booksandmeforevermore13's reviews
300 reviews

I absolutely loved this book. Firstly, I'm stunned that this is a debut novel because of how well it was thought out and executed. Knowing that some struggles that Chelsea deals with in the book stem from the author's own experience made me truly love this book even more, knowing how much courage it takes to write something so personal.

This had all the elements that I love in a second-chance romance. The angst, pining, friendship, and heartbreak were so well done, and it broke my heart to see how two people who were so absolutely in love had to part ways due to their circumstances. I also get why Austin couldn't tell her about it sooner because watching her look at him differently would've crushed him.

The topics of abuse and trauma were well dealt with, giving the readers an insight into what it is like to go through such an experience and what the aftereffects are. The situations were realistic, even if a little hard to read, which made it that much more authentic.

Chelsea was such an amazing character whom I deeply admired and rooted for. She was so much stronger than she realized, and I loved how Austin made her see that. Her past experience with abuse had deeply impacted her, and she still carried the emotional scars. Having a mother who battled with a mental illness herself wasn't easy, and she is trying to navigate her relationship with her mother while also setting up strict boundaries for her own well-being. I really liked the therapy session, which delves deeper into her thoughts on her relationship with her mother and how the only actions and reactions she had control over were her own.

I honestly loved watching Chelsea slowly getting her confidence back with Austin's presence in her life and his constant reassurance and admiration. Watching her fight back all the negative thoughts that plagued her and learning to love herself and find a true sense of peace and freedom was a wonderful journey to witness.

Austin was such a treasure, and I loved how dedicated and committed he was to Chelsea, even when he wasn't in her life for seven years. When he left Haven Beach, he had all but given up on his dreams of a future with Chelsea due to his commitment to his family and their legacy. But once he was back in town and ran into Chelsea, it was like all his feelings came rushing back to the forefront, and he couldn't shove them down this time. The more time he spent around her, the more his resolve grew to never leave her again. Given his job as an assassin, he had insecurities of his own about how Chelsea would react to him once she found out and whether he would lose her if she did. I love, love, love how much Austin loved Chelsea and showed her that with his words and actions.

The romance between Austin and Chelsea was just so heartwarming that you can't help but want them to find their way back to each other. There were some flashback scenes from when they were younger, and those little glimpses into their past were enough to show just how right they were together. In the present, Austin and Chelsea fell into old habits so easily, and finding that level of comfort with each other felt so natural.

They truly helped each other fight their demons and grounded each other. Their unwavering love and loyalty for each other helped them confront their trauma, doubts, and insecurities and slowly feel a sense of hope that they were worthy of more.

The spice was SO good, which was made better by their history, their emotional connection, and how these were also moments that helped Chelsea overcome the insecurities that had been drilled into her mind for years. Austin absolutely worshiped her body and always made it known just how beautiful and gorgeous she was, which slowly helped her let go of the negative thoughts of feeling unattractive.

The situation with her stalker ex definitely kept me on edge, especially when things started getting more tense with time. When it came to her ex, Chelsea's reactions were understandable given her past, but I also loved how resilient she was and didn't break despite everything he tried.

Hailey and Ethan were wonderful and were always there for Chelsea through the years, standing by her side during all the highs and lows, and you couldn't ask for better friends, really.

That epilogue left such a huge smile on my face because, DAMNNNN!! Austin is so freaking swoon-worthy.

I truly hope Kay Thorne continues writing many more books, and I would absolutely read them. And I'm really looking forward to this being a series so we get Zack/Quinn and Ethan/Hailey's books next.

Thank you so very much, Kay Thorne, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So I picked this up after seeing reviews on Instagram. When I heard the TW list, it honestly didn't even faze me, so I don't know what that says about me. I was just here, "Yes, let's play.".

Firstly, I have to mention the narrators. I heard the audiobook for this book, and let me tell you, it was spectacular. Jacob Morgan is one of my favorite narrators, and for a good reason. He really became Josh/the masked man, brought his character to life, and truly made me understand and connect with the character better. The same goes for Elena Wolfe, who was amazing as Aly, and her narration was perfect. So all in all, the narrators have done a fabulous job, and I highly recommend that you pick it up because it definitely makes the experience 10x better.

Aly is a trauma nurse, and she has seen all there is to see and has grown accustomed to it. Her need to always be present and make sure she does all that she can to help every person who is brought into the ward stems from her own past and the tragic accident that changed her life. Although she doesn't have the time to seriously date given her job, she sometimes finds herself yearning for a connection and something more when she comes home to her mostly empty home, with the exception of her cat, Fred. Which is how she starts spending time watching the masked man on her social media to distract herself from feeling lonely and also finding herself intrigued by her own reactions to his videos. Her interactions with the masked man make her question the kinds of desires she has and just how far she is willing to go as she tries to navigate these feelings.

