Natalie ~ The Biblioholic's Reviews > Beneath This Mask

A solid 4.5. I had to dock because of the heroine of the book. She was terribly annoying. I'm all for being independent and convincing yourself that you can do bad all by yourself. But that's not what this was. I don't even know what this was. But I do believe that when someone proves to you that they can be trusted, you should friggin trust them. There is nothing wrong with looking within your circle for someone to lean on. What she was running from was serious, yeah, but come the frig on. Nobody was wanted for murder or something equally heinous. I also understand the fear of tainting other lives with the shameful smears that make up your own. But I'm not a fool. I do not adhere to the ideology of "sins of the father..." and all that nonsense. I just feel like she should have opened up to Simon earlier. Shoot, she didn't even open up to Con and he showed his loyalty ceaselessly as well. Ah well, I guess it had to happen for us to get the story we did. I just found her inner monologue struggle annoying. But I loved everything else about her.

Simon was awesome. A beautiful man going through his own inner turmoil but still has it within himself to be there for Charlie. He was just so sweet and patient with her. Even when a trauma landed someone he loved in the hospital. Nerves of steel. I'm just glad his patience was well rewarded and these two characters got their HEA.

Fave parts:

“Don’t break my heart, Charlie.”
I slid my hands up through his dark hair, hoping he could see everything I felt for him. Everything I was afraid to put into words. “Not without shattering my own.”

“This is me telling you, without a single reservation, that I want more. A whole hell of a lot more, Simon. I want it all. With you.”
My heart hammered at her words and the sight of her before me. Naked in every way. No walls. No masks. No secrets. No lies. Just Charlie. My inked, pierced, beautiful Charlie.”