Yours to Bare

I have wanted more Finn from the second I met him in Slip of the Tongue.Oh, my... I got my wish. I got to know Finn; how he thinks, what he likes, what he needs to be happy, what makes him... him. And he's amazing. He's complex. He's nuanced. He's intense. And he's a little difficult and demanding as well.I loved getting to know Finn after the events of Slip. You can't go through something like that and not have it change you. I thought I knew him at the end of that book... but I was wrong. And getting to know this Finn was amazing and compelling. Finn is fascinating and the things that he believes, who he has become, make him one of the most interesting characters I've read about in a long time. I'm probably not doing him justice, but that's OK because Jessica Hawkins did, and you can read about him for yourself.Halston is so wonderfully lost when we first meet her. In a way, she finds herself in get relationship with Finn. Not in a clichéd "woman needs man to be complete" way but in that, through Finn, she finds the courage to be herself. It's not a spoiler to say he didn't end up with the girl in Slip of the Tongue, as if he had, we wouldn't be reading this book. But having an affair, getting his heart broken and getting divorced taints his perfection just a little. And that appeals to Halston, as she needs to believe if she's not perfect that she's still going to be OK. She learns from him, from his mistakes, and ends up in a better place.This is a standalone. You don't need to have read Slip of the Tongue or The First Taste to fully understand this story and who the characters are... but I recommend it. There's a depth to Finn's story in this because you were with him for the low points a year ago. Maybe not as intimately as in this book, but you were there. I think that makes it even better to be there for his high points.The encounter with the person from his past was heartbreaking and so amazing at the same time. And it let him have such great closure...to be able to talk to the person, to see where they were, and more importantly to know that the right decision was made, even thought it was painful at the time, was so important for Finn's story to be complete.Knowing Finn from before, going through the heartbreak with him in Slip and then getting to see him on the other side of it was so emotional for me. And, there was just something about him that drew me in. He was so complex, and, yes, he had an affair...and there are a lot of people, and readers, who are not going to be able to get past that...and I think that is a shame. People make mistakes...in fact, good people make mistakes. The great people learn from them and it changes who they are, how they interact, and the things they are willing to be a part of. Finn learned, grew and changed...but also stayed who he was at the core of who he is and who he was in the first book.I know for a while, Jessica Hawkins said she wasn't going to write his story. I'm so incredibly glad she did. Spending more time with Finn was a great ride, emotional and fulfilling. It was exactly the kind of book you want with characters who draw you in, a story that is interesting, incredibly hot sex, and emotional investment with where the story is heading.I recommend this book.

Yours to Bare by Jessica Hawkins4 stars!!!“I’ve eaten her dirty secrets like candy, and now she’s the hungry one.”Finn stole my heart in Slip of the Tongue, while he didn’t win that time I always knew that his time would come and he would get the girl who truly deserved him. Finn had a heart the size of Texas and it would take some woman to be deserving of it…was Halston that woman?“Finn was meant to find that journal. To find me. To be a salve for, and perhaps even heal, a heart I’d worried was destined to ache forever.”Halston was a troubled woman, she had her issues and though her fathers and her boyfriend’s methods were medicating, Halston knew that the only way to get herself back was to wean off the meds and take the bull by the horns. Halston really grew as a woman throughout this book and it is this that really cements her as a “normal” person and made her that much more relatable. Halston grows throughout this book and has to take steps back before she can move forward, but it is her drive and determination to be a better person that made me take her into my heart. I was willing her along, yes, she makes mistakes, as does anyone, but they were mistakes that needed to be made. Halston’s emotional outlet was her journal, where every dark and sexual thought went in the form of poetry, it was her means of venting and it worked, until one day she left her journal in a coffee shop.“I love you, Finn. I love you enough to clean up my own mess.”Finn was a photographer, a hopeless romantic, a divorcee and had a darling daughter. He dreams of being happy, doing a job he loves and with a woman he loves more. He has never been into casual dalliances, he needs an emotional connection, he needs to feel the woman he is with. When Finn finds a journal, at first, he wants to find its owner, until he opens it for clues and finds himself totally captivated and mesmerised by the words that he is reading.“I’m a better man when I’m not trying to be someone other than myself.”Finn wants to meet this woman, he knows her innermost thoughts and feelings and he hasn’t gone running, entranced by the poetry on the page will the woman behind them be just as alluring? Finn feels a connection to this woman, through words alone, she sings to him, they are similarly broken, the both want what they feel they can’t have, can these two be the ones that finally complete one and other?“I can’t let myself believe you’re mine if you’re not. I’m the one who’ll get hurt.”Jessica Hawkins delivers one smoking hot book in the form of Finn and Halston’s story. Erotic, provocative and wanton are the words that liberally glue this love story together. Passionate, arousing, salacious, this book will leave you gasping as well as hopelessly invested as these two discover their normal together. The chemistry was electric, the passion palpable as these two go on a voyage of discovering not only themselves but each other. I was totally captivated from first to last page and didn’t want their story to end. Jessica Hawkins certainly knows how to deliver her erotica with passion and an emotional punch, totally loved it.

