Love's Paradox

Paradoxical World #1

by Laura Kreitzer

Stalked by her abusive ex-fiancé, Rae Zachery retaliates by singing karaoke and spilling all their dirty secrets to the entire bar. When her ex attempts to silence her brazen performance, sexy, leather-clad Parker comes to her rescue and soundly punches her ex in the face. As valiant as that may be, Rae finds Parker’s violent assistance unsettling, yet she can’t help but be drawn to him and his tragic past.

Fighting her attraction for Parker is a battle Rae can’t win, and soon their night of sharing secrets morphs into an undeniable bond. But fate won’t so easily relinquish her grip on their happily-ever-after. Instead of blissfully skipping into obscurity, Rae and Parker are subjected to her ex-fiancé’s vicious proclivities. Who knew love could hurt so good?

Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2014

About the author

Laura Kreitzer is a best-selling fantasy and science fiction author who hails from western Kentucky. Her full-time 9-5 job used to be working in a lab devoted to water dye-tracing investigations at Western Kentucky University, though her passion was always writing. After seven years of dedicating her life to the environment, she made the tough decision to leave the university to pursue her writing career. Now Laura has two series and eight novels published, with several more in the works.

SHADOW OF THE SUN by Laura Kreitzer is both well reviewed & currently a free download:

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Reviews

[SN the Viking · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free on Amazon atm.
Review also on my blog: http://camillarenate.com/2016/02/24/l...
This book was nothing like I expected when I picked it up, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.

First of the cover is pretty but to me it screams Paranormal Young Adult, it does not represent the story at all. I would say change the cover on this it is to YA and the story is too good to be left out because of it.

This is also put in the New Adult genera that are so popular at the moment. I am not sure this fit in that genera, the people in it are that age girl 20 and boy a bit older. But they don’t really act like it, they act much older witch is normal after the experiences they have had so far. The only new adult feeling I had in this book was the first chapter. After that that feeling totally disappeared, and I am super happy that it did. This is not a teenage angsty book, but a book that is real, scary and has really seriously and awful problems.

Rae is a 20 year old girl trying hard to get her life back together after being in a 7 year long relationship with an abusive boy. She has real problems and the creep is still trying the get her back. Rea is a strong woman with a great back bone and she is pretty much done with being abused and used as a doormat. She meets Parker at a bar where she sings about her past relationship to get closure. They get instantly attracted to each other, And her the “fun” really start, as this really rubs her crazy X Ian the wrong way. I have to say I love Rea she has spunk and the best sarcasm ever, loved it.

The story is a scary story about abuse and the way to build your life back together with sweet love to help you along. This book should be on a list with need to read this so you know what guys to stay far away from.

I loved the writing style and could hardly put it down, reading in the car, in the grocery store while hubby pick out the food, in bed and in my garden. I still have laundry in my washer that needs to be hung but I have been too busy reading about Rae, Parker and Ian.
This is the sign of a really good book.
So I give it 5 stars.
Book provided by Revolution Publishing Inc. via NetGalley for an honest review.

[Chu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Originally Posted at: Book Freak

Rating: 4.5Stars

The first chapter had already caught my attention – I applaud Rae Zachery for that amazing performance in the bar. I think my jaw dropped a little, and as if, I was in the bar, I stared at this brave girl who sung her heart out and was brave enough to spill her ex’s dirty secret in front of her crazy ex. It was a Grammy-worthy performance that had me in awe. You think she was always like this, but wrong. She had been living in fear for her life, for her sanity, for her well-being. Ian did a number on her.

Parker saved her just in time, and this leather-clad sorta-sexy-biker had me already swooning for him. He’s a knight in shiny leather. Little did she know that they shared the same tragic past. Both are drawn to each other, the attraction and sexual tension was as clear as the blue sky. But her past had made her wary of men in her life. It made her extra careful and quite afraid. This guy, however, would do anything to prove to her that he was different from her ex-boyfriend.

I felt sad for her because their relationship with Ian because it started out really good – that’s why I can’t blame her why she stayed. Perhaps it was because somewhere in her subconscious she wanted that to happen again. That the old Ian might come back and the monster can go away. But it didn’t happen, the monster continued to linger, until she no longer know herself. He didn’t want her to be with her friends, she can’t decide for anything, she has to get his approval for small things, she no longer is her own being.

Abuse comes in different types, and it’s a sad thought that most of us looks the other way when we now someone who is experiencing this type of situation or we try to keep our mouths shut because we mind our own business. Little did we know that a little help, a little hope we give these women (who are the usual victims of abuse), might help save their lives. That is why I loved the friendship that she had with Hunter and Cherry – Ian might hate them for what they are, but I simply adore them. They may be consider deviants and their choices may not be the usual, but they are great friends who helped Rae during the time she needed them the most. Hunter had never allowed Ian to go in between their friendship, and thank goodness he stayed with her through the aftermath of her relationship with him.

I wished she sought help for her flashbacks – it was more of a PTSD type of symptom. It was as vivid as she recalled everything Ian and her have been through. It started out small, until it grew and I can no longer tolerate him – what in the world is wrong with him?! Argh. He’s a real jerk. He thinks he’s invisible because he has strong connections and he’s not afraid to use it. The more Rae tries to get a life, the more he comes after her. It was killing him that she’s moving on, and he wasn’t going to let her get away from him. He started to woo her, give her things she wanted, and it was just creeping me out. There was a scene where I thought he was changing, but I guess, I was wrong. But I was just so glad, that in the end, he got what he deserved.

A very sensitive topic that has been threaded well, and placed in a different light by another author; Love’s Paradox is a roller coaster of emotions – the feelings of love, dread, fear, happiness, grief and a whole lot more being stuffed into a one well-paced novel had me up till the wee hours of the morning. There were a lot of ups and downs that will get you hooked in no time – you will laugh, you will get teary, you will feel bad. Rae is a great character who have been through a lot and survived the worse – whatever she had in the end, she truly earned it.

