Cocky Brutal Sinner - Lena Hunt

I have loved every book in the House of Cards series, and every time I think a MMC has claimed the top spot, the next book comes out and somehow raises the bar even higher.

From the very beginning, it is obvious that Beau is completely gone for Brinley. The way he thinks about her, notices the little things, and takes care of her whenever they're together made it impossible not to fall for him. There were several moments throughout the book where my heart absolutely broke for Beau. He carries so much on his shoulders, and more than once I just wanted to reach into the pages and give the man a hug.

Brinley is just as enamored with Beau, but she's caught between wanting more with him and protecting the life she's built for herself. Learning what happened to her as a teenager and what was behind the choices she made was heartbreaking, and it was incredible to see how far those decisions continued to impact her life years later. What I loved most about Brinley was how strong and successful she became. She built something entirely her own, and I loved seeing her confidence and determination shine throughout the story.

The relationship between Beau and Brinley was both beautiful and frustrating in the best way. They both wanted more but were trapped by rules, fears, and circumstances that kept them from saying what they truly felt. You could feel the longing every time they were together. Watching two people desperately want something they believed they couldn't have, while completely missing how much the other wanted it too, made the emotional tension almost unbearable at times.

Of course, Luke played a huge role in why things never progressed the way they should have. Both Beau and Brinley were terrified of losing him, and that fear influenced so many of their choices throughout the book.

And then there's the spice. It starts early and never really lets up. The chemistry between Beau and Brinley was intense from beginning to end, and every scene reinforced just how obsessed they were with each other. This was another fantastic addition to the House of Cards series, and once again I'm left wondering how the next book is possibly going to top this one. I received this as an ARC and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

She snuggles back against me and I think, this is what it could be. Every day.