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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
⭐️4.75
WOW ! This was an emotional rollercoaster. I love the plot of the book and the angst in it. Damon and Emma have such a complex relationship when it comes to Emma being the surrogate of Damon’s baby.
Emma was such a strong character and spoke what was on her mind. She was put through a lot but somehow mange to push through. Her backstory is heartbreaking . Damon’s background is also heartbreaking when it comes to him loosing his wife, Connie, and having to mourn her death.
Damon and Emma’s story was a rollercoaster when it came to Emma living in Connie’s shadow . Also how Damon would treat Emma and drag her along / lead her on. They do end up fingering things out which I loved the chemistry between them and the family they end up creating.
WOW ! This was an emotional rollercoaster. I love the plot of the book and the angst in it. Damon and Emma have such a complex relationship when it comes to Emma being the surrogate of Damon’s baby.
Emma was such a strong character and spoke what was on her mind. She was put through a lot but somehow mange to push through. Her backstory is heartbreaking . Damon’s background is also heartbreaking when it comes to him loosing his wife, Connie, and having to mourn her death.
Damon and Emma’s story was a rollercoaster when it came to Emma living in Connie’s shadow . Also how Damon would treat Emma and drag her along / lead her on. They do end up fingering things out which I loved the chemistry between them and the family they end up creating.
Spoiler
I liked this book WAY more than Harrison. I felt a lot of really complex, conflicting emotions while reading. You love Damon for his loyalty to his murdered wife, but you also hate him for how he treats Emma, sabotaging his second chance at happiness. Emma really goes through the wringer with life in general - she really didn't need Damon's shit. But I loved how she stood up for herself! Emma's sass is 10/10! Overall, the characters were well-rounded and I liked that Emma's past was kept more realistic - not throwing everything at it that could be just because. I LOVE when a book makes me think and feel and hurt and consider and all the things. I love when a book is broken and beautiful and messy.But the reason I gave the book 4 stars was because of one character choice that really rubbed me the wrong way. In the beginning, I really admired Emma because she was focused on her career and personal goals. She was adamant she never wanted children and was doing the surrogacy program because she needed the money - that was part of Connie and Damon's appeal to Emma. However, after Connie was murdered, Emma changed her mind and started to care for and really want Annie. To be fair, Emma never tried to take the place of Annie's mother, but it was something that bothered me. Maybe it's because my own choice not to have biological children is constantly questioned that I was offended when Emma seemed to change her mind so easily? Regardless, it took my mind out of the book. And Emma never really gave up school or work, which I was thankful for. But her priorities certainly shifted. This is way more of a complex situation IRL, but it felt while reading that Emma was like "but I had a baby so I'm a mom now"
Rollercoaster of emotions!
This is the second book of The Level series. I wasn't really sure how I thought this book was going to go. Reading this I had a lot of ups and downs. This had a lot of conflicting emotions for me. On one hand I get why Damon was acting mean and abrupt towards Emma. He was a widower and didn't want to betray the memory of his wife with being with anyone. However, I didn't like how he would get mad at her for the simplest of things. He took his anger and pain out on Emma, which was uncalled for.
I really loved the strength and courage of Emma. In the later chapters, how she stands up for what she wants and what she deserves.
This is the second book of The Level series. I wasn't really sure how I thought this book was going to go. Reading this I had a lot of ups and downs. This had a lot of conflicting emotions for me. On one hand I get why Damon was acting mean and abrupt towards Emma. He was a widower and didn't want to betray the memory of his wife with being with anyone. However, I didn't like how he would get mad at her for the simplest of things. He took his anger and pain out on Emma, which was uncalled for.
I really loved the strength and courage of Emma. In the later chapters, how she stands up for what she wants and what she deserves.
Personal stuff.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
Damon. Connie. Emma. Annie
Damon is such an intense guy! This is the story of his life, and the ones he loves the most. Including the one that tests him the most, Emma. A police officer with gray after hours friends makes for a tense and interesting story. A story about falling in love at a young age and never having plans for a future with anyone else, let alone the woman they hired to be a surrogate after 20 years of fertility struggles. Emma, a young girl that just needs a financial hand and has an otherwise healthy body, agrees to be their surrogate. Life happens and the best made plans have all changed. Emma’s horrific past catches up to her at the worst possible time and somehow all of their lives have become entwined with one another. You never know what direction the story may head next.
I absolutely could not put the story down, and look forward to picking up more VR Tennent stories in the near future! A definite must read!
