Takes a serious topic and turns it shallow. Jesus. ( )

This book was hard to read at the start: not because the writing is poor (because it isn't) but because Mia is a person plagued with the mindset of someone who has suffered years of abuse. It was hard for me not to cringe as she describes her abuse or how she thinks of herself. Abuse is something that no one should ever have to go through and I want to warn people that this book is not for the faint of heart. I feel like this book handles abuse in a way that is both respectful and something that I haven't really come across yet in New Adult fiction and I enjoyed (as much as you can "enjoy" something with that subject matter) watching the story unfold and Mia grow.

Getting away from the underlying plot of the book, I'll focus on the romance. Jordan and Mia had great physical chemistry; however, it all happened a little fast for me. I would have liked it to progress over a few weeks than just one (seemed a little farfetched to me when everything else felt so grounded). But, I thought that they were really cute together and I liked their interaction.

As for the rest of the plot is starts off pretty fast-paced, gets a little slow and then picks up near the end. I really liked how the story ended (for a while I wasn't sure how it was going to end so that is a bonus!).

Overall: I liked that this book was different than books I have recently read. I don't recommend this read if you can't handle stories dealing with abuse and the aftermath of it. But if you like stories where people can overcome their abusive pasts, this is a great read.

Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESous Book Reviews as well as book recaps! ( )

Mia has only known pain from men. Her father, Oliver, was a successful surgeon as well as a vicious child abuser behind closed doors. Her boyfriend, Forbes, is also abusive and a successful lawyer. Forbes takes his heartless dominance to a point where Mia finally flees Boston, finally leaving her abusive past behind.

Jordan is immature and has sworn off love after seeing his dad fall apart twice from a broken heart. He sleeps with women but never stays long enough for feelings to develop. He has been careless with gambling and alcohol just as he has been careless with women. His best friend, Beth, is the only woman he trusts and is committed to, and she's into women, so romance is perfectly impossible between them. Taking over his father's hotel while he's out of town, Beth sends a tourist his way. A tourist that may not ever leave.

This was my first audiobook experience and it had it's ups and downs. On the one hand, I did like the narrator for Jordan, but on the other hand I did not care for the narrator for Mia. I did like that they had alternating narrations, but I did not like that it repeated the same events in some chapters. I liked how deep and dark this book got but I did not like how Jordan's immature and shallow personality was redundantly beat into the reader's head. I apologize for being cryptic but I do not want to give the spoiler away; I am not sure how I feel about the plot twist. I did not see it coming, however, I am not sure how to feel about it. It just seems a bit of a stretch, in my opinion.

I got this AudioCD in 2014 from Goodreads Giveaways. I admit, at first, I was a bit disappointed. I expected it to be a physical book, not an AudioCD. I had not read the details completely and since my CD player in my car did not work, I had set it aside and moved on. I went back to it and downloaded it to play on my phone while driving around, but I ended up preferring music rather than an audiobook.

Fortunately, I recently got a newer car with a working CD player. I also recently joined a book club and a lot of my fellow members were raving about listening to audiobooks while driving around. My first thought was to fish this audioCD out of the drawer I had stuffed it in and give it another try. Third time was the charm.

To those who may be offended or triggered, there were the following in this book: foul language, explicit sexual scenarios, graphic violence, physical abuse, bulimia, parental abandonment, divorce, death, and sexual assault.

Please note: An AudioCD of this book was provided for free by Goodreads Giveaways. I apologize that it has taken me over 3 years to finally listen through it. I do sincerely appreciate this as it has helped me learn that I DO actually enjoy audiobooks! I have since started another one and I am confident that I will keep checking them out. ( )

Trouble is about Mia and Jordan, two individuals with a lot of baggage.  He's a reformed gambling addict who is also a big man whore.  She's an anorexic who has suffered physical and mental abuse her whole life, first her father and now her boyfriend.  She finally decides she's had enough and makes a run for it.  She ends up in Jordan's father's inn where he is working alone while his father is away.


JORDAN




Jordan's mantra:

When it comes to women, I put my dick in and keep my heart out.  It's the easiest way.








MIA




Mia's belief:

It's easy to be worthless to someone, but to matter to someone...well, I think that would be harder.






Being around each other starts cracking both of their life-long shells.




I'm all weak knees and wet panties.  I've never felt this turned on before.  One minute I'm pulling up my big girl panties, and the next I'm more than willing to drop them for him.



I've never had feelings for a girl before, but the first time I do, I'm falling in love, and hard.  I guess this is what happens to us men who don't love easily.  We love quicker and harder.




But not so fast lovebirds.  A hidden connection between them that changes everything comes to surface just when it looks like they are going to make it....

This story is about overcoming your demons and finding strength within yourself.




Also, per usual for me, I have to give bonus points for the mention of Harry Potter.

I smile, then lean close to read the words on his chest...

I don't go looking for trouble.

Trouble usually finds me.

I let out a laugh.  That is such a Jordan thing to say.  But why do I know that saying...

"Harry Potter."  I jab my finger at the tattoo.








toni





great read
my review
http://divasdiscussions.blogspot.com/2013/12/trouble-by-samantha-towle.html ( )

I really wasn't sure that I was going to like this one, because the intro and the main character's background is pretty dark, but I actually really did. I liked the character development, I thought the plot was nicely paced... the twist ending was a little meh, but overall it was a good read. ( )