bookwormbetty's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book, the emotions, the lust, envy, rage, fight, love, freedom, and so many more emotions. This books is focused less on the fact that the hero, is less than hero material when you think of romance. He is full of flaws, deceit, and lust. He is self assured,has swagger for days, but when he does something he does it 100%. Bane is an enigma, he projects one thing to the world, when it couldn't be further from the truth.
Jesse, lord have mercy, life handed her a crap hand, that is for sure. She is strong, a fighter, willing to live life to the fullest, and willing to trust in Bane,when she knows she probably shouldn't. She is full of cracks, and flaws, and meshes perfectly with Bane. Never have a seen a more beautifully written book. The pacing was perfect, it was slow burn city, but when it took off it set the world on fire. Shen knows how to write the perfect book. Plain and simple. This story is told in dual pov.
Jesse, lord have mercy, life handed her a crap hand, that is for sure. She is strong, a fighter, willing to live life to the fullest, and willing to trust in Bane,when she knows she probably shouldn't. She is full of cracks, and flaws, and meshes perfectly with Bane. Never have a seen a more beautifully written book. The pacing was perfect, it was slow burn city, but when it took off it set the world on fire. Shen knows how to write the perfect book. Plain and simple. This story is told in dual pov.
book_nerd17's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
ljwatt's review against another edition
5.0
There is a lot to unpack with this one.
Reread & the audible narrators are great.
After the rest of the series I first read Bane expecting some surface level california surfer stoner romance, probably some uncomfortably rich guys kicking about. I did not expect the emotional rollercoaster and character development that we got (it's a dark one, check TWs). Jessie and Bane are BY FAR my favourite LJ characters, I will continue to reread them every so often just
Reread & the audible narrators are great.
After the rest of the series I first read Bane expecting some surface level california surfer stoner romance, probably some uncomfortably rich guys kicking about. I did not expect the emotional rollercoaster and character development that we got (it's a dark one, check TWs). Jessie and Bane are BY FAR my favourite LJ characters, I will continue to reread them every so often just
kfriend's review against another edition
5.0
I was not expecting to love this as much as I did. Bane isn't one of our hotholes, and I was surprised we got a story about him given that no other secondary characters got one, but wow, I'm so glad we did.
Jesse and Bane's story touched me deep in my soul- two characters who have their own trauma and histories that have causes them to harden themselves and retreat from others, yet they are brought together in a gripping tale. Together, they are able to reclaim themselves, rediscover themselves, and thrive. They complete and need each other in such a captivating way- you can FEEL their connection coming off the book. Honestly, I love EVERY hothole pairing, but this one takes the cake for me. The tenderness, the care, the intimacy and chemistry is all that we expect from LJ, but the way that Bane and Jesse fit is like two complex pieces of a giant puzzle.
Like most LJ stories, we have scarred characters who are combating their issues in less than healthy ways. Jesse is hiding from the world, broken and alone. Bane is giving the word his literal and proverbial middle finger, hustling through it jaded and bitter. Bane is contracted to befriend Jesse and give her a job by her stepfather, his attempt to push her to re-enter the world. Along the way, his friendship heals her and gives her the courage to not only reclaim herself but to unpack her trauma further- which unravels all new mysteries and pain.
This can be read as a standalone, but the Sinners of Saint books are all worth a read. We meet Bane in Trent's book (book 4), and while from that Bane I had little interest in knowing more, I'm so glad LJ brought us him.
One click this!
Jesse and Bane's story touched me deep in my soul- two characters who have their own trauma and histories that have causes them to harden themselves and retreat from others, yet they are brought together in a gripping tale. Together, they are able to reclaim themselves, rediscover themselves, and thrive. They complete and need each other in such a captivating way- you can FEEL their connection coming off the book. Honestly, I love EVERY hothole pairing, but this one takes the cake for me. The tenderness, the care, the intimacy and chemistry is all that we expect from LJ, but the way that Bane and Jesse fit is like two complex pieces of a giant puzzle.
Like most LJ stories, we have scarred characters who are combating their issues in less than healthy ways. Jesse is hiding from the world, broken and alone. Bane is giving the word his literal and proverbial middle finger, hustling through it jaded and bitter. Bane is contracted to befriend Jesse and give her a job by her stepfather, his attempt to push her to re-enter the world. Along the way, his friendship heals her and gives her the courage to not only reclaim herself but to unpack her trauma further- which unravels all new mysteries and pain.
This can be read as a standalone, but the Sinners of Saint books are all worth a read. We meet Bane in Trent's book (book 4), and while from that Bane I had little interest in knowing more, I'm so glad LJ brought us him.
