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The Grove #1
The Mute and the Menace
The Mute and the Menace is Book One in the Grove Series Duet and it is now complete! CaraWhen I saw those two lines on the stick, I thought my life was over.Pregnant.Not just by anyone, but by the man I loathe.Jackson.The Mute.I loved the baby more than my next breath, but I couldn’t keep it.My life has always been vicious tilt-a-whirl of hardship, and I had nothing to offer.Then disaster strikes, and clarity hits.I want this baby.Only it might be too late.JacksonMy life turned on its axis when I knocked a girl up.Not just any girl, but my best friend’s girl.The best friend who bled out in front of me and whispered his love for her with his last breath.I didn’t want it. I didn’t want any of it.Until I did.My life hasn’t been easy.It’s always been a struggle to survive.But I’ll fight until my last breath if it means getting what I want.I’m just not sure if that’s enough.The Mute and the Menace is a new series connected to the Grove High series. It is highly recommended that you start with Reapers and Roses.THE MUTE AND THE MENACE is a full-length novel that contains adult content and violent situations that may be offensive to some readers.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2020
115 people are currently reading
868 people want to read
About the author
A.R. Breck
27 books1,767 followersMy life in a nutshell: Writing, reading, family, traveling.
-A.R. Breck
-A.R. Breck
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
April 7, 2022
I'm slowly making my way through all of this authors books because she is that good!! Slow going with arc deadlines but this author quickly became one of my favourites, you never know what is going to come at you with her books, and the characters have such a way of crawling under your skin, I've loved this series from the get go, it was hard reading about a fallen comrade and even harder reading about Jackson's past, god those parts were hard to get through, I just wanted to crawl into the book and tell the author to back off and leave him alone, after I kill of the father of course!!
Cara's life with Logan was easy and anything with Jackson involved is not easy, he barely talks, so you kind of have to take him at face value, he's not an emotional wear his heart on his sleeve kind of guy either but don't let that fool you in not connecting with him because believe me you do.
I'm so glad that Easton and Rose made an appearance in this book and that they are still going strong as ever. Her books put me through the wringer, in a good way, the angst, the dark, the feels, the grit all combined make for one hell of a journey and I can't wait to jump onto the next book.
June 24, 2020
Loved the H but hated the h. I wanted to know what happened to him but the girl is just too annoying.
The leads kept talking about each other as if they actually know ANYTHING about each other. Jax calls Cara a bitch since they were kids based on absolutely nothing. These two did not have a relationship before they barely said 6 words to each other but somehow they just know the other person?
I call bullshit.
Cara slut shames waaay too frequently for me to ignore. Everyone except her and Rose is a slut, a whore, a worthless catty woman.
Barbi? Is that the slut from The Pit?
Aziel spots my scowl and smiles. “Cara, is it?” He looks down at my stomach. “How are you feelin’?”
“Okay, I guess.” My irritation gets the best of me. “Is that slut from The Pit here? Cause I’m sayin’, I’m really not in the mood to fight tonight. And I don’t think Jackson would like it too much if I were to start scrappin’ when I’m pregnant.”
“You really do have a feisty one, don’t you Jackson?” He lays his hand on Jackson’s shoulder. “Babe, I don’t know if Taylor is coming tonight or not, but if I happen to see her, I’ll gladly kick her whore ass out, so you and Jackson don’t start World War III up in this clubhouse, all right?” He keeps laughing and shakes his head. “Fuck, you’re feisty.”
The slut and whore in question is guilty of the heinous crime of standing next to a single man and flirting with him. I'm sorry but calling random women slut doesn't make you strong. It just makes you a rude bitch who needs to be taught some manners.
That Rose girl is not a good friend. At all.
Also the fact that they slept together right after the ex's funeral irks me.
What is with this secret Pro-Life agenda that romance novels have started shoving down our throats? Abortion is not a bad word. It is not the wrong choice. It is infact a very difficult and painfull and right choice.
Every Heroine treats abortion as a sin and then overcompensates for it by taking away the father's rights and putting in cruel ass restrictions to how much he can be involved in the name of independence and feminism. This is not feminism.
Once you decide to carry the baby to term the father has a say in everything baby related.
The leads kept talking about each other as if they actually know ANYTHING about each other. Jax calls Cara a bitch since they were kids based on absolutely nothing. These two did not have a relationship before they barely said 6 words to each other but somehow they just know the other person?
I call bullshit.
Cara slut shames waaay too frequently for me to ignore. Everyone except her and Rose is a slut, a whore, a worthless catty woman.
Barbi? Is that the slut from The Pit?
Aziel spots my scowl and smiles. “Cara, is it?” He looks down at my stomach. “How are you feelin’?”
“Okay, I guess.” My irritation gets the best of me. “Is that slut from The Pit here? Cause I’m sayin’, I’m really not in the mood to fight tonight. And I don’t think Jackson would like it too much if I were to start scrappin’ when I’m pregnant.”
“You really do have a feisty one, don’t you Jackson?” He lays his hand on Jackson’s shoulder. “Babe, I don’t know if Taylor is coming tonight or not, but if I happen to see her, I’ll gladly kick her whore ass out, so you and Jackson don’t start World War III up in this clubhouse, all right?” He keeps laughing and shakes his head. “Fuck, you’re feisty.”
The slut and whore in question is guilty of the heinous crime of standing next to a single man and flirting with him. I'm sorry but calling random women slut doesn't make you strong. It just makes you a rude bitch who needs to be taught some manners.
That Rose girl is not a good friend. At all.
Also the fact that they slept together right after the ex's funeral irks me.
What is with this secret Pro-Life agenda that romance novels have started shoving down our throats? Abortion is not a bad word. It is not the wrong choice. It is infact a very difficult and painfull and right choice.
Every Heroine treats abortion as a sin and then overcompensates for it by taking away the father's rights and putting in cruel ass restrictions to how much he can be involved in the name of independence and feminism. This is not feminism.
Once you decide to carry the baby to term the father has a say in everything baby related.
July 27, 2022
So overall I did like this story. I read it all in a day and immediately downloaded the second one. I initially was going to rate it higher, but I just couldn't get over a few things about it.
