I used to be Everly Marrs, then D, W, J, K, and T kidnapped me to force my father’s hand. As hard as I tried not to lose myself to their games, I couldn’t have imagined how much worse things could get.Six months trapped in hell. Six months forgetting who I used to be. Six months just trying to survive.I got out—eventually—and there they were, all five of them. One moment I was in hell, and then … in hell, and then suddenly, I returned to purgatory. They keep telling me what will happen to those who took what belonged to them. They keep telling me what will be done to their enemies.
I’m not sure I can believe them. I’m not sure a word they say is true.
The Letters, they’re still at war, and I’m still in the middle of it. I was an ant, and everyone around me stomped on me.
But, I used to be Everly Marrs, and— dammit— I will be again.
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Hard Truths by Rebecca Royce is a true twisted roller coaster of a ride.
I was seriously addicted to these characters. And can not wait until February to see where she takes us next.
I love strong female leads. And although in many ways Everly may be viewed as a victim. She is totally a strong woman.
4.5 Stars
Book 2 I think brought the angst, darkness, and tension that book 1 built a foundation for and Rebecca did a good job bringing us there. I was surprised for a dark book that not more time was given for the torture scenes/time in real captivity, but I thought the progression was good besides that. I thought it was realistic how Everly wasn’t ok right after being rescued. That she has moments of going back there, that something triggers her, that she falls apart and doubts herself and The Letters when they have been showing her they have changed. I appreciated the time she spent with them, esp with D and J who didnt get as much time in Book 1 I liked how things were 100% stable/agreeable between the guys, because in all honesty, its never always butterflies and unicorns when it comes to relationship, why would it be with 5 guys, let alone 1 haha. I won’t give more away, just happy that this series is finished so I can go right into book 3 and not die from book 2’s ending
Story – 4.5/5 stars
– I liked this one more I think than book 2 in terms of the story. I think it was more melancholy and twisted than book 1, two that was a trade off (but it worked). It made sense, Everly has to rebuild herself/find herself again and heal from what she endured at the end of book 1, beginning of book 2. I think a couple things were too out there for me, that made me come out of the story a bit, which is why I would give it a 4.5 instead of a 5 star rating. One of them being Everly goes from no experience to saving one of the Letters life and doing things she cant come back from. No real training to get there. I know when someone’s life is on the line, everything goes out the window, but this was too farfetched for me.
Narration – 3/5 stars
– Same issues with this narration as I did with book 1. This time the accent swaps was worse, but the guys started to have more emotions, so that was a plus. I think the narrator definitely need to improve upon her male performances, not just speak fast with no inflection, esp at some very pivotal points in the story. The way she did them make the guys seem disingenuous and cold, when some of them are thawing out their hearts and emotions after falling for Everly. I think there was a slight improvement from book 1 to book 2, but again, I won’t be listening to series with this narrator again unless she is only doing female narration.
This book picks up six months after book 1 left off. Everly is in a bad place. We watch her struggle to come back to herself in this book while getting closer to the guys. There is action and drama with a mix of romance. We are left wondering, can Everly come back from this?
Oh Everly…The beginning of this book really hurt. It starts about 6 months after the last pages of the first book, and for that I’m kind of grateful. The things she went through… I’m glad they weren’t discussed in explicit detail. There was enough there to make sure the reader feels the impact of the horror and damage that was done to her without making you live it with her. Her recovery and her coming back to herself as quickly as she did seemed fast, but then you realize that maybe she’s really not as OK as it seems. Even she knows something is off with her. She’s harder, which I’d expect. Her dark is showing more, she knows it, the guys see it, but she pushes on, tries to reforge herself out of the broken bit she took with her out of that basement. Her relationships with the Letters develop, strengthen, even though the voice in the back of her head that poisoned her against them for the last 6 months whispers to her, they push on. Royces warning that Everly has to go through some hard things before she makes it out the other side of the series with a HEA is so, SOOO evident in this installment. She does go through the wringer, she is tested, bent, maybe even broken again at the end. I was so thoroughly impressed with the end scene, I won’t say any more than that, because you need to experience it, but I was captivated, sucked in and feeling like I was in that hotel room too. I can’t even describe how excited I am to read book 3. This is my favorite so far, and if the pattern holds, I’ll love 3 even more so.
The second book in the Kiss Her Goodbye series and I want to read the next book. There is suspense, drama, danger, kidnapping, shootings, and a woman at the end of her rope. A well written story that I was not putting down until I had finished reading it. I received a copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Everly has been through hell, and it shows. She’s not okay at all, it took ‘The Letters’ way too long to find her. Somehow she’s got to find her way back to some version of herself. It’s not going to be easy.
