Title: Mind (Trinity Trilogy, book 2)
Author: Audrey Carlan
Genre: Erotica / Suspense
This is the 2nd book in the trilogy, which follows one week after the ending of book 1.
No one can.
It became clear far too late how serious my stalker was, that his threats weren't idle. He proved more than once that he would do what it takes, that there were no stakes too high to his sick and twisted games and delusions of worship.
We should have been better prepared. The roses, images, lingerie soaked in his seed, even his calling card written in blood didn't penetrate. I had faith that my love could make it go away, that eventually he'd be caught.
I was wrong.
***
In the second highly anticipated erotic suspense novel in the Trinity Trilogy, MIND digs deep into the heart and psyche of Gillian and her stalker through dueling POVs.
While Chase and Gillian plan their wedding, follow them and the entire gang as the stalker acts out his revenge and plots his attack on Gillian, Chase, and their friends.
This book can be considered dark, erotic, and thrilling. As in Body (Trinity Trilogy Book 1) the issue of domestic violence plays heavily in the storyline, and Gillian experiences many disturbing flashbacks of the past, alongside tragedy the stalker brings to the present. There is also a lot of love, devotion, and friendship.
Warning: This book is designed for audiences 18+ due to language, graphic sexual content, and themes that some may find disturbing. MIND is book 2 of a three-part trilogy. Body (Trinity Trilogy - Book 1) must be read prior to reading MIND.
“Baby, Gillian, I’m here,” Chase’s voice enters my thoughts. I can feel his hand running up and down my back. The lights of the room start to penetrate my senses. I can see the French doors that lead off to the balcony, the mahogany desk in the corner, a wall of bookcases with medical texts and trinkets from around the world. I know this place. I love this place. This place makes me feel safe. Currently, I’m huddled into the corner in a fetal position.
“Come here, Gillian. I’ve got you, I’ve always got you. Remember, I promised to always bring you back,” Chase’s words reach my subconscious, and I fling myself into his arms. He holds me close, lifts me up and brings me to the chair I was sitting in previously. I hug him tight as he cradles me like an infant. Once my breathing comes back to a neutral pattern I uncurl my legs and look around. Dr. Madison is sitting in his chair, yellow pad held tight by his clenched hand, the paper scrunched up and creased, kind of like my heart after that flashback.
“I’m sorry, Dr. Madison,” I whisper and his head springs up.
“Gillian, you have nothing to be sorry about. I hadn’t realized that you were having the flashbacks again. This stalker business is bringing up some very old wounds, ones you obviously haven’t dealt with. How often are they coming to you?” He asks.
Shame hits me like a physical blow. “Um, I’ve been having them off and on for the past few months. When I moved in with Chase they were all but gone. Then this thing with Phil happened, now they’re back full force.”
“And the nightmares…tell him about everything,” Chase warns forcing me to be honest with the doctor and myself.
I close my eyes and let Chase’s scent fill my nostrils and calm me, his warmth replacing the chill deep in my bones, and his love washing away the shame.
“I’ve had one a night since the note appeared a few days ago at the hospital. I feel like I’m losing my mind, that I’m living in the past. The only thing that can bring me out of it is…” I suck in a breath as the tears spill down my cheeks.
“Is what?” Dr. Madison asks.
“Me,” Chase answers for me and I nod silently, not able to form words. “And I’ll do it every time. Gladly, baby. You’re mine. Not some sick fuck from your past that put his hands on you with hate. I swear to God if I ever see him…”
I turn in his lap and cup his cheeks. “No. He’s ruined enough of me. I can’t let him hurt you. Not you.” I lean my forehead against his.
“Is that what you think, Gillian? That Justin ruined you?” Dr. Madison asks softly.
I nod and look out the window. “I don’t even know why Chase would want someone so messed up. It doesn’t make sense,” I admit. Chase’s arms grip me tight. I scramble out of his lap and into the other chair needing the space to wallow in my own self-pity.
“Gillian, you are the best thing that ever happened to me. Not only are you the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known, your heart is bigger than those of a hundred people. You’re smart, silly, devastatingly intelligent, and your soul is pure. I want that in my life. I need that in my life, every day, forever.” Chase comes over to me and kneels at my feet. “No woman has every loved me, the man I am with you.” Chase swallows and kisses my hands. “You are not ruined. Baby, you’re perfect. Perfect for me.”
It pains me that I'm
actually having to say this, particularly since I loved Audrey's falling
series, and the first book in the Trinity Trilogy, Body, was a good start, but Mind, book 2 of the Trinity Trilogy, for me,
was a disappointment.
Body picks up from
Mind one week later in amongst the planning of Chase and Gillian's upcoming
nuptials. This is a continuous storyline so you really need to read Body first
before flicking through the pages on this one. I had a really hard time
connecting , finding that I really had to push myself to keep reading, or stop
myself from just skipping entire paragraphs. I even found myself cringing at
times and I really hate that I felt that way when in the past I've had nothing
but good experiences with Audrey's work. It was bound to eventually happen, and
this will not stop me from reading the third book or any other future works of
Ms Carlan. I enjoyed the first book but book 2,
just didn't feel … right. I don't know if I was in some sort of weird
head space at the time or what, but … sigh … I just didn't connect. The writing
didn't feel as it was up to the same standard in the past. It felt … overdone,
like there was too many words that described a situation when the dialogue
already implied it. It wasn't till I reached chapter 16 that I started to get
interested. And that's close to the 75% mark. I also didn't like the POV of the
stalker.
But, that last 25%
had me hooked. I couldn't put it down. It was exciting, fast paced and
interesting. If the writing was below par I certainly didn't notice it as the
storyline had sucked me in enough to overcome it. No matter my feelings towards
the 2nd book of the series, I definitely will be following Gillian and Chase's
story as it concludes in third book, Soul.
**I
received a copy of the book for an honest review**
Buy it NOW at:
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Audrey Carlan is a professional fundraiser
for an international healthcare related charity by day, and a sensual and
erotic contemporary romance writer by night. She lives in the sunny California
Valley two hours away from the city, the beach, the mountains and the
precious…the vineyards. She has been married to the love of her life for 10
years and has two young children that live up to their title of “Monster
Madness” on daily basis. When she’s not raising money, sipping wine with her
“soul sisters”, three incredibly different and unique voices in her life, she
can be found with her nose stuck in book or her Kindle. A hot, smutty, romantic
book to be exact!
Connect with Audrey:
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Thank you so much Romance of Daydreams for sharing my blog tour information. The page looks lovely!
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