✪Complimentary Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.✪

More of my reviews at http://reviewsofabookmaniac.blogspot.com

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rae has taken a huge step by leaving her mentally, verbally and physically abusive boyfriend and his dysfunctional family. What she thought was her last great act of defiance that would shut the door on that chapter of her life turns into a vicious and deadly case of stalking and vengeance from her unstable ex, Ian. If not for the handsome biker in leather, who comes out of nowhere to rescue her, by beating off Ian’s attack in a bar, it could have been the end of Rae, period. With little trust for men and their motives, Rae is reluctant to trust Parker after his violent, yet necessary attack on Ian. But there is more to Parker than meets the eye, he isn’t just a leather-clad biker, he is intelligent, caring, educated and the son of a powerful oil magnate who has earned his right in the company hierarchy. Parker also has a deep-rooted pain that draws him to feel protective toward the feisty, yet damaged Rae. Gun shy, Rae is reluctant to trust her instincts about Parker, but her heart is telling her to go for it, he’s worth it.

As Ian continues to invade Rae’s world and the aggression becomes lethal once again, will Parker become another victim of this crazed monster? Dark, edgy and sometimes brittle, Love’s Paradox does NOT have doves flying overhead or delicate pastel hearts beating for joy, but there are deeply emotional and fiercely vivid scenes that will cause some major gut-clenching and disgust.
Hats off to Laura Kreitzer for her ability to tell a tale that sadly, resonates too true in today’s society. She pulls no punches, makes no excuse for her characters, just lays it out there for the reader to see, feel and try to get past. Is this like so many new Adult romantic dramas? Yes and no, Ms. Kreitzer brands this tale with her own unique style and eye for drama and love. What could have been just another dark and angst-filled New Adult romance becomes a warning to others who could find themselves or someone they know trapped in a deadly relationship. Rae is not a shrinking violet, she is strong, has a sense of identity that was temporarily beaten out of her. Parker was the intriguing knight in shining armor ready to battle her demons to cleanse his own soul.
Tread carefully through this jagged and barbed tale, but you get to the end, you’ll be glad you traveled its path.


I received an ARC edition from Revolution Publishing, Inc.in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Paradoxical World - Book 1
Publication Date: May 3, 2014
Publisher: Revolution Publishing, Inc.
ISBN: 9781937790158
Genre: Contemporary New Adult Romance
Print Length: 235 pages

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those reviews that is really, REALLY difficult to write.

First of all, it's difficult because I don't like to say anything negative about an author's work. Especially considering with Love's Paradox, my problem lies in that I was just bored with the story. I didn't feel any spark or excitement. The first chapter was interesting enough, but I feel like from there the story just sort of went downhill. A lot of this could just be preference, also.

I didn't really like any of the characters, either. Except for Cherry. I think it was Cherry's sense of humor that made me love her. I just wish I felt the same about Rae and Parker.

Speaking of the two lovebirds, I don't know why but their love story was just "eh" for me. I didn't feel it. Partially, I think things moved too quickly and it was a little unbelievable. I kept waiting for that moment where I'd start rooting for them. Everything felt too formulaic.

Secondly, I don't like giving a harsh review when I feel like the author has serious talent. Because, here's the thing: Even though the story was flat for me, I can recognize a talented author. So often I read books that read like a child wrote them, but that wasn't the case with Love's Paradox. I can sense that Ms. Kreitzer is an intelligent writer.

Christy @ Captivated Reading

[Chrissy T · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. Rae is trying to get away from her stalker ex, so she tweets the location of where she's doing karaoke, and sings a Dixie Chicks song that mocks their relationship and his abusive behavior. Of course he doesn't like being made fun of, so when he tries to become physical in the bar, Parker comes to Rae's rescue.

Parker had a sister who died at the hand of her abusive boyfriend, so he immediately wants to help and protect Rae. I liked his aggressive and protective side, but I wish the book was a bit longer so I could connect with Rae and Parker more as a couple. They went straight to sex and a relationship, and while nothing is wrong with that, I wish their courting (dating?) was a bit slower and intimate. Other than that, this was a cute

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC generously provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 Stars

I have to start off by saying I hate writing bad reviews. I know someone spent a lot of time pouring their heart and soul into a book and I never really feel like it is fair for me to judge it. What I will say is that this book just wasn't for me. I am sure there will be people out there that love it, it just didn't do anything for me personally.

This is the story of Rae Zachery who just ended a relationship with her abusive ex. She has decided to rid herself of her past by singing songs directed to her ex at a karoke night that will get the point across that she is done. What she doesn't expect is for her ex to attack her in public and then have a handsome stranger come to her rescue.

Parker's sister was killed by her abusive boyfriend and he has a natural desire to protect Rae from hers. What he didn't expect was to be so drawn to her.

Parker and Rae are trying to start a relationship while dealing with her stalking ex.

I think what put me off most about this book was that I found Rae to be annoying. She is suppose to be sarcastic and witty and I just found her irritating. Parker was okay but I just never really felt that attachment to him. Also their instant love I found unbelievable. I found myself reading this book in order just to finish it and not really enjoying it. But like I said earlier, I am sure others will really enjoy this book, it just wasn't for me.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC

I would have given this book 4 stars, but it started off slow. I couldn't connect with the characters or become invested in the story. After a while, I did start to like it a lot more.

I didn't like Ian, but what happened to him in the end was a little extreme. Maybe he could have been dealt with in a different way.

Overall, it was an okay book. I liked the characters- especially Hunter. And the plot was pretty good, too.

[Aimz · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. The story line had a LOT of promise. The beginning was really good. I was getting into it.

Then I was like wtf.


The ending... um what? I was basically sitting there staring at my kindle trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

[Eleni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rae is a little bit damaged, but that was part of why I liked Parker so much: he broke down those walls. A great read!

[A Story Explorer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I wasn't too sure what to expect from this book. It's my first from Miss Laura Kreitzer and honestly I wasn't let down. The scenes were hot and intense. I was always sitting on the edge of my seat as I was reading. I was rarely bored. There was good pacing between the highs and lows. I feel like there was enough suspense and mystery. The chapters were quick for me which I always find a good thing. Overall, I feel like it was well written.

