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The Righteous and the Wicked
Small moments can seem insignificant until they change the course of a life forever. The sound of a bulldozer. A chance meeting at a gas station. A gust of wind through a chime. Benign events become something more when viewed through the lens of fate.
Emma Santori is a prisoner of tragic memories. Locked in a spiral of depression, she leads a desolate and empty life, trapped in her decrepit home. Rooted in routine, she’s numb and vacant. As a lonely Catholic school teacher, her only joy comes from her young students. One Saturday morning, her isolation is infiltrated by a mysterious architect building a home beside hers.
That man is Eric Wilder and he’s keeping a secret—a secret that’s destroying his life. Filled with guilt and self-loathing, he’s forced to move often. He chooses the small northeastern town of Pine Lake as his latest refuge, and hopes to make a successful attempt at starting his life over. As always, he’s unable to make that happen.
That all changes when he meets Emma.
She finds herself drawn to Eric when she accidentally bumps into him, but Eric’s unfazed by their first meeting. When a gust of wind brings these two people together once again, Emma discovers Eric’s secret. She’s forced to battle between her Catholic faith and her desire for this stranger.
Their attraction is intense and they soon discover they’re each lonely and longing for what the other has to offer. As their friendship blossoms, Emma realizes her passion and lust for Eric are the remedy to her depression. Eric discovers his feelings for Emma are the only antidote to his secret burden.
They begin an erotic journey, which leads these beautifully broken people to discover that love can be both righteous and wicked.
Emma Santori is a prisoner of tragic memories. Locked in a spiral of depression, she leads a desolate and empty life, trapped in her decrepit home. Rooted in routine, she’s numb and vacant. As a lonely Catholic school teacher, her only joy comes from her young students. One Saturday morning, her isolation is infiltrated by a mysterious architect building a home beside hers.
That man is Eric Wilder and he’s keeping a secret—a secret that’s destroying his life. Filled with guilt and self-loathing, he’s forced to move often. He chooses the small northeastern town of Pine Lake as his latest refuge, and hopes to make a successful attempt at starting his life over. As always, he’s unable to make that happen.
That all changes when he meets Emma.
She finds herself drawn to Eric when she accidentally bumps into him, but Eric’s unfazed by their first meeting. When a gust of wind brings these two people together once again, Emma discovers Eric’s secret. She’s forced to battle between her Catholic faith and her desire for this stranger.
Their attraction is intense and they soon discover they’re each lonely and longing for what the other has to offer. As their friendship blossoms, Emma realizes her passion and lust for Eric are the remedy to her depression. Eric discovers his feelings for Emma are the only antidote to his secret burden.
They begin an erotic journey, which leads these beautifully broken people to discover that love can be both righteous and wicked.
188 pages, ebook
First published April 9, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 18, 2016
This is not for me. I regret paying $4.99 for it. I see since I bought it, the price of the book has dropped to $3.49!!! UGH and I should have done my research and seen that majority of the reviews were ARCs.
I was enjoying the story and willing to look past certain things like: Major spoilers even though I did not finish it.
The story was interesting until it wasn't and just got uncomfortable for me.
This may work for you, but it did not work for me. This is the way I perceived the story. You may have felt that the characters had good reasons for their behavior and actions. Reading is subjective. I am just stating how I feel. The things they did once they were "together: bothered me, but it may not bother you.
I was enjoying the story and willing to look past certain things like: Major spoilers even though I did not finish it.
The story was interesting until it wasn't and just got uncomfortable for me.
This may work for you, but it did not work for me. This is the way I perceived the story. You may have felt that the characters had good reasons for their behavior and actions. Reading is subjective. I am just stating how I feel. The things they did once they were "together: bothered me, but it may not bother you.
December 11, 2014
4.5 stars!
There is a fantastic new author on the scene and her name is April Emerson! Her debut novel absolutely blew me away with its nuanced writing and very original voice.
THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED tells the story of two very different people, shy, quiet, devout Emma, and sexy, compulsive, womanizer Eric. But the story quickly blooms into an intensely erotic and sensual story about two people really saving each other. Emma is an observant Catholic who teaches parochial school, has a few close friends but is very lonely and wounded. She is immediately and intensely attracted to bad-boy Eric, who has a very dangerous, deeply-rooted addiction (this is reveled early on in the story.)
“Father, why would God bring this man into my life if He didn’t want me to feel this?”
What happens when two very different people with very dark secrets come together? The themes of good and evil are explored here by way of some scorching hot and erotic scenes. The way in which Eric’s compulsions and addictions are dealt with make this a very different and unique story. Ms. Emerson writes in a third-person POV which works perfectly for this incredibly creative story.
Eric and Emma’s imperfections allowed them to find something perfect, the bad cleared a path for the good, and every single moment was worth it.
The scenes between Eric and Emma are incredibly sensual and very erotic. The rural setting is perfect for this story and there is also some very nerve-wracking suspense as well. This is a fabulous, very adult, very erotic romance, that had me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I absolutely love Ms. Emerson’s writing style and I can’t wait to read more from her. Definitely a writer to watch!
There is a fantastic new author on the scene and her name is April Emerson! Her debut novel absolutely blew me away with its nuanced writing and very original voice.
THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED tells the story of two very different people, shy, quiet, devout Emma, and sexy, compulsive, womanizer Eric. But the story quickly blooms into an intensely erotic and sensual story about two people really saving each other. Emma is an observant Catholic who teaches parochial school, has a few close friends but is very lonely and wounded. She is immediately and intensely attracted to bad-boy Eric, who has a very dangerous, deeply-rooted addiction (this is reveled early on in the story.)
“Father, why would God bring this man into my life if He didn’t want me to feel this?”
What happens when two very different people with very dark secrets come together? The themes of good and evil are explored here by way of some scorching hot and erotic scenes. The way in which Eric’s compulsions and addictions are dealt with make this a very different and unique story. Ms. Emerson writes in a third-person POV which works perfectly for this incredibly creative story.
Eric and Emma’s imperfections allowed them to find something perfect, the bad cleared a path for the good, and every single moment was worth it.
The scenes between Eric and Emma are incredibly sensual and very erotic. The rural setting is perfect for this story and there is also some very nerve-wracking suspense as well. This is a fabulous, very adult, very erotic romance, that had me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I absolutely love Ms. Emerson’s writing style and I can’t wait to read more from her. Definitely a writer to watch!
Read
February 5, 2018Full of badly contrived angst and under-developed characters . . . .
April 2, 2014
"Father, why would God bring this man into my life if He didn't want me to feel this?"
Emma is alone, abandoned by her husband after a tragedy without even a goodbye or a note. She is a shell of a woman just going through the motions each day, depressed and very lonely.
Eric is running away from demons that he can't seem to hide from. Disgusted with his life and his urges he hopes that building a new home in a new town will help provide a distraction from his desires.
When Emma keeps seeing the same man around town she finds herself drawn to him. Watching and listening she soon discovers his wicked secret and where most women would be turned off , Emma is turned on. Thoughts and desires that she has never had before start to permeate her mind and she starts to feel again. When this sexy stranger turns out to be her new neighbor a friendship starts and a pact is made. When Eric feels his demon calling Emma wants to be the one he turns to for help. This leads to some very passionate encounters that I absolutely loved. I hate to admit but lately I find myself skipping over a lot of the sex scenes in books because they are all the same; wet, dripping, throbbing, blah.. blah..blah… In The Righteous and the Wicked author April Emerson did a wonderful job a creating very erotic and sensual moments between Emma and Eric. It was beautiful to read and I didn’t want to miss a single word.
As the relationship grows and intensifies both characters undergo moral and emotional dilemmas. Emma questions her faith and the path that God has set out for her. Eric questions himself, is he good enough for Emma, will his demons end up hurting her, can he be what she needs and deserves? There are also several outside factors trying to pull them apart and cause drama.
I appreciated that authors realism in which she portrayed Eric’s struggles. His disgust and pain at what he is doing, the compulsion that he tries so hard to fight was intense. Emma’s transition from lonely and timid Catholic school teacher to a passionate and sexual woman was very erotic. I am typically not one for religious messages in book but Emma’s faith and subsequent struggle was portrayed well and not overly preachy.
I think the hardest part of this book for me was the third person POV style of writing. I typically prefer first person just because I feel it helps showcase more of an emotional depth for the characters and helps me feel more connected. It took me some time to get acclimated to the writing but overall the bones of the story were great and I really loved the premise behind the characters. It was unique and kept me riveted to each page.
January 20, 2014
3 Stars- I really wanted to like this book. It premise sounded so interesting, but I felt detached from the characters some what and I really think a first person POV would have made for a better read.
Emma seems lost and like she is living her own personal lie. She is numb-there is some definite faith issues and they are part of the story line as Emma herself is struggling with as she must hold true to the vow she made.
