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I am Lover of romance, who indulges in the romantic adventures of literature

My name is Renee, and I am the host of this site. I am a 34 year old woman, on the prowl for her mate, searching out the best of books, exploring the wilds of the imagination and delving into the heart of a beautiful love story.

 

Book Review-Reap by Tillie Cole

by | Sep 24, 2017 | Book Reviews | 8 comments

Book Review-Reap by Tillie Cole

Book Review-Reap by Tillie ColeReap by Tillie Cole
Also in this series: Raze, Ravage, Riot
Series: Scarred Souls #2
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on November 10th 2015
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 272
Format: eBook
Source: Library
Goodreads
AmazonLibrary Thing
five-stars

Raised as a prototype for the Georgian Bratva's obedience drug, 221 fails to think, act or live for himself; his master's perfectly-crafted killing puppet. Standing at six foot six, weighing two-hundred and fifty pounds, and unrivaled in to-the-death combat, 221 successfully secures business for, the Georgian Mafiya Boss of NYC, in the dark world of the criminal underground. Until his enemies capture him.

Talia Tolstaia dreams to break from the heavy clutches of Bratva life. She dreams of another life-away from the stifling leash of her Russian Bratva Boss father and from the brutality of her work at The Dungeon--her criminal family's underground death match enterprise. But when she stumbles upon her family's captive who is more monster than man, she starts she starts to see the man underneath. A powerful, beautiful, damaged man whose heart calls to hers.

But sacrifices must be made--blood for blood... life for life... Souls for scarred souls...

In Reap we have a edgy and deeply riveting romance that held me at the edge of my seat and I honestly couldn’t get enough of this book. I remember seeing a review of this book “somewhere” and for the life of me I can’t remember where, but I knew I needed this book and when I saw it available at my local library I snatched it up because I really wanted to give this author a chance and I am so relieved that I did. Reap is not for the faint of heart, its not full of roses and daisy’s, its heartwrenching and intense and suspensful but all the feels that this book conveys is simply wonderful.

The story sets off with our heroine and her brother and his wife (the first couple of the series). Luca is having nightmares of a time when he was a slave and forced to fight for his life. Where he lost his best friend to save his wife, and the promise that he made. He must do everything he can to find the twin brother 221 or was once known as Zaal Kostova. So he goes in to rescue him and Luca barely frees him and takes him to the one place he would be safe, a beach house where his sister is at currently. Talia Tolstaia is the sister of Luca and the daughter of a Russian Bravta Boss. She has always bent the rules and been a bit of a rebel. She is appalled that her brother would bring a Kostova into their home, one that is drugged and raving mad and dangerous. Zaal’s father’s killed her grandfather and their families have been bitter enemies. After a couple of weeks, Talia goes to Zaal, because she can’t resist reaching out and trying to reach him and bring him out to the real world. As Zaal starts to find himself again, and Talia discovers a stronger bond than she has ever experienced, she will have to make a hard choice one that may make her choose over being with her family or the one man who has her heart and soul….

I fell for our greatest enemy. I fell in deep, and I gifted him all of my heart, all of this enemy Tolstaia heart

This is a powerfully intense story that definitely gets your heart racing and boy the emotion that this book conveys. Definitely don’t experience this in every book I pick up. Now I do wish I had read book one before reading this book, because it would have made figuring out certain details a lot easier. The only downside to this book was a bit of confusion in the beginning, but it soon gives way. And boy did I want to read Luca’s story so badly now. The focus of the story is dealing with some major PTSD issues from being a fighter slave for most of Zaal’s life and the love story that builds between Zaal and Talia. I just loved and ADORED this couple so much. In fact, they may be one of my favorites that I have read all year.

Talia Tolstaia. My Talia Tolstaia.
I tried to find hate. I tried to despise.
I found only warmth. She was mine.
She had cleansed me. Cared for me. Cried for me. She
was…for me.

There was something so vibrant that is just THERE and you just want to immerse yourself into those sweet and unique moments that brings a tear or two in your eye. Seeing the way that Talia brings Zaal into the world, showing him the simply beauty of walking in the sand and surf of the beach was heartbreaking. He has been treated like an animal ever since his family was killed when he was eight and he was kidnapped and tortured and drugged for the majority of his life. To see how protective and sacrificing he is for Talia is heart wrenching. I love the way though that we see such growth in Zaal. He changes so much in this book, and quite simply the end result is beautiful. Just reading this book made me want to go out in nature and live in the “moment”. The reader definitely comes away feeling more and more that life is so precious and this author gives us such a beautiful gift in this heart wrenching story.

