Title: Vicious
Series: Sinners of Saint #1
Author: L.J. Shen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
On Sale $0.99 through January 13, 2017
#ItsLive #NewRelease #Viciousisdelicious #SinnersofSaint #EverySinnerneedsaSaint #EverySaintneedsaSinner @lj_shen
Emilia
They say love and hate are the same feelings experienced under different circumstances, and it’s true.
The man who comes to me in my dreams also haunts me in my nightmares.
He is a brilliant lawyer.
A skilled criminal.
A beautiful liar.
A bully and a savior, a monster and a lover.
Ten years ago, he made me run away from the small town where we lived. Now, he came for me in New York, and he isn’t leaving until he takes me with him.
Vicious
She is a starving artist.
Pretty and evasive like cherry blossom.
Ten years ago, she barged into my life unannounced and turned everything upside down.
She paid the price.
Emilia LeBlanc is completely off-limits, my best friend’s ex-girlfriend. The woman who knows my darkest secret, and the daughter of the cheap Help we hired to take care of our estate.
That should deter me from chasing her, but it doesn’t.
So she hates me. Big fucking deal.
She better get used to me.
~ Maria’s Review ~
“My grandma once told me that love and hate are the same feelings experienced under different circumstances. I didn’t believe her until I met Baron Spencer and he became my nightmare. Then my nightmare became my reality.”
Vicious is delicious. It’s been a while since I’ve met a character who was such an arrogant, cocky, manipulative bastard, however, I still found myself falling for him, like a moth to a flame. Like our heroine, Emilia. Author LJ Shen brought to life the epitome of the Beast in Baron Spencer, aka, Vicious. His character, though sexy, popular, rich, is also nasty, mean and deplorable. Yet, he wormed his way into my heart and had me hoping he’d get what he was after. Usually, I hope for redemption or remorse. I must admit, I didn’t really care about that with Vicious. Maybe because I knew, from the author’s writing, could feel, there was more to him. He had a heart and he had secrets and hurt that made him who he was, mean and defensive.
“I used to think of you as a villain, but you’re not my villain. You’re your own villain. To me, you were a lesson. An important, brutal lesson, nothing more, nothing less.”
The story is written in alternating POV, moving from past to present fluidly. Alternating POV is my favorite type of narration because I feel it allows you to get to know and understand the characters better. It also lets the author give the reader information the other characters may not be privy to, adding to the level of angst and drama in the story. Author LJ Shen does this beautifully. The heroine, Emilia, is strong, independent. I liked her very much. There were times I wanted to shake her because as strong as she was, when it came to Vicious, at times she was a little too compliant BUT not a door mat. She was smart and beautiful, and had baggage to work out, especially when it came to Vicious and the past.
Their attraction was palpable. I loved their banter. I loved the way they pushed each other’s buttons. Author LJ Shen didn’t use insta-love. She builds on their chemistry. She uses the love/hate in a captivating way. Hooked me immediately and I couldn’t put the book down. The way they each saw each other as tormentor in their past is intriguing. I mean, it’s clear when reading who the bully is, but author LJ Shen uses the character’s perspective to show the reader how they see things. It’s brilliant. Especially when your hero is such a frustrating, intimidating bully who can’t get out of his own way. I wanted him to wake up, to open up, for them to get their HEA.
“She could push all she wanted, but she was going to be pulled back to where she belonged. My arms.”
The supporting characters enhanced the story, giving it dimension. Vicious wasn’t just a jerk to Emilia, he was a jerk to everyone, even his best friends. The term ‘ four hotholes’ was how they were known growing up because they were gorgeous, athletic, popular and a little scary in that cool bad boy way. I really enjoyed this book. I think it’s a fantastic start to her new series. I look forward to the next installment. Fans of LJ Shen and of books like Bully will not be disappointed. I highly recommend.
Private – Send LJ Shen a message on Facebook for your invite today
“You’re pissing me off,” she said quietly, her eyes still searching my face.
“And that’s turning me on,” I retorted, my voice flat. “So you might wanna tone down the hate glares if you don’t wanna find yourself being fucked on this desk with the blinds still open.”
I was still staring at my screen, working on the merger deal I was eager to get signed before Christmas, but I could see from my peripheral that she had paled. I liked how—once again—I’d gotten under her skin. Quickly.
“You’re disgusting,” she muttered, still staring at me—but not in a way that suggested she was appalled.
I cracked my neck, opening my browser and checking the stocks on the screen, skimming through the greens and the reds. “That may well be, but I’m balls deep in your fucking head, Help, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Her eyes glittered with rage, and fuck, I was so hard, and fuck, she was so beautiful. This was so on. I was going to fuck Dean’s ex-girlfriend, use her for my personal needs, and toss her away when I was done.
And after choosing the wrong guy, there was no doubt in my mind, she deserved it too.
“You just gave Floyd a lecture about the inter-office fraternization policy. No mixing business and pleasure.” She leaned forward. Her elbow touched my finger accidentally, and she jerked it away.
I met her halfway, erasing the space between us across the desk. “Correction—guys like Floyd won’t give you pleasure. Men like me would. Besides, the man likes Arrow,” I drawled, as if this alone was a reason to fire him.
To me, it was.
“You know what your problem is, Vicious? You still haven’t decided if you hate me or like me. That’s why you act like this every time I’m around other men.” There wasn’t a trace of embarrassment in her voice. She owned up to this.
What she didn’t know was that I knew exactly how I felt about her.
I hated her, but was attracted to her. It was really that simple.
“You know what I feel right now, Ms. LeBlanc? I feel like you need to pack a fucking bag and start making the necessary arrangements. You’re coming with me to California, whether you like it or not.”
L.J. Shen resides in sunny California with her husband, son, chubby cat and wild, wild dreams.
Her passion is to write badass stories, sushi, UFC and her awesome family and friends (not in this order, though. Obviously, sushi comes before writing. Oh, and also the family part.)
She spend the first half of her twenties traveling the world and is now paying all the fun with extra shifts in front of her MacBook. Feel free to contact her on her Facebook page. She loves to hear from her readers.
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L.J. Shen resides in sunny California with her husband, son, chubby cat and wild, wild dreams.
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