One click this!
leighpenny's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
notawiitch's review against another edition
4.0
Sinners of Saint is honestly one of my favorite romance series. L.J. Shen is a true artist.
I thought there were bad boys in this series, but Bane is truly a bad boy. I feel like in the romance world, even in contemporary romance, there is a lack of authentic bad boys. So many authors try to create what L.J. Shen does. Either the vernacular isn't right, the tone is off, or it just doesn't read as authentic. This isn't to say I haven't encountered my fair share of steamy hot bad boys; I have. But there is a particular brand of man that we see throughout the Sinners of Saint series - especially in Bane - that is one hundred percent unique.
I feel like going into too much of the story will spoil it, and Bane and Jesse are such a tornado that it needs to be experienced first hand. With that I will say Jesse has such a wonderful story and at first I had no idea how she and Bane even remotely fit together... but you get to fall in love with them falling in love while it happens in front of you. These two are perfect for one another.
I thought there were bad boys in this series, but Bane is truly a bad boy. I feel like in the romance world, even in contemporary romance, there is a lack of authentic bad boys. So many authors try to create what L.J. Shen does. Either the vernacular isn't right, the tone is off, or it just doesn't read as authentic. This isn't to say I haven't encountered my fair share of steamy hot bad boys; I have. But there is a particular brand of man that we see throughout the Sinners of Saint series - especially in Bane - that is one hundred percent unique.
I feel like going into too much of the story will spoil it, and Bane and Jesse are such a tornado that it needs to be experienced first hand. With that I will say Jesse has such a wonderful story and at first I had no idea how she and Bane even remotely fit together... but you get to fall in love with them falling in love while it happens in front of you. These two are perfect for one another.
kidisitor's review against another edition
5.0
Big bad boy meets meek and hermit-like girl. He's known for this bad reputation. Using sex to get what he wants. After a high school incident, she becomes a hermit and barely leaves her room. He is hired to give her a job and help her become social again. But things backfired, and he ends up being one more person to hurt her. While pretty much everyone in her life has tried to destroy her, she remains strong, a survivor... and part of that is because of him.
There are a lot of strong emotions. Triggers for some. You feel so much for these characters. Her, because of everything she's been through. Him, because for as much as he's labeled the bad boy, he is anything but when it comes to the people he cares about. He is far from perfect, but he is the perfect person to help save the girl. (I especially enjoyed his inner dialogue, as his feelings for her grow.) Of course there are a few (quite a few) evil characters you'll want to strangle with your bare hands, there are also a few good ones too. There is a mystery of sorts, as the girl remembers things from her past... that are hinted at throughout.
It's well written, and hard to put down. Has the angst, the happy, the sad, the plain old furious. It is part of the Sinners of Saints series, but can be read as a complete stand alone. The Hero of this book, Bane, only played a small role in Scandalous, and wasn't even a thought in the rest of the series, and only a couple of the previous characters were mentioned in this book.
Due to the nature of the book, I would recommend this for mature readers.
There are a lot of strong emotions. Triggers for some. You feel so much for these characters. Her, because of everything she's been through. Him, because for as much as he's labeled the bad boy, he is anything but when it comes to the people he cares about. He is far from perfect, but he is the perfect person to help save the girl. (I especially enjoyed his inner dialogue, as his feelings for her grow.) Of course there are a few (quite a few) evil characters you'll want to strangle with your bare hands, there are also a few good ones too. There is a mystery of sorts, as the girl remembers things from her past... that are hinted at throughout.
It's well written, and hard to put down. Has the angst, the happy, the sad, the plain old furious. It is part of the Sinners of Saints series, but can be read as a complete stand alone. The Hero of this book, Bane, only played a small role in Scandalous, and wasn't even a thought in the rest of the series, and only a couple of the previous characters were mentioned in this book.
Due to the nature of the book, I would recommend this for mature readers.
cherryredsreads's review against another edition
4.0
Such an intense ride of emotions, angst and an unconventional love story that had me breathless.
Bane is one crazy man. There were times I wanted to slap him for not just going with his true feelings, I was glad that Jesse was there to do it.
Even though Jesse’s story is one that will make your heart break in sadness for her, she is one tough cookie!
Yep, be ready to have your heart upped to the max in Angst & then fall into a wild and crazy ride of finding out if Bane can change for the better even if it may not be the kind you think it should be.
Bane is one crazy man. There were times I wanted to slap him for not just going with his true feelings, I was glad that Jesse was there to do it.
Even though Jesse’s story is one that will make your heart break in sadness for her, she is one tough cookie!
Yep, be ready to have your heart upped to the max in Angst & then fall into a wild and crazy ride of finding out if Bane can change for the better even if it may not be the kind you think it should be.