Sebring (The Unfinished Heroes Series Book 5)

Kristin Ashley is the best. Her characters and stories are so real that I feel like these people are my best friends. It's always such a shock when the book is over and we aren't together any more. That's why I always have to read them twice in a row.

I'm always amazed how Kristens characters become so real and I fall in love with them all but this was the perfect conclusion to an incredible series. Love me some Nick Sebring. Wowza.... Seriously wow.

Kristen Ashley is one of my favorite authors. This was a good wrap to the series, and a redeeming look at the main character. Always like to see follow up about previous characters, and how their stories intertwine.

Kristen Ashley has done it again. Her books are never a disappointment. This is the last book in the series where we grew to hate Nick in the previous books. In Sebring, he has redeemed himself! It has it all, alpha male, drama, steamy hot scenes. Just couldn't put it down.

This book was freaking phenomenal!! I LOVED every second of it. The only thing I don't like AT ALL is that it's the last Unfinished Heroes book. Now that makes me sad, but MAN has it been an incredible series!!! KA's book are my favorite books hands down and this one was no exception. Nick and Olivia's story is heartbreaking at times, but ultimately beautiful. I wait with baited breath every time KA releases another book and will do the same thing for the next one.

I love Kristen Ashley! I have read and reread all her books so many time! Nick was such a jerk and now he's one of my favorites!!!! Including characters from previous books is like visiting with old friends for a weekend!

I loved this book. Of course I love Kristen Ashley's writing style. The Unfinished Heroes Series was my favorite. Everyone is so real and down to earth on the inside... well that is a different story altogether.

I love Kristen Ashley's books-(have read them all at least 2 times) but this book did not fill my expectations at all-the writing was rambling and not at all like her previous books--a very big let down

Kristen's ability to pull you into her books within the first few pages is a gift and Sebring was one of those books I hated putting down. Beautiful wrap-up to yet another series I will real again and again!

I dont know about y'all but I have been dying for Nick’s book. I mean, I still kind of hated him from Knight’s book but I trust trusting good ole Kristen Ashley to make me forgive him and to possibly make him my next fictional boyfriend. I am happy to report that this author did not let down.

‘For one magnificent second, connected to Nick Sebring, I believed. I believed in a better world. I believed I could feel complete. I believed I could have someone by my side. I believed I could feel safe. I believed I could feel happy. I believed I could be loved.’

Lord, mercy Nick made me swoon but more importantly Nick and Olivia’s story was just so darn hard. This romance had me on the edge of my seat from the very first time they meet. And man what a meeting it is. (fans myself) This book starts out with quite the bang. LOL! But, boy I just felt so bad for stone cold ice princess Olivia and while Nick melted away at her icy exterior he was melting my heart right along the way. These two! Just, ugh! So many feels!

“I live in dark. Dawn never comes for me. There will be no new day where I wake up complete. Happy. Loved. There is no other side to make my way to. There is no believe. It just isn’t for me.”

Like I said, feels galore. But man this story is action packed in that special Kristen Ashley way that keeps you glued to the pages and biting your nails. I really enjoyed this book. It was SO sexy, so thick and rich with plot and Nick won me over like a champ. Knight may always be my daddy but Nick comes in a close second. ;)

“Dawn is coming, honey. Open your eyes.”

~Amie

Brought it! Her "A" game and everything that goes with it in this book. I thought that the second Magdalene book was my favorite but Sebring has usurped that spot. I couldn't STAND nick in the Knight book and I had no hope of my mind being changed. Not only does she do that but with an exclamation point too! It's like she said with the end of this series... "Thought you knew, I'm Kristen Ashley!" Now I'm just mad I finished it so fast. Withdrawals begin...

As an aside if there are ANY one star reviews they didn't read the book.

As always, KA wrote a perfect story for her characters.

When I first read Knight, I really did not like Nick Sebring (and I'm sure many shared that opinion).

Because of this I was unsure of what I'd find in this book.

And I am in love. I love Nick Sebring and although I would have liked the story of Nick and Olivia (as well as all the other Unfinished Heroes books) to be longer, it was perfectly written and it gave us all the things that I love with KA.

Apart from writing an amazing story for Nick and Olivia, we also get to visit characters from her previous characters in the series.

I just never felt the connection between these 2 characters. There was barely any conversation and one of my favorite things about KA's books is the dialogue. Truth is maybe you shouldn't go by my review because I have not really been a fan of any of the books in this series although I am a HUGE Kristen Ashley fan otherwise.

Even though I'm a fan of most of Kristen Ashley's books, I couldn't make it through this one. The story was just too lame. Not saying that her stories are always fantastic, some are better than others, but I always still enjoy them. Well, not this one. I would skip it.

Look I really ,really like most of Kristen Ashley's books . However for some reason I just stopped reading this book in the very beginning. I will probably go back and start again, later. Most of her books are a great read.

I am a fan of 90% of Ashley's books. I have re-read them and always found something interesting that I missed the first time. I can't imagine that this awful mess comes from the same author. I don't even know where to go from here! This is so bad that I can't even finish it. I suppose an author finally runs out of ideas. I'm so sorry that it is my favorite writer. I thought she had more amazing stories to tell. I HOPE she does.

Normally I give KA's books 5 stars, and while I liked this book a lot, it was not my favorite of the series. That said, I still would recommend this one to KA fans.
The only issue I have is that it had several typos...not typical of her books. Unfortunately, I'm very anal about typos and content inconsistencies, so they jumped out at me and ruined the flow of the writing. Hopefully she'll get this issue fixed.

Loved this book. I haven't had the chance to read this first four books in this series yet. That being said I really enjoyed this one. For me it was so different from the other KA books that I've read. It was sexier and bit more intense. I didn't want to put it down.

Guess you can't please everyone.First KA I didn't finish.Was so looking forward to another heroes book.I found it all so confusing.Hopefully somewhere we found out who Hettie was.Did not like any of the characters at all,only Knight and Anya.

I will be honest, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to find it in me to like Nick Sebring. And I didn’t like him, not at all, I freaking LOVED him! In Sebring we no longer see that cocky little s*** that is Knight’s brother. We get to see someone who has changed, who is out for revenge, who isn’t the same Nick that so many of us hated in Knight. This Nick, what can I say about this Nick? Nick is bossy, hardened, set your kindle of fire hot, protective and all of the things I personally love in an alpha male.

Olivia doesn’t know Nick’s history with her family, hell she doesn’t want anything to do with them herself but unfortunately can’t get away without risking her life. She can’t risk anything upsetting her father or sister, because when something does, it’s always a painful lesson and she doesn’t want any more of those. Olivia may seem like she is incased in ice, but in reality all it takes is one to slowly chip away and melt her barriers away.

In Sebring, like all of Kristen Ashley’s books, you know that the story you will be getting will be powerful, emotional, beautiful both in it’s pain and healing, and one that will touch a place in your heart and soul. This series is a little darker than the rest, deals with more of the darker side of things that we don’t always like to think about. Sebring deals with death, abuse, revenge, and danger. It also deals with love, healing, trust and protection.

Sadly this is the final book in the Unfinished Heroes series and just like the rest you will be on the edge of your seat, not wanting to set aside your reading device for even a second, wiping away your tears one minute and smiling the next. I thought Knight and Raid would have been my favorite books of this series and that none would knock them down from that title, but Sebring has done just that. Kristen Ashley knows how to make you love the bad guy, but not only love him, but to want to see the redemption of his character and want him to have his very own version of a happily ever after. Sebring is a must read for every fan of her books and those looking to find redemption in the bad boy all of us deemed unredeemable.

***Solid 3.75 Stars***

Okay, first let me just say that I couldn't stand Nick. I mean dude had my eye twitching if I read his name in a sentence on GR.. So to say that I didn't think that KA could redeem such a character, is putting it mildly.. But this didn't stop me from being curious about some of the questions I wanted answered where Nick was concerned. So yes, I wanted to read his book.

