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Unveiling #2
Unveiling Chaos
Unveiling Chaos is a STANDALONE romance. You don't have to read any other books in the series to enjoy it :)
It was just sex…
Naomi’s life had been steady, in order, planned out… just the way she liked it. But when her boyfriend of five years leaves her for another woman and her mother makes a surprise reappearance in her life, she watches her controlled life fall into chaos. Then she meets, and has a one night stand with, Damien. The last thing on her mind is getting a new boyfriend, yet she can’t deny the attraction she feels, so when he offers no strings sex, it seems like the perfection solution. But the more she gets to know Damien, the more she learns all they have in common, and the line between casual and something more starts to blur. For all her planning, she realizes… you can’t plan love.
It was never just sex…
Damien’s life is busy and hardly ever in order. Between working two jobs, taking care of his sister, and saving up for his own tattoo studio, there are always surprises. When he meets Naomi, the last thing on his mind is getting a girlfriend, but he can’t deny the connection he feels. It’s clear she’s not ready for a relationship, though that won’t stop him from pursuing one… even if he has to lie to her about his intentions. But when one of the things that brought them together, slowly tears her apart, Damien has to make her see… the beauty in chaos.
It was just sex…
Naomi’s life had been steady, in order, planned out… just the way she liked it. But when her boyfriend of five years leaves her for another woman and her mother makes a surprise reappearance in her life, she watches her controlled life fall into chaos. Then she meets, and has a one night stand with, Damien. The last thing on her mind is getting a new boyfriend, yet she can’t deny the attraction she feels, so when he offers no strings sex, it seems like the perfection solution. But the more she gets to know Damien, the more she learns all they have in common, and the line between casual and something more starts to blur. For all her planning, she realizes… you can’t plan love.
It was never just sex…
Damien’s life is busy and hardly ever in order. Between working two jobs, taking care of his sister, and saving up for his own tattoo studio, there are always surprises. When he meets Naomi, the last thing on his mind is getting a girlfriend, but he can’t deny the connection he feels. It’s clear she’s not ready for a relationship, though that won’t stop him from pursuing one… even if he has to lie to her about his intentions. But when one of the things that brought them together, slowly tears her apart, Damien has to make her see… the beauty in chaos.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 11, 2016
12 people are currently reading
501 people want to read
About the author
Jeannine Allison
13 books540 followersJeannine Allison is an author of contemporary and New Adult romance. After waffling between many degrees in college, she finally graduated with a BA in English Literature from Arizona State University.
She loves writing and reading -- obviously :) -- but when she's not she enjoys playing with her two dogs, obsessing over new makeup, drinking coffee, googling new tattoos, and pretty much anything else that allows her to wear yoga pants and a sweatshirt ;)
She is a big fan of being exactly who you are. Her favorite stories to write are about characters finding and loving who they are.
She loves writing and reading -- obviously :) -- but when she's not she enjoys playing with her two dogs, obsessing over new makeup, drinking coffee, googling new tattoos, and pretty much anything else that allows her to wear yoga pants and a sweatshirt ;)
She is a big fan of being exactly who you are. Her favorite stories to write are about characters finding and loving who they are.
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May 6, 2019
November 26, 2016
3.5 stars!
Review at Of Pens and Pages
Unveiling Chaos is the second standalone in the Unveiling series told in alternating POVs. You don't have to necessarily read the first to read this book, but it would be nice to read the first book since most of the characters were introduced there. There is a subplot involving alcoholism and substance abuse.
Naomi's friends are worried about her when her boyfriend of five years breaks up with her and she doesn't end up a crying mess because of it. She misses him sometimes, but she's not that hang up over it. She tells her friends she's okay, and in a sense, she really is.
So when she asks her best friend to go with her to get a tattoo, her best friend takes it as a sign of showing weakness after a break-up. There, she mets the rugged tattoo artist, Damien, who although was incredibly good-looking, was also incredibly rude to her. They both feel an instant connection to one another, and soon it leads to a one-night stand they'll never forget.
After getting out of a long-term relationship, Naomi thinks she doesn't need to go into another one; she only wants to get laid. Damien is done with casual relationships and would only enter one if it's serious. Their FWB relationship turns into so much more, and as they get to know each other, they also face their demons––their parents, pasts, and future.
First of all, I would just like to say that the covers in the Unveiling Series look gorgeous! Especially this one!
Most people know I'm more of a slow-burn relationship fan, so I wasn't too into Damien and Naomi's relationship, which was pretty instant. Yes, they started out as friends with benefits, but they seemed to fall in love with each other pretty instantly, too; Damien especially. He said the quote below right after sleeping with her for the first time.
While I wasn't the biggest fan of Damien and Naomi's relationship, I loved the whole dynamic between siblings and friends. Damien was more of a father-figure to his sister, Eleanor, but the care and affection is mutual. Naomi's friendship with her friends was touching since they always look out for each other.
It had its sweet moments, but Unveiling Chaos is not a light read. It deals with addiction and its effects on the addict and the people surrounding him/her. My heart broke for Naomi, and I definitely understood her reluctance to renew a relationship with her now sober mother. I also felt for Damien and Eleanor as they deal with life without the help and support of their parents.
If you're a fan of FWB stories with alpha heroes and sassy heroines, you might enjoy this book and series.
*Complimentary copy given in exchange for an honest review.
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Review at Of Pens and Pages
Unveiling Chaos is the second standalone in the Unveiling series told in alternating POVs. You don't have to necessarily read the first to read this book, but it would be nice to read the first book since most of the characters were introduced there. There is a subplot involving alcoholism and substance abuse.
Naomi's friends are worried about her when her boyfriend of five years breaks up with her and she doesn't end up a crying mess because of it. She misses him sometimes, but she's not that hang up over it. She tells her friends she's okay, and in a sense, she really is.
So when she asks her best friend to go with her to get a tattoo, her best friend takes it as a sign of showing weakness after a break-up. There, she mets the rugged tattoo artist, Damien, who although was incredibly good-looking, was also incredibly rude to her. They both feel an instant connection to one another, and soon it leads to a one-night stand they'll never forget.
After getting out of a long-term relationship, Naomi thinks she doesn't need to go into another one; she only wants to get laid. Damien is done with casual relationships and would only enter one if it's serious. Their FWB relationship turns into so much more, and as they get to know each other, they also face their demons––their parents, pasts, and future.
First of all, I would just like to say that the covers in the Unveiling Series look gorgeous! Especially this one!
Most people know I'm more of a slow-burn relationship fan, so I wasn't too into Damien and Naomi's relationship, which was pretty instant. Yes, they started out as friends with benefits, but they seemed to fall in love with each other pretty instantly, too; Damien especially. He said the quote below right after sleeping with her for the first time.
Of the handful of girls I'd been with, no one had been special, no one had stood out; and yet after only three encounters with Naomi, I felt done for. She was smart, funny, and gorgeous, and I couldn't imagine how much faster I'd fall after a couple of dates."
While I wasn't the biggest fan of Damien and Naomi's relationship, I loved the whole dynamic between siblings and friends. Damien was more of a father-figure to his sister, Eleanor, but the care and affection is mutual. Naomi's friendship with her friends was touching since they always look out for each other.
It had its sweet moments, but Unveiling Chaos is not a light read. It deals with addiction and its effects on the addict and the people surrounding him/her. My heart broke for Naomi, and I definitely understood her reluctance to renew a relationship with her now sober mother. I also felt for Damien and Eleanor as they deal with life without the help and support of their parents.
If you're a fan of FWB stories with alpha heroes and sassy heroines, you might enjoy this book and series.
*Complimentary copy given in exchange for an honest review.
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October 14, 2016
★★★★4 Stars★★★★
I love a good f/b storyline and this one delivered it perfectly!! Naomi and Damien's story had all the makings of a relationship that not only started off as a one time thing, but grew into something they both never expected.
"I fell.
I soared.
It was chaos.
It was perfect".
Coming off of a terrible break up where her boyfriend of five years cheated on her, has left Naomi in a not so good mood. In a effort to brighten her spirit, she decides to get a piercing along with her best friend at a tattoo parlor. Little does she know her world is about to change in the form of a tatted up, bearded grumpy guy who thinks he knows what she's all about.
Damien hasn't had the best of luck in a long time. Sure, he works hard making sure his younger sister and himself has a roof over their head and food in their refrigerator, but the real struggle has been keeping his sister sober. Having that as another job and dealing with idiotic college students has left him in a crappy mood when Naomi wallks in his shop. Thinking he knows what she came in for, he gets a big surprise when the sassy brunnette gives him a piece of her mind causing him to become VERY intrigued.
What starts off as a one night stand, quickly turns into a screw buddy relationship that has Naomi and Damien never gettinhg enough of each other. But along with that comes emotions and we all know what emotions are. FEELINGS. And what happens when you fall for your screw buddy? You get Complications.
