My Review: A Terrible Love by Marata Eros

In this sexy and suspenseful new adult novel from New York Times bestselling author Marata Eros, a woman struggles to keep her painful past hidden—only to discover she's not the only one with secrets...

Jess Mackey is living a meticulously fabricated lie of necessity. She's left the secret tragedy of her past behind along with who she was and is forging ahead with a clean slate. But Jess soon discovers that passion can't be left behind—neither her own, nor that of the one man who sees who she really is…and whose unexpected presence may breach the peaceful life Jess has painstakingly created for herself.

Devin Castile didn’t expect to meet a young woman who may be the missing puzzle piece to his existence…and who is also the victim of a heinous crime. Devin convinces himself that he can remain emotionally distant even while indulging his physical desire for her. But when Jess’s lies begin to crumble in the face of their undeniable attraction and the truth is revealed, one of them might pay with their life.

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Jess Mackey has been hiding for the past two years.  Ever since the day she buried her friend faith in the ground she's gone into hiding.  Her green eyes and brown hair now blue a dark blonde she's been hiding out at a university in Washington since the day she left.  She went into hiding remaining secluded and only has her friends Carlie and Amber who don't even know her secrets.  Jewell MacLeod is long gone, ever since her stepbrother Thad ended the life of her friend being the brutal monster that he is.  Jess knew the only way to avoid being hurt further at the hands of her stepbrother is to run even though that means giving up ballet, the one thing in life she loved above all other things.

Jess lasted two years until the day Carlie tricks her into going to a ballet audition being held and as much as Jess doesn't want to admit it, she's found her love once again.  It's here that she meets Mitch Maverick.  From the moment she met Mitch, she's sees a sweet guy who wants to date her.  He wants to protect her, date her, and he pulls out all the stops, Jess allowing a man into her life like she hasn't in the past two years.  In the hallway after class the next dat she runs into a man that was looming in the doorway while she was auditioning, one Devin Castile and she knows her life is about to be turned upside down.

There's one thing Devin wants and that's sex with Jess.  He doesn't want love, he doesn't want a relationship he offers Jess the one thing she can have sex without him digging too much into her past.  While Mitch wants her, he wants a relationship and wants to get to know her on every level.  Both men want her, but she is drawn to Devin with his dominating, sexual ways and his large muscles and motorcycle to complete his image.  So Jess allows Devin to have what they both want each other.  Their connection is instant, they passion unmatched, but Devin has secrets and he disappears for days at a time, no messages, no visits, and no phone calls.  Mitch takes this and steps in, but all it causes is way in her heart and life while she struggles to keep all things in life in order.  But she finds again the one thing that has been her love, ballet.  She finds her footing again and clarity in her dance, when she dances everything comes together.

But the school she is at is plagued by girls being kidnapped and killed, causing Jess to look over her shoulder and question the life she is living and how safe she really is.  Join Jess as she attempts to regain the life she gave up the day she left two years ago and learn which man she picks and the secrets within their lives.

This was one heck of a journey.  Marata combined two of my most favorite things in one story, ballet and romance made even better with Devin being the alpha he is and his bad ass dominant ways.  He is one of my all time favorite book boyfriends of all time.  This was a great story full of passion and uncertainty.  I loved watching Jess attempt to regain some of her life that she lost.  Being a shell of former self for so long and being able to reach forward and regain something she once loved and lost was incredible to watch.  I am really looking forward to reading A Brutal Tenderness.  I wish I could say more about that story but it gives too much away if you haven't read this story.  I look forward to reading more of Marata's work in the future.  This but was amazing, the story of these character's lives captivating, and Jess' search for a life beyond her former one.  5 amazingly beautiful stars!

***Review copy provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review***

Marata Eros (a pseudonym for Tamara Rose Blodgett) is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of dark, romantic new adult novels, including A Terrible Love and its companion novel A Brutal Tenderness. A passionate writer who loves interacting with her readers, Marata lives in South Dakota with her husband.

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