Smut Fanatics: Laura’s Review of Split by J.B. Salsbury

Synopsis

JB Salsbury is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has captivated readers around the world. Her unforgettable new novel is a story of romance and suspense, with a twist no one will see coming . . .

What do you do when you wake up with no memory of what you did last night?

Lucas spent the first half of his life protecting himself from others, but now his own mind is his biggest enemy. He doesn't know what happens when the blackouts overtake him, but he can recall the feelings--the rage, the confusion, the fear. Thankfully the quiet life he's found in Payson, Arizona has kept the darkness at bay. Until his boss's estranged daughter shows up in town, asking questions she shouldn't and sparking a desire Lucas can't control. Getting close to Shyann is the best thing that's ever happened to him, but when his blackouts return, unleashing the truth he's battled so long to hide, he may just lose her forever . . .

What I Loved

This book was so enchanting, there are not enough words in the English language to explain how much I loved this story. The prologue left me breathless and instantly wanting more and that feeling didn’t leave me until the very end. I loved everything about this story and then some!

We first meet Shyann as she loses her job as an on-air TV reporter and comes to the harsh realization she has no choice but to return home. A place she swore she would not step foot in again. As the story unfolds you discover the many layers and complexity that make up Shyann and even though I liked her from the start I absolutely loved her by the end. There were so many facets to her life and as you learn about her reasons as to why she left Payson, Arizona, it just grabs your heart. I was emotionally invested in her story early on and she was someone who was easy to relate to even if I’ve never experienced the pain she went through. Also, I loved her fearlessness when it came to dealing with Gage, she stood up to him when so many people would’ve ran away.

There are simply no words to express my feelings for Lucas, right from the beginning he intrigued me in a way that I wanted to rescue him. Almost like a lost puppy, where you want to take him in and comfort him and make him fall in love with you the way you have with him. Lucas was easy to like to from the very beginning and by the end I was head over heels in love with him. Gage on the other hand, had intrigued me but scared me as well. Like you want to unravel the mystery that is Gage but don’t want to get too close because you know he bites back and might leave scars. I loved that he was someone you warm up to gradually and by the end I couldn’t get enough of him. I loved the dichotomy of Lucas and Gage and how opposite they could be but at the same time share the same emotions.

Not So Much

I literally have NOTHING to put this section. The details were right on point, as far as background description and character development. The foundation was beautifully laid out and well organized.

To Sum It All Up!

The entire story was amazing, I loved every single second of it and by the time it was done I suffering from severe book hangover. The intrigue that Lucas’ backstory created kept me addicted, I loved how it was all laid out because it showed a lot of thought was put into the plot and in each character. Also, I felt like not only did we get to know Shyann, Lucas and Gage we got to know a lot of the secondary characters as well like Shyann’s father or her friend Samantha. I love when books can not only development the main characters but the secondary ones as well because for me it adds to the complexity of the plot and the main characters themselves.

I loved how I immediately liked Lucas even though he was shy and standoffish but Gage was someone who I feared at first but eventually came to love. It’s so impressive that with one person & two personalities can convey such different emotions in one reader. Gage and Lucas were both written so well I was completely enthralled by their story, because it broke my heart repeatedly as the story continued. I loved the dark parts this story went to because it stirred so much emotion in me. The attraction between Lucas and Shyann was instant and I loved the patience and eventual acceptance she showed him even during the darkest times. Of course I couldn’t wait for them to get down to get the good stuff as well and I was very happily rewarded when that all finally happens.

I have always been a J.B. Salsbury fan so I couldn’t wait to start reading this book and I was pleasantly surprised to see that this was a total break from the Fighting Series. It’s refreshing when an author you love writes an entirely different type of story because it shows so much creativity. I was sucked in from the very beginning of Split and when it all ended I was sad it was over because I instantly wanted more. Which of course I got with A Perfectly Split Christmas: A Split Short Story (I still want more).

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