Dearly Departed

Wedded Bliss #2

by Amelia Wilde

Jacob Chambers expected to be dead.

Not literally, but dead to the world.

Now he’s marooned on a tropical island with his brand-new wife with no way to get home.

Catherine Bettencourt has no choice.

She’s stuck on an island with her brand-new husband, who is broken beyond repair.

They’re both being hunted for revenge.

There’s nobody to save them.

They’ll have to save themselves, or die trying.

Genres: Thriller, Contemporary Romance

194 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2024

About the author

Amelia Wilde is a USA TODAY and Amazon Top 100 bestselling author of steamy contemporary romance and loves it a little too much. She lives in Michigan with her husband and daughters. She spends most of her time typing furiously on an iPad and appreciating the natural splendor of her home state from where she likes it best: inside.

Amelia does not negotiate with targeted harassment campaigns, but she appreciates the valuable time spent thinking about her books.

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Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC for an honest review.

Oh how I loved these two! And go Catherine for sticking up for yourself and for just being a badass! And once again, I love the Hills for showing what it means to be family!! And did y'all figure out what island they landed on?!?! 🩷 I hope there are some more books surrounding it! While there wasn't as much spice as some of this author's other books, I don't think it was a bad thing. And let's just say that the angst and drama was spit on for the conclusion of Jacob and Catherine's story.

P.S. Can we get the throw pillows please and thank you?!?! 😂

[Karen_Lee_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dearly Departed
(Wedded Bliss #2)
By Amelia Wilde

Dearly Departed was everything and more!

Jacob and Charlotte are in New York, hoping that whoever is hunting Jacob will be unable to find him.

With the entire Hill family showing up for Jacob and Charlotte, Jacob is wondering why the family is on his side, after what his father and the rest of the Consortium did the their parents. The truth though is that Jacob is marrying Charlotte to protect her, he has plans and they include leaving her behind, safe with the Hill family.

When Charlotte thinks he forgot to wake her up, she does him one better, she meets him at the private plane…not what he expected! The biggest surprise though wasn’t Charlotte it was who the pilot was, Raymond Harris, the man who is determined to end Jacob.

This story was action packed and along with all the action readers learn more about how Jacob became the man he is, as we watch Jacob spiral all while trying to keep Charlotte safe.

My heart broke for Jacob and the load he carries on his shoulders. The fact that he feels that his fathers sins are his to carry is heartbreaking. With Jacob being the first thing on Charlotte’s mind, her character growth makes you want to hug her and tell her how proud of her you are.

I loved this couple from the beginning and I love them even more. Author Amelia Wilde has given readers the perfect love story with the perfect ending. Five Stars all the way from me for Dearly Departed!

I’m very excited to see that Remy will get her story, as well as Nate and Lydia! Be still my dark romance heart, I will be waiting patiently for both.

[Kerri Bonvie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The roller coaster ride was real in this one

I couldn't wait for this book. After reading Dearly Beloved, I had soooo many questions I needed answers. I really thought Charlotte was above everyone and everything in The Power series. I thought wrong.
Charlotte's character growth and depth throughout this story was amazing. She went from an upper echelon upbringing in The Power Series and then a total and complete upheaval in Dearly Beloved, to the fight for not only her life but Jacob's life in this book. Charlotte is a kick ass, strong, and fierce FMC.
Jacob I went from thinking he is the awesome alpha male and this knight and shining armor, to wow he needs help. Thankfully, because of Charlotte and their friends and family he gets it.
I wasn't sure how these two would get to their HEA.
I still have questions about who I is the mystery character? I think it's Hades but my friends and I differ on that opinion. I hope we find out in Nate's book(s). I love the rabbit hole I get to jump down and discover when reading one of Amelia Wilde's books. It makes me think and put puzzle pieces together. And I love a good puzzle.
This book is part of a duet, so you will need to read Dearly Beloved before this one. A lot of these characters are crossovers from other books however, you don't need to read the Wealth and the Power series to follow along. I suggest that you do because all the puzzle pieces fit together. Context is everything after all.

[Sharon in SF · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dearly Departed picks up where Dearly Beloved ended. Our couple, Jacob Chambers and Catherine Bettencourt, are children of the people who ran The Consortium, a ruthless organization who manipulated business ventures and family members. Now that the organization has been dismantled, Jacob's been on a quest to pay restitution to innocent familes who were victims of the Consortium. The villain in this duet is Raymond Harris, and he wants his own form of revenge for the wrongs against his family. Raymond orchestrates an accident which maroons all of them on a deserted island. Jacob suffers a head trauma and spends the majority of the book hallucinating about past events in and out of consciousness. Catherine is young and still trying to find her path in life so when their lives are on the line, it's up to her to find a way summon help.
In spite of surviving her father's abuse, Catherine's lead a very sheltered life so when she needed to step to give them the best chance at survival, she used her instincts to guide her. You can tell she's scared witless yet tries to keep her panic from taking over. She becomes so attuned to Jacob's needs that the roles suddenly reverse since he promised to always keep her safe. Amelia Wilde keeps us on the edge of nail-biting suspense through the majority of the story, but she did leave a few mysteries left open-ended.

