A shattered woman. A changed man. Church Logan wanted to kill someone, and Emma Hartley wanted to die – they were a match made in hell. But one little cut, a pint or two of blood, and suddenly everything between them is different. Are they still destined for greatness? Or has the darkness finally eclipsed them and torn them apart? Looks like it’s time for Church to practice what he preaches. time for Church to practice what he preaches.
Ignition, meet explosion.
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Emma Hartley has me worried. Paul “Church” Logan is more of a secondary character in the beginning of this second book. He’s more of a thought, a memory. Emma has more of a staring role. It’s been a few months since I was first introduced to Church and as I’m reintroduced to our characters it seems that you have no choice but to read these books in order.
I give the author continued kudos for switching from first person to third person. For the reader, it’s like we’re ghosting Emma as she tries to navigate her new normal. I’m still trying to decide if Church is crazy or not. Is his brain different from ours? Or maybe he’s a product of his upbringing? If you watch The Dr. Oz show at all you know he has his True Crime segments. I have to wonder how he would see Church or even Emma. I would call them a modern day Bonnie and Clyde because I could see them getting the same amount of notoriety should the media get involved.
Can’t figure out who is more terrifying – the parents or the children. It also makes me wonder if the so-called “professionals” try to see if there is any type of correlation there. Maybe that’s what the author wanted me to figure out. I found it interesting to see that Emma and Church seemed to have a logical explanation for their madness.
In this book Emma seemed like someone that doesn’t care but our author shows us a glimmer of humanity. She believes in sticking up for those whose voice has been squashed. Right at that moment I decided that no matter how hard this book was to read, I had no choice but to finish. It’s something that had my heart pounding from beginning to end. Even though I saw those two dreaded words, I didn’t feel that their story was over. So much seemed to be left unsaid. I’m glad that I got the chance to get to know this author’s writing style.
The only issue I had was if this story ever got made into a movie. I think people would enjoy it but it would just make it too real for me. With a book you can disconnect from what’s happening but not so much when you’re given graphic visuals. Same with nightmares – a movie gives me something that I have to see with my eyes. It makes it harder to forget. With reading, there are outside forces that may override what my mind sees. Makes me wonder if this author’s duet was born from nightmares.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Sociopaths… What happens when two meet and show an interest in each other? Preach is the second book in the ‘Church Duet’ and continues the story of Emma and Church. If you had hopes they would become less crazy after the ending of Church, think again. This is a Stylo Fantôme story and disturbed people are her specialty… I love this perfectly insane mess.
“Careful, girls, the perfect guy and the perfect kiss come at a high price. How much are you willing to pay?”
At the end of Church, Emma lost her mind and now she’s what she feared the most, institutionalized. Hello group therapy, psychiatrists and fellow ‘victims’, all kinds of things Emma just hates. But luckily Emma’s ‘charming personality’ is still very much present, and it doesn’t take long before she takes control of her situation. Church is still Church; a closed book that sometimes opens a bit. And what you see is not sweet. On their own Emma and Church are bad, but together they’re something entirely different.
“We’ve both spent years training ourselves to bury our deepest desires, and it almost destroyed both of us in different ways. No more, Emma. No more games.”
Emma is one disturbed young lady. I want to hug her the child she was, and tell grownup Emma not all people are that bad… But Emma is Emma. Personally, I think she always has been different from other kids, but her mother ‘fed’ the monster inside her. That Emma meets a guy like Church seems almost too good to be true. Two sociopaths who bring out the best (or the worst, depends on who you ask) in each other. Emma and Church are both so unlike me, their view of the world is so very different. I still wonder if Church is capable of love like normal people, but he’s perfect for Emma.
“I allowed you to see yourself for what you truly are, and I didn’t judge you for it. I rejoiced in it. Your demons and your psychosis and everything in between.”
Preach is the perfect conclusion to Church. Two disturbed young people with their own agenda and plans. Emma and Church are a fitting couple, and what happens throughout the book doesn’t come as a total surprise. I hate Emma’s mom, but Church’s dad earned my respect (never thought I would say that), he finally became a real dad for Church. If you love your romance books sweet and light, stay away from Preach (and Church) as far as you can, but if you’re up for a twisted story…
“You are special, and you’re my church, and I will worship at your altar for as long as you’ll let me. Forever and ever, amen.”
I had no idea just how twisty and dark Emma and Church’s story was going to get but I have to admit I was secretly loving the crazy darkness that comes with these two characters.
In Preach we see a slightly different Emma. Knowing she has to play by the rules for now, she seems more settled…until she’s not. She’s lost, confused, starting to feel abandoned. She’s a ticking time bomb and you can see her starting to unravel. Of course Church isn’t going to let that happen but he’s far from a knight in shining armour. Both these characters are extremely messed up, complex, multi faceted people but they seem to see something in each other that they need.
