Title: Into the Nothing
Series: Broken Outlaw #1
Author: BT Urruela
Release Date: June 21, 2016
Xander Evans has been on the road for many years. Never settling. Always moving from one place to another, unable to let go of his past. He lived a tragic childhood, spending most of those years in foster care. He's never felt like he's had a home. That is until he stops in the small town of Truman Valley, Missouri, where he meets a woman who will change everything he's ever known.
Paige Watson has it all. A loving family, beautiful home, and a great career. The only thing she's missing....is love. After escaping an abusive relationship, she opens her heart up to a stranger. He is unlike any man she's ever met. He came into her life and turned it completely upside down. Everything is perfect. That is, until one fateful night.
A night that would tear the Watson family apart, never to be put back together again.
A night that would send Xander away to prison for life.
"He was over here for like five hours last night drinking and talking with Dad. You think I like him? My dad's in love. And the way he didn’t hesitate to put Benji in his place, I just think Dad’s got a good feeling about him."
"Sh!t, I've got a good feeling about him too... and it's in my panties." She laughs and motions toward her crotch. "If I had been working and saw him do that to Benji's fat ass, I would've let him f*ck me right on top of the bar…and I would’ve let everyone watch."
"Brandi!"
"I'm serious. F*ck it!”
"You're ridiculous."
"Paige, don't tell me you didn't notice that anaconda stuffed into his jeans?"
"What?! What the f*ck are you talking about? Anaconda? I wasn't looking at his damn jeans." I laugh, finding it hard to not to love this girl who has become like a sister to me. She's the craziest bitch I know, but she's got my back no matter what. She's had it since day one.
"Why wouldn’t you look at his jeans? That’s where his d!ck is!”
Review
RATING:
Well, well, well… Not sure what I was expecting, but this wasn't it... that's a good thing, I swear... just bear with me...
Before anything else, this may not have anything to do with the book, but I do want to give a shout out to BT. I’ve been stalking, I mean following him, on various social media platform and I couldn’t be more impressed at the things he’s accomplished, never mind his looks. What?! Have you seen him?? *g* He’s very engaging and I always enjoy perusing his SM accounts, just saying…
Even though I own a copy, I haven’t had the opportunity to read A Lover’s Lament, which he co-wrote with another author, but this one is his first solo attempt. For his first solo write, I say not bad… The opening of the story grabs you immediately; that’s for sure.
Xander has quite the past, tragic at that. He was full of secrets, a transient at heart, and Paige’s town just happened to be one of the ones he was passing thru. He met Paige and her dad by fluke, and what was meant to be temporary ended up not being so. Paige and her family took him in, feelings starting to grow until that fateful night, that is.
I really really wanted to love this. It’s got the elements I usually enjoy in my romance reads. Just hear me out... I'll talk about the things that didn't work for me BUT there are definitely things that worked for me...
Where I may have had some issue is the pacing. While I appreciated all the details, which allowed for relationship building, it felt like it made the pace quite sluggish. It made me wonder if the way the timeline was laid out got me impatient, especially with such a captivating start. And because I couldn’t quite match the pace, I admit it did affect how I felt about the characters. As well-fleshed out the MCs were, there was a bit of detachment that I couldn’t help but feel. Consequently, I questioned some of their actions and the maturity of some of their decisions, and as much as I’m one for lots of dialogues, some felt superfluous.
Where I may have had some issue is the pacing. While I appreciated all the details, which allowed for relationship building, it felt like it made the pace quite sluggish. It made me wonder if the way the timeline was laid out got me impatient, especially with such a captivating start. And because I couldn’t quite match the pace, I admit it did affect how I felt about the characters. As well-fleshed out the MCs were, there was a bit of detachment that I couldn’t help but feel. Consequently, I questioned some of their actions and the maturity of some of their decisions, and as much as I’m one for lots of dialogues, some felt superfluous.
Then, on the other hand, it felt like too many things were crammed at the end. Things that I felt could’ve been expounded on more to make for a more dramatic impact. Mind you, the ending has quite an impact as it is.
BUT, BUT, BUT... Having said all that, while the execution was not necessarily on point in my mind, the story itself is quite unique and definitely not predictable. I had no idea where BT was taking these characters. There was foreshadowing that was handled deftly. There were really heavy issues tackled, issues that BT did not appear to shy away from and that’s quite gutsy. And while I did not quite warm up to the female characters including Paige, the male characters were fascinating and engaging, which included Irish and Twitch in addition to Xander. Xander really was the highlight of this book. He’s flawed, made bad decisions, and has quite a bit of issues but in the end, he’s as stand-up as stand-up get. BT also didn’t give me a traditional ending, which left room for some contemplation and speculation, which I appreciated.
I think BT could have even taken this onto the darker side, but I understand a more contemporary approach will widen his market. That's just me... And I sincerely believe that in time, BT will only get better as he hones his craft.
So like I said, for his first solo write, not bad, not bad at all…
BT Urruela was an infantryman in the US Army from August 2004 until February 2011. At the end of a year long tour to Baghdad, Iraq, his vehicle was hit by two roadside bombs, which took his right leg below the knee and the life of his commander. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his wounds, an Army Commendation Medal, and Combat Infantryman's Badge. He medically retired from the Army in 2011 and moved to Tampa, FL where he currently works as a Director and Brand Ambassador for VETSports, a veteran community sports nonprofit he co-founded in 2012. He also conducts motivational speeches, works as a cover and fitness model and he's a personal performance trainer. He co-wrote the military romance novel A Lover's Lament and will be releasing his debut solo novel, Into the Nothing, on June 21st, 2016.
Thanks for dropping by!
~Leftie
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