Blurb:
She craves freedom from her overbearing family, and being a student at Park Mountain University is exactly that for her. Until she's partnered up for an entire semester with a surly, difficult man who despises her immediately for no reason at all. So much for an escape…
At PMU, I can finally be free to be my own person away from the Park family name.
This semester, though, my happiness is threatened when I meet him.
Tristan "Two" Sheridan is a grumpy jerk who nearly runs me over with his hunk of junk car and then has the audacity to blame me.
Our dislike for one another is instantaneous.
Imagine my horror when not only is he in one of my new "blow-off" classes, but I've also been partnered up with him for a labor-intensive class project for a huge portion of my grade.
His distaste for me is mild at first, but the second he learns my name, it turns to utter contempt.
Why does he hate me so much?
What did I ever do to earn such nastiness from a man I don't even know?
Beneath Two's crankiness are secrets—secrets I plan to uncover. With each encounter, I peel back more of the mysterious layers of the handsome man with the pale gray eyes and find there's someone likeable deep down beneath. And, despite his grudge against me and my family, I think he can't help but like me too.
As we spend more time together on our project, and just when I think I've got a handle on Two, I start getting harassed by someone else. This person stalks me at every turn, leaving me anonymous creepy notes and promises of a future together.
The stalker is the least of my problems, though. When Two reveals the true reason for hating me—the crushing secret that has tormented him his entire life—my own world is suddenly turned upside down. I feel inadvertently responsible and want to somehow make it all better.
A budding romance burns hot between us as our walls come down, but we have to keep it a secret. My parents will vehemently disprove of our coupling, and his will be utterly destroyed. Under the guise of our project, we're able to spend stolen moments together, stoking the flames of our growing feelings for one another, keeping the bitter truth from our families.
But my stalker has other nefarious plans that keep escalating in nature.
In order to get help from my father and my brother's cop fiancée, I will have to come clean. My life may depend on it. Ugly truths will be brought to light and Two's family will no doubt suffer the consequences. I dread the day I'll be forced to spill the truth.
Is this thing between me and Two worth all the heartache and pain destined for our future?
Only time will tell…
My 4* Review:
The Torment Of Two by K. Webster is the fifth and final book in her Shameful Secrets series. We end with Nathan and Jamie's daughter Gemma Park and her romance with Tristan "Two" Sheridan. It is an opposites attract, enemies to lovers, secret romance story with the added suspense of a stalker and a mansion with hidden secrets. A sweet tale of first love.
Tristan was adopted at two years old by Leo and Grant ( Dad and Pops) and they gave him his nickname of Two as it was the only word he could say. When he was nine years old, something happened that has affected him ever since. He has never told anyone and it has left him feeling second best and broken hearted. He is haunted by it and suffers from anxiety. He knows he is misunderstood and that people don't get him as he comes across as weird. He is obsessed with building small models of old buildings needing restoration and gets hyper focused on his projects.
Gemma is a social media influencer and is proud of what she has achieved with her followers. She hides behind the perfect persona she has created because in reality she lacks self confidence and feels insecure. She recently received her first creepy message and immediately blocked the person. She feels suffocated by her parents who are over protective of her so is excited about starting college at PMU and finally having some freedom.
After a run in with Two in the college car park, Gemma finds herself stuck with him for an entire semester as they are paired together for a assignment. She is fascinated by his creepily pale eyes and thinks he's an attractive weirdo. However, he is dismissive, rude and annoys her by calling her 'Golden'. He is shocked when she introduces herself and can't believe the situation he has found himself in. He hates being partnered with her, thinks she a spoiled brat and acts like she's perfect. She is determined to find out the reason he despises her and fix it.
As they work together they slowly reveal their real personalities to each other and start having fun. She sees a different side to him and they find a mutual interest in the old mansion they've been assigned. He can't believe he is enjoying her company and falling for his enemy. They are two people hiding how sad, lonely and confused they both are, so I loved how their friendship develops.
She receives more creepy messages from her stalker and starts getting scared. Two starts to feel very protective of her and wants to find out who it is.
When he finally reveals why he originally hated her, it opens up more problems for them as they realise their relationship must stay secret. Why can't she meet his dads? Why doesn't he want to meet her family?
All her family appear as they slowly become involved in the story. Tate is absolutely amazing as Two's new therapist. I loved how he understood Two and helps him. They build up a really good friendship and stay friends even when Tate's link with Gemma is revealed. Dempsey is hilarious when he finds out his twin has a boyfriend and Sloane investigates her stalker along with Jude. Two's dads were adorable and loved him so much. His best friend Dax was funny especially when he realised Two actually liked Gemma.
While their romance blossoms, the stalker is always in the background. Can they find him before he follows through with his threats? We get a happy family event to end this couple's story. I am sad this is the conclusion to this excellent series and I'm going to miss the wonderful and weird Park family.
No comments:
Post a Comment