Josh. Damn this man. I have no words to explain just how unhinged he was, but also how ridiculously hilarious and adorable he was. His inner monologue had me cackling, and I honestly could not keep a straight face while listening to this. Having a serial killer for a father and having gone through and witnessed the things he had, Josh was convinced that he would turn out to be like his father one day, which is why he stayed to himself, not socializing or putting himself in situations that he feels might tempt or trigger something in him. That is until he meets Aly, who was his roommate and best friend's hookup. He keeps his distance, but when he finds out that Aly might be into masked men, specifically him, or rather his online persona on social media, his obsession starts growing. The more he finds out about Aly, the more she intrigues him, and he can't help himself from wanting to bring her fantasies to life. This leads to him slowly testing the waters with Aly to see just how serious she is about wanting the masked man in real life.

These two were just equally unhinged and honestly the perfect fit for each other. The way they tried to one-up each other, keeping their games going, was so much fun to watch. They were both really smart, and it was so entertaining watching them figure each other out and plan out their next moves accordingly. So much taunting, teasing, flirting, and sexual tension between them was so intense.

God, the things Josh did to take care of Aly made me swoon so hard. That man is honestly so thoughtful, protective, funny, and so soo dreamy. Watching over her at work, picking her up after a long, intense shift at work, restocking her groceries, cooking meat for her even though he didn't eat meat, plowing snow for her before she had to get to work, protecting her and keeping her safe even when he himself was hurt. Like I said, so dreamy.

What I also liked is how they helped each other reflect on themselves and come to terms with things. For Aly, being with Josh helped her realize the dark and deep desires that she tried not to give much thought to. There was some darkness in her, and Josh helped her embrace it rather than feel like something was wrong with her. For Josh, who was so convinced that he would turn out just like his father one day and felt like no one would want him because of his past, Aly helped him see who he truly was, what she saw in him, and helped himself from a new perspective from what he was made to believe for years.

Josh was such a cat dad, and that was so hilarious. I loved how Fred was smitten right from the first time Josh stepped into Aly's house. The way Josh and Aly adored their cat child was adorable and also made me laugh so hard, and Fred's reactions only made it all so much better.

The spice was exceptional, and my jaw was on the floor. Especially made better in the audiobook and due to the fact that this was a duet narration. I had to fan myself and try not to choke on my own saliva with all that these two were up to. What I abso-freaking-lutely LOVED and another reason why I was glad I picked up the audiobook is when the masked man uses the voice modulator. OH. MY. FUCKING. GOD!!!! I mean, I would've had a rough idea of the voice in my head, but nothing could've compared to reality, and I was so fucking gone.

That whole situation with Brad was so tense, and I was at the edge of my seat with how things were unfolding. Some intense nail-biting moments with everything that was happening. Aly and Josh were true partners in crime and would do anything to protect each other. Like Josh said, "The couple who slays together, stays together," and they did slay.

When Ivy first reaches Sisters, Oregon, she wants nothing more than to wrap up her assignment, leave the town, and never look back. Given her upbringing and the expectations her father had from her, it was difficult for her to show emotions and let anyone in, always fearing that her vulnerabilities would be preyed on, especially when she was raised to lead in a field dominated by men, who often underestimated her.

As she spends time with the Wilders, working on restoring her grandparents home, she realizes what a family should truly be like. How there shouldn't be terms and conditions to receive their love, and how home is a place where she should be able to be herself.

Cameron was genuinely amazing, and I loved him. He took over the family business and did his best to be everything his family needed, making sure they all had what they needed and always willing to help everyone out. Being responsible for his family's business meant he didn't get time to date, and neither was he interested—that is, until he met Ivy. I loved how he knew right from the start that there was more to Ivy than she was willing to admit, even to herself. He tries to keep her distance from her but can't stop himself from wondering more about her, wanting to know everything she was hiding behind her hard exterior.

The analogy that Cameron gave with respect to the abused dog Poppy had rescued and how it took time for it to trust and believe that not everyone was out to hurt it was so fitting because Ivy didn't even see the extent of emotional abuse she had endured because she had no point of reference to understand. Which is why she kept everyone out and stayed by herself, but she yearned for that connection and affection deep down.

