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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Yep, Bane just became my favorite in the Sinners of Saint series. This story was a heart-wrenching, all-consuming, page after page, can’t-put-it-down-until-the-very-end kinda read. This is one of those reads that will stay with you long after reading the last words on the page and will definitely leave you with the best kind of book hangover. Bane and Jesse were the perfect match, the one to breathe life back into her and she was the one to help him realize he was nothing like the monster who helped create him. Prepare for one hell of an emotional mind-blowing ride!
WARNING: This book had triggers and if you need a warning this book might not be for you!
Roman ‘Bane’ Protsenko is a liar, a con, a thief, a whore. Someone you can’t trust as far as you can throw him.
Jesse Carter is a lost nine-teen year old girl. After going through a traumatic incident two years ago, Jesse is a ghost of the girl she used to be.
When Bane is tasks with the job of bringing Jesse out of her shell in return for money he needs for a project, he thinks he can accomplish it with no issues. Problem is part of agreement is he can’t have “relations” with her.
What happens when Jesse starts to be her old self and Bane can’t stay away? What happens when Jesse start to remember parts of her past she blocked out and realizes everything is not what it seems?
This story is about finding yourself again. There were parts of this story that were hard to read. But those parts made the story have more meat and heart.
L.J. Shen did an amazing job writing this story. She was able to make me connect with both main characters and told this story in a beautiful way.
AWESOME JOB!!
FANGIRL DOWN…I REPEAT FANGIRL DOWN!
The moment that this little beauty right here dropped onto my kindle I wanted to abandon all of my adult responsibilities and dive head first deep into the darkness known as Bane, but I pushed through and was rewarded with a story so intense that I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry (in the best possible way…of course) more times than I can can’t throughout the course of this book!
L.J. Shen is hands down one of my all-time favorite authors and if you haven’t read anything from her yet then you are missing out on some extraordinary reads because oh my freaking goodness this lady right here writes the best HotHoles around. She has FOREVER ruined me for all other book boyfriends, and maybe even real men…oh gosh I think I may need to lower my expectations because there is no way any man could ever compare to the ones she writes in her books.
HOWEVER…as much as I wholeheartedly adore her men, I think that it was her leading lady aka Jesse Carter who stole the show and completely captivated my heart during this story. Although Bane might have snuck in and carved out a little spot for himself in my heart as well, but then again how could he have not?! This book couple right here might just be my favorite of 2018 so far. I mean how could they not be when the princess saves herself in this fairytale…
I Bane + Jesse! With so many freaking obstacles standing in their way, they shouldn’t have ended up together…and yet they couldn’t be more perfect for one another. Together they bring each other out of the darkness and into the light. Their love in unconventional and one of a kind. It burns hot and isn’t afraid to burn down what ever stands in the way…
L.J. Shen thank you so much for writing this addictively captivating story and putting some of your other books on hold because after reading Scandalous I knew I wanted…no I NEEDED Bane’s story and Jesse was his perfect match!
We meet Bane (Roman) in the previous Sinners book and he’s not super likable, just like the rest of them. Vicious seems to think Bane is trying to be a mini-him, but that’s not the truth at all. Jesse has had more than her fair share of abuse. So much more. And it’s hard to write a character dealing with the aftermath, but the author does it so well! As usual, I was not totally expecting the twists and turns that are masterfully plotted out here. I fall for Bane, I fall for Jesse, and I love that the princess saves herself in this story. Such a good read, and I’m not ready to be done with this series!
“…Snowflake. Where have you been before?”
“To no one else in the world would I have given my heart. That was settled in the councils on high; that is the will of Heaven; I am yours. My whole life has been a pledge of my certain meeting with you; I know you were sent me by God; you are my guardian to the grave…In my dreams I used to see you; before we had met, you were already dear to me. Your face went to my heart; your voice had found the echo in my soul long ago…” – A. S. Pushkin, Tatyana’s Letter to Onegin [Chapter Three, after XXXI], “EUGENE ONEGIN”
“Jesse Carter was going to be mine before she even knew me. Before I even knew her. Before her life turned upside down and her fate rewrote itself with her blood. So here was the truth that even my lying ass wouldn’t admit later on in our story—I wanted her before. Before she became business. Before the truth caged her in. Before the secrets gushed out… My surfboard broke. Should have known it was an omen. My heart was going to be next in line.” – L. J. Shen, “Bane” (Sinners of Saint Book 5)
The one thing that always stood out to me in each of the books of the “Sinners of Saint” series was the author’s carefully chosen, seemingly obscure, thematic epigraph from a novelist or poet of renown. Each of these epigraphs were kernels of the truth found in the story about to unfold before the reader. In this alone Ms. Shen turns the serial romance into something more than the simplistic “boy meets girl etcetera” trope.
