QUINN IS BACK and pushing the limits on it all -- suspense, sex, love, gut-wrenching emotions -- with a fiery intense conclusion to his and Lexi's story. The more Alexis runs, the harder Quinn fights for her.
It's an undeniable truth; bad things happen to good people, and Lexi is not impervious to the realities of the life she left behind.
Keeping Lexi safe at all cost, Quinn remains unwavering in his duties, constantly putting his life on the line, time and time again.
Two tortured souls are pushed to the edges of their sanity and their love will be put to the test. Tempers flare, emotions burst, and love flickers, but after the ultimate explosion, can forgiveness be found amongst the rubble?
Alexis needs Quinn more than ever...and Quinn must decide if Lexi is truly his fate or if their romance was never meant to survive beyond his mission. One thing is for certain: neither Quinn nor Alexis will be the same after surfacing from the mountain trails. Now that they've survived the wild, can they survive each other?
Due to unprofessional behavior by this author towards other reviewers, I debated posting my full review out of principle. I can’t condone or promote authors who attack me or other reviewers simply because we don’t care for their work. However, would-be readers deserve an unbiased opinion, and I wrote this review before negative events took place. Let the chips fall where they may…
I enjoyed Quinn and since it ended on a cliffhanger, I was looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, it just didn’t live up to my expectations.
The heroine, Alexis, is largely responsible for my disappointment. She grew up the sheltered daughter of a mob boss, but it doesn’t excuse the level of her naiveté. She is so easily swayed that I got whiplash trying to keep up with her emotions. She’s overly quick to forgive, and her willingness to makes excuses for the despicable behavior of others made it impossible for me to connect with her. I like my heroines to have a little backbone. Lexi is so fragile that when she hears upsetting news, her eyes literally roll in the back of her head and she almost passes out. She’s painted as a victim, but I wound up feeling more irritated than sympathetic towards her.
There are a few plot twists, but they seem far-fetched, and the characters’ reactions are ludicrous. Other unfolding events are just plain odd or confusing. There are continuity issues as well, including contradictory details of a major plot point.
J.C. Cliff’s writing style seems different here, or maybe I just didn’t notice it in the first book. The language is unnaturally stiff and formal in places, especially given the tone of the rest of book.
“The smell of bacon cooking…slams into my olfactory senses.” “My lips twitch with mirth.”
In the end, conflicts are glossed over without any lingering consequences for bad behavior.
Overall, this is an extremely disappointing conclusion to the story.
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.**
Whew... thank you so very much J.C. for this AMAZING conclusion to Quinn's story. I absoutely fell in love with Quinn in the Blyss series, and then part 1 of his story was intense and powerful, the second part is so emotionally riveting that you will feel the pain written on the page.
J.C. has always been the queen of cliffhangers, however the eloquence with which she fulfills a reader is exceptional. This series has it all, suspense, sex, love, gut wrenching emotions, and a phenomenal story.
Do NOT hesisate, buy these NOW and fall IN LOVE with Rambo and his... Angel!!!!!
I read both of these books. I did enjoy them to a certain extent. They are fiction and I never nitpick all the unbelievable details of a book of fiction. I basically react to: -Was it enjoyable? -Did it entertain me? So my review is based solely on those points so yes, they took my mind off of the real world for a spell.
Sadly though, in the real world, this author chose to attack a blogger in the most unprofessional manner I have seen in all my years of blogging. Not only did the author attack the blogger personally and unprofessionally, but then asked for her followers to attack the blogger as well. The author posted some very disturbing posts, and then sent out an "apology" of sorts that did not even come close to a sincere apology and instead laid blame again on the blogger.
I read the bloggers original review, although a little over the top, it was not a harassing review. It was in fact a "REVIEW". Which is what authors expect when placing their books in the hands of readers.
No book will ever be everyones favorite book, and every Author must at all times refrain from bad public behavior. I will never condone any act of Bullying.
