S C CunninghamCritiques
Auteur de The Penance List
Critiques
Tara is one of my favorites out of the group. She is currently single and has been for the past year. I wouldn’t say she is promiscuous, but she does enjoy sex when in a relationship. Tara seems the more “family” oriented in the group in search of a long lasting relationship. Helen, on the other hand is rich and beautiful, but has a low self esteem. She hates herself and finds fault with the way she looks. She sleeps around with every and any man she finds as that is the only way she feels loved and wanted. Josie, the third member of this girl group, seems sweet and innocent, but she has a side that no one knows about not even her closest friends.
David has a connection to the women and an obsession with Tara. What happens when there is a new man in Tara’s life? Could that obsession turn deadly for Tara and her friends?
THE PENANCE LIST, the first book in the David Trilogy, is one doozy of a read! Like, what did I stumble into? I thought I was going to get an easy psychological thriller, instead I read some brilliantly crafted dark and devious mind bender of a story. Author S.C Cunningham has penned a delicious and often times horrifying story where each character intertwines leading up to an explosive grand finale.
The characters in the story were each written exceptionally well. S.C. Cunningham really took the time to make each character come to life with a backstory so you really get invested in their lives. I have to say there were characters that I loved and ones I hated to love. The story in itself was dark, but there were many laugh out loud moments that gave a much needed break from the evil lurking through its pages. This is a no holds barred story. The sex is plentiful – guy/guy, girl/girl….cheating…you name it it’s probably here. This book makes erotica look tame. I loved every minute of it and can’t wait to start the second book in the series.
If you have not read the first book, you may want to stop now as I will be referencing some details from the first book.
Ok ready? Here goes.
David is safely behind bars where he belongs after kidnapping Tara Warr and holding her captive in his lair. Unfortunately for Tara, her time in captivity really took a toll on her. She could not stop thinking about David and what he had done to her. She still craves him even after a year has gone by. She can’t seem to stop the feelings she has for him and wants to get on with her life, so Tara decides to visit him in prison hoping it will bring her the closure she needs. She wants to take back control of her life and be normal for a change. Only, closure never comes and she finds herself still attracted and wanting David as much as she hates to admit it.
David has plans of his own though and Tara is included in them. He fancies himself in love with Tara even though he wants to kill her. So, he devises his own plan of escaping the prison he finds himself in and finally finishing off what he started.
Will Tara ever be free of David?
Unfinished Business takes everything that I loved from the first book in the trilogy and steps it up a notch. Cunningham surely delivers weaving a blend of darkness and light into her stories. She takes some heavy subject matter such as child sexual abuse and while she could keep the story dark, she inserts lighter moments between Tara and her friends. We learn more about David and his past abuse and we can’t help but feel sorry for him for all that he endured as a young boy. His experiences created the monster that he is today. Although David is a monster, I could still see that in his own sick and twisted way he really does care and love Tara minus the “wanting to kill her part.”
Unfinished Business really breaks through sexual barriers with boy on boy action, girl on girl and straight hetero sexual encounters. It is like a sexual no holds barred awakening with intense scenes and dirty talk that will make even the most open minded person blush and squirm. I freakin loved it!
If you love a good psychological suspense, witty banter, and shockingly honest sexual encounters that out most erotica to shame then you will LOVE Unfinished Business just as much as I did. This is a series that should not be missed. S.C. Cunningham is a skilled writer that gets all up in your face with the shock factor and does it with a style and flare that not many can accomplish.
Yet another last-minute effort to win over the reader.
I also couldn't connect with the main characters anymore. They all seemed so naive and unlikeable. Especially, Tara. I tried to like this 2nd book in the series, but it wasn't for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
More reviews at https://eclecticreview.com.
"He stared down at her, studying her reaction as if a rat in a science lab. With cold, calm, knowing, he gave a gentle nod of his head and smiled. She’d guessed right. Her mind raced, the realization of what he had in mind pumped sobering adrenaline through her body..."
Tara loves her job in advertising and is in a bit of a dry spell in her love life. She is the one who organizes the photo shoots, not the one in the photos, but the very private, and sexy, Italian football star, Franco Rossellini, has other ideas. Her brief, clandestine, and very hot, tutorial teaching Franco how to relax in front of the camera has convinced him that he wants Tara in the photo shoot with him instead of the highly-paid model. Little did they know this would carry dangerous and painful consequences for them both.
David has loved her forever. She was the only one who was kind to him when he needed it most, but when he professed his love in a letter so many years ago, she turned him down and broke his already battered heart. The time has come. She must pay like the rest.
In the first of the David Trilogy, Cunningham's characters are gradually developed by transitioning between past and present. I'm not usually a fan of this type of storytelling, but it worked in this instance. The inner turmoil in the characters (especially the protagonist) is intense and keeps the reader engaged and rushing to read the next chapter. This is a riveting psychological thriller that lures you in slowly and stuns you at the end. Book 2 here I come. Be warned that this book contains graphic and disturbing scenes.
A feel good factor for both adults and children. Good wins over evil. Love can achieve anything. Care for animals.
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SCCunningham | 3 autres critiques | Feb 21, 2013 | 
Auteur LibraryThing
S C Cunningham est un auteur LibraryThing, c'est-à-dire un auteur qui catalogue sa bibliothèque personnelle sur LibraryThing.
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Amy didn't expect to die that day. After waking up in a strange bed, she does the walk of shame and makes her way to the tube station. Next thing you know, she's on the tracks with a train barrelling towards her; did she jump or was she pushed? After a difficult childhood, Amy made a deal that she would get retribution when she died so she finds herself part of The Fallen in the afterlife. I loved the band of characters in The Fallen: Jack the dark brooding fatal attraction, Pyke the kind of supervisor who's timing is impeccable and Maggie who is ex MI6, swears like a trooper and loves her cup of tea. Needless to say, I warmed to Maggie immediately. Now where's me effin' cup of tea?
I loved the fact that even in the afterlife, Amy and Jack have their insecurities. They are clearly made for each other but each is frightened to make the first move, then Jack's wife arrives - cue the Eastenders dramatic theme tune. I'm not going to say anymore about the story as there are twists and turns that left me wide-eyed with surprise.
S.C. Cunningham has taken some popular beliefs and created an outstanding story. There are so many people who believe that finding a white feather means that they have been visited by a loved one or angel, rather than they have just shaken their duvet. I'm not a great believer in this as I feel my dearly departed loved ones all around me and I don't need to see a feather to know that they are there, but fair play to those who do believe. I liked how the white feather was woven into the story when the characters returned to Cloud 9 (love this too!).
I've hovered between a four and a five star rating for The Deal and settled on four stars, although I'm sure there will be many five star reviews forthcoming. The writing is excellent and the story is brilliant but it is difficult to read at times, even though I felt the graphic scenes had been kept to a minimum so as not to overstep my comfort zone. The hint is in the title, that this is book 1 in the Fallen Angel series, but it does lead nicely on to a sequel.
The Deal is completely different from anything I have ever read; it is an outstanding book that covers many issues in an ethereal but definitely punchy way. Step out of your comfort zone and try it - you won't be disappointed.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.