loverofromance's reviews
4345 reviews

 This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

 Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞💞
 Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
 Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨✨

I got it then. Saw it. His wounds. His scars. His fear. A sweet warrior. A wicked savior. This terrifying man who was somehow tender. Goodness in his spirit and demons in his soul.

First Impressions
Give Me A Reason was SO much better than I expected. There is something about this author's writing that just works for me so well. I just love the way she writes her dynamics and how her characters just end up fighting for each other so deeply. This book isn't going to be what you actually expect though. I was going into this book expecting a super angst enemies to lovers and yeah this isn't enemies to lovers and I have NO clue why its labeled as such. Its really what put me off from reading this one for so long, because while there is some early angst, it doesn't last long at all. So keep that in mind when reading this book. It definitely won't be what you are expecting it to be, but I found it had such a fresh edgy feeling to the story that just knocked me out of the park in every way!

 
“There’s still time to run, Kitten. I promise I won’t even chase you.”
 

First Line
It was just before ten when I eased my bike into the packed parking lot at the front of the club.

The Main Protagonists
 The Hero: Trent Lawson
 The Heroine: Eden Murphy

 But the thing about vulnerability? It didn’t always make you weak. Sometimes the only thing it did was make you fight harder. Make you more determined to go after what you needed in your life.

Summary
Eden is in dire straits. Her father's school who offers a sanctuary for kids and also a spiritual learning aspect to it for Christian families is about to go bankrupt when her sister stole everything they had. So Eden has come to a night club that is owned and run by Trent Lawson who is a bad boy that Eden shouldn't be drawn to. She is a good girl, from a good Christian family, but she is drawn to Trent who is edgy and has a darkness around his soul, but she also senses the good man he hides beneath the surface. Trent has gone through hell and back for his family and is tormented by his past. He will do anything it takes to protects his brothers and his 6 year old son. He has a fresh start in Redemption Hills, wanting to find a future of peace, but never expected to find such a woman in Eden or that she would make him believe in love or true joy again, but he has a past that could break apart everything he has built...

 
“You have the choice. You have the choice of how you live your life, no matter how you’ve lived it in the past. You have the power to decide who you are now. The kind of security you give. The kind of father that you want to be. You have the choice to love him with everything you have.”
 

What I Loved
Give Me A Reason was so heartfelt and poignant and tore my emotions apart. What is it about this author? LOL I have NO idea. I actually think I liked this book WAY more than any of the books in her Time River series and I didn't think any book could top those haha But this book was just more for me in how it was written. It definitely gave me edgy Jay Crownover type of vibes. So if you loved her Point books....then this series and this book is a must read for you. I loved how tortured our hero was and the growth that we see in him. His devotion to his son was infectious. And the little boy, Gage, I just wanted to gobble him up. He was adorable and just added the right amount of light and laughter into the story and charmed me from beginning to end.

 
see a treasure. I see a vision. I see light and goodness and grace. I see Heaven. I see everything I shouldn’t want. Everything I don’t deserve.”
 

I really loved how well this author developed this relationship. And while there is some inner angst, its not overkill or overly dramatic, but feels so real. I resonated so much with these two. And the way that they connect and the ways that they are willing to fight for each other was EPIC!!! THIS is what I need more in my romance novels, couples that are equally fighting for one another and willing to lift each other up. I loved that the heroine learned to fight and she had such a inner strength that made me admire her so much!

 
“You are perfect, Trent. You’re perfect in your flaws. Perfect in your strengths. Maybe you believe you’re all wrong, that you don’t have anything to offer, but I can’t help but believe you’re perfect for me.”
 

What I Struggled With
Honestly...the only thing I would have liked to see more of is the heroine's dad and Trent having some more scenes together lol I really wanted to see Trent find a good relationship with a father figure as his birth father was HORRID. But this didn't take away anything from the story, just something that would have made it even better.

 
“No, Eden, you’re not weak. I see your goodness for what it really is. Strength. Resilience. But you also don’t understand where I come from, how ugly it gets, and it’s the last thing I want to involve you in. Don’t want to taint who you are, and that world has a bad way of doing just that.”
 

Overall View
Give Me A Reason was a stunning portrayal of heart and soul, it fleshes out the human condition, the value of forgiveness and the belief in hope for a better future! MELTED MY HEART IN EVERY WAY!