Eric has secrets and he doesn't care who he has in his bed to feed his beast. There is some intriguing back and forth between Emma and Eric. Emma is like a voyeur with Eric and his "feeding" and finds herself more and more twisted over what she is feeling. She even finds herself in confession over the feelings of him and what her lust.
Eric's scenes are intense as he tries to take care of his needs and they are hot! I even feel like a voyeur in those scenes. But Eric, is also a user, he gets what he needs and then he moves onward.
When Eric and Emma discover they are neighbors, Eric is surprised as he thought he lived next to an old spinster with her notes when he takes down her wind chimes. Eric only sees darkness but his times with Emma he starts to see light and starts to feel the darkness lift from him, she started as what seemed as a challenge. When Emma starts to allow herself to "sin" with Eric it is very hot, but there is always this nagging feeling that things are not what they seem. When Emma's past comes to finally claim her as she has been wanting it is when she has already given to Eric. Eric finds his peace inside of Emma and her love, he feels things for her that have never happened before. He suddenly cares about what she feels and what she wants and not just giving in to his internal struggle. Emma's past throws everything in chaos and Eric is once again lost. When he finally sees where he believes she belongs, he knows that he must heal for himself and not with using Emma as an anchor as she is not his.
Eric is not an easy character to love as he is a creature of habit but as he deals with his demons you can finally see him break through his struggle. Emma also grows throughout this book and finally finds her back bone and stands up for herself especially with Aaron. There are so many variables out to break Emma and Eric and their own personal struggles aren't even the biggest factors to pull them apart. It a book about fighting your own demons and finding where you truly belong.
This honest review was done in exchange for an ARC through Netgalley from The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House
Emma seems lost and like she is living her own personal lie. She is numb-there is some definite faith issues and they are part of the story line as Emma herself is struggling with as she must hold true to the vow she made.
Eric has secrets and he doesn't care who he has in his bed to feed his beast. There is some intriguing back and forth between Emma and Eric. Emma is like a voyeur with Eric and his "feeding" and finds herself more and more twisted over what she is feeling. She even finds herself in confession over the feelings of him and what her lust.
Eric's scenes are intense as he tries to take care of his needs and they are hot! I even feel like a voyeur in those scenes. But Eric, is also a user, he gets what he needs and then he moves onward.
When Eric and Emma discover they are neighbors, Eric is surprised as he thought he lived next to an old spinster with her notes when he takes down her wind chimes. Eric only sees darkness but his times with Emma he starts to see light and starts to feel the darkness lift from him, she started as what seemed as a challenge. When Emma starts to allow herself to "sin" with Eric it is very hot, but there is always this nagging feeling that things are not what they seem. When Emma's past comes to finally claim her as she has been wanting it is when she has already given to Eric. Eric finds his peace inside of Emma and her love, he feels things for her that have never happened before. He suddenly cares about what she feels and what she wants and not just giving in to his internal struggle. Emma's past throws everything in chaos and Eric is once again lost. When he finally sees where he believes she belongs, he knows that he must heal for himself and not with using Emma as an anchor as she is not his.
Eric is not an easy character to love as he is a creature of habit but as he deals with his demons you can finally see him break through his struggle. Emma also grows throughout this book and finally finds her back bone and stands up for herself especially with Aaron. There are so many variables out to break Emma and Eric and their own personal struggles aren't even the biggest factors to pull them apart. It a book about fighting your own demons and finding where you truly belong.
This honest review was done in exchange for an ARC through Netgalley from The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House
January 23, 2014
I received a copy of The Righteous and the Wicked from Netgalley.
This was a truly heartbreaking and beautiful love story.
Emma is Broken. Living alone in her father’s run down old house she moves through her days like a zombie. Everything in the world is shattered and she clings to her faith in order to make some sense of it all.
Eric is Broken. Constantly running from his own demons, after each project he moves on to another town where no one knows him. He hunts in the darkness for his next victim, his hunger never satisfied.
This was in no way a light and fluffy love story but what these two truly damaged people find in each other was almost poetic. The author does an excellent job with sometimes frequent changes in POV, never becoming confusing. A true standalone this book has a great HEA ending. I definitely recommend this for any reader looking for something with real emotional depth.
Thanks so much to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
This was a truly heartbreaking and beautiful love story.
Emma is Broken. Living alone in her father’s run down old house she moves through her days like a zombie. Everything in the world is shattered and she clings to her faith in order to make some sense of it all.
Eric is Broken. Constantly running from his own demons, after each project he moves on to another town where no one knows him. He hunts in the darkness for his next victim, his hunger never satisfied.
This was in no way a light and fluffy love story but what these two truly damaged people find in each other was almost poetic. The author does an excellent job with sometimes frequent changes in POV, never becoming confusing. A true standalone this book has a great HEA ending. I definitely recommend this for any reader looking for something with real emotional depth.
Thanks so much to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
October 17, 2014
I loved, loved, loved this book! The Righteous and the Wicked
Emma Santori lives alone in a house on an isolated street and one Saturday, she wakes up to someone bulldozing the empty plot of land next to her. Little does she know, her whole world is about to change. Emma has a past she can’t quite forget and goes through life as a Catholic school teacher and the same old routine everyday. But she isn’t really living.
One day, she bumps into mysterious Eric Wilder and is instantly captivated with what she describes as his “Stormy Eyes”. Who knew that a wind chime would be the one thing that starts the beginning of their somewhat strained relationship?
Eric holds a secret and unbeknownst to Emma, she stumbles upon his secret and she can’t help herself, and begins to follow Eric without realizing it.
Emma and Eric become fast friends and even though she tells him about her past fairly right away, he tries to test telling her a little bit of his secret, but can’t.
Once Emma tells Eric she knows his secret, he gets angry and leaves. They go without speaking for weeks, and one day Emma falls through her porch and yells for Eric, needing his help. They have their first intimate encounter, and it is HOT!
So, they both kind of come to an agreement on how Eric’s secret will continue and how Emma can help him with it. How she helps him is so incredibly sexy!
I feel sympathy for Eric and his secret, yet feel the same way about Emma and her past. It’s almost as if they were meant to meet each other. Like for a specific purpose.
Two people come into the picture and turn both their lives upside down. Through it all, Emma and Eric rise above the madness and find strength in each other.
I give this five stars and will be re-reading this for years to come!
Emma Santori lives alone in a house on an isolated street and one Saturday, she wakes up to someone bulldozing the empty plot of land next to her. Little does she know, her whole world is about to change. Emma has a past she can’t quite forget and goes through life as a Catholic school teacher and the same old routine everyday. But she isn’t really living.
One day, she bumps into mysterious Eric Wilder and is instantly captivated with what she describes as his “Stormy Eyes”. Who knew that a wind chime would be the one thing that starts the beginning of their somewhat strained relationship?
Eric holds a secret and unbeknownst to Emma, she stumbles upon his secret and she can’t help herself, and begins to follow Eric without realizing it.
Emma and Eric become fast friends and even though she tells him about her past fairly right away, he tries to test telling her a little bit of his secret, but can’t.
Once Emma tells Eric she knows his secret, he gets angry and leaves. They go without speaking for weeks, and one day Emma falls through her porch and yells for Eric, needing his help. They have their first intimate encounter, and it is HOT!
So, they both kind of come to an agreement on how Eric’s secret will continue and how Emma can help him with it. How she helps him is so incredibly sexy!
I feel sympathy for Eric and his secret, yet feel the same way about Emma and her past. It’s almost as if they were meant to meet each other. Like for a specific purpose.
Two people come into the picture and turn both their lives upside down. Through it all, Emma and Eric rise above the madness and find strength in each other.
I give this five stars and will be re-reading this for years to come!
April 13, 2014
This is not your typical romance novel. There are no white knights in shining armor. No one running in to save the damsel in distress. This is a story of two damaged people finding comfort in one another.
Emma is heartbroken. Her marriage has fallen apart and she has returned home. Her days are filled with teaching at a Catholic school and her nights lonely. Eric is a man with an addition. He craves the physical release of being with a woman. Through their own darkness they find a light in each other.
This is not a flowers and romance book. It is dark and very real. With a deeply religious vein running through the novel, each individual looks for their own salvation. How they find it is not typical.
I was very surprised and pleased when I read this book. I enjoyed the writing style. The author allowed the reader to see the inner struggles of each character. The character development, plot, and writing style were very well written and kept me interested. What I enjoyed the most was the uniqueness of the story. It was not formulaic.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a different type of romance novel. I give this book four stars.
Emma is heartbroken. Her marriage has fallen apart and she has returned home. Her days are filled with teaching at a Catholic school and her nights lonely. Eric is a man with an addition. He craves the physical release of being with a woman. Through their own darkness they find a light in each other.
This is not a flowers and romance book. It is dark and very real. With a deeply religious vein running through the novel, each individual looks for their own salvation. How they find it is not typical.