Jackson grows up in an abusive home. His father blames his after his baby sister dies of SIDs and begins to beat and torment him. When his family moves from Minnesota he thinks this will be there chance to start over. Unfortunately his father's beating continue and his mom remains a strung out junkie. Cara lives in the trailer next to him and also has a screwed up home life. Her dad leaves when she is little and her mom remarries a man that treats Cara like dirt. Her mom eventually also leaves to go live above a local bar, leaving 18 year old Cara all alone. Cara's boyfriend and Jackson's best friend is killed and the two of them find themselves drawn together in their grief.
Now I liked the passion between these two, but honestly the way Jackson talks to Cara has me wanting to punch him right in his damn face. That's what lowered my rating on this one. I know that he has been through some awful stuff, but the things he says to her are just completely degrading and inappropriate. He treats her like garbage half the time and yet she keeps going back to him.
But the book ended on a cliff hanger so I'm of course already reading the next one. Let's hope Jackson has a change of heart and learns how to respect women.
Jackson grows up in an abusive home. His father blames his after his baby sister dies of SIDs and begins to beat and torment him. When his family moves from Minnesota he thinks this will be there chance to start over. Unfortunately his father's beating continue and his mom remains a strung out junkie. Cara lives in the trailer next to him and also has a screwed up home life. Her dad leaves when she is little and her mom remarries a man that treats Cara like dirt. Her mom eventually also leaves to go live above a local bar, leaving 18 year old Cara all alone. Cara's boyfriend and Jackson's best friend is killed and the two of them find themselves drawn together in their grief.
Now I liked the passion between these two, but honestly the way Jackson talks to Cara has me wanting to punch him right in his damn face. That's what lowered my rating on this one. I know that he has been through some awful stuff, but the things he says to her are just completely degrading and inappropriate. He treats her like garbage half the time and yet she keeps going back to him.
But the book ended on a cliff hanger so I'm of course already reading the next one. Let's hope Jackson has a change of heart and learns how to respect women.
September 2, 2020
I have a question. Where can I find more books like this?
Seriously, though.
I spend a ridiculous amount of time weeding through blurb after blurb of cookie cutter stories -Billionaire playboy H who can have any girl he wants meets virgin h with daddy issues and a secret desire for kink. Or perfect golden boy with everything going for him meets girl with traumatic past who isn’t good enough for him and he takes care of her - The characters are the same, the ideas are the same... the setting and details of the story just change a bit. It’s maddening. *ends rant*
The Mute and the Menace, however... THIS is the type of story I search for, and it baffles me that this author doesn’t have a bigger following. It is so incredibly refreshing to read about truly flawed characters who don’t just change overnight because they find love. Keep in mind, this is not some cheap insta-love followed by repetitive sex scenes and flowery dialogue. It is not light and fluffy, and not for the faint of heart. Jackson and Cara (yes, they have real names and not obnoxious romance book names) are fleshed out, imperfect characters who have grown up under difficult circumstances. Their journey doesn’t start perfectly, and it’s not an easy one to read about.
Jackson has grown up in a very abusive environment and is a very troubled character. Just like Easton from Reapers and Roses, Jackson is violent bordering on cruel. He is a classic anti-hero, but he is quiet and closed off. He is always on the sidelines with his best friends, keeping his distance and talking as little as possible. Some find him ‘creepy’, but the sad truth is that he has never known love and has learned that it’s best to keep to himself. Seeing someone like this discover affection for the first time and unlock his possessive side was flat out delicious to read.
Cara has had it rough as well. Growing up in the trailer park with her neglectful mother and her disgusting boyfriend has chipped away at her hope for ever having a better future. But she never gives up trying. This imperfect story is about these two imperfect characters who come together under very difficult circumstances. It is a romance story, and the focus is on their journey to getting an HEA, but there is so much more. I was surprised by how suspenseful it was, and I was sucked into the criminal world that Jackson and Easton are a part of.
Yes, there were some typo and grammatical errors. That is more common with indie authors. But you know what else the story has? Originality. It is gritty, dark, and worth the read. I was just too enthralled with the story to be bothered by minor issues like that. THANK YOU to this author for writing something with enough originality and substance to be worth my time. Thank you for having the guts to push the envelope by tackling difficult subject matter and not shying away from ‘going there’. I loved getting inside the heads of these messed up characters. I’m very excited to see what this author does next.
Seriously, though.
I spend a ridiculous amount of time weeding through blurb after blurb of cookie cutter stories -Billionaire playboy H who can have any girl he wants meets virgin h with daddy issues and a secret desire for kink. Or perfect golden boy with everything going for him meets girl with traumatic past who isn’t good enough for him and he takes care of her - The characters are the same, the ideas are the same... the setting and details of the story just change a bit. It’s maddening. *ends rant*
The Mute and the Menace, however... THIS is the type of story I search for, and it baffles me that this author doesn’t have a bigger following. It is so incredibly refreshing to read about truly flawed characters who don’t just change overnight because they find love. Keep in mind, this is not some cheap insta-love followed by repetitive sex scenes and flowery dialogue. It is not light and fluffy, and not for the faint of heart. Jackson and Cara (yes, they have real names and not obnoxious romance book names) are fleshed out, imperfect characters who have grown up under difficult circumstances. Their journey doesn’t start perfectly, and it’s not an easy one to read about.
Jackson has grown up in a very abusive environment and is a very troubled character. Just like Easton from Reapers and Roses, Jackson is violent bordering on cruel. He is a classic anti-hero, but he is quiet and closed off. He is always on the sidelines with his best friends, keeping his distance and talking as little as possible. Some find him ‘creepy’, but the sad truth is that he has never known love and has learned that it’s best to keep to himself. Seeing someone like this discover affection for the first time and unlock his possessive side was flat out delicious to read.
Cara has had it rough as well. Growing up in the trailer park with her neglectful mother and her disgusting boyfriend has chipped away at her hope for ever having a better future. But she never gives up trying. This imperfect story is about these two imperfect characters who come together under very difficult circumstances. It is a romance story, and the focus is on their journey to getting an HEA, but there is so much more. I was surprised by how suspenseful it was, and I was sucked into the criminal world that Jackson and Easton are a part of.
