Stephanie’s Comments (group member since Jul 22, 2015)

Stephanie’s comments from the The #JustTheTip Readership group.

Analia wrote: "Love Burns, This is War, Baby"

Love Burns starts on April 1st. I'm so excited!

Oooh, these are good choices so far! Keep them coming. :)

Elizabeth wrote: "Love Burns"

The Love Burns Read Along starts on April 1st! :)

It hurt so much reading it again!!!

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Deacon is getting his hands wrapped for the fight. He is upset and also wanting to give up because he doesn’t care about winning. When his dad tells him Frankie wasn’t there he heads in to the tunnel, ready to get the fight over with. When he enters the Cage he doesn’t even give Holloway a change before starting in on him. Holloway is nearly unconscious when the referee steps in and Deacon storms out of the Cage. The match was over in a matter of minutes.

Deacon texts Indie while waiting Trent is on the phone telling Reggie about the fight and finding out how Frankie is. She tells him that Frankie is upset and worried about him because he’s so angry.

Trent tells him that Frankie is fine. That it’s just been her and Indie and no one came over. He tells him Reggie is staying the night because he doesn’t think she should be alone.

Deacon text Frankie this and tells her not to fight him on it. He also tells her that he will be coming for her after his last fight. She texts him Bumper Cars and after he listens to it, he can feel her pain. He texts back Little Did You Know so she knows that he hears her and that he’s here and not going anywhere.

What were your thoughts on Chapter Twenty-Eight?
Did you think Deacon was so angry that he was going to injure Holloway in a major way?
Did you feel hope that Frankie was responding to his texts?

Chapter Twenty-Seven

It’s Fight Night! Deacon vs “The Tank” Holloway

Deacon knocks out his sparring partner and then takes down Sonny when tries to stop him. Mav tackles him and doesn’t let go until his dad tells him to and then sends Deacon back to the hotel. He goes to text Frankie about whether she’s coming to the fight, but he doesn’t want to give her the opportunity to say no to anything. He’s giving her space while he focuses on his upcoming fights, even though he doesn’t want to.

As Deacon waits for the others to show up at the hotel, he keeps himself occupied by exercising and showering repeatedly to keep him from hopping on the next plane to Frankie.

After his fourth shower of the night he sees his tattoo of Frankie’s name in the mirror and remembers her asking about it. The memory makes him pull up the song responsible for him getting the tattoo as well as their song and he lets the sadness of missing her take over the anger he’s been feeling.

What were your thoughts on Chapter Twenty-Seven?
I was hurting for him and how angry he was and then his sadness when he was remember the conversation about the tattoo. Could you tell how much Deacon missed Frankie?

Chapter Twenty-Six

Deacon arrives home to find his dad and brother’s there. He’s in pain and hurting and doesn’t know how he is going to get through the charity event. He starts to tell his dad, who is waiting for him, that he’s not going when his dad tells him that they should go inside to talk. They head to his private rooms while Deacon ignores his brothers and Trent. His dad tells him that he’s not going to let him ruing everything he’s trained for just because he messed up. That he can’t miss the charity event in honor of Frankie’s mom. He doesn’t ask for details, just tells Deacon that it doesn’t matter what he’s done, it can’t be changed. All that matters is what he’s going to do about it.

They arrive at the charity event and when Cristiano shows up calling Frankie “Princessa” Deacon is furious. He tells him not to call her that and not to touch her or he will break every bone in his body.

He tells Guy that he is in love with Frankie and he won’t let anyone touch her whether they are together or not. He apologizes for not telling him sooner so the scene could have been avoided.

Frankie storms away, upset, while Indie goes after her.

Deacon glares at Cristiano while saying he is going home to pack, telling his brothers to take care of his girl and to watch him.

What were your thoughts on Chapter Twenty-Six?
How badly did you want to see Deacon hit Cristiano?
Do you think Frankie was upset because Deacon told her dad he was in love with or because he made a scene at the charity event?

