Book Review: Afraid to Fly (Fearless #2) by S.L. Jennings

Dominic uses women to help push back the memories of his abused childhood. A past he relives every night when he closes his eyes. The countless women help, but only momentarily, and it isn't long before the darkness invades again. Raven is the sole caretaker of her brother and is working her ass off to keep them going. And for some reason, she hates Dom. Despite her animosity towards him, Dom is drawn to Raven and he just can't stay away. Even though he knows he should, for both their sakes.

Dear God, S.L. Jennings knows how to write a story that completely captures your heart from the first word and holds you in a vise grip until the very end. Despite Dom's manwhorish ways, it is impossible not to love the man. He is just a good caring guy. He's not cold or callous to the women he is with, but it is painful watching him go from one girl to the next. He puts his heart and soul into helping other at risk kids and I admire the hell out of him for that.

Raven was a bit more vexing for me. Overall I liked her, mostly, but the unknown hate she held for Dom pissed me off. Just get over yourself already or spit out what the hell the problem is. And then when we do find out, I kind of wanted to punch her. But together, Dom and Raven are good for each other and I wanted to see them both push past their demons and find some happy. This was a heart wrenching and emotional read that enjoyed from start to finish.

Favorite Quotes

Not falling for her wasn't an option, because I had already fallen. Fallen deep and hard and fast. Too fast.

"I've always been here for you. You're bigger than my fear, bigger than my pain. You're the most perfect part of me."

I did it all for this. For her. Because I loved her more than I hated me.

Marianna's Rating:

**I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Excerpt

It was if my body had known what my soul needed to mend itself from the verbal assault that had left me open and bleeding. Sex was that healing balm for me. And this was exactly the place where I could find it. None of the dancers here were prostitutes, and I never paid to get laid. Ever. They fucked me because they wanted me. And I fucked them because I needed them. It was an even trade. Contrary to popular belief, I didn’t stick my dick in just anything, and other than Cherri, had only been intimate with two other girls there: Skylar, a hot sophomore at UNC Charlotte, stripping her way through college, and Velvet, a tattooed, purple-haired vixen from England who fucked like a porn star and cursed like a sailor. Right now, I needed Velvet. If anyone could make me forget the last twenty minutes, Raven’s razor-sharp words and myself, it was her. My legs carried me inside, despite the numbness I felt. I didn’t want to be here, but I needed to be. And once I had the soft silkiness and warmth of a woman’s skin against me, I’d feel a helluva lot better. Luckily, Velvet was there for a day shift, working the lunch crowd in her usual getup of velvet and chains. Today she wore a cut-out thonged romper that left little to the imagination. And that was fine by me. I was tired of thinking anyway. “Hey love,” she smiled as I approached. Her lips were painted a deep, dark eggplant purple that almost looked black. I’d have the color smeared all over me within the hour, most of it in places invisible to the public. I didn’t waste any time. I didn’t have it in me to go through the motions and pretend I was here for anything other than sex. I leaned in close to her ear, letting my lips brush her earlobe in that sensual way I knew would get her hot, and whispered, “Back room in 10.” Then I quickly made my way to the bar to slam a shot of tequila. She was there when I arrived, lounging on a plush loveseat with her heeled boots propped up on the arm. She looked at me with sin gleaming in her heavily lined eyes and gave me a slow, Cheshire grin. “Someone’s awfully anxious today.” I was already loosening my tie as I stalked towards her and said, “Clothes off, boots on and get on your knees.”

Title: Afraid to Fly
Author: S.L. Jennings
Series: Fearless #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/book/show/25368174-afraid-to-fly

Blurb:
I’d like to tell you that I’m ok.

That the meaningless sex with countless women has somehow numbed the pain. That it’s deciphered the constant confusion in my head. Eased the self-hatred that sinks into my gut every time I look in the mirror.

I’d like to tell you that time heals all wounds.

That we evolve and grow into well-adjusted, stable adults, set on a path to right the world’s wrongs. That we are not our past…we are not our pain.

I want to tell you all those things. Hell, I want to believe all those things. But I’d be lying. I’m good at that. Living a lie is the only way I truly know how to survive.
But the day I saw her, I stopped surviving. I stopped existing. And for the first time in 24 years, I started living.

She brought me back to life. Set me free and sent my soul soaring. Made this useless shell of a man feel like…something. Something whole and real and good.

She saved me.
Although she believes I wasn’t even worth saving.

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About the Author
S.L. Jennings is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance, reality TV junkie, obsessive coffee drinker and collector of crazy.


Website: www.sljennings.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorsljennings
Twitter: @MrsSLJ