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Beyond #8
Beyond Ecstasy
This is an alternative cover edition of the Kindle version, ASIN B01G3VA05O.
The O’Kanes have a reputation for working hard and playing harder—except for Hawk. He joined the gang with one goal: to ensure his family’s survival through the impending war with Eden. It’s been years since he had the luxury of wanting anything for himself. Now, he wants Jeni. From the first moment he saw her, he’s been obsessed with making her his. Not for a night—forever.
Jeni’s been lusting after the former smuggler for months, but he keeps shutting her down. She’s almost given up on getting him in her bed when he offers her the last thing she ever expected—a collar. Accepting it means belonging to him, body and soul. It’s a reckless gamble, but Jeni can’t resist the chance to slip under Hawk’s armor.
The only thing more shocking than the dark, dangerous pleasure they discover is how right it feels. But falling in love is even more reckless when forever is far from guaranteed. Because they aren’t just at war, they’re out of time—and every breath could be their last.
The O’Kanes have a reputation for working hard and playing harder—except for Hawk. He joined the gang with one goal: to ensure his family’s survival through the impending war with Eden. It’s been years since he had the luxury of wanting anything for himself. Now, he wants Jeni. From the first moment he saw her, he’s been obsessed with making her his. Not for a night—forever.
Jeni’s been lusting after the former smuggler for months, but he keeps shutting her down. She’s almost given up on getting him in her bed when he offers her the last thing she ever expected—a collar. Accepting it means belonging to him, body and soul. It’s a reckless gamble, but Jeni can’t resist the chance to slip under Hawk’s armor.
The only thing more shocking than the dark, dangerous pleasure they discover is how right it feels. But falling in love is even more reckless when forever is far from guaranteed. Because they aren’t just at war, they’re out of time—and every breath could be their last.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2016
82 people are currently reading
908 people want to read
About the author
Kit Rocha
70 books2,649 followersOnce upon a time, two best friends decided to write paranormal romance. And while that was awesome, they also sometimes wanted to write insanely dirty stuff that wasn’t paranormal at all. This is that stuff.
Kit Rocha is the dystopian-erotic-romance writing alter-ego of writing duo Moira Rogers.
Kit Rocha is the dystopian-erotic-romance writing alter-ego of writing duo Moira Rogers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
May 1, 2020
Edit - April/2020
Back to my re-read session. And yet another disappointment.
This book was always my least favourite from the wholes series, but it just got worse with time. I have to say that I did not remember a single thing about this book, so, it felt a bit like reading it for the first time. But that did not help at all; I was in chapter two when I started to feel like I needed to just skim through certain parts of the story.
I still enjoyed the parts which related more to the war arc than anything to do with the main couple. In other words, if it was a chapter focusing on Jeni and Hawk, it was not good, if it was not focusing on them, it was great. The only reason why this is not a one star.
In all honesty, I believe that this book was an unnecessary addition to the series. There was no reason for this couple to be together. Jeni was always sort of there, and Hawk played a role in Finn's book, but I never thought that either of them needed a book. And definitely not together because the chemistry was basically non-existent.
And the war-arc could have been split between book seven and nine.
Original:
***Advance Review Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
To be honest I never really liked Jeni and Hawk. Their characters are okay. But I never saw them as a couple. So, I was a bit worried that I won't like this book as much.
Well, I didn't have to. Kit again found a way how to make any couple work.
But yet I found myself more interested in the war arc - and our old friends showing up ;).
This series started as something easy to read. But now the war and all the things that built up during the whole series made it something completely else. More thrilling. And I cannot wait for the last book. And for the couple, I find it more interesting—full of potential.
To sum it up: I would like to read the scene where Noelle .
Jeni&Hawk aren't my favourite couple. But I'll still end up re-reading their book over and over again.
What really holds this book is the anticipation. All those decisions. Friends and enemies.
So, I say well done. And please may I have the next book?
EDIT: Re-read time. (2/24/2017)
Okay, I don't like this couple again. They don't work for me. Rating changed.
Back to my re-read session. And yet another disappointment.
This book was always my least favourite from the wholes series, but it just got worse with time. I have to say that I did not remember a single thing about this book, so, it felt a bit like reading it for the first time. But that did not help at all; I was in chapter two when I started to feel like I needed to just skim through certain parts of the story.
I still enjoyed the parts which related more to the war arc than anything to do with the main couple. In other words, if it was a chapter focusing on Jeni and Hawk, it was not good, if it was not focusing on them, it was great. The only reason why this is not a one star.
In all honesty, I believe that this book was an unnecessary addition to the series. There was no reason for this couple to be together. Jeni was always sort of there, and Hawk played a role in Finn's book, but I never thought that either of them needed a book. And definitely not together because the chemistry was basically non-existent.
And the war-arc could have been split between book seven and nine.
Original:
***Advance Review Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
To be honest I never really liked Jeni and Hawk. Their characters are okay. But I never saw them as a couple. So, I was a bit worried that I won't like this book as much.
Well, I didn't have to. Kit again found a way how to make any couple work.
But yet I found myself more interested in the war arc - and our old friends showing up ;).
This series started as something easy to read. But now the war and all the things that built up during the whole series made it something completely else. More thrilling. And I cannot wait for the last book. And for the couple, I find it more interesting—full of potential.
To sum it up: I would like to read the scene where Noelle .
Jeni&Hawk aren't my favourite couple. But I'll still end up re-reading their book over and over again.
What really holds this book is the anticipation. All those decisions. Friends and enemies.
So, I say well done. And please may I have the next book?
EDIT: Re-read time. (2/24/2017)
Okay, I don't like this couple again. They don't work for me. Rating changed.
August 1, 2017
Gonna be one long arsed review here. Spoiler-ish.
For those that follow my reviews then you know that I couldn’t wait for Hawk and Jeni to get a book and Kit Rocha was sneaky and didn’t give a release date. I found out one day later. So I shelved my challenge and thanks to a Bank Holiday.
Yes the long awaited war is here!
Sad but true but this series is slowly coming to an end this is the second to last book in the series and I only hope that book 9 goes out with a fucking bang.
4 “Dream Big” Stars.
Hawk born and raised in sector six on a farm is now in sector four to help with the upcoming war. Between his family of forty-three brothers and sisters and being the eldest of them he feels responsible for all of them even is mother. She was very young when she had Hawk. Six is known for the breeding and the farming not much else and it has led him to have a hard life.
Hawk is like an effing island, it was hard to see what he was thinking sometimes and although I get the reasons behind what he did I still didn’t entirely feel the connection. He is focused and he is concentrated on every decision that he makes. Even when it comes to his decision with Jeni. He is hot, broody and he is a great character.
Jeni is originally from Eden but left as to not turn into her mother. She went to sector two to Gia and then landed in sector 4 as a dancer. Jeni has a lot in common with Hawk yet they are still different and in a way they did complement one another. I couldn’t entirely connect to Jeni though.
Hawk finds It hard to let go and to give into his urges that were never spoken about in sector six.
Hmm, so let’s get down to the nitty gritty. What were the sex scenes like? Well, if you read Beyond Jealousy with Rachel/Ace & Cruz (which was hot as hell) and then read Beyond Innocence you’re going to be disappointed. The same applied here after reading Beyond Ruin which for me was exceptional I still had the memory of that book so long in me that after all this time this was demure/tame compared to it.
Don't get me wrong they have chemistry.
“Sweet, beautiful Jeni. Give me what I want, and I’ll give you what you need.” – Hawk –
“That’s it,” she whispered. “If I could have one thing tonight, it would be for you to let go. Whatever filthy thing you want, I’ll make it beautiful for you.” – Jeni –
But there are also sweet moments
“You’re the only one who’s ever made me dream.” – Hawk –
But there are also heart breaking moments between them. Cutting to the bone.
“You ruined us,” he rasped. “You killed us both.”
Eden has shut down the power in the sectors, you can smell the desperation on each and every corner. Anger and frustration. The waiting is the worst, preparations can be made but there is only so much. There is only encrypted communication coming out of Eden. Noah is working his fingers off.
The atmosphere created had me on the edge of my sit. I was impatiently waiting to see what was going to happen. The end was so emotionally draining and I felt for all of them. I even squeezed out a couple of tears. I was also rooting for them despite my issues with Jeni. It is do or die. It is the survival of the fittest. People die, sectors destroyed the future is a long way away and all of it in one fucking day.
I’m torn, I’m disappointed and I’m not. Maybe my expectations were too high for Jeni and Hawk. The MC actually only get 3 stars although I really liked Hawk I’m on the fence about Jeni. I feel as if she didn’t fight enough for Hawk not matter when she was trying to be noble that wasn’t her choice to make. But the overall book and plot gets 5 stars.
The ending page is spectacular
“We can’t let them get comfortable.” Excitement lit Noah’s eyes. He flexed his fingers. “Are you saying….?” “You’re off the leash, Noah.”
“Shut them down. Start with the power grid. Let’s see how these motherfuckers like the dark.”
Full of goose bumps now after typing that.
Nessa & Ryder are next.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Some of my favs from the book:
It was adorable how the O’Kane men managed to dace down the bullets and bloody fights like they were no big deal, but they all melted for their women.
We get to see the beginnings of the O’Kanes and how they started out.
“I might have been distracted, but Jas wasn’t fucking around. He comes roaring down the stairs, a gun in one hand, and with his other, he’s still trying to pull up his pants. By the time I made it out here, he was in a goddamn shoot-out with his jeans around his ankles and his dick waving in the wind, just begging to get shut off.”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sneaky ladies, this was released on 23rd May. I have to read this but I still have reviews to write a book to finish. No rest for the wicked, eh?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Hawk & Jeni's book
I have recently been informed that I am too spoiler-ish. That I need to censor my reviews or comments or outtakes that I include in books that haven't been released yet. I have FINALLY made myself unpopular on Goodreads and it only took me three years, damn I am so losing my touch.
So beware as this is an outtake to how Hawk & Jeni felt in Beyond Ruin.
Dallas and Lex would be fine without her. And Jeni would be fine without them, too. But she still believed in fairy tales. She had to, with so many of them walking around the compound in Sector Four.
She'd never met an O'Kane who got flustered by an Invitation to fuck, but it was part of Hawk's charm. Her attraction was inextricably bound up in finding out what Kind of man he was beneath that impenetrable surface.
She’d always been good at reading people, but she couldn’t read him. And holy fuck, did she want to.
Before he took Jeni to bed, he had to learn everything he could about what she wanted and needed. Because when he took Jeni to bed, he had to be ready to convince her to stay there.
GIMME.GIMME.GIMME! And then noone shall be hurt.
For those that follow my reviews then you know that I couldn’t wait for Hawk and Jeni to get a book and Kit Rocha was sneaky and didn’t give a release date. I found out one day later. So I shelved my challenge and thanks to a Bank Holiday.
Yes the long awaited war is here!
Sad but true but this series is slowly coming to an end this is the second to last book in the series and I only hope that book 9 goes out with a fucking bang.
4 “Dream Big” Stars.
Hawk born and raised in sector six on a farm is now in sector four to help with the upcoming war. Between his family of forty-three brothers and sisters and being the eldest of them he feels responsible for all of them even is mother. She was very young when she had Hawk. Six is known for the breeding and the farming not much else and it has led him to have a hard life.
Hawk is like an effing island, it was hard to see what he was thinking sometimes and although I get the reasons behind what he did I still didn’t entirely feel the connection. He is focused and he is concentrated on every decision that he makes. Even when it comes to his decision with Jeni. He is hot, broody and he is a great character.
Jeni is originally from Eden but left as to not turn into her mother. She went to sector two to Gia and then landed in sector 4 as a dancer. Jeni has a lot in common with Hawk yet they are still different and in a way they did complement one another. I couldn’t entirely connect to Jeni though.
Hawk finds It hard to let go and to give into his urges that were never spoken about in sector six.
Hmm, so let’s get down to the nitty gritty. What were the sex scenes like? Well, if you read Beyond Jealousy with Rachel/Ace & Cruz (which was hot as hell) and then read Beyond Innocence you’re going to be disappointed. The same applied here after reading Beyond Ruin which for me was exceptional I still had the memory of that book so long in me that after all this time this was demure/tame compared to it.
Don't get me wrong they have chemistry.
“Sweet, beautiful Jeni. Give me what I want, and I’ll give you what you need.” – Hawk –
“That’s it,” she whispered. “If I could have one thing tonight, it would be for you to let go. Whatever filthy thing you want, I’ll make it beautiful for you.” – Jeni –
But there are also sweet moments
“You’re the only one who’s ever made me dream.” – Hawk –
But there are also heart breaking moments between them. Cutting to the bone.
“You ruined us,” he rasped. “You killed us both.”
Eden has shut down the power in the sectors, you can smell the desperation on each and every corner. Anger and frustration. The waiting is the worst, preparations can be made but there is only so much. There is only encrypted communication coming out of Eden. Noah is working his fingers off.