I was very surprised and pleased when I read this book. I enjoyed the writing style. The author allowed the reader to see the inner struggles of each character. The character development, plot, and writing style were very well written and kept me interested. What I enjoyed the most was the uniqueness of the story. It was not formulaic.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a different type of romance novel. I give this book four stars.
July 26, 2016
**ARC courtesy of the NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
This is a difficult one to review, It had an interesting angle I haven't come across before and I think ultimately this is what me to put the book on hold.
I found Emma although, quiet, lonely and depressed a somewhat likeable character. She is a catholic teacher of young students who goes through her day by going through the motions until she gets a new neighbour, Eric. He is filled with guilt and self loathing and has a side to his character which he feels will make Emma run a mile but is a major source of attraction to her instead.
Together they forge a somewhat relationship which is what I was unable to get to grips with, they both have so much going on - personally, together and with outside influences also getting in the mix at times it becomes a bit too heavy.
I enjoyed the style of writing and descriptions from the author and although I have put the book on hold I will endeavour to finish it and update my review.
This is a difficult one to review, It had an interesting angle I haven't come across before and I think ultimately this is what me to put the book on hold.
I found Emma although, quiet, lonely and depressed a somewhat likeable character. She is a catholic teacher of young students who goes through her day by going through the motions until she gets a new neighbour, Eric. He is filled with guilt and self loathing and has a side to his character which he feels will make Emma run a mile but is a major source of attraction to her instead.
Together they forge a somewhat relationship which is what I was unable to get to grips with, they both have so much going on - personally, together and with outside influences also getting in the mix at times it becomes a bit too heavy.
I enjoyed the style of writing and descriptions from the author and although I have put the book on hold I will endeavour to finish it and update my review.
July 6, 2015
I work for the publisher that produced this book.
I first read this book when it was entered in a TWCS Competition - this book was the winning entrant.
I was a judge for the competition and I loved the story from the beginning - before it was ever marked to be a TWCS publication - and I love it still.
There is some head hopping… but I'm fine with that. I actually prefer it, as it gives a complete insider view of a character's thoughts, feelings and motivations - which I find deadly exciting. I only mention the head hopping as I know it irritates some people.
If you like erotica and you like it HOT, put this on your to do list.
C
I first read this book when it was entered in a TWCS Competition - this book was the winning entrant.
I was a judge for the competition and I loved the story from the beginning - before it was ever marked to be a TWCS publication - and I love it still.
There is some head hopping… but I'm fine with that. I actually prefer it, as it gives a complete insider view of a character's thoughts, feelings and motivations - which I find deadly exciting. I only mention the head hopping as I know it irritates some people.
If you like erotica and you like it HOT, put this on your to do list.
C
April 20, 2014
This is the story of two people that are broken, for very different reasons and who connect and manage to see the truth that lies within them. This is a story about redemption and forgiveness. About love and acceptance. It kept me engaged and curious about how this would all unfold. Job well done for this debut book from Mrs Emerson. Looking forward to read more from her.
September 1, 2016
4.5 stars. Almost a 5 star rating - I just had a lot of questions when I finished. Other than that, beautiful story and very well written.
April 5, 2015
you know you're reading a really good book when you need to take a break at some point and try to absorb all the feelings. this book is so good. well written and the characters are perfectly made
April 13, 2014
3.5 stars
September 30, 2014
I got this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review...
alright, i first have to say that I would have loved this book, but I feel like it was trying really to hard
this story follows two people. One of which is a good christian woman named Emma. She is a teacher at a christian school, and was living the straight and narrow, but there was a problem. she was depressed. She had every right to be. Her husband just up and left her. no note, no warnings, just vanished. It has been almost a year now, and her friends are trying to get her in the dating game. She doesn't want to date. All she wants to do is sleep, but she cant because her new neighbor makes tons of noise on saturday mornings. She thought, this is war. One night when she was out with her friends she couldn't take her eyes off this attractive man. He has a swagger to him that he could get any girl that he wanted. He was dancing with a girl very inappropriately and she was getting turned on. She knew it wasn't right, but she had to follow them. She stood outside the bathroom and listened to them having sex. She liked it!
the second person who is followed in this book is a sex addict named Eric. He was building a house out in the country because he needed a change in the area Also, his best friend was getting married and he was the best man. Every time he went to his house he gave his best friend's fiance the creeps. The look he gives her, he knows that he could sleep with her if he wanted. The problem is he doesn't want to be that way. he try to hide the beast inside him, but when it gets loose he has to go to the bar and find his next victim. He was doing fine until one night when he was trying to sleep his neighbors wind chime kept him up. He was going to take care of that..
as you can probable tell this two are neighbors. they will start on a little tit or tat about his construction and her wind chime. She realizes that he is the man from the bar who sleeps around. She is attracted to him and wants him. He doesn't know yet that she watches him, but knows that nothing can come in between them because she is innocent. Emma keeps pushing Eric till he finally caves and they go on a date. Eric then realizes that She is his stepping stone. he needs her to get over this addiction. Emma knows how she can solve his problem and wants to help him.
meanwhile her friends are excited to meet this mystery man that she keeps talking about until her best friend realizes who her new boyfriend is and she is going to take matters into her own hands... also, their is a real estate agent who wants Eric. she knows what kind of guy he is and she is that kind of girl. She is married, but likes to get around if you know what i mean! she is determined to get with Eric and she will do anything to get him. So she does the only things she knows how. She finds Emma's ex husband and makes up a story.
so now Emma has a dilemma, things are getting really serous with Eric. they are going to the wedding together and Eric has a big announcement for her. that was until Emma's ex husband shows up and he get realizes that he is no good for her. so , he takes off... will Emma figure out what she wants out of life? will get go after Eric or stay with her husband??
alright, i first have to say that I would have loved this book, but I feel like it was trying really to hard
this story follows two people. One of which is a good christian woman named Emma. She is a teacher at a christian school, and was living the straight and narrow, but there was a problem. she was depressed. She had every right to be. Her husband just up and left her. no note, no warnings, just vanished. It has been almost a year now, and her friends are trying to get her in the dating game. She doesn't want to date. All she wants to do is sleep, but she cant because her new neighbor makes tons of noise on saturday mornings. She thought, this is war. One night when she was out with her friends she couldn't take her eyes off this attractive man. He has a swagger to him that he could get any girl that he wanted. He was dancing with a girl very inappropriately and she was getting turned on. She knew it wasn't right, but she had to follow them. She stood outside the bathroom and listened to them having sex. She liked it!
the second person who is followed in this book is a sex addict named Eric. He was building a house out in the country because he needed a change in the area Also, his best friend was getting married and he was the best man. Every time he went to his house he gave his best friend's fiance the creeps. The look he gives her, he knows that he could sleep with her if he wanted. The problem is he doesn't want to be that way. he try to hide the beast inside him, but when it gets loose he has to go to the bar and find his next victim. He was doing fine until one night when he was trying to sleep his neighbors wind chime kept him up. He was going to take care of that..
as you can probable tell this two are neighbors. they will start on a little tit or tat about his construction and her wind chime. She realizes that he is the man from the bar who sleeps around. She is attracted to him and wants him. He doesn't know yet that she watches him, but knows that nothing can come in between them because she is innocent. Emma keeps pushing Eric till he finally caves and they go on a date. Eric then realizes that She is his stepping stone. he needs her to get over this addiction. Emma knows how she can solve his problem and wants to help him.
meanwhile her friends are excited to meet this mystery man that she keeps talking about until her best friend realizes who her new boyfriend is and she is going to take matters into her own hands... also, their is a real estate agent who wants Eric. she knows what kind of guy he is and she is that kind of girl. She is married, but likes to get around if you know what i mean! she is determined to get with Eric and she will do anything to get him. So she does the only things she knows how. She finds Emma's ex husband and makes up a story.
so now Emma has a dilemma, things are getting really serous with Eric. they are going to the wedding together and Eric has a big announcement for her. that was until Emma's ex husband shows up and he get realizes that he is no good for her. so , he takes off... will Emma figure out what she wants out of life? will get go after Eric or stay with her husband??
April 17, 2014
4.5 Stars!
Wow! I'm SO happy I got a chance to read this book. At first it started a bit slow for me, but even so, I couldn't help but feel extremely intrigued. Both main characters had stories to tell...different, complex stories that I sure as hell wanted to know about. I kept turning the pages, wanting to see what happened next.
Emma was a broken, lost soul. She wasn't really living, but existing...if that.The memory of what she once had haunted her beyond belief. It crippled any chance of her being able to even consider having a happy and normal life.
Eric was haunted by a secret that never allowed him to settle down and be happy in one place. He was never allowed to establish a life burden-free. So he moved. He picked up and moved when things 'stopped working for him'. Until Pine Lake. Until Emma.
