Friday, January 17, 2014

Consequences Series Book Review




Consequences Series:  This is a series that blew me away...hands down, one of the most intriguing, mind-boggling, surprising series that I've ever read - and that's saying a great deal!  I have decided to review these books as a series instead of one by one as one book is only a piece of the puzzle...you must read the entire series to fully absorb the many shocks, surprises, twists, and turns that this train wreck of a ride will take you on.

The series consists of:  Consequences, Truth, Convicted, and just released - Behind His Eyes, Consequences.  Behind His Eyes, Truth and Behind His Eyes, Convicted are due out in March and May respectively.   Below, you will find the synopsis for each book and then my review of the series.  

Consequences Synopsis:
Anthony Rawlings had a plan—to teach Claire Nichols to behave.  Claire Nichols had a plan—to survive!

In an unfamiliar bedroom within a luxurious mansion, Claire Nichols wakes to memories of a brutal abduction. All of her recollections have one common denominator, the man she just met—Anthony Rawlings. Unbeknownst to Claire, Anthony has had her in his sights for a long time. Every action has consequences—and his actions resulted in their chance meeting.

Facing incomprehensible circumstances, Claire must learn to survive as she comes to terms with her new reality—every aspect of her livelihood is now dependent upon the tall, dark-haired, dark-eyed tycoon. Anthony may appear to the world as a prosperous, benevolent, kind businessman, but in reality Claire learns he is also a menacing, controlling captor with very strict rules: do as your told, public failure is not an option, and don’t divulge private information. Failure to follow these rules and more, are met with serious consequences.  In an effort to earn her freedom, Claire learns her lessons well and before long, she unknowingly captivates her captor. Anthony/ Tony reluctantly becomes enthralled with Claire’s beauty, resilience and determination. Their interaction instigates strong emotions, including—fear, anger, love, and lust—as their journey flows into uncharted waters of intrigue and passion.

From the opening criminal abduction, through the twists and turns, to the unlikely romantic thrills, the suspense climaxes as Aleatha Romig utilizes vivid detail, allowing this novel to unfold like a movie.  Can you put the pieces of the puzzle together? Claire Nichols abduction wasn’t a random act—did she learn her lessons well enough? Will these unlikely lovers remain true--or will she learn the truth before it’s too late?


Truth Synopsis:
Claire Nichols endured the CONSEQUENCES of Anthony Rawlings’ vendetta.  When she first arrived to his home, her goal was survival. Through strength and compartmentalization Claire captivated her captor. Her resilience in the face of his rule threatened Anthony’s well developed plan. He thought he taught her to behave-but domination became desire and Claire taught Tony to love.  Their passion and adoration in a world of opulence appeared perfect, yet the reality was a roller coaster of emotion. Claire’s world teetered on the edge of sanity as Antony monitored her every move. When given the opportunity to flee, Claire drove away—a fateful decision which began a well laid plan.

Unbeknownst to either of them, there were others who saw past the perfect facade of Anthony Rawlings. There were others who saw the TRUTH. Conspiracy and unfulfilled promises result in an early prison release for Claire. Not just a release—a pardon. According to the law, her crime never happened!  Will it be that easy? Faced with freedom from her past—can Claire seize it? Can she build a new life, mend her broken spirit, become the woman she once was, and seek her own revenge? Or is it all a game? And does the game master have different plans? How does Sophia Burke fit into the puzzle that is Tony and Claire? Will her presence affect the future of this well esteemed man? Can he dominate twice? Is that his goal?

TRUTH continues the tumultuous saga of CONSEQUENCES,introduces new players, and uncovers more intrigue. Aleatha Romig skillfully weaves past transgressions through current deception to create a fervent world of obsessed desire. In this reality can an all-consuming relationship survive?   When buried sins are discovered they threaten not only Tony and Claire’s future—but their very lives! Will the TRUTH be revealed in time?


Convicted Synopsis:
There were still lessons to learn and consequences for the truth!
When Claire Nichols met Anthony Rawlings, she didn’t know they had a past, or that he had plans for her future. Over time, the role of teacher changed—games became reality—and domination turned to desire. Despite an insurmountable history, Claire and Tony found their way back to one another.  Just when they seemed to have it all—love, respect, and the promise of a family—the game master exposed the truth. Claire’s world once again spun out of control. Unwilling to allow her child to suffer the consequences of an old vendetta, Claire fled...