Due to these matters I will not rate the books as I fear of being attacked myself, either by the author or the authors supporters, and I will support my fellow bloggers in this blatant attack upon our community.
Holy Shit!!! What A Book This Was, I Don't Know Where To Begin, I Have So Many Emotions Running Through Me At Moment. I Read Till 4am, Sobbing At the End. I Can Honestly Say You Won't Be Disappointed By It.
Carry Straight On Where The Last Book Left Off, You Get Straight Into The Thick Of What Is Going On And Things Unfold And Spiral Drastically Out Of Control.
Lexi And Quinn Are Torn Apart And Hearts Are Broken But I Will Say No More Than That. I Wanted To Hurt So Many People In This Book And At One Stage Wanted To Cut Quinn's Balls Off.
I Can't Really Say Much More Than I Absolutely Think This Books Rocks And You Need To Read It And Read It ASAP. I Can't Wait For STRYKER'S Story This Author Is A New Favourite Of Mine.
Holy you know what! I never saw ANY of this coming. I actually had no idea how things were going to play out as we last left Quinn and Lexi in a very disturbing situation. Book two picks up right where we left off. Let me tell you that I received this book last night and I couldn’t put it down. I read this book in literally hours – yes it is that fantastic.
Oh deception, deception, and more deception – I was gasping and fist pumping the air all at the same time due to disbelief and “no she didn’t” moments. My entire mind was consumed by the web of lies woven throughout the pages. There is one situation though I really want to talk to JC about; something that I hope to from a specific character because I had a little twinge of hummmmm there. Yes Im talking in code because you all know I don’t do spoilers.
You do NOT want to miss clicking the conclusion to Quinn up. Im sitting here trying to figure out what else I can tell you but Im so afraid of letting something out that you really need to experience the train wreck your brain will be in personally and not from me giving you hints on what lies ahead.
I can tell you that JC has written Quinn and Lexi perfectly. Kimber is back as well and we all know Im in love with that sweet pup. Stryker and Hunter are in the mix more through the story and I loved getting to know them better. Stryker is something else. What else I learned is that I need and am going to go back and grab up the Blyss Trilogy. I had no idea Travis was already out there roaming around in book land. I have to know the story behind he and Jules and yes they are both in this release. When his name popped up in the first book I just didn’t make any connection --- gah!
You will be floored, flabbergasted and giddy as you flip the pages of this one. I do have to say I need to keep my emotions in check better because I wanted “more” to transpire once things came to light; again not to give anything away but there was a lot of restraint in how things were handled; hell to the no … beat that asshat to the ground!
Last, I have to comment on the cover. Look closely right underneath Quinn’s left pectoral muscle…… oh yes it did. Im still on a high from this release --- lord help us ladies because Stryker is next up and he also had a pup; Ranger. Yes I know Im ridiculous. Atrox Security is one of a kind ladies. What a gift.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this one. Thank you for the ARC! I will be waiting not patiently for Stryker’s story. LOL! -- Review to post to Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets.
This starts right where Quinn left off, so make sure to read book 1 first. Not to mention that you really don't wanna miss is anyways, it's been an awesome series! Once again I was lucky enough to Beta read the conclusion to Quinn and Lexi's amazing story! We have Quinn actually believing Lexi...what the hell? He should really know better, wouldn't you think? And remember in book 1 where JC tells you right off that Quinn has his one night rule? Well, he puts that to good use, only this time??? She's been around for awhile...And she's at the door when Lexi shows up...oops... And do you know why Lexi shows up? Nope, not telling...just say it's for a legit reason...and I wanna cry once again. This was a fast paced, gritty, no holds barred read. please read the warning before reading...as there is certain subject matter that could be detrimental. If non-consensual sex, kidnapping, murder and mayhem are not for you...then you may want to pass this one by as I'd hate to see is downgraded for those things necessary to the plot line.