Reap is a romance that lift your heart, opens your mind to new possibilities and experiences and offers a poignant tale that is guaranteed to sweep you off your feet!!!

We’d bared our pasts, we’d fought our fates. And at the end, left over was only the purest form of love. Of need. Of US.

Books N Tunes Reading Challenge


About Tillie Cole

Amazon & USA Today Best Selling Author, Tillie Cole, is a Northern girl through and through. She originates from a place called Teesside on that little but awesomely sunny (okay I exaggerate) Isle called Great Britain. She was brought up surrounded by her English rose mother -- a farmer's daughter, her crazy Scottish father, a savagely sarcastic sister and a multitude of rescue animals and horses.
Being a scary blend of Scottish and English, Tillie embraces both cultures; her English heritage through her love of HP sauce and freshly made Yorkshire Puddings, and her Scottish which is mostly demonstrated by her frighteningly foul-mouthed episodes of pure rage and her much loved dirty jokes.

Having been born and raised as a Teesside Smoggie, Tillie, at age nineteen, moved forty miles north to the 'Toon', Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, where she attended Newcastle University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts honours degree in Religious Studies. She returned two years later to complete a Post-Graduate Certificate in Teaching High School Social Studies. Tillie, regards Newcastle to be a home from home and enjoyed the Newcastle Geordie way of life for seven 'proper mint' and 'lush' years.

One summers day, after finishing reading her thousandth book on her much loved and treasured Kindle, Tillie turned to her husband and declared, "D'you know, I have a great idea for a story. I could write a book." Several months later, after repeating the same tired line at the close of another completed story, she was scolded by her husband to shut up talking about writing a novel and "just bloody do it!" For the first time in eleven years, Tillie actually took his advice (he is still trying to get over the shock) and immediately set off on a crazy journey, delving deep into her fertile imagination.

Tillie, ever since, has written from the heart. She combines her passion for anything camp and glittery with her love of humour and dark brooding men (most often muscled and tattooed – they’re her weakness!). She also has a serious side (believe it or not!) and loves to immerse herself in the complex study of World Religions, History and Cultural Studies and creates fantasy stories that enable her to thread serious issues and topics into her writing -- yep, there's more to this girl than profanity and sparkles!

After six years of teaching high school Social Studies and following her Professional Rugby Player husband around Europe, they have finally given up their nomadic way of life and settled in Calgary, Alberta where Tillie spends most of her days (and many a late night) lost in a writing euphoria or pursuing a dazzling career as a barrel-racing, tasselled-chap wearing, Stetson-sporting cowgirl... Ye-haw!

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8 Comments

  1. Michele H

    This sounds like an amazing story! It’s great when an author can pull that much emotion out of a reader and open up our eyes to everything around us. *sigh* Wonderful review!! 🙂

    Reply
  2. Melliane

    I only tried her Hades Hangmen series but I really like it so I know I need to try more books

    Reply
  3. Alyssa Susanna

    I’ve heard about Tillie Cole! I’d never seen this book before, but it sounds amazing. I am all for intense and heartbreaking. The hero sounds like one I would fall for, and the heroine sounds like one I would like. I’m so glad you enjoyed this book, Renee!

    Have a lovely week. =)

    Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!

    Reply
  4. Nick

    I’ve heard some really good things about this author and her stories. This definitely sounds really intense. I’m usually drawn to cheery, straightforward books, but the emotional ones are the ones that usually stay with me in the long run. I’ll be checking it out! 🙂 Thanks, this is exactly what I needed! Another book on my TBR!!!

    Reply
  5. Jenea Whittington

    Wow, that is one yummy cover! This sounds amazing, and the series is new to me, so I will have to check out the rest of it now too. Great review!

    Reply
  6. Kristin

    Oh man. I read Raze this past year and this author definitely knows how to write a suspenseful story. This one sounds like it would be even better than the first book!

    Reply
  7. Carole's Random Life

    I should probably give this series a try. It sounds so good! Great review!

    Reply
  8. Karen

    I almost passed after you tagging it as bad boys lol but I do like a tortured soul romance so maybe…

    For What It’s Worth

    Reply

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