I read this book once when it first came out back in 2014. I am writing this review in 2019 after reading the shelves I had it on, they were wrong. The read date was wrong as well. I have only the memory of this book being about a really scary Russian guy being some kind of underground fighter and a woman with either a daughter or a sister who is very young and dying going to meet this fighter and ending up living with him. I don't remember anything else that wouldn't be a spoiler, but I do remember liking this book. Like most of Pepper Winters books there is that element of foreshadowed danger to the main characters that in the end never comes true. So if that is a spoiler, then so be it.

Anyhow, I know I liked it and intend to re-read it again one day. ( )

This book was great but not as a romance. It was a heart wrenching tale of despair, lust, love, pain, and hope. There were a couple of small slow parts but it still kept me up until 4 am reading! The Hero was no hero. I cannot say I liked Roan or identified with Zel when she stayed with him. But I understood it. This was not a book to escape into and envy their live or love. ( )

Too slow

I thought this was too slow and had too much inner dialogue. It needed more action and to he half as long. I didn't really like Roan or Hazel. Both of them were messed up and made choices I didn't like. Roan kept almost killing Hazel and she just went back to him and forgave him and I didn't want her to. I know he had severe mental issues from his upbringing, but I wouldn't let my child around him. The ending was good at least. ( )

review to come soon ( )

Honestly, I went into reading this book knowing it was going to be great because I love Pepper's writing style, but I didn't expect the overwhelming magnitude of the storyline.  From the excerpts, teaser and synopsis, I had no idea how truly heavy the feelings would run.  I didn't understand how emotional I would be, how much I would actually think on the subject matter.  Most all of the characters had horrific backgrounds and/or shocking present lives.

There are so many factors that I can't write about without spoiling the book for someone that hasn't read it.  I stayed up all night reading.  It had my attention on so many levels, layer after layer of interest.  I was enthralled by the details, amazed by how I person could live the life Fox lived. 




Fight with honour, fight with discipline, fight with vengeance. 




Then, I bawled my eyes out during the heartbreaking parts.  




Hours inched past as I toyed with metal and fire and sweat.  Working with such unforgiving materials was a reminder that no matter how set in stone we seemed, we could always change.  We could mould and adapt and become something new, even a hunk of iron.

I had to hold faith.

I could change.

Over time.




The plot isn't all about the sexual attraction in this story.  That factor is definitely present, but there's more to it also.  It's about true love,  family, loss, endurance, soul and many other deep-rooted aspects of human life.  It's a very intense read, especially for a mother, I feel.  Every part of this story was so full, no down time.  I would not want to trade places with any characters from Destroyed, but I was awed sharing in the stories of their lives. 

I loved them all.  Roan is now definitely in my top 10 book boyfriends.  His greatness is immense.

    



5 dangling silver stars

for the love, strength and miracle known as children-who can be molded into anything, who can break through any mold









***ARC was given by author for an honest review***




toni










my full review can be found at http://fangirlmomentsandmytwocents.blogspot.com/2014/03/destroyed-by-pepper-wint... ( )