I never meant to end up as a tabloid headline. However, the higher a star rises, the harder they fall, and life in the fast lane has brought me face to face with my biggest regret.
I walked away from a sweet boy and came home to a sinful man. We're toxic together but too addicted to stop.
Cary hates himself for wanting me. I hate him for wanting me too. I warned him I'd ruin him once. It's not my fault if he ignores me twice.
Cary
Shiloh warned me that she'd ruin me. For once, she was telling the truth. I sacrificed my future for her and then spent seven years hating her for it.
Now a scandalous fall from grace has landed her at my feet and under my control. It's finally time to unleash the payback I've always craved.
Unfortunately, revenge doesn't taste as sweet as the woman I vowed to destroy. Change of plans. I don't just want her pain. I want her everything.
Cora Kenborn is a USA Today Bestselling and Top 50 Amazon Bestselling author whose readers have affectionately dubbed her the “queen of plot twists that’ll ruin your day in the best way.”
Best known for her dark mafia romances, Cora has an insatiable bad boy obsession, which she believes started in the third grade when she chose Bruce over Todd in the Sweet Valley High books. To this day, give her an unhinged antihero who falls hard for a feisty heroine, and you’ve won her heart.
As a native North Carolinian, Cora claims the domestic Southern Belle gene skipped right over her. Her villain origin story was the day she tried making her mother’s famous biscuits and gravy, only to turn them into paste-covered dough bricks. That’s when she decided fiction was better than reality, and microwaved mac and cheese counted as fine dining.
NOTE: This coming year I have set a challenge for myself of reading one book a week that takes me out of my comfort zone. A book that may include one (or more) tropes (scenarios) that I avoid like the plague. Cheating. Older women/younger man. OW drama. Just to name a few. Nothing is off limits. I am taking a HUGE step out of the box I usually live in and charting a course into the unknown (HaHa). My reviews for these books will differ slightly from my usual as I will focus more on whether the author wowed me despite it having content I avoid. That said, I will go into each book with an open mind and an open heart and who knows, maybe I will discover a new favorite author on the way!
~THIS BOOK INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING TROPES (SCENARIOS) I USUALLY AVOID~ (don't click if you don't want the book spoiled!!)
~WRITING - PLOT - PACE~ I found this one to be very well written. The pace was perfect. The plot was engaging and kept me turning the pages. We flip flop back and forth from past to present which I am not usually a fan of, but it worked quite well in this case.
~HERO~ Honestly? I can’t say I found the hero very likable for most of this one. He was a total asshole. He was bitter. He was angry. He treated Shiloh like dirt. I get what she did was awful. I do, but how am I suppose to believe that someone with that much hate and anger can set that aside to forgive and have an HEA? It’s a shame this tatted up, and pierced hottie was wasted on such an asshole character. That said, the last 30ish% he got better for me and I started to warm up to him, but the author never got me to a place where I cared whether he got a happy ever after or not.
~HEROINE~ This book started out with one of the least likable heroines I have ever read. I was girding my loins expecting to spend the book hating on her. Of course, that was pretty much the point. However, the author made the hero such an incredible douchebag that I quickly warmed up to the heroine, even though the things she had done in the past (to Cary) and in the present were pretty damn bad. Nevertheless, the author did a good job making her a sympathetic character, and I honestly felt she learned from her mistakes. She grew up and became a better person while the hero for me stayed stuck in his hate and anger far too long for me to buy into his sudden change of heart.
~SIDE CHARACTERS~ I HATED Taryn with the passion of a thousand white-hot suns. I hated the power Cary let her have over him. That said, I LOVED Frankie, and the guys and Shiloh’s Mom cracked me up at times. I also think we have seen some of these characters in BLURRED RED LINES a book that I LOVED by this author. I am not 100% sure (I need to do some digging) but Carrick and the gym seemed familar to me.
