Bastian's Storm (Surviving Raine)

4.5-5 stars OMG! I love the way this story turned out. Bastian is the same lovable but messed up hero and his main focus is Raine, who is a patient and loving woman (as any woman with Bastian would need to be). The story picks up a while after Surviving Raine leaves off. Bastian and Raine have settled in to a condo in Miami Beach. Bastina convinced Raine to give up Ohio because he's still drawn to the ocean. The problem is, since their rescue, Raine doesn't want much of anything to do with beaches or the sea so the condo was about as close as they could compromise on living accommodations. Raine has settled in with Bastian and is taking classes to get a degree in ecology. Bastian is rather aimless in his days and tries to keep from drinking again. There is a bit of a disconnect between Raine and Bastian though because although they love each other and want to stay together, there is a definite issues between them. For instance, Bastian would be happiest is it was just him and Raine and he doesn't like spending time with others. This makes it difficult for Raine (who likes people) to have her friends over as Bastian's not very good at playing nice which just makes things harder on Raine. They are working on this when Landon comes blowing back in to Bastian's life claiming that he and Franks just need one last fight in a death match from him. Bastian's not interested but isn't given much choice about competing, especially when extra collateral is used to get his compliance. Bastian has no choice and gets Raine to stand by him on this, promising her that he'll make it through and come back to her. Raine isn't happy but she realizes they don't have a choice and puts her faith in Bastian to come through the fight alive. Bastian gets prepared for the fight while trying to figure out how to keep this the last time he's called back in for real. Bastian trains for a few weeks and the tourney takes place in a frozen wasteland. The fighting is rough and vicious and things end with a twist (as I was hoping) which has Bastian coming out of things alive. He's reunited with Raine and with a bit more effort they're set to enjoy a HEA together. I loved how this story turned out. The action storyline was interesting and engaging but what I really liked best about it was how Bastian changed in the story. He realized some of his shortcomings and how he wasn't doing what he should to be what Raine needed. Realizing that, he was able and willing to make the effort he didn't before to make her happy which made him a much better hero. Raine was already a great heroine, being a lovable woman that's patient enough to deal with Bastian, and she didn't change in this book (thank goodness). My only sadness if that there will be no more of their story but this was a great ending to leave things on. I'd recommend this book (but only if you've read book #1 Surviving Raine). 2 thumbs up. :D ******Spoiler alert***** Just an FYI...No Shay Savage heroes were killed in the making of this book. :D

I LOVED Surviving Raine and luckily didn't have to wait too long to read Bastian's Storm. It was not "quite" as addictive as the first one, but still really good! I loved all the action and the suspense. As much as I love Bastian, I really struggled at times with how crazy he drove me in this book! Part of me seriously wanted to smack him in the head on several occasions. With that said, I know he was just insecure and the other part of me genuinely felt for and wanted to comfort him. How can you not love someone who says things like... "You are my world," I whispered against her skin. "I can survive anything as long as I have you with me." Good Lord, I do love that man!! And the action when he is forced to compete in the game is bite your nails, edge of your seat, pee your pants GOOD! I was glued to my Kindle and felt like I was right there with them. SO incredibly well written! I definitely recommend this book as everyone needs the closure that it brings for Bastian and Raine. There might just be a surprise or two in there as well that you don't want to miss!! Definitely want to one-click it today!

Bastian and Raine have been rescued from the island and are now living in Miami, however nowhere near the beach much to his dismay. Due to his lack of personality and like of others, the island was nothing less than spectacular for Bastian. He loved it and now wishes that is where he was, instead of some condo smack in the middle of the busy city. While the beach is close enough for his morning run, there was no way in hell Raine was going to live on it. Unlike Sebastian, Raine wasn't thrilled with life on the island and has been looking alhead since the rescue. She is back in school leaving Bastian with way too much time on his hands. Because he isn't drinking and isn't happy unless he is inside of Raine, Bastian has become quite the bastard. He isn't settling into "normal" life as well as Raine and needs something to occupy his time. Be careful what you wish for is the theme of this second book. Bastian runs into his old mentor Landon who of course has good news and bad. We learned in Surviving Raine that Sebastian Stark has a past and it isn't a good one. He was an ultimate fighter of the worst kind-to the death. Retired now, Bastian didn't think there was anything that could pull him back in for one more match, but was he wrong. Landon gives Bastian a deal he can't refuse (or they will kill him anyway) and sets up one last fight to the death. Now Bastian has to explain the fight details to Raine and convince her that he is going to win no matter what. With stakes as high as they are, you can't blame the guy. John Paul is also in Miami, knows what is going on with Landon and Franks and starts to get Bastian back into fighting shape. I think John Paul injects the humor needed in this serious story, I would like to read a bit more about him in the future. Hint, hint, Shay Savage. After reading the blurb I was worried that the fight scene was going to be the whole book. While my interest lies more with the relationship of Bastian and Raine, I was wrong The death match didn't start until at least 70% of the book and it was so well written you felt like you were actually watching it. There was a new character (to me anyway) introduced in the fight scenes that I am now going to have to read about, Evan Arden. Reading reviews on this book, I learned he is the main character in another Shay Savage series, so I am going to check him out. There seems to be quite a bit going on with him as well. So secrets are out, fights are on and I don't want to spoil the rest of the story. The book is well written and like I said, you feel like you are watching the death match play out right before your eyes. I am a fan of Shay Savage's writing as her "romances" always have a special something that makes them different. This couldn't have been a better follow up book to Surviving Raine and we get an awesome epilogue to boot. Excellent book, excellent series!