This duet has a little bit of everything. Characters that I couldn’t get enough of, a story that kept throwing twist after twist at me, some dark humour to break up all the tension and an obsessive love that Church will do anything to protect. This is another fantastic book from Stylo Fantôme and I hope we get more from these characters in future.
Okay HOLY MIND F#$% I mean the ending in Church had me reeling wondering where Stylo could take it but dam she upped the anty and brought it to a new level. We got to see how Emma became more messed up than Church and Church oh man he changed so much in this story that I was getting really ;pissed off at Emma because at times she was being a biatch.
You have Emma who has changed and come a long way from before she met Church and then you have the man Church himself who has changed in ways I did not expect but he did it and it worked for him. Church always wanted to kill someone and when he released Emma’s blood it made him want to do crazy things. Emma she is just one f#$%^& up girl who comes from an abusive home and wants to die.
Together they explore the dark side of blood shedding and they can’t get enough. They love the dark side and want no need more of it. Things change for them in the end and that was what had me like what the hell just happened because what I thought was going to happen didn’t and that surprised me and I loved it. All I kept thinking was these two broken people are trying to find their way in a world that can either make you or break you. Stylo thank you for one dark romance ride I loved every moment of it!
What kind of monster are you? Were you born this way? Were you made? Emma was such a complex character. She was clever but yet some damn flighty. Sometimes I didn’t know if she was coming or going… I understood her reasons but still wanted her to choose another path. I still wanted the murder and the mayhem but I wanted her to make better choices. Poor Church… I didn’t know if he was going to survive Emma’s crazy. Yes, Church might have had an inclination to kill but he was a planner. He never wanted to go off half cocked.
Emma didn’t make planning easy. Man…Church had to gain her trust, which he lost and complete the “impossible”. Jerry, who was Church’s father, played such a big role in Preach. You might have seen Jerry as the quiet unassuming father but he was so much more. He played his role beautiful as the dutiful husband and doting father. He played ignorant on so many occasions that it was down right funny. I loved how Jerry left Church and Emma speechless at times. It made them take a step back and look at Jerry differently.
There were so many good lines in this story. I can’t choose one over another. Well maybe just one. “I’m a man-made monster, then I guess so be it–man shall reap what he sowed in me. Let’s hope it’s a good harvest.” I read the line more than once. It spoke that character’s truth and made them aware of themselves. I wonder if the reader can guess who said it? Was it Church? Maybe Emma? I’m not telling… Everyone… I’m mean EVERYONE needs to read Preach, especially if you took the time to read Church. The ending will leave you on the edge.
Loved this finally book to this twisted series. Emma is still hearing the voices but pushing them away trying to act normal. Church is waiting. Definitely different then I thought it was gonna happen but I loved it. I loved how crazy the story got. How I cheered on psychos. But it’s more than that. It’s intense at times and shocking at others. I even laughed at parts. Definitely one amazing dark series that I won’t forget. Am I the only one that fell hard for Church? Soulmates forever 5/5 stars
The gripping conclusion to the Church Duet. This story picks up right where the last book left off.
Emma is paying the price for the choice she made to end her life. Now left with a mother that has taken over her life and dealing with the loss of Church. She feels all alone.
She’s in therapy and her life has become all about making everyone think she’s better, so that she can get out from under all of them. She wants to be away from the mother that has done nothing but hurt her her entire life. And the psychiatric facility is no better with a therapist that prays on his patients.
Emma thinks she’s all alone, except for Jerry and her mother. But Jerry has some secrets and we are about to find out just where Church’s darkness comes from. And Church, he’s always got a plan and Emma’s about to find out exactly what he intends.
Emma and Church have a dark, twisted connection. Two black souls who recognized one another and now their bond is unbreakable. Their depravity and ability to have no emotion was disturbing yet intriguing. Their love was no less real or true.
Stylo is in her trademark Twisted genre and seems so comfy in her seat. it’s hailstorm of destruction and mayhem on the pages. Tread cautiously as all characters ARE NOT WHAT THEY SEEM, and your emotions with turn full around. What you hated, you’ll fall in love with and whoever you loved, would surprise you into stupefication like disovering a whole lotta basement hidden underground!!!
Book is big on revelations and confessions, puzzles and dilemmas, whodunits and whydunits!!
Pray to Church and get all the answers. Only they’re undecipherable and leave you more confused than before you asked the question. This is a very strange religion.
IN-FUCKING-DEED!! I left more ponderous and slack jawed than I’d entered with. Punches fly fast and furious, every character is gnarled and contorted in some way or the other. I was literally scratching my head and questioning my own “Normalcy”
Jesus, was anyone normal? Did normal even exist?
“You be the thunder,”
“And I’ll be the lightning.
You be the cloud, and I’ll be the rain.”
