Thursday, June 4, 2015

Once Pure by Cecy Robson Blog Tour


She bears the scars of the past. He blames himself for things he can’t control. Their defenses are up, but in Cecy Robson’s latest Shattered Past novel—perfect for fans of Monica Murphy and J. Lynn—true love lands a knockout punch.

Sofia Tres Santos remembers a time before her life went sour, before her innocence was ripped away, before she began punishing herself with risky behaviors and unworthy men. Now, at twenty, she just hopes she’s ready to rebuild some of what she lost. One way or another, it always comes back to her childhood friend and longtime crush, Killian O’Brien.

As strong as Killian is, Sofia has always been his one weakness. He knows Sofia has suffered and wants to ensure she’s never hurt again—not like before, and definitely not under his watch. When Sofia agrees to work at his mixed martial arts gym, Killian seizes the opportunity to help and protect the sweet girl he’s always cared for. And yet, as he trains Sofia to defend herself using his hard-hitting MMA techniques, he’s drawn to the vulnerable beauty in ways he never expected.

As Sofia grows stronger, she also grows brave enough to open herself up to love. And along the way, she challenges everything Killian believes to be true, showing him that no matter how much he dominates in the ring, the real battle is fought in the heart.

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Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo




The steady pummeling of fists against the speed bag continued as if the body slams and swears weren’t bouncing off every wall of the MMA gym. Every strike, every blow, promised pain and demanded respect. I tried not to react to each loud smack, or cower from supersized bodies dripping with sweat, but it was hard. Controlled chaos was the best way to describe the scene unraveling before me. And no one owned it like Killian O’Brien.

I slipped my fingers into the computer bag hooked to my shoulder, pretending to fumble with the files tucked against my laptop, while totally checking out Killian behind the safety of my sunglasses.

His broad and muscular back was to me, but that was okay. I liked the way his Celtic cross tat crawled down the length of his spine and spread across his shoulder blades. I liked the way his wavy jet-black hair tickled the base of his skull. I liked the way—okay, who was I kidding? I liked everything about him. I had since I was seven, when he and his large Catholic family moved into the row home across from ours.

Killian hadn’t noticed me. He was busy kicking what remained of a heavy bag, showing the younger MMA brawlers how it was done. At six feet five, and fighting at super heavyweight status, Killian shouldn’t have been so flexible. But he was. Dear Lord, he so was.

His foot skimmed the top of the bag with each brutal thump, causing the chain holding it to rattle and jolt with hard shakes. Killian was best known for his kicks. If he caught his opponent in the face with his foot, the poor guy was done, and so was what remained of his face.

“Hey, Sofia!”

I jumped when the youngest O’Brien approached. “Oh. Hi, Finn.”

The dimple on his right cheek deepened when he grinned. He motioned to my nylon computer bag. “You ready to work?”

“Oh, yeah. Ready to go.” I patted the bag like a total loser, then rather awkwardly let my hand fall to my side. In an attempt to regain some sense of grace, I slipped my sunglasses to the top of my head, pushing the strands of my long, bouncy curls behind my ears.

Finn’s grin widened. He likely sensed my nervousness. His toothy smile made him appear younger than his nineteen years, but it was sweet enough to soothe the tension my first day back had caused. I liked Finn, I always had. He was smaller than his brothers, but just as tough, working his way up the MMA ranks as a welterweight.

He slapped his gloved hands together, full of energy as usual. God, it seemed, had dumped all the O’Brien muscle onto Killian’s heavy-duty frame. God was funny that way. That didn’t mean Finn wouldn’t take on a guy twice his size. Finn was funny that way.

He scratched the top of his curly ginger hair. “Killian know you’re here?”

“Ah, no, but that’s okay. I can just head to his office and start on his website—”

“Kill, Kill!” Finn cupped his mouth with his hands, yelling at the top of his lungs. “Your woman is here!” His attention cut to my mortified face. “You are his woman, right, Sofia?”

“Ah . . .”

Killian’s head jerked our way, along with most of the behemoths training. I wasn’t sure if he could see how red my face was from where he stood, but the easy smile spreading along his strong features told me he could. He abandoned what remained of the heavy bag and crossed the padded floor as the rest of the fighters resumed their free-for-alls.

I froze, watching him prowl forward like the mad beast he was, his hulking and densely tattooed arms swinging loosely against his sides. It wouldn’t take him long to reach us, despite the large expanse of the converted warehouse, so I tried to speak fast. “I’m not his woman, Finn.”

“So you’re just banging?”

“No!”

“But you want to.”

“Want to what?”

“Bang my brother like a pair of cymbals,” he said, like I was the stupid one.

“Yes—no.” Oh, good heavens.

“Why not?”

“Finn!”

“He’s a good guy.”

“Finn, I’m not having this conversation with you.”

“Do you want to have it with Kill instead?”

“Have what with me?” Killian’s deep voice rumbled like thunder as he stopped just in front of me.

Dear. Lord.

