me feel something for the first time in ages.
ODIN
Man's Best Friend
Odin sat next to me, wagging his tail and lolling his tongue to one side. Some guard dog.
BRIDGETT
The Whore
"You suck as a conversationalist," she said with a laugh. "It's a good thing you spend a lot of time with my cock in your mouth then," I quipped.
RINALDO MORETTI
The Boss
"You endured more than most men ever will," Rinaldo said quietly. "You've had it worse than anyone you ever killed. They died quick and easy. You've been dying since they brought you home from that war."
NICK WOLFE,
The Uncockblockable Mob Son
"I was just wondering... what's the best way to apologize to a chick?
"Oh that's easy," Nick replied. "You gotta go down on her."
"Don't I have to get her to speak to me first?"
"It Helps!" Nick laughed,
"So, how do I get her to talk to me again?"
"Just do something nice for her," Nick replied. "It doesn't matter what, 'cause guys never do anything nice for chicks, so anything works, That's why the flower business is so good."
TERRY KRAMER
The Scheming Nemesis
He was an obnoxious kid who rubbed me the wrong way even before he started trying to take my job.
JONATHAN FERRIS
Ally and IT Genius
...Jonathan had used some app he wrote on his phone to hack into the waiting list, and his name was up front as soon as a table became available...
BRAD ASHTON
The Target
"I hate drinking alone," he said. He flashed me a toothy, actor-practiced smile. It was probably known to drop panties or something, but I wore boxers. This was really, really hard to fake.
THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Evan Arden starts out as a sort of self obsessed jerk... 100% Ass (however attractive his ass may be) It's hard to have sympathy for a man who would rather hire a whore off a street corner than cultivate a relationship with anyone.
He cares about two things:
1. His Dog, Odin
2. The respect of his Boss, Rinaldo Moretti
Somewhere along the line, when Evan really starts to crack and pieces of his soul seem to scatter across the City of Chicago... I really started to feel for the character. When you're reading a story completely from Evan's Point Of View, his desperation and insanity is so much more moving...
So excited for Book three!!!
Some of My Favorite Moments:
My Other Reviews in the Evan Arden Trilogy:
(I will update the links as reviews become available)
1 - Otherwise Alone - See my Full Review HERE
2 - Otherwise Occupied - YOU'RE READING IT
2.5 - Uncockblockable - See my Full Review HERE
3 - Otherwise Unharmed - See my Full Review HERE
December 7, 2013
"Roses are red, Violets are blue. I'm just a fucked up hit man, and nothing rhymes with that.
And that pretty much sums up Evan Arden in a nutshell.
Otherwise Occupied picks up where Otherwise Alone left off. Evan is back in Chicago after spending 3ish months in Arizona, where he met Lia.
He had to leave her behind...knowing she didn't/couldn't fit in to his life. But he thinks about her constantly. He's not the same after leaving her.
Evan's past in the military was dark and gritty. He went through a terrible experience and has changed because of it. He has nightmares and doesn't sleep.
He seeks companionship from a hooker named Bridgett.
And when he went all Pretty Woman on Bridgett
Otherwise Occupied is mostly just a look inside the life and mind of Evan Arden.
Between the hooker action there was quite a bit of this...
...which made for some exciting times.
Seems Evan was about one screw away from losing it. A years worth of thoughts of Lia + nightmares from the military + sleep only with Bridget in his bed = one f*cked up Evan.
Will Evan finally blow?
Will Evan ever see Lia again?
This is one wild ride!
And that pretty much sums up Evan Arden in a nutshell.
Otherwise Occupied picks up where Otherwise Alone left off. Evan is back in Chicago after spending 3ish months in Arizona, where he met Lia.
He had to leave her behind...knowing she didn't/couldn't fit in to his life. But he thinks about her constantly. He's not the same after leaving her.
Evan's past in the military was dark and gritty. He went through a terrible experience and has changed because of it. He has nightmares and doesn't sleep.
He seeks companionship from a hooker named Bridgett.
And when he went all Pretty Woman on Bridgett
Otherwise Occupied is mostly just a look inside the life and mind of Evan Arden.
Between the hooker action there was quite a bit of this...
...which made for some exciting times.
Seems Evan was about one screw away from losing it. A years worth of thoughts of Lia + nightmares from the military + sleep only with Bridget in his bed = one f*cked up Evan.
Will Evan finally blow?
Will Evan ever see Lia again?
This is one wild ride!
July 3, 2013
My reaction to the conclusion to this novel.....
Shay Savage, you best better be writing day and night after that ending. But we see what lack of sleep did to Evan Arden though, now didn't we?
This is the continued story of the emotionally torturous life of Evan Arden, ex Marine, and most importantly, a very emotionally scarred Iraq POW for 18 long months. You must read the first book Otherwise Alone to get a baseline knowledge of his story and introduction of Lia. It's a short novella but you hit the ground running with this book if you've read that first.
This book picks up after Evan returns to his job as a Chicago mob hit man. Yes, he's a murderer. Ms Savage is the queen of writing those horribly "bad" heroes you still manage to fall a tad in love with. Evan is NOT a good person. He doesn't bat an eyelash to murder anyone in cold blood. His loyalty is with his mob boss alone. He has nothing else, except for Odin, his faithful Great Pyrenees dog. He can't afford attachments.....they'll just open him up to be used against him with the enemy. Everyone is suspect. Everyone is a potential enemy.
Evan is a very emotionally sick person. His PTSD makes it impossible to sleep at night, functioning on little to no sleep. It's gotta eventually catch up to him, right? He tries everything. Even a shrink makes him feel worse..... This this is why we feel for the guy.
So, being a spoiler free review, this is going to be super vague. Sorry, but the story just has to be experienced. It's a far cry from a love story. I'd weigh this one a lot heavier on the action, mystery, suspense side. If you're a fan if the Sopranos type shows or movies, this one may suit you well. That's how I feel with this writing....it's seriously like a movie in your head. There's twists and turns in the plot and those moments where you just look at the page with your jaw dropped.
