Until I’m Yours
The Bennetts, Book #4
By Kennedy Ryan
ISBN: 9781455537518
Author’s Website: http://kennedyryanwrites.com/
Review brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Synopsis:
The world knows her face . . .
Mean girl. Goddess. Bitch. Supermodel Sofie Baston has earned those labels . . . yet they don’t scratch the surface of who she really is. Before she can follow her own dreams, Sophie must do her daughterly duty and reel in a “fish” for her father’s business-a tall, brown-eyed entrepreneur who immediately hooks her. He’s a big guy with an even bigger heart . . . but will that heart be open to Sofie once her darkest secret is revealed?
. . . but only one man knows her heart
To Trevor Bishop, Sofie is a beautiful mystery he would gladly spend his life solving. He figures her tough demeanor is armor against a world that’s hurt her too many times. Then Sofie’s deepest wounds are reopened by the powerful, ruthless man who made them. When she musters the courage to take him down, her world shatters. Now Trevor is determined to help Sofie pick up the pieces so they can build a future together. The challenge will be convincing his ice princess that it’s safe to melt in his arms.
Review:
Until I’m Yours is the fourth book of The Bennetts Series by Kennedy Ryan. Wow…does this book ever pack a punch. It has everything this reader could want. A bit (okay…a LOT) of sexy, a meaty topic well covered, some laughs, and great reading flow. This is a contemporary romance told from an alternating, first person point of view, alternating each chapter between the two central characters,Trevor Bishop and Sofie Baston.
It is essentially lust (or is it love?)at first sight when Trevor catches a glance of Sofie on a billboard promoting the new product BARE as he and his business partner and best friend of fifteen years, Henry and his assistant, Henrietta are driving through Times Square on route to a Bennett charity dinner. As his interest is piqued, Henrietta states that he will get to meet the model in person as she will be at the Bennett charity dinner and at their table. Sofie is attending the event with Rip, her current pretty-boy boyfriend. But alas, she knows her time with Rip has to end, but when to break up with him. Probably after this charity event. As Sofie approaches her table at the charity dinner she notices a tall dark stranger…..Trevor Bishop. She is immediately intrigued.
“Not many men can look down on me, but he could. I’m five eleven barefoot. He must be a good six five, with a broad chest and a tapered waist. The flawless tailored pants pull just a little at the muscled line of his thigh….”
And thus, the main characters are introduced and mutual intrigue and lust abound. We quickly find out though, that Trevor is a man of substance and he truly wants a relationship with Sofie. As well, we quickly learn that Sofie is reticent to embark on a real relationship with any man. I really enjoyed the journey of Trevor breaking down Sofie’s walls and getting to the core of her skittishness with respect to relationships.
I really enjoyed peeling back the complex layers of Sofie along with Trevor. It takes a special kind of man to take the time to see what is in a person’s heart and soul and realize that the journey will take effort – but then embark upon that journey regardless. It is not often that I encounter a contemporary romance with such depth…and that was very refreshing. The banter and slow development of the relationship added to the depth of the story.
Sofie’s low self-esteem / self-doubt is heart wrenching – an example of a dialogue between Sofie and Trevor after a night out:
“I don’t need them to tell me you can do better.”
“I can do what?” He takes a step toward me, Frowning when I take a step back. “What the hell do you mean I can do better? Than what?”
“Than me.”
As Sofie’s past comes to light (rape by her high school prom date turned future senator), Trevor does not let this alter his opinion of Sofie, nor his desire to see right done by her. There are many things in Sofie’s life which definitely made my heart go out to her. She may be a beautiful model, but some serious bad ‘sh**’ certainly has happened to her. Made this reader very empathetic towards her actions to gain control and self-respect. Given Sofie’s family life, she certainly deserves all the warmth and love that Trevor and his family can bestow upon her.
There were also some chuckle worthy moments….Loved the whining and pleading of Rip after the break-up. And did I mention the amorous scenes? VERY well done…very HOT.
The tie in with the other books was well done, though this installment can be read as a stand alone.
In my opinion, this is the best book so far of The Bennett series. Ms. Ryan not only wrote a well-constructed and engaging love story, but also a story about some rather difficult topics…date rape, dysfunctional family dynamics but to name a couple.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
