My story isn’t unique.Isn’t rare.Which is, I guess, what makes it so sad.The story about a girl who falls in love with the wrong man, lured by tender gazes, devoted promises and gentle touches. The gentle touches disappear and she’s held captive with ugly insults and brutal beatings.It’s common, this story. My past.I can’t change the past.I wouldn’t even if I could.The ugliness of my past gave me … could.
The ugliness of my past gave me a future worth living for.
Worth dying for.
It gave me a reason to fight. To escape.
That was my mistake. Thinking girls like me could have a choice.
I wasn’t given many promises in my life that weren’t broken, but chaos is a constant promise, always kept, never broken.
He comes amongst the chaos. Amongst the ugly.
He doesn’t promise a way out. He definitely doesn’t promise peace. But he gives me the opportunity for a different ending to my story.
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Chaos Remains is one of those books that you want to fall into, immerse yourself, savor the words and let them flow over you, highlight half the book so you can go back later and relive, and reread infinitely. It’s one of those books you want to cherish, enjoy, tell everyone you know to read and why, and really understand the complexity of it’s characters and what makes them tick. It’s a book that will make you both laugh and cry in almost equal measure. It’s a book that helps you renew your faith in humanity and a reminder about what also makes it ugly. Anne Malcom has given us a masterpiece and we should all be thankful for her gift of words and how to weave them into something beautiful. Infinite Stars!!
This is such a deep story. On the surface it seems like a an opposites attract story with a side of suspense and danger. Thinking that was all this book was weould be a mistake. The characters are beautifully developed. Their pasts, their pains and their complexities are weaved beautifully throughout the action of the plot. This is a book about two deeply damaged people who have coped in different ways finding each other. It is not an easy to read book. This author has a habit of rearranging your soul with their writing and they didn’t disappoint with this book on that front. My heart and soul ached at times reading this book. It is worth every soul rearranging moment to reach the cathartic release of the end. It isn’t your traditional sappy happy ever after either but a more realiastic take on it. A happy as two damaged people can be together when they mush their broken cracks together.
This is very much my favourite read of this year in this genre. I really recommend it. It is a beautifully written piece of prose that is wonderfully soul changing and a delight to read.
Speechless. Mesmerized. Spellbound. Chaos Remains by Anne Malcom was every one of this feelings and then some more. I cannot believe the sheer power and brilliance of her words. This story hit each of my weak spots. Raw. Gritty. Honest. Dark. Twisted. Edgy. Intense. My heart was gone from the very first chapter.
I love reading about broken people. Because these stories talk about inner strength and fighting spirit. In my own dark times I gather inspiration from them as these people remind me that there are worse sufferings. Chaos Remains will be in my most favorite reads in this category. Take Lance. The baddest badass, the alphahole, the most dangerous man in Greenstone Security team. Cold, emotionless,indifferent and ruthless. But his empty eyes and brooding nature hide a sea of tragic pain. My heart was breaking into tiny pieces. He captured my heart and it is still aching for him.
Elena is his kryptonite. When she appeared in bruised and distressed state to ask for help to rescue her son, Lance did not imagine she will be breaking down his wall. She is light and life. She has incredible strength. She is fighting an impossible battle against all odds and I have nothing but respect for her. Her abusive ex who keeps on getting away due to the political power. Her financial difficulties. But she still loves unconditionally. One of the most complex and beautifully written female lead ever.
The chemistry between Lance and Elena is built painfully slowly but brilliantly. There will be set backs. Push and pull. Mistakes and regrets. Danger and love. A rough ride was fitting because they are not normal. They have demons. They have insecurities. There will be sweet moments those melted my heart. There will intense emotions which knocked me down. Every moment had overwhelming emotions. And the words were poetic beauty.
I have been cursing myself for not reading Anne Malcom’s work before. I have been clearly missing out. Don’t make the same mistake. Grab this story as it is so worthy of every single star.
Received ARC for Honest review
An amazing addition to the Greenstone security series that gives us insight into old characters but also gives us a completely new characters and friends to fall deeply for.
Elena has a soul that deserves to be nurtured but had only ever been exploited. Her life has been one long struggle but when she reaches breaking point a few strangers help to show her not everyone has an hidden reason for helping, some people just do it because they can. And those people almost instantly become her new family. One in particular has her dreaming dreams she knows she has no right to wish for, life would never be that kind to her.