In Bane, there is more than the usual epigraph. Rather there is a Prologue that seems to harmonize in answer, albeit in Bane’s modern-day vernacular, to Tatyana’s letter to Eugene Onegin from the novel in verse, “Eugene Onegin” by the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. Although when looking to compare Pushkin’s character Eugene with Roman “Bane” Protsenko, it is as if Ms. Shen wrote Bane to have some of Eugene’s qualities but with more fidelity, nobility, heart and true purpose.
Bane is “A LIAR. A con. A godless thief.” He is also a whore. He is striving to build an empire, yet it really isn’t money that he is after so much as it is power. He owns legitimate businesses, but he also operates a small-time protection racket. His fierce reputation precedes him as a rule, as does his intoxicating skill with the woman who indulge in his more personal services.
The stepfather of a girl who suffered a life altering tragedy offered Bane millions to bring his step-daughter, Jesse, back to life…be her friend…give her a job. He is, however, forbidden to touch her sexually. If he does, he forfeits the millions and he has already spent quite the sum. As any avid romance reader knows this is the perfect set-up for exquisite sexual tension.
Jesse and Bane’s story is told in alternating POVs as the sexual tension ratchets up the more time they spend together and the more they get to know one another. Not only does Jesse begin to change profoundly but Bane does as well. Reading of their mutual desires is some heady stuff…mesmerizing, tantalizing and spell-binding.
I also enjoyed the oblique references in the story to the fairytale, “Snow White”. The author bends this fairytale in many ways but the best variation is the idea that: “ ‘…The princess saves herself in this fairytale.’” And there is so much from which Jesse must save herself.
Bane…he has to face down the monster inside of him that he has always fed with power and make room for something brand new.
“Maybe love wasn’t about feeling happy and whole. Maybe love was about breaking so the person you cared for would feel a little more whole.”
This is one wonderfully good and meaty romance with a hero and heroine worthy of a Russian epic in the style of the melodramatic Pushkin with a modern-day twist about a woman who ultimately saves herself and maybe even her prince? Roman “Bane” Protsenko is every woman’s idea of the genetically gifted and wildly skilled charming bad boy societal outlier who ultimately finds his true power and place in the world. This “Sinner of Saint” is truly not one to be missed!!!
I absolutely love Bane. He and Jesse are the odd couple but they work. At first Bane is the requisite playboy, not a one woman kind of man. And Jesse is totally ok with that cause she is not interested in guys. She’s gone through some pretty rough things. Bane though is quickly interested in Jesse though. This book isn’t exactly what you would expect. But it’s all kind of good.
Prior to starting this book I thought that Trent was my favorite of the men…. well Bane definitely changed my mind!!! I am such a quick reader, that I don’t typically take the time to highlight while I read. In this book I highlighted 12 times, which is WAY more than I ever have before. I don’t know what about this book caught me so much, but it was just written so well! There were so many things that were so insightful that I just HAD to highlight them! I cannot wait to share them with other either, because I want to know what other people think.
I was so curious about Bane before this book. He had a pretty big role in Scandalous, because he was so close to Edie, and I just had to know more! We got such a small glimpse as to who he was, so when LJ announced Bane I was so excited!!! Bane was EVERYTHING I had hoped for AND SO MUCH MORE! I love that this book is years later, and that Bane really rose from the ashes. I love everything about his past, and everything about who he is now. He is such a prominent person, even if it isn’t for great reasons. His words with Vicious in the beginning really had me confused, but as I read on I really started to understand.