Yes, there were some typo and grammatical errors. That is more common with indie authors. But you know what else the story has? Originality. It is gritty, dark, and worth the read. I was just too enthralled with the story to be bothered by minor issues like that. THANK YOU to this author for writing something with enough originality and substance to be worth my time. Thank you for having the guts to push the envelope by tackling difficult subject matter and not shying away from ‘going there’. I loved getting inside the heads of these messed up characters. I’m very excited to see what this author does next.
June 6, 2020
God Dam this book as soon as this book got sent to me i started reading it, And perfect timing too, ive really been in a depressive slump lately and haven't read much at all but boy did this bring me out of it. I read this in 4 hours non stop till the last page and i still want more.
I first got introduced to A.R. Breck with Reapers and Roses and i devoured that book too then i went on to read all the rest and fell in love with her writing and the heartbreak and feelings her writing brings. But i have to say i thought Reapers and Roses was my favourite but this one is giving it a run for its money, i think im a little more in love with Jackson than Easton lol I loved that we got to see what Easton and Rose were up to in this book. This is Jackson and Cara's story.
This book does have a trigger warning as there is drug abuse and physical and verbal abuse etc so be warned. It is not for the faint hearted as it really does leave a lump in your throat. Once you start you will not be able to put it down till the very last page. This book has dark elements to it and its not all flowers and roses this is thornes and branches its not a pretty story . Jackson and Cara take you on one hell of a rollercoaster of a ride with such emotion you wont see what coming next until its right in front of you.
This book tore me in two and then put me back together and then broke me again i cannot wait for the next one ill be dying till then but i know it will be so worth the wait. A.R. Breck knows how to make you feel like you are right there seeing and feeling it all. This book had it all the heartbreak, the darkness, the passion , death, hotness , bring on the next one.
Thankyou A.R. Beck for giving me the honor of reading an arc and also for getting me out of my book slump even if its for a few hours because now im in a book coma lol
I first got introduced to A.R. Breck with Reapers and Roses and i devoured that book too then i went on to read all the rest and fell in love with her writing and the heartbreak and feelings her writing brings. But i have to say i thought Reapers and Roses was my favourite but this one is giving it a run for its money, i think im a little more in love with Jackson than Easton lol I loved that we got to see what Easton and Rose were up to in this book. This is Jackson and Cara's story.
This book does have a trigger warning as there is drug abuse and physical and verbal abuse etc so be warned. It is not for the faint hearted as it really does leave a lump in your throat. Once you start you will not be able to put it down till the very last page. This book has dark elements to it and its not all flowers and roses this is thornes and branches its not a pretty story . Jackson and Cara take you on one hell of a rollercoaster of a ride with such emotion you wont see what coming next until its right in front of you.
This book tore me in two and then put me back together and then broke me again i cannot wait for the next one ill be dying till then but i know it will be so worth the wait. A.R. Breck knows how to make you feel like you are right there seeing and feeling it all. This book had it all the heartbreak, the darkness, the passion , death, hotness , bring on the next one.
Thankyou A.R. Beck for giving me the honor of reading an arc and also for getting me out of my book slump even if its for a few hours because now im in a book coma lol
June 10, 2020
Gah, I hate to do this but it's a DNF at 50 percent for me! The H, Jackson, super tormented from his childhood and hes been abused.
The h, well, she's frankly just poor and kinda trashy.
This was not nearly as dark as I was led to believe by the description. Perhaps it gets worse after 50 percent?
I ultimately tossed it back though because:
One, the h was previously with the H's best friend Logan. So they ultimately get together not because of love or attraction but out of misguided grief coping.
Two, the BIG reason for toss back...the h gets pregnant, no surprise there because you know that by the description, BUT when he tells her to keep the baby she says NO, she's giving it up for adoption. Her reasoning is solid, she doesn't think she can handle it and how would she provide? HOWEVER, HE TELLS HER he wants the baby and NOT to do adoption. She says NO that she will do adoption. What world does the A live in that she wrote an h to think that she has any right of refusal to the father if she carries the baby to term to put it up for adoption if the father wants it? The mother can legally sign her rights away, but if the father is known, he would ALSO have to sign his rights away otherwise the baby goes to HIM. This was so self centered of her not to think about the childs needs and the fathers desires. At one point she even thinks that if she gave the baby to him then she couldn't see her friends because he would be around with the baby. W T F ?
Perhaps she gets better faster as the book goes on, but her self absorbed routine got old fast and I lost all respect for her. Also, there was just no romance present up until 50 percent.
The h, well, she's frankly just poor and kinda trashy.
This was not nearly as dark as I was led to believe by the description. Perhaps it gets worse after 50 percent?
I ultimately tossed it back though because:
One, the h was previously with the H's best friend Logan. So they ultimately get together not because of love or attraction but out of misguided grief coping.
Two, the BIG reason for toss back...the h gets pregnant, no surprise there because you know that by the description, BUT when he tells her to keep the baby she says NO, she's giving it up for adoption. Her reasoning is solid, she doesn't think she can handle it and how would she provide? HOWEVER, HE TELLS HER he wants the baby and NOT to do adoption. She says NO that she will do adoption. What world does the A live in that she wrote an h to think that she has any right of refusal to the father if she carries the baby to term to put it up for adoption if the father wants it? The mother can legally sign her rights away, but if the father is known, he would ALSO have to sign his rights away otherwise the baby goes to HIM. This was so self centered of her not to think about the childs needs and the fathers desires. At one point she even thinks that if she gave the baby to him then she couldn't see her friends because he would be around with the baby. W T F ?
Perhaps she gets better faster as the book goes on, but her self absorbed routine got old fast and I lost all respect for her. Also, there was just no romance present up until 50 percent.
March 13, 2025
WHY DID I HAVE TO PICK AN EMOTIONAL READ FOR THE DAY? This was imperfect, but I was hooked! The emotions and pain radiating off each page was...exhausting to say the least, although now that I've come full circle with the Duet, I'm happy to say it was a good story.
