#COYER Review ~ Taming Cross ~ Ella James

Taming Cross by Ella James
Love, Inc #2
Release Date: August 19, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #COYER, #ShelfLove, #TravelingtotheTerminus
Goodreads

Synopsis
For twenty-three years, Cross Carlson was a playboy. You know the type. Tall, dark, and wealthy. Blue-eyed. Charming. He seemed to have it all so easy. But Cross was harboring a terrible secret - one that helped ruin the life of an innocent girl and almost ended his own.

Finally out of the hospital, Cross is flailing, scarred in both body and mind and stifled by the weight of the secret he still keeps. The only way to absolution lies in a Mexican convent, and going there could cost him everything.

If there's anyone who knows what it's like to screw up big time, it's Meredith Kinsey. Just a few years ago, Merri was an ordinary girl with a job at her college newspaper and white picket fence kind of dreams. Now she's holed up in a Mexican convent, hiding from a drug lord who thinks he owns her.

What happens when the only way out of hell is with the son of the man who put you there? They say love conquers all, but does it really?

It's been awhile since I read the first in this series - where I met Cross Carlson - but WOW! EJames pulled me right back into this world. Taming Cross was gripping and suspenseful...and a little bit romantic. :)

Highlights:

• Character Development
  Cross did a lot of growing up. His dad is the governor of California and he's always lived a privileged life even if his parents didn't appreciate him. Following some events from the first book, he's changed. And his transformation continued in Taming Cross, where he risked everything to right a wrong. Meredith matured a lot as well. She'd endured quite a bit over the last several years but she realized she'd made mistakes in her past, wanted to/was making amends, and was grateful for the second chance she was offered.
• Suspense
  I was impressed with the level of suspense EJames was able to maintain. It was pretty intense and when a lull occurred I was drawn into a false sense of security...then BOOM! Something else would happen. Cross and Meredith were dealing with a Mexican drug cartel so...
• Romance
  There were reasons - very sound, logical and BIG reasons - that Cross and Meredith shouldn't even think about being together. But they couldn't seem to help themselves. Of course, there's nothing like some danger to ratchet up the sexual tension. ;) In all seriousness though, neither Cross nor Meredith felt worthy of the other and yet were constantly proving they absolutely were. There was attraction but they both denied themselves, making more of a slow-burn romance which worked so well for their story.

Taming Cross made for a compelling read and a worthy installment in the series. I like the common thread of redemption EJames has woven between the first two books and I'm looking forward to Unmaking Marchant to see how it's carried through there.