~HEAT LEVEL~ This was light on the spice. The sex scenes were hot, but there wasn’t a ton of them, and they were slow in coming. The slow buildup fit the tone of the book though, so it wasn’t a negative thing and didn’t affect my rating at all.
~ANGST LEVEL~ High. I spent much of this book with my stomach in knots. There was also a lot of push/pull and OW drama. There was a lot of anger and hate on the hero’s part that didn’t make for a pleasant read. That said, angst lovers will probably eat this one up.
~IN THE END~ I didn’t love this one as much as I had hoped to. The writing was excellent and all that, but it was too angsty for me. The first 60ish% was akin to torture. The OW drama annoyed me. I hated the hero. The push/pull stretched out too long. The author didn’t get me to the point of buying into an HEA. I didn’t buy Cary’s parents would get past what Shiloh did. It wasn’t an enjoyable read for me, and I read for enjoyment, not torture. That said, this book was a perfect choice for my challenge, and I knew going in I would run across books that would push me too far out of my comfort zone (the whole point of the challenge) and this one did. Plus, all the reasons I didn’t love this one are personal reasons as opposed to the book being “bad.” As I mentioned above, I suspect lovers of all things angst will eat this one up, as they should. This author can write. Of that, there is no doubt and why I am struggling to decide on a rating for this one. As uncomfortable as the book made me it was still an excellent book that despite the stomach knots had me hooked and turning the pages. Therefore, I think I will settle on 4 Stars as of right now and reserve the right to change my rating after thinking about it more.
WOW...If you think this is your grandmothers kinda romance book, you will be sadly mistaken. Cora Kenborn has lit the book world on fire with this one. The utter raw emotions she pulled from this reader is mind-blowing. Just the emotions, drama, angst, hot scenes, darn this book has it all. The book is over the top and is more than a 5 star read. Shiloh and Cary will play with your mind and your heart. You really just need to read this book.
This is my 1st book by this author and will not be my last. This story was about 2 friends Shiloh & Carrick/Cary who grew into enemies then years later reappeared in each other's lives. Both of them are broken and need so much work to be better people. Shiloh was a "mean girl" in high school and continues on as such for years, only when she hits rock bottom does she learn what is more important in life. Carrick is hurt and angry due to choices he made because he was young, in love and made a promise. This story was intriguing, full of angst and so much more than just a love story. I didn't want the book to end I was so engrossed with it. I fell in love with both Shiloh and Cary. A wonderfully written story about how consequences of ur actions can change a persons life and how people change.
5++ stars! This is not for the faint of heart because Ms. Kenborn takes you through all the paces from deception and betrayal, shallowness and superficiality, tragedy and adversity, heartbreak and despair. My heart isn’t sure if it was breaking or if hope was on the horizon only to be flipped upside down again. This is a book you don’t want to miss and will give the HEA that many are hoping for…it’s just one h*ll of a rollercoaster ride to get there.
I received this book as an ARC for a freely given and honest review.
Wow. Just wow. Cora really brings you into the heart of the story very quickly by showing you just how Shallow Shiloh West truly is from the very first page, describing her in how she is now and who she was then. I so knew I was going to hate her after hearing about all the lives she’s devastated and destroyed. Does someone as selfish and shallow as Shiloh deserve a second chance?
I don’t think I’ve ever instantly hated a character as quickly as I did in this book. Well, maybe once but that’s another story... lol
Within pages I didn’t like Shiloh and I was sitting back, just waiting for her to fall. And boy, did she ever fall HARD. Her blatant lack of caring for others was so strong it set up the readers view of just what kind of person she is and always has been.
So when she’s sentenced to work for Cary, the boy whose life she absolutely destroyed from her home town, I was giddy to see just how bad it would be for her. Hoping he’d get his own justice. Wanting Karma to come in and take over. I didn’t think she had any redeeming qualities whatsoever and desperately wanted Cary to get his vengeance.
Until...until you started to get more into the book. You noticed things, small things at first, things that make you think she may actually have a heart. That maybe she can be forgiven by those she’s harmed. Maybe...
