The Whispering Pages Book Blog

Friday, December 27, 2013

Blog Tour Review

Quintessentially Q

(Monsters in the Dark #2)

Pepper Winters

~ Synopsis ~

“All my life, I battled with the knowledge I was twisted… fucked up to want something so deliciously dark—wrong on so many levels. But then slave fifty-eight entered my world. Hissing, fighting, with a core of iron, she showed me an existence where two wrongs make a right.”

Tess is Q’s completely. Q is Tess’s irrevocably. But now, they must learn the boundaries of their unconventional relationship, while Tess seeks vengeance on the men who sold her. Q made a blood-oath to deliver their corpses at Tess’s feet, and that’s just what he’ll do.

He may be a monster, but he’s Tess’s monster.

~ Add to Goodreads ~

~ Excerpt ~

Q moved suddenly, pushing off from the cage and striding toward the entrance

of the aviary. He unlocked the deadbolt and entered the space. Birds chirped louder

as Q stood in the centre of their world. He looked like a man robbed of his own

wings. A fallen angel that had no place on earth and fought a daily battle to fit in.

I stepped forward. Should I say something? Comfort him? My heart twisted,

needing to be there for him, but no longer able to. No matter how many kind words I

spoke, Q would see I no longer lived inside.

My soul jangled with chains and locks, saving me but also ruining me. The

longer I lived in my tower the more passion and connection faded.

I hated the numbing virus inside, spreading slowly, deleting all memory of who

Tess had been. I was replaced with a carbon replica who would float away in the

wind, robbed of her convictions and thoughts. All because I wasn’t strong enough to

face what I’d done.

Q cursed under his breath, his chest pumping with emotion. “Why should I keep

you when you don’t want to be here? You’re not here for me. You’re here because I

lock you up. You’re my prisoners, my captives, my trophies.”

He hung his head before waving his arms. “Allez vous-en. Je ne veux plus de

vous. Elle ne veut plus de plus alors ça sert à quoi, putain? ” Fly away. I no longer

want you. She no longer wants me, so what's the fucking point?

The birds went crazy, darting left and right, spying freedom through the open

door. They exploded through the exit and into the conservatory, weaving through

plants and water features.

Wings rustled as I ducked from a small flock of robins.

“Get out!” Q yelled; the birds flurried harder. “Get far away from me.”

I stepped backward, not wanting to see Q breakdown. I wanted it to hurt—to kill

me with knowledge that I’d ripped out his heart—but all I felt was emptiness.

Q looked up and froze.

His eyes locked on mine, shining with rage and blackness. I prayed for some

awakening, so I could put both of us out of our misery. I wanted to bring forth all my

love for him and keep hiding from my guilt. I wanted to erase the darkness, the

lostness and hate from his eyes, but I was useless.

Bowing my head, I dropped my gaze.

Q cursed, exiting the aviary, humming with anger and rage. He stalked toward

me, stopping so close his body heat seared my skin.

I flinched, expecting him to lash out—to grab my hair, slap me—something to

wake me up.

When he didn’t touch me, I looked up. Q murmured, “So low you must think of me.”

He captured a curl, running it gently through his fingertips. “Fly away, esclave, if

that is what you want. I won’t stop you.” His tone was bleak and derelict.

~ Review ~

I was eagerly anticipating the release of this book to see how things would pan out after Tess and "Q" decide to give "this" a whirl. I was definitely not disappointed. This book had me on the edge of my seat pretty much the whole the way through. The determination of Tess and the self sacrifice that "Q" was will provide for her was beyond belief.

There were a few times throughout the story that I thought, oh no, this is it. But, was glad to see that they both had the strength to push for more. I shed tears for both Tess and "Q" and at times could feel my heart skip a beat or two.

I also enjoyed the fact that we saw more of "Q" and his relationship with his friend/business partner Frederick. He seemed to be just what "Q" needed at his worst. Someone he could confide in and give him the confidence to believe when he wanted nothing more than to drown in his own despair.

This book is not for the faint of heart. Some of the scenes are very dark and descriptive. But Pepper's writing is amazing and you feel every emotion running through the characters and suffer and rejoice with them along the way.

I truly loved Tears of Tess but I think that Quintessentially Q was even better! I have recommended this series and will continue to do so as it is a work of art. I will definitely be biding my time until the release of Twisted Together.

~ Rating ~