 I lost it because of what I feel for you. Because I can’t fucking lose you. Because I love you. You said I brought your heart back to life, but Eden, you made mine beat for the first time.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Character Types: Bad Boy, Billionaire/Mr. MoneyBags, Single Dad, Teacher Heroine
Themes: Kids/Children, Leading Lady, Book Boyfriend, Danger/Suspense, Family Saga
Tropes: Opposites Attract, Forced Proximity, Office Love

 The only thing I see is a man who is willing to sacrifice. I see goodness. I see an amazing father. I see a sweet, vicious warrior. Someone who’s fought for me. For his son. For his family. And that’s what you are to me, Trent. Family. My life.”

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
More plot than relationship

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Jay Crownover
Catherine Cowles
J. Kenner

Song This Book Inspires
Lead Me Out of the Dark by Limitless

Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as a standalone

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes. 
 

 My Review: 

This was a book I was really nervous to read, because there were so many reviews and I wasn't sure that the author would be able to satisfy me with Mark's book and while I know there are novella's involved, I think this portion of their story could have used some more fleshing out in some ways. It didn't quite have the depth as some of the other couples related to this world. I did enjoy Mark's story but it lacked some things that left me feeling a bit empty at times. I think I was hoping the mixed reviews were false lol but no they were correct in that this book was a bit of a disappointment in comparison to what we see from the other books in the series. I think their story had some solid storytelling and I really enjoyed the emotional aspects at times, but I didn't quite connect with this couple much. I also was expecting more BDSM than there was. I was hoping that would be more explored to what the blurb hinted it would be at. I did enjoy the suspense side plot though, that was really interesting to get that other piece of the puzzle that fell in place, but at the end of the day this book was flawed and could have been better in connecting the couple. 

 My Review: 

This was the conclusion to Drex and Eve's story and I really loved it more than the first book. I had such a solid enjoyment and most of it was because of the plot aspects to this story. Now there is a LOT of inner relationship angst and drama between these two. I just wanted to shake some sense into them, these two get so so stubborn about their relationship and it could be frustrating at times. But I do think there is more heart and emotional depth in this one than what we saw in the first book. I really liked seeing how things ended up for these two, they had a solid ending and HEA that definitely is heart melting. 

 

 My Review: 
This was originally recommended to me by RomanceSass on Instagram and I absolutely had a blast with this book. It was perfect ....no....but it was addictive and felt close to Joanna Wylde in the setup of the story. I really liked this type of theme in romance (have no clue what that says about me....probably all those johanna lindsey I read as a teen lol) I was intrigued about this one because I love a softer FMC and mixed with a badass tough alpha male was just what I was looking for and I was so consumed by this story. This is definitely for readers that need a palette cleanser and just something that will easily sweep you away and this author definitely does that here. There is also plenty of hot smexy times, and super gritty MC culture and I actually didn't mind that. I have really missed some dark gritty MC, many coming out recently are so tame in comparison. I really was curious to see where the author would take this one but what a CLIFFHANGER! Yes it has one, but the second one is all ready to go. 

The romance was addictive and I became so hooked on their story and what was happening with the plot. The author definitely keeps you questioning until the end. Definitely a keeper here. 

 

 This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

 Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞
 Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧
 Overall View: ✨✨✨✨

You are a light that will always guide me, a whisper I'll always strain to hear

First Impressions
Maverick was quite an interesting book and I really was pulled into the story so quickly. Their dynamic really worked for me and I loved seeing these two grow together despite all the secrets and mission that is involved, their dynamic of masculine alpha male and softer FMC really fit for them. I do think modernistic readers might have issues with this book because the alpha vibes are off the charts lol and you just need to be okay with a good alpha male to really get this book. It is a great suspense, with the heroine in danger, having suffered some severe trauma and yay for a slender medium attractiveness heroine. We just don't see those as much anymore and I really resonated with it.

 Yes, he would be gone, but she knew now what it meant to love. She might not know
what it meant to be loved, but loving was almost as good.

First Line
She was a mother. She was a daughter. She was a sister and a wife. Delicate and so very beautiful.

