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Muted Hopelessness #2

Our Muted Recklessness

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Okay… Where do we pick up?

Where we left off, of course.

Tori’s afraid, but putting forth her toughest exterior to forge ahead with the mess she’s made. And Ashton? Well, he’s confused and angry.

“You think it’s possible to put the genie back in the fuckin’ bottle now?”

Here he was again, saying cryptic things, using phrases that went over my head. “What more can I say? What do you want me to do?”

It’s his last semester, one that had been planned meticulously by himself and others well before she even knew what a Panther was.

Let’ see if Tori can fight her way out of the quandary she’s created at BSU. Will Ashton’s well-planned future be derailed by the new underdog turned ‘Banger’ on campus?

421 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2020

311 people are currently reading
340 people want to read

About the author

Love Belvin

39 books1,886 followers
Love Belvin is a native of the Tri-State area and now lives in the Delaware Valley. She's an avid reader and enjoys dinner parties with her closest girlfriends. While she enjoys many things, nothing excites her more than curling up with a glass of wine and a good romance novel.

Love has been given the moniker "adult contemporary series queen." She is the author of the "Love's Improbable Possibility," "Wayward Love," and "Love Unaccounted" serials. Her two standalones, “Love's Inconvenient Truth” and "Low Love, Low Fidelity" are available. Love Belvin is also the co-author of the "Connecticut Kings" series. She's currently penning the journey of her latest captivating clients.

You can find Love on her website www.LoveBelvin.com

Facebook @ Author - Love Belvin
Twitter @LoveBelvin
Instagram @LoveBelvin

Love's a regular on Goodreads.

Sign up to receive emails from her team (#TeamLove) -> http://eepurl.com/6ejjv

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5 stars
1,153 (81%)
4 stars
216 (15%)
3 stars
41 (2%)
2 stars
4 (<1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
Profile Image for ReadnliftwithShar.
1,856 reviews
December 29, 2022
whew 🤯

😭😭the ending had me fighting the tears. How dare Miss Belvin drop such a bombshell at the end. Book two took me through it. I now have a love / hate situation with Ashton. I hate what Tori went through at home and at school, where she should have been safe. The writing in this book was really good, although , at times the story dragged longer than I expected. I did like getting to see more of Ashton and Tori together. It was very descriptive and some of the sexual scenes were tense. 🫣I am curious to see how the finale of the story will end.
Profile Image for LaToya Lee.
353 reviews
October 3, 2023
whew

Listen. The end of this book took me through it. I felt like Tori was taking hit after hit after devastating hit! NormaJean can kick rocks with her old jealous a*s.
Ashton wasn’t as unbearable in this book as book one but I was so frustrated with him not speaking up about his true feelings. He had a lot of people planning his future for him and I try to show sympathy towards that but at Tori’s expense? This girl went through it, man. I really hate that a dream slipped right through his finger tips though.
Profile Image for Lindaisa.
544 reviews61 followers
January 19, 2021
I knew I made the right decision to wait to start this series until all of the books were out. I KNEW when Love announced that she was going to releasing this series, that I needed to wait. Because I was NOT finna be played. And I was right. Cause I'm HEATED right now. And I can't imagine being able to cope with feeling the way I'm feeling right now without the comfort of knowing I can immediately go into the next book to find out what happens next.

Reading this book was STRESS. For about half of it, I was constantly tense, holding my breath, sweating, waiting for the other shoe to drop. And even KNOWING the other shoe would eventually drop, I still wasn't prepared for the blowout. I'm so ANGRY right now.

I'm angry with Ashton and the way his arrogant ass handled every situation while at the same time NOT handling and confronting his feelings. I'm angry FOR Tori and the bullshit she had to endure from the miserable, privileged, assholes at her school and the effect it had on her mind, body, and life after her time at BSU. I am just...recklessly mad right now.

Barring the complete and utter anger I'm experiencing right now, Our Muted Recklessness was 500+ pages of pure literary greatness. Even with all the stress these two have caused me over the course of these two books, I've thoroughly enjoyed reading about their journey. But I can't WAIT to get into the here and now and see where their story will lead to and conclude. I'm excited to witness what their dynamic will be like now that Tori has blossomed and grown into her own. With her own success, notoriety, and agency. I can't wait to hear them hash out the issues of their past and get answers to the questions that they have and that I have as well.

