booksandmeforevermore13's reviews
302 reviews

Oh God, my heart. I knew when I finished Keeping 13 that reading Joey's book would wreck me. I knew it would be too raw and far more emotional than the first two books, but nothing could've prepared me for this. I ugly sobbed while reading this book, and my heart shattered for Joey Lynch and for Aoife Molloy.

Joey and Aoife's first meeting made me root for them instantly. It was just so cute and innocent before everything changed. They first meet on the day of their secondary school and feel a kind of connection and attraction when Aoife decides she's going to be his girlfriend, and he agrees. But everything changes that day for Joey when he comes back home to find that his older brother Darren abandoned them all and left town, leaving him as the oldest sibling and in charge of keeping his younger siblings safe from the monster that was their father. He had to grow up and step into the role of their protector overnight, without any warning or preparation. Due to this and the fact that he worked for Aoife's father and needed the money to support his family, he distanced himself from her. The book progresses with Aoife and Joey dancing around their feelings for each other for 3 years, and while Aoife knew she had some feelings for Joey, Joey decided to shove all his feelings and wants for Aoife down and stay away.

Reading Shannon's book gave me an understanding of the horrors the Lynch family had to live through due to having such an abusive father and a bystander mother, and I thought I knew how bad it was for them, but it wasn't even the half of it, and that was because Joey shielded them from a lot of it by letting their father use him as his punching bag so his siblings were spared. And he did so on multiple occasions and for years. Knowing now what Joey had to endure physically, emotionally, and mentally for years is horrifying.

Joey didn't have anyone by his side while he kept sacrificing himself for the sake of his siblings and his mother. There was no one he could confide in, rely on, or go to for advice or help. He was so utterly alone, and it made my heart hurt so damn bad. Even after giving his all every single time, it still wasn't enough. Knowing how his own mother told him she was convinced that Joey would turn into his father one day was so brutal. And after he kept hearing it for years and seeing the look in his mother's eyes every time, he truly started believing it. No one believed in him or cared about what he went through while Joey carried the burden of their entire family on his shoulders. People looked at him and just decided that he's bad news or trouble, that he wouldn't amount to anything or end up in a ditch somewhere.

He had to start working at the age of fifteen to support his mother and his siblings, getting into the role of a protector to keep his siblings safe from their father's wrath, and going up against his father even when he knew he couldn't outpower him to protect his mother. Knowing the things Joey had seen and heard his father do to their mom was so sickening. After Darren left, Joey basically raised Tadhg, Ollie, Shannon, and then Sean, whom he raised right from day one.

Even after all that he was going through, he never took it out on his siblings or didn't let it dampen the little joys in their lives. Taking them for trick or treating, making sure they all had gifts on Christmas, going after the people who bullied Shannon even if it meant getting expelled, and fighting off his father even if it meant getting arrested. He kept giving until he had nothing left in him.

Aoife was honestly such a headstrong, brave, loyal, inspiring, and overall brilliant character. She never stepped down from a fight, called people out on their bullshit, and didn't let Joey hide behind his anger or excuses. She kept pressing and pushing him because she knew he was deflecting and she wasn't going to have it. She didn't give him the option to bolt, like he kept trying to, and I love her so much for that.

She truly did save him, over and over again. Loving someone like Joey wasn't easy when he was already on the path of self-destruction, but she did it even when she knew it would end in heartbreak that she wouldn't recover from. She didn't give up on him when everyone, including Joey himself, already had, because she knew there was something in him worth saving and worth fighting for. And so she fought against everything and everyone for him, and she fought with Joey the hardest, knowing he was his biggest enemy. She was absolutely unapologetic for wanting Joey, didn't let anyone say a word about him, and always defended him. She stood up to his parents too and let them know, in no uncertain terms, that she was here to stay. Where everyone saw a train wreck, good for nothing junkie, Aoife only saw the potential in Joey, and she was so proud to be with him.

My heart broke for everything she had to endure in the process. Having to watch Joey be with other girls while he kept distancing himself from her for years. Watching him ruin his body and mind with drugs the way he did broke something in her every time, and you could feel those emotions, which broke me too. Reading about everything Aoife had to watch Joey go through in these situations, not knowing how to help or if he'd survive was gut-wrenching.