To be honest, I'm not much of a country/western fan. I originally thought this story has hints that but it actually was more modern than I expected.I thought it might take place in the country but it had hints of rock music and city amenities. When I first started I thought it would be more of a historical western but was surprised that it wasn't. Besides the hints of a country accent there wasn't too much of else that referred to cowboys/westerns which was ok with me. I don't mind the country drawls and find them cute but as a city girl, I'm not used to it so much so I was afraid I couldn't relate. It's always good when you read a book that surprises and satiates you in a genre you don't usually read.

The conclusion is satisfactory but I had a little qualm in how it ended. It is a more than adequate ending but I do feel like it could have been handled differently. I'm not complaining though because the author could have left it open and I'm sure I wouldn't have liked that. It's still a conclusion that I find acceptable and am left with enough closure of the story which leaves me content.

Overall, I would recommend this book if you like quick paced, emotionally touching characters/situations, and a sprinkle of love scenes. You'll get all that with this story. I would definitely like to read more from the author at this point. If this is the type of story you like then I would urge you to pick this story up! I'm sure you won't be disappointed. :)

For my full review go here: http://originiquequanimity.blogspot.c...

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Appeal Characteristics: crazy-you-haven’t-seen-crazy, bikers, leathers, guy-looks-like-a-bad-ass-but-wait-i’m-a-smart-nerd, families, horses, young people, i-live-with-a-stripper-and-he’s-not-gay, quirky heroine-albeit-has-some-issues
Heat: 3 (consummation before vows, adult situations, oh, yeah, healthy sexual adult situations)

I’m warning you. This review will be heavily giff-i-fied. Let’s first talk about the main characters in gif form:

Parker. The love interest.



Ian. The crazy ex-stalker who is allowed to do whatever because his father is a judge.



Rae. She just wants to know what is good in this world. She alternates between feeling on of two ways:



There’s so much I liked about this book. Yet, there are parts that irritated me about character development, plot situations that make up the complete gist of the book.

Let’s get to the characters. Parker was just adorbs. I mean a man in all leather, that has a bike, and apparently is so super smart he owns a huge family company and is working on his master’s online. Oh, loook, he has a deeper side. I wish he had a POV. I would want to smut his POV to death---but it made me sad, when again, I just a very one dimensional view of Parker. The best one dimensional view of a bad-boy I read was Brenna Yovanoff’s Paper Valentine. Parker was so much more intriguing because of his backstory, and current story----including the fact he didn’t have friends.



Well, he did just move. Anyway, I had so many feels for Parker---that crazy Ian was grating on my nerves. I thought this book needed more of Parker, and less of Ian flashbacks. I think Ian would have been creepier or even scarier if he were more of a background character. I know that would be hard, given Rae just finished a relationship with him, and they had LOTS of history---but I felt he took up more writing space---which could have been devoted to Parker. AHAHAHAHA. I sound like a FANGIRL STALKER!!!!! Nooooooooooo!

I wish this book was more of a thriller romance--like a J.D. Robb than a romance (that just has a psychopath included) I mean great it wasn’t your normal love triangle---but---JEEZ. I think I was more annoyed how Rae handled the whole situation---and that it had to escalate to a “clean-yet-don’t-ask-too-many-questions” endings. The ending was awkward to say the least.



Throughout the book you have Rae coping with the aftermath of being hooked up with a psycho. She is dealing with Parker’s latent issues of his sister, and her own relationship issues. THE ISSUES KILLED ME. SO MANY ISSUES,. I couldn’t enjoy their scenes because the aftermath usually was tainted:

a) I was reliving an Ian flashback---
b) Rae was questioning Parker’s sincerity and genuine affection---because of Ian being a psycho and Parker having similar (though manageable, and justifiable traits)

I like Rae, I really do. She is gutsy, she is obviously brave, but she doesn’t know a good man if he slapped her. I’m sorry for the bad pun. Characters trapped in their own personal hell, is a exasperating read for me---as well as, watching it on screen. Blue Jasmine & Inside Llewyn Davis were great watches, but of course the characterization they present is vexing at times. The same with this book. Nevertheless, the characters personalities were likeable and that made the story appealing.

Also, I really like Krietzer’s writing style. Romance authors can be hit and miss between characters sexual tension, descriptive settings, and even character development. Krietzer does a great job of bring Rae to life. For example,

Ian wears asshole like cheap cologne.

YES. I needed that phrase in my life. I immediately went through all types of cheap cologne and what labels they could have...and what people I knew would be wearing them.

I hope that if Krietzer keeps creating this world, her characters (including secondary/love interest) will take shape, development, and it won’t be just one character having some really great lines. It was interesting because I liked Parker’s character (as a whole) better than Rae, but it could be because of how Rae viewed him and how he handles situations. He was also a bad boy---and you can never get enough of those. Moving on, Rae had some great lines of how she viewed the other characters, but I would have loved to see it switch viewpoints.

It was a dark, stormy night, and this was a quick refreshing read. I know a ton of my younger or should I say upper young adult readers it would appeal to, and in the end, the book was predictable and the crazy was slightly annoying, and more disturbing than scary.




Thanks for the ARC NetGalley

[Kimberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

**Was given an ARC by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Due to downloading difficulties, I was not able to read this book.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/16/2023)! 🎁

[Esra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Kreitzer's first contemporary book. She's the goddess of the YA world for me. Timeless series is the one of my favorite series. And summer chronicles is awesome too. She has a funny , adventurous and flawless writing.
She's unfamiliar with NA-contemporary genre. Maybe for this reason love's paradox is a little bit confusing at first.But don't give up and read. You'll love how it's ended.
Actually Rae is a very complicated character. I don't understand her.For example if you have an abusive boyfriend you shouldn't attract attention to yourself. In the opening scene where she sings about him in a mocking way and she drawn him to the bar to listen her . She asked for trouble in my opinion. He is a horrible ,psychotic person and she still wanted him to come and hear her out.Parker and rae met there but this could have been written in another way.
Ian's stalking was very creepy. His ending is just like my imagined. Burn bastard! :D That scene was really well written.Storm and all . It was very exciting ,breathtaking scene.
Parker is the perfect boyfriend for rae. He has pros and cons but at the end I really loved him. He's hot, considerate. He's the man she deserved . Rae 's an anomaly but she's his anomaly forever :=)
The story begins slow but ends really fast.At the end I could read more of this. I love you laura , please continue to write more romances and contemropary stories for us.