We are introduced to all Evan's mob cohorts as well as the opposing Chicago mobsters. We meet Bridgette, a hooker he meets up with a happily finds out he can sleep while she's nestled in his bed. She's good for that but that's ALL it is! No attachments, remember?
The writing is perfect. The pacing smooth and not rushed. There's twists I didn't see coming and the ending....well, lets just say that next book better come soon! I smell romance in that one.....
BRAVO!
Arc provided by L J Anderson in exchange for an honest review.
Shay Savage, you best better be writing day and night after that ending. But we see what lack of sleep did to Evan Arden though, now didn't we?
This is the continued story of the emotionally torturous life of Evan Arden, ex Marine, and most importantly, a very emotionally scarred Iraq POW for 18 long months. You must read the first book Otherwise Alone to get a baseline knowledge of his story and introduction of Lia. It's a short novella but you hit the ground running with this book if you've read that first.
This book picks up after Evan returns to his job as a Chicago mob hit man. Yes, he's a murderer. Ms Savage is the queen of writing those horribly "bad" heroes you still manage to fall a tad in love with. Evan is NOT a good person. He doesn't bat an eyelash to murder anyone in cold blood. His loyalty is with his mob boss alone. He has nothing else, except for Odin, his faithful Great Pyrenees dog. He can't afford attachments.....they'll just open him up to be used against him with the enemy. Everyone is suspect. Everyone is a potential enemy.
Evan is a very emotionally sick person. His PTSD makes it impossible to sleep at night, functioning on little to no sleep. It's gotta eventually catch up to him, right? He tries everything. Even a shrink makes him feel worse..... This this is why we feel for the guy.
So, being a spoiler free review, this is going to be super vague. Sorry, but the story just has to be experienced. It's a far cry from a love story. I'd weigh this one a lot heavier on the action, mystery, suspense side. If you're a fan if the Sopranos type shows or movies, this one may suit you well. That's how I feel with this writing....it's seriously like a movie in your head. There's twists and turns in the plot and those moments where you just look at the page with your jaw dropped.
We are introduced to all Evan's mob cohorts as well as the opposing Chicago mobsters. We meet Bridgette, a hooker he meets up with a happily finds out he can sleep while she's nestled in his bed. She's good for that but that's ALL it is! No attachments, remember?
The writing is perfect. The pacing smooth and not rushed. There's twists I didn't see coming and the ending....well, lets just say that next book better come soon! I smell romance in that one.....
BRAVO!
Arc provided by L J Anderson in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2013
Book - Otherwise Occupied (Evan Arden Trilogy #1)
Author - Shay Savage
Publication Date - June 17, 2013
Type - Part of Series
Genre - Romance, Thriller
Rating - 4 1/2 out of 5 Stars
Review
I first had a problem with this book because I wanted Lia back in Evan's life but I understand the author's reasons for not. This is a total build up for the next book - Evan is battling his guilt over leaving the shack along with thinking about Lia constantly and the beautiful time they shared.
I found myself pissed at Evan for bonding with Bridgett and constantly was hoping she was a "bad guy". I kept praying for a chance meeting between Evan and Lia but continually was disappointed when Lia didn't show up at any of the places Evan would be.
That ending though....damn, shit, fuck....that was heart-breaking and devastating --- the whole book brought us to that climax in the story and I'm dying to find out what happens next.
Evan is back from his banishment to the desert and he's trying to get back in the good graces of the man who sometimes calls him "son". Evan is battling with his PTSD from his time as a POW and it's only getting worse and worse. He's not sleeping without the night terrors and the only relief he gets is in the form of a prostitute named Bridgett. She is close in looks to Lia and Evan just needs her to be next to him in bed for a good nights rest.
Evan battles constantly with Bridgett wanting more than a "john"/"whore" relationship along with his recurring thoughts of Lia. He has a nemisis who wants Evan ousted along with his PTSD getting in the way of his "kills".
Wrap Up
There comes a time when even the hardest man will break when battling PTSD - the ending gutted me and I'm praying and praying that an angel will be able to save Evan from himself.
Author - Shay Savage
Publication Date - June 17, 2013
Type - Part of Series
Genre - Romance, Thriller
Rating - 4 1/2 out of 5 Stars
Review
I first had a problem with this book because I wanted Lia back in Evan's life but I understand the author's reasons for not. This is a total build up for the next book - Evan is battling his guilt over leaving the shack along with thinking about Lia constantly and the beautiful time they shared.
I found myself pissed at Evan for bonding with Bridgett and constantly was hoping she was a "bad guy". I kept praying for a chance meeting between Evan and Lia but continually was disappointed when Lia didn't show up at any of the places Evan would be.
That ending though....damn, shit, fuck....that was heart-breaking and devastating --- the whole book brought us to that climax in the story and I'm dying to find out what happens next.
Evan is back from his banishment to the desert and he's trying to get back in the good graces of the man who sometimes calls him "son". Evan is battling with his PTSD from his time as a POW and it's only getting worse and worse. He's not sleeping without the night terrors and the only relief he gets is in the form of a prostitute named Bridgett. She is close in looks to Lia and Evan just needs her to be next to him in bed for a good nights rest.
Evan battles constantly with Bridgett wanting more than a "john"/"whore" relationship along with his recurring thoughts of Lia. He has a nemisis who wants Evan ousted along with his PTSD getting in the way of his "kills".
Wrap Up
There comes a time when even the hardest man will break when battling PTSD - the ending gutted me and I'm praying and praying that an angel will be able to save Evan from himself.
October 29, 2014
Lieutenant Evan Arden...
You have "occupied my mind" most of this day. When I think of your tale up to this point I just think You need a good strong love fest!
The little introduction I had of you in Otherwise Alone was not nearly enough for me to fully grasp the chaos that is this man's mind! It is as if he is a complete enigma: a well trained soldier whose captivity haunts him every day thus discharging him, yet makes him even more lethal in the killing field. Too bad his only realm of war in within a ruthless mob family, as well as in his own mind.
