Phoenix & Eve

by L.H. Cosway

When Eve moves to Cornwall for a teaching job she never expects to gain the ire of her new neighbour, Phoenix. He’s the local carpenter but he’s also a notorious recluse, and Eve’s attempt at being neighbourly doesn’t go down very well.

After a disastrous first interaction, Eve decides it’s best to avoid Phoenix going forward. But when her new work colleagues invite her out for Friday night drinks, she suffers an anxiety attack in the middle of a crowded pub. To her shock and dismay her grumpy neighbour comes to her rescue and offers to walk her home.

After witnessing her panicking and fleeing the pub, Phoenix realises that Eve isn’t at all what he thought she was. He’s spent years fending off the unwanted advances of several local women and he believed Eve was just like them. Nothing could be further from the truth. This woman is shy, timid and extremely vulnerable. He has no idea what happened in her past to make her this way. All he knows is that when he’s around her he wants to protect her, and he finds himself drawn to her quiet ways and understated beauty.

Amid the lush, dreamy backdrop of a small coastal town, Phoenix and Eve are two lonely souls who find connection over their troubled pasts.

Will the ghosts of those pasts return to hinder their happiness? Or will true love prevail?

An earlier version of this story was originally published with the title 'Phoenix' under L.H. Cosway's pen name Raine Anthony.

Unknown Binding

Published November 3, 2023

About the author

L.H. Cosway lives in Ireland. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, food, musical comedy, and of course, books. She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.

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Website: www.lhcoswayauthor.com

Reviews

[L.H. Cosway]

Phoenix sits on the sofa, his legs spread wide. I hover by the fireplace, not knowing whether I should offer him a refreshment or just sit down too.

He eyes the piano. “Play something for me.”

I look to my instrument warily. I’ve only ever played for Harriet in the past. When I glance back at Phoenix the expression on his face, curiosity and interest, makes me want to play for him. I walk slowly over to the piano and sit down. Without much thought, I begin playing the opening notes to Part One of Philip Glass’ Metamorphosis. I close my eyes and allow myself to be washed away with the sound.

I am metamorphosing right now, with Phoenix. He’s helping me open up, to let someone in other than Harriet who’s gone. His presence in my life is turning me into someone new. I’m revealing myself, slowly shedding my old skin.

A minute goes by and I open my eyes. Phoenix has moved from the sofa and is kneeling by me, enraptured by my playing. His eyes are trained on the movements of my fingers. His hand rests softly on my knee.

Then I feel his work roughened palm slide up my bare leg from his position below me. Slowly and softly, he pushes my dress up so that it’s around my hips. I hesitate and my hands fumble on the keys. I close my eyes again and take a deep breath.

“Don’t stop playing,” comes his raspy plea. “No matter what I do, don’t stop.”

I play.

Read Phoenix & Eve exclusively on Patreon -> https://www.patreon.com/LHCosway

[Amanda White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful!!
What an utterly fabulous book this was to read! My god I loved both Eve and Phoenix. Their chemistry, the way they interacted with the world was so different but they complimented each other perfectly. I couldn’t put it down. Definitely a five star read for me.

[Kaylin · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!! Another masterpiece L.H. Cosway!

[Kristiej]

This book kind of came out of nowhere. I’ve been reading and loving LH Conway for a few years now but I’d never heard of this particular when being part of her membership list, I got an email on how to get this book for free. Originally written a few years ago under a different author name, this one was being reissued as a freebie, I was so all over that.

I love this book. LH Conway writes rather quirky characters and I fall in love with almost all of them. In this book Eve is fairly new to town after obtaining a position as a teacher in a small town. She’s very quiet and is uncomfortable with people but she wants to try. Phoenix is a local loner, a carpenter, who really keeps to himself. But although very unfriendly and standoffish, Eve reaches out to him with a small gesture which he rejects. He feels bad when he realizes Eve didn’t have ulterior motives and very slowly these two lonely people open up to be friends and then more.

Ms.Cosway writes such intriguing characters and Phoenix and Eve are perfect examples of this. Phoenix loathes who he is and what he’s forced to become but as he opens up to Eve he sees she doesn’t judge him and becomes his support, his personal, as he tries to come out of the darkness.

This book is very clearly a perfect deeply loved reread book and I know it will be read again, soon. The highest 👍 thumbs up to this tender and so well written love story.

[Anima · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful freebie through Cosway’s newsletter, I had no idea what to expect. Phoenix and Eve are made for each other, having struggled with the evil of the world somehow they turned it around. Eve is a history school teacher and Phoenix is a carpenter with his own shop. I’ve read many of her books and I have to say this is by far the most explicit, it’s tastefully written but just a little warning.

[Daniele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again LH Cosway has pulled at all my heart strings! Eve and Phoenix’s story is one we can all find inspiration in. If you ever thought maybe you weren’t strong enough to change your life read this book!

It truly shows the resilience once can hold and the control one can have. It lets you know that you are worthy of happiness and love.

[Angela Whitmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok story for a free link from the author's newsletter. Readers need to be aware of it's contents depicting domestic violence, modern day slavery and mental health issues arising from the same.
The sex scenes got a bit repetitive and I ended up skipping them to get to the real story, which was all about second chances and redemption.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Cheesecake Lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like books like these, where the characters are haunted by a past, and where people come together to uplift and make them a better person.
This was beautiful.

[Beautiful_Jade · Rating 2 out of 5]

An okay read. I just struggled to connect with the characters.

[Ines · Rating 2 out of 5]

"We’ve been taking things slow" HA!!!!! 🤣

When did sex become boring?

I miss the emotional connection between the characters.

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story

[Ariella Talix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her books, but this one is a masterpiece. It's gripping and beautiful. So wonderfully written.

[MW · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book. Cosway is a master at taking unusual or "broken" characters and not just fixing them, but making them wonderful and lovable. I couldn't put this book down.