“Forces of nature,”
Demoniac Love story about two warped souls so hysterical in passion, that they go about destroying the universe and stealing pieces to embellish their own haunted house. They wear blood on their faces as warrior paint, they pick and choose their victims and where Church Paul Logan is a meticulous planner, Emma Hartley is an impulsive monster. Acting on intuition and whims, she makes a heady mistake of not thinking it through and trying to fly by the seat of her pants.
Church had long since made peace with the fact he was a monster. He even embraced it to a certain degree. She was weak, and when it had really mattered, she hadn’t been able to do the same. This had been her moment . Her act of revenge. Her chance to leave a path of destruction.
Events unfold and repercussions happen and Church is left to do the manor clean up and wind up.
Yet they keep on encouraging each other’s devilish desires, feeding the ravenous beast that is their soul.
If that’s not the most fucked up story I’ve read recently, I don’t know what is
You’re the handle , and I’m the head of the hammer.
You swing, I deliver the blow.
The story left me wondering about the conflict between Nature & Nurture.
Would they both be so broken and monstrous had they not been abused as children or there’s threads of venom already running through our DNA, just some flare up and overpower the good that’s inside of us?
Would they still be the arsonists who set the world on fire regardless?
I guess we’ll never know. Keys to psyche are forever lost and doors to their dark personalities have been shut tight like basements….
The characters of Church and Emma are like mirror souls. So similar yet so opposing.
“If you weren’t broken anymore, then I wouldn’t be able to love you the way I do.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means in order for us to fit together, we already have to be in pieces. My pieces can’t exactly fit if you don’t have any edges. If you’re already whole.”
They may not be perfect people, but they were perfect for each other at least. In book 1 Church has used his most potent weapon-manipulation to make her do his bidding.
Book 2 SHE turns around and throws the gauntlet for HIM to cross and prove his loyalty, earn his place by her side.
The first time around, she’d had to prove herself , prove her loyalty, to him by doing anything fucked up thing he’d asked of her. Now it was Church’s turn to prove himself by doing whatever fucked up thing she asked of him.
Emma is impulsive and whimsical, I pictured her as a wannabe shadow who wanted to stay with Church even in sunshine. Stubborn and sometimes tantrum throwing brat, short on patience but trusting just the same.
Church was a manipulator plain and simple. Master of bending wills and moulding thoughts, he plays Emma like a harp. His skilled handling of her and protecting her always gives him a God like Aura!!!.
“You, Church Logan, are the cleverest sociopath I’ve ever met.”
“Worthy of worship?”
“Worthy of hymns and gospels and all the books in the bible,”
But there’s a mega surprise in the book!!
A character that is jaw dropping psycho and behind the scenes guide of sorts!!!
It’s a psychological love story with threats, dangers, blood and gore at almost every turn.how stylo manages to weave poignant threads in the dark quilt of viciousness is beyond me. How she comes up with such twisted stories is I think a million dollar question!!!.
Maybe it’s the worm in the bottle of her tequila that’s doing the trick!!.
Keep drinking and keep hallucinating these stories for us Stylo!!!
5 winks here and 5 nudges there !!
4.5 Stars
Well Hello Church and Emma!!! Boy oh boy…What a ride Preach takes you on! As you see, this is book 2 of the Church duet. You must read Church, #1 before diving into this one.
“You be the thunder, and I’ll be the lightning.
You be the cloud, and I’ll be the rain.”
“Forces of nature.”
“Of destruction.”
With these two dominating the world in their own little way, the way that they both feel most comfortable with, maybe peace will be found after all! The ‘confessions’ that come about in reading this story from all parties involved, give us a better insight on how these two function the way they do.
“I feel like I’m in a ‘Pucked’ up Hardy Boys story.”
That was my thought exactly while reading this story. Not only is there the what’s happening now going on in this book…there is also the background story evolving.
“Really must ask him about those stupid holes. ”
Because how can we not know what those stupid holes are there from? It’s the little things that mold these two together perfectly. How one truly sees the things that are happening around that are so, so terribly wrong. Yet when trying to do the right thing, it backfires. All while the other is sitting back watching…watching the right things come out yet, no one is listening.
What a journey these two have been on! Emma truly was a gift to Church. One that was given by the one person who totally threw me for a loop!
Great job to Stylo for weaving this story and bringing it to life for us to enjoy!!!
#BookBistroBlogApproved
Preach by Stylo Fantôme is book Two in the Church. This continues the story of Emma Hartley and Paul ‘Church’ Logan. This book is NOT a standalone book, you really need to read the first book ‘Church’ before reading this one. This book picks up not to long after the other one ended. Emma is under her mother’s ‘power’ and as we know her mother is evil. Church is slowly working to get her back and settle the score with what has been going on. Emma and Church are two broken soles that found that together they feel whole and they have similar cravings.
This is a very exciting dark romance but it may not be for anyone with triggers or readers who do not like dark romance.