The things she was told, the things that were done to her, all conspire to make her how she is right now.
A dark and difficult book, with so many twists, turns and truths you’ll have to keep turning the pages.
These guys will surely worm their way into your heart just as they did Everly’s. I really wish the third book was out already, I need to know what happens next.
Looked forward to getting into this one and it did not disappoint. This is also a picture of determination. This author also has you questioning a few things too. It will pick your brain and drain the emotions. Everly will consume you with the guys right behind her. The dark fits right with this because that is where the truth lies. It will also try and melt you into a puddle. You better watch out though because this author will captivate you with you not being able to walk away quite so easy.
WOW!! I think I just died a little. My heart is just completely in my throat. This book is absolutely amazing! Everly has been through so much and just when you think she may come out the other side ok BAM!..something else comes along and she’s fighting for her life again . Sometimes literally sometimes figuratively. Will she ever have the normal life she craves? I can’t recommend this series enough. The third book can not come quick enough for me.
Wow, this is definitely dark and I’m not sure about the romance yet. Everly is still in the midst of becoming more. Not only is she becoming stronger and a more lethal woman, she in turn is changing the people and the world around her. We see glimpses of this in how the letters interact and others, but I think the wrath of Everly is still to come. Once the Letters become her true loves and strength, I think they will gut their world. Dark Truths is only the bridge to that reality for them. It is a must read on the path to the truth.
I don’t have the right words to describe this book except this and that is I absolutely loved it!
I was hooked before I even got to the second chapter and I stayed hooked until the very end of the story.
So many surprises and so many twists and turns that I was literally kept on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading this book.
Rebecca Royce has definitely become one of my favorite authors especially since I’m always wanting and needing more of her stories.
So it’s gonna be a heck yeah I most definitely do recommend this book but if you haven’t read the first book then I highly suggest that you do otherwise you will get really confused about what’s happening and who’s who.
Dark Truths finds Everly 6 months into captivity and you can imagine the trauma that she suffered from one of the cruel head of The Alliance, Ben. She was broken, traumatized and generally lost her sense of self, believing she is an ant, deserving to be stomped on. Did The Letters really give her up?
This book is everything I’ve expected it would be: gritty, dark and suspenseful. Once more, the author weaved a story that was compelling from the get go. What more can I say? From well developed story line and characters, this book got it and more. I love that in every book, Everly get to know the guys a bit more. D has always been my favorite because he was consistent in his intention with Everly, although all of them are trying their best to help Everly cope from the trauma that she is going through.
To say that I was in a roller coaster of emotions was putting it mildly. I cannot for the life of me, get over that ending. Argh! I need book 3 ASAP!
Dark Truths (Kiss Her Goodbye Book 2) Kindle Edition
by Rebecca Royce
I received a complimentary eARC and am choosing to leave a fair and honest review.
Falling in love with Rebecca Royce’s work is as easy as breathing. Even when the book is dark, very very dark and ends on a cliffhanger that leaves you screaming for more.
Dark Truths is a masterpiece in drawing you into a world you would never otherwise see. Everly never thought she would ever see this world and when she was thrust into it by the Letters, she never expected to be tortured and nearly destroyed. But it happened.
When she is kidnapped away from the 5 men who kidnapped her in order to get her father to obey them, she slipped into hell. The same hell that D, W, J, K, and T went through themselves. She believes that she was sent there by her guys, her letters until she is rescued and brought ‘home’ to them.
Then they start to run, to escape the splinter of the Alliance. Everly goes with Derrick and the dark truths start to come out.
Derrick is my favorite letter, perhaps because he fits the broken boy trope the best and perhaps because his love for Everly is complete and honest. He is willing to do whatever she wants or needs, including teaching her how to kill. Not just the mechanics but the ability to find that place in her.
The love scenes in this novel, because with Ms. Royce, they are love scenes and far more than your average smexy moments, are so passionate I was weeping for the characters.
I have to admit my Kindle nearly bit it when I hit the end and the cliffhanger! Then I wept because, wow, just oh my god, wow!.
5 stars out of 5 because anything more, while warranted, aren’t allowed.
I just can’t recommend Rebecca Royce’s work for anyone interested in love, passion, RH’s and just the most amazing characters in the most thrilling plots and stories.
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Truths-Kiss-Goodbye-Book-ebook/dp/B07MXLK367
The second book in the Kiss Her Goodbye series and I want to read the next book. There is suspense, drama, danger, kidnapping, shootings, and a woman at the end of her rope. A well written story that I was not putting down until I had finished reading it. I received a copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.