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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Floved it!! – No Spoilers
This was such a comprehensive journey of Angst- Betrayl – Darkness- Hope and Love
Guaranteed to leave you with that little hitch of breathlessness that tears at your soul
Bane was such a perfectly scripted bad boy – I knew under that dark and brooding shell there was just a touch of marshmallow goodness that would bleed out for the right woman
Jesse – She is so many things – perfectly imperfect – like a broken doll she was left on the shelf waiting for the right person to glue the pieces back in place –
Out of all the Sinners books, this may just be the best
What a fantastic book, worth 5 stars!! Bane and Jesse..so good together, loved their story
See my review in French here
BANE was one of my most anticipated reads this year, and it didn’t disappoint!
This story is SO MUCH MORE than the blurb.
So much more than a spin-off.
The cover itself gave away some clues. Yes, the design reminded me a lot of the Sinners (sexy male, title, color…)
But there are TWO models there, and one of them is a woman.
Ad the way she holds him, bits his ear… Sexy? Definitely
But there is more to this book, SO MUCH MORE…
I wasn’t prepared for the depth, tough.
The first chapters, especially through Jesse’s POV was a big punch in the gut
And knowing a lot more about Bane’s background was amazing too.
Both characters are hurt, have flaws and demons.
But still, it’s like destiny had plotted all the events in their past to lead to their love story.
Bane is filthy, rebel, rough. But he’s also a loving son and a loyal friend. He’s no knight in a shining armor, but Jesse doesn’t need one. She needs someone to give her back her sword to slay her own dragons.
That’s what I absolutely loved in this story.
I wasn’t expecting it at all.
Forget about princes charming
Forget about princesses awaiting to be saved.
Dive into this story with as less tips as you can, it will be mazing.
And as the whole world knows, RUCKUS IS MINE, he’s my absolute favorite L.J. Shen’s character, but BANE is right beside him now, at the very top of my list.
I re-read BANE, as son as I finished it. This book was amazing like that.
***ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review***
Visit my French blog: https://isalacroqueusedelivres.wordpress.com
There’s a message in Bane. I think that message is: Instead of trying to fix, empower.
Roman “Bane” Protsenko already had my vote as an awesome character because he was Edie’s friend. His story reveals he’s built himself from this young boy, born to a single mom who herself has been traumatized and ran to another country. He’s a man who had no father but had for a brief period a father figure, who despite his significant flaws, was who Bane looked up to. As a man, Bane seems to have no self-value and is a con-man trying to best the best (aka Vicious!). He’s built a life for himself that keeps money rolling in, some legal, some not. More importantly, he respects and loves him Mom and her plight. He may not respect himself but does respect her.
One of his “business plans” leads him to another con, of sorts. A con that with forever change him. He’s seen her before and admired the meaning behind her tattoo. “My whole life has been pledged to this meeting with you”.
Jesse Carter is the one he couldn’t have. She’s so damaged and frightened and alone. (I cannot even fathom what she went through.) Bane is supposed to bring her back to life. But he can never touch her. He cannot have her. As he sets out to break her out of the black hole and spiraling fear that encompass her, he becomes enchanted by her. And he breaks all his own rules.
He pushes and persuades, encourages, battles, manipulates. He befriends. He supports. He changes…he changes himself. He can no longer accept who he has become when he is told “Life is about meeting your eyes in the mirror without flinching”. It comes down to self-respect and self-acceptance.
For as much as his lies have brought this beautiful soul to him to fix. He can only fix himself and hope he has given her enough to fix herself. He’ll always be there to protect her, but through it all, Jesse knows the “old Jesse” needs to come back to life. “The princess saves herself in the fairytale.”
And save herself is exactly what she does. Roman empowered her to save herself. The tragedies she endured, the injustices of life, the lies told, the evil she experienced, past and present, and she fought her way back to life. She lost herself but she did not give in. Roman gave her a reason (and those romance books she loved so much helped ).
Empowerment and self-respect. Never give up on yourself!! This book got to me. It took me hours to write my review. I loved every minute with Roman and Jesse!!
