Book Review – Consequences by Aleatha Romig

Consequences
Okay… how to start this review other than with, my first reaction upon ending the book. “What the…? O.M.G!” And then, I did a quick search for a certain name to confirm what just happened… happened. And then I repeated it. “O.M.G!”

This is NOT a love story. Or maybe it is… or I dunno? I’m a mess. This is like a Lifetime movie on steroids. It’s twisted, it’s scary, it’s just… it’s a crazy story and exactly the kind of thing I love to read when I need that jolt. It’s about obsession, control, lack of control, being forced to surrender the most basic thing that we take for granted. Ourselves. Our choices. Our freedoms. And the “hero” or I should say anti-hero? Actually no. The villain. That seemingly perfect, gorgeous wealthy tycoon that has it all, but that is obviously so broken.

Oh no! Don’t even think for a minute that he’s one of “those”. One of those deep down sweet, misunderstood perfect catches that just needs that one true love to complete him? Nuh uh.

If you ask me, he’s a proven psychopath. This author holds no punches. He’s a controlling freak to the point of mental suffocation, expects constant perfection, obedience and submission, (not just from her… from everyone) and loses his absolute mind with unrestrained abandon. Flies into unmanageable irrational rages with no sense of logic (or no patience to even wait for it). And then… at times when you think he’s gonna blow… he listens. Jekyll and Hyde, this one.

So no…he’s not one of “those” heroes. Although some (er… many) of our fellow readers would beg to differ. They LOVE him. I… what!????  There are no words. Well, I’ll be fair. Most of ’em felt the way I did at the end of this book. Somehow, though… I hear #2 (Truth) is going to flip my world upside down and my every perception of him, will be questioned.

Maryse’s Book Blog: Grrrrrrr! Love him, you say? *hrmph!* Not. Happening.

Kirsten: You’ll understand Tony much better once you read Truth… Promise.

Jennifer: I’m half way through Truth…not loving him yet either:(

Courtnee: LOL! I so love these updates! It’s so true, as you’re reading you can’t understand how in the world you could feel anything but hate for him! And then… You will slowly start to realize that you hate him a little less (then get mad at yourself) and all of the sudden you’re wondering “what just happened? Why don’t I hate him!?” Ugh! My emotions were ALL over the place! Keep reading friends…

Megan: I finished and I way don’t like him. Understand, yes. Like, Ehh not so much I feel bad for her.

Kerri: I loved tony at the end of truth.

Sandra M: I JUST FINISHED…….I HATE THAT MAN. argh…totally freaking out now…..TOTALLY … I hate that man…who could like him?!? why? i feel like i have to read something cheery like a book about cute kittens and unicorns

Maryse’s Book Blog: Ohhhhh I see… So he like… turns into the Hulk or something? See? A monster. Hehe. Wait why am I laughing. More like grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! —> *acting like Tony* —>“Rooooar! Something I didn’t have control over. Tony mad!!! Tony smash!!!” Ok. Tee hee! I’m being bratty, I know. I’m liking this book very much. Don’t wanna put it down, but I needed to release some steam. That helped. 65% is a very enlightening conversation. But then again… He’s not in Hulk-mode right now.

Sandra S: HA!!! Now stay up all night and go read Truth Sandra! It’s only midnight, it’s still early. Maryse… Be afraid, very afraid

Sandra M: Maryse seriously….I was like okay this is dragging and then BOOM….the last two chapters. I was like ARGH….I marched downstairs and grabbed my computer. I’m not sure if I want to jump into the next book but i have to…….damn. my mind is blown seriously. I’m just blown away. Sandra S I just inbox you…yeah I’m totally freakin out

Jennifer: Sandra M, don’t wait. Start Truth NOW.

Sandra M: I just bought it!!!

Sandra S: Keep Calm and *heart* Tony.. Yeah we are total nerds and made shirts for Boston!

Kirsten: Sandra S I’m glad I’m not the only Tony lover here. Makes me feel less crazy

Alyssa: You’re all crazy!!!! But I have to say I hated Tony in the beginning. That hate lasted halfway through Truth. Then I wanted to scream. A lot. Because at the end of Truth all of a sudden with all the twists as turns and tears, I didn’t hate him anymore and was having such angst for him!!!! It was such a confusing duo to read!!!

Colleen: Questioned my sanity after reading the books and still loving Tony! My problem has been what to read next! Everything has dimmed after reading these books!

Chrissy: I couldn’t understand why people liked Tony but after Truth it all made sense.

*raises an eyebrow* <— I wish I could do that! At least my smiley can! Whoa. What kind of magical powers does this author have, to have convinced these girls otherwise?? Those must be some crazy-awesome twists and now I’m dying to find out what it could possibly be, ’cause my brain has NO idea.

Okay so what’s it about? Be careful who you talk to, what you wish for, and who you make a “deal” with (even in flirtatious jest). Urgh!! ‘Cause if you ask me, this girl made a deal with the devil himself.

Anthony, the hottest bachelor billionaire alive, has set his sights on a cute bartender. The sweet college graduate “Claire”. They flirt, and then he takes her. TAKES. HER. Holds her prisoner and we hate him from the start. He doesn’t build from the sweet (but secretly psychotic) boyfriend potential into the controlling freak. This one’s the opposite. He “pays off her debts” and now she belongs to him, is at his disposal for anything and EVERYTHING he needs, anytime, anywhere, everywhere. There are rules. Ohhhhh there are rules. And there are consequences. Many of them physical. UGH!!!!!

