BOOK REVIEW: Complicated (Secrets and Lies Book 2) by M. M. Koenig

(Note: Make sure you've read Conflicted before reading this one)

SYNOPSIS

Mia Ryan has learned the hard way that her choices can have horrible consequences. Taking an offer that was supposed to get her life back on track was nothing but a ploy. To keep the ones she holds dear safe, she's forced to finish what she started, without any hope of finding out why she was targeted in the first place. Though Mia has Ethan by her side, she can't seem to believe in him, especially since most of his life remains a mystery.

Ethan Fitzgerald has done everything in his power to prove to Mia that she can trust him, but it never seems to be enough to convince her to drop the last wall around her heart. With deep and dark secrets lurking around every corner, he has his own plan to keep Mia from any danger, but it may just shatter their love forever.

There are so many questions – with even more shocking answers – and when Mia uncovers the truth, nothing will ever be the same...

MY REVIEW

 
*An ecopy of the book was graciously given by the author in exchange for an honest review*

M. M. Koenig managed to sustain my interest in the first book and I just have to say that this second book just floored me. I was breathless with the turn of events, and constantly flipping pages to keep up with the suspense. The revelations in this book were totally unexpected yet utterly interesting. There were more characters and a whole lot of action but Miss Koenig still managed to ground the suspense with the right amount of steamy love and romance.

“I needed something to quiet the voices in my head that continued to dwell on where things stood with Ethan.”

Mia unveiled a lot of mysteries in this book. I love the spunk of this woman. She was intelligent but she was affectionate and selfless as well. Miss Koenig definitely blew me away with this character. In this book, Mia struggles with trusting Ethan as he left her hours after she told him she loved him. This shook her world, reminded by how painful it was to be loved and be left. Nevertheless, Mia half-heartedly fulfilled Ethan’s plead to trust him that he will come back and that he needed space. She expanded her understanding with a love for him that delved into a deeper part of her that no one has ever touched. Mia unleashed an inner strength and determination in this book that drove her into trouble. Faced with the most important mysteries in her life, Mia started having flashbacks of her past that forced her to resolve them, diving into trouble without knowing what she’s going to find.

“I won’t give up on us. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure from this day forward that you know how much I need you in my life.”

A softer side of Ethan was shown in this book and I totally loved it. I loved journeying into his life as he painfully yet wholeheartedly exposed his past to Mia. I felt a surge of tenderness when he took her into parts of his life with the intention of keeping her there. But Ethan was still struggling with his own secrets, keeping them from Mia in sheer belief that it will keep her safe. And the more he tried to keep her safe, the more she put herself in danger.

“All I’ve wanted to do since I discovered the truth is protect you. I can’t lose you.”

The plot of this book thickens with the jampacked revelations of the characters’ pasts. I loved the thrill of not knowing what will happen next and what fact I will find out after being blown away by a previous one. M. M. Koenig still maintained the steam with the complicated romance between Ethan and Mia. Trust was rebuilt, passion was rekindled, and their love for each other went into greater extents. In this book, most of the lies were settled. And this leaves me clamouring and aching for the third book! I can’t wait to see how this story will end!

“And just so you know...I love you.”