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Pain
Life is sweet in The Sanctuary—until Lillian Harris is thrown the curveball of her life.
Lillian is perfectly happy cocooned within the lofty perimeter fence of The Sanctuary. Her Sanctuary—a vast oasis for rescued lions, tigers and elephants. The animals are her world. So when Lillian’s dad tells her a nineteen-year-old criminal who’s fresh out of prison is coming to The Sanctuary as part of a rehabilitation program, Lillian is more than a little apprehensive. She interacts with animals more than humans—and definitely not criminals.
Justice Armstrong is more arrogant than a Silverback, but something darker lurks behind his eyes...
It isn’t until Justice swaggers toward her from the parole officer’s car—pierced, confidant, and more than a little hot—Lillian knows she has her work cut out for her. His stare has the power to rob her of all thought. His words, although crude and nefarious, bring a part of her to life she never knew existed. How is this criminal suddenly turning her world upside down?
He has the power to drag her to the dark side....
Pain—his drug of choice. A vice he can’t survive without. Then he meets her—Lillian Harris. Little miss hellcat. Fiery, strong, and all woman. She challenges him at every damn turn, and watching her tame those fierce big cats...well, it just makes his need for her that much stronger.
He wants to do things to her...wicked things. She makes him crave pain in a whole new way.
When a teen with a dark past bumps heads with the feisty rescue worker, will it be love over lust—or a matter of life and death?
Lillian is perfectly happy cocooned within the lofty perimeter fence of The Sanctuary. Her Sanctuary—a vast oasis for rescued lions, tigers and elephants. The animals are her world. So when Lillian’s dad tells her a nineteen-year-old criminal who’s fresh out of prison is coming to The Sanctuary as part of a rehabilitation program, Lillian is more than a little apprehensive. She interacts with animals more than humans—and definitely not criminals.
Justice Armstrong is more arrogant than a Silverback, but something darker lurks behind his eyes...
It isn’t until Justice swaggers toward her from the parole officer’s car—pierced, confidant, and more than a little hot—Lillian knows she has her work cut out for her. His stare has the power to rob her of all thought. His words, although crude and nefarious, bring a part of her to life she never knew existed. How is this criminal suddenly turning her world upside down?
He has the power to drag her to the dark side....
Pain—his drug of choice. A vice he can’t survive without. Then he meets her—Lillian Harris. Little miss hellcat. Fiery, strong, and all woman. She challenges him at every damn turn, and watching her tame those fierce big cats...well, it just makes his need for her that much stronger.
He wants to do things to her...wicked things. She makes him crave pain in a whole new way.
When a teen with a dark past bumps heads with the feisty rescue worker, will it be love over lust—or a matter of life and death?
257 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 5, 2016
73 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 8, 2016
Pain is the very emotional story of Justice, a young man who has been trouble most of his life. Life has never been nice to him, and he's felt the worst pain that life can hand out. When he gets released from jail he gets sent to an animal sanctuary that has rescued animals from abuse and neglect, and there he meets Lil.
Lil runs The Sanctuary with her dad and takes care of the animals there. The animals are her family, and she loves them more than anything else in the world. When Justice comes to the sanctuary she isn't happy about having to take him everywhere with her. When she realized he isn't just a criminal she starts to fall for him too, but can he change his criminal ways for her?
This book broke my heart and made me so emotional. When were first introduced to Justice I wasn't sure about his character and I had a feeling that I would end up not liking him. But that was so not the case. I ended up loving him and I felt so bad for the things he had gone through in his life. I wanted to just hug him and make everything okay for him.
Lil was a good character and I loved how caring she was. She didn't judge Justice too much and she gave him a chance to prove himself, which no one else did for him. I thought it was great seeing her helping Justice realize he didn't deserve what was done to him and that he doesn't have to keep living the life of a criminal.
The overall story was really good and I liked it, but throughout the book I found myself getting bored at parts where the story seemed to get slow. I still recommend this story for anyone that likes an emotional rollercoaster of a story.
Warning:This book deals with some dark topics that not everyone will be okay with. Read with caution.
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Lil runs The Sanctuary with her dad and takes care of the animals there. The animals are her family, and she loves them more than anything else in the world. When Justice comes to the sanctuary she isn't happy about having to take him everywhere with her. When she realized he isn't just a criminal she starts to fall for him too, but can he change his criminal ways for her?
This book broke my heart and made me so emotional. When were first introduced to Justice I wasn't sure about his character and I had a feeling that I would end up not liking him. But that was so not the case. I ended up loving him and I felt so bad for the things he had gone through in his life. I wanted to just hug him and make everything okay for him.
Lil was a good character and I loved how caring she was. She didn't judge Justice too much and she gave him a chance to prove himself, which no one else did for him. I thought it was great seeing her helping Justice realize he didn't deserve what was done to him and that he doesn't have to keep living the life of a criminal.
The overall story was really good and I liked it, but throughout the book I found myself getting bored at parts where the story seemed to get slow. I still recommend this story for anyone that likes an emotional rollercoaster of a story.
Warning:This book deals with some dark topics that not everyone will be okay with. Read with caution.
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2016
My first read by Amanda and what a great book to start with. I basically read this in a few hours as once I started I didn't want to put it down.
Lillian runs The Sanctuary with her dad and two volunteers. It's where they home animals that need sanctuary. Her dad shocks her when he tells her a young offender is staying and helping them as part of a rehab program.
Justice is the young lad that is placed into their care. He has no intentions of doing anything only getting away from them. That is until Lil starts breaking down his walls. However Justice has been through so much already. He has felt so much pain in his young life that he's unsure how to cope with the different emotions now.
Really brilliant well written story. A twist near the end had me in tears. Will certainly be reading more of this authors books.
Lillian runs The Sanctuary with her dad and two volunteers. It's where they home animals that need sanctuary. Her dad shocks her when he tells her a young offender is staying and helping them as part of a rehab program.
