Redemption

The Suspense Sucks You In! Konstantin & Ravin’s Dark Story Is Shrouded In Mystery. He Is Hard To Read, But She Detects Sadness Behind The Cold Mask That Her Protector Wears.

This standalone is part of the Crave Me romance collection that includes the stories of four best friends. The set includes:

• Submitting to the Billionaire: Star’s story
• Redemption: Raven’s story
• The Heir: Rosa’s story
• Nice Day for a White Wedding: Cindy’s story

Star, Raven, Rosa, and Cindy had been best friends since youth. They each had dreams. Star pictured herself as a writer one day. Raven had hopes of becoming a doctor. Rosa wanted to become a fashion industry insider. And Cindy dreamed of becoming successful in the business world. Their friendships had become strained once Star found love at an early age. She and Raven had a falling out roughly around the time Star married Nigel, leaving Rosa and Cindy somewhere in the middle. Cindy had gotten busy with getting her degree. Rosa spent some time in America doing an internship. And Raven gave up her education once her sister became sick. As their stories unfold, they rely on one another and discover that their friendships really can stand the test of time.

Note that Raven’s friend Cindy is introduced in this story. She plays a small role. Star and Rosa also appear.

Submitting to the Billionaire primarily takes place during two weeks in June. Redemption takes place during the summer while Star’s relationship with Nikolai is still fresh. Star had been twenty-two; Raven is twenty-three. It is conceivable that Redemption takes place the following summer, but it probably takes place during the same summer.

REDEMPTION:

Raven Hill, twenty-three, doesn’t regret for a second her choice to raise her preschool-aged niece, Janna. When her older sister Octavia died from cancer three years ago, it nearly broke her. She tries to live up to Octavia’s brave example and to raise Janna in a way that honors her. Her whole life now revolves around the little girl and she wouldn’t change a thing. Cindy’s friendship has been invaluable the last few years. They share an apartment together, and Cindy helps out with Janna whenever she can, proud to be called Aunt Cindy. An older woman who lives next door helps with Janna when Raven and Cindy are at work, which happens to mostly be nights and evenings when Janna is asleep. Cindy is the manager at The Diamond Rose Casino, and Raven was fortunate enough to get a job there as a croupier making decent money.

When Cindy insists that Raven attend Rosa’s big party held in the VIP section of a popular club, Raven isn’t thrilled with the idea. When she and Star had their falling out five years ago, Rosa had taken Star’s side. They had run into one another occasionally over the years, but it wasn’t like they called one another anymore. Cindy thinks Raven is long overdue for some fun, but Raven usually feels guilty whenever she doesn’t put Janna first. She hasn’t even been kissed by a man since Octavia got sick. At Cindy’s insistence that Rosa still considers her a friend, Raven finally agrees to go. Plagued with guilt her anxiety, though, Raven ends up cutting out of the party early, but soon finds herself on the city streets alone, lost, and potentially in danger.

Konstantin Milosevic, thirty-two, is a businessman who always gets what he wants. He is the best at what he does and is paid accordingly. He loves fast cars and beautiful women – and women love him. He doesn’t have much to say, but when he speaks his slight Serbian accent is barely detectible. It only adds to the sense of mystery that surrounds him. His life is about control. He loves working out, and the adrenaline high of punching someone is surprisingly satisfying. He is practiced and precise. He is comfortable in his solitude, but quite charming when he wants to be. He knows he is in deep trouble when he comes to the rescue of a damsel in distress one night. Her innocence disturbs him. Everything before takes on a different hue, and his carefully controlled life begins to crumble.

When Konstantin and Raven meet in a London ally, she can’t seem to get away fast enough from her protector. The terrifying experience has her in shock, and it is only later when she realizes how regrettable it was that she pushed him away. She had felt an instant connection with him, something deep and undeniable. Even though he masked his feelings, she sensed he felt it, too. As luck would have it she gets a second chance to make things right. Together they begin to get to know one another. And when little Janna takes a liking to him there is no more holding back. The couple has incredible chemistry – and they share some rather steamy scenes. But Raven still hasn’t faced either Rosa or Star, and her friends seem determined about settling the past. Meanwhile she couldn’t be happier with Konstantin, yet the ominous feeling she has won’t abate. Something is very wrong, and it doesn’t help matters that he has so little to say about himself. The couple eventually finds a very happy ending.

Like Star’s story, some of the timeline is fuzzy. There are fewer inconsistencies here, though. It states that Raven has not been kissed in over two years, since her sister got sick, but that was in fact three years ago.

Konstantin and Raven’s dark story is shrouded in mystery. Konstantin is hard to read, but Raven detects sadness behind the cold mask he wears. His character is quite slow to unfold, which adds an element of suspense. The story pulls you in for the first three quarters of the way through. The wrap up could have been more clever, but the ending is worthwhile. There are a few tears. Janna is a darling addition to the story. Her manipulative ways are transparent but adorable. The story is plot-driven. It is written in first person. The POV alternates between Konstantin and Raven. I rate this book 4.5 stars.

I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.