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Book Review – Used by Lynetta Halat with signed giveaway

Used Lynetta HalatUsed (Unlovable 1) by Lynetta Halat

New adult love triangle with a western theme. Does not stand alone.

I had been hearing some buzz about Used, and since I loved Everything I’ve Never Had by Lynetta Halat, I read this book without even reading the blurb. I didn’t even know it was New Adult when I started it. I am going to preface this review by saying  I have never liked western/cowboy books, even though I think cowboys can be hot.  Therefore, I had a hard time at the beginning, but the book turned around for me, big time.

Denver (a girl) is a champion Barrel Racer (using google in the first few pages isn’t the best sign) and has been best friends with her neighbor and fellow rodeo rider, Greer, since birth. Greer is head over heels in love with Denver, but Denver doesn’t feel she deserves love from her “golden boy”. You see, her mother is a whore. She marries men for money, gets bored, and moves on to the next. Denver tried so hard not to be like her mom, but fears she has become her anyway.

“God decides who has blonde hair, who has brown…and who has slut DNA. Now there is nothing more to do but face the facts that are painfully visible in front of me. Because, despite all my praying, I’ve become her anyway. Someone not worthy of respect. Someone not worthy of loyalty, Someone not worthy of compassion. And ultimately, someone not worthy of love.”

Each of her disgusting stepfathers want to take her innocence. So instead of giving them that temptation, she decides to give it up on her own terms, to her best friend. But Greer is over the top in love with Denver. He wants it to be perfect.

“You’re more valuable to me than a quick roll in the hay. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve dreamt of taking you? But every single time I do, you’re surrounded by white lace and rose petals…I’ve always wanted to make you mine, but not until the day you become my wife.”

But she talks him into it. They begin a regular fuck buddy relationship with Denver using Greer to just get numb. Sure, she loves Greer. But I never felt like she was passionately in love with him. No where’s near how he felt about her. She knew she could never love him the way he deserved. Denver ended up with a big reputation as someone that uses her friends for sex, and started to believe her reputation was true, even though she was only ever with Greer. The love he had for her was incredible. But she never matched that feeling.

“Do you remember me telling you once that you’re the only one I see? If I let you go, I’ll go blind. I’ll see nothing, want nothing, be nothing.”

Then they are off to different colleges. Greer wants to stay together, but Denver is afraid she will destroy Greer like her mother did to her father. She thinks she can start fresh.

“I can’t be his when I’m not mine to give. I’m a slave to my emptiness. It’s stolen into every aspect of me and owns me so thoroughly”

She gets friendly with her sweet roommate Maggie, and the lovable, funny flirt,  Austin.  Then she meets Ransom, the hot, older, tattooed champion bull rider, and she feels a pull she never felt before. But guess who couldn’t stay away? Surprise! Greer is in college with her too! Not only has Greer followed her, but her reputation has too, and Ransom is not into girls with reputations. But he can’t help his pull towards Denver.

“I promised myself I’d never be with anyone like you. Someone who uses others. Someone who finds pleasure in other’s pain. Someone not strong enough to be herself.”

They are all on the same rodeo team, so they all spend a lot of time together, and there is a LOT of rodeo talk in this book. During the first third, I considered not finishing it. I felt like I just had to wade through way too much rodeo stuff to get to the meat of the book. But I stuck with it. When they went to college at 40% it started getting good. When rodeo season ended, it started getting great. And oh, my… I am team Ransom all the way!

“No, no touching. Put your hands against the wall.” They hang in the air for a second before I feel myself complying. “Good girl,” he breathes.

 Used Lynetta Halat

Used Lynetta Halat

I was team Ransom all the way. Greer was too stalkery, too in love. I know most of the people who read this were Greer fans, but I never got that. Denver needed more. She deserved more.

Likes:

  • Well written, with great character development.
  • I loved Austin and Maggie.
  • I couldn’t put the last half down.
  • Ransom….yum.
  • I loved her (and Ransom’s) taste in music. The minute they bonded over that, I was team Ransom all the way.

Dislikes:

  • Way too much rodeo.
  • Too much background…but this may be necessary for the future books.
  • I never understood how this confident seeming, champion rodeo star had such low self esteem. She was stronger than that, or she should have been. I just don’t buy that someone that low can be such a champion.
  • I hated that she never defended herself or told anyone that Greer was her only lover.
  • It ended just when it was getting amazing, now we have to wait for April.

Rating: 4 stars, 4 heatstars_4

Flame_FOUR copy

The first third was 2.5-3 stars. The second third was 4 stars. The last third? 5+++.  While the beginning was slow for me, especially because I know nothing about rodeo, I am so glad I decided to stick with it, because I really loved the last third. Ransom is a baby Dom, and I think his alpha tendencies are just what Denver needs to pull her out of the self-destructive path she was on. I can’t wait for the next in the series, Freed.

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Purchase Used (Unlovable 1) by Lynetta Halat

Amazon | BN.com

 

 

I’d love your opinion! Have you read this?

 

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Comments

  1. Sarah Griffin says

    Loved your review! I have read Used and LOVED it!! Like you, I was annoyed that Denver wouldn’t stick up for herself, especially considering I didn’t agree with what she called herself. That being said, still love my little baby Dom Ransom <3 I was Team Greer, but after you know what, that little shit is dead to me 😉 Can't wait to see what happens next!

    Reply

  2. Erika says

    Thanks for the great review! I keep hearing great things about this book and can’t wait to read it! Thanks again!

    Reply

  15. Cindy H says

    Loved the review!!! I am total Team Ransom and have been since he was in the “picture”. There was always something about Greer that creeped me out…..his willing to love without love in return, stalkerish tendencies, etc….

    I am totally with you about being frustrated with Denver not telling anyone about Greer being the only one she was ever with. It wasn’t Denver that ever told anyone about her mother (she had a couple times but that was at college) because her mothers reputation was known in her home town, so why should she waste her breath to anyone who isn’t going to believe her? When she got to college unfortunately so did her “reputation” so she stuck with what she knew and just kept it to herself. I can see why she did what she did. If nobody is going to believe you at home and that is already tattooed to your brain why should you try to change ppl’s minds anywhere else? Those of us that read it know and that’s all I’m going to say. Just trying to get you to see it from another point of view.

    I can’t wait for the next book either!! It’s going to be good!!!

    Reply

  26. Gina H says

    I just finished the Book Boyfriend series by Erin Noelle and loved that triangle! Would love to read another good one!! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply

  35. Karen G. says

    Thanks for the post and your thoughts on this book. It sounds interesting and that maybe the last third is worth the read! 🙂

    Reply

  54. Diana Doan says

    I haven’t read Used yet, but I’ve heard great things about it. Thanks for the chance.

    Reply

  57. Heather says

    I love this book & would love it even more if I owned it 🙂 Thank You for the giveaway!

    Reply

  71. Denice says

    I am not a cowboy/western reader either, but this seems very much like it worth it to give it a go. Thank you for the review and giveaway!

    Reply

  80. Tammy Choate says

    I’ve had this one on my list for a bit now! I’ll get it eventually lol!!!!! Thank you for the giveaway!

    Reply

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