Justice is the young lad that is placed into their care. He has no intentions of doing anything only getting away from them. That is until Lil starts breaking down his walls. However Justice has been through so much already. He has felt so much pain in his young life that he's unsure how to cope with the different emotions now.
Really brilliant well written story. A twist near the end had me in tears. Will certainly be reading more of this authors books.
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January 1, 2016
Pain
Amanda Mackey
4.5 stars
Zowie! First of all let me say I am opinionated in rescue because that is part of what I do and who I am so this book was right up my alley in the where the setting and drama took place. LOVE THAT! Thank you Amanda for bringing light onto animals who need us through Lil and her father.
Lil Harris was in her heaven on earth. The Sanctuary housed elephants, lion, Bengal tigers and more. All rescued from abuse or unethical living conditions. She is a warrior fighting for those with no voice – YES! Needing help Lil’s father puts in with the local sheriff to start a program for troubled youth and young adults. It was the perfect solution for enlisting help around the property and in turn hoping the interaction would change the lives of those coming to them. The new guy was to come tomorrow and her Dad felt since he was close to Lil’s age she could show him around until things settled down a bit. … YUP …
Justice Armstrong is not pleased that he is heading to a zoo of all places. He was first introduced to the life of crime at age nine by his legal guardian, Jeffrey O’Dowell. It was a laughable waste of money. Justice was never going to care about anyone or anything. He was who he was thanks to his wonderful crap hand in life. Meeting the little spitfire named “Lil” just brightened his day. She was feisty and he loved the fact that she stood up to him. Maybe moving from one prison to another wasn’t so bad after all. When the past tears him apart again the voice of an angel is the only thing that might just bring him back.
This is a really fantastic read. Its not because of the rescue part but the storyline of giving someone a chance, not judging and holding on to someone you know who can be better is magnificent. Too many people play judge and jury tossing those who have made mistakes aside with no regard. Lil’s father Tom saw something good in Justice as did Lil. I love love love this type of read. There is a bit of a shocker near the end of the story that kind of put things a little over the top but again Justice deserved it.
No cliffhanger and a great story with phenomenal characters. I would love a book about a couple of those secondary peeps.
Thank you Amanda for the ARC! Review to post to Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets.
Amanda Mackey
4.5 stars
Zowie! First of all let me say I am opinionated in rescue because that is part of what I do and who I am so this book was right up my alley in the where the setting and drama took place. LOVE THAT! Thank you Amanda for bringing light onto animals who need us through Lil and her father.
Lil Harris was in her heaven on earth. The Sanctuary housed elephants, lion, Bengal tigers and more. All rescued from abuse or unethical living conditions. She is a warrior fighting for those with no voice – YES! Needing help Lil’s father puts in with the local sheriff to start a program for troubled youth and young adults. It was the perfect solution for enlisting help around the property and in turn hoping the interaction would change the lives of those coming to them. The new guy was to come tomorrow and her Dad felt since he was close to Lil’s age she could show him around until things settled down a bit. … YUP …
Justice Armstrong is not pleased that he is heading to a zoo of all places. He was first introduced to the life of crime at age nine by his legal guardian, Jeffrey O’Dowell. It was a laughable waste of money. Justice was never going to care about anyone or anything. He was who he was thanks to his wonderful crap hand in life. Meeting the little spitfire named “Lil” just brightened his day. She was feisty and he loved the fact that she stood up to him. Maybe moving from one prison to another wasn’t so bad after all. When the past tears him apart again the voice of an angel is the only thing that might just bring him back.
This is a really fantastic read. Its not because of the rescue part but the storyline of giving someone a chance, not judging and holding on to someone you know who can be better is magnificent. Too many people play judge and jury tossing those who have made mistakes aside with no regard. Lil’s father Tom saw something good in Justice as did Lil. I love love love this type of read. There is a bit of a shocker near the end of the story that kind of put things a little over the top but again Justice deserved it.
No cliffhanger and a great story with phenomenal characters. I would love a book about a couple of those secondary peeps.
Thank you Amanda for the ARC! Review to post to Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets.
February 5, 2017
Lions, tigers, and elephants, Oh my?
Lil works and lives on an animal sanctuary with her father. They have lions, tigers, and elephants, oh my! Her father tells her that they are going to be taking in a parolee and that she will be held responsible for him. She has a bit of a rough past herself, so she's willing to do it, but also very reluctant.
Justice has had a horrible upbringing. Not only was he in the system, but he was raised by some awful people. He is just getting out of jail for stealing, and some awful things happened to him in jail as well. Lil is just some hot head girl who thinks she's in charge when she really isn't. The last place he wants to be is locked in an animal sanctuary like an animal after getting out of jail.
I liked the plot of this story. It was different and very intriguing. The romance was meh, they both understood each other so I saw where the attraction could come from, but it was more hey liked each other's attitude lol. The naughty bits were meh, and just not for me. Then there were some parts were just too far fetched in my opinion.
All in all a good read though.
Lil works and lives on an animal sanctuary with her father. They have lions, tigers, and elephants, oh my! Her father tells her that they are going to be taking in a parolee and that she will be held responsible for him. She has a bit of a rough past herself, so she's willing to do it, but also very reluctant.
Justice has had a horrible upbringing. Not only was he in the system, but he was raised by some awful people. He is just getting out of jail for stealing, and some awful things happened to him in jail as well. Lil is just some hot head girl who thinks she's in charge when she really isn't. The last place he wants to be is locked in an animal sanctuary like an animal after getting out of jail.
I liked the plot of this story. It was different and very intriguing. The romance was meh, they both understood each other so I saw where the attraction could come from, but it was more hey liked each other's attitude lol. The naughty bits were meh, and just not for me. Then there were some parts were just too far fetched in my opinion.
All in all a good read though.
