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kle105's review against another edition
4.0
Since the last book ended on a cliffhanger I was glad to have this book loaded up and ready to go. I liked that Dylan's character was more fleshed out and that more of his past was revealed.
He comes to terms with some of his childhood and while he may not get over it he let some of it go. Annie was there to push him and gained some more of her independance. The side characters from the first book make appearances and hopefully set up for a third book. I liked that both characters were damaged and Dylan fought his normal response to run away from relationships.
I am looking forward to more from this author.
I was provided a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
He comes to terms with some of his childhood and while he may not get over it he let some of it go. Annie was there to push him and gained some more of her independance. The side characters from the first book make appearances and hopefully set up for a third book. I liked that both characters were damaged and Dylan fought his normal response to run away from relationships.
I am looking forward to more from this author.
I was provided a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
hannah109's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Sexual content, and Cancer
jackiehorne's review against another edition
4.0
The major cliffhanger at the end of the first book in this series had me worried that the story/tone would shift in this sequel to melodrama, and descend into a typical hero rescuing heroine plot. But instead, the cliffhanger with Annie's ex gets settled pretty early on, leaving room for a story about two people who care for one another, but whose past traumas and dysfunctional family dynamics make it amazingly difficult for either to know how to go about creating a loving romantic partnership. Most of the plot of book #2 focuses on the fallout from Dylan's, rather than Annie's, past, with Dylan's estranged biker brother getting involved in a drug distribution network with some very nasty bad guys. Can Dylan continue to keep his emotional distance from his brother, and from his father, and still let Annie in?
Some writers won't acknowledge that "good" characters can feel vicious, violent things. Others acknowledge it, and glory in it, justifying their behavior. I love this passage, in which O'Keefe allows her heroine to feel the thrill of violence, but then recognize the dangers of allowing that thrill to dominate:
"His face in the shadows was awful. Terrifying. Something different had slipped into his skin. A creature, violent and vicious, that she only recognized as trouble. As dangerous. And mine. That vicious creature was hers. Annie watched him beating Hoyt and his violence gave her an awful thrill. A visceral, nameless pleasure. That he could meet Hoyt on this particular battlefield and crush him. That he had the gust and the will and the strength to do what Annie could not. Dylan willkill Hoyt for hurting e. For touching me. Because I am his. And only his. In a matter of a few minutes it would be done. And she wanted that. Was attracted to it. Felt powerfully cherished by it. 'Stop!' she cried. All thought, the guilt, all of it was overwhelming. his violence, her thrill of its use on her behalf. It put a magnifying glass up to the worst of herself and she was horrified. I'm not this person, she thought. I don't want to be this person" (Kindle Loc 538)
O'Keefe gives us plenty of hot sex scenes. But the heart of this book is about more than sex; it asks tough questions about forgiveness, about what constitutes intimacy, and about whether human beings are ever truly capable of change. A sequel as strong as its predecessor—a rarity well worth celebrating.
Some writers won't acknowledge that "good" characters can feel vicious, violent things. Others acknowledge it, and glory in it, justifying their behavior. I love this passage, in which O'Keefe allows her heroine to feel the thrill of violence, but then recognize the dangers of allowing that thrill to dominate:
"His face in the shadows was awful. Terrifying. Something different had slipped into his skin. A creature, violent and vicious, that she only recognized as trouble. As dangerous. And mine. That vicious creature was hers. Annie watched him beating Hoyt and his violence gave her an awful thrill. A visceral, nameless pleasure. That he could meet Hoyt on this particular battlefield and crush him. That he had the gust and the will and the strength to do what Annie could not. Dylan willkill Hoyt for hurting e. For touching me. Because I am his. And only his. In a matter of a few minutes it would be done. And she wanted that. Was attracted to it. Felt powerfully cherished by it. 'Stop!' she cried. All thought, the guilt, all of it was overwhelming. his violence, her thrill of its use on her behalf. It put a magnifying glass up to the worst of herself and she was horrified. I'm not this person, she thought. I don't want to be this person" (Kindle Loc 538)
O'Keefe gives us plenty of hot sex scenes. But the heart of this book is about more than sex; it asks tough questions about forgiveness, about what constitutes intimacy, and about whether human beings are ever truly capable of change. A sequel as strong as its predecessor—a rarity well worth celebrating.
caseroo7's review against another edition
3.0
Find this review and more at Ramblings From This Chick
The Truth About Him is the follow-up to Everything I Left Unsaid by M. O'Keefe. This book is not a standalone and continues the story from the first book, so it needs to be read in order. I couldn't wait to start this book after the way the first one ended. I loved the cover on this one just as much as the first! They are so pretty, and I think that they instantly draw you in! I will say that I was a bit disappointed with this book though, and as much as I wanted to love it I had some things that kept me from enjoying it as much as the first.
The Truth About Him picks up right where the first one leaves off. Dylan and Annie are no longer strangers that just speak on the phone, and their connection continues to grow. But faced with danger on more than one front, Dylan is determined to do whatever it takes to keep Annie safe. Though Dylan tries to put up walls, Annie is just as determined to tear them down and see all that Dylan has kept a secret from her. But will Dylan allow Annie in, or is he incapable of feeling the same way about her as she is about him?
As much as I loved Dylan and Annie in the first book, I felt so disconnected from them here. Things seemed to go around in circles and not much happened between them. Besides the constant sex that they were having, there wasn't a lot of development when it came to their relationship. The majority of this book focused on other characters and everything that was going on around them. I was disappointed with how little we saw of these two who supposedly were building something unlike anything that either of them had before finding each other. There was just so much going on around them besides these two having sex and it left little page time for any kind of real emotional depth or growth. Though they might have felt love or said the words, I had a hard time really seeing it or believing it.