Joey spends years trying to keep Aoife at a distance, knowing he couldn't give her what she deserved with everything going on in his life. He was so closed off when Aoife tried to get him to talk to her, and he snapped at her and said hurtful things. Knowing how he grew up, he was always on edge and ready for a fight, and it was easier for him to be angry and hurtful than to be vulnerable or let his guard down in front of anyone. The tension keeps building between them for years, and they have their fair share of fights, but they also end up becoming best friends over time.

Joey does try to get clean for Aoife's sake, to be better for her, and reading his struggle of just wanting to be free from all the torment in his life and how much he was breaking and spiraling wasn't easy. He needed an escape from the reality of his situation, even for a few moments, so he could keep going for his siblings. The guilt for the times he wasn't around to stop their dad, the anger toward Darren for abandoning them, the fear of turning into his dad one day, the desperation for wanting his mother to really see him, and the hopelessness of being convinced that he doesn't deserve to be with Aoife because he thought he ruined everything he touched.

The way this book ended has left me feeling raw, emotional, and angry at the unfairness of it all. Knowing what I know from Shannon's book, Redeeming 6 is going to be a lot more intense, and I'm not sure how I'll handle myself.

The Dare is a prequel novella in the Losers series, and it is set during the night of a Halloween party.

The story follows Jessica, who was known to be the ice queen back in high school, captain of the cheerleading squad, and the person who bullied people around her, including Mason and his group of friends—Jason, Vincent, and Lucas, who were deemed freaks back in high school.

Jessica hasn't seen Mason since the day he was expelled from school for getting into a fight with her then boyfriend for making out with her. 

When she sees him show up at the Halloween party, she gets annoyed by his presence, but at the same time, she can't deny the jolt of desire that she feels. Mason then challenges Jessica to a game with a twist of adding dares, and when she loses the final shot, he dares her to be his slave for the rest of the night or accept defeat. Her curiosity for all that could entail only flames her desire, and so she accpets.

Jessica has had these hidden desires for a long time, but she doesn't let them be known, feeling like she would be seen as a freak too for wanting what she does. But when Mason dares her to be his slave, she allows herself to give up control of the situation to him so she doesn't have to think too hard about how much she wants it. This also gives Mason the chance to act on his own desires for Jessica that he's had for a long time now.

This was pretty straightforward as far as the plot goes. Though there was some involvement from the other three guys, the novella mostly focused on Jessica and Mason.

The smut was well done, and I definitely enjoyed it a lot. I did get the ick from her tasting the soil while licking his boot though, but otherwise it was really fun and hot. Jess getting spanked and edged while there was a horror movie playing in the background was really something, given how the author drew the parallels between what was happening on screen and what was going on in Jess's mind.

There was spanking, knifeplay, bloodplay, breathplay, handcuffs, edging, bondage, degradation, humiliation, and much more that I can't exactly remember now.

I definitely liked Mason, and even with this being a novella, we got a bit of backstory about him. He was mysterious, intense, danerous, sexy, and commanding, but at the same time he also made sure Jessica knew she had the power to stop it all if needed while also caring about her throughout everything they did and after too.

Jessica was a bit bratty and annoying, sure, but that kind of played into the smut too, so I can't really complain.

I'd been looking forward to Caleb's story after reading about him in Depth of Field and how he had to abruptly leave Last Chance when his parents found out he was gay at the age of sixteen.

Now, years later, Caleb has returned to Last Chance after years in hopes of being able to reconnect with his old friend Shane and finding some semblance of normalcy and peace. After his parents tried to "fix" him by isolating him, he went down a dark path for years and is ashamed at how far he let himself go before he was able to pull himself together.

Ryan had a traumatic experience that permanently altered the track of his life and he had to move away from his old life and the people he knew in order to process his loss and find his new normal. That's when he comes to Last Chance out of desperation, and somehow ends up staying.

Caleb and Ryan meet one night at the town diner and immediately hit it off over having the same cars. As they speak, Caleb realizes they have quite a few similarities, and their differences only make their conversations more interesting, and he truly enjoys Ryan's company.

