Review: Eyes Wide Open (#3, Blackstone Affair) by Raine Miller - Vilma Iris | Lifestyle Blogger

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Review: Eyes Wide Open (#3, Blackstone Affair) by Raine Miller

My Thoughts

Sexy, romantic, captivating and steamy.
It’s everything I love about the Blackstone Affair books and more. Best book in the series!

5stars

Synopsis

eyes-wide-open-front-cover

The third part in The Blackstone Affair series: A love on the brink of being destroyed. The fight of a lifetime to keep it alive.

Big surprises are on the horizon for Ethan and Brynne as they struggle to adjust to what life has thrown at them. Demons from the past are threatening to destroy the passionate bond they’ve forged despite their vow that nothing will ever keep them apart. A truly devastating loss coupled with the promise of a new hope opens their eyes to what is most important, but is it possible for the lovers to move on from the painful histories that continue to haunt them? A stalker is still lurking in the shadows, plotting evil amidst the distraction of the 2012 Olympic games in London. Brynne and Ethan are on the cusp of losing everything as the stakes rise. Will they yield to circumstances beyond their control or will they give every ounce of fight they have left to save each other and win the ultimate prize of a life together?

Eyes Wide Open is a passion-wrought story that shows us what pure love can achieve when tested and what the heart can accomplish despite danger and adversity. 

My Review

“I could barely wrap my head around being in love with a man who’d stormed his way into my life audaciously and without apology, a mere two months ago.”

What is it about Ethan Blackstone? He is just the perfect alpha male—full of protectiveness, sexiness and romance! He’s the kind of guy, so alluring and beguiling that can talk you into anything.

“My kinky foul-mouthed gentleman lover.”

The book starts off with a bang — quite literally — and in a snap, I’m back into the intense world of Ethan and Brynne. We’re immediately on the heels of what last happened in All In (book 2) with Ethan expressing just how fearful he was of losing her. He’s so incredibly protective of Brynne, loving her with such a rapt intensity that like Brynne, notes, it can often be overwhelming.

“Ethan’s particular brand of attention was intense and a lot to accept at first, but it worked for me. Ethan worked for me.”

Eyes Wide Open is told through alternating Brynne/Ethan POVs and so more clearly understand the motivations and feelings of each person. In particular, we learn more about Ethan and his past, his reluctance and fear to share that ugly side of himself with Brynne. More than in the other books, we really see just how much these two people love each other… how perfect they are together.

“Are you real? He whispered, brushing up my face with the back of his fingers in a cherishing caress. Because I’ll want you forever.”

Despite that they haven’t been together so long, and they’ve hardly taken things slow, they both deeply understand what the other needs. He instinctively knows how Brynne is feeling… with a simple look, he knows exactly what he needs to do. He makes her feel safe and loved, and guides her through those moments where she feels she’s losing control. On the flip side, Brynne knows that Ethan uses intimacy as a way to regain control and escape the painful past that continues to haunt him.

I absolutely loved seeing how loving Ethan is with Brynne. He’s everything us readers love in our alpha males! Sexy, passionate, gorgeous and with an unrelenting and fiery love for his girl.

“Ethan made me feel desirable. He made me feel beautiful and sexy, from the words that came out of his mouth to the touch of his body in mine when he made love to me.”

But there’s a major curve ball in the story that threatens to veer their relationship off track. Feelings of losing control and moving forward too quickly become too much for Brynne. Coupled with the mounting threat of someone after her, she begins to crack. Ethan tries to soothe her, instilling a sense of love, safety and optimism that everything will be alright and that they can surmount anything together.

“I know I’m a bit rough around the edges and I know I’ve trampled my way into your life, but I do love you with all my heart.”

Overall, Eyes Wide Open is a seductive and passionate continuation of Brynne and Ethan’s love as they face unforseen challenges and try to overcome all odds to stay together. The book felt intimate and full of emotion and the ending left me feeling happy and wanting just a little more (cue book 4!). Raine Miller has done an amazing job with these books, making it so easy for many of us to fall in love with these characters. I anxiously await book 4, out December, to see how their story concludes.

“Are you ready?”
“Yes”
“And nothing changes us.”
“Nothing changes that we love each other.”

addseriestogoodreads

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