Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Whore by Willow Aster

WhoreWhere to begin? I had a lot of feelings after this book but the one emotion I can distinctly remember was heartbreak. I wasn't sure where the story was going to go in the beginning but it quickly became clear that something was going to happen to Lili. Whether it was good or bad, I wasn't sure. I was essentially waiting for that shoe to drop. And when it did? That's when Willow Aster's Whore had me invested. From its spectacular main characters to revealing some truly heartbreaking and even jaw-dropping moments, this book will have readers on the edge of their seats and waiting to see what will happen next. If you're a fan of Aleatha Romig's Consequences and Pepper Winters' Dollars series, I highly recommend this book!

As for the story and its characters, Whore had a mix of mystery and romantic suspense to it. It doesn't read like a traditional romance novel. The way Aster tells Lilith Fontenot's story is very unique. While we do get two different perspectives, Lili and Soti's, this book is essentially about Lili's journey as well as her growth and transformation through her experiences and connections with two very different men: Nico Santelli and Soti Christos. All I can say is that readers will not be torn over who should be the one to end up with her.

In the end, I thought this was a fantastic book and some of the characters, especially the evil ones, got what they deserved. I thoroughly enjoyed Whore and even though I was sad Lili only got to experience a little bit of happiness for a short amount of time, the end result was truly satisfying. You will cry tears of happiness and even sadness. I do have to say that Soti was definitely my favorite character. He might be one of the sweetest heroes I have ever read and his love for Lili since the very beginning made the book for me.

* This book was provided by Willow Aster and her team for an honest review.

Rating: ★★★★☆

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“I need a reason to exist.”
Beautiful, intelligent, independent, strong-willed, wealthy—Lilith Fontenot seems by all appearances, to have it all. But that’s not how the highest paid prostitute in New Orleans sees herself.
A stain on society. A scourge. A waste. Outsider. Prisoner…
Any idyllic dream of the normal life she may have once imagined, Lilith buried long ago. Her only plan now is survival.
But mob boss Nico Santelli and community center owner Soti Christos have not given up on Lilith. Each has his own very specific, very opposing, plans for her, and neither will rest until it becomes a reality.
WHORE is a singularly bracing take on an ancient tale of tireless love, betrayal, and the possibility of redemption.

 
I take a sudden deep breath and my breasts brush against his chest. The contact surprises us both. I do it again, intentionally this time, trying to gain control in the only way I know how. His neck flushes and he takes a step back. I enjoy the rush it gives me, knowing that I affect him too.

“Hey, would you like to come around the corner with me to—”

I swallow my surprise and shake my head, holding my hand up before he says anything else.

“Please,” he says louder.

“What’s your name?”

“I am Sotirios … Soti.”

“Soti, what makes you think you know anything about me?”

He tries to make eye contact, but I focus on a spot just past his left ear.

 “I just want to help you…” His words trail off.

The wind blows my hair forward, a sheet of black coming between us until I smooth the long strands down on either side. I gaze down the street and see a blurry little girl with black hair down to her waist in middle school, standing shy and hopeful in front of a group of girls.

“We know what you are,” they said. They hurled spit and names on her and she stood there, taking it, until the teacher came and helped her.
Help only got me so far.

“You listen to me, okay?” I say so softly he leans in to hear me. “I was born for this.”

When my eyes finally land on his again, I know his face will haunt me forever. He looks as bleak as I feel.

I clear my throat. “Now, if you’ll excuse us.”

With that, I loop my hand through the arm of my next income source, calculating how I can get the most money out of him for the least amount of time. It takes every ounce of willpower I own to not look Soti’s way one more time. Once we round the corner and I know he’s out of sight, all the adrenaline leaves my body, and I’m actually glad to have someone to hold onto.

I avoid my reflection as we walk back to the house. I don’t want to know what the rest of the world sees when they look at me.

Willow Aster is the author of True Love Story, In the Fields, Maybe Maby, Fade to Red, and the upcoming release, Whore. Willow loves nothing more than writing the day away—anywhere will do. Her husband and two children graciously put up with her endless daydreaming and make fun of her for reading while cooking.