FMR Book Grind: Bend, Don't Break by Skye Callahan ~ BLOG TOUR & REVIEW

Bend don't Break

Skye Callahan

Genre: Dark Erotic Romance

Available November 18, 2014

Synopsis

I thought I was done.

my End

I couldn’t take my eyes off her as the bullet tore through me, leaving me with nothing but the hope that I had done enough to save her. The darkness tried to engulf me—to brand me as its own and drag me to my fate.

my Darkness

Waking to see her tear-stained face above me was enough to make my heart stutter. I was alive and free from that place—but not from the toll it had taken on my mind and body.

my Strength

My story should have ended, but one woman kept standing in the way of that. The only way I could have her was to find a way to put the darkness to rest.
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Excerpt #1

“She’s fine,” Dr. Combs assured me. “But I don’t think it would be in the best interest for either of you to see each other. You put yourself in a dangerous situation with her.”
Put myself? Last I checked I wasn’t the one to drag her into the Retreat. “I kept her alive and slightly less broken than she would have otherwise been.”
“The two of you adapted to a horrible situation, found comfort in each other—”
I didn’t want to hear it.
Stockholm Syndrome.
I wondered if the captor could get it, too. Was I even the captor? It seemed like I’d lost control of the situation long ago.
But I’d still been the one to beat her, rape her, bend her will.
Just like she’d bent mine.
I wanted her back so bad I couldn’t breathe. The more we talked about it, the worse it got. The harsh reality of it all forced me to face the possibility that I had to walk away if I wanted to do what was in her best interest.
“How long until I can talk to Trent?” I tried again, drawing back a modicum of control by changing the course of the conversation.
Dr. Combs sighed and snapped her portfolio closed. “If it’ll get you to talk, I’ll make the arrangements on one condition.”
I’d already sold my soul, there weren’t many more concessions I had left to give.
“I need to know you’re not going to try to reach out to Rose—or anyone else.”
Did that mean there was a chance she’d see me? Or was Dr. Combs convinced I’d stalk and abduct her anyway? That was quite a laughable possibility, but some sick-as-fuck part of me considered it.

Book Trailer

Excerpt #2

She came around the corner on hands and knees, and I saw her face visibly pale as soon as she saw the chain in my hands, but she approached anyway. Stubborn, belligerent, and brave.
Three traits that’d get her killed.
I dropped the chain to the floor next to the bed. “Come up here.”
She paused, but finally climbed onto the bed and straddled my lap as I directed, and damned if I didn’t feel like I was losing it. The bruises from her encounter with Gabe’s buffoons were starting to set in, but she pulled back and shut herself off as I examined her.
Such a degrading way to make sure nothing was broken, but if she didn’t believe my act, no one else would either. I realized the plug in her ass was probably growing even more uncomfortable with time, especially if she hadn’t experimented with them before.
Not that I could ask since I wasn’t supposed to care.
“Hate me all you want, Sugar,” I said, hoping to get her to walk a fine line between trust and fear where she might listen. “I’m the only ally you have.”
“Ally…?” she whispered, “You’re going to hurt me.” Her eyes filled again, but she blinked it away and held back just like she had in the basement, and I couldn’t face her any longer.
“I am,” I lifted her off of me, flipping her over. “Ass up.”
Even though she kept up her protective walls, I saw her body visibly relax when I pulled the plug free and sat it on the side table. It was going to be hard enough for her to kneel through dinner. I hoped the threat of it might make her more compliant.
The mix of vulnerability countered with her impossible stubbornness had an aphrodisiac effect on me. I had been convinced this was the only way we’d survive, but for the first time, I truly considered the effect it was going to have on both of us.

Review by Leeann

This was written from James' s POV. It was really facinating to see things through his eyes.

Now James and Rose are out of the retreat the are struggling to move on. James cannot reconcile the things he had to do to Rose in the retreat and this is stopping him from having any kind of relationship with her. He has flashbacks and residual dark desires.

Rose can see why he is struggling but is also trying to heal herself before she help him come to terms with their past. Although she suffered horrific crimes while in the retreat, she is stubborn and determined to move on. She also has a desire to submit to James which she doesn't fully understand.

In order to move on they need to learn how to deal with their darker desires and know where to draw the line.

James and his cop partner Trent are still trying to take down those involved in taking girls and forcing then to become sex slaves.

James is having trouble keeping Rose out of it because she is very stubborn and wants to help bring these guys down. While this is all going on, James and Trent realize there is a mole in the police department and also have to deal with that.

Although the authors is writing about a subject that I feel leaves a bad taste in your mouth, she has done it really tastefully and really well. She hasn't just brought James and Rose out of the retreat and sent them off to their happy ending. She has shown that they both are suffering from a kind of post traumatic stress disorder. They are both struggling. They didn'tjust jump straight into a relationship afterwards. They had to work on it.

I imagine the feelings and fears James experiences would be pretty close to what someone who has been through and done what he has had to do to survive would feel.

Rose was a victim of rape and psychological torture. I have no doubt that the effects of that type of abuse is pretty close to what the author has described in this story.

This was a great story, again, like book 1 it leans towards the dark side of the romance genre. It is very well written and like I said in my review of book 1, of you have the ability to separate a work of fiction from real life, you will enjoy this read.

Well done to the author Sky Callahan for putting it out there and writing a book about such a sensitive subject while still allowing the reader to see the romance story going on in the background that is slowly brought to the forefront over 2 books.

I will be looking to read more from this author in the future.

5 Stars

Review by Amy

It is always amazing to get the males POV in a story and this one did not disappoint. I really enjoyed the idea that this book begins just before Irrevocable ends so I was able to experience the climax from both points of view. This made the story line more believable and I was more emotionally vested.