The two keep crossing paths over the next few days, and each interaction only leaves them wanting to know more about the other. So when Ryan runs into a little situation with his landlord and needs a new place to stay, Caleb offers to let him rent a room at his place. At first, Ryan rejects this because he was slowly having a new reaction towards Caleb than he's ever had for a man before, and it leaves him feeling scared and confused.

But as a month passes and he still isn't able to find any place, he finally takes Caleb up on his offer and moves in. As they spend time together, Ryan's feelings for Caleb only grow more confusing, and he tries to fight it, denying it and not knowing what it means. Which is when Caleb explains to him that he might be demisexual. 

Coming from the family he had and being religious and expected to live a certain way, exploring his feelings or voicing his concerns wasn't an option, so he went decades feeling like something was wrong with him or that he was broken. Being able to put a name to what he was and knowing he wasn't the only one made it easier for Ryan to connect the dots and make sense of his situation without feeling like he was broken or wrong for having these thoughts.

Caleb was really gentle and patient with Ryan, knowing how this new turn of events was too much for him to handle, but he also guided Ryan through all the confusion and questions while letting him set the pace to decide what he wanted and how far he was willing to explore this with Caleb. Slowly, with time, Ryan starts exploring his attraction towards Caleb and how it was all so new for him to be with a man, but also felt so right. And the spice!! The spice was done so well, and I loved every second of it, made even better by the fact that the two had a strong emotional connection too.

Given Ryan's past with his ex-wife and the trauma from the loss they had suffered, he was still torn up over it and blamed himself for it in a way. He had given up on finding anyone to be with before Caleb. It was hard to read about how much that loss affected him, but I also felt good when he finally got the closure he needed.

Caleb had gone through a lot and lost a lot over the years; he'd done things he was proud of and things that he was ashamed of too. A lot had happened over the years he was away from Last Chance, and he opened up about it with Ryan, telling him what he went through, his reasons, and his choices. He somehow felt at ease with him and also wanted to give Ryan an insight into who he was.

I truly loved their banter and flirting, the times when Caleb cooked for Ryan, when Ryan decorated their place for Christmas because he knew Caleb missed Christmas with his parents, and how they were so in sync about the gift they wanted to get each other for Christmas. The emotional connection between the two was really something, and you could see it in how in tune they were to each other's needs and how at ease they felt. I loved their nicknames for each other because somehow it showed how they fit. The parts when they got each other the sweet and salt fix they needed were so cute. 

I loved how their relationship slowly progressed over time as Ryan came to terms with his sexuality and gave Caleb a chance. They had some navigating to do regarding where they saw their relationship going and how it would work out. While Caleb was gay and open about it, Ryan still wasn't ready to come out while he was still figuring himself out and was also nervous about how people, including his father, would see him. It was a little hard to see how Caleb felt during times when they were out in public and had to pretend like they were just friends. Knowing Caleb and how he had spent years trying to hide who he was in the same town and then living how he had tried to hide that side of him for his parents, he just wanted to openly claim his love and also not feel so alone since he didn't have anyone else.

There was no third-act breakup, although the last 50 pages had a lot going on, and my heart ached for both of them. I liked how Ryan finally spoke to his father about the things bothering him and how things went from there.

I loved Shane and Van's story a lot. Maxwell going from being Shane's bully in school to them ending up as lovers was done really well. Their journey was heartwarming, and I was glad they found their way to each other.

Shane was amazing, and I loved how much he changed from the scared, lonely boy he had been in school to accepting himself, his sexuality, and becoming someone who everyone in town loved and respected. Given how his father abandoned him, his mother's condition, and his struggles growing up, Shane worked really hard to get to where he was in spite of all the challenges he had to face.

Although he'd made peace with his other bullies with time, he never quite got around to letting go of his feelings when it came to Max since he'd left town so suddenly. So when he sees Max, who now goes by Van, in town after all those years, he can't help the anger he had bottled up for years from resurfacing. He has no plans of forgiving him or crossing paths with him, but when a situation arises and Van helps him out with his mom, he begrudgingly extends an olive branch to thank him. But when they actually have a proper conversation, Shane realizes that Van isn't the same person he thought he knew from all those years ago, and he's intrigued to know more about him.