Did KA redeem him? In spades she did. And the awesome thing is, that she didn't have to work real hard to do it either. At least the parts concerning what we know of Nick from the earlier books, to now.

So Nick's redemption is what got this book to 3.5 stars. What took it a bit over that, but couldn't quite reach the 4 star mark, was the story. Now I'm all about the balance. When it comes to Nick & Olivia though, them as individuals, what we got seemed a bit unbalanced to me in the reveals. I don't like how this book feels once again, like Raid's story where the woman takes up most of the story. We got Olivia's side. All the details/ingredients/reveals. Where with Nick, we didn't get much. And the conclusions of things for him & why we're even reading about his story, were glossed over... Nick is the "Unfinished Hero" here, not Olivia I wanted MORE. More story. More reveals. More punch with HIS story of why he was doing all this in the first place. More details in that journey from his side.

Also, that xfactor that you get with Knight's & Deacon's book was just not present here. That dark, forbidden sort of thing you just can't explain, but see it just as clearly, was not here. Things felt sort of safe. Way too safe for it to be a Unfinished Hero novel. An unfinished hero is just that. He's supposed to make you uncomfortable. A little scared. And whole lot of intrigued. To the point where you know it's crazy. You know you should be running the other way, but you can't help but walk towards it. The darkness. Him. And the type of guy Nick is. What we learned over the course of the series concerning him, I was expecting we would get alot more of this in his book. Especially if what we see in the Prologue is anything to go by. But we didn't. And that's kinda a bummer for me.

And dare I say it? *whispers* The Epilogue for this book wasn't all that great for me.

I do love how this series closes though, concerning all the characters. Where we leave them. I do love how this was done. So all in all, this was a decent close to the series. Just not the best book of the bunch.

So when it comes to our Unfinished Heroes, I have to say Knight, Creed, & Deacon are the winners here.

If you are a KA fan and a fan of this series, I would recommend this read.

Happy Reading :)

This was a joke, and this is from a reader who may roll her eyes at KA but still enjoys her nonsensical sentences and alpha chin-lifting bossy boys. Apparently, I only like them when they are planted on a motorcycle. I have never ridden a motorcycle.

SPOILER:
This was trash. For the first 40% of the book the two major characters have nothing but nameless sex. Actually, it's not really nameless as he knows who she is, she's the daughter and sister of the two evil-doers that had the love of his life shot right in front of him. He's taken several years to turn into Batman and has been tracking her to get the goods on her family. Poor duped little mob Princess.

Apparently her magical lady parts can cleanse the world of all evil as their non-verbal love can overcome that kind of horror. How? I dunno. As they don't start talking until over half way in (see sex for about half the book) and then it's nothing more than, "Babe!" "I have to go."

Oh yeah, KA tosses in a little BDSM moves on the H's part to prove how her body trusts him before her brain does. This is merely an assumption on my part.

The heroine for lack of a better term is not as bad as her homicidal, drug czar and czarina father and sister respectively, her mafiasque father and just as evil but smarter, loving sister. She is, however, complicit. She knows that nice guy drug dealers are getting hit for leaving the job, she works for the family because she can't escape... and do you seem where I am going?

The heroine can't leave the life because....she has no way out? Two words: Witness Protection.

Spare me poor pitiful, mealy mouthed, spineless wusses like this.

But HEA.

Rant over.

I Love KA so I went into this book full of excitement but not knowing a great deal about Nick. So please do not feel you need to read the series to understand it. It actually is very standalone. There is a massive amount of sex, despair and eventually, redemption in this book. It's quite different to the series. It becomes a story of acceptance. Reading about Olivia was gut wrenching... The despair and resignation that emanated from her will make you so sad. She was trapped from every angle in her world as the daughter of a failing gangster Vincent Shade who had been struggling for years to keep a stronghold on every aspect of his life, she was merely a porn in his game. Yet when Nick & Olivia were together, it was all very intense and real. This is not an easy KA story - everything is amplified - the violence, the sex, the mystery. But still a Perfect ending to a good series, not her best but this book is an intense and passionate read and still 5 amazing stars.
I am a verified purchaser in Australia

>Book review – Sebring
>I am an independent reviewer. This book is the 5th and final book in the Unfinished Hero series and ends in an HEA. Nick Sebring has appeared in previous books in this series and is a real hard guy to like. He is selfish and doesn’t care who he hurts. In this book, a tragedy causes him to grow up and want vengeance. He targets the daughter of his enemy, Olivia. He is planning on seducing her and using her to take her family down. Olivia is interesting. She comes across as cold and unfeeling, but really she is trying to survive a life of abuse that she sees no end to.
>Nick and Olivia do not have a very romantic relationship, at first. They just have sex in the form of fighting for control and then leave. These actions felt so cold that when Nick and Olivia finally do fall for each other, there weren’t any warm feelings for me, towards them. I loved seeing the characters from all of the previous books back for a quick update. I am glad that Nick is no longer a jerk, but this book just wasn’t romantic.
>This book is appropriate for an adult audience. I am giving this story 4 stars. My favorite book in the series is still Deacon.

I don't think I've ever been so nervous to start a Kristen Ashley book as I was when I began reading Sebring. After all, Nick Sebring didn't have the best track record with the crew of the Unfinished Heroes series and I (foolishly) worried I’d be unable to empathize with his character. His being painted as a perennial screw-up didn't inspire much confidence, yet it's vastly different being shown how much he's changed rather than simply being told. Nick is no longer the would-be villain we knew who attempted to come between Knight and Anya. He's grown, he's matured, and he's experienced life in a way that changed him irrevocably. It’s therefore fitting that his love interest, Olivia Shade, would be someone who challenged him every step of the way, making him earn the happy ending I desperately wanted and Olivia to have after everything they’d been through. At its core, Sebring is a heartbreakingly beautiful story about seizing happiness, embracing love, and finding redemption. Add in the nail-biting, breath-holding, gut-wrenching drama, and it’s a story that captivated from start to finish.

If I had to describe Nick and Olivia’s relationship in one word, it would be unexpected. Theirs isn't a flowery tale of romance and wooing where boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, and they live happily ever after. Who they are and what they’ve done make it impossible for them to have a “normal” relationship (although what fun would that be?). Their initial interactions are raw and primal and based purely on physical attraction – a dynamic that’s incredibly intimate, yet still emotionally detached. It isn’t until we delve further into the characters of Nick and Olivia via dual perspectives that we are privy to the darkness and the despair that haunt each of them. Olivia, in particular, blew me away with the depth of her feelings once Nick began to chip away at her ice princess exterior. Their scorching chemistry left me fanning my flaming cheeks, but it’s the intensity of the emotional connection they develop over the course of the narrative that had the power to obliterate my heart.

Sebring is a perfect example of why I'm addicted to Kristen Ashley's books. These characters all too easily got under my skin, overpowering my emotions until all I could do was think and breathe their stories. The Unfinished Heroes series is one I’d gladly recommend to a fellow reader who keeps an open mind, viewing these characters who straddle the line between right and wrong as (fictional) humans who have flaws and who make mistakes, but are ultimately good people. Like its predecessors, Sebring is dark and gritty, filled with danger and suspense, yet it’s unfailingly hopeful, promising a much-deserved light at the end of the darkness. Nick and Olivia’s story was the perfect conclusion to the series, delivering a finale that’s packed with action, romance, and the feels. From the prologue to the oh-so-adorable epilogue catching readers up with previous couples in the series, Sebring is a must-read.

*complimentary copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review

I'm a big Kristen Ashley fanatic. She never fails to deliver the kind of reading I crave. With that being said I'm not surprised she caught me on this one too.

The Sebring brothers and the Shade family have a lot of bad blood and animosity between them. Head honcho Vincent Shade ordered the killing of Nick Sebring's girlfriend.