Chapter Twenty-Five

Deacon’s POV

As Deacon wraps his bleeding hand in a town and heads out to look for Frankie, he runs in to Sonny. Sonny starts in on him about how he knew Veronica would show up and cause trouble. Deacon tells him now is not the time and makes to punch him when Sonny attempts to detain him. Mav steps in to stop Deacon. Deacon talks about how he messed up, he knows, and he turns to leave and runs in to his dad. His dad inspects his hand while Deacon tells him that he’s got to find Frankie. His dad tells Sonny and Mav to go get ready for the charity event. As his dad is patching up his hand, Deacon tells him how Frankie and he have been together for a while. Deacon’s dad tells him that he thought he and Frankie would be married by now because they’ve always had a connection and she’s always been able to calm him. Then he tells him to fix the situation because he won’t let Deacon ruin their family’s relationship.

Deacon shows up at Indie’s and finds Cristiano there. Frankie comes in and speaks to Cristiano before heading to her room. Deacon tells him to stay away from her and then heads after her.

Frankie tells him that she’s tired and doesn’t want to do this now. Deacon tells her that they are right together but Frankie doesn’t want to be hurt anymore. She wants to go back to being friends. She tells him she’s strong but can’t stay around waiting for the next girl to show up who breaks her heart a piece at a time because they want what she has. Deacon tells her that he can’t be something he’s not but he loves her and she has all of him. Frankie say she doesn’t want all of him because it hurts too much. As he watches her cry he tells her he’s only ever made love to her, seen her despite who he was with and that the truth was rarely romantic and then he leaves, done fighting for her to believe in them.

What were your thoughts on Chapter Twenty-Five?
This chapter! Could you just feel the pain from both Deacon and Frankie?
How did you feel when Deacon left, tired of fighting for Frankie to believe in them?

What book would you like to read for May's Read Along & Discussion? Comment below and then we will vote at the beginning of April!

Discussions through Chapter 24 are posted. You can still join in! :)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Frankie’s POV

Frankie is changing when she senses that she is no longer alone in her studio and Deacon has joined her. She tells Deacon she doesn’t have time to put her dirty girl moves on him tonight after he tells her what watching her dance does to him. Deacon maneuvers her into her office and then it is sexy time in the studio.

Sexy time! Sexy time!

As they are heading out of the studio after sexy time, they are interrupted by a bitter Veronica who is determined to cause trouble between her and Deacon. After she leaves when Deacon tells her that she meant nothing to him, Frankie flat out asks him if he’s been sleeping with Veronica. He tells her know but confesses about the BJ. She asks him how he would feel if she gave Cristiano a BJ when Deacon interrupts her telling her that the only person her lips would be touching were his.

Deacon tells her about that night right after she asks and tells her that he knows he messed up, that he wants to deserve her. Then he turns around and ask her if she slept with Cristiano that night. More arguing ensues with Frankie confessing about the panic attack and how Deacon wasn’t there for her. The chapter ends with Deacon punching the mirror after Frankie storms off after telling him that she would for sure sleep with Cristiano now.

What were your thoughts on Chapter Twenty-Four?
Did you expect that Veronica would eventually show up to cause trouble about that night?
How badly did this chapter upset you with their ensuing argument and what looks like an imminent break-up?

Chapter Twenty-Three

After lunch, Deacon and Frankie head back to the gym for Frankie’s class and Deacon’s training time before they have to get ready for the charity dinner they have that night. After training, Deacon and his brothers are heading out when then stop dead at Frankie’s studio, wondering why there was a stripper convention in there. As Deacon watches Frankie continue with her twerking class, he tells Sonny and Mav to go downstairs and he would catch up with them later.

What were your thoughts on Chapter Twenty-Three?
Did you want to join in on Frankie’s twerking class? It certainly sounded like fun!

Chapter Twenty-Two

Deacon arranges to meet Frankie and Indie for lunch. He beats Frankie there and he chats with Indie about why Cristiano is still there and how Frankie doesn’t want anyone to know her and Deacon are together even though they have been for a couple of months now. Indie, as eloquent as ever, tells Deacon that he needs to man up. Frankie arrives with Reggie and Trent before Indie can expound on her comment and Deacon heads up to the front of the restaurant to meet her. As they are heading back to the table, Frankie tells Deacon that she feels like someone was watching her. Reggie overhears and heads out to check. Indie greets her and Frankie tells them to behave when they start insulting each other.

What were your thoughts on Chapter Twenty-Two?
Even with their insults and everything, can you tell that Indie really does care for Deacon?