The atmosphere created had me on the edge of my sit. I was impatiently waiting to see what was going to happen. The end was so emotionally draining and I felt for all of them. I even squeezed out a couple of tears. I was also rooting for them despite my issues with Jeni. It is do or die. It is the survival of the fittest. People die, sectors destroyed the future is a long way away and all of it in one fucking day.
I’m torn, I’m disappointed and I’m not. Maybe my expectations were too high for Jeni and Hawk. The MC actually only get 3 stars although I really liked Hawk I’m on the fence about Jeni. I feel as if she didn’t fight enough for Hawk not matter when she was trying to be noble that wasn’t her choice to make. But the overall book and plot gets 5 stars.
The ending page is spectacular
“We can’t let them get comfortable.” Excitement lit Noah’s eyes. He flexed his fingers. “Are you saying….?” “You’re off the leash, Noah.”
“Shut them down. Start with the power grid. Let’s see how these motherfuckers like the dark.”
Full of goose bumps now after typing that.
Nessa & Ryder are next.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Some of my favs from the book:
It was adorable how the O’Kane men managed to dace down the bullets and bloody fights like they were no big deal, but they all melted for their women.
We get to see the beginnings of the O’Kanes and how they started out.
“I might have been distracted, but Jas wasn’t fucking around. He comes roaring down the stairs, a gun in one hand, and with his other, he’s still trying to pull up his pants. By the time I made it out here, he was in a goddamn shoot-out with his jeans around his ankles and his dick waving in the wind, just begging to get shut off.”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sneaky ladies, this was released on 23rd May. I have to read this but I still have reviews to write a book to finish. No rest for the wicked, eh?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Hawk & Jeni's book
I have recently been informed that I am too spoiler-ish. That I need to censor my reviews or comments or outtakes that I include in books that haven't been released yet. I have FINALLY made myself unpopular on Goodreads and it only took me three years, damn I am so losing my touch.
So beware as this is an outtake to how Hawk & Jeni felt in Beyond Ruin.
Dallas and Lex would be fine without her. And Jeni would be fine without them, too. But she still believed in fairy tales. She had to, with so many of them walking around the compound in Sector Four.
She'd never met an O'Kane who got flustered by an Invitation to fuck, but it was part of Hawk's charm. Her attraction was inextricably bound up in finding out what Kind of man he was beneath that impenetrable surface.
She’d always been good at reading people, but she couldn’t read him. And holy fuck, did she want to.
Before he took Jeni to bed, he had to learn everything he could about what she wanted and needed. Because when he took Jeni to bed, he had to be ready to convince her to stay there.
GIMME.GIMME.GIMME! And then noone shall be hurt.
May 27, 2016
BEYOND ECSTASY is Hawk and Jeni’s books. Hawk is much like the others in the way that he is a fighter who has joined the O’Kanes. In this book, we venture out a little bit and explore the sector which he’s from. There we’ll meet his mother and learn about who Hawk is. All this is important because when Hawk proposes to collar Jeni, she turns him away because they don’t really know each other well. So in an effort to start building that connection, Hawk shows Jeni exactly who he is.
I liked Jeni. While I thought she was just going to be another dancer, another Trix, she turned out to be a little more unique. I loved the fact that she turned Hawk away in the beginning because now the sex they will have will mean something. That being said, this book feels a lot more emotional than the others. It also feels a little tamer to me. Although we have these badass men, Hawk seems very … nice, for lack of a better word. He’s very considerate, and is always looking out for Jeni. Out of all the heroes so far, I think he has the gentlest heart, so it makes sense that his book follows that pattern.
Again, we see a lot more from the other characters in the series. War is brewing, and we’re getting to see the O’Kanes work as a team more. We also get to see more of the other sectors, but to be honest, they don’t really differ much from one another too much. I think I liked learning more about the people who live in those sectors more as opposed to sectors themselves.
If you enjoyed the previous books in the series, then you’ll enjoy this one. I am, however, hoping that something more occurs in the next book. I feel like we’ve been anticipating war for too long now. The next book is the last book in the series so something needs to happen soon!
October 9, 2023
1st read 25 May 2016
OMG I can't belive that there's only 1 book left!
In this one the war really broke out and we see the consequences of it:
I love these characters, this universe and Ms. Rocha's writing style. They can make me empathize and mourn even asshole characters.
2nd read November 2016
3rd read: September 2020
OMG I can't belive that there's only 1 book left!
In this one the war really broke out and we see the consequences of it:
I love these characters, this universe and Ms. Rocha's writing style. They can make me empathize and mourn even asshole characters.
2nd read November 2016
3rd read: September 2020
May 25, 2016
First things, first -- this is not a stand alone novel. The Beyond series should be read from the first book, onward. So do not start with this book, or you will be lost. Ok, now, moving on...
If you've read this series, then you'll know that war is coming. Eden has decided that the Sectors are gathering a little too much power and they cannot abide that. They've sent assassins in to remove certain powerful individuals and to try to divide loyalties. And Sector Two was left in ruins. So going into Beyond Ecstasy, the remaining sectors are gearing up for war. And they know it won't be pretty or easy, but it will be worth it to finally be out from under Eden's thumb.
The couple that is featured in Beyond Ecstasy is Hawk and Jeni. They've been circling each other for what seems like forever. And when they finally collide, I thought my Kindle was going to overheat.
Hawk is a touch old fashioned. It was cute and charming and so damn sweet. He's also a very durty boy. He's been watching Jeni since she arrived in Four and he was half in love with her before they ever spoke a word to one another. Hawk was raised out on the farms, where romance isn't really practiced. Couples marry and have children because they are needed to work the farms. Not that they don't love each other, it's just a different way of life. So, Hawk is a bit stunted when it comes to matters of love and romance. All he really knows is that he wants Jeni, and not just for a night, but forever. When he looks at her, the rest of the world ceases to exist.
Before now, Hawk always felt like his darker, dominant, urges made him like his abusive father. And he has trouble seeing the difference. His father was a brutal man. Hawk, though, isn't. He wants -- needs -- willing submission and to be able to deal out pain and pleasure that his partner needs and wants. He never ever ever wants to really hurt his partner. Not ever. And before becoming an O'Kane and seeing that his urges could be used responsibly and before Jeni, he was lost.
And Jeni, like all the O'Kane women, is fiercely independent and not too keen on jumping head first into something without thinking it through just a bit. She wants Hawk, but she doesn't think she can have him and she's not thinking a forever kind of thing. It isn't that she doesn't want forever, she's just never let herself have that dream. Especially now, when their world could litterally end in a blink of an eye. Jeni lives life on her terms and though she wants and needs to relinquish control in the bedroom, she isn't a damsel in distress and she doesn't need a man to make her feel whole. But she wants him, all the same.
What I loved about Jeni, was that she was smart, and driven. She has an amazing memory for things she's seen and read and she uses that skill to help other people wherever she can. That skill is both a boon and a huge responsibility, and one that I'm sure Eden would love to have. But Jeni is an O'Kane and neither the ink, nor the oath are temporary.
Man, oh man, how I love this series! Things aren't just heating up between the Sectors and Eden, they are poised to explode! Food supplies are low and so is morale, for those that think there is no hope of survival. The O'Kanes are pulling their resources together in determination to not just survive the coming war, but to win it. And everyone has a job to do and all their skills are put to use. And when it comes, it comes fast and people do lose their lives. But hope does live on.
I love what Sector Four stands for. I love that the O'Kane's are really what a family should be. I love that the women are fierce and that the men celebrate that fierceness. They work hard and play hard and when they love, they do it right.
So, Beyond Ecstasy is where things come to a head. They are at war. A war that I assume will conclude in the next (and last) book in this series. And I've loved every moment of this journey so far. Beyond Ecstasy does a fantastic job of setting up the last novel, as well as the spinoff series that is upcoming. I cannot wait to see where the story leads.
-------------------
Review copy of Beyond Ecstasy was generously provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review.
If you've read this series, then you'll know that war is coming. Eden has decided that the Sectors are gathering a little too much power and they cannot abide that. They've sent assassins in to remove certain powerful individuals and to try to divide loyalties. And Sector Two was left in ruins. So going into Beyond Ecstasy, the remaining sectors are gearing up for war. And they know it won't be pretty or easy, but it will be worth it to finally be out from under Eden's thumb.
The couple that is featured in Beyond Ecstasy is Hawk and Jeni. They've been circling each other for what seems like forever. And when they finally collide, I thought my Kindle was going to overheat.
Hawk is a touch old fashioned. It was cute and charming and so damn sweet. He's also a very durty boy. He's been watching Jeni since she arrived in Four and he was half in love with her before they ever spoke a word to one another. Hawk was raised out on the farms, where romance isn't really practiced. Couples marry and have children because they are needed to work the farms. Not that they don't love each other, it's just a different way of life. So, Hawk is a bit stunted when it comes to matters of love and romance. All he really knows is that he wants Jeni, and not just for a night, but forever. When he looks at her, the rest of the world ceases to exist.
Before now, Hawk always felt like his darker, dominant, urges made him like his abusive father. And he has trouble seeing the difference. His father was a brutal man. Hawk, though, isn't. He wants -- needs -- willing submission and to be able to deal out pain and pleasure that his partner needs and wants. He never ever ever wants to really hurt his partner. Not ever. And before becoming an O'Kane and seeing that his urges could be used responsibly and before Jeni, he was lost.
And Jeni, like all the O'Kane women, is fiercely independent and not too keen on jumping head first into something without thinking it through just a bit. She wants Hawk, but she doesn't think she can have him and she's not thinking a forever kind of thing. It isn't that she doesn't want forever, she's just never let herself have that dream. Especially now, when their world could litterally end in a blink of an eye. Jeni lives life on her terms and though she wants and needs to relinquish control in the bedroom, she isn't a damsel in distress and she doesn't need a man to make her feel whole. But she wants him, all the same.
What I loved about Jeni, was that she was smart, and driven. She has an amazing memory for things she's seen and read and she uses that skill to help other people wherever she can. That skill is both a boon and a huge responsibility, and one that I'm sure Eden would love to have. But Jeni is an O'Kane and neither the ink, nor the oath are temporary.
Man, oh man, how I love this series! Things aren't just heating up between the Sectors and Eden, they are poised to explode! Food supplies are low and so is morale, for those that think there is no hope of survival. The O'Kanes are pulling their resources together in determination to not just survive the coming war, but to win it. And everyone has a job to do and all their skills are put to use. And when it comes, it comes fast and people do lose their lives. But hope does live on.
I love what Sector Four stands for. I love that the O'Kane's are really what a family should be. I love that the women are fierce and that the men celebrate that fierceness. They work hard and play hard and when they love, they do it right.
So, Beyond Ecstasy is where things come to a head. They are at war. A war that I assume will conclude in the next (and last) book in this series. And I've loved every moment of this journey so far. Beyond Ecstasy does a fantastic job of setting up the last novel, as well as the spinoff series that is upcoming. I cannot wait to see where the story leads.
-------------------
Review copy of Beyond Ecstasy was generously provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2016
This book was such a surprise.
I didn't like the previous book that much and I wasn't invested in the MCs of this one so I thought it was going to be bad.
It wasn't. I really liked the romance, the characters and the storyline. The pressure of trying to live your life and be happy and such difficult circumstances.
The war with Eden has begun and I'm dying here. I love how the story is progressing and I can't wait for the last book. I just hope none of my favorites die.
The writers have said that there are going to be casualties. I just need Cruz/Ace/Rach safe and all will be good.
I didn't like the previous book that much and I wasn't invested in the MCs of this one so I thought it was going to be bad.
It wasn't. I really liked the romance, the characters and the storyline. The pressure of trying to live your life and be happy and such difficult circumstances.
The war with Eden has begun and I'm dying here. I love how the story is progressing and I can't wait for the last book. I just hope none of my favorites die.
The writers have said that there are going to be casualties. I just need Cruz/Ace/Rach safe and all will be good.
May 25, 2016
*3.75 Sector four has my heart*
Kit Kit Kit you are awesome.I'll never stop saying that you're one of my fav author ever.You can rip my heart out one second and then shove a handful of love and joy in the hole you left the
next.I'm rambling but you know what i'm saying.
This book was slightly tamer than the previous books mind you there were still plenty of dramatic moments but in my opinion Hawk and Jeni had less problems than the other couples.There was less tension between the two compared for example to Lex and Dallas or even Jas and Noelle though it wasn't less enjoyable because of it.
Hawk is a total sweetheart,a giant teddy bear with the heart of a lion,i loved how protective and obsessed he was with Jeni and how willing to be vurnerable he was with her.
Jeni is wild and kind and totally perfect for Hawk.She wasn't as badass as the other girl for me but i liked her the same.