For four long years Nick has been plotting revenge. His plan involved seducing Vincent Shade youngest daughter, Olivia in order to get access into the House of Shade and their dealings. What Nick didn't bargain for is the fiery hot Olivia Shade making his blood and other parts of his anatomy boiling with lust and fervor.

Olivia is the black sheep of the Shade family. She is enslaved to her father and sister in their drug dealing business and she so wants to be free of everything and just live her life on her terms and with whomever she chooses. One time she tried to be free and the lessson she learned for her mistake seals her fate to her abusive and maniacal father. But when Sebring steps into her life she's not prepared for the roller coaster ride her life is catapulted into. Their chemistry is offf the hook. The sex is mind blowing.

But Nick has secrets and Olivia has her family drama to deal with.

Will secrets, lies, deceit & betrayal tear them apart? Or is their love and strength strong enough to conquer every obstacles in their way?

Another KA hit! I'm sad however that the series has ended with this book but at the same time I'm glad of the little tidbits in the book about Knight, Raid, Deacon & Creed and their families after their story has ended.

I can't wait to see what new series KA will be writing next.

Let me begin by saying that I really like KA books; I have over 25 on my kindle and I re-read my favorites when I'm between books and want a guaranteed good read. This book? Won't make my favorite list. In fact, I just did something I've only done once before: I returned it for a refund. I couldn't even be bothered to continue reading it.

It sucked and the plot was beyond ridiculous. I didn't see the point in continuing and I definitely have better things to do with my $3.99 than read this dreck. That will buy two powerball tickets - and I never, ever play the lottery. It would still be a better use of my money than reading this book, which would cost $3.99 AND take up time that could be spent reading something good.

Nick Sebring. *pause for dirty thoughts* After first meeting him as Knight's younger brother with a slew of issues in Knight, I knew I wanted his story. See I have this things for the screwed up ones, and Nick was the furthest from perfect as it gets. He had a thing for his brother's woman, a slight drug problem, and that's not touching on the other things he dabbled in. But it's been years since Knight, and Nick is no longer the young boy with issues he once was. He's all man now, but he's definitely not without issues. They're just different now.

I never doubted for even a second that the amazing Kristen Ashley would be able to redeem Nick and boy did she! She did so flawlessly. The fact that the book takes place years after the events of Knight certainly helped. In those years, Nick has grown, he's changed, and he also suffered a loss the likes of which he never healed from. Now all he wants is vengeance. Vengeance on the man that was an integral part in setting things in motion that led to one of the most devastating nights of his life. He'll do anything, he'll kill anyone that gets in his way, and he's use any means at his disposal without regret. The best means to get to the head of a notorious crime family? Through the daughter that helps run his empire...

Olivia Shade is the black sheep of her family. Her father, the head of a crime syndicate is certifiable, and her sister is ruthless. Olivia doesn't want this life for herself, but she also doesn't see a way out. The only way to escape is death, a lesson that was painfully taught to her years ago. It's a lesson she'll never forget and she carries the remnants of it to this day.

Olivia knows who Nick is. How could she not? But can she trust that his interest in her is genuine? Can she really have the sort of happy she's always yearned for? Or will it all go down in flames...

Sebring was the final book in Kristen Ashley's Unfinished Hero and it certainly concludes with a bang. Nick was everything I'd hoped he would be and so much more. He's sex on a stick and let's just say the man's kinks really did it for me.

I loved everything about this book; the set up, the characters, the romance. Olivia is a heroine that's impossible not to love. The things she's been through, and finding out the true depth of them, you begin to yearn for her HEA just as much as she does. And as for Nick? *swoon*

Sebring was action packed, quick-paced erotic perfection. Every new page was more delicious than the last. It offers a KA kind of grit which just works. It's not as dark as most other anti-heroes books you'll find, but it has enough of an edge to satisfy both readers that crave the super gritty and those that just want to dabble in it and dip a toe in the genre. You will absolutely devour this book. It's impossible not to.

All I can say, is Nick Sebring was worth every minute of the wait. The perfect conclusion to one of my favorite series. My only complaint is that now it's over.

I can definitely say that I closed this book (aka my Kindle app) feeling so many feels, all of them good, and one of them sad.

Nick Sebring was one character that I thought I could never like solely based on all the crap that he put his handsome, wonderful brother, Knight, through. I knew if anyone could make me love a character, KA could and the woman did! That first bit of the story, telling of Nick’s love Hettie and how he loses her made me realize that I needed to let my heart give him a chance and as the story progressed and we learned of his ways to make the Shades pay, I still loved him. And this is for so many reasons, yes, he set it up so that he would use Olivia to get to her family but while doing so, and reading their interactions together, it all becomes so much more. Both characters, for that matter, become so much more than what they originally started out as. Each has horror stories in their pasts but once united it is as if their lives have finally started. The beauty that is exposed by these characters when they are together is blinding. It seems as only Nick could ever make Olivia shine so bright and only Olivia could ever make Nick so loving. Pure beauty.

But enough about their love, let’s talk about the absolute crazy-town, crime-filled drama that happened. I couldn’t imagine living the life that Olivia Shade had (good thing that she is just a character in a book.) With a horrible father who would do anything to keep her in her place and that place being a life of crime that she doesn’t want to be a part of. Nick, watching the woman he loves die in front of him and now on a mission to rid the world of the Shades but falls in love with Olivia, it just is crazy-filled and I loved every minute of it.

Okay, now I am going to get deeper into a spoiler so turn away if you haven’t read it.

My favorite part of this whole book was their love for each other, especially at the end when it all hits the fan and they separate but Nick leaves to set a plan to get them together once and for all. When Knight breaks into Olivia’s house one night and shows her the video of her dream home and she doesn’t even waste a second packing so that she could be by his side….*sighs* that is pure love. He made it safe for her again and she let him love again.

So that sad moment I spoke of earlier, it is because this wonderful series has ended. I think the only thing that is consoling me is all the other books Kristen Ashley can write and I can read. If she can just keep them coming then I would be a happy reader.
~MC

“Just so you don’t forget,” he began. “You mean more to me today than you did yesterday.”
Her lips parted and her eyes got bright a different way.

Oh. My. Gosh.
There are no words to describe how I feel after finishing Sebring. I preordered it, anxiously counted down the weeks until release, and then … promptly put off reading it. Why? Because it was the end. The end of a series that not only stimulated my senses *wink, wink,* but also tugged at my heart. A series of supremely alpha men and the world they have created to live in. They don’t fit into societies rules, but their hearts are pure gold.

Now, I’m not going to lie, after the prologue it was a little difficult to me to begin connecting with the story. Normally I’m hooked throughout the whole story. Unfortunately, evening knowing the basic reasoning behind the events, I found myself not becoming fully invested until about halfway through.

Nick Sebring was introduced as Knight’s little brother who was conniving, self-centered, and an all-around jerk. As we leave Knight’s story, we are left with a negative image of Nick and know nothing else. As the series continues, we get glimpses into the Sebring family, but nothing definite until the prologue of this book. And that prologue gutted me. If you’ve read Deacon, you’ll get me.

This is not only a story of finding love, but of vengeance and finding yourself. Both Olivia and Nick have been living in worlds that are not where they belong. Nick because he looked for it, Olivia because she was forced to stay in it. At the beginning of the story, Olivia is a bridge Nick needs to cross in order to seek out his revenge for Hettie. We can quickly see that this is NOT going to work. Both are broken, but it seems that in such brokenness healing can be found.

There was so much to this story, to these characters, that claimed my heart. Olivia’s family, so entrenched in their trade, they no longer see humans and family as anything other than a means to an end. Each individual in their path is simply a pawn being played to win the game. Nick, having been trained by Deacon, has barred away his heart and focused all of his energy on avenging the death of Hettie. Because of this, both Olivia and Nick can only give in to their lust and fight keeping their emotions out of their arrangements.