Max/Van was so misunderstood, and yes, he was terrible to Shane, but there was so much more going on in the background that explained why he did what he did. Reading about all that Van went through made me feel bad for him. He was terrified of exploring his feelings, being treated poorly, not having anyone he could open up to, having to pretend for years, and having to be what others expected him to be. He got out of Last Chance as soon as he could and established his new identity as 'Van' who wasn't ashamed or apologetic for being gay. However, he couldn't let go of guilt and shame over how he had tormented Shane for years, so the first thing he does when he returns is ask for his forgiveness.

As the two start spending time together, talking and sharing things about their lives, their past, their reasons, and what their life has been like since the last time they saw each other, Shane and Van find a sense of understanding and comfort with each other that they hadn't expected nor had they found with anyone else. What starts off as a friends with benefits situation for both to pass their time while Van gets his affairs in order before leaving town turns into something much deeper.

Both Shane and Van created art in their own style and for their own reasons. While Van did it as a profession, Shane did it just for himself and it was beautiful watching them share their art with each other.

Reading the conflicting feelings they had regarding how they so badly wanted to be with each other but didn't know how it would work out really hits you in the feels. While Van was willing to do whatever it took to keep trying, not wanting to let Shane go, Shane's past experiences and fear held him back from taking that leap with their relationship, but they did figure stuff out in due time.

I have to mention the spice because that was something else and I loved it. Especially Van giving Shane the chance to try something new with the photos he took. The way it made Shane feel confident and desirable when he saw how Van reacted to it.

I also felt really terrible for Shane's mom and what she was going through. How she felt bad about her health condition for relying so much on Shane and holding him back. She loved him so much and was so supportive of him being gay. I loved that she bonded with Van, and he gave her the comfort to open up and feel at ease given her anxiety. He was so patient, careful, understanding, and honest with her throughout.

I can't wait to read Caleb and Ryan's book next.

Thank you to Kat Summers and Truly Yours PR for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ellie has been an honorary member of the Ryder family for more than half her life since they moved in next door to her, and Lainey Ryder became her best friend. Now, freshly graduated, but with no clue what her next step will be, her usually organized and perfectionist self starts to panic. This is when she gets offered a job working on the next tour with the Ryder Brothers band, who are an established name, as a buffer for her to figure out her next move. This also means that she is forced to work in close proximity with Jack Ryder, the person she's been half in love with for as long as she can remember. 

Ellie has had a crush on Jack Ryder ever since the first day they met. But over the years, she realizes that Jack has no interest in her romantically, so she has moved on from him, or so she thought. When she starts interacting with Jack on the tour, she can't deny the attraction she still feels for him after all this time. But given her past encounters with him, her friendship with Lainey, and her own family dynamics, she doesn't want to go there with Jack.

Ellie was also relatable in the sense that she was overwhelmed by the need to have everything figured out now that she had graduated and she feels the pressure and self-doubt kicking in as she tries to plan where she goes from here in terms of her career.

Jack hasn't given much thought to his little sister's best friend in a while now. But when he meets her on her graduation night, he can't help but feel an attraction towards her. When he learns that she will be joining them on their tour, he feels happy to have a reason to reconnect and spend more time with her, even knowing that she is off limits. As they spend time together, it is clear that there is more going on between them, but he has multiple reasons why he doesn't want to take that step with Ellie.

Jack is also trying to figure out his own life, who he is without being a part of the Ryder Brothers band, and what he is personally passionate about. As he's figuring this out, he is also trying to see where Ellie fits in his life and what their future looks like.

I feel like their relationship evolved at a good pace, where we get the conflicting feelings of wanting each other but also not being sure if they should act on it and if the other person is as invested. As the story progresses, the two navigate these uncertainties and their newly developing relationship while also finding their own footing and identity as individuals. I loved their back and forth, the teasing and banter between them. All the things Jack did for Ellie were swoonworthy and showed how serious he was about them.

I definitely enjoyed the spice, and there was some inspiration taken from one of my favorite books too. I'm always a fan when the woman isn't shy about taking the lead and when she's called a "good girl.".

