In Dollars, the plot timeline opens in succession with Pim trying to negotiate her new surroundings away from the white mansion. Not knowing whether Pim’s circumstance has improved, she is tentative and doesn’t know how to react to the demands being made upon her. Despite feeling powerless, Pim tries to overcome her past but doesn’t know what feelings to trust, as certain trained behaviors have been instilled in her core.

Pim isn’t the only one trying to adjust to the new living arrangements, as Elder is at odds with his decision. Exposing himself to Pim could lead to disaster but Elder can’t stay away from her. Battling his demons, he is forced to reconcile emotions he buried long ago causing tremendous inner turmoil.

What draws Pim and Elder to each other is complicated. Elder has been very open about his sexual inclinations toward Pim but it’s more than just the physical in that Elder feels a deep connection to her. While Pim is processing her feelings, she is angry and feels betrayed that her body feels an attraction to Elder who wants a certain gift before succumbing to his basest desires.

In this second installment, a range of emotion is present that includes reflection, healing, anger, betrayal and gratitude. With a somber tone, it is obvious Pim has been through hell and knowing the time it will take for her to rebuild adds tremendous tension. Adding to the conflict is the mystery surrounding Elder’s secrets and vulnerabilities. While we get a few glimpses into Elder’s world, there is still so much to be revealed and for Pim to experience.

With much contemplation, Pepper Winters takes her characters on a thoughtful and arduous journey. The plot moves at a pace that forces the reader to pause and feel how Pim’s emotions take a step forward but three steps back. At times, it is frustrating but also realistically portrayed considering her painful experience. With Elder, there were times when I wanted him to surrender to his urges and unleash the beast despite knowing how it would affect Pim and their future.

In all, the story-line successfully continues to build layers of intrigue and added dimension. There is still much to discover in this series and I look forward to continuing to see how it will all unfold. ( )

4.5 Stars
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Dollars, the second installment in the Dollar series, takes place immediately after the conclusion of Pennies. Pim claimed some dignity back from her captor, but in her want for freedom she traded in one master for another. Elder may have rescued her from one evil, but he holds secrets and she's not accustomed to the changes he expects from her. Used to the expectations of beatings and torture, Pim's voice goes unused as she seeks out the answers to questions she is afraid to ask.
Desperate for her voice, to know the woman he rescued, Elder challenges Pim and himself in an effort of forcing language. Offering medical help, food, and clothing seem to do nothing, but his force brings both progress and failure. She brings out the monster in him, her emotions drawing his to the surface and wreaking havoc on his control. He knows he should grant her freedom, but he's drawn to her and cannot let her go.

Free. I scoffed. I'd stolen her with the intention of keeping her, not freeing her.

Told in dual POV, Dollars reveals the darkness that has consumed Pim for so long and slowly reveals to readers why Elder saw her fit to rescue and keep. More than the bruises that mar her body, Pim's mind is held captive by the haunting memories of the last two years, her body trained to react only to harm. Dollars was an all consuming read, I ached for Pim, any chapter from her POV broke me down a bit more each time. Elder is a mystery, he too is haunted by a past we do not know, but he also has a kind soul we glimpse often as he cages his monster inside him when it comes to caring for Pim. Between them grows an unspoken connection, the sexual tension only the tip of the iceberg.

He wasn't a gentleman. He wasn't refined. He was chaos and uncultured and dying to be free ot invoke whatever calamity he needed to inflict.

Slow in pace and heavy with emotions, Dollars is the type of read that weighs on you. The growth of the characters is tremendous, but the undertones are dark and overwhelming. Like Elder, Dollars leaves the reader waiting for the darkness to take control, for the evil that lives inside Elder, and in the world Pim is rescued from, to take over. As Pim is strengthened her power grows and Dollars scratches just the surface of what twists are to come in the remainder of the series. The ending left me desperate for more and readers will find this dark series is one they cannot walk away from.

I need his arms; otherwise, I'd die. I needed him to hold me now he'd decimated the podium I'd stood on and left me in rubble.
I had no one else.
Not even myself. ( )

5 unbelievable stars

Every time I start a book by this author I know I am going to feel every emotion, smell every smell, hear every sound, and see every moment as clearly as if I was living in this imaginary world. She is the maestro and I'm am her student. She controls the symphony. Sometimes, I wonder how she comes up with these stories. They are fraught with tragedy and pain. Yet, somehow she manages to juxtapose the ugliness with beauty.

I cannot wait to see what is next on the journey of these two souls. I know eventually there will be a happy ending but that doesn't lessen the pain that is still to come. ( )

Pepper really keeps you on your toes with this second book. The continuation of Pim and Elder’s journey is fascinating. The more you read the more you get a glimpse into their lives. Definitely another amazing read and looking forward to what comes next for these two. ( )

Completed 12/3/17 ( )