Sloth: A Sinful Secrets Romance
by Ella James
A Kindle Unlimited Romance
"Sloth is a 500-page, 150,000-word stand alone novel with many twists, one huge secret, and a non-cliffhanger ending. It will wreck you, but you'll like it."
"Sloth is a 500-page, 150,000-word stand alone novel with many twists, one huge secret, and a non-cliffhanger ending. It will wreck you, but you'll like it."
A warning from the Author Ella James, and she isn't kidding. This is the first steamy romance in a series inspired by a sin; in this case: Sloth. In Christianity, Sloth refers to laziness, or spiritual and emotional apathy. This isn't a religious book, although there are plenty of sinful themes. Sloth is the name given to Cleo Whatley in middle school, when she was overweight and took forever getting ready. It's a word that holds a great deal of meaning and importance to both of the main characters in this story, and one I'll never think about in the same way again.
Cleo: "There’s something bad about me. Years ago, before I learned to hide it, Grans would call it pride— but it’s more than that. It’s recklessness. It’s sin. This stupid bar, these stupid ropes, they’re nothing. There’s a part of me that needs to play this game with him. I didn’t even know my dark spirit could rise to sex, but..."
I don't want to give away any secrets, because that's the best part about this story. From the very beginning, I had no idea what was going on. I knew something was up, and I had some guesses. I was sort of right in some places; wrong in others. I was saddened and completely addicted. Instead of giving away too many spoilers, here's a little overview of what's to come if you decide to read this beautifully written masterpiece that I'll never forget.
The Notes
This story starts with a chain of letters...a tiny written snapshot into two strangers lives. Everything is very cryptic. Little details are given as months and years move on. Some of them are sad. Others are very intriguing:
Sloth,
Please lord? I'll answer to that. Happy New Year.
R.
Who is this mysterious R.? Before we could find out more, the story switches to present day where names change, and it's hard to figure out who's who and what's what. Initially, before things really started heating up, this is what kept me turning the pages.
The Plot
Cleo Whatley is enrolled in a very expensive college, and deals mj to buy designer clothes, boots and bags. On a drug deal, she's caught by Kellan Walsh, the schools SGA President and enforcer of the college's zero tolerance drug policy. When they meet, both of their lives change forever...and that's all I'm going to say about the actual events.
As far as the chapters and scenes - this whole book is mysterious. Illusive. Intentionally deceitful. Sometimes it's manic and over-the-top. It's also well thought out and detailed in a way that I can only imagine how much time went into lining everything up so brilliantly, especially the key dates that weave this story together.
The Mood
Here's my hybrid take with a few of the story's themes cross-bred in: Imagine lounging in a tub full of tepid water on a low, gloomy day. Top shelf vodka warms your veins as you're bound by blue tainted ropes. A water bong packed with buds gurgles in the distance, mixing with the sound of rain against the blurry window. Smoke swirls into your nose, silently stalking it's way up into your mind, dulling your senses. Confusing up from down. Distorting right from wrong. So you can't tell the difference between breathing and drowning. The muscle relaxing bliss that follows is thick with unbelievable pleasure, blocking out all the pain from the past. Burning across your heated skin and toaking at the silky ropes that keep getting tighter. Pulling you away from the truth.
The Characters
All of the characters came to life, not one vivid detail left behind which I absolutely loved.
Cleo: I wasn't sure if I really liked her at first. Selling pot just to fit in? But she's so much more than that. After a really sad past, I find her to be very optimistic and well adjusted after the life she had growing up. And I can't blame her for wanting nice things after not having them for so many years. I think it shows she's young. She's human. She's also very loving and compassionate, with an admirable career goal after she graduates. Last but not least, she's incredibly forgetful - sure you're not sneakin a bit of the chronic there Cleo?
All of the characters came to life, not one vivid detail left behind which I absolutely loved.
Cleo: I wasn't sure if I really liked her at first. Selling pot just to fit in? But she's so much more than that. After a really sad past, I find her to be very optimistic and well adjusted after the life she had growing up. And I can't blame her for wanting nice things after not having them for so many years. I think it shows she's young. She's human. She's also very loving and compassionate, with an admirable career goal after she graduates. Last but not least, she's incredibly forgetful - sure you're not sneakin a bit of the chronic there Cleo?
"Mr. Perfect": Kellan is hot. And we get to hear just how good looking his is often, which is one hundred percent fine by me. His features were so well written, I could always picture his body from top to bottom. Sometimes I think I could even smell him. He's dominant but not really a jerk. Never too condescending. Smart and a deep, inward thinker. He makes all of his choices based on emotion and need. He has a temper. He's moody:
"Kellan calls the shots with us, and that’s a shame, because he’s stormy. Changeable. Sometimes I feel like I’m getting close, and then he flits away. Like now."
"Kellan calls the shots with us, and that’s a shame, because he’s stormy. Changeable. Sometimes I feel like I’m getting close, and then he flits away. Like now."
I think what happens in Part Two, Chapter Four really says the most about who Kellan Walsh is. He's a man whose moral compass is set. He's chosen his path and he's not turning back. This scene was dark, and in my opinion a really big deal. I wish it was explored a little deeper - did your decisions haunt you like they haunted me Kellan?
The BDSM
Master/Sub relationships in college? Rooms with hidden contraptions in the ceiling? I wasn't sure about that at first, but after the first hookup, you couldn't pry this book away from me with herb laced tongs. It wasn't BDSM the first time - it was just pure cheek flushing awesomeness. Kellan orders Cleo to the floor, and she has this special talent that I find extremely refreshing and highly erotic. After a few minutes of kneeling before him she thinks:
"He’s beautiful. Perfection, really, even more so as he comes undone."
And man does he come undone. They both do. The intimate scenes in this book were some of the best ones I've ever read. They happen often, and each one is hot, slow moving, sensuously described and very kinky. Kellan is quite the dirty talker!
The End
My head swelled as I tried to focus on the last chapters, my sinuses stinging so bad I could barely keep reading as I blinked the water away from my eyes. That's never happened to me before. Movies, yes. Books no. I can't wait to read this sad love story again knowing what I know now, and taking in all the details I'm sure I missed the first time around. This has become one of my favorite books of all time!