Olivia is one of my favorite KA heroines yet. Why? She has given up on any possibility of a bright future. “I live in dark. Dawn never comes for me. There will be no new day where I wake up complete. Happy. Loved. There is no other side to make my way to. There is no believe. It just isn’t for me.” She. Broke. My. Heart. Her whole life has been controlled, from her daily activities, to her friends, down to her feelings. She doesn’t even smile. She has been dictated to take each measure as calculated to what will give her family the greatest advantage. She has only once tried to take steps on her own, but … She is the smartest, strongest, and most tragically beautiful woman I’ve read. She has so much inside of her that must be squashed down in order for her to continue living. In the face of all that is Nick Sebring, knowing who he is and what he is capable of, she still cannot see the dawn.

As an ending to this series, this was solid. This story brought together all of the other Unfinished Heroes, their scars, their battles, but mostly their unwavering principles.
“But one thing you do still gotta learn is, when it’s family ... there is no limit to the love I’ll give.”

This story was the perfect example of what ALL the men (and women) in this series had been fighting for. Each one had faced such tragedy that it shaped their lives, shifted their worlds. Through their shifted worldviews, they encountered someone who would challenge their beliefs and invariably give them something new to believe in. Someone who would accept them, love them, and give them a chance for happiness they did not earn on their own. And when they found that there was a chance this beauty could be harmed or taken, they took things into their own hands and created their own world.

”No, Nick, what I mean is, there is no safer place on the planet for a woman than with the man she loves.”

So yesterday I was still in the hype of finishing to read Sebring because it is the last book of the Unfinished Hero series and I really enjoyed it (as a whole). First I rated this with 5 stars (you all know KA is my queen) because I had this bittersweet feeling of finishing another amazing series (and because I ended enjoying the book). However, after thinking about it I decided to change my rating (not so much but still changing it because I have to be honest) and I want to tell you guys why.

Firstly, Sebring, as I said, is the last installment in this amazing full of smoking-h*t-anti-heroes series and let me tell you: I had super high expectations for this (I always have with my fave authors). This is the story of Nick Sebring (brother of the first hero in this series --the fabulous Knight-- and a man who after going through a lot of difficult situations emerges into a better human being but now also a man who seeks revenge after watching his beloved die in front of his eyes) and Olivia Shade (a woman who breathes but does not live --not until she meets Nick-- and also the tool that our hero is using to take his vendetta against Olivia's father).

Sometimes you got away with dealing day to day with the devil.
Sometimes you got burned.

Now, let's get to the part that I did not enjoy as much about Sebring.. Normally I start with the good aspects but because this happened (for me) in the first 40-50% of the book, I feel it's better to start with this part. What happened was that I wasn't feeling Nick and Olivia as a couple. What I mean by that is: the book did not get emotional for me until the characters started showing their feelings for each other. The book starts with Nick dealing with Hettie's murder, preparing himself for his revenge and after that (and until the 40-50%) it is all about Nick and Liv f***ing each others brains out. Literally. I mean, Olivia did not say a single word to him until after their third time together. NOT. A. WORD.

She said nothing.
He didn’t laugh but he did smile, moving his hand to her face, cupping the side and dropping close. “Hi,” he whispered.
Her gaze had dropped to his smile but after he said that word, it lifted to his.
He again had the void. He missed the fire. But he got her voice.
“Hi,” she whispered back.

Yeah, that's Olivia's first word to Nick. And that is why I did not enjoy the first part of the novel as much: because there was no emotion. No angst. No happiness. No sadness. No love. Just s*x.

However, THANK GOD, that changed. Nick figures out Olivia is a very different woman from what she seemed to be and he starts feeling something for her and she does too for him (even though they deny it). Then, after 50% of Sebring, Nick starts discovering the truth about Olivia's family (who btw are such bad people!!!), what they did to her and their relationship changes completely.

She was not a ghost who could be seen.
She was a hostage in a lavish cage.
He had to let her be. He had to end it with her and find another way. He had the power to save her from one ugly thing that infected her life. And he was going to save her from that.
He was going to save her from Nick Sebring.

I REALLY loved Sebring when the emotions got involved! I was at the point of wanting to cry! haha And did I cry!! The couple separate for some time but they are falling in love and their feelings cannot be stopped now. I loved that. I loved Nick and Livvie falling in love with each other, and finally showing it. They are so strong together and also so funny and sexy!

And again, you all know KA is one of my favourites and what she really does best is her endings. And her epilogues. I loved reading again about all the other couples in the series and reading about their happy lives together. Also, the ending for Nick and Liv was awesome!! Finally someone 'took care' of her 'family' and these two were able to be free together!

I opened my eyes. And there it was, an inch away.
Swimming in an ocean of blue, a new day dawning.

Therefore my final rating for Sebring is 4 STARS. It was still a good novel but let's just say it's not Kristen's best. I really missed the emotional part at the beggining but it all came out good at the end. Finally, as always, I want to tell you guys that if you haven't read the Unfinished Hero series (or anything by KA) please do, I am quite sure you will not regret it!!! And thank you Kristen for giving your readers such amazing characters and love stories, you rock my queen! I cannot wait for your next book! :)

4.5 stars

I had my doubts about Nick Sebring. While I know he was still a young guy in Knight, his overall behavior was appalling. Little to no respect for women, constantly undermining his brother’s authority, and mixing with a bad crowd. Yeah, he was not my favorite guy in the series, so I was quite surprised he was getting his own book.

Throughout the series we see small glimpses of Nick, and while I admit it seemed he was slowly trying to turn his life around, and making amends, I still wasn’t convinced. Though from the start of this book, we get to see a whole new Nick. Blame it on being young, and stupid, but tragic events made that definite switch. Over the years he has built his own emporium, connected back with his family, and he’s hell-bent on getting his revenge.

Part of that plan is Olivia Shade. She was supposed to be his way in somehow, but this ice-cold woman is so much more than she seems. I found Olivia to be a fascinating character. A woman who’s greatest desire is to love, and be loved, but had to learn in a very cruel way that this wasn’t for her. Her entire life has been controlled by other people, her father, her sister, her mother, leaving Olivia an empty shell. At least that is what she portrays. She has learned to be closed off, to never smile, to not show happiness, or desire. A lonely, and empty existence, that just made my heart break for her.

Nick has his work cut out with her. It’s a very slow, and careful process to peel back layer after layer of the real Olivia. She’s so guarded, so careful, but Nick is persistent, and from the first moment she shows her true self, he’s not letting go. I applaud him for his tenacity, and was so happy he didn’t give up on her. Olivia is a woman who deserves to receive the best love, and while I wasn’t convinced of Nick at the beginning of this book, it didn’t take me long to convince otherwise.

A gorgeous story about two broken people finding love in the most unlikely person they would ever think of. Being together helps them heal the hurt inside, and hope for a better, and happy future. As this is the last book in the series, I’m delighted how it ended. Nick has managed to fully convince me of his heart, and I’m ecstatic Olivia got her chance at love. Fans of Kristen Ashley will definitely love this story, and if you haven’t had the chance to read this series, you really should get started.

In the final installment of this series, Kirsten Ashley brings us into the darker side of Denver. Where revenge drives one man. Where a woman struggles for a little bit of light in her life. With the ultimate question being: can these two find peace without destroying each other?

I’ve read over 30 books by this author, and this is unlike anything I’ve read from her before. Fittingly, this book even topped Knight in its edginess. Not only does this book feature an anti-hero, it features an anti-heroine, of sorts. I devoured this story, and even when not reading, would try to come up with how everything could work out without anyone getting hurt. Something that seemed very unlikely, because when Nick and Olivia come together, it is just a matter of time before everything blows up. The only question would be, would they survive? Would they get the happy they deserve? But let me rewind . . .

Olivia is very different than previous KA heroines. Born into a dirty world, she sees things and participates in things that most people could not handle. But when you read into the story, you realize, she really doesn’t have a choice about it. Given the lack of hope in her life, she never smiles. She never laughs. As KA’s darker series, you’d expect there to be a lot of unsavory characters. You may remember one from earlier in this series, and another major player from the Chaos series, but the true villains in this book are Olivia’s own family.