This review is based on the entire Duet.
Silence (Action) speaks louder than work - a single glance and body cues can tell much about someone. And that's the embodiment of JACKSON. I wouldn't call him a mute, but he does speak less than an average person. As a victim of domestic abuse until he was 18, Jackson harbours a lot of rage inside. It shows with how he brutally kills the men he's assigned to kill since he's involved in organized crime.
Jackson and Cara hooking up in the midst of pain was HOT but startling. Both were hurting from the loss of their best friend/boyfriend, and sought a form of refuge in sex. JACKSON was an ass, one who would rather have his lips sewn shut than to voice out his real feelings. This kinda sucks for Cara because it means there's always that push-n-pull between them equivalent to pleasure-pain. One moment he's hot, and then he's cold. Jackson may be silent, but he's unhinged, possessive, protective and very intense.
CARA was a bitch initially, but after so much shit, she finally thaws and you'll understand why she's a rose with thorns. Everyone from The Grove was hard except Cara's bff. It's literally like living in the slums - drugs, abuse and violence everywhere. It's no wonder Cara grew up bitter and angry. Nice and flowery shit won't be happening for awhile, coupled with teenage angst. Cara and Jackson both have dysfunctional parents, so needless to say, when they became pregnant, it both terrified the duo yet exhilarated them - a fresh start.
OVERALL the story had its moments. Ups and downs, though very emotionally driven, there are times where you'll get angry at the characters, yet also understand their motives or decisions. I could relate with both Jackson and Cara, and AGAIN I MUST HIGHLIGHT THAT THEY WERE IMPERFECT. After passion, comes the pain, so while we didn't get as much sexy times in Book 2 because it was time of healing, the entire Duet summarised was a good, meaningful story. Not 100% wholesome enough, but it was touching to see two broken people come together through thick and thin, and finally to have a "as realistic as possible" HEA.
This review is based on the entire Duet.
Silence (Action) speaks louder than work - a single glance and body cues can tell much about someone. And that's the embodiment of JACKSON. I wouldn't call him a mute, but he does speak less than an average person. As a victim of domestic abuse until he was 18, Jackson harbours a lot of rage inside. It shows with how he brutally kills the men he's assigned to kill since he's involved in organized crime.
Jackson and Cara hooking up in the midst of pain was HOT but startling. Both were hurting from the loss of their best friend/boyfriend, and sought a form of refuge in sex. JACKSON was an ass, one who would rather have his lips sewn shut than to voice out his real feelings. This kinda sucks for Cara because it means there's always that push-n-pull between them equivalent to pleasure-pain. One moment he's hot, and then he's cold. Jackson may be silent, but he's unhinged, possessive, protective and very intense.
CARA was a bitch initially, but after so much shit, she finally thaws and you'll understand why she's a rose with thorns. Everyone from The Grove was hard except Cara's bff. It's literally like living in the slums - drugs, abuse and violence everywhere. It's no wonder Cara grew up bitter and angry. Nice and flowery shit won't be happening for awhile, coupled with teenage angst. Cara and Jackson both have dysfunctional parents, so needless to say, when they became pregnant, it both terrified the duo yet exhilarated them - a fresh start.
OVERALL the story had its moments. Ups and downs, though very emotionally driven, there are times where you'll get angry at the characters, yet also understand their motives or decisions. I could relate with both Jackson and Cara, and AGAIN I MUST HIGHLIGHT THAT THEY WERE IMPERFECT. After passion, comes the pain, so while we didn't get as much sexy times in Book 2 because it was time of healing, the entire Duet summarised was a good, meaningful story. Not 100% wholesome enough, but it was touching to see two broken people come together through thick and thin, and finally to have a "as realistic as possible" HEA.
December 30, 2022
So many emotions hit me w/this book. I’m not sure where to even start this review. I’ve been putting off reading it because of reviews, I knew it was going to be an emotional one f/what I read w/Easton & Rose’s story.
I loved it & hated at times, not the story, but Cara. She was so selfish & never once thought about Jackson & what he wanted. He begged her to keep their baby, but she had already decided on adoption w/out telling him. Then she decided on the parents. I felt for Jackson, his past, never feeling loved, & now being treated this way by Cara. I honestly don’t think there was one moment I liked Cara. There were times I wanted to smack Jackson for how he acted, but could I blame him- no. Cara took all his decision making away f/him, but then got upset when he had to walk away because he was upset.
I can’t wait to start book 2, & I’m hoping Cara’s attitude is different. But this ending… wow! I love this author’s writing, she really makes you feel everything.
I loved it & hated at times, not the story, but Cara. She was so selfish & never once thought about Jackson & what he wanted. He begged her to keep their baby, but she had already decided on adoption w/out telling him. Then she decided on the parents. I felt for Jackson, his past, never feeling loved, & now being treated this way by Cara. I honestly don’t think there was one moment I liked Cara. There were times I wanted to smack Jackson for how he acted, but could I blame him- no. Cara took all his decision making away f/him, but then got upset when he had to walk away because he was upset.
I can’t wait to start book 2, & I’m hoping Cara’s attitude is different. But this ending… wow! I love this author’s writing, she really makes you feel everything.
June 23, 2020
You are killing me!!!
My emotions are all over that place with these books. Uh I wasn't expecting that cliffy 😫. I wasnt sure how I felt about Jackson and Cara hooking up right after Logan died but the more i read the more i felt that Jackson deserved the little happiness he got. My heart hurts for jackson 😭😭
My emotions are all over that place with these books. Uh I wasn't expecting that cliffy 😫. I wasnt sure how I felt about Jackson and Cara hooking up right after Logan died but the more i read the more i felt that Jackson deserved the little happiness he got. My heart hurts for jackson 😭😭
May 21, 2021
Huge disappointment 🤦🏻♀️
What's wrong with u,Poor Cara?!! Your mommy said it right, you ought to be better than this!
The heroine's logic was a big No for me. It didn't coherent with her background, let alone she's annoying as hell
What's wrong with u,Poor Cara?!! Your mommy said it right, you ought to be better than this!
