I said it in my review for The Devil's Game, and I'll say it again: the writing coming from this debut author is outstanding! KB has come up with something fresh and engaging, and it's only gotten better here with book two in her Rhodes to Hell series!
While book one focused more on Messiah and Hollis, and their overall connection to Ruby, this storyline is more focused on Salem and Nicolai. We get to see how these siblings came to join Preston's handpicked family, and also how their relationships with Preston have shaped their development. Nic's distrust and overbearing tendancies have only grown over the years, while Salem doesn't understand just how much she has been sheltered from until Ruby comes along and helps change up the game. Ruby, Nic, and Salem also learn some hard truths about their respective pasts that come with some devastating results, one of which helps end book two at a massive cliffhanger. I can't wait to see how these revelations will alter the familial relationships going into book three.
One of my initial thoughts about the series was how having so many "main" characters and points of view was a bit risky and clunky at times. But getting more character development in these smaller, paired doses is honestly working for me as we get further in the overall story arc. We are still seeing these characters growing and changing, even though we don't have the whole picture yet. We have yet to get Elijah, Hollis, and Preston's background, and at this point, I'm just dying to know from where Preston's whole purpose in his "family" stems. I'm also very interested to know if the secrets the younger group is hiding from Preston are that secretive. He doesn't seem like the kind of "Daddy" that misses much, but only time will tell!
Character development: 5/5
Dark elements: 4/5
Steamy scenes: 4/5
Overall storyline: 4.25/5
Triggers: Definitely