In this action packed story we get Quinn trying to do his best to get Lexi home safely. There are untold dangers lurking on the trails of the Appalachian Mountains and Lexi seems to find almost every one. Twists and turns abide as we see Lexi try to run from her feelings, Quinn try to make her see where he's coming from... We get questions, answers, and WTF? moments. We see the good and bad. Secrets come to light, misunderstandings abound. And the end? Oh my... JC Cliff can weave a tale. She makes the characters comes to life. Quinn is my very own MacGuyver, only hotter...sexier...more manly. Everything you could want with the sexy all wrapped in an understanding, caregiving package. He's not intensely dominating...but he is ALPHA. He knows what he wants and he expects you to go along with it. He is the leader of the pack. This intensely emotional read will leave you begging for more in the Undaunted Men Series. The feelings JC Cliff can evoke with an ex military billy badass and a mafia princess? Awe inspiring...I don't know how many times I messaged her complaining of my raccoon eyes and running mascara! This was a wonderful, heartfelt conclusion! And...you get a taste of Stryker...oh yummmmmm while he's not Quinn, or Travis...I'm sure JC will change my mind... LOL 5 Spectacular Stars
These characters, this writing style and I just aren't compatible. I have a difficult time taking them seriously enough to allow me to actually get into the plot or their outcome. I'm sure many will like it, but it isn't for me.
(This review is based purely on the book and is a honest critique of the author’s writing and storytelling abilities.)
Wow, where the pace was slow and steady in Quinn I, this book literally vibrated with an energy that catapulted me head first into the story with absolutely no respite from the emotive performances from Alexis, Quinn and Kimber.
We pick up where “Quinn I” left off with Alexis still falling prey to her own emotions and levels of trust where Quinn is concerned. After finding herself in yet another dangerous and unforgiving situation, Alexis can only hope Quinn recovers quickly enough to rescue her. With Quinn constantly trying to allay her fears where Alexis’ trust in him is concerned, slowly but surely Alexis starts to realise that her love for this man can be believed but can Quinn ultimately believe in Alexis?
This story really went all out with its pace, emotion, passion and fight as Alexis and Quinn try to reach safety. When their plans fail once again though, it’s down to Alexis to save Quinn but does so in the cruellest way possible, by betraying their love. Vince is relentless in his quest to find Alexis and to make her his and through clever manipulation, he forces her hand into accepting him once again. Quinn is fighting his own battle though and survival isn’t going to come easy, especially with the fight having almost totally gone out of him. The story involving Vince finally concludes partway through the book but from there on in, an altogether different story commences and it's one which will rock you to your core.
All in all this was a beautiful book duet. Written with a slowly developing storyline, readers are treated with a powerful rendition of a love borne from conflicting backgrounds which are unexpectedly intertwined. What Alexis and Quinn find is beyond special but Alexis can only hope that her last message to Quinn reaches his heart. This story really wrung me out. Once animals are involved as main characters I always read with a trepidation but this combined with the overall pain and sacrifice throughout this story made for a physically powerful read.
We are proud to provide honest and unbiased reviews written from the heart.
Quinn II by J.C. Cliff was a thrilling 5 star read. Romance, Hot Alpha, humor, suspense
”Quinn, do you believe in karma?” “Baby,” he says, turning his head to face me, arching his brow while wearing a sly grin, “I am karma.”
What a great start to the Undaunted Men series. This is Quinn and Alexis’s story told in alternating POV. Lexi is on the run and Quinn has been hired to find her and bring her home. Quinn finds Lexi out on the mountain trail and they have an instant connection. She see’s him and Kimber as her protector, not realizing that her father has hired him to find her. “I think you were sent to help me by my guardian angel”
Quinn is struggling with his attraction to Lexi. He has only ever been a one night stand guy. And Kimber absolutely loves Lexi, she has never liked women near Quinn before so her behavior is a mystery to Quinn. Lexi is also starting to have more thoughts and feelings for Quinn. “Why does being wrapped in his arms feel so right?”
As they make their way through the mountain trail they get to know each other and encounter a few snags along the way. Will Lexi open up to Quinn about what she is hiding? Can Quinn help her?