I really loved the girl gang and how supportive and fun they were. I liked that they were involved in each other's lives even though they were miles away. The Ryder brothers were all amazing and had such different personalities, but when it counted, they were a team. They were always giving each other shit, but they were also protective and would do anything for their siblings and Ellie.

I did have a few issues. There was a bit of miscommunication that kind of built up along the way and became the reason for the third-act conflict, and I feel like there wasn't proper grovelling for all that was said and done. Also, a few pressing questions were left unanswered, and some situations were unexplored. I wanted the confrontation with her dad to happen on the page.

I absolutely adored the characters in the book, and it was such a cute read that makes you swoon and feel so happy. It had some of my favorite tropes so I was totally hooked.

After becoming a teen parent and then being abandoned by his girlfriend and the mother of his child, Gavin put a pause on his own plans and has dedicated his life to being the best dad he can for his little girl, Josie. Now, at 24, he wants to only focus on his daughter and his career, not wanting to let anyone else into his life and give them the power to hurt him and his daughter again.

But when he meets Josie's new teacher, Penny, who has newly moved to New Haven, he can't help but feel attracted to her. And what's more? She has also moved into the house across from him and is now his neighbor. While he tries his best to keep Penny at a distance and avoid her presence, Josie seems enamored with her new teacher and wants her around with them.

Penny moves to New Haven to start fresh and find out where she fits. After having to raise her little sister from the time she was around Josie's age herself, she is going after what she wants. Her initial interaction with Gavin is awkward, and watching his contradicting actions only confuses her even more. But she adores Josie and can't deny her when she tries to include Penny in their plans.

Tropes:
♡ Single Dad
♡ Grumpy X Sunshine
♡ Small Town Romance
♡ Found Family
♡ Slow Burn
♡ Forced Proximity
♡ Dual POV
♡ No third act breakup

There was a lot of push and pull from Gavin's end because of his conflicting thoughts and feelings. He didn't want to put himself in a place where he could be hurt again, while at the same time he also needed to be especially careful with Josie's feelings when she was already grappling with the feelings she had about her own mom leaving her. So the back and forth and the whiplash Penny got from Gavin seemed valid. But as he spends time with Penny, getting to know her and watching how patient and loving she is with his daughter, he starts to consider giving them a chance.

Penny has had a tough childhood and given up a lot for the sake of others in her life. She took care of everyone in her life all her life and never complained once while she did it. When she moves to New Haven, she is apprehensive of how she'll fit into this small town. I loved her bond with her younger sister and how they were both opposites but complemented each other perfectly. I loved the genuine friendships Penny formed with Faye, Dolly, and Lydia, who were more than happy to include her.

Penny and Gavin's relationship came together wonderfully, and while there was a lot of push and pull at first, it only made them getting together that much more rewarding. They seamlessly fit into each other's lives and were so mindful of Josie's feelings. They communicated clearly and openly about everything and took things at a slow pace. Gavin kept showing her how special she is to him, took care of her in a way that no one ever had, put her needs first, made her a priority, did things that bring her joy, and also made the difficult choices for her that he knew she needed to make in order to truly move forward.

Josie was the cutest kid, and I loved how she had no filter and just blurted whatever was going on in her mind. At the same time, she was sneaky, which was so hilarious. My heart also broke for her and how much her mom leaving her affected her. She really was the star of the book. She was so loved by everyone and somehow always got her way. I loved the bond Penny and Josie formed as time went on. It was so sweet, genuine, and felt so right.

I loved the side characters and how Gavin's family welcomed Penny into their family, how supportive they were, and how they talked sense into him when he was confused about his feelings. I'm looking forward to reading this entire series now.

Thank you to Stacey Lynn and Valentine PR for providing me with the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Shiloh's life changed permanently when she was abducted at the age of ten. The days she spent in captivity, being tortured at the hands of a madman, took away her innocence at a very young age. Even after she was rescued, she has still lived the next seventeen years of her life in a state of captivity with her family, not wanting to hurt them any more than she already had.

The only time she feels free or able to breathe is when she spends time with horses, takes off for a ride on her horse, or when she sits and watches Ramsey work his magic on abused horses, helping them find their confidence again.

