I have been anxiously awaiting Lucian's story since reading A Love of Vengeance, and with Grievous, Nancy Haviland delivered a stunning and intensely emotional book that left me reeling. Grievous was a beautifully written, deeply emotional, incredibly sexy story that left me with a craving for more. A violent mobster and his innocent prey come together in this hauntingly dark story of pain, vengeance, and mind-blowingly hot sex. Two people from different worlds are brought together by an undeniable, burning attraction and a connection that defies logic.
"From the moment they'd met, his dominance over everything around him had drawn her like a fragile moth to a crackling blaze."
Haviland's writing is so smooth and she weaves a storyline that has you hanging on to every word. This book stands out among the others in the Wanted Men series in that it has a darkness and grittiness that almost feels tangible. Lucian is still reeling from the death of someone close to him, and needs something to focus his energy on, that something being Yasmeen. Even while being close to her he tries to remain emotionally distant, and at times I was frustrated with his need to keep her at arms length. At the same time, I understood that he was battling both his own mind and his need for revenge, causing him to act out in unconventional ways.
"Yasmeen Michaels. His weakness. Frightened. Courageous. Stubborn. His."
The characters of this story were well-developed and so intriguing. I love the rich man/poor girl dynamic, and in this case it only added to the intensity of Lucian and Yasmeen's relationship. Yasmeen was someone who came from nothing and had to work hard for her independence. She didn't let her past rule who she was, and I loved that about her. All of Haviland's heroines have a great combination of strength and vulnerability, and Yasmeen is no exception. I fell in love with her from the very first pages. I enjoyed her intelligence, her defiance, and most of all, I loved her sense of humor and quick wit. Lucian has always been my favorite of all the mobsters, and my heart broke for him so many times while reading. His suffering was immense, understandably so. He was drowning in grief and fighting against an indescribable rage that resided inside him. He battled with his mind so fiercely, and it showed in every interaction he had with Yasmeen.
"I will sink my c*** into you and pleasure you until you are screaming loud enough to wake the dead. And you will accommodate me willingly and with a smile."
The intimate scenes in this story were some of the hottest I've ever read. I loved that feeling of not knowing what was coming next while reading. Lucian's unpredictability created a palpable tension between him and Yasmeen, leading to some insanely intense and deeply erotic moments between them. He was so dominant, so possessive, and so incredibly sexy. I suggest readers have a fan handy while reading, because the sex between these two was explosively hot.
"Her head fell back, her mouth opened, and a song came from her that would have told anyone within hearing distance that she was this man’s toy to do with as he pleased."
I don't know how I am going to hold on to my sanity waiting for the conclusion of their story to release next year. This author is a truly gifted storyteller, and it was showcased clearly with this book. Lucian and Yasmeen have a tumultuous road ahead of them, and I have no doubt that Haviland will make the rest of their journey absolutely epic.