He couldn't help but really see the good in her. He knew she was different to what he was used to and for that fact, he had to stay away. Easier said that done. Both Emma and Eric were drawn to each other. They both made each other want things they had never even dreamed of. Surprised by these different emotions, they started out as friends. But that quickly changed. The desire they felt for each other won the battle. They were unable to resist each other. But see, that is exactly what they both needed. Eric and Emma were saving each other without even realizing.
Eric's possessive side toward Emma was hot. Heck...who am I kidding? Everything about Eric was HOT. He was a tortured, broken hero and I loved every second of his journey. It was made really clear how his secret burdened him and how Emma was in many ways, his saving grace...his happily ever after -- which is why I rooted for them from the very beginning.
Emma's past didn't exactly stay in the past, nor did Eric's. This caused some angst throughout the story line and some definite heartache....and I loved that! I absolutely love books that make me feel and this one sure made me feel a lot of different emotions. I seriously kept turning the pages, curious to see how Eric's and Emma's story would unfold.
All in all The Righteous & The Wicked was a great book. It was written really well and had a natural and smooth flow. The characters developed wonderfully and grew in ways that really made me love them even more. Towards the end, I was extremely happy to see Emma and Eric's story come full circle. My heart was happy to see them FINALLY get their well deserved happily ever after.
If you're looking for an intriguing and hot read, The Righteous & The Wicked is the book for you!
Blog Tour: http://bit.ly/1teiDyW
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1ndUFCn
Wow! I'm SO happy I got a chance to read this book. At first it started a bit slow for me, but even so, I couldn't help but feel extremely intrigued. Both main characters had stories to tell...different, complex stories that I sure as hell wanted to know about. I kept turning the pages, wanting to see what happened next.
"It's time to make new memories"
Emma was a broken, lost soul. She wasn't really living, but existing...if that.The memory of what she once had haunted her beyond belief. It crippled any chance of her being able to even consider having a happy and normal life.
Eric was haunted by a secret that never allowed him to settle down and be happy in one place. He was never allowed to establish a life burden-free. So he moved. He picked up and moved when things 'stopped working for him'. Until Pine Lake. Until Emma.
"She came into his life by accident, a woman as lonely and lost as himself."
He couldn't help but really see the good in her. He knew she was different to what he was used to and for that fact, he had to stay away. Easier said that done. Both Emma and Eric were drawn to each other. They both made each other want things they had never even dreamed of. Surprised by these different emotions, they started out as friends. But that quickly changed. The desire they felt for each other won the battle. They were unable to resist each other. But see, that is exactly what they both needed. Eric and Emma were saving each other without even realizing.
"You're mine, all mine."
Eric's possessive side toward Emma was hot. Heck...who am I kidding? Everything about Eric was HOT. He was a tortured, broken hero and I loved every second of his journey. It was made really clear how his secret burdened him and how Emma was in many ways, his saving grace...his happily ever after -- which is why I rooted for them from the very beginning.
Emma's past didn't exactly stay in the past, nor did Eric's. This caused some angst throughout the story line and some definite heartache....and I loved that! I absolutely love books that make me feel and this one sure made me feel a lot of different emotions. I seriously kept turning the pages, curious to see how Eric's and Emma's story would unfold.
All in all The Righteous & The Wicked was a great book. It was written really well and had a natural and smooth flow. The characters developed wonderfully and grew in ways that really made me love them even more. Towards the end, I was extremely happy to see Emma and Eric's story come full circle. My heart was happy to see them FINALLY get their well deserved happily ever after.
If you're looking for an intriguing and hot read, The Righteous & The Wicked is the book for you!
"Eric's and Emma's imperfections allowed them to find something perfect, the bad cleared a path for the good, and every single moment was worth it."
Blog Tour: http://bit.ly/1teiDyW
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1ndUFCn
April 10, 2014
The Righteous and The Wicked. April Emerson
Review from Jeannie Zelos Book reviews.
I've mixed feelings about this book, parts I really loved but parts just didn't seem right with me. Its classed as erotica/adult literature and there's certainly a good story and plenty of hot, erotic sex so it wasn't that...hmnn, it's hard to pin down what it is about the story that feels wrong. I'll set out how I feel about the characters, and take it from there, maybe that will help me work it out.
So Eric, he's clearly troubled about something and is addicted to quick, dirty, anonymous sex in grubby back streets and bar toilets. He doesn't want conversation, doesn't want names just a quick F k. I'd didn't really follow why he was like this – and I need reasons, some info to help me understand the characters. He's clearly hot, and able to attract ladies instantly, and he's what I’d usually call a jerk, one of those “god's gift” guys. He seems to know himself though that this isn't how life should be, and despite having moments when he clearly loathes his behaviour he doesn't attempt to stop it till he meets Emma.
Emma, she's the archetypical “good” girl, catholic, respectful of parents and husband, primary school teacher and yet she too is hiding something. Where is her husband and child? Why is she so insular and depressed? Then she meets Eric. Got it now – that’s my problem, or part of it. When she meets Eric its an encounter at a gas station when he's what she calls Stormy eyes, and I’d call jerk! Then he moves next door and there's confrontation over, of all things, her wind chimes. The she's out with friends trying to help her get past her depression and she sees him having a quick F with someone. Most people would turn away, certainly the girl she is supposed to be would...the catholic good girl, but she doesn't – she watches, and that just doesn't fit with the image I have of her. Her behavoiur from then with eric goes against what I’d expect...and it just makes the story feel forced to me. I kept reading though because I wanted to know what her “secret”- the box stuff – was, and wanted to see what would pan out with her and Eric.
I guess much of my problem was neither her or Eric behaved as I’d have expected much of the time, though the storyline was interesting. I needed to know more about them personally, about their backgrounds, especially Eric's. The estate aganet – Deborah? - was a fabulous character, all good romances need that bad character, a real bitch adversarial type IMO. Overall I enjoyed this book more than I thought from the start of it, but needed a bit more insight into why Eric and Emma behaved as they did. I enjoyed the epilogue – I love books that give us a final tie up of ends, it feels satisfying. The storyline is intense and there's lots of emotions, angst and all the things I need. Lots of hot, sensual sex scenes too.
Stars: More background and this would have been a five for me, as it is its a four.
ARC supplied by Netgalley
Review from Jeannie Zelos Book reviews.
I've mixed feelings about this book, parts I really loved but parts just didn't seem right with me. Its classed as erotica/adult literature and there's certainly a good story and plenty of hot, erotic sex so it wasn't that...hmnn, it's hard to pin down what it is about the story that feels wrong. I'll set out how I feel about the characters, and take it from there, maybe that will help me work it out.
So Eric, he's clearly troubled about something and is addicted to quick, dirty, anonymous sex in grubby back streets and bar toilets. He doesn't want conversation, doesn't want names just a quick F k. I'd didn't really follow why he was like this – and I need reasons, some info to help me understand the characters. He's clearly hot, and able to attract ladies instantly, and he's what I’d usually call a jerk, one of those “god's gift” guys. He seems to know himself though that this isn't how life should be, and despite having moments when he clearly loathes his behaviour he doesn't attempt to stop it till he meets Emma.
Emma, she's the archetypical “good” girl, catholic, respectful of parents and husband, primary school teacher and yet she too is hiding something. Where is her husband and child? Why is she so insular and depressed? Then she meets Eric. Got it now – that’s my problem, or part of it. When she meets Eric its an encounter at a gas station when he's what she calls Stormy eyes, and I’d call jerk! Then he moves next door and there's confrontation over, of all things, her wind chimes. The she's out with friends trying to help her get past her depression and she sees him having a quick F with someone. Most people would turn away, certainly the girl she is supposed to be would...the catholic good girl, but she doesn't – she watches, and that just doesn't fit with the image I have of her. Her behavoiur from then with eric goes against what I’d expect...and it just makes the story feel forced to me. I kept reading though because I wanted to know what her “secret”- the box stuff – was, and wanted to see what would pan out with her and Eric.
I guess much of my problem was neither her or Eric behaved as I’d have expected much of the time, though the storyline was interesting. I needed to know more about them personally, about their backgrounds, especially Eric's. The estate aganet – Deborah? - was a fabulous character, all good romances need that bad character, a real bitch adversarial type IMO. Overall I enjoyed this book more than I thought from the start of it, but needed a bit more insight into why Eric and Emma behaved as they did. I enjoyed the epilogue – I love books that give us a final tie up of ends, it feels satisfying. The storyline is intense and there's lots of emotions, angst and all the things I need. Lots of hot, sensual sex scenes too.
Stars: More background and this would have been a five for me, as it is its a four.
ARC supplied by Netgalley
March 8, 2014
I just finished Righteous and The Wicked and I loved it! I can honestly say that this is one of my top reads and I can't see anything topping it for a long time. Think of a book that you loved. I can tell you that this is better! You think I'm to confident in that assessment? I think not and the only way to know for sure is.......to read it!
