Today’s featured Book Bash author is J.M. Darhower (and her wildly popular latest release, Monster in His Eyes). From that blurb, I’m thinking it’s a darkish read…
He’s a monster, wrapped up in a pretty package, and what I find when I unmask him changes everything.
I want to hate him.
Sometimes, I do.
But it doesn’t stop me from loving him, too.
And I’m hearing is also an absolute MUST READ!! And since I already love J.M. Darhower’s past work, this one is HIGH on my TBR list.
Tracy: finished Monster in His Eyes last night which I loved.
Tessa: First off, Monster in his eyes was Omg good. I read it and it’s intense.
Julie: I just finished Monster in His Eyes and had to tell you … He’s *spoiler* (she doesn’t know it), *spoiler*, and hot as all get out!
Maryse: OH MY WORD!!! I have just finished Monster in his eyes. I feel like I’ve been wrung out. This author is incredible! She sucks you in and doesn’t let you go until the very end. I can not wait for the next book to come out <— side note from Maryse: That is another Maryse. It’s not even me!! LOL, VERY cool. It is a rare day that I come across someone that shares my name. 😉
Donna: I loved Monster in his Eyes! Wow – can’t wait until Book 2 is released. A lot of ruh-roh moments…tee hee!
Holly: Maryse….monster in his eyes is AMAZING!!!! Had me totally gripped and loved the storyline and depth to the characters!
So… you see? I have NO idea what I’m waiting for, after reading reactions like this! *shakes head* I think I’ve been missing out. 😉
Ready for the outtake?
Outtake:
I wish I were a bird.
The sky would be my home, and there would be no limits to where I could go. I’d follow my little beating heart wherever life called out to me. Flying south in the winter and back north in the summer, hitting everywhere in between, and I’d never be alone.
I’d never be lonely.
How could I be in a world so full of life around me?
I got close once, almost soared to places I never thought someone like me could reach, but then I dropped straight out of the sky.
Before I knew what was happening, he clipped my wings.
He calls me his jailbird.
I used to think it was cute.
Now I know the double meanings behind the things he says. I’m like a bird that has been locked away. My instinct tells me I should be free, but he won’t let me out of my cage.
Jailbird. That’s me.
I stand in the kitchen and stare out the window into the back yard, my eyes fixed to a little gray and white mockingbird on the lowest branch of a nearby oak tree, its feathers ruffling as it belts out a tune. It’s been there every day for almost a week, singing the same song every morning. It sounds like a blaring car alarm, something it picked up living in the city. It’s impressive, their ability to mimic sounds they hear, blending into their surroundings by pretending to be a part of it.
Yeah, if I were a bird, I’d be one of them.
And I’d fly far, far away from here.
But I wonder, when I got wherever I was going, if ever I would have a moment where I missed where I came from.
I wonder if I would miss him.
As I’m considering it, I hear footsteps descending the stairs and heading toward the kitchen. I don’t turn around. I don’t have to. He’s the only other person here. He’s always around, never giving me a moment alone, a moment where I might somehow remember how to fly and get the courage to leave again.
He steps closer, his footsteps a melodic rhythm as they pad across the linoleum floor to where I stand. I catch his distorted reflection in the glass of the window. It’s blurry, wavy lines of a black suit and tanned skin, a kaleidoscope of fragments that make up only part of the man, but it’s enough to make my heart kick start in my chest. I still have my wings, all right, and they flap wildly, but only when he’s near.
Ignazio Vitale.
Naz.
I’m a fool, I think.
A fool for wondering if I’d miss him.
Of course I would.
I miss him even when we’re both here.
“Good morning,” he says, a hint of sleep giving his voice a low, rough edge that makes tingles creep down my spine. He stands so close I can smell his cologne, so close if I turned around I might find myself in his arms.
Half of me screams to do it.
The other half is frozen solid facing the other way. That half also glues my lips shut, forcing the “good morning” that’s on the tip of my tongue back down my throat, making me say nothing.
He takes another step closer, and another, until he’s flush up against me. He sweeps my hair back off my shoulder, pushing it aside with his rough hand. His lips find my skin, trailing soft kisses from my shoulder up my neck.
I hate myself for it, but I tilt my head, making it easier for him.
He reaches my ear and pauses there, his hands coming to rest on my hips as he pulls me back into him. “You look beautiful today.”
I close my eyes briefly as the warmth envelops me, giving myself just a moment to enjoy it, a moment to savor him, counting to ten before opening my eyes again. This time I ignore his reflection, instead focusing on the bird perched in the tree, still signing its heart out right outside the window. It’s obnoxiously loud, desperate to be heard.
I know how it feels.
A minute passes, maybe two, before he lets go of me and takes a step back, sighing with frustration. “I wish I could kill that f@$king bird.”
I smile to myself as he walks out, whispering, “I know you do.”
I just finished this book last night and can’t stop thinking about it, so when I saw this I flipped out with excitement. It was almost torture reading this because I want to read the second book sooo bad. Definitely one of my favorite books I’ve read this year.
GAH! I have to get to it ASAP! Thanks Juliane!
Loved the first book – any release date on book 2 yet??
I finished this book 3 days ago and I still can’t stop thinking about the two main characters. 5 stars*****
I love the Mafia/Alpha suspense thriller passion filled story that J.M. Darhower writes. Can’t wait for more Naz in book 2.
I read this when it first came out. I absolutely Loooooooved it! It was dark, gritty, angsty and mysterious. 5 stars from me! I need the second book pronto 🙂
This is my favorite book of 2014! I can’t wait for the follow up!
I read this book and loved it! Whew Naz is…..awesome…tee hee Can’t wait for Book 2.
I gotta agree with everyone else. Book 2 can’t come soon enough.
Uh…yeah. Just finished book 1 & I’m entranced. Man I wish this book would release early! I cannot wait.