Cut Too Deep Tour Stop!

 A woman traumatized by her past, beaten, battered, and unwilling to trust.

A man held captive by his greatest failure, lost, and self-destructive.

Letters that unexpectedly bind them together.

Is their bond strong enough to survive each other?

As a web of deceit is revealed, will they be able to determine what’s real, and what’s worth fighting for? Or will they crumble under the weight of secrets that cut too deep?

Can Miller forgive himself and move beyond his fear of failing the one he loves?

Can Hadley accept the love she desperately wants but doesn’t believe she deserves?

I just finished Cut Too Deep and it was an ok read for me.   I’m not sure why I wasn’t able to really get into it like some readers did but again it was ok.   What we have is Hadley, she is a terrified girl with a horrible past and is just trying to make her life better and keep her nose clean.   What she wants to do is dance but she cannot afford to do that so she works to make ends meet.  She is in “lust” with Miller.  She is not really sure who he is but always sees him where she works.  He has seen her and wants her but can tell that she is skittish.  They both have their secrets and what will happen when those secrets come out?  You will have to read and see….

I liked the story line but I didn’t like where it went.  I feel like it went into 5 different directions at the same time.  I thought this with the letter writing between Miller and Hadley was an original idea but once it came away from that, it fell short.  Too much in such a short book.  One thing that did bother me was the different point of views.  I am all for that when it is done right for me.  This was 2 to 3 people in a chapter.  When it is done like that I feel that you do not really get the character.  Maybe it is just me.

I liked Miller.  I thought he was sexy in his secretive way.  All he wanted to do was protect her and I am totally a sucker for that but I felt at times that he came off a little cheesy.   Hadley did go through a lot of problems.  I felt really bad for her and wanted nothing but the best for her.  I just felt at times she acted a little childish and whiny.   Overall there chemistry was good.  I just felt like it lacked sometimes.  I felt like I was missing something.

One thing I can say for sure is that I LOVED MAC.  I just thought he was funny and hilarious.  He was really there for Hadley when she needed him most and never asked too many questions.  He really was her only friend before the whole Miller romance.

At the end of the day, I know that it takes a lot for a person to come up with the storyline, characters, feelings, that sort of thing.  I honestly wouldn’t be able to do it.  I just wanted more.

In short, Hadley has had a crap life. She lived with an emotionally and physically abusive father who targeted both her and her mother until a tragic night when, at the age of eight, she found herself thrust into a foster care system that placed her in homes that perpetuated and worsened the cycle of abuse. While not all of the placements were in unhealthy environments, the nice homes were overshadowed by an abusive court-appointed guardian who used his position of authority to force her into a sexual relationship. When the reader first meets Hadley, it is glaringly obvious that while she has survived the wretched situation of her life, she has not thrived. And while her first meeting with Miller was intense, the tampon incident made the scene feel real and made me chuckle. As much as Miller’s sexual intensity frightens her, it also draws her to him and seeing him is the highlight of her day … and has been for three years. Unbeknownst to Hadley, Miller is just as aware of her as she is of him, but he is a patient man who recognizes her wounded soul and knows he must tread lightly.

When the author takes the story in a direction that enables Hadley to get to know Miller via letters and text messages, I was quite impressed. It was an original idea (at least one I have never encountered) and did not feel contrived considering who Miller is. As we learn throughout the book of all the little things that had to occur for their relationship to develop the way it did, I again felt the realism of the book. I will admit that I was surprised that the story occurred within the time frame of a year as there are so many things that Hadley had to endure and got to enjoy, that it felt longer time-wise. Because of the way their relationship developed, the reader is well into the book (close to 60%) before the two have sex. Readers with a sensitivity to sexual assault should proceed with caution as it is a topic in the book, but should also be aware that none of the sex scenes are described in a detailed or graphic nature.

While I enjoyed reading Cut Too Deep and liked the characters immensely, something fell a bit flat and kept this from being a great read for me. It wasn’t until the final couple of chapters that I realized what it was – for me, the transition from the author’s narrative to the character’s dialogue and internal thoughts was not smooth. Did this interfere with the flow of the story? Occasionally. Did it make this a bad read? Absolutely Not! I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of Ms. Bell’s work. There are so many connected sub-plots that run throughout the book that it is difficult to discuss specifics without taking the risk of revealing potential spoilers so I will simply leave it as saying that Cut Too Deep was a solid read.

 Amazon

Dear Ms. Walker,
I know exactly who you are. You’re the beautiful and intriguing young woman who shakes like a leaf when I get near you, but watches me with heated intensity every morning when I arrive to work as though you would like to undress me.
I’m pleased to learn the little voice in your head won out and you decided to mail your letter. Perhaps with distance between us, I won’t intimidate you, and we can get to know each other properly. I would very much like to know more about you.
I am receiving many letters, but let me put your mind at ease. I’m not opening any of them. I’m not interested in words from strangers that are obviously looking for ten tiny minutes of fame. Yours, however, spiked my curiosity. I wasn’t sure if it was the same Hadley Walker that brightens my mornings until I smelled the delicate perfume on the outside of the envelope, and knew with certainty it was you.
You would like to know what I miss the most about home. I’m a man. Your answer, Ms. Walker, is sex. I’m accustomed to having a woman in my bed. There are no women here, and it’s lonely. Would you be willing to keep me company? Fucking through words can be very erotic. Chances are, you squirmed in your seat, shocked by what I’ve written. Your panties are wet, and you’re reading the above sentence over again. Perhaps you’re cursing me, but it won’t stop you from reading on. You said you’re drawn to me, and I am rather enamored with you as well. There is nothing for you to be “curious” about. It’s purely sexual attraction that draws you to me and me to you. I’ve wanted to have you since the first time I saw you watching me. The other morning when your big doe eyes peered up at me, and you knew I’d caught you, I wanted to drag you into the elevator and fuck you until you screamed my name so loud, the entire building heard you. I’ve thought about nothing else since. I saw in your eyes that you wanted me to make you come right there in the building lobby. I’m hard thinking about it.
What do you say, Ms. Walker, would you care to have letter sex with me? When I’m free of this shit hole, I promise to deliver the real thing, and then you can determine if I’m still mesmerizing.
Regards,
Miller Genetti

K J Bell currently lives in California with her husband and three children. As a mother of three, when she’s not writing, she’s usually carting one of her children to their various activities.

She enjoys reading, and music, and is equally addicted to both.

Writing is a passion she simply can’t live without.

She loves hearing from her readers and can be found on various social media sites.

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