He is going through the motions every day, to others a cold blooded killer, but what he appears to be and what he is are not one in the same. NO...Evan Arden is just a shell of a man...he cannot grasp emotion, he cannot love, he cannot "give" anything...or can he? Does he just not know how? It seems as if he could be good...I mean who keeps a regular hooker on tap and uses her for cuddle time and as a sleep aide? Pretty confusing huh?
Then again, I suppose it is hard to connect to people when every time you turn around you are betrayed. Whether in war, in his current line of business, or in his bedroom, Evan's life is always seeming to be bound. Just when he finds some sort of comfort or connection, it is compromised making him "permanently sever" all ties! It is only a matter of time before his outer shell cracks to release his inner turmoil! GO CRAZY MAN!!!! It is time to move on and find your happiness...find your Lia Antonio!!!!!
You have "occupied my mind" most of this day. When I think of your tale up to this point I just think You need a good strong love fest!
The little introduction I had of you in Otherwise Alone was not nearly enough for me to fully grasp the chaos that is this man's mind! It is as if he is a complete enigma: a well trained soldier whose captivity haunts him every day thus discharging him, yet makes him even more lethal in the killing field. Too bad his only realm of war in within a ruthless mob family, as well as in his own mind.
He is going through the motions every day, to others a cold blooded killer, but what he appears to be and what he is are not one in the same. NO...Evan Arden is just a shell of a man...he cannot grasp emotion, he cannot love, he cannot "give" anything...or can he? Does he just not know how? It seems as if he could be good...I mean who keeps a regular hooker on tap and uses her for cuddle time and as a sleep aide? Pretty confusing huh?
Then again, I suppose it is hard to connect to people when every time you turn around you are betrayed. Whether in war, in his current line of business, or in his bedroom, Evan's life is always seeming to be bound. Just when he finds some sort of comfort or connection, it is compromised making him "permanently sever" all ties! It is only a matter of time before his outer shell cracks to release his inner turmoil! GO CRAZY MAN!!!! It is time to move on and find your happiness...find your Lia Antonio!!!!!
January 21, 2016
Three Stars
After reading the first book 'Otherwise Alone' and I met Evan Arden, I was so hyped up for this book and I had high expectations.
At the beginning of the book, the hype was still there. Evan was as hot as ever and I was getting into it.
However as the book progressed, I began to feel agitated and annoyed at the storyline.
50% into the book, as the main character began to go crazy in the head, I seriously started to lose any interest. The book was boring me more and more as I flipped each page.
At one point I was considering marking the book into my 'dnf' shelf, but I decided to carry on, because I hate not finishing a book.
The character started doing things that I could not make sense of, I felt as if even Evan was baffled at his actions. Now, the only reason I give this book 3 stars is because, the author did a great job at describing the city that is Chicago. I've always wanted to go to Chicago and after reading the book, I was intrigued by the city even more. The book also gets three stars because the way the book ended was somewhat interest, but I'm sure I wouldn't be reading the next 3 books any time soon. I know that many people enjoyed the 'Evan Arden' series, however I guess the book wasn't my cup of tea.
After reading the first book 'Otherwise Alone' and I met Evan Arden, I was so hyped up for this book and I had high expectations.
At the beginning of the book, the hype was still there. Evan was as hot as ever and I was getting into it.
However as the book progressed, I began to feel agitated and annoyed at the storyline.
50% into the book, as the main character began to go crazy in the head, I seriously started to lose any interest. The book was boring me more and more as I flipped each page.
At one point I was considering marking the book into my 'dnf' shelf, but I decided to carry on, because I hate not finishing a book.
The character started doing things that I could not make sense of, I felt as if even Evan was baffled at his actions. Now, the only reason I give this book 3 stars is because, the author did a great job at describing the city that is Chicago. I've always wanted to go to Chicago and after reading the book, I was intrigued by the city even more. The book also gets three stars because the way the book ended was somewhat interest, but I'm sure I wouldn't be reading the next 3 books any time soon. I know that many people enjoyed the 'Evan Arden' series, however I guess the book wasn't my cup of tea.
April 15, 2014
Mind-blowing !
Literally ❤️
Ok next book ..... I love binge reading ❤️
Literally ❤️
Ok next book ..... I love binge reading ❤️
July 6, 2013
"There was just no way I was going to survive this."
Its funny that this quote is used in this book because this is exactly what I was thinking as I read it. I know this is going to sound very cliche' but I have to say it, this book owned me. When I started reading it I just couldn't stop. This book was a magnet and I was drawn in right from the beginning.
Evan Arden
"If I believed in a god, it would be the god of women's asses."
There is just something about this ex-Marine that makes women want to run away screaming, and jump into his arms at the same time. Its pretty important to read Otherwise Alone before reading this in order to get the background about Evan and Lia Antonio, who he muses about quite alot. Its like she's haunting him. In Book One the author barely scratched the surface with this character. In this book we get the real Evan Arden in his element, doing what he does best: killing people. Evan is a bad boy and he has the body count to prove it.
”I had to be quick, efficient, and deadly.”
Everything about him screams danger. In fact he is a cold-blooded killer, a hit man, the type of person you never hope to come across in a dark alley. And guess what? I couldn't get enough of him. The entire book is from Evan's POV and there was never a dull moment. Even though Evan is an unfeeling, ruthless killer of both men women and my brain cells, there is a sense of vulnerability attached to him. Evan suffers from PTSD and has trouble falling asleep, along with constant nightmares. There’s so much guilt and pain inside of him from the past, that even his shrink seems to have no idea how to pull him out from the dark hole he’s creeping towards. ”My mind was spinning, and I didn’t know what to do with myself. I felt completely lost and out of control...” Evan’s demons are his constant companion, and he finds comfort and sleep from an unlikely source.
"You don't let anyone in that head long enough for you to understand them or to let them understand you."