The Main Protagonists
 The Hero: Micah Sloane
 The Heroine: Risa Clay

 Israel is a place of many people and yet many beauties. The desert can bake a man in the day, freeze him when the moon rises high. It’s a place of brutal beauty and enduring strength. It nourishes a man, even as it challenges him

Summary
Micah Sloane is of the Jewish faith and originally of the Massad fighter crew in Israel, but is now part of the Elite Ops and he knows that despite all that he knows of Risa and wants her, he can never have a future with her. Their lives in the Elite Ops are limited to what they can have in their lives. But he is determined to find the ghost that is hunting Risa, no matter what it takes. Risa was betrayed by her father and raped and treated in the most humiliating of ways, which has hampered any chance of a normal life. But now she is going out to meet friends and wanting to have a one night stand, to feel like a normal woman for once even though she knows she isn't beautiful and worthy of it. But then she meets Micah, who is possessive and strong and protective and she is drawn to him like a moth to flame, but there are so many secrets and there is a enemy that will stop at nothing to kill her.

 
She was tired of being miserable. And there was always the chance that for the first time in six years, she could find a place inside her that wasn’t tormented by the past. She just had to make that place, she told herself. That was all. She could do this. After all, she had survived hell, hadn’t she? If she had survived hell, then she could survive one night in a lover’s arms.
 

What I Loved
I really adored this couple together. Its fun to have a suspense where the heroine is a softer FMC and I loved that she had some abuse and trauma that she was working through. And to top it off, it has a plain jane heroine, I am all for it. I really connected with this heroine, because of how I resonated with her physically. Even though I know I am attractive, I have never felt truly beautiful, just like Risa. I loved that she was trying to better herself and try new experiences no matter how much she feared it or still felt the trauma of the abuse she suffered. She had such inner strength that I was immediately drawn to. Then we have this hero. Who is trying to protect her without her knowing that they are protecting her or her friends are keeping secrets too. This also has a forbidden love theme in it as Micah can never have a HEA with anyone, he can't marry or have children as he is bound by the contract he signed for the Elite Ops but seeing them work towards their HEA was amazing.

 
Micah had a weakness. A small, beautiful, passionate weakness that he feared could become the destruction of his soul.
 

What I Struggled With
There were a few plot holes here and there, but also the ending felt a bit anti climatic at times and it didn't truly satisfy. And the writing here is older contemporary so I am not used to that style as much anymore lol so the writing style put me off for a bit because I am just not used to it. I do wish the ending had been more satisfying between them and felt rushed. Like it was never answered how he would be able to marry her, just that he would in like once sentence. I would have preferred something more finale in the ending.

 
“I could stay here, covering you like a blanket meant to protect, forever,” he whispered at her ear. “You are a light that will always guide me, a whisper I’ll always strain to hear.”
 

Overall View
Maverick is a powerful romance that really resonated with this reader for the character develpment. Your heart will fight along side Micah and Risa as they battle towards their HEA that is forbidden to them. Its wildly intense, emotionally dramatic and cuts a deep chord of emotion and heart all the way through.

 “When you leave, will you remember me, Micah?” Risa asked then, her voice in the darkness stroking over his senses. “Even death could not steal your memory from me,” he promised her.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance
Character Types: Abused, Softer FMC, Alpha Male, Military
Themes: Black Ops, Heart/Emotional Touching, Danger/Suspense, Friendship Focused
Tropes: Forbidden Love, Forced Proximity, Protector

 
How insane had he been to believe he could ever live without Risa when in truth, he hadn’t known what living was until he learned what loving her meant?
 

Book Perspective
3rd POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Maya Banks
Pamela Clare
Rebecca Zanetti

Song This Book Inspires
Over and Over Again by Nathan Sykes

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes. 

 This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

 Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞
 Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
 Overall View: ✨✨✨✨

“You’re my heaven, and I’m your hell,” I whisper, making sure she understands her current situation.

First Impressions
The Sinner is the second book in the "LORDS" series by Shantel Tessier. I am not sure what I was expecting with this one, but this book was NOT it at all. And honestly I didn't even read the blurb, I kinda wanted to go into this one blind but man this book pushed so many of my limits and I read a ton of dark romance. But Shantel Tessier really knows how to push my buttons especially with this series and its definitely more sex scene focused than I am used to. I would definitely say she writes dark erotic romance. But it has some tough issues being tackled so please make sure to check the trigger warnings before reading this book.

 
When I burn the world down, and they ask me why, I’ll tell them the devil asked me to do it. And I wanted to make him proud.
 

First Line
A Lord takes his oath seriously.

