From bestselling author L.J. Shen, comes a new, standalone, contemporary romance. “BEST BOOK OF 2018!” – Sophie, Bookalicious Babes Blog.“Honestly the best novel L.J. has written to date.” – Ratula, Bookgasms Book Blog. Roman ‘Bane’ ProtsenkoNaked surfer. Habitual pothead. A con, a liar, a thief and a fraud.Last I heard, he was extorting the rich and screwing their wives for a living.Which is … the rich and screwing their wives for a living.
Which is why I’m more than a little surprised to find him at my threshold, looking for my friendship, my services, and most puzzling of all—looking humbled.
Thing is, I’m on a boycott. Literally—I cut boys from my life. Permanently.
Problem is, Bane is not a boy, he is all man, and I’m falling, crashing, drowning in his sweet, perfect lies.
Jesse Carter
Hot as hell, cold as ice.
I wasn’t aware of her existence until a fat, juicy deal landed in my lap.
She’s a part of it, a little plaything to kill some time.
She is collateral, a means to an end, and a side-bonus for striking a deal with her oil tycoon stepdad.
More than anything, Jesse Carter is a tough nut to crack.
Little does she know, I have the teeth for it.
*This book contains material that might be offensive for some or elicit a strong emotional response.
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This story is off the charts!
I loved every single word of it.
It is always keeping you on the edge and wondering what is going on with the things that are barely acknowledged but always on your mind. Bane is a fucked up guy who doesn’t have a concious. He does anything for money and is not afraid to admit it.
Jesse is also fucked up, but not by her decision..she got through hell of a experience and I get why she barely hangs there.
When they start hanging out they both started to change and became invested in one another.
The story is messed up, but also beautiful.
At the end we see that Jesse is a strong woman, but only because at last she found someone who stood beside her and was rooting for her, without a secret motive.
The story is about regret, second chances and being brave above all the rest.
You have to read the story. This is more like a standalone, since is not directly connected with Hotholes, but they do appear in the story.
A fantastic read to conclude this series! I absolutely adored Bane! So cocky, confident and so sexy! I loved Jesse, she’s so tragically broken yet so strong when she finds her strength! Their chemistry is sizzling hot and their banter is so enjoyable on so many different levels. A must read in this series.
Bane naked surfer. Habitual pothead. A con, a liar, a thief and a fraud. Jesse Carter,hot as hell, cold as ice, deeply scarred and broken who would have known that through a deal with Jesse’s stepdad that these two total opposites could come together and fix each others flaws?
This is the 4th book in this series and by far the best, the emotional connection that builds between the two characters is wonderful. The pain that Jesse suffers is diabolical and with so many secrets and twists to the story just gets worse. The sex was hot, Bane was a lovable, alpha and hilarious character. This is a page turner and a must read.
If I have read a lot of books of LJ Shen it’s because of Bane. This was my first from her and I fall in love with the way she writes.
What makes a great book? What makes a great series? Answer: when reaching the end devastates you because there are no more words. This is my love/hate with Bane. This book was phenomenal. One of my favorites of the series. And now it’s done and I don’t know how I’m going to move on. Bane and Jesse’s story was an absolute heart breaking road that ended up in ultimate triumph. I think that is my favorite part of this series by LJ Shen. Every heartache is resolved and the characters are given their chance at their happy ending. No matter what it takes, they fight and claw their way to victory and redemption. I loved this story! It will forever be one of my favorites and I will recommend it to everyone!
I’ve read all the Sinners books and didn’t think I would ever find another in this standalone series that I could love more but here is Bane. A complete page turner that has repeatedly asking yourself will he or won’t he. Jesse has has lived through some horrible events and although she’s here at the same time she’s not. When Bane pushes his way into her life everything changes. I enjoyed the slow burn chemistry these two shared and seeing a whole other side to both of these characters. The twist of event at moments left my jaw on the floor, a well written story with a HEA ending you’ll adore. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
First book from this author and holy crap.. amazing. Im honestly angry at myself for waiting this long. book cover, mesmerizing. Plots and twist, endless. All characters with all different and perfect personalities, even the side people. the storyline is so rich, im really blown away by this book. an absolute must read.
