BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY~ HUDSON ~ SHAYNE MCCLENDON

HUDSON

By: Shayne McClendon

Goodreads Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18913280-hudson

Buy Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Hudson-Barter-System-Shayne-McClendon-ebook/dp/B00G718
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Synopsis:

Refuse to compromise.

Hudson Winters is in control of every aspect of his world. From his earliest
memories, he's been driven to succeed. Starting from nothing, he built an
empire based on opportunity and intimidation.

Personally, professionally, and sexually - he ensures the reins are always
in his hands.

He never counted on a woman like Gabriella Hernandez.

From the moment she steps into his building, she proceeds to shake up his
entire existence. Her very presence causes him to question everything about
himself, his relationships, and his future.

This story features characters readers fell in love with in "The Barter
System" and gives you a chance to sit down and catch up. Prepare to be
twisted up and knocked around a bit.  Another hot, emotional read from
Always the Good Girl, Shayne McClendon.

NOTE: This story contains explicit sexual scenes and language and is
intended for mature audiences only. Do not read this novel if intense sexual
situations offend you.

REVIEW:

Out of Wonderland and Back to Reality

Hudson takes place within the same world as The Barter System. Riya and Max and Micah do make an appearance in this book; they are still the same characters I loved before in that book and this book does make a few more passing nods to the fact that it's in the same world/time frame as that work, however this book is not, for me, a true "sequel" to it. This book just happens to share a world with The Barter System. It's very much its own work. I honestly don't know that I would tell someone interested in reading Hudson that they MUST read The Barter System first. Do you get more out of it if you have that connection with the returning characters? Sure. Do you have enough interaction with the returning characters that you absolutely "lose out" if you've not read it before reading this one? No. I wouldn't say that.

Hudson all on his own is worth reading this book for if you ask me. He's as literal a definition of an Alpha Male as you're going to get: control-oriented to an intense, obsessive level, driven, forceful, powerful, demanding, and always very much the master of his domain to the point that you do get a little of the D/s scene from him. I find him fascinating as a character since I loved his intensity and his depth which is hard for a writer to achieve with a character like him who one is instantly thinking should feel "cold" or "distant" from the reader. 

Hudson was a man I knew. I never felt cordoned off from him because of his intensity. I loved him as he came. I love the fact that he's that guy who isn't inclined to make apologies even when he really, really should. I think the reason that I was attracted to him as a character is that he embraces his flaws to the point that he's willing to accept and overlook them in others as well---though he appreciates and accepts only the same flaws in others which is its own form of hubris. 

Whatever, I loved him. He's pushy, demanding, domineering, and outright mean sometimes and I still loved him. 

For me, the really striking difference between this work and The Barter System was the overall "feel" of the work. Where there was very much the sense of falling into the fantasy of Wonderland with Riya in The Barter System, there are an equal number of reminders that this is The Real World, no one's fantasy, here in Brie's world. Her life isn't the sheltered, coming-of-age journey filled with wonderment and exploration that I saw in Riya's story. Brie is a woman who has lived, keeps living, and knows all about living, yet she's so, so lovely. I wanted such amazing things for her. I wanted a HEA for her that I couldn't even describe, but I knew, somehow, that her story would surprise me from the very beginning.

It's incredibly hard to review this book without giving away anything important -like the ending which is its own kind of HEA, by the way- but I will say that I felt that Brie was not done poorly in this book. She was given a fair shake which life hadn't often done for her prior to the events of this story. I don't know what I wanted for her, but I am happy with how things turned out in this work simply because I liked the back-to-reality feeling of it. There are many elements of the book that aren't one-hundred-percent every-day-living -since how many billionaires do you really know? I mean, really- but it's still got a lot more "life" in it than I really expected. It's a fantastic reality tale with enough sex to make for a good erotic read, but not so much sex that it loses the point of the story which comes from the development of the characters. 

On an odd note, even though The Barter System remains my favorite of Shayne McClendon's works, I will say that Hudson is the one that I recommend the most. I feel that it's more universal in some ways and I simply believe it's a book everyone should have a chance to read when they're looking for contemporary with a little more bang for the buck.  ~Shandra Torbett

About the Author:

Shayne McClendon is an indie author who has received rave reviews for her premiere novel "The Barter System." Other projects recently released are "In the Service of Women," "Yes to Everything," "Damaged," "Being Delightful," "The Hermit," "Hudson" - the second book set in "The Barter System" world, and many more.
Writer, mom, and hermit...Shayne listens to the voices in her head because their ideas are awesome. Those around her have learned not to question the crazy. Coffee consumption is too high, amount of sleep is too low, but the words always feel just right.
She currently lives in Oklahoma wrangling teenagers, opening doors for her pets, and running her content writing company. She dreams of peace, quiet, travel, and always having a viable internet connection.
You can contact her by email at shayne@alwaysthegoodgirl.com, stop by her Facebook page, or visit her website and subscribe for your free story!
Shayne McClendon's work is available at all major e-book retailers. Print editions of her work are available on her website.

Official Website:
www.alwaysthegoodgirl.com

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B008CJHKEK

Facebook Pages:
https://www.facebook.com/AlwaystheGoodGirl

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorShayneMcClendon

Current Book List:
The Barter System
Hudson
Yes to Everything
In the Service of Women
A Little Bit Country - Book One
Damaged
Obsession
The Hermit
Being Delightful
Gravity
Roadside Assistance
Somebody
Permission to Come Aboard - The Great Outdoors
Special Delivery - The Great Outdoors
A Sunny Heart - The Great Outdoors
Embrace the Wild - The Great Outdoors
Ready to Rumble - Love of the Game
Breaking the Ice - Love of the Game
Time to Make the Doughnuts - Love of the Game
Woman's Best Friend
Revenge is Best Served Hot
Compilations:
Just a Little Kilted - with Alexandra Andersen
Just a Little Crazy - with Alexandra Andersen
Just a Little Extra - with Alexandra Andersen
Not a Bride - with Alexandra Andersen
All the Better To - with Christopher Southers
Books Available in Print:
The Barter System
Damaged
Not a Bride - with Alexandra Andersen

Playlist:

HUDSON PLAYLIST

Feelin’ Love – Paula Cole

Wicked Game – Chris Isaak

Closer – Nine Inch Nails

A Little Taste – Skyler Stonestreet

Satisfied – Aranda

My Demons – Starset

POWER – Kanye West

Sinner’s Prayer – Sully Erna

Madness – Muse

Person Jesus – Depeche Mode

Kiss From A Rose – Seal

Shape Of My Heart – Sting

Simply Falling – Iyeoka

What Goes Around…/…Comes Around Interlude – Justin Timberlake

My Immortal – Evanescence

Hurt – Johnny Cash

Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O’Connor

Special Cases – Massive Attack

Far Behind – Candlebox

Stepping Stone – Duffy

Wish I Didn’t Miss You – Angie Stone

Empire State of Mind – JAY Z & Alicia Keys

Fix You – Coldplay

Just Like Honey – Jesus and Mary Chain

Bad Things – Jace Everett

Feeling Good – Nina Simone

Is This Real? – Lisahall

Oblivion – M83, Suzanne Sundfor

Lloraras – Oscar D’Leon

Feeling Good – Michael Buble

She Wants To Know – Half Moon Run

Intro – The xx

Stay – Rihanna, Mikky Ekko

Mirrors – Justin Timberlake

Lullaby – The Cure

Feel Good Inc – Gorillaz

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