(Clipped Wings #2)
Release Date: May 13, 2014
Publisher: Gallery Books; 368 pages
Rating:
In this follow-up to Clipped Wings, the emotional love story continues between Hayden and Tenley; two young people who desperately want to love and be loved but are afraid to completely let go of their pasts.
In the wake of losing Tenley Page, tattooist Hayden Stryker's tumultuous past is haunting him. Plagued by nightmares about the murder of his parents, Hayden reaches out again to Tenley. Having run from the man she doesn't believe she deserves, Tenley finally lays her guilt to rest. Despite their intense physical attraction, Hayden and Tenley struggle to repair their fragile emotional connection. As Hayden gets closer to the truth, he must find a way to reconcile his guilt over his parents' death in order to keep the woman who finally cracked his armor, and found her way into his heart.
Thank you to Gallery Books for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I love this series! It's not often I start of a review with gushing about how much I love it. But I really do love this. I am such a fan of Helena's writing that it's not even funny. This has been well worth the wait. I waited years to have a completed copy of this series. It's almost surreal to me to actually be able to hold a physical copy. I devoured this entire book in a weekend. I am a bit of a slow reader, so that says a lot. I am addicted to Hayden and Tenley!
Clipped Wings left off on a bit of a cliff hanger. Tenley's not so quite brother in law Trey showed up and dragged Tenley back to Arden Hills. Hayden is pretty much a wreck. Tenley has been ignoring his phone calls, and he has had no contact with her since she left. I loved the direction that the story took. Tenley and Hayden were both affected by tragedies. And honestly they became very dependent on each other. And they both need to deal with their issues. In Inked Armor they both show tremendous growth. I seriously was a proud fan. They both needed time to heal. And as great as they are for each other, they were also harmful.
Since I read so many YA books, sometimes when I read books about adults, I tend to forget that they are indeed adults with real adult problems. It's nice to read a book about characters who are around my age, who I connect to. Dealing with life choices like moving in with a steady boyfriend and children are things that most twenty year olds think about. And even though both Tenley and Hayden have emotional issues that are much more complex than that, they also both have common issues that readers can relate to.
One of the things that has always stood out to me about this series is it's strong support characters. There is a strong sense of family in a non traditional way. The friendships that Tenley and Hayden have outside of each other are so crucial. I'd love to have a friend like Lisa. Lisa is just a cool chick, someone you'd want on your side. And then there are Cassie and Nate, who are technically Hayden's aunt and uncle. But their bond with them was so much stronger than that. You got a real sense of family.
You pick up a series like Clipped Wings when you want a love story. I enjoyed seeing both Hayden and Tenley blossom. Yes this story is very deep and can get very dark. And I know that that can turn some people off. But there are are lighter moments. And by the end of this book, I was smiling so much. I was so happy for the two of them. They show you what it's like to take something that's out of the norm, and to take risk.
Gallery Books have been kind enough to give away 2 signed sets of Clipped Wings! That's right you could win both Clipped Wings and Inked Armor! Giveaway is US only. Two winners will be chosen! Good luck!
Imprint: Gallery
Pub Date: 03/04/14
Author: Hunting, Helena
ISBN: 9781476764290 (Trade Paperback)
Price: $15.00 (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-13: 9781476764313 (eBook)
Price: $7.99 (eBook)
CLIPPED WINGS:
Their body art is hot. Their chemistry is even hotter.
From her dark hair sweeping below her waist to her soft, sexy curves, Tenley Page intrigues tattoo artist Hayden Stryker in a way no one else ever has…especially when she asks him to ink a gorgeous, intricate design on her back. Yet for all her beauty, there is something darkly tragic and damaged about Tenley that Hayden is everything.
Covered in ink and steel, Hayden is everything Tenley has never dared to want, awakening a desire to explore more than the art adorning his stunning body. Trapped by a past that leaves her screaming from nightmares, Tenley sees Hayden as the perfect escape. Although he has secrets too, if they both keep themselves guarded perhaps their intense physical connection will remain only that.