January 7, 2016
Wow! Pain by Amanda Mackey was not at all what I was expecting in the best way possible. This book is raw and emotional. There are parts of this book that were disturbingly difficult to read as it deals with some child abuse. Then there are points of light and redemption for the characters.
The book begins with one of the difficult moments. You can feel young Justice's hate and fear of his "caretaker". He knows the difference between right and wrong, but he has no choice but to make a gut wrenching decision to do wrong. He was a young, abused child with no way out. Fast forward 10 years and he is just getting out of prison. As part of his parole, he is staying and working at an animal sanctuary aptly named The Sanctuary.
Lil is The Sanctuary owner's daughter. Her father charges her with helping Justice get settled and showing him the ropes. They butt head immediately. She is determined to show him that she will not take his crap. He is determined to show her that he doesn't need her and doesn't take orders from anyone. Underneath all the head butting is undeniable attraction.
Their attraction gets the better of them and it is explosive. They soon get under each other's skin and start to care immensely for one another. However, Lil is harboring her own dark secret. Nothing as horrendous as Justice's, but awful enough in its own right. As Justice begins to trust Lil little by little, he starts to see redemption and love (two things he craves) at the end of the tunnel, but of course, there are many (huge) bumps in the road along the way.
I thought Lil and Justice were perfectly paired. She has a soft spot for the lost and abused (and not just animals). Justice is the epitome of lost and abused. Not only that, just add in alpha and insanely hot and there is no way Lil can resist. On the flip side, Justice sees a challenge in Lil. She should be off limits, but her take no prisoners attitude that can flip into loving and caring quickly makes her into someone he craves to dominate.
This is a perfectly balanced story of dark and light. Justice's "upbringing" and his thoughts are so dark, it's a wonder he can see beyond that. Then there is Lil. She has plenty of darkness, but she insists on living a life of nurturing and rescuing. No, I don't think the author could and put together a better match. She also created secondary character who helped bring the story to life. Each one contributed to the story and made it so much better. Amanda Mackey created and well rounded, solid story. I can't wait for more from her!
The book begins with one of the difficult moments. You can feel young Justice's hate and fear of his "caretaker". He knows the difference between right and wrong, but he has no choice but to make a gut wrenching decision to do wrong. He was a young, abused child with no way out. Fast forward 10 years and he is just getting out of prison. As part of his parole, he is staying and working at an animal sanctuary aptly named The Sanctuary.
Lil is The Sanctuary owner's daughter. Her father charges her with helping Justice get settled and showing him the ropes. They butt head immediately. She is determined to show him that she will not take his crap. He is determined to show her that he doesn't need her and doesn't take orders from anyone. Underneath all the head butting is undeniable attraction.
Their attraction gets the better of them and it is explosive. They soon get under each other's skin and start to care immensely for one another. However, Lil is harboring her own dark secret. Nothing as horrendous as Justice's, but awful enough in its own right. As Justice begins to trust Lil little by little, he starts to see redemption and love (two things he craves) at the end of the tunnel, but of course, there are many (huge) bumps in the road along the way.
I thought Lil and Justice were perfectly paired. She has a soft spot for the lost and abused (and not just animals). Justice is the epitome of lost and abused. Not only that, just add in alpha and insanely hot and there is no way Lil can resist. On the flip side, Justice sees a challenge in Lil. She should be off limits, but her take no prisoners attitude that can flip into loving and caring quickly makes her into someone he craves to dominate.
This is a perfectly balanced story of dark and light. Justice's "upbringing" and his thoughts are so dark, it's a wonder he can see beyond that. Then there is Lil. She has plenty of darkness, but she insists on living a life of nurturing and rescuing. No, I don't think the author could and put together a better match. She also created secondary character who helped bring the story to life. Each one contributed to the story and made it so much better. Amanda Mackey created and well rounded, solid story. I can't wait for more from her!
July 14, 2016
Have you ever finished a book that was so good you had to take a walk? Or maybe you called a friend and told them all about the book because you needed to talk about it? Well prepare your life if you decide to read the book Pain by Amanda Mackey because you’re gonna need to take a moment. I was unable to adult after reading it.
Heat Level: ♥♥♥♥♥♥
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Overall Rating: 6/6
Pain introduces us to Lillian, Lil, who works at an animal shelter, The Sanctuary, for large animals. She and dad take care of animals from elephants to lions and even some tiger cubs. Lil’s mother committed suicide when she was young and that event has left a dark hole deep inside of what is normally a spunky and beautiful girl. But every once in a while, the darkness needs to come out.
What better way to work out some of that angst than with the bad boy? Justice is nineteen and fresh out of jail. He was in for theft and selling drugs but, before you count him out, consider the fact that he had a hard upbringing. His foster father beat the crap out of him and locked him in a basement. Justice is, obviously, really messed up because of it but he has found that the only way to take away the emotional pain is with physical pain.
He is sent to work with Lil and her father as a rehabilitation program but initially doesn’t think he will fit in. But one look at the fiery green eyes of his new boss, and he is singing a different tone. Lil convinces herself that she has to try to fix Justice but manages to do something else entirely. Can she manage to be enough to keep him alive? Will he be enough to fill the gaping hole of darkness in her? Do they belong together? After all, two wrongs don’t make a right…
Lil doesn’t take crap from anyone. She has a huge heart and a smart mouth; the perfect combination in my book.
Justice is crude, obnoxious, and sexy as hell. His language takes a step over that decency line so you need to be ready for that. I don’t think Mackey took it too far though. It suited his character and was age appropriate.
However, those sex scenes also cross that pretty line. This book is not for the faint of heart so prepare yourself! I thought they fit the book perfectly though and was not offended in the slightest. They are hot but they don’t take over the book.
Bring the tissues because there is almost no part of this book that won’t have you ugly crying. Much to my dismay, this is a standalone book so it is ideal for a quick read or a busy bee.
