Blind | Saucy Southern Readers

Blind

Senses Series-Book 1

By Xavier Neal

Synopsis

Aside from being blind to the fact his best friend, Maxx Hughes, is madly in love with him, Logan ‘Unbreakable’ Kellar has it made. He’s the best amateur fighter at TKO, has a buffet line of women desperate to be taken by him, and three friends that are his family. However, when Maxx crosses over from Logan’s blind spot on the side lines to the dead center of his vision, he realizes that he can’t stay blind to the fact this girl, is the girl.

Senses Series Book 1

*Warning: contains strong language & sexual situations.*

Tina’s Review

Maxx Hughes is cajoled by her best friend, Erin, into being a ring side girl for a match one night in the hopes of obtaining a position as an event coordinator. She needs the job and feels the need to contribute to the bills and groceries as she lives with Erin; Erin’s brother, Luke; and their friend, Logan. She’s had a crush on Logan since childhood, but was denied and firmly placed in the “friend zone” years ago. She wishes he’d just see her as a desirable woman, not the frumpy friend.
Logan “Unbreakable” Kellar fights in these semi-legal events. He’s taken by surprise that his yoga pant-wearing, nerdy friend, Maxx, could transform into the sexiest siren of a ring girl that he’d ever seen. He’s always thought her curvy nerd look was on the sexy side, but kept her at a distance. She’s is calm in the storm, his rock, his anchor… but given his upbringing, he does not feel he can give her what she needs – what she deserves.

I’d been wanting to read BLIND and DEAF for a while now and then I won BLIND from Love Affair with Fiction in a giveaway! So here we go:

These are not full-length novels. They average less than 150 pages.
In an increasingly popular format, this story is written in the alternating first-person POV. There are a lot of mental asides that are sometimes directed to the reader, other times are just mental ramblings or inner thoughts. Her thoughts are more snark and insecurity and his are more volatile and self-depreciating. It’s a bit odd, a bit difficult to adjust to, and sort of makes Maxx and Logan seem a bit… mentally unstable. It’s kind of uncomfortable, the way it’s written, as if they are telepathically talking to you, the reader, while holding a verbal conversation and interacting with the others. The plot is solid, with great secondary characters that are truly enjoyable. There really was not any predictability, so I am pleased there, however the continual conflict was never resolved and the story does not conclude; it is left completely unfinished – which seriously bums me out.

Deaf

Senses Series- Book 2

By Xavier Neal

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Synopsis

While the pleas of Logan Kellar’s best friends typically fall on deaf ears, there’s one voice he can’t ignore so easily. His own. And when Maxx, his beautiful best friend, says something that shakes his existence, he finds himself suddenly desperate to be heard.

CAUTION: Contains Adult Content, Language, and Themes! 18+ ONLY

Senses Series #2

Tina’s Review

The mental tirades of Maxx and Logan continue in this second installment of SENSES. It’s still a bit off-putting, but in the interest of “getting over it”, I’m going to do my best to ignore the chosen format and judge more on the characters and plot itself.
Best line? “Just because you lick it, doesn’t make it yours, Logan.” Loved it, such a current phrase thrown in with unexpected sass. The characters are well-written. Mostly enjoyable, but human. There are flawed personality traits and they don’t always do/say the right thing or make the best choices. Dean is a wonderful addition, especially in the way that he adds more dimension to Logan’s personality. I wish the shadowed back stories of C.J. and Erin as well as the kindling of Luke and Stuart would be highlighted just a little more. The flow of the book progresses smoothly and has enough dynamics to not feel stagnant; not an easy thing to do when you are reading novella-length books. Although, to be fair, these books do NOT individually have closure like a regular book would, it’s more of a serial: “to be continued”. Thankfully, there’s really no predictability. DEAF is just as open-ended as BLIND was; do NOT expect closure or resolve, you WON’T find it here.

Numb

Senses Series- Book 3

By Xavier Neal

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Synopsis

Just when Logan Kellar was finally ready to make some changes in his life, his entire world was flipped upside down. Now the pain he is used to burying is fighting back. Refusing to let him slip into his old ways, refusing to let him hide from his mistakes, and refusing to let him become numb.

Senses Series Book 3

Tina’s Review

After a colossal misunderstanding and some serious lack of communication, Logan and Maxx are once again ranting to the readers while trudging though the muck that is their misery. I have to say, the best line that made me laugh -out loud & uncontrollably – was “I don’t know what demons are eating you up inside, but I can tell by the way your Botox induced face is trying to wrinkle, they are something nasty.” Wow, that was fantastic snark, loved it! The side stories of C.J. and Erin as well as further developments with Dean continue in the background as Logan and Maxx still struggle to find their way through their trials and mishaps. Logan is more likable this time. While the plot flowed smoothly and was great, and some of the conflicts found resolve, there are still gaping holes left unconcluded… Once again, it’s to be continued in HUSH, coming out in December.

HUSH, which is part four, is due to release in December and so is SAVOR (a prequel). VITAL is the final part to the series and is expected to release in January. Since each book here is a continuation of itself, I am breaking from my normal format of writing independent reviews for each. It’s hard to create character introductions to characters you should have read by now. If you haven’t, you will be 100 percent, completely, no-doubt-about-it lost. And, given the length of these novellas, it would almost feel like an incomplete review if I were to do this any other way.

Come back in January 2015 for the second 3-in-1 review for this series!

Author Bio:

Xavier Neal lives in Texas where she spends her time getting lost in writing, reading, or fandoms she recently discovered. (At the top of that list is Supernatural and BBC Sherlock) Whether she is enjoying books or movies, she continues finding inspiration at every turn to bring more exciting stories to life.