Saturday, August 31, 2013

[Archive] LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of Unbound

Cara McKenna writes smart erotica—sexy stories with depth. A little dark, a little funny, always emotional. She also writes red-hot romance under the name Meg Maguire. Her wonderful publishers are Ellora's Cave, Harlequin Blaze, Loose-Id, Penguin / Intermix, and Samhain. She loves writing sexy, character-driven stories about strong-willed men and women who keep each other on their toes, and bring one another to their knees.

Cara was a 2010 Golden Heart finalist, a 2012 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award nominee, and a 2012 Golden Leaf finalist.

Cara is represented by Laura Bradford, of the Bradford Literary Agency.

Before becoming a purveyor of red-hot romance and smart erotica, Cara was a record store bitch, a lousy barista, a decent designer, and an overly enthusiastic penguin handler.

Cara now writes full-time and lives north of Boston with her bearded husband. When she's not trapped in her own head she can usually be found in the kitchen, the coffee shop, or jogging around the nearest duck-filled pond. She is a very proud member of the Romance Writers of America® and her local New England Chapter.

You can keep up with Cara online at her Website, on Twitter, and on GoodReads.


Unbound
by Cara McKenna

Buy from Amazon | B&N

Publication Date 10/15/13

Synopsis:
An all-new novel from the author of After Hours.

She set out to find herself, and discovered the darker side of desire.

Merry’s lost a lot recently—first her mother, then close to a hundred pounds. Feeling adrift, she strikes out in search of perspective. A three-week hike through the Scottish Highlands was supposed to challenge her new body and refocus her priorities, but when disaster strikes, she’s forced to seek refuge in the remote home of a brooding, handsome stranger…

Rob exiled himself to the Highlands years ago, desperate to escape his own self-destruction. Haunted by regrets, he avoids human contact at all costs…but when Merry turns up injured, he can’t very well run her off. And as he nurses her back to health, Rob can’t resist his guest’s sweet demeanor—or her flirtatious advances. The igniting passion between them rouses a secret appetite Rob has long struggled to keep hidden. But Merry craves nothing more than to help Rob surrender to his desires, and the journey draws the lovers into an entirely different kind of wilderness.

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Associate Reviewer - Shawnie:
*eARC received from the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Unbound is a slow paced, life altering novel about finding one's self and embracing it, no matter the emotional strain. Acceptance at its finest... with just a "rope" of kink.

Merry has lived in a shell that was entirely self made, but now after dropping a hundred pounds, she has decided to live and live big. Things aren't nearly as good as it use to be though, her best friend is not at all supportive, and Merry hasn't really accepted her new self. With all that, plus the death of her mother, she decides to take a trip. A three-week hike through the Scottish Highlands to get to know the new her, and to also see the place where her mother grew up. Of course, nothing goes as planned...

After about two weeks hiking and roughing it (relatively speaking), Merry catches a virus of some sort that leaves her in pain, weak and dizzy. With a small stroke of luck, she remembers the cottage she'd seen during a hike, and starts out for it. Maybe not the smartest thing, but she's determined, and a little bit desperate.

Rob is a self made recluse, and is perfectly fine with that. He lives a simple life with simple rules, and nobody bothers him. He's not the most gentle man, nor the nicest (even on good days), but when Merry knocks and screams at his door bloodied and sick, he can't bring himself to leave her to her fate. He can, however, hope that she gets better in the next 24 hours so she can get on with her business and stop bothering him.

This story starts with a woman who doesn't know who she is anymore, and a man who is an antisocial, lonely recluse. These tortured souls throw caution to the wind, and decide to trust in one another, because what's a few secrets of the heart - and of the flesh - between strangers who will never see one another again?

Soon these two find themselves in an all out tail spin of acceptance and indulgence; opening doors to each other that neither thought was possible. Through kink and open mindedness, they grow to care for one another, and watch as each grows into the person they were meant to be.

Unbound is a book that drowns you in emotions, and the emotions are ones that you feel like a physical blow; emotions that leave you weak and sometimes unable to cope. I had to repeatedly get up to wash my face and gather myself in order to finish this book. I am probably out of tears at this point. It was worth it though. This books makes you take a step back and look at your own life. It makes you question everything. The best lesson learned from the book is this: Happiness is around several corners, but we have to have the courage and determination to go after it.

Unbound

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