Review: Breaking Him (Love is War, #1) by R.K. Lilley (Goodreads Author)

Breaking Him by R.K. Lilley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The journey that R.K. Lilley’s latest book, Breaking Him left me with a feeling of great elation, an euphoric high, euphoric high giddy, fuming, ticked-off, happy, excited, anticipation, hopefully, sad, hateful…….hell, talk about an emotional overdrive!!!!

I became hooked on R.K. Lilley after reading her incredible Up in the Sky Series and I cannot miss out on any of her books, so I was so so excited to begin page 1 of Breaking Him which is #1 of her Love is War duet.

I have so much feelings about this story and I want to share them with you….look, I’ll try to keep it short…but I don’t think that may be possible because…too many becauses!!!

This is a story of two people who you can see were destined to be together but just keeping f@@@@@ up things that causes them heartbreak and pain. Friends to lovers. Who are given a second chance to finding each other again and seem to continue on yet another destruction road.

Page 1…..I am beyond “on a high”…..Scarlett is a flight attendant…………my absolute most favorite heroine character…and yes one of the reasons being that I so feel connected to these people…after all, I was once part of that glam world …so let’s just say I have a soft spot for someone like me….well, the flight attendant part…so okay, this job is only temporary until she’s discover and becomes a movie star!!!!!!

And how could I not love someone like Dante? There’s something mysterious about this sexy and gorgeous man…..that makes me want to know what’s going on in his head. But this is Scarlett’s story told from her POV.

The first time we meet these two is when Dante boards Scarlett’s flight. The scenes and their interaction was a total blast……

I kept thinking….gee, I hope that the other passengers in the vicinity can’t hear or see Scarlett’s customer service skills…..she just made Dante’s trip with her “the flight from hell”!!! This guy must have done something really bad for her to be so snarky and disdainful towards him!

Yes, he did and she did too!!! What happened in their lives that could turn into something so destructive? What did Dante do that made Scarlett feel such hatred for him? Why? What?

Scarlett and Dante met as children and became close friends when he stood up for her during one of her very many verbal and physical attacks by her schoolmates. Ridiculed, scorned and mocked for being found in a trashcan when she was a baby, she has endured so many bad things in her life. She was unwillingly taken in by her horrible grandmother, who lives and works for Dante’s family.

She’s had to be a fighter all her life and is not afraid of kicking ass. The only people who cared about her and helped her were Dante and his grandmother aka Gram, a retired movie star icon. They have always been there for her. And when she’s told that Gram has died, Scarlett feels her whole world is spinning out of control. She’s lost the person she’s loved and who loved her the most in her life.

After many years, she goes back to her old home to attend her beloved Gram’s funeral. Back to seeing the people who had caused so much heartbreak and pain in her life. And when we meet some of those characters…….how did Scarlett even survive their wickedness?

Dante’s mother – this is a truly evil person. The malevolence and malice she shows towards Scarlett and how she manipulates to keep Dante and Scarlett apart is really scary.

Scarlett’s grandmother – what a cruel and malicious person that begs you to think that Scarlett could never be related to someone like her.

Tiffany, the ultimate bitch who had played some part in the reason for Scarlett and Dante’s present situation. I loved the way Scarlett took this horrible and despicable character down….

“He was mine before you ever had him, and even when you did, know this, a part of him as still mine. You never got what I had. You had what was left when I was done with him.” –Scarlett to Tiffany

I was praying that this Tiffany had never got her claws into him!!!

Gram was one of my favorite characters in this story. She was a bright and shiny light in Scarlett and Dante’s lives and she truly believed that the two were destined to be together forever.

She had the most amazing attitude to life and I loved her wisdom and kindness so much. I was sad that she was no longer here to be with the two people she clearly and dearly loved.

It was painful watching Scarlett and Dante together again and perhaps just maybe they could resolve the things in the past and be together again…..but with the interference by the people who are determined to keep them apart, how will it ever come right??Is it too late? Is there nothing that can be fixed? I felt for these two people…so much pain, so much loss……is one ever able to survive???

I just felt there was some sinister secret that caused Scarlett and Dante to be apart and that his mother had a part in it. And as I anxiously turned the next page for the revelation……..what happens??? Yes, the end….left with a cliffhanger that drove me absolutely nuts!!!! How long must I wait to discover what the secret is ?????

Dante and Scarlett’s story is intense, emotional and yes, even sad. Anger, passion, pain, hate and love and a sense of hope as well.

I loved the writing style, the pace of the story, the flashbacks from past to present, the sensual and well-written sex scenes, the incredible dialogue and great character development.

This is a book I will definitely read again.

One of the quotes that touched me…..oh there were a lot of them…but this one…..unforgettable!!!

There is only one heart in this universe that calls to mine, and it does call. Constantly, relentlessly, it sings out to me in a captivating, resonating voice.
Day after day, year after year, it calls to me.
But I won’t listen to it. It belongs to a liar.”

View all my reviews

REVIEW: Air Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones

I loved this book. Having been one of those “hosties” with a major international airline for years, I identified with so many of the stories...which by the way have some truth in them even though some might be termed exaggerated....but hey it makes for much more interesting reading.

An hilarious ride..........

