Review: Brake by Skye Callahan

27 October of 2015 by Deb Markanton

Reviewer's Rating: 4

4.0Overall score

The Darkness Continues With Brake

Brake By Skye Callahan

Contemporary Romance

Released Oct. 20, 2015

Self-Published

Series: The Redline Series, Book # 3

Reviewed by Deb

There’s no stopping as the bitter feud between brothers, Colt and Devlin, speeds out of control.

From Colt’s pawn to Devlin’s captive, Aubrey is caught even deeper in their pact to destroy one another. Imprisoned in darkness, she fights for her life–and her sanity. Her only hope is a cocky and sadistic car thief who is already wrestling with his own demons.

Colt swore he’d never end up in this place again. That he’d never be held captive to heroin or rendered helpless by his brother to watch as another life is destroyed. He’s ready to tear the city apart to find Aubrey, but that’s only if his own mind doesn’t tear him apart first.

Lines have been crossed. Promises broken. Souls shattered. And the worst has only begun.

Note:
If you’re looking for rainbows, butterflies, and happy endings coated in chocolate and caramel, turn back now! This story deals with dark themes and intense situations that aren’t suitable for sensitive readers. If you’re looking for an intense roller coaster of emotions and situations that will warp your sense of right and wrong and drag you through the debauched underworld of crime and deceit, then you’re in the right place.

This is a work of serial fiction, so it will be released in distinct parts with no resolute ending until the end of the series.

The Darkness Continues With Brake

Book 3 picks up Skye Callahan’s Redline serial where Torque leaves off. This time dragging us deeper into Colt and Devlin’s rivalry when Devlin breaks their agreement. Did we think he’d play fair? Pffft. Devlin is determined to bring Colt to his knees, and Aubrey is the red hot poker he’s stabbing into Colt’s open wound to do so.

This installment is the darkest yet, and I loved every bit of it. I knew Devlin had absolutely no conscience but…wow. This guy gives a new definition to evil. All I can say is I certainly hope he suffers a torturous end.

Colt is beside himself with guilt and anger when he discovers Devlin has taken Aubrey, disappearing into thin air. No gloating phone call, no threatening messages, no “do this or else”. Colt would like nothing more than to sink into his old addiction and forget all the memories this ignites. However, Colt has figured out Devlin’s intention and it’s not pretty. If he doesn’t get Aubrey out of Devlin’s clutches asap, she will not survive his little game. Colt isn’t sure why Devlin is bent on a repeat of a few years ago because Colt doesn’t have feelings for Aubrey. Or does he?

As Colt frantically uses every resource he has to locate Aubrey, and they aren’t many, she is going through her own personal nightmare. She knows Devlin is a heartless bastard, but she had no idea of the horrors he would inflict without so much as a blink of an eye. Aubrey doesn’t hold much hope of escaping, however, she holds onto Colt’s promise to take care of her. Even during the worst, she believes Colt will find her.

Ms. Callahan does a great job with Aubrey’s character. I like this girl. I don’t feel sorry for her. She got herself into a bad place when she walked into Devlin’s club, and she’s fully aware of that fact. Even now, she’s in the worst imaginable situation, yet she refuses to give up. Devlin puts her through one horrifying act after another, keeping her alive only to put her through more. She fights him with everything she has and handles his torture and humiliation like a soldier.

For his part, Colt is this close to giving in to the sweet escape of the drugs Devlin waves in his face. But he knows if he does, Aubrey will be another victim of his brother’s sick, twisted mind. He’s pissed she’s gotten herself into this situation. He’s even more pissed that she has wormed her way into his heart and made him feel again. In the first two installments, I really didn’t like Colt. He’s a cold man who uses women. Brake reveals why Colt lives his life this way, and I can sympathize completely. I’m holding out for a HEA for these two. Fingers crossed.
With two more books left in the serial, I can’t even guess where Ms. Callahan will take us. All I can say is, I’m eagerly anticipating Devlin’s demise.