But is it enough to change this woman who has always been known to only think of herself? Only care about her own image? Does she deserve forgiveness and redemption from all of those she’s wronged or should she end up serving her time in prison to pay for more recent sins? For answers, you have got to read this book! It is honestly a really well written book. Smooth comes to mind.
Wow! Cora Kenborn outdid herself with this amazing emotional read. I don't know where to begin but I can say that Shallow blew me away! I loved it!! Shallow pulled me in from the first few pages all the way to the very end and wouldn't let go. I couldn't put it down. Shallow is full of heartbreak and raw emotions that will have you on the edge of your seat. Don't be surprised if you shed a few tears and want to punch something or someone. Lol! Carrick/Cary Kincaid is a handsome tough guy with the heart of gold that was treated horribly by someone he trusted. Now he's out for revenge against the girl he's had feelings for most of his life. Will he get a chance at revenge or will his soft spot for Shiloh get in the way? Shiloh West is a beautiful small town girl who left after making it big with her career. She didn't care how she treated people when she was a teen or as an adult. As long as Shiloh got what she thought she deserved that's all that matter to her until her career came to a crashing halt. The thing with fame is the higher you climb the farther the fall. When the person who you care about and betrayed has your future in the palms of his hands things are going to get interesting. Can the mean heartless selfish girl get her life back to where she's proud and can hold her head up high or will she remain the cold shallow girl everyone believes she is? I highly recommended this super amazing book. It's one book you don't want to miss.
5 stars isn't enough I rate it 10! Shallow Written by Cora Kenborn
Shallow is the story of Fallen Super Model Shiloh West and the boy she left behind, Carrick "Cary" Kincaid. I have taken my time on leaving my review because I want to leave a review that will do justice for this book. This book is BY FAR this author's best work. I could not put this it down.
Let me just start by saying that this book is raw, gritty, highly emotional and man the sexual tension is out of this world. Cora Kenborn is able to rip you completely apart and then slowly, piece by little piece, she puts you back together again and gives you that HEA you are begging for.
Shiloh West, wow... She was the girl that you hated but wanted to be just like in high school. She had it all. Money, looks, friends, and that "it" factor. And she pissed it all away in amazing fashion. But, the growth that she goes through on this journey of finding redemption, finding herself and love and acceptance is breathtaking. I can't remember the last time that I rooted for a character so much (and for me to not even really like her to being with lol).
Cary **SWOON** I LOVED Cary. I understood his anger, and his need for revenge and his need to make Shiloh pay. She ruined his life and all he did was love her. The struggles that he goes through to try to stop loving her, to stop this need for revenge. His character was excellent. He had that dark brooding thing going for him, on top of that he was a mma fighter (mmmmm) and under it all? He was still that boy from High School who was in love with the Popular girl and would do anything for her.
The secondary characters were FANTASTIC. Bianca (Shiloh's mom), Frankie and the boys and Will. I LOVED them and can I hint and say I would LOVE some more from this book world???
Taryn, What to say about her. I honestly don't think that I have ever hated a character so much. (I am hoping that was the point lol). She was always in the shadow of Shiloh and man I think she got what she deserved. (I won't go into more *spoilers*)
Overall, This book is amazing. My top read for the year for sure. The character depth, and growth shown is outstanding. This book is extremely well written, the flow and pace of the book is on point. I would HIGHLY recommend this to someone that is looking for a book that is going to give you all of the feels.
What an amazing job! I can't wait to read more from this author!
Primeiro de tudo, parabéns a autora por me fazer odiar a mocinha logo no início! Senhor, que ódio eu senti já no prólogo.
Esse é o tipo de livro que você odeia ou ama certos personagens. Eu sinceramente entrei em conflito nessa parte de odiar/amar. Da mesma forma em que queria ver a mocinha quebrar a cara e pagar por seus erros, eu senti uma certa peninha dela em determinadas situações, confuso neh?