Their relationship grew gradually, where initially Ivy kept Cameron at arms length, unwilling to admit any feelings she had towards him. But as she got to know the kind of man Cameron was, she slowly started accepting her feelings for him. The whole time Cameron waited patiently, but he acknowledged his feelings for her and knew he wanted her in his life but didn't want to push her for anything she wasn't ready for. It was difficult for her to feel like she could be something different and not disappoint the people in her life.

He was so careful with her, always honest and patient, letting her figure things out by being a constant presence by her side and supporting her through everything. He made her believe that she could do anything she put her mind to and that she didn't have to work herself to the bone to gain anyone's favor in his family, and just being herself was enough.

Just like in book one, I loved the Wilder family. The bond between these siblings, even when they aren't related by blood, is just so strong and so pure that you can't help but feel like you want to be a part of their family too. The siblings were all in each other's business, messing and meddling, but also being supportive and protective when needed.

Just like in the case of Ivy, everyone welcomed her, made her feel comfortable, and accepted her as she was. Except Ian, who took a long time to warm up to her, but he does eventually.

The whole family getting together for the fall festival was just so bittersweet. I'm happy they all got that chance to be together and give the entire family the chance to say their farewells. This book made me so emotional. After reading One and Only, I knew what Tim's condition was like, but watching it get worse and watching the family come to terms with it was an emotional journey, and you as a reader can also feel these emotions—helplessness, denial, anger, and grief—along with the family members, especially with how close they all were.

I loved when Ivy finally confronted her father and set the boundaries that needed to be set for her own well-being and growth, both personally and professionally.

Lena does it again. This has been a 5-star series for me so far, and I'm loving it so much that I never want it to end. That first chapter had me cackling. Oh God, Royal owned me right from page one.

When a prank Royal King intended for the Sullivans goes wrong, the unassuming recipient of it happens to be the new consultant his brother JP has hired, Veda Bauer.

Veda was already wary of her new job and Ottertowner but starts reconsidering her choices after the welcome she received. Seeing Outtertowner through her eyes was hilarious, and I was just here thinking, "Oh, just you wait. You're going to fall in love with this town.".

Royal finds Veda intriguing and realizes that she reminds him of someone else. Someone he is used to bantering with on an app he uses to create content for a specific group of people, teaching them what to want from a man.

Things get more tangled when they realize that they've been conversing with each other on the app for months with Veda lusting after Mr.Right.Now and Royal finding MsBlackCat to be the one who has consumed his thoughts completely ever since they first started talking. But no one can know about this, and they decide to keep this secret just between them.

Royal had me intrigued right from his first interaction with Lark in One Look, and I'd patiently waited for his book, and he is so worth the wait. He was a giant covered in tattoos but a total softie at his core. The literal embodiment of a golden retriever in human form and made me laugh so damn hard and was just so sweet, funny, and kindhearted. There's so much more to him than meets the eye, though. He used his humor as a shield to hide or distract people from seeing his pain and vulnerability, and that really tugs at your heartstrings. The way he grew up after his mother left at such a young age, and with a spiteful father, he couldn't help but feel like he wasn't enough as he was. Being the weird artistic kid growing up also led to being bullied until he fought back to take control of his life. But deep down, he is still the little boy who questioned why his mother left, and that broke my heart for him.

Veda was such a badass, and she totally owned everyone in this book. She was smart, fierce, confident, independent, determined, and relentless when it came to figuring out the mystery that is Russell King. She worked with everyone to piece together all the information she needed to figure out what he was hiding, and she was truly the star of the show with how she took charge to get things done. Being focused on her career, she didn't have a lot of friends back in the city. But when MJ and others from town start easily including her like she is part of their community, she slowly starts warming up to them and feeling a sense of belonging. There were some situations where she was just so hilarious. She thrived on her need for control and planning, and it was hard for her to break that habit of hers, which was so ingrained in her very being.

I enjoyed watching Royal and Veda's relationship develop, and they so perfectly balanced each other. Royal helped Veda let go of her need for control, and she started trusting him, which allowed her to relax and make space for more personal relations in her life, allowing herself to explore new things and be a little more reckless with Royal's influence. I loved how protective she was of Royal and would totally get into fights for him. For Royal, Veda was his anchor, the one who grounded him. The calm to the chaos in his mind. I also loved how openly he communicated about everything, leaving no room for any doubts. He always expressed exactly how proud he was of Veda, how awed he was by her beauty and mind, and always hyped her up.

