So. A little sad because I think Lindsay Sands is just not my author. This is the 3rd or 4th book I’ve tried by her and I just can’t love her characters.

Not that they are unlikable but I just lack a connection with them. I don’t feel fully vested in them or their feelings. I don’t FEEL their feelings. I don’t feel the tension or the longing or the love.

I know this is some personal issue with me because so many love her books. So please, if you haven’t tried her yet don’t let me discourage you. In fact, I enjoyed this book by far the most of hers I have tried.

I gave three stars. I generally enjoy her writing style and she is a hilarious writer. This book had so many laugh out loud funny parts. I was really into the beginning of the story and thought I was going to love this book.

As the book went on, I felt like the outside plot (a greedy mother and son duo) were just all that was going on. Any time the main characters went near the woods a group of bandits would jump out and maul them sent from the enemy and it got super tiring. The multiple attempts on the hero’s life. It was just so many small crisis that I wasn’t feeling anything for them - no suspense or worry, just here we go again.

I didn’t love the main characters problems of their sex life. The hero’s biggest problem through the middle of the book was that his wife seemed to enjoy “joining”. I never thought I’d read that being a problem 🤣

But anyway I think I’m just looking for something different in a book. One saying they used a lot in this book that made laugh was, “What you do?” When they are confused or incredulous. I think I could totally start saying that to my kids 😄 But if you are looking for something funny, this could totally raise your spirits.

I was up until about 2 am reading and finished about 3/4 if it. I just couldn’t stop.

I give it 4 stars. There’s so much I loved about this book and so much that annoyed me. But in the end this book had me reading ravenously and feeling so many emotions. To me it’s a unique and memorable story! I definitely recommend anyone try it.

I actually loved the first third of this book. The sex is so hot, and you see such sweet sides of both main characters.

While I did enjoy the book a few things prevented 5 stars from me. First of all, it’s pretty obvious the hero’s a straight up jerk. I mean, you start to understand him and love him but then he does a complete 180 and becomes unlovable again. I didn’t like that there were such long separations (I understand the 8 years but the fact that he is gone again for 7 months?!) I could have done with WAY more groveling and some more begging for forgiveness form him. My heart broke for him and with him but damn....I don’t know if I would have had a HEA if I was the heroine 😂 And that brothel scene, while forgivable to me, went a little further than I would have liked.

Knowing what I know now about the book (the deception, the secret baby, the separation of the beginning of the marriage) I don’t know if I would have given this book a chance. Those are all things that make me choose another book instead. They are just not my favorite tropes. But I’m so glad I just jumped in without knowing anything about it (I have actually started not reading the back covers/synopsis because I get expectations and assumptions lol) because it was done extremely well.

I would have preferred some more balance with the sex as it’s all in the beginning except one scene. I also thought the “evil plot” was fairly predictable but that’s fine.

I’ll be getting a copy of this book to own at some point, as I’d consider this a reread for me 😍

I really enjoyed this book. Their romance was sweet and slow moving. She begins as a captive but soon begins to understand the hero and a romance blooms. The first 2/3 focused deeply on character development and the hero/heroine getting to know each other. I enjoyed both characters. Lots of action towards the end. I loved the heroines family.