Another fantastic read by LJ Shen, her books just keep getting better and better – the writing, the characters, the plot, the emotions – prepared to have your socks blown off with this one!!
Bane, I loved him with a passion!! He’s a bad boy with a twist, cocky, arrogant, a criminal, sexy, confident, but broken underneath, hiding behind his mask of pain he’s a little different from other Alpha’s. He made a business deal that ended up putting all his focus on Jesse, but he wasn’t expecting to fall for her in the process!
Jesse, what a heroine we have here, so broken yet so strong, her story gutted me, and I was rooting for her at every stage. But being around Bane, being in his presence and breathing his air, him giving her the little nudges that she needed, gave her the determination to keep going and start to live again.
Such an emotional and angsty read, heart breaking at times, then had me laughing at others, swooning next!!!! Just fabulous, not one to be missed!!
“My Whole Life Has Been Pledged to This Meeting with You”
Bane is book #4 in the Sinners of Saint series but can be read as a stand-alone. There is so much to say about this story! Raw & gritty are the two words that kept floating in my head. This is definitely not for the faint of heart. There are so many layers to this story! It will grip your heart then make you laugh.
Roman “Bane” Protsenko does things his way. He is a naked surfer. Habitual pothead. A con, a liar, a thief and a fraud. He is a mover and a shaker. He has a lot of irons in the fire. He is also feared. He does what needs to be done. Survival is key. Bane is the ultimate anti-hero. But there is so much more to him….
“I didn’t see the point in making an effort to look like them. I wasn’t them. I was me. I was an outsider, with no lineage, no fancy last name, or historic legacy.”
His quest to secure financing to build a surf park leads him to oil tycoon Darren Morgansen. Part of the deal to secure the financing is to befriend his stepdaughter Jesse, give her a job, and help to bring her out of her shell. She is a self-imposed shut in. Only leaving the house when absolutely necessary. The prologue was devastating as we learn why Jesse doesn’t want to leave the house. Her story is told bit by bit.
The combination of Bane & Jesse is amazing. Two halves that make a whole. They have crazy chemistry. Jesse sees Bane for who he is, not the outcast that he is portrayed as. Likewise, Bane connects with Jesse and sees through her issues. He embraces them. They challenge each other on many different levels.
The story unfolds and the layers are peeled away like an onion. There are so many back stories. There are so many emotional parts but funny parts as well. I loved watching the evolution of both Bane and Jesse. It is a long fight to overcome their fears and really open up to one another. And let’s talk about sex! Whooo! Bane is not shy or simple. Hot hot stuff! I also love the way Bane encouraged Jesse to be herself and heal herself – not wait to be “saved.”
“You don’t need a prince, princess. You need a sword.”
Strap yourself in and get ready for the ride! Bane will have you flying around on a roller coaster! Just when you think the ride is over, you hit another huge drop. Ruckus move over, you have been replaced.
“I wanted to see for myself.”
“See what?”
“What my successor looks like.”
5 stars
Roman “Bane” Protsenko is a beautiful disaster. He’s a con, a liar, a thief and a fraud. He has no problem using sex to get what he wants. He sets his sites on creating a waterfront surfers’ mecca. An investor is willing to give him everything he wants, but he might lose it all in the end.
Jesse Carter may not be a saint, but she’s not a sinner either. She has faced physical and emotional abuse by the friends and family that should have loved her. Bane steamrolls into her life offering her friendship and more. He should be the bane of her existence. She never dreamed that her knight in shining armor wouldn’t have a sword, but instead a joint and a surfboard.
I loved everything about this story. Whoever thought that this anti-hero would become everything right in the world? I did. I love all of LJ Shen’s characters, and Bane was everything I hoped for and more! This standalone in the Sinners of Saint series is not to be missed!Bane
I have so many things to say about this amazing story. Specially about the heroine, she’s one of the best heroines I’ve ever read.
This is a story where the heroine doesn’t “need” to be saved. Jesse was a lonely girl who spend most of her time alone with her dog.. she wasn’t like this by choice, something terrible happened to her when she was just a child that she doesn’t remember.. something terrible happened when she was just a teen.. her own family betrayed her without even caring what she was going through…
Bane has a very bad reputation in Todo Santos, nobody wants to mess around with him, he is charming, hot and a thief of hearts and so much more.. his ways of earning money weren’t even legal, but nothing mattered, he could get away with anything, even touching the “untouchable” ..