In this book some crazy shit happened and i was so on edge wondering what was going to happen,when people started to die i felt like my heart was breaking too.Dammit Kit.
I can't wait to see what happens next,i need the next book asap.I'm so intrigued by Nessa and Ryder,i know their book is going to kill me.
*ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Kit Kit Kit you are awesome.I'll never stop saying that you're one of my fav author ever.You can rip my heart out one second and then shove a handful of love and joy in the hole you left the
next.I'm rambling but you know what i'm saying.
This book was slightly tamer than the previous books mind you there were still plenty of dramatic moments but in my opinion Hawk and Jeni had less problems than the other couples.There was less tension between the two compared for example to Lex and Dallas or even Jas and Noelle though it wasn't less enjoyable because of it.
Hawk is a total sweetheart,a giant teddy bear with the heart of a lion,i loved how protective and obsessed he was with Jeni and how willing to be vurnerable he was with her.
Jeni is wild and kind and totally perfect for Hawk.She wasn't as badass as the other girl for me but i liked her the same.
In this book some crazy shit happened and i was so on edge wondering what was going to happen,when people started to die i felt like my heart was breaking too.Dammit Kit.
I can't wait to see what happens next,i need the next book asap.I'm so intrigued by Nessa and Ryder,i know their book is going to kill me.
*ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
August 5, 2016
This is the penultimate episode and as such the action is stepping up and things are getting desperate in the sectors, it's about a month since they went dark and it's having a negative effect on everyone. The O'Kane's are patrolling and trying to keep it together but the waiting game is hard.
This book like the rest is a mixture of sex and surviving Hawk is a tortured soul who takes far too much on his shoulders, he carries every mistake heavily and back in six life was hard with no time for romance or love which is why even though he's wanted Jeni from the first moment he saw her he's held back because he wants her not just for one wild night but for forever.
Jeni also wants Hawk but she's almost given up on him when he finally makes his move.
While these two grow closer war is on the horizon but everyone is waiting for Eden to make its move.
This is another hot entertaining read and the end of the book left me desperately waiting for the next and last one.
January 24, 2020
Hawk and Jeni might take second place in my favorite pairings. They’re adorable together.
Also, how is there only one book left? I’m not ready for it to end!
Also, how is there only one book left? I’m not ready for it to end!
June 19, 2016
Joint review: Mandi & Tori
Mandi: The next to the last Beyond book (but don’t fret, a spin-off series named Gideon’s Riders is coming soon!). Honestly, this was not my favorite book of the series. I have two main complaints – I’ll start with Hawk and Jeni. For some reason they just didn’t do a lot for me. Hawk lives his life like he is going to die tomorrow. He has very strong feelings towards Jeni, so when he decides he wants to be with her, he goes all in 100%. He has grown up in a life where he had to fight to make things his. With a very large family, everything was shared. This prompts Hawk to kind of jump on Jeni when he recognizes his feelings.
He offers her his collar to wear, a sign to show she is all his – and while Jeni definitely has feelings for Hawk, to her it feels very rushed. After a short debate with herself, and with a little hesitation, she accepts the collar. There wasn’t a big build-up to it – it all happened a little too easy and I guess I just needed a little more work up to their relationship. Once they are in a relationship, Hawk must learn how to please Jeni, and how to provide her with a dominant/submissive relationship she enjoys. The dominant/submissive stuff didn’t do a lot for me but I think that is because I didn’t feel like I really got to know Jeni and Hawk all that well. For me, Hawk and Jeni didn’t have the depth in their character like Ace, Cruz, Rachel, Dallas, Lex etc…
What do you think, Tori?
Tori: I admit to being more excited we were finally getting Hawk’s story then caring who he was ending up with. For me, Jeni has never been a very viable character. She’s always hovered in the background and nothing about her really distinguishes her as an individual in the O’Kane group. I felt as if she was built using a little of every heroine we have grown to love in the series. I neither liked or disliked her-she is just there. Hawk was far more developed for me going into this book. I found his background-growing up in a polygamous like commune-very intuitive look into his psyche. He is an intense man who gives his all and currently feels his loyalty is being pulled in a multitude of directions. He is a natural caretaker and due to his upbringing, he wants, no, NEEDS someone all for himself.
As you said Mandi, neither of their backstories really prepared us for them as a couple.
This made the relationship somewhat suspect for me. The instant need to collar Jeni was an intimate look into Hawk. Again, he has lived his whole life having to share everything and he doesn’t want to share Jeni. A collar, like a ring, is a promise of monogamy even though Hawk knows inside, the O’Kane’s don’t preach monogamy though it’s not frowned upon either. To each his own is a motto they live by.
“The O’Kanes have a reputation for casual” she said carefully. “But I think people just don’t understand. None of it is casual. Ever.”
As we got deeper into the story, I started to see Jeni as more than just another O’Kane. Her characterization was slow to reveal, rather like the romance itself. She is like a chameleon who adapts to the scenery around them. Blending but not quite fitting in. This couple starts out fast and furious, then backs off to shore up the foundation for the overwhelming emotions they hold. Emotions that are as dark, intense, and unpredictable as the war that is coming.
I liked that Jeni turned down Hawk’s need to collar her in the beginning. She showed strength, intelligence, and compassion by not grabbing what she wanted in order to try to build something worthy of it. She is correct in that for all the time they have been around one another-they really don’t know one another. This couple makes mistakes ( a lot of mistakes based on assumptions and lack of communication) and in that I began to feel the realism of the situation and their romance. They not only try but learn from their mistakes. I will admit I wasn’t totally on board with the The D/s scenes though they are HAWT. AS. HELL. Emotionally deep and drenched in the eroticism Rocha does so well, there was a rushed feel to the whole set up so at times I was uncomfortable watching them.
“Not having you is bad. Not getting to keep you would be worse.”
The war and the more indepth look at the different sectors, their roles, and the people who inhabit them is what really held my attention in this installment. This has been a long reaching arc and we are finally getting to see the sectors go to battle against Eden. Either they will win or die trying but surrender is not an option. There is no turning back for the O’Kanes. They are the backbone of this war and so much depends on them. Never has the weight of responsibility ever been so heavy as it is resting on the shoulders of Dallas and Lex. As we all know that Rocha is planning a spin-off so characters from that coming series all come out to play, giving us hints and clues to what is in store or us. Muy excited. ASHWIN!!! *thud*
“Let’s see how those fancy motherfuckers like the dark.”
While Beyond Ecstasy isn’t my favorite installment in regards to the romance, the main conflict and the strong arc advancements help to balance that out. I look forward *SOB* to the final book in this series and to what Rocha has in store for us next.
Grade: C+
Favorite Quote: “No rules except for the ones we make.”
Mandi: While we do see the darker side of this war in this book, I did wish we had seen more of it. More action, more violence – been immersed in the darkness for longer.
But I enjoyed going to Sector six and meeting Hawk’s very (very) large family. The threat imposed on the farmers was alarming and their dedication to their sector and the frustration of making them give that up tugged at my heart.
I was saddened to learn that this was the next to last book in this series, but then so excited to discover not only is Ryder and Nessa next (omg I love them already) but we get a spin-off series to look forward to.
“Nessa, this is Ryder, the guy who took over Five. And this is Nessa.”
Of course he was. Of course he fucking was, because if her hormones were anything, they were reliably self-destructive. Why fall for a nice, boring boy loyal to Sector Four when she could get the hots for a guy Dallas still didn’t entirely trust, a guy so dangerous he’d taken over Sector Five from the inside.
GIMME.
While this romance didn’t quite do it for me, I’m highly anticipating the final book. What a fun, erotic series this has been.
Grade: C+
Mandi: The next to the last Beyond book (but don’t fret, a spin-off series named Gideon’s Riders is coming soon!). Honestly, this was not my favorite book of the series. I have two main complaints – I’ll start with Hawk and Jeni. For some reason they just didn’t do a lot for me. Hawk lives his life like he is going to die tomorrow. He has very strong feelings towards Jeni, so when he decides he wants to be with her, he goes all in 100%. He has grown up in a life where he had to fight to make things his. With a very large family, everything was shared. This prompts Hawk to kind of jump on Jeni when he recognizes his feelings.
He offers her his collar to wear, a sign to show she is all his – and while Jeni definitely has feelings for Hawk, to her it feels very rushed. After a short debate with herself, and with a little hesitation, she accepts the collar. There wasn’t a big build-up to it – it all happened a little too easy and I guess I just needed a little more work up to their relationship. Once they are in a relationship, Hawk must learn how to please Jeni, and how to provide her with a dominant/submissive relationship she enjoys. The dominant/submissive stuff didn’t do a lot for me but I think that is because I didn’t feel like I really got to know Jeni and Hawk all that well. For me, Hawk and Jeni didn’t have the depth in their character like Ace, Cruz, Rachel, Dallas, Lex etc…
What do you think, Tori?
Tori: I admit to being more excited we were finally getting Hawk’s story then caring who he was ending up with. For me, Jeni has never been a very viable character. She’s always hovered in the background and nothing about her really distinguishes her as an individual in the O’Kane group. I felt as if she was built using a little of every heroine we have grown to love in the series. I neither liked or disliked her-she is just there. Hawk was far more developed for me going into this book. I found his background-growing up in a polygamous like commune-very intuitive look into his psyche. He is an intense man who gives his all and currently feels his loyalty is being pulled in a multitude of directions. He is a natural caretaker and due to his upbringing, he wants, no, NEEDS someone all for himself.
As you said Mandi, neither of their backstories really prepared us for them as a couple.
This made the relationship somewhat suspect for me. The instant need to collar Jeni was an intimate look into Hawk. Again, he has lived his whole life having to share everything and he doesn’t want to share Jeni. A collar, like a ring, is a promise of monogamy even though Hawk knows inside, the O’Kane’s don’t preach monogamy though it’s not frowned upon either. To each his own is a motto they live by.
“The O’Kanes have a reputation for casual” she said carefully. “But I think people just don’t understand. None of it is casual. Ever.”
As we got deeper into the story, I started to see Jeni as more than just another O’Kane. Her characterization was slow to reveal, rather like the romance itself. She is like a chameleon who adapts to the scenery around them. Blending but not quite fitting in. This couple starts out fast and furious, then backs off to shore up the foundation for the overwhelming emotions they hold. Emotions that are as dark, intense, and unpredictable as the war that is coming.
I liked that Jeni turned down Hawk’s need to collar her in the beginning. She showed strength, intelligence, and compassion by not grabbing what she wanted in order to try to build something worthy of it. She is correct in that for all the time they have been around one another-they really don’t know one another. This couple makes mistakes ( a lot of mistakes based on assumptions and lack of communication) and in that I began to feel the realism of the situation and their romance. They not only try but learn from their mistakes. I will admit I wasn’t totally on board with the The D/s scenes though they are HAWT. AS. HELL. Emotionally deep and drenched in the eroticism Rocha does so well, there was a rushed feel to the whole set up so at times I was uncomfortable watching them.
“Not having you is bad. Not getting to keep you would be worse.”
The war and the more indepth look at the different sectors, their roles, and the people who inhabit them is what really held my attention in this installment. This has been a long reaching arc and we are finally getting to see the sectors go to battle against Eden. Either they will win or die trying but surrender is not an option. There is no turning back for the O’Kanes. They are the backbone of this war and so much depends on them. Never has the weight of responsibility ever been so heavy as it is resting on the shoulders of Dallas and Lex. As we all know that Rocha is planning a spin-off so characters from that coming series all come out to play, giving us hints and clues to what is in store or us. Muy excited. ASHWIN!!! *thud*
“Let’s see how those fancy motherfuckers like the dark.”
While Beyond Ecstasy isn’t my favorite installment in regards to the romance, the main conflict and the strong arc advancements help to balance that out. I look forward *SOB* to the final book in this series and to what Rocha has in store for us next.
Grade: C+
Favorite Quote: “No rules except for the ones we make.”
Mandi: While we do see the darker side of this war in this book, I did wish we had seen more of it. More action, more violence – been immersed in the darkness for longer.
But I enjoyed going to Sector six and meeting Hawk’s very (very) large family. The threat imposed on the farmers was alarming and their dedication to their sector and the frustration of making them give that up tugged at my heart.
I was saddened to learn that this was the next to last book in this series, but then so excited to discover not only is Ryder and Nessa next (omg I love them already) but we get a spin-off series to look forward to.
“Nessa, this is Ryder, the guy who took over Five. And this is Nessa.”
Of course he was. Of course he fucking was, because if her hormones were anything, they were reliably self-destructive. Why fall for a nice, boring boy loyal to Sector Four when she could get the hots for a guy Dallas still didn’t entirely trust, a guy so dangerous he’d taken over Sector Five from the inside.
GIMME.
While this romance didn’t quite do it for me, I’m highly anticipating the final book. What a fun, erotic series this has been.