The erotic element in this story centers on a place where Olivia goes to unwind. And it’s where she first comes face to face with Nick. How she reacts was completely unexpected. I LOVED IT! That reaction even catches Nick off-guard. His years of planning are tested as he tries to get to know this princess. Suddenly, he becomes desperate to make her smile, even just a little.

This book felt like coming home. A dark, scary one, but a home nevertheless. Knight was the first book from KA that I read and my feelings for Nick have changed with each book.

Knight – hated Nick
Creed – was confused by Nick
Raid – forgot about Nick
Deacon – *groan* was reminded again of Nick

Based on the four previous books, my feelings for this book could go any direction. But I never expected to love this book so much, that it would almost eclipse Creed as my favorite book in the series. Almost. Creed is my #1 KA Alpha after all. I also never expected to like Nick so quickly.

Similar to Nick, I was surprised how much I liked Knight in this book. I wasn’t really a fan of his until Creed, where his friendship to Sylvie made me see him in another light. In this book, we get a new side of him, the family man and brother. There are oodles of touching moments, and I loved how Knight had his brother’s back.

For die-hard KA fans like myself, this book connects to a lot of her other series’ which are based in Denver.
Rock Chicks – although he doesn’t make an appearance, Marcus Sloan, Daisy’s husband, is referred to several times.
Dream Man – like Marcus, Delgado gets a frequent mention.
Chaos – of all the series’, this once connects the most to the Unfinished Hero series. Knight played an important role in Ride Steady, and Benito Valenzuela has a role in this book that changes everything.

Being the last in the series, you have to know that all of the previous characters in this series are referred to in one way or another. Do you get the big KA EPIC epilogue? No, and there’s a reason for that, which is briefly mentioned at the beginning of the book. But if you have come to love this series, like I have, you will get what you need from this epilogue. KA sends this group out with a bang!

I enjoyed the first 30% of this story. KA books have been hit and miss with me for a long time now but I continue to read them in the hopes they may improve. In a lot of my reviews I mention that KA should mix it up a bit and write something different. So at the start of this book, I felt she had listened! It was definitely different and Nick spoke normal and he didn't say 'babe' and the heroine Olivia didn't say 'honey'. I even stopped at 30% to update my status on GR to mention this. But in the words of KA 'alas', I had spoken too soon as by 39%, Nick was saying 'babe' and not long after, Olivia started saying 'honey' and then Nick started acting and talking like every other KA hero and Olivia made him laugh out loud because she was oh so cute etc, etc...same old, same old really.

I got a bit bored between 50 - 70%, I aso got a bit bored of the repetitive sex scenes and believe me, there was a LOT! Then the story picked up a bit and was quite interesting but then I was let down by the epilogue. Considering KA is famed for her epilogues and considering this was the end of the 'Unfinished Heroes' Series, I expected a better epilogue. I definitely expected to read further into Nick and Olivia's future than we were told about.

All in all, an OK read.

Nick Sebring is the Unfinished Hero I was most excited to read about, and also the most apprehensive to read about. Truth be told, he’s a man I wasn’t sure was worthy of redemption, let alone a happily ever after. Let’s face it - some of the stuff he pulled on his brother, Knight, and Knight’s woman, Anya… the fact Nick was still breathing by the end of Knight’s story was more than surprising. That said, this is a Kristen Ashley story so I put my full trust and faith in her and she pulled it off. As always!

SEBRING, the finale to the Unfinished Hero series is all kinds of feels. Despair, hope, anger, joy, passion… this one took me through an obstacle course of emotions. And I say ‘obstacle course’ because there were some feelings I wanted to avoid, some I wasn’t looking forward to tackling because I didn’t want to love Nick and Olivia as much as I ended up loving them. But even so, I wish there had been more to Nick’s story. For all that he did, all he endured, all he overcame… I wanted more of that amazing man.

Olivia’s side of things was interesting. The daughter of a drug dealer who helped “launder” the ill-gotten gains? How in the world I’d ever become invested in her, I did not know…but again, trust and faith in Kristen Ashley paid off there, too.

Just a note: The Unfinished Hero series is erotica, and Nick and Olivia’s relationship, from early on, is a sexual one. No, seriously… bunnies got nothing on them. Nick and Olivia were going at it hot and heavy from the start, and the romance didn’t come until later on. So invested was I in Nick, that I wish less time had been given to sex and more time spent getting to know him even better.

The bottom line… SEBRING brings the series to an end, and even though I’ll miss those Unfinished Heroes, I know we’ll be seeing more of them as Benito Valenzuela continues his reign of terror and meets the full wrath of CHAOS which will, no doubt, include the alpha men from the Rock Chicks, Dream Man, and Unfinished Hero series'.

Nick Sebring's story starts off with a bang and Nick walks down a path of vengeance to right a wrong that truly can never been undone. Olivia Shade, youngest daughter to Vincent Shade (one time kingpin of the Denver underworld and now crazy washed up mad man), is very much a pawn in Nick's plan.
What Nick didn't count on was falling for the "cool customer" that is Olivia Shade. She's not what she appears. While she may live in the dark world of drugs, guns and violence, she's a prisoner with no way of getting out. She tried that once when she was young and foolish and paid an unforgettable price to always remind her that she's owned by her father (and her sister): by the House of Shade.

“I live in dark. Dawn never comes for me. There will be no new day where I wake up complete. Happy. Loved. There is no other side to make my way to. There is no believe. It just isn’t for me.”

This was a lot edgier than some of other KA books, still not as dark as other anti-hero stories, but it worked and it worked well. I also think part of this edge was because Olivia wasn't as accessible as her other heroines. Olivia's a hard nut to crack but I adored her. Despite her horribly bleak situation, she's strong, good and is coping as best she can with the horrible hand she's been dealt. Watching Nick tear down her walls and take up residence in her heart and soul was a beautiful, sexy and moving thing.
And Nick Sebring *sigh*, never thought I'd come around to this man but KA worked her magic. While fully reformed (I hated this man in Knight), he does pay the ultimate price for his dastardly ways and I couldn't help but fall for him.
This moved at a fast paced and while I knew where most of the plot was going, I didn't care, I was that invested and engrossed in the story of Nick and Olivia. With this being the final book in this series, it was a like a true reunion of the these unfinished heroes with cameos from all. And a sweet treat from KA towards the end! This was a great way to end a really goood series!

I didn’t think I would ever find a book I loved more than Knight. It’s fitting that Sebring replaces Knight, or at least comes close. Ok, let’s say they are a tie; fitting because both books are about two brothers. It is so rare to finish a book, and IMMEDIATELY want to start it again, I found myself doing just that with Sebring. I know this will become one of those stories I devour over and over, because I loved it that much.

I was nervous going into Sebring, because frankly, the last few Kristen Ashley books have been such a disappointment to me; with the same recycled characters and dialog. However, with Sebring, I felt like she brought a completely new level to her writing. Olivia is her best character I’ve read so far; she has so much depth and feeling, I was in tears, TEARS, I tell you, so many times, and the level of her anguish and despair was heartbreaking and I felt I was there with her.

I was also so enamored with Nick; the man he became, from the man he was, just wow. I loved his journey, and that we got to see a complete 180 with him. I love the man he is, that he is his own man, and he did it on his own terms.