I really enjoyed the relationships between Naomi and her friends, along with Damien and his sister. Everyone was really close and you felt their connection knowing they would do anything for each other and I loved seeing that. As for Damien and Naomi? They're chemistry was HAWT and even though they both had their own personal problems, when it came to being with each other, nothing else existed for them.
If you're in the mood for a swoony hero with a strong heroine by his side, then this one is for you.
I love a good f/b storyline and this one delivered it perfectly!! Naomi and Damien's story had all the makings of a relationship that not only started off as a one time thing, but grew into something they both never expected.
"I fell.
I soared.
It was chaos.
It was perfect".
Coming off of a terrible break up where her boyfriend of five years cheated on her, has left Naomi in a not so good mood. In a effort to brighten her spirit, she decides to get a piercing along with her best friend at a tattoo parlor. Little does she know her world is about to change in the form of a tatted up, bearded grumpy guy who thinks he knows what she's all about.
Damien hasn't had the best of luck in a long time. Sure, he works hard making sure his younger sister and himself has a roof over their head and food in their refrigerator, but the real struggle has been keeping his sister sober. Having that as another job and dealing with idiotic college students has left him in a crappy mood when Naomi wallks in his shop. Thinking he knows what she came in for, he gets a big surprise when the sassy brunnette gives him a piece of her mind causing him to become VERY intrigued.
What starts off as a one night stand, quickly turns into a screw buddy relationship that has Naomi and Damien never gettinhg enough of each other. But along with that comes emotions and we all know what emotions are. FEELINGS. And what happens when you fall for your screw buddy? You get Complications.
I really enjoyed the relationships between Naomi and her friends, along with Damien and his sister. Everyone was really close and you felt their connection knowing they would do anything for each other and I loved seeing that. As for Damien and Naomi? They're chemistry was HAWT and even though they both had their own personal problems, when it came to being with each other, nothing else existed for them.
If you're in the mood for a swoony hero with a strong heroine by his side, then this one is for you.
October 19, 2016
Title: Unveiling Chaos
Series: Unveiling #2
Author: Jeannine Allison
Release date: October 11, 2016
Cliffhanger: No
HEA
As a book blogger I love to explore and support new authors, it's something I get excited about. So when I was offered the chance to review Unveiling Chaos, I was more than open to giving this story a chance.
Before I begin, I'm just going to come right out and admit something: I am not a reader who enjoys fuck buddy/friends with benefits plots. They're a red flag for me, and when I see that, I immediately lose interest. I know a lot of people go for it, and more power to you. But just seeing that label being used is a turn off. However, I was putting my opinion aside on this and going into this book with a completely open mind. Because sometimes, you have to take risks. There are always exceptions to every rule. Sadly, in this case, there just wasn't much here that worked for me.
Normally with an arc, I wouldn't bother to mention issues like these, because this is an unfinished version I'm reading. But there were an overwhelming amount of distractions and they really detracted from my ability to read through the pages smoothly. Problems such as:
Repetition
The usage of the same words or phrases becomes tiresome while reading. For example, the words "once more" were used so much, sometimes multiple times on one page. I'm sorry, but it's just really frustrating. I did a word search and this was used sixty three times in the book. I've read books with a higher count than that, but it was enough to really bother me. Another example:
Ignoring both men, I dug my nails into his arm as I gripped his bicep and dragged him away. He winced before reluctantly following me. Once we reached the corner, I reluctantly let go and stretched out my fingers.
Over-explaining things
Examples:
Alara crossed her arms, trying to look intimidating.
He shook his head like he was disappointed in me.
Readers are able to read body language just as much on a page as they are in person. We need to be given a little credit for our powers of deduction.
Being completely honest, there were moments where certain paragraphs didn't make an ounce of sense to me. Such as this:
Naomi lifted the glass of water to her mouth and took a generous sip before speaking. “But…”
I zoned out the second the glass touched her full, red lips. They wrapped around the rim and when she tipped her head back, I watched as a drop of sweat rolled down her throat and chest until it disappeared between her cleavage. I licked my lips, wishing I was licking something else, and clenched my fists to keep myself still. Her laughter was loud and animated, just like her bold and boisterous personality, and when some of the water bubbled out of her mouth, I stared, entranced, as her tongue peeked out to catch the bits of liquid.
There is no concise timeline with what's happening. She takes a sip of water, she says "But...". Everything else following is a mystery to me. Is she now drinking again? Or is she talking while he's staring at her in lust? She suddenly laughs at this point and I was thoroughly lost.
Moving on...
All these reasons listed above caused some really slow reading. It took me two days to get to the 36% mark. But I pushed through, wanting to get to the "meat" of the story.
I think when it comes down to it, the main reason why this plot didn't work for me stemmed from the hero. Let me give you a little background into how these two "connected." Naomi meets Damien at the tattoo shop where he works. They have a train wreck type of bad first impression, and she is thoroughly disgusted by him. Second meeting: she's drunk at the bar where he works (his second job) and spends the whole time insulting him. Afterwards, she decides that even though she can't stand the sight of him, she's going to make him her fuck buddy. Because he's hot and she's horny.
This is where I immediately disconnected. Damien is lusting after her, fine. He likes her spirit and her lack of fear in standing up to him. But...for some odd reason he seems to have developing feelings for her and I'm not understanding where that is coming from. Their first time having sex is at the 20% mark, and she immediately gets up and leaves without a word. These are his thoughts:
“Of the handful of girls I’d been with, no one had been special, no one had stood out; and yet after only three encounters with Naomi, I felt done for. She was smart, funny, and gorgeous, and I couldn’t imagine how much faster I’d fall after a couple of dates.”
How is it he felt done for? They haven't had one conversation that involved anything of consequence. They've never been on a date, she simply used him for a physical release. Scratching my head...
37% (They are well into their fuck buddy arrangement, she has kept him at arms length the entire time.)
Suddenly, I was blindsided by how hard I was falling for this girl. This was just the beginning and yet it felt like we were somewhere in the middle too. I was feeling things too soon and wanting things too fast.
This thought comes immediately after she calls him a controlling asshole. Even though he just came to her house to take care of her while she was sick. Which, by the way, he happens to find her comment cute. Her lack of respect toward him was a pretty consistent thing throughout the book, but it seemed as if she could do no wrong in his eyes.
His feelings towards her are insta-love at worst and rushed at best.
As for the heroine, I can't say that I hated her, but she wasn't the tough, ballsy girl that she projected herself to be. And her hypocrisy annoyed me, I'm not going to lie. At one point, she gets hurt and offended when he throws her own words back in her face about being “one step away from a whore” It wounded her that he was seemingly accepting the emotionless sex she wanted. Doesn’t really make sense when all along she told him that he was her booty call and he meant nothing to her. How on earth can she hold that against him? I could overlook that alone, because, come on. People are human and our emotions are not ruled by facts. We can’t help feeling how we feel. However…her immediate reaction after this fact is to jump on him and demand one last bang? If a man hurt me badly, the last thing I would be doing is throwing myself on him. My boot would be up his ass kicking him out the door. So. That whole situation made no sense to me.
Damien's sister had an addiction to alcohol and I genuinely feel as if her struggle to overcome it was not given the proper development and attention to detail that it deserved.
The hero has two jobs, so you would naturally assume that he's spending a lot of time working, right? As well, Naomi is supposedly in her last semester of her undergraduate degree, and selling knitted items on etsy in order to support herself. The only time you actually see her knit is to teach his sister how to make a scarf. And school? I didn't see much evidence of that fact either. She studied once. It was mentioned in passing that she had a hectic week at school. It felt more as if we were being told these facts about the two of them instead of shown.
It's not my goal to write a nasty review, but there is no tiptoeing around the fact that there were multiple reasons why this book didn't work for me. Sharing my honest response will hopefully be helpful rather than hurtful. On the positive side, (for those interested in "safety") this book is 100% safe with a celibate hero and a heroine who abhors cheating, so I think many will find this to be a wonderful read. Unfortunately, in my case, it wasn't to be.
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July 27, 2017
4 Stars
Overall Opinion: I always tend to enjoy the f-buddies to more type stories, and this didn't disappoint! Unlike a lot of those type stories, it actually had some depth and feelings! It was light hearted at times, and I got that giddy love feeling about these 2 mcs -- but it also covered some heavy themes, such as loving people that are struggling with addiction. I think it was a great balance between the two tbh, and I enjoyed it! My only criticism would be that there was some parts that felt a little tedious when the h was going through her internal struggles about her mom.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Naomi and Damien's story. They meet one night when Naomi goes to tattoo parlor to get a piercing after breaking up with her long-term boyfriend. The sparks fly, but the encounter isn't the best. They bump into one another again, and they have a ONS. But after deciding that one night isn't enough, they decide to start a friends-with-benefits type relationship. Both of them have some heavy things going on in their lives. They grow closer, have some sexy times, fall in love, and help each other through their tough times...and get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between Naomi and Damien's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed, and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, but they did have an instant connection.