E sobre o mocinho, não consegui ter uma opinião formada a respeito dele, porque eu entendi a situação, e todo o ódio que ele sentia, eu senti também,rs. Mas nem por isso aprovei seu comportamento ou algumas de suas atitudes.
O enredo seguiu um passo legal e os flashbacks do passado ajudaram a entender mais a situação dos personagens principais.
Esse é o primeiro livro que leio dessa autora e gostei bastante da escrita dela e da narrativa. Conseguiu me prender do início ao fim e em nenhum momento me senti entediada. Pelo contrário, essa história conseguiu causar um mix de emoções que até agora estou tentando compreender.
I wish it were possible to give more than a 5 star rating, because this book deserves ten times that! Wow! I had been anxiously waiting for this book, and it sure as heck doesn't disappoint! The book revolves around Shiloh West & Carrick Kincaid. Shiloh was always full of herself yet Carrick had major feelings for her while they were in high school together, until one night changes everything and Shiloh leaves town. Flash forward many years later and she's back! But why? Will Carrick ever forgive her? Can she handle the boy who became a man? If you want to find out, please read these book! Total emotional overload! It is my absolute favorite by this author. You will not be disappointed!
"I'm a radioactive train wreck barreling through a sleepy Southern town that swallows gossip like starving animals in the wild."~Shiloh.
This is my favorite line in the book. If your looking for a superb leading character, who doesn't take any crap from anyone and can hold her own, with a smile on her face, then Shallow is perfect for you. The author will tear your heart out and then pick up the pieces and mend them back together again. Bring your box of tissues as you follow Shiloh and Carey in their story of heartbreak, drama, sexual tension, betrayal and finally acceptance.
This book really pulls you in and just consumes you right from the very beginning. Cora has penned an astounding story full of angst, drama, betrayal, revenge, forgiveness, passion and love. Get ready for an emotional ride as you journey into the lives of Shiloh and Cary. Two completely different people who struggle to find themselves and ultimately, each other.
The reason I picked up this book was because of the synopsis. I was intrigued by the heroine being an antiheroine and the title said it all. I’m in the minority when it comes to liking this book. I just didn’t like either Shiloh or Cary. For some reason they’re all bark, no bite and maybe that’s also because of the writing. For some reason the word Shallow was named numerous times and it wasn’t necessary cause Shiloh was that. No doubt about it. Her redemption arc sadly felt flat and it’s because of her and Cary. I would’ve like more background story and depth to them as characters. He was very bland and the whole hate/enemies vibe wasn’t present. Cary had it all in his mouth in my opinion so it didn’t deliver on the chemistry. The side character Frankie was a highlight. Hie friendship with Cary and Shiloh was great but sadly that couldn’t save the story for me.
Audiobook review. I went into this book thinking I was going to dislike the heroine but while Shiloh did do some terrible things and was essentially a terrible person at first, I got to really experience her growth. She lived up to her reputation and broke hearts along her journey to self discovery. Cary was bitter and resentful. His actions didn’t endear him to me despite him having his reasons. After digging through the surface though, he eventually warms up some.
The plot is really centered around Shiloh’s perspective and growth. I wasn’t a huge fan of the OW drama but understood how it was used as a device to show tension and create conflict. I loved the secondary characters at the center and how they saw beyond the facade.
Gregory Salinas and Sarah Puckett are absolute professionals at their craft. They brought these characters to life and the quality of sound, from tone and pitch to pace, was on point. I’d definitely listen to more from both the author and narrators.
Complementary copy received and voluntarily reviewed.
Enemies to lovers. Hate to love. Frenemies. Whatever you want to call it, this book is it.
Shiloh West is a supermodel at the top of her game. Until she isn't.
Cary Kincaid has a score to settle. Until he doesn't.
If you're looking for a sweet, sappy book, this isn't it. Turn away now. If you're looking for a book of twisted desire, twisted love, and some pretty intense hate-fucking, then this is the book for you.
