Leigh's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews 
 It was a cliffhanger!! Aaaaarrrrgh! No one warned me about this! How cruel is Skye Warren? I was drawn into the world of corruption that is Tanglewood. I was seduced by a man that appeared to be equal parts monster and savior, and I was ensnared in a web of desperation and longing. 
 Only for my journey to come to a screeching halt to be continued in February! 
 My only consolation is that this amazing story is not over and I know I have a treat waiting for me in a few months. 
 The Pawn was fantastic. It was thoughtful and seedy and featured characters where no one was what they appeared. For each new person I met, I had to question whether they were truly the good or evil person they appeared, or if they were wearing a mask that would soon be removed. Were their motives pure or were they looking to gain something. This described the confusion I had with Gabriel Miller more than any other character. 
 As the man that bids on Avery at an auction to sell her virginity so that she can raise money to save her father and family home, Gabriel is the quintessential underworld boss. He is quiet and dominant and can control with a glance. But despite his role in the downfall of Avery's family, he is surprisingly generous and thoughtful. I found myself confused by him and his true intentions. Was he falling for Avery? Or was everything a master plan to destroy her? And why? 
 Avery was a character that I truly felt badly for. She was in a situation that was not of her own making, where everyone around her that she felt she could trust turned out to be a shark circling in the blood filled waters. She was young with no one to help her and she did what she thought was right in order to survive. I found it heartbreaking each time she discovered the true intentions of those around her and wanted her, despite the odds, to find security in Gabriel. 
 Skye Warren is such a fantastic writer. Everything she puts out to read is sexy and wrong and slightly diabolical. There is a dark edge to all of her romances and it explores the seedy side of romance. In this case, Gabriel and Avery are terrific together and physical attraction jumps off the pages, even if their minds aren't there yet. I devoured this story and wouldn't change a thing about this book! 
 Well, except that cliffhanger thing.... 
 ARC provided with no expectations.