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Series: Untamed #1
Genre: NA Romance
Publisher: Turning Leaves Press
Publication Date: 4/15/14
Format: ebook
Pages: 152
Source: Author
Rating: 4 stars
(free at the time of posting)
Rich, beautiful, and wild, Reagan McKinley has everything she needs...but nothing that she wants. That is, until she spends one hot night in the arms of sexy, unbridled Dare Wilde.
She's a girl trapped in a rigid world she desperately wants to escape, and he's an untamed artist with an attitude, hell-bent on freeing her—body, mind, and soul. But Reagan's life is not her own, and Dare is not welcome in it. She can't include him in her carefully-controlled, extremely public lifestyle...and yet she cannot give him up.
Will a shared passion for art—and, increasingly, each other—be enough to keep them together? Or will it be the thing that ultimately tears them apart?
Review
Given that I am seriously into serial novellas lately, I was excited to start Untamed. One of my best friends read it and could not stop talking about how much she loved the story. While I didn't completely love it, I liked Untamed a lot.
For me, Untamed was a strong story for a couple of reasons, the main one being our protagonist, Reagan McKinley. Bad boy heroes are a dime-a-dozen, but Reagan is the type of heroine we rarely get: she is unbridled when it comes to who and want she wants, she is unashamed of her lifestyle, seeking comfort in one-night stands, drugs and alcohol. Reagan comes from a wealthy family that's as cold and unfeeling as they come. Reagan doesn't fit in with her family in the slightest, wants to pursue art instead of business and politics as a career. She doesn't dress or act according to their wishes and she certainly doesn't encompass with what they want in a daughter and sister. It's obvious from the get-go that a lot of Reagan's issues come from something that's happened four years prior (she's currently nineteen), something that caused her extreme emotional damage and her parents caused to go away quietly. I have my suspicions about what happened, which were slightly confirmed by the end of Untamed, though it's not fully revealed.
I kind of loved that Reagan was the troubled, promiscuous character in this pair, though Dare Wilde's life is certainly no picnic.
Dare Wilde is a dark mystery from the moment Reagan lays eyes on him. He's not immune to her allure, but he's also not powerless against it either. Dare has his own troubled home life, with a complications that come into play as the story progresses. And though he's had issues, Dare actually has himself put together pretty well. He was mature and thoughtful, and of course, damn sexy. His finest trait, for me, was how Dare makes Reagan feel. He gives her peace from the demons, he soothes her. It's a feeling that's hard to describe if you've never experienced it, but if you have, you know it is priceless.
My only issue with Untamed was the initial scenes between Dare and Reagan. I completely understand the attraction across a crowded room, the draw between two people who've never met before. I even understand the overwhelming lust that can't be stopped. It's just, when they began talking, it felt as if they actually knew each other. It was a little too comfortable and familiar, given the tension going on between them. I felt like maybe the leap between strangers and familiar conversation was made a little too soon. I just needed a little more build up. Having said that, looking back, this is not a huge issue for me, just one that niggled at my brain and kept me from fully buying in for a while.
Untamed was an extremely passionate story. One packed emotion and tension and angst, despite it's short length. It got off to a compelling start, and held that draw throughout. The ending? Oh gosh, it didn't destroy me, but it sure made my heart twinge. It also has me wanting to continue the series with Out of Control. I have a feeling I'm in for a bumpy, sexy ride.
Favorite Quotes
I searched his stare for the hungry submission I'd grown to expect from men, but it wasn't there. Hid look was unlike any other. The way he studied me was carnal, though different in a way I was unable to fully comprehend. It was as if he was searching for something more. Like I was a piece of artwork he was appraising. Dizzy with desire, I silently hoped that he'd decide he needed to own me, so badly he'd be willing to bid anything.
From this close up, I had a much better view of his profile. A dangerously good view, actually. Painfully gorgeous. There was no other way to describe him. He was like a mixture of sculpture and painting--all carved and cut, with a rugged manliness that should've been preserved in marble, while at the same time wielding an untouchable beauty that could've only been dreamt up by an artist. And I was just wasted enough to imagine displaying him in a museum or hanging him up on a wall of a gallery. Preferably in the nude.
Fuck, yeah. I wanted to nail him to the wall. Over and over and over again.
I'm ashamed of them, Dare. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You are the only person I've ever wanted to be with for more than one night--and every moment I am with you only makes me want you more. You are not my dirty little secret. You're everything I want in my life.
The Untamed Series
(covers lead to GoodReads pages)
About the authors
Great Review Andrea!!! Reagan sounds like a really interesting character. I think how a man makes you feel is one of the most important aspects of whether you should be with him. I think it's great that Dare helped keep Reagan's demons at bay, and agree that that is priceless indeed.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you didn't hate this one! I looooove Dare <3
ReplyDeleteSounds hot. I've not heard of this before. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThose are some yummy covers!
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of this serial, Andrea. But I'm going to check it out. I LOVE the sound of Reagan! We don't get enough bad girl heroines. :)
ReplyDelete