I cant think of a single negative thing to say about this book except the way those three boys went down. seemed too easy for me. I wanted retribution but jesse being jesse, everything ended perfectly and no loose ties are seen
Super original story here.
Bane!!!!! I am still experiencing a major book hangover with this one. I was hooked from page one until the VERY LAST PAGE! I wanted to move in and live in this story, in this town, with these beautifully flawed characters. This made me feel ALL THE THINGS and I loved it!! Gahhhhhhh! Pure freakin’ magic!
I think surfers are my new thing.
Wow just wow.
What a book I don’t even now where to start with this review. My emotions are just a mess. I ‘ve been happy sad crying laughing I think everyone in my house think I m crazy. I actually think I mite be. This authors just keeps getting better and better with every book. There isn’t a book that’s I haven’t luvd. I ‘ve been really looking forward to this book since we got to know Bane from Scandalous. Bane is a hot surf, a con, a liar, a thief and fraud. How could you not like him. He is so confident and very sexy it’s not hard to get caught up in him. He is alway a step ahead of everyone. He know what he want and get its. Plus the women luv him and he luvs them it’s all part of the job. I luv his character so much.
Jesse is such a strong girl. It hard not to luv her and want to protect her. This girl has gone through so many horrible thing it’s heart breaking. Life has been very up and down for her. But the last 2 year have been the worst dealing with what happened as been hard on her and having really no really support just made things worst. Until Bane came crashing into her life like a wave he was surfing.
There relationship was never goin to be smooth sailing. But seeing Jesse get strong and dealing with what happened was so great to see. Bane was her strength she even wore him down. Seeing him turn into this guy that knew he could luv and want to be with one woman was so cute. It’s actually hard to put Bane and cute into the same sentence but he was. They were just so perfect together.
I really really really enjoyed this book. Like I said there isn’t a book I have luvd from this author. This story did break me in parts. I was so sad for Jesse I need something good to happen to her. I found I was just like Bane in this book and got protective of her very quickly. There wasn’t a part of this book that I didn’t luv the story flowed so well. I got hooked to the story from the beginning to the end. It just kept getting better and better. I can’t recommend this book enough or any of her other book. But this book was amazing.
This book was not what I was expecting and everything I wanted. Shen’s writing is raw, dark, intense and powerful. She has a way of making chaos and pain look beautiful and extraordinary. This book drew me in from the very first lines of the prologue. Shen drop a huge bomb in the beginning that had me open mouthed and wanting to devour the book in one sit. It mixed very intense and sensible topics with a dose of fun banter, undeniable passion and raw emotions. This is not a pretty romance or fairytale by any chance. In this story THE PRINCESS doesn’t need a Prince to save her. In this story the prince will simply provide the sword she needs to slay the demons. She will also save HIM.
I have read and listen to every one of Shen’s SINNERS OF SAINT books and until now my heart and south under belonged to Baron “ Vicious “ Spencer. Now I have to say that ROMAN “ BANE” PROTSENKO has completely and utterly stolen me away.
Let’s get to know a bit about this messy, broken beautiful couple.
Jesse Carter came into Bane’s life as a new piece to complete his most important hand of chess. To finally gain what he thought he ever wanted and definitely wasn’t a girl. Jesse is so shattered that when you first meet her you think NO ONE will be able to pull her through and you aren’t sure what will become of her. Once you get to know her you’ll see that her fierce self, her strength it’s just dormant under all those layers of clothes waiting for the right moment and person to burst out to fight and shine bright. She looks like a scarred princess but she will be able to fight and conquer. She just needed a little push and a sword. You’ll be cheering her on and waiting for her to slay in that final battle.
Bane Bane Bane! He is a thief, a con, a whore and the biggest bad boy with no moral compass and tattoos for days. But under all his layers, his surfer sexy as sin body and rough attitude it’s a huge heart ready to come out to love, to protect. He Just needed to find the right person. Even with his naughty mouth and jerk attitude he was a good person. He SEES Jesse, understand her and doesn’t judge. Bane has some demons of his own and in reality has been hiding behind his beard and tattoos. He may think he doesn’t want anything more than his uncomplicated life but this unexpected young woman will change EVERYTHING and will make him FEEL.
I seriously want to keep talking Bane but I can’t. I want you to pick this book up because if you love Shen’s stories so far YOU HAVEN’T SEEN NOTHING YET. If she is a new author to you PREPARE YOURSELF to be blown away.