Heat Level: ♥♥♥♥♥♥
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Overall Rating: 6/6
Pain introduces us to Lillian, Lil, who works at an animal shelter, The Sanctuary, for large animals. She and dad take care of animals from elephants to lions and even some tiger cubs. Lil’s mother committed suicide when she was young and that event has left a dark hole deep inside of what is normally a spunky and beautiful girl. But every once in a while, the darkness needs to come out.
What better way to work out some of that angst than with the bad boy? Justice is nineteen and fresh out of jail. He was in for theft and selling drugs but, before you count him out, consider the fact that he had a hard upbringing. His foster father beat the crap out of him and locked him in a basement. Justice is, obviously, really messed up because of it but he has found that the only way to take away the emotional pain is with physical pain.
He is sent to work with Lil and her father as a rehabilitation program but initially doesn’t think he will fit in. But one look at the fiery green eyes of his new boss, and he is singing a different tone. Lil convinces herself that she has to try to fix Justice but manages to do something else entirely. Can she manage to be enough to keep him alive? Will he be enough to fill the gaping hole of darkness in her? Do they belong together? After all, two wrongs don’t make a right…
Lil doesn’t take crap from anyone. She has a huge heart and a smart mouth; the perfect combination in my book.
Justice is crude, obnoxious, and sexy as hell. His language takes a step over that decency line so you need to be ready for that. I don’t think Mackey took it too far though. It suited his character and was age appropriate.
However, those sex scenes also cross that pretty line. This book is not for the faint of heart so prepare yourself! I thought they fit the book perfectly though and was not offended in the slightest. They are hot but they don’t take over the book.
Bring the tissues because there is almost no part of this book that won’t have you ugly crying. Much to my dismay, this is a standalone book so it is ideal for a quick read or a busy bee.
January 3, 2016
There's this 9 year old boy who's being exposed to the worse kind of abuse. It's at the hands of someone he should've been able to trust. Shame what the world puts on small shoulders.
Lillian is happy living in her world of big fuzzy critters and a Father who dotes on her. She's also happy keeping her hurt buried deep inside where she doesn't really have to deal with it. And everyone who knows her thinks she's fine.
Justice is from L.A. he's also got a chip on his shoulder that's bigger than a mountain. He thinks he's been trouble almost from day one of his life. Stealing, drugs, women, you name it and he's dealt with it in some form.
Getting out of prison isn't anything new for him. He's done the jail thing a time or three too. What is new is having to spend probation time at a wild life rescue sanctuary.
He's gonna hate it and if he's going to be miserable...so is everyone around him.
The first time Lil sees Justice she thinks he's beautiful and broken and she sees his rage. What she finds the second he opens his mouth is that he's cocky and arrogant and an ass too.
She thinks he should be grateful for the chance he's being given.
Justice just sees the sanctuary as a fancier kind of jail.
What neither one realizes is that being together will wake something that's sleeping inside their spirits and together they make each other better.
Only thing is...can they help each other heal or would it be better if one of them walks away?
This book is so open and so honest in the writing that I couldn't help but love every word. Except when things went really sideways for Justice, then my heart just broke.
Read this book...it's amazing.
Reviewed for FMR Bookgrind Blog.
Lillian is happy living in her world of big fuzzy critters and a Father who dotes on her. She's also happy keeping her hurt buried deep inside where she doesn't really have to deal with it. And everyone who knows her thinks she's fine.
Justice is from L.A. he's also got a chip on his shoulder that's bigger than a mountain. He thinks he's been trouble almost from day one of his life. Stealing, drugs, women, you name it and he's dealt with it in some form.
Getting out of prison isn't anything new for him. He's done the jail thing a time or three too. What is new is having to spend probation time at a wild life rescue sanctuary.
He's gonna hate it and if he's going to be miserable...so is everyone around him.
The first time Lil sees Justice she thinks he's beautiful and broken and she sees his rage. What she finds the second he opens his mouth is that he's cocky and arrogant and an ass too.
She thinks he should be grateful for the chance he's being given.
Justice just sees the sanctuary as a fancier kind of jail.
What neither one realizes is that being together will wake something that's sleeping inside their spirits and together they make each other better.
Only thing is...can they help each other heal or would it be better if one of them walks away?
This book is so open and so honest in the writing that I couldn't help but love every word. Except when things went really sideways for Justice, then my heart just broke.
Read this book...it's amazing.
Reviewed for FMR Bookgrind Blog.
January 12, 2016
Lillian and her dad Tom with the help of Nate and Daniel run "The Sanctuary" a haven for abused Tigers ,Lions and Elephants.
Being an animal lover myself , especially cats this was a major draw card for me and I'm thrilled I got to read this !
Life as Lillian knows it is good but their biggest "rescue" is yet to come . Tom knows how broken Lillian was when she arrived and he could see the healing she has done. He had discussed it with her to run a program for troubled youth but gave up when he heard nothing from authorities. The sheriff caught wind of his proposal and approached him, Justice is to be their first guest ......
Justice and Lillian are both power houses on their own and strong stubborn personalities but both of them bare scars and wounds from life , some deeper than others . They've found their match in each other. The moment they meet each other sparks fly and their chemistry is alive and so is the battle of wills.....
It's this battle of wills that brings on the healing . Make no mistake it's not an easy journey but it's beautiful.Justice and Lillian not only saved each other physically but emotionally as well .
There were moments when I thought my heart would stop,moments where it shattered and I thought it would never mend. There were also moments where I wanted to inflict hellish pain on those evil beings that abused their power and crushed tiny hearts ,souls and bodies . There is special place in hell for scum like them !
Pain was an amazing five star introduction to the work of Amanda Mackey . It was a beautiful journey of healing ,forgiveness,courage and new beginnings.
review by Heidi
Being an animal lover myself , especially cats this was a major draw card for me and I'm thrilled I got to read this !