Turkish review

Hikaye sorunlu eski nişanlısından kaçan rae'nin ondan intikam almak için bir barda karaoke yaparak imalı şarkılarla sorunlu eski nişanlısı Ian'ı kışkırtmasıyla başlıyor. rae çok ama çok gençken 18-19 yaşında nişanlanan çift ian'ın zihinsel sorunlarının ortaya çıkmasıyla birlikte (bence) onu dövmeye ,itmeye kakmaya başlaması ve sonunda onu evde rehin almaya çalışması ve hastanelik etmesiyle çareyi ondan ayrılıp kaçmakta buluyor. bir süredir izini kaybettiren rae yaşadıklarını dışa vurarak kendisini özgür hissetmekmi istiyor anlamadım bir bar'da yaşadıklarını dile getiren şarkılar söyleyerek tüm olayları cümle cemaate anlatmış oluyor. onu gelmeye teşvik ettiği sapık ian tabiki sonunda patlıyor ve rae'yi onu küçük düşürdüğü için sahneden indirip tehtid ediyor vs vs . bu sırada sarhoş ama korkmuş rae'nin yardımına deri ceketli parker yetişiyor. Parker'ın kız kardeşide kadına şiddet vakasından ölmüş bu yüzden parker şiddet gören kadınlara karşı çok hassas. Rae 'ye anında tutulan parker ile rae'nin gelişen aşklarının hikayesini okuyoruz. Bu arada da sapık Ian rahat durmuyor ve çiftimize kabus yaşatıyor. Bu arada parker'ın petrol zengini bir ailenin en genç oğlu seksi ve motorsikletli olduğunu söylemişmiydim :P
Laura kreitzer'in ilk günümüz romans denemesi . NA'da diyebiliriz bir bakıma . bu yüzden kitapta garip gelen , olay akışında size mantıksız gelen çok şey olacakt��r. Hatta bu yüzden 3 yıldız vermeyide düşündüm ama laura gönlümü son bölümlerdeki yazımıyla almayı başardı. Ian'ın layığını gördüğü kısımlar gerçekten güzeldi. kitap başta sıkıcı , saçma gelsede sonlara doğru yola geliyor. Rae'nin bu kadar saf ve saç baş yoldurtacak bir karakter olmasıda çok şaşırtıcı. Laura genelde bu tiplerde karakter hiç yazmazdı ama dediğim gibi bu onun ilk denemesi. sonraki kitapları -eğerki yazarsa- iyi olacaktır. Kendisini yazar ve insan olarak çok seviyorum. Timeless serisi bence bir numara bir YA serisi. summer chronicles da keza öyle. Eğer bunları okumadıysanız şiddetle tavsiye ederim.

-TO READ MY COMPLETE REVIEW PLEASE HAVE A VISIT TO MY BLOG -
http://allkillerbooks.blogspot.com.tr...

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book NetGalley and Revolution Publishing Inc. for my thoughts and an honest review. This was originally an ARC but with being sick and all I'm a bit behind but bright side is you don't have to wait Love's Paradox is available now.

Love's Paradox is a New Adult book and as such has more adult material inside as the characters are just past teenagers. Just a warning for those who don't want any steaming love scenes, stronger violence/action/themes or yes language. To each their own, I find the New Adult section to be a good progression of all the things I love about YA and just progressing further.

With that said I adored this book. I started it at lunch one day and then accidently stayed up until 3am to finish it. Yes accidentally because I only meant to read for an hour before bed but the next thing I knew it was over and it was well past bed time for my early morning ahead. I couldn’t put it down and had no desire to check my clock, aka phone, I was so immersed. The book doesn't cover a large span of time really things happen pretty quickly and as a result you think, 'well I have to know what happens next' at every chapter end.

The story is about Rae who is getting over her abusive ex-fiancé who has turned stalker. She decides to send a clear message one night signing a song about their past and he doesn't take it well. When he tries to stop her a strong, sexy, and somewhat intimidating hero comes to the rescue in the biker bar. His violent intervention, while deserved doesn't sit as well with Rae but yet as they talk they have a connection. Even as she attempts to ignore her attraction to him she can't win and their bond will be tested. Her ex-fiancé's twisted mind and violent proclivities are not to be easily dismissed.
The cover was catchy, the title intriguing, and the summary made me want to learn more about Raw. As per usual I'm all about characters. Rae is a strong female character I can get behind but she is also someone who has a lot of issues that come through the tough exterior. I liked her and I wanted things to work out for her. Hearing about her past I felt like she was a good friend of mine and I wanted to take care of her. Then you have Parker. He is a contradiction to so many things but I fell for him. He was easy to make into a sexy bad boy with a heart of gold book boyfriend, but he was more than a cliché. There were some things about him that seemed 'too good to be true' at first but as you dig into the character it really worked.

It's clear from their first lines that there is something between these characters which I adore. There is nothing worse than being forced to see how characters should be together because it's intended. Rae and Parkers connection with all its problems and differences feels natural. The back and forth banter between them had me giggling like a school girl with her first crush. At one point I dropped my kindle (thankfully only onto the couch and it was in a case) because I was laughing so hard at some points.

And of course you have to consider the vindictive ex, who is a trip and very authentic. There are people like this out there everywhere and he was just the right balance. Or the best friends. As someone who has a few friends who I would do pretty much anything for and don't know how I would survive without them just being there to keep me sane sometimes I can love a book friendship almost more than a romance if it feels like friends I would have. I could easily see myself hanging out with Cherry and Hunter without fail.

There were pop culture references for readers to enjoy and something that I LOVED the title tie in. I'm all about a pretty cover and catchy title but if you can make it tie into the story, especially at a critical moment, it really hits home. Love's Paradox, did it in spades. Also something I greatly appreciate is valid information. I know not everyone has my previous job history and might not catch onto some simple legal flaws but to know someone was able to put correct terminology in there is refreshing.

