Thursday, October 17, 2013

Convicted Aleatha Romig
Book 3 - Consequences Series
 
Book #3 of the Consequences Series— 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! Aleatha Romig’s CONVICTED!
 
My Review - 5+ Stars!
 
First let me begin with saying that if you have not read, books one, Consequences and two, Truth of this series, you must before reading Convicted. I even went back and re-read both before beginning Convicted. These books are so intricate, with a plot so incredibly complex, you must refresh your memory before reading the final installment.
 
"Don't disappoint me - there will be consequences"
 
I have never read a series of books that have affected me the way this one has. This series is so full of twists, turns, lies, partial truths, deception, and intrigue, it will not only leave you wanting more, but gasping to find out what happens next. I found myself, breathing faster, gripping my kindle, pounding on furniture, cursing, shaking my head, face palming and of course turning those pages faster and faster.
 
"She wondered, was she just a pawn in a much bigger game? Was anything real?"
 
When we begin the third book, Claire Nichols is not where we last saw her, in fact we are in the year 2016. I was thrown for a loop from the very start. The story again bounces, between present, future and past. This was the authors way of keeping right on the edge for the entire ride. Building tension to the point, you think you may just snap. Claire is not herself. Anthony Rawlings, well he'd begun his transformation in the last book, and he continues to evolve and change right before your eyes. All of the other players are here as well, Catherine, Emily, John, Courtney, Brent, Phil, Harry, Sophia. It seems that the further you read, everyone has an important role in this story. The settings for me even took on lives of there own. Rich, vibrant, desolate and beautiful.
 
The reasons I loved this last book, are obvious ones. We finally get the rest of the puzzle pieces. Reading this series is like trying to do a 10,000 piece puzzle, with only half the pieces. The writing is intelligent, imaginative, fast paced and incredibly vivid. The emotional connection that the author creates between the characters is beautiful. You feel all of the love, pain and torment of the characters, while reading. Everyone one of the characters in this book is flawed. The author has created a massive mystery,  that you cannot help being desperate to see it unravel at the end.
 
As you read things start to shift and everything starts to make more sense. This series is complicated, you really need to focus and think about what you're reading. This is a thriller, a thriller with a lot of other things going on in the background. First and foremost Anthony and Claire's love story. Theirs is a unique and twisted love story. I never thought I would be rooting for them to end up together in the end, but nearing the end I was desperate for them to make it. I needed them to have a HEA after everything they had done to each other and survived. Their relationship stands for unconditional, unshakable, love.
 
"Their ties had gone through the fires of hell and come out stronger - refined by the flames - not consumed; nevertheless, the safety of their family would never be taken for granted."
 
If you are looking for a truly unique, complicated, romantic thriller, this is the series for you. I loved these books, and Convicted is a masterpiece. A perfect conclusion to a series that has been awaited for a very long time. These characters and their story will stay with you, long after you have finished reading. Aleatha Romig is a genius at keeping you spellbound from the beginning.
 
"Theirs was a long, complicated story with a monster and a knight. What made their story unique was that these two players were the same person."
 
"What we fear is what we do not know. When something is cloaked by the darkness of uncertainty, it's a mystery. Allowing light to penetrate that darkness makes everything clear"