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partawesome's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
forevrevanescnt's review
5.0
With no where else to turn Erin ends up at River's End seeking refuge with the brother who finds joy in her pain. What she didn't expect to find was a rowdy bunch of ranchers who agree to allow her a brief interlude on their gorgeous property. Can a girl who's used to using her body to find connection come to learn that she is worth more than her curves? As one Rydell brother takes advantage of her insecurities another is coming to see that the girl he didn't trust may just be a woman he doesn't know how to live without. Leanna Davis weaves an epic tale of betrayal, love, loss, and growth - and this is just the beginning!
rellimreads's review
5.0
10/2021 - reread
KU. Free.
I’ve read this 4 or 5 times now and love it every single time. Davis finds does an amazing job of bringing harsh realities of several lives coming together while still being real, relatable people.
I loved, cried with, hope for, and celebrated with all the characters. You can’t help but be drawn to all the Rydells and Erin.
KU. Free.
I’ve read this 4 or 5 times now and love it every single time. Davis finds does an amazing job of bringing harsh realities of several lives coming together while still being real, relatable people.
I loved, cried with, hope for, and celebrated with all the characters. You can’t help but be drawn to all the Rydells and Erin.
muffreads42's review
3.0
Tearjerker. The book was ok. Erin had low self-esteem. She seemed scared to want more for herself.
kewlshort1's review
1.0
An emotional angsty roller coaster
I’m not entirely sure how I felt about this one. It was a lot of ups and downs. It was a very emotional western “romance” (though I’m using that term loosely as there’s really no romance at all). Its not remotely romantic, but more an emotional storytelling that ends with a coupling. It’s an extreme slow burn. Like they don’t get together until the very end. There’s an abrupt ending that implies they are together, but it felt incomplete as it was basically just them finally saying “ok. Let’s do this”.
It starts with 26 yo Erin in a desperate position. Her mother recently chose to end her life, and her stepfather kicked her out with nothing when she refused his advances. Jobless, homeless, and with only $2000 to her name, she drives across the state to try to convince her psychopath brother to allow her to stay with him at the ranch where he is working. And he’s not working well as he’s basically a burden there and taking advantage. As soon as she shows up, she draws attention. One brother, Joey, immediately flirts with her. The oldest brother, Jack, instantly loathes her and is suspicious of her arrival. Neither of the other brothers are ever kind to her. Even the housekeeper is mean to her. We spend the rest of the book with Erin being mistreated and abused as she tries to find her path in life. She is illiterate, so finding a job is difficult. Then her worthless brother steals her cash and car and takes off, leaving her stranded and destitute. The brief affair she had with Joey ends, as neither were emotionally invested and never spent time together outside the bedroom, and he starts treating her cruelly. Like over the top cruelly, in a complete character reversal. In fact, most of the people in the book treat her cruelly at some point, usually repeatedly, save for Jack’s teenage son Ben. Even his 8yo son turns on her towards the end.
Jack has a lot of emotional baggage- as a brand new married barely-adult his parents die and he is left to raise his siblings and lead the ranch. Then his high school sweetheart wife passes suddenly leaving him with two young boys. His heart is hardened and he never believes he will fall in love again. Doesn’t even consider it an option. So when he starts having feelings for Erin he sets off on a trajectory of brief moments of kindness followed by moments of cruelly shoving her back down. This girl was goodness and sunshine, even with all the horrible things that have been in her life. And they’re bad. She has zero self esteem, zero belief that she has any value other than what she can do for a man, yet is still good and sweet to the core. People treat her like trash and she takes it- not because she’s a doormat, but because she honestly doesn’t believe she’s worth more. Even when she and finally Jack get together, it’s not a sweet or swoony moment. It’s a quickie on a beach, followed by him rolling over and falling asleep. Then treating her coldly and distantly in front of his siblings. It’s no wonder his 8yo says he hates her suddenly when they get together, as he’s witnessed these grown men behave so poorly. The end wraps up with her saying she will not agree to a relationship until after six months, to prove it’s not just a fleeting feeling for him. Then flash forward and “it’s been 6 months, so ok. I guess we can do this”. Very unsatisfying ending. Did Charlie ever stop being angry? Did the brothers ever start being nice? What does a future look like for them? Who knows!