But nothing, not even passion, can keep them safe from their pasts…
From her dark hair sweeping below her waist to her soft, sexy curves, Tenley Page intrigues tattoo artist Hayden Stryker in a way no one else ever has…especially when she asks him to ink a gorgeous, intricate design on her back. Yet for all her beauty, there is something darkly tragic and damaged about Tenley that Hayden is everything.
Covered in ink and steel, Hayden is everything Tenley has never dared to want, awakening a desire to explore more than the art adorning his stunning body. Trapped by a past that leaves her screaming from nightmares, Tenley sees Hayden as the perfect escape. Although he has secrets too, if they both keep themselves guarded perhaps their intense physical connection will remain only that.
But nothing, not even passion, can keep them safe from their pasts…
CLIPPED WING Excerpt:
Tenley backed up and hit the lower cabinets, her cocky grin fading. I was sure I looked seriously pissed. She tried to scoot to the side, but I mirrored the movement, blocking her in. The kitten scampered over to the empty coffee cup beside the sink.
Tenley glanced at her from the corner of her eye before refocusing on me. The trepidation that usually accompanied such close contact became evident in her rigid stance. I was about to back off when her entire demeanor changed. It was like a switch being flicked. Her eyes closed briefly, and when they opened again the unease was gone, replaced with a desperation I didn’t know what to make of, but wanted to do something about.
“You don’t intimidate me,” she said softly.
That was a lie, but I went with it. “I’m not trying to. I’m merely suggesting you rethink sharing that picture.”
“Or what?”
“Is it worth pushing me to find out?”
“You’re all bark, no bite,” she challenged.
I couldn’t and wouldn’t back down now. I pried the phone out of her hand and slid it across the counter, out of reach. “Is that right?”
I knew exactly where I wanted to take this. I shouldn’t have come inside. I should have handed over the kitten at the door, waited in the hall for the cupcakes, and gone home. Then I could have fixed my own damn problem and gone to bed. But I hadn’t. Instead, I was standing in Tenley’s kitchen with her sandwiched between me and the counter, spinning intricate fantasies about how I would like to proceed with the rest of the night. Fuck The Rule. Fuck everything.
Tenley tilted her head a fraction, exposing the satin expanse of her throat. It was an invitation; I couldn’t ignore it.
Tenley glanced at her from the corner of her eye before refocusing on me. The trepidation that usually accompanied such close contact became evident in her rigid stance. I was about to back off when her entire demeanor changed. It was like a switch being flicked. Her eyes closed briefly, and when they opened again the unease was gone, replaced with a desperation I didn’t know what to make of, but wanted to do something about.
“You don’t intimidate me,” she said softly.
That was a lie, but I went with it. “I’m not trying to. I’m merely suggesting you rethink sharing that picture.”
“Or what?”
“Is it worth pushing me to find out?”
“You’re all bark, no bite,” she challenged.
I couldn’t and wouldn’t back down now. I pried the phone out of her hand and slid it across the counter, out of reach. “Is that right?”
I knew exactly where I wanted to take this. I shouldn’t have come inside. I should have handed over the kitten at the door, waited in the hall for the cupcakes, and gone home. Then I could have fixed my own damn problem and gone to bed. But I hadn’t. Instead, I was standing in Tenley’s kitchen with her sandwiched between me and the counter, spinning intricate fantasies about how I would like to proceed with the rest of the night. Fuck The Rule. Fuck everything.
Tenley tilted her head a fraction, exposing the satin expanse of her throat. It was an invitation; I couldn’t ignore it.
Title: Inked Armor
Imprint: Gallery
Pub Date: 05/13/14
Author: Hunting, Helena
ISBN: 9781476764306 (Trade Paperback)
Price: $15.00 (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-13: 9781476764320 (eBook)
Price: $7.99 (eBook)
INKED ARMOR IS THE SEQUEL TO CLIPPED WINGS:
In this follow-up to Clipped Wings, the emotional love story continues between Hayden and Tenley; two young people who desperately want to love and be loved but are afraid to completely let go of their pasts.