I also felt like this book was really slow. It wasn't holding my interest like the first, which is surprising. I felt like one of the biggest issues for Dylan and Annie was solved almost instantly, and the rest of the book could easily have been wrapped up faster than it was. Yet despite how fast things were wrapped up in one aspect, there were a ton of other things that were just dropped! I couldn't believe how many things were left hanging and unresolved, and I have no idea if there will be any more books in this series. This does end with an epilogue, but even that felt too brief and far too rushed. I just wasn't satisfied with how this story ended considering how much I had really enjoyed the first book. The way things went here it easily could have been resolved in one book. I really felt like this story needed two books after finishing the first, but this one changed my mind with how it was done. So while I really loved the first book, I ended up feeling as though this series was just okay and I was honestly disappointed with how it was concluded.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
The Truth About Him is the follow-up to Everything I Left Unsaid by M. O'Keefe. This book is not a standalone and continues the story from the first book, so it needs to be read in order. I couldn't wait to start this book after the way the first one ended. I loved the cover on this one just as much as the first! They are so pretty, and I think that they instantly draw you in! I will say that I was a bit disappointed with this book though, and as much as I wanted to love it I had some things that kept me from enjoying it as much as the first.
The Truth About Him picks up right where the first one leaves off. Dylan and Annie are no longer strangers that just speak on the phone, and their connection continues to grow. But faced with danger on more than one front, Dylan is determined to do whatever it takes to keep Annie safe. Though Dylan tries to put up walls, Annie is just as determined to tear them down and see all that Dylan has kept a secret from her. But will Dylan allow Annie in, or is he incapable of feeling the same way about her as she is about him?
As much as I loved Dylan and Annie in the first book, I felt so disconnected from them here. Things seemed to go around in circles and not much happened between them. Besides the constant sex that they were having, there wasn't a lot of development when it came to their relationship. The majority of this book focused on other characters and everything that was going on around them. I was disappointed with how little we saw of these two who supposedly were building something unlike anything that either of them had before finding each other. There was just so much going on around them besides these two having sex and it left little page time for any kind of real emotional depth or growth. Though they might have felt love or said the words, I had a hard time really seeing it or believing it.
I also felt like this book was really slow. It wasn't holding my interest like the first, which is surprising. I felt like one of the biggest issues for Dylan and Annie was solved almost instantly, and the rest of the book could easily have been wrapped up faster than it was. Yet despite how fast things were wrapped up in one aspect, there were a ton of other things that were just dropped! I couldn't believe how many things were left hanging and unresolved, and I have no idea if there will be any more books in this series. This does end with an epilogue, but even that felt too brief and far too rushed. I just wasn't satisfied with how this story ended considering how much I had really enjoyed the first book. The way things went here it easily could have been resolved in one book. I really felt like this story needed two books after finishing the first, but this one changed my mind with how it was done. So while I really loved the first book, I ended up feeling as though this series was just okay and I was honestly disappointed with how it was concluded.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
magpiemode's review against another edition
4.0
I like O'Keefe's writing even when it's over the top like this series. Lots of angst etc.
jeslowe115's review against another edition
4.0
I was given a free copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a continuation of the previous book. It was a good book, but not as good as the first one. This book moved along slow compared to the first one. The details didn't seem as vivid either, which was one of the things I liked about the first book. The plot was also more streamlined than the first book.
The story was good and I liked it. I was happy to see how Dylan and Annie made it through their struggles. I hope there will be other books in the series to maybe fill a couple of the holes left open, like Max and Joan, Blake or Tiffany.
If you read the first book, this is a must read.
This book is a continuation of the previous book. It was a good book, but not as good as the first one. This book moved along slow compared to the first one. The details didn't seem as vivid either, which was one of the things I liked about the first book. The plot was also more streamlined than the first book.
The story was good and I liked it. I was happy to see how Dylan and Annie made it through their struggles. I hope there will be other books in the series to maybe fill a couple of the holes left open, like Max and Joan, Blake or Tiffany.
If you read the first book, this is a must read.
dargeereads's review against another edition
5.0
| These two put themselves through the wringer! More than once, and on an almost repeated cycle. Annie keeps trying to break the cycle, people in Dylan’s life keep trying to stop her. The secrets everyone has been hiding come out, and some truths are more crushing than others. Some truths though, they set the keeper free. Deep emotions, long held hurts, and wounded hearts see the bright light of exposure, and while it isn’t easy, it all becomes worth it in the end <3
wellactjoally's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
3.0
Killing your abusive husband. Torturing an old dude with cancer. Worry about your criminal brother. Buying off your brother’s wife. Butt fucking. Forgiveness. Choosing to be better than trauma and training.
chrissy3562's review against another edition
The Truth About Him is M. O'Keefe's conclusion to the book Everything I Left Unsaid. This book was from both Annie and Dylan's point of view and I was glad we got to learn more about him this way. This book is definitely not a stand alone and must be read after the first. It wraps up everything that was left open with book 1 and the characters get their HEA. I found myself hooked into this book and didn't want to put it down until it was done. M. O'Keefe is still a relatively new author for me, but she is one I will continue to read. This book is a solid 4 stars and I will most likely come back to it again.
rachelslacey's review against another edition
4.0
Perfect follow-up to Everything I Left Unsaid. I really enjoyed these books!