Destroyed

This book was great but not as a romance. It was a heart wrenching tale of despair, lust, love, pain, and hope. There were a couple of small slow parts but it still kept me up until 4 am reading! The Hero was no hero. I cannot say I liked Roan or identified with Zel when she stayed with him. But I understood it. This was not a book to escape into and envy their live or love.

Wow. This book took me on a journey through a very dark kingdom. Not for the faint of heart it will rattle you, test your boundaries, and completely blow your mind. This was my first time reading. Ms. Winters so I didn’t know what to expect. Blood, violence, sex, and hurt so deep it rips your soul to shreds is what I got. *Takes a deep breath.
There are many twists and revelations in the book, so I won’t give too much away. Fox is a man utterly twisted by his horrible past. Violent, self loathing, and monstrous he comes off as nonredeemable, until he meets Hazel and a sliver of light shines into the darkness, entrancing him. Like a moth he’s drawn to her flame. But the challenge is to keep from snuffing it out completely.
Hazel show more has been through more than any one should at her age. Tough, heartbroken, and close to giving up hope, she’s a complex character to wrap your head around. She has many secrets that are pulled into the light changing the way you see her.
These two broken souls come together again and again in an attempt to heal one other. It’s a sometimes horrific display that tears at your heart strings and leaves you on the edge of your seat.
I enjoyed this story immensely, but I would've liked to see more of the background. They were so fascinating I found myself hungry for more as the book closed. Still, I highly recommend this book. show less

What would you do if your daughter who has a terminal disease and needs an expensive experimental medication that you can’t afford? Hazel Hunter had a rough childhood and marriage. The only good thing in her life is her daughter but even she comes with an expiration date. Hazel wants nothing more than for there to be some miracle cure for what her daughter has before her time is up.

On a rare night out with her friend at an underground type fighting club she catches the attention of the owner, Obsidian Fox, who thought he was dead inside and cannot stand the touch of another human being. All he feels is rage and when he needs to let some of the rage off he either steps inside the ring to take it out on someone else or he lets a show more trusted friend beat him to a pulp. When something stirs inside him after seeing Hazel in his club he wants her for a month to do anything he wishes with. Hazel thinks he’s crazy at first but when he keeps upping the amount of money he is willing to pay her to do this the thought of being able to get her daughter the medication she needs wins over common sense.

It was interesting that Fox wanted Hazel for a month with his no touch issues. He literally goes in to violent PTSD rages if someone touches him. At first this scares Hazel to the point that she says this isn’t worth it and leaves but in thinking about it she realizes that there is more to Fox and that maybe she can help him overcome his issues.

She never lets Fox know about her daughter. She keeps that secret close to the vest until much later in the book when by accident her daughter and Fox meet during one of Fox’s episodes. It was so touching to see how a little girl brought him out of the darkness and started him a journey to healing. That is until the inevitable happened and Fox not knowing how to deal with such deep grief, ran.

At his point you think the relationship between Hazel and Fox is permanently damaged beyond repair. It took the loss of a wonderful little girl to make a grown man finally come to terms with his demons and to really think about did he want to lose the most important thing that had ever happened to him. The last quarter of this book will have you sobbing like a baby but the final outcome/ending is so worth it. show less

Honestly, I went into reading this book knowing it was going to be great because I love Pepper's writing style, but I didn't expect the overwhelming magnitude of the storyline.  From the excerpts, teaser and synopsis, I had no idea how truly heavy the feelings would run.  I didn't understand how emotional I would be, how much I would actually think on the subject matter.  Most all of the characters had horrific backgrounds and/or shocking present lives.

There are so many factors that I can't write about without spoiling the book for someone that hasn't read it.  I stayed up all night reading.  It had my attention on so many levels, layer after layer of interest.  I was enthralled by the details, amazed by how I person could show more live the life Fox lived. 




Fight with honour, fight with discipline, fight with vengeance. 




Then, I bawled my eyes out during the heartbreaking parts.  




Hours inched past as I toyed with metal and fire and sweat.  Working with such unforgiving materials was a reminder that no matter how set in stone we seemed, we could always change.  We could mould and adapt and become something new, even a hunk of iron.

I had to hold faith.

I could change.

Over time.




The plot isn't all about the sexual attraction in this story.  That factor is definitely present, but there's more to it also.  It's about true love,  family, loss, endurance, soul and many other deep-rooted aspects of human life.  It's a very intense read, especially for a mother, I feel.  Every part of this story was so full, no down time.  I would not want to trade places with any characters from Destroyed, but I was awed sharing in the stories of their lives. 

I loved them all.  Roan is now definitely in my top 10 book boyfriends.  His greatness is immense.

    



5 dangling silver stars

for the love, strength and miracle known as children-who can be molded into anything, who can break through any mold









***ARC was given by author for an honest review***




toni










my full review can be found at http://fangirlmomentsandmytwocents.blogspot.com/2014/03/destroyed-by-pepper-wint... show less

I think this story is fantastic. The storyline is unique, but what I think really sells this book is the writing. She captures every raw emotion so well that it's hard not to feel for the characters. Her writing really touches you and makes you feel as if you are there. As if you are the character. I don't want to say much else because I don't want to spoil anything. You can't help but like all the characters. Each is different and special in their own ways.
Take my word for it, you don't really need to know all of what this book is about. Just pick it up and read it because it will not disappoint.
This is the first book I've read from Pepper Winters, but based on how incredible this story is, it won't be the last.

I can not even think of the words to describe this book. I loved the entire story. I have never had a book cause me to cry multiple times so close to the end. Roan is amazing and Hazel was such a strong character. This isn't as dark as many of Pepper's books but it walked the line.

3.5 Stars
Destroyed was a good read with the possibility of ugly tears. Winters writing was okay, but it seemed a little stereotypical or sappy at times. The beginning of every chapter has some of the same repetitive "he hurt me and I hurt him", or visa-versa intro, before the chapters begin. I like the Beauty and the Beast retelling, but wish it were a little less in your face about it.

Overall there were some good things, and some not so good things. But it was an interesting read that kept me engaged through to the end. I think my opinion maybe the minority and fans of Winters may like it more.