I really enjoyed parts of this book and struggled with other parts. I loved Finn but found the female character, Halston a little weak. She's almost like a Holden Caulfield type character and I wondered if I was reading her descent into madness. It's well written and told from both points of view. I look forward to reading more by this author.

#readingtigress – Review –Honestly, I had no clue what this book was about! But I have read Jessica Hawkins work before, and loved it, so knew I was safe in buying a book blind (so to speak).This book is insane! And I mean that in the good sense. Now, I don’t think I am a prude in any sense, but this book is the first in a long time that made me blush….I loved the premise of this story. I think the idea behind it probably resonates with quite a lot of people. We all have those inner, dark desires that we are too embarrassed to share. For Halston, she writes these desires and feelings into her journal. This is all well and good, until she leaves it behind at a café. Enter single Dad, Finn!Finn finds Halston’s journal and is instantly attracted to the stranger with the deep rooted fantasies. And he knows he needs to find out who the journal’s author is.After some tumultuous relationships, Finn isn’t ready to rush into anything or anyone. Well that was true until the journal. Once he discovers who the owner of the journal is – he makes it his mission to meet her. When that happens, he is instantly spell bound and couldn’t walk away if he tried.This story follows two people who need to be saved. Who need to be empowered. Who need to be loved.I found this book easily relatable, as I too, have many issues with my self confidence and self esteem. It was great to read along with a character who is as flawed as I am.Yet another amazing addition to Jessica’s work.#jessicahawkins #yourstobare

I've been waiting to read Finn's story since Slip of the Tongue. It was him more than Sadie that intrigued me but oh boy I wasn't expecting this! When Finn finds a journal containing some quite explicit thoughts he is immediately drawn to the mystery writer. Thus begins his journey to find the owner. Halston is not what he was expecting, for many reasons, but he cautiously persues her wary of getting burned again.Both these characters are deep and struggling with their lives, even if they don't always realise it. Halston struggles with a past tragedy and her perceived repercussions of that, Finn with lost love and the balance of family.There were times I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room in frustration, in a good way. Finn & Halston are both good and bad for each other, there are unresolved issues almost till the end. My biggest disappointment was no epilogue, I would have like to know what happened when Finn introduced Halston to his daughter, are both their new ventures successful?? Enquiring minds want to know.

I'd suggest reading Slip of the Tongue first as this is where we get an insight into Finn. It was so devastating for him to loose Sara but now she is out of his life - still a lasting memory though. Finn continues to struggle as a photographer however his life starts to change after finding a journal in a coffee shop.He aches too find the writer & kind of stalks the shop to find her. What he finds is Halston, a younger troubled woman & there's that connection. Making his photos & her thoughts into a blog of sorts starts them on a sensual, erotic journey. However as this starts to grow so does Halstons insecurities. It's a very heavy touching journey they travel on to find themselves & make things right.It's wonderful to see Finn find his 'one' & a very trying experience for Halston to find herself. A wonderful story to immerse yourself in.

When this book first came out the cover drew me in at first. Then I read blurb and decided I wasn't sure I could get into it so I didn't buy it right away. Then about 2 weeks later I gave in and decided to give it a try. I was very wrong to judge the book just by blurb. In saying that this book was so captivating that it hooked line sinker me. It's so alluring you won't be able to stop if you tried. And trust me you won't even want to put it down.