Games Series #3
By: Nyrae Dawn
Published: Jan. 7, 2014
Pub: Forever Romance
Source: Publisher
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Mature Content: 18 & OverGR's Summary:
A biker. A tattoo artist. A love to last a lifetime.
Maddox Cross has always had to be tough. When his father went to jail for murder, the teenager took care of his sister and mother. Now on his own and working security at a night club, Maddox wants to become a tattoo artist-a dream that comes closer to reality when he falls for the hottest, most tatted woman he's ever seen. She's wild and beautiful, and Maddox will do anything to be with her.
Bee Malone came to town to open up her new tattoo parlor, Masquerade. Since being kidnapped as a young girl, Bee has had trouble getting close to anyone. But when she meets Maddox, she sees that under his hard biker's body is the sensitive soul of an artist. What starts out as a sizzling one-night stand soon becomes so much more.
Bee wants Maddox to join her tattoo business, but letting him into her life means revealing all her most intimate secrets. And as the past begins to intertwine with her present, Bee fears their love may not be as permanent as their ink . . .
Bee Malone came to town to open up her new tattoo parlor, Masquerade. Since being kidnapped as a young girl, Bee has had trouble getting close to anyone. But when she meets Maddox, she sees that under his hard biker's body is the sensitive soul of an artist. What starts out as a sizzling one-night stand soon becomes so much more.
Bee wants Maddox to join her tattoo business, but letting him into her life means revealing all her most intimate secrets. And as the past begins to intertwine with her present, Bee fears their love may not be as permanent as their ink . . .
Games Series:
Lindy's Thoughts:
One of the first New Adult books I ever read was Charade by Nyrae Dawn. To this day, it sits on my favorite's shelf, and Colt and Cheyenne remain one of my favorite fictional couples. Then, we got Colt's best friend Adrian's story, and he fell in love with Delaney (Laney) in Facade. His story was completely heartbreaking, and I cried like a baby for what he went through. Now, in Masquerade, we get (Laney's brother) Maddox's story, and he falls for the strong, independent, and beautiful tattoo artist, Bee. I have come to care about all of these characters, and they feel like a part of my family. What I love about the Games Series is how Ms. Dawn gives us real characters with real issues, but she always gives us a sense of hope that things can get better, you just need to open yourself up, and let someone in. I can tell that Ms. Dawn is a romantic at heart, because she has me falling in love with her characters and stories time and time again. The love these couples share shines right off of the pages, and has a way of making my heart melt.
Maddox carries a lot of guilt inside of him for circumstances beyond his control. That guilt has festered into anger, and a sense that he hasn't done right by his little sister Laney. He is very protective of her, partly for this reason, and also because he loves her dearly, and she is the only family he has left. He only cares about two things in his life; Laney, and learning how to tattoo. After being kidnapped, then found and returned to her family nine years later, Bee has felt like she doesn't belong anywhere. She had trouble fitting in with her family, peers in high school, and is trying to discover who she really is. The only thing she knows for certain is that tattooing is her passion, and her only escape from the realities of her life. Maddox and Bee become acquainted, and then get to know each other when Bee begins training Maddox in the art of tattooing. However, what these two never counted on was falling in love.
I loved watching the way that Maddox and Bee connected on such a deep level. They were both a lot alike in the sense that they were closed off, didn't like asking for help, and carried a lot of guilt, and emotional baggage. The romance and sex scenes were amazing between these two characters. Especially, as they began to open up to one another, and started developing feelings for each other. I enjoyed the fact that we got a lot of scenes with Cheyenne, Colt, Adrian, and Laney. There weren't just a few little cameo's of them. We really got a reunion with all of the beloved characters from previous installments of the Games Series. Even though Maddox and Bee's story dealt with certain traumatic issues, it never became depressing or too dark. There was always hope and the further along the story went, my hope for these two characters just grew.
My Rating:
I give Masquerade by Nyrae Dawn 4 Loving, Emotion-Filled, Steamy & Hopeful Stars! This story will make you experience a wide range of emotions. You will laugh, (from Maddox and Bee's fun and flirty banter,) cry, and swoon! For fans of the Games Series, you don't want to miss Maddox's story. For those of you that haven't read this series, you don't want to miss any of these stories. Charade, Facade, and Masquerade, are all amazing stories, with unforgettable characters that find love in the most difficult times in their lives Put all three of these stories at the top of your TBR!