Life as Lillian knows it is good but their biggest "rescue" is yet to come . Tom knows how broken Lillian was when she arrived and he could see the healing she has done. He had discussed it with her to run a program for troubled youth but gave up when he heard nothing from authorities. The sheriff caught wind of his proposal and approached him, Justice is to be their first guest ......
Justice and Lillian are both power houses on their own and strong stubborn personalities but both of them bare scars and wounds from life , some deeper than others . They've found their match in each other. The moment they meet each other sparks fly and their chemistry is alive and so is the battle of wills.....
It's this battle of wills that brings on the healing . Make no mistake it's not an easy journey but it's beautiful.Justice and Lillian not only saved each other physically but emotionally as well .
There were moments when I thought my heart would stop,moments where it shattered and I thought it would never mend. There were also moments where I wanted to inflict hellish pain on those evil beings that abused their power and crushed tiny hearts ,souls and bodies . There is special place in hell for scum like them !
Pain was an amazing five star introduction to the work of Amanda Mackey . It was a beautiful journey of healing ,forgiveness,courage and new beginnings.
review by Heidi
January 11, 2016
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
I am still trying to get over how amazing this book was! Pain by Amanda Mackey is a deeply powerful story about a young man who is failed by all those who was supposed to care for him and his journey to experiencing and believing that not only can he be loved but he can return love.
From the very beginning of the book we get to see what life has been like for young Justice Armstrong. Entrusted in the care of a man who he calls "The Evil," you can feel his fear and hatred for them man who pushes him to steal on his behalf.
10 years later and Justice is being released into the care of the owners of The Santuary. With the birth of one of the tiger's pressing into the mind of Lil's father, she is asked to show Justice around. Immediately, they get off on the wrong foot, but Lil can't deny that her body seems to want Justice.
Justice doesn't trust easy. He's learned that he can only depend on himself, but something about Lil makes him feel safe. Though they both try to fight the attraction they feel for each other, they can't and once they've had a taste of what being with each other is like, they are drawn closer.
I absolutely loved this couple. They balanced each other out perfectly. The pain and abuse, Justice endured was very hard to read but the message of this book is truly powerful.
I am still trying to get over how amazing this book was! Pain by Amanda Mackey is a deeply powerful story about a young man who is failed by all those who was supposed to care for him and his journey to experiencing and believing that not only can he be loved but he can return love.
From the very beginning of the book we get to see what life has been like for young Justice Armstrong. Entrusted in the care of a man who he calls "The Evil," you can feel his fear and hatred for them man who pushes him to steal on his behalf.
10 years later and Justice is being released into the care of the owners of The Santuary. With the birth of one of the tiger's pressing into the mind of Lil's father, she is asked to show Justice around. Immediately, they get off on the wrong foot, but Lil can't deny that her body seems to want Justice.
Justice doesn't trust easy. He's learned that he can only depend on himself, but something about Lil makes him feel safe. Though they both try to fight the attraction they feel for each other, they can't and once they've had a taste of what being with each other is like, they are drawn closer.
I absolutely loved this couple. They balanced each other out perfectly. The pain and abuse, Justice endured was very hard to read but the message of this book is truly powerful.
January 5, 2016
**I received an ARC for an honest review.**
This book is filled with a painful and emotional tale of very damaged young man. It's a bit of a slow read and takes place over the course of a short period of time. The first half of the book basically covers days one and two of Justice Armstrong's arrival at The Sanctuary.
I loved all the animals and the way that Lil was with them. I liked that she seemed to be an animal whispere but that she was also what Justice ultimately needed. Well, everyone at The Santuary was what he needed in order to start healing.
I just didn't fully connect with this storyline or its characters. The steamy sexy parts were steamy and sexy, but the other aspects of a building relationship just weren't there for me. I also felt like there wasn't enough time spent on how things would be resolved in the storyline and there was too much time spent on the insignificant details. I would have loved more of Justice and Lil in a different light other than verbal lashings and hot and heavy make out sessions. I would have liked to see more of the softer sides of Justice that we barely get glimpses of throughout the book.
Overall it was a great story and premise but I just didn't fully connect.
This book is filled with a painful and emotional tale of very damaged young man. It's a bit of a slow read and takes place over the course of a short period of time. The first half of the book basically covers days one and two of Justice Armstrong's arrival at The Sanctuary.
I loved all the animals and the way that Lil was with them. I liked that she seemed to be an animal whispere but that she was also what Justice ultimately needed. Well, everyone at The Santuary was what he needed in order to start healing.
I just didn't fully connect with this storyline or its characters. The steamy sexy parts were steamy and sexy, but the other aspects of a building relationship just weren't there for me. I also felt like there wasn't enough time spent on how things would be resolved in the storyline and there was too much time spent on the insignificant details. I would have loved more of Justice and Lil in a different light other than verbal lashings and hot and heavy make out sessions. I would have liked to see more of the softer sides of Justice that we barely get glimpses of throughout the book.
Overall it was a great story and premise but I just didn't fully connect.
January 7, 2016
I received this book in return for my honest opinion.
We start off meeting Lillian(Lily) Harris who runs a animal sanctuary with her dad and two volunteers. This is perfect for Lily as she prefers the company and interaction with animals rather to humans.
Lily's life is thrown on a 360 degree turn when her dad announces that he's spoken to the local sheriff and is taking on a offender as part of the criminals rehabilitation programme.
Step forward Justice Armstrong. Justice is not happy at having to spend his rehabilitation programme working on a farm. Justice has a extra large chip on his shoulder and has made his mind up if he's going to be miserable everyone else around him will be too.
Justice was thrown into a life of crime at a young age.
As soon as he steps onto the sanctuary and meets Lili he gets the shock of his life when as she doesn't care about what he's done or isn't afraid to stand up to him.
I won't give to much away but I will say that this book is a beautiful heart warming story that may make you shed a tear or two.