Lance has struggled for what feels like forever he doesn’t do well with other people unless he’s causing them pain whilst dealing with them. Anger is the only emotion he knows now but one striking and crazy lady standing in the middle of the office screaming at him has feelings rushing him from all over, his only issue is he’s not sure which emotion to go with as being nasty and rude has always been is go to but he knows that’s just not going to fly with Elena no matter how much of an ass he’s being she never fails to call him on it which for some strange reason leaves him feeling like a jerk.
I feel Anne has taken it up a notch with this book, I couldn’t stop reading and the story had me wrapped up in so many emotions in the end I wasn’t quite sure I could get over it. A fabulous read that any Greenstone fan will fall hard for and if you haven’t read the others your missing out. Go one click!
I haven read this series from the beginning and Anne’s writing just keeps getting better. Lance and Elena’s story is heartbreakingly beautiful. A definite must read
It’s hard to write a review when a book leaves you speechless. This book did just that. Lance and Elana’s story was one that made me laugh, cry and yell out in anger. Their story is hard to read, to learn of their painful past, but then to see them take the risk and find love and happiness. Ya just have to read this book to understand what I mean. It’s another amazing story that Anne Malcolm sucks you into.
Anne Malcom writes truth. Stories that could and have happened even though they shouldn’t be. She writes them. The reader feels them. Right in the heart. I feel like a loon reading her words and smiling… I’m reading, staring at my device, smiling. I love this woman’s words so much!! There’s this honest simplicity to her swords that cut through everything else and leave an impact.
This story isn’t so hugely different from other women’s stories out there but given to the right characters and the correct author and the reader will feel it all right there with those characters. I felt it all. Right there with a woman so beat and battered she couldn’t recognize good when it stared her in the eye. This is probably my favorite Anne Malcom story yet. The story is relatable. The feelings are so raw and right there for everyone to see.
Can this series please just never end!?! Besides the incredible women that have backbones made from steel. The men are serious alphas. But they aren’t these alpha-holes everyone raves about. No, these are men that are strong and fierce. They protect their woman, their families, with their lives. All while treating them like the most precious, beautiful creature to ever exist. These are the men that make me swoon.
I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… my opinions.
Anne Malcom truly knows how to break a girls heart…In the best possible way of course! I cried a lot reading this book; Elena and Lance’s story was something I was completely unprepared for. Full of some refreshingly wonderful slow slow burn, fears, flaws and chaos. Chaos Remains was so so good & I don’t know that I’ll be over it for quite some time.
Chaos Remains was another phenomenal story from Anne Malcom. This is the 4 book in the Greenstone Security series and can be read as a standalone. I have not read this series as yet but now I definitely must go back and read the previous books as I need to know more about the other characters.
This novel gave me all the feels and took me on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. It amazes me how this author was able to capture so much intense emotion in this story and still make me smile. Yes it was a hard story to read but I was hooked from beginning to end.
I loved the characters. They were engaging and likable. Lance and Elena’s slow burn romance was exactly that….a slow burn and it worked so perfectly for this novel. I can’t properly express how much I loved reading their story. The secondary characters were all amazing and added so much to this novel and I especially loved Nathan.
There were just so many elements that came together to make this nail biting story a definite must read. Worthy of more than 5 stars, Chaos Remains was a fantastic page-turner and I would highly recommend it to all romance lovers.
Anne Malcolm did it again. In every one of her books that I have read I get so entangled with the story that I find myself talking to my Kindle. I love that her heroines aren’t perfect but are REAL. The hero’s are protective,growly, sexy, and 100% alpha. This was not my first book by Anne and it definitely won’t be my last. The men and women she creates keeps me coming back for more. Now I realize I didn’t say much about this story because I can’t without giving it away. I will say that Elena and Lance made me cheer for them from the first Lance growls at Elena.
I have read this book twice through and will probably read it again.
Grab this one and all the Anne Malcolm words. You won’t regret it.
Even if your soul is broken it will always find it’s mate. Lance and Elena proved that no matter how broken you think you are there is the perfect person out there with the glue to put you back together. Lance is most definitely my new favorite broody alpha. I wish I could give this book more than 5 starts, it definitely deserves it. Thank you Anne for giving us another beautifully written book!!
This story. It’s gut wrenching. It’s all consuming. It’s slow (painfully so) not something we usually get from this author, but as always, it’s exactly what it needed to be and then some. It’s everything.
