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Book Review – Lovely Trigger by RK Lilley with Gift Card Giveaway

Lovely TriggerLovely Trigger (Tristan and Danika 3) by R.K. Lilley

Adult Contemporary/Erotic. Does not stand alone.

“ Some of the sweetest moments in life come from second chances.” 

R.K. Lilley has always been one of my favorite authors with her Up In The Air Series, but The Tristan and Danika Series takes my love to a whole new level. All three books in this series are 5 star reads. If you have not read the first two in the series, Bad Things and Rock Bottom, please do not read on. Lovely Trigger does not stand alone. This series does, however, cross with the Up In The Air Series. The first two books occur before In Flight, and Lovely Trigger occurs after Grounded. I fell in love with Tristan in the Up In The Air Books, in fact, he was one of my biggest book crushes ever, made even bigger in Bad Things. But Rock Bottom GUTTED me.

Seeing what addiction can do to a person and the people who love them is a scary thing, and reading how my big, gorgeous, tattooed, talented, dominant Tristan was broken by the partying lifestyle was not an easy read. Reading how Danika was affected was even harder. Their love was so explosive, so meant-to-be, so off the charts, it’s like they needed each other’s air to breathe. But sometimes that much intense love can turn bad, especially when outside factors are involved: fame, drugs and asshole ‘friends’.

In Lovely Trigger, all I wanted was to see the charming Tristan back to his sexy, flirty, funny, charming self. He was, to a point. But this time with regrets and in recovery. The first few chapters of Lovely Trigger take place during the intervening 6 years when Tristan and Danika are apart but run into each other occasionally at social and business functions. His sobriety was dicey at first.

“I needed my sobriety, I’m nothing without it, and you were a lovely trigger for me.
The way you looked at me like I was scum and knowing I deserved all of your antipathy.
I knew that if you looked at me like that again, I’d hit rock bottom and this time I wouldn’t come back from it .”

But as the years passed, he became a better, stronger Tristan in many ways.

“I’d been torn apart and put back together, and though I knew the end result was better now than who I’d been before, somedays it didn’t feel that way. Lots of days, it just felt like the world had lost it’s color, and the only things that defined my life were the things that I’d lost.”

He held out hope for a reconciliation with Danika for a long time before he knew he needed to focus on his recovery without her. But Danika, though she said she forgave him, she never let it go. How could she? Still, she kept tabs on him. She had another boyfriend, but he was just nice. He’d had other women, but they were just a release. Over the years, Tristan and Danika never truly fell out of love. Danika may have convinced herself she did, but Tristan knew things hadn’t changed at all for him.

 “Because that’s how love works. It doesn’t die, even when you don’t feed it. That’s just the way it is. I wouldn’t change it, even if I could. Loving her has become a part of who I am.”

When we get to around the six year mark, Tristan and Danika are at an event where they can’t avoid each other. BAM. The old chemistry is back again in a BIG way!

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That chemistry was all the opening Tristan needed.

 “We needed to become best friends again. Yes, that was how I would do it. I needed to become so essential in her life that she couldn’t conceive walking away.
I meant to break her.
Needed to break her.”

Even though he wanted more, as long as she was in his life in some way, he could cope again.

“I longed to have her in my life. In any capacity. I’d literally take anything. I wouldn’t be happy with less than everything, but I’d take what I could get.”

What I really loved was that R.K. took her time with this story. There was no rush. While physically they still found it hard to keep hands, mouths and body parts away from each other, they still took it very slowly. There is a LOT of bad blood and past to get over. But Tristan is determined, now that they live in the same town again, he isn’t letting it go.

“Whatever you need me to be, I’ll be that. Whatever you want me to do, however we need to make this work, we will do it.”

As they get back to some type of relationship, slowly you can see each of them come alive again. It’s like they were just surviving for 6 years, and finally they are doing more than just existing, they are coming back to life. Watching this couple struggle with past regrets and hurts was realistic, and as they began to heal, so did I.