So many events take place in this book that to mention even one of them would lead me into spoiler territory. There’s a slow build-up through out the book and in the back of my mind I knew exactly what was going to happen, but deep down I was hoping for a different out come. Even if Channing Tatum walked into my room naked nothing would’ve been able to tear me away from my kindle while reading the last twenty percent of this book. The ending is sad, heartbreaking and emotional.
Shay Savage did not disappoint! It amazes me how she is able to create such complex, strong, damaged yet lovable male characters. Its simply genius, and a testament to her brilliance as a writer. This series has been awesome so far I absolutely cannot wait to see what's in store in for Evan in Otherwise Unharmed.
Rating: 5 Is Not Enough Stars
Its funny that this quote is used in this book because this is exactly what I was thinking as I read it. I know this is going to sound very cliche' but I have to say it, this book owned me. When I started reading it I just couldn't stop. This book was a magnet and I was drawn in right from the beginning.
Evan Arden
"If I believed in a god, it would be the god of women's asses."
There is just something about this ex-Marine that makes women want to run away screaming, and jump into his arms at the same time. Its pretty important to read Otherwise Alone before reading this in order to get the background about Evan and Lia Antonio, who he muses about quite alot. Its like she's haunting him. In Book One the author barely scratched the surface with this character. In this book we get the real Evan Arden in his element, doing what he does best: killing people. Evan is a bad boy and he has the body count to prove it.
”I had to be quick, efficient, and deadly.”
Everything about him screams danger. In fact he is a cold-blooded killer, a hit man, the type of person you never hope to come across in a dark alley. And guess what? I couldn't get enough of him. The entire book is from Evan's POV and there was never a dull moment. Even though Evan is an unfeeling, ruthless killer of both men women and my brain cells, there is a sense of vulnerability attached to him. Evan suffers from PTSD and has trouble falling asleep, along with constant nightmares. There’s so much guilt and pain inside of him from the past, that even his shrink seems to have no idea how to pull him out from the dark hole he’s creeping towards. ”My mind was spinning, and I didn’t know what to do with myself. I felt completely lost and out of control...” Evan’s demons are his constant companion, and he finds comfort and sleep from an unlikely source.
"You don't let anyone in that head long enough for you to understand them or to let them understand you."
So many events take place in this book that to mention even one of them would lead me into spoiler territory. There’s a slow build-up through out the book and in the back of my mind I knew exactly what was going to happen, but deep down I was hoping for a different out come. Even if Channing Tatum walked into my room naked nothing would’ve been able to tear me away from my kindle while reading the last twenty percent of this book. The ending is sad, heartbreaking and emotional.
Shay Savage did not disappoint! It amazes me how she is able to create such complex, strong, damaged yet lovable male characters. Its simply genius, and a testament to her brilliance as a writer. This series has been awesome so far I absolutely cannot wait to see what's in store in for Evan in Otherwise Unharmed.
Rating: 5 Is Not Enough Stars
January 20, 2014
*****5+++ Explosive Stars*****
Again, I'm going to keep this real short because this series has me going crazy; I can't work, I can eat, I can't do anything other than think about this hunted man that has taken over my days and nights.
Evan is back in Chicago, trying to win back into his boss's good grace. He's trying to do his thing but the nightmares from his horrible past are back, the guilt he feels and all the demons that hunt him are driving him to edge of a dangerous cliff. He's also trying to forget Lia; the woman he met in Arizona and captivated him completely, but he's determined to let her go and to never be with her to protect her from him and what he represents.
This is not a love story, but it is an electrifying tale that will keep you at the edge of your seat from beginning to end, absolute MUST READ, this author has me hostage with this riveting story.
Again, I'm going to keep this real short because this series has me going crazy; I can't work, I can eat, I can't do anything other than think about this hunted man that has taken over my days and nights.
Evan is back in Chicago, trying to win back into his boss's good grace. He's trying to do his thing but the nightmares from his horrible past are back, the guilt he feels and all the demons that hunt him are driving him to edge of a dangerous cliff. He's also trying to forget Lia; the woman he met in Arizona and captivated him completely, but he's determined to let her go and to never be with her to protect her from him and what he represents.
This is not a love story, but it is an electrifying tale that will keep you at the edge of your seat from beginning to end, absolute MUST READ, this author has me hostage with this riveting story.
June 19, 2013
Dark, twisty brilliance…thy name is Shay Savage!! Holy puppies and rainbows, Batman! I don’t think Santa Claus exists in the fertile, scary playground that is the mind of this author, and I know he doesn’t exist in the world of Otherwise Occupied. But, you know what?! I LOVE IT!!! I’d probably go so far as to say that I can’t get enough of this author and her thoroughly unapologetic @sshole anti-heroes!
The story begins not long after the events of the novella, Otherwise Alone (book #1). DO NOT try reading Otherwise Occupied without reading Otherwise Alone FIRST!! You will be lost and confused, and, even if you aren’t, the story won’t mean anything to you if you forgo the novella. Evan Arden—mob hitman, Iraq War Veteran and former POW—has returned to Chicago, called back by his boss in order to resume his duties. Quietly suffering severe PTSD and obsessing over leaving Lia Antonio behind, Evan has been basically losing his sh*t for quite some time. Making kills is only speeding up the process. Unable to sleep, he begins a one-sided relationship with a fairly new-to-the-trade hooker. Life as Evan knows it deteriorates rapidly from there. Otherwise Occupied is, for the most part, a front-row seat to the unraveling of a man’s mind.
Very honestly, there is no romance in this story, other than, perhaps, some of Evan’s memories of Lia. Frankly, I alternated between fascination and frustration reading Otherwise Occupied. I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for Lia to appear, and the fact that I waited SO LONG was frustrating! However, Shay Savage has such a way with crafting characters and story that, ultimately, fascination won the day. I was appalled and horrified by Evan’s actions and thoughts on more than one occasion, and yet…I also found myself sympathetic and…dare I say…rooting for him?! Quite the contradiction, and that’s one of my very favorite things about this author’s writing. Truthfully, she’s brilliant. These stories, these characters, grab me by the heart and the gut every single time, and I am held riveted until the very last page.