Grade: C+
May 30, 2016
Beyond Ecstasy is the eighth (and second to last!) book in the Beyond series so this review may contain spoilers for the series arc of the previous seven stories. This is definitely a series you want to read in order because as much as each book features a different main couple there is an ongoing storyline about the animosity between the people in the sectors and the rulers of Eden. Things have been getting gradually worse and now we're coming to the end of the series the stakes are higher than ever. War isn't just looming on the horizon, it's now arrived and that puts everyone we love at risk.
It's been obvious for a while now that Hawk and Jeni both have a thing for each other but no matter how many hints Jeni has dropped Hawk has avoided taking her up on her advances. He's been studying her from a distance and he knows everything about her, enough to know that he wants to claim her as his own, he just forgot one tiny detail - letting Jeni get to know him in return! With war looming Hawk knows if he doesn't make his move now he'll regret it but when he offers her a collar Jeni is completely shocked, it's come completely out of nowhere for her and she's not sure if she's ready to take such a huge step with a man she barely knows.
I have to admit that I felt things were initially a little rushed between the two of them, they go from zero to sixty in no time at all and although we've seen them admiring each other from afar for several books now I didn't think they were ready to jump into such a serious relationship as fast as they did. Don't let that put you off though because I really enjoyed seeing them work out how to be a couple, they both made a lot of mistakes due to the fact that they jumped in so quickly and I was happy that they then had to take a step backwards and figure out where they went wrong. It made their relationship so much more realistic because they had to keep working at it even after they'd decided they wanted to be together. They came out the other side a much stronger couple because of the problems they had and I think they're pretty perfect for each other.
If you've ever read any of this series before then you'll know that the O'Kanes like to get down and dirty so Jeni and Hawk are no different, they touch on a little S&M (nothing too major - just spanking really) but more than anything they both get off on dominance and submission. In a lot of ways this was probably tamer than some of the other books in the series but there was still plenty of heat to it and I thought Jeni and Hawk had brilliant chemistry. Hawk was a very considerate lover and he took great care of Jeni so her safety was always a priority for him.
I enjoyed getting to meet more of Hawk's family, he's from sector six so his father had something like 10 wives and he has a huge number of siblings which was quite a scary thought. They seemed like a really close bunch though and we saw a completely different side of Hawk when he was around them. As always we got to spend plenty of time catching up with other O'Kane characters too, Jeni has quite a deep connection to several of the others and I loved the way they looked out for her and all wanted to help Hawk to understand what she needed.
War has been brewing between the sectors and Eden for a long time now but the danger has definitely ramped up in this book, the sense of fear in Sector Four is palpable but so is the sense of hope for the future. These are characters who know exactly what they want to achieve and they are prepared to do whatever it takes to meet that goal. They know they will be putting their lives at risk and that's something that weighs heavily, particularly on sector leaders Dallas and Lex, but they've been stockpiling medicines, food and weapons and they're as ready for what's coming as possible. The stakes have never been higher but they have no other option but to fight.
This series has just been so much fun to read and I can't wait to get my hands on the final book. I'm also incredibly relieved that Kit Rocha has announced the spin off series because I'm really not ready to say goodbye to this world yet!
It's been obvious for a while now that Hawk and Jeni both have a thing for each other but no matter how many hints Jeni has dropped Hawk has avoided taking her up on her advances. He's been studying her from a distance and he knows everything about her, enough to know that he wants to claim her as his own, he just forgot one tiny detail - letting Jeni get to know him in return! With war looming Hawk knows if he doesn't make his move now he'll regret it but when he offers her a collar Jeni is completely shocked, it's come completely out of nowhere for her and she's not sure if she's ready to take such a huge step with a man she barely knows.
I have to admit that I felt things were initially a little rushed between the two of them, they go from zero to sixty in no time at all and although we've seen them admiring each other from afar for several books now I didn't think they were ready to jump into such a serious relationship as fast as they did. Don't let that put you off though because I really enjoyed seeing them work out how to be a couple, they both made a lot of mistakes due to the fact that they jumped in so quickly and I was happy that they then had to take a step backwards and figure out where they went wrong. It made their relationship so much more realistic because they had to keep working at it even after they'd decided they wanted to be together. They came out the other side a much stronger couple because of the problems they had and I think they're pretty perfect for each other.
If you've ever read any of this series before then you'll know that the O'Kanes like to get down and dirty so Jeni and Hawk are no different, they touch on a little S&M (nothing too major - just spanking really) but more than anything they both get off on dominance and submission. In a lot of ways this was probably tamer than some of the other books in the series but there was still plenty of heat to it and I thought Jeni and Hawk had brilliant chemistry. Hawk was a very considerate lover and he took great care of Jeni so her safety was always a priority for him.
I enjoyed getting to meet more of Hawk's family, he's from sector six so his father had something like 10 wives and he has a huge number of siblings which was quite a scary thought. They seemed like a really close bunch though and we saw a completely different side of Hawk when he was around them. As always we got to spend plenty of time catching up with other O'Kane characters too, Jeni has quite a deep connection to several of the others and I loved the way they looked out for her and all wanted to help Hawk to understand what she needed.
War has been brewing between the sectors and Eden for a long time now but the danger has definitely ramped up in this book, the sense of fear in Sector Four is palpable but so is the sense of hope for the future. These are characters who know exactly what they want to achieve and they are prepared to do whatever it takes to meet that goal. They know they will be putting their lives at risk and that's something that weighs heavily, particularly on sector leaders Dallas and Lex, but they've been stockpiling medicines, food and weapons and they're as ready for what's coming as possible. The stakes have never been higher but they have no other option but to fight.
This series has just been so much fun to read and I can't wait to get my hands on the final book. I'm also incredibly relieved that Kit Rocha has announced the spin off series because I'm really not ready to say goodbye to this world yet!
June 15, 2016
Beyond Ecstasy is the 8th full novel in the Beyond series, which is getting close to its exciting conclusion – though no worries for long time fans, there is a spin off in the works that promises to be just as erotic and intense as this series has been. If you haven’t read the series yet, you’ll want to start at the beginning as the world building is a continuous story arc throughout, even though each novel has focused on a complete romance between two (or more) characters. And it’s impossible to review this story without giving away some of the previous events that have happened, so there are a few spoilers from previous books in this review.
A war between Eden and the Sectors is looming. Eden has fired several salvos already, including electrifying the wall surrounding it and bombing Sector 3. Dallas and his O’Kane brethren have been expecting things to happen so they aren’t wholly unprepared. To that end, Dallas has been solidifying power, and making alliances with the current leaders of the other Sectors. Sector 6 is Hawk’s home, and the agricultural heart of what remains of this pocket of civilization. Though Hawk is an O’Kane now through and through, he knows that to beat Eden at their own game he has to convince his mother and other families in Sector 6 to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice, with the intention of salting and burning the fields during their retreat so that Eden will not get their bounty. Hawk’s had his eye on Jeni, a former daughter of Eden and a bona fide city girl for some time. She’s like the rest of the O’Kane women, comfortable with her sexuality and her place in Sector 4. She’s gently rebuffed Hawk’s advances, concerned about breaking his heart when she’d only be interested in sex, but time is running out now. Hawk’s not going to give up his idea of having her permanently in his life, and Jeni is fully aware of how precarious that life is. Amidst the chaos of preparation for war, can these two find the strength to make a bond that will last?
This story is more of a traditional romance (if one can say that of any romance in the Beyond world) with its focus mostly on Hawk and Jeni and the complicated nature of their relationship. It’s a boy meets girl, boy collars girl, boy and girl fight, boy and girl make up story, in a nutshell, but with lots of twists and turns and dirty sex along the way. Hawk and Jeni go about things a little backwards than a typical relationship. Instead of spending time getting to know each other well, they leap head first into a dominance and submission relationship where Jeni accepts Hawk’s collar and all that it means, without understanding what that will look like in reality. Hawk is a one woman man, and that woman is Jeni, and though she readily admits she wants to be that woman for Hawk, the desperation of the times results in rash decisions that don’t go as hoped. With the exception of one threesome scene the sex is monogamous between the two, and they each get something out of the power situation that turns them on. But there comes a point in the story where the choices they each have to make could spell the end for them as a couple.
As always, we get some chapters and viewpoints from different characters, as a bit of a tease for what’s to come. I love seeing those glimpses of the world from other eyes than the main couple. The previous story and this one have moved the plot forward in leaps and bounds so that it’s a real page turning, nail biting scenario as the second half of the story plays out. I don’t want to spoil the story, but visits to Sector 6 are a main part of the plot and more fallout from Eden’s electrified wall and the consequences of that reverberate for our band of brothers. There were several times I was reading with my heart in my mouth, and I was glad to get to the end of the story, and a happy ending for Hawk and Jeni. I can’t wait to get to the exciting finale! 4.5 stars.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the authors for review
This review appears as a blog post at: https://straightshootinbookreviews.co...
A war between Eden and the Sectors is looming. Eden has fired several salvos already, including electrifying the wall surrounding it and bombing Sector 3. Dallas and his O’Kane brethren have been expecting things to happen so they aren’t wholly unprepared. To that end, Dallas has been solidifying power, and making alliances with the current leaders of the other Sectors. Sector 6 is Hawk’s home, and the agricultural heart of what remains of this pocket of civilization. Though Hawk is an O’Kane now through and through, he knows that to beat Eden at their own game he has to convince his mother and other families in Sector 6 to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice, with the intention of salting and burning the fields during their retreat so that Eden will not get their bounty. Hawk’s had his eye on Jeni, a former daughter of Eden and a bona fide city girl for some time. She’s like the rest of the O’Kane women, comfortable with her sexuality and her place in Sector 4. She’s gently rebuffed Hawk’s advances, concerned about breaking his heart when she’d only be interested in sex, but time is running out now. Hawk’s not going to give up his idea of having her permanently in his life, and Jeni is fully aware of how precarious that life is. Amidst the chaos of preparation for war, can these two find the strength to make a bond that will last?
This story is more of a traditional romance (if one can say that of any romance in the Beyond world) with its focus mostly on Hawk and Jeni and the complicated nature of their relationship. It’s a boy meets girl, boy collars girl, boy and girl fight, boy and girl make up story, in a nutshell, but with lots of twists and turns and dirty sex along the way. Hawk and Jeni go about things a little backwards than a typical relationship. Instead of spending time getting to know each other well, they leap head first into a dominance and submission relationship where Jeni accepts Hawk’s collar and all that it means, without understanding what that will look like in reality. Hawk is a one woman man, and that woman is Jeni, and though she readily admits she wants to be that woman for Hawk, the desperation of the times results in rash decisions that don’t go as hoped. With the exception of one threesome scene the sex is monogamous between the two, and they each get something out of the power situation that turns them on. But there comes a point in the story where the choices they each have to make could spell the end for them as a couple.
As always, we get some chapters and viewpoints from different characters, as a bit of a tease for what’s to come. I love seeing those glimpses of the world from other eyes than the main couple. The previous story and this one have moved the plot forward in leaps and bounds so that it’s a real page turning, nail biting scenario as the second half of the story plays out. I don’t want to spoil the story, but visits to Sector 6 are a main part of the plot and more fallout from Eden’s electrified wall and the consequences of that reverberate for our band of brothers. There were several times I was reading with my heart in my mouth, and I was glad to get to the end of the story, and a happy ending for Hawk and Jeni. I can’t wait to get to the exciting finale! 4.5 stars.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the authors for review
This review appears as a blog post at: https://straightshootinbookreviews.co...
May 24, 2016
After the way BEYOND RUIN ended plot-wise I was chomping at the bit for the next installment in the Beyond series and when teasers dropped on Twitter hinted at the book being finished a few weeks ago (much much sooner than I was expecting based on the wait between book 6 and 7) I was over the moon. When I woke up to an early copy in my inbox a week before release I did a happy dance (yes, lying down...in bed).
BEYOND ECSTASY starts right after BEYOND RUIN ended and drops you smack dab in the middle of the political plot. It's the story of Hawk and Jeni and though both characters hadn't been screaming at me from the secondary character gallery as loud as others have before, they were a couple that quickly took center stage in this book and definitely earned my fangirlship.
After the complicated multi-person relationship in the previous book, with Hawk and Jeni it sort of went back to basics: a romance between two people, a farm boy and a city girl, that was still far from smooth and easy as they both have issues, upbringing and traditions they bring into the relationship. But also, true to the series as I'm used by Kit Rocha it was kinky with a strong D/s vibe and plenty dirty sexy.
I always enjoy the secondary cast in the Beyond books and in this one Nessa especially attracted my attention. I love how open and unfiltered she is and I can't wait for her full story. But let's not forget Gia. Another character (like Hawk) who kinda slipped under the radar, especially in the last, most recent book where the focus was on the foursome main characters and the huge development in the plot. I want Gia to find her HEA and have to check if she's already mentioned in the spoilers for upcoming books.