Anthony Rawlings was so different from the man she met less than a week ago – the handsome tall man with brown hair and the darkest eyes she’d ever seen. He’d been polite, kind and gentlemanly. Last night, none of those words could be used to describe him. To say he was cruel would not explain what she endured. One could say demanding, aggressive, controlling – but above all, rough.

No way to contact a single soul outside of his estate, she is monitored at every turn. She is fed, dressed, and allowed to luxuriate in his expansive surroundings, but she is his until her debt is “paid off”. When will that be? When he deems it so. *sighs in defeat*

Physically fighting had been counterproductive, it only seemed to intensify Anthony’s resolve. She needed to yield, temporarily, to his demands in order to access a means of exodus.

Living with Tony was hell on earth for me. And for her. At times… I saw opportunities. AMAZING opportunities, and my heart rejoiced thinking.. this is it!!! *shakes head* But no. ‘Cause fear ruled her. Stockholm Syndrome was setting in. And with me? At times… I found myself relieved and comforted by the monster. But may I remind you? I DO NOT. HEART. TONY. Or like him. None of it. Yet.   (ACK!!)

Could Anthony Rawlings really be two such different men?

So yes. The reader will be led emotionally astray. But we kind of love that right? I had a few panic attacks with this one. I even put the book down at a certain point for months! But after the reader enthusiasm for book #2 (Truth), I knew (for my reading pleasure – oh it just sounds so wrong to say I enjoyed reading this) that I had to take this journey too. It’s a different kind of “enjoyed”. It held me captive and I just had to know more. After all, this “dark psychological thriller” kind of read, is right up my alley. Like my love for scary movies, I simply can’t deny myself this kind of occasional reading impact.

And I don’t regret a single moment of having read it. It was exactly what I needed. Something different. Something unpredictable. Something scary. Adrenaline-inducing. Shocking. An unacceptable circumstance that I was being forced to accept. And I was scared of myself. Of how I would possibly come to connect to that monster.

This book did it for me.

Sure… there were moments where it was a bit slow… detailed and drawn out. Long. Definitely a long book. But in no way did I want to put it down. Mind you, it was so long that I had to (when I’d suddenly realize that I was reading the book through my closed eyelids). hehe. I’d be dreaming of the story with my iPad propped up in front of me. So yes, I did have to put it down. But I was picking it right back up every chance I get. I think I slept in intervals of 3 hours at a time, and upon opening my eyes, I would begin reading again.

So yes, it advanced at a moderate pace, but I was never truly “bored” because there was always that threat looming in the background. Hovering. Never allowing me to get too comfortable.

… some days were better than others. She knew the difference with her life was that her barometer was not her. It summed up her dependence on Anthony Rawlings. The tone of her life depended totally and completely upon his frame of mind.

She constantly walked on eggshells and I constantly read on eggshells. The “slow” feel was almost a requirement at times. Calming us. Giving us a false sense of security. Leading us to impending disaster. Overshadowed by that “Oh oh. Something’s coming…” feel. Constantly hovering, threatening, looming. Living with a man like that? There were always unavoidable repercussions to deal with.

Those slow times also gave me hope. Although… deep down, I knew better. I’ve heard things. Not spoilers, no. But reactions. Enough to let me know my ride with this book would likely not end well. Or maybe it would? But either way, I’d be shocked. And really? What could I possibly *hope* for considering a few of the past outbursts. Redeemable? I think not.

His eyes said gentle but she remembered fury.

But no matter what, no matter how much I enjoyed this book, and at times hated it (you’ll see why) it is our fellow reader’s reactions to how crazy, revealing, shocking, and exciting #2 was that sold me. And I just HAD to know how an author could possibly take us from this side of hating a character (ohhh such a strong word but I’m sticking with it) to that side of loving him. Impossible. No. Way. But I gotta know how she does it. I gotta experience this crazy mind-twist she’s gonna pull on me. I have a feeling all of you were Jedi-mindtricked and i’m going to enjoy the challenge. I’m going to do my best to resist, now that I know how much you were affected.

Kirsten made sure to remind me…

“All is not what it seems Maryse which is why this series rocks.”

Hrmph! Well. *stares at all of you indignantly*

*sigh* Okay fine… Maybe I’ll just let go and get carried away like the rest of you “crazy Tony fangirls”. I do like when that happens, after all. I do love my questioning my own sanity while reading, but this? What you guys are hinting at? This just seems like it’s too much. I mean… how? Howwwwwwww is this possible?

Oh yes. I’m in. Play me, Aleatha Romig. I’m onto your game, and I’m up for the challenge. *oh poop. I’m gonna lose this game, aren’t I?*

*ahem* I mean. Bring it on!

4 to 4.5 stars (still working out my “feelings”). 😉

P.S. Oh!! And there are multiple “support groups” for this series including our very own right here: https://talk.maryse.net/threads/consequences-by-by-aleatha-romig…-what-here-we-go….295/ Spoilers abound, so enter at your own risk!! It’s a HUGE discussion!