Ramsey is an ex-convict who loves his solitude and doesn't trust anyone, but he can't help but be curious about the woman who has silently watched him work for years without trying to talk to him and with whom he feels a sense of kinship.

When Shiloh reaches her saturation point and finally decides to move out, she goes to the only place she's felt safe and most herself at—Ramsay's ranch. But as she tries to move forward with her life, ghosts from her past return, wanting to take her back to the place she's tried so hard to escape.

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This was my favorite book in the series. I'd been waiting for Shiloh's story right from book 1, given how the entire series stems from Shiloh being kidnapped at the age of ten and how it impacted the Eastons after.

Shiloh had had such a traumatic experience at such a young age, but she was so brave. She was tired of being treated like she was damaged or broken. She carries guilt for how her abduction impacted her entire family, so she suppresses her true feelings, not wanting to cause her family more pain or worry than she already has. But while she tries to spare their feelings, she herself feels like she's suffocating and like she's still stuck in the cabin she was held in. She wants to figure out who she is and she needs to do it on her own.

Moving into Ramsey's guest cabin and working with the horses while also getting to know Ramsey finally gives her the sense of belonging that she has searched for. She had a way with the horses, and like Ramsey, she understood and related to them. I enjoy it when books have animals and you can see them form a connection with the people. I loved how she bonded and got through to Onyx.

Ramsey was wrongfully convicted for a crime that he didn't commit. But that didn't matter when people still saw him as a criminal and stayed away from him, which suited him just fine because he didn't trust anyone either. He finds comfort now in rescuing and working with abused horses and feels a sense of connection with them given his own past.

But with Shiloh, he feels a pull towards her and is curious to know everything about her. When she slowly opens up to him about the things she's kept hidden from her family, he lets her take the call, knowing how important that was for her when so many of her choices had already been taken away from her. He was so protective of her but at the same time didn't push his choices on her and was willing to go to any extent to keep her safe.

Watching their relationship go from being friends to lovers was really heartwarming, and it felt so effortless. Like they had always been together. What was also amazing was how Ramsey's touch grounded Shiloh. Unable to bear physical contact with even her family, watching her let Ramsey in at that level made me emotional. Shiloh also gave Ramsey the space to open up about his past and parts of him that he had no one to share with. And she got his usually grumpy self to lighten up.

As the story progresses, Shiloh slowly starts opening up to her family as well, instead of running away when things were too much to handle. She worked on herself and on mending her relationship with her family.

Aidan and Elliott were a wonderful addition to this book, and I adored them. Both Ramsey and Shiloh had gone through their share of pain and abuse, and they did everything in their power to help these kids out and they formed such a strong bond with them. Shiloh, who always had trouble with physical contact, being able to connect with Elliott and comfort him the way he needed was so precious. I loved how they became a family.

Hayes definitely carried this series and is my favorite character. He was a constant every time and someone who every single one of them could rely on. I loved the bond Hayes formed with Ramsey throughout the book. They were both initially wary of each other, Hayes due to Ramsey's conviction and Ramsey due to his past experience with cops. But they reach a point where they both completely trust and count on each other.

I absolutely loved how the Eastons welcomed Ramsey into their family, even as some of them were skeptical about him at first. But once they actually interacted with him and saw how protective he was of Shiloh, they realized how misjudged he was.

I was sure I knew who was behind all the threats and attacks in this book, but I was NOT expecting that outcome. As always, Catherine keeps you guessing till the end and still manages to surprise you with her twists.

I read this series after I finished the Lost and Found series, so I definitely loved the cameo from Holt in this.

I loved the epilogue and how it all tied up in the end. I'm going to miss the Eastons.

Laiken had her life planned out with the boy she had known all her life and wanted to spend the rest of it with. She had her friends, her boyfriend, and his family, who had all but taken her in as their own. But one night, one choice changed everything and left permanent scars—both emotional and physical. Now, a decade later, she uses that pain as inspiration for her art while also trying to make up for all the guilt and regrets she still holds and all the lives it has impacted. 

