Release; Redeem
Redeem
Under My Skin Series, Book 4
Christina Lee
M/M Romance
Release Date: 02.28.19
Cover artist: Kanaxa
BLURB
Successful financial analyst Michael Walsh leads a picture-perfect life that anyone would envy—unless they caught a glimpse beneath the surface. Haunted by failed relationships and self-doubt, Michael harbors a soul-deep loneliness that no number of casual hookups can fulfill. So why can’t he stop thinking about his New Year’s fling with a man whose quiet desperation matches his own?
Barista Stewart Jenkins has an abysmal track record with relationships, and no matter how hard he tries to keep things tightly under wraps, his life is spinning out of control. His hookup with the gorgeous Michael was only supposed to be sex—hot, dirty, and uncomplicated—but that small taste leaves him desperate for more.
Every no-strings encounter that follows between Michael and Stewart peels away more layers, blurring the lines between them, until they’re left with a raw tenderness and acceptance they’re both urgently craving.
A relationship absolutely wouldn’t work on paper; they come from drastically different lives and are plagued by inexcusable sins. All that vulnerability is sure to reveal old wounds, and forgiveness seems so far out of reach unless they can find a way around their fears on the road to redemption.
Review
I'll be honest I did not think either of these characters could be redeemed. They way they act in the previous books wasn't very promising.
Christina Lee managed to change my mind about that. These characters are not only redeemable but likable. She gives us very good reasons why Stewart and Michael acted the way they did. She didn't excuse them, but she gave us reasons to understand them. I'm glad that they both understood their faults and worked towards being better for themselves before they jumped into anything else.
They start out as friends with benefits as neither one of them feels confident enough in themselves to go further. When they develop feelings they need to reevaluate not only themselves but how they work together.
It takes a brilliant writer with strong skills to make a character redeemable. They have to be able to want to fix themselves and truly be a better person if the author ever hopes for the reader to connect with them. And that's what happened here. Redeem isn't just about throwing the two villans together, but it's about watching them grow and learn to own up to their stuff and find the perfect fit for them.
While Redeem is a standalone I would recommend reading books 2 and 3 first as you'll be able to see how the other side feels about both characters and what helped lead to the revelations both characters have about themselves.
Excellent addition to this series.
Christina Lee managed to change my mind about that. These characters are not only redeemable but likable. She gives us very good reasons why Stewart and Michael acted the way they did. She didn't excuse them, but she gave us reasons to understand them. I'm glad that they both understood their faults and worked towards being better for themselves before they jumped into anything else.
They start out as friends with benefits as neither one of them feels confident enough in themselves to go further. When they develop feelings they need to reevaluate not only themselves but how they work together.
It takes a brilliant writer with strong skills to make a character redeemable. They have to be able to want to fix themselves and truly be a better person if the author ever hopes for the reader to connect with them. And that's what happened here. Redeem isn't just about throwing the two villans together, but it's about watching them grow and learn to own up to their stuff and find the perfect fit for them.
While Redeem is a standalone I would recommend reading books 2 and 3 first as you'll be able to see how the other side feels about both characters and what helped lead to the revelations both characters have about themselves.
Excellent addition to this series.
EXCERPT
“Ah, hell, that’s good,” I gasped as he stroked upward while simultaneously sucking on my neck. I probably should’ve protested because he was sure to leave a bruise, but I couldn’t find it in me to care. Besides, it would be a marker of this night. Like a sexy brand. His breaths grew heavier, and his chest rumbled in deep pleasure as he jerked sloppily against me. His hand stayed firm and tight on my cock even as he drew back and shuddered out his release. The sound was so sensual that my orgasm slammed through me at nearly the same time. “Holy fuck.” My body grew limp as my come spilled over his hand and onto the floor. I shut my eyes and kept my head anchored against the wall as he released his grip and my shaft pulsed in response. The quiet in the room grew deafening—the only sound our breaths and the muted noises of the crowd outside the door. “You got a name?” I didn’t know why I said it out loud. It was only a fleeting thought through my mottled brain. “Why the fuck does it matter?” he replied as the sound of his zipper cut through the echoing silence. “Not like I’ll ever see you again.” “Dunno.” My cheeks flushed red, so I kept my head buried in my arm. “Maybe when I yank on my cock later, replaying this scene in my head, I can call you something.” He didn’t respond. I heard him straightening his clothes and then pulling a few paper towels, which he forced into my hand. “Michael,” he mumbled against my ear. And then he was gone.
Once upon a time, I lived in New York City and was a wardrobe stylist. I spent my days shopping for photo shoots, getting into cabs, eating amazing food, and drinking coffee at my favorite hangouts.
Now I live in the Midwest with my husband and son—my two favorite guys. I've been a clinical social worker and a special education teacher. But it wasn't until I wrote a weekly column for the local newspaper that I realized I could turn the fairytales inside my head into the reality of writing fiction.
I write Adult, New Adult, and M/M Contemporary Romance. I'm addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything. I believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.
The Swoon Room: https://www.facebook.com/groups/594101567395032/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Christina_Lee04
Website: www.christinalee.net
Regret: https://amzn.to/2t7F0w9
Reawaken: https://amzn.to/2TBAcuU
Reclaim: https://amzn.to/2WG0TjL
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