“Quinn, I can’t deny you, and it scares me. It even frightens me to admit it to you. I don’t want to fall in love, but right now, I don’t want to say goodbye either.”
I really love Quinn and how great he was with Lexi. You will discover several emotions during the read; lust, humor, suspense, sadness, anger. The item Quinn found in Lexi’s bag was classic, LOL. Kimber was a great addition to the story, so sweet. Of course we end on a huge cliffhanger that will get your heartrate up. I can’t wait to see what is next in book 2. Thank you J.C. Cliff for a great read.
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by MAustin from Alpha Book Club
Quinn II was the second book in the Undaunted Men Series, and the ending to quite the cliffy of Quinn I. JC Cliff is an amazing author and I would highly recommend all of her books to anyone out there that reads my reviews. She has a knack for writing and seriously excels and becomes better and better with each story she produces. I would give this book a huge 5 stars and highly recommend to others. I am not sure I can put in to words how this book will capture your attention, it will pull at your heartstrings and soak your panties! The bathroom scene HOLY MOTHER OF something.... and she broke my heart not soon after that as well, I was full on sobbing.... she makes you feel the pain as if you were in the story... no clue how she did that but she did it brilliantly! You will gain a love/hate relationship with JC Cliff throughout Quinn's journey but I guarantee by the end she will redeem herself quite well.
I will not bore you with what this book is about because if you read Quinn I you know where it ended, and it does pick up right where it left off. If you thought the journey for Quinn and Alexis was quite the journey so far.. just wait because you are in for a quite a ride and whirlwind of emotions.
If you want an Epic story that will sit with you for years to come and send so many emotions flowing through your body, then you need to get these books, put down what your doing go to whatever site you use to download and get to one clickin asap! Now I can't wait for the next book Stryker! If you haven't read the Blyss series you need to pick it up now because this series is a spin off of that one as well and believe me when I say you want to get to know Travis, and Blyss will literally blow your mind!
Quinn's conclusion did NOT disappoint. This is part II, so you will need to read the first book since this picks up where the other book ends. I was so immersed in these characters. The heartbreak that they both go through. They both have their hearts torn to shreds and with every page turn there is so much emotion from both Quinn and Lexi. When I was about half way through the book, I thought to myself isn't this the end? But nope, a new twist to take you on a different adventure in their lives. I loved the story that played out and wrapped up from the first book and that it was wrapped up about half way through the book, which then really leads to the focus between Quinn and Lexi and the damage that was done to their relationship and could they repair it? I had a lump in my throat for the last half of the book and cried happy tears. Loved their story. Looking forward to Stryker's story next!
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest and independent review. This is not my first book by J.C. Cliff, but it is definitely one of my favorites! Quinn I was a great read, but Quinn II knocks one out of the park! The book starts after Alexis runs away from Quinn and the action starts right away & never stops. Quinn & Alexis are so good together it just feels right & your heart aches when they're apart. But when they are together, the loving is super hot, steamy & sexy!!!
Another thing I love about this book (or both Quinn I & II) is that it's not your typical love story. You feel the aches & pains that they go through & you want them to be whole again, along with Kimber, Quinn's K-9 partner in crime.
J.C. Cliff has an enormous talent for writing unique story lines that are character driven with hot non-stop action which hooks you right from the start. I could not put this book down & can't wait for her next book!
This is the second book and you need to Read Quinn 1 first.
Absolutely brilliant series and if you haven't read Blyss you could really do with reading that series first, whilst not essential it would make certain little things fall into place. I absolutely floved Blyss and the connection in this series is simply brilliant.
My heart broke for Lexi with her constant turmoil and emotional rollercoaster of a life, and Quinn well ...he's my current book boyfriend!
Personally I missed the humour in book 1 and also felt this second book wasn't quite as fast paced, but having said that I absolutely loved it.
Without giving anything away, there are seriously amazing and unexpected twists in this book that I did not foresee.