Then we have Jesse, who is such a broken person. From the moment we heard her story all I could think of was, this poor girl! I really liked how from the very beginning Bane got something out of her. From his first, simple interaction, she had a reaction to him. This really fascinated me. I love how she knew who he was, knew his reputation, yet she trusted him. It’s as if she knew that he was the exact person to help her break out from her shell. Yes she had gone through so much, but hell no she wasn’t going to stay down forever. She was determined to get herself back, and I think she always knew he’d be the one to help her.
The amount of shit these two go through is truly amazing. They really get put through the ringer, individually and together. But I love how they persevered. They really had their crap together, far more than any one else would. I loved every bit of their relationship! I loved every single thinggggg. I love how it was a little slow, a little messy, not at all perfect, how perfectly HOT IT WAS, I mean EVERYTHINGGGGGG. I cannot wait to see what other people say about this book!
This is a hot series that I’m seriously lovely. Hot bad boy Bane does what he wants when he wants for money he’ll do even more. That is until he meets Jesse after her step father lures him into a contract for 6 million. Jesses life has been full of betrayal, lust and downright degrading things that know girl should suffer. Bane trying to be her friend then more trying to pull her out of the life that she isn’t existing in barely. But with opening her heart more betrayal and lies come to light. Wow an a,axing touching story that has it all the bad boy the girl the screwed up life. A must read that you won’t want to put down and you just might fall in love with the bad cause there’s always a way to break the bad boy.
“My Whole Life Has Been Pledged to This Meeting with You”
Ladies and gentlemen prepare yourselves for the best book of 2018!!!
Oh my God, I do not know how to explain it, now I’m sitting, looking at the screen, thinking what to write to describe all the mixed feelings I have and can not think of anything, I have no words to do justice to the story of Bane and Jesse, my heart is full with their emotions and their scenes, with their dialogues, with everything that they made me feel.
L.J. Shen surpassing herself again and creates an epic, poetic, unique, and completely unbeatable story that left me with an epic book hangover.
Bane is a captivating journey, sexy, raw, that catches your heart, squeezes it and does not let go, that will leave you breathless and that takes the anguish to a new level. A heartbreaking and emotional story, but at the same time so beautiful, absolutely unforgettable.
The characters are so complex, different, and intriguing but I could not get enough of them. Jesse, my dear Jesse, is a heroine not very typical, so unique, broken, shattered, but at the same time so brave, strong and so real, a girl who suffered a hell and returned completely transformed. I fell completely in love with her. She’s my new favorite heroine of Mrs. Shen.
“Snow White waited for the prince. You’ll be the one saving yourself in this story.”
Bane, my problem boy, lives under his own rules and questionable moral, is a real bad boy, sexy as hell, rude, but despite everything I was completely and absolutely in love with him. He won my heart and replaced Dean in him.
Both characters are so unique, they wrapped me in their story and made me feel so much, my heart suffered, wept, laughed and loved with them. All their scenes together were so perfect, sexy with a dark edge, it gave me chills, accelerated my heart, made me sweat my hands, provoked butterflies in my stomach, drained me emotionally. This is not the typical love story, it is about evolve, but above all it is about how the protagonists as they relate and knowing each other, help to find themselves, to transform themselves and to heal.
As usual the author exceeded all my expectations and gives us her best work so far, which is not a surprise because every time I read a new story of her, the only predictable thing is the unexpected. I have followed her work from the beginning and I have to say that in each new story she achieves the unthinkable, create a better than the previous one. Their words are magical, hypnotic, it enchant you, it wrap you and it do not let you go, it contain so much emotion that it transport you to the story and make you live with the characters all their history.
I completely loved the plot from the first page, it had me hooked from the beginning and I could not stop until I finished, I practically inhaled the pages, a plot full of surprises, elaborated and shocking, with so much anguish and drama that left me drained emotionally.
Infinite stars!!!!
WOWZA!!!
I seriously feel like I’m in a major book coma here, so fabulously good reading was “Bane”.
If I could give this more than five Stars I so bloody would, I found this that good.
How on earth is my next read going to live up to the spectacular experience that was Roman/Bane’s and Jesse’s totally messed up and unique onward sprint to there forever life with each other.
