Søren and Nora

Aaaaahhhh. It took me a while to get there, but I got there! Søren is such a mysterious character. I’ve always been intrigued by him, but wasn’t sure if he was the right choice for Nora, because I thought that she deserved better than what he offered her. But finally seeing the sensitive side of Søren made me see things very differently.

“Telling her the truth seemed like the greatest of risks, and yet I loved her too much to keep her in the dark any longer. I’d feared she would spurn me. Instead, she said she belonged to me and knew she belonged to me from the moment we met, and her body was mine to do with what I wanted. She loved me. She trusted me. She knew I wouldn’t hurt her even if I hurt her. And we kissed for the first time, and I felt something I never dreamed I’d feel.”
“Happy?”
“Normal.”

I have never been in doubt of how much these two love each other, and the incredibly deep bond that they share. But seeing it all laid out so beautifully – from both of their perspectives – was somebody very special.

“Eleanor does not do anything the normal way.”
“And you love her for it.” …
“… Utterly and unrepentantly.”

“Years later she finally realized what he’d been doing by making her wait so long. He’d given her a reason to leave him. A very good reason. He loved her enough to let her go even before he’d had her. And she’d loved him enough to wait for him.”

The way that Nora and Søren reminisce about their history shows us some truly beautiful moments and makes it very clear that they were meant to be together, and I am so glad that they found their HEA.

“I am yours,” she whispered. “I always was. Even when I was with someone else…I was always yours.”
“I know,” he said.

Kingsley

Oh Kingsley – each book makes me love you more! So damaged and scarred, but absolutely unapologetic about everything, and utterly hilarious!

Kingsley turned on his booted heel and gave Wesley a gallant mock bow. … “The bitch…at your service.”

I didn’t know how he was going to find his HEA, but I thought the way it all unfolded was perfect. I would have liked to have seen more of him and Juliette together, but I love that we very clearly got to see his feelings for her. She is a great match for him, and I’m really happy with the way things ended up between them.

Kingsley and Nora’s resolution was really gorgeous. I love their relationship. It’s had its ups and downs, but they share a unique bond as the two great loves of Søren’s life, and they accept that, and all that it entails, willingly and with great pride.

And, of course, Søren’s acknowledgement of Kingsley’s importance to him, and the fact that he still loved him, was amazing. After all that Kingsley has been through, I love that Søren allowed him back into his life, and I think the way it ended up was perfect for them.

Søren and Grace

WHAT. THE. FUCK?!?!?! OK, I get that Nora had had her moment with Zach, and monogamy really isn’t a big deal to this bunch. I also get that Grace was drawn to Søren – really, who isn’t? The man is charisma personified! Grace and Zach had discussed her curiosity with kink, he had given her a ‘free pass’, and I even understand that she wanted to experience that with Søren, and the reasons behind the two of them having their moment. But the sex? NO! Such a big deal is made about Søren’s fidelity to Nora (and Kingsley) throughout the series. He has used other subs on multiple occasions, but has never had sex with them. And even though they had some deep and meaningful conversations over the two days they had known each other, I just thought it was really strange that he would break his own vow and be with her like that.

The fact that Grace was there and so involved in the first place was a little weird (are her and Nora really that close???), but I could get past that, it’s just the stuff with Søren that really annoyed me.

And then the whole pregnancy thing. Ugh. Just not a fan of how that particular little storyline played out.

Wesley’s change of heart

Yeah, talk about a sudden turnaround!!! Wesley has been deeply in love with Nora throughout the entire series, and at the beginning of this book is actually engaged to her! (in his mind, anyway). I thought that Wes and Søren’s big moment together in this book was amazing.

“I’ve loved Eleanor as long as you’ve been alive but it’s wrong of me to dismiss your feelings for her simply because they’re younger than mine.”

They both opened up, and Wes finally got to see the real Søren, and not just the sadist, and finally came to realise the depth of love between him and Nora. You can see how it was all leading up to Wesley making the sacrifice to let Nora go as he realises that they could never give each other what they need, and that she and Søren are meant to be together. But when he finally does let her go, he jumps straight into bed with Laila! And it’s not like it was angry ‘forget about my ex’ sex. It was sweet and passionate, and very emotional. And he takes her virginity no less! Really?!?!?! He spent most of the series as a virgin because he thinks somebody’s first time should be with someone they love and he waited all of those years for Nora. And just one month after losing his virginity to her, and an hour after finally letting her go, he has no qualms about jumping into the sack with this girl and being the perfect, confident, experienced lover!!!

Laila’s whole appearance in this book was obviously as the mechanism with which Wesley would move on from Nora. She is the absolute perfect match for him, and I am happy they end up together, I just thought it was all too fast.

OK. Rant over.