A brilliant conclusion to the Quinn story - well worth a one-click!
Quinn II is overwhelmingly exciting and agonizingly sensational!!! If "Quinn I" was a great book then "Quin II" really is the whipped cream and cherry on top! WoW... what an adventure!!! Quinn and Lexi's story cut me real deep... kept me on edge and biting my nails wondering WTF was going to happen next. J.C. Cliff pulled a wild card during all the mess going down... but you will have to get your hands on this baby to find out what exactly happens! A novel so worth reading and it gets so much more exciting as the story unfolds. You will discover many OMG moments, hilarious banter, scorchingly hawt scenes and grab-your-tissues-because-you-won't-be-able-to-control-those-tears instances! It's ALWAYS a pleasure and an honor to receive ARC's from this author because she NEVER fails to capture my interest the way her warped mind works. 5 Thrilling and Heart-Stirring Stars for Quinn II.
Since I am former Army I enjoy reading books with soldiers in them. This one also adds in mafia and a suspense story which is also something I enjoy. Over all I did think JC did a nice job with these books (duet-needs to be read together and in order). I loved Quinn and Lexi, they were great characters. I think they were pretty solid and the best part of the book. There was humor and some great sexy scenes that made this book very enjoyable. I think if the flow of the book would of been a bit better and the pace be on point I could of given this a solid 4 stars. Also, some of the wording and phrases needed to go through the editing process a bit more. Then again these may be things that just bothered me and you might enjoy it. Give it a shot if you think that it sounds good.
I have no words for how much I love Quinn. He is not perfect in fact I did have a few shaking the kindle and WTH moments where I wanted to slap him, but overall I would take him any day of the week. I never give spoilers, but I did love revisiting Jules and Travis and the tie in with the Blyss series. Alexis is a lovable heroine. She is a little naïve and reminds me somewhat of Jules. Her story is unbelievable. Like I said who is the good guy and who are the bad guys. Kimber is a welcome addition and makes Quinn even more loveable. I love this series and hope to see more of Quinn and Lexi along with Travis and Jules in future books, Stryker next. Love it JC. Couldn't put it down once I started so make sure you have time when you open the book
Wow this book was just as amazing as the first...and just as good as the blyss series. ...i was blown away with Quinn II it was so sad at some points i actually had tears in my eyes and that doesn't happen to me with any book but this one got to me.. what Quinn and Lexi went through oh jeez im tearing up again , what they went through was something crazy uuhhh but in the end everyone gets what they deserve thats for sure.....(Vince you crazy lunatic cant stand you) love the characters except vince love the story and live J.C. Cliff now everyone go read the blyss series and then these 2 books they are awesome i read them all and fell inlove with this author so go buy now
Quinn and Lexi continue to live in the woods, camping while Quinn is keeping Lexi safe. Quinn and Lexi are entrenched in their love for one another only to have it pushed beyond either's control. Can the survive the betrayal another puts into motion?
I had not read the first Quinn book in the Undaunted Men series. That being said I thought I had a good grasp on what happened in the first book and was able to follow along. I definitely will go back and read from the beginning though. I liked Quinn and Lexi together, they have a rough road ahead of them and I was surprised by the path each one takes. Unable to put down, it had me hooked from the first page.
This book ended right where the first one stopped. Quinn is an amazing man, who will do anything for anyone at any time. Lexi has learned a lot and is still trying to do things in her own way. She just wants to protect Quinn from what she knows is coming. There are secrets that will come out in time, but they first have to get past everything else.
Loved every minute of this book. I couldn't put it down. What a fantastic series!!
Quinn II was a book I just couldn't put down....well almost! I have to admit that there were a few times that I had to walk away simply because the characters just had me so wound up; typical JC Cliff style! Lexi goes through so much during this book that I wondered how she kept going and it's so hard to know who to trust! JC gives us a great conclusion to Quinn's story and introduces us to the other members of the team. I can't wait to read more!