I loved how the humor, fun and banter between the two started to come back, there were several laugh out loud moments. But Tristan still didn’t know the extent of how much he broke Danika. Still had black spots in his memory of the days he was using. Plus, the intervening 6 years were hard for them each to swallow, especially when the people they each slept with turn up often. But still, there was no denying the amazing connection between the couple. They were meant for each other, and it was clear they would never feel that same passion for anyone else.

“I knew she still loved me. I could see it now, even if she was still in the throes of denial. She didn’t have to say it in words. She spoke to me in so many other ways. Her love spoke to me in every surrendering line of her body. It spilled out of her pure silver eyes every time she looked at me. She was mine again. And, even when she hadn’t wanted me, when I’d lost all faith, I’d always, always been hers”

 Likes:

  • Could not have been a more well-done and complete ending to Tristan and Danika’s story.
  • RK can write pretty awesome sex! Mmmmm…lots of wall sex.
  • Though the characters had grown over their time apart, they never lost the essence of who they are.
  • Lots of the humor that I loved so much about Tristan.
  • RK took her time telling this story. There was no rush, there was way too much baggage for the couple, especially Danika, to just get over.
  • Visiting with ALL of the characters from the Up In The Air Series and Lana.
  • That all-consuming passion that Tristan and Danika had for each other was back in a big way, yet you couldn’t help but worry.
  • The perfect amount of character growth without changing the essence of who they are.
  • Told in dual POV.
  • An AMAZING epilogue.

Dislikes:

  • There were a few details brought up that I just couldn’t remember, and I felt myself struggling with a few scenes because of the memory lapse.

Rating: 5 Stars, 4.5 Heat

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Flame_FOURHalf copy

RK Lilley is one of my favorite authors, and I have to say, this series is one of my favorite ever. The series is 5 stars all the way through, and had I remembered the small details of Rock Bottom better, this book would have been a 5+++++ star read for me. I laughed, I cried (good and bad tears), I jumped my husband, and I fell in love with the ‘new’ Tristan and Danika. This series makes you fall in love, then breaks you, then puts you back together in a different way, but a way that is stronger than ever.

BRAVO R.K. Lilley, for a 5 star series from start to finish.

“Love doesn’t let you walk away clean. Love is messy…. Love takes a fucking piece of you before it’s done.”

 

Print

Purchase Lovely Trigger by R.K. Lilley

AMAZON | B&N

See an excerpt here

Print

Bad Things: AMAZON | B&N | See my review
Rock Bottom: AMAZON | B&N | See my review
Lovely Trigger: AMAZON | B&N
*Though the events of Bad Things and Rock Bottom take place BEFORE the Up In The Air series, I still think the Up in The Air series should be read first. Though this series stands alone just fine, it’s even better if you read the other series first.
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Comments

  3. Megan Wickland says

    I can’t wait to read this series. I’m scared! I know the hurt is of epic level because of what I read about Tristan and Danika in Up In the Air. Thanks for the giveaway. You KNOW how much I love you! xoxoxoxoxo

    Reply

  5. Joanne Careri says

    This series is awesome. I cried fat ugly tears and it gave me a headache. It was worth it!!!! Love it.

    Reply

  6. Maria Malaveci says

    I can’t wait to read these!!! Thanks so much for another amazing giveaway Anas-attic!

    Reply

  11. Rebecca Drake says

    I can’t wait to dive into this book. Thanks for the awesome review and amazing giveaway!

    Reply

  15. Karen G. says

    Thanks for the post and your thoughts on this book. I just finished Lovely Trigger last night. I cried, I laughed, I wanted to choke several assistants! haha This series was so good, I didn’t think I could survive Rock Bottom but this was a perfect ending to their story. <3 I must go back and read both Up in the Air and T&D series. I would love to have an autographed set of this series. Thank you so much for the chance to win!

    Reply

  17. Janice Unger says

    I love R.K. Lilley. I haven’t read the T and D books yet. I know I will have to be emotionally prepared to read this series.