The heroine's logic was a big No for me. It didn't coherent with her background, let alone she's annoying as hell
September 9, 2020
This is poorly written and very unbelievable. I won’t even read to see what happens next.
February 5, 2026
I don’t know what’s gotten into me lately—I keep picking up angsty books from my old reading list.
Oh god, this was one hell of a ride… and what was that insane cliffhanger?!
Tropes:
-Dark romance
-Pregnant FMC
-Touch her and you die
-Dead ex-boyfriend
-Selectively mute MMC (due to major childhood trauma, he prefers to speak less)
-Tragic backstory
-Abusive childhood
-Drug racket business
-Drug abuse
Okay, a lot is happening in this book, and I completely understand why it has mixed reviews. But honestly, I feel like some people reviewed it after reading only halfway, because the book is actually good.
It begins with Jackson’s horrific childhood. The abuse starts early after his sister dies from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Even though it’s a rare but natural occurrence, Jackson is blamed for her death for the rest of his life. Not just "blamed"...he is relentlessly abused. His father beats him so brutally that it’s unbearable to read (if anything, the trigger warnings feel underplayed). His mother spirals into drug addiction, constantly high and neglects him. Jackson truly had no one, and it broke my heart. No child deserves that.
Cara’s home life isn’t any better. Her mother neglects her and her stepfather is abusive—borderline predatory, with several moments implying attempted molestation. Both the MMC and FMC grow up in deeply damaged environments.
Jackson befriends Logan after moving to Groove and Logan has a long-standing crush on Cara. Back then, Jackson saw Cara as a carefree girl with no real worries besides hanging out with Logan and Easton, so he didn’t particularly like her. That mild hatred for her quietly takes root.
But after Logan’s death Jackson and Cara hook up and quickly realize the tension between them is undeniable. When they’re together, the rest of the world seems to fade away. I appreciated that Jackson never crossed boundaries while Logan was alive—he didn’t even harbor secret feelings for Cara. He only began seeing her differently after Logan was out of the picture and after they hooked up. Even though they were intoxicated the first time, it wasn’t portrayed as an accident—they both consented, which I was glad to see.
After hooking up a few times, Cara becomes pregnant. Considering the abusive homes they come from and the dangerous business Jackson is involved in, she believes giving the baby up for adoption is the safest choice for everyone. Jackson, however, is firmly against it—he wants to be a father.
The book ended with Jackson getting stabbed by his father and we still don't know if that left him paralyzed-
[Side note: I once read a book with a similar trope: Bad Bishop by L.J. Shen where the FMC becomes pregnant by her rapist and is still made to keep the baby. I genuinely don’t understand why some authors push that pro-lifer narrative. Carrying your rapist’s child feels far more problematic than anything in this book.]
Oh god, this was one hell of a ride… and what was that insane cliffhanger?!
Tropes:
-Dark romance
-Pregnant FMC
-Touch her and you die
-Dead ex-boyfriend
-Selectively mute MMC (due to major childhood trauma, he prefers to speak less)
-Tragic backstory
-Abusive childhood
-Drug racket business
-Drug abuse
Okay, a lot is happening in this book, and I completely understand why it has mixed reviews. But honestly, I feel like some people reviewed it after reading only halfway, because the book is actually good.
It begins with Jackson’s horrific childhood. The abuse starts early after his sister dies from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Even though it’s a rare but natural occurrence, Jackson is blamed for her death for the rest of his life. Not just "blamed"...he is relentlessly abused. His father beats him so brutally that it’s unbearable to read (if anything, the trigger warnings feel underplayed). His mother spirals into drug addiction, constantly high and neglects him. Jackson truly had no one, and it broke my heart. No child deserves that.
Cara’s home life isn’t any better. Her mother neglects her and her stepfather is abusive—borderline predatory, with several moments implying attempted molestation. Both the MMC and FMC grow up in deeply damaged environments.
Jackson befriends Logan after moving to Groove and Logan has a long-standing crush on Cara. Back then, Jackson saw Cara as a carefree girl with no real worries besides hanging out with Logan and Easton, so he didn’t particularly like her. That mild hatred for her quietly takes root.
But after Logan’s death Jackson and Cara hook up and quickly realize the tension between them is undeniable. When they’re together, the rest of the world seems to fade away. I appreciated that Jackson never crossed boundaries while Logan was alive—he didn’t even harbor secret feelings for Cara. He only began seeing her differently after Logan was out of the picture and after they hooked up. Even though they were intoxicated the first time, it wasn’t portrayed as an accident—they both consented, which I was glad to see.
After hooking up a few times, Cara becomes pregnant. Considering the abusive homes they come from and the dangerous business Jackson is involved in, she believes giving the baby up for adoption is the safest choice for everyone. Jackson, however, is firmly against it—he wants to be a father.
The book ended with Jackson getting stabbed by his father and we still don't know if that left him paralyzed-
[Side note: I once read a book with a similar trope: Bad Bishop by L.J. Shen where the FMC becomes pregnant by her rapist and is still made to keep the baby. I genuinely don’t understand why some authors push that pro-lifer narrative. Carrying your rapist’s child feels far more problematic than anything in this book.]
February 15, 2023
Este libro me hizo tener una montaña rusa de emociones todo el tiempo.
No miento al decir que llore más de una vez al leer la crudeza de la vida que le toco vivir a Jackson y los desperdicios humanos que le tocaron como padres, si ha ese pedazo de $% se le puede llamar padres, jamás lo hicieron sentir amado, lo culparon por algo que ni siquiera tenia razón de ser y el padre prácticamente lo hizo vivir en un silencio horrible donde todo el dolor, la frustración, la humillación se guardaron en su interior.
No podía pedirle aún chico que jamás conoció el amor, aceptar con los brazos abiertos un sentimiento que para otros podría ser natural como el amor, la confianza, la hermandad.
Incluso la "familia" la encontró al lado de Eanston y Logan y cuando este ya no esta, algo dentro de él murió nuevamente como cuando murió su hermanita, sin imaginar que ese dolor lo llevaría al lado de ella, la novia de su mejor amigo muerto.