The Main Protagonists
 The Hero:Easton Bradley "Sin"
 The Heroine: Ellington "Elli" Asher

Summary
Sin went through all the test to become a lord but what really surprised him the most was the final test and it brought him to Elli's door. He knew that she would be his and he would do whatever it took to take her from the hell she is in, even if it meant not delivering right away. He would need to play a masterful game because being in the Lords is not what everything seems. Elli's life went to hell the moment her father died and had been groomed since she was 13 to be a sex toy for those in the Lords. She has a very bleak future, and barely survives by the drugs that she takes. But when she is found by Sin, she will be pushed to her boundaries, but find a deep love she never expected to find.

 I want toxic. I want madness. I want someone who makes me question my sanity. And I know I won’t be happy until the masked man decides to make me his forever. I’m perfectly fine spending the rest of my life not knowing who he is as long as he continues to come see me.

What I Loved
This book was insane! lol This book really pushed my buttons but in some cases it was a good thing. There was such complexity to the story and I adored how the plot was built. It definitely was so well crafted. I also love this author's writing style, it just is so engaging and has an addictive quality to it that makes you never want to put it down. The first half was rough, you really have to get through the first 50% and it won't be easy. But if you can get beyond that, then the actual romance will really flourish and you will want to get your pom pom's and cheer this couple into their HEA. They have a very rough road, and Sin has to be crafty and I loved how well this author played out his plan there. There is a strong sense of it being a forbidden love, we also get a introduction to "carnage" and I am very fascinated by it and curious to see where the author is going with that one. Cause I know we will see more of it in future books. The heroine's journey really tackled some tough issues of addiction and sexual abuse so very well. It might be too much for readers, but I think for some it will really resonate on a deep level. The last 25% of the book was my favorite aspect of the story. This is where we really see our couple come together and truly shine and the surprises in the end totally lifted my heart with this book. It truly made all the battles worth it in the end, especially for our heroine.

 But always remember, Elli, that I love you. And no man on this earth will ever come close to feeling what I feel for you. And if he thinks he does, I’ll rip his fucking heart out.”

What I Struggled With
There was WAY too much sex scenes in this one. Or maybe I had forgotten how much of it this author writes. lol The sexual abuse that Elli goes through is really hard to see. Normally I am fine with it, but the way this author wrote it, it was just so hard to see for it, especially in what we see the hero do with the heroine sometimes. But also how we see others treat her was so difficult. Then we have the addiction aspects. This will not be for everyone, and its rough to see what has happened to he throughout all of this. I almost wanted to DNF because it was just so much trauma that happens to the heroine with not much hope or light to balance it out. I know its dark romance, but this is SUPER dark romance and you really need to have the right mindset for it and I am not sure I had the best mindset because the first half just made me so depressed.

 We all pay a price, sin. Some more than others. What it ends up costing us depends on how bad we want it.

Overall View
The Sinner is a captivating, intense filled story that delves into some tough issues. Its a story that will push your boundaries in way you aren't ready for but will also deliver such complexity, depth and true heart in the end to take your breath away!!!

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Dark Romance, Erotic Romance
Character Types: Abused, Alpha Male, Anti Hero
Themes: BDSM, Hot Smexy Times, Have Known Each Other 4 Ever
Tropes: Best Friend Sibling, Forbidden Love

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Amo Jones
Harley Laroux
Rina Kent

Song This Book Inspires
Gasoline by Halsey

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes

Steam/Spice Explanations

Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.
 

 This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

 Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞
 Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
 Overall View: ✨✨✨✨

“Love should make you feel good about yourself and about the person you are when you’re with the one you love. Love should make you feel accepted as you are.”

First Impressions
Ladies Man by Katy Evans is the third installment in the "Manwhore" series and I have finally completed this series. I have been putting it off because I don't want to get through this author's backlist, but I have been yearning for a good 1st POV playboy romance and this one definitely answered the call for what I was looking for. I was able to do a blend of digital and audio with this one and both editions are a great reading experience. I will say that this is the most unconventional book that I have come across with this author. In fact, I had to double check I had the correct author lol Because this book is a massive SLOW BURN so I get why there are so many mixed reviews, its so different from anything that she has written and honestly the last 20% is where it really comes together on this one.

 "You're like an insistent little trickle of water, soaking into every inch of my life."

First Line
Robin Schulze's "Prayer in C" reverberates through the club.

