Book Tour for Cursed Frames by Serena Kearney (Review & GIVEAWAY)

The best romances take readers on emotional journeys that put you through the wringer alongside a book's characters.  With Cursed Frames by Serena Kearney the road to HEA is a hard-fought one between a young woman living with the scars of a childhood of abuse and a young man who understands her pain all too well.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of this compelling read, along with my impressions of it, and discover even more about it by visiting the other sites hosting this tour.  In honor of this second installment in the Scarred Bullet series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $10 Amazon GC too!

He’s been there to help through it all.
Every touch, every sound, and every breath.
I was starting to get better. I was starting to live again the way a normal girl should. That is until we graduated college and life got in the way.
I didn’t think I would see Dem Dabbs again, at least I hoped I would soon, because now I’m falling back. I’m back into my habits. I don’t think I’m strong enough, but somehow, I have.
I’m living on autopilot… until I get that hope back.
I can see him.
Will it be the same? Will we pick up where we left off?
Will his touch bring me back to normal?
Or does he need me more than I need him?

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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

There's a fine line between love and hate and between love and obsession and no one knows that better than brother and sister, Daze and Dem Dabbs. Growing up with an abusive, and psychotic, mother left scars on both of them that made Daze leery of love and Dem protective of those who are hurt by their pasts as well.  The first installment in the Scarred Bullet series saw Daze working through her demons to find HEA, but here the past comes back to haunt Dem and the quiet young woman he's loved from afar for years in a tale full of unrelenting tension that culminates in a heart pounding conclusion.

Dem was told by his mother Violet that he was a demon who was unworthy of love all throughout his childhood.  Through every word and deed she let him know that he was an obstacle to her love for Daze.  When the danger became all too real they left Violet behind, forming a deep bond between them that no one can put asunder.  For a long time it was just the two of them but eventually the sexy and snarky Dean came into their lives and this compelling trio became a family.  They've stuck together through thick and thin, and through the vindictiveness of an ex, and are slowly reaping the rewards as each of them find their HEA.  From the moment Dem first saw the shy and timid Willa he felt drawn to her, could relate to the pain he saw in her eyes, and made it his mission to keep her safe.  Their years of friendship soon led to more in a relationship that evolved very slowly and didn't become steamier until very late in the story.  When enemies from his past put him and Willa in danger though, their journey to HEA might be over just as it got started.  Dem's a truly kindhearted young man despite everything he's been through.  He's loyal to his sister and Dean and would sacrifice everything for them.  Meeting Willa has her joining that special group, lavishing his protection on her, as he earns her trust and respects her fears of being touched.  He's gentle with her but shows his strength when it's needed most in a charming romance that I ultimately wish would've been a bit steamier.

Willa's childhood was marred by tragedy due to an abusive father.  Seeing that abuse led to fears of being touched which has crippled her when it comes to living life to the fullest.  Meeting Dem, and Dean, and experiencing their gentleness has slowly healed her though and given her a sense of strength to protect herself when needed.  Willa always felt inferior but being with Dem brought her out of her shell, helping her to make her own friends like Minnie and Ashe who pushed her to meet her fears head-on.  She and Dem are a very cute couple whose interactions teem with sexual tension.  There's heartfelt talks, along with sweet kisses, that are soon put in jeopardy once his past comes back to haunt him with a trio of unexpected villains bent on spilling blood.  For the most part I liked Willa.  I liked seeing her gain strength and start speaking her mind, but was a bit frustrated with her response to an act committed late in the story as she forgave far too easily.  I enjoyed the protective side she brought out in Dem and loved her playful interactions with Dean that took on a familial vibe.  On a whole she and Dem were the kind of couple you can't help rooting for as they were likable and easy to relate to.

While this was a satisfying addition to the Scarred Bullet series it wasn't quite as emotionally intense as the previous book.  Daze was truly suffering in the previous story, but in this one Dem seems to have moved on from his past. He's not carrying near the baggage that his sister was as he's carefree and fun-loving in his scenes with Dean.  That doesn't make his HEA any less rewarding as this story culminated with lots of blood, suspense, and surprising reveals. Along with its appealing main couple came a cast of entertaining secondary characters with problems of their own.  Siblings Minnie and Ashe came from a rough neighborhood and experienced their own crushing losses that they hide behind laughter and partying, while Dean has always felt unloved by his parents and uses his wealth to keep his friends close.  He hides his pain behind alcohol and partying too and with a few intriguing insights sprinkled throughout the narrative it's his character that I'm most excited to learn more about and see find his HEA next.  Add in the return of Daze and Bullet and you end up with an enthralling story full of heartwarming moments as well as an unrelenting sense of foreboding that readers will fall for from the first page to the last.

My rating for this is a B+

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

I am a Leo. Born August 10, living on the east coast. I self-published my first novel, PNEUMA, November 2014, and it's hasn't stopped since.

One of my biggest problems was having too much to read. Now my newfound problem; having too much to write and not enough hands to type it out. Not enough brains to put the stories together fast enough. Not enough tea or coffee to keep me awake 24/7.

So, like every normal person, I have to take it one day at a time.

My cravings for sweets keep me going, any sort of cakes (especially red velvet), pies, cookies, and ice cream.

I have a cat named Bongo-Bongo, who loves to get in my way when I'm trying to work, but is too cute for me to fight him off.

And then I have my family, specifically my husband, who puts up with my endless nights, my tapping of the keyboard, my ridiculous imagination, and yet, he always encourages me to believe in myself and follow my dreams.

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