These two man! On to the next book, because I need it...NOW.
Profile Image for Kameel.
1,065 reviews294 followers
March 1, 2022
This story has depth and is intense, I love Love Belvin’s Writing Style...all of her characters whether it’s a primary or secondary character have depth and substance. Now I’m anxiously anticipating Book 3....I’m going to watch Audible for the pre-ordering opportunity. I’m want to cheer for Ashton, and I have to see if he redeems himself in the final installment. Emmanuel & Wesleigh Were Absolutely Amazing As Usual.
Profile Image for April R.
37 reviews17 followers
December 30, 2024
I could not put this book down. I’m so anxious to see what will happen Book 3. Treat yourself. Love Belvin really poured into this book.
Profile Image for JazzReads .
1,059 reviews32 followers
October 15, 2025
I really enjoyed this book and the end made me so sad. I am jumping into book 2 now..
Profile Image for Vern.
124 reviews8 followers
August 3, 2020
Love outdid herself with this one. I love how she has developed Tori's character. NormaJean disappointed me. I love Jimmy! I want a book about him and his backstory. My favorite male character of all time by Love is Isaak but Ashton may take his spot. I'll decide after I finish the last book in this series.
Profile Image for Rashawnda.
1,391 reviews1,119 followers
May 11, 2022
I really hope Tori come through in book 3 and stunt on them h@&$!!! Ugh that ending had me in tears for so many reasons. I can’t believe Ashton and his crew did her the way they did! I honestly don’t feel sorry for him either. I’m ready to see how this amazing story ends!
Profile Image for Qiana Groves.
350 reviews64 followers
September 30, 2021
If I didn't know Love Belvin was great author before, I definitely know now. Tori and Ashton had me caught up in their story. The secrets, the drama and the sex scenes... all top tier. Let me get to book 3.
173 reviews1 follower
August 2, 2020
It Was So Good, It Hurt

I know it sounds odd, however, this book made me feel everything, the highs, the super lows, and so much pain. The road to true love is no picnic or party. Tori and Ashton traveled that long road, and it appears they still have a lot to say. I will sit on my hands, troll other writers, and wait for the finale. I want to see Tori kick adversity and her adversaries to the curb. This story has a lot of moving parts. I see Love Belvin as a awesome weaver, fully capable of delivering a finale that will leave us breathless. This book deserves more attention. I will read it again for the gold that I missed in my excitement. I hate the wait, however, in the words of the great post "you can't hurry, Love" (wink, wink)! Bravo!
Profile Image for Miesha Parrish of D.M_Time Bookclub .
147 reviews10 followers
August 3, 2020
Worth the wait

I waited almost 6 months for book 2 and I don’t think I can do it for book 3. Congratulations Love, you wrote THE best book I read for summer 2020. This quarantine order has us all feeling anxious but this book is definitely the calm before the storm. This was a great read, I was tuned in from beginning to end and I loved their love. It seems as if they were the couple LB universe needed to add to our collection of favorites. I was blown away by the character development, the simple things they did and said to and for each other. I am speechless (although you can’t tell from this long winded review 😂). I am patiently (not really) waiting on the conclusion to this love song.
31 reviews2 followers
August 2, 2020
Mute is what I am!

150,000 words of a beautifully written book! My mind is blown! Ms. Tori is now one of my favorite characters I am a cheerleader for her to be able to have her happy ending. I have so many questions but I can't ask them because I would be giving the story away. Love Belvin is the best when it comes to penning romance period. Her character development is amazing. I really can't say enough when it comes to this author.
Profile Image for Michelle.
198 reviews3 followers
July 24, 2025
I don’t understand why this has to be so long. We have stayed in the past for 2 books and I’m over it. I have no one to blame but myself for continuing to sit through this.

Let me be fair, overall this is honestly a good story going back to book 1. But it’s hard to truly appreciate bc it feels sooooo long. I don’t mind long books, especially ones that don’t feel long. It took 2 500+ page books to get us to what matters and that’s present day.



Profile Image for Adwoa.
112 reviews25 followers
February 23, 2023


I love how the author had to consistently remind us Tori was a tomboy. It’s like she feared we might forget if she didn’t mention it least a hundred times in every chapter.
I love a generous queen.
Profile Image for martha fountain.
837 reviews18 followers
December 28, 2020
Heartbreaking

I was on the edge of my seat the entire read waiting for the hammer to drop and oh my gosh it did in ways I did not expect. I loved how Ashton and Tori evolved but oh the haters...wow...I am so glad I waited to read the series in one setting because this is a cliffhanger for sure.
Profile Image for Byron Washington.
732 reviews4 followers
June 28, 2021
Get To The Meat Of The Story!!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Good story, 𝙗𝙪𝙩, 85% of mind numbing sex, angst and boorish behavior, before 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 getting to some real drama, is just too much.