My Favorite Quotes:
" 'Stop making me want you. The same heat from his eyes is now in his words. 'Stop letting me have you,' I reply, and it seems to inflame him more." (eARC, Loc. 1209)
~Bee & Maddox
"We're not perfect, though none of us are. We're works in progress and what matters is we're moving forward and we're doing it together. In love." (eARC, Loc. 3259)
~Bee
The Way Ria Sees It
WOW!!! These books are too amazing! Ms. Dawn, Bee and Maddox light it up! As a HUGE fan of the games series I had high expectations for Masquerade, and let me tell you I’m not one bit disappointed! Maddox made me giddy! I could not wait to get inside his head. I’m not going to lie, I was a little hesitant about Bee because I didn’t know anything about her but I fell in love. Right Away! This was one that will grab a piece of your heart, and carry you from page one to page the end.
M-ystery, everything that Bee is supposed to feel is foreign to her. She has a hard time understanding who she is supposed to be.
A-$$, Maddox uses this trait as a mask to hide behind.
S-urprise, one night that was never supposed to happen ever again comes back to punch these two in the face.
Q-uestions, Maddox and Bee respect and understand each other enough to never pry.
U-nresolved, both of their lives are still so messed up. Its going to take a big jump to clear the air and small steps towards happiness again.
E-rase, they can't make the past different. Now its time to embrace each other and find the peace they seek so desperately.
R-each, their hearts were guarded, but somehow they both managed to touch one and other.
A-drian, becomes more than a friend by pushing Maddox to do the one thing he needs to do. Fight.
D-esign, life isn’t always great, but somehow these amazing characters have pushed through the darkness and found each other in the light.
E-scape, the demons of their pasts are no more its time to bask in the dawn of their futures.
This can be read as a stand alone, but I recommend that you read the entire games series. Each one of these characters will take a piece of your heart. I love the way we get to see what is happening with our other favorite characters, but its not overwhelming. This story is about Maddox and Bee and they remain the main focus throughout. There were times my heart broke for these two, and there were times I wanted to yell. By the end I had a very damp shirt from all of the tears. Beware this book will pull at your heart strings, but hey isn’t that the best?!
My Rating
4.0 Corona & Lime, Tattoo Apprentice, Night Club, Funny Drawings, Leaves Falling, Piercing Trust, Bared Souls, Accepting LOVE filled stars! I recommend this for any fan of the game series! If your not a fan yet…What are you waiting for?
Ro's Take on this Journey:
Masquerade, by Nyrae Dawn, was the third installment of the Games Series. Masquerade continues where Façade ends. This segment is about Bee, the girl that at a young age was kidnapped and grew up with Rex and Melody, two people she loved dearly, but years later came to find were not her real parents. Bee has trouble connecting with others and pretty much is a loner. She doesn't do well with kids her age or adults for that matter. When she is returned to her genetic family she doesn't connect with them. They are very kind, love her dearly, but want to mold her into someone she use to be and is not any longer. Bee has a sister who is college bound and the family tries to push the same on her. Bee chooses to tattoo. Her parents are wealthy and pay to set her up with her own studio and she is determined to make them see that this is the real her. She feels the artistry that flows through her veins. It is her heart and she does it with everything she has in her. The Professor, an older man who became her mentor, showed her the ways of tattooing and how to become the best at what she did. He is the only one that she has ever trusted to ink her. Her tattooing is her only connection that runs deep. A physical connection without commitments is all she can handle.
Maddox, the brother of Laney, from the second segment of the games series, Façade, applies for an apprenticeship in her studio called Masquerade, after a one night stand with Bee, not knowing that he would come face to face with her at an interview the next day. Maddox is a very closed off personality with the guilt of a heavy responsibility on his shoulders for the sins of his parents. He is overprotective to the tenth power over his younger sister Laney and has a hard time with the man she loves, Adriane, even though he knows he loves her dearly. Maddox never does commitment. He has a lot of one night stands, but no seconds for him. He doesn't want anymore commitments, responsibilities, or women to take care of besides Laney and his ever suicidal mother that lacks the mother gene and blames her daughter for everything that has ever gone wrong with her marriage.