You ever have a moment in a book where your heart feels like it’s stopped because a bomb has just dropped? Or your breath gets stuck in your throat because there are so many feels that you just can’t? I love that feeling, when you’re so wrapped up in the story, so blindsided by what has happened, so completely overwhelmed that you can’t possibly move on. And I can’t tell you how many times this exact thing happened to me while reading this book. I fell in love with Bane and Jesse repeatedly. Over and over and over. Jesse was this beautiful, broken girl, who decided she didn’t need a prince to come save her – she had her own sword. And Bane was the prince who was intent on saving her, until he realized she could do it all herself. She didn’t need him to come and save her, but he needed her like his next breath.
I’ve loved every book in this series. I’ve loved every hero and every heroine, every plot, every word. But this book topped them all. It broke my heart and put it back together. I died a thousand deaths and lived to breath again. I love this book and I’m not ready to return to the real world. I want to live here with Bane and Jesse for a good long time.
LI have really loved this series especially the previous ones where all the guys were best friends i just didn’t know how Banes story fit in. Even though he was a character that you knew from scandalous it was going to be a character we needed to know about. Was i surprised with Banes Story.
Bane was such a different character then i have ever written before and i love that about L.j Shens characters and writing it is always different and sometimes it just surprises the hell out of you but that’s what i love in a book.
This story was so much about the two main characters past and what they had to do to overcome it so they could have an amazing future. These two characters were both so broken that you just one they were made for each other and that they would pull each other out of the darkness.
Bane was not a guy that anyone should like but he way LJ Shen writes him you can’t help but really feel this character and understand the way he chooses to make money and what he has to do to live life the way he wants to. He was strong, alpha and at the end of the day another bad boy with an amazing heart once someone showed him that he really he was a good person, just had some pretty crappy things happen to him and he did what he did to survive.
Jesse well what can you say about this character, she had been thorough enough and more and you can’t help being heartbroken for her. I will never forget the feelings i go from this character of sadness but also one hell of a strong person once she figured out that she could be strong.
I have to say that this book has it all and more, there is drama, twists and turns you don’t see coming, a book that has your turning pages faster that what your reading.
Loved this book and this series one of my favorites. If you have read the others you will not be disappointed in book 4 and if your yet to start then you need to get into this series now you will not regret it.
This story was deep and dark I did enjoy the story. I wanted more justice Jessie but overall I did enjoy this book
4.5 Stars
Wow. I was unsure of what to make of Bane because although I liked him in the previous book, I couldn’t wrap my head around having an H whoring around in a story. So, anyway, I was surprised that I found myself loving him despite his flaws or even because of them. A manwhore, massive jerk, cocky Roman Protsenko alias Bane was one of those characters you will either hate or love. I obviously belong to the latter.
Jesse was a spitfire hiding behind walls she had built around herself for protection, but her sass shined through thanks to Bane who tried to break through her defenses. Though the consequences of the burning desire and growing feelings could only have a fatal outcome because he’s bound to give in to the attraction and break the contract with her dad. Both was bad enough but worst was the inevitable – that she was going to get hurt in the process.
Although I wish I could have read this story in one go, life got in the way, but the story managed to pull me out of a small reading slump and each time I picked up the book I was instantly captivated. The writing was phenomenal and the story lured me right into Bane’s world. There was more to him than meets the eye and although his reputation was the opposite of a golden boy, his broken aura was fascinating and pulled me in. It was also just a matter of time until his fragile and carefully constructed house of cards was tumbling down.
Bane and Jesse couldn’t have been more different, right?! While he was out living his life to the fullest and not giving a damn about anything, she was hiding in her room not giving anybody the opportunity to harass her, whether it’s with stares or hurtful words.
But when you look closer, you notice that these characters actually do have a lot in common. Because Bane was as broken and hurt as Jesse was. He’s just dealing with it in another way and burrowed his dark thoughts deep inside, hiding them behind walls nobody can see. Jesse on the other hand erected walls so high that people couldn’t even see her because of them. She wanted to be invisible and she let her fears rule her life while Bane couldn’t look his demons in the eyes. Both have lonely hearts that seek love and companionship. They didn’t even recognize that their world was going to crumble and that they needed to hold on to each other.
