Book Review: Strength by Carrie Butler

Title: STRENGTH
Series: Mark of Nexus - Book 1
Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing
Category: New Adult (NA)
Genre: Paranormal Romance (PNR)
Release Date: March 07, 2013

 

When college student Rena Collins finds herself nose-to-chest with the campus outcast, her rumor-laced notions are shattered. Handsome, considerate, and seemingly sane, Wallace Blake doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, screaming and banging on the walls of his dorm room. Hell, he doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, period.

Too curious for her own good, Rena vows to uncover the truth behind Wallace’s madman reputation—and how two seconds of contact had left her with bruises. Of course, there are a few setbacks along the way: guilt, admiration, feelings of the warm and fuzzy variety…

Not to mention the unwanted attention of Wallace's powerful, supernaturally-gifted family.

They’re a bloodline divided by opposing ideals, two soon-to-be warring factions that live in secret among us. When Rena ends up caught in their crossfire, Wallace has no choice but to save her by using his powers. Now they’re really in trouble. With war on the horizon and Rena’s life in the balance, he needs to put some distance between them. But Rena won’t let go. If fighting is what it takes to prove her own strength and keep Wallace in her life, then that’s what she’ll do—even if it means risking a whole lot more than her heart.

About the Author:

Carrie daydreamed her way through college—until they thrust a marketing degree into her hands, slapped a summa cum laude seal on the corner, and booted her out into a less-than-stellar job market. Instead of panicking at the prospect of unemployment, she used her Midwestern logic to steer into the skid and point her life in the direction she really wanted to go: writing out those daydreams.

 

You know those books you can't put down once you start reading? The one you keep thinking about after you've finished? That's how Strength is for me. Tiny, spunky, college girl Rena and tortured, mysterious, Mr.Tall-Dark-and-Handsome Wallace had me sucked in from the beginning. I love how upfront Rena is and her hilarious one liners. Wallace is a perfect gentleman, sweet, generous, and sexy as heck. One thing that did surprise me about the book was the hunky hero's name. I don't know about you, but when I think of someone named Wallace, I don't think rippling abs. Thanks to Carrie Butler, that has changed. Wallace is now going on my 'sexy name' list! I love how Rena slowly falls for Wallace and doesn't just cling to him from the beginning and how Wallace tries to keep his distance, but still gives in like a normal red-blooded male. Too often love stories in the YA/NA category consist of the girl falling all over the guy and the guy being too stuck up for the girl. That's so not the case here.

 

Overall Reaction: Loooooved it! Carrie Butler definitely knows how to write a story and I'm already anxious for the next book. (Which, according to her blog, she's working on now! *squeal*) This is definitely one to buy for the bookshelf. Have you seen the cover? Yum!