In the wake of losing Tenley Page, tattooist Hayden Stryker's tumultuous past is haunting him. Plagued by nightmares about the murder of his parents, Hayden reaches out again to Tenley. Having run from the man she doesn't believe she deserves, Tenley finally lays her guilt to rest. Despite their intense physical attraction, Hayden and Tenley struggle to repair their fragile emotional connection. As Hayden gets closer to the truth, he must find a way to reconcile his guilt over his parents' death in order to keep the woman who finally cracked his armor, and found her way into his heart.
In the wake of losing Tenley Page, tattooist Hayden Stryker's tumultuous past is haunting him. Plagued by nightmares about the murder of his parents, Hayden reaches out again to Tenley. Having run from the man she doesn't believe she deserves, Tenley finally lays her guilt to rest. Despite their intense physical attraction, Hayden and Tenley struggle to repair their fragile emotional connection. As Hayden gets closer to the truth, he must find a way to reconcile his guilt over his parents' death in order to keep the woman who finally cracked his armor, and found her way into his heart.
INKED ARMOR Excerpt:
A few days, a week, just a little longer. Everyone told me she needed time. Her silence told me she needed time.
Fuck time.
Time went on and on. An endless cycle of sleep, wake, bear the agony, and repeat. I fucking hated time.
Tenley had been gone for three weeks. Every day without her was sensory deprivation, drawn out and torturous from beginning to end. The first week, I called her every day. Her phone always went to voice mail. She never called back. I stopped calling because it sucked to know I’d been discarded so easily.
Memories of her were everywhere: home, work, Serendipity. I couldn’t escape. So at least I understood why she came to Chicago in the first place: to get away from the ceaseless reminders. I couldn’t figure out what had compelled her to go back, though. She could run from me all she wanted, but returning to the place she’d fled from didn’t make much sense. Unless she was looking to shackle herself to the guilt again. It was easy to deny the possibility of a future when she let the past drag her down. I knew. I’d done that for years until Tenley came along.
Fuck time.
Time went on and on. An endless cycle of sleep, wake, bear the agony, and repeat. I fucking hated time.
Tenley had been gone for three weeks. Every day without her was sensory deprivation, drawn out and torturous from beginning to end. The first week, I called her every day. Her phone always went to voice mail. She never called back. I stopped calling because it sucked to know I’d been discarded so easily.
Memories of her were everywhere: home, work, Serendipity. I couldn’t escape. So at least I understood why she came to Chicago in the first place: to get away from the ceaseless reminders. I couldn’t figure out what had compelled her to go back, though. She could run from me all she wanted, but returning to the place she’d fled from didn’t make much sense. Unless she was looking to shackle herself to the guilt again. It was easy to deny the possibility of a future when she let the past drag her down. I knew. I’d done that for years until Tenley came along.
Not really. I find them cool, but I don`t want to have any tattoo or piercing. :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a fan. Full arm and back tattoos are like the perfect place them.
ReplyDeleteI find tattoos really appealing. And anywhere on the body that I can sit and stare at is a good place for me. I don't want to see any ugly one though. And certain piercing are awesome too, if you know where I mean. ;) Thank you for the giveaway. I'm a huge fans of Helenas.
ReplyDeletenot really my thing,,,,,
ReplyDeleteNot really a big fan of them, though I do have regular ear piercings and then a helix piercing
ReplyDeleteI do like body modifications (tattoos and piercings). I like anything from simple ear piercings to giant tattoos. The body is a canvas and if you choose to tattoos and piercings are a great way to express yourself.
ReplyDeleteThese covers are gorgeous! Thanks for the giveaway
I'm pierced and tattooed so I (obviously) absolutely love them! This book sounds different then what's out there and It sounds like it has a really good story. I'm someone who reads a lot of YA as well so I understand how refreshing it is to read an adult book once in a while. I really enjoyed reading your review too and will pick it up in the future :)
ReplyDelete