Jesse what an amazing heroine, I love how we get to see, how jesse, slowly started to break apart her shell and all her fears after such a long time.. her new “friend” makes her feel brave and alive even things she never felt before.. even thou life and people have deceived her and broke her many times.. still she had always a kind gesture for the ones with pure heart..
this was a heart wrenching story with a beautiful warrior princess who had fought hard to recover herself and all that was stolen from her.. it was hard to read what she went through but very happy to see her fighting and reclaiming herself again..
Bane and Jesse, love how their love starts slowly, both trying not to read too much and feel too much.. both having different reasons that at the end are the same reasons that brought them together..
Love Bane, what an amazing book!! another great story by LJ Shen..
Bane might be a liar, he might be a con, but the only reason he is a thief is because he will steal your heart without you even realising. Vicious might be the King but beware as Bane is definitely the Prince. Jesse and Bane’s story is not conventional and at times it will break your heart but what this guy will do to save her from the darkness is what all love stories should be about. Their journey has more twists and turns than a back country road but if you hang on tight, the nail gripping ride will be worth it in the end. This latest addition to the Sinners Of Saint series brings it all with angst, grit, emotion, heartache and a story that will wrap itself around your heart relentlessly. Bane shows us that even the baddest of the boys has a big heart and knows when something is worth fighting for. As Bane tries to bring the spark back into Jesse it will take his princess to find her inner strength to finally fight the demons that dragged her into the horror and darkness. Bane will frustrate you, give you a smirk or two, cause you to fall in love and will bring a whole new meaning to hot and steamy.
I honestly did not think this day would ever come.
Ever since reading VICIOUS, I was in love with him. He was a glorified jerk, an asshole extraordinaire, the high school meanie, and just all around dick. And I ADORED him!! I knew from that moment on that I loved LJ Shen’s heroes. She wrote characters that played by their own tune. Unapologetic, unrepentant, and remorseless. Heroes that were original, unique and in your face honest.
Today is the day when my darling VICIOUS is being dethroned. I didn’t think it was possible – I was proven wrong.
BANE was the PERFECT blend of what I love in a fictional hero. He was brash, in your face blunt, confident in his skin, sex on two legs, and too alluring for his own good. But under that self-assured and cocky as all demeanor was a man who loved his mother dearly, and someone who was not too stubborn to acknowledge the ONE person that was meant for him.
“My whole life has been pledged to this meeting with you…”
A chance encounter on a fateful day started a fascination that lasted years. When Bane and Jesse finally met again, all bets were off. The way Bane spoke to her on a visceral level, challenged her and pushed her by just breathing the same air, was all she needed to fight back and return to the living. His personality didn’t allow a NO, it was his way or the highway, until he met Jesse. I melted every single time he did something out of character just to make Jesse happy. He could be such an asshole, but then he turned around and did something so sweet – I wanted to swoon right away. He was perfection in my eyes. The perfect blend of a jerk and a smidgen of a sweetheart. On top of that he was funny, sarcastic, giving, but also very shrewd and astute. He was everything I love about a guy. Meeting Jesse didn’t change him, she just brought his hidden qualities to the surface.
Jesse was an enigma. She was barely existing, and a shadow of her older self. Her journey was one of revelations, of strength and courage. Just by being around Bane she found the grit to move on, to change the status quo.
I honestly think Jesse and Bane are the author’s best work yet.
They were a couple that understood each other without having to spell everything out. Jesse accepted him for what he was, no sugar coating or attempts to change him. She embraced all his flaws, his past as well as his reputation. I adore women that can accept pasts, as sordid as they may be, and move towards the future. Jesse was a shining beacon. A phoenix, who clawed her way out of hell with a little push from the resident hell-raiser. And the end result was PHENOMENAL!!!
“What’s the antonym of hate?” I blurted, drunk on pleasure.