Never have I been rooting for a couple’s happiness more than these two.
They just had such a zen-like ability to reel my emotions along with them for the ride and I was so invested in their overall future together.
It was like they were a favourite friend or family member of mine that I was watching over like a proud parent.
I also really embraced the underlying humour portrayed throughout this book.
I found myself chuckling along with both Bane and Jesse as they both came out with such classic one-liners that easily brought a big grin to my face.
“I’ve signed so many NDA’S, at this point, I don’t talk to anyone about anything other than the weather”
“Let’s Hear them” “Suka blyat. Horosho. Kak Dela. Pizdets. Privet” Those were all curses and pleasantries. Your Russian family must be really fucking passive-aggressive”
“Bane” in itself was just so refreshing with such easy to like main characters contained within its pages.
First, we have Jesse Carter and can I just say what a girl she was.
A Russian immigrants daughter from the wrong side of the track.
With a trainwreck of a mum who has married into the wealth and prestige of all that is Todos Santos.
And still, after everything she has endured, when most people would have thrown in the towel.
Jesse still manages to project such a fragile hope and earnestness about herself.
there is such an innate inbuilt strength and resilience to her overall character.
Hiding from a world that has shown her nothing but heartbreak and fear.
Her only friends an old lady with Alzheimer ’s and her trusty pet dog.
This girl still manages to retain her quirky sense of humour and is really just waiting for someone to give her a helping hand out of the dark and into the light.
and that tattoo of hers is a beacon, a sign reaching out towards Bane saying “I’m Waiting for you to catch this crazy train too”.
“My whole life has been pledged to this meeting with you”
So poignant and true.
And my god Bane/Roman what a revelation he is.
Not quite good or bad but someone uniquely himself.
With an ego the size of a city and a smart dirty mouth to boot.
what he wants he goes for and usually gets.
Thief, Con artist, Liar and Town whore.
He owns his labels proudly, with head held high.
And what starts out as just a stepping stone to his ultimate goal swiftly morphs into something so much more.
This book has everything it needs to make it a smasher and I just couldn’t put it down it was that entertaining.
The drama and revelations here were like dominoes they just kept on falling.
This also had marvellous side characters some I adored others were major toxic.
But each and every one of them added an extra layer and flavour to the proceedings.
I cannot recommend this book enough its one hell of a read and I devoured every word.
Thank You to the Author for providing me with an ARC of “Bane (Sinners of Saint, #4)” of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Wow…I honestly have lost my words…how to do this justice…first off, this story involves serious issues…tackles overcoming tragedy, finding your self worth again, and overcoming your fears. Sounds serious right? But it’s light, and freaking hilarious, and swoon-worthy, and literally ALL THE FEELS!!!!! Because it’s what Leigh does best, make you go white water rafting on the river of emotions! It’s her thing, and THIS book, THIS story is in my opinion -her best yet! Bane, aka cocky man whore who never gets attached who is just trying to elevate himself in a town run by money. Jesse…omg JESSE..seriously kept picturing Krysten Ritter aka Jessica Jones aka bada$$ chick. She’s alllll I could see while reading this;) freaking loved her, and the chemistry…I. Can’t. Even. Dyyyying, omg, so freaking slow burn hot! I literally never wanted this to end, it was THAT amazing! And the small things, the descriptions that Leigh is SO freaking on point with……
“time soaked into your skin like a kiss at 0300, slow & seductive”
“Her life story was like a bitter winter, one that covers everything in a thick layer of ice you need to crash your way through.”
This story was powerful, the message was strength and perseverance, it was beautifully broken …all I kept thinking was Kintsugi…the Japanese art of fixing broken pottery with gold making it more beautiful the unblemished original. Because that’s Jesse…mended with veins of gold..stronger and more beautiful for what she’s endured. Love this book, freaking love this author. Devour this book, it is one for the ages
Best book of 2018
Um, wow. Just wow. As in the Holy Grail of Wowza. This book has ruined me for everything: favorite sinner from Todos Santos, favorite angst read, favorite book boyfriend & girlfriend, favorite LJ Shen read…I just, WOW. I keep on saying how ready I am for this, how I have prepared myself already, how I can’t wait for this book to hit me but NOTHING will really brace me for this read’s impact and aftermath. Bane and Jesse and LJ Shen’s power…their power practically leaks out off my e-reader. JFC!!! (And gdi amazon is making it hard for me to lay my review down eloquently!!! I need all the !!!s and curses to comfortably express my thoughts and feelings!!!)
