Tabs’ review of Beyond Ecstasy (Beyond, Book 8) by Kit Rocha
Dystopian Erotic Romance published by Kit Rocha 23 May 16
Uh oh, the penultimate Beyond book is here. Can possessive alpha-man Hawk and independent-woman Jeni make things work with war looming on the horizon? Can Hawk’s family survive losing their farm if the city comes for them? Can everyone we care about make it out in one piece?
This is another entry where the leads have been making sex eyes at each other for a while, and it’s about time they got their acts together. Hawk has desired Jeni pretty much since he first saw her, but she was involved with the O’Kane leaders at the time and way out of his league. Jeni has been trying to get together with Hawk for ages, but he’s weirdly standoffish and she doesn’t know how to combat that. Hawk’s damage is that he’s super possessive and doesn’t want to start something with Jeni that’ll be casual the way most O’Kane relationships are.
One of the main themes of this novel is how do you start a relationship when you’re about to go to war. There’s a definite sense of urgency to the matters at hand. Jeni is cautious and doesn’t want to make plans for the future because there’s a very real possibility that there will be no future. Hawk is pushy and rushes things. The looming war is pretty much causing him to hardcore panic and he wants their relationship to go full bore with no hesitation. While there are definitely smaller conflicts in their relationship, this is by far the biggest obstacle to their happy ending.
There’s also some really nice world building in this where we get to explore the farms that provide for both the city of Eden and the sectors outside the walls. The farms are basically horrible polygamist compounds. Hawk’s family farm is controlled by his mother. He was kicked out as a young man, as young men in polygamist compounds often are, and returned later to save his family from his tyrannical father. He has a lot of guilt about the circumstances involving his exile and not being strong enough for his mother and stepmothers and sisters, and it’s something he struggles with.
Hawk definitely dominates this book with his drama and his issues. It’s a bit of a shame because Jeni’s a really great character and she’s often relegated to the sidelines. The relationship worked for me, but it’s definitely a little one-sided and done pretty hastily (because, you know, war is coming). On the other hand, you know a penultimate book in a series has done it’s damn job when you finish the last scene and think “Hells yes, bring it on.” The Beyond Series is sliding its way into home base and it’s going out with a bang. I could not be more excited to be on the ride.
Grade: B
Summary:
The O’Kanes have a reputation for working hard and playing harder—except for Hawk. He joined the gang with one goal: to ensure his family’s survival through the impending war with Eden. It’s been years since he had the luxury of wanting anything for himself. Now, he wants Jeni. From the first moment he saw her, he’s been obsessed with making her his. Not for a night—forever.
Jeni’s been lusting after the former smuggler for months, but he keeps shutting her down. She’s almost given up on getting him in her bed when he offers her the last thing she ever expected—a collar. Accepting it means belonging to him, body and soul. It’s a reckless gamble, but Jeni can’t resist the chance to slip under Hawk’s armor.
The only thing more shocking than the dark, dangerous pleasure they discover is how right it feels. But falling in love is even more reckless when forever is far from guaranteed. Because they aren’t just at war, they’re out of time—and every breath could be their last.
Other books in this series:
