Giving it Up is a novel which touches on many genres; erotica, romance, crime, thriller, and probably others I haven't thought of. It deals with dark, very real issues and is a damn good read.
The main character, Allie, is seriously damaged--even by her own admission. She prowls clubs looking for men who will use her hard and then ditch her. An incident with her best male friend two years ago has seriously warped her attitude to sex, and this is her way of trying to deal with it. Unfortunately, she can't just forget about it and move on, because she has a daughter--the only good thing to come from that terrible night.
One night in the club, she meets Colin. He certainly looks the part, but she quickly realises that although he looks like a tough guy, he isn't the sort to treat her the way she needs him to. Somehow, though, the two of them forge a connection. Despite Allie's issues, and the fact that Colin also has a shady past, they find ways to make each other happy. And when Allie's past suddenly catches up with her--she relies on and trusts Colin more than she thought she could ever do with a man again.
Just as Allie thinks there's a chance she can be happy, Colin's past catches up to him, and suddenly Allie must be the strong one in the relationship. Can they pull through all their issues and make it work, or are the two of them just too damaged to function as a couple?
Overall, I thought this was a seriously good read. As I said before, it deals with very dark issues, but it's done in a sensitive, realistic way. The book is well-written, keeps you guessing, has you on the edge of your seat, and throws in plenty of surprises. I found it really engaging, and was rooting for Allie and Colin throughout. So if you're looking for an action-packed read and don't mind darker elements mixed in amongst your sex and romance, then you should definitely check out Giving it Up.
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