The spice... good LORDDD!!! It was so freaking HOT!! I literally choked on my own saliva and blushed hard when it came to his dirty talking and dominance. I'd happily submit to Royal King and be on my knees for him. Slowly letting go of the control Veda held on to so tightly was refreshing for her, and that showed how much she trusted Royal to take care of her. And I liked that Royal eased her into it, slowly gaining her trust, communicating what to expect, getting her consent, and watching her reaction closely for any sign of panic or discomfort. And the aftercare. URGHH!!! He was honestly just so brilliant when it came to taking care of Veda that I want to weep that he isn't real.

What I also loved is how Lena managed to tie in the little nuggets of information that she had scattered throughout all the books, starting right from One Look, and tied it all together when it came to Russell King and the mystery about their family they were trying to uncover. If I thought Just My Luck had some shocking revelations, this book takes it 10 steps further, and we dive deeper into the past; more secrets are uncovered, some more shocking twists, plans are set in motion, and in all this, the Sullivans and Kings worked as a team to bring everything to light.

Watching the Sullivans and the Kings team up, acting like they are so put out by the fact that the feud is all but over, but secretly being so loving and supportive of each other was just so goddamn cute. I loved how Lena took this generational old feud from book one of the Sullivan Family series to where it is today. It makes you feel like you were present in Outtertowner and watched these opposite sides slowly let go of the rivalry and meet each other in the middle. They still haven't stopped pranking each other, and I'm here for it. The found family in this series is one of my favorites, and it only gets better.

The Bluebirds literally run Outtertowner, and there's no other way around it. They get shit done and always stand together no matter what. I also loved how the Bluebirds welcomed Veda into the fold and how she slowly became just as invested in the bookclub as everyone else in Outtertowner.

I'm already so excited for JP's book, and I have so many questions because what???

Thank you, Lena, for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review💗

I was so happy to be back in Silver Hills. That place has somehow turned out more magical than I remembered. It makes you want to be a part of this town and the community, who are so welcoming.

Henley and Tru's first meeting was electric, leaving them reliving that moment over and over in their minds all day. However, their second meeting was less than ideal, after which Tru wants nothing to do with Henley. Knowing he messed up, Henley does his best to earn her forgiveness, and I was here for it. It took a while; given Tru's own past and other experiences, she was wary of giving him another chance, but his actions proved how sorry he was and how amazing he truly was as a person.

Tru is new to Silver Hills and looking for a place where she can put down her roots after never having stayed in one place for too long growing up. Silver Hills is her new beginning and a chance to live her life on her terms. I really admired her character and how she stood up for herself and held her ground. I also loved how she looked into the needs of every single student of hers and gave her best to everyone. Although spending time with Henley led to her growing attraction, she was reluctant to start anything with him given their roles as her being his kid's teacher and given her own experiences growing up.

I also loved how she was a safe space for her mom and how supportive she was of her journey, helping her out in every way she could. It took a lot of courage to do what her mom did, and Tru's support played a huge part in it.

I really enjoyed the way Tru slowly started getting to know Henley's kids and forming a bond with them. The way in which they conspired together against Henley, and I especially loved Tru's bond with Cassidy and how she went above and beyond for her.

Henley was everything I was hoping for and MORE. He was truly the sweetest, most considerate, and most honest person. I loved the way he was always present for his kids; each day a new lesson to be learned when it came to parenting, but he took it in stride and put his kids ahead of everything. What I loved was how honest he was and how openly he communicated his feelings with everyone. The way he was vocal about his growing feelings for Tru, while also addressing her reluctance to go further due to their roles. The way he had a clear conversation with his kids about his intentions, gauging their reaction, making them understand how things were for him, and needing to know if his kids were comfortable first. I also liked the way he communicated his feelings with his ex, always respecting her and knowing that she'd want to know who her kids will be around.

The romance between Henley and Tru did have some pull and push, where they both acknowledged their feelings, but there was reluctance from both sides initially due to their own reasons, but as they start spending time with each other, they realize that their feelings are more serious and they want to explore where this could go. As mentioned, there was a lot of open, honest communication about their issues and expectations. They took things at a slow pace given how they wanted Henley's kids to be comfortable with the idea of them being together, while also slowly easing into this new situation for Tru's benefit.

What I also truly loved about their relationship was how Tru stood by Henley's side during his lowest and darkest times. Henley was used to being the one taking care of everyone and putting his kids before him. So when the time came, he didn't feel like he was deserving of that same love and support, but Tru held strong and gave her best to help him up. It was a long journey and not the easiest one, but Tru kept everyone united and worked with them to support Henley with whatever he needed.