I easily give Love's Paradox 5 shinning stars. It will make your day or night fly by. Pick it up and enjoy the beautifully complex characters and the fight to find ones happiness when your past keeps trying to get in the way.


http://functioninginsanity.blogspot.c...

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book! In no way did this influence my opinion.

More reviews on No Bent Spines

~ ~ ~

I’m here to say that I went into this book (a book that left my heart in knots and soul aching) with absolutely no expectation. Why is that? The cover is what makes me want to read a book; even more than the synopsis does. If the cover is gorgeous, the story should be good too, right? Well, that theory is really not necessarily true, but what can I say? I’m a sucker for pretty things. Back to the point: I don’t like this cover. The whole purple overshadow on everything looks moody and a tad bit odd. Especially since the guy on the cover already doesn’t match what I saw in my head for our motorcycle- riding bad boy with a major hero’s complex. The cover needs to be prettier. But maybe it not being stunning works in it’s favor? I mean I freaking adore this book. It has action and emotion and finding yourself. It has all the reasons I love the New Adult genre so much.

Love’s Paradox is about Rae and her sonofabeep EX- fiancée. She’s being stalked by him after being mentally and physically abused by him. One day while with her band of misfits (her too-hot-to-handle with a questionable job best guy friend and her wacky hair stylist best girl friend with a possessive girlfriend) she sings at the bar- well more like preforms- and grabs the attention of her EX and her savior, Parker. *fans self wildly and unintentionally slaps self in face* Through this lovely book we see Rae’s fear, we see her bravery, we see her cope and we see her break. But, more than any of that, we see her learn to acknowledge what has happened. We see her learn to live again. Rae was never weak. Would a weak person tweet her location to a stalking ex and then sing a song she knows will send him over the edge? Okay, maybe that’s a little self- destructive. . .

What did I love in this book?
- I loved the self- discovery. She knew herself before, but she didn’t know how to put herself first. This book showed that you are not the victim. It showed that she could live. It showed that people can change, if they choose to. It showed her love of cooking and how she should do that if she show chooses. Love’s Paradox showed that you have to do what makes you happy and that other peoples happiness are not based on what you do, how you act. This book showed that there is, indeed, an after.


- I’m me, people. I love the love. ROMANCE. This wasn’t the normal kind though. Nope. This was the hot and heavy kind with a heavy dose of I wanna save you. Parker and Rae were like the sun and the mood. Seemingly unattainable with the barrier driving them apart, that barrier being the EX fiancée, but when they were together, the whole world fell into an eclipse. It was gorgeous. Though there was one moment where I wanted to wring Parker’s neck, but besides that, everything was cool and dandy with a dash of insanity. *grins*

- The way the EX fiancée was portrayed. And by that I mean a beephole. Hehehe. He was the true definition of ‘not all there.’ He would hurt her, say she would blame it on him (see the problem with that statement), and then start bawling like a two year old and hug her. It was a vicious cycle that was getting worse and worse. It was ultimately going to lead to her death. Her life was literally hanging by a thread. I feel so bad for Rae. Also I wane rip that sucker’s head clean off then shove it where the sun don’t shine. *growls menacingly*

- The music aspect was absolutely gorgeous. Listen to Goodbye Earl by the Dixie Chicks and you’ll understand everything.

- The moms!!! You might not get Parker’s mom at first but she is her own personal shade of awesome. And Rae’s mom is amazing.

Okay folks, that’s about all I have to say about this one. I was grinning like an idiot through most of it (oh how I hate reading in public. I get funny stares) and then cringing through some of it. It’s worth the read and the time and y’all get a copy!

Happy reading
Jackie~

[bjhix · Rating 5 out of 5]

RC provided by Revolution Publishing Inc/Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for a fair and honest review
**very minor spoiler**
I first want to begin by saying that I found this book refreshing for several different reasons. It introduced a broad range of interesting characters that you really wanted to get to know. I enjoyed the friendships between part-time Rock Star/full-time Temp Rae, Hillbilly Stripper Hunter and Snarky Lesbian Hair Stylist Cherry – and yes, it does sound like a set up for a “walking into a bar” joke. I enjoy the byplay of conversation between the characters, it is quick and light – especially when Hunter goes off on a tangent it is funnier than heck. Once Parker joins in with the crew and fits in seamlessly, the characters seem to really spark together

One issue I will cry foul is Rae’s second choice of song, which is mentioned in the premise of the book, that she goes to “out” her ex by singing about him at a crowded bar. I do realize that “Earl Had To Die” by the Dixie Chicks does work for the author’s story line……BUT there is a very big problem with the song or rather the group. The Dixie Chicks are NOT played in country bars anywhere in the USA and are not played on any country stations. After their remark about President Bush on March 10, 2003 during their concert in England, they were pretty much black balled by all country fans.

One very serious topic that is brought up is a very real and scary fact – how Rae’s ex-fiancée treated her while they were together and then went into full all out psycho stalker mode when she tried to move on with her life. We see it happen way too many times today that a man will seriously hurt or kill a woman, instead of letting her go. Sometimes the police will intervene and take it seriously, sometimes they treat it as a “he said, she said” situation – leaving you to wonder “do I have to turn up dead before they will do something?”

Every woman that reads this book, please pay very close attention, because the author did insert a lot of factual accounts of how an abused woman’s mind does work when she is trying to get away from her abuser. There were things that Rae withheld from the people around her that she should NOT have withheld. There were warning signs way in advance that she should have heeded, but she closed her eyes to them. Rae got lucky, she found a decent guy that fell in love with her and stood by her thru the tough parts, helped her heal and tried to protect her.

I did find the book to be a quick read. There was some sentence structuring that bothered me a little bit. At times it felt like the author was writing in a past tense form when what was happen was happening in a present tense. Then the sentence structure would suddenly switch to present tense. It wasn’t that difficult to get past – just sometimes made me slow down to reread the parts and wonder why it was worded in that manner.

