Review: Bound by Stephie Walls (Bound #1)

Note: This ARC was provided by the author via Give Me Books Promotions in exchange for an honest review.

Stephie Walls is a new-to-me author and with her first novel, Bound, in her series by the same, which is a reworked edition of the previously released Bound by Love, she's proven to be quite apt when it comes to the written word. And here lies my dilemma. There's no doubting that Walls can indeed create an intense, emotive, and thought-provoking tale of love, lies, and addiction. However, what stymies my wanting to write a review that exclusively points out all the fabulousness of the writing itself is how I felt about the main characters. Because it isn't really all that easy to separate the quality of writing from how the story and characters make you think or feel. So, I'm torn.

To be fair, the author does make a point of warning the reader that the female main character, Annie Teasman, may not appeal to everyone. In short, she isn't an easy heroine to like, what more love. And it's true. Annie isn't just flawed; she's downright broken, in ways that aren't all that easily fixed with a hug or band-aid. She makes countless thoughtless decisions and goes for the quick high which is often followed by lows that'll have her going back again and again (and again) for that high that never lasts as long as she wishes it would. But I'll give credit where it's due--Annie gets back up every time she falls. She fails and she falls but she can also be feisty--a fighter.

But while Annie was someone I could see the good in, I simply couldn't be bothered to do so with Gray Dearsley. He broke her heart--her spirit--time and again, and while I could fault her for allowing him to do so, he was a complete and utter jackass because I doubt he didn't know that he was using and abusing her heart. The prologue showed just how much of a jerk he was, because seriously?! To do that to not just one but TWO women? Argh! He was older and he should have known better, but nope. Behavior like his give men in general a bad name. The saving grace? The writing and Brett Ryann, but more on him in my review for Freed. I'm giving three stars to Bound. ♥

Release Date: 19 April 2017

Date Read: 19 April 2017

Learn more about Stephie Walls.

Add Bound on Amazon.