Bane (Not just Bane-Roman but also Bane-the whole read) is everything I have ever wanted in a romantic literary. The savageness, the raw sensuality, the complex feelings…my thirst has been quenched. I just…I’m a mess right now. I still don’t know what to say; I often find myself just staring off at space because thoughts are running amok inside my mind. But I’m going to die trying to give this review justice in turn for the soul-wrenching, breath-stopping and heart-breaking read that is Bane.
The writing has been flawless. I have said this one before countless times and I’m saying it again: I FREAKING LOVE L.J. SHEN’S BRAND OF ANGST AND ROMANCE. She has a way of writing these stories about not-so-gentlemen men and the strong women behind them. And I think her heroes were one of the only few prickly and rakish and kind of contemptible men I am freaking in love with; the rest of those so-called bad guys I just barely tolerate.
The plot is dynamic and vivid. The ride started out as if in a trance, a beautiful prologue. It feels like the calm before the storm-and it really is. The whole ride after that has just gone adventurous in a turbulent way. Every chapter is escalating into something badder and bigger. And it all leads to serving justice; a silver platter full of mf rightful punishment to those who wronged them (mostly, Jesse. Only God knows how much she deserves those things and more).
The characters, mainly Roman, Jesse, Gail, Roman’s mom, Mrs. Belfort and Hannah have been compelling, complex and beautiful in every freaking sense. Gail is the badass best girl friend Jesse has been needing of all her life. I’m so glad she has been there for Jesse esp when the latter doesn’t have anyone else during her toughest times. Mrs. Belfort and Hannah have been Jesse’s guardian all this time. I’m so glad they have been there, too, when Jesse’s mother is too much of a selfish B to ever be a mother. Sonya aka Mamul is the epitome of tough single mom and as Jesse has said, also responsible for Bane’s huge af personality. I’m glad I’m able to get to know her better during this read. I’m even happier that Jesse has found a mother in her, too. Such great women in one frame.
Roman ‘Bane’ Protsenko. Oh, Bane. He’s just my ideal depiction and embodiment of a bad boy. Savage af to everyone except for his mom and Jesse; he’s such a marshmallow to them instead…but don’t tell him I’ve said that. But back to Bane. I can say, looking at the mirror and meeting my eyes without flinching type, that I never truly have a favorite sinner. I mean, I may rank Dean and Trent a bit higher than Vic and Jaime. But Bane, jfc Bane-he can easily dethrone the HotHoles anytime, anywhere. He’s like all four HotHoles in one man.
Of course, that’s not to say this hero is faultless. In fact, I have never seen a hero more mindful of his sins than Bane. And he embraces all his faults-he’s down-to-earth actually (one just has to peel his layers off of him). He has no qualms using his charms and advantages full-on. But at the same time this man knows where he has come from and where he belongs. He has no desire to associate himself with useless things and shallow people.
And the most man he has ever done is to break away from his sidelines, cutting off his connections to his clienteles in respect to what he has with Jesse. And in the end? The timing isn’t right but the thought that he’s decided once and for all to come clean? I personally think that’s the closest one to being a real man.
/cries in the corner because Bane may have ruined me for any man irl
And Jesse. Beautiful in all that matters. I am disgusted and angry and freaking frustrated on her behalf. There’s no doubt in me whatsoever that this woman (yes, she’s a full grown woman despite her physical age) has decided to just break it off with everybody and has sworn off men forever. No man really deserved her, no one but Bane. And I just want to hug and give love and support all women who has been wronged just like her. A real queen fixes another queen’s crown and all that jazz.
And though she’s become a shell, I have seen through the chapters her progress and development when Bane coaxed her out of it. And she’s even more beautiful. Vibrant. Sassy. And when she is able to stand for herself, to right all the wrong things done to her? I personally feel empowered, too. I can’t sit still. I have been shaking in excitement for her to deliver lawful vengeance to those despicable people. And it has been more than satisfactory!!! (I do have a vindictive streak, sue me!)