The ending included a partial wish of mine. The rest of it? Oh, my Lord!!!! I need book number three ASAP, Shay Savage!! I must have some resolution! I must know what happens! Yup. This one ends on a cliffhanger, folks! Grrrr. Is it still worth reading? Uh…YEAH!!! Fascinating, frustrating, dark, twisty, brilliant, thought-provoking….Otherwise Occupied has nearly everything I LOVE in a great book! I highly recommend it and everything this author writes!!
**ARC provided by the author/publicist in exchange for an honest
review**
For more reviews, please visit Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews or visit us on Facebook.
The story begins not long after the events of the novella, Otherwise Alone (book #1). DO NOT try reading Otherwise Occupied without reading Otherwise Alone FIRST!! You will be lost and confused, and, even if you aren’t, the story won’t mean anything to you if you forgo the novella. Evan Arden—mob hitman, Iraq War Veteran and former POW—has returned to Chicago, called back by his boss in order to resume his duties. Quietly suffering severe PTSD and obsessing over leaving Lia Antonio behind, Evan has been basically losing his sh*t for quite some time. Making kills is only speeding up the process. Unable to sleep, he begins a one-sided relationship with a fairly new-to-the-trade hooker. Life as Evan knows it deteriorates rapidly from there. Otherwise Occupied is, for the most part, a front-row seat to the unraveling of a man’s mind.
Very honestly, there is no romance in this story, other than, perhaps, some of Evan’s memories of Lia. Frankly, I alternated between fascination and frustration reading Otherwise Occupied. I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for Lia to appear, and the fact that I waited SO LONG was frustrating! However, Shay Savage has such a way with crafting characters and story that, ultimately, fascination won the day. I was appalled and horrified by Evan’s actions and thoughts on more than one occasion, and yet…I also found myself sympathetic and…dare I say…rooting for him?! Quite the contradiction, and that’s one of my very favorite things about this author’s writing. Truthfully, she’s brilliant. These stories, these characters, grab me by the heart and the gut every single time, and I am held riveted until the very last page.
The ending included a partial wish of mine. The rest of it? Oh, my Lord!!!! I need book number three ASAP, Shay Savage!! I must have some resolution! I must know what happens! Yup. This one ends on a cliffhanger, folks! Grrrr. Is it still worth reading? Uh…YEAH!!! Fascinating, frustrating, dark, twisty, brilliant, thought-provoking….Otherwise Occupied has nearly everything I LOVE in a great book! I highly recommend it and everything this author writes!!
**ARC provided by the author/publicist in exchange for an honest
review**
For more reviews, please visit Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews or visit us on Facebook.
August 12, 2017
“I told you it was going to end this way,” I whispered. “Why didn’t you listen to me?”
Oh... My... God! What the hell happened here?? And how long do I have to wait for Otherwise Unharmed? The title itself is making me bite my nails. Because, let's face it, unharmed is NOT something you can easily expect here. But, let's go back to the beginning...
When I first read Otherwise Alone, I thought that was it. And, I both loved and hated that story. It was just too short, without HEA - hell, even without HFN - and it made me feel incredibly frustrated. Still, I loved Evan's voice, and I needed more. A lot more. So, here's it is... It's definitely not what I expected. It's not what I needed - or thought I needed, at least. But, it IS one hell of a story, that will more than likely keep you occupied from page one.
Otherwise Occupied is not a romance. If that's what you're looking for, you'll either end up disappointed, or you can simply let the story guide you, and end up on the best roller coaster ride in the park!
The story picks up where Otherwise Alone left off. Evan Arden is back in Chicago, and we are back in his head... in a way, at least. It's told from his POV, which is crucial when it comes to understanding all the whys and hows. Evan is such a haunted, damaged soul. He is far from a hero, but once you learn his past, you won't be able to resist hoping the guy will finally conquer his demons. As weird as it may sound, he deserves that!
This was one of those times when I enjoyed every single second of a book! I loved Evan's voice. Male POV is something I often prefer, but Shay Savage just proved that she's a bloody genius! Evan's character, along with all the twists and turns in the story, never knowing what will happen next, waiting for her to show up... it all made Otherwise Occupied one of the best books I read this year!
You definitely won't find a toothache moment here! It's real. It's heartbreaking. Amazing. It's like watching a train wreck at times. But, there's no looking away. Not even for a second.
Otherwise Occupied ends with one hell of a cliffhanger. And, though I tend to avoid those, I still highly recommend this book! You really should read it! Then we can wait for the final part together. Just be sure to read Otherwise Alone before you grab this one. After all, that's where this incredible journey started...
4.5 stars
*** ARC kindly provided by CBL Book Tours in exchange for an honest review ***
December 28, 2013
Otherwise Occupied was gritty, and in parts completely mortifying, but extremely addictive.
Evan is back from his exile from in the Arizona desert and working again for his Chicago crime boss, Rinaldo. Still, memories of his short time with Lia cloud his mind, but he believes that can never be. Instead he tries to put her out of his mind and focus on getting back into the good graces of Rinaldo. His boss quickly assigns him a difficult task, but in the meantime Evan’s stability is deteriorating. His PTSD from his time in the military is back in full force causing him to lose sleep and mental calm.
“You endured most than men ever will,” Rinaldo said quietly. “You’ve had it worse than anyone you ever killed. They died quick and easy. You’ve been dying since they brought you home.”
Evan seeks distraction in the arms of Bridgett a hooker who looks very similar to Lia, and you just know things will not end well.
I have to say I was equal parts fascinated and horrified reading about Evan’s life. You understand why his the way his is being raised without much love in a convent and then experiencing the nightmare with he was a POW during his time in the military, but still, his attitude at times was shocking. I do think that some of it was a shield he didn’t know he put up for protection, an unconscious survival choice. That, IMO, becomes very evident by the end.