We start off meeting Lillian(Lily) Harris who runs a animal sanctuary with her dad and two volunteers. This is perfect for Lily as she prefers the company and interaction with animals rather to humans.
Lily's life is thrown on a 360 degree turn when her dad announces that he's spoken to the local sheriff and is taking on a offender as part of the criminals rehabilitation programme.
Step forward Justice Armstrong. Justice is not happy at having to spend his rehabilitation programme working on a farm. Justice has a extra large chip on his shoulder and has made his mind up if he's going to be miserable everyone else around him will be too.
Justice was thrown into a life of crime at a young age.
As soon as he steps onto the sanctuary and meets Lili he gets the shock of his life when as she doesn't care about what he's done or isn't afraid to stand up to him.
I won't give to much away but I will say that this book is a beautiful heart warming story that may make you shed a tear or two.
January 8, 2016
This book certainly contains it's fair share of suffering and angst. Lil and Justice find a magnetic attraction to each other when they are thrown together. Lil has issues from not fully grieving the loss of a relative. Justice has been so badly abused as a child that he has no real idea of what a loving, caring relationship is. They struggle to find a way to be together under the watchful eyes of the animals in the sanctuary. Lil knows the calming effect spending time with the animals can give you, she just has to hope that Justice will find that peace within himself helped by Lil, the, animals and her Dad, Tom, who runs the animal sanctuary. This story is about surviving dreadful loss, awful abuse, learning to trust and finding love. i really enjoyed this book. it is well written and fast paced. The characters are engaging and like able, even bad boy Justice. I really liked the scenes where there was interaction with the animals. I received an ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review. Would recommend.
~Helen, Words Turn Me On Reviewer
~Helen, Words Turn Me On Reviewer
February 5, 2017
Id say 3 1/2 stars. It has a good original story line. My first book by this author. I have to say I liked it better from Justices POV better. good read. I will check our other books by her
May 19, 2016
Heart breaking and amazing!
I was hesitant at first about this book but by chapter 3 I was hooked. I cried and laughed all the way through this book. It was an amazing read.
I was hesitant at first about this book but by chapter 3 I was hooked. I cried and laughed all the way through this book. It was an amazing read.
August 31, 2018
Disturbing, raw, emotional, heartbreaking. Just a few of the many words to describe this story of a young survivor of despicable abuse. As a child, Justice survived atrocities at the hands of a single foster “father”. I use the term loosely because the man was evil incarnate. I know this is fiction BUT it will be a long while before I’ll forget this story. The good side is that he was paroled into a family with an abused animal sanctuary where he not only found love but real family.
Hard to put down and I highly recommend this book.
Hard to put down and I highly recommend this book.
in-collection-already
July 18, 202007/17/20 currently free in Bad Boy: Romance Collection
https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Boy-Collec...
https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Boy-Collec...
May 10, 2022
This book was a bit emotionally draining, but I loved the transformation that Justice made. It was refreshing that Lil and Justice did not immediately jump to being in love and the building of their relationship felt real. That being said, it does still need a bit of editing to get rid of the few Australian references that are not used in the US.
June 2, 2020
FANTASTIC
What a fabulously told store! I loved the characters and could feel the torture Justice went through.. One of my favorites parts was when Justice went to the elephants for comfort.
What a fabulously told store! I loved the characters and could feel the torture Justice went through.. One of my favorites parts was when Justice went to the elephants for comfort.
August 22, 2023
A much heavy book with a lot of triggers. Really beautiful and i loved the connection and therapy with the animals. I would have liked to see justice's therapy and road to recovery... it was pretty short on that but either way i enjoyed it.
books-boxed-sets
February 13, 2021In boxed set - "Bad Boy: Romance Collection"
July 2, 2023
Heavy. Raw.
January 6, 2016
Forced to work out his probation time on a wildlife sanctuary has Justice rubbed up the wrong way and he is absolutely certain that he will not be alone in his misery, heck if he has to suffer then his ego and attitude is sure that everyone within his immediate vicinity is also on his perceived road to purgatory with him.
But despite the jail time, Justice doesn’t seem to understand that this is the opportunity that he needs, with the people that he needs to be with in order to finally find the man that he is meant to be.
His past is one that includes everything that a childhood shouldn’t but his actions are letting that time define him, can he shake it off once and for all and allow what and who he truly is the opportunity to shine?
Lillian has everything that Justice has never had, and she can top it off with the fact that she has a father that sees her as the centre of his universe. Looking after the animals at the Zoo is what makes them both happy but Lillian also has a pain that she keeps hidden, she wears her pain well and in a way she takes comfort in the fact that what everyone sees on the outside has them all fooled.
When they meet Lillian is smitten with the handsome help that has arrived but she isn’t naïve she knows he has problems and when his temper rears its ugly head, she is loathed to understand why he is so angry, why he is determined to be miserable and Oh yes, that he is a pain in the butt.
So can these two young people show each other what it is like to really live, to let go of the secrets and lies, to cut the past out and finally move on? And more to the point is it something that they might be able to do together?
This is beautifully written book, one that I found completely engaging and was totally smitten by. Lillian and Justice were fabulous together but I appreciated the fact that the author didn’t make their journey completely predictable, they had to work to have what they had and that made the end result all the more realistic.
It is not without cause for tears and I’ll give you the heads up, keep the tissues handy, I was caught unawares initially and was a blubbering mess when things went belly up for Justice, his plight broke my heart.
But despite the jail time, Justice doesn’t seem to understand that this is the opportunity that he needs, with the people that he needs to be with in order to finally find the man that he is meant to be.
His past is one that includes everything that a childhood shouldn’t but his actions are letting that time define him, can he shake it off once and for all and allow what and who he truly is the opportunity to shine?
