Review: Undertow by Alessandra Torre

AJ

Previously published as ‘Sex Love Repeat’.  Re-released as ‘Undertow’ 1 March 2019

Buy:  Kindle Ebook

Review

Whoa, this was an intense read! Yes, it’s a love triangle book, but it is like no love triangle book that I have ever read before.

Madison is in two relationships – both of the men know about the other, she loves them, they love her, but she keeps the two parts of her life separate, and it all works beautifully. Until it doesn’t.

The story is mostly from Madison’s perspective, and I loved her. She’s a strong heroine who knows what she wants, and she makes no apologies for that. She knows her relationships are unconventional, but it’s her life, and I love that she owns it.

“I understand that you hate me. That you curse me for my greed. But if I am okay with it, and they are okay with it, how is it anyone else’s right to judge?”

We also get Stewart and Paul’s POVs, which completes the picture of their twisted little arrangement perfectly, giving us the opportunity to see how they feel about Madison, and the dynamics of their relationships.

“She fucks because she loves it and loves through it. It is her gift to the world, and I am lucky enough to be a part of that world.”

Oh yes, the sex is scorching! Sizzling hot, and lots of it! And so intense that I thought that the relationships were all about the sex, but they’re definitely not. There is strong love there, and the sex goes hand in hand with that.

“Sex should be about mutual enjoyment, connection, the borrowing from another’s fire at a moment when you want it most.”

This book had my emotions all over the place. With great background provided to really set the scene, there are some sensational twists, and gut wrenching heartache, and a number of times I sat there reading with my hand over my mouth just trying to take it all in. The feels! OMG, the feels!!!

The angst and anticipation builds beautifully, and I honestly didn’t know what was going to happen or how it was all going to end. I did have some issues with the ending though… warning, this is REALLY spoilery –

Spoiler
The amazing build up sort of fizzled out for me and I thought it ended rather underwhelmingly. I’m somebody who usually isn’t a fan of too much angst in a book, but I felt that this book needed more of it. It felt like Madison’s choice was taken away from her. A number of times throughout the story she talks about her fear of having to choose, and her inability to do that because of the love she had for both boys, and in the end, the decision was made for her. Yeah, she may have chosen Paul in the end anyway, but we didn’t get to see that, Madison didn’t get to come to that realisation, she was just put in the situation and realised it was right. That wasn’t enough for me.

But I have to say, watching Paul stand up to Stewart and fight for his girl was absolutely sensational!

“I gave her my heart two years ago, spent every day of that time being there for her. This is the woman I wake up next to every day. Every day except when you snap your fingers and steal her for the night. I breathe and live for her. She is mine, despite what you think or say.”

Oh yeah, he had me cheering and swooning. I was so proud! And I was proud of Stewart too, realising that he wasn’t enough for Madison and being strong enough to walk away and leave her and Paul to their HEA. But as heartbreaking as that was for him, it just felt too easy a solution to the situation that they were in. I kept expecting ‘more’, and it just never came.

But I was happy with the outcome, and I liked the time jump at the end which allowed us a full and complete ending.

This is a short but intense read, and one that you should definitely read blind. Don’t go looking for spoilers, just dive in and experience it for what it is. Torre’s writing sucks you right into their world, and you feel everything – the passion, the emotion, and the way it all fits together. I thought she did a fantastic job, and it was really well done!

I loved it – 4 stars.

 

This book was previously published as Sex Love Repeat. 

Rebranded in March 2019

 

 

 

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