The Real Housewives of Romance: END OF THE INNOCENCE BY ALESSANDRA TORRE BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY

End of the Innocence

The Innocence Series (Book 3/3)

Released March 23, 2014

Synopsis

He thought I owned him. He thought he loved me, that I was enough. But this animal, this sex god who could drive me crazy and steal my heart in the same breath, he would never be fully mine. It was impossible. No one ever owns a God.

Selene's Review

4.5 - WOWSA! - Smooches

I have to just say it .... I LOVED the conclusion to Brad and Julia's story. This book alone took this series from being "ok" to being something I'd totally recommend. End of the Innocence is the final book in the Innocence series and ends the three-way, mob-invested antics of two characters that grabbed a hold of me and would not let go.

If you have not read the series, this review might be a bit spoiler-esque so I'll give a quick spoiler free rundown of the series before focusing on this book in greater detail. Thirty-four year old Brad De Luca (rich, hot, successful, sex god attorney) meets Julia Campbell, twenty-one year old college senior while she is interning at his law firm. Julia receives multiple warnings to steer clear of the man whore that is Brad De Luca and she tries, sort of, at first, to avoid his advances but Brad is persistent and persuasive and, well, irresistable. Julia does not stand a chance. After a weekend in Vegas (one that totally soured me towards Brad), Julia discovers she might not be the "good girl" she always thought she was and getting involved with Brad might not be such a bad idea after all ..... despite his sexual "tendencies."

Brad exposes Julia to the world of kink by introducing her to activities typically not deemed "normal" for a monogamous couple. They are both surprised how Julia embraces Brad's lifestyle. And just when you think book 2 is going to be an all out sex-filled kinkfest, things take a big u-turn and go into a completely different direction. It wasn't bad necessarily, just a totally different vibe than the first book.

Julia finds herself in grave danger and Brad finds out just how far he'll go to protect her. And it's FAR!

And now we come to the third book in the series and ** SPOILERS ** if you are new to this story so stop reading now! = )

Wowsa! This book seriously grabbed me by balls (or would have if I actually had some) and would not let go. End of the Innocence is the perfect mesh of the differing vibes from the first two books .... Brad and Julia continuing to explore sexually and the dangers brought on by Brad's family each set the tone of the story all while Brad and Julia prepare for their big wedding day.

Julia and Brad's engagement is anything but uneventful. Julia is forced to "come out" at work and the fallout from being with Brad is worse than she expected (see excerpt below!). Julia and Brad also confront Brad's father over Thanksgiving and it goes TERRIBLY.

"For someone who owes me her life, you are a nasty little bitch." - Mr. Magiano

This forces Brad to once again severs ties with his family.

One thing I wasn't expecting and that I loved about this book was the fact that Alessandra took Brad and Julia's sex life to a different level. More than just bringing a third party into their relationship the story also analyzes the emotional impact that might have on them.

How different would reality be? Or was it the aftermath I should be considering? The doubts, insecurities? How much of a role would they play? - Julia

My fear was that she was doing this for me, thinking that this is something I needed, I wanted. My fear was that she hated this, and I was killing a piece of her sexual fire with every stroke into this stranger. - Brad

Alessandra's writing in SPOT ON in this book and dare I say much, much hotter than the first two. I love that it's not just all about sex with Brad and Julia .... there is suspense and danger that keeps you on high alert. All traces of the Brad that I disliked in the first book are long gone.

I hope she never knows how vulnerable I am. it is terrifying to me. I hate it - hate how much I love her. I never planned for this. I wanted a companion, and instead turned over my entire heart. - Brad

Brad has completely redeemed himself and is the stuff book boyfriends are made of (well, threesome lifestyle aside!).

This series has it all .... it's super steamy, it's well written, has characters you can't help but attach to, and is dangerous to boot! If threesomes aren't a deal-breaker for you, I have no doubt you will enjoy this series! <3!

Excerpt

7:45 a.m. The doomed walk of the dead through the lobby. I shielded my ring finger with my purse and smiled a brief hello to Ancient Dorothy, bee-lining for the elevators. I rode up alone, taking advantage of the silence to whisper a short prayer—apologizing for any recent sins and praying for compassion.

I was making coffee when the first person noticed the ring. It was hard to miss, sparkling brilliantly under overhead fluorescents, and Beverly, the wing’s secretary, pounced on it like a kitten going after catnip. “What is that?” She dropped her lunch box in the fridge and grabbed my hand with both of hers, oblivious to the dirty coffee filter I was holding, and I watched in irritation as used grounds flew everywhere, spotting the white tile with black specks. Her squat body was rooted to the ground, and she gripped my hand with a warrior’s intensity, her eyes fixated on the ring like it was a steaming hot funnel cake. I tried to gently tug my hand away, but it was like trying to pull Excalibur’s sword from the stone.

