I am a slut. No worries. I've come to terms with it, and you will too. I’m not one of those girls who thinks she’s too plain, too fat, too skinny, too shy … no, I don’t have that kind of luck. I’m the girl who knows she’s just right for everyone. — Denver
A reputation as a manwhore–with–a–heart–of–gold tends to precede me. But, I don’t do girls with issues, that is until this girl. It's this girl I want to fix. This girl I want to protect. And maybe … more. — Ransom
Being in love with the same girl your entire life isn't all it's cracked up to be. She uses me in every way imaginable. How does she see me? I am her perpetual one-night stand. No strings, no attachments. Just mind-numbing sex ... for her anyway. — Greer
Feeling like the life is being choked out of her in the small town of Anaconda, Montana, Denver Dempsey craves the escape that college offers … even if that means leaving her “best friend with benefits” and looking for a new way to forget. Thinking she's found the perfect hookup in Ransom, Denver's outlook on college is bright. That is, until Greer shows up looking for a second chance, and Ransom's interest turns to hatred.
Love. Hate. Triangle.
Who's using who?
Unlovable. And if you're unlovable, you're
incapable of love too. - Denver
Once I started reading this book, I had a very hard time
putting it down. It is told in the POV of Denver and Ransom, but there is a
third character, Greer, that is a very big part of the story. Through much of
the book I am so rooting for Greer and wishing Ransom would get out of the
picture. Then around 75% everything changed.
Denver is so very broken but also very strong at the same
time. Her mother is a golddigger who cares more about her current husband (she
is on her 7th) then she cares about her own daughter and she has a reputation
for being a whore. Denver's father left after her mother destroyed him and now
he doesn't want much to do with her because he says that they are just alike
and he sees her as a reminder of the women that ruined him.
... real love is a learned behavior, and
I've never had anyone teach me. My mother's version of love is that it's a tool
wielded to get you what you want, and once that's acquired, you set your sights
on the next objective, and repeat. If that's not enough, my dad taught me that
when you let love in, it destroys you and spoils everything good about you. -
Denver
Greer, lives next door and is Denver's saving grace and
best friend. They spend as much time together as possible. When they are 16 a
mutual attraction starts and they begin to kindle a romance. He has always
loved Denver and wants to make her his wife one day and wants their first time
to be on their wedding night.
Do you have any idea how many times I've
dreamt of taking you? But every single time I do, you're surrounded by clouds
of white lace and rose petals. We're laughing, and we're happy. I've always
wanted to make you mine, but not until the day you become my wife. - Greer
But then everything changes, and Denver's life turns
upside down.
A few weeks before our magical summer would
come to an end, my world shattered. And I used the broken shards from the wreckage
to carve up my life until it was virtually unrecognizable. - Denver
When they go off to college, Denver finds herself
undeniably attracted to Ransom. Although she keeps telling herself that she
should be with Greer, even though they are just "friends", she loves
Greer but she is not in love with him. Too much has happened.
Denver is so full of self-hate that she can't see
anything else. She calls herself a slut even though she has only ever been with
Greer. When people talk about her and calls her a slut based on untrue rumors,
she doesn't try to defend herself, she just says, 'yup, I am a slut and I like
it'.
Although Ransom has a reputation for being a man-whore,
he does not like sluts, and it infuriates him that he wants her so bad, but he
stays away because he has 'rules' about women. But when he finds Denver crying
and broken under a stairway, he can't keep himself from helping her.
I tell myself I'm standing over her and
looking down on her to make sure she's sleeping peacefully, but I call bullshit
on myself. I don't make it a habit of lying to myself, ever. I'm staring at her
because she is beautiful and hurting and... just so damn loveable. I tried to
fight that after I learned all that shit about her, but it was too fucking
late. And it didn't change a damn thing for me. Lord knows I'd tried. If
anything, my feelings have intensified, knowing that she's a hell of a lot
stronger than I'd ever imagined. - Ransom
The ending - wow I did not see that coming! All I can say
is book 2 should be VERY interesting! It isn't a HEA, but it isn't really a
cliffhanger either. The book ends but the story is in no way over.
5 Stars!!
Self-hatred seeks match
so that she can, once and for all,
burn herself to the ground.