Sebring completes the Unfinished Hero’s books, and it is a fitting end to the series. I Loved Sebring as much as I loved Knight, book one in the series. I love both brothers’ stories equally; I can say I have two favorite books now, both by Kristen Ashley....Sara

Going into a book with trepidation because of previous actions of a character in a series is hard. It's especially hard with you adore the author and simply must read everything she writes. I feel guilty about even having been scared at all.
Simply because when has this author ever let me down?
She hasn't...
This story took me on an amazing and hot journey. Olivia and Nick definitely weren't a couple you'd think would work from the outside.
Nick was a blank page with a few smudged spots ..left over from his past as a pretty crappy guy to his brother . But slowly we see that page and his image .. erased and recreated anew. A guy who acknowledged he screwed up in his past and who had the ability and drive to make amends. He started off with revenge in his heart ..but that same heart hasn't fully experienced the beauty of the dream who was his Livvie.
These two were explosive and full of emotion. Even when they didn't speak no words were necessary. You felt them and it was deep.
To be trapped in a life .. Olivia was stronger than most to be able to live her existence. Nick chipped away at the ice cold princess until he saw warm woman underneath. I absolutely couldn't get enough of this alpha male with the best sense of humor. I laughed so many times. These two just fit and I was so pleased to be there for the ride.
The bonus of visiting with all of the gang felt magical.
To see the future of each couple just warmed my heart.
Then a sneaky peak at a mysterious character who've I wondered about before with hints of another story..I'm just all around happy.

Another amazing , beautiful and romantic read from the queen added to my favorites of all time shelf.

I honestly don't know how Kristen Ashley does it. She has this amazing gift of storytelling that draws you in, makes you feel so ingrained in the character's stories, destroys your world when their love is tested, cry so hard your head and heart ache, and then puts you all back together again and restores your faith in humanity and the all powerful feeling of love and family.

This book was expertly written, beautifully telling the tale of two broken people just trying to find their way through life and to each other.

I don't think I've ever read a more perfect scene than chapter 25. Please heed her advice and listen to the song Stay Alive, before and during the scene. It's absolutely breathtaking and will stay with you long after this beautiful book ends.

I'm sad to see this series end, but I know Ms Ashley will have much more in store for us in the future. She is truly one of the most talented authors I've ever came across.

I'm in love. Sebring was the perfect ending to The Unfinished Heroes series. I've loved each man, Knight, Creed, Raid, and Deacon. I disliked Nick because he was so very hard to love in Knight and Raid. However, in Sebring, he just might be the best Unfinished Hero.
Nick screwed up so much of his young adulthood with one poor choice after another. He finally got it right with Hettie only to have it stolen from him in the very most traumatic way. He has come to learn how important family is.
Olivia is beautiful, full of hatred for her father and a growing resentment towards her sister and lost in her life . She is barely living, moving through life in a world so dirty and violent, being used at all turns.
A not-so-chance encounter at a sec club sets Olivia and Nick on course for some of the hottest sex, a budding "relationship" with the hope ofbtrust, and danger everywhere threatening them and Nick's family.
They cannot seem to let each other go despite their desire to protect each other; drawn together by what they want, need andvdeserve. Half-truths and the horrors of The House of Shade create a divide too big to surpass, devastated by their lost love. The Unfinished Heroes unite to pull off one last mission.
Dawn, safety, freedom, home and love. An absolutely perfect ending. Sebring was truly spell-binding!!

We first met Nick Sebring in Knight and he was a character you loved to hate. His ego was the size of Texas while his life was headed in a downward spiral but Nick got his sh!t together and now is a character I ADORE! He was so much more than I expected, and that’s saying a lot since I have very high expectations to KA’s alpha’s.

After a tragic loss, Nick is set on vengeance and will do whatever it takes to serve up his justice and his plan goes through one woman, Olivia Shade. She seems a cold and calculated woman but underneath it all she’s just a woman barely living. Her hopelessness reeks off the pages and rightfully so. She nothing more than a pawn to her family and lives only to serve their wants and expectations. KA gives us the best heroines and needless to say, Olivia is up there on the top of that list.

I loved everything about this book….from the beginning to the very end. It’s sexy, edgy, suspenseful, just KA brilliant! Dare I say Nick and Olivia are my “fav” couple to this series eventhough I have mad love for Knight?! Yeah, they are and there’s the proof on how much Sebring rocked my reading world.

I’m saddened to see this series come to an end but what a fan-freaking-tactic way to say goodbye to a group of bad boys who really are the good ones.

I can't necessarily put my finger on what one thing captured me about this book but it totally reeled me in. From the opening page to the last word, I was utterly mesmerised. This series has built and improved book by book and I'm truly sad it's complete.

Nick Sebring and Olivia Shade are strong, well developed characters but I can wholeheartedly say that Olivia stole the show for me. She evoked admiration and empathy from me, I wanted so much for her but three things stuck out. I wanted her to be able to smile, to be able to love of her chosing and for her to be free. I was a little apprehensive about Nick after his behaviour in Knight, despite the occurrences in Creed but I need not have worried. He's a man on a mission but he's not the selfish, unscrupulous man anymore.

The heat in this book erupted early and these two together were good to read. Kristen Ashley never leaves you feeling like you've read it all before. Her relationships and steam aren't formulaic, so I never quite know what to expect nor am I disappointed.

Each previous unfinished hero features in this finale and it's good to catch a glimpse of their lives and loves. What set off on a personal rocky start with book one, turned into a most beloved series.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

This was definitely one of KA’s sweeter books, which seems odd as this entire series falls on the darker side as far as her characters go. I enjoyed it mostly because it was a sweeter romance than many of the other KA books I’ve read recently.

Livvie isn’t one of my favorite characters, but she isn’t a cotton candy character that melts in light drizzle. She has something of a quiet strength, but she isn’t bold and does tend towards doormat status, at least within her family.

I really enjoyed Nick’s character in that he isn’t over the top bossy and the softer side he does have is pretty awesome. He still had his quirks, but nothing that was overt enough to take away from the rest.

It was nice seeing the other characters from this series pop up, and I was overjoyed with the fact that they were just sort of pop up notes rather than whole additions that weren’t necessary. There was just enough page time with most of them to get that taste, but we weren’t forced to overindulge in them as this was Nick and Livvie’s story, not theirs. It was a nice, clean finish to this series.

I got on the Kristen Ashley train a long time ago,back when she had very few likes on her facebook, before any of her books were in print. And I inhaled her books. She went straight to my auto-buy list and I LOVED that she was self-published, wrote a LOT, and kept her book prices low.

Hmmmm.... after Wild Man and the last of the Rock Chick books... she went south.

I took her off my auto-buy list...

then I stopped buying her book and started getting them from the library. Weeks wasn't too long to wait to read a book I'd just be disappointed in.

Today, for me,... I'm done.

I picked up this book and was so disgusted with it, I could not even finish. I found nothing redemptive or likeable about either character. And I am SO tired of Every. Hero. Talking. The. Same. "My woman" "his woman" "he gave that to me" "she gives it to him" that 'cuts' etc. The nicknames, the slang, the constant sex (I'm sorry but at this point, endless sex scenes are supposed to substitute chemistry? I swear, someday I might sit down and chart her progression because from her early works to now, the time between page 1 and hero/heroine sex has gotten shorter and shorter)

Some might defend this book because the hero is dark and twisty and that is the nature of this series. But so was Knight and he was readable, and Anya was likeable. Neither of these characters are. I found them unreadable.

So it's the last demotion. KA no longer means Kristen Ashley to me--I'm not short-handing her name anymore because its just too painful! If I have to refer her books to anyone, I'll have to give a HUGE caveat--don't get too attached or excited, because you'll just be disappointed.

sorry if this review isn't helpful--if you want to hear praises, read the other ones here. Apparently I'm in the minority for just how crummy this book is.

What KA does best is being able to draw you into another world, leaving you spent and swaddled in earnest knowledge that love can concur all. It may take awhile and it may hurt along the way, but it is so worth it to take a chance when even the slightest hope of a happily ever after is possible.

Nick Sebring is a man on a mission. Vengeance will be his at any cost. Still suffering from the murder committed right in front of him, Nick has set his sights on a way to get himself closer to a man that he has every intention of bringing to his knees. He will be ruthless and will destroy anyone who gets in his way.

Olivia Shade, daughter to a crime boss and psychopath, has come to the realization that her father’s world is crumbling. He is desperate and will use anyone, including her, to achieve his goals. Olivia has one secret escape, though: one place that only she knows about, where she can lose herself and just let go.

