At Peace by Kristen Ashley Also in this series: For You, Golden Trail , Games Of The Heart , The Promise , Hold On
Series: 'The Burg #2
on January 2, 2015
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 621
Format: eBook
Source: Self Purchased
Violet Winters once had it all but lost it when her husband was murdered by a criminal madman. During a cold winter night Violet has to leave her warm bed to tell her neighbor to turn the music down. And that’s when she meets sinister, scarred, scarily attractive security specialist, Joe Callahan.
She wants to deny it, but Violet can’t beat back the hunger she feels for Joe so she gives in again and again. Feeling it himself, Joe feeds Vi’s hunger, breaking his own rules to keep her in his bed.
Even though Violet had only one man in her life, she’s sure Joe is giving her the signals and Vi decides she’s ready to take a second chance at life and, maybe, love. But Violet doesn’t know the dark secrets in Joe’s past, secrets so soul-wrenching, they’ve drained him dry. With nothing left to give, Joe’s determined to live his life alone and he breaks Violet’s heart.
Crushed by Joe’s betrayal, Violet comes to terms with the fact that, no matter what signals he gave, Joe was not theirs to win. But Violet’s husband’s murderer is obsessed with her and heartbreak again haunts the door of the Winters home. When it does Joe is forced to face the knowledge that he can’t fight Violet’s pull, she’s under his skin and filled him full to bursting.
Joe needs to win her back and put his life on the line to keep Violet safe. But, having had it all once, can Violet endure losing Joe?
At Peace is the second book in the ‘Burg’ series and this review I have a feeling will be difficult to write. Its a story I enjoyed and as always it has the charm of Kristen Ashley’s style of writing, but I am still on the fence on this series. It just hasn’t drawn me in like the other series have but maybe it will get better with each book. And I think I had a hard time with this one because of how this one starts. I am not big on the “fling” beginnings, they just aren’t my cup of tea and one of my least favorite tropes so I think that put me off for a while but I did enjoy it overall and eager to delver more into this world.
At Peace starts off with Violet and Joe coming together in a most unconventional way. Violet wakes up to loud music and goes over to her next door neighbor’s home, to get it turned off and ends up being caught in the middle of a tense situation where she meets Joe who throws a woman out of his home who isn’t wanted there. And at first Violet is scared of Joe, unsure what the real situation actually was but there is intense chemistry between the two and her fear turns into desire for this mysterious dark man. Joe has some demons in his past, and will only settle for causal hook ups, its the only way to live for him until Violet. He sees something deeper in her than ever before but there is a man that is hunting Violet and Joe will protect her at all costs…
At Peace was a very interesting read. We see lots of conflict and pain inflicted on these two in the beginning. They have both suffered trauma’s and loss of their own. But they also are strong independent souls. Violet is a single mother, her husband being murdered by a mafia boss and now is on her own with her two teenage daughters. Joe runs a security business but has deep scars of his own and has been burned in the worst way. He is slow to trust and much of his treatment of Violet in the beginning is fear of what he has to face in himself and his past if he ever wants the future he invisions having with her and her girl who have stolen his heart.
We’re talkin hearts, here. You don’t play games with the hearts.
You’re wrong. Only games worth playin’ are games of the heart.
I really found this is a great story and I breezed through these 600 pages (and yes this book is THAT long) and once we get to the point where Joe is willing to fight for Violet and her girls boy the romance really picks up and steals your attention and heart with every single page. I became so captivated by everything surrounding the events of this story and most especially the villain. Its not a big focus to be honest, the suspense and mystery surrounding him isn’t super focused as the romance is at the heart of the story bu loved seeing it come to conclusion and seeing Joe and Violet find their HEA in such a beautiful spellbinding way.
About Kristen Ashley
Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
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