Life isn't always fair, and that’s something that Llewellyn Gardner knows about first hand. His life was on the fast track until one night of extreme passion changed everything. Now eight years later, he’s still living with the aftershocks of that night. Everywhere he turns or runs, there’s another reminder. What the hell do you do when you try to drown your demons only to find out they can swim?
Shane Smith, Jr. owner of Smith Construction, could see the emotional turmoil within his new employee — it’s why he hired him. There was something about the gorgeous, misunderstood man with the overly expressive eyes that came to their small town with a past no one was willing to overlook. Shane could see the good in Llewellyn, and those eyes of his were a clear window to his soul. Shane wasn't going to let the man live a future of solitude because his past had been plagued with deceit.
Llewellyn wasn’t sure what to think about Shane. After years of protecting himself from being tricked twice, he was now faced with worry again. What would happen to him if Shane didn’t believe his truth, and walked away? Llewellyn wasn’t sure he'd be able to survive being left alone. Again.
This is one of those stories that breaks your heart into one million pieces, drags you in into the depths of despair and then, slowly and carefully, puts you back together, but you’re okay with that.
Defined by Deceit reminded me once again how fickle human nature is. It reminded me that, sometimes, love is not enough and you can’t draw comfort from it. Not when you are too coward to stand up for yourself or for the person you claim to care about.
I don’t want to get into too much detail, because I don’t want to ruin the book for either of you.
As always, Adrienne has created strong, determined and, at the same time, beautifully flawed and sensitive characters.
Llewellyn goes through a lot at an age when his only concern should be having fun with his friends and passing his exams so he can enroll at the University.
In a single moment he’s thrown from a peaceful and quiet existence into the deepest level of hell, having to learn how to survive just one more night.
He’s hurt, disappointed and, for the first time in his life, completely alone. There’s no one to turn to, no one to have his back when things get out of control.
Later on, he’ll have to learn to shut everything out and try his best to make a life for himself while surrounded by condemning eyes and distrust everywhere he turns.
While he struggles with all the hurdles, he’ll find his rock, his sense of place in an old lady who’s ready to defend him at every cost and in a man who sees the hurt and the need for understanding and for love behind the stern façade.
What more can I say? I loved it. I loved every single moment and every single tear soaked passage. There’s a lot to learn here.
Never judge. Always be certain that your knowledge of the facts is the truth.
And, more important, always remember that you reap what you sow. Life has a way of always paying everyone back for their deeds and that payment will always be the prize of your past actions and decisions.
Life or love doesn’t come with instruction manuals. We do our best and trust the object of our affection to cherish and protect our trust. Be wise and always keep in mind that it’s not right to hurt those around us just to protect ourselves. Only we are responsible for our actions.
I’m sorry for the rant, but books like this one make me want to take a step back and think “Damn, that could have been me.” Or “Could I do something like this? Have I hurt someone I cared about so much?”
The answers are not always pleasant.
Thank you, A.E. Via for another wonderful novel.
Happy Reading!!
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