Pretty Scars by CD Reiss

Item: Pretty Scars
Rating: 5
Author: Lily

January 22, 2020 Lily Book Review 0 ★★★★★

Pretty Scars by C.D. Reiss
Published by C.D. Reiss on May 30, 2019
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 288
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In Carrie Drazen’s diamond-studded world, beauty is everything: a blessing, a commodity, and a curse. Her beauty got her past the velvet ropes and into high society, but it ripped her away from the man she loved and chained her to an unbearable life.
Then, in a single night, a song played by a mysterious and secretive musician carries her back to a past ripe with possibilities, when love could open any door.
Who is this anonymous performer?How can a man she’s never met tell such a precise story of a boy she loved?
She needs to know. But sometimes masks exist for a reason, and this unveiling could scar them both.

This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.

Wow!

Pretty Scars appeared in my 2019 Top 10, but I didn’t write a review. So, I reread it and I’m excited to say that Carrie’s story left me in a book buzz again! The first time I read it I added it to my Favourite shelf and wrote the obligatory Amazon 20 word review. Then before I knew it, anxious about losing my book buzz I reached for another book instead of writing a review.

“It’s the nineties, but this family?

We live in a fiefdom, and we’re leverage.”

What captured me in this book was the battle of wills between strong characters. The Drazen’s are a formidable family that exudes power and influence. Declan Drazen is the controlling patriarch of the family. He has a non-negotiable take when it comes to family associations and is determined to have Carrie married to a suitable man.

Carrie Drazen is the second eldest daughter of a large family. When she hears Gabriel busking on her way to college, she is drawn to his playing. Their chance meeting sparks a connection that Carrie knows her father will not allow. Driven by her desire to do well at college, she makes it clear to Gabriel she is not interested in him.

Gabriel finds a way to crack her resolve. He is the ultimate gentleman who knows how to keep a woman happy. While he gave her time to grow in their relationship, their passion ignites and their wait is not a boring one! The alternating chapters flow effortlessly portraying their time together during and after college. What I loved throughout this story was the glimmer of hope was always on the horizon.

Calling her beautiful illustrated the inadequacy of language. She was a melody.

Music is represented throughout the story with imagery that blew me away. It was as sensual as it was poignant. Gabriel’s musical talents transcended his challenges and gave him a platform to savor the love he held for Carrie.

Thank goodness for Margie, Carrie’s sister and her strongest advocate. Margie was the light to her father’s darkness with the courage and experience to influence the decisions he made to Carrie’s advantage. I loved when Margie instigated the sibling tradition of Open Pledge, Close Pledge. It provided a sanctuary between the Drazen siblings to share their darkest fears without it being referred to once the pledge was closed.

A fast paced dark romance that will take your heart out, keep it beating through the heightened suspense and gently place it back, filled with passion. Each of the books that feature the Drazens can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend this series and was gob-smacked when I realised I hadn’t added my review for Pretty Scars earlier!

5 Stars