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Thursday 9 July 2015

Toxic by Kim Karr - ARC Review

 
 
 
 

Blurb:

 

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not...

New York Times bestselling author Kim Karr turns up the heat in a smoking hot, emotionally compelling new novel that takes you into the world of Manhattan’s elite.

In Toxic, Jeremy McQueen, a sexy, intense, sometimes brooding entrepreneur goes after what he wants—the woman he left behind years ago. Phoebe St. Claire, a put together, in control socialite-turned-CEO has been drifting through life searching for something she thought she'd never find again—the right man to share her future.

Our passion was boundless. Our lust untamed. And our desire endless. He was the only man who ever made me feel alive. Then, I betrayed him.

When he reappeared, I didn’t question it. Trust rarely survives the wrecking ball, so when he let me in back in—I didn’t hesitate.

Maybe I should have.

What began as a bid to save my family business, turned into a second chance at love. It felt so romantic. Working together, side by side, with the man I loved. My dream come true.

Nothing is as good as it seems.

We had our issues, but then again, every couple does. It wasn’t jealousy, or our too-hot sex life that I should have been worried about.

It was his darkside.

I never saw the end coming, until it slammed me in the face. The question is—did he?

Was revenge his plan all along?

****

Sometimes you have to wonder if your life is too good to be true.
Is it real or just an illusion?
Does the man lying beside you really love you like he says he does?
If the answer is yes, you’re meant to live happily ever after.
If the answer is no, you’re living my life, and nothing will ever be the same.

What you do about it—that’s up to you.

Me, I’m in too deep and there’s no getting out.

I’ll take whatever I can get for as long as I can because I know when it’s over…

I’ll never find another man like him.

Ever!
 
 

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: July 2015.
 




This was my first book by Kim Karr in quite a while, knowing that Toxic was a standalone had me intrigued, the premise of Toxic was interesting, I adore second chance romances but this one seemed like it had a twist. While I was eager to start I'll be honest in saying the first 25% I was still undecided, I didn't particularly feel a deep connection to Phoebe St Claire, nor to Jeremy McQueen, I wanted to, almost desperately at time, but the story didn't grab me the way I had hoped, the memories of the "summer fling" between the boy from the wrong side of the tracks and the girl with the world at her feet has been done before for certain, but the more I read, the more it became clear that this wasn't your typical rich girl/poor guy scenario, so much more.

Years have passed and both Jeremy and Phoebe had reasons for running away, past hurts that left a lasting mark on their hearts, Phoebe moved on and in her darkness found someone who helped remind her of the light, and Jeremy turned his anger at the world into millions of dollars and a healthy port folio. While Phoebe may have moved in with her fiancé Dawson, her professional life was stagnant, with most of her adult life being spent trying to salvage her family's ailing business after her father's very public and scandalous demise.

I must say what initially caught my attention, was Phoebe's friends, a rag tag bunch of socialites and media darlings, growing up a member of this brat pack afforded them luxuries beyond most peoples wildest dreams, wealth, social standing, power, it's all they've ever known. But that's the thing about this lifestyle, no one seems quite as happy as what would be expected, they may be the have's in society and yet they seem to be struggling to find meaning and love the same as people across the socio economic spectrum.

There's an element of suspense in Toxic, Phoebe is most certainly racing against time in regards to her families ailing business, funds are strapped and financially what little they have doesn't seem to be adding up. When Jeremy and Phoebe finally do address the past, it seems like life is just waiting to throw up more road blocks.

What I initially felt was slow moving, gathered speed, without realising I was suddenly desperate to know more, I wanted them to confront the ghosts of their relationship past, address all the secrets and lies that had plagued them, I wanted here friends to find their peace in the world. If I sound like I'm being deliberately vague it's because I am, Toxic had a slow build for me, it's ability to draw me in was so subtle that I didn't even realise until I couldn't out it down, because I needed to know EVERYTHING! I'm excited to see if there's more for these characters, to see if secondary characters will get their story because I'm desperate to know what else is out there for them, Karr's writing intrigued me, and the world she created is definitely still fresh in my mind days after I turned the last page.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Purchase Links:

Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/n9t556h

Amazon Paperback: http://tinyurl.com/q6saca2

Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/pcztymj




 
 
 

About the Author:




Please feel free to check out my author page on facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKimKarr

You may also contact me at AuthorKimKarr@gmail.com

I live in Florida with my husband and four kids. I've always had a love for reading books and writing. Being an English major in college, I wanted to teach at the college level but that was not to be. I went on to receive an MBA and became a project manager until quitting to raise my family. I currently work part-time with my husband and full-time embracing one of my biggest passions—writing.

I wear a lot of hats! Writer, book-lover, wife, soccer-mom, taxi driver, and the all around go-to person of the family. However, I always find time to read. One of my favorite family outings use to be taking my kids to the bookstore or the library. Today, my oldest child is in college and my twins are juniors so they no longer go with me on these outings. And although I don't need to go to the actual store anymore because I have the greatest device ever invented—a Kindle, I still do. There's nothing like a paperback. So now my four year old and I make dates out of going to the bookstore--it's time I love and cherish.

I like to believe in soulmates, kindred spirits, true friends, and Happily-Ever-Afters. I love to drink champagne, listen to music, and hopes to always stay young at heart. <3


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