Braver

Runaway #2

by Lexie Ray

Desperation can bring you to places you least expect to be. It brought me to a seedy nightclub where I took my clothes off for money. But that's behind me now. What lingers is the fact that I might never find true love. Who would every be able to love me after learning what I'm paid to do, anyways?

But one day, I made the mistake of helping to drive a very drunk man home. The fact that he is the most beautiful, sexy man I have seen in my entire life made the task easy, of course. He's Liam Henry, one of the city's youngest and hottest millionaires. I want him. He desires me. We tumble down the rabbit hole together, unable to get enough of each other. Everything was perfect, until the day I was introduced to his brother - and my past caught up with me in the blink of an eye.

When Liam learns who I really am and what I once did for a living, will his love be enough to accept me for who I was? Will his life in the public eye afford someone like me?

*Adult content warning. This story is not suitable for readers below 18 years old.

Genres: Romance, Adult, Erotica

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 17, 2013

Reviews

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've recently decided to go through and read up on all the series' that I've started and actually try and finish the series. I have started so many and I just haven't been able to get to the rest, I'm glad to start with this series though!

And might I add that this series is so good! I mean the books are great as stand alone books, but the series ties everyone together who has worked at Mama's nightclub. The first was Jasmine, Jazz, and this is the story of Cocoa, one of Mama's oldest nightclub girls. It's a short read and very much like the first book in the series. I, of course, loved it, wished it was a bit longer though. I know that many people probably don't like the way these are written, but I'm loving these. I don't know why, I guess I'm just a sucker for a cute and quick romance.

I can't wait to find out who the next book in the series is about!

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cocoa is one of Mama's girls, a character that we met in the first book in the series. She is strong and I liked her, she was always making the best out of any situation. I think she was very naive not to realize sooner what was going on with Mama and the club, but she kept going and never let anything get her down. I liked the story, she was a strong character despite everything and even if she was a little complacent with some things, she never let anyone or anything get her down.

Cocoa start in life wasn't easy, the baby of an addict, she was born an addict herself, but a kind old lady saved her and raised her. The only problem was that she was so good that couldn't see the bad in others, and she took into her house a guy that raped Cocoa, and was smart enough to make her Grandma think that he was innocent and Cocoa was setting him up because she wanted to get rid of him. Cocoa left the house, knowing he would do it again if he had a chance.

Eventually she found Mama and went to work with her. She never saw anything bad about her holding onto all the money or the way she did things, it wasn't until Jazz that she started to think that maybe things weren't right, but still, she trusted Mama and kept working with her with no problem, until Mike broke the rules and then blamed her for ruining his marriage. He showed up at the club and tried to rape her in front of everyone, hitting and biting her before the bouncers could help her. The police was called and Mama got angry, telling Cocoa that she needed to go, and when Cocoa asked for her money Mama got angry and said that she would need everything to deal with the mess she had created, but she managed to get two thousand dollars, only that made Mama mad, and she tried to kill Cocoa for "robbing her".

Cocoa managed to escape with the help of her friend Blue, and she even sent her to Casey's house, where she could stay. Casey, a nurse student by day, stripper by night, helped Cocoa with her injuries, and then helped her get a job at the same strip club. Her first day was good, and she connected with a guy there. When her shift ended and she saw Liam drunk out of his mind trying to drive, she went with him, helping him get to his house safely, but the next day, when he woke up, he was very rude to her and she got angry, getting out of his house after telling him how rude he was. He felt guilty and followed her to make sure she got safely to her house, and then he asked her out for dinner.

They started to spend time together and to develop a relationship. First he asked her to move in with him, and then to marry him, but when they were having dinner with his family and his brother arrived, it turned out that Mike, the guy that had blamed her for his divorce and had tried to rape her was Liam's brother. Mike told them that Cocoa was a whore and that she used to work in a brothel, and Liam was worried about people knowing about it and his reputation. Casey realized that Cocoa was being rejected because of her past, and took her out of there, after kicking Mike and yelling at him for hurting Cocoa. She was depressed and missing Liam, but he went looking for her a few days later and asked her to forgive him and give him another chance, telling her that he didn't care about his business or reputation, that without her none of that was worth it.

[Pixie Honey · Rating 1 out of 5]

What the actual hell was the romance in this book?