I was disappointed we didn’t get Lia for the majority of the book; really it’s their relationship that drew me to this series in the first place, so to have her absent did not make me happy. To rub that in even more was his interactions with Bridgett. Every time they were together I kept my guard up, not wanting to fall for her or them as a couple because I was rooting for Lia and Evan to be reunited. I was torn about how Evan treated her, because I didn’t want him to get attached to her but at the same time I couldn’t help but feel so very sorry for Bridgett and everything that happened to her. Evan bears a lot of responsibility for that situation.
There was a complete shakeup by the end and I’m so happy I have the next book on deck to dive into immediately. I need to find out how this all plays out!
Evan is back from his exile from in the Arizona desert and working again for his Chicago crime boss, Rinaldo. Still, memories of his short time with Lia cloud his mind, but he believes that can never be. Instead he tries to put her out of his mind and focus on getting back into the good graces of Rinaldo. His boss quickly assigns him a difficult task, but in the meantime Evan’s stability is deteriorating. His PTSD from his time in the military is back in full force causing him to lose sleep and mental calm.
“You endured most than men ever will,” Rinaldo said quietly. “You’ve had it worse than anyone you ever killed. They died quick and easy. You’ve been dying since they brought you home.”
Evan seeks distraction in the arms of Bridgett a hooker who looks very similar to Lia, and you just know things will not end well.
I have to say I was equal parts fascinated and horrified reading about Evan’s life. You understand why his the way his is being raised without much love in a convent and then experiencing the nightmare with he was a POW during his time in the military, but still, his attitude at times was shocking. I do think that some of it was a shield he didn’t know he put up for protection, an unconscious survival choice. That, IMO, becomes very evident by the end.
I was disappointed we didn’t get Lia for the majority of the book; really it’s their relationship that drew me to this series in the first place, so to have her absent did not make me happy. To rub that in even more was his interactions with Bridgett. Every time they were together I kept my guard up, not wanting to fall for her or them as a couple because I was rooting for Lia and Evan to be reunited. I was torn about how Evan treated her, because I didn’t want him to get attached to her but at the same time I couldn’t help but feel so very sorry for Bridgett and everything that happened to her. Evan bears a lot of responsibility for that situation.
There was a complete shakeup by the end and I’m so happy I have the next book on deck to dive into immediately. I need to find out how this all plays out!
July 18, 2013
I will say this again:
SHAY SAVAGE WRITES THE BEST MALE CHARACTERS.EVER.
Some may not agree, but judging how much I loved Surviving Raine and Otherwise Alone, I am biased towards the men she creates. They are alway damaged and almost, almost beyond repair. They are tortured souls that have gone through some sort of trauma and despite the appearance of steel on the outside, they're all glass on the inside.
They are not role models or perfect citizens. Hell, not even the guy next door. But the way Savage writes them...sexy, brooding, screaming for attention. And because I'm a sucker for a lost puppy I cave every time!
This book is the follow-up to Otherwise Alone, a short gem that sucked me in from the get go. Now, if you're thinking romance, you'll be sorely disappointed. There are definitely sexual situations to contend with but not in a romantic sense. This was more of an in-depth look at Evan Arden's life and his work for a criminal mob boss. Who he is and where he came from is the central theme here and comes to be paramount in all the events that come to unfold in this book.
I won't bother with the details of his tragic past but I will say he suffers from PTSD. Badly. He takes comfort from someone--not Lia--but that in of itself creates major problems.
The book is a wonderful thrill ride and despite having no romantic elements, it was awesome!
I will say Lia does figure somewhat and at the most crucial of times when Evan is spiralling out of complete control. I want them together more so for Evan because really, he just needs somebody to love!
Can't wait for Otherwise Unharmed!!!
SHAY SAVAGE WRITES THE BEST MALE CHARACTERS.EVER.
Some may not agree, but judging how much I loved Surviving Raine and Otherwise Alone, I am biased towards the men she creates. They are alway damaged and almost, almost beyond repair. They are tortured souls that have gone through some sort of trauma and despite the appearance of steel on the outside, they're all glass on the inside.
They are not role models or perfect citizens. Hell, not even the guy next door. But the way Savage writes them...sexy, brooding, screaming for attention. And because I'm a sucker for a lost puppy I cave every time!
This book is the follow-up to Otherwise Alone, a short gem that sucked me in from the get go. Now, if you're thinking romance, you'll be sorely disappointed. There are definitely sexual situations to contend with but not in a romantic sense. This was more of an in-depth look at Evan Arden's life and his work for a criminal mob boss. Who he is and where he came from is the central theme here and comes to be paramount in all the events that come to unfold in this book.
I won't bother with the details of his tragic past but I will say he suffers from PTSD. Badly. He takes comfort from someone--not Lia--but that in of itself creates major problems.
The book is a wonderful thrill ride and despite having no romantic elements, it was awesome!
I will say Lia does figure somewhat and at the most crucial of times when Evan is spiralling out of complete control. I want them together more so for Evan because really, he just needs somebody to love!
Can't wait for Otherwise Unharmed!!!
July 21, 2015
I picked up the first book Otherwise Alone and thought that was a pretty good, quick read. I jumped straight into the next book not really sure where it was going.... Mob, hitman, ex-marine.
It wasn't until I started reading Otherwise Occupied that I grasped the full intensity of this series. It has just been amazing. The words and thoughts going on in Evan's mind and the psychological turmoil he is experiencing can't be done justice in a review.
Evan is trying to reach that holy grail of feelings that is so devoid in his life. The feeling of loving and being loved.
You don't let anyone in that head long enough for you to understand them or to let them understand you." .....
It has sex, romance, violence and senseless killing - This book is NOT going to be everyone's cup of tea. Evan is an anti-hero and yet I found myself wanting him to attain peace in his mind, to reach that place he is so desperately in search of.
I can't wait for next book Otherwise Unharmed to follow Evan's story as we were left with a definite cliffhanger!