He collapsed to his couch, cupping the joint with his thumb and forefinger and sucking hard. “Jesse.”
BANE was the perfect conclusion to an otherwise already AMAZING series. It’s bittersweet to see this generation of Sinners come to an end. But I’m stoked and excited to read all about the second generation in the All Saints High series.
WOW! Bane & Jesse’s story is nothing short of earth shattering, soul deep, absolutely A-MAZ-ING!!!
When I starting reading the first chapter in Bane’s pov – I thought uh oh I don’t think I’m going to like this guy at all. However true to form – this incredible author always, always has an intricate, extraordinary plan up her sleeve. One she unleashes in perfect form – little hints here or there – unfolding and revealing so much depth not only in this story but these outstanding characters. I feel like I want to use a stronger word than outstanding to describe what are undoubtedly the best characters she could have possibly created for this brilliant read. They are magnificently complex.
Bane is the gorgeous, surfer, ruthless, town bad boy. He oozes confidence and sex. He was raised by an amazing single mom. The only person in his life he truly loves. Moved to the US from Russia as a toddler. Now at 25, he has his hands in everything. Owns a coffee shop, a hotel and is planning a huge surf park if he can find the right investor. His methods and lifestyle are questionable. Bane as a person, specifically as Jesse’s person – utterly phenomenal. Gah I couldn’t love him more if I tried!
Jesse is one of my all time favorite heroines. Her backstory left me raw. No one should ever have endure what this tortured soul has – yet she is stronger than her story. She just needed the right force to come in to her life and not just bring back the old Jesse but to discover a new one. She had been hurt, shamed and left with scars both skin and soul deep to show for it. But when she finds her voice and starts coming back to life – she is absolutely stellar. She can wield that sword like the warrior she had to evolve in to
These two unlikely allies – were made for each other. They are fire and ice. Yet despite the circumstances and deception that brought them together – their journey is full of healing, strength and an amazing bond between these two lonely souls.
The build up – holy mother of all steady simmering deliciousness! Jesse is the forbidden fruit. Can Bane resist Jesse’s pull? Talk about wicked hot…
This book is PERFECT in every way. All the FEELS. Plenty of uncertainty and surprises to be CONSUMED from cover to cover. All the sweet torture of sexual tension and luscious angst. Dual pov with all the witty, hilarious internal dialogue that was a work of art on it’s own. Extraordinary, unique storyline that takes you on a journey that shatters your heart and pieces it back together stronger than steel.
L.J. Shen has the innate talent to masterfully write perfectly flawed characters and bring them full circle to a thoroughly sublime conclusion. I have a huge author crush and hope to meet her. I devour every book she writes and count down to the next one.
Thank you, Leigh for my new favorite book quote. “Remember: the journey is always better than the destination.” I freakin’ love this.
Alpha, and plot twists, and swooning OH MY.
I’m at a loss for words to be honest with you, Bane has actually left me speechless (a previously unheard of accomplishment). This is such an emotional, heartfelt, gripping story that was absolutely impossible to put down, even for a second!
Jesse Carter is one of the bravest, strongest, most inspirational characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading; with one of the most horrific, and tragically realistic, backstories. It’s terrifying and sickening that the things Jesse Carter goes through are things happening all the time, things people refuse to talk about, as if talking about it will make it all worse. Rape, victim blaming, slut shaming, abuse, neglect, bullying. These things are happening every day, people get their power and their choices taken away from them every day. And Jesse Carter personifies every emotion survivors experience, she represents every single person that’s suffered a violation like this, and she’s inspiring support for those survivors, she’s proof that you are not broken, and you are not powerless, and most of all she’s a reminder that it is never your fault that someone did that to you.
To everyone else, Bane is intimidating, merciless and unreachable. But getting to see him as Roman with Jesse (and his mum) was so beautiful, he’s always an alpha but he’s also caring, gentle, kind, and he allows himself that vulnerability he wouldn’t trust anyone else with. It’s honestly just so stunning to see that development throughout their love story.