The plot, as always, was fabulous! Ongoing from the previous books it gave way to the romance in the first part of the book only to explode towards the end of the book. So many 'aha' and 'omg' moments but I was also crossing fingers for none of my beloved characters to die because it is war and there will be casualties. And there were... (and that's all I'm saying about it)
BEYOND ECSTASY was another brilliant entry in this series that has taken root at the top of my favorite series list. The writing is flawless, the characters are amazing, the sexy times are scorching and the ongoing plot just keeps getting better and better. What more can a romance reader ask for? (The next book of course!)
Favorite Quotes:
She threw her head back like she was going to scream, so he started to cover her mouth, but all she did was breathe his name, one syllable wrapped in a whispering sigh and a groan of sheer, absolute relief.
She struggled up onto her elbows. “You're still wearing pants.” Christ, she sounded as dizzy and giddy as she felt. “Unacceptable.”
Hawk rose and tugged his belt open with a slow smile. “Are you ready for what happens when I'm not?”
“Nope.” She inched back, making room for him on their makeshift bed. “Take 'em off anyway.”
His lips curved up. “I'm not. I'm just the luckiest man in the world. Because you trust me.”
“Yes, I do.” Jeni snuggled closer, curling against his chest. “With my life.”
Her life. Her body. So much already, but Hawk was greedy. Selfish.
And he was after her heart.
This was the part no one outside these walls could ever understand. O'Kanes didn't bend, didn't break. They were stronger than steel because they held one another up. If one of them needed help, their brothers and sisters would step in and shoulder some of the load.
It was unspoken, understood. Whether they were at war with other sectors or the city or no one at all, they stood together.
BEYOND ECSTASY starts right after BEYOND RUIN ended and drops you smack dab in the middle of the political plot. It's the story of Hawk and Jeni and though both characters hadn't been screaming at me from the secondary character gallery as loud as others have before, they were a couple that quickly took center stage in this book and definitely earned my fangirlship.
After the complicated multi-person relationship in the previous book, with Hawk and Jeni it sort of went back to basics: a romance between two people, a farm boy and a city girl, that was still far from smooth and easy as they both have issues, upbringing and traditions they bring into the relationship. But also, true to the series as I'm used by Kit Rocha it was kinky with a strong D/s vibe and plenty dirty sexy.
I always enjoy the secondary cast in the Beyond books and in this one Nessa especially attracted my attention. I love how open and unfiltered she is and I can't wait for her full story. But let's not forget Gia. Another character (like Hawk) who kinda slipped under the radar, especially in the last, most recent book where the focus was on the foursome main characters and the huge development in the plot. I want Gia to find her HEA and have to check if she's already mentioned in the spoilers for upcoming books.
The plot, as always, was fabulous! Ongoing from the previous books it gave way to the romance in the first part of the book only to explode towards the end of the book. So many 'aha' and 'omg' moments but I was also crossing fingers for none of my beloved characters to die because it is war and there will be casualties. And there were... (and that's all I'm saying about it)
BEYOND ECSTASY was another brilliant entry in this series that has taken root at the top of my favorite series list. The writing is flawless, the characters are amazing, the sexy times are scorching and the ongoing plot just keeps getting better and better. What more can a romance reader ask for? (The next book of course!)
Favorite Quotes:
She threw her head back like she was going to scream, so he started to cover her mouth, but all she did was breathe his name, one syllable wrapped in a whispering sigh and a groan of sheer, absolute relief.
She struggled up onto her elbows. “You're still wearing pants.” Christ, she sounded as dizzy and giddy as she felt. “Unacceptable.”
Hawk rose and tugged his belt open with a slow smile. “Are you ready for what happens when I'm not?”
“Nope.” She inched back, making room for him on their makeshift bed. “Take 'em off anyway.”
His lips curved up. “I'm not. I'm just the luckiest man in the world. Because you trust me.”
“Yes, I do.” Jeni snuggled closer, curling against his chest. “With my life.”
Her life. Her body. So much already, but Hawk was greedy. Selfish.
And he was after her heart.
This was the part no one outside these walls could ever understand. O'Kanes didn't bend, didn't break. They were stronger than steel because they held one another up. If one of them needed help, their brothers and sisters would step in and shoulder some of the load.
It was unspoken, understood. Whether they were at war with other sectors or the city or no one at all, they stood together.
May 7, 2017
Beyond Ecstasy is book 8 in the Beyond series by Kit Rocha and while I am sad to see that this series is nearing the end, I was super excited to read this book and have no doubts that I can’t wait to get my hands on the final book when it comes out.
One of my favorite things about this series is that Rocha does a wonderful job of moving the story of the war with Eden forward but not veering away from the characters and their own personal stories. I also love that despite how many characters there are throughout this story I’m not bogged down with them.
Ecstasy focuses on Hawk and Jeni as the primary characters but I was glad to get glimpses of Mad, Rachel, Lex, Dallas, and some of the others. To be honest, both Hawk and Jeni weren’t at the top of my mind as main characters in this series until the last few books but I’m glad we got the opportunity to learn more about them and see their relationship change. They have clearly been drawn to each other for a while but neither of them had been willing to take a leap of faith…until now. Both dive headfirst into their relationship and even though they know they are moving too quickly for the things they want from each other, they plunge forward.
Along with their new relationship, both Hawk and Jeni – along with all of those in the Sectors – are facing the imminent threat of war with Eden. I have to admit, this is the piece of the story that I am most excited to dive further into. For the last few books things have been getting more difficult with Eden and things have definitely come to a head in this book.
As the leaders of Sector Four, Dallas and Lex are forced to make decisions that all leaders have to when they are face to face with danger. Eden is definitely not taking anything for granted and Dallas and Lex are relying on every single person they trust within the sectors to help defeat Eden. They also know that there is a risk that there is a lot at stake…including the people they love and call family.
As the war moves forward, Hawk and Jeni find themselves right in the center of an attack and they are put in a situation that forces them to decide what they would be willing to give up to keep the other safe. This is where they both realize that their relationship is dangerous and they have to figure out what to do.
That’s about all I can say on this one without giving anything away. If anything, know that Kit Rocha has done a fantastic job of creating this entire series and if you are looking for a dystopian story with solid characters and erotica, definitely check this series out. I’m anxiously waiting to see what happens next for all of the sectors and the characters within.
Thank you to the authors for the review copy!
One of my favorite things about this series is that Rocha does a wonderful job of moving the story of the war with Eden forward but not veering away from the characters and their own personal stories. I also love that despite how many characters there are throughout this story I’m not bogged down with them.
Ecstasy focuses on Hawk and Jeni as the primary characters but I was glad to get glimpses of Mad, Rachel, Lex, Dallas, and some of the others. To be honest, both Hawk and Jeni weren’t at the top of my mind as main characters in this series until the last few books but I’m glad we got the opportunity to learn more about them and see their relationship change. They have clearly been drawn to each other for a while but neither of them had been willing to take a leap of faith…until now. Both dive headfirst into their relationship and even though they know they are moving too quickly for the things they want from each other, they plunge forward.
Along with their new relationship, both Hawk and Jeni – along with all of those in the Sectors – are facing the imminent threat of war with Eden. I have to admit, this is the piece of the story that I am most excited to dive further into. For the last few books things have been getting more difficult with Eden and things have definitely come to a head in this book.
As the leaders of Sector Four, Dallas and Lex are forced to make decisions that all leaders have to when they are face to face with danger. Eden is definitely not taking anything for granted and Dallas and Lex are relying on every single person they trust within the sectors to help defeat Eden. They also know that there is a risk that there is a lot at stake…including the people they love and call family.
As the war moves forward, Hawk and Jeni find themselves right in the center of an attack and they are put in a situation that forces them to decide what they would be willing to give up to keep the other safe. This is where they both realize that their relationship is dangerous and they have to figure out what to do.
That’s about all I can say on this one without giving anything away. If anything, know that Kit Rocha has done a fantastic job of creating this entire series and if you are looking for a dystopian story with solid characters and erotica, definitely check this series out. I’m anxiously waiting to see what happens next for all of the sectors and the characters within.
Thank you to the authors for the review copy!
May 30, 2016
Java Girl's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
Hawk has stayed quietly in the background of the O’Kane’s world, so I wasn't sure what to expect from him. But now that I've come to know him, he's shot straight to the top of my list of favorite O’Kanes. He’s somewhat old-fashioned and sweet, but still crazy hot! He grew up in the farms of Sector 6, and is most comfortable planting, growing, building, and repairing things--qualities that appeal to me. He's a protector, and traditional, family and commitment are important to him. Beyond Ecstasy is the closest to a traditional romance in this series, and somewhat tame compared to the rest of the Beyond series. Don't worry, ‘tame’ is a relative term--there's still plenty of the hot, sexy times we’ve come to expect from Kit Rocha. Hawk has a dark, dominant side that he hasn't fully accepted due to persistent worries leftover from his childhood experiences, and he and Jeni fit perfectly together. BDSM doesn't often appeal to me, I don't seek it out in my choice of books, I’ll read it in a favorite series or when written by a favorite author, but there was something about the way it was handled in Beyond Ecstasy that I found interesting. I can't put my finger on it, but something in Kit Rocha’s words made me look at this type of relationship with a new set of eyes. I found Jeni smart, strong, and capable of far more than I expected. From the glimpses of Jeni we’ve seen in the past, I would never have guessed at her hidden depths. The new facets to her character felt authentic, not forced or convenient to the plot, but simply, a side of her we hadn't seen before.
Even though Hawk has hung back, watching Jeni for months, their relationship moves quickly due to the impending war with Eden. The tension and uncertainty affects everyone in Sector 4, Jeni and Hawk are no exception. Kit Rocha really painted a picture of a group of people barely holding on, yet trying to carry on with a semblance of normalcy while waiting for Eden’s next move. I was anxiously awaiting the war, but in the end, I found it a bit anti-climactic. After Eden’s initial attack, it disappeared into the background, which felt off to me, a bit like a rush to tie up loose ends. This book does a great job of setting up the series finale in the next book, as well as the new spin-off series. As always, I'm anxiously and impatiently waiting to see what happens next.
Note: Beyond Ecstasy is not a standalone. This is a series that needs to be read from the very beginning, and in order.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
Hawk has stayed quietly in the background of the O’Kane’s world, so I wasn't sure what to expect from him. But now that I've come to know him, he's shot straight to the top of my list of favorite O’Kanes. He’s somewhat old-fashioned and sweet, but still crazy hot! He grew up in the farms of Sector 6, and is most comfortable planting, growing, building, and repairing things--qualities that appeal to me. He's a protector, and traditional, family and commitment are important to him. Beyond Ecstasy is the closest to a traditional romance in this series, and somewhat tame compared to the rest of the Beyond series. Don't worry, ‘tame’ is a relative term--there's still plenty of the hot, sexy times we’ve come to expect from Kit Rocha. Hawk has a dark, dominant side that he hasn't fully accepted due to persistent worries leftover from his childhood experiences, and he and Jeni fit perfectly together. BDSM doesn't often appeal to me, I don't seek it out in my choice of books, I’ll read it in a favorite series or when written by a favorite author, but there was something about the way it was handled in Beyond Ecstasy that I found interesting. I can't put my finger on it, but something in Kit Rocha’s words made me look at this type of relationship with a new set of eyes. I found Jeni smart, strong, and capable of far more than I expected. From the glimpses of Jeni we’ve seen in the past, I would never have guessed at her hidden depths. The new facets to her character felt authentic, not forced or convenient to the plot, but simply, a side of her we hadn't seen before.
Even though Hawk has hung back, watching Jeni for months, their relationship moves quickly due to the impending war with Eden. The tension and uncertainty affects everyone in Sector 4, Jeni and Hawk are no exception. Kit Rocha really painted a picture of a group of people barely holding on, yet trying to carry on with a semblance of normalcy while waiting for Eden’s next move. I was anxiously awaiting the war, but in the end, I found it a bit anti-climactic. After Eden’s initial attack, it disappeared into the background, which felt off to me, a bit like a rush to tie up loose ends. This book does a great job of setting up the series finale in the next book, as well as the new spin-off series. As always, I'm anxiously and impatiently waiting to see what happens next.
Note: Beyond Ecstasy is not a standalone. This is a series that needs to be read from the very beginning, and in order.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
May 29, 2016
4.5 awesome stars I feel like there is nothing I can say to do this book justice. Kit Rocha has created a world that can be brutal and gritty yet also creating an undercurrent of determination to survive, overwhelming loyalty, and above all Love for each other.
This latest book was Pulse-pounding!! It's been coming and now the war with Eden is here. The sectors are dealing with the unknown and a potential bleak situation is a reality.
Do you think the O'Kanes will go down without a fight? Hell No! It's On!