What can I say? From Transcendence to Bastian's Storm and of course Evan! If you haven't read Transcendence, you REALLY are missing out. One of my all time favorite books that even almost a year later I will go back and re-read! Shay definitely has the gift of writing and I love how she takes a story and writes with such amazing detail that you feel part of the story. Surviving Raine is another favorite of mine. Now for Bastian's storm. Action packed and I love how Shay keeps it real...she doesn't write her men perfect (well except in the bedroom or anywhere else for that matter LOL)...they are full of flaws and it takes a unique woman to tolerate them and have a great sense of understanding. Never a dull moment in this book. You never know what Bastian or Evan will do. You don't see much of Evan in here as it is mainly Bastian but what little of Evan you do see....you won't forget! If you've come to love both these characters you will leave this series very very happy....But I have to tell you...there for a minute I was REALLY worried about how this would end....the tournament was WOW.... I've never been disappointed by anything Shay has written, truly talented!

I freaking loved this book. I love Sebastian and the man he became! There was good sex, adventure, plotting, scheme, betrayal, a kid, and more Sebastian!!! The only reason I took off one star because this was ALL about Sebastian and what he had to do in order to keep Raine safe. I wish there would have been more of Raine, but that is just me. The writing was fast paced and exciting! I know it is a awesome book whenever I have to take a breAk from it because it is just that INTENSE!!!! Landon used to be such an important part of Sebastian s life that I would have thought there would have been more dialogue with him and Sebastian.

Bastian’s Storm: Surviving Raine Book 2 By: Shay Savage 5/5 stars I was super excited when Shay Savage announced the sequel to Surviving Raine. I really loved Bastian, the big old alpha-jerk-hole! I truly felt sorry for him when he and Raine were rescued, because I knew how hard it would be for an alcoholic to adapt back to society, which Raine was eager for and so ready to do. Then I read the blurb, and heard that Evan Arden would be in this last death tournament that Bastian was going to be forced to be in. Now, I hadn’t read those books, but I knew of them. So I went on a one-click buying & reading spree (come on, it wasn’t like I could go wrong, I love Shay’s work!) Knowing how the death tournaments work, I was devastated!! Why would Shay pit two of her heroes against each other?! This is Bastian’s book, so he has to live, doesn’t he?! Since they will be competing in a tournament, then that means there can only be one victor, one person left alive! NOOOOO!!! I was about to have a conniption throughout the book! So anyways, at the end of the first book, Landon confronts Bastian and lets him know that since he’s made the news, he won’t be able to hide anymore and that Franks will either be coming after him or will be forcing him out of retirement from the death tournaments. Of course, Bastian keeps this information away from Raine. I will say that I was annoyed at Raine for her treatment of Bastian in the beginning of this book. Knowing his background of being an abandoned orphan, shuffled through the foster care system, meeting up with Landon and learning how to kill people, then fighting in the death tournament’s, becoming an alcoholic who lived on a ship because he hated interacting with people, she just didn’t seem to care that living back in the city, in civilization would be an everyday struggle for him. JP convinces Bastian that he needs to get back in shape, using cardio and the building’s weight machines, to be better prepared to take care of Raine, in the event that Franks decides to come after him. JP is a great secondary character and really had me laughing during this book. When Bastian is called upon to fight in one last tournament, Landon is able to stress the importance of everything that Bastian will lose if he doesn’t comply with Franks’ demands. So, Bastian comes clean and tells Raine everything, especially since she knows his past. At first Raine wants to run and hide, but there is virtually nowhere they can go where they won’t be found. And Bastian is going to hold Landon to the promise that this is his last tournament. He will have to work fast during the tournament though, since it is being held in the Arctic and the participants are just as likely to die from exposure and hypothermia as they are to be killed by another opponent. I don’t know if there are more books in this series, but then again, I love all her characters!!

Could not put this down. Read this in a day. Loved the story. So glad they were able to work through everything. Will read more from Shay Savage.,

I wasn't gong to read this book. It is a continuation of Surviving Raine and I was perfectly good with the way it ended. I have always thought other erotic fiction - FSOG and B2U were diminished by the subsequent books and I loved Ms Savage's dark, gritty tale of survival, love and redemption. She really couldn't improve on that exquisite tale . . Right? Damn straight . . she could and did! As the marooned couple starts the next phase of their lives together, Bastian's maelstrom of a past comes a whirling and hurdles them down another dark twisty torrent. Brilliant! Synopsis from cover Sebastian Stark just isn’t cut out for normal life with a girlfriend in the hot and humid city of Miami. All in all, he’d rather be back on the island where it was just the two of them, and he could keep everything in balance. The bar down the street tempts him daily, but he’s determined to remain strong. Adjusting to normal life is difficult, but Bastian is doing his best to keep himself together and the nightmares away. Raine’s happy, and that’s what matters to him the most. But not all nightmares can be driven away. When Bastian’s former mentor comes into the picture and presents him with an ultimatum, Bastian slips into old habits. Though he wants to shield Raine from the truth, the shady circumstances of his past form into a hurricane he can’t control. In an effort to protect her, Bastian has no choice but to throw himself back into his old job – death match tournaments – just one last time.