They’re both flawed, as all characters should be and all humans are, but this just made them feel more realistic, relatable and three dimensional. It made me care even more, because I felt like I really knew them. And their chemistry? OH MY BANE. HOT isn’t a strong enough adjective, they were electric, they were molten lava levels of hot, burn the world down hot. And I’m thoroughly addicted, and I’m love with their journey.
LJ Shen has such a captivating, artistic, beautiful way with words, her ability to make you feel every emotion the characters feel was pure, creative magic. This book tortured me. There’s no other way to explain the emotional bombardment I felt, but it also fascinated me, it had me hooked, and getting to the ending? Made all the pain they went through, and as a result the pain that I experienced reading it because I’m an overly emotional person and Shen has some satanic powers, worth it. I cannot wait to see what’s next for LJ Shen, because I guarantee it will not disappoint!
I’ve said it time and time again and it still bares repeating….LJ Shen can do no wrong when it comes to writing novels. OMG…..Bane was nothing like I was expecting it to be. This story was compelling, heart-breaking and memorable. From the very first chapter you will be stunned.
Roman and Jesse… what a couple. Both hiding from the world in their own way. But when they met everything changed. Their connection/chemistry was out of this world. I loved their story, I loved their romance, it was angsty and steamy and a slow burn.
But this novel wasn’t all hearts and roses. There were topics dealt with in the story which may be difficult for sensitive readers.
I think what I loved most about this book was the reference that despite tragedy the Princess wields the sword and saves herself in the end of the fairy-tale. And that’s exactly what Jesse did…. however I loved that Bane was there to support her if she needed him.
I can’t get this page-turner out of my mind. It was phenomenal and worth so much more than 5 stars. I would highly recommend this novel.
What a novel. This book has so many emotions that I hope I can get it right for this review. Bane thinks he is a bad boy and does bad things, but he does things his way. Jesse Carter’s life was at one time joyful and then The Incident change her to a person she didn’t know if she will ever get back.
This story can make you stop breathing and breakdown emotionally with sorrow, and then it builds you back up and then breaks you. It’s beautifully written to a point that you feel the emotions of Jesse and Bane; you feel their pull, their love and their healing. One thing stood out for me and it was this quote.
“I was in love with Roman “Bane” Protsenko. All of him. The thief, the con, the whore. He was cracking my heart with every touch, shattering it with every smile, and it didn’t make any sense, because how could he break something that is already broken?”
This right here is what a broken soul would have to go through to heal again. Bane did that for Jesse, he fought for her and then she fought for him.
See more on my A Day With Ethel – YouTube Channel.
The princess saves herself in this fairy tale.
Well, what can I say? Leigh has outdone herself. I have been waiting on pins and needles for this book, and when I saw it waiting in my kindle library as pretty as can be, I almost went through the roof.
A liar. A con. A thief. Roman “Bane” Protsenko is an unapologetic asshole. He’s crass, and rude, and will do just about anything to fulfill his dreams. He has been doing whatever he can to get where he is, and it hasn’t been as easy ride for him. All Bane wants is to continue to live his life the way he has been living, uncomplicatedly, while climbing his way to the top by the skin of his teeth.
Enter Jesse Carter. The very definition of complicated. This girl has many a reason to be angry with the world. She may be living in a mansion, and may have the best things that money can buy, but Jesse is a sad sad girl. It was hard for me to read her backstory, because the girl couldn’t catch a break. I was wondering how Leigh wrote those parts because they sure as hell weren’t easy to read.
For some reason Bane decides he is going to help sad Jesse. He is going to drag her back kicking and screaming into the world, and force her to live once again. He is going to be her friend, and her knight in shining armor if needed.
I loved this book for many reasons. It was hot, and sexy, and savage which was all the things right up my alley. But the number one reason why I loved this book: Jesse Carter. I loved how Leigh gave her character the strength to fight back. I loved how even though Bane was a badass motherfucker, he was at times secondary to Jesse’s fight. I loved how he would step back and let the princess swing her sword to banish her own nightmares.
I expected Bane to be alot of things, but understanding and compassionate? Nope, I hadn’t expected those, and those were the things I loved best about him. As much as I love to read about take charge men who fight the battles of their women for them, sometimes you just wanna see the girl do her thing while the guy cheers on from the sidelines.