This novel was so fantastic that it completely enveloped me and I couldn't put it down. The gravitational pull between Maddox and Bee is so real it will touch the reader to the core. Ms. Dawn has a way of weaving a completely enthralling story, filled with real to life characters, with deeply emotional pain that scars them, and pulls the reader into their most intimate space possible. Bee was a refreshingly honest and blunt girl with the tact of an elephant, and the reader will fall in love with her. Maddox can't put two sentences together when it comes to his personal life, but somehow Bee breaks those barriers with her pure intentions and blatant honesty. It is something that he has never found in a woman and he loves it. He see's the sad side of her and recognizes it in himself. They are two halves of one whole.
The banter between Maddox and Bee is sexy, light, snarky, witty, and wanton. You will fall madly in love with Maddox and Bee's story and want more. Together they light up the sky with fireworks with the hottest, smoldering, swoon worthy, love scenes ever! Your heart will ache for both of them in an unexplainable way, and you will want to reach out and tell them to surrender to each other, and pull in that happiness that they both deserve. The unconditional love they finally give to one another grows and as it is enriched they flourish into two magnificent beings. This story brought back the wonderful characters from book one, Charade, with Cheyenne and Colt, and Adriane and Laney from Façade. The characters all come together in this segment in a wonderfully orchestrated reunion that you don't want to miss. Laney's matchmaking skills are at work and she is determined to become a strong independent woman like Bee, and set her up with her older brother Maddox. In her eyes his happiness is due.
I loved this series and Ms. Dawn always does an excellent job with her flowing prose. She can say so much in a very succinct way. The reader feels everything she wants them to feel. I give this fast paced novel, Masquerade, by Nyrae Dawn, 4.5 Heart Wrenching, Life Changing, Renewal of Spirit and Life Changing Stars!!!
Book Excerpt
I’ve never been the type of person who sits around and dwells on life. Bad things happen all the time and overthinking them has never done shit to change anything. I remember when I went back home—or to the place I should consider home—I didn’t really understand what was going on. At thirteen I should have, but people who are kidnapped are supposed to have been hurt. They’re mistreated and locked away. They aren’t happy and loved the way I had been, so the whole thing was hard to wrap my head around.
For about a week after they sent me home, that’s all I thought about. The people who raised me and the people who lost me. How they both loved me even though I didn’t know quite how to feel about any of them. Didn’t know how I felt about that screwed up word love at all. Rex and Melody had always told me they’d loved me but now I knew they’d stolen me. My real parents said they loved me but they didn’t really know me. I wasn’t their little girl anymore. How can you love someone you don’t know?
It hurt and I cried, my chest feeling hollow and broken, knowing I should feel so many things I didn’t know how to.
Nothing changed.
I didn’t hurt any less. My real family was still broken-hearted and confused, and I’d lost who I considered my mom and dad.
That’s when I decided I wouldn’t lose myself in the past anymore. I wouldn’t stress and dwell on things I couldn’t change or even things I could, because if I made that decision the first time, there was a reason. I would stick with my choices, even when someone didn’t get them or I got shit for being closed off or hard. And I wouldn’t worry about love or try to figure it out.
Girls aren’t allowed to feel that way, I guess.
This is why I’m pissed that I haven’t stopped thinking about Maddox since he walked out of Masquerade.
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About Nyrae Dawn:
Writing has always been Nyrae Dawn’s passion. Even when she was too busy chasing kids or working, writing stories was never far from her mind.
She feels a special pull to characters in their teens. There’s something so fresh and fun about the age that she adores exploring. Her husband says it’s because she doesn’t want to grow up. She doesn’t think that’s such a bad thing. Luckily for her, he doesn’t either.
Nyrae gravitates toward character-driven stories. Whether reading or writing, she loves emotional journeys. It’s icing on the cake when she really feels something, but is able to laugh, too. She’s also a proud romantic at heart who has a soft spot for flawed characters. She loves people who aren’t perfect, who make mistakes but also have a big heart.
Nyrae resides in sunny Southern California with her husband (who still makes her swoon) and her two awesome kids.
When she’s not with her family, you can be pretty sure you’ll find her with a book in her hand or her laptop and an open document in front of her.
She writes for Entangled Publishing, Grand Central Publishing and is self-published.
Nyrae is represented by Jane Dystel of Dystel and Goderich Literary Management.
Contact: Nyraedawn [at] yahoo [dot] com
Nyrae Dawn also writes adult romance under the name Kelley Vitollo.
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