H rating: 4.5 stars. Damien. He was pretty awesome! He was sweet, loyal, dominant (not bdsm here), and hot! My only issue (and it was small) was his reluctance to give his sister a break at times, but I understood that it had to be difficult for him....so I forgive him :)
h rating: 4 stars. Naomi. I liked her sass, her loyalty, and her ability to brighten others up. She struggles a lot at one point and reacts poorly, but I cannot say that I wouldn't act the same way if I went through the same thing...so, again, I forgive her ;)
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I teared up a few times, but I never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Moderate. They have some hot chemistry and scenes, but not so much it takes away from the storyline.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Safe sex: Yes. Condoms, birth control, and STD status are all discussed. Neither had gone without condoms before.
OW/OM drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No. They are away from each other for days, but I wouldn't call it a separation.
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had good closure with a cute epilogue and a HFN ending. I only call it HFN because I am extremely picky with what I call a HEA, so others might be fine with calling this one a HEA even though I didn't .
How I got it: **This was gifted to me by the author in exchange for an honest review**
Safety: I'd say that this should be Safe for most of the safety gals.
Overall Opinion: I always tend to enjoy the f-buddies to more type stories, and this didn't disappoint! Unlike a lot of those type stories, it actually had some depth and feelings! It was light hearted at times, and I got that giddy love feeling about these 2 mcs -- but it also covered some heavy themes, such as loving people that are struggling with addiction. I think it was a great balance between the two tbh, and I enjoyed it! My only criticism would be that there was some parts that felt a little tedious when the h was going through her internal struggles about her mom.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Naomi and Damien's story. They meet one night when Naomi goes to tattoo parlor to get a piercing after breaking up with her long-term boyfriend. The sparks fly, but the encounter isn't the best. They bump into one another again, and they have a ONS. But after deciding that one night isn't enough, they decide to start a friends-with-benefits type relationship. Both of them have some heavy things going on in their lives. They grow closer, have some sexy times, fall in love, and help each other through their tough times...and get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between Naomi and Damien's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed, and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, but they did have an instant connection.
H rating: 4.5 stars. Damien. He was pretty awesome! He was sweet, loyal, dominant (not bdsm here), and hot! My only issue (and it was small) was his reluctance to give his sister a break at times, but I understood that it had to be difficult for him....so I forgive him :)
h rating: 4 stars. Naomi. I liked her sass, her loyalty, and her ability to brighten others up. She struggles a lot at one point and reacts poorly, but I cannot say that I wouldn't act the same way if I went through the same thing...so, again, I forgive her ;)
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I teared up a few times, but I never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Moderate. They have some hot chemistry and scenes, but not so much it takes away from the storyline.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Safe sex: Yes. Condoms, birth control, and STD status are all discussed. Neither had gone without condoms before.
OW/OM drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No. They are away from each other for days, but I wouldn't call it a separation.
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had good closure with a cute epilogue and a HFN ending. I only call it HFN because I am extremely picky with what I call a HEA, so others might be fine with calling this one a HEA even though I didn't .
How I got it: **This was gifted to me by the author in exchange for an honest review**
Safety: I'd say that this should be Safe for most of the safety gals.
January 25, 2018
Jeannine Allison was a new to me author at the beginning of 2017 and I’m so happy that I’ve found her. Her writing is superb and her novels give me so many feelings. The covers are so beautiful. I loved every book I’ve read by her and I can’t wait to read more books by her in 2018.
Unveiling Chaos is Naomi and Damien’s love story. I wondered how this book would start, because Naomi was in a solid relationship in the previous book (Unveiling the Sky). Naomi has broken up with that boyfriend and she’s done with men for the moment. She won’t do commitment anymore. When Naomi meets Damien, she’s definitely attracted to him and that feeling is mutual. Damien doesn’t hide what he’s feeling. Naomi suggest ‘friends’ with benefits. Damien wants more, but he agrees with the hope that Naomi will want more one day (hopefully soon).
I loved Naomi and Damien! Naomi is caring, feisty, outgoing and determined. Damien is patient, caring, hardworking and determined. Naomi and Damien both don’t have an easy home situation, but they are so strong. They have more in common than they realize. They spend every minute they can together. They always have a great time together. They get to know each other and that made them slowly fall in love with each other. It was beautiful to read.
I love all the secondary characters! They are supportive and loving. I love the friendship between everybody. It’s real and tight. We meet a new character and I’m so happy that she has gotten her own story because I needed it.
Unveiling Chaos is Naomi and Damien’s love story. I wondered how this book would start, because Naomi was in a solid relationship in the previous book (Unveiling the Sky). Naomi has broken up with that boyfriend and she’s done with men for the moment. She won’t do commitment anymore. When Naomi meets Damien, she’s definitely attracted to him and that feeling is mutual. Damien doesn’t hide what he’s feeling. Naomi suggest ‘friends’ with benefits. Damien wants more, but he agrees with the hope that Naomi will want more one day (hopefully soon).
I loved Naomi and Damien! Naomi is caring, feisty, outgoing and determined. Damien is patient, caring, hardworking and determined. Naomi and Damien both don’t have an easy home situation, but they are so strong. They have more in common than they realize. They spend every minute they can together. They always have a great time together. They get to know each other and that made them slowly fall in love with each other. It was beautiful to read.
I love all the secondary characters! They are supportive and loving. I love the friendship between everybody. It’s real and tight. We meet a new character and I’m so happy that she has gotten her own story because I needed it.
January 22, 2018
I adore this group of friends that have formed their own little family. I would want to be a part of this group in a heartbeat. They are all so supportive of each other and so loyal, who wouldn’t want that?
This is Damien and Naomi’s story. I loved Naomi, who is Alara’s bff from book 1. But I was also worried that in her own book, she may be too sassy or too pushy with her h but that was not the case. Anyone would want this girl in their corner.
And Damien 😍😍😍 ‘nuff said lol. He’s perfection.
Onto the next book!!
This is Damien and Naomi’s story. I loved Naomi, who is Alara’s bff from book 1. But I was also worried that in her own book, she may be too sassy or too pushy with her h but that was not the case. Anyone would want this girl in their corner.
And Damien 😍😍😍 ‘nuff said lol. He’s perfection.
Onto the next book!!
December 2, 2017
Very well written! I really enjoyed it and I LOVED Damien!!! 😍
December 18, 2018
4.5 stars
I went through many emotions while reading this book.
At first I was happy – this book was my joker: I saved it for a “bad” day; and after having no luck with my reads lately, I finally started this baby :- )
At the beginning I was a bit disappointed – I imagined the heroine to be stronger and sassier and I definitely wished the hero would chase her and she would play it cool; then I applauded this girl for “leaving” the hero after their 1st sex encounter (I loved this scene), after I was half way in love with the hero and then I hated him for the totally unnecessary “anger” scene.
Later in the book I was angry with all side characters for blaming the heroine (issue with her mother) and I was really upset and even wanted to give up, because I was sure I knew the direction it went: strong girl would be ashamed, would lose her backbone, apologize to everyone and la-la land happiness.
But I’m a stubborn b*tch and I have faith in Jeannine, because if not this author then I give up reading and start to knit!
So, I went on and let me tell you, dear Jeannine, you killed it, you totally won me with your solution of the story! AMAZING! STANDING OVATION! Perfect, absolutely perfect!
I loved how the hero stand by his girl, how strong he was and how strong the heroine was. I loved that she wasn’t put in “sorry-oh-sorry” situation, that she remained self-confident and didn’t wear the guilt on her shoulders. Girl, you rocked this story! Bravo!
The only thing I didn’t like and that didn’t fit in the story, of course IMO, the scene where the hero suddenly played dominant. Sorry, but it was kinda meh. I’m aware that I’m a minority here, but there is no begging in my understanding of hot sex. I loathe this word brought up during sex. And I couldn’t forgive him for his behaviour that night and it just didn’t fit to his character. But maybe it’s me case again.
Back to the positive stuff.
WONDERFUL HEROINE! LOVED HER!
Some heavy topics as addiction and family issues.
Brilliantly written and above all clever written.
The next one in this series is my next joker
Life was a handful of maybes, hoping they shook out in your favor.
I went through many emotions while reading this book.
At first I was happy – this book was my joker: I saved it for a “bad” day; and after having no luck with my reads lately, I finally started this baby :- )
At the beginning I was a bit disappointed – I imagined the heroine to be stronger and sassier and I definitely wished the hero would chase her and she would play it cool; then I applauded this girl for “leaving” the hero after their 1st sex encounter (I loved this scene), after I was half way in love with the hero and then I hated him for the totally unnecessary “anger” scene.
