When it comes to romantic tales I find the most satisfying ones put readers through the emotional wringer. It's not a truly Happily Ever After unless the journey to get there was a hard-fought one. From start to finish this book held my emotions captive as two bruised souls fought to rise above their pasts in a tale that beautifully blended a charming and heartwarming romance with steamy interludes that ultimately empowered and healed the heroine's battered body and soul. This romance hurt my heart at times but ultimately had me cheering as an eclectic group of people bonded together to form an unlikely family.
Uma's life was once all about color and light as a photographer, but the moment she met Joey her life suddenly took a dark and sinister turn. He took over her life, trapping her in a nightmare of doubts and eroding her self-confidence, until one night when the nightmare turned to hell. With her body permanently marked and her soul bruised she ran until she found an unlikely haven with a bitter old woman and a gentle, yet gruff, giant. These two individuals become her saviors, giving her the strength to find herself once again. Being with Ms. Lloyd gives her her first taste of standing up for herself as well as a confidant who understands her fears. Being with Ivan shows her that strong men don't need to be cruel. He makes her feel desirable despite the marks on her body though it was a slow journey towards acceptance for her. When Uma first came to town she was scared of her own shadow. Her transformation out of her shell was full of baby steps that had me cheering her on as each step saw a palpable weight lifting off her. Everything Uma went through was vividly depicted which drew me to her as each of her aches became mine. By the end of the story I felt a bond with her and was happy for the new life she made for herself.
Ivan's lived in Blackwood all his life. His childhood was tough as his family was poor and his mother walked out after the birth of his sister. This and an undiagnosed learning disability led to lots of anger issues that ultimately landed him in prison for almost killing the man who abused his sister. Since getting out he's worked on his rage issues, become caretaker to every stray in town, and tries to keep to himself. The town sees him as a mystery, a man you don't want to cross but who's loyal to those he calls friend and family. To the women in town they see him as a sexy beast, which I wholeheartedly agree with! The moment he and Uma meet is a life-altering experience for them both and takes them on a journey that empowers her and teaches him the power in letting go to another. In subtle ways Ivan shows he cares for Uma, from shedding his caveman looks to helping her find her self-worth through his longing glances. He proves time and again that he'd do anything to make her happy and keep her safe, but a chance to avenge Uma may put their HEA in doubt in a pulse-pounding conclusion that wrapped up a bit to easily. Ivan may look like a beast but he has a heart of gold. He let Uma take charge in moments where she felt weakest and I adored him for it. His care of Ms. Lloyd also endeared him to me as he could easily charm her bitter heart. His care of the unwanted town strays made my heart ache even more and sealed his nomination to my list of book boyfriends.
From start to finish I found myself fully immersed in this powerful romance. The main characters were larger-than-life with pasts that left an indelible mark on them both and bound them together in an ultimately uplifting connection. Their romance was sweet yet scorching at times, empowering as Uma was given control during their erotically-charged encounters. Throughout the story Ms. Anders vividly depicted the past of both of the main characters which helped me understand the feelings they were going through in the healing process. The town of Blackwood was also brought alive as a haven for Uma with its majestic mountains and warm countryside courtesy of Ms. Anders talents. The colorful denizens of this small town further enhanced the narrative, relating past secrets that changed my views on characters as well as introducing me to complex and intriguing secondary characters. British bartender Rory's antagonistic banter with Ivan's sister, Jessie, especially has me intrigued as it's full of sexual tension that I hope to see play out in the next installment in this series. On a whole this was an unforgettable story, with characters I quickly came to care for, and I highly recommend it to readers looking for a powerful romance of survival and acceptance.
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Top reviews from other countries
Nicole McCurdy (Emerald Book Reviews)
A beautiful paragraph. An entire book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2017