This was a beautiful story. It may not have been perfect, but I thought it was amazing and honest. This is my favorite one from this series.
5 million stars.
Oh Jesus! This book!! You guys HAVE to read this book! I’m still in so much awe of this novel and it’s been a few hours since I finished reading. How am I meant to move on to something else when this book is all I keep thinking about! Leigh has done a phenomenal job with this book and I applaud her for giving us something so amazing and heartbreaking, but breathtaking!
Bane is a story you will not see coming. You think you know what it’s about just by reading the blurb, but what you find will surprise you. It will break your heart, it will make you angry, it will fill your heart with love. This book has surpassed any book I have read this year. It is one of the best books Leigh has ever written and It is the most emotionally charged book Leigh has ever written. I am utterly and completely in love with this book!
“We weren’t a boy and a girl. We were two lonely, fucked-up souls.”
Bane is everything they say he is. He’s a thief, a con man, a law breaking citizen. But besides that he is one of the most beautiful men Leigh has ever created. I love Vicious, absolutely love him, but Bane is so close to taking his crown it isn’t even funny. Bane is just so caring, under all his bravado is a man who will do absolutely anything for you, he will drop everything just to be with you. He is just simply amazing.
“The Queen is more powerful than the King.”
Jesse is such a broken soul. Ah, she ripped out my heart and stomped all over it with her story. I cried for her, I felt for her, I wanted to avenge for her! She is such an incredibly strong heroine. She is my favourite heroine from all of Leigh’s books. She has lived through so much in her short life, way more than others have had to endure, and she survived! She fought and she saved herself. She is a role model. Jesse is someone to look up to. I love how sassy she is when it comes to Bane. Their banter is enjoyable to read. Their tension is so hot I thought my kindle would explode!
“My whole life has been pledged to this meeting with you.”
This story is full of so many emotions! Angst, heartbreak, hope, faith, and so many more. This book is about finding the lost piece of your soul and healing it. It shows us that we are stronger than we think we are. It’s about finding that one person in the whole world who will have your back through anything. Who will love you unconditionally, and who will fight for you no matter what it takes. I laughed through this book, I bawled my eyes out as well. This story gave me every feeling under the sun. I love that a book can make me feel so deeply into my soul, make me feel like the characters are as real as I am. I give this book a million stars out of 5. I crave more words from Leigh and I seriously am so excited about her future projects! Do yourself a favour and grab this book. You won’t regret it.
“Love is like ivy. It wraps around you, chokes every part of you quietly. It is not patient, or kind, or gentle. It is needy, cunning, and suffocating.”
Where do I begin…Bane will grab all your attention from the prologue and not let you go till the very end. It’s different from the other Sinners of Saint books and I wasn’t expecting the little darkness within it. There are some sensitive subjects in the story but it is beautifully written. I couldn’t read the next sentence fast enough.
“Breathe life into her.”
Jesse is a heroine that as gone through a tragic and horrible situation that left her empty and broken. Untouchable. She has turn into a private and quiet shell of the girl she use to be, barley leaving the house. Even though she is suffering and lost her strength and beautiful shines through.
“My heart was an animal, caged and suppressed and angry. It was hungry. Restless. Out for blood. And I was going to feed it”
We all know Bane is a savage, a con, a liar and a thief but he is so much more than that. He is smart, understanding, protective and sees what everyone else overlooks. He is just as beautiful as Jesse. Both are outsiders with a bad reputation which is one of the reasons they are perfect for each other.
“We weren’t a boy and a girl. We were two lonely, fucked-up souls.”
This book was serious at times, but it also had me smirking, crying and angry at what I was reading on the pages. The build up between the main characters was off the charts and got me a tad anxious. LJ Shen’s books get better and better with each release. Bane and Jesse’s story is a must read. Once you dive into this book you will not be willing to put it down.
“What’s the antonym of hate?”
~ Read on behalf of Two Darlin Dolls and a Book Review Blog
When an L.J. Shen novel hits my kindle I swear it’s a holiday because EVERYTHING stops!! This novel was pure MAGIC! Bane and Jesse were perfect together. Just amazing. I laughed, I cried and I honestly never wanted it to end. I loved them so much!
