Review: ‘Stone Sober’ by Gwyn McNamee
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Stone Sober
by Gwyn McNameeSeries: Billionaires of New Orleans: The Hawke Family #3
Published by Self-Published on October 14, 2017
SubGenres: Contemporary Romance
Format: eBook
Pages: 350
Source: Kobo Plus
Audience: 18+/Adult
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Stone Hawke is precisely the kind of man women are warned about—handsome, intelligent, arrogant, and intricately entangled with some dangerous people. I should stay away, but he manages to strip my soul bare with just a look and dominates my thoughts. Bad decisions are in my past. My life is (mostly) on track, even if it is no longer the one to medical school. I can’t allow myself to cave to the fierce pull and ardent attraction I feel toward the youngest Hawke.
Nora Eriksson is off-limits, and not just because she’s my brother’s employee and sister-in-law. Despite the fact she’s stripping at The Hawkeye Club, she has an innocent and pure heart. Normally, the only thing that appeals to me about innocence is the opportunity to taint it. But not when it comes to Nora. I can’t expose her to the filth permeating my life. There are too many things I can’t control, things completely out of my hands. She doesn’t deserve any of it, but the power she holds over me is stronger than any addiction.
The hardest battles we fight are often with ourselves, but only through defeating our own demons can we find true peace.
Before I dive into my review, I want to mention how important it is to read these books in order. The storyline progresses with each book, featuring different main characters. One thing I’m enjoying about this series is getting to know each of the Hawke Family members and their dynamics. Stone Sober is the third installment in Gwyn McNamee’s Billionaires in New Orleans: Hawke Family series. In comparison to the first two books, Gwyn McNamee has definitely increased the spice level in Stone Hawke’s story. You might need a cold shower after reading this book!
Stone Hawke is a member of the Hawke family who has intrigued me since his introduction to the series. He’s mysterious and downright dangerous, especially with who he works for in this book. As the youngest son, he has been battling inner demons for years, not only with what happened to his father and sister but other reasons. Additionally, Stone is grappling with feelings for a woman he knows is off-limits, particularly because she works at his brother’s club, but he can’t seem to stay away, even though he knows he should because he could very well corrupt her innocence, which intrigues him the most.
Nora Eriksson knows that everyone questions why she gave up pursuing her medical degree, but only she knows why, and all she wants is to be happy, which she is by working at Savage’s club. Nora is aware that Stone Hawke is someone she should avoid, yet she finds herself drawn to him. The moment she opens herself to him, she realizes he’s not for the faint of heart. Despite his inner demons threatening their relationship, she cannot seem to let go of him, even knowing that these struggles may lead to their downfall.
I loved reading about the forbidden love between these two characters and how they ultimately gave in to their feelings. Stone, a member of the Hawke family, may initially come across as arrogant and dangerous, and that leads him to be that way in the bedroom, too, but he knows the importance of consent and taking care of someone afterward. Gwyn McNamee clearly did her research on Stone’s character and what he enjoys, allowing readers to delve into this side of him. While it made Nora a bit wary at first, she instinctively knew that he would take care of her, which is why she couldn’t stay away from him.
In my opinion, Nora was a strong heroine, and it bothered me that everyone, including her sister, questioned her motives for giving up her degree. It was clear that dancing made her happy, and the truth behind her decision to abandon her studies is revealed in this book. I can understand why she chose to change her life after what happened.
There was no doubt in my mind that Stone and Nora were meant to be together, even though they believed their romance was forbidden. They complemented each other perfectly, not only through their Dom/Sub dynamic but also in how they supported each other with their struggles. If only Stone hadn’t kept that secret from Nora, thinking it was for the best. He should have known that the person who told him the secret didn’t have his best interests at heart.
There is a lot to absorb while reading this book, but I can say this: Nora and Stone will overcome everything that is thrown their way. It just takes time, especially toward the end of the book. This is also an emotional story that will bring you to tears, not only for the main characters and what they endure but also for other members of the Hawke family. I give this book four stars, and now, more than ever, I need to make time to finish this series.
Single/Dual POV: Dual POV.
Standalone or Part of Series: It’s the third book in the Billionaire of New Orleans: The Hawke Family series and these books need to be read in order.
Would I recommend this book/series? Yes. If you enjoy reading Family Saga stories with suspense and spice to them, then out this series by Gwyn McNamee.
What to Expect:
✓Billionaire Romance
✓Opposites Attract
✓Forbidden Love
✓BDSM: Dom/Sub Dynamic
About Gwyn McNamee
USA Today Best Selling author Gwyn McNamee is an attorney, wife, and mother. Originally from the Midwest, Gwyn relocated to her husband’s home town of Las Vegas in 2015 and is enjoying her respite from the cold and snow. Gwyn has been writing down her crazy stories and ideas for years and finally decided to share them with the world. She loves to write stories with a bit of suspense and action mingled with romance and heat.
When she isn’t either writing or voraciously devouring any books she can get her hands on, Gwyn is busy adding to her tattoo collection, golfing, and stirring up trouble with her perfect mix of sweetness and sarcasm (usually while wearing heels).
Gwyn’s debut novel, Savage Collision, the first book in The Hawke Family Series, was a 2017 Romance Writers of America Passionate Plumes Contest Finalist for excellence in contemporary steamy romance.
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