Damon is such an intense guy! This is the story of his life, and the ones he loves the most. Including the one that tests him the most, Emma. A police officer with gray after hours friends makes for a tense and interesting story. A story about falling in love at a young age and never having plans for a future with anyone else, let alone the woman they hired to be a surrogate after 20 years of fertility struggles. Emma, a young girl that just needs a financial hand and has an otherwise healthy body, agrees to be their surrogate. Life happens and the best made plans have all changed. Emma’s horrific past catches up to her at the worst possible time and somehow all of their lives have become entwined with one another. You never know what direction the story may head next.
I absolutely could not put the story down, and look forward to picking up more VR Tennent stories in the near future! A definite must read!
Oh my. This book… My poor heart, it bled for Emma. While reading, my emotions went in all directions. I felt so sorry for Emma, I felt her pain of rejection and her sadness over and over again. The characters are so well described, you really feel for them. To the point of frustration. Everything was in there; love, friendship, mafia, spice, suspense and loss. And of course a HEA!
But what a good book, fantastically written. I’ve read it in 1 day, I couldn't put it down. A great series by a great writer. I can't wait for Connor and Russell's story!
But what a good book, fantastically written. I’ve read it in 1 day, I couldn't put it down. A great series by a great writer. I can't wait for Connor and Russell's story!
Damon, Connie and Emma. This book I am still mopping up tears from, as it such emotion and overwhelming grief at times, that within each page turned, it kept me drawn. Damon and Connie have been together since they were kids, and the one thing they both want so desperately, is to have a child. Unfortunately, this cannot be achieved, and they are left with looking for a surrogate. I find this part extremely emotional, given I was unable to have children myself, so please be aware if this is you.
Emma is the surrogate they choose together, and both women become extremely close in a very short space of time. The tragic events that take place, months out from the birth of Damon and Connie's baby, sees enemies murder Connie in cold blood. Of course this leaves Damon and Emma with such emotional grief, Damon as the husband of his childhood sweetheart, and Emma as the woman carrying the child that Damon and Connie wanted so much.
There is an undeniable attraction as time goes on, but Damon still understandably feels the loss of his wife, and fights with these feelings, and this becomes harder with the arrival of his daughter. Emma, has to protect her own heart, and deny her feelings as well, putting up walls and stating that this was a contract that she is seeing out, nothing more.
Little do either of them know, but the darkness that has taken Connie from them both, also entwines the both of them. I could not put this down, I loved every single word, and never wanted to see it end. I am so glad I have found V.R Tennent.
Emma is the surrogate they choose together, and both women become extremely close in a very short space of time. The tragic events that take place, months out from the birth of Damon and Connie's baby, sees enemies murder Connie in cold blood. Of course this leaves Damon and Emma with such emotional grief, Damon as the husband of his childhood sweetheart, and Emma as the woman carrying the child that Damon and Connie wanted so much.
There is an undeniable attraction as time goes on, but Damon still understandably feels the loss of his wife, and fights with these feelings, and this becomes harder with the arrival of his daughter. Emma, has to protect her own heart, and deny her feelings as well, putting up walls and stating that this was a contract that she is seeing out, nothing more.
Little do either of them know, but the darkness that has taken Connie from them both, also entwines the both of them. I could not put this down, I loved every single word, and never wanted to see it end. I am so glad I have found V.R Tennent.
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wow, what a roller-coaster. Book 2 in this interconnected series, and I'm just as invested in this one as I was with the first. I would definitely read through those T warnings beforehand.
My emotions were all over the place, and I think I experienced every single one!! I was annoyed and happy, sad, so sad, hopeful, elated, pissed off, and always turned on. Adult time was so steamy.
It was a fantastic read, and I fell in love with Damon after he smartened up. He was a very complex maze of emotions, and sometimes, I just wanted to give him a good slap upside the head, but he came around at the end. Emma was a force to be reckoned with. She was so stubborn and strong and took no sh*t from anyone but also had a huge heart capable of so much forgiveness after Damon destroyed her!! I love that about her. I CAN'T wait for the next installment in this series!!
My emotions were all over the place, and I think I experienced every single one!! I was annoyed and happy, sad, so sad, hopeful, elated, pissed off, and always turned on. Adult time was so steamy.
It was a fantastic read, and I fell in love with Damon after he smartened up. He was a very complex maze of emotions, and sometimes, I just wanted to give him a good slap upside the head, but he came around at the end. Emma was a force to be reckoned with. She was so stubborn and strong and took no sh*t from anyone but also had a huge heart capable of so much forgiveness after Damon destroyed her!! I love that about her. I CAN'T wait for the next installment in this series!!