I swear I have been dying for Roman “Bane” Protsenko’s story since Scandalous and Jesus Christ this author delivered and then some. When Bane wants something, he will do anything to get it and Jesse Carter has no idea what she’s in for. When he makes a deal with her oil tycoon stepfather, she becomes a pawn and a plaything in his path to getting more of his heart’s true desire – Power. That is until Jesse digs her claws deep and twists up his whole game like he never saw coming.
GAHHH!!! BANE is my most favorite L.J. hero to date (I’m sorry Trent.) He is wholeheartedly flawed, edgy and conflicted and a lonely damaged soul at heart. He is a con artist, a thief, self-serving and conniving and an anti-hero to a T. But what he found deep down buried inside a withdrawn, damaged girl became his eventual redemption. Jesse Carter probably has a little piece of my soul. Strong yet damaged, broken yet slowly healing but with a ton of scars. But when Bane comes into her life he comes the balm to those scars. They will always remain but he could help lessen them over time and be the cushion for when they hurt.
What I loved about both Bane and Jesse was the fact that she saw past his reputation and track record and he saw past her tragedy. They were very similar in that they were both running away and hiding parts of themselves they weren’t ready to face. But they were each other’s respective catalyst to move out of the shadows. He was in fact the first person to see her, to want to fix her and heal her. He was her protector and the man that stood in front of her while she faced the world. He became the first deep breath she took after not living for a long time and her compass bringing her back to the land of the living.
Bane was everything and honestly the best novel L.J. has written to date. It was hot, angsty, forbidden, filled with spitfire banter, witty one-liners, kickass metaphors and laugh out loud sarcastic AF humor. Shen pretty much solidified her role as HBIC because this book is FIRE! This novel was equally heartbreaking, uplifting, monumental and dare I say LJ’s best work to date without a doubt. Bravo! 6 Amazing stars!! ~Ratula
Surf’s up and BANE’s riding high on the charts!
How does one go on after reading an LJ Shen book? Each and every time I finish I cannot concentrate on any other read. Her characters constantly dominate my thoughts weeks after. It doesn’t matter what genre you prefer, LJ writes with a purpose, and clearly that purpose is to resonate with all of her readers.
The Princess in this story saves herself, but the Knight…well in this case the constantly stoned surfing hustler; didn’t need to save her. He just needed to find and appreciate her for who she was, to bring her back from the brink of hollowness. To hold her sword if she were to get weary in her battle.
Bane is unique. You really cannot compare him to any of the other hot holes as he is in a league of his own. He is that guy; that guy we all had a crush on, that guy that stole our first kiss, that guy that we all have had a one night stand with because as much as we want those special feelings, Bane is not that guy…….Until one snowflake turned his feelings into a snowstorm.
Jesse has been crippled and shattered by unforgiveable acts performed against her. She has had her will, her power, and her innocence all stolen by those she trusted most. Finding her strength, she pledges to get back what they took.
As much as I loved Bane, and he could rock my world anyday, my favorite character in this book was Jesse. Her fight for survival, her battle, her strength and her endurance was inspirational for all women who have been victims to cruelty or violence.
~ 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. ~
QueenZany 5 Star Review
BANE
L.J. Shen
Open the floodgates people because it’s about to get real crazy,
in there!
Yes, because of the one and only L.J. Shen.
She slayed this book! Like a dragon slayer slaying its prey!
But in this story, there are no mythical creatures, no we are her prey! we are the captive audience that welds her literary sword of words and finally driving a literal stake through my beating heart. With the words still so fresh and bleeding off the pages like a blistering hominy.
Throwing me off kilter, wracking my brain and sending me off into the next hemisphere!
So, yes she killed it and then some!
Bane is bone-numbing, thrill ride that will have you soaring off your feet, like a title wave of mass emotions, spluttering you till its very depth!
Only to Pull you in with a raw unadulterated need for, this soul-defying love, and fervent desire!
Wrecking me and loving every single second of it.