The Main Protagonists
 The Hero: Tahoe Roth
 The Heroine: Regina Wylde

Summary
Ladies Man is about two people who play a game of cat and mouse with each other. They both pine for each other but they both have rejected one another and have trust issues but their connection and friendship has developed into a fierce bond. Tahoe is your typical athlete playboy, lives for the wild nights and parties and all the women at his beck and call and Regina wants him even though she knows he is bad for her, and when he rejects her, she goes to another man. But despite the pain that they cause each other, a friendship never falters. But Tahoe has a history of pain and he has his own reasons for pushing Regina away, and when the truth comes out, Regina and Tahoe will connect in ways that neither expected....but will Tahoe fight for Regina like she deserves or abandon her once again?

 "But what is true for Tahoe Roth? He is the embodiment of sex. He also has a gentleman ingrained in his bones due to his southern upbringing. You can tell a lot about person by how they treat others, and he is playful but honest, and always himself."

What I Loved
So many many things I loved about this book. The beginning angst between these two was top notch. Katy Evans definitely knows how to write great angst between a couple and all that delicious pining between these two was so delicious. It is literally both of them mutually do this push and pull game and we literally go through all the seasons and holidays of the year and see what this "cat and mouse" game between them does to each of them. I found their connection and friendship just sizzles slowly with tension. I love how they really have such a solid friendship though, and that despite everything, they always have each other's backs no matter what happens. And once they FINALLY get together....it is so glorious. Literally it was worth all that wait to finally see them get together and that happy couple page time we get at the end was honestly TRUE PERFECTION! I just wanted to gobble these two up and left me with all the happy satisfied feels that only Katy Evans delivers.

 We’re Friends.
Friends who annoy each other.
and sometimes want to have sex with one another.
But never do.

What I Struggled With
The slow burn of their romance is way too dragged out and it just felt like they needed to get together a bit earlier than they did. And man the author really took it to the end there. Very similar to Mariana Zapata. I think what threw me off with this one was how long the slow burn lasted lol its just not Katy Evan's style to be honest and really threw me off because I just wasn't expecting it.

 “No one is the way they seem. We all hide little pieces, either because we don’t want to be judged, or because we don’t think we’ll be understood, or simply because we don’t want those pieces to belong to anyone but us.”

Narration
This narration is truly solid, so if you love audiobooks, I HIGHLY Recommend it in this edition, I promise it will work for you.

 “I love every part of you. I could be a thousand miles away from you, stay away from you my whole life, put an ocean between us, take a million other women in my arms, and you’re still the one I want, the only woman on my mind.”

Overall View
Ladies Man is a thrilling, endearing and beyond poignant slow burn that will break your heart and mend it slowly back together. A SOLID KATY EVANS GEM!!!

 I want every moment to feel like it does when I’m with the man I’m sitting next to right now. Even the sad moments, the hopeless moments, the silent moments or the funny ones, or the deep ones, or the surprising ones—simply every moment, I want that spark that is always there, the sizzle, the light, the joy, that comes with being near HIM.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Character Types: Athlete, Playboy/Manwhore
Themes: Mutual Pining, Slow Burn, Angsty, Heart/Emotional Touching
Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Unrequited Love

Book Perspective
1st POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Relationship Conflict

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
K.A. Linde
Shayla Black
Kate Stewart

Song This Book Inspires
Burning Love by Elvis Presley

Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as a standalone

Steam/Spice Explanations


Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.


Narrators:
Grace Grant 

 This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

 Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
 Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
 Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.75

you’re my home

First Impressions
Fragile Sanctuary was such an amazing read! I had seen some mixed reviews on it, so I did put it off for a little while, but I am more than thrilled that I decided to finally pick this one up because it was beyond beautiful and it truly captured my attention once the story really got started. I think the only issue readers will have first glance is the first 10-15%, push past that and it will draw you in. There are aspects to the heroine's character that might be hard to get through, but there is a good reason for it. There are many poignant moments that enter the story, a true "twin flame" type of romance, with some strong levels of suspense and some surprises that I promise you won't see coming which is one of the aspects of Cowles writing that I truly love reading.

 “Why are you putting up with me?” I asked, my voice little more than a hoarse whisper. Shep’s eyes locked with mine. “Because everything about you screams that you’ve been fighting alone for too damn long, Thorn. You need someone to help carry the weight for a little while. I might not be able to fix everything, but I can help carry the load.”

First Line
How many ways could you kill someone in your mind? Nikki and I had gotten creative over the past few months, coming up with some real gems.

