Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Skin in the Game
SERIES: Cedar Falls #18
AUTHOR: Shea Balik
PUBLISHER: Siren-Bookstrand Inc
LENGTH: 137 pages
RELEASE DATE: February 28, 2017
BLURB:
Tahl Pendev had been lusting after Reed since Utopia first opened. He could have easily taken Reed to his bed, but Tahl wanted more than a one night stand. What he wants–no, demands–is forever, or he won’t have Reed at all.
Reed Bowden doesn’t believe in love, marriage, or even commitment. He was happy with one night stands and no strings weighing him down. But when one of his friends gets shot because of Reed, he starts to wonder if his lifestyle is all it was cracked up to be.
Will Tahl find a way to reach Reed, or will they implode before they have a chance?
Warning: High jinx will ensue as the characters from Cedar Falls try to play matchmaker.
REVIEW:
Oh, this book was so not fair. So not fair. This one broke me bad. Knowing one of my guys dies by a psycho. Not cool. It’s still a good book, but man, that made me sad as hell. I feel like I’ve grown up with these characters and now one is gone and I’m like lost. And lost for his partner.
And Reed is feeling guilty. Because it’s his one night stand that was nutso. Reed constantly told the guy he wanted nothing to do with him. He just did one night and it’s over. But this guy isn’t getting the hint. And the dude is determined to get Reed away from anyone who could possibly take Reed away from him. Meanwhile, Tahl is watching from a distance. Wanting Reed more than anything, but refusing to be a one nighter. He wants it all. After psycho killed one of Reed’s friends, Tahl got his wish to be with Reed, but Reed ran after. And kept running. Out of guilt, fear, doubt and anything else. Everyone is trying to get them back together, but the death is tearing Reed and his friend’s partner up. Between that and Reed’s mother proving to him how marriage really works from his point of view, he wants no part of any of it, and Tahl may not get him to overcome his fears to try.
Ok so, we’ve addressed the death. Which I’m not happy about. It’s an interesting twist for sure. I never would have imagined to see that coming. I’m still in shock. But now we need to address the fact that there is always a flat out bitch in these books. This time it’s Reed’s mother and her current husband. And thank goodness, they were in public because guess who paid a visit to back up Reed. Good ole Jesse lol.
After reading what Reed had to go through as far as his parents, I don’t blame him for running far from commitment. At all. And as far as Tahl, I know sometimes it’s hurtful and hard to hold your tongue or step back and be patient, but props to him for doing it anyway. And yet still being at Reed’s back when he needed him. Reed just had to see that not all people were like his nutso parents, especially his mother, and that even though not all relationships last, if you work at it, it’s worth it if you truly love the one you’re with.
I will tell you right now, if one more of the good ones die, I may have to be real upset with some people lol. Please no more. This one was awful. Now Betty Sue or the mayor….no loss there lol. Just kidding. It’s still a hell of a series but beware. This one is a heartbreaker.
RATING: 
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