The characters of this story weren’t all black and white. They were in a grey area where I questioned a lot and tried not to judge due to my upbringing and life experience. A lot of things were impossible to put in a box and label, whether I tried to or not, because they just didn’t fit anywhere. And that’s the hardest part, the one that still has me pondering about this story after I’d finished it.
I’m sorry if I don’t make any sense here, I’m just not really good with words. Read the book and you’ll know what I’m trying to say because this was one of my most anticipated reads for this year and it did not at all disappoint.
While I caution sensitive readers, this book was amazing. Emotionally put me through the ringer. Having read the other books in the series, I knew Banes story was going to be great, and I was not disappointed. Jesse was an incredible character, and I loved her strength. This author writes characters you can’t help but relate to on some level, and that is an amazing quality as an author. I am blown away. There are no words to describe this book adequately. All I can say is I will one click everything she writes. Amazing Book.
I am in love with this story. I wasn’t to sure about Bane in the beginning, but dear lord he turned out perfect. I am actually kind of sad this story ended. The Sinner of Saint series is worth reading multiple times and the books just get better and better.
This book kept my interest. It was well written. I love this author.
loved that it was not the typical predictable romance novel, but there
were stories in there, a page turner.
It’s obvious that i adore Leigh’s books since listening to vicious im addicted to her words. I was really addicted to her beauty full words. My exitement for these book was heigh as the Mount Everest. And it’s no wonder that miss was able to fulfill all my exspections.
The story was catching from the first page to the end. Because we had really interesting characters and i liked the theme of the book also.
Again i really had problems putting it down. I was like ok its 10 pm and you had to get up early tomorrow so you should sleep but you still have an hour to read and in the morning i woke up tow hours earlier then actually becaus i felt had to read.
Even if these book was really angsty again it hadn’t to much angst in the story and the balance between the angst and humor was in a good level.
Leigh made it again to put me to a really interesting journey with these story it was character journey these time. and i really was able to get how the characters develop with out the feeling thats going to fast.
Leigh did an amazing to give all her characters interesting flaws. Also the flaws helped me to find characters more authentic.
I really liked that we got a glimpse of the other sinners. Because it was interesting to see what Bane thought about them.
Roman Bane Prosenko seemed like an asshole in the beginning but now it looks like he cares about some people really much also he is smart guy.
Jesse also was smart and had some humor. But also she is a really bright girl and strong women. She knows who fight for her self.
Teaser made by an other wounderfull person
Conlusion
For everyone who is loves reading emotional and catching stories these books a recommendation. So these book gets five of five stars.
I took my sweetass time reading this one… Usually I would devour an LJ Shen book like my life depended on it but, I couldn’t do it to Bane. Now, don’t misinterpret this, I FLOVED this book like the rest in the Sinners of Saint series.
But, Bane I didn’t want his book to end. So, I prolonged it for as long as I could.
Him and Vicious are in no way alike. So, Vicious, for me still sits on his asshole throne. But, Bane has most definitely won a throne too. This fucker is on a whole other planet, one he is king of. I didn’t know what to expect from him, you see the little we did see of him in Scandalous wasn’t enough to paint a clear picture of who he was. Oh but, Shen clears that up very quickly in this story.
He wasn’t a villain. He wasn’t a hero. He was everything.
Now, let me talk about Jesse. She’s the hero here.
“Snow White waited for a prince. You’ll be the one saving yourself in this story.”
“You don’t need a prince, princess. You need a sword.”
Jesse, boy did she have it rough. It’s like life really made it her mission to make Jesse her bitch. And for a little bit Jesse wallowed, and did the whole ‘woe is me’ thing. I can’t honestly blame her or hate her for it.
I loved her character, loved what Shen created, loved the beauty and raw ugliness. The pain, the healing. Loved that she didn’t shy away from it.
There were moments that while reading I had to really control myself.
I hated Pam, she was the worser of the villains.
Darren got a cowards escape, and I’m pissed I even felt a bit of pity for him.
Emery, Nolan and Henry I hope those sorry son’s of bitches fall into a pit of those flesh eating beetles, you know the one’s from that movie The Mummy (no, not the crappy new one) yeah, because they deserve nothing less.
The ending was beyond perfect. Shen did her characters justice.