I'm going to try a stay spoiler free because I want you to be surprised so here I go
Emma is going through the motions of her life. Waking up, going to work, cooking dinner for one, looking into a box that she had saved, goes to sleep and then wakes up to start all over again. To her she is not feeling anything, hasn't for a long time. Her friends really try to get her to live a little but why should she? Here is where we get a glimpse of Eric. One chance meeting and that is it for her. Her heart starts to really beat for the first time in a long while. On the other hand Eric really doesn't notice her but when he does he doesn't want to acknowledge anything. Wants to live his life, keep his secrets buried, and do the job he came there for and then go to another town. But what happens when desire cannot be denied and the hunger for each other keeps building? You will have to read and see.
Wow, Eric. What to say, what to say. At first I just couldn't believe he was the way he was (You will understand) but I ended up changing my opinion quickly to being entranced by him in a disturbing way. Then here is the kicker....then came understand to just being downright in freaking love and it all happened in a heartbeat. I'm just awed really.
Emma, I just loved her. She is such a fighter and you feel nothing but compassion for her and what she has been through. And to say that I want nothing but the best for her is an understatement. I want rainbows, unicorns, roses, anything to just brighten her day. Hell, her life. Honestly when she meets Eric it was a blessing in disguise because she was self destructing. No drugs, or alcohol of that nature but damn there are other ways for that to happen too I can tell you though that the two of them just make things easier for each other even though there are so many secrets that are waist out in the open
or are buried deep. To me even though there were so many things against them they needed each other to heal.
I loved the religious aspect of this. You do not see this in a lot of stories but it was beautifully written here. Hence the title, it was really about being righteous and wicked. It's also about forgiveness and opening your heart to love and be loved in return.
You have to read this. I can honestly say with the most certainty that you will regret this if you do not read it. This story was unlike anything that I had read before. It was gripping. It had some mystery. Most importantly for me it had second chances. You will not be able to put this down.
Story 5
Sex 5
Overall 5+++++
Reviewed by Shay for Crystal's Many Reviewers.
I'm going to try a stay spoiler free because I want you to be surprised so here I go
Emma is going through the motions of her life. Waking up, going to work, cooking dinner for one, looking into a box that she had saved, goes to sleep and then wakes up to start all over again. To her she is not feeling anything, hasn't for a long time. Her friends really try to get her to live a little but why should she? Here is where we get a glimpse of Eric. One chance meeting and that is it for her. Her heart starts to really beat for the first time in a long while. On the other hand Eric really doesn't notice her but when he does he doesn't want to acknowledge anything. Wants to live his life, keep his secrets buried, and do the job he came there for and then go to another town. But what happens when desire cannot be denied and the hunger for each other keeps building? You will have to read and see.
Wow, Eric. What to say, what to say. At first I just couldn't believe he was the way he was (You will understand) but I ended up changing my opinion quickly to being entranced by him in a disturbing way. Then here is the kicker....then came understand to just being downright in freaking love and it all happened in a heartbeat. I'm just awed really.
Emma, I just loved her. She is such a fighter and you feel nothing but compassion for her and what she has been through. And to say that I want nothing but the best for her is an understatement. I want rainbows, unicorns, roses, anything to just brighten her day. Hell, her life. Honestly when she meets Eric it was a blessing in disguise because she was self destructing. No drugs, or alcohol of that nature but damn there are other ways for that to happen too I can tell you though that the two of them just make things easier for each other even though there are so many secrets that are waist out in the open
or are buried deep. To me even though there were so many things against them they needed each other to heal.
I loved the religious aspect of this. You do not see this in a lot of stories but it was beautifully written here. Hence the title, it was really about being righteous and wicked. It's also about forgiveness and opening your heart to love and be loved in return.
You have to read this. I can honestly say with the most certainty that you will regret this if you do not read it. This story was unlike anything that I had read before. It was gripping. It had some mystery. Most importantly for me it had second chances. You will not be able to put this down.
Story 5
Sex 5
Overall 5+++++
Reviewed by Shay for Crystal's Many Reviewers.
March 17, 2014
Reviews on Passion For Pages
I’m not sure where to start with this review. It was the title that caught my attention, and then the cover and the summary sealed the deal. I had to read this book. And now as I sit here trying to put my feelings about it into words I just feel…confused.
The story was good—great even. I liked the characters; I especially liked how dark Eric could be. I could have lived without all the religious stuff, but I get that it needed to be in the story because of Emma and how she views the world. I just do not for the life of me understand Catholic beliefs—but that’s something totally different and something I am not getting into.
It was the writing style that threw me. While the author is a great story teller and weaves a tale that will definitely pull you in, I just felt like the way it was written was…choppy? That’s really the only word I can think of that describes it. Bits and pieces are thorn at you, it was like we are just given flashes and the story is never fully told. It read almost like diary entries… I don’t know how to put into words! It just didn’t flow right for me, I guess.
If it wasn’t for such interesting characters and great writing (yes, let’s make that clear: I loved the writing just not the style) I probably would have given up on this one because the flow of the book just threw me. Maybe it would have been better if each chapter had been dedicated to one POV at a time instead of jumping around…
Anyway, I loved the idea behind the story, the bad boy and the good little Catholic girl. I loved how they balanced each other out. He was so lost in his darkness and she was so lost in her sorrow. They were both broken, each needing what the other had to offer. Eric brought out a side of Emma she never knew existed and really needed to get in touch with, and Emma tamed the beast that haunted Eric for as long as he could remember. The balance between these characters was amazing.
I did think it was odd though, given that Emma was trying to help Eric overcome his addiction, that she would encourage him to flirt with the Carnival Whore because it sexually benefited her (Emma). Yes, it gave Eric some kind of clarity that he was looking for when it came to women and sex, but she was supposed to help him abstain from the darkness that was eating him, not ask him to indulge in it. It was not only counterproductive but also almost cruel on her part.
I just don’t know how to feel about this book. I liked it, but at the same time the writing style unnerved me. But if asked, I would recommend you read it. It really is a great story—if you can get passed the choppiness of it.
I’m not sure where to start with this review. It was the title that caught my attention, and then the cover and the summary sealed the deal. I had to read this book. And now as I sit here trying to put my feelings about it into words I just feel…confused.
The story was good—great even. I liked the characters; I especially liked how dark Eric could be. I could have lived without all the religious stuff, but I get that it needed to be in the story because of Emma and how she views the world. I just do not for the life of me understand Catholic beliefs—but that’s something totally different and something I am not getting into.
It was the writing style that threw me. While the author is a great story teller and weaves a tale that will definitely pull you in, I just felt like the way it was written was…choppy? That’s really the only word I can think of that describes it. Bits and pieces are thorn at you, it was like we are just given flashes and the story is never fully told. It read almost like diary entries… I don’t know how to put into words! It just didn’t flow right for me, I guess.
If it wasn’t for such interesting characters and great writing (yes, let’s make that clear: I loved the writing just not the style) I probably would have given up on this one because the flow of the book just threw me. Maybe it would have been better if each chapter had been dedicated to one POV at a time instead of jumping around…
Anyway, I loved the idea behind the story, the bad boy and the good little Catholic girl. I loved how they balanced each other out. He was so lost in his darkness and she was so lost in her sorrow. They were both broken, each needing what the other had to offer. Eric brought out a side of Emma she never knew existed and really needed to get in touch with, and Emma tamed the beast that haunted Eric for as long as he could remember. The balance between these characters was amazing.
I did think it was odd though, given that Emma was trying to help Eric overcome his addiction, that she would encourage him to flirt with the Carnival Whore because it sexually benefited her (Emma). Yes, it gave Eric some kind of clarity that he was looking for when it came to women and sex, but she was supposed to help him abstain from the darkness that was eating him, not ask him to indulge in it. It was not only counterproductive but also almost cruel on her part.
I just don’t know how to feel about this book. I liked it, but at the same time the writing style unnerved me. But if asked, I would recommend you read it. It really is a great story—if you can get passed the choppiness of it.
December 6, 2014
I found this book confusing, interesting and had a few suspenseful moments. The plot idea was what interested me in this book from the blurb, as I read it I still felt that it was a very cleaver plot, great story telling in the writing style but the two things I had issues with were the character development and it felt like the story jumped from scene to scene, never giving me a consistent flow as I was reading. It felt more like diary entries most of the time. This could be just my taste in books, and by no means would I say it was distracting enough not to recommend the book to other readers, it is well worth the read.
This is really a ying and yang kind of relationship, where Eric Wilder is a sexy man with dark demons and addictions that need to be fed; he is drawn to the sorrowful and depressed, yet religious and righteous Emma Santori. She is suffering from a loss and in hopes that part of her past will come back to reclaim her. With a box of memories that she keeps close to her, she goes through life working and doing domestic things, just waiting for her happiness to find her once again.