There’s a deep darkness that’s shrouded over Lance. Only another that has lived in and been through the darkness would ever stand half a chance at understanding. Luckily, Greenstone has more than a few.
Elena is a light, despite the darkness of her past. So many of the things she does, her feelings and things she says, there are none more real and true. The love she has for her son is how she keeps going, keeps moving forward instead of getting lost in her past.
When their worlds collide, there is nothing beautiful about it, it’s complete and total chaos. But on the other side of it all, what happens when it’s just the chaos that remains? These two will break everything in you, into very small pieces, but have faith because “Some of the most beautiful things I’ve seen are those that have been broken.” Lance and Elena’s story is no exception.
Anne you continue to amaze and delight me with each new book you release.
Explaining this book is hard without giving anything away. I felt so much for Lance Elena and Nathan they became my people. It was impossible not to be sucked into their lives. Anne writes strong women with such conviction that you can’t help but feel empowered by them. I just want to bask for a moment in her strength she is an amazing character. Lance gives broody a whole new meaning. Sometimes a character doesn’t need to say much for them to make a lasting impression. And Nathan was the most amazing little boy. I can’t make up my mind which character was my favourite. I just know they all fit together in this beautiful emotional story.
***5 ‘Something Damaged. Something Beautiful.’ Stars***
Talk about all kinds of slow burn goodness!
This book had my heart bouncing around all over the place from start to finish. I laughed, I swooned, I got all teary and sniffly and I really wanted to gut someone with a spoon. And when I got to the end, I really wished there were more words to read because I didn’t want to say good bye to these characters at all.
I adored Elena and Lance. These two definitely kept me on my toes. Elena is so strong. She’s been through hell and even though she’s scarred by all that she has lived through, she still sees the good in people and in the world and keeps reaching for the good instead of wallowing in the dark. Lance. Now. I LOVE me some broody, one syllable speaking, I’ll singe with a look alpha AF male, but Lance may just take the cake. This man walks a darker path than most, but even in the dark he still has something golden in him that comes out when he least expects it.
Their journey to their HEA is all kinds of rocky slow burn goodness and I loved it all. The zing between them was there from the start, even if it wasn’t your typical type of zing and I loved watching as the cracks started to appear in both of them and seeing how they became so much more to each other than they’d ever thought they could be.
Ok. So. Confession time: This is my first Greenstone Security book *ducks and covers*.
(And for those wondering. YES, It can be read as a stand-alone) I’m a tinsy bit behind on all the goodness that the author has out there, I just stumbled upon her recently and was immediately needing more of her words. But this book has me desperately looking for places where I can slot in the previous books to read so I can be caught up on everything because all of the characters in the book were amazing! From the Greenstone family to Elena’s crew, I NEED more of them all (Especially Rosie. I kinda want to be Rosie when I grow up). So major amounts of love all around to all.
As for the storyline and all that goes on. There will be triggers. Big Ones. But they are dealt with well and are necessary for the plot and the growth of both Elena and Lance. But, overall, I liked how everything played out and where things ended, even if I did end up getting all teary and sniffly.
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
Every time I pick up an Anne Malcom book I am blown away. Lance & Elena’s story is not for the faint of heart. Their world is rooted in chaos and it is beautiful. I almost don’t have the words to express how very much I loved this book. It is amazing from beginning to end. Once I started I couldn’t put it down.
This story definitely has some triggers within it. I appreciated learning Elena’s story because there are so many people who have been victims of domestic violence. While her journey was hard she showed strength throughout it all.
I have not read the Sons of Templar series, but I don’t feel that I had to in order to understand the dynamics between the Greenstone Security members. You are given hints about the stories for those members that make you want to read the rest of the series.
I like Lance and Elena’s story. She’s a single parent of an awesome 5 year old. She ends up meeting Lance when her ex kidnaps her son. This starts the journey for these people who definitely deserve a HEA!