Two people, Olivia and Nick, find themselves oddly drawn to each other. No worlds spoken, just body language and subtle nods, create a relationship of sorts. One filled with erotic pleasures and escapisms that will have both feeling things never expected.

Secrets are both kept from each other and shared with each other, making Sebring one of the most erotic and exhilarated reads in the series. The ride taken on the path to revenge, redemption, and reprieve will be a long and winding one. The conclusion to the Unfinished Heroes Series is worth the wait. Prepare yourself for a long night of reading. Once you start Sebring, putting it down will be near impossible.

5 STAR READ

Possibly the worst book I've ever read from KA and certainly the worst book in recent memory. KA surpassed herself in writing the anti-romance when possibly what she was going for was the anti-hero romance there (when one word can make a big difference). The heroine, Olivia lost me when she referred to the men who worked in her family run drug-dealer network as her soldiers, and implied that somehow they were there for her. The hero lost me when he had sex with the heroine within seconds of meeting her, and did not use protection.The rest of the book was a loss for me, but I read it. Filled with sex that was completely emotionless with porn-y descriptions of a woman's vagina as her "wet" and her "sleek", this book became more of an endurance test than anything I have read in recent past. There was a lot about this book that was plain disgusting, it may have been the thug setting, the thug writing, the thug family or the thug sex, but really it was all of the above.

In LOVE! Complete & utter gooey, mushy LOVE with #Sebring. I disliked him so much I didn't think I could change that and Kristen Ashley made me do it. When Livvie watched that video I literally had to get up from my desk and close my office door because I started balling. Nick & his brother are just perfection. *heavy sigh* Now lets see what else Kane Allen aka Tack & Chaos MC are gonna do with Benito. (Yes, I have read all the Chaos MC. I'm waiting for Kristen Ashley to write more Chaos. HURRY!)

The Unfinished Heroes series is a favorite of mine from Kristen Ashley. Nick Sebring has a lot of redemption to cover and he did it in spades. The addition of Olivia Shade in his life proves Kristen Ashley knows exactly what her characters need and exactly how to provide those needs to them.

Told in her typical KA style, we see a secret romance blossom between Nick and Livvie after a tumultuous, interesting start. The trust and love in the falling was a pleasure to read and the hurt and heartache worth the reward.

If you enjoy this series and this author, you don't want to miss Nick and Olivia's exciting, erotic, and sweet story in Sebring.

Sebring (The Unfinished Heroes Series Book 5)
Wow! Now I have to start the next series that I think is a spin-off of this one.
I loved it.
Absolutely awesome. Best of the series.

READING PROGRESS
July 29, 2017 – Started Reading
July 29, 2017 – Shelved
August 5, 2017 – Finished Reading

Nick is just like Knight in the attitude department, all attitude, “I said ‘right,’ like, okay. Right. You’re clean. You’re on the Pill. Topic done. I can eff you and come inside you and all’s good.” Nick will give Olivia anything she wants including how many kids, "his choice, he’d stop at two. She wanted to give him three, he’d give her that. He dropped his mouth to hers. “You want three, we’ll have three,” he murmured against her lips." I was thrilled to see Nick a different way, in the other books he was the bad guy, the not nice guy I loved seeing this side of him.

ARC

Sebring begins with Nick wanting to get his justice and revenge on the man who murdered someone he loved very much. He will do it any way he can, even if that means taking down someone like Olivia. She's different than he imagined, and she's been through a lot more than he could have ever imagined. Now, Nick must decide who he's trying to protect and avenge before it is all too late.

And Livvie doesn't know which way is up when it comes to Nick. She knows it isn't a good idea to be with him, but she can't seem to stop herself. And the more she gets involved the worse it will be when her family finds out. She must decide what is more important to her, taking a chance on love, or toeing the line like a good girl...

Sebring was not at all what I was expecting it to be. Considering this book is labeled as an "erotica" I was actually expecting a little bit more sex and a lot more detailed, but that wasn't really how it went. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the book, I did, and I was honestly glad that the sex didn't take away from the story, I enjoyed that, but it just wasn't what I was expecting.

This story was also very interesting. I enjoyed Nick and Livvie together. They made a really great couple and my favorite thing about the whole book was them together! I really enjoyed that. I just sort of felt like more would have happened between them and between the people Nick was trying to take down. When I got to the end of the story it all seemed rather anti-climatic. That was kind of a disappointment. But other than that it was a really enjoyable read and I did like it.

I was stressing so much because I knew the ball is going to drop but I did not know when and how. In the meantime, the love is growing and it was beautiful reading it unfold. I love these two. Perfectly suited for each other. Chapter 25 while listening to Stay Alive gutted me. KA was right. I could see a movie in my mind and honest to goodness, I felt it deeply.

I could not wait to read Nick's story, I knew he had to have had some redeeming quality and boy did he ever. If you haven't read the other books in the series, really you shouldn't be reading this one, you will be a little lost, even though they are standalones. I love how Ms. Ashley has the Alpha males in her stories and Nick is no exception. Although the female heroine is a lot different than the types of women we have read from Ms. Ashely, but that's a good thing. Olivia comes from a different world, a bad one, and initially you would wonder, why, but when you read Olivia's story, you will know she doesn't want to be in that world with her father and her sister.

As I mentioned earlier, Nick was not a likable character in Knight's book, but when you read his backstory, you will a different light to him. He was very swoony in this book. Loved the chemistry between Nick and Olivia.

So sad to see this series end, but all good things must come to an end. Maybe the author with give us a novella with all the men in the series in the future.

As an avid mafia romance reader and huge Kristen Ashley fan, I am proud to proclaim I was never a Doubting Thomas in regards to this author’s ability to bring Nick Sebring out of the darkness and into the light. Even while reading Knight, Book 1, which cast Nick Sebring in a rather unsavory role, I was secretly hoping KA wasn’t done with him. Thank you, Ms. Ashley, for not giving up on him.

In this revenge turns to redemption romantic tale, Nick Sebring certainly meets his match with Olivia and gets the tables turned on him right from the start. She seems to always end up surprising him. First by her take charge/domineering ways, then by the realization she isn’t at all who he thought she was. No amount of Nick’s stealthy surveillance could possibly see into this strong but broken heroine’s heart. Trapped within a mafia family and a world she wants no part of, Olivia wears scars on her body and soul that remind her there is no such thing as a HEA.

Nick shares that sentiment all too well. Having seen Hettie, the love of his life, killed in cold blood while they were working undercover, Nick is all about emotional detachment and payback. He will use any means necessary to bring down the culprits, Olivia’s family. Even after he starts to see another side to Olivia, he still seems willing to sacrifice her in the name of justice for his lost love. Well, until his reluctant but undeniable feelings for Livy get in the way.

Be warned this is a VERY erotic read. Nick orchestrates a chance meeting with Olivia at a sex club she frequents. Since it is on rival mafia controlled territory, she knows her family and its associates wouldn’t be caught dead there. She goes there mostly to have a drink, unwind, and get the heck away from her family. Their relationship begins completely physical. At first, she is hesitant to even have a meaningful conversation with him, despite their numerous, very detailed, graphic, brief sexcapades. Nick begins to realize he has never even seen this mafia princess smile or laugh. Before long, this avenger longs to assume the role as her protector.

Logic alone should prompt you to read Knight first to learn more about Nick’s past transgressions. I also highly recommend you read Deacon, Book 4, as well. Mainly because Nick reminds me of him, and there is another big similarity in that storyline. Unfortunately, I can’t reveal any more details without giving away the ending. Though there are cameo appearances of all the main characters from this entire series, it certainly isn’t necessary to read them all to enjoy Sebring. However, the sub-characters roles will certainly feel more meaningful if you do.

