Name: Tragic
ISBN: 9781950232291

Ja Huss

Tragic is book one of the Rook & Ronin Series and features a runaway girl who falls into a million-dollar dream of cherry trees and roof-top swings. A bad boy with a sketchy history of breaking pretty girls. And a job called Tragic that might ruin everything.

Tragic

J. A. Huss

"How far are you willing to go to start over? Rook Walsh is homeless, jobless, and down to her last ten bucks when opportunity knocks her in the head and delivers a once in a lifetime opportunity. Antoine Chaput knows the minute he spies Rook in his studio that she's got The Look. The dark and desperate look he must have to land the exclusive TRAGIC media contract. Rook is paired up with top model Ronin, and he knows exactly what to do to make her blush for Antoine's camera. Her luck changes in an instant and suddenly she's got more attention and exposure than she can handle--both in front of the camera and behind the scenes"--Author's website.

Rook and Ronin #1

Lisa ✩ @lifeinlit

Tragic starts off good and never slips. This story is just that... tragic. Rook has a past full of devastation and pain. From a drug-addicted mother that couldn't care for her, going from one foster home to another, on to an abusive boyfriend, she's had nothing but a difficult life thus far. Living in the homeless shelter for weeks, barely able to shower, spending most of her time fending off the horrible men there, she feels her life is hopeless. She's doesn't have a penny, she's alone, and she's completely broken.

By pure chance, Rook falls upon a modeling job where she has the potential to make some good money. She can finally afford to start her life over again and make something better of herself. With high hopes for her future, she puts everything she has into this modeling gig... including her clothes. Nude modeling wasn't what she was hoping for, but you do what you have to do to make some money to survive... right?

Rook is rough around the edges. She's tough, and rightfully so. She has to be in order to deal with the past she's carrying around with her. She's scarred and terrified. *In walks cute guy.* Ronin. Rook can't seem to look away. He's gorgeous. But she soon learns he's also controlling and possessive. The chemistry is undeniable and the feelings she's consumed with are overbearing. She's falling for him, no matter how hard she fights it.

Rook and Ronin are very different, yet carry with them several of the same inner struggles. The dynamic between the two was excellent and I really enjoyed the way their inner demons caused them to act the way they did. There were twists and turns throughout this book, and I loved how it ended up making me beg for more. The good news... book two, Manic, will be released August 2013. Yay!

Tragic isn't your sweet love story. It's powerful and gritty. I'm not a sappy girl, and I don't care much for sappy stories that are too good to be true. This story is filled with angst, lust, tragedy and heartache. It's harsh. It's intense. It's real. 

Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours and J.A. Huss for the review copy.

This review can also be found at Lost in Literature!