Eric is doing his "stop drop and roll" routine in building a house next to Emma only to sell it and move on to another location. While he finds women to feed his addiction, nothing is meant to last. He has two sides to him, the charming Eric and the self-driven Storm that usually ends up chipping a bit more of his sanity away each time the storm happens.
While Eric is trying to figure out how to tame desire and life, Emma is trying to learn how to become alive and daring. When these two finally find each other on a stormy night, the story could go two different ways, it could be the answer to their prayers, or it could destroy both of them. I will offer that some of her ideas on how to help Eric added to my confusion, seemed counterproductive to his addiction, but I guess it worked out for the best.
There are several times that Emma relies on her Catholic religion and was advised to deal with her weakness to Eric with prayer, but she ends up trusting her heart and emotions, but If you have an issue with religion then be prepared there are some in this book.
I would recommend this book to readers even though it isn’t one that will stay with me for a long time. I never could completely connect with the characters, but I think that was due to the jumping from scene to scene and the POV style. It could also be due to the fact both characters had massive walls around them, and maybe it was something even the reader couldn’t totally break through. I was left more confused during the book than entertained but by the end of the story it began making more sense to me.
This is really a ying and yang kind of relationship, where Eric Wilder is a sexy man with dark demons and addictions that need to be fed; he is drawn to the sorrowful and depressed, yet religious and righteous Emma Santori. She is suffering from a loss and in hopes that part of her past will come back to reclaim her. With a box of memories that she keeps close to her, she goes through life working and doing domestic things, just waiting for her happiness to find her once again.
Eric is doing his "stop drop and roll" routine in building a house next to Emma only to sell it and move on to another location. While he finds women to feed his addiction, nothing is meant to last. He has two sides to him, the charming Eric and the self-driven Storm that usually ends up chipping a bit more of his sanity away each time the storm happens.
While Eric is trying to figure out how to tame desire and life, Emma is trying to learn how to become alive and daring. When these two finally find each other on a stormy night, the story could go two different ways, it could be the answer to their prayers, or it could destroy both of them. I will offer that some of her ideas on how to help Eric added to my confusion, seemed counterproductive to his addiction, but I guess it worked out for the best.
There are several times that Emma relies on her Catholic religion and was advised to deal with her weakness to Eric with prayer, but she ends up trusting her heart and emotions, but If you have an issue with religion then be prepared there are some in this book.
I would recommend this book to readers even though it isn’t one that will stay with me for a long time. I never could completely connect with the characters, but I think that was due to the jumping from scene to scene and the POV style. It could also be due to the fact both characters had massive walls around them, and maybe it was something even the reader couldn’t totally break through. I was left more confused during the book than entertained but by the end of the story it began making more sense to me.
August 4, 2014
My Dear Ms.Emerson,
Welcome to my world of authors I love so much, I stalk relentlessly. I watch all posts, tweets, and new stories. Authors are my rock stars and you are my newest star. That feeling you might have of being watched, no worries, it's only me. You'll get used to it.
It's your own fault.
You wrote a story that had my head spinning, my belly churning, and my heart pounding over the underlying angst the characters exhibited at every turn. You gave new meaning to good vs evil. A decidedly sensual and erotic relationship that stirred my own passions and kept me thinking about your characters for days after finishing the story. All of that combined with a very well written, amazingly flowing story line, coupled with full on characterizations.
The eroticism was sizzling without crossing boundaries that make me close my eyes and not one drop of gratuitous sex as filler could be found in a single chapter. The sex became a necessary part of the story line showing a growth in the emotions of the characters. It drove the story.
Obsessed, yes. Again, your own fault.
The brokenness of Eric and Emma was heartbreaking.
Eric dealing with a destructive and abusive addiction.
Emma dealing with abandonment of the worst kind.
Their attraction was immediate and permanent. An exercise in good vs evil, both knowing the path they were heading was not healthy, but needed for their own sanity.
A need so great they both ignored the repercussions that were bound to happen.
And though there were some interesting secondary characters, I was completely mesmerized by Eric and Emma that everything around them faded away until it was only the two of them.
Their imperfections healed them in a way I could never imagine. I actually did a little cheer when they finally finally finally came together in a healthy way knowing they would make it.
The suspense and trepidation that continued just had me spinning at every page wondering what next could possibly happen to these two.
Fabulous debut, I am in awe. Truly in awe of your ability to deliver on angst and not poof it all away that so many other supposed angst stories do. You peeled it away layer by layer leaving the characters to the bare bone and then soothed step by step until I personally was smiling again.
The Righteous and the Wicked is why I love to read and why it is one of my 2014 favorite reads.
With much heartfelt stalkery -
Credoroza
Welcome to my world of authors I love so much, I stalk relentlessly. I watch all posts, tweets, and new stories. Authors are my rock stars and you are my newest star. That feeling you might have of being watched, no worries, it's only me. You'll get used to it.
It's your own fault.
You wrote a story that had my head spinning, my belly churning, and my heart pounding over the underlying angst the characters exhibited at every turn. You gave new meaning to good vs evil. A decidedly sensual and erotic relationship that stirred my own passions and kept me thinking about your characters for days after finishing the story. All of that combined with a very well written, amazingly flowing story line, coupled with full on characterizations.
The eroticism was sizzling without crossing boundaries that make me close my eyes and not one drop of gratuitous sex as filler could be found in a single chapter. The sex became a necessary part of the story line showing a growth in the emotions of the characters. It drove the story.
Obsessed, yes. Again, your own fault.
The brokenness of Eric and Emma was heartbreaking.
Eric dealing with a destructive and abusive addiction.
Emma dealing with abandonment of the worst kind.
Their attraction was immediate and permanent. An exercise in good vs evil, both knowing the path they were heading was not healthy, but needed for their own sanity.
A need so great they both ignored the repercussions that were bound to happen.
And though there were some interesting secondary characters, I was completely mesmerized by Eric and Emma that everything around them faded away until it was only the two of them.
Their imperfections healed them in a way I could never imagine. I actually did a little cheer when they finally finally finally came together in a healthy way knowing they would make it.
The suspense and trepidation that continued just had me spinning at every page wondering what next could possibly happen to these two.
Fabulous debut, I am in awe. Truly in awe of your ability to deliver on angst and not poof it all away that so many other supposed angst stories do. You peeled it away layer by layer leaving the characters to the bare bone and then soothed step by step until I personally was smiling again.
The Righteous and the Wicked is why I love to read and why it is one of my 2014 favorite reads.
With much heartfelt stalkery -
Credoroza
January 19, 2014
***ARC supplied by Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review***
Please don't get me wrong on this.. While I really enjoyed the general premise of the book, and was actually compelled to read it in one sitting, I found that there was a general disconnect with the characters and with the flow of the story.
I can understand the Catholic Angst of wanting to do the right thing and avoid temptation, but for some reason or another, it seemed as if the writer was a little heavy handed with Eric's constant referral's to his addiction as being "dark" and demonic.
Emma, in my opinion, was not a strong character in the beginning, and I really do feel like her background wasn't explored enough to justify her self-hatred. Also, tell me this... how can one broken person heal another? It's almost like the blind leading the blind, which of course, ends up with the characters in a complete and total mess. Which leads me to the train wreck that occurred as Emma makes her deal with the devil, so that he can come to the light.
As with any train wreck, it's ugly to watch, but you just can't help yourself....
What happens afterwards, you will have to discover that for yourself...
Pros: This story was fast-paced with Seductive, Well-Choreographed Sex. Interesting characters (such as Eric, a broken conflicted horn-dog of a man who just doesn't give a flip who he sticks it to & Emma, a woman who eventually finds her voice & decides to stop being a victim).
Cons: Uneven flow. Annoying moments in the story that will cause you to roll your eyes, and issues regarding the POV's that need to be refined.
This book does have the potential to be a 5 star book, but it needs to have some issues resolved first and foremost.
Giving this one: 2.75 stars.
Please don't get me wrong on this.. While I really enjoyed the general premise of the book, and was actually compelled to read it in one sitting, I found that there was a general disconnect with the characters and with the flow of the story.
I can understand the Catholic Angst of wanting to do the right thing and avoid temptation, but for some reason or another, it seemed as if the writer was a little heavy handed with Eric's constant referral's to his addiction as being "dark" and demonic.
Emma, in my opinion, was not a strong character in the beginning, and I really do feel like her background wasn't explored enough to justify her self-hatred. Also, tell me this... how can one broken person heal another? It's almost like the blind leading the blind, which of course, ends up with the characters in a complete and total mess. Which leads me to the train wreck that occurred as Emma makes her deal with the devil, so that he can come to the light.
As with any train wreck, it's ugly to watch, but you just can't help yourself....
