4.5 STARS!!
Sadie has spent the last several years afraid. Even though she broke things off with her abuser, Rob, it doesn't stop him from coming around with threats to the lives of the people she loves if he can't do what he wants with her. She knows reporting him will do her no good since he is a cop and all of his friends think that she likes it rough, and needs to be hit to get off. When yet another visit ends with her in the hospital her mother puts her foot down and insists that Sadie leave town to stay with her Aunt Maggie and cousin, Lauryn, in Georgia.
'Everything was wonderful. He was every girl's dream; he bought me flowers, gifts, and even cooked romantic dinners. He was considerate of my mom and Macy, always asking me how my mom was holding up. He was attentive and interested in my life. It was perfect.
...
Everything went from great to horrible in the blink of an eye.'
While in Georgia Sadie she meets Lauryn best friend, Lanie, and her brothers. While they are all hot one brother in particular, Landon, catches her eye. When she finds out that he is a bit of a playboy it seals it for her to not get involved. When they find that neither think that they are looking for a relationship and decide to just be friends it quickly becomes clear that it isn't enough for either of them. But when circumstances lead Sadie back home it is clear that Rob isn't just going to let Sadie go.
"I'm just trying to protect Sadie." Protect her was exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to wrap my body around her and keep her safe.'
I love it when I don't know how to even start a review. To me that means that I was effected by the book. And this one has definitely taken root. Safe was amazing, the plot was so dark and twisty and wonderful. Perfect, as far as I'm concerned. The real twist in the book had me completely floored. I am usually pretty good at figuring out what id going to happen before it does but this one completely threw me! It was really nice to have that surprise I love an author who can keep me on my toes!
'She made my entire body ache in a way I had never felt. I wanted to consume her and make her mine. MINE. With her lying in my arms, it felt so right. This was what I was supposed to have.'
Sadie could have easily been one of those heroines who wallows in self-pity and hatred but she really wasn't. Sure, there were a few times when that doubt that she could have something as wonderful as what she and Landon were building. But, that was more because of the repercussions from what could happen with Rob. She was incredibly strong and brave, considering what her past was like.
'You are the first man that has showed me what it felt like to be loved, cherished, and appreciated. You picked away at my hard shell of a heart and filled it with the most beautiful feelings that I never knew I could have.
You made me feel whole...complete.
You made me feel safe.'
Landon had his own pain and insecurities that led him to not want to have a relationship. Seeing Sadie and the obvious pain and fear that she had to contend with helped him to be able to change his ways. He was so incredibly understanding and supportive that there was no way to NOT fall in love with the man!
"I thought you were taking me home."
"You are home, baby," I said with a smile. I didn't ask her. I just did. I wanted her here with me. I didn't want her at Lauryn's anymore.
"This is your home. Not mine," she said, yawning.
"I want you here with me."
Her eyes grew big. "You want me to live with you?"
"Yes."
"Why?" she asked, disbelieving.
Here goes. I sucked in a deep breath and prepared myself for what I needed to say to her. We's only been together a few months, and a lot had happened, but I couldn't live without her. I gazed in her warm eyes.
"Because I love you."
So why not a full five stars, you ask? There were a few inconsistencies that I found, nothing major but just something that the detail minded person in me found irritating. Seriously, it did not take away from the plot at all. There were a few other minor things that just didn't allow me a full five star rating.
'...know that I love you with every fiber of my being and will hold you in my heart forever.'
This book deals with some pretty heavy shit. There is physical, and mental abuse, as well as non-consensual sex. There was one scene near the end of the book that was especially disturbing, so if that kind of stuff is offensive to you, turn away. Otherwise dive in, I can't promise you'll love it as much as I did but I will promise you it will elicit a reaction, of some sort, from you.
'This was love. This was caring. This was special.'
This is the first book in a series. I am unsure as to when the next book will be out but I can guarantee you that I will be picking it up! There were so many more characters that I wanted to get to know in the book!