Later in the book I was angry with all side characters for blaming the heroine (issue with her mother) and I was really upset and even wanted to give up, because I was sure I knew the direction it went: strong girl would be ashamed, would lose her backbone, apologize to everyone and la-la land happiness.
But I’m a stubborn b*tch and I have faith in Jeannine, because if not this author then I give up reading and start to knit!
So, I went on and let me tell you, dear Jeannine, you killed it, you totally won me with your solution of the story! AMAZING! STANDING OVATION! Perfect, absolutely perfect!
I loved how the hero stand by his girl, how strong he was and how strong the heroine was. I loved that she wasn’t put in “sorry-oh-sorry” situation, that she remained self-confident and didn’t wear the guilt on her shoulders. Girl, you rocked this story! Bravo!
The only thing I didn’t like and that didn’t fit in the story, of course IMO, the scene where the hero suddenly played dominant. Sorry, but it was kinda meh. I’m aware that I’m a minority here, but there is no begging in my understanding of hot sex. I loathe this word brought up during sex. And I couldn’t forgive him for his behaviour that night and it just didn’t fit to his character. But maybe it’s me case again.
Back to the positive stuff.
WONDERFUL HEROINE! LOVED HER!
Some heavy topics as addiction and family issues.
Brilliantly written and above all clever written.
The next one in this series is my next joker
I had looked hot. And I had no qualms with saying that about myself. Girls were constantly told to have confidence, but the second they proclaimed themselves as good-looking they were persecuted for being conceited. So where did that leave them? What exactly were they supposed to do?
Tell everybody to fuck off, that was what.
There are all these rules and ideologies that are apparently right but, in the end, I think it has to boil down to doing what I want.
Because I will never please everybody.
October 20, 2016
This is the second book in the UNVEILING series. Naomi is Alara’s best friend and we know Alara from book 1.
Naomi seems to be this very strong and controlled girl but all her strength and confidence are in fact her control mechanism, a kind of self-protection because she is scared of being left, hurt or broken and feeling weak and needy.
When her long time boyfriend cheats on her, she feels lost. She doesn’t miss him, in fact. She misses being with someone, feeling safe with a reliable person. Caleb seemed to be the constant in her life but they were never madly in love. They seemed to be having great sex but sharing nothing else. Caleb and Naomi were once good friends but for a long period of time, their relationship had been falling apart but she was denying it as Caleb meant "convenience" to her. Finally, it ended with Caleb cheating on her and then, leaving her.
At that moment, she decides she is done with relationships but she also misses sex. That is why, when she meets the arrogant but very hot tattoo artist with blond hair, beard and blue eyes, she is instantly attracted to him. He doesn't treat her well at first but he clearly finds her hot, too.
I am no fan of insta-lust. I like some pull-push. I like to see the man chasing the girl. But here, everything begins all of a sudden when Naomi decides to use Damien for sex and asks him this question: “Wanna fuck?”
That is something I do not fancy. I didn’t like Naomi’s character much although I understood what made her so control freak, such as her past, her mother’s drug addiction and negligence, etc...
Damien also has a sister who is fighting with her addiction. She is also pregnant. He doesn’t have much time for a relationship but he cannot refuse a girl like Naomi.
“When a smart, gorgeous, feisty girl entered your life, you didn’t ask questions, you didn’t second-guess, you took her. And I was taking her.”
"You think you can handle me?”
“I can handle anything, sweetheart, the question is… can you?”
I must say that these scenes were very well written and were very hot.
So, as I said, their relationship is instant and based on sex. But, soon, they start to develop feelings for each other. It is a bit too soon for Damien whereas it happens more gradually for Naomi. Damien is the one who is sure that this is more than sex but they've hardly had any conversation when he realizes he is falling for her so I took it as a result of great sex, ... maybe? Or, I personally needed more conversation before they realized they fell for each other.
Naomi, being scared of having a boyfriend now, tries to push him back and refuses to regard their relationship as “dating”. She keeps saying they are fuck-buddies but in the end, she surrenders to her feelings as well.
And that was when I realized that strong things had a breaking point, too.
Strong girls got hurt, too.
They cried.
They yelled.
They broke.
***
Once again,
And all at once,
I fell.
I soared.
It was chaos.
It was perfect.
Meanwhile, a lot of things were happening. A lot of side stories involving Naomi’s mother, Damien’s sister and other friends... Actually, after a certain point of time, these side events distracted me but they somehow contributed to their story as well. This was not just a love story. Issues such as family bonds, broken relationships with families, unexpected pregnancy, being a single mum, the problem of drug addiction and alcoholism are all dealt with in this book. It feels something other than just romance as there is too much other stuff in it.
The book has a happy ending in all aspects. The ending was really sweet and heart-warming.
All in all, the book is well-written and I liked it. My -1 point is because I didn’t like Naomi’s character much and because I didn’t favor the way their relationship began, that's all.
Naomi seems to be this very strong and controlled girl but all her strength and confidence are in fact her control mechanism, a kind of self-protection because she is scared of being left, hurt or broken and feeling weak and needy.
When her long time boyfriend cheats on her, she feels lost. She doesn’t miss him, in fact. She misses being with someone, feeling safe with a reliable person. Caleb seemed to be the constant in her life but they were never madly in love. They seemed to be having great sex but sharing nothing else. Caleb and Naomi were once good friends but for a long period of time, their relationship had been falling apart but she was denying it as Caleb meant "convenience" to her. Finally, it ended with Caleb cheating on her and then, leaving her.
At that moment, she decides she is done with relationships but she also misses sex. That is why, when she meets the arrogant but very hot tattoo artist with blond hair, beard and blue eyes, she is instantly attracted to him. He doesn't treat her well at first but he clearly finds her hot, too.
I am no fan of insta-lust. I like some pull-push. I like to see the man chasing the girl. But here, everything begins all of a sudden when Naomi decides to use Damien for sex and asks him this question: “Wanna fuck?”
That is something I do not fancy. I didn’t like Naomi’s character much although I understood what made her so control freak, such as her past, her mother’s drug addiction and negligence, etc...
Damien also has a sister who is fighting with her addiction. She is also pregnant. He doesn’t have much time for a relationship but he cannot refuse a girl like Naomi.
“When a smart, gorgeous, feisty girl entered your life, you didn’t ask questions, you didn’t second-guess, you took her. And I was taking her.”
"You think you can handle me?”
“I can handle anything, sweetheart, the question is… can you?”
I must say that these scenes were very well written and were very hot.
So, as I said, their relationship is instant and based on sex. But, soon, they start to develop feelings for each other. It is a bit too soon for Damien whereas it happens more gradually for Naomi. Damien is the one who is sure that this is more than sex but they've hardly had any conversation when he realizes he is falling for her so I took it as a result of great sex, ... maybe? Or, I personally needed more conversation before they realized they fell for each other.
Naomi, being scared of having a boyfriend now, tries to push him back and refuses to regard their relationship as “dating”. She keeps saying they are fuck-buddies but in the end, she surrenders to her feelings as well.
And that was when I realized that strong things had a breaking point, too.
Strong girls got hurt, too.
They cried.
They yelled.
They broke.
***
Once again,
And all at once,
I fell.
I soared.
It was chaos.
It was perfect.
Meanwhile, a lot of things were happening. A lot of side stories involving Naomi’s mother, Damien’s sister and other friends... Actually, after a certain point of time, these side events distracted me but they somehow contributed to their story as well. This was not just a love story. Issues such as family bonds, broken relationships with families, unexpected pregnancy, being a single mum, the problem of drug addiction and alcoholism are all dealt with in this book. It feels something other than just romance as there is too much other stuff in it.
The book has a happy ending in all aspects. The ending was really sweet and heart-warming.
All in all, the book is well-written and I liked it. My -1 point is because I didn’t like Naomi’s character much and because I didn’t favor the way their relationship began, that's all.
June 19, 2017
This group of people have definitely wormed themselves into my heart. It started with Unveiling The Sky and now with this book there's no going back.
Naomi has always been a woman who wants to have fun, who's opinionated and very much in control of herself and most importantly her emotions. Damien is a good and caring guy who takes care of his pregnant little sister. What both Naomi and Damien have in common is a troubled childhood with absent parents and people who battle with addiction.
When they first got together it was all about mindless sex with no strings. For Naomi it was but Damien was a relationship kind of guy and his patience with her was astounding. The growth from casual to a serious relationship was well paced and developed. Their chemistry was sizzling hot and the bedroom action off the charts. They both had a lot of baggage from their past but especially Naomi was struggling but Damien and her friends were a fantastic support system. He didn't scare easily but stayed and proved he wasn't going to leave her. Like other people had done earlier.
I love how caring and kind this gang is. They embraced Damien sister Ellie as if she was an old friend of theirs. They are all about family, love and support. Jeannine Allison has written another strong and emotional story, that features topics that everyone can relate to but handles it with such care. I know there are more to come from this amazing group of people and I can't wait.