And I love a good hate-fuck. Cary and Shiloh sure do hate to love one another.
Cora Kenborn is a new to me author (2018 is full of 'em for me and it's still January), but if all of her books are like this, she has a new fan.
A hate fuck book. Yes. It's exactly what I needed.
"Mirrors. They don't lie. They also don't hide dirty little secrets."
**WARNING: This book does not come without all the feels! It will take you on one hell of a emotional roller coaster and leave you with the worse book-over EVER!**
Okay, now that you've been warned we can move on...
This is an enemies to lovers romance, but it is anything but typical. Ms. Kenborn went all the way with this one. It's original, raw, and highly emotional. The character development is incredible, I've never felt more connected to the characters in a standalone before. The secondary characters are just as amazing and will leave you demanding their stories.
Trouble definitely follows Shiloh, or maybe she brings it all upon herself. Shiloh is a character you love to hate, but for me I loved her. She was a beautifully flawed. She's lived a fast and hard life for the last couple years, until it all comes to a screeching halt. Literally. She is forced back to the last place she ever wanted to be. Home.
She only knows Carrick, She has no idea who Cary is. That is all about to change, because she is coming back. The thing he dreaded most. Cary is angry and out for revenge, but also very much still in love. I'm just not sure he knows it, yet. I fell in love with Cary, he is everything. He's sexy as sin, dominate as hell, and a side to him that is so incredibly caring. He is top book boyfriend material.
The chemistry and banter between Cary and Shiloh is heated, passionate, and all consuming. This is my top read for 2017! This is not like any contemporary romance you've ever read it's filled with so much suspense and gut wrenching moments that there is no way you wont fall in love with these characters. This is by far the best book Ms. Kenborn has released to date. I am completely in love with her style of writing, and she just raised the bar with this one. Amazing!
So much feels for this book, you will either love or hate, Shiloh and I will say you will love to love Carrick or Cary as you read the story. This is like mean girls (Shiloh and Taryn) who gets karma many years later and has a reality check on life with surprise surprise, Cary being someone you need to answer to. The events that lead up to this were shocking, but not based upon her actions is all that I will say. Flash forward to the present and Cary can either make her life hell or have a love/hate relationship until she can leave again. OK, you may not like Taryn much either, but you will find out for yourselves how you will feel about her. I totally got the anger and revenge that Cary wanted, but wowzer that tension between Shiloh and Cary is off the charts. Cary may have been that boy who fell for the popular girl in H.S., but through all the revenge his struggle at his feelings still are well hidden. I loved the secondary characters and so will you. So as to not give away any spoilers all I can really say grab this book as you will feel all the emotions, lies, twists and passion. Everyone deserves a second chance whether it be at life or romance and Cary and Shiloh may or may not get this. Would you be able to forgive? Read it and find out. This book is relatable to real life and about finding yourself. This is the first book I have read by this author and it won’t be the last.
You ever watch a movie so good you wanna cry when it's over? Not because it's super sad but because there isn't anymore to the story, and you don't want it to end? Well that is what this book made me feel, like I could never get enough of this story. It was filled with raw and real emotions. The character dynamic between Shiloh and Cary was magnanimous. There was the perfect amount of push and pull, and the chemistry between the two was phenomenal. Shiloh isn't the cliche heroine (you know the kind you root for) in this story, she is a vapid, shallow, selfish, narcissistic, witch with a capital B. But most of all she is human, and is filled with realistic flaws and a few irredeemable qualities. Cora Kenborn has written what I would describe as an "anti heroine", the kind you hate to love. And where do I begin when it comes to Cary? He himself is far from perfect, and has almost as many undesirable characteristics as his leading lady. And just like Shiloh he is beautify flawed. This book was an emotional journey and one I cannot wait to partake in again. Shallow is definitely a book that I will enjoy rereading, because it's just that damn good.