Lillian has everything that Justice has never had, and she can top it off with the fact that she has a father that sees her as the centre of his universe. Looking after the animals at the Zoo is what makes them both happy but Lillian also has a pain that she keeps hidden, she wears her pain well and in a way she takes comfort in the fact that what everyone sees on the outside has them all fooled.
When they meet Lillian is smitten with the handsome help that has arrived but she isn’t naïve she knows he has problems and when his temper rears its ugly head, she is loathed to understand why he is so angry, why he is determined to be miserable and Oh yes, that he is a pain in the butt.
So can these two young people show each other what it is like to really live, to let go of the secrets and lies, to cut the past out and finally move on? And more to the point is it something that they might be able to do together?
This is beautifully written book, one that I found completely engaging and was totally smitten by. Lillian and Justice were fabulous together but I appreciated the fact that the author didn’t make their journey completely predictable, they had to work to have what they had and that made the end result all the more realistic.
It is not without cause for tears and I’ll give you the heads up, keep the tissues handy, I was caught unawares initially and was a blubbering mess when things went belly up for Justice, his plight broke my heart.
March 12, 2016
I was given an ARC by United Indie Book Blog in exchange for an honest review.
Lillian and her dad Tom with the help of Nate and Daniel run "The Sanctuary" a haven for abused Tigers ,Lions and Elephants. Being an animal lover myself , especially cats this was a major draw card for me and I'm thrilled I got to read this !
Life as Lillian knows it is good but their biggest "rescue" is yet to come . Tom knows how broken Lillian was when she arrived and he could see the healing she has done. He had discussed it with her to run a program for troubled youth but gave up when he heard nothing from authorities. The sheriff caught wind of his proposal and approached him, Justice is to be their first guest ......
Justice and Lillian are both power houses on their own and strong stubborn personalities but both of them bare scars and wounds from life , some deeper than others . They've found their match in each other. The moment they meet each other sparks fly and their chemistry is alive and so is the battle of wills.....
It's this battle of wills that brings on the healing . Make no mistake it's not an easy journey but it's beautiful.Justice and Lillian not only saved each other physically but emotionally as well .
There were moments when I thought my heart would stop,moments where it shattered and I thought it would never mend. There were also moments where I wanted to inflict hellish pain on those evil beings that abused their power and crushed tiny hearts ,souls and bodies . There is special place in hell for scum like them !
Pain was an amazing five star introduction to the work of Amanda Mackey . It was a beautiful journey of healing ,forgiveness,courage and new beginnings.
Lillian and her dad Tom with the help of Nate and Daniel run "The Sanctuary" a haven for abused Tigers ,Lions and Elephants. Being an animal lover myself , especially cats this was a major draw card for me and I'm thrilled I got to read this !
Life as Lillian knows it is good but their biggest "rescue" is yet to come . Tom knows how broken Lillian was when she arrived and he could see the healing she has done. He had discussed it with her to run a program for troubled youth but gave up when he heard nothing from authorities. The sheriff caught wind of his proposal and approached him, Justice is to be their first guest ......
Justice and Lillian are both power houses on their own and strong stubborn personalities but both of them bare scars and wounds from life , some deeper than others . They've found their match in each other. The moment they meet each other sparks fly and their chemistry is alive and so is the battle of wills.....
It's this battle of wills that brings on the healing . Make no mistake it's not an easy journey but it's beautiful.Justice and Lillian not only saved each other physically but emotionally as well .
There were moments when I thought my heart would stop,moments where it shattered and I thought it would never mend. There were also moments where I wanted to inflict hellish pain on those evil beings that abused their power and crushed tiny hearts ,souls and bodies . There is special place in hell for scum like them !
Pain was an amazing five star introduction to the work of Amanda Mackey . It was a beautiful journey of healing ,forgiveness,courage and new beginnings.
January 6, 2016
4.5 / 5 stars
Justice's beginning saddened me to no end, and the turmoil he goes through and fights to keep down was a key driver in this book, no doubt. The only aspect of Justice's life that I wish we could have seen more of would be the years between the prologue and his ending up at The Sanctuary. As it was, he was a broken individual, and perhaps it's dark of me to want it, but I would have liked to see him go from the timid abused boy to the dark, hell-on-his-back teen (this is not to say we don't get the pieces of his past... I suppose it would have hit more for me, personally, had I read his story in chronological order).
Then there's Lillian. The Sanctuary is more than her home -- it's her passion, her life, her desires. Everything about these animals draws her to them and it's because of just that, that I felt her friendship turned more with Justice felt real. Granted, him showing up certainly put a wrench in her plans, but if there's one thing that Lillian proves right away, it's that she does as she's told and she accepts the wounded -- because with her age, she could have easily told her dad 'no'. That's not to say she rolls over for Justice though -- she certainly stands her ground and shows him what a fiery person she could be.
So, what could have made this book a 5-star? I felt that the growth between Lillian and Justice, once it reached acceptance, was fairly stagnant. I wanted a little more growth before Justice does selfish acts, only thinking about Lillian's reaction well after. I'm also selfish and would like to know how the rest of Justice's stay goes, and if he and Lillian stay together -- because I'm a HEA-freak like that.
*received a copy of the title in exchange for an honest review.
Justice's beginning saddened me to no end, and the turmoil he goes through and fights to keep down was a key driver in this book, no doubt. The only aspect of Justice's life that I wish we could have seen more of would be the years between the prologue and his ending up at The Sanctuary. As it was, he was a broken individual, and perhaps it's dark of me to want it, but I would have liked to see him go from the timid abused boy to the dark, hell-on-his-back teen (this is not to say we don't get the pieces of his past... I suppose it would have hit more for me, personally, had I read his story in chronological order).
Then there's Lillian. The Sanctuary is more than her home -- it's her passion, her life, her desires. Everything about these animals draws her to them and it's because of just that, that I felt her friendship turned more with Justice felt real. Granted, him showing up certainly put a wrench in her plans, but if there's one thing that Lillian proves right away, it's that she does as she's told and she accepts the wounded -- because with her age, she could have easily told her dad 'no'. That's not to say she rolls over for Justice though -- she certainly stands her ground and shows him what a fiery person she could be.