This book had the right mix of everything sexy and wild and also laced with danger. Being able to visit the other sectors and finding out how they lived their lives really added to this story. I'm so curious to find out more about them.
I loved Hawk from the beginning. I knew there was a lot brewing underneath that stoic exterior and exposing what drove him was slow but satisfying in the end. He was a gentle soul. His desperation to hold on to Jeni and protect his family was overwhelming at times and made my heart hurt.
Jeni felt like a chameleon to me. Creating a person to adjust to the life around her was interesting. It took me a bit to really understand her but as the story moved along and her feelings for Hawk were spotlighted, her finding her footing was wonderful to see. I cheered her and her decisions, even if they were heartbreaking.
There were so many layers to both Hawk and Jeni. Little by little as layers were peeled away, you got a taste of their fears and their vulnerability. Together they were electric. True to form Kit gave me what I love about this series-smoking-hot sexy moments that can always make me blush. Of course I soak it up every time.
In the midst of this love story, so many other issues were blowing up around them. So many moving parts with more surprises to come.
Buckle up, immerse yourself in the O'Kane world and enjoy this Wild ride.
ARC received from Kit Rocha in exchange for an honest review. Thank You!
Review closer to release date.
This latest book was Pulse-pounding!! It's been coming and now the war with Eden is here. The sectors are dealing with the unknown and a potential bleak situation is a reality.
Do you think the O'Kanes will go down without a fight? Hell No! It's On!
This book had the right mix of everything sexy and wild and also laced with danger. Being able to visit the other sectors and finding out how they lived their lives really added to this story. I'm so curious to find out more about them.
I loved Hawk from the beginning. I knew there was a lot brewing underneath that stoic exterior and exposing what drove him was slow but satisfying in the end. He was a gentle soul. His desperation to hold on to Jeni and protect his family was overwhelming at times and made my heart hurt.
Jeni felt like a chameleon to me. Creating a person to adjust to the life around her was interesting. It took me a bit to really understand her but as the story moved along and her feelings for Hawk were spotlighted, her finding her footing was wonderful to see. I cheered her and her decisions, even if they were heartbreaking.
There were so many layers to both Hawk and Jeni. Little by little as layers were peeled away, you got a taste of their fears and their vulnerability. Together they were electric. True to form Kit gave me what I love about this series-smoking-hot sexy moments that can always make me blush. Of course I soak it up every time.
In the midst of this love story, so many other issues were blowing up around them. So many moving parts with more surprises to come.
Buckle up, immerse yourself in the O'Kane world and enjoy this Wild ride.
ARC received from Kit Rocha in exchange for an honest review. Thank You!
Review closer to release date.
May 23, 2016
Well, Holy-Fucking-Hell.
If that wasn’t an O’Kane style ride of a lifetime, I don’t know what would be, and it wasn’t even the true finale, just that push that was finally needed for the true beginning of the end to start.
After finishing Beyond Ruin I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Beyond Ecstasy, while at the same time I didn’t want it to drop into my greedy little hands so soon. It was a true catch 22 situation because I needed to know what was going to happen after the lights went out, but knowing would mean that we were that much closer to the end of the series and that wasn’t, and still isn’t even though I know it’s not really ending, something I could stomach. But despite the struggle I dove into Beyond Ecstasy and loved what the amazing duo behind Kit Rocha cooked up for us.
I really liked Jeni and Hawk and how their romance progressed. Jeni is a true O’Kane woman. Strong, determined, sassy and owns her sexuality. She has a little unknown talent that I thought was pretty damn cool and loved how it was utilized to help out the family. Then there is Hawk. Though his is now an O’Kane, he is very much that boy who grew up in Sector Six and is still learning how to deal with the world of the O’Kane’s, especially when it comes to the women. But he figures it out and proves that he can hang with the best of the O’Kane’s. The road to their HEA was an interesting one. It was filled with all the dirty, panty melting, no holds barred sex that we’ve come to love from the O’Kane’s but also with a lot of heart as they both stumble a bit to understand the draw they have to each other and how to make things work while preparing for their world to explode.
This book was just a taste of what the war between Eden and Sectors will come to and they did not pull any punches. There were a few things that happened that had me re reading because I couldn’t believe it happened, but as they’ve said “This is war” and that ending made me grin. But what I loved the most, and the reason why I’ve always loved this series, was being able to catch up with all of the O’Kane’s and seeing where they are all at and how they are doing. They are a family and it shows as they love and look out for each other, pick on one another as siblings would and work together prepare for war.
~ ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review ~
If that wasn’t an O’Kane style ride of a lifetime, I don’t know what would be, and it wasn’t even the true finale, just that push that was finally needed for the true beginning of the end to start.
After finishing Beyond Ruin I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Beyond Ecstasy, while at the same time I didn’t want it to drop into my greedy little hands so soon. It was a true catch 22 situation because I needed to know what was going to happen after the lights went out, but knowing would mean that we were that much closer to the end of the series and that wasn’t, and still isn’t even though I know it’s not really ending, something I could stomach. But despite the struggle I dove into Beyond Ecstasy and loved what the amazing duo behind Kit Rocha cooked up for us.
I really liked Jeni and Hawk and how their romance progressed. Jeni is a true O’Kane woman. Strong, determined, sassy and owns her sexuality. She has a little unknown talent that I thought was pretty damn cool and loved how it was utilized to help out the family. Then there is Hawk. Though his is now an O’Kane, he is very much that boy who grew up in Sector Six and is still learning how to deal with the world of the O’Kane’s, especially when it comes to the women. But he figures it out and proves that he can hang with the best of the O’Kane’s. The road to their HEA was an interesting one. It was filled with all the dirty, panty melting, no holds barred sex that we’ve come to love from the O’Kane’s but also with a lot of heart as they both stumble a bit to understand the draw they have to each other and how to make things work while preparing for their world to explode.
This book was just a taste of what the war between Eden and Sectors will come to and they did not pull any punches. There were a few things that happened that had me re reading because I couldn’t believe it happened, but as they’ve said “This is war” and that ending made me grin. But what I loved the most, and the reason why I’ve always loved this series, was being able to catch up with all of the O’Kane’s and seeing where they are all at and how they are doing. They are a family and it shows as they love and look out for each other, pick on one another as siblings would and work together prepare for war.
~ ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review ~
June 12, 2016
Reviewed for: Where the Night Kind Roam
I have mixed feelings on this book, on one hand i felt it was a bit short on the plot line the first 75% of the book was leading up to something but mostly contained a lot of sex. Not that I minded the sex, it was pretty hot; although, not a kinky as we are used to from Kit Rocha, but still good. But not much else happened. We got to visit sector six where Hawk's family is and I really enjoyed that glimpse into that sector. Hawk was super sweet and knew what he wanted and went after it. I liked Jeni as well for the most part. She's not a new character but not much was known about her and I feel like we know her better now. I dont think she was as developed as she could have been but what we know, I liked.
The last part of the book is where things started to happen. We've building up to war for the past few books and the wait is finally over as Eden finally makes the move we've been waiting for. There are a few heartbreaking moments that had me tearing up on a plane while surrounded by strangers that were probably looking at me crazy like but it couldn't be helped. There are some good moments, there are some bad moments; however, pretty much all the important stuff is jammed into that last 25% or so. I really feel like the pacing of this book was way off. This is the second to the last book for the OKanes and Im really going to be sad when this arc is over but rest assured, we aren't leaving the sectors altogether we'll just be moving on to a new one. Tho next up we still have Nessa! Poor girl hasn't gotten any play in any of the previous books.
I have mixed feelings on this book, on one hand i felt it was a bit short on the plot line the first 75% of the book was leading up to something but mostly contained a lot of sex. Not that I minded the sex, it was pretty hot; although, not a kinky as we are used to from Kit Rocha, but still good. But not much else happened. We got to visit sector six where Hawk's family is and I really enjoyed that glimpse into that sector. Hawk was super sweet and knew what he wanted and went after it. I liked Jeni as well for the most part. She's not a new character but not much was known about her and I feel like we know her better now. I dont think she was as developed as she could have been but what we know, I liked.
The last part of the book is where things started to happen. We've building up to war for the past few books and the wait is finally over as Eden finally makes the move we've been waiting for. There are a few heartbreaking moments that had me tearing up on a plane while surrounded by strangers that were probably looking at me crazy like but it couldn't be helped. There are some good moments, there are some bad moments; however, pretty much all the important stuff is jammed into that last 25% or so. I really feel like the pacing of this book was way off. This is the second to the last book for the OKanes and Im really going to be sad when this arc is over but rest assured, we aren't leaving the sectors altogether we'll just be moving on to a new one. Tho next up we still have Nessa! Poor girl hasn't gotten any play in any of the previous books.
June 15, 2016
Received an ARC of this.
I'm so sad that this is the second to last installment but it was definitely another 5 star read from Kit Rocha. I'm going to miss this world. The authors have done such an amazing job with world-building and character development. In this book, we have Hawk and Jeni's story. I have to admit I wasn't sure how much I was going to enjoy their romance but I was very surprised. I laughed, I cried, I yelled, all the things you want in a good book. I wait for book 9 and yet do not want it to come out because it will be like saying goodbye to an old friend. A really hot old friend.
War is coming and it is not going to be pretty.
I'm so sad that this is the second to last installment but it was definitely another 5 star read from Kit Rocha. I'm going to miss this world. The authors have done such an amazing job with world-building and character development. In this book, we have Hawk and Jeni's story. I have to admit I wasn't sure how much I was going to enjoy their romance but I was very surprised. I laughed, I cried, I yelled, all the things you want in a good book. I wait for book 9 and yet do not want it to come out because it will be like saying goodbye to an old friend. A really hot old friend.
War is coming and it is not going to be pretty.
July 22, 2017
Review originally posted at RabidReads.com.
4.5 stars
I can’t believe this is the second to last book in this series. I can’t imagine not having the O’Kanes. So much as happened through the past seven books leading up to this one. War has finally come.
If you’re not very familiar with this series, there’s Eden, which is where the elites live. They feel that they are special. They are also very puritan in their thinking. Then there’s the different sectors. Each sector has something that they specialize in. This series mostly follows Sector Four which makes whiskey. There’s also Sector Five which makes drugs (both medicinal and recreational). Section Six has farms, Sector Two has brothels and so on.
This series takes place in Sector Four following Dallas O’Kane and his group of O’Kanes. They are a group of extremely loyal family, where family is more than blood. Dallas doesn’t want to lead. He just wants to drink, have sex and party, but he protects what’s his. To do that, he must lead.
Throughout this series, we’ve seen the addition of several new O’Kanes, many who’ve imported in from different sectors. Hawk is no different. He came from Six. He was raised on the farms with a mother who wasn’t much older than he was. He also saw himself as a protector for his many stepmothers and sisters. On the farms, men would take several wive and have as many children as possible to help on the farm.
Jeni had worked with Gia at the brothel for a while. She’s originally from Eden. Then she ends up working for Dallas as a dancer. I love how she becomes so much more than just a dancer. She works with Noelle to help with the war.
This romance was a very sweet one. Probably the sweetest one of the series. Hawk is a sweetheart and very protective. That isn’t to say that the other O’Kanes aren’t protective, they are. He is just protective in a different way. He is less alpha dog and more sweet about it. You can see it in the way he cares for Jeni’s needs and the way he cares for his mother and sisters. I also love how Jeni turns him down for all the right reasons. She wants to get to know him better before she takes his collar. She wants things her way. I love her strength to say no, even though you want him because it wasn’t right at the time. Especially with the war brewing.
While I enjoyed the romance of this story, it was the overall story arc that has been building for throughout the series that really has been chomping at the bit for this series. War with Eden is no longer on the horizon, it is here. This is something that everyone knew was coming. For some, they are glad the wait is over. For others, there are some really tough losses. This book had my eyes tearing up more than once, even for one character I never would’ve guessed that I would be upset to see dead.
This is a wonderful series that has amazing characters.The characters are really what makes this series one of my favorite series right now. Don’t get me wrong, I love the world that Kit Rocha built, but it is the characters that keep bringing me back. All of the O’Kanes and their strength and loyalty.
If you haven’t tried this series, I highly recommend it. You can pick up the first three books in the series, Beyond Series Bundle (Books 1-3) at the time of this posting free in ebook format. The audiobooks are wonderfully done too. I’ve listened to a few of them and I really like the narrator.
**Book was provided to me by the author. This review is my opinion and was not requested or provoked in anyway by the author.
4.5 stars
I can’t believe this is the second to last book in this series. I can’t imagine not having the O’Kanes. So much as happened through the past seven books leading up to this one. War has finally come.
If you’re not very familiar with this series, there’s Eden, which is where the elites live. They feel that they are special. They are also very puritan in their thinking. Then there’s the different sectors. Each sector has something that they specialize in. This series mostly follows Sector Four which makes whiskey. There’s also Sector Five which makes drugs (both medicinal and recreational). Section Six has farms, Sector Two has brothels and so on.