Overall and enjoyable book with a message that I think is very important to get out there. There are too many women living in relationships that are nightmares and they have no idea how to get out. Or once they do get out, they have no idea how to escape the monster permanently. The worst part is the long healing process after the escape.

[✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰Janeane ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars - ARC Received via Netgalley for an honest review

I have to say, I LOVED the beginning of this book. Who hasn't wanted to shout from the rooftops what a douche their ex is? And this is why Rae does - through karaoke of course! I would have been up at the front of the crowd cheering her on!!

Rae has finally gotten away from her abusive, stalker ex. Now trying to get on her feet emotionally and financially, she finally confronts her ex, but things don't go as planned. This huge act of defiance should have been the beginning of a new chapter in her life, but turns out things take a different turn.

Enter Parker. Hot. Sexy. Leather clad. Heart the size of Texas. Just loved him from the moment he joins the story.

The attraction is instant with Rae and Parker, and sparks fly between the pair. They are both emotionally scarred from things in their past and are very gun shy. I liked that they did not fall straight into love. Straight into bed, yeah, but the deeper relationship longer. Though I did feel there was something missing in the relationship ~~ maybe it is just that as the story was a little short for us to get right into the nitty gritty of them or what, I can't put my finger right on it.

It was great to be along on the ride as Parker finally breaks down the emotional walls and finally let's people in.

Do Rae and Parker get their HEA? For that you are going to have to read for yourself.

There was a great mix of secondary characters, from Rae's best friends Hunter and Cherry, to Parker's pretty dysfunctional family. Then there is the ex. What a very warped image of love he has in his mind.

There were a few twists and turns along the way too!

This is the first book I have read by Laura Kreiter and I did enjoy it. There was just that little something I was left wanting after reading. It looks as though there is at least one more book in this series (though Love's Paradox is a stand alone read), so I will make sure i read that too.

[April Hollingworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Courtesy of April Hollingworth

You can’t help who you love, which can be wonderful. But when love turns to fear it’s time to kiss goodbye the relationship, something that Rae is trying to do. Moving on with her life Rae meets Parker and together they try to form a relationship out of the tatters of past hurts but with Rae’s psycho ex-fiancé this is easier said than done.
This novel is powerful and holds no bars against the dangerous that arise when a stalker doesn't get what they want, but yet it is so funny and wonderful at the same time. I felt when reading this book that I could easily step outside my front door and bump into any of the characters in this book. Super sexy, fun but with the dark danger of a psycho ex this is a must read novel that you will read again and again. Love’s Paradox is highly addictive and wonderful.

Opening Scene:

A HILLBILLY STRIPPER, A SNARKY HAIR STYLIST, and a rock star walk into a bar.

The Review:

Rae has had enough with her abusive ex-fiancé stalking her so she decides she’ll let the world know exactly what he is and hopefully he’ll take the hint and leave her alone. Singing a song at a karaoke bar about the abuse she lived with at his hands leads to meeting sexy Parker. A wonderful guy who knows through the loss of his sister the danger men like her ex Ian are.
As Rae gets to know Parker she can’t help realize just how wonderful he is, but Ian becomes more dangerous by the second for if he can’t have her then no one will.

Notable Scene:

He laughs, low and throaty, as if he can read my thoughts, and holds me so closely I can’t see his face. “I’m hoping you’ll give me the rest of the night to correct your impression of me. And if not tonight, then the next, and the next.”
“Planning our future already?” I tease.
He doesn’t say anything for a long while. “What happened to you, Rae?” he asks, pulling away slightly so I can see his serious expression.
The question completely takes me off guard, and I fumble for a witty remark. But none comes to me.
Parker patiently waits for my response; a luxury Ian never afforded me.
“That’s a bit personal, don’t you think?”

FTC Advisory: Revolution Publishing provided me with a copy of Love’s Paradox by Laura Kreitzer. Published through Revolution Publishing. Kindle Edition. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Ruth B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love’s Paradox is a story about abusive relationships. It’s a story that show us that healing is possible and also that giving love a chance can be a great decision. But for me the story gives a glimpse of how abuse affects people outside the relationship. It's a great demonstration of how this situation becomes a virus that contaminates many lives.

The book present us to Rae, who has just left an abusive boyfriend when meets Parker. He comes as the knight in shining armor ready to save her from the claws of an evil man. The tension between them is amazing. It’s everything you expect and more. You can feel the attraction and how they fight it only because they are afraid of getting hurt.

Rae is a nice character. She has all the characteristics of a woman who lived a difficult relationship, there are moments where she clearly sees herself as the victim she is, but also she blames herself for the outcome. For me, this make the book feel real, she is not perfect and tries to become the person she used to be but also she has to live with the consequences of her past relationship.

Parker is this sexy, honest, successful and caring man who comes to give her a new chance in love. For moments he seems too perfect to be true. I keep waiting for a flaw that never comes. He even is good in bed (and more than good) so for me he needs a defect (I could accept snoring just to make him more real). And the best part is that he is only twenty-something.

The writing is ok. The sexual tension is well built and the sex scenes are amazing (taking out Mr. Perfection). I could say that the story moves way too fast. I know that when violent men are involved a second can make a difference but there were things that for me were unnecessary.

I have to mention the ending. Without giving much away, I will only say that I laughed for a great part of it because it was unbelievable. I know incredible things happen in real life and author can do whatever they want with their stories but the ending was too much. Still, I loved the epilogue.


*** I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange of an honest review. ***

[Kira · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Some people will enjoy this but not me. It was too light for the serious subject matter. Rae had an ex-fiance, Ian, who was a demented, obsessed stalker. The stalker aspect was portrayed well, but Rae and Parker’s reactions to the stalking weren’t. They were often contradictory. At times one of them would purposely do things to incite his anger and at other times one of them would decide it was wise to let things go so it wouldn’t encourage Ian further. They both were immature. Neither of them thought before acting. The depth wasn’t there in the characters considering the traumatic things they had experienced.