I absolutely adored Henley's three girls. They were all so unique and amazing in their own way. The way they tried to set up that dinner date was so hilarious. The kids took a while to come to terms with Henley and Tru getting together since she was their teacher and due to other reasons that were valid from their perspective, but they truly adored Tru, and when they saw how happy Henley was, they were all happy for him and accepted Tru as their own immediately.

I also have to mention how amazing Henley and Bree were at co-parenting. Their mutual respect and friendship really showed with how supportive they were of each other and how they formed a united front when it came to dealing with anything related to their kids. I'm really glad that Bree was a supportive character and not the bitchy, vindictive ex-wife.

The single dad players group is literally the best, and I loved watching these guys meet up and share everything they were going through, not just with respect to parenting but life in general. I loved the continued entries in The Single Dad Playbook, some of which were hilarious and some made you emotional. When Henley opened up about having feelings for Tru, everyone encouraged him and went as far as meddling to get them together. These guys really stuck by each other through the good and the bad, and that was so heartwarming to read.

I'm so excited for Rhodes's book next because he's my personal favorite. All that tension already brewing between him and Elle, especially given their circumstances, has me bouncing with anticipation.

Thank you to Willow Aster and Valentine PR for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an easy read with witches, magic, gods, shape-shifting dragons, a shadow daddy, and two unlikely parties turning into allies to complete a quest.

I liked the idea of the five kingdoms being bestowed with different magical abilities by the five gods. There was a lot unknown about what happened to the gods and what led to things reaching where they had, and we see the characters question the past and try to piece things together. I feel that very little was explained about these gods and their history, and there wasn't a lot of clarity about what gift each god had granted to their chosen kingdom. Maybe this will be explored in the next books. Also, I feel like the world building could've been worked on more as I didn't get a good understanding of it.

Saoirse had been through hell growing up. She was looked down upon for her lack of powers and was treated terribly all her life until she was able to flee from her home. But now she was back in the midst of the very people who had traumatized her. Her fear was justified, and her reaction to them was brutal and hard to read, but it gave a better understanding of just how much she had endured (check the trigger warnings).

Her character did have some growth as the story progressed; however, I wish we'd seen her character slowly come out of her shell and start taking control of her life, realizing her strength and value gradually as the story progressed instead of her being helpless, scared, distressed and feeling sorry for herself for the majority of the book. It was understandable why she was terrified given her past, but I feel like it might've been a better progression for her character to slowly build her confidence and strength and train to defend herself and use said skills when the time came.

Vane's character had the traits to be the perfect sarcastic, mysterious, and dangerous enemy/ally but didn't quite meet that expectation. He was still likable, and I loved the moments when he let his powers out and the moments when he went feral for Saoirse, but I wish there was more to him. His character didn't exactly stand out to me. There is very little known about Vane, and I'm hoping the next book fills in those blanks.

The romance between Vane and Saoirse, although kind of sweet and cute, seemed to build up out of nowhere and too suddenly. I wish there were more conversations, banter, mentions of attraction, or something between them before one sudden kiss later; they feel more towards each other. There was some pull and push due to their circumstances, but I couldn't feel the connection too strongly. I did like the moments when Vane made Saoirse try to see herself the way he did and always told her how amazing he thought she was, which did help her to see herself as more than the failure that her family had made her believe all her life.

I liked Xan and her role in the entire book, and I'm invested in knowing what happens with her next. Apart from Xan, very little was known about the side characters and their motivations, especially when they had a vital role to play. I was also not a fan of them disclosing their top secret mission to anyone and everyone.

Things get more interesting in the last 25–30% of the book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved the chaos and everything else that followed. Which also has me excited for the next book to find out what happens.

This book had the elements and the potential, but for me it felt like something was missing. The concept was intriguing but was lacking when it came to execution. It was fast-paced, and a lot was happening too quickly, but I felt like the way in which the storyline progressed seemed a bit stilted. That being said, I did enjoy this book, and it was an easy read.

Thank you, Savannah Lee and Sunny Babe PR, for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After being wrongfully convicted and spending twenty months in jail, Kieran only has one goal: find the man who was behind setting him up, which is how he reaches Redemption Ridge. Although he plans to focus solely on finding evidence of foul play and keeping himself away from everyone on the ranch, when he is assigned to assist Finley, an equine specialist, he can't help himself from feeling like he's caught in a spell. He finds himself wanting to know more about Finley, wanting all his sunny smiles aimed at Kieran.