This series takes place in Sector Four following Dallas O’Kane and his group of O’Kanes. They are a group of extremely loyal family, where family is more than blood. Dallas doesn’t want to lead. He just wants to drink, have sex and party, but he protects what’s his. To do that, he must lead.
Throughout this series, we’ve seen the addition of several new O’Kanes, many who’ve imported in from different sectors. Hawk is no different. He came from Six. He was raised on the farms with a mother who wasn’t much older than he was. He also saw himself as a protector for his many stepmothers and sisters. On the farms, men would take several wive and have as many children as possible to help on the farm.
Jeni had worked with Gia at the brothel for a while. She’s originally from Eden. Then she ends up working for Dallas as a dancer. I love how she becomes so much more than just a dancer. She works with Noelle to help with the war.
This romance was a very sweet one. Probably the sweetest one of the series. Hawk is a sweetheart and very protective. That isn’t to say that the other O’Kanes aren’t protective, they are. He is just protective in a different way. He is less alpha dog and more sweet about it. You can see it in the way he cares for Jeni’s needs and the way he cares for his mother and sisters. I also love how Jeni turns him down for all the right reasons. She wants to get to know him better before she takes his collar. She wants things her way. I love her strength to say no, even though you want him because it wasn’t right at the time. Especially with the war brewing.
While I enjoyed the romance of this story, it was the overall story arc that has been building for throughout the series that really has been chomping at the bit for this series. War with Eden is no longer on the horizon, it is here. This is something that everyone knew was coming. For some, they are glad the wait is over. For others, there are some really tough losses. This book had my eyes tearing up more than once, even for one character I never would’ve guessed that I would be upset to see dead.
This is a wonderful series that has amazing characters.The characters are really what makes this series one of my favorite series right now. Don’t get me wrong, I love the world that Kit Rocha built, but it is the characters that keep bringing me back. All of the O’Kanes and their strength and loyalty.
If you haven’t tried this series, I highly recommend it. You can pick up the first three books in the series, Beyond Series Bundle (Books 1-3) at the time of this posting free in ebook format. The audiobooks are wonderfully done too. I’ve listened to a few of them and I really like the narrator.
The O’Kane’s didn’t just believe in the pleasure that came with power. They believed in the responsibility, too. For that, Hawk would follow them to hell. Maybe literally.
This was the part no one outside these walls could ever understand. O’Kane’s didn’t bend, didn’t break. They were stronger than steel because they held one another up. If one of them needed help, their brothers and sisters would step in and shoulder some of the load.
**Book was provided to me by the author. This review is my opinion and was not requested or provoked in anyway by the author.
January 3, 2017
Title: Beyond Ecstasy
Series: Beyond #8
Author: Kit Rocha
The next-to-last book in the bestselling BEYOND series...
The O’Kanes have a reputation for working hard and playing harder—except for Hawk. He joined the gang with one goal: to ensure his family’s survival through the impending war with Eden. It’s been years since he had the luxury of wanting anything for himself. Now, he wants Jeni. From the first moment he saw her, he’s been obsessed with making her his. Not for a night—forever.
Jeni’s been lusting after the former smuggler for months, but he keeps shutting her down. She’s almost given up on getting him in her bed when he offers her the last thing she ever expected—a collar. Accepting it means belonging to him, body and soul. It’s a reckless gamble, but Jeni can’t resist the chance to slip under Hawk’s armor.
The only thing more shocking than the dark, dangerous pleasure they discover is how right it feels. But falling in love is even more reckless when forever is far from guaranteed. Because they aren’t just at war, they’re out of time—and every breath could be their last.
Thoughts:
It's almost over!!! And that makes me so sad!! But at the same time - I HAVE to know what happens!! One more book to go and then I can sit back and reread them all one after the other all over again!!
Jeni is strong and independent she wants Hawk but is reluctant to take him on his terms. Hawk wants it all with Jeni, including forever. But with forever so hard to see with all the turmoil around them is their heat, chemistry, connection worth the risk?
Ummmm that would be a big fat YES!! Hawk is WOW... with his collar, his demands, his devotion and protection and his love... there are many, many highlighted parts in this kindle book that will be revisited... often!
This installment (really this whole series), in my opinion, is not really intended to be a standalone read. The whole series flows together from one tale to another and the characters are a family that we get to visit from one book to the next. The world that these 2 authors have created in their imaginations is brutal, caring, loving and feels so real to me at this point... I would recommend this series to everyone!
Quote:
“I love you, Jeni, with everything in me. All the bad parts and especially the good ones.”
Grade: A+
Review by: Jeananna
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
Series: Beyond #8
Author: Kit Rocha
The next-to-last book in the bestselling BEYOND series...
The O’Kanes have a reputation for working hard and playing harder—except for Hawk. He joined the gang with one goal: to ensure his family’s survival through the impending war with Eden. It’s been years since he had the luxury of wanting anything for himself. Now, he wants Jeni. From the first moment he saw her, he’s been obsessed with making her his. Not for a night—forever.
Jeni’s been lusting after the former smuggler for months, but he keeps shutting her down. She’s almost given up on getting him in her bed when he offers her the last thing she ever expected—a collar. Accepting it means belonging to him, body and soul. It’s a reckless gamble, but Jeni can’t resist the chance to slip under Hawk’s armor.
The only thing more shocking than the dark, dangerous pleasure they discover is how right it feels. But falling in love is even more reckless when forever is far from guaranteed. Because they aren’t just at war, they’re out of time—and every breath could be their last.
Thoughts:
It's almost over!!! And that makes me so sad!! But at the same time - I HAVE to know what happens!! One more book to go and then I can sit back and reread them all one after the other all over again!!
Jeni is strong and independent she wants Hawk but is reluctant to take him on his terms. Hawk wants it all with Jeni, including forever. But with forever so hard to see with all the turmoil around them is their heat, chemistry, connection worth the risk?
Ummmm that would be a big fat YES!! Hawk is WOW... with his collar, his demands, his devotion and protection and his love... there are many, many highlighted parts in this kindle book that will be revisited... often!
This installment (really this whole series), in my opinion, is not really intended to be a standalone read. The whole series flows together from one tale to another and the characters are a family that we get to visit from one book to the next. The world that these 2 authors have created in their imaginations is brutal, caring, loving and feels so real to me at this point... I would recommend this series to everyone!
Quote:
“I love you, Jeni, with everything in me. All the bad parts and especially the good ones.”
Grade: A+
Review by: Jeananna
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
May 18, 2017
I have strong but incredibly mixed feelings about this novel, the eighth and penultimate in the Beyond series.
The easiest way to tackle how mixed my feelings truly are is to break the story down into its three major components.
First, as an erotica, I'd give it three stars. Nothing about that aspect of the work is bad--I'm not sure this writing team is capable of producing sex scenes that aren't sexy--but nothing in it is new, either. The New Dom character is ground they already tread with Cruz in book 4, and while Hawk is more eager and less conflicted about his desires, it's not different enough to be notable.
Second, as a post-apocalyptic war novel, I'd give it four stars. The main plot of the series feels more or less like a backdrop in the earlier works, but here, it really steps forward, upping both the tension and the gruesomeness factor in ways I dig. This aspect also supports the third (but primary) thing this book is trying to accomplish...
...the romance. I was on board for the first 95% of the book, I really was. Hawk and Jeni grab at each other with both hands and cling for dear life, because time is truly short, and they both know it. Yes, their rush causes them to make some unwise choices, even knowingly--but characters have flaws, right? I was into it.
Then, after the crisis that tests them and turns into the possible end of their relationship, they both take a step back and consider if the mistakes are too big to fix. Okay, I'm still on board, this is entirely believable. But then they solve it by getting married? When the fundamental problem of their relationship is that they dove into it headfirst without consideration? WTF?!?
So my rating for this book as a romance is a measly one star. That ending ruined it for me. They didn't learn a thing, they didn't grow, they just decided they were going to be together because. And because is never a good enough reason.
The easiest way to tackle how mixed my feelings truly are is to break the story down into its three major components.
First, as an erotica, I'd give it three stars. Nothing about that aspect of the work is bad--I'm not sure this writing team is capable of producing sex scenes that aren't sexy--but nothing in it is new, either. The New Dom character is ground they already tread with Cruz in book 4, and while Hawk is more eager and less conflicted about his desires, it's not different enough to be notable.
Second, as a post-apocalyptic war novel, I'd give it four stars. The main plot of the series feels more or less like a backdrop in the earlier works, but here, it really steps forward, upping both the tension and the gruesomeness factor in ways I dig. This aspect also supports the third (but primary) thing this book is trying to accomplish...
...the romance. I was on board for the first 95% of the book, I really was. Hawk and Jeni grab at each other with both hands and cling for dear life, because time is truly short, and they both know it. Yes, their rush causes them to make some unwise choices, even knowingly--but characters have flaws, right? I was into it.
Then, after the crisis that tests them and turns into the possible end of their relationship, they both take a step back and consider if the mistakes are too big to fix. Okay, I'm still on board, this is entirely believable. But then they solve it by getting married? When the fundamental problem of their relationship is that they dove into it headfirst without consideration? WTF?!?
So my rating for this book as a romance is a measly one star. That ending ruined it for me. They didn't learn a thing, they didn't grow, they just decided they were going to be together because. And because is never a good enough reason.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2016
I absolutely adore the Beyond series from Kit Rocha. Beyond Ecstasy is the 8th book in the Beyond series and this series really needs to be read in order as the world builds and changes with each new book. Beyond Ecstasy picks up right where Beyond Ruin left off.
Eden has lobbed the first shot in the upcoming war by cutting power to the sectors and keeping everyone on pins and needles as to when the war will actually begin. I loved that in the midst of what will be an all out war, the O'Kanes are still for the most part business as usual. I adored we got to see glimpses of all my favorite couples...groups while still getting a new story for Hawk and Jeni. I will say I felt because of the impending war, Hawk and Jeni jumped in way too fast to their relationship, without really understanding what the other really needed. I knew they would have trouble before it was all said and done, as I didn't totally see them on the same page. I will say when their issues came to a head; I was way more emotionally involved that I felt I would be. I liked Hawk and Jeni as a couple, but didn't feel I connected as well to them as I had to others in the past. I did love they are both such strong characters and found their chemistry was hot, and actually felt like it got much better once they were finally honest about everything with each other.
Beyond Ecstasy also gave me more insight into each of the other sectors and how the sectors would work together in the war against Eden. I seriously was on the edge of my seat reading with each new shot. While I hate to see the Beyond series end, I absolutely can't wait to read how the war will play out between Eden and all my favorite characters.
Eden has lobbed the first shot in the upcoming war by cutting power to the sectors and keeping everyone on pins and needles as to when the war will actually begin. I loved that in the midst of what will be an all out war, the O'Kanes are still for the most part business as usual. I adored we got to see glimpses of all my favorite couples...groups while still getting a new story for Hawk and Jeni. I will say I felt because of the impending war, Hawk and Jeni jumped in way too fast to their relationship, without really understanding what the other really needed. I knew they would have trouble before it was all said and done, as I didn't totally see them on the same page. I will say when their issues came to a head; I was way more emotionally involved that I felt I would be. I liked Hawk and Jeni as a couple, but didn't feel I connected as well to them as I had to others in the past. I did love they are both such strong characters and found their chemistry was hot, and actually felt like it got much better once they were finally honest about everything with each other.
Beyond Ecstasy also gave me more insight into each of the other sectors and how the sectors would work together in the war against Eden. I seriously was on the edge of my seat reading with each new shot. While I hate to see the Beyond series end, I absolutely can't wait to read how the war will play out between Eden and all my favorite characters.
May 20, 2016
THIS BOOK, MAN! It made me all tense and worried and OMG! SO GOOD! I'm equal parts thrilled and terrified knowing there's only one more book in this series. The O'Kanes are electrifying and heartbreaking and the way they love with everything inside them makes me swoony. That said, they do deserve a measure of peace after how hard they'd scrapped to make things work in their world. Plus, Eden can suck it.
So. War has come. Eden has dropped the hammer (or turned on the electrified wall. Whatever.) and it's do or die for Dallas and his crew AND all the other sectors. That doesn't mean there's not time for relationships to bloom and sexy times to happen, though. Maybe the threat of what's in the very near future makes Jeni and Hawk a little more reckless than they would have been otherwise. Maybe under other circumstances they would have taken things a little slower. But they work with what they're given and, while it's not always a smooth ride, they build something.
Seriously, they have their share of bumps. Hawk blames himself for things out of his control. Jeni rushes in when she should pause and evaluate. But they try. And they love. And it's as explosive as any other O'Kane relationship.