There were some issues in the story with telling one thing but showing another. It was mentioned often that Rae was damaged because of Ian. However her actions did not indicate that at all. Just like it was also mentioned that Rae had trouble trusting men because of relationship with Ian, but she jumps right into a new relationship. There were signs, which she was aware of, that the new relationship may not be a healthy one. She ignored all of those because he was sexy and she was attracted to him. None of it indicated that she matured and learned anything from her experiences with Ian. For a woman with supposedly severe trust issues, her relationship evolved very quickly, which seemed unrealistic.

Rae’s abusive past dominated the entire story to the point that the relationships with Rae and other characters weren’t fleshed out well. I never understood what made Rae and any other character click. The side characters held no appeal at all. They had no personality. It was like the purpose of them was just to be there and support Rae. They desperately needed further development.

At best this was just okay. It was a romance and that part of it was extremely predictable. There was an unexpected event towards the end. It made sense that it happened. Aspects about it were aggravating because once again it seemed contradictory.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was attracted to this book instantly, the cover is beautiful, the bad ass biker just looks WOW!

But does the story live up to the cover?

Yes, it is a good read, however I know a lot of people are down on the whole insta-love thing but you what , I like it and I believe that most women secretly want to meet a man who has this effect on them and reciprocates it too.

The story begins with Rae going to bar with her friends, but she is not going just to drink she is going to get revenge, she has just come out of an abusive relationship with Ian her ex-fiancé and she wants to shame him in front of an audience by singing karaoke, unfortunately he doesn't take it well and tries to attack her on stage, coming to her rescue is Parker, a biker who smacks Ian in the face.

After Ian is removed from the bar, Parker tries to get to know Rae but understandably after her time with Ian she is wary of men, especially ones with a tendency for violence. Parker is not one to back down easily and Rae see something in him but is guarded in case she gets hurt.

The story continues with Rae being sent by her employment agency to Livingston Oil, and who is her boss? She is surprised to see Parker there and out of his biker leathers he is even hotter in his work clothes!

Rae thaws slightly and gets to know Parker, their instant attraction is too much and they give in to one another, he may be a bad ass biker but he is her saviour, he really is a great character.

Now this story does have scenes of abuse, how Ian treats Rae and continues to treat her after they split up is just plain evil. Ian is a nasty piece of work trying to manipulate Rae, he really deserves whats coming to him.

I won't give away anymore, read it for yourself, its released on the 5th May 2014!

This is a great story and if you like authors like Jessica Sorensen and Colleen Hoover you will like this.

I will give Love's Paradox 4 out of 5!

[Bookbeauty · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** I have received an ARC via NetGalley ***

Who doesn't want to scream out all the secrets of his/her ex to a cheering crowd?
Rae goes wild on a Karaoke night and calls out her abusive ex boyfriend; when her ex tries to hurt her, Parker (seemingly a bad boy biker) comes to her rescue.

There were a few issues I had with this book, the biggest one, being the ending and the problematic message it could send -> Parker killing Rae's ex boyfriend after a fight; it could be argued that it's self defense, however Rae's ex was already immobilised... I get, that the ex needed to "go", because the crazy stalker would've continued trying to kill Rae and Parker - BUT self justice as a message? Hm. Problematic!.
Another issue: most of the time, Rae and Parker were interacting on their own.
This created a very intimate atmosphere with lots of emotions - but in terms of their surroundings, their friends, their life in general, it fell a bit short. Also, Parker was too good to be true, bad boy biker looks but a future CEO... not that I'm complaining, since the chemistry between Rae and Parker was great.

This brings me to the positive things and why I gave this book 4 stars:
Laura Kreitzer can write! Despite the insta-love between Rae and Parker, which made me cringe, I loved how Laura Kreitzer created a angsty, dark mood in the book with the stalking issue.
(I do not like angsty books, but this is a rare exception)
The helplessness and fear of being stalked - wonderfully told.
Wonderful? Yes, because people need to understand how horrible stalking is and to take it seriously, it needs to be told in an explicit way.

I wished that there was more time to have more romance, more Rae/Parker time in the book, the majority of their time together, Rae and Parker were occupied with trying to hide from Rae's ex - but then, this could be the reality of a stalked person in real life...

Interesting read!

[Ivey Byrd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rae Zachery has had enough of her abusive stalker ex-boyfriend and she decides that it is time let everyone know what he did to her by way of karaoke. That is right I said karaoke. When her ex moves to stop her performance, a sexy biker named Parker comes to the rescue. Parker seems like the kind of man you should be afraid of but as Rae gets to know him, she cannot help but be drawn to him. Soon Rae finds herself falling in love with Parker, but she is afraid to let another man into her heart again. Rae begins to realize that Parker is not like her ex, but before she can let herself love Parker, she must take care of her ex. However, Rae does not know how deadly her ex really is until it might be too late.

I liked this book a lot. I started the book and by the fifth page, I was rooting for Rae to teach her ex a lesson. I wanted to reach through the book and punch the ex in the face. The story definitely had my attention and my emotions were all over the place from the start. When Rae was dealing with her ex I could practically feel her terror, and a book that makes you feel a characters emotions like that is a great one. You will fall in love with the main character because she is so strong. She has the guts to sing songs about her abusive relationship to get back at her ex, and you will want to keep turning the page to see where their story will lead and how she will handle her ex and Parker. This book also made me laugh a lot which I love in a book. It is easy to make someone feel sad when reading, but it is hard to make someone laugh until they cried, which I did. As you might be able to tell this book is adult fiction so there is adult content but I do not feel like it is over done like some adult books. If you are looking for a story about a girl who overcomes an abusive ex and finds love with a man who will love her better, than this book is for you. I give it three out of five stars.

[JL Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

**ARC provided by author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Rae Zachary is a charismatic, funny girl who has recently dumped her abusive finance. After years of mental and physical abuse she has had enough and to show him that she plans a little show for him. She gets up on stage and sing three songs that are a metaphorical kick to the balls for her ex, only she isn't expecting his response, which is to try and attack her on stage.

In steps a sexy man who punches her ex in the face and then attempts to woo her only because of the violent way he dealt with her ex, Rae isn't in that much of a hurry to get to know the sexy stranger. But when push comes to shove and her ex has the sexy stranger arrested, Rae goes out of her way to help him. The next day she gets a call for a new temp job and when she arrives she finds none other than the sexy stranger who happens to be her new boss.