Chaos always
I absolutely love anything that Anne writes and the more I read of her work….the more I want to read! When I first started her SOT series, it took me a whole day to read as the stories were intense, consuming and heart-breaking But let me tell you, the current stories are still the same, intense, consuming and heart wrenching
Lance and Elena’s story will stick with me for a while. This story wasn’t as dark as other stories Anne has written, but I do know my heart will never be the same as it has been split open and sewn back together all through the span of a couple of hours….in my case a few days as I read slowly to make sure I didn’t rush a good thing
I received an advanced copy for which I voluntarily leave my honest review and look forward to whatever Anne throws at me next, as I know I can handle it
I have had this window open for most of the day trying to think of an appropriate review to write. I have loved each of Anne’s books in a different way. This one is no exception. It is a slow burn of 2 people who have been damaged by their past that made my heart hurt for them.
“Elena was all kinds of dark right now, she needed some light. Some peace in this chaos.”
Anne has a way with words that I feel deep down in her characters. She has a way of describing their demenor, how much they fight for what they want and to protect those they love. I can feel so much emotion that I can’t imagine how she felt writing this one. So much raw emotional characters but also the supporting one seem more than just that. They seem like they are part of the main cast. Also bringing the whole Greenstone Security together was just the icing on the cake.
I feel the main thing I got from this book is FAMILY. They don’t always have to be blood to be called family. So much love for this book and can’t wait for everyone to read it.
Chaos Remains, book 4 in the Greenstone Security series, is another fantastic book by one of my favorite authors! Like all the previous Anne Malcom books I’ve read so far and just by reading the blurb, I knew I was going to be put through an emotional roller coaster ride. And I was so right!
I was seriously in awe of the strength of our heroine, Elena Phoenix. She had endured so much cruelty in her childhood and then the horror in her marriage but then to have the will to finally fight for her son’s sake had my heart break and then root for her so hard. When the most terrifying fear in a mother’s life happened, she enlists the help of Greenstone Security and is put in the path of Lance Knox. Lance is also another soul who had so much darkness in his past. This resulted him to become hard, cold and one of the most broodiest of all the Greenstone Security men and woman. But him deciding to take on the lead of protecting Elena and Nathan put him in the presence of such lightness and some playfulness, but also the intense chemistry with Elena. Their relationship was on the slow burn side, but their attraction was fiery from the very first moment. Although Lance tried so hard to keep away from her and to keep things professional, but ultimately he just couldn’t do it. He had this uncontrollable urge to take care of her, talk about swoony moments. With Elena’s upbringing, she had a really hard time allowing people to help, but Lance just could not see her go without. I loved those moments and definitely the banter between these two.
Besides loving the growing relationship between our hero and heroine, the secondary characters were absolutely top-notch. My heart completely melted when Nathan meets Lance for the first time. Lance became a real life hero in Nathan’s eyes, he was his Captain America. And then we get to all the women in this story, Rosie in particular was just awesome! She is crazy, funny and a complete bada$$. All of the wives just dropped everything and rallied around Elena in her time of need, the sisterhood was so strong.
Chaos Remains is definitely a 5-star read, all the emotions, drama, intensity and love was all here and made it a compelling read.
This fourth book in the series is every bit as wonderful as the other three. It has definitely been worth the wait to get to know Lance and Elena’s story.
Elena grabbed my heart right from the beginning and didn’t let go. Her story is one that is heartbreaking but her strength is immense and so powerful. She is a character you immediately like and want to help and protect, as well as her son, Nathan. Oh boy, Nathan is so adorable you wish you could scoop him up off the pages and give him a big hug.
Lance works at Greenstone Security and is the silent, brooding type with a darkness that oozes out of him. But it’s from a past not from an inner evilness. This author really knows how to build a character and develop each one until you feel you actually know them, they almost become real to you.
I love the way this author describes things so clearly and keeps it so real. For example… “…after giving birth, tired, in pain and feeling like the lower half of your body now resembles the Grand Canyon…” Exactly right at times too. Some good humour, with some witty comebacks, is sprinkled throughout the story- mainly from Elena to Lance but Rosie has her moments like usual too. Likewise, Nathan’s innocent replies are crack up moments too.
Robert, Elena’s ex, is one evil, wicked, abusive sicko who I really wanted to throat punch I became so incensed with him. Again an incredible character description making it so easy to dislike this mongrel.
The underlying element of abuse in many firms is terrifying and very real too. Having grown up with an abusive father I can honestly say it really does have more than a touch of reality, yet it is delivered smoothly. However, balancing that there are many wonderful things like butterfly kisses, getting to know sugarbear and honeybuns and ‘Captain America’, fabulous friends- The Greenstone men and women included and chosen family members.
Chaos Remains is a true love story.