Finley has a record of falling for the wrong men. He can't help but feel drawn to those with haunting eyes and dark pasts. But after being hurt and left the way he had six months ago by his last boyfriend, Finley decides that he is going to take a break from dating, until he comes across Kieran, whose pain is clear as day, as is the fact that he is the last person who would want anything resembling a relationship. But Kieran intrigues him like no one ever has, and he knows there's a lot more to him than he's letting on, and FInley wants to be the one to learn everything about him.

Finley does try to not get too involved with Kieran because he doesn't want to get his heart broken again. Kieran doesn't want to put down roots and start anything with Finley because he doesn't plan to stay once he's found what he's looking for.

I liked that even though they were both attracted to each other and even kissed, they stayed friends, especially when Finley offered to help Kieran find out who was behind setting him up. As they spend time coming up with ways to find this person, they form a genuine bond, and their friendship grows. For someone like Kieran, who had no one, has been closed off all his life, and has been betrayed in the worst way by someone he loved, watching Finley selflessly go above and beyond for him takes him by surprise. He tries to fight his growing feelings for Finley, chalking it up to just physical attraction, but the more he watches how Finley saw him, he never judged him for anything and chose to trust him even when he barely knew Kieran; that was a pivotal point for Kieran to start seeing things differently. The moment he starts wondering if maybe he could have something more and something real with Finley and that maybe Finley would choose him too.

My heart did break for Kieran and everything he had endured—the way he grew up, the experiences he had to live through, the betrayals, the way people saw him and how their words cut deeper than he had let anyone see, and how all of this culminated in him feeling unworthy of love and happiness. Kieran opening up to Finley about his past was so heartwarming when you realize what his past was like and what it meant for him to give away those pieces of himself to Finley along with his trust. Finley played a major role in Kieran seeing things differently for the first time, like he wasn't a lost cause, like he could hope and reach for things that he wanted to, which he did.

I get where Finley is coming from because I do love a good broken-hero romance. All those emotions and angst really work for me, and it did so with this book. All that angst, flirting, banter, and sexual tension between Kieran and Finley was really good, which resulted in the spice being hot.

I also loved how Kieran slowly starts forming a bond with the guys at the ranch. Being someone who stayed to himself and being in a situation where he was basically all by himself, not knowing who to trust and who not to, this was huge, and it happened gradually. These guys have had similar experiences, and they kept showing up for him and made him see that he didn't have to deal with life alone and his past didn't have to ruin his future.

I enjoyed the mix of romance and the mild suspense building in the background and how it all came to an end.

I loved Hope. Her appearances in the book were hilarious.

Looking forward to Ivan's book next.

This was a truly surprising read, and I don't know how to review it because I don't want to give much away. This is the first book I've read by J.A. Huss, and the whole writing style and plot build-up were just so different from anything else I've read, and in a great way.

Firstly, I have to mention that the narrators, CJ Mission and Jill Redfield, have done a splendid job with this, and I loved how they portrayed all these characters, which enhanced the experience tenfold.

This is book one in the Sacred Trinity series and perfectly sets the premise for the series, giving us a feel of these towns, a little backstory about them and how they work together, the people of these towns, while also building up an atmosphere of suspense around it all, giving us breadcrumbs and leaving us with a lot of questions that leave you needing to know more, which will gradually unfold in the next books.

Disciple runs a side-show tent revival. Revenant caters to the people's need for indulging in sin, complete with dive bars and biker clubs. Bishop gives people the sense of a simple, traditional setting with its colonial lifestyle. The three towns together form the Sacred Trinity that works like a well-oiled machine, with every person playing their role to bring in dollars.

Second-chance romances are usually a hit or miss for me, but this was a huge hit, and the whole situation was dealt with in such a refreshing way. I LOVE Lowyn, and she is truly amazing throughout the entire book. She was open about her feelings right from the start and didn't hold back any punches when it came to confronting and putting Collin in his place. She was always true to herself without trying to downplay or deny what she felt for Collin, but at the same time she didn't let Collin off the hook easily for what he did by making her thoughts on it very clear.

The situation that changed Collin and Lowyn's lives forever and led to Collin leaving Disciple was understandable, and you can empathize with how it affected both of them. Returning to Disciple was not something Collin wanted to do given all that he had desperately tried to leave behind when he'd left town 12 years ago. But now that he is back and slowly getting into the groove of The Revival (although reluctantly) and spending time with Lowyn, it feels like no time has passed and she is still the only person he wants.

What I loved is that they had a very open and honest conversation from the start, and they addressed the past and their feelings about it and where they would go from there. Their relationship felt effortless, and they were both mature about the whole situation.