January 22, 2014
Wow... All I can say is that was
intense
.
Evan Arden is back in Chicago after his exile in Arizona. Though things seem to be back to normal, Evan is having problems sleeping. As this increases his PTSD is getting worse and his thoughts of his time with Lia keep entering his mind. But he knows he has no place in her life and she would only be a liability or potentially be hurt by being in his life. But little things remind him of her. A smell, a quarter, someones hair.
One of his first assignments upon his return is to rid the organization of someone a movie star that Mr. Morretti wants to use as an example. That they can't get away with owing him and not paying up. But before Evan is able to do the job, he is tasked with finding out who in the organization has a big mouth. He completes his task and we learn that you have to keep your mouth shut. Little slips can cost you your life.
Enter Bridget. Evan picks up hookers to satisfy his baser needs which keep him disconnected emotionally. But that doesn't seem to work in this case. Between trying to make sure she understands her place in his life (in his bed only) he starts to treat her more and more like a lover. But he is skeptical and tries to deter her from asking too many questions. He's good at keeping her from knowing anything he's up to, at least he thinks he is.
As his PTSD and sleeplessness start to affect him in more ways than he realizes, his grip on the here and now is slowly slipping away. He's not picking up the cues of others as easily and he's more and more agitated. And with a member of the organization trying to take Evan's place, he doesn't know who to trust. When it turns out his favorite hooker is responsible for leaks, Evan has to set things right. But he hasn't slept for almost ten days and things go from bad to worse. But did he really see her?
I really liked this book. I felt so bad for Evan. He really needed help and most likely Lia. It took me a while to figure out why his PTSD had come back, but once it became an issue, I knew exactly what was happening. So sad to think that something to benign to most of us could cause such stress to someone who had been through what Evan had. Looking forward to the next chapter in the story.
Evan Arden is back in Chicago after his exile in Arizona. Though things seem to be back to normal, Evan is having problems sleeping. As this increases his PTSD is getting worse and his thoughts of his time with Lia keep entering his mind. But he knows he has no place in her life and she would only be a liability or potentially be hurt by being in his life. But little things remind him of her. A smell, a quarter, someones hair.
One of his first assignments upon his return is to rid the organization of someone a movie star that Mr. Morretti wants to use as an example. That they can't get away with owing him and not paying up. But before Evan is able to do the job, he is tasked with finding out who in the organization has a big mouth. He completes his task and we learn that you have to keep your mouth shut. Little slips can cost you your life.
Enter Bridget. Evan picks up hookers to satisfy his baser needs which keep him disconnected emotionally. But that doesn't seem to work in this case. Between trying to make sure she understands her place in his life (in his bed only) he starts to treat her more and more like a lover. But he is skeptical and tries to deter her from asking too many questions. He's good at keeping her from knowing anything he's up to, at least he thinks he is.
As his PTSD and sleeplessness start to affect him in more ways than he realizes, his grip on the here and now is slowly slipping away. He's not picking up the cues of others as easily and he's more and more agitated. And with a member of the organization trying to take Evan's place, he doesn't know who to trust. When it turns out his favorite hooker is responsible for leaks, Evan has to set things right. But he hasn't slept for almost ten days and things go from bad to worse. But did he really see her?
I really liked this book. I felt so bad for Evan. He really needed help and most likely Lia. It took me a while to figure out why his PTSD had come back, but once it became an issue, I knew exactly what was happening. So sad to think that something to benign to most of us could cause such stress to someone who had been through what Evan had. Looking forward to the next chapter in the story.
December 15, 2013
Holy Cannoli!! 4 1/2 Stars!!
This book was totally not what I expected! It was like a trip down a dark, gritty, swirling, sand choked desert road. Evan Arden, mob hit man, last seen in Otherwise Alone, has returned to Chicago after a three month exile for misconduct. Back in the good graces of his mobster boss, we find Evan doing what he does best, murder. Somehow, after the first foray into his psyche, I thought we might see his redemption in this book, but instead we see a lot more of the dark side of Lt. Evan Arden and how he got there. We learn he suffers from severe PTSD which resulted from 18 months of torture and captivity in the Middle East.
This is a hard review for me to write; I usually read predominately romance novels and this in no way can be labeled as that. There were so many facets to this book that I do not even know where to start – Evan struggling with what he is, regretting what he left behind, not sure what there is for him going forward. He is an ice cold killer, but yet we get a glimpse at so many of his human emotions, emotions he so desperately tries to not to show. Shay Savage is truly a master at her craft and presents to us all of Evan’s flaws, internal and external. Without giving away too much of the story I will say that I waited for some time for the reentry of Lia from the first book and while her presence plays a major part throughout the book, her actual reappearance in the book is quite shocking.
This may not have been a book I would have chosen to read ordinarily according to my standard choices, but I am so glad that I had the opportunity to go a little out of my comfort zone. This book is an extraordinary read, a book that makes the reader truly think about what she is experiencing. This author has a gift for drawing the reader in to her labyrinth and I predict a prolific career ahead for her. Shay Savage is definitely on my go to list of authors of the future!
*ARC supplied L.J. Anderson, Marketing & Publicity for Shay Savage in exchange for a fair review.
This book was totally not what I expected! It was like a trip down a dark, gritty, swirling, sand choked desert road. Evan Arden, mob hit man, last seen in Otherwise Alone, has returned to Chicago after a three month exile for misconduct. Back in the good graces of his mobster boss, we find Evan doing what he does best, murder. Somehow, after the first foray into his psyche, I thought we might see his redemption in this book, but instead we see a lot more of the dark side of Lt. Evan Arden and how he got there. We learn he suffers from severe PTSD which resulted from 18 months of torture and captivity in the Middle East.
