Good evening, my bibliophiles. It’s Monday yet again, which stinks, and we have a whole week ahead of us, which also stinks. However, the holidays have arrived, and so has my latest book review!
The subject of my review tonight has been a book I’ve been awaiting since I closed up its prior installment a few months back. I’ve been chomping at the bit ever since to find out what has been happening to these characters. I’m, of course, talking about Stella’s Emancipation by the lovely R.K. Ryde. This is book two in the Stella series. If you haven’t picked up a copy of either tale just yet, go check my review of book one, Stella’s Awakening, here, and then go do that one-click thing either on Amazon, or your local bookstore’s website!
All I can say after I’ve slept on this book and let my thoughts stew a bit… is that it can’t end there! I need book three right now!! Ryde, you’re killing me with the cliffhangers!
This book began with heartbreak and ended with me on the edge of my seat. I didn’t know what to do with myself.
For being together just a few short months, Conrad and Stella sure have had their fair share of obstacles. Holy Moses. There’s always something going on and a lot of back and forth. Both with the couple as well as Stella’s battle with herself and finding her proper place in her new life.
Just to recap a bit without giving too much of the plot away, Stella is a former Jehovah’s Witness. She’s been struggling for most of her adult life whether or not to remain among her family and her church, or to branch out, and run her successful business and see what (and who) else is out there in the world. Her routine morning excursions she takes before she heads to the office is how she bumped into one Conrad Adams. A man of fame and fortune, he knows he wants Stella, and will do just about anything to make her his. This idea brings bout complications not just from Stella’s side, but with Conrad’s as well. In Emancipation, we find out he’s hiding something, but he’s just too good at revealing his secrets. It drove me crazy, so I can’t imagine the impact it had on Stella. While she conveyed her feelings properly, I couldn’t help but witness the hurricane of emotions that surrounded the poor girl.
While I know Conrad was keeping secrets, I couldn’t help but join Josie on his team anyway (sorry, Stella). The man has his own problems, and a past he has yet to talk about, but man, does he know how to love and defend his woman. No matter what needs Stella has, or as basic as they may be, he’s always there to soothe or lend a helping hand and be the pillar of support that she needs now more than anything else in this world. I’m not thrilled that he’s got things under wraps, but for the reasons I just listed, I trust him anyway. What can I say? The man stole a small piece of my heart.
I adore these two even more now that I’ve completed book two, but man, did they drive me crazy. I wanted to lock them in a room on numerous occasions so that they could talk things out and avoid half of the issues they wound up having. While that didn’t always happen, I was elated when they were in a room together regardless. They had other ways of communicating and bonding that became more powerful than words.
Just when I thought I was getting a happy ending with these two, more shit hit the fan! There’s so much left up in the air right now! I need book three asap so that I can get answers to all of my questions and let out the breath I’ll be holding in the mean time!
My Final Rating: five out of five stars
