***** Mature Content, Sexual Situations, Adult Situations, Strong Language ***** To him, I was only just Sage, Matt Nichols’ little sister. But I've worshiped Conall my whole life. My brother's best friend. My secret crush. My first and only love. Always hoping he’d really see... me. And then, a torrent of circumstances ripped through my life. One by one, my family began to crumble. My dad's heart attack. My brother's tragic death. My mother's slipping sanity. And then Conall's abandonment. He took my heart when he left, but he gave me a reason to grow up fast, to be strong, and to live. Now, just when things finally start looking up, he's back in Bitterroot. Standing before me, not the boy he once was, but a man. Just when I’m on the cusp of living again. Just when I’m starting to feel like I could let go of the past and be happy without him, the feelings I set aside for all those years are raging once again through my veins. My tight control is slipping. The future I've so carefully mapped out now seems so uncertain. He’s changed, but he hasn’t. I hate him for leaving, but I love him for coming home. But will he stay? And do I really, truly want him to after he shattered me before?
“I love you.” “Sage,” he whispered, “don’t do this. Don’t say that. I’m not worth it.” “But I do,” I shook my head defiantly. “I love you, Conall.” A drop of rain fell from the tip of his nose to his full lips, and I pulled myself up to capture it with a clumsy, tremulous kiss. My fingers framed his taut jaw. “I love you,” I hoarsely begged. “Please don’t go.” “Sage,” he warned. His hands settled at my hips, as though to steady me… maybe even to steady himself. He didn’t pull me closer, but he didn’t push me away either. His raging uncertainty fueled my desperation, and I moved with him, guiding my fingers around his neck and pulling myself closer. Molding myself against his body, I lifted my trembling lips to kiss him again. For a moment, he stood frozen, shocked by my brazen actions. I pulled my body against him hard, turning my head, increasing the pressure of my lips, pushing my tongue into his mouth. Kissing him like I’d always dreamed of doing. He couldn’t leave me. He just couldn’t. He was all I had left. I had to make him stay. So I beseeched him with my kiss, my touch, my sheer overwhelming need. I pleaded with the tears that streamed from my eyes and mixed with the frigid raindrops. Please, Con,” I whispered. “Please… I need you. I love you.” And then, as though he was coming alive, his strong hand caught the base of my head, tangling in my hair as he began to kiss me back.
Erin's Review
After reading the first chapter, I wasn't quite sure Conall was going to be on my ever expanding book boyfriend list. Then I kept reading.
What appeared to be a total jerk, was a man who didn't think he was good enough. He was a man who ran from his problems so he wouldn't burden anyone else.
Sage is an amazingly strong young woman. Single mom, put herself through school, has to stay strong for her daughter. If only Conall knew.....
Sage and Conall don't start out falling in to each other's arms confessing their undying love for one another and I LOVE that! They had to work through their own insecurities first. I think there was no way for them to even attempt to be together otherwise. My favorite had to be Mattie. She was as precocious as they come and will steal your heart immediately. Thanks to her, I learned more about Twilight Sparkle than I would have ever known before reading this book.
I won't tell you if Sage and Conall get their HEA. What I WILL tell you is that they DO have some hot sex, and that Conall sure knows how to make a girl feel special, even if he can't say the words. Sage is cautious, and with good reason. She as her daughter to protect, and her heart. Can Conall break down the walls? Guess you'll have to read to find out.
**This book is #2 in the Bitterroot Series, but I read it as a stand alone**
Because of Kian (Bitterroot #1)
US - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JJ532WA
UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00JJ532WA
Always Conall (Bitterroot #2)
US - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MQECXVC
UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MQECXVC
Cover Model Spotlight
Giveaway
Always Conall Prize Pack: includes Signed copy of Always Conall, Signed photograph of Brian Laferierre, Always Conall personalized Dog tags.
Sibylla Matilde grew up in the mountain valleys of Southwest Montana exploring the dusty Old West gold country on the back of a horse. She attended a two-room schoolhouse beginning in 1st grade & had the same teacher until she changed schools after 7th. Beginning at about age 12, Sibylla discovered historical romance, feeding off of work of Jude Deveraux & Lisa Kleypas. She loves a book that can make the reader run the gamut of emotions, from the sweet glow of new love to gut-wrenching heartache. She is a true romantic & always has stories floating around in her head, living in a fantasyland until she writes them down to free them.
Music is her emotional trigger. Growing up with a Wagnarian-loving mother, Sibylla was raised to treasure music that digs deep into the psyche, drawing out elation, sorrow, grief, desire. The soundtrack to her life includes many genres spanning centuries. She looooooooves Thirty Seconds to Mars (rather obsessively, actually… but, really, how can you NOT be crazy about this guy!? Jared Leto. Shhh. ) & pimps them out to all her friends through Spotify. She also delights in Met Opera HD broadcasts at her local movie theater & hopes (listening Met?) to someday see Diana Damrau reprise her role as Mozart’s Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte. Sibylla lives with her husband and hero who saved her from her own calamitous, young-adult self. He makes her laugh daily, even when things are tough. He’s proved to her that love really can heal a shattered soul. In 18 years, they have never had a fight, although argue regularly with their two teenage kids who have, unfortunately, inherited their father’s quick wit (unfortunate as it is a quick wit that Sibylla, herself, definitely does not possess – there is a reason she is a writer & not a stand-up comedian). They live a quiet life with their two weird little rescued Chiweenies. Wait… teenagers & little yap-dogs? OK, maybe not so quiet.
Love your review! Thank you so much! :)
ReplyDeletemy question for Brian...what made you decide to become a model?
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