Welcome to my stop in the Dark Universe by Devon Herrera Blog Tour, hosted by Love Between the Sheets.
Title: Dark Universe (The Universe Series #2)
Author : Devon Herrera
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 28, 2013
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Hosted by: Love Between the Sheets Promotions
Synopsis
What do you do when your whole life is played out as atonement for someone else’s mistakes? Lola has spent her life in the shadow of her older brother, until one day he does the unforgiveable and is disowned from the family. Now her parents are putting pressure on her to get married, have children, and live the perfect life. If she can do all this, maybe it will wash away the guilt they harbor for her brother’s mistakes. She’s completely set against it, and refuses to ever fall in love. Until Drake Thomas knocks on her door. What do you do when the one person you trust the least is yourself? Ever since Drake was a boy he’s been alone. That was the way he wanted it. His father was abusive and he learned at a very young age that he has the same anger living inside of him. Terrified that he’ll one day become the man who ruined his life, he stays away from relationships of any kind. Will they be able to move past their misconceptions about themselves and each other, or will they learn that not only can they love, but together they are stronger? Only the Universe knows.
Excerpt
My hackles rise and I look him dead in the eyes and plant a finger in his chest. “What exactly do you want with her, Connor? Because these questions, they come with some heavy answers. Nina isn’t going to be easy or normal and it’s going to be rocky, so if she is just a challenge or some passing fling in a small town you’re visiting, you better just cut your losses now. I had no control over her being hurt the first time, and failed at protecting her the second, so I will not allow there to be a third. You get me?” I stab my finger deeper into his chest and glare up into his baby blues, putting every ounce of threat I can muster into my words. “You don’t need to worry about that. I’m more likely to get hurt than she is at this point.” His words completely shock me. Guys don’t ever admit to things like that. “Now, I hate to be rude, but Nina is going to be out of the shower any minute now and I have some things to say to her when she does. If you’re here when she gets out, she’ll use you as an excuse to get out of facing whatever progress I made with her last night.” I smile wide at him and pat him on the shoulder. “It’s about time that girl had someone to care about again.” I walk towards the door and turn around before exiting, to hammer the point home. “Connor, I like you, but if you hurt her, I will not hesitate to nail your balls to my fence post and leave you for the birds, understood?” Connor’s hand instinctively goes to protect the object in question and swallows. “Like I said, unnecessary, but yea… I hear you. You know, you’re sort of scary.” I look up at the hulking man who outweighs me by at least seventy pounds and has a good eight inches on me and smile.
Buy the Book
Amazon US | Amazon UK
My Thoughts:
I'm going to start of by saying that I didn't read Sapphire Universe before reading Dark Universe, and let me tell you that was a BIG MISTAKE. I know that on goodreads it says you can read Dark Universe as a stand alone novel, but I HIGHLY recommend you to read Sapphire Universe before reading Dark Universe.
Lola Chase is a twenty-six year old women that is trying to live her life the way she wants to, but her parents want her to be, have, and live a perfect life. She is constantly pressured by her mother to date and find a respectable men to marry and have a family with. But Lola knows how to speak her mind loud and clear. When her mother sets her up with another guy, Lola is ready to lay her cards on the table after taking a look at the dark handsome guy standing at her door. She lets him know that she doesn't do relationships, but strikes a deal that they can be each others arm candy. What Lola didn't know before making a deal with the guy, was that he was not the date her mother set her up with. The guy she talked to was Drake, and he was looking for her father to make his own deal with the family. This is one of the things I loved about Lola's character. She knows how to voice her opinion in a sarcastic way, that I very much enjoyed reading. Lola had me laughing through out the story with her sarcastic outbursts and thoughts. I truly enjoyed reading from her POV.
Drake Thomas is a dark handsome cowboy that has lived a life of hardship. Since the day he was born his own father resented him and his mother, because they ruined his opportunity to become a professional rodeo. Once Drake grew up he suffered his fathers physical and verbal abuse, and when he finally strikes back at his father he realizes that his fathers blood runs inside his veins. Drake gets it into his head that he doesn't deserve to be loved by anyone and that he can't love anyone in return. He is also the type of guy that doesn't do relationships and doesn't like people knowing about his life or his family. I did love Drake's character because I just have a thing for guys that are kind of broken. There are a few chapters that are told from Drake's POV and I enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed reading from Lola's POV.
Lola and Drake's relationship develops from the deal Lola strikes with him the moment she meets him, believing that he was the date her mother set her up with. Drake agrees to the deal because he knows that Lola only wants him as arm candy with no strings attached. But as Drake and Lola start spending more time together and get to know each other a little deeper, they start to feel emotions they've never felt before. They don't know what they are feeling towards each other, but they are enjoying all of their sexual encounters. And let me say these are some INSANELY HOT sexual encounters. But after Lola and Drake go through some tough situations and they show their support to each other, they realize that there is something more to their no-strings attached relationship. But Devon Herrera throws a little twist in the story I was not expecting that might damage Lola and Drake's relationship.
Dark Universe by Devon Herrera had a lot of potential to be a great read. I'm going to admit that I am to blame for getting lost a few times in the story, because I didn't read Sapphire Universe. I experienced a few what just happened moments. This is also the very first time ever I wished a book was a little longer. Why? Because I felt that I got cheated on some scenes in the story. What do I mean by this? Devon Herrera fast-forwarded a few scenes that I really wished were in the story. I can't expand more on this, because I might ruin the story for all of you. But other than that I loved Lola and Drake's story. I actually can't wait to read the next installment in this series :D!
Final Verdict: 3.5 Stars
Book One - Sapphire Universe
Amazon US | Amazon UK
About the Author
I am a wife of a U.S Army Soldier and mother of a beautiful little girl. I work for the Wyoming Department of Revenue in Cheyenne Wyoming, and no we don't still ride horses out here. I've been in love with reading since I first discovered the Harry Potter series in 4th grade. I don't just read a good book I devour it. After reading hundreds of novels I finally bit the bullet and sat down to write one of my own. I had an idea in my head and as soon as I started writing, the story seemed to play out right infront of me. Nothing has ever felt so natural. About 10 chapters into it I decided that I was going to take the plunge and get it self published as an Ebook. "Sapphire Universe" is a Contemporary Romance novel for adults, because lets face it, I'm female. Romance is what I like to read so it's what I'm going to write. Thank you so much for your support, and I can't wait for you to read The Universe Series.
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