The story, told thru the eyes of an airport duty manager, which happens in a span of 24 hours shows us all the dramas that go on in an international airport...from the baggage handlers, check-in agents, flight attendants and more. It’s an hilarious ride.....you now have discovered all the secrets of all those people who you don’t give a toss for and take for granted.....and how they go about getting their revenge on those so called hideous pax!!!!!!!

Yes, flight crew...cockpit and cabin do get up to mischief...though the days of fun times during long lay-overs are a thing of the past. Now you fly to your destination and if you are lucky, have a day there and then fly right back home....no time given for partying...well how much can one cram into a night-stop I ask????

Travellers are given a few tips on how to.....in a fun way.....get yourself upgraded....now that’s very hard...but one can still try I suppose...those drunken pax....they happen believe me!!!!!! And sex in the sky...it’s not a myth......it happened on one of my flights!!!!

I absolutely loved the scenes with the crew in the Dubai hotel. I couldn’t stop laughing...in fact I laughed through most of reading this book. A real buzz.

And finally it did bring back the most amazing memories I have of my flying life.....you know it’s really true.....we flight attendants are really “Jetsetters on the cheap!!!!”...and oh yes buy the book, have a laugh and try not to take it tooooo seriously....just have fun as u turn the pages!!!!!!!

Chilling Out on Sunday Night

Chilling out after a day at my store......all those fish and chips, calamari and chips....prawns and chips flying out........still thinking about the fish roll I ate last night.....wow.....just thinking about it must me want to go back, open up and make one for tonite.....nah....think will just carry on hanging out with my darling Costa........oh boy someone is having a fabulous time at the party across the road from me...in the local St Luke's Church Hall.....actually the music is really amazing.....african....sounds like from Mali or Congo.....and from the sounds of people shouting.....they are really enjoying it..............
Elna Quick who is married to a SAA Captain Paul Quick....I flew with both of them in my days as an SAA golden girl....came into the shop tonite....haven't seen her for almost 20 years....i surprised myself....i remembered her and her name....i guess i won't be suffering from a loss of memory!!!!!! Yesterday another colleague....Louise Farrell.....it's getting like a meeting point with all my old SAA friends and colleagues!!!!!
     even Barbie wanted to be a flight attendant........so cool...............
Oh....silence....has the party ended??????? No I hear some screams, cars hooting.....i guess it's winding up....
oh my gosh ...I found this pic of SAA cabin crew training...how to be a fabulous flight attendant......and the old springbok .......
flying was such a romantic thing to do.........loved my job.....some days wish i was still flying the skies......but well.....taking another road .....
Oh my gosh.................I have still not seen Breaking Dawn Part 1...........I cannot believe it......I have to find the time....soon......and go and check it out.................

Zak & Planes

My 21 year old son Zak's love for planes and flying began the first flight he did with me during the time I was working as a flight attendant for South African Airways.....from that moment his goal was becoming an airline pilot and that desire has never changed....his first flying experience began with Flight Simulator at the age of 5......to .photographing airplanes (taught by his photographer dad...naturally!!!) to plane spotting and all things about aviation..coming with me on my trips was one of the highlights in his life....he spent more time in the cockpit talking to the pilots than he did in the cabin......i remember him on a flight when he was about 6 years old, sitting behind the captain in the cockpit on a flight from Ilha do Sal to New York....quietly observing the flight operations ....in the old days when one could visit the cockpit.....

 

His whole life has revolved around flying....and in the last year has been  working at making his dream come true.!!!!!  

Zak signed up at FTS a flight school at Grand Central Airport in Johannesburg and has been training for his PPL (Private Pilot Licence). He did his 1st General Flight Test yesterday and will be doing his 2nd and final exam next week. I am so so happy for him.

Below are some pics of the airport and the aircraft type he trains on.

He also loves to photograph anything about aviation....planes, airports, cabin interiors and more. His aviation photographers are published in various sites dedicated to aviation and if you want to see more of his fotos you can click on the link below.....here is a photograph of his taken when he was 13 years old...it can be viewed on airliners.net 

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?photographersearch=Zak+Economides&sort_order=views

My son Zak did his first long solo navigational flight yesterday from Grand Central Airport to Warmbaths and back....3 hrs flying on his own....my husband Costa and I were biting our nails for a...just a bit....during those hours...but he did very well...one of the Flying School's instructor told us that Zak is their top student...naturally...I KNEW THAT!!!! One more solo and 2 test flights and he will have his PPL....Can't wait....he is really excited....Well done Zak...we are so proud of you and happy that you are following your dream....to have your own office in the sky.....the foto on the left was taken by Zak during his flight.

Zak, doing some plane spotting at the airport.....














Today spent some time at Jimmy's Fish & Chips training store.....learning all the ins and outs of running my new venture.....from an office in the sky to this...well, i have decided to choose another road on my life's journey.....i read this somewhere...can't remember where but it's how i see life for me...."On the road to life there are many paths... some twist, some turn, some dip, some curve. As long as you keep your focus, your destination is obtainable."
Now back to books...I have been struggling a bit to finish the latest Mills & Boon I bought....but finally got to the last page.
See my review about "Girl in the Bedouin Tent" by Annie West next