So, what could have made this book a 5-star? I felt that the growth between Lillian and Justice, once it reached acceptance, was fairly stagnant. I wanted a little more growth before Justice does selfish acts, only thinking about Lillian's reaction well after. I'm also selfish and would like to know how the rest of Justice's stay goes, and if he and Lillian stay together -- because I'm a HEA-freak like that.
*received a copy of the title in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2016
KIM'S REVIEW
4 STARS
There's this 9 year old boy who's being exposed to the worse kind of abuse. It's at the hands of someone he should've been able to trust. Shame what the world puts on small shoulders.
Lillian is happy living in her world of big fuzzy critters and a Father who dotes on her. She's also happy keeping her hurt buried deep inside where she doesn't really have to deal with it. And everyone who knows her thinks she's fine.
Justice is from L.A. he's also got a chip on his shoulder that's bigger than a mountain. He thinks he's been trouble almost from day one of his life. Stealing, drugs, women, you name it and he's dealt with it in some form.
Getting out of prison isn't anything new for him. He's done the jail thing a time or three too. What is new is having to spend probation time at a wild life rescue sanctuary.
He's gonna hate it and if he's going to be miserable...so is everyone around him.
The first time Lil sees Justice she thinks he's beautiful and broken and she sees his rage. What she finds the second he opens his mouth is that he's cocky and arrogant and an ass too.
She thinks he should be grateful for the chance he's being given.
Justice just sees the sanctuary as a fancier kind of jail.
What neither one realizes is that being together will wake something that's sleeping inside their spirits and together they make each other better.
Only thing is...can they help each other heal or would it be better if one of them walks away?
This book is so open and so honest in the writing that I couldn't help but love every word. Except when things went really sideways for Justice, then my heart just broke.
Read this book...it's amazing.
4 STARS
There's this 9 year old boy who's being exposed to the worse kind of abuse. It's at the hands of someone he should've been able to trust. Shame what the world puts on small shoulders.
Lillian is happy living in her world of big fuzzy critters and a Father who dotes on her. She's also happy keeping her hurt buried deep inside where she doesn't really have to deal with it. And everyone who knows her thinks she's fine.
Justice is from L.A. he's also got a chip on his shoulder that's bigger than a mountain. He thinks he's been trouble almost from day one of his life. Stealing, drugs, women, you name it and he's dealt with it in some form.
Getting out of prison isn't anything new for him. He's done the jail thing a time or three too. What is new is having to spend probation time at a wild life rescue sanctuary.
He's gonna hate it and if he's going to be miserable...so is everyone around him.
The first time Lil sees Justice she thinks he's beautiful and broken and she sees his rage. What she finds the second he opens his mouth is that he's cocky and arrogant and an ass too.
She thinks he should be grateful for the chance he's being given.
Justice just sees the sanctuary as a fancier kind of jail.
What neither one realizes is that being together will wake something that's sleeping inside their spirits and together they make each other better.
Only thing is...can they help each other heal or would it be better if one of them walks away?
This book is so open and so honest in the writing that I couldn't help but love every word. Except when things went really sideways for Justice, then my heart just broke.
Read this book...it's amazing.
August 31, 2016
The Plot
Lillian Harris works at The Sanctuary- an oasis for rescued lions, tigers, and elephants. She is utterly happy in her world, until she is told that 19 year old fresh out of prison and being sent there as part of a rehabilitation program. Justice Armstrong is dark and arrogant. He enjoys pain. And when Lillian challenges him everyday due to her fiery temper, he finds himself wanting to do wicked things to her. Meanwhile Lillian finds herself falling for Justice and letting him turn her world upside down.
The Review
SO umm Yumm! This book brings serious heat! Definitely not a book for faint of heart as it does contain language and scenes that are very crude. That being said I loved this book! The writing is done well and nothing is overly done or becomes too much with the scenes in the book. The scenes were just enough and fit perfect. The analogies used in this book and relations between the animals and their relationship fit perfect as well. My only complaint is I wish they were slightly older than 19 as it felt more adultish than teenager ish, however it did not affect the story in the slightest. This was a great stand alone book and read quick! Thank you Amanda for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review.
Lillian Harris works at The Sanctuary- an oasis for rescued lions, tigers, and elephants. She is utterly happy in her world, until she is told that 19 year old fresh out of prison and being sent there as part of a rehabilitation program. Justice Armstrong is dark and arrogant. He enjoys pain. And when Lillian challenges him everyday due to her fiery temper, he finds himself wanting to do wicked things to her. Meanwhile Lillian finds herself falling for Justice and letting him turn her world upside down.
The Review
SO umm Yumm! This book brings serious heat! Definitely not a book for faint of heart as it does contain language and scenes that are very crude. That being said I loved this book! The writing is done well and nothing is overly done or becomes too much with the scenes in the book. The scenes were just enough and fit perfect. The analogies used in this book and relations between the animals and their relationship fit perfect as well. My only complaint is I wish they were slightly older than 19 as it felt more adultish than teenager ish, however it did not affect the story in the slightest. This was a great stand alone book and read quick! Thank you Amanda for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review.
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August 31, 2019
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January 4, 2016
Four Great Stars! Lillian and her father run the Sanctuary which is a home for animals. Justice is sent to the Sanctuary because he's had problems with the law. Lillian and Justin come to realize that being together will awaken their spirits and make each other a better person. This is an emotional and heartwarming story. I loved the storyline as well as the characters. This book is a stand-alone novel.
I received this book as an ARC for an honest review. This book was read and reviewed by Annamaria for Alpha Book Club.
I received this book as an ARC for an honest review. This book was read and reviewed by Annamaria for Alpha Book Club.
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