Brilliant, sexy and intense finale! Such. Great story, I cannot say enough good things about it! Fast paced and so much at stake! Brilliant! A must read for sure.
I read this a long time ago and held on to the review because not only hadn’t read the first book in the series but there was too much negativity being batted around online for the book to get a fair crack but having stumble on the review in a lonely folder on my machine I thought it only right that I put my review up, after all despite my misjudgement of not having read book one, I loved this read. Quinn was truly something else. The events that Quinn and Lexi had to go through didn’t just result in a gentle tug at my heartstrings, nope they were swinging from the ends and I could almost feel myself break. I was a little lost as to how I should reconcile the lunacy of what they were experiencing, I mean there are degrees of bats**t and this was totally off the scale. I loved that there was a proper villain to the story, you know what I mean…a character that it really is ok to totally hate, the one that you want to take a bat too!! Yep this had one of those…Vince, reprehensible doesn’t even scratch the surface of how bad he is. I loved the mafia twist that the story has, it only enhances the fact that this military man has his work cut out keeping not only himself but Lexi safe. The story ran smoothly (enough) it might have need a tweak here and there but that is me splitting hairs really because I found both the flow and the banter worked for me, it encouraged me to read on, I didn’t want to put the book down and the characters mattered. I felt their pain as they face obstacle after obstacle and I have to say that by the time I was half way through the book, I wasn’t entirely sure if either they or I would make it to the end, I felt gutted, I could slowly feel the enormity of their situation growing and I wasn’t sure how they were going to get through it all but this is a very clever author because the twist that she produced blew me away. Could Quinn and Lexi survive, and more to the point would they survive together? One word of warning though – you will need tissues.
Oh Quinn, how you plagued me. I had a very difficult time writing this review, and even now, at least a month after finishing these books, I'm still conflicted. So I'm going to be straight up honest in this review, because I know there are readers who gobble up the story elements I disliked and there are others who would rather burn a book than deal with them.
There were parts of this story I loved and parts I absolutely freaking hated. Because the story is cut into two separate "books" (I'm still trying to decide if this was a good choice—due to the total large word count of both books—or an unnecessary emotional gimmick), I'm reviewing Quinn 1 and Quinn 2 together. This review will include spoilers, but they will be deprecated by the hidden spoiler functionality to ensure it only shows if you choose to click it.
I'm always on the fence about New Adult—some I really enjoy and some I absolutely abhor, and I never know till I start where an author or story will fall in that spectrum. Even so, I hung through all the angst, the bad communication and secrets, and even the cliffhanger ending between two books that seem to have been separated solely for the pleasure of creating a nasty cliffhanger. In romance, all of these are an author's tools to elicit emotional reactions in a reader, so in that respect this story is very effective. It definitely brought out strong emotions in me. There was a scene that made me so angry I put my reader down mid-sentence. And not because I was angry with or for the characters like you might expect. No, I SEETHED and it was all directed at the author. I felt manipulated, played. After I had some time to cool down, I realized that while, yes, I had some strong emotions about HOW the story was written, I couldn't deny that it was very effectively penned. So readers who do like this sort of emotional roller coaster, will probably adore Quinn's story.
From an editorial standpoint—for you readers who care about the particulars about both presentation (grammar/punctuation) and flow (story continuity and rhythm)—I definitely found evidence of sloppy editing, both copy and developmental. It generally didn't take away from the overall story, but it sure didn't help soothe my conflicted feelings about the books.
I also disliked the cliffhanger ending, even more so after reading the author's note at the end of Part 1, practically crowing about doing it. I've never seen an author so gleeful about playing with readers' emotions before and I have to say I seriously dislike it. Evidence of this manipulative mindset is peppered throughout the story (see the spoilers below for more on that). Luckily readers are well-warned before buying the book, so if you did pick this up from a bookseller, you probably had adequate warning about what you were getting into. I feel strongly that there is a difference in manipulative storytelling and dynamic, powerful storytelling, and I think part of the reason New Adult gets such a bad rep is authors like JC Cliff who antagonistically pluck all the right strings seemingly for the sole sake of forcing reader reactions.
