Review: Bite & Release (Bite & Release #1) by Cory Cyr

Bite & Release (Bite & Release #1) by Cory Cyr

Publication Date: June 2, 2014
Page Count: 272
Published by: Createspace
Source: Purchased

**Due to sexual content, language and violence, this book is only suitable for ages 18 and up**

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Ryan Chase left Fairbanks, Alaska, when she was 21 years old to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. Somewhere along the way her dreams of stardom crashed and burned, along with her life. Thirteen years later she is forced to return to Fairbanks because her unforgiving and emotionally-distant father has suddenly died. Ryan seizes the opportunity to not only escape her abusive husband but to be able to attend her best friend's wedding. What could go wrong? It's only Fairbanks, Alaska... While wishing she was anywhere but her father's funeral and wake, Ryan is struck senseless by a stunning, drop-dead gorgeous man. Her thoughts turn carnal and she desperately wants to know him in every way-and position-possible. There's only one problem... He's the devil's spawn. He's the one who marked her for life. He's the kid she used to baby-sit. And he's hotter than hell! Shea Michaels has loved Ryan Chase for most of his life. After surviving an unspeakable childhood, he became a man of whom she could be proud of...if she ever came back. Now that she's returned, Shea pursues her with a vengeance, undaunted by the thirteen year age difference that Ryan uses as the shield between them. Confusion, guilt and lust bombard Ryan as she battles the memories of the little boy she used to know while still being drawn to the heart-stopping man he has become.

The synopsis sounded promising, but this was just meh. I didn't really care for either Ryan or Shea. I know I was supposed to feel something for them, but heck if they did anything but annoy me. I also didn't feel any connection between them. I was TOLD there was a connection, but I didn't get to experience any of it firsthand. There was also a lot of telling regarding where they were going and what they were doing. There needed to be some action other than the sex scenes.

I also didn't like the over the top immature inner dialogue from Ryan. She goes on and on about how she can't be with Shea because (shocking) she used to babysit him and she's 13 years older than him. The age difference didn't bother me at all. What DID bother me was that Shea declared his love for Ryan when he was 8 and had been carrying a torch for her for 13 years. I never felt that it was real true love. It just seemed like an extended and exaggerated crush.

Besides annoying and overly dramatic dialogue, our protagonists also have potty mouths. A search shows 187 Fu@ks in this story. There had to be more than that. There's at least 1-2 Fu@ks on each page, sometimes 3 or 4 or even more. It's a bit of overkill and really loses it's effectiveness after the 100th or so time.

This story really had so much potential, but in the end it was really a disappointment. I can't believe I spent money on this book!

My rating: 2 stars