Ruckus

Sinners of Saint, Book #2

By L.J. Shen

ISBN# 9781546904465

Author’s Website:  authorljshen.com

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Review

“There is something you should know before you judge me. I saw him first. I craved him first. I loved him first.”

While Millie was all tangled up in Vicious, her little sister, Rosie, had her eyes set on Vicious’s ‘friend’, Dean ‘Ruckus’ Cole.  The two could feel the chemistry spark between them from the moment they met.  Both were ready to pursue things, but something got in the way.  That something was Millie.  She decided that Dean could be a nicer substitute to the man she really wanted.  And, Dean wanted to protect Millie from Vicious, but he wasn’t happy it meant giving up on the girl he really loved.  He tried to talk Rosie into trying things with him, but she pushed him into Millie’s arms instead.

“Because you’ve already dipped your sausage in my family gravy, and even though I know it’s a secret recipe everyone wants more of, I’m afraid you’re all out of luck.”

It’s been 11 years.  Millie is engaged to Vicious and living in his mansion along with her and Rosie’s parents in Todos Santos.  Rosie has struck out on her own living in Manhattan in an apartment owned by the company Vicious, Dean, Jaime, and Trent created.  The only way Rosie could afford to live there honestly.  The downside is that Dean also lives in the building.  What’s worse than seeing the man you once loved, but gave up on for the sake of your sister?  Getting stuck in the elevator with him (usually drunk) and his random hook-ups.  It doesn’t stop him from hitting on her though.

“I had to play nice with him.
But the notion that he could possibly give me every STD listed on WebMD did make it easier to turn him down. A lot easier, actually.”

Rosie does good resisting Dean’s advances though.  Well, she does good until she has to fly back to Todos Santos with him for Millie’s wedding.  Being face-to-face with her parents that disapprove of everything about her life sends her racing for an escape … right into Dean’s arms.

“Contrary to general belief, stars don’t twinkle. There is only one star that sparkles that scientists can agree on. It twinkles so bright, sometimes people mistake it for a UFO. It’s not big, but it stands out. That’s Sirius, and it’s also you. You shine, Baby LeBlanc. So fucking bright sometimes you’re the only thing I see.”

Dean and Rosie finally have a real chance to be together.  But will Dean’s personal demons be their undoing?

I love this author so much and always enjoy my time in Todos Santos.  She pulls the emotions right out of me and I LIVE. FOR. IT.

I love the characters, like always, with these books.

Rosie has had a rough lot in life.  She was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was only three years old.  Her life has been a ticking time bomb, always knowing that the end was near and not fully living her life because of it.  She doesn’t want to leave a spouse or kids behind to mourn her when she’s gone.  And, the disease makes it impossible to do the job she wanted, to be a nurse.  To help people.  People are just too germy for her to do that though.

Her parents were so horrible to her in this book.  I’m sure it came from a good place, but they just came out sounding so … mean.

I loved Dean, but I didn’t quite understand him in this book, at times.  If you loved the girl when you were teens, then why settle for her sister?  Because Vicious was mean to Millie?  That doesn’t seem like a good enough excuse.  I also didn’t agree with his approach to trying to get Rosie into his bed.  I guess when you’ve been a ‘manwhore galore’ for so long, you forget how to be anything else.

I did enjoy watching Dean and Rosie’s romance blossom before me.  They were sweet together and he was quite the caretaker.  He was the exact opposite of Vicious.  Unfortunately, Dean ends up making a mistake that had heartbreaking consequences.  The last chapter and the epilogue had all the feels flowing. 

Also, as a side-note, Knight was an absolute hoot.

I enjoyed this book just as much as I knew I would, and I can’t wait for my next visit to Todos Santos to catch up with all my friends.