Chapter Twenty-One

Deacon’s POV

Frankie asks Deacon to help her with the choreography for a couple’s dance since Cristiano isn’t there and the couple is due to arrive soon.

They dance together like they used to when they were younger.

What were your thoughts on Chapter Twenty-One?
I loved, loved, loved seeing the playful side of Deacon and his banter with Frankie in this chapter. How about you?

Chapter Twenty

Frankie’s POV

After escorting her to her seat, Frankie tells Reggie and Trent that they should go walk with Deacon, that she’ll be fine. After ignoring a text from Cristiano, Frankie greets her dad when he sits down next to her.

Deacon and Tamasino both enter the ring and the announcer gives their stats while the commentators discuss Deacon’s comeback and how they think the fight will go.

Fight, fight, fight!

During the fight Frankie’s dad tells her that they were all worried about Deacon. That when she was attacked he had so much anger and hate in him, that they were afraid he would be consumed by it and that he was glad to see him happy and fighting again.

Fight, fight, fight!

Deacon is declared the winner seconds in to the second round! Frankie cheers and signals to him with a wink and holding up two fingers to remind him of their bet.

What were your thoughts on Chapter Twenty?
Frankie’s discussion with her dad was perfect. I loved seeing Deacon from a different perspective. What did you think?
Did you have any doubt that Deacon would win in the second round?

Chapter Nineteen

It’s fight night! Frankie wraps his hands and wrists like millions of times before. She’s nervous about the fight with Deacon being up against “The Devil” Tamasino. When Deacon asks her about it, he bets her that he’ll beat Tamasino by round two. After Frankie leaves with Reggie and Trent, Deacon goes over his plan and tips for the fight with his dad and brothers.

What were your thoughts on Chapter Nineteen?
Did you love the bet between Deacon and Frankie?
At this point, do you think Deacon can win the match by the second round?

Chapter Eighteen

After morning sexy time, Deacon answers his phone to Mav asking where he is because he’s missed gym time. That Sonny and his dad are going to kill him if he misses his weigh-in for the fight. After realizing how little time they had to get ready, they head off to different bathrooms (since they know they would never make it out of the house if they got ready together.) After his weigh-in, Deacon is talking to his dad about the press conference when he is approached by Sylvia, a friend of Veronica’s. Her cattiness shows it’s claws when Deacon rejects her and when Frankie is less than impressed with her antics and fires back at her with her own insults. During the press conference, Rick Withers (Veronica’s brother) starts asking gossipy questions about Deacon’s time off. He implies that Frankie’s attack wasn’t a good enough reason for Deacon to miss any of the fights that he did.

What were your thoughts on Chapter Eighteen?
OMG, how badly did you want to hit both Sylvia and Rick?

Chapter Seventeen

Deacon’s POV

Now that Frankie has decided she wanted to be with him, Deacon tells her that she deserves special but that she might have to teach him. And she tells him that his words are what makes it this special. After some hesitation, which is alleviated when Deacon tells her that she is the only woman that has ever been in his bed, then head to Deacon’s bedroom.

Commence sexy, sexy time!

Hot! Hot! Hot!

What were your thoughts on Chapter Seventeen?
Did you swoon when Deacon told Frankie “You’re different, you always have been. You feel me?” (Gah! One of my favorite quotes in the whole book. LOL)
How hot was this chapter?

Mandi wrote: "Ahhhh, this chapter is one of my favorites for soooo many reasons!!!!"

Mine, too!

Chapter Sixteen

Frankie’s POV

Frankie is not happy when she finds out that Deacon brought her back to his house instead of Indie’s. They argue and Frankie tells him that, aside from her dad, he is the most important person in her life and she doesn’t what their friendship to change. He tells her that their relationship changes when he had her up against the wall in his office and the he isn’t going to share her with Cristiano or any other man anymore. More arguing back and forth between them with Deacon telling her that he loves her and that when he takes her she’ll know that she is completely owned by him. And all the arguing finally leads to Frankie giving in and telling Deacon that she wants to be with him, too.

What were your thoughts on Chapter Sixteen?
Lots of arguing back and forth between Deacon and Frankie. How did you feel when Frankie finally gave in and told Deacon that she wanted to be with him?