As the story goes by, you start questioning where this is all leading to, and slowly you start getting the sense that there is more to things than meets the eye. Everyone in town has secrets of their own, and you don't know who knows what and what these hints were leading to until the end. The plot buildup was done really well, again as this was the first book in the series and it was vital to set a good scene and have a good world-building to develop the story going forward.

The side characters were just as intriguing and made you feel like wanting to know more about them because everyone has a role to play in these towns. This was such an exhilarating read, and I laughed out loud in many situations with all that was going on. The whole setup of the revival was described so well, and all the people playing their parts made me want to be physically present to witness it all.

I can't wait to read the next book and know more about Amon and Rosie and what part they play in everything and what other things are going to be revealed.

Still grieving the loss of his nephew and in need of a fresh start, Bohdi moves to Lansing to start a new job where he doesn't know people and isn't reminded of his loss every time he sees his family. This is when he comes across Brayden, who is his student, and he immediately feels a pull towards him, watching his own pain being reflected in him, and Bohdi finds himself eager to know more about what's going on with Brayden for him to behave the way he did.

This was one emotional rollercoaster. There were so many moments that I got really emotional for these characters and had to take a moment before continuing. The book deals with some heavy topics such as child neglect, dealing with addiction, and loss of a loved one (on and off page), among others, so do check the TWs. These topics were well dealt with and go into depth about how grief and addiction affect the family members. 

The curiosity to know more about Brayden and what he was dealing with initially pulls Bohdi in because he recognizes the signs from his own experience and can't help but want to reach out to help him out. He doesn't understand why he feels this way, but as the story goes on, Bohdi realizes that he might also have some romantic feelings growing for Brayden. 

It took a while for Bohdi to make sense of these new feelings he was feeling, and there was a lot of conflict he felt given how Brayden was his student and the 21-year age gap. He tries to deny and fight these feelings, coming up with excuses to stop it from going any further, but the tension only keeps growing between them until Bohdi can no longer keep his distance and decides that he doesn't want to.

My heart shattered for Brayden and everything he had gone through and was currently dealing with when it came to his brother. Initially he came off as rude and arrogant, but when we dive deeper into his story, we see how much he was hurting but turned that hurt into anger so no one could see him vulnerable. He keeps people out, and even with his best friends, there is still a line that he doesn't cross when it comes to sharing his deepest feelings. But Bohdi was persistent and gave Brayden a sense of calm and safety, and he found himself sharing parts of himself with him.

The bond between Bexley and Brayden was so precious and makes you wish there was a way to reach out to these two and help them out of their situation. You could feel the anger, frustration, helplessness, hope, guilt, heartbreak, and defeat that Brayden felt dealing with what his brother was going through and how it all took a toll on him.

Bexley gave his all for the sake of his twin brother, and reading everything he did and sacrificed for years so Brayden could lead a better life made me feel so helpless. The situation he was in and how much he tried to fight for Brayden's sake but was sucked into a life that he couldn't get out of makes you feel angry at the unfairness of it all. Watching Brayden try to help his brother and get through to him and do everything in his power to get him back like before was truly heartbreaking.

When it comes to the romance, there was some back and forth between them, both unsure if they were reading the signs right from the other and whether they should cross the line they couldn't come back from, but eventually they gave in and their relationship grew.

This book really showed us that we can't choose who we love, and sometimes we just love who we love. There can be a lot of reasons why everyone feels the relationship between Bohdi and Brayden was wrong, given their roles as teacher and student and also given the age gap. But these two were exactly who the other needed, and even though many didn't get it, the thing that mattered was that they knew what they felt and wanted from each other. I liked that Bohdi didn't try explaining himself to anyone and just said, "I love this man, and it doesn't matter who understands that, but it doesn't change what I feel for him." And he proved that with the way he was protective and careful with Brayden from the start and with the way he helped and gave Brayden what he needed even when he didn't know it himself towards the end.

The book gets a whole lot more emotional after the 55-60% mark, and I was stunned and heartbroken. It was a difficult journey for the characters.

Bohdi stood by Brayden's side and was truly his rock when his world completely fell apart. He supported Brayden through everything, never letting him bottle up his pain, and gave him the space to feel everything he needed to in order to process it all at his own pace by always being his constant and loving him exactly the way he needed. Even when Brayden's emotions got the best of him, Bohdi stayed strong for the both of them, and he helped him with his grief, knowing what kind of toll such a loss can take on a person.

Kay and Trayton were absolutely the best kind of friends a person needs, and I loved how much they loved and stood by Brayden throughout. They covered, defended, protected, and fought for him. Their bond was really something else.