It had been a few weeks since I’d last seen him. Dark stubble grazed his chin, forming a mini-goatee and emphasizing the angles of his square jaw. But his face didn’t hold my attention for long. My stare traveled down his body, taking in his light skin glistening with sweat . . . before I remembered that my sunglasses now rested on the top of my head and I was blatantly gawking at him.

“Like what you see?” he asked, playfully.

“I . . .” The urge to bolt had me shifting my weight, hard enough to slap the hem of my long white skirt against my bare legs. But I stayed put, trying not to faint from his scorching level of badassness and working to form a decent response. “I was just admiring your sweat.”

So much for a decent response. He stopped smiling. “My sweat?”

I punched him in the arm, because, yeah, I was just that lame. “Totally. You must have had quite the workout, huh, asskicker?”

Finn grimaced as if it pained him to watch me go down in flames. I was good with computers. I couldn’t say the same about men. If the fate of the world depended on me successfully interacting with the male species without stuttering, blushing, or recoiling, the world would just end and we’d all die some sick apocalyptic death.

Killian analyzed me closely like most would a bug they were debating on squashing, before his chest shook with laughter. God, this is Sofia. Please strike me dead.

Killian closed the distance between us, the fingertips of his large hand extending to tickle my chin. “I was just getting started. Nice to have a pretty girl appreciate my efforts.”




Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Shannan☆☆☆☆☆
“Strength is achieved through blood, sweat, and pain. Prepare to find your strength.”

Once Pure nearly killed me. I was a mess reading this. Seriously, I was a hot mess. Luckily, I was in the privacy of my own home. There was laughter, smiles and so many tears. The emotional roller coaster was quick and unforgiving at times, but God I loved it.

Killian has made it to my list of top male characters. I absolutely loved his character. It broke me to read the pain, the hurt that consumed him. The sweetness that he used with Sofia was endearing.

Sofia was raped as a teenager, a fact that is well known throughout the town. Her life hasn't been easy. Her father was abusive to the extreme. She's the quiet, meek sister. She knows how to run and hide from uncomfortable situations. She's been friends with Killian and had a crush on him since she was a child. But Killian, being two years older than Sofia, grew up and away from her when she needed him the most. Years later, when Sofia takes a job to help Killian with his website and a program that will help his finances with his MMA gym, Killian hopes to make up for his past mistakes to Sofia. Sofia comes to terms with her past and faces it head on. She digs down deep for the strength she needs to face it and secrets that have the power to destroy her.

“That as angry as it made me, as unfair as it all seemed, it taught me that if he – this monster – gets to have his Happily Ever After here on earth, then the rest of us, the good ones who are left, deserve to have one, too.”

The emotion is written so real and at times painful to read, but it was so worth getting to the end.

“Did he know he was my rock and my hero from the first moment we met?”

I fell in love with this series from book one and I am ecstatic that I get to see more of the O'Brien Brothers. Not just because I get to see more about these brothers but for the fact I NEED to read Finn's story. I really hope Ms. Robson plans to write it. As painful as it will be I think Ms. Robson will do that story line justice.

You know an author has you hooked when you crave more of the world they've created. Ms. Robson has done that for me. This series was the first I have read this author but I can assure you it won't be my last.


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the third in the series, and I would suggest that you should read the other two first, as there is a lot of interesting back story – however, it makes absolute sense on its own too! I enjoyed the catching up with Teo and Evie in particular.

Sofia has always been the quiet, timid one – and with good reason. Killian the sibling's friend since childhood, still bears the guilt of why. Their love might overcome the fears and the guilt – but can they let it? Well, we certainly get to see the whole beautiful and ugly story play out before us, The tender scenes turn hotter and hotter, but then guilt pushes its way in again. I loved the push pull issues that made one think, and try and imagine how it could be any different.

If you like hot MMA alphas and damaged, but still fighting women, then this should be right up your street.


Also Available in Shattered Past Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Once Perfect blog post.


Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Once Loved blog post.




Cecy Robson is the New Adult author of Once Perfect, Once Loved, and Once Pure and the award-winning author of the Weird Girls urban fantasy romance series. A self-proclaimed professional napper, Cecy counts among her talents a jaw-dropping knowledge of useless trivia, the ability to make her hair big, and a knack for breaking into song despite her family’s vehement protests. A full-time writer, registered nurse, wife, and mother living in the Great Northwest, Cecy enjoys spending time with her family and silencing the yappy characters in her head by telling their stories.

Connect with Cecy

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Google+  ~  tsū



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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Once Pure (Shattered Past #3) by Cecy Robson to read and review for this tour.

2 comments:

  1. Thank you Shannan and Ruthie for taking the time to read and give so much thought to your reviews. I appreciate you hosting me and for the kind words regarding Once Pure. Shannan, Finn's book is third in line (following Curran and Declan's). The reason is, based on what happened (and what will happen) I needed to age him some since he's only 19 in Once Pure. His novel is tent. titled Once Damaged and will feature him and Sol.

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  2. Thank you for much for hosting and I am SOOO excited for more O'Briens!

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