Review: Deacon

Deacon by Kristen Ashley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



It's not a secret that I'm a huge Kristen Ashley fan. I'm pretty sure I have read everything she has ever written. With that said, Deacon just didn't do it for me in the end. I know exactly why, but that part will have to be in the spoilers section. This fourth installment of Unfinished Hero also seemed a bit generic. Almost like there was a deadline looming, and the words had to be put on paper. I can't even begin to understand how difficult it must be to write a book, much less writing several different series at one time, but I would be happy to wait a little longer if needed. Other than a few details about the main characters history, either one of them could have been replaced with another KA character without a problem. Even with all of that, Deacon was a solid four star book until the last 30-40 pages. Unfortunately that small portion of the book was enough to bring it down to three stars. This may be totally my issue, so read it for yourself before deciding.

Cassidy "Cassie" was fine as far as characters goes. A bit naive, and again a little generic, but ok. Deacon is the standard KA alpha male, with a slightly shady history. She is living her dream in the Colorado mountains, a bit differently than planned, but she's doing it. He shows up randomly over the years renting cabin number 11, and disappearing within a few days. Cassie knows that feeling anything for Deacon, who is almost certainly some kind of criminal is not smart. That doesn't stop her from renting cabins 1-10 first on the off chance he'll show up.



***Spoilers*** ***For mature readers only***
Deacon was a normal guy, in love and planning a life with his wife. None of her family, or friends bothered to tell him that she'd been in and out of rehab as a teenager, even when she disappeared. He knew that he loved her, and wanted her back, and despite protests from his family, he left everything behind to find her. After years of searching the dregs of society, he found his wife, and what he found was not pretty. She let the drugs take over, selling her body to pay for her addiction, and let her addiction take her life. For years Deacon lived in that world, making a name for himself as the bad guy bounty hunter who could find anyone. He knew he wasn't right after what happened, and knew he wasn't the man Cassie deserved, even though he couldn't stay away. After six years of renting cabin eleven, he stopped resisting her pull. They both fell for one another quickly, and they fell hard. Still Deacon held a part of himself back, some of it to protect Cassie, but another part because he wasn't ready to share. When Cassie found a picture of his wife, and thought he was still married, she demanded answers. She wanted to know everything, and he refused to give it to her. He walked away and broke her heart in the process. For six months she struggled to put herself and her life back together, and then he came back. Sure I know his side, and that he was finally ready. I just don't care. He strips naked, throws out a few lines, while heartfelt, still not enough to make up for what he did. She jumped right back in, which is the first issue I had. Secondly, their love life was a bit kinky before he left, but when he got back it was different. There is just something not right about a man like Deacon, as macho as they come, submitting to a woman. Not only that but he lets her put a plug in his ass??? No. I just can't. That just ruined it for me. Of course I'll still read the next book, but if by some crazy luck KA reads this review.. PLEASE don't do that again!



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