Wow! What a story, I can honestly say I loved every single word. It's the kind of book that you could never say was a lovely and safe love story. It's a love story but also a brutal, gut-wrenchingly tragic story, spun from a series of events that changes and shapes the lives of so many people. The tears fell with so much heartache whilst I read this book. I was so emotional and so angry in parts too.
Although you wanted to hate Shiloh for her mistakes that cost people so much. You couldn't help but feel for her and want to take some of the pain away. Shiloh broke Carrick's heart and destroyed him as a girl but when she returns as a woman she finds a man that she helped shape through circumstance and pain. Cary, the man that is in Carrick's place wants revenge, payback and he wants to hurt Shiloh.
This is their story. It's not pretty, far from it but it's brilliant. It's so hard to say more about this book without knowingly ruining for everyone. Just go in with eyes wide open. This is a story that I really recommend. This may just be my book of 2017.
UGGHH WHY did it take me so long to dive into a Cora Kenborn book?? After finishing Shallow, I feel like I've been missing out! This book was FANTASTIC! Ms. Kenborn is so adept at weaving a story you can't put down. I kept saying "just one more chapter" but when I got to the end, I HAD to keep going. I read the entire second half in one sitting - and this is NOT a short book!
Shiloh was such an incredibly well-crafted character, I could literally SEE the change taking place in her with each proverbial turn of the page. My heart pulled for her. I desperately wanted her and Cary to find their happy ending. They needed it. They deserved it. The two the were peas in a pod; their love so sweet and their chemistry incendiary. One moment, I was laughing out loud and the next, I was fanning myself from the heat lifting off the pages.
Shallow was perfect and sweet and hot and gripping and everything a romance novel should be. Ms. Kenborn NAILED it when she wrote this one, and I cannot wait to see what else she has in store for us in the future!
What words can I possibly use to describe how amazing of a book this is? Shiloh and Carrick "Cary" took me on an intense, emotional ride but it was so worth it. First thing this story did was completely rip my heart out with how shallow and selfish Shiloh was and the extreme anger and the burning desire for revenge that Cary had for her. However, the author slowly started these two on the path of redemption, forgiveness and finally acceptance and love. This love being not only the love of others, but more importantly, the love for oneself. Bonus was the insanely hot sexual tension between them and watching them combust. The depth of secondary characters with their individual personalities was truly remarkable and they didn't take away from Shiloh and Cary. In my opinion, these are by far the author's best penned words to date and is a MUST read. This book is one that you are not going to want sitting on the "to be read shelf." This is a definite "currently reading" story.
I am sitting here after reading this book and I am still mentally and physically exhausted. This book ripped out my heart and soul. The plot of this riveting , and soul wrenching and that wasn't even halfway through. This was a book that ranks right up there with my top 10 favorite books, and that is no easy list to get on. Cora Kenborn, you have an amazing win on your hands. Everyone this book must be read, must be one clicked. So amazing and so emotional. Thank you for allowing me to read this book and write about it honestly.
Holy cow! I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars because its definitely worth more. This is the first book I've read by Cora and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.
Shiloh and Carrick are freakin' on fire throughout this whole book. I love the angst with them, and everything about them both. I can't wait to read more!
This story was everything I wanted in a story, angst,love,hate a villain and a moral. I laughed, cried felt the characters feelings and lordie I want a Cary.... Shy is one lucky girl, she went thru heck to finally be redeemed and find out some of the most important lessons in life.. sometimes Toxic isn't all bad 💙💙
This is the first story I have ever read by Cora Kenborn and I was enthralled!
She devised alternating every other chapter in the point of view of the two main characters, which gave the reader a more in-depth look into Ms. Shiloh West and Mr. Carrick (Cary) Kincaid’s inner thoughts, psyche, and motivation. Plus, the flashbacks to lay the groundwork of the interplay between the two main characters were managed with aplomb.
The pace of the book was fluid and yet at times it was jarring, with the ominous passions that each flawed yet well-developed character was experiencing. Stressed suspense, artful and delicious descriptive details, one felt like one was actually a fly-on-the-wall.