Boden has been in the limelight all his life. But when things in his personal life become public knowledge during an already difficult time, he decides to take a break and go to Wolf Gap to avoid all the paparazzi and chaos, while also doing some research work for his next project.

He comes across an art gallery while wandering around the town, where a certain piece catches his eye with how it captures the raw emotions and pain that seems to resonate with his own pain. This is where he meets Laiken, who seems to understand and relate to the art in the same way as him, which sparks his interest in knowing more about what has that haunted look in her eyes.

But things get dangerous when Laiken's past comes back to hunt her, threatening to finish what had started a decade ago.

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The prologue had me crying. It was so intense, and even though I knew what was going to happen, I still kept hoping for a different outcome.

Laiken was such a strong, resilient, brave, and committed character. After having gone through so much and having lost so much, Laiken still pushed forward, trying to do her best. She had lasting repercussions from her accident that changed her life permanently, but she doesn't let it define her or lean on it as an excuse. She holds on to a lot of guilt over what went down all those years ago, which permanently impacted her relationship with everyone who was important to her, and she is still trying to make amends.

Boden has scars and regrets from his past and how his choices led to losing someone he loved. His relationship with his brother has reached its saturation point after all these years of trying to mend things with him. After spending all his life in the limelight, he finds the quiet and calmness of Wolf Gap refreshing and addictive, where the people see him for him and not what he can do for them. After his first interaction with Laiken, he feels a pull towards her with how she seems to understand pain and loss and wants to know more about her.

Laiken took her time warming up to Boden because she didn't want to feel something for someone again, only for him to walk away once he was done with the research. But when Boden gives her pieces of himself to make her feel more comfortable, she realizes that they are similar in so many ways and eventually opens up to him.

I truly loved the way Boden took care of her throughout the book because of her struggles. He also always put himself in the path of danger to protect Laiken. I loved how both their dogs were inseparable and super adorable. 

However, the romance aspect of this book felt a bit rushed given how Boden and Laiken were strangers. I felt like it progressed too quickly, and I couldn't properly relate to them as a couple. Yes, there seemed to be an initial connection through art and how they could relate to the hardships they'd both been through, but it still felt a bit rushed given how soon they fell for each other.

Also, both their situations seemed a little too similar, with their thoughts about their ex and how both Jase and Boden had a rocky relationship with their brothers. And especially after that prologue, I didn't like how Laiken downplayed her relationship with Jase, stating how maybe they were just better off as friends and maybe the romance wouldn't have worked out if Jase was still alive. I mean, I would've preferred if she had simply moved on rather than saying that.

I enjoyed the mystery in this book the most. The suspense was really intense in this one compared to the rest of the books in this series, and I was guessing till the very end, but I didn't see that coming.

From the glimpses of Ramsey we got in this book, I'm eager for his and Shiloh's book.

After spending all her life being controlled and abused by her family, Addie finally took the step to walk away from them and gain control of her life. And she has been doing just that for the past year, trying to find herself and live her life on her terms. 

But she isn't too thrilled when Beckett moves into the place she's staying at temporarily, because he seems to see too much of the pain and scars that she tries too hard to hide from everyone. As they spend time together, she can't help but slowly feel drawn to him and wanting to know more about him and the things that seem to haunt him.

But someone isn't too happy with Addie's new-found freedom and her growing closeness to Beckett and will stop at nothing to make her regret her choices, no matter who gets caught up in the crosshairs.
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Addie was an inspiring character who was so kind, understanding, and compassionate because of everything she had to endure all her life. She was also very brave and determined to work on figuring herself out and taking the steps to learn everything that she wasn't allowed to before. There were times when she felt helpless, like a failure, or wanted to give up, but she still pushed through all those insecurities and fears. As the story progresses, we see Addie get more confident and stand up for herself and for the people she cares about.

Beckett has been running from the past for far too long, carrying a lot of guilt and regrets after what happened to Shiloh and how it changed all their lives permanently. But now he's back to make amends for not being there for his family all these years. Traveling to different places working as a doctor, he has seen and done things that have deeply impacted his life, and some of those choices still haunt him. He was such a gentle soul who wanted to help everyone out in whatever way he could, but at the same time he was so fierce and protective when the people he cared about were in any trouble.

