The Whispering Pages Book Blog

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

~ Blog Tour Review & Giveaway ~

When I Break

Kendall Ryan

Release Date: February 24, 2014

~ Synopsis ~

Knox Bauer's life has unraveled to the point of no return. Fighting to fill the emptiness inside himself, he seeks solace in unfamiliar beds with unfamiliar women. As guardian to his three younger brothers, he can't seem to do a thing right. But this can't go on...they look up to him in every way and all he’s done lately is prove how messed up he really is. Needing a change, he attends a local Sex Addicts Anonymous meeting, where he finds himself tempted by the alluring instructor, McKenna.

Twenty-one year old McKenna is trying to make amends. After losing her parents in a horrific accident, she knows if she can just be good enough, maybe she can forgive herself for what happened. With her newly acquired degree in counseling, she begins leading a sex addicts group where she meets the troubled Knox and her life takes on complications she never bargained for. She doesn't have time for a bad boy who only wants to take her to bed, even if her body disagrees. The fixer in her wants to help, but trusting Knox's true motivations might take more courage than she has.

When I Break is book 1 in a new series by bestselling author Kendall Ryan. When I Surrender, book 2, will be available May 2014.

Warning: Contains a stubborn alpha male with addiction issues and loads of sexual tension between two damaged characters. Read at your own risk.

Due to mature content, it is recommended for 17+.

~ Add to Goodreads ~

~ Excerpt ~

“What’s on your mind?” I asked, wiping my mouth on the napkin.

Pretty blue eyes pierced mine as she hesitated to answer.

“Say it, angel.”

“When I met you…I don’t know. I could feel your pain and knew you’d experienced more than your fair share of trauma too. I felt connected to you.”

I knew what she meant, but that didn’t mean I wanted to encourage her attachment to me. I would only end up hurting and disappointing her. Even if I did everything in my power not to, that was my track record with women.

“McKenna, I’m not going to deny that we have a connection. We do.”

“But?” she supplied, a trace of sarcasm in her voice.

“But…I fuck random girls. I use them for sex. I’m not a good guy. You shouldn’t be so nice to me.”

“You’ve made bad choices. You’ve messed up. But you’re not a bad guy. I see the way you are with your brothers, and attending group, that’s your way of trying to get better. You’re not going to scare me off so easily, Knox.”

My participation in her little meetings was practically court-mandated, and honestly, the only reason I’d continued going was because of my attraction to her, but I didn't correct her, wouldn't scare her off until she was ready to go.

~ Links to Buy ~
Amazon ** Amazon UK ** iTunes
Kobo ** Barnes & Noble ** Smashwords

~ Playlist ~

Come a Little Closer – Cage the Elephant

Heart on Fire by Scars on 45

Love Don’t Die – The Fray

Teardrop - Massive Attack

Fragments – Thievery Corporation

Letters from the Sky – The Civil Wars

~ Review ~

Another great story from Kendall Ryan…. I honestly don’t think she can write a book that I won’t love. Meet Knox Bauer….oh yes, you will want to. Ordered to report to Sex Addicts Anonymous by the court to get his life back in order, what he finds there is more than just a meeting…he finds McKenna.

McKenna is the group leader and although she knows she had a job to do she can’t help but want to know more about Knox. She blurs the line between personal and professional and what we get is a steamy, angst filled story.

Both with issues stemming from their pasts to overcome will two complete opposites be just what the other needs to make it in this life. We get to see different layers of Knox, not just the love ‘em and leave em’ guy. We get insight into what has brought him to this point and the reason that he keeps on going.

“I’m a sex addict.”

“Should I be afraid of you?”

“I wouldn’t hurt you, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to

do some other things.”

McKenna’s overbearing friend Brian, did not rate high on my list of people. It was obvious that he was harboring his own feelings for McKenna. He was definitely not a fan of her spending time with Knox but after knowing her for all this time it was unrealistic for him to think that she would “obey” his wishes.

As the story unfolds we watch the beginning of what could be something amazing for Knox and McKenna but their relationship will contain pitfalls and when one truth is disclosed it may just break McKenna.

Yes, you may not like the way the story ends but it’s a series and there is more to come. I will definitely be awaiting the release of Book 2 in the series, When I Surrender, coming April 2014 to see what is in store for Knox and McKenna.

~ Rating ~

~ About the Author ~

Kendall Ryan is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the contemporary romance novels Hard to Love, Unravel Me, Make Me Yours, and Resisting Her. She’s a sassy, yet polite Midwestern gal with a deep love of books and a slight addiction to lip gloss.