Cara tampoco tuvo una vida ejemplar y sus padres jamás obtuvieron el premio por ello, el terminar en los brazos del mejor amigo de su novio, estar embarazada y no saber a quien pertenece, si te lo quieres quedar, si podrías ser o no una buena madre a una corta edad miles de dudas y miedos en su cabeza.
Y aún asi esta pareja tenia toda la fiereza para poder estar juntos a pesar de todo sin embargo se ha quedado en un final de infarto donde una vez más llore por ambos, porque una y otra vez no pararon de llegar cosas que los hacia dudar de ellos y del futuro que pudieran tener juntos.
En este momento muero por leer la continuación que me saque de esta miseria
No miento al decir que llore más de una vez al leer la crudeza de la vida que le toco vivir a Jackson y los desperdicios humanos que le tocaron como padres, si ha ese pedazo de $% se le puede llamar padres, jamás lo hicieron sentir amado, lo culparon por algo que ni siquiera tenia razón de ser y el padre prácticamente lo hizo vivir en un silencio horrible donde todo el dolor, la frustración, la humillación se guardaron en su interior.
No podía pedirle aún chico que jamás conoció el amor, aceptar con los brazos abiertos un sentimiento que para otros podría ser natural como el amor, la confianza, la hermandad.
Incluso la "familia" la encontró al lado de Eanston y Logan y cuando este ya no esta, algo dentro de él murió nuevamente como cuando murió su hermanita, sin imaginar que ese dolor lo llevaría al lado de ella, la novia de su mejor amigo muerto.
Cara tampoco tuvo una vida ejemplar y sus padres jamás obtuvieron el premio por ello, el terminar en los brazos del mejor amigo de su novio, estar embarazada y no saber a quien pertenece, si te lo quieres quedar, si podrías ser o no una buena madre a una corta edad miles de dudas y miedos en su cabeza.
Y aún asi esta pareja tenia toda la fiereza para poder estar juntos a pesar de todo sin embargo se ha quedado en un final de infarto donde una vez más llore por ambos, porque una y otra vez no pararon de llegar cosas que los hacia dudar de ellos y del futuro que pudieran tener juntos.
En este momento muero por leer la continuación que me saque de esta miseria
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2021
So my problem here is..why call it a dark romance when there's nothing dark about this story and it's nowhere close to being a romance in the first place?!
They call him The Mute because he always kept to himself and barely voiced his opinions but after like 5 minutes of this book, this guy could barely shut up! We have the heroine who ends up with the hero after her boyfriend dies in a mission gone wrong. The hero and the dead boyfriend were best friends and there's the whole "past aspect" where incidents from the past are brought up and you can't help wondering how their relationship would turn out if the boyfriend didn't really die. It almost feels like the hero has always looked out for the heroine but she ended up in love with someone else.
One thing I hated was how much the hero kept pressurising the heroine to keep their baby. She seemed extremely practical and sound minded for an 18 year old and to realise that she didn't have what it takes to bring up a child, was extremely mature coming from her. But then you have the hero saying shit like "You're not giving my child away!!!" And I'm here like.."Dude, you both have such miserable lives..why bring a baby into that life and create a bigger mess?!". And for this book to end like that..I don't even have words. You have one couple that has an almost perfect relationship..but then with the other couple, firstly you make the hero live in an abusive home, make the heroine fall in love with someone else and end up killing her man, gets her pregnant and in a confusing relationship with the hero, make her go back and forth with everything during her pregnancy and then you end the book like that?! It almost feels like the author sat and thought.."hmm..how much more miserable can I make them?" 🤦🏾♀️
I enjoyed the writing. So that's that.
They call him The Mute because he always kept to himself and barely voiced his opinions but after like 5 minutes of this book, this guy could barely shut up! We have the heroine who ends up with the hero after her boyfriend dies in a mission gone wrong. The hero and the dead boyfriend were best friends and there's the whole "past aspect" where incidents from the past are brought up and you can't help wondering how their relationship would turn out if the boyfriend didn't really die. It almost feels like the hero has always looked out for the heroine but she ended up in love with someone else.
One thing I hated was how much the hero kept pressurising the heroine to keep their baby. She seemed extremely practical and sound minded for an 18 year old and to realise that she didn't have what it takes to bring up a child, was extremely mature coming from her. But then you have the hero saying shit like "You're not giving my child away!!!" And I'm here like.."Dude, you both have such miserable lives..why bring a baby into that life and create a bigger mess?!". And for this book to end like that..I don't even have words. You have one couple that has an almost perfect relationship..but then with the other couple, firstly you make the hero live in an abusive home, make the heroine fall in love with someone else and end up killing her man, gets her pregnant and in a confusing relationship with the hero, make her go back and forth with everything during her pregnancy and then you end the book like that?! It almost feels like the author sat and thought.."hmm..how much more miserable can I make them?" 🤦🏾♀️
I enjoyed the writing. So that's that.
December 19, 2021
Jackson's sister died from sids during his watch. But he was only 5yrs old babysitting while his parents drank at the bar across the street. He then becomes his father's daily punching bag regardless of whether he's at fault. His mom becomes a raging alcoholic and druggie, completely checking out for the rest of her life.
Jackson meets his best friends Easton and Logan at the new trailer park they move to. He also notices but avoids Cara because she's Logan's. Then Logan is shot and dies during "business". One night, Cara tends to Jackson's wounds and they hook up repeatedly
Cara becomes pregnant and decides to give the baby up for adoption. Jackson disagrees and they have many arguments. Jackson's mom dies and in an altercation with his dad,Jackson gets stabbed and becomes paralyzed. Cara gets stabbed in the stomach and goes into labor. Jackson's dad is stabbed repeatedly by cara but not sure if he dies.
That is the cliffhanger.
This story had a lot of potential but wasn't written to make the characters very appealing. Their descriptions make them mediocre in characteristics, looks, sex appeal etc. The timelines keep jumping from past to present and gloss over events. Could have been better.