Coupled with the last chapters seemingly being rushed..I didn't like it one dang bit. In fact I'm taking a ⭐ away in a fit of pique!!😁😁😁

Buy it, read it and enjoy.👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥
Profile Image for Matysha.
386 reviews2 followers
August 3, 2020
Love has delivered a great one AGAIN!

You ever read a book soooo good you just want the one that answers all the questions you have? Well baby this book is that! I couldn’t get enough of K&A. They are the couple no one wanted together but needed to be together. Love beasted the heck outta her pen with this one. My emotions was all over the place while reading. This series is definitely in my top 3 favorite series from Love. I can wait to see how this story ends. I 1000% recommend this story to a friend.
Profile Image for The Book Chick.
334 reviews14 followers
August 19, 2020
Love Belvin. Never. Disappoints. I read this very slowly because I knew that I wouldn’t want to leave these characters in these pages. The background work and the emotional development is on another level. Can I just say that what I like about Love is that I’m not reading a romance novel. I’m reading someone’s life. Romance novel’s characters are known to have all of these sentimental and frilly thought processes. They dialogue as if singing a love ballad. Not Love Belvin’s characters. When I tell you I can reach out and touch them it’s true. You will love these characters and you will hate them and Love never tries to clean them up for political or social correctness. Her characters have prejudices and flaws that some would frown on, but she lets them live and I can appreciate that. The only drawback for me was that close to the end I felt like Love was giving us too many generalizations because it was nearing the end. This is why it’s 4 instead of 5 like the first one.
Love Belvin! Don’t change. And don’t allow society or what people think to change you. I love that you are unapologetically Christian and in every story you give us maybe just the briefest glimpse of that, but in actuality your body of work has really touched us- dare I say ministered in such a very odd way even if it’s only to peer into lives that we never would’ve had the opportunity to and take something away that will help us or remind us of what we should be doing. Let’s go third installment!
194 reviews
August 9, 2020
Love’s best work

This book has everything that I love in a novel: strong heroine; rich a$$hole hero, set in college, and great length. The way Love Belvin has made me dissect every word, because I’m so in love with the characters, their thought processes, and their lives is masterful.
Reading it was like experiencing the best ride at an amusement park. It made me laugh, scream, and gasp, but I still am going to get in line to ride it again.
Profile Image for Marquisa Turner.
58 reviews3 followers
August 2, 2020
EVERY THING!!!

When I say this book was everything, it was everything! I read from the time I woke up until I finished. I cannot believe all the has transpired. It was absolutely amazing. The passion between the two of them, woman only dream of. Love did it again and now I’m sad that I have to wait for book 3. This is why I will spend whatever to read her stories on her clients.
Profile Image for Crystal.
71 reviews1 follower
August 3, 2020
Strong Human

I don’t want to make this a long review and if you’re looking for a spoiler, you can forget it. Tori has to be THE strongest young lady I know and I don’t mean in her boxing ability. I loved Ashton’s and Tori’s “friendship “ He taught Tori many things but I am so looking forward to the next installment because if young Tori was a force, lookout cause grown woman Toni is coming! I can feel it!!! 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
876 reviews8 followers
August 3, 2020
Couldn't put it down!

I had no intention on actually finishing a 500 plus page book in less than two days. But all my good intentions went out the window once I became immersed in the brilliant writing and genius storytelling that I have come to equate with the norm for author Love Belvin. Book two always seems to be the most revealing and thought provoking when she puts out a three book series. But I suspect that this time the finale may just break that trend. Love had me yelling and crying over characters in a book like I was watching all the drama play out onscreen. She's definitely a real one and I'm proud to call myself a fan!
Profile Image for Sophia Chase.
20 reviews1 follower
August 2, 2020

