Mating Theory

When you have everything but nothing left to lose at the same time…

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1. MATING THEORY by Skye Warren

SYNOPSIS

Billionaire Sutton Mayfair has nothing left to lose...

My best friend is getting married to the woman I love. They say the nice guy finishes last. So what’s the point of being a goddamn gentleman?

Maybe I should take what I want. Even that sexy little thing on the street corner. She needs a hot meal and a place to sleep. Instead, I’m taking her home to soothe the savage beast inside me. I was born a bastard, and for the first time in my life, I act like one.

Except the more I use her, the more I need her. I didn’t know I had someone left to lose. But for a single heartbeat, I had her.

BOOK REVIEW

Skye Warren is known for her ability to craft romance communities for her multi-faceted characters who you feel strongly connected to because of the larger universe of pre-existing experience, be it good or bad. And if you’re one of those readers who are already familiar with dark and scandalous Tanglewood, you’ll be very pleased to find out what happens to rejected Sutton Mayfair after the previous clusterfuck.

I want to fall in love. That’s what’s wrong with me, my fatal flaw. The insistent desire to enmesh myself with another human being.

Last time around, Sutton Mayfair was devastated after the loss of the supposed loves of his life, Harlow and Christopher. His defenses were high but not strong enough to shield his broken heart from the pain of despair and grief. Sutton felt overwhelmed when he met Ashleigh, a hurt prostitute-newbie who he instantly felt a deep connection to.

Her eyes go wide like a doe caught in the headlights. That’s me—a fucking truck. I’m going to break her to pieces. I’ll break myself, too.

Ashleigh was a beautiful heroine, body and soul. A perfect match for lost Sutton. A great catalyst for his so needed restoration. You could feel the extent of her care and compassion for Sutton on the pages of the book despite her own broken heart, which only made me like Ash more and more.

“Maybe I don’t have to know how the dreams will come true. It’s enough to believe.”

The relationship between Sutton and Ashleigh was on a whole different level than the Sutton-Harlow-Christopher one. The former felt matured and more natural, if you may. It was intense but kind of cute. The chemistry between the main characters was dangerous and sexy and fun. But for me personally, Mating Theory was not about the romance between the two but more about a happy ending for Sutton. It was primarily his story. It was what he truly deserved. His second chance to find a better path in a complicated life, and a greater love.

I absolutely loved the author’s poeticism and lyricism in her words. The connection between Sutton and Ashleigh was described as an inspiration of some sort that stirred my bleeding heart and then shredded it to small pieces. It was a soul-shattering and gut-wrenching ending to the thin-ice-pathed journey of Sutton from an abusive father to a toxic threesome to a brighter future with wonderful Ashleigh.

Full disclosure here, I thought the ending of the book was a bit rushed and too easy given all the drama. But I still enjoyed it. Recommend!