4 BadAssDirtySweetheartStars
Naomi has always been a woman who wants to have fun, who's opinionated and very much in control of herself and most importantly her emotions. Damien is a good and caring guy who takes care of his pregnant little sister. What both Naomi and Damien have in common is a troubled childhood with absent parents and people who battle with addiction.
When they first got together it was all about mindless sex with no strings. For Naomi it was but Damien was a relationship kind of guy and his patience with her was astounding. The growth from casual to a serious relationship was well paced and developed. Their chemistry was sizzling hot and the bedroom action off the charts. They both had a lot of baggage from their past but especially Naomi was struggling but Damien and her friends were a fantastic support system. He didn't scare easily but stayed and proved he wasn't going to leave her. Like other people had done earlier.
I love how caring and kind this gang is. They embraced Damien sister Ellie as if she was an old friend of theirs. They are all about family, love and support. Jeannine Allison has written another strong and emotional story, that features topics that everyone can relate to but handles it with such care. I know there are more to come from this amazing group of people and I can't wait.
4 BadAssDirtySweetheartStars
October 15, 2016
While I liked the first book in this series (also a standalone) I REALLY enjoyed this one. Jeannine Allison portrays real people in real situations that are rife with emotion and depth of character but somehow manages to keep the angst-factor very low. The situations are heavy, dealing with alcoholism, drug addiction, depression, but handled with a deft--not heavy--touch. The realism portrayed in the pages is something I appreciate a lot.
For instance, at around the 60% mark the main couple have a discussion/mild argument. It's not resolved immediately but doesn't blow up into something forced. Both characters maturely agree to disagree (for now) and move on. It was a tiny moment but to me, lack of unnecessary angst was a nice touch and added to the sense of these characters being real, full people.
I love both characters. Naomi is feisty and smart, not a pushover. She holds her own against Damien who is tough-but-sweetness underneath. I liked the character of Ellie too--Damien's ne'er do well sister who's been a heavy drinker since she was fifteen. The subplot of Ellie's situation was one of the strongest parts of this novel for me, and I think she's due to get her own book. Yay!
I love her. It came at me swift, and had I not been sitting down, it surely would have knocked me on my ass. Nothing else could explain this extreme sense of rightness, of fullness.
Lots of quotable moments, lots of insightful observations about addiction and the pain of loving someone through it, and the second chance we all have living within us (for the addicted AND those who suffer from the outside) should we only choose to dig deep and grab for it.
This author seems to get stronger with every novel she writes and I'm looking forward to the next in this series.
For instance, at around the 60% mark the main couple have a discussion/mild argument. It's not resolved immediately but doesn't blow up into something forced. Both characters maturely agree to disagree (for now) and move on. It was a tiny moment but to me, lack of unnecessary angst was a nice touch and added to the sense of these characters being real, full people.
I love both characters. Naomi is feisty and smart, not a pushover. She holds her own against Damien who is tough-but-sweetness underneath. I liked the character of Ellie too--Damien's ne'er do well sister who's been a heavy drinker since she was fifteen. The subplot of Ellie's situation was one of the strongest parts of this novel for me, and I think she's due to get her own book. Yay!
I love her. It came at me swift, and had I not been sitting down, it surely would have knocked me on my ass. Nothing else could explain this extreme sense of rightness, of fullness.
Lots of quotable moments, lots of insightful observations about addiction and the pain of loving someone through it, and the second chance we all have living within us (for the addicted AND those who suffer from the outside) should we only choose to dig deep and grab for it.
This author seems to get stronger with every novel she writes and I'm looking forward to the next in this series.
October 24, 2016
++3.5++
January 7, 2019
🌟🌟🌟
Plot: Naomi approached Damien for a ONS which turned into a friends with benefits situation. She avoided the thought of another committed relationship and he’s never been in one, but desperately wanted one with her from the start. His plan was to gently ease her into the idea of a relationship with her.
There was really no plot and it was a little boring.
Hero: Damien is a gruff, tattoo artists, dedicated to providing for his sister. He’s only had a handful of ONS in his life and no relationships. He meets Naomi and is smitten with her snarky, bold attitude. He was loyal and kind. A totally nice guy.
Heroine: Naomi just got out of a five year committed relationship with a childhood friend. He cheated on her and she’s trying to regain trust in the male population. She’s not jaded, however. She’s not a simpering wall flower. Far from it.
Opinion: I liked Naomi’s attitude. She kept going when others might wallow in their pain. She wasn’t opposed to finding something new, just thought it might be too soon after her breakup.
Safety/Experience level: Naomi had only been with her five year boyfriend and no others. Damien had a handful of ONS and no relationships. He had been celibate for the past two years. They used condoms until they’d been with each other for over a month and after a discussion went without. She was on the pill. Neither one had ever gone without condom. He said he’s been tested after his last ONS.
Ending: HEA. Living together and thinking about having a baby.
Plot: Naomi approached Damien for a ONS which turned into a friends with benefits situation. She avoided the thought of another committed relationship and he’s never been in one, but desperately wanted one with her from the start. His plan was to gently ease her into the idea of a relationship with her.
There was really no plot and it was a little boring.
Hero: Damien is a gruff, tattoo artists, dedicated to providing for his sister. He’s only had a handful of ONS in his life and no relationships. He meets Naomi and is smitten with her snarky, bold attitude. He was loyal and kind. A totally nice guy.
Heroine: Naomi just got out of a five year committed relationship with a childhood friend. He cheated on her and she’s trying to regain trust in the male population. She’s not jaded, however. She’s not a simpering wall flower. Far from it.
Opinion: I liked Naomi’s attitude. She kept going when others might wallow in their pain. She wasn’t opposed to finding something new, just thought it might be too soon after her breakup.
Safety/Experience level: Naomi had only been with her five year boyfriend and no others. Damien had a handful of ONS and no relationships. He had been celibate for the past two years. They used condoms until they’d been with each other for over a month and after a discussion went without. She was on the pill. Neither one had ever gone without condom. He said he’s been tested after his last ONS.
Ending: HEA. Living together and thinking about having a baby.
October 24, 2016
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Don't wear makeup when you read Unveiling Chaos and definitely don't read it around people, because they'll look at you like you're crazy when you start sniffling and crying.
Unveiling Chaos is the second novel in the Unveiling series, but can be read as a standalone. It is a honest and realistic look at the life of a group of friends, particularly that of Naomi and her friends with benefits relationship she starts with Damien. The POV alternated between Naomi and Damien, allowing us to revisit Naomi and her life she shares with friends we met previously in Unveiling the Sky and her growth as she comes to accept her emotions for Damien as he shows her a different outlook on life. Naomi is the polar opposite of her best friend Alara, she holds her emotions in, she has control of every aspect of life, and moving on from her ex and into a FWB situation is easy. Until that control starts to crumble as everything she's pushed aside starts to eat at her.
"I can give you time." I paused as her eyes flashed with temporary relief. "But I won't give you much."
Jeannine Allison's writing brings this story to life, the emotions flowing from the pages and into your heart. I felt the heartbreak, the hope, the lust, and the love just as Damien and Naomi did. What I love most though is that it wasn't a light, fluffy romance, it's got far more to the story than just the romance between the main characters. With topics related to addiction, motherhood, money, and friendship, Unveiling Chaos really reads true to how real life works. I loved every character; Naomi has a bit of a frozen heart, Damien is an alpha that's more sweetheart than controlling, and the secondary characters only make the story more well rounded. The characters lean on one another and push the others to be better, they aren't just flat characters put there to move along the two main character's story. Plus, there's the dialogue. Every character has a moment that they share with Naomi or Damien, or both, that really brings to perspective the events they are dealing with. I highlighted a lot, loved the entire story, cried a bit, and really felt for the characters from start to finish.
"You feel, Naomi, and then you hold onto that for as long as you can."
If you're looking for a romance that's realistic and got just the right amount of angst, plus incredibly well-developed characters, Unveiling Chaos by Jeannine Allison is definitely one I suggest. The story was engaging and the topic of love and acceptance that is weaved through out the story was profound.
Once again, And all at once, I fell. I soared. It was chaos. It was perfect.
Don't wear makeup when you read Unveiling Chaos and definitely don't read it around people, because they'll look at you like you're crazy when you start sniffling and crying.
Unveiling Chaos is the second novel in the Unveiling series, but can be read as a standalone. It is a honest and realistic look at the life of a group of friends, particularly that of Naomi and her friends with benefits relationship she starts with Damien. The POV alternated between Naomi and Damien, allowing us to revisit Naomi and her life she shares with friends we met previously in Unveiling the Sky and her growth as she comes to accept her emotions for Damien as he shows her a different outlook on life. Naomi is the polar opposite of her best friend Alara, she holds her emotions in, she has control of every aspect of life, and moving on from her ex and into a FWB situation is easy. Until that control starts to crumble as everything she's pushed aside starts to eat at her.
