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wardenred's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I asked for a floor to sleep on, that’s all. You set off to save my life, and now you’re taking me to the family home. Why?
My favorite installment in this series, and the whole reason I've decided to re-read it. Perhaps it would even be fair to say this is one of my favorite romances, period. I love stories where there are very real barriers between the romantic leads, and they still gravitate toward each other and then work—on their relationship, but especially on themselves—to dismantle those barriers. I love seeing people change their lives for the better, not for somebody, but for themselves first; making changes to include the other person because being together makes them happier, but not overhauling their lives for the sake of a relationship. Because there's a line there, not even a particularly fine one where I'm concerned, but it so often gets blurred. Not in this book, there. Here, it's acknowledged and placed front and center and I'm very much here for it.
Also, Nathaniel and Justin's enemies-to-lovers dynamic and chemistry are just so well done altogether, outside of all those other aspects. The way they both really see each other, underneath all the incompatible values; the way what they're seeing becomes more important than the incompatibilities; the way Nathaniel does his best to understand; the way Justin discovers safe ways to be vulnerable—I loved reading all of this.
Also, unlike the first book in the series, the next part of the overarching mystery that unfolds here blends beautifully with the romantic storyline. The two plots are constantly interwoven, all the mystery developments pushing the romance forward, and all the romance changes affecting how the mystery/intrigue plot plays out directly. Absolutely a great read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Violence
Moderate: Murder and Mental illness
Minor: Ableism and Child abuse
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