I loved the hockey games that were included and how these matches throughout the book hold your attention and you are rooting for the Devil Hawks to win.

That entire epilogue had me sobbing hard at 2am and made me love Bohdi more.

The reason for not rating this 5 star was that

some conversations between Bohdi and Brayden when it came to their romance didn't feel like how a normal couple would converse. And some of the things Bohdi said to Brayden made it seem like he was maybe in his 20s and didn't come off as how a 40-year-old person might talk. Also, I understand that this is an ARC, so errors are kind of expected, but some of these errors felt a bit distracting, like in some places where even the names were interchanged regarding who was saying what, and that made me go back and forth trying to understand what was happening.

Thank you to PS. Black and Love Notes PR for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'd been waiting to read Hayden and Darcy's book since last year after I finished The Fake Out and was so glad to receive the eARC.

Darcy was a really likeable character, and I loved watching her grow and figure herself out as the story progressed. She found her people, found the job she was truly passionate about, and she found true love with her best friend. She held a lot of guilt from her past job, which led to her being stuck in a job she didn't love, but she slowly gives herself the grace to learn from her past and use that to be better at her new job. Watching her slowly do the things she couldn't do before and having Hayden always cheering her on as her no. 1 supporter really boosted her confidence and made her feel like her life was finally turning out the way she had pictured and under her control.

Hayden has been in love with Darcy for as long as he's known her. But after she started dating his best friend, he buried his feelings for her and never acted on it. So when Darcy asks him to teach her how to be a player, he agrees at first, but watching her flirt with other men only intensifies the feeling that he doesn't want the person on the receiving end to be anyone but him. And although he couldn't deny his feelings for her this time, he had deep-rooted insecurities that he wouldn't be enough for her and that she'd only want him temporarily, so he treaded more carefully so he didn't get his hopes up or ruin what they had.

I liked the chemistry and easygoing friendship between Hayden and Darcy. Even without having any flashback chapters, I could still feel how connected and close they were. I loved the gifts Hayden got for Darcy, which were all so thoughtful and so her. The birthday gift and the birthday party especially made me feel so warm and fuzzy. Watching Darcy get treated and loved the way she truly deserved was heartwarming. I loved all the weird inside jokes (especially ones involving "Daniel"), the obsession with The Northern Sword, how goofy they were with each other and would get so lost that they couldn't care less who else was around or what they thought.

There was a lot of push and pull between the two, and they were both reluctant to voice out their feelings, not knowing how the other felt but unwilling to ruin their friendship. The practice dates gave them the freedom to explore their feelings and limits under the guise of teaching Darcy how to be a player. After just coming out of a long-term relationship, Darcy held back from starting something with Hayden out of fear that she'd once again fade into the background when she's only just starting to find herself. Hayden always let her make the decision, even when it killed him to watch her go on dates with others, but he knew why this was important for Darcy given all that she had gone through. But once he had made up his mind about giving it his all into proving to Darcy how right they were for each other, he really did give her his all while he waited for her to come to terms with her feelings and let her take that first step towards him without trying to influence her decision.

The spice was hot as hell, especially with the way it brought out the dominating side of Hayden. I loved the way Darcy started off as shy and unsure, but with Hayden, she slowly finds her confidence and starts exploring more of what she likes and feels comfortable enough to start taking control.

I loved how the Vancouver Storm team members and Pippa gave Darcy and Hayden the nudge when they were both being stupid. I have to mention how much I loved Alexei and Georgia. Their banter was so freaking amazing, and I'm already desperate for their book.

I also LOVE Tate Ward, and I so wish we could get his book because he truly is the star in every book.


Although I loved a lot of things about this book, there were a few things that I didn't enjoy as much.
(CONTAINS MILD SPOILERS)

*Some parts of the book felt too repetitive, and that put me off a bit.

*I kind of wish Kit was more involved in this book, so it intensified the conflict between him and Hayden more, adding to the dilemma in Hayden's mind about wanting Darcy. 

*What had piqued my interest was how Kit and Hayden would come to terms with Darcy and Hayden getting together due to the fact that Kit was actually a likable character in The Fake Out. However, I didn't enjoy the fact that the first indication of Kit being at fault was enough for Hayden to decide he no longer wanted Kit in his life without even having a confrontation or hearing him out first, after them being "best friends" for almost a decade. Kit's whole personality did a complete 180, where he was turned into a complete asshole. It felt like it was done because it was convenient to paint him as the bad guy so Hayden didn't feel as much guilt about wanting his best friend's ex-girlfriend.

Thank you, Stephanie Archer, for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.