[INeedABookBreak · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wild ride!!! I loved Dearly Departed, and I am still reeling from everything that happened in this epic conclusion to the Wedded Bliss duet! You must read Dearly Beloved first as this book picks up where that one leaves off.

At the start of this book Jacob and Cat are in an impossible situation. Instead of heading towards their honeymoon, the two are on a plane unsure of their destination with a pilot who wants vengeance on Jacob and the consortium.

Cat and Jacob really go through it during this book, and the suspense is intense! So much is in the way of them just surviving. I was really worried about them both, but Cat really rises to the occasion. In addition to her resilience and resourcefulness, I love how snarky she is. The banter between these two is seriously hilarious even under dire circumstances.

As a longtime fan of this author’s books, I love how she writes about families both biological and found. The Hill family really rallies around Cat and Jacob during their times of need. I loved seeing all of the characters that I love from her past books.

I highly recommend this duet and I can’t wait to see what this author releases next! We meet so many new characters in this story and I’d love to learn about all of them!

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the conclusion to Jacob and Catherine’s story and it was so good. This picks up right where Dearly Beloved finished. Oh my, this conclusion was so good. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. Amelia kept me completely hooked until the end. There was suspense, drama, heartstopping moments and some emotions all around. Jacob and Catherine are a perfect match and I loved them together. Watching how they became closer and closer was so well done. I have been loving these books. The Hills, Chambers, and Bettencourt sons and daughters have gone through so much and have come out even stronger than before. Amelia has weaved such great stories of the families and have kept me hooked and intrigued with them. I have had all the feels from them and can’t wait to see what happens with Nate and Lydia.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amelia blew it out of the park with this duet!!!!

If only I could give it a million and 1 stars.

And Jacob or dear, dear Jacob the burden he carries in his heart and soul is heartbreaking and yes my heart weeped and broke for him. The things he did were only meant to protect Catherine from the ones after him, but this book only proved the goodness that is the Hill family to show up for him and show him what it means to be family regardless of the past because he wasn’t the one that lit that building on fire all those years ago that took the lives of the Hill Patriarch and Matriarch. I loved so much about this book that I have to control my twitchy fingers from spilling more, but it’s one h-e double hockey sticks of a book. A worthy read!

I received an arc copy for an honest and voluntary review.

[Deb Richmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

We pick up right where we left off in Dearly Departed with Jacob Chambers on a private plane getting ready to fake his death. Only his new wife Catherine shows up unannounced, and the pilot flying the plane isn’t the right pilot. After crashing onto a deserted island with the pilot out for blood, Jacob and Catherine must fight to survive.

Amelia Wilde knows how to weave a story, and this is an exciting one. It’s like a moment-by-moment stream-of-consciousness tracking of events from the time of the plane crash to the end of the story. It’s an action packed story where Jacob and Catherine realize just how much they mean to one another. Catherine has to shoulder most of the burden as Jacob is sick on the island. They learn how strong they are and rely on one another throughout their ordeal. After making it home, they spend time recovering, not only from the plane crash and its aftermath, but also from childhood trauma that had never been dealt with. I especially love Catherine who turns out to be a strong and reliable character.

I highly recommend the Dearly Beloved and Dearly Departed duology. Read and let me know what you think - I’d love to discuss.

[Virginia VanSaders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can Jacob and Catherine’s endurance keep them alive?

Jacob and Catherine’s continuing story from Dearly Beloved. Jacob’s attempt to fake his death after his marriage to Catherine fails when he finds her on his plane to follow through with his plan. Also, the pilot is the man who wants to kill him for sins of the Consortium and his father. The plane crashes on a small island, but the pilot is still alive, too. The struggle for survival is real, especially since Jacob has a head injury among a couple of others. His life is on the line. Catherine, for the most part, is fine. Will they live through their struggles? Catherine is a brave heroine. This story puts you on edge throughout every word. It’s a thriller for sure.

[Cinderella (Nysa Bookish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amelia Wilde masterfully weaves a compelling, action-packed story from the moment of the plane crash to the very end. Jacob and Catherine's journey shows their deepening bond and strength. From the get-go, Jacob is injured on the island and I loved how Catherine is portrayed, her strength emerges through her fragility and against the force of nature. Her strength proved to Jacob she was the perfect person for him and solidified their bond. Even after coming home, they continued to heal physically and also sort out the childhood trauma that made them the person they were. I loved the way the story was concluded and am looking forward to more stories.

[Kari Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacob married Charlotte to protect her but now he knows the best thing he can do to protect her is to distance himself from him. He doesn’t tell her his plan and believes that she will be safe with her family however she has other ideas.

They now find themselves injured and stranded on an island trying to stay one step ahead of the person who has been planning their demise. If they are going to survive it will require complete trust, teamwork and resilience.

With every challenge and setback, it only makes the