The Bellator Saga: The First Trilogy

In the first installment of this book we meet Jack and Caroline. They don’t get along at first and despite his charms; she tries to push him away. The chemistry between the two of them is phenomenal. I had to go back to read this book in order to get a feel for what was going on in Conscience. I received that book just before publication in exchange for an honest review, and when I started it I felt I needed the background of how Jack and Caroline got to where they are in Conscience. He is very playful and flirty with her, and she really tries hard to push him away. But once the two come together, wew! It’s amazing how Cecilia has incorporated this love story into this broken version of the world you will read about in the series. I feel like this series for me is like mixing The Hunger Games and the Divergent Series together to get this dystopian society that you really just see the beginnings of the crumble in this book. So many sub-characters are introduced during this book that you will love throughout the 1st half of the 6 part series that you really want to pay attention to them so you really connect with all the characters and not just our stars. Although they are the best. Thank you Cecilia for giving us this series and I can’t wait to read more!

Conscience Review
I am new to this series/author and honestly had not read the first book. I got to go back to the beginning for this series, to Dissident in order to review Conscience, and was very glad I did!
This series follows Caroline and Jack, both political Representatives in DC. In the second installment of the six part series, we get more background information on how Caroline and Jack have ended up where they are now. In present day, they are running from the Presidents men that have pretty much overtaken the government and in doing so, Caroline ends up hurt and ultimately captured by his men. Jack is forced to leave her behind when she is slowing him down, at her request, and she insists he gets the documents on the flash drive to where they need to go. We still don’t get a lot of information on who the documents need to go to, what they are, or why the people holding her captive have done so. I did struggle to get through some of the more gruesome details of her being tortured by Santos’ men during this part of the book. I do not do well with those types of detail in book or film, so it was tough during most of the “present day” chapters. I do think this has been very well written, in that she kept thinking about the past during her time in captivity and that somehow gets her through it. She has flashbacks and memories of time with Jack and that somehow puts her mind at ease and gives her hope that she will be rescued. Several other characters make disturbing appearances in the present day, in this installment from the first book as well.
The way the book flashes back and forth from present day, to back when Jack and Caroline were getting to know each other and still just working in DC as representatives, fills in a lot of blanks and questions I had form the first book.
This series is a political thriller with a love story mixed in. Throughout both books I found myself on edge wondering what is going on with all the politics/government secession’s and what will happen with Jack and Caroline. I love the mystery of this novel series because it stirs up so many questions. As much as I don’t want a six part series, and want my answers to all my questions NOW, the way this is played out is sort of entertaining. Not getting all your answers about the who, what, and whys as to everything going on with Carline, Jack and the government. I can’t wait to see what happens next and get even more background information on their story and what has happened with them since they were married and Jack became Governor of Pennsylvania.
Soujourn Review
*I received an ARC of this title from the Author in exchange for an honest review*
…and I honestly absolutely LOVED and devoured this book! I began the series late this summer and fell in love with Caroline and Jack. In the second book I was so sad and hurt at what was happening with Caroline that I didn’t think anything was every going to go her way again. Until I read Sojourn! This has been the best book hangover I’ve EVER had and I just can’t wait to see what is next in this series!
Sojourn picks up right after Caroline is rescued from The Fed by three young men that are part of the rebellion. Two of them even work for The Fed as their cover. I fell in love with these new characters in Sojourn so much! The story of how everything plays out with them and the safe house is so well written and brings so much life back into her character that has been so beaten down and struggling for something to keep her going everyday and give her motivation to not just give up entirely.
Caroline struggles both emotionally and physically in this third installment as she recovers from the mental trauma she has experienced loosing all those close to her, hearing them being executed or being dragged off to their deaths, as well as physically recovering from them breaking bones in her face, hands and other injuries she will have to struggle to move forward. She spends time with these men at the safe house as she recovers; Gabe, Crunch and Jones become her saviors in many ways. These three really do help her during their time together both physically and mentally. They are there to help her recover from everything she’s been through.
Where the last book was a nail biter because of reading all the gruesome details of the things that happen to her at The Fed, this book has softer notes of healing, recovery and still some very steamy flashbacks of her and Jack! The sex scenes were hotter than ever and this book is very sensual in nature in regards to their relationship as seen through her dreams, or nightmares as she begins to see them as. Although very pleasant memories, they become nightmares to her as she will never see him again or any of her friends and family, and these memories does torment her throughout the story.
“I relish doing things like this to you,” Jack said. “I love to give you a good spanking but this is so much more intense. I can see how much you enjoy it too. I’ve never met a woman who wants to please me as much as you do, not just in bed, but in all aspects of life. You’ve given up so much for me, Caroline, and given me so much in return.”
This book ends in a place I tried to see coming one of my own theories, but most people just won’t see the ending coming. The last chapter I was biting my nails and crying so much, I am still raw and vulnerable from reading these book days even after the last sentence. You won’t regret picking up part three of the series, as you will too gain a whole new perspective on the character Caroline is and meet some new characters to love along the way!