I can’t, you guys. I can’t. How can one book devastate and inspire me simultaneously? I can’t! And now I don’t know what to read after this. Just so unfair if nothing else can come to this level. And it’s just the 5th month of 2018. Send help???
Seeing Bane and Jesse become who they were supposed to be was the best. Neither felt worthy of ANYTHING. Banes irreverent humor and truth broke through to Jesse, and her inner strength and love brought Bane out of hiding. They both came out from behind their shields, faced some awful demons and shined so bright!!! Redemption has never been so sweet.
There are very few authors who make me squeal like a little girl when I see their book title land on my Kindle…and LJ Shen is one of them. Let me just say first off – the anticipation of this book was like foreplay going into the most enticing, unpredictable, and satiable story. The teasers. The hot cover. The Hotholes who preceded it. Leigh Shen pulled out the big guns for this one and did not disappoint.
We all know that for whatever reason we cannot refuse a hot asshole. Whether it’s their broody behavior, smart-ass mouth, lean muscles, or just all over cockiness – WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THEM. Bane is no different. And he is so much more. He is a man in his own world – one where he is untouchable, a power figure, a rebel and delinquent, and an object of desire. No one or nothing scares this man…and I mean No One.
“Baron Spencer thought he was going to war with me. He was about to find out that I was the war.”
Holy shit did he just say that in the first Chapter?!? Yes he did. Bane uses his looks and cocky attitude to charm his pants off of anyone and anything. He is used to getting what he wants and will stop at nothing for it. Even when he meets Jesse, and knows that he must stay away from her in every physical and emotional sense, you just know that she will become not only a pawn in his game, but he will chase her until she is putty in his hands.
“Perfectly gorgeous. Perfectly damaged. Perfectly ruined. Did I mention perfectly forbidden? Because that shit should be at the top of the list.”
Jesse. Oh this girl….she is broken beyond repair when you first meet her. But you know there is fight left in her somewhere. As Bane becomes closer to her, his protective nature unleashes in such a way that you can’t help but over-look all of the laws he’s broken, women he’s screwed, and people he’s hurt. He is a liar, a thief, and a con. But deep down he is just a broken man fighting for a broken girl – who together make each other whole.
Jesse & Bane are on fire when they are with each other. Their banter, casual flirting, and how they push the other one’s buttons creates so much ANGST. Gah….the sexual tension and their passion is OFF.THE.CHARTS. They just get the other one. They are all-accepting of the other, and Bane’s obvious change of character when he realizes how deep his feelings are for Jesse will make you fall for him.
You will slowly watch Jesse transition into the girl that everyone knew she was. She is a badass. She catches some by surprise, and others knew she was in there just waiting for the right person to pull her out. God I’m so glad it was Bane.
“Old Jesse was no longer knocking on my soul’s door. She’d kicked that thing down. And all the light streamed in.”
LJ Shen wrote this book like a freaking poet. It is broken and beautiful. It will make your heart race and your mind lose all capability to think beyond the walls of Bane & Jesse. You’ll lose yourself in their story and not want to come up for air. Amazing job Leigh Shen! Can’t wait for the next Todos Santos series. XO
BTW…Vicious’ appearance in Chap. 18 had me grinning like crazy. “‘Trespassing in broad daylight. If you want to buy your lawyer their next Cabo villa, just open a GoFundMe account,’ Vicious practically yawned.” Oh this man! He definitely met his match with Bane.
LJ Shen- wow- what a book! Bane was an amazing story! The strength of Jesse and how Bane learned to support her was a wonderful, intense story. I love how the book allows for Jesse to stand up for what she believes and believes in herself. Some many emotions throughout the book- flirty, intense, heartbreaking, a love story to remember!
LJ Shen always takes her readers on a journey and Bane leaves readers with wanting more!
