I'm excited to today to be part of the release day of the final story of The Alpha Group series by Maya Cross: Unlocked because I've loved this series! As part of the launch Maya has generously provided an AWESOME giveaway which includes a Kindle Fire and more! So be sure to scroll down to enter in the rafflecopter below.
Unlocked (The Alpha Group #3) by Maya Cross
Publication Date: August 18th 2013
About the Book:
The breathtaking conclusion to the USA Today best
selling Alpha Group Series.
Who is
Sebastian Lock?
The heart can
lead you to dangerous places. Abandoned by the man she loves, with nothing more
than sweet words and riddles for an explanation, Sophia Pearce felt like her
life was crumbling before her eyes. And then they came for her. Now, things
will never be the same.
Confronted with the truth about Sebastian’s identity, she’s thrust into a high
stakes world beyond anything she could have imagined. A world that threatens
much more than just her feelings. Sebastian’s enemies will stop at nothing to
get what they want, and they want her.
Their passion for one another consumes them, but as the danger mounts,
and loyalties are tested, Sophia must answer one simple question. What is she
willing to risk for love?
This book is approximately 54,000 words long, or about 200 printed
pages. It contains erotic content and a dominant man who always gets what he
wants in the bedroom. It is intended for readers aged 18 and over.
*****This is a
spoiler free review in case you haven’t read the series.*****
My Thoughts:
Unlocked was a thrilling and satisfying conclusion to The
Alpha Group series! Maya Cross wove a riveting tale full of suspense, danger,
around a chemistry filled romance!
Don’t
even get me started on the fiery HOT scenes that should come with a warning:
WARNING:
PANTIES MAY IGNITE UPON READING!!
Unlocked takes us on a wild ride with the mystery behind
Sebastian’s group finally revealed, putting both Sophia and him in grave danger. Betrayals, revelations, and payback are all
part of the final installment making it an addictive read!
In the past two books, Sebastian was a mystery
unfolding. In Locked (book 1) we didn’t
know much about Sebastian, other than how tempting and sinfully delicious he
came off. We get more insight on him in
Lockout (book 2) so I could better understand his need for secrecy and
hesitancy for anything more that a casual relationship. In spite of that, Sebastian couldn’t fight
his growing attachment and powerful feelings for Sophia. In this final story we have his POV as well
as Sophia’s, in alternating chapters, and it was a treat to be in his head. I
was privy to his intense feelings for Sophia, and I fell in love with him a
little more. Plus, as an added bonus we
get to see how his little “games” bring excitement to him just as much as they
do Sophia and bringing her pleasure is such a high for him. Yes, please!
In the past we only had Sophia’s take on things and I didn’t
mind because I immediately connected with her from Locked on. She’s a strong, intelligent, and resourceful
woman. You won’t find her making frustrating decisions that make you want to
throw your kindle out the window (I’m looking at you, Anastasia Steele!). Sophia is far from unaffected, though. She’s
taken by Sebastian, head over heels, and after the last book she was shattered.
Not to worry, though, these two can’t keep their hands off each other! Best of all, Sophia was just plain fun. Even in the face of all the danger Sebastian
and her face, she tries to look for the good, and keep a sense of humor. AND….she’s
always up for some naughty play! ;) Maya
has a talent for writing some very highly charged sexual scenes filled with
build up and payoff.
Unlocked was an exciting, sexy ride (pun may be intended,
lol!) complete with twists and turns and danger around every corner. I’m sad to say goodbye to the characters but
I think this series ended perfectly. I can’t wait to see what wicked delight
Maya Cross has in store for us next!
4 Suns
Excerpt
I hadn’t expected Sophia to sleep at all, not after what she’d been through. Trauma like that can ruin a person. But somehow she’d drifted off. I had no idea where she found the strength to be that tough. She never ceased to amaze me.
For a while I lay there trying to get some rest myself, but the events of the last two days had thrown my whole world into chaos. It was all happening again. The fact that I’d averted the worst didn’t make the situation any better. I was an asshole. I should never have let it get to this point, but I was weak, and it had nearly cost the woman I love her life. How the hell could I sleep knowing that?
To make matters worse, even now I was still incapable of staying away. She was as secure here as anywhere, but the moment she’d left my sight I began to feel agitated. I still hadn’t managed to shed the mindless terror that had seized me when I first heard she’d been taken. The urge to go to her, to simply hold her and never let go, had been almost overpowering.
I’d tried to distract myself. There was certainly no shortage of work to be done — most of my colleagues were holed up together in the board room, planning things until well into the night — but I was useless there. My mind only wanted to focus on one thing, and soon I found myself propped up against the wall outside her room, nursing several fingers of scotch in a heavy crystal tumbler. I didn’t know why, but just being close to her helped. I made myself vow not to enter. It had taken an immense level of control to cut her off the first time, and every moment in her presence stretched my willpower just a little more. I would keep her safe and solve all this, and then when it was all over, I’d let her go again. It was the only way.
But the moment I heard her sobbing through the door, all sense of self-control fled. Before I knew it, I was on my feet, and then in her bed. I expected her to fight, after all, I had to be the last person she wanted to see, but she didn’t. Instead she just burrowed into me without a word. I hated how perfect that felt, the way her body fit like a missing puzzle piece against mine. I still didn’t understand how such simple contact could make me so damn content, but it did.
And now she slept. I couldn’t help but run my eyes over her again. Truth be told, I’d barely been able to stop staring since the moment I entered the room. She looked so fucking beautiful lying there, her face utterly peaceful, her curves perfectly accentuated by the thin cotton sheet. She’d taken the T-shirt I left her, but not the pants, and now in the throws of sleep she’d managed to knock part of the cover free, exposing one delicate hip. It was a tiny thing, the barest hint of pale skin and black cloth, but the sight took my breath away nonetheless. I felt impossibly low ogling her after everything I’d put her through, but I was powerless to do anything else. Her body was like a drug, a burning rush through my system that was impossible to ignore. I knew how that hip would feel if only I’d reach out and touch it. I had every inch of her body charted in my head; so perfectly soft, so perfectly feminine.
Fuck. I had to pull myself together.
Ripping my gaze free, I eased my arm out from under her. I’d done what I came to do. She was resting. There was no reason for me to stay.
She stirred briefly, and I came within a hair’s breadth of pulling her back against me once more, but after a few moments she settled. Taking one last look, I moved quietly out into the corridor and resumed my watch. I’d be there if she needed me, but anything beyond that was too hard. There was no happy ending here, and letting myself think otherwise would only destroy me more.
The Alpha Group Series:
About the Author: Maya Cross is a writer who enjoys making people blush. Growing up with a mother who worked in a book store, she read a lot from a very young age, and soon enough picked up a pen of her own. She’s tried her hands at a whole variety of genres including horror, science fiction, and fantasy, but funnily enough, it was the sexy stuff that stuck. She has now started this pen name as an outlet for her spicier thoughts (they were starting to overflow). She likes her heroes strong but mysterious, her encounters sizzling, and her characters true to life.
She believes in writing familiar narratives told with a twist, so most of her stories will feel comfortable, but hopefully a little unique. Whatever genre she's writing, finding a fascinating concept is the first, and most important step.
The Alpha Group is her first attempt at erotic romance.
When she's not writing, she's playing tennis, trawling her home town of Sydney for new inspiration, and drinking too much coffee.
As part of this post, Maya Cross has generously provided this awesome giveaway: Huge Launch Giveaway (Kindle Fire HD 7” OR equivalent value in Amazon/B&N/iTunes vouchers, three $20 Amazon/B&N/iTunes vouchers) Open Internationally
.jpg)