"I can give you time." I paused as her eyes flashed with temporary relief. "But I won't give you much."
Jeannine Allison's writing brings this story to life, the emotions flowing from the pages and into your heart. I felt the heartbreak, the hope, the lust, and the love just as Damien and Naomi did. What I love most though is that it wasn't a light, fluffy romance, it's got far more to the story than just the romance between the main characters. With topics related to addiction, motherhood, money, and friendship, Unveiling Chaos really reads true to how real life works. I loved every character; Naomi has a bit of a frozen heart, Damien is an alpha that's more sweetheart than controlling, and the secondary characters only make the story more well rounded. The characters lean on one another and push the others to be better, they aren't just flat characters put there to move along the two main character's story. Plus, there's the dialogue. Every character has a moment that they share with Naomi or Damien, or both, that really brings to perspective the events they are dealing with. I highlighted a lot, loved the entire story, cried a bit, and really felt for the characters from start to finish.
"You feel, Naomi, and then you hold onto that for as long as you can."
If you're looking for a romance that's realistic and got just the right amount of angst, plus incredibly well-developed characters, Unveiling Chaos by Jeannine Allison is definitely one I suggest. The story was engaging and the topic of love and acceptance that is weaved through out the story was profound.
Once again, And all at once, I fell. I soared. It was chaos. It was perfect.
April 10, 2017
*Thank you to the author for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!*
Actual Rating: 3.75
First of all, let me just say that the cover for this absolutely gorgeous, and both the title and the cover fit this story so well, and I am so in love with them!
Unveiling Chaos tells us Naomi's story as everything suddenly changes. Her boyfriend of five years leaves her, her mother reappears in her life, and Naomi starts to question her relationship with someone who she had meant to be nothing but a distraction, a one-night stand.
And yet, Naomi can't deny that she has a special connection with Damien, and Damien can't deny that he wants more. But can they both hold on when everything around them seems so insistent on tearing them apart?
Firstly, I will admit that I liked the first book better because of how it addressed the issue of depression. While this book did cover drug and alcohol addiction, which I very much commend the author for, I can't help but feel like sometimes it felt a little detached and took a backseat became a sort of plot device, whereas in Unveiling The Sky, depression seemed to integrate itself into the characters itself.
The writing style was beautiful, just like the first book. It was extremely engaging and beautiful, and the dialogue was very realistic.
The characters in this book were definitely very three-dimensional. I will admit that I was a little hesitant towards the way Naomi and Damien began their journey together, but as the story progressed, I really got to understand why they worked well together and why they would feel the way they did. Naomi, especially, I think, was a character that I grew to love with all my heart; I had liked her in the prequel, but this book really brought her out as her own person, and it was a beautiful experience to read about the way she developed and grew to love and forgive.
The plot for this was definitely well done, however. I felt as though it had just the right amount of chaos, where I could understand why Naomi or Damien were acting a certain way, but at the same time, the plot was extremely realistic, and I immensely enjoyed how the conflicts that Naomi felt really blurred the lines between right and wrong.
It's so important to understand that people are not their flaws; just like how Alara wasn't her depression, Naomi's mother and Ellie were not their addictions. This is so important, and I think the way this was addressed in the book was definitely something that made it a beautiful read.
Actual Rating: 3.75
First of all, let me just say that the cover for this absolutely gorgeous, and both the title and the cover fit this story so well, and I am so in love with them!
Unveiling Chaos tells us Naomi's story as everything suddenly changes. Her boyfriend of five years leaves her, her mother reappears in her life, and Naomi starts to question her relationship with someone who she had meant to be nothing but a distraction, a one-night stand.
And yet, Naomi can't deny that she has a special connection with Damien, and Damien can't deny that he wants more. But can they both hold on when everything around them seems so insistent on tearing them apart?
Firstly, I will admit that I liked the first book better because of how it addressed the issue of depression. While this book did cover drug and alcohol addiction, which I very much commend the author for, I can't help but feel like sometimes it felt a little detached and took a backseat became a sort of plot device, whereas in Unveiling The Sky, depression seemed to integrate itself into the characters itself.
The writing style was beautiful, just like the first book. It was extremely engaging and beautiful, and the dialogue was very realistic.
The characters in this book were definitely very three-dimensional. I will admit that I was a little hesitant towards the way Naomi and Damien began their journey together, but as the story progressed, I really got to understand why they worked well together and why they would feel the way they did. Naomi, especially, I think, was a character that I grew to love with all my heart; I had liked her in the prequel, but this book really brought her out as her own person, and it was a beautiful experience to read about the way she developed and grew to love and forgive.
The plot for this was definitely well done, however. I felt as though it had just the right amount of chaos, where I could understand why Naomi or Damien were acting a certain way, but at the same time, the plot was extremely realistic, and I immensely enjoyed how the conflicts that Naomi felt really blurred the lines between right and wrong.
It's so important to understand that people are not their flaws; just like how Alara wasn't her depression, Naomi's mother and Ellie were not their addictions. This is so important, and I think the way this was addressed in the book was definitely something that made it a beautiful read.
October 15, 2016
Title: Unveiling Chaos
Series: (Unveiling, #2)
Author: Jeannine Allison
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Erotic Romance
Rating: 5-Stars
Cliffhanger:
HEA:
Blog: HERE
(Unveiling, #2) Unveiling the Sky
(Unveiling, #2) Unveiling Chaos
Books can be read as Standalones.
full review to come
Hero: 5-Stars
Heroine: 5-Stars
Romance: 5-Stars
Sex: 5-Stars
Plot: 5-Stars
Dialogue: 5-Stars
Writing: 5-Stars
PS: I was given a complementary copy of this book. But I do solemnly swear that I am up to...good. *wink* This is a fair, honest review and/or rating(s) of this book, pinky promise.
January 10, 2018
You know when you find a new author and can't help but binge read their books. Well Jeannine Allison is that author for me. I only discovered her work late last year and have loved every book I have read.
I already loved Naomi from book 1 in this series. She's the kind of girl I could easily be friends with. Confident, sassy and loyal. Her tough exterior hides a vulnerability and gentleness that I loved getting to see.
Damien. Well Damien was my kind of book boyfriend. I loved his wit, his determination and his sense of family. His belief in and support of both his sister and Naomi puts him in my book boyfriend favourites. It also didn't hurt that he was seriously hot and covered in tattoos. Yum
Definitely recommend this book if you're looking for great character development, awesome dialogue and a story that feels like a genuine love story.
I already loved Naomi from book 1 in this series. She's the kind of girl I could easily be friends with. Confident, sassy and loyal. Her tough exterior hides a vulnerability and gentleness that I loved getting to see.
Damien. Well Damien was my kind of book boyfriend. I loved his wit, his determination and his sense of family. His belief in and support of both his sister and Naomi puts him in my book boyfriend favourites. It also didn't hurt that he was seriously hot and covered in tattoos. Yum
Definitely recommend this book if you're looking for great character development, awesome dialogue and a story that feels like a genuine love story.
January 23, 2018
One day...
A beautiful continuation of the Unveiling Series! I love Naomi and Damien's relationship. This book hit on everything. It broke my heart, made me laugh, and made me angry... But it was done in the best possible way. Excellent writing. Jeannine has yet again helped people to better understand a disease that a lot of us take for granted. I absolutely recommend this book!
A beautiful continuation of the Unveiling Series! I love Naomi and Damien's relationship. This book hit on everything. It broke my heart, made me laugh, and made me angry... But it was done in the best possible way. Excellent writing. Jeannine has yet again helped people to better understand a disease that a lot of us take for granted. I absolutely recommend this book!
December 1, 2017
What a beautiful chaos! Where i can find my Day???
Amazing book!
Amazing book!
June 30, 2018
This is book 2 in the Unveiling series, a series of interconnected standalones. However, I did read book 1 and although it isn't necessary, I think it's nice to have a little background on this cast of friends. If you read my review of book 1, you'll remember that I did a bit of Facebook stalking and asked if there was a Spotify playlist for the book playlist that was provided in the table of contents. There was not... so for my "complete immersion experience", voila, I give you...Unveiling Chaos - The Music
You may also remember from my first review that I applauded the author for her chutzpah on bringing real life onto the page... Well, she did it again. I don't know whether Ms. Allison was drawing on personal experience or not, but there was definite *real life* in this book. What could have been a heavy, dark and oppressive book, was not... it was quite captivating really, I had to keep turning the pages because I simply *had to* find out what was going to happen next. Sorry, no spoilers here...
Her words... not mine will convince you to pick this book up, I'm sure of it!
Because knowing something didn't guarantee anything. Knowing right from wrong, knowing strength from weakness, knowing anything from anything else didn't always matter. Sometimes, in the end, the only things we knew for certain were our fears. And they were always screaming the loudest.
