The town slut and the all American football player – doesn’t really sound like the perfect match, does it? Here’s the thing…both descriptions are facades of who Dillon Young and Slade Thomas truly are at their core. Not many people know their real selves because for one reason or another, they keep them hidden, rarely showing anyone because it’s easier to keep people believing what they want to then allow anyone to get close to the truth.
For so long, Dillon has done a good job of keeping her past behind her and staying in the present, not getting attached to anyone because she’s too broken for any type of real relationship. This thing she has with Slade is the longest faux relationship she’s ever had. But she’s been up front with Slade from the start. All she has to give of herself is her body; her heart will never factor in because she’s too damaged to allow that to happen. Her honesty is both refreshing and frustrating because for much of the story, it’s unclear what’s holding her back. Slade tries like hell to get her to submit to him because he knows that’s what she needs, but she still only gives a small portion of herself to him, and he doesn’t think that’s enough anymore.
Slade Thomas is a master at the game of pleasure, and when he decides to show Dillon his dominate side, readers get a front row seat to the dirty talking alpha male who makes Dillon’s body hum with approval and her submissive nature bend to his every whim. Slade wants everything from Dillon…he wants her eyes, and he wants to own her body, her pleasure, and ultimately, Slade wants to consume Dillon and prove to her that he’s the man she can let down her walls with and trust to take care of her despite her triggers and her hesitancy.
But the battle to win Dillon over is one wrought with sexual tension and frustration. For every two steps forward Slade gets Dillon to take, she panics and takes two steps back, forcing Slade to adjust his game plan at every possible turn. But if there’s one thing that Slade demonstrates throughout the course of this story, it’s that he’s tenacious when it comes to getting what he wants, and he’s hell-bent on owning Dillon.
Slade is a much lighter read than Wild and Ridge. There’s no dark hero looking to dispel his demons; in fact, the heroine is the one running from the darkness of her past. Despite the change of plotline, though, there are still a few mysteries to be revealed and work to be done to get Slade and Dillon to their happy ending.
I’ve really enjoyed Adriane Leigh’s Wild Series. Lane Wild will always be my go to alpha male in the series, but both Ridge and Slade know how to bring the sexy. I did have a bit of a harder time connecting with Slade and Dillon’s story because I felt that their characters were a bit underdeveloped, and it left me wanting to understand their inner workings more, but Slade is still a worthwhile read to witness a sexy alpha take control and allow the woman he loves to gain some back.
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 poison apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)