Blurb:
I shouldn't have agreed to this. What was I thinking?
Appearing on a local news show? Just because something happened to me?
I live mostly in isolation on purpose.
But here I am.
I was so nervous that I needed the make-up chair, twice.
And then I walked past his room.
He's a giant—no softness, all muscle.
And a rich beard that made me want to rub myself all over it.
He made me see stars, literally because the second time I saw him, I tripped.
Or I would've, but he caught me, and the cameras were rolling.
Soon, that clip will be trending because he wasn't just another guest on the show.
He's Brett Broudou, the Kings' newest football star.
We couldn't be more opposite.
The only special thing about me is the reason I was on the show.
Brett, the Super Bowl champion, and me, the survivor who helped bring down the infamous Midwest Butcher.
Brett might not think he's anyone's hero, but he's about to become mine.
My 5* Review:
My Anti-Hero by Tijan is a fantastic romantic suspense story about Brett Broudou and Willow 'Billie' Harms. This is a long book because it is actually three stories in one; a thriller and a mystery all woven together by the romance between the couple. Tijan has written an intriguing and clever tale of secrets, family drama and love. It all starts with an amusing meet-cute, which turns into an unexpected relationship, which then quickly turns dangerous and deadly as the past refuses to let this couple go. The complex plot will keep you gripped right to the end and will leave you thinking about everything long after you've finished the book.
Willow was twelve when she became the only survivor of the serial killer, the Midwest Butcher, when she hid while he killed her friend and her family. Then a week later she suffered a family tragedy and was put into foster care. She now lives a solitary life and barely leaves her home because she is constantly threatened whenever the Butcher is back in the news. She usually refuses publicity but agrees to a local tv interview and it ends up changing her life.
Brett is a brillant defensive end for the Texas Kings. He is a giant of a man but very quiet and keeps to himself. His backstory isn't good and he has done bad things but football has allowed him to turn his life around. He is not bothered about people's opinion of him and has shown a dark rough side to his personality so fans call him the Brood Machine. He is at the tv studio to promote a charity but ends up rescuing Willow twice.
When their eyes meet, she feels things she's never experienced before and he suddenly has a desire to get to know her. Not a lot shocks him but her story had. He is conflicted over her quirky personality and her intensive knowledge of his football stats. She is confused when he quickly changes his mind over them having a coffee and leaves. Brett realises he has messed up and is determined to find her to apologise. Feeling rejected she takes up her sister's offer of a blind date. Travis is a police detective so understands what she has been through but things don't go as planned. The rivalry between the two men provide some really funny moments.
For once in her life she is happy and having fun with Brett but they both have trust issues and lots of baggage due to events in their childhoods. Willow gets him thinking he actually deserves something good in his life. Then new evidence and events cause more problems for Willow and Brett has family issues to deal with. Luckily she understands his pain and recognises how haunted he is by his past, just like her. They are discreet but both worry what will happen when people realise they are a couple? Are they putting the other in danger?
I loved how her adoptive parents Vicky and Roger protected and looked after her, and the support and love from Lo, her sister. Willow's love for her chickens brought some hilarity and lightness into the story. His friend Channing Monroe was an amusing and interesting character, I think he would make a good book. I laughed at how Brett was obsessed with backing her up against walls and thought their first date was so romantic.
There are some shocking and surprising revelations as the story builds to a conclusion. There are two fantastic twists which were very clever and although I guessed one, it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book. I was gripped throughout and loved trying to work out what was going to happen next. If you like a romance which will leave you on tenterhooks as the couple have more than their relationship to work through, then you will love this.
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