What happens afterwards, you will have to discover that for yourself...
Pros: This story was fast-paced with Seductive, Well-Choreographed Sex. Interesting characters (such as Eric, a broken conflicted horn-dog of a man who just doesn't give a flip who he sticks it to & Emma, a woman who eventually finds her voice & decides to stop being a victim).
Cons: Uneven flow. Annoying moments in the story that will cause you to roll your eyes, and issues regarding the POV's that need to be refined.
This book does have the potential to be a 5 star book, but it needs to have some issues resolved first and foremost.
Giving this one: 2.75 stars.
May 3, 2014
The Righteous & the Wicked
Reviewed by Brittani for the Sinful thoughts book blog
So let me start off by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed this book immensely, Now that I said that, let me tell you the beginning started off a little slow for me but please don’t let it derail you KEEP reading it’s worth it I promise, Now it did pick up around the 12-15% mark for me. Eric Wilder and Emma Santori become neighbors suddenly when Eric moves in next door to build a house that he’s going to sell, both have deep secrets that are slowly destroying them, But along the way they find out each other deep secrets that they want to keep to themselves but end up trying to help one another. Emma is a lonely and deeply religious woman trying to find her place in the world, she’s been trough a lot and has a lot happen to her and she’s just trying to make it day to day with the depression she’s feeling in her soul, Eric is a man who comes to town because he running away from something he did in the past, now Eric has deep demons and is a tortured soul who wants to be more than the person he is at the moment.
Now there are more than a few obstacles along they way for them, and your rooting for them as a couple as you get deeper into the book, but that’s all I’m going to say so I don’t ruin it. I really thought that this book was a unique must read, the emotions felt so real and raw to me and there were a few times where I had tears well up in my eyes from this beautiful book, I also thought it was hot and sexy but it was also Romantic with a touch of angst, I would recommend this book to any body looking for a book with a great plot and sexy page turners. This is a story about forgiveness, forgiving people who hurt you and forgiving yourself. I have to say Kudos to April Emerson for her book and writing style and for the world she created with The Righteous & the Wicked, and I CANNOT wait to read more from this author.
Reviewed by Brittani for the Sinful thoughts book blog
So let me start off by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed this book immensely, Now that I said that, let me tell you the beginning started off a little slow for me but please don’t let it derail you KEEP reading it’s worth it I promise, Now it did pick up around the 12-15% mark for me. Eric Wilder and Emma Santori become neighbors suddenly when Eric moves in next door to build a house that he’s going to sell, both have deep secrets that are slowly destroying them, But along the way they find out each other deep secrets that they want to keep to themselves but end up trying to help one another. Emma is a lonely and deeply religious woman trying to find her place in the world, she’s been trough a lot and has a lot happen to her and she’s just trying to make it day to day with the depression she’s feeling in her soul, Eric is a man who comes to town because he running away from something he did in the past, now Eric has deep demons and is a tortured soul who wants to be more than the person he is at the moment.
Now there are more than a few obstacles along they way for them, and your rooting for them as a couple as you get deeper into the book, but that’s all I’m going to say so I don’t ruin it. I really thought that this book was a unique must read, the emotions felt so real and raw to me and there were a few times where I had tears well up in my eyes from this beautiful book, I also thought it was hot and sexy but it was also Romantic with a touch of angst, I would recommend this book to any body looking for a book with a great plot and sexy page turners. This is a story about forgiveness, forgiving people who hurt you and forgiving yourself. I have to say Kudos to April Emerson for her book and writing style and for the world she created with The Righteous & the Wicked, and I CANNOT wait to read more from this author.
June 7, 2014
The Righteous and the Wicked is the perfect title for this book. Emma is pristine. She's pure. She's righteous. Eric is dark. Eric is sinful. Eric is wicked. The contrast between these two characters could not be more clear. Until the lines start to blur a bit.
For Emma it is a crisis of faith. How can she think these thoughts about an almost perfect stranger and still remain true to her faith? Eric battles his own inner demon and Emma is the light can bring him out of the darkness. The more he is around her, the more he wants to do good in his life. The demon remains at bay. For Emma, lust is just awakening. But can she trust her heart again or will it be shattered in to pieces by the one man she desires most?
I adore Emma. She appears so fragile but she is much tougher than she looks. Her friends are something else too, almost polar opposites of her and it's a good balance. Reading about her crisis with her faith is something many struggle with every day. How far can she go before she compromises her beliefs? How does her faith fit in to er feelings and how can she manage them?
Eric is something else entirely. Stormy eyes, as Emma calls him, is dark and cares nothing about the person he is with. He seeks his own satisfaction. When the beast is quelled in to silence, Eric is a typical love 'em and leave 'em type of bachelor. The worst kind of man for a woman like Emma. Their journey isn't a bed of roses. There were times I wanted to punch Eric so hard his head would spin. He's a jerk, a player, but as the story unfolds,you see a tender side to him. A giving side. Dare I say, a loving side.
This isn't your typical bad boy meets good girl story. It is so much more than that. Very few writers can take a male lead that is such a jerk and have you cheering for him at the end but April Emerson manages to be one such writer! I cannot wait to see what else she has in store for us!
For Emma it is a crisis of faith. How can she think these thoughts about an almost perfect stranger and still remain true to her faith? Eric battles his own inner demon and Emma is the light can bring him out of the darkness. The more he is around her, the more he wants to do good in his life. The demon remains at bay. For Emma, lust is just awakening. But can she trust her heart again or will it be shattered in to pieces by the one man she desires most?
I adore Emma. She appears so fragile but she is much tougher than she looks. Her friends are something else too, almost polar opposites of her and it's a good balance. Reading about her crisis with her faith is something many struggle with every day. How far can she go before she compromises her beliefs? How does her faith fit in to er feelings and how can she manage them?
Eric is something else entirely. Stormy eyes, as Emma calls him, is dark and cares nothing about the person he is with. He seeks his own satisfaction. When the beast is quelled in to silence, Eric is a typical love 'em and leave 'em type of bachelor. The worst kind of man for a woman like Emma. Their journey isn't a bed of roses. There were times I wanted to punch Eric so hard his head would spin. He's a jerk, a player, but as the story unfolds,you see a tender side to him. A giving side. Dare I say, a loving side.
This isn't your typical bad boy meets good girl story. It is so much more than that. Very few writers can take a male lead that is such a jerk and have you cheering for him at the end but April Emerson manages to be one such writer! I cannot wait to see what else she has in store for us!
October 17, 2014
I loved, loved, loved this book! The Righteous and the Wicked
Emma Santori lives alone in a house on an isolated street and one Saturday, she wakes up to someone bulldozing the empty plot of land next to her. Little does she know, her whole world is about to change. Emma has a past she can’t quite forget and goes through life as a Catholic school teacher and the same old routine everyday. But she isn’t really living.
One day, she bumps into mysterious Eric Wilder and is instantly captivated with what she describes as his “Stormy Eyes”. Who knew that a wind chime would be the one thing that starts the beginning of their somewhat strained relationship?
Eric holds a secret and unbeknownst to Emma, she stumbles upon his secret and she can’t help herself, and begins to follow Eric without realizing it.
Emma and Eric become fast friends and even though she tells him about her past fairly right away, he tries to test telling her a little bit of his secret, but can’t.
Once Emma tells Eric she knows his secret, he gets angry and leaves. They go without speaking for weeks, and one day Emma falls through her porch and yells for Eric, needing his help. They have their first intimate encounter, and it is HOT!
So, they both kind of come to an agreement on how Eric’s secret will continue and how Emma can help him with it. How she helps him is so incredibly sexy!
I feel sympathy for Eric and his secret, yet feel the same way about Emma and her past. It’s almost as if they were meant to meet each other. Like for a specific purpose.
Two people come into the picture and turn both their lives upside down. Through it all, Emma and Eric rise above the madness and find strength in each other.
I give this five stars and will be re-reading this for years to come!
Emma Santori lives alone in a house on an isolated street and one Saturday, she wakes up to someone bulldozing the empty plot of land next to her. Little does she know, her whole world is about to change. Emma has a past she can’t quite forget and goes through life as a Catholic school teacher and the same old routine everyday. But she isn’t really living.
One day, she bumps into mysterious Eric Wilder and is instantly captivated with what she describes as his “Stormy Eyes”. Who knew that a wind chime would be the one thing that starts the beginning of their somewhat strained relationship?
Eric holds a secret and unbeknownst to Emma, she stumbles upon his secret and she can’t help herself, and begins to follow Eric without realizing it.
Emma and Eric become fast friends and even though she tells him about her past fairly right away, he tries to test telling her a little bit of his secret, but can’t.
Once Emma tells Eric she knows his secret, he gets angry and leaves. They go without speaking for weeks, and one day Emma falls through her porch and yells for Eric, needing his help. They have their first intimate encounter, and it is HOT!