Here is just a nosh:
“Mirrors, They’re funny things. Sometimes when we’re all dressed up and painted to perfection, they reflect an image everyone tries to emulate. Ninety-nine percent of the time, I love them. I walk by them and stare at myself, occasionally shocked at the woman looking back at me – Shiloh West. The one who’s in demand all over the world for the image they’ve created. Other times I catch a glimpse of the coastal country girl who still hides inside the desired woman. The bitch everyone hated because all they saw was a vapid waste of space. Shallow.”
Dearest Reader, I never provide spoilers in any of my reviews – I choose to allow you to discover the wonder and joy of each story I review on your own. I hold too much respect for you Beautiful Booklover, as I am a voracious reader myself!
If you like to be taken on a roller-coaster-ride, twists and turns, transported to a life one can only read about - “The Lifestyles of The Rich and Famous” – then this is the novel for you!
I am an independent reader/reviewer/blogger and I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher, and I voluntarily reviewed it.
Date Published: November 28th, 2017 Format: e-book (kindle), paperback Genre: Literature & Fiction, Action & Adventure, Crime, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological, and Women’s Fiction
If You're Looking for cookie cutter happiness with no emotion... THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR YOU!! If you LOVE soul wrenching, heartbreaking, wanna strangle the author for ripping every emotion from your soul stories YOU WILL LOVE Shallow. Shallow tore my heart open, shredded it and slowly put it back together piece by agonizing piece. Cora Kenborn writes stories that can wreck you and heal you. You may THINK you know what you're getting yourself into, but she never ceases to blow my expectations out of the water with the soul felt stories she keeps giving us. To date I have to say that Shallow is my FAVORITE, Shiloh and Cary have demons, MANY of them and each other contribute to them in a way that NO ONE can fathom. Shallow takes enemies to lovers to a whole new level, you can't help who you fall in love with. You also can't help hating them along the way if they disappointed you the way Shiloh did Cary. Shiloh had high expectations to live up to, she also believed that the only thing she had going for her were her looks. She had her eyes on the prize and wasn't going to let anyone or anything stand in her way, but what happens when you fall off of that pedestal? when you fall from grace and you don't even have those looks to fall back on? Shiloh Never wanted to go back to her home town and face her biggest demon of all............ HERSELF, along with the people that she hurt to grasp her seat on top of the world. When the mighty fall, they fall even harder when there isn't a safety net to soften the fall. Cary...... You can't help but to FEEL him, his emotions, his fears, his HURT. He lost so much due to the shallowness of people around him but he never gave up hope on the girl he loved until that fateful day took it all away!!!
I can not say enough good things about his story. IT'S REAL!! IT'S HEARTBREAKING, And It's HEALING!!! Everyone deserves a second chance to right their wrongs, We can only hope we don't fall even further in the process.
I just want to touch you like I love you and fuck you like I don't.
This story was absolutely AMAZING. I really enjoyed it and love Cary and Shiloh (which is a really cute girl's name, tbh). This is their second chance at love, and maybe this time Cary's love will be reciprocated.
Shallow started off with a bang. Shiloh is at a club, drinking and snorting coke, and gets behind the wheel of a car... and well, you can guess what happens next.
She's sent back to her home in Myrtle Beach (which I've been to) to work at a community center run by the guy that loved her in high school and whom she tried her hardest to push away.
Her nickname of Shallow still haunts her, as Cary comes up with a plan to ruin her life and get her sent back to California to serve her ten year sentence.
But then it happens again. Or maybe it never stopped in the first place. He develops feelings for her.
Her body goes limp in my hands. "You said you hated me." "I did. I do. Damn it, Shiloh. I've hated you for seven years, and all I've wanted was to make you pay for fucking me out of living my dream." "And now?" "All I want is to fuck a living dream."
Swoon worthy, right? This story is one that I think will stick with me for a while. Very phenomenal writing and detail. The characters were great and I felt like I could connect with them. And Frankie, one of the minor characters, is just great and I wish he was real so that he could be my friend.