This story line was one of the darker stories I have ever read so it was a difficult at first to get into it. Bend Don’t Break is the conclusion/ companion to Irrevocable, and I feel that it was much easier to read. Being that it was a males POV, the raw emotion was somewhat taken out and that made processing the book easier.

After being together thrown together a rather crude and hostile situation, Rose and James now need to find their relationship outside of the make believe one they had been living. “….I wanted you to be able to go back to normal. There is no normal”. James and Rose now need to find their normal together.

This book was a much easier read than the first for me. It filled in holes and was very thorough at explain and tying up the story nicely. I recommend both of the books but I feel that this one was much easier to read and therefore I enjoyed it.

4 Stars

Playlist

Ten Fun Facts

I love cars, and I write most of my books while watching Top Gear. I’d prefer the sound of an Aston Martin over any music sound track.
I once based a character in a story on my husband, and the character died. He never lets me live it down, but don’t bother trying to figure it out, I never released that book.
I’m not terribly good at being girly–I don’t wear makeup, only own 4 pairs of shoes, and I’ve never had a manicure.
I learned to handle a gun before I learned long division.
While most of the people in my graduate research classes were buried in books, I was glued to the TV researching the evolving portrayal of “Indianness”.
I have a phobia of crickets.
Yuengling is my weakness.
I have penguin stuff everywhere--even a penguin snuggie because I couldn’t resist.
I enjoy long walks in the cemetery.
Nearly everyone in my family has seen a ghost in the hallway in the house I grew up in, and I was told by a Bigfoot expert that the sounds I used to hear outside my bedroom at night were likely the cries of Bigfoot.

Synopsis

Goodreads

Sometimes when you can’t go back, the only way out is to descend into the darkness.

my Captor

When I woke in that place, I just wanted to survive. But survival came at a cost, for which they demanded my will and body.

my Master

With pain came acceptance. Fully-dependent on the man who claimed me, I learned to appreciate what I had-life and relative safety.

my Protector

I watched him spill blood and tend my injuries. With betrayal came a revelation.

The only way out was to bring them all down or die trying.

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Reviews

"Not only did Irrevocable gut me, it took me on a roller coaster ride full of emotions that I usually don't experience while reading romances.... You start to hate, you start to sympathize, and you begin to fall in love in every way. Ms. Callahan has turned my world upside down with her writing. Dark, sensual, and at times overwhelming, Irrevocable will bring you on a dark journey that you will never forget." Shayna Renee's Spicy Reads TOP PICK of 2014!

"You HAVE to read this book. It really is one of the best that I have read in a while, and definitely one of the best of 2014. It has everything I look for in a dark read. The twist that the author throws in is, just wow. I just cannot emphasis just how much I love this book!" Alicia, Mean Girls Luv Books

"Finally a good DARK read, that has it ALL...!! Overall - the characters drew me in, the situation jangled my nerves, the sexy scenes were HOT, and the story just blew me away." Shelby, Wicked Reads

"Beautifully written! Great characters and story line. Skye made me a fan of dark reads. A must read for all who dare to step out of the light and into the darkness!" Summer's Book Blog

About the Author

Skye Callahan was born and raised in rural Ohio and has had an insatiable love of reading and writing since she was young. Thanks to the encouragement of teachers, family, and friends, she has found her passion in immersing herself in the imaginary worlds of the characters who live in her head.

Most of her early stories were paranormal, and although the paranormal world still has a special place in her imagination, her interest in BDSM and dark romance has led her to expand her writing endeavors.

Before she began writing full-time, she earned a M.A. in Public History and worked for a non-profit business consulting center. When she’s not indulging the voices in her head, she’s enjoying life with her husband and two ferrets.

Contact Skye Callahan

Other Works from Skye Callahan

Bound and Unbroken

Genre: BDSM Romance
Goodreads
Lena is about to discover pleasure in the things she can’t control.

To get even with her roommate for dragging her to a sports bar on a Friday night, Lena begins flirting with the handsome stranger who sits at the bar next to her. Their anonymous conversation leads to a shared cab ride, but Lena’s conscience puts a damper on the evening—leaving the near-fling to become a memory. Until she finds him roaming the halls of the school where she teaches.

Will she submit to his desires?

Eric’s only reason for returning to his hometown is to care for his recently orphaned nephew. He knew the return would involve dredging up his past with family and friends, but he didn't expect a lone girl to capture his interest and offer an escape within his new life.

Will his binds be enough to keep her?

Purchase Links

Amazon | B&N

Fractured Legacy

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Goodreads

Kaylyn Anderson's fascination with abandoned places and dark creatures kindled her work as a paranormal investigator. But when dreams begin to distort reality, she questions what is real and pulls away from everyone she trusts. The opportunity to investigate the Teague Hotel--a long-abandoned landmark that has always piqued her curiosity--provides a chance to redeem herself. Unraveling the hotel's secrets won't be easy, but Kaylyn soon finds herself the target of a dark entity that has been trapped in the building for decades.

If Kaylyn stands any chance of defeating the spirit, she'll have to accept that her fears are real and convince fellow investigators that she hasn't lost her mind.

Purchase Links

Amazon | B&N

Beyond the Divide

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Goodreads

Despite unanswered questions about the nameless entity that tried to steal her life, Kaylyn returns to the only kind of normal life she knows and takes on a new paranormal case.

After investing everything they have in a farm, an unsuspecting family discovers that their problems run much deeper than the poor upkeep of the house and land. Can Kaylyn and the other investigators uncover what's behind the growing malicious activity? And how will they all deal with new warnings from beyond the divide?