So, they both kind of come to an agreement on how Eric’s secret will continue and how Emma can help him with it. How she helps him is so incredibly sexy!
I feel sympathy for Eric and his secret, yet feel the same way about Emma and her past. It’s almost as if they were meant to meet each other. Like for a specific purpose.
Two people come into the picture and turn both their lives upside down. Through it all, Emma and Eric rise above the madness and find strength in each other.
I give this five stars and will be re-reading this for years to come!
June 13, 2014
My Thoughts:
Ok, so here it is… my fangirl squee moment…
The Righteous and The Wicked is my all-time favourite novel this year. April Emerson has been added to my “Must Read” list. Whenever she puts out a novel, I want to know about it. I am completely satisfied.
I know some people have issues with head hopping, point of view changes; but not me. I love it. The different perspectives round out the story perfectly. You can feel the pain that both Emma and Eric are going through. When they have a misunderstanding, the POV changes put you right in the middle, simultaneously feeling their distress and rooting for both of them. In an instant, you are able to both understand and empathise with Eric (you know why he is the way he is) but you can also be terribly disappointed because he’s going to hurt Emma and he can’t seem to stop himself.
These characters are real. I think Eric could even be my first book boyfriend, except I love Emma too much and I would never compete with her that way. Oh but Eric is hot… and Emma’s voyeurism was a turn on… and how it made me feel when Stormy came out to play (yep, you read that right - this review is all about how this book made me feel). I’m a mess. A delicious mess.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been so emotionally invested in two characters and their romance and I have missed this feeling. I wish I was Emma.
xD
My Rating:
❀❀❀❀❀
Disclaimer
I obtained an ARC from the publisher (via Netgalley) with a view to providing an honest review. The thoughts expressed above, are entirely my own. Normally I don’t really like the concept of rating novels as they are subjective and subject to change... but this book will forever be A five star book to me.
Ok, so here it is… my fangirl squee moment…
The Righteous and The Wicked is my all-time favourite novel this year. April Emerson has been added to my “Must Read” list. Whenever she puts out a novel, I want to know about it. I am completely satisfied.
I know some people have issues with head hopping, point of view changes; but not me. I love it. The different perspectives round out the story perfectly. You can feel the pain that both Emma and Eric are going through. When they have a misunderstanding, the POV changes put you right in the middle, simultaneously feeling their distress and rooting for both of them. In an instant, you are able to both understand and empathise with Eric (you know why he is the way he is) but you can also be terribly disappointed because he’s going to hurt Emma and he can’t seem to stop himself.
These characters are real. I think Eric could even be my first book boyfriend, except I love Emma too much and I would never compete with her that way. Oh but Eric is hot… and Emma’s voyeurism was a turn on… and how it made me feel when Stormy came out to play (yep, you read that right - this review is all about how this book made me feel). I’m a mess. A delicious mess.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been so emotionally invested in two characters and their romance and I have missed this feeling. I wish I was Emma.
xD
My Rating:
❀❀❀❀❀
Disclaimer
I obtained an ARC from the publisher (via Netgalley) with a view to providing an honest review. The thoughts expressed above, are entirely my own. Normally I don’t really like the concept of rating novels as they are subjective and subject to change... but this book will forever be A five star book to me.
April 16, 2014
**3.5 stars**
The title drew me into this one and I didn't really know what to expect when I started it.
This is a story of two broken people who find themselves neighbors.
Emma, the religious Catholic school teacher whose husband up and left her without warning, lives her life the same way day in and day out. She basically is just going through the motions, trying to heal.
Eric, the sex addict, wants nothing more than to cure his addiction. His need for sex disgusts him. Every time he finds his "victim" he hates himself a little more.
When two totally different people find one another and each want to be healed of their pain, what happens?
Does Emma give into this weird urge she has whenever Eric is around? Does Eric just make Emma another one of his victims or will she be the thing that cures him?
I give this one 3.5 stars. It was a good erotic story but I found parts of it a little - strained. There was a character that was introduced toward the end of the story that didn't seem to fit. Her part was necessary for the book to end, I realize this, but she just kind of came out of no where.
I do, however, recommed this one to anyone who is looking for an erotic read of second chances, healing, and the power of love.
The title drew me into this one and I didn't really know what to expect when I started it.
This is a story of two broken people who find themselves neighbors.
Emma, the religious Catholic school teacher whose husband up and left her without warning, lives her life the same way day in and day out. She basically is just going through the motions, trying to heal.
Eric, the sex addict, wants nothing more than to cure his addiction. His need for sex disgusts him. Every time he finds his "victim" he hates himself a little more.
When two totally different people find one another and each want to be healed of their pain, what happens?
Does Emma give into this weird urge she has whenever Eric is around? Does Eric just make Emma another one of his victims or will she be the thing that cures him?
I give this one 3.5 stars. It was a good erotic story but I found parts of it a little - strained. There was a character that was introduced toward the end of the story that didn't seem to fit. Her part was necessary for the book to end, I realize this, but she just kind of came out of no where.
I do, however, recommed this one to anyone who is looking for an erotic read of second chances, healing, and the power of love.
September 8, 2016
Emma is a teacher at a Catholic school, who is learning how to put the pieces back together, because her world was shattered. She really thought she had the perfect life, a husband, and a growing family. But everything changed suddenly. Leaving her to fix her life and move on. After being woken up on a Saturday morning, she notices that someone is building a house next to hers. The POV switches to Eric(In this book, the POV works). Eric, is the new guy in town, who happens to be the one that is building the house, next to Emma’s.
Eric is a wham bam, thank you, ma’am kinda guy ;) But that all changes when he meets Emma(well sorta). Emma is instantly attracted to Eric. She sees Eric around town with different women. Seeing him with different, intrigues Emma. After Emma and Eric, start going hanging out/going on dates….Emma finds herself falling for Eric. Everything goes crazy, after her past shows up, and Emma has to deal with her not so distant past.
The Righteous and the Wicked, is a sexy book! If you can handle a lot of sexiness, this book is for you!
Eric is a wham bam, thank you, ma’am kinda guy ;) But that all changes when he meets Emma(well sorta). Emma is instantly attracted to Eric. She sees Eric around town with different women. Seeing him with different, intrigues Emma. After Emma and Eric, start going hanging out/going on dates….Emma finds herself falling for Eric. Everything goes crazy, after her past shows up, and Emma has to deal with her not so distant past.
The Righteous and the Wicked, is a sexy book! If you can handle a lot of sexiness, this book is for you!
October 1, 2016
A very nice, romantic story which includes the H with a sex addiction and the h with a husband she's still married to and because she is a very, devoted practicing Catholic, feels somewhat torn when she falls for the sex addict. At first she justifies it by thinking that God sent her to try and help him, but finds herself developing very deep feelings for him and also enjoying his darkness a lot. But, she just wants the darkness focused solely on her.
This story has lots of steam. Maybe a tad too much, inundating us with times when the sex addict's "dark side" tries to take him over. Too bad he doesn't read the books I read. His "sex addiction" seems just to be another man whore among many. But he feels he is "tainting" his saintly Emma and is determined to do something about it leaves for awhile. They do both find their way through trials and tribulations back to each other and that makes for a very strong relationship and an enjoyable read.
This story has lots of steam. Maybe a tad too much, inundating us with times when the sex addict's "dark side" tries to take him over. Too bad he doesn't read the books I read. His "sex addiction" seems just to be another man whore among many. But he feels he is "tainting" his saintly Emma and is determined to do something about it leaves for awhile. They do both find their way through trials and tribulations back to each other and that makes for a very strong relationship and an enjoyable read.
January 22, 2014
The Righteous and The Wicked
By: April Emerson
4.25 Stars
On Sale April 10th 2014
I was honored to read an ARC of this book. I wont give anything away, I will edit this review as soon as the book is on sale. It was an interesting and intriguing story. I will say it was different from the things I usually read, but a good different. I really like Emma in this book I felt like her character was really strong. Eric did irritate me at the beginning but as the story unfolds I grew to love him!! Very sexy. Save the date April 10th, make sure you one click it. =)
Story line I gave 4 Stars
Character Growth 4.5 Stars
Originality 4.25 Stars
Over all I gave it 4.25 stars.
By: April Emerson
4.25 Stars
On Sale April 10th 2014
I was honored to read an ARC of this book. I wont give anything away, I will edit this review as soon as the book is on sale. It was an interesting and intriguing story. I will say it was different from the things I usually read, but a good different. I really like Emma in this book I felt like her character was really strong. Eric did irritate me at the beginning but as the story unfolds I grew to love him!! Very sexy. Save the date April 10th, make sure you one click it. =)
Story line I gave 4 Stars
Character Growth 4.5 Stars
Originality 4.25 Stars
Over all I gave it 4.25 stars.
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