“I didn’t know you were dating anyone!” Beverly’s eyes left the stone and focused on me intently. “Did you get back together with your ex?”

“Errr ... No.” I smiled, though I think it came off more like a grimace. “This is someone new.”

“And you’re already engaged?” She tilted her head at me, puzzled, and I cursed the day I ever shared a moment of personal discussion with this woman, or any other creature on this floor.

“Yes. It is quite sudden.” I looked pointedly at the deflated coffee filter, and she released my hand with a quick, hurried movement.

“Oh my goodness, dear, I am sorry.”

I smiled and moved to the trash, dumping the filter and hoping she would leave.

“That is quite a ring. What does your fiancé do?” She moved closer, officially entering my personal bubble.

Aw crap. “He’s an attorney.” I said offhand, washing my hands as noisily as possible, then started opening and closing cabinets, trying to put as many items and sounds between Beverly and me as possible. “I really can’t chat, Beverly. I’ve got to get this coffee on.”

“An attorney!” She beamed proudly. “Well, I know lots of attorneys. You know, I’ve been here thirteen years, and our cases involve firms from all over the city. He’s got to be a new attorney, maybe he interned here. What’s his name?”

I filled up the water reservoir, making a face and pointing to my ear, as if the pathetic pressure from the faucet was a gushing flow of Niagara proportions. That didn’t work. She waited patiently by the sink, and the minute I turned the faucet off, she spoke. “What’s his name?”

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. I was out of options. “I think you probably know him,” I said brightly, adding the water container to the coffee pot, and scooping out fresh grounds. “He works in the East Wing. His name is Brad.”

I really didn’t want to look at her, didn’t want to see whatever expression crossed her face, but my eyes were drawn to her without bidding, as if they had flipped my subconscious the bird and did exactly what they wanted to because ohmygodthiswasgoingtobetoogoodtomiss. She tilted her head, probably trying to think what peon in the East Wing was named Brad, because it couldn’t possibly be the Brad, and I watched with slow horror the moment her mind came up blank and rested on the only possible conclusion.

She stilled, her sturdy body freezing, and teetered a bit, sticking a hand out and grabbing the counter. Her face took on an odd expression, somewhere between smelling something sour and being constipated. It contorted for three long seconds, in which her mouth opened and closed twice, no words coming out. Finally, she swallowed hard and tried again.

“Brad De Luca?” Her voice still held a glimmer of hope, a possibility that she might be mistaken, that there was some new guy, some pencil-pushing nerd stuck in a small corner of divorce, who she hadn’t yet heard of. Some Brad Smith, or Taylor, or anything other than De Luca. I hated to squash that hope, almost felt a civil duty to lie. Almost.

I finished the damn coffee-making process and pushed START with an almost proud finality. Made it through that alive. Then, I turned back to Beverly. “Yes. Brad De Luca. Good, you do know him.” We did this weird country line dance shuffle where I tried to get around her, and she unintentionally kept getting in my way, and then I finally escaped, and was halfway out the door when I felt her iron grip on my arm. I turned, pasting a bright smile on my face. “Yes?”

I was yanked backward so hard I think one of my heels partially came off. Unsure, confused Beverly was gone, and in her place was a court marshal of Judge Judy proportions. She shut the kitchen door in a swift motion—I didn’t even know the kitchen had a door—and stuck both hands on her hips, squaring off to me. “You. Are Engaged. To Brad. De Luca.” She spoke slowly, drawing out the sentence excruciatingly, and seemed to physically grow bigger with every word.

“Yes.” I tried to maintain a cheerful disposition, but the air in the room was thick, and I was a little worried she might eat me for lunch instead of whatever was in her polka dotted lunchbox.

About the Author

Alessandra Torre is a new author who focuses on contemporary erotica. Her first book, Blindfolded Innocence, was published in July 2012, and was an Erotica #1 Bestseller for two weeks. The sequel to Blindfolded, Masked Innocence, will be released in February 2014.

Alessandra lives in the Southern United States and is married, with one young child. She enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and playing with her dogs. Her favorite authors include Lisa Gardner, Gillian Flynn, and Jennifer Crusie. Learn more about Alessandra on her website at www.alessandratorre.com, or you can find her on Twitter (@ReadAlessandra) or her Facebook fanpage.