The editing could definitely use some help: missing words, random punctuation. There are more books in the series, but to be honest I dislike the brothers (especially Joey who was vile) so I can’t see myself reading them. None of them made any sort of worthwhile impression that made me care about them enough to read about it.
I’m not entirely sure how I felt about this one. It was a lot of ups and downs. It was a very emotional western “romance” (though I’m using that term loosely as there’s really no romance at all). Its not remotely romantic, but more an emotional storytelling that ends with a coupling. It’s an extreme slow burn. Like they don’t get together until the very end. There’s an abrupt ending that implies they are together, but it felt incomplete as it was basically just them finally saying “ok. Let’s do this”.
It starts with 26 yo Erin in a desperate position. Her mother recently chose to end her life, and her stepfather kicked her out with nothing when she refused his advances. Jobless, homeless, and with only $2000 to her name, she drives across the state to try to convince her psychopath brother to allow her to stay with him at the ranch where he is working. And he’s not working well as he’s basically a burden there and taking advantage. As soon as she shows up, she draws attention. One brother, Joey, immediately flirts with her. The oldest brother, Jack, instantly loathes her and is suspicious of her arrival. Neither of the other brothers are ever kind to her. Even the housekeeper is mean to her. We spend the rest of the book with Erin being mistreated and abused as she tries to find her path in life. She is illiterate, so finding a job is difficult. Then her worthless brother steals her cash and car and takes off, leaving her stranded and destitute. The brief affair she had with Joey ends, as neither were emotionally invested and never spent time together outside the bedroom, and he starts treating her cruelly. Like over the top cruelly, in a complete character reversal. In fact, most of the people in the book treat her cruelly at some point, usually repeatedly, save for Jack’s teenage son Ben. Even his 8yo son turns on her towards the end.
Jack has a lot of emotional baggage- as a brand new married barely-adult his parents die and he is left to raise his siblings and lead the ranch. Then his high school sweetheart wife passes suddenly leaving him with two young boys. His heart is hardened and he never believes he will fall in love again. Doesn’t even consider it an option. So when he starts having feelings for Erin he sets off on a trajectory of brief moments of kindness followed by moments of cruelly shoving her back down. This girl was goodness and sunshine, even with all the horrible things that have been in her life. And they’re bad. She has zero self esteem, zero belief that she has any value other than what she can do for a man, yet is still good and sweet to the core. People treat her like trash and she takes it- not because she’s a doormat, but because she honestly doesn’t believe she’s worth more. Even when she and finally Jack get together, it’s not a sweet or swoony moment. It’s a quickie on a beach, followed by him rolling over and falling asleep. Then treating her coldly and distantly in front of his siblings. It’s no wonder his 8yo says he hates her suddenly when they get together, as he’s witnessed these grown men behave so poorly. The end wraps up with her saying she will not agree to a relationship until after six months, to prove it’s not just a fleeting feeling for him. Then flash forward and “it’s been 6 months, so ok. I guess we can do this”. Very unsatisfying ending. Did Charlie ever stop being angry? Did the brothers ever start being nice? What does a future look like for them? Who knows!
The editing could definitely use some help: missing words, random punctuation. There are more books in the series, but to be honest I dislike the brothers (especially Joey who was vile) so I can’t see myself reading them. None of them made any sort of worthwhile impression that made me care about them enough to read about it.
alikelley2's review
1.0
I just felt so bad for the fmc the whole time, everyone was horrible to her, including the love interest and she deserved better :(
I probably won’t read anything by this author again.
I probably won’t read anything by this author again.
tragicwarlock's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75