She was a disruption he never wanted.He was everything she distrusted.Klayton Caldwell owns a tattoo shop in Denver, Colorado, and has seen just about everything and met just about every kind of person. And they all have one thing in common. Ink. He isn’t complicated. What you see is what you get. Sex? Always. Relationships? Never. Pleasantries? He doesn’t do that either. Those who can’t handle … either. Those who can’t handle his mouth get inked elsewhere. Klayton holds everyone at a distance, even his friends. He doesn’t do “close.”
Until Madison ends up in his tattoo parlor, broken, afraid and alone. There’s something about her, and almost immediately, Klayton’s guard drops. Now, everything he knows about himself changes as his life begins to unravel.
Twenty-year-old Madison Hart’s future was taken from her the moment she was abducted from her college campus and held captive by a sick f^#%ker. After escaping, she flees, running into a stranger. A stranger who shares a similar past. Someone who might be able to help her heal. If she’ll let him.
Madi comes into Klayton’s life like a storm. She’s beautiful. Pitiful. Dangerous. Her pain runs deep enough that she may never be able to talk about what she’s experienced. Her refusal to talk takes a level of patience Klayton’s not sure he has.
He must navigate her broken pieces by changing everything he is. Who he’s been all these years won’t work anymore. But Madi fights him, she fights herself. She fights the madness.
She refuses to talk. He can’t control his mouth. She doesn’t want to be touched. He can’t help himself. They don’t want love. Inside this storm, is a love so mad it might destroy them both.
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If you want to read a book with an alpha bad boy and hot sex, it’s not the book for you. But if you are in a mood for a comfort/healing that doesn’t go too much in depth with what has happened to H/h, this is one you should read.
My first book from Shana Vanterpool and it was fabulous. The blurb and reviews convinced me and I wasn’t disappointed. Mad Love is emotionally dark and I expected it to be given the trauma Madison experienced. The only part that wasn’t dark was the epilogue and I actually liked that. The trauma Madison experienced was depicted with authenticity that only made the story more raw and real.
The characters Madison, Klayton and Cat were incredible. I loved them all and I was invested in their story. Klayton was a man who lived with an emptiness which he’d chosen himself. The only thing and person that mattered to him was his tattoo parlor Guns & Ink and his friend and colleague Cat. That all slowly began to change when Cat brought Madison to his tattoo parlor.
I loved the slowly evolved friendship between Madison and Klayton. It wasn’t rushed and it shouldn’t be because of Madison’s trauma. Her trust in him was her road back to a new Madison. She was also the reason Klayton wanted more in his life besides emptiness.
As difficult as it was at times because of Madison’s reaction post trauma it was a beautiful and raw love story with flawed and honest characters that got under my skin. The epilogue was incredible! It captured beautifully how important Mad and Klay were for each other. Now I’m beyond excited to read Cat’s story.
4 BadAssDirtyMermaidStars
This book absolutely blew my mind. I have so much love and admiration for her, I admire any author that addresses difficult topics like rape without shying away or romanticising it, but Shana is exceptional.
Madi has gone through so much trauma, she’s terrified, and suffering from intense PTSD. The way Shana explores this with the triggers and depression was awe inspiring in a raw, heartbreaking, honest way. Not one does Shana belittle Madi’s experiences, even those relating to her family and boyfriend. Klayton has isolated himself, he struggles with his anger, and acts like he doesn’t care about anyone because he thinks that’s safer for him. He’s so used to everyone judging him for his past and his tattoos, that gaining the trust of Madi breaks through the numbness and isolation he feels.
They have such a hauntingly beautiful love story about healing, strength and recovery. There were so many times when reading this that it brought tears to my eyes, seeing the vulnerability Madi experiences as she learns to trust him. I love them both so much, the way Klay accepts Madi and teaches her that she doesn’t have to be perfect, that her imperfections are part of her beauty, was so incredible and such a good lesson for us to take from it. I feel like reading it has healed a part of my heart and that’s a uniquely brilliant thing for an author to do for us.
I cannot wait for book #2 so I can learn more about Cat’s story and fall even more in love with Shana’s storytelling abilities.
I liked it, used audible was long but interesting
This is my first Shana Vanterpool read and I loved Klayton and Madison’s story. I could not put it down.
Mad Love gives you Klayton who is the owner of Guns & Ink. Madison is brought in by his best friend and is in need of help. Klay agrees but at first, he doesn’t realize just how broken she is. Shes the shell of who she used to be. Can Klay help her mend the broken pieces when he himself is broken? This book will give you the feels on so many different levels. I know for sure I will be reading more from Shana in the future.