Shiloh is not having a good time. After committing a serious crime, she's condemned to community service in the last place she'd like to return. But sometimes, going back where we started is what a person needs to move on and mature, and this is what happens to Shiloh. She is a successful model, but somehow, her life is empty.
Cary is a good man despite the appearances. His life was ruined several years before and now his dreams have been ruined for good because of one event and one person in particular. Now that person who hurt him in the past is coming back in town and what time if not now, to make her pay back what she destroyed?
"Shallow" is a bit different from what I've previously read by Cora Kenborn. This book is not dark like her Lords of Lyre series, and it's a pleasant surprise. The issues that the characters have to face in the book are perfectly mentioned in the title. Shallow is how people of Shiloh's past used to call her because she was the classic rich bitch who only thought about appearances and was basically empty inside. Of course this was not the truth, because Shiloh was indeed too careful about what image she gave to people in town, but she wasn't the nasty girl everyone claimed she was. The only guy who saw her aura was Cary. Cary was the nice guy with a bright future ahead of him who didn't care Shiloh rejected him in front of people.
This is a second chance romance story but it's also a second chance at forgiving one self. Shiloh doesn't like what she became, and she only realized it after a big event causes her to reconsider her life choices. She doesn't like to see herself and step by step she will try to find a new reason to live. Same goes with Cary. His promising future could not happen anymore and he had to re-invent himself and find a new path that may not be what he wanted to become, but it was still OK.
Shiloh and Cary have amazing chemistry. The love story is romantic but not that sugary type that sometimes authors write in contemporary romance books. I'm sure that who likes this genre will love this couple and the story, because there are a lot of lovable moments and characters in it, that are not predictable like other romances. "Shallow" is far from being a shallow book. So, read it. :)
There are no words to accurately describe the emotional roller coaster this book elicits. I went from hating a character more than I ever have to my heart being shattered into a million pieces to a slow and achingly beautiful mending of the soul with this captivating story. Cora Kenborn's words were so beautifully and effectively scripted in a way that makes it impossible not to absorb the emotions of these characters.
Shiloh West has it all. She's untouchable and she flaunts it with every step she takes. She wants for nothing. But deep down she hides her demons, her past, her insecurities. Until one explosive moment in her life brings her world crashing down. She never imagined she'd be forced to move back to her childhood home to face her failures; to face the people she so callously rejected. Her most defining moment in her previous life, before fame, is now her living nightmare. Can she survive her present failures, her haunting past, and the revengeful actions of the one man who once held her on a pedestal?
Cary Kincaid. What man in his right mind could ever forgive the actions of the woman who demolished his heart, his future, his dreams, without any thought. His every waking moment since she left, has been filled with his hate for her. Can he hold on to those feelings of revenge as she waltzes back into his life with her shattered remains of the life she built for herself?
Can the scars they now both possess ever be overlooked and forgotten?
Cora Kenborn has crafted a story about so much more than romance. It's about forgiveness and redemption and the healing of pain inflicted both physically and mentally. This is a book that will forever remain in my heart.
Talk about angst and high emotions! Shallow will tug at your heartstrings and have you crying, over and over again. Shiloh has been weaving down a dangerous path and has finally spiraled out of control. She's made mistakes that few people find redemption from. Shiloh and Carrick (Cary) have a childhood past that left him with a gaping wound that never quite healed. When she returns home to gain back some semblance of control over herself, Cary finds he's still bitter, but he also realizes that he has other unresolved feelings as well.
The start of Shiloh's story just ripped my heart out. I loved watching as she faced her demons, gradually repaired her soul and found a way to be the person she needed to be. She and Cary were torridly hot together, yet there was so much emotional angst as they found themselves back in each other's pockets.
This was a truly gripping and heart-stealing book, and I absolutely loved it! The scenes grabbed me by the throat and just drew me right in. Fantastically well done!