I love the Sinners of Saint series. I have been captivated by each story. I have fallen for each sinner almost immediately while reading. I have loved each and every perfect match for said sinners in such an understanding way. And having finished Bane I don’t think I can honestly say that Vicious remains my favorite because Bane fiercely slammed through that door and took right over. Pretty par for the course when it comes to that man though. This book was something entirely different from what I was expecting in such an extraordinary way. L.J. Shen with some next level romance goodness blew my heart apart with this one.
L.J. Shen books are a really good time. They’re fast-paced, edgy, and gloriously delicious. Even when they delve into the dark spaces of her characters journeys you still feel so connected and so intimately involved thanks to her unique story telling and lively, expressive voice. Bane arcs in the all right places structured as a frenemy to friends to so much more type saga about two people hiding from the world in completely different ways because of the heinous acts of others that have become unavoidable in their lives. The wonderful gift of L.J. Shen’s brilliant writing comes from her ability to create hope out of those dark times through witty banter, no-nonsense attitudes, and inherently good people wrapped up in deliciously dubious packages. Her words and how she so creatively crafts them together make for truly extraordinary romance.
“The world seemed painfully mundane while wrapped up in Roman Protsenko’s exceptional orbit. Like he was bigger than the place he was born in.”
Sigh, Bane….. A force seemingly sent by the gods (and possibly crafted by them too) sent to do a job and brought to his knees by a broken, timid, recluse (or is she?) The fire in them both held me captivated, the backstory crushing my heart all over the place, made my feels go haywire, but in true Shen fashion put a phoenix-like resurrection that had me turning pages as if my life depended on it.
“She wasn’t a flickering candle. She was a blaze, but someone had put her flame out. Three someones. I was about to ignite her right the f*ck back up, even if it was the last thing I did.”
Although rooted in deceit, these two had a deep connection that couldn’t be denied. The slow burn, the fight, the banter intoxicated me like a line of tequila shots…feels so good, but you know trouble is coming your way. And it did, and I evil giggled all over the place when the most unlikely duo in Todos Los Santos teamed up to right the wrongs, and wow, the wrongs were crazy!!
“My eyes on hers. Green on Blue. Tough on soft. A dirty liar on the purest, kindest girl I ever knew.”
Bane might secretly be my most favorite, only because he was rough around the edges and gave not one singular you know what about anyone or anything, well, until Jesse, and THAT is what glued me to this story. The sweetness, the hotness, the angst, the emotions were all magnified ten-fold because no one had ever roped Bane in….those are always my absolute favorite, hands down!! One of my top reads of the year (they always are, lol) but seriously, I’m sad to see it end, but the journey with all of these characters was a massively unforgettable ride!! I thank the Author for providing a copy to review!!
“We were no longer friends. Or enemies. Or two lonely skies-one empty and starless like me, one full of lights. One hidden by walls, and the other by ink and beard. We’d just be free to be.”
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
Another great one. There hasn’t been a book I didn’t like. I think each one gets better and better.
** spoiler alert ** 4.50 stars
This is full of spoilers so if you dont want to know then dont read this.
I loved this and Bane was dirty hot in a good way but he is not better than Vicious Spencer. Now that that’s done my thoughts on this book. I like this better than Dean and Trent’s books but because Jamie’s book was so much shorter you can’t compare them.
Jesse is messed up but it’s easy to see why. Her mom sucks, her step dad raped her when she was like 12 and she didn’t know until the book was almost over but I knew it. You could see that coming and then 3 losers from her school gang raped her, one those losers was her boyfriend at the time and he pissed she wasn’t a virgin. Her therapist knew and was helping her step dad so she wouldn’t remember what he did to his new daughter. Her mother knew about her step father and did nothing. So this girl has been let down over and over. This book is much darker than the other books in this series In my opinion.
We already Bane could be a jerk from Trent’s book and he was but it works on him. The banter between Jesse and Bane is hot and funny so funny and they are hot together. Jesse has a great heart even after everything she was put through. The storyline with the neighbor was great and her friendship with Gail. She was damaged and Bane helped her heal. I also liked Banes relationship with his mom that was cool to see.
Loved the reference to Sparrows pancakes that was awesome.
So while it’s not Vic I loved this book and of all LJ’s books this is probably tied with Sparrow as my 2nd fav LJ book. Read it and loved it and get ready for All Saints High