Title: Cherry Lover
Author:  Victoria Quinn
Publisher/Year:  Victoria Quinn 3/5/19
Length:  186 Pages
Series:  Cherry #2

Overview

I got what I wanted. 

Got what I paid for. 

But once Monroe starts dating a handsome billionaire, I can’t stand it. 

It drives me crazy. 

I decide it’s too much to handle. 

I arrive at her door and demand another chance. 

But I’m not sure if she’ll give me one.

My Thoughts

This story takes us exactly where we expect in one sense, and then on a roller coaster in the other. We left off with Slate and Monroe truly seeming as though they are at an impasse – at a point where she’s put herself out there, and Slate just won’t give her what she needs and what she deserves. It’s painful to watch, to see such a young and strong woman put herself out there in the hopes that she can change a man who admits that he can’t be changed. Slate is powerful and sure of himself and knows that he’s so damaged that he can’t let anyone in. Good luck Monroe right?

The bulk of this story is watching them combust. Slate pushes her away and she goes on with her life. She finds a man who can compete with Slate in all categories, authority, success, money, interest. She’s trying to move on, although she’s clear with her new man about how things were with Slate and she even admits that she’s not truly moved on either. They still try to see what works and we see how things could be with Slate out of the picture.

He of course, being the alpha male that he is, can’t handle it. He’s quick to pay attention to every note about her with this new guy, keeps tabs on all that she’s doing, and eventually realizes that he can’t be without her, so he does what he did to begin with, and makes Monroe an offer that she can’t say no to. He’ll try to be what she wants, in exchange for payment as well as 3 months of her time. He’ll do what he can, but in true Slate form, he puts a time limit to things to protect himself.

From that point on, we have hope. We think that there’s a chance that things will work out and that they will have their happy ending. Even with the outside influences of watching Coen and Simone go up in smoke, that pushes them together and immediately pushes them apart.

Let’s pause here for a second and go back to Coen and Simone. We know their story is a bad one, and we get to see how it plays out. Coen is convinced that Simone is marrying him for love, Slate knows better, and Simone makes it clear that she’s out for money. There’s concern now that she will manage to get half of their business if she’s not stopped, but Coen won’t do anything. It’s not until he’s made a fool of publicly that he sees the light, but it’s too late to do anything and we get to watch that play out.

All throughout that mess, Monroe continues to be the light in Slate’s life. Giving him a reason to be happy to come home every night, to have someone to protect and care for, and some how that scares him even more. He’s not willing to admit that she’s got a place in his life and he continues push her away and even goes so far as to buy her a place to live so she can move out (even though i think he doesn’t really want that).

When Monroe can’t take any more, she walks away – AGAIN’ and the story takes a dark turn. We see interesting new allies ,and we also see some scary things happen. It’s anyone’s guess how this story will play out and each chapter from here on out gives us something new and unexpected.

While i’m bummed that there are only 2 books in this series, i’m pleased that we got an epilogue that closes out some loose ends. They are much needed given the cliff that we’re pushed off about 2/3s into the story. I hope you check this series out and enjoy it. On to something new now!