Parker Livingston is not at all what Rae expected, but the more time she spends with him the more she falls a little at a time, until she knows that she has fallen for him. The problem with that is her ex is stalking, delusional ass that is doing everything in his power to get her back. Even kidnapping her.

This was a quick, sexy, fun read for me, but unfortunately it wasn't the best laid out book. The story line was great, the characters were a little Bish as was the delivery of the story. What I mean by Bish is that it was like a B movie where the characters can't act and the delivery isn't all that great but the story line is good and you have to keep watching to see what happens, but will probly never watch again.

In short once I got into the book I wanted to keep reading to find out the ending even though I didn't much care for the characters. They had some fun quick witted lines but thats about it.

[books are love · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I loved the support and understanding from Parker. I loved how no matter how much he wanted to protect and help Parker he knew the only way for Rae to go past her ex was for her to empower herself so he supported and suggested but did not takeover. Ian was a abusive crazed man who didn't deserve what happened to him but didn't deserve to get away with what he did either. Hunter is awesome not as awesome as Parker but awesome none the less. He is who I would love to see a book on next. Cherry was hysterical.

this book opens with Rae trying to close a chapter in her past, only instead of closing it she incites it to go further. As this is occurring Parker helps out. Parker, sweet, understanding, sexy precious Parker. That man is what women dream of. He supports Rae, is proud of her, doesn't push her, encourages her and accepts her for her. What girl doesn't want that. Oh he is also very hot in and out of bed. the man is intelligent as well. All good for the makings of a great book boyfriend heck any type of boyfriend. He has his flaws and a past but it doesn't hurt him in the way Rae's does.

These two have instant attraction and Parker cannot forget her so he hires her to be his assistant. She is wary at first but they get to know each other and the attraction ratchets. Meantime Ian becomes more unhinged the closer Rae and Parker get.

A book about abuse and finding the strength through love and support to overcome it and come out stronger. Of love and support. A book that shows love can conquer all and so can overcoming your fear. A beautiful read that you will not put down.

[Jessi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This ARC was provided to me by Netgalley for an honest review.

First off let me start off by saying that the premise of the book was really good. I liked Rae as a heroine. I loved her fire and spirit that we see in the beginning of the book.

This book started out great with Rae singing "Goodbye Earl" about her ex with him in the audience. Her ex Ian goes to attack her for humiliating him and gets stopped by her sexy best friend Hunter and her savior in leather Parker. The author did a great job telling the backstory of the relationship between Rae and Ian. I really felt for her and could see why she was hesitant to start anything after seeing Parker get violent towards Ian. This was realistic and I loved how he dealt with her issues.

What I didn't like about the book was the fact that one minute she was in the hospital scared out of her mind and the next minute she was having sex with Parker like nothing happened. This made no sense. I mean she was just traumatized and now they are hooking up.

The other part that I really didn't like about this book was the dialogue. I mean who says things like gesticulating during a sex scene. It seemed like the author was trying to plug in big words rather just have the characters talk normally.

Unfortunately this book just wasn't for me. I had to force myself to finish this book because the dialogue and character thoughts made no sense and were over the top and confusing. I really think that if this book was cleaned up and the dialogue redone it would be a great book.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. We start out with Rae who is getting ready to sing at a bar about her abusive ex. This is where she meets Parker after her punches her ex in the face at the bar.

I really love the characters in this book, they felt real. I loved Rae with her snarky comments, I had laughed out loud reading this book. Rae was such a strong character, you really get a sense of who she is.

Parker. I LOVE Parker. He wasn't your ordinary bad boy. He was smart and sweet. He wasn't afraid to put it all out there or embarrasses himself.

" This girl broke things off with me because she said I was bad in bed, he said sheepishly. So, I read this book to help me better understand the female anatomy."

The best friends Hunter and Cherry were good characters too.

"That's the paradox of love, darling. It can shatter you as effortlessly as it can send you over the moon."

The pacing in the story was good, I never found myself bored.

The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because of one scene at the end of the book with Parker and Ian. I just really didn't think it should end that way. I get why but whatever, no spoilers here.

One more quote to leave you with

"Note: I do not condone anyone buying alcohol for those under the age of twenty-one. Unless they're buying it for me."

I would recommend this book for people who like new adult romance.

I received this book for free through Netgalley.

[Kushnuma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Love's Paradox is about Rae who was in a relationship with an abusive person, Ian. They had been together for years until shows this other side of him: domestic violence. Because of all that, Rae leaves him but he doesn't make it easy for her. He follows her around and stalks her (and seems to be a total psycho!), but doesn't do anything else, until she sings a song about their abusive relationship in a biker bar. But as he tries to get to her, Parker, who was listening to Rae's story/song and also had a sister who was murdered by the abusive boyfriend, punches Ian. And that's how Rae and Parker meet.

I quite liked this book which reminded me of Nicholas Sparks' Safe Haven, which consisted of a woman leaving her husband because of the way he treated her.

Overall, I liked the way Laura Kreitzer writes and I enjoyed this book. Although at times there is a little too much description...

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
Rae Zachery has finally broken up with her mentally and physically abusive boyfriend, Ian. To finalize this decision, she decides to publicly humiliate him by singing a Dixie Chicks song, Goodbye Earl, to him at a karaoke biker bar. This did not end well. When Ian reacts, a hot and sexy biker steps in to defend her. Parker Livingston is attracted to this feisty woman and wants to get to know her. She is afraid of him because of his violence toward Ian. She doesn't want to jump from the frying pan into the fire...but she is drawn to this attractive stranger.

Parker continues to pursue Rae by calling the temporary agency she works for and hires her to work for his company, Livingston Oil, as an office assistant. This enables him to get to know her better, and for their relationship to develop further. When Ian finds out that Rae is dating Parker, he loses what little hold on sanity he had, and turns into a violent stalker. Drama ensues.

I found this book impossible to put down. It was a page turner from the beginning. I can't wait to read more from Laura Kreitzer. I am definitely adding her to my favorite author list.