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A review by jackiehorne
The Truth About Him by M. O'Keefe
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.