BLOG TOUR REVIEW, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: The Farthest Edge (Honey #2)

Kristen Ashley's new Honey series is killing me in all the best ways. The Farthest Edge is out tomorrow and I loved it even more than book 1. Check out an excerpt from the book and don't forget to enter the giveaway!

The Farthest Edge (Honey #2), by Kristen Ashley
Publish Date: June 6, 2017
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Branch doesn’t exist. Living off the grid, he’s looking for a way to forget his past and the guilt that plagues him. But no woman has ever been able to bring him to the edge he craves. 

After a traumatic experience of her own, Evangeline stepped away from the decadent world of the Honey Club. But when she gets Branch’s offer—to play without boundaries or commitments—it’s too tempting for her to refuse.

As their passion ignites, Evangeline and Branch push each other to their farthest limit, fulfilling their darkest desires while falling harder and deeper than they ever imagined.

We never really met Evangeline in book 1, but we knew all about her. We knew that she was in a long-term relationship and that it went bad in the absolute worst way possible. After that happened, she withdrew completely from her friends, from The Honey and even from her lifestyle as a Domme altogether. Despite her wanting a lasting, permanent relationship with a man, her fear of it too damaging her is too great for her to try again. 

Until she lays eyes on Branch and he challenges her abilities. OH. GAME ON.

She was going to guide him to that edge, the one he wouldn't go near, the one that was farther than he would allow himself to see, and she was going to take them both over.

I get why Evangeline was afraid to come back. She was beaten in a playroom by her male sub who was also her boyfriend of seven months. She's supposed to have control over those situations at all times. She's supposed to know BEFORE they snap. Evangeline is not only devastated by what happened to her, but she's also embarrassed by it. And no matter how many of her friends assure her that she has nothing to be ashamed about, it doesn't change the fact that she doesn't share that sentiment. I can't imagine how disorienting it would feel to start calling into question your very nature. I'm sure she was floundering, with nothing to look forward to. 

Branch is a former military man who hires himself out for some pretty hard jobs. His former life as a member of an elite team means that he can never be HIM anymore. He had to become someone else. He became Branch Dillinger. But, some parts of him will never change, even if his name does. He needs certain things that only someone as skilled as Evangeline can provide. Branch is super skittish and is very hesitant to trust anyone with any part of himself beyond the physical. 

Evangeline is brilliant at what she does. She knows just what Branch needs without him having to say it. And I'm not just talking about sex. She knew when he needed space, knew when to force him to talk, knew when he needed it hard and when he needed it soft. She was inexplicably drawn to him, and more and more, she wanted him with her, even though he kept telling her he would never stick around. 

The Farthest Edge was such an intense book. Branch and Evangeline falling in love is not an easy thing for either of them. There are so many things to get in the way, but it's Evangeline's sheer determination that keeps them on track. Their times together were absolutely incredible. They went between having sheet clawing sex and eating spaghetti in front of the TV. They found happiness amidst chaos. And Branch went from being sure that his dangerous life meant he could never have one with Evangeline to doing everything in his power to make it so that he could be with her forever. 

Kristen Ashley tells the most epic stories. And the stories from The Honey are some of her most epic and unique ones yet. 

Aryas knew her.

He knew what she liked.

He knew how she played.

He knew exactly what would make her squirm in her seat.

And he knew precisely how long it had been since she’d had her kink.

“You’re throwing down the gauntlet,” she accused quietly.

“You feel like picking up the glove?” he shot back, shaking the piece of paper at her.

She stared into Aryas’s eyes.

No strings.

Anything she wanted to do to get him off.

When he was done with her, he’d vanish from her life.

Her gaze dropped to the paper.

“Be you, and we’ll make it interesting, lay five grand on that fucker, he’ll give you one go and then he’ll move on,” Aryas pushed, but it was a dare.

She looked back at him.

A dare.

Yes, he knew her.

“No reflection on you and your skills, which are sublime, my beautiful baby.” He grinned wicked grin. “Just that this guy is unbreakable. There’s no edge for him any Domme can get anywhere near to push him off and that’s what he’s looking for. Being taken to the farthest edge and shoved right the fuck over.”

Taken to the farthest edge.

Evangeline was not into that. She wasn’t into extreme. Not like many who were into that in the life.

No, the edges she coasted were exactly what Aryas wasn’t quite saying, but she read this guy couldn’t handle.

Unless he had the right Mistress to lead the way.

Damn it all, she was getting wet.

“Five grand?” she snapped.

Aryas pressed his lips together and she was too peeved to get more peeved that he did it to suppress his amusement.

He unpressed them to confirm, “Five grand. But Leenie, babe, just to get it straight, he walks away from you at first meet, we’re even. It’s only if you get a crack at him the bet is on.”

She lifted her nose at the same time she snatched the paper from his hand, declaring, “He won’t walk away.”

“He might,” Aryas said gently, and his sudden loss of humor and careful tone made her focus on him again. “Beware of that. He’s done it before. In some ways, he doesn’t give a shit about anything. In some ways, he can be frustratingly choosy.”

“If I want him, he walks away, I’ll still get him,” she announced.

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorize and she hadn't taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen's Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.

Nothing's changed.

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she's blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.

WEBSITE * FACEBOOK * TWITTER * NEWSLETTER * GOODREADS * PINTEREST * INSTAGRAM

a Rafflecopter giveaway