...there's no blueprint on how to be happy. No clearcut path that will direct you through life, allowing you to detour past all the pain.
Maybe innocence had nothing to do with never seeing the bad, and everything to do with seeing the good in spite of the bad.
My opinions... I think book 2, I enjoyed even more than book 1. I think that Ms. Allison is growing as an author, or maybe I just enjoyed this storyline more, I don't know...Plot, character, steam, side characters, enough clues for future storylines... all there! And gah, the covers are just unbelievably gorgeous!!!! There were a couple little typos I noticed, but nothing that would detract from anyone's enjoyment of the book. I just felt the overall pacing and development was improved in this book. 4.25 'one-day' stars.
You may also remember from my first review that I applauded the author for her chutzpah on bringing real life onto the page... Well, she did it again. I don't know whether Ms. Allison was drawing on personal experience or not, but there was definite *real life* in this book. What could have been a heavy, dark and oppressive book, was not... it was quite captivating really, I had to keep turning the pages because I simply *had to* find out what was going to happen next. Sorry, no spoilers here...
Her words... not mine will convince you to pick this book up, I'm sure of it!
Because knowing something didn't guarantee anything. Knowing right from wrong, knowing strength from weakness, knowing anything from anything else didn't always matter. Sometimes, in the end, the only things we knew for certain were our fears. And they were always screaming the loudest.
...there's no blueprint on how to be happy. No clearcut path that will direct you through life, allowing you to detour past all the pain.
Maybe innocence had nothing to do with never seeing the bad, and everything to do with seeing the good in spite of the bad.
My opinions... I think book 2, I enjoyed even more than book 1. I think that Ms. Allison is growing as an author, or maybe I just enjoyed this storyline more, I don't know...Plot, character, steam, side characters, enough clues for future storylines... all there! And gah, the covers are just unbelievably gorgeous!!!! There were a couple little typos I noticed, but nothing that would detract from anyone's enjoyment of the book. I just felt the overall pacing and development was improved in this book. 4.25 'one-day' stars.
January 14, 2018
So, I must sound like a broken record by now, but I can't (and won't) stop raving about Jeannine Allison's writing, and the world she has created for these characters!
Although Unveiling Chaos is a standalone novel, the story begins shortly after Unveiling the Sky ended. Naomi is now single and ready to mingle. She finds herself sparring with a super hot tattoo artist/bouncer, and the chemistry between the two of them is off the charts insane right from the beginning.
Damien is immediately interested in Naomi and although he know she does not want a relationship at this time, he does. He hides this from her so as not to scare her off.
Slowly over time Naomi and Damien do find themselves in a relationship and the reader then has the opportunity to watch these two support each other during difficult times and ultimately fall in love. Will love be enough though, for Naomi and Damien to find their happily ever after?
This book also pushed the series forward, introducing the reader to Ellie, Grayson, as well as a potential Derek and Sam relationship.
I look forward to what's next for this group of friends!
Although Unveiling Chaos is a standalone novel, the story begins shortly after Unveiling the Sky ended. Naomi is now single and ready to mingle. She finds herself sparring with a super hot tattoo artist/bouncer, and the chemistry between the two of them is off the charts insane right from the beginning.
Damien is immediately interested in Naomi and although he know she does not want a relationship at this time, he does. He hides this from her so as not to scare her off.
Slowly over time Naomi and Damien do find themselves in a relationship and the reader then has the opportunity to watch these two support each other during difficult times and ultimately fall in love. Will love be enough though, for Naomi and Damien to find their happily ever after?
This book also pushed the series forward, introducing the reader to Ellie, Grayson, as well as a potential Derek and Sam relationship.
I look forward to what's next for this group of friends!
March 18, 2018
4.6 stars
This author keeps getting better and better. I devoured this story. Naomi is hands down one of my favorite characters. Her, strength, resilience, and lack of filter had me chuckling in one moment and my heart hurting in the next. Damien. What a wonderful man. His devotion to his sister was commendable and his love for Naomi was impressive. Together, they were hot as hell.
The author did an incredible job writing about addiction and the scars (literally and figuratively) that it leaves.
This author keeps getting better and better. I devoured this story. Naomi is hands down one of my favorite characters. Her, strength, resilience, and lack of filter had me chuckling in one moment and my heart hurting in the next. Damien. What a wonderful man. His devotion to his sister was commendable and his love for Naomi was impressive. Together, they were hot as hell.
The author did an incredible job writing about addiction and the scars (literally and figuratively) that it leaves.
September 17, 2019
3.5 stars
September 28, 2019
*
Read more of my reviews at Whoo Gives A Hoot
*
Unveiling Chaos is an addictively captivating tale that will have you wholeheartedly embracing every single bittersweet moment of chaos that Naomi and Damien will bring your way! You will certainly be left on the edge of your seat time and time again throughout every unexpected twist and turn you experience while devouring this beautiful story!
Naomi is learning how to rediscover herself after the end of a five year relationship that seemed to be over long before things became too complicated to deal with while Damien is just trying to live day by day while keeping his recovering alcoholic baby sister, Ellie, out of trouble. The LAST thing either one of them expected was to find their other half, but that is EXACTLY what happened the moment their eyes met that fateful day in the tattoo shop...even if neither one of them really wanted to admit it. Their chemistry ignited a spark deep in my chest right away and left it aching the entire time. I am BEYOND a doubt addicted to these two CHAOTIC souls and I couldn't think of a more perfect pair!
Jeannine Allison did not disappoint with the second book in her Unveiling series and I think I fell even more in love with her writing style. She is the kind of author who doesn't just tell a story, but rather embraces you whole body, heart, mind and soul. She makes you feel as if you experiencing every moment and emotion that her characters experience...leaving you completely breathless as you reach the end. Although you can technically read this book as a standalone, I strongly encourage you to start at the beginning with Unveiling the Sky because once you meet this amazing group of friends, you will want to be a part of their crew...forever!
Unveiling Chaos is an addictively captivating tale that will have you wholeheartedly embracing every single bittersweet moment of chaos that Naomi and Damien will bring your way! You will certainly be left on the edge of your seat time and time again throughout every unexpected twist and turn you experience while devouring this beautiful story!
Naomi is learning how to rediscover herself after the end of a five year relationship that seemed to be over long before things became too complicated to deal with while Damien is just trying to live day by day while keeping his recovering alcoholic baby sister, Ellie, out of trouble. The LAST thing either one of them expected was to find their other half, but that is EXACTLY what happened the moment their eyes met that fateful day in the tattoo shop...even if neither one of them really wanted to admit it. Their chemistry ignited a spark deep in my chest right away and left it aching the entire time. I am BEYOND a doubt addicted to these two CHAOTIC souls and I couldn't think of a more perfect pair!
Jeannine Allison did not disappoint with the second book in her Unveiling series and I think I fell even more in love with her writing style. She is the kind of author who doesn't just tell a story, but rather embraces you whole body, heart, mind and soul. She makes you feel as if you experiencing every moment and emotion that her characters experience...leaving you completely breathless as you reach the end. Although you can technically read this book as a standalone, I strongly encourage you to start at the beginning with Unveiling the Sky because once you meet this amazing group of friends, you will want to be a part of their crew...forever!
October 17, 2016
10/16/16
Such a great book from Ms. Allison! I have to give some thoughts to this one before I write my review, but I loved it! And, I loved Naomi and Damien along with all their awesome friends and family! I'm not one to go for blond guys, but Damien had me swooning the whole time...sigh!!! And, Naomi, you won't read about a stronger heroine than her! And, holy s**t the love scenes??? Off-the-charts HOT!!! Back with more...
And, that cover, just mesmerizing!!!
10/17/16
So now that I’ve let the dust settle on this one a little bit, I’ve got some things to say. Where to begin. Well, Naomi and Damien meet under normal circumstances, but she’s snotty and rude. He’s cocky and arrogant. And, laughs her off. That’s no matter, though, because they’ll probably never see each other again. Not so, however. Naomi wants to get her groove on. She hasn’t had sex since she broke up with her ex, which was not such a painless break. He hurt her in the most heartbreaking way. And, it might be awhile for her to get over it. Anyway, Naomi now is looking for some action. Some sexy intimate action. And, when she spots Damien working at a local club, she knows he’s the one. He’s the one that’s going to bring her out of that funk and satisfy her sexual need. And, it was beyond awesome! The outcome? They strike up a deal to be f**k buddies. Only sex. Nothing else. Naomi is in no way looking for another boyfriend. Through time, however, they decide to see each other more, and what has started out as a mere casual relationship, turns into genuine feelings of devotion emerging.