Beckett was exactly who Addie needed to come out of her shell. He was wonderful and helped Addie every step of the way to find her independence. He believed in her and kept pushing her to not give up every time she felt stupid for trying or felt overwhelmed. He helped fulfill the things on her checklist, which meant so much to someone like Addie, who was treated so horribly all her life and was never allowed to take the lead. At the same time, Addie stood by his side and helped him work through his feelings of guilt and regret for leaving his family in order to cope with the situation. Their relationship grew from friends to lovers so beautifully and effortlessly with how they seemed to connect and open up about their past and struggles with each other.

It was amazing to see how Addie found her place with the Eastons, who showed her what a family should be like. She finally found her family, friends, herself, and a love that she never thought she would have in her life with Beckett.

All the attacks made me so angry on Addie's behalf, and I just wished they all got what they deserved (which they did thankfully).

This was a fun read that I really enjoyed. I'm always down for the brother's best friend trope. The book was cute, sweet, witty, spicy, funny, touching, and overall just leaves you feeling happy and content.

Layla is in desperate need of a vacation and is all set to kickstart her trip to Lake Como, Italy, with her best friend, Charolette. But when Charolette has to cancel her trip at the last minute due to an unexpected situation, she doesn't want to ruin this vacation for Layla, so she tries to find someone who could travel with her last minute, which ultimately leads to Josh going on this trip in her stead.

Josh and Layla don't get along, not since the way things went down between them almost a decade ago. But when his best friend and Layla's older brother, Asher, asks him for a favor to accompany his sister on a vacation that is much needed for her, Josh gives in and agrees.

At first, neither of them are thrilled about this turn of events and can't help but bicker or ignore one another. But once they reach Italy, the beauty of the place immediately puts them at ease, and they can't help but share their awe and admiration for the place with each other. As they spend time together, in only one room, with only one bed and no escape from all the proximity, they can't deny the chemistry and growing tension between them.

Josh was a very lovable character. He knew how to push her buttons to get her to react and loved it when she reacted to him. He was proud of Layla for getting to where she had and supported her every step of the way, knowing that she was her own person, but at the same time he also took care of her and showered her with attention and love, making sure Layla knew how special she was to him. Everything he did to bring a smile to her face was incredibly sweet. He also took the steps to make up for his mistakes, even though it was a struggle for him.

Josh has insecurities that hold him back from starting something with Layla, and he's spent a long time fighting to keep his feelings for her suppressed. I truly felt bad for the things he felt about himself and how he seemed convinced by the voices in his head. But with this trip and all the time he's spending getting to truly know Layla, he starts wondering if he could be the right person for her after all. And once he makes up his mind, he gives it his all.

Layla was a really amazing character. She worked really hard to get her business to where it was and valued her independence a lot. She wanted someone who would support her dreams and wouldn't be intimidated by them. She has closed herself off from relationships for a while now and has put all her time and focus on her work. This trip is about finding herself and trying to have a balance between her career and having new experiences in life.

Layla had her heart broken once by Josh a decade ago and has resorted to keeping him at a distance. But spending all that time in close proximity and having these new experiences alongside Josh makes it difficult to keep up the pretense. All the feelings she's had for him for years start to bubble up, but at the same time she doesn't want to risk getting hurt by him again.

At first they had a rocky start when the trip began due to all the animosity that's grown between them in the past decade. However, as they explore Italy, they also start exploring more about each other, seeing how easy it is to be together when they aren't trying so hard to keep their distance. I loved how Josh slowly works on proving himself to her and patiently waits for her to give him a chance. Their relationship really felt effortless, and they helped put each other's doubts and worries to rest with time.

The spice was freaking amazing. Josh's dirty talking was SO HOT, and I loved every second of it. The way he loved taking control in the bedroom had me fanning myself. I especially loved this because Layla wasn't shy about asking for what she likes, or experimenting with Josh, and taking control too.

I love how supportive the side characters were. They were a fun mix, and I'm definitely interested in reading all their books.

I do wish there was at least one chapter or a flashback showing us what happened in the past or how they were with each other before things got messed up, but that's just my opinion because that's something I personally like in books.

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