Jackson meets his best friends Easton and Logan at the new trailer park they move to. He also notices but avoids Cara because she's Logan's. Then Logan is shot and dies during "business". One night, Cara tends to Jackson's wounds and they hook up repeatedly
Cara becomes pregnant and decides to give the baby up for adoption. Jackson disagrees and they have many arguments. Jackson's mom dies and in an altercation with his dad,Jackson gets stabbed and becomes paralyzed. Cara gets stabbed in the stomach and goes into labor. Jackson's dad is stabbed repeatedly by cara but not sure if he dies.
That is the cliffhanger.
This story had a lot of potential but wasn't written to make the characters very appealing. Their descriptions make them mediocre in characteristics, looks, sex appeal etc. The timelines keep jumping from past to present and gloss over events. Could have been better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2021
Over the past week I've really read some interesting #darkromance books ,but these stood out. I was recommended by #booktok to read this series, and I'm so glad I did. @ar.breck hit the nail on the head when it came to writing dark romance. These books aren't only dark they are REAL. I went into this series thinking it was a high school romance, but it's far from that. I love when the author writes to fit a realistic vibe Breck does that. These 2 couples are so real I can actually picture the person in front of me. Rose, and Easton are such an amazing couple on how their imperfections compliment on another. Easton is gonna be a character you never forget cause he will be burned into your brain. The next couple is Cara and Jackson and they rock harder then the first couple ( my opinion) . Jackson is so deadly that he makes me tremble while reading. These 4 books have so much emotion, and pure raw beauty to them it hit home for me because I lived a life like theirs. I loved when I can connect with characters emotionally. I highly recommend these book, but know they aren't for the fainted hearted.
October 29, 2021
Good book but...
This book was so damn good but... What gets me and maybe it's just me and my pet peeve but there is so many damn errors in this book. The first 2 books had a couple here and there but this book is horrible. So many he's that should be she's or his supposed to be her. Then with the to instead of no or of instead of off or if. Ugh... How can a book be so damn good but not have the correct wording. If this book had 1 more edit or even a beta reader it would easily be a 10 star book! I just can't get over it. But like I said it's a damn good book and I would read it over again just to correct the wording.
Rant over... Overall tho this book is really good. It's such an emotional rollercoaster. I loved the characters and also loved we get to kinda stay in touch with characters from past books! The hotness is hot! The characters have a love hate relationship to the extreme! When they love it's 🔥, when they hate it's with everything in them! It does end on a very big cliffhanger but it draws you in. I can't wait to read the next book, I'm just hoping the grammar is a little better!
This book was so damn good but... What gets me and maybe it's just me and my pet peeve but there is so many damn errors in this book. The first 2 books had a couple here and there but this book is horrible. So many he's that should be she's or his supposed to be her. Then with the to instead of no or of instead of off or if. Ugh... How can a book be so damn good but not have the correct wording. If this book had 1 more edit or even a beta reader it would easily be a 10 star book! I just can't get over it. But like I said it's a damn good book and I would read it over again just to correct the wording.
Rant over... Overall tho this book is really good. It's such an emotional rollercoaster. I loved the characters and also loved we get to kinda stay in touch with characters from past books! The hotness is hot! The characters have a love hate relationship to the extreme! When they love it's 🔥, when they hate it's with everything in them! It does end on a very big cliffhanger but it draws you in. I can't wait to read the next book, I'm just hoping the grammar is a little better!
August 8, 2021
A R Breck knows what she's doing! My god I'd he mind brilliantly dark and twisted! Reapers and roses was the first of her work I had ever read and I was hooked almost as soon as the first chapter was read, I knew I couldn't wait to read more of her work and I had thought that Easton and Rose's story was full of angst and pulled at the heart strings but I see know that Breck was simply warming you up for Jackson and cara.
I can honestly say I have never been sucked into a story so immensely that I felt every single harsh word and physical strike as much as I did with Jackson and cara. And the emotion and indecision throughout especially where cara was concerned was truly heart wrenching, I wanted to seep into the pages and wrap my arms around the girl so badly, I mean come on the girl needs a god damn medal for the shit she has been through and still turned out the level headed woman she did!
Thank you Breck I truly fell in love with your characters and have almost finished lost in silence, I can't help myself I am desperate to see how these two crazy kids end up!
I can honestly say I have never been sucked into a story so immensely that I felt every single harsh word and physical strike as much as I did with Jackson and cara. And the emotion and indecision throughout especially where cara was concerned was truly heart wrenching, I wanted to seep into the pages and wrap my arms around the girl so badly, I mean come on the girl needs a god damn medal for the shit she has been through and still turned out the level headed woman she did!
Thank you Breck I truly fell in love with your characters and have almost finished lost in silence, I can't help myself I am desperate to see how these two crazy kids end up!
August 30, 2020
All. The. Feels.
So I have to say if you have read Reapers and Roses (which is the first in this series, but not necessary to read prior to this one although I would) you will know where I’m coming from when I say I was worried with how Jackson and Cara were gonna play out.
Let’s just say they were explosive magic. I loved this story. I actually just finished my re-read to finally get to read the second book in this duet.
It is a duet. There is a cliff hanger. But the next book will be out August 31 2020. So you don’t have to shy away if those things bother you.
All of Breck’s story’s are unique and tear your heart out. This one is no different. I loved seeing Easton and Rose again and reading the growing of Jackson and Cara’s story.
Another auto buy author for me. Always keeping me on my toes where I never can guess where the plot is going to go.
So I have to say if you have read Reapers and Roses (which is the first in this series, but not necessary to read prior to this one although I would) you will know where I’m coming from when I say I was worried with how Jackson and Cara were gonna play out.
Let’s just say they were explosive magic. I loved this story. I actually just finished my re-read to finally get to read the second book in this duet.
It is a duet. There is a cliff hanger. But the next book will be out August 31 2020. So you don’t have to shy away if those things bother you.
All of Breck’s story’s are unique and tear your heart out. This one is no different. I loved seeing Easton and Rose again and reading the growing of Jackson and Cara’s story.
Another auto buy author for me. Always keeping me on my toes where I never can guess where the plot is going to go.