Both main characters, though, have so much more in common then they could possibly think. Their lives are peppered with chaos. Damien has been supporting his younger sister, who is dealing with some problematic issues at the moment while contending with no support from his parents whatsoever. Whereas Naomi delves in the past with a parent, who after the abandonment of her husband, turned to substance abuse to get her through each day. Both characters are pretty much on their own – him, working two jobs to support himself and his sister; and her, going to college and waiting to see if she gets accepted to law school. You have to feel for both of them. But, I will say that they’re both pretty strong and confident individuals. They’re very supportive of their friends and family. And, when things start to shift from more than just lovers, it’s the kind of love that’s everlasting. You can just feel it. Naomi, though, has one huge set-back in her life, and she is devastated by it. It’s at that time, that she’s reminded that she needs Damien more than ever, and he comes to the rescue like the knight-in-shining armor that he is. Ever the hero that Naomi so desperately needs.
Oh, man, this was not an easy one to read, but I couldn’t put it down. Read it well late into the night and getting up early to finish it off. I was so sorry to turn the last page. But, there’s one good thing, the author has another book hanging in the wings to be released early 2017. Ahhh, do I have to wait that long??? Damn!!! I can honestly way that I liked this book better than the first installment in the series. Naomi was just my kind of character. Feisty. Tough as nails. Always ready to put up a fight. And, just so fearless. While Damien just was a beautiful person. Sweet. Caring. Hard-working. And, HOT as hell!!! Loved this couple together, and the chemistry between them was powerful! A book not to be missed!!!
Such a great book from Ms. Allison! I have to give some thoughts to this one before I write my review, but I loved it! And, I loved Naomi and Damien along with all their awesome friends and family! I'm not one to go for blond guys, but Damien had me swooning the whole time...sigh!!! And, Naomi, you won't read about a stronger heroine than her! And, holy s**t the love scenes??? Off-the-charts HOT!!! Back with more...
And, that cover, just mesmerizing!!!
10/17/16
So now that I’ve let the dust settle on this one a little bit, I’ve got some things to say. Where to begin. Well, Naomi and Damien meet under normal circumstances, but she’s snotty and rude. He’s cocky and arrogant. And, laughs her off. That’s no matter, though, because they’ll probably never see each other again. Not so, however. Naomi wants to get her groove on. She hasn’t had sex since she broke up with her ex, which was not such a painless break. He hurt her in the most heartbreaking way. And, it might be awhile for her to get over it. Anyway, Naomi now is looking for some action. Some sexy intimate action. And, when she spots Damien working at a local club, she knows he’s the one. He’s the one that’s going to bring her out of that funk and satisfy her sexual need. And, it was beyond awesome! The outcome? They strike up a deal to be f**k buddies. Only sex. Nothing else. Naomi is in no way looking for another boyfriend. Through time, however, they decide to see each other more, and what has started out as a mere casual relationship, turns into genuine feelings of devotion emerging.
Both main characters, though, have so much more in common then they could possibly think. Their lives are peppered with chaos. Damien has been supporting his younger sister, who is dealing with some problematic issues at the moment while contending with no support from his parents whatsoever. Whereas Naomi delves in the past with a parent, who after the abandonment of her husband, turned to substance abuse to get her through each day. Both characters are pretty much on their own – him, working two jobs to support himself and his sister; and her, going to college and waiting to see if she gets accepted to law school. You have to feel for both of them. But, I will say that they’re both pretty strong and confident individuals. They’re very supportive of their friends and family. And, when things start to shift from more than just lovers, it’s the kind of love that’s everlasting. You can just feel it. Naomi, though, has one huge set-back in her life, and she is devastated by it. It’s at that time, that she’s reminded that she needs Damien more than ever, and he comes to the rescue like the knight-in-shining armor that he is. Ever the hero that Naomi so desperately needs.
Oh, man, this was not an easy one to read, but I couldn’t put it down. Read it well late into the night and getting up early to finish it off. I was so sorry to turn the last page. But, there’s one good thing, the author has another book hanging in the wings to be released early 2017. Ahhh, do I have to wait that long??? Damn!!! I can honestly way that I liked this book better than the first installment in the series. Naomi was just my kind of character. Feisty. Tough as nails. Always ready to put up a fight. And, just so fearless. While Damien just was a beautiful person. Sweet. Caring. Hard-working. And, HOT as hell!!! Loved this couple together, and the chemistry between them was powerful! A book not to be missed!!!
April 9, 2017
When the author has written a sentence, that consists of 3 words, that is so basic but elicits such a strong jerk of the heart string... you know you're in for a pretty special story.
I adored Naomi in the first book of this series, so was really excited to read her story. Where she came from, and where she was going. I love how she is so headstrong but vulnerable at once, and I love that Jeannine is able to portray that so well.
Damien gave me some serious heart flutters.... not going to lie. To have the idea of this big brute of a guy who is so loving, caring and nurturing; really makes the story that much deeper.
This book in the series deals with addiction. Personally, and thankfully, I've never had to truly deal with addiction. However, with Jeannine's writing, she makes it really relatable and easy to feel what these characters must be feeling. You desperately want to hug them and comfort them, while slapping them around to make them see sense.
This story also allows us to continue following the lives of the characters from "Unveiling the Sky". To be able to keep reading about Gabe and Alara, Derek, Sherry and Sam made my heart sing. I love a book series that seamlessly continues on with everyone's lives, so you feel like you never left.
As I am about to go into the third book of this series, all I can think is how much I want these characters to be my friends in real life! I can hardly wait to see what everyone is doing in the next book and continue the journey that is the "Unveiling" series.
Thank you Jeannine for another amazing story.
#jeannineallison #unveiling #unveilingchaos
I adored Naomi in the first book of this series, so was really excited to read her story. Where she came from, and where she was going. I love how she is so headstrong but vulnerable at once, and I love that Jeannine is able to portray that so well.
Damien gave me some serious heart flutters.... not going to lie. To have the idea of this big brute of a guy who is so loving, caring and nurturing; really makes the story that much deeper.
This book in the series deals with addiction. Personally, and thankfully, I've never had to truly deal with addiction. However, with Jeannine's writing, she makes it really relatable and easy to feel what these characters must be feeling. You desperately want to hug them and comfort them, while slapping them around to make them see sense.
This story also allows us to continue following the lives of the characters from "Unveiling the Sky". To be able to keep reading about Gabe and Alara, Derek, Sherry and Sam made my heart sing. I love a book series that seamlessly continues on with everyone's lives, so you feel like you never left.
As I am about to go into the third book of this series, all I can think is how much I want these characters to be my friends in real life! I can hardly wait to see what everyone is doing in the next book and continue the journey that is the "Unveiling" series.
Thank you Jeannine for another amazing story.
#jeannineallison #unveiling #unveilingchaos
March 23, 2018
" In all chaos there is a cosmos "
Unveiling Chaos is the second book in the "Unveiling Series" and I could not have loved it more! Let me first start by saying that I feel like I need a friend like Naomi in my life.. scratch that everyone needs a Naomi in their lives! She was witty, unapologetic and so beautifully fragile. Damian was so strong and so stubborn which was exactly what Naomi needed in a partner.
The thing I love most about Jeannine Allison is the beautiful way she writes about such hard topics in her books and in Unveiling Chaos that is addiction. This book focuses around Naomi and Damian's personal journey with loved ones that struggle with addition and while they both had very different approaches in how to handle it; they never judge each other but rather support each other through their individual journeys. Unveiling Chaos was the perfect blend of sexy & sweet, heartbreak & personal growth. I cannot get enough of this series and I'm so excited to see where Jeannine Allison takes us next 💋
Unveiling Chaos is the second book in the "Unveiling Series" and I could not have loved it more! Let me first start by saying that I feel like I need a friend like Naomi in my life.. scratch that everyone needs a Naomi in their lives! She was witty, unapologetic and so beautifully fragile. Damian was so strong and so stubborn which was exactly what Naomi needed in a partner.
The thing I love most about Jeannine Allison is the beautiful way she writes about such hard topics in her books and in Unveiling Chaos that is addiction. This book focuses around Naomi and Damian's personal journey with loved ones that struggle with addition and while they both had very different approaches in how to handle it; they never judge each other but rather support each other through their individual journeys. Unveiling Chaos was the perfect blend of sexy & sweet, heartbreak & personal growth. I cannot get enough of this series and I'm so excited to see where Jeannine Allison takes us next 💋
January 12, 2018
Naomi is a very strong woman on the outside but definitely in the inside she’s drowning. At a bar she meets Damien at first he’s a cocky but they both decide to just have some “fun” for awhile but what happens when feelings come out to play and we find out the real reason why Naomi is the way she is. I loved this book! Damien I fell hard for his character and all the love he has for his sister and everyone around him made me swoon! Then Naomi I understood her troubles and pain and it made me want to be her friend and love her character even more! Definitely a must read these are standalone books but each one is truly AMAZING! 5/5 stars I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Copy of this book ***
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