Overall, Quinn Parts 1 and 2 are a solid (and probably addicting) read if you enjoy truly angsty New Adult romances with brutal cliffhanger endings. If any of that turns you off, stay far away from this story.
Here's where the spoilers start, so skip through the hidden pieces below or stop here if you want to go into this story with zero knowledge of what's coming.
I really dislike posting this sort of review on GoodReads (oh, OH the trolls!) but part of following a blogger is affinity for the types of books they like and score highly. My hope is that anyone who generally finds they like the same types of stories I do will read this (even without spoilers) and be able to make an educated decision about whether this book is a good fit. Maybe you will love it! But maybe you would hate it, and if I can spare even one person the angst and upsetting tailspin this book sent me into, this is worth posting.
For me, I enjoyed part two much more. I loved Lexi and Quinn in the end, even though they were quite frustrating at parts. This book was full of more action and twists and turns I didn't see it coming. It's definitely worth the read.
I read the first part and immediately got the second part. It's a bit different and places it's rough. Quinn doesn't trust very easy and Lexi can't believe anything.
I’ll be honest here, I really had no expectations for this book after reading the first part. My biggest quibble, apart from the purple prose that leads to not being true to the characters, is the fact they don’t trust one another, nor their love in each other. Yes, that’s probably due to the fact they fell in love in record time, but then that’s the dilemma the author has woven into the over-the-top emotion this couple throws back and forth at the drop of a hat. There’s only one reason, and one reason alone, this book gets a higher grade from me over the first book.
This book picks up exactly where the first one left off – Lexi running from Quinn when she discovers something she either doesn’t understand or misinterprets, runs straight into trouble and Quinn has to rescue her and drag out of her why she ran to begin with. The opening scenes, as in the first book, actually move along okay, giving me hope maybe this story may be better. But then as Quinn and Lexi begin an actual conversation, my hopes plummet. People just don’t speak to each other the way these two do. It’s stilted and awkward, all due to word choice, which, again, is not true to the characters. Especially Quinn. He’s supposed to be alpha military. He’s only that when he’s actually in military mode. It doesn’t bleed over into his everyday life.
Once Quinn and Lexi get to the end destination after their wilderness trek, things go to hell very quickly. Vincent, Lexi’s supposed fiance, is there first and causes havoc to no end. Lexi tries to will Quinn to understand her betrayal, and Quinn is just left bewildered and out cold, even though he can take down any number of men at a time. I find it a bit ironic it’s always something very simple that takes Quinn down in these books. He finds himself bound in a basement somewhere, and he bides his time to escape and get Lexi out of his mind. These scenes during his imprisonment are actually some of the best in the book.
Lexi, on the other, hand, she hasn’t grown one whit since the first book. She’s still too vulnerable and naive, especially after her sojourn. She just needs to grow the hell up. But even after her treatment in Vince’s hands, she’s the same old Lexi. Finally her father, the mob boss, gets involved, which should have happened much earlier, in my opinion. Both she and Quinn are doubting each other to the point of never wanting to see the other again. At least Lexi does get the gumption to finally face Quinn when her next secret can’t be hidden any longer. But the man is vicious. Doesn’t give her a chance, flaunts his one-nighter in front of her, and is very close to losing my respect. In fact, I’m surprised that hasn’t happened already.
What saves him? His reaction to Lexi’s news when he does finally discover the truth. Of course, there needs to be more groveling on both sides by this time, but it’s too late for that. For me there’s just way too much outside conflict that goes in their lives. They seldom work together, and when they do, it doesn’t last long. But I do like the scenes near the end when Quinn finally has everything he never thought he wanted. That, and the few other points above, are the only things that brought my grade up for this book. Everything else needs so much work. Hopefully Ms. Cliff will take this experience and grow from it.