Read
June 9, 2020Just devoured this book in one day and now I’m devastated on the cliff hanger! When i first read about Jackson in Easton and Rose’s books I wasn’t that impressed with him and he was so awful to Cara when she told him she was pregnant but then when you read what he’s been through you can’t help but love him. Him and Cara make such an amazing couple but like the other books you go through the wringer in this book. I am really hoping that Cara keeps her baby and that it is Jackson’s he really deserves happiness after all the abuse he has gone through. I cannot wait for the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2020
Oh my gosh!
I never thought that I might love Jackson. The angry, brooding silent man he is.
But the farther into the book I got, the more I understood why he is the way he is and the more I wanted to help him, granted I've always gravitated towards the broken people.
And Poor Cara gets the short end of the stick. All the time, being by herself if it wasn't for Rose and Jackson when ge can get out of his own head. I love them together and I lived getting to see the deeper sides to Jackson.
AND THAT CLIFFHANGER.
I need more.
I never thought that I might love Jackson. The angry, brooding silent man he is.
But the farther into the book I got, the more I understood why he is the way he is and the more I wanted to help him, granted I've always gravitated towards the broken people.
And Poor Cara gets the short end of the stick. All the time, being by herself if it wasn't for Rose and Jackson when ge can get out of his own head. I love them together and I lived getting to see the deeper sides to Jackson.
AND THAT CLIFFHANGER.
I need more.
July 18, 2021
Cara and Jackson are just 🔥🔥🔥
Their chemistry is off the charts! This book is full of so much angst, so much heartbreak and drama but it was so amazing.
After reading The Reapers and Roses duet I couldn’t wait to read more about Jackson, he was so damaged and beautiful, I needed his story.
The ending on this book absolutely killed me, I read the next book immediately after. AR Breck is fast becoming one of my favourite authors 😍
Their chemistry is off the charts! This book is full of so much angst, so much heartbreak and drama but it was so amazing.
After reading The Reapers and Roses duet I couldn’t wait to read more about Jackson, he was so damaged and beautiful, I needed his story.
The ending on this book absolutely killed me, I read the next book immediately after. AR Breck is fast becoming one of my favourite authors 😍
September 19, 2021
This book is dark and heartbreaking!
I’ve never seen anything like it! Really!
They both have such horrible life!
I’ve cried for Jackson ao hard! I totally could see his trauma in every single action!
Even with Cara pregnancy and hormonal, trying her best to make the right choice, for me Jackson was the star of this book by far!
This cliff totally wrecked me!
I was holding my breath in this last chapter and now I’m only praying!
The book it’s absolutely amazing!
I’ve never seen anything like it! Really!
They both have such horrible life!
I’ve cried for Jackson ao hard! I totally could see his trauma in every single action!
Even with Cara pregnancy and hormonal, trying her best to make the right choice, for me Jackson was the star of this book by far!
This cliff totally wrecked me!
I was holding my breath in this last chapter and now I’m only praying!
The book it’s absolutely amazing!
April 14, 2022
I'd always been curious of Jackson, and I absolutely adore Cara, and stepping into their story was a rush I didn't expect! I love these two together, the hell fire of tension, the constant bickering and the results of those fights, I cannot get enough! A.R. Breck is an author that no longer flies under the radar for me! Her characters are easy to relate to, and you root for them right from the start. I'm simply addicted to anything this author writes!
June 20, 2023
You want dark abusive background and it continues throughout the entire story this is for you. I love dark romance and I love it more when it’s out there with heavy tiggers. It’s everything I could want and need honestly.
Dark with the light.
The guy is a dick and the girl isn’t really much better and I love it!
She gets knocked up and has to deal with some trauma and grief and the baby daddy he’s got his own issues and he’s a scary badass dude.
I highly recommend this duet!
Dark with the light.
The guy is a dick and the girl isn’t really much better and I love it!
She gets knocked up and has to deal with some trauma and grief and the baby daddy he’s got his own issues and he’s a scary badass dude.
I highly recommend this duet!
June 20, 2020
Loved!
This series has been wonderful. I can’t wait for the next part of Jackson’s story. These are darker love stories, so you shouldn’t expect Prince Charming and Cinderella. However, these characters live in our world. You never know what someone is going through. Broken people produce broken people. There is always redemption and forgiveness!
This series has been wonderful. I can’t wait for the next part of Jackson’s story. These are darker love stories, so you shouldn’t expect Prince Charming and Cinderella. However, these characters live in our world. You never know what someone is going through. Broken people produce broken people. There is always redemption and forgiveness!
September 5, 2021
Searching and hoping
Technically first book in this series but comes from Reaper and Roses. Read those two books first. Jackson has been through a hellish childhood. Recovering from loss of his best friend he seeks companionship with Cora who is dealing with his loss as well. The story gets more intense and ends in cliffhanger. I want more of The Seven!!
Technically first book in this series but comes from Reaper and Roses. Read those two books first. Jackson has been through a hellish childhood. Recovering from loss of his best friend he seeks companionship with Cora who is dealing with his loss as well. The story gets more intense and ends in cliffhanger. I want more of The Seven!!
January 21, 2022
Whoa what a book
Omg this book got to me. I cried and scream at this book but it has hot steamy scenes too. I could not put this book down. Jackson and Cara are going thru in their life and their relationship ups and down. It's another roller-coaster for me. I need to know more what happen next.
Omg this book got to me. I cried and scream at this book but it has hot steamy scenes too. I could not put this book down. Jackson and Cara are going thru in their life and their relationship ups and down. It's another roller-coaster for me. I need to know more what happen next.
June 7, 2020
A.R you did it again!!!! Jackson stole me heart and ran away with it! You connected all the dots between who he is because of his past and made him shine... the ending.... slayed! I can wait for book two!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2020
Wow!
I was recommended This book in a Facebook bookclub. So glad I read it. Fantastic book! Warning cliffhanger !!!!! I can't wait for the next book! Dark... Fantastic characters that suck you unloved every second of This book!!!
I was recommended This book in a Facebook bookclub. So glad I read it. Fantastic book! Warning cliffhanger !!!!! I can't wait for the next book! Dark... Fantastic characters that suck you unloved every second of This book!!!
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