I’ll end my review my thanking Ms. Ashley, not only for bringing us Nick’s HEA, but its great book cover, as well. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, my fellow romance book-loving friends. If there is such a thing as “visual ab fatigue book cover syndrome”, I suffer from it. This reviewer always prefers class over skin on her romantic reads. Kristen Ashley never fails to deliver the whole package. She remains the #1 favorite author of this NetGalley book reviewer.

Title: Sebring, Series: Unfinished Hero (Book 5), Author: Kristen Ashley, Pages: 446, stand-alone, HEA, angst, some violence, VERY steamy scenes, some BDSM near the end.

Book 1 – Knight (Knight & Anya), 4/7/12, Pages: 285
Book 2 – Creed (Creed & Sylvie), 9/14/12, Pages: 360
Book 3 – Raid (Raid & Hanna), 2/25/13, Pages: 282
Book 4 – Deacon (Deacon & Cassie), 10/1/14, Pages: 332
Book 5 – Sebring (Nick & Olivia), 1/11/16, Pages: 446

(This review is based on ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.)

My first thoughts upon completing this book, “MY HEART. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS SERIES IS OVER!! Another perfect heart-stopping story from Kristen Ashley.”

This series holds a very special place in my heart because KNIGHT was my very first Kristen Ashley book ever. I didn’t quite fully understand the warning that came along with that book, because to me, KNIGHT was absolute perfection. After I then read almost every single book Ms. Ashley wrote, I realized that the Unfinished Heroes Series was a bit different from her other, mostly-nice, all swoony Alpha heroes. And I adore every single one of her “unfinished” heroes.

SEBRING was like unwrapping a special gift. Olivia was a complex heroine, damaged and scarred both indies and out, having grown up into a crime family. She trusts no one, and for good reason. Her own family is treacherous, immoral and very dangerous. But yet she cannot escape the life that has been mapped out for her. She is an obedient daughter, following the rules until the night she meets Nick Sebring. Olivia is closed off to the world and has given up all hopes for a normal life.

“I’d learned that I didn’t allow myself to show emotion.
Ever”

I was always fascinated by Nick since he first appeared in KNIGHT. He has a fascinating back story here, investigating Olivia’s family and targeting her in an effort to infiltrate the Shade family to take down her father. Nick’s first love was caught up in their violent world and became victim of the Shade family’s notorious brand of violence.

SEBRING is not a pretty, hearts and flowers, sweet love story. Its is gritty, raw, violent, yet amongst all of that, Kristen Ashley’s trademark goodness and beauty and love shines through. Nick Sebring himself does not think he can be redeemed but something about Olivia sings to him. They make the perfect couple, really. They both love a certain brand of kink and tom me, are PERFECTLY matched.

There is plenty of heartbreak in this book. Olivia carries around secrets in her heart that would absolutely break another person. So it makes her coming together with Nick Sebring even more bittersweet and gorgeous. And Nick…well, I fell in love with him. Yes, the very same Nick Sebring from KNIGHT who caused so much trouble! SEBRING is everything I love about a Kristen Ashley book: family, incredibly hot sex scenes, fast-paced action, forgiveness and yes, love. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Happy reading!

Favorite quote:

“I’m not bawling.”
“You were close.”
“You were being sweet.”
“Like I said, get used to that.”
“Then you were an ass.”
“You should probably get used to that too.”

Nick starts out using Olivia to get revenge on his dead girlfriend, Hettie and his witnessing of her murder. Hettie was undercover while Nick was a CI in a human trafficking case. Olivia's father ordered the hit and, although she was unaware of the whole thing, Nick uses her to gain insight into her family. Nick is scheming to get his revenge and does not realize how bad it will be when he gives Olivia hope for the first time in years. Olivia is not easily trusting and does not fall for Nick's charms right away. She tries to keep her booty calls separate from her heart and slowly lets Nick worm his way into her life. Nick finally develops a conscience after discovering he has real feelings for Olivia and attempts to break it off with her. Olivia is clueless at what her sister and her father are doing, she just knows she wants out of the life. Olivia's previous attempt at escaping didn't go well and she has the very real scars to prove it. Nick falls farther and farther in love with Olivia and knows he should tell her the truth about the start of their relationship but he keeps putting it off. As secrets have a way of doing, it all comes out and Olivia is left devastated by the betrayal of everyone around her. Olivia is thrown into darkness again and months go by with her being used as a pawn by her sister. When Nick throws a final lifeline to her, Olivia must decide if she believes in herself and them enough to take it. It was well done and a nice finale to this series. The final scene with all of the main characters from the previous book in it was a great ending.

I never expected Nick's story to be my favourite of this series. He has completely transformed and reformed himself. He appealed even more than Knight. Olivia was a completely heart wrenching heroine who was trapped in a hideous family with no way out. Their torturous previous experiences with the past loves made them who they are but are unable to prevent their meant-to-be love. Thought it was a perefect last book in the series.

Olivia Shade is expected to follow all her family rules, it is a horrible business she really wants out of but cannot escape. Nick Sebring isn't the best guy but he has been trying to do better by his family. He is seeking revenge and going to use Olivia to get it. This book is dark, intense and had me completely on edge to the very end. Epilogue was perfect

Yes, surprisingly I fell in LOVE with Nick Sebring. He was definitely not my favorite man from the first book in this series, Knight,,who I completely loved.....but, Kristin Ashley wove this new tale of the final "unfinished hero" in such a magnificent way, that I admit, yes, I fell for Nick Sebring. Sad to see this series end, as I truly loved all of the amazing, hot, men in this series, and I enjoyed how each book let us revisit them, with just a slice of their updated lives. I will definitely miss all of these "heroes ", unfinished or not. Now, I'm just waiting for the next Kristin Ashley book...series. I have read all her books, and loved them. If you haven't...well, I envy you, you have so much amazing reading to look forward to.... so get started today!!

I dont know how Kristen Ashley does it. I have no connection to this way of life or the type of people who could live that way. I can't relate to the language her characters use. But the astonishing part is that when I read one of her books, I'm completely involved. I'm drenched in every detail. I am completely immersed in the world she has created. I feel the love as if it were directed to me. I feel everything. It's just amazing. I don't get this from other authors. You truly have a gift Kristen. Thank you for sharing that gift . I wish I could give you more than 5 Stars. I will say although all your books are excellenf. This one was one of your best. And I wish the Unfinished Heroes Series would have continued.

I can't believe this series is over!! However, I would have liked to see more related to nick and Knight's relationship, as far as how Nick repaired it, but I was pleased to see how far he made it! We saw a different side of Nick which was great.

Every book that Kristen writes plan time, you won't want to put it down. But don't read just this book, find a reading order and dive into each and every series. I have known some of these characters so long I want to visit there regularly. Thanks for another great story.

I found it very boring. Ok in all honesty, I didn't finish but tried to. I only lasted through chp 9 and couldn't stand one more minute. If a book doesn't grab me one bit in 9 chapters, then I am done with it. Total borefest up until that time. I decided to give it three stars instead of one since I didn't finish it.

I love KA books. This book was sooo good and wrapped up the series nicely. The only bad part was I did't want the book to end. With that in mind I will just have to re-read an older book of hers I have already read!!!! You have to read this book , it is 5 stars all the way.

I love Kristen Ashley books. Although this is the last book of unfinished heroes. It was a great ending. I always keep track of her books. I just love it. I looking forward for the next books she will create. Happy Ending of Unfinished Heroes.

Every time I get a new Kristen Ashley book to read I promise myself I will take my time and read slowly to savour the experience … did that happen with Sebring? Answer - NO! Once I started I could not put this book down. I loved the story and got completely wrapped up in the characters lives. I also love getting a glimpse of my other favourite characters. Great book and wonderful end to the series. A must read but please read in order.

I adore KA books, truly. Im halfway and I want to skim pgs. I hated Nick (we all did) and I expected him to be more of an arse and KA addictings alpha's that she perfectly writes. I for some reason cant get lossed in this book and im disappointed. Maybe a good night rest will help. I laugh and cry and get tingly feeings reading KA books. Maybe tommorow will be a better day.