Coco drives a drunk guy home, and ends up getting hired by him after he essentially chased her down the street, only for them to start fucking before she can even sign the papers.

It's only after they're engaged that it's revealed her Brother In Law to be is the man who attacked her the night she fled the nightclub, who unfairly blames her for his own marriage ending! Does her fiancé stand up for her?

Nope! He just lets her leave as if the fact she was a sex worker makes her unworthy, and it's only later he pulls his head out of his ass to make things up for the sake of the 'Happy Ending'

[Tee Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Runaway Girl series goes into detail about Cocoa's story and her time @ Mama's. This series tests the imagination of the things that go on in this world. Good read!

[carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Lexie Ray's first story, Stronger, you begin to know a little of the characters at the nightclub/brothel, and she has gone on to write a novella for each of these girls.

This one, Braver, continues the theme of showing their background history. In this one the focus is on Cocoa, Mama the night club/brothel owner's most senior and trusted girls, or is she?
This one also focusses on how Cocoa came to be prostitute and work for Mama. It then gives an idealistic twist where the poor Cinderella character moves from prostitution to romance when she helps a drunken punter home, Liam, and thereby adds a fairy-tale come true aspect to their lives, which is probably a very rare thing in real life.

However, it is a nice story and ideal for those who like erotic romance stories.

It is a good 3.5 stars in my opinion.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. I liked Cocoa from book 1. I hated what happened to her and couldn't believe Mama did that. She's getting worse every day. Greed is a horrible thing. When we met Liam, I knew he was the guy for her. I fell in love with Casey, she reminded me of friends of mine who took care if their own and didn't take shit from anyone. I'm glad things worked out for Cocoa, but one thing I can't get over is her gran not taking her side. I'm moving on to the next book and I'm curious to see what, if anything happens with Mama.

[The Kara B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book, and yes there is a huge but... The beginning? Awesome! The middle... Eh.. It was ok. A little to cliche for her to find "the guy" her first night.. Then all of a sudden it goes down hill. Cocoa was going to work for him, then she moves in with him.. Then all of a sudden it's months later, it really didn't flow well at all and I felt the romance between the two didn't develop well. Then it felt like the story just ended abruptly. I will still read the rest of the series but I think the first book was WAY better.

[Tina Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the story. You should read the 1st book first but it's easy to understand the story. The story starts out of young Cocoa's past and why she became a runaway. She left her grandmother for safety and met Mama and started working at the nightclub. The story explains how important part Cocoa was at the nightclub. I loved the story. It did take along time until she meet handsome rich Liam. But overall the story was a good read.

[Emmie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Cocoa's story. It gutted me. I had to take a break and just walk my anger off. If it was possible I would have jumped in and set some of the characters to right.

This author is someone to watch. Her characters are believable and very human. I loved this book and am definitely going to read more of her books! If you have not yet read her books, go for it! You will not be disappointed.

[Belle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Way too much background storyline.. hardly any romance till the very end. You can't just skip over showing readers how the two main characters grew in love! It makes for no connection to their love story in the ending.

MY sole opinion. !! Try it for yourself and let me know!

[Jami · Rating 1 out of 5]

Braver

This book was bad. I felt zero connection with the characters, or the story. It was wham bam happily ever after. The story of their relationship was non-existent. I will NEVER read this author again!!!!

[Mspraise50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cocoa's story was not as stressful to the emotions as Jasmine's story. I love the ending really romantic and Cocoa had to be brave to hold on to the love that she had found after all the disappointments she faced. Mama turned out to be a real Jack-ass! I enjoyed this story an excellent read.

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. It didn't have the same flow as the first one. The beginning was great up until she helped out a drunk patron to get home after a drunken night. Then the plot became a bit farfetched then it ended.

[Dame Sunday · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't that bad!! Yes the first one had way more going on but Cocoa's story was good. I liked it. Not bad!!

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying the runaway series .. this one's not as sad as the 1st one but it's still sad.. I'm really not liking mamma !!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it!!!

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was alright until the end. At that point everything suddenly became rushed.

[Kellie Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book and just the same as the first... Loved it!!!

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am actually reading the box set of the series. I am so glad Cocoa found a happy ending.

[Denise Parr · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like this one mirrored the first book quite a bit. Not so sure I will be finishing the series...