Danger is always present (more so now than ever before) and the layers of rot within the upper levels of Eden are becoming more apparent by the day. Bad things are coming. Heck, bad things are here. But the O'Kanes (and the other sectors) are ready. They have to be.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
So. War has come. Eden has dropped the hammer (or turned on the electrified wall. Whatever.) and it's do or die for Dallas and his crew AND all the other sectors. That doesn't mean there's not time for relationships to bloom and sexy times to happen, though. Maybe the threat of what's in the very near future makes Jeni and Hawk a little more reckless than they would have been otherwise. Maybe under other circumstances they would have taken things a little slower. But they work with what they're given and, while it's not always a smooth ride, they build something.
Seriously, they have their share of bumps. Hawk blames himself for things out of his control. Jeni rushes in when she should pause and evaluate. But they try. And they love. And it's as explosive as any other O'Kane relationship.
Danger is always present (more so now than ever before) and the layers of rot within the upper levels of Eden are becoming more apparent by the day. Bad things are coming. Heck, bad things are here. But the O'Kanes (and the other sectors) are ready. They have to be.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
May 24, 2016
Let me tell you a little secret….when I first started this series it was purely for the smut factor. I heard how hot it was and I had to give it a try. And boy was I not disappointed. But what I wasn’t expecting was the story line that went along with all the smutty goodness. What makes this series even greater is the fact that story line gets better and better with each installment. Beyond Ecstasy is no exception. Hawk and Jeni’s story really tugged at my heart strings. I think this was the most emotional book in the series. The reader can really feel all the heartache, loss, desperation, determination and hope that these characters have. Not just with Hawk, Jeni, and the O’Kanes but all the people of the sectors. This book really revolves around the preparation and sacrifices people are making to get ready for the impending battle. Those sacrifices were really hard to read about at times. So when Eden comes knocking at their doors with war you want to step into your ereader and fight right along with them. I can only guess on how this story will end but I will say that with this book comes a tipping point. One, that I didn’t see coming. Without giving anything away all I’ll say is that Eden is in for a rude awakening and I can’t wait to see everything unfold in the next and final book. Which is really upsetting but all good things must come to an end.
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.**
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.**
July 4, 2016
Well...this one was a bit different from other books. Yes there was hot sex and violence, but the relationship between Hawk and Jeni had quiet tone to it. Both had been crushing on each other for quite some time. But when Hawk made a move he MADE a move, going straight to collar. I didn't think this would work, but it did. I think a great reason why it did is because they took the time to get to know each other after, it wasn't just all about sex. Hawk talked to her about what he thought the future looked like, a future where war was imminent. So when the war started it wasn't surprising. What was, was the length that both Hawk and Jeni would go to, to keep the other safe. It caused them to be at a crossroads of their relationship. I was glad that they were able to navigate it and come out stronger, knowing what was important.
May 31, 2016
Not my favorite of the series. Hawk and Jeni didn't do a lot for me.
Joint review with Tori coming this week
Joint review with Tori coming this week
March 11, 2018
I always describe this series as f*&(%^g to save the world. That's mostly because there is a lot of that going on in these books. The O'Kanes are cheerfully and joyously debauched and are perfectly happy to be that. But, they are also loyal, steadfast, stubborn, and determined. The O'Kanes want to win the war that they are going to have to fight so that they can get back to their life of drinking, partying, and fornicating.
Hawk came over from Sector 6. At first, he was there because he saw the writing on the wall and he knew that teaming up with Dallas O'Kane was going to be a good idea. Then, he started to believe in the man's vision and became an O'Kane.
Jeni was a high-class prostitute who likes pain and control. For a while, she was Dallas and Lex's pet, but that ended. However, she was still an O'Kane. Hawk has been watching her like, well, a hawk, but she's been watching him too.
Hawk and Jeni's story is the one that destroys me the most of all the couple stories, I think. They have a really hard road to walk to begin with, and then the pressure of the upcoming war doesn't help with anything. There are things in Hawk's background that could end up hurting them, and the choices they have to make are ones that could be incredibly difficult on a long-established relationship, let alone a brand new one like Hawk and Jeni's. This is just another great book in a fantastic series.
Hawk came over from Sector 6. At first, he was there because he saw the writing on the wall and he knew that teaming up with Dallas O'Kane was going to be a good idea. Then, he started to believe in the man's vision and became an O'Kane.
Jeni was a high-class prostitute who likes pain and control. For a while, she was Dallas and Lex's pet, but that ended. However, she was still an O'Kane. Hawk has been watching her like, well, a hawk, but she's been watching him too.
Hawk and Jeni's story is the one that destroys me the most of all the couple stories, I think. They have a really hard road to walk to begin with, and then the pressure of the upcoming war doesn't help with anything. There are things in Hawk's background that could end up hurting them, and the choices they have to make are ones that could be incredibly difficult on a long-established relationship, let alone a brand new one like Hawk and Jeni's. This is just another great book in a fantastic series.
November 3, 2020
Advance Review Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I received this ARC with a rush request to read and post a review ASAP, without a firm release date or pre-order/purchase links available. I was informed the book is in the final final editing stages and will release “very soon”…as in, within the next 7 to 10 days.
Was I up for the challenge?
Fuck, yeah I was!
*shoves all other books aside and shouts GIMME*
This next to last book of the series……my god.
Eden has cut out the lights to the sectors. Then they went and electrified their perimeter wall to fry the asses of any who dare get close.
It’s on.
War is imminent; brewing faster than whiskey distills.
Alliances have been made. Can they be trusted?
The city of Eden is full of cray cray egomaniacs. What the hell are they gonna do next?
Sector Leader Dallas O’Kane is stressed the fuck out.
Everyone is on a knife’s edge, knowing it’s not a matter of if…but when.
Every book of this series has been leading to these final moments, laying the groundwork along the way with layers of intricate details of betrayal and devotion. Everyone is trying to stay just one step ahead, trying to outsmart the idiots in power, trying to toss a few wrenches in their cogs, doing everything they can to survive to fight and love another day.
Sector Four has a successful reputation as a hedonistic, drunken playground of cage fights and raunchy public sex. What the outsiders don’t seem to get is that at the core, the members of the O’Kane gang have built their foundation on mutual trust and respect for all members. They love fiercely and openly. But make no mistake, if you wear the ink you’re part of a family -- probably better than the one you were born into in this post-flare world. You’d die to protect any of your brothers or sisters, and you’d die to prevent the evils of a corrupt Eden digging in their clutches any further.
Book Eight centers on Hawk and Jeni, they’ve been circling each other for ages with serious longing interest. Hawk finally takes his shot because the end of the world might be nigh, so why not? There’s no time for a slow and gentle courtship, it’s now or never, go big or…don’t bother.
Their relationship takes off like a rocket and Jeni’s a little apprehensive but along for the ride because at least it’s better to go out with a few more bangs than no bangs at all. (Dirty pun intended.) Also, she gets him. They fit. Their connection is strong in ways beyond sexual chemistry.
But…they didn’t exactly think this through. There’s more at stake, not only because of an uncertain future but a promise of trust made more powerful because of a collar and all that entails. Hawk has denied that side of himself so is sort of new to the scene. The gift of submission is a heady thing, does he truly deserve it? Can he give Jeni what she needs? And…can he keep her safe in bed and out?
Damn, this was a roller coaster. The kind I couldn’t tear my eyes away from for any longer than the hours I needed to sleep and work. I needed the answers to all my questions, now dammit.
When it counts, can Hawk put his trust and faith in Jeni to help pull them through? Can he stand back and allow her to use her talents to help the cause and save their lives?
It’s a little reckless, a lot gut-wrenching, a fuck-ton sexy, action-packed and thoroughly gripping.
And it’s good to be reminded this post-flare dystopian world manages to have sexy, silky lingerie and fuck-me heels, that it’s not all Mad Max raggedy scrappiness in our future. That’s important information for this sometimes girly-girl.
There's a reason I've rated every book in this series an emphatic five stars -- I swear this entire series is THE BEST in smart erotica with plots that grab you by the throat and takes you to a world of passion, danger, and intrigue. The authors of Kit Rocha are a dynamo team that has never failed to wow me with their greatness.
What will I do when it’s all over with the next book?
A. Wear black for a week
B. Cry
C. Eat ice cream from the carton
D. Drink whiskey straight from the bottle
E. All of the above at the same time while sitting alone in a dark corner
Hint: It’ll probably be that last one. But then there’s a spinoff series brewing. So, there’s that to look forward to. I’ll pull myself together in time to fan-girl. Promise.
Also posted on BackPorchReader.com.
I received this ARC with a rush request to read and post a review ASAP, without a firm release date or pre-order/purchase links available. I was informed the book is in the final final editing stages and will release “very soon”…as in, within the next 7 to 10 days.
Was I up for the challenge?
Fuck, yeah I was!
*shoves all other books aside and shouts GIMME*
This next to last book of the series……my god.
Eden has cut out the lights to the sectors. Then they went and electrified their perimeter wall to fry the asses of any who dare get close.
It’s on.
War is imminent; brewing faster than whiskey distills.
Alliances have been made. Can they be trusted?
The city of Eden is full of cray cray egomaniacs. What the hell are they gonna do next?
Sector Leader Dallas O’Kane is stressed the fuck out.
Everyone is on a knife’s edge, knowing it’s not a matter of if…but when.
Every book of this series has been leading to these final moments, laying the groundwork along the way with layers of intricate details of betrayal and devotion. Everyone is trying to stay just one step ahead, trying to outsmart the idiots in power, trying to toss a few wrenches in their cogs, doing everything they can to survive to fight and love another day.
Sector Four has a successful reputation as a hedonistic, drunken playground of cage fights and raunchy public sex. What the outsiders don’t seem to get is that at the core, the members of the O’Kane gang have built their foundation on mutual trust and respect for all members. They love fiercely and openly. But make no mistake, if you wear the ink you’re part of a family -- probably better than the one you were born into in this post-flare world. You’d die to protect any of your brothers or sisters, and you’d die to prevent the evils of a corrupt Eden digging in their clutches any further.
Book Eight centers on Hawk and Jeni, they’ve been circling each other for ages with serious longing interest. Hawk finally takes his shot because the end of the world might be nigh, so why not? There’s no time for a slow and gentle courtship, it’s now or never, go big or…don’t bother.
"He knew shit-all about romance and women, but he knew know how good fucking could be. Fast and hot enough to burn through all the tension tying him up, better than a thousand fight nights."
Their relationship takes off like a rocket and Jeni’s a little apprehensive but along for the ride because at least it’s better to go out with a few more bangs than no bangs at all. (Dirty pun intended.) Also, she gets him. They fit. Their connection is strong in ways beyond sexual chemistry.
But…they didn’t exactly think this through. There’s more at stake, not only because of an uncertain future but a promise of trust made more powerful because of a collar and all that entails. Hawk has denied that side of himself so is sort of new to the scene. The gift of submission is a heady thing, does he truly deserve it? Can he give Jeni what she needs? And…can he keep her safe in bed and out?
"...she relaxed back in her chair and let her eyes and expression go dark and sultry. "Oh, he's been taking very, very good care of me. You want the filthy details, sweetheart?""
Damn, this was a roller coaster. The kind I couldn’t tear my eyes away from for any longer than the hours I needed to sleep and work. I needed the answers to all my questions, now dammit.
When it counts, can Hawk put his trust and faith in Jeni to help pull them through? Can he stand back and allow her to use her talents to help the cause and save their lives?
"When you tried to save my life, all I could hear was you saying that I'd be fine without you. But you were also saying that you loved me too much to let me die. And if we love each other that much, so much we'd die for it, then it seems pretty stupid not to try to live for it, too."
It’s a little reckless, a lot gut-wrenching, a fuck-ton sexy, action-packed and thoroughly gripping.
And it’s good to be reminded this post-flare dystopian world manages to have sexy, silky lingerie and fuck-me heels, that it’s not all Mad Max raggedy scrappiness in our future. That’s important information for this sometimes girly-girl.
There's a reason I've rated every book in this series an emphatic five stars -- I swear this entire series is THE BEST in smart erotica with plots that grab you by the throat and takes you to a world of passion, danger, and intrigue. The authors of Kit Rocha are a dynamo team that has never failed to wow me with their greatness.
What will I do when it’s all over with the next book?
A. Wear black for a week
B. Cry
C. Eat ice cream from the carton
D. Drink whiskey straight from the bottle
E. All of the above at the same time while sitting alone in a dark corner
Hint: It’ll probably be that last one. But then there’s a spinoff series brewing. So, there’s that to look forward to. I’ll pull myself together in time to fan-girl. Promise.
Also posted on BackPorchReader.com.
June 12, 2017
3.75-4 stars
This was so adorable! Jenni deserved a good guy and she definitely got it! It was a great prelude to the last book of the series...
This was so adorable! Jenni deserved a good guy and she definitely got it! It was a great prelude to the last book of the series...
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