At one time, Claire was held captive in an opulent mansion—then her incarceration was a cell inside a state penitentiary. Was her new prison—a tropical island—truly less lonely? Perhaps that was the game master’s plan, all along?  Who will save Claire from her oldest nightmare and her newest reality? Will it be Tony? Can he forgive her for leaving him—again? Harry? Will he utilize previously unknown connections to save the woman who infiltrates his thoughts? Maybe Phil? Will his devotion in keeping Claire and her child safe be rewarded?   As the cards are played—sins of the past, innocent victims, and truths are revealed. With compartmentalization no longer an option, is the reality too much? Could there be an even worse isolation?   With the game master dealing from a stacked deck, can this new high-stakes game possibly be won?

When it’s all over and their cards are on the table—SOME will discover their bets were too high—they have nothing left to lose—ALL will learn the crucial lesson—the most important rule—there are CONSEQUENCES for the TRUTH! 



My Review:
This series is a puzzle if I've ever seen one...a card game, a roll of the dice, a chess match, a game of chance...it's all about consequences - every action is followed by a consequence, either good or bad.  There are people being held accountable for the perceived sins of their parents, grandparents, or ancestors of one type or another...an event from the past that someone believes that the children of the children and so on should pay for.  This is an intriguing story that does cover some dark subjects including kidnapping, rape, and physical abuse.  I will say, however; that the author did not write these scenes in graphic detail but rather eluded to the horrific events.  At first, I was actually a bit put off by the lack of detail in the abuse and sex scenes.  Having said that, Consequences is one of the best series I've ever read.  It is shocking, surprising, compelling, intense and more dangerous to maneuver than a mountain road at night.  Emotions run the gamut in these books from dark despair, fear, frustration, hate and hopelessness to compliance, acceptance, desire, love, and hope - at times, an overwhelming influx of emotions overcame me as I read this story.

In Consequences, we are introduced to Anthony (Tony) and Claire as he captivates, seduces, and kidnaps her, locking her away in his mansion while destroying all evidence of her old life.  Why?  For how long?  What does he want?  All questions you wonder about as you read this first book.  There's a Game Master at work here - who is it?  What are they really after?  Consequences sets the stage for this game to play out between these players.  I was shocked at Tony's actions in this book but could not stop reading it.  I admit to wondering where it was going and why I should continue reading it and then, I got to the last few chapters of the book and was slapped in the face with what occurred!  My exact thoughts was WTH?!!  I didn't see that coming.  Let me tell you that from this point on, through all the rest of the books, I felt exactly like that.  It is one shocker, surprise, twist and turn after another...such a puzzle.  I burned through these books to get to the truth...dying to get some kind of HEA for Claire and yes, even Tony. 

Truth picks up the story and the game changes.  Claire rises to the occasion and plays the cards she's been dealt, realizing that it's all a game.  In order to survive, she must beat the master at their own game.  Is she up for the challenge?  Tony is surprised by Claire's tenaciousness, her strength, her will to survive in spite of her dire circumstances and thus, the game changes to one of seduction, desire, and dare I say - learning to trust?  Falling in love?  Now who is the master?  Truth  was a complex, complicated puzzle of actions & effects...but we must remember, there are consequences for actions always.  And the Game Master sets what they believe to be the final piece in place in the final pages of Truth...setting the stage for the ultimate victory...leading us into Convicted.

Convicted opens in the future, 2016, and will shock you in the first few pages.  I read them and again, thought WTH??  I read on and screamed NO a few times as my heart broke over the story I was reading.  Again, so many twists and turns as the author uses flashbacks and memories to bring the reader up to date with the story and bring us to the here and now with Claire and Tony.  I cannot stress enough how many shocking surprises there are in this book.  It seems the Game Master has won - game over.  But is it?  By this point, I think you will have figured out who the Game Master is but there's still one horrific event to face and come to terms with.  I wasn't sure of the ending until the last few pages.  Believe me, it's worth the read.

Behind His Eyes, Consequences just came out this week.  Yes, I had to read it and get Tony's POV on some of the most important scenes in Consequences.  I'm so glad I did.  Some of it, I knew or guessed but it was worth the read to see that shocking ending to book 1 through his eyes.  It was such a mind f*ck when it happened, and I didn't understand WHY!?!  Seeing it through Tony's eyes cleared that picture up for me and yes, even made me sympathize a little bit with him at that point in the story.

All I can say after this emotional train wreck is Read It if you're a lover of mystery, suspense, psychological thrillers and yes, even love stories.  This is the story of Tony and Claire - how they came to be, the journey they traveled, the game they played, and all the sordid consequences they suffered through along the way.  A Master Piece!  A must read!

My Rating: 5 Gorgeous ♥♥♥♥♥'s...And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart...xxx

Sandra 

  

 

2 comments:

Kumiko Lei said...

I couldn't review these separately either. And this is hands down one of my favorites.

Sandra Hoover said...

Mine too...Blew me away!