    Reply

  19. Betsy says

    I’ve read the whole series and it is one of my all time favorites….I love her writing….and I need ,I mean need!!!! These signed books….

    Reply

  26. Colleen K says

    Ahhh~ I can’t wait to get my hands on this series! Thanks for hosting this awesome giveaway.

    Reply

  29. ajw says

    I have read the first two and when I finish The Sinners at the Altar this is next. Love this series. (Even better than the Up in The Air series)

    Reply

  43. Robin Levine says

    LOVE this series! Awesome giveaway! I just clicked your link and I’m starting tonight!

    Reply

  56. LesleyG says

    I have the 1st & 2nd books in this series but haven’t read them yet….I need to get on that ASAP! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply

  57. Anna Kidd says

    Thanks for the giveaway! This series has been on my TBR list since the first came out and I think I need to start reading them asap! (:

    Reply

  62. Esperanza says

    I really like this series and I am trying to get in the right head-space to start reading it. Thank you for your review.

    Reply

  63. Nella Durham says

    I have all of R.k.’s books & I love everyone of them. I am starting LT now…can’t wait to see how Tristan & Danika evolve.

    Reply

  65. Beth Wharton says

    I love all the great books you review and have bought many of them! thanks for the diligent work!

    Reply

  70. KellyMae says

    After reading ‘Rock Bottom’ I badly need the 3rd Book! ‘Lovely Trigger’ was one of my most anticipated books this year and it did not disappoint me. I loved this book and so happy for Tristan and Danika. Thank you for their story. I loved the end!

    Reply

  73. Holly Highsmith says

    Up In The Air is all my all time favorite series. GREAT giveaway! Thank you for the chance!

    Reply

  76. Jeannie L says

    I’ve not read any of this series or RK Lilley’s books but this looks HOT! Will be checking it out. Thanks for the giveaway.

    Reply

  78. Amanda Littlefield says

    I have not read these, but I am dying to. Thank you so much for the opportunity! Hugs from Virginia.

    Reply

  82. Becky says

    I loved this series and loved the ending for Tristan and Danika. It was such an emotional read….I laughed, I cried and it was so worth it!!! I look forward to reading Mr. Beautiful by R. K. Lilley soon!!

    Reply

  96. Tracy says

    I’ve been waiting for this series to be complete before reading it, so excited now that it is!! Thanks for the chance to win!!

    Reply

  103. Heather says

    I love this series! I haven’t read the most recent one yet though. Thank you for the amazing giveaway!

    Reply

  105. Elizabeth Shuey says

    R.K Lilley is one of my favorite authors, She is one of those authors I will read anything she writes. I LOVED this trilogy, Tristan is one of my favorite “book boyfriends”!!! I would LOVE to win this, thank you for the chance 🙂

    Reply

  108. Tracey Kruger says

    I haven’t read any of Tristan’s and Danika’s story, but I love R.K. Lilley, so would love to. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply

  111. Sandy says

    would reading UP IN THE AIR series help with the understanding of Danika and Tristan??

    And-thank you for the giveaway opportunity.

    Reply

  113. Maricris Patrimonio Dimla says

    OMG! I would love to win this! I love this series! Thank you for the giveaway!

    Reply

  118. Mick Murphy says

    Really hope to win! I was so heartbroken after Rock Bottom and cannot wait to see Tristan and Danika get their HEA! Thanks for the chance!!

    Reply

  123. Judith Lattin says

    Great review!!! I love, love, love this Rock Bottom series and the Up In The Air series.

    Reply

  133. MJ Fryer says

    Thanks for the chance to win and Bad Things, Rock Bottom and Lovely Trigger are just incredible books. What a trilogy!!! One of the best.

    Reply

  135. Angie K says

    I LOVE R.K. LILLEY!!! for the sheer fact she’s given us Mr. Beautiful…AND Tristan!!!!

    Reply

  145. Irene Rosa says

    I am a bad, bad girl. I have read Bad Things, but haven’t gotten around to reading the other two!!

    Reply

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