Echo by A. Zavarelli Series: Bleeding Hearts #1
Publisher: Self-Published on October 27, 2015
Genres: Romance, Dark, BDSM, Erotica
Pages: 310
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads
Rating:
Heat:
How far would you go to save someone you love? Would you give up your body? Your mind? Your heart?
I did and it cost me everything.
He says he owns me. And it’s true.
I’ve signed over complete control of my body and life for six months to a man I don’t know. Five years he’s been planning this. They say revenge is a dish best served cold. But my blackmailer serves it up white hot. He’s addicted to my innocence, and I’m addicted to him.
He likes to hurt me. I love to let him. He brings me to life. He sets me free. He makes my heart feel things it shouldn’t.
But he also scares me. He holds the fate of my brother’s life in his hands. A life behind bars for crimes I know he didn’t commit. My blackmailer can’t give up his revenge on my family, and I can’t be with him if he doesn’t. But I’m nothing more than a butterfly caught in his net. Do I really have a choice?
At A Glance
Decent but nothing special.
The Good
Echo is the kind of book you enjoy more while reading. While in the thick of it, Echo is dark and complicated. Ryland’s motives are kept a secret until the end and the wait was driving me crazy. Brighton is the total opposite of Ryland. Like light and dark. Brighton may have grown up in a dysfunctional family but she is a sweet, naïve girl hoping for a better future. Ryland is all dark and dangerous. His actions were often questionable but that’s what made things fun! Ryland is looking for revenge but I won’t reveal why. He is single minded in his vengeance, which I respected, but even for me he went too far. To say he’s flawed would be an understatement.
I enjoyed seeing Ryland’s defenses fall while Brighton drowns in a new world of mystery and sex. Poor, poor Brighton. I definitely respected her decision in the end.
The Bad
A day or two after finishing Echo, I totally felt meh about it. Without the dazzle of being in the real-time words, the plot defects were very obvious. It felt forced, like the story didn’t flow naturally.
The writing was a little mechanical and Brighton was bordering on too stupid to live. Also, I never found myself rooting for Brighton and Ryland to make it, I just didn’t care.
The Snuggly
Blackmail sex doesn’t seem sexy, but the author made it so! I was outraged on Brighton’s behalf, but she doesn’t seem to mind being blackmailed into BDSM sex as much I thought she would. The sex is a little messed up but damn was it hot.
Final Thoughts
I still don’t know how I feel about this one. I kind of wanted to grab book 2 because Echo ended on a little cliffhanger but the writing just wasn’t good enough. Maybe one day, but I am in no rush. Recommended.
Quotes
“This was worse than a coke binge. Worse than black tar or the thrill of E. This was the devil himself snaking his way inside of my heart and bending me to his will. This was addiction, quickly morphing into obsession. And somewhere in the clouded fog that was my brain, I knew this was a game I was going to lose.”
“I wanted to break you. I never expected you to like it.”
melliane
Yeah difficult thing when it’s ok but not that good either. Maybe book 2 will be a bit better, to see the day you want totry
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
I seriously already forgot the story one week later, lol.
Red Iza
I simply can’t stand stupid heroins, but the book musn’t have been that bad if you were so caught up in it while reading 😉
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
I know, at the time it was really decent. But technically it was meh.
kindlemom1
Too bad there wasn’t anything special about this. I hope your next read is a stand out one.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Thanks, I hope so too.
Lekeisha
I remember this one from somewhere, and I wanted to read it so badly. Now, not so much. I’m gonna take your word for it, because I have to many books to read, and I don’t want a “meh” read if I can help it. Great review!
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
I am so tired of meh reads.
Braine
Maybe there’s a “play” her that was missed? Like rape play, in this case blackmail-me-so-you-can-beat me play?
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
LMAO
Ashley @ Ashleyz Wonderland
Sorry you didn’t enjoy this one. Doesn’t really sound too good to me from the synopsis either.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
I enjoyed it, but just minimally.
Kristin
Well, crap. Sorry you didn’t enjoy this as much as you thought you were. LoL I’ve had that happen a few times before. Kudos for being able to write a review on it. Usually when this happens I’m grasping at straws trying to come up with something to say and end up just throwing in the towel. You could always do what I do when I read a cliffhanger book, read spoilers from the next book. 😉 Totally cheating but saves you from reading another “meh” book when you could be reading something that you love.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
I love reading spoilers for the next books when I don’t plan on buying them. 😀
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
And I did have trouble writing this review. It was hard to get words out at all.
Melissa (Books and Things)
Not sure I would like the coercion that happens with the BDSM. Not usually for me. Plus, if it was only a meh book for you, it does not bode well that I will pick it up.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
No, not worth it at all.
Christy
Sometimes messed up sex is the best sex. 😀 I know what you mean though about liking it more while you’re ‘in it’.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Messed up sex works when the book is effing amazing, but this one just wasn’t.
Jaclyn Canada
I don’t blame you for not wanting to more forward with book 2 if it left you feeling meh. It must’ve been just what you needed at the time and sucked you in. You’ll know when you’re needing that again so you can read book 2 if that happens. Great review!
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
I feel like I almost seek out meh books when I don’t know what to read next.