PIERCED -- a summary and opinion

I don't buy many books these days... 

My Netgalley account was FULL. To the brink. I had books for days/weeks/months. And because I received those in exchange for reviews, I felt that those books needed to take precedence over books that I purchased. Publishers, authors, and soon-to-be readers wanted to know "my" opinion ("my" being relative and meaning all bloggers). 

But something about the synopsis of this book made me want to push back the other books for just a day. It would be just a day, right? I'm a quick reader. 

And I'm pretty happy with my decision to purchase this book.

Publication Date: July 2, 2014

Synopsis:

Lucian Quinn is the wonder boy of the business world. At twenty-nine, he owns one of the hottest software companies in the world. Personally, his life has been filled with tragedy and loss. He has learned to use his hate to survive and even thrive professionally, but his demons are always there, lurking just out of sight.

Lia Adams is a college student who has suffered through years of abuse at home to get to where she is today. She has done whatever was necessary to survive, including working as an escort for Date Night to pay for her education. Her life changes forever the day that Lucian Quinn's friend convinces him to hire an escort for an important business dinner.

Circumstances bring two people that should have never crossed paths together and in the days and weeks ahead, they grow close quickly, each seeing a kindred soul in the other. As ghosts from their past rise to haunt them, they cling to each other as their lives start to spiral out of control. Soon, they realize that they're both damaged possibly beyond repair. Will their love be what saves or destroys them?

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Oh me, oh my. What a cute story.

Lia has been taking odd date-jobs for a while, now. She needs to pay for school, and with her time commitment required for that... well, she doesn't have much other time. She doesn't have family to fall back on -- she left home the moment she was able to (let me tell you -- the scene that shows the cruelty she lived through will make your heart hurt. At least, it made my heart hurt). This escort business works for her. She takes on date-jobs only, her clients never expecting more than a lady on his arm for the evening. Occasionally she'll even be available for a second date, but her services are rarely needed beyond that. 

Luc needs a date. He needs a date so the vicious man-hungry Monique keeps her hands to herself. So his buddy sets him up with this escort service he's used before. Luc doesn't expect to be blindsided by the gorgeous (albeit, Bendryl-drunk) Lia.

Luc wants to see her again, but Lia doesn't do exclusive. She can't afford to do exclusive. But Luc has his ways, and with certain strings pulled, Luc makes everything fall the way he wants it to (even though Lia feels a bit like a whore) -- afterall, Luc truly just wants what's best for Lia. He stands by her and helps her through her hurdles.

I liked Lia. I felt she came a long way and was working toward her goals. She was strongheaded and fierce. She was a survivor in all sense of the word.

Luc at times bothered me. Do not get me wrong, he is fantastic for Lia. My issue, though, was he keeps prodding and probing for Lia to open up, but refuses (and acts like a three-year-old child, storming off) to do the same when she asks him to. I have to say, I'd have been extremely disappointed in the book if we, as readers, didn't (finally) get the insight to Luc's background at the end of this book.

I am super, super excited to read the next installment of this series, FRACTURED, coming out in December. The end of PIERCED is a big cliffhanger, and the fear in Luc's mind...

You'll want to read it too.

So... if you couldn't tell by my use of the words "fantastic" and "extremely" and "super"... book one of this series is a total 5. Perhaps you'll agree?

Purchase now for your Kindle or Nook.