*I received a free copy of [title] from [publisher] via Author. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *Sin With Me is dark, twisted, hot, sinful and fast-paced. Following Maddie and Tyler, each in their own chapters, the story is well done, and filled with both danger and hope.
Story:
Sin With Me is set in Las Vegas, and follows a young woman, who is a stripper - but not by choice. The other main character, Tyler, is suffering from PTSD, but trying his best to stay afloat. By numbing all his senses. By trying to stay awake so his dreams won't take him back to places he has no want to revisit. This doesn't work too well for him, and thanks to a very good friend, he is not able to stay solely in his head.
Both Tyler and Maddie hate Halloween - which is coming up. And they need to find something to do so they won't suffer too much from their loss, disappointment and self-loathing. After a chance-meeting at Maddie's work, they become infatuated with each other. Neither of them can understand why, but they have a strong feeling of belonging when they are together.
The ending was a whirlwind of feelings, and I am so happy the next book is out in only two weeks, because I need it. I have to know what will happen to Maddie...
Characters:
Tyler has a dark past, and no real view of how his future could be any better. Until he starts dreaming of an angel... one who seems so very real - but whom he cannot save.
Maddie is a disappointment. At least she is to herself. Always coming up with a new scheme for a business, but never quite able to make it work. Stripping to pay the rent. And on the run from a dangerous man who feels like she owes him a lot of money.
Evan is Tyler's best friend. And he knows part of why Tyler is hiding from everyone and everything. But he's doing his best to bring Tyler out of his shell and start living again.
Dr. Eldridge is Tyler's psychiatrist, and to say she's rather unconventional is the understatement of the year. She was extremely refreshing, though, and I sure hope she'll show up in the next books as well.
Writing style :
Sin With Me is written in first person present tense, with chapters from either Tyler's or Maddie's point of view. I also have to say that I'm very impressed, because having read a lot of Huss's books, I was not able to see who had written what in this story - which means that the two writers managed to mesh their styles perfectly.
Feels :
First of all, I definitely felt the characters' anguish, and how they were disappointed in themselves. How they didn't have much hope for the future. Mostly because they didn't think they deserved anything good in life. I need to know more about them, but I felt like I should infuse them with some hope and some real dreams!
But very predictable. And I like predictable, so I don't even mind it. Because in my experience, surprises are very rarely a good thing. Predictable is safe. Predictable has rules. It makes sense.
I dunno if it's because I just went car-shopping or if there's some other reason this pops into my head but I pull the first name I can think of out of the air,. "Ford, I'm Ford."
"Ford what?" she asks.
I stumble for a second. "Uh..." Then I just decide to go with the car theme and pick out the first car company that comes to me, Aston Martin. "Um, Aston. I'm Ford Aston."
Silence. Can. Have. Weight.
And the silence in the small room after my big outburst is intensely heavy.