Can I just say how talented Love Belvin is? I waited for this novel to drop with baited breath and it did not disappoint. I was left with my mouth open and tears in my eyes. Love takes her readers on a journey filled with so many emotions it would take a day or two to recover. We got to see the development of Tori and Ashton while revisiting some secondary characters. Ashton and Tori’s story will leave you dumbfounded. This novel is also very big and well worth the price. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to be enthralled by a riveting piece of writing. Well done Love, can’t wait for part 3.
1,067 reviews8 followers
August 3, 2020
READ THIS BOOK!!! I have yet to read a Love Belvin book that has disappointed. You will feel all sorts of emotions while reading this book. I laughed. I smiled. I was near tears. I was angry. But most of all I couldn't stop reading and wanting more. I can't wait until book 3 comes out. I want to say more but I don't want to give any spoilers because this book was just that good. I will say there is plenty love, sex and a nice dose of drama that will leave you eager to turn the page.
Profile Image for becca..
173 reviews12 followers
December 1, 2022
Tori didn't deserve any of this. God.
Profile Image for It's Me - Yvette.
1,243 reviews53 followers
January 28, 2023
Where to begin? The author has created a wonderful character in Tori. With her history, as the story unfolds, we understand Tori more. It was so obvious how much Ashton loved Tori but she couldn’t get past her negative feelings about herself and definitely couldn’t get past Avery. I wish she could have understood what all of Ashton’s gestures and kindnesses meant. But she couldn’t get past the “rich kids” and their early encounters with her. It got a little frustrating at times but I found it very believable and understood Tori’s thoughts and actions based on her history and where she came from. She was so naive and had no experience in anything!

I am really looking forward to the next book. I can’t stop now. I gotta see how this will all end and I’ve got my fingers crossed…
Profile Image for Jennifer Clark.
342 reviews11 followers
July 14, 2021
The Growth in Ashton was phenomenal. He was a good human. Ashton was college kid in adult life. Ashton was trying to juggling his family life on both sides which is like night and day.
Tori Tori!! Irked my nerves so much with the obsession of Aivery and Ashton's relationships. No matter what you told Tori, she would come up with her own conclusions..
Profile Image for *Ebony I*.
1,412 reviews154 followers
August 4, 2021
Reckless love

Listen!!!! The roller coaster of emotions this book took me through. It's 4:11am and I have binged this book like it was a series on Netflix. It was that good, I am that invested. Just wow.
Tori, really came into her own in this book. I felt like I wanted to understand her more in the last book, but we got all of that and more in this book. I'm overwhelmed by her plight. Her childhood was tragic, then after finding her passion with boxing, so many losses in life. I felt where the story was going because Tori and Ashton were so reckless, but the curveballs that were thrown haphazardly I was just not ready for. Tori blossomed into womanhood, but was still so very green. She struggled with both understanding and articulating her feelings, but she tried for Ashton. They were extremely complicated and the uncertainty of their futures seemed to keep them from communicating real feelings which seemed to stall the real communication they would need later on.
Ashton, sigh. I guess I liked him more this time around. He still had some fboy tendencies that I wasn't feeling. I don't think he understood that HIS actions caused Tori's uncertainty and had her grasping at straws to guard her heart. By that same token he was in deep!I just wanted him to handle the situation better and truly be real with everyone about his feelings. It all seemed to be a little too late and ended horribly.
I will close with saying Norma Jean had me tight. I don't know how Ashton didn't feel her petty claws were out.
I'm so glad I chose to wait for all the books to be released, because there is absolutely no way I could wait. Off to the next book to wreck me some more.
18 reviews1 follower
August 3, 2020
OMG….what can I say…I am definitely speechless. I truly believe that God gives us all a talent and purpose in life and Love Belvin is definitely utilizing her gift. Where would I be without this talented woman in my life…..she’s definitely my life preserver after a hard day at work. For just a few minutes she allows me to escape my mundane life and step inside someone else world (specifically Tori and Ashton’s world this time around). The chemistry in this book is PHENOMENAL and every sexual encounter these two have leaves me yearning for a relationship like their…one without parameters or limits. As I turn each page, I feel Tori’s pain of loving someone who still feel unattainable and her growth in developing a relationship (while still dealing with her traumatic past). In addition, I also see Ashton’s love for her exceeds his desire to IMMEDIATELY seek the NFL as his chosen profession. That was truly a sacrifice demonstrating his unconditional love for her (without actually saying it out loud). I just hope that in next book their verbal communication catches up with their physical one. If I could, I would give this book 10 Stars. This book actually makes me believe in love that transcends time and status quo…
Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews

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