Flawed Love

House of Obsidian Series #2

By: Bella Jewel

Narrated by: Lidia Dornet, Roger Wayne

Rainer Torrence is everything I could have wanted in my life and more. He became my best friend when I was 13 years old. From then on,we were inseparable. He was my first love and my first heartbreak. But I always thought it was forever. Until his father died and things went bad. Then suddenly he disappeared. Ten years and I didn't see or hear from him. Then came the call I'd been praying for - he was back in town. Only the man I remembered is not him. This man is quiet, deadly, and so incredibly beautiful. He also doesn't remember me. He looks into my eyes and sees nothing. So, I let him believe I'm just a girl who walked into his bar. I let him use me on the cold, dark nights. I let him believe that I am as emotionless about our relationship as he is. I just let the secret go on and on. But all secrets have an end, don't they?

©2015 Bella Jewel (P)2015 Tantor

love

Loved. couldn't put down. love how she did the then and now. Fell in love with the characters. I was tearing up and cried several times it melted my heart. Also thought narrator was great. Excited to check out her other series. These are a must read ...I am a true fan now.

Thank you Bella, loved it

This is an erotic, romance with drama.

Rainer aka "Rai Rai" Everyone in his life has left him, either from death or from life itself, the only steady he has is his best friend Emy. They were best friends growing up, but he not only lost it all due to his father, but if he does realize what he has soon he may end up losing everything he has ever really loved.

Emalie aka "Emy/Mali" was always though of as a geeky, tom boy. She never really dated and she could never live up to the expectations of her sister and mother. But as she becomes best friends with the one boy that makes her life a living hell and worth living she realizes that she wants all her first to be with him and they do. But when Rainer leaves her she is left empty and wondering what happen to the man she fell in love with, until he comes back to town but has no clue who she is.

Bella Jewell has always been a favorite of mine. If you want drama women hear ya go. lol

Rainer & Emy

Great story, not boring, likable characters and secondary ones. The plot moved at a fast pace, no angst or cheating. They met in high school, their
attraction grew into friendship, then a relationship and he was her first everything. He had a poor relationship with his father and home life.
The MMC’s father’s debts became his. He couldn’t handle it which led to drugs and being a slave worker. During his time away he meets Pippa and he falls in love with her. His past is a blur and doesn’t remember Emy.

Be Prepared

You will be frustrated. You will be annoyed. Your guts will be ripped out. It comes out happy, but very late in the game. I have an emotional hangover.

I loved this book

So glad to finally get to hear/read Rainer's story.
Loved Emily too, she's perfect for him.

Missed opportunities

🌶️: 2

Second chance romance. OW drama. Slightly dark with some recall of past events. This follows Emily and Rainer. The book is told in alternating past and present chapters which is something that I like, as I think it adds to the story, however, not sure it did anything here. The main characters are childhood best friends so all of the past chapters are focused on the dynamics of their friendship, and ultimately their realization they want more and moving toward that. Again, there was nothing significant revealed during this time other than showing that they went from a friendship to more. At the very end of the past chapters, after the MMCs father passed away, was when the real purpose of those chapter came to be understood as this helped us understand what happened that caused the MMC and the FMC to be separated. There is some other woman drama in these chapters courtesy of one of the girls he is hooking up with.

The book starts in the present timeline, 10 years since the FMC has seen the MMC. He’s back in town so naturally she wants to go and see him. When she gets to the bar he owns and sees him, it’s very clear that he doesn’t recognize her, which is hurtful to her, even though her appearance has changed significantly since the last time they saw each other.

Ultimately, she decides not to tell him who she is straight away, and she sort of infiltrates their friend group as him and her start to sleep together. He’s very clear that this will never be more than what it is. And the FMC knows that he is in love with his best friend, who also brings some drama with her but not in a mean girl way. Her and the FMC share a unique relationship.

What we learn is that him and his best friend had gone through a very traumatic experience when they were younger, so after he last saw the FMC. And this traumatic past has led to some distorted memories for him, which is why he didn’t initially recognize her.

This book was just OK for me. I didn’t particularly care for the FMC, which is unfortunate since the entire book is her point of view. The self
loathing was too much. And the way she just accepted any scraps from the MMC was just not it for me. I listened to the audiobook and that too, just wasn’t enjoyable. The way the scenes were voiced didn’t match what was going on a lot of the time. Except the spicy scenes. I think this book had potential but sadly, fell flat.

This story was frustrating and weird.

Did not like how Rainer made Emily feel bad for changing her appearance and feeling good about herself.

Ugh

Ugh I couldn’t stand Emily though out the whole book, I almost stopped.. than at the end I wish he picked Pippa just to piss of Emmy ugh

ugh

just...no. so much potential. but why oh why did you make the FMC a doormat for literally being treated like sh!t??? I was disgusted with how many times she allowed him to choose anyone but her. so ick.

Eh

I usually like Bella's books. This one was boring. I didn't feel the spark between the two main characters. He seemed distant. Over explaining at times. Repetitive. He and Pippa's relationship not understandable. Her jealousy of his relationship was so ridiculous. Just wasn't feeling it with this book. The story could've been developed more