Scars and Secrets (Lili’s Review)

Title: Scars and Secrets (Loose Ends #1)
Author: Avril Ashton
Publisher: Sinner’s Haven Publishing
Release Date: April 29th 2016
Genre(s): Suspense
Page Count: 218 pages
Reviewed by: Lili
Heat Level: 4 flames out of 5
Rating: 2 stars out of 5
Blurb:

After an undercover assignment that changed his life forever, FBI agent Donovan Cintron is barely hanging on to sanity. His new mission is to forget, by any means necessary, so he tries his hardest. Pills. Booze. The warm bodies that never quite measure up to what he’d had. What he’d lost. It’s almost a relief when he learns his identity might be compromised—except he’s not the only one exposed. So is the husband he hasn’t stopped needing all these years later. He’d been aching to die, but for Levi Nieto, Donovan will live. To protect. To regret. To remember.

The realization that everything he loved was a farce sent Levi Nieto spinning out of control, and running away from the memories. Now Donovan is back in his life, still fully entrenched in darkness. Their physical connection is one thing, but the truth of who they are to each other remains trapped among the anger, violence and lies suffocating them. Fixing what’s broken will take more than each man exposing his scars. Secrets—and blood—must be spilled.

I don’t know what to say about this book.

That this book wasn’t my cup of tea is evident. It felt all over the place; the drama was OTT, and although the two main characters were passionate about one another I didn’t always believe it. I was often confused, too. There were so many names being thrown my way, and I had no clue who they were. This wasn’t an enjoyable reading experience for me, and I should’ve DNF’ed it. There were a couple of reasons why I truckered through:

1. Once I realized this was suspense, I figured I’d try a genre outside my preference. I wanted to challenge myself and try something different.

and

2. I reached a point where I had already invested much of my time and figured I might as well finish it.

Should’ve followed my gut and stopped.

All this being said. There are a few things that are imperative I point out.

1. As you may deduce- I’ve never read this author (If we’re friends on GoodReads and saw my updates). I had no clue she only wrote suspense. Had I known that I wouldn’t have picked this up.

2. I didn’t know that although this is book one in the series- this a spinoff her past books and those characters also play roles in her other books. Hence, why I felt lost when all these characters were popping up.

3. I also had no clue there was a prequel to this book that should be read before this one- All These Hidden Scars.

(Btw, I think 2 & 3 should be mentioned in the blurb. If I had known I would’ve steered clear since I’ve not read the previous books. But that’s just my opinion.)

And although my feelings towards this book aren’t favorable- I do take responsibility for not having done research about the author and her books. My rating:

Reading enjoyment= 1 Star

But have to take into consideration the points I mentioned so I’ll add another star. +1 Star

= 2 Stars