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rihoward 's review for:
Untouchable
by Sam Mariano
I will be the first to say that I was leery coming into this because it was a high school story. Yet, I plunged in any way because I love this author. Her accidental Witness series and Mateo are one of my all time favorite series. I knew going in that this author was going to push the envelope because that is what she does. I am glad I trudged through because this book kept me up all night.
Did this book make me uncomfortable at times? Absolutely. Did the content seem extreme? Absolutely. Did I want to throat punch her hero? ABSOLUTELY. Yet, I also fell in love with him. I started to see the cracks in the armor. His methods were extreme but it was also something that I liked about him. I enjoyed watching how he calculated the situation or environment to get what he wanted. It was fine watching him to see how he got what he wanted. The author did an exceptional job at creating him because if I am honest he was pretty irredeemable in the beginning so that says something about her skill as a writer. Yet, in all honesty, I am not surprised because she made Mateo (From Accidental Witness) into one of my top book boyrfriends and considering how he started out at the beginning of that series that says A LOT. Carter reminds me a lot of a certain character in a different popular series because he is just as VICIOUS and cutthroat in getting what he wants and gives no crap about it. how it started is the biggest difference in this story because after all the games it still resulted in a huge gesture that is endearing and leaving the audience with the idea that he is a HUGE Donkey's butt the major of the time except when it comes to his love for Zoe.
I won't lie and say that I understood the draw for Zoe after starting out so strong against a different encounter to give in so easily with Carter. However, as the story progressed it started to fall into place. Especially with the whopper of a secret that is revealed at the end of the book about Carter. I did have to remind myself several times that Zoe was still in high school and she sometimes acted like it. Both Carter and Zoe had some great dialogue. Zoe was spunky and feisty and on top of the game with quick comebacks. Carter never seemed young to me.
In regards to the progression of their feelings, I am not here to judge. Who is to say how either of these characters should feel or act after how they started out? It sure isn't my place to judge. Having experienced something similar in real life, I know that personally how I react is by owning the power (hard to explain) and turning them to suit me. There is no #kinkshaming here. Maybe, that is what makes other reviewers uncomfortable is that it seems incomprehensible to them that this relationship could progress. No one knows what turns someone on and that is okay. Only we do. I for one thought the author did a great job delving into trying to understand the behaviors whether via research in the story to cracking the armor and facade.
There were some areas that I wanted to be flushed out but for the most part, I was very happy with how this book was done. I was worried how the ending happened so fast after a very long progression of the story in a short period of time. That could also be because I did not want this story to end.
I applaud this author. The fact that she can write a book that keeps people coming back and forth in reading it or lingers on their mind to me shows her talent. Not every book is going to be a home run or hit for every reader. I know this book is not for everyone with the warning (that the author lets you know beforehand) but for me this one really was.
Did this book make me uncomfortable at times? Absolutely. Did the content seem extreme? Absolutely. Did I want to throat punch her hero? ABSOLUTELY. Yet, I also fell in love with him. I started to see the cracks in the armor. His methods were extreme but it was also something that I liked about him. I enjoyed watching how he calculated the situation or environment to get what he wanted. It was fine watching him to see how he got what he wanted. The author did an exceptional job at creating him because if I am honest he was pretty irredeemable in the beginning so that says something about her skill as a writer. Yet, in all honesty, I am not surprised because she made Mateo (From Accidental Witness) into one of my top book boyrfriends and considering how he started out at the beginning of that series that says A LOT. Carter reminds me a lot of a certain character in a different popular series because he is just as VICIOUS and cutthroat in getting what he wants and gives no crap about it. how it started is the biggest difference in this story because after all the games it still resulted in a huge gesture that is endearing and leaving the audience with the idea that he is a HUGE Donkey's butt the major of the time except when it comes to his love for Zoe.
I won't lie and say that I understood the draw for Zoe after starting out so strong against a different encounter to give in so easily with Carter. However, as the story progressed it started to fall into place. Especially with the whopper of a secret that is revealed at the end of the book about Carter. I did have to remind myself several times that Zoe was still in high school and she sometimes acted like it. Both Carter and Zoe had some great dialogue. Zoe was spunky and feisty and on top of the game with quick comebacks. Carter never seemed young to me.
In regards to the progression of their feelings, I am not here to judge. Who is to say how either of these characters should feel or act after how they started out? It sure isn't my place to judge. Having experienced something similar in real life, I know that personally how I react is by owning the power (hard to explain) and turning them to suit me. There is no #kinkshaming here. Maybe, that is what makes other reviewers uncomfortable is that it seems incomprehensible to them that this relationship could progress. No one knows what turns someone on and that is okay. Only we do. I for one thought the author did a great job delving into trying to understand the behaviors whether via research in the story to cracking the armor and facade.
There were some areas that I wanted to be flushed out but for the most part, I was very happy with how this book was done. I was worried how the ending happened so fast after a very long progression of the story in a short period of time. That could also be because I did not want this story to end.
I applaud this author. The fact that she can write a book that keeps people coming back and forth in reading it or lingers on their mind to me shows her talent. Not every book is going to be a home run or hit for every reader. I know this book is not for everyone with the warning (that the author lets you know beforehand) but for me this one really was.