Used was a love triangle of sorts, Both men want what they can't have which is of course Denver. Greer has put in major time trying to make Denver his because they have known each other ever since they were kids. They have a friends with benefits relationship when they become teenagers that carries on for quite sometime and Greer finds himself falling in love with Denver but she can never return the love he deserves because of her mother, she believes she will always be destined to be like her mom and she will stop at nothing to make sure it doesn't happen. But has it already happened because rumors that have spread like wildfire in highschool about her means they must be true. So she decides her life will change when she goes away to college because Greer will not be there and she can start out fresh and not worry about these so called rumors. Or does this follow her into the college life? What happens when Greer shows up and begs her to give him a real chance and make more of there relationship? Can she finally be happy with Greer? Or does a certain new man named Ransom spark a fire in her? Can Ransom look past these rumors or does his rules about woman keep him from giving into he desire for Denver?
There are so many twists and turns in this book and you will not be able to put it down. Yes something huge happens and the book will turn a crazy ass corner and damn I never saw it coming but at the same time it brought Ransom and Greer closer together.. So yes suffice it to say I am totally team RANSOM! (I have been from the day college started and she first met him, Greer was always to nice lol and I love my bad boys!)
I would give it a 4 stars! This story is told in Denver and Ransoms POV's and it will jump from past to present. It does end in a somewhat cliffy just FYI that's the only reason it got a 4 star and not 5. I can not wait for Freed to come out so I can see how this mad crazy love triangle finally works its way out.... so I will sit and wait and day dream about Ransom the broody take control cowboy for weeks! Thanks for a great read!
Here is some excerpts from each main character in no particular order:
Denver- "Yeah, and what that means to me is that you're gorgeous here." I pause and run my fingertips over his blond curls. "And here," I say, running them around his eyes. "And here," I breathe as I run them over his chest and down his stomach. Keeping my eyes glued to his, I lean in and whisper, "But most importantly," I place a light kiss over his heart, "here. What's in here makes you so beautiful." Looking up at him through my lashes, I watch his eyes close tight as if he's in pain.
The sane, rational part of me screams, Yes! Yes, I want to be yours, and I want you to be mine. But the damaged place that's in control says, No. No way. You'll destroy him just like your mother did your father. And here's your chance to end this. Out of sight, out of mind. He'll meet someone amazing and move on.
Greer- "Do you remember me telling you once that you're the only one I see? If I let you go, I'll go blind. I'll see nothing, want nothing, be nothing."
Denver and Greer- "C'mon, Greer. I need you," I beg in between the kisses I rain on his back. Jerking out of my hold he spins around and narrows his eyes at me. "Look," he demands, pointing his finger at me. "I know you're using me. I accepted that a long time ago. But not like this. I'm not fucking you like this."
"Like what?" I ask, playing dumb.
"While I feel this way...while I feel this...used."
Ransom- I surprise myself by rolling with laughter, and it hurts like hell, but I don't care. I haven't really laughed in forever. I swear I can feel her temperature rising by degrees behind me, which makes me cackle like a mad fool. I don't really know what I'm doing here. The one thing I do know is that I want her to pay for the way she made me feel before she outed herself to me and ruined everything. I know it's childish. She was never mine. No promises were ever made. But that didn't stop me from convincing myself of the promise of her before it was snatched away. I felt deceived. Then lonely. Lonely led to pissed. And now here we are--- me being a childish asshole, and her surely about to take my head off. And hell if my dick didn't stir again with that thought.
Denver And Ransom- "Why'd you kiss me that night?" Facing her I turn that back around on her. "You kissed me first," I grin. Her face heats. and she grins back at me. "I did, but your kiss was....more. Why?"
There's so much to my reasoning, but only one thought sums all that up. "Because I couldn't not kiss you." I admit.
Since the dawn of time, Lynetta Halat has lived to read and has written innumerable stories and plays. A lover of good books, bad boys, and kickass tunes, she'd always dreamt of penning books that people could connect with and remember. She also has a secret penchant for wringing the emotions out of unsuspecting readers, and she collects reader's tears in much the same way that wine connoisseurs collect their favorite vintage.
Her first novel, Every Rose, was the perfect catalyst to launch her into the world of publishing, effectively burrowing her way into the hearts and minds of readers throughout the world. Everything I've Never Had was her follow-up adult romance novel. Now, she has penned Used, a New Adult Romance that she hopes sinks its teeth into you and doesn't let go.
Her love of the English language prompted her to pursue a Master's degree in English from Old Dominion University in Virginia, where she also minored in snark and interpretive dance. She lives somewhere along the Mississippi Gulf Coast with her adorable husband, two amazing sons, and two loveable dogs. When she's not writing riveting stories, she likes to focus on her macramé art and her scouring of eBay, where she buys locks of hair from her favorite rock stars, most especially Bret Michaels and Dave Grohl.
