Review: Last Light (Night Owl Series, Book 2) by M. Pierce

RATING: 4 napkins

Matt Sky is missing. After a solo ascent of Longs Peak that left only a large blood stain, tatters of climbing clothing, and the tracks of an animal in the snow, he is presumed dead ...

Hannah Catalano is guarding a secret ...

Tensions rise, secrets grow bigger, and passions run deeper in the highly anticipated second book in the Night Owl Trilogy.

Via

**Complimentary ARC received from publisher via Netgalley**

This is the second book in the series. Please note that this is not a stand-alone so you need to read the first one, Night Owl, in order to follow and appreciate Matt and Hannah's story. I really liked the first one, I rated it 4 stars on Goodreads (which according to Goodreads means 'I really liked it', duh!). Just to give you some context, here is my review of the first one, as posted on Goodreads:

GAH!!!!! What is up with that epilogue?!?! M. Pierce, were you probably thinking that ending Night Owl with HFN may not prompt readers enough who like/love this book to read the rest in the series, is that it?!?! Was that really necessary?!?! GAH!!!!!

Ok, rant over...

This book just caught me off guard. It wasn't what I was expecting at all. It got me glued to the pages right from the start but I didn't want it to end too fast either so I tried to slow down as well O.o

First things first, I hate cheating in any story I read, but every now and then, when the writer allows me to delve into the head of the character and can make me understand the character somewhat better, then I can see past it. With this one, for me to see past it even with a H like Matt who was a d-bag (with a capital D) for the most part, that's gotta' count for something in my book, for sure. 

I found Matt to be an unlikable H with hardly any redeeming qualities, save for his feelings towards Hannah, the h, yet I didn't hate him and on top of that, I rooted for him, how about that! Hannah put it perfectly when she said she found him infuriating and pitiful at the same time. That's what I felt for Matt at times, breaking my heart reading what he was going thru by the 70% or so mark onwards *sigh*

Hannah was just so-so for me. She doesn't quite stand out for me. I didn't get some of her actions or feelings. Part of the reason for the 1 less star rating, among other things. Other things that lowered the rating for me? Ok, granted I may not have read enough BDSM stories but that didn't feel right the way Matt just threw Hannah into it without much preamble. Then the 'slut' reference. Oh, and the 'pig' reference. Really?!?! And yes, the beginning just felt on the creepy side, maybe that was just me...

Oh but the heat b/w those 2! That's all... hehe...

There's something about M. Pierce's writing that speaks out to me. The story just flowed... 

And now, my review for Last Light:

(Originally posted on Goodreads)

3.5 ★

Hmmm... I had to think hard about this one... 

There were parts I didn't like or appreciate, or understand. There were parts that had me scratching or shaking my head. There were parts that put me off. Yet, There were parts that had me reeling. There were parts that I was just completely enamored with. There were parts that tugged at the heart string. And then there were the parts that got meself fanning. Now that last part, stayed consistent from the first book to here, just saying *grins*

At this point, I won't talk anymore about the epilogue from Night Owl, including my reaction to it or the direction that this book apparently did not go, fortunately. M. Pierce, I thought, did nicely tie that into the beginning of this book.

The story revolved around the "secret" that Hannah is keeping, and how she had to deal with things and the people in their lives. Along the way, conflicts arise from both sides as expected, some of them unnecessary if I may add. After all, that kind of secret can only be sustained so long. I think those were the parts I struggled with [SPOILER: the thing between Hannah and Seth, and Matt and Melanie END OF SPOILER].

Hannah didn't quite win me over in the first book and did she change my mind in this book? I'm not sure. I was starting to really like her but then she just did that stupid thing with Seth. And something about her dynamics with Matt's brothers felt unsettling for some reason. I didn't understand some of her thought process. But near the end, I thought she showed maturity.

Matt... hmmm... I thought I got him in the first book. I still think I get him but I felt like he was just really unhinged in some parts.

One thing that can't be denied however is the heat between these 2. M. Pierce, do you know how to write those scenes or what! And for all the craziness these 2 went thru, whether I understand it or not, I say they're meant for each other and they deserve each other.

If I may just say another thing, I've been meaning to say this even from the first book that I thought it's quite clever of M. Pierce weaving his/her(?) own pen name and his/her(?) books into the story to make it almost a circular story, in my head anyways. I can't help but feel though that somehow, somewhere in there, the joke's on us as readers, and it's a tad uncomfortable feeling.

My last thought, do I make that 0.5★ up my rating? Sure, why not. Regardless of what I've written, I know I'll be reading the conclusion to Matt and Hannah's story.


~Leftie