This is a hard review for me to write; I usually read predominately romance novels and this in no way can be labeled as that. There were so many facets to this book that I do not even know where to start – Evan struggling with what he is, regretting what he left behind, not sure what there is for him going forward. He is an ice cold killer, but yet we get a glimpse at so many of his human emotions, emotions he so desperately tries to not to show. Shay Savage is truly a master at her craft and presents to us all of Evan’s flaws, internal and external. Without giving away too much of the story I will say that I waited for some time for the reentry of Lia from the first book and while her presence plays a major part throughout the book, her actual reappearance in the book is quite shocking.
Evan Arden does actually have an emotion in there somewhere.
This may not have been a book I would have chosen to read ordinarily according to my standard choices, but I am so glad that I had the opportunity to go a little out of my comfort zone. This book is an extraordinary read, a book that makes the reader truly think about what she is experiencing. This author has a gift for drawing the reader in to her labyrinth and I predict a prolific career ahead for her. Shay Savage is definitely on my go to list of authors of the future!
*ARC supplied L.J. Anderson, Marketing & Publicity for Shay Savage in exchange for a fair review.
July 31, 2013
5 STARS
I loved this book… WOW, this author is AMAZING.
It feels SO real. Sometimes I felt like I was standing right next to Evan. (Just not while he was busy with Bridgette bwahahaha!
I want no I NEED the book. When will it be available? I NEED IT NOW!
This book start where the 1st book stopped…
The last 2 chapters were INTENSE! Like really intense, I thought I was going to loose it. Oh fuck Evan lost it.
My favourite quotes:
Don’t you know what ARMY stands for? You have read to find out the answer hie hie sorry :P
You were out in the middle of fucking nowhere and you still got laid? Haha
If you haven’t read the books do not read on – there might be some spoilers that you don’t want to know about. (My advice is, read the books it is soooo worth it…)
*********************************************************
Over and out! xx
I loved this book… WOW, this author is AMAZING.
It feels SO real. Sometimes I felt like I was standing right next to Evan. (Just not while he was busy with Bridgette bwahahaha!
I want no I NEED the book. When will it be available? I NEED IT NOW!
This book start where the 1st book stopped…
The last 2 chapters were INTENSE! Like really intense, I thought I was going to loose it. Oh fuck Evan lost it.
My favourite quotes:
Don’t you know what ARMY stands for? You have read to find out the answer hie hie sorry :P
You were out in the middle of fucking nowhere and you still got laid? Haha
If you haven’t read the books do not read on – there might be some spoilers that you don’t want to know about. (My advice is, read the books it is soooo worth it…)
*********************************************************
Over and out! xx
September 9, 2014
***3.5 You Threw Me for a Loop Stars***
So....
Who's confused?
That last 10%.....
This book is definitely not what I thought it was going to be after finishing the first one. It felt like an action/suspense movie playing out in front of me, which is fine.....but where did the romance go?? Not even a smidge to keep me wagging along. But even with that, I will say that Evan Arden is one interesting character!
Shay Savage did a great job of writing and visually portraying the erratic thoughts running through Evan's fucked up, sleep deprived head. At times I felt bipolar right along with him.
I have no idea where this is going, or what's going to happen, I just hope that in the end this series makes sense.
Does this review make sense? Nope. But this is as coherent as my brain is right now.
So....
Who's confused?
That last 10%.....
This book is definitely not what I thought it was going to be after finishing the first one. It felt like an action/suspense movie playing out in front of me, which is fine.....but where did the romance go?? Not even a smidge to keep me wagging along. But even with that, I will say that Evan Arden is one interesting character!
Shay Savage did a great job of writing and visually portraying the erratic thoughts running through Evan's fucked up, sleep deprived head. At times I felt bipolar right along with him.
I have no idea where this is going, or what's going to happen, I just hope that in the end this series makes sense.
Does this review make sense? Nope. But this is as coherent as my brain is right now.
November 21, 2015
I have been on reading marathon with this series and have no intentions of stopping. For those of you who wanna know more about the books, they are deliciously violent.
Evan is a hit man who really doesn't have any remorse or problems getting the job done. Once a POW is now a hit man for the mafia, and he's damn good at his job. But lately he's been having sever issues with PTSD. Everyone closest to him worries he's about to snap, maybe they have a damn good reason to worry! Evan isn't a good man, far from it, but he isn't the worst either. Weeding out the rats surrounding his boss is enough to make anyone jumpy and just a bit trigger happy. But rats come in all shapes, forms and sizes! Could be your best friend, a trusted ally or even the street hustling hooker, you never know. Five glorious stars....enjoy!
Evan is a hit man who really doesn't have any remorse or problems getting the job done. Once a POW is now a hit man for the mafia, and he's damn good at his job. But lately he's been having sever issues with PTSD. Everyone closest to him worries he's about to snap, maybe they have a damn good reason to worry! Evan isn't a good man, far from it, but he isn't the worst either. Weeding out the rats surrounding his boss is enough to make anyone jumpy and just a bit trigger happy. But rats come in all shapes, forms and sizes! Could be your best friend, a trusted ally or even the street hustling hooker, you never know. Five glorious stars....enjoy!
February 25, 2014
Mind F*ckery
Okay, I have no idea what I just read, but I was riveted all the same. I went into this one expecting a certain type of continuation into the mystery and dark mind that is Evan Arden. What I came out with was shock, dismay, more confusion, a broken heart, fear, insanely unexplainable arousal; and more confusion.
I'm even more eager & afraid to see what will become of Evan
My heart breaks for him. My pulse speeds up because of him. My common sense tells me to run far, far away from him. So naturally I'm going to stay.
I highly recommend this read. This trilogy. Please start from the beginning.
Okay, I have no idea what I just read, but I was riveted all the same. I went into this one expecting a certain type of continuation into the mystery and dark mind that is Evan Arden. What I came out with was shock, dismay, more confusion, a broken heart, fear, insanely unexplainable arousal; and more confusion.
I'm even more eager & afraid to see what will become of Evan
My heart breaks for him. My pulse speeds up because of him. My common sense tells me to run far, far away from him. So naturally I'm going to stay.
I highly recommend this read. This trilogy. Please start from the beginning.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 449 reviews