The Main Protagonists
 The Hero: Shepard Colson
 The Heroine: Thea

 “You’re worthy, Shepard Colson. You don’t have to fix anything to be that. You don’t have to dig a million trenches or replace feet of corroded piping. You’re worthy just for who you are.”

Summary
Thea is on the run from an abusive and manipulative ex, and she had to escape any technology fingerprint, and took nothing with her except her feline, and escape to a remote cabin and is learning to settle in this town of Sparrow Falls. Thea doesn't trust anyone, and she also has to be very careful how she interacts with others and keeps her life as simple and minimalistic as possible. She still battles some PTSD from her ex and is slowly working her way to trusting those around her. But when her best friend's brother reaches out to her to help her in a tough spot, she discovers a true connection with another man that she never imagined that she would find. But she wonders how long can she truly be safe or will she put the man she loves in the crosshairs of someone more dangerous than she imagined?

 “I like you. Even when you were prickly as all hell, I admired it. There’s something real about you. An honesty you don’t see a lot these days. And there’s kindness. You might try to hide it beneath those thorns you love so much, but I’ve seen it. And, somehow, it’s more potent since you’re not using it for show. You’d rather have no one see you extending a hand to someone else. That’s why.”

What I Loved
Delicate Escape is the second book in the "Sparrow Falls" series and this one completely warmed my heart in every single way. I had no doubt that I would enjoy this one, but I was a bit put off by some of the reviews I saw, but no worries, this author KNOCKS it out of the park and with a prickly heroine no less which are heroines I normally struggle with but she really worked for this tortured golden hero who deserved to be loved and accepted as she does. In fact, I think it made sense for them to be together, because she understood that type of pain and self betrayal and damage and sees the man inside.

 “But we can’t let one bad experience sour the rest of our lives. We can’t let the bad win. Make us stop living. If we lock ourselves down, we don’t just keep out the bad. We keep out the good, too.”

Their romance is slow at first. Thea doesn't trust easily, but Shep is so easy around her. He is careful and respectful of her boundaries, and only pushes when its what she needs. We really see how delicate he is with her and knows that she is running from a dark past, and at first only wants to be her friend. We see his true love and generosity for others, how he truly wants to help others and has such an open kind heart. This is the kind of man you want to marry and build a life with. Where is my golden boy Shep of my own?? haha

Once the romance really gets going, is where you will have a hard time putting this one down. There is such a intense emotional connection between them and this is where the philosophy of the yin yang really fit Shep and Thea. They both have tortured pasts, and are trying to find some comfort in their lives and learn how to see the other in a very real way. It was so interesting seeing how their relationship developed, because once Thea starts to learn to trust others, is where she begins to truly shine. And the way that Shep sees past the thorns to see the genuine hurt woman beneath was so captivating.

 “Doesn’t take a lifetime to see a change in someone. Sometimes, it just takes one honest moment to reach them.”

The actual plot of the story was quite interesting, I am not sure I was really expecting how it was resolved. To be honest I never know what to expect when I go into a Catherine Cowles, but in this one, we really see something so different. I loved how the villain (other than her ex) was someone I gurantee NO ONE will see coming. Its someone that is the last person you see as a villain and I loved how Cowles will add in these twists and turns. I do wish her books had a bit more stronger feelings of suspense in them though. But she makes it work to appeal to readers that aren't fans of suspense like I am.

What I Struggled With
The beginning 10-15%. This is the hardest part of the book to get through. The heroine has a hard shell and is very prickly and doesn't trust anyone. But once you see past the thorns of the character and she learns to slowly open herself up to Shep, the book just BLOSSOMS!

 “We can’t always see a person’s capacity for evil. But that doesn’t make us culpable. It just means we see the good in those around us.”

Narration
I did do half of this book in audio and it was just brilliant. If you love audiobooks, then I highly recommend this in audio and it has amazing narrators alongside it!

 “Your heart is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced. Beautiful because it’s been broken. Those cracks let it become something else entirely. Stronger. Wiser. The fiercest defender of anyone who needs it. And the gentlest confidante for anyone who needs understanding. You see it all. And you don’t look away. You come alongside without judgment, and you simply love. You can’t ask me to walk away from that after I’ve experienced it. It would be like living in the sun, only to exist entirely in darkness.”

Overall View
Delicate Escape was an astounding, heart stopping romance that will leave you breathless. It takes aspects of the human condition and delivers such poignant heart melting moments to make you literally swoon!

 “You saw parts of me I didn’t think I’d ever let anyone into. You saw all of me. Healed things I didn’t even know were still broken. And there’s only one woman I’ve ever loved. You.”

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Light Romantic Suspense
Character Types: Blue Collar Hero, Prickly Heroine, Goldien Retriever/Cinnamon Roll Hero, Tortured Hero, Abused Heroine
Themes: Small Town, Tear Jerker, Prickly Heroine, You Touch Her and Die, Heart/Emotionally Touching, Pining Hero
Tropes: Opposites Attract, Unrequited Love

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A mix of both but more plot than relationship.

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Jennifer Ryan
Josie Jade
A.L. Jackson

Song This Book Inspires
Say Yes to Heaven by Lana Del Rey

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.

Narrators:
Erin Mallon, Teddy Hamilton 

 My Review: 

Stormwolfe I did have high hopes for and I was actually surprised how much I didn't like this one. To be honest I just couldn't be invested in this couple much. I practically skimmed through the second half. Now I have struggled with some books lately, and I think for a while I will be doing audiobooks for this author until I am back on track. I will say that I found the premise interesting and I really felt so bad for what the author has to deal with. I wasn't a massive fan of the heroine though at times, she just felt slightly too modernistic at times. There have been hints of this with this author's writing but it didn't really bother me until this book, it felt a bit too noticeable and not as subtle as what she usually writes. I also felt like there were some plot holes here and there which isn't common for Le Veque. I also didn't like how the parents of Thomas treated him with all the trauma and how they pushed him into a very toxic abusive situation and didn't fight harder to get him free of it when they practically forced him into it in the first place. So there was just some factors to the story that just had me losing invested interest in the story. Hopefully the next book will work way better for me. 

 My Review: 

God Of Vengeance I was a bit nervous to read on and while I really liked it, I was expecting more for Damiano's series who has been my favorite character of the series. I think so far for the series, Dario's book was by far my favorite. I really adored the way that this book started though. I loved how the hero was willing to take control of a toxic situation and protect the heroine. The hero is a bit of a darker mafia hero, probably one of the darker heroes that I have read from this author and I found that she really made him a fabulous anti/morally grey hero you actually want to get behind. Then we have the heroine, and I nervous for her character for a reason and I can see why I was nervous. I didn't like her in the beginning. She really makes some "too stupid to live" type of decisions, its honestly a miracle she survives because of how stupid she acts at times. I get that she has been abused, but she kinda brings it on herself at times with her attitude. Not that anyone deserves to be abused, but she literally encouraged the abuse at times, like she was so miserable, she wanted to bring on a violent reaction in those around her. She just seemed so irresponsible at times. And while I eventually learned to like her character in the end, it took some time for her to become redeemed for me. I did find the actual romance to be truly beautifully written. From the moment Damiano decided to marry her, their relationship just clicked for me and they really grow together in what truly matters. I loved how strong they end up in the end. There was so many endearing moments between them. I loved how Damiano assisted Gabriella through her PTSD, their hug moments were my favorites and I adored how much they are willing to sacrifice for each other but I was super sad about the ending in some ways. It was a bit bittersweet. While I don't think its the strongest book of the series, it definitely had me feeling deeply in their alone moments. 

My Favorite Scene: 
“I got my first hug two weeks ago. From Mrs. Accardi. It was really nice.” First hug? My blood turns to ice in my veins. “Your parents never showed you any form of affection?” “No.” She faces the target and lifts her arms to fire a shot. “Put down the gun,” I order. Letting out a sigh, she places the weapon on a counter near the wall, then she mutters, “I really don’t want to talk about my parents.” “Come here.” Her eyes lift to my face, and she moves closer to me. Lifting my hand, I wrap my fingers around the back of her neck before pulling her against my chest. I lean down and lock my other arm around her, holding her tight to me. I feel a tremor shudder through her body, and lifting her from the floor, I mutter, “Wrap your legs around me.” Gabriella does as I say, her arms circling my neck. I walk to a seating area, and as I sit down, I order, “Straddle me.” Once again, she does as I say, and when I’m comfortable, I hold her even tighter while pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “You’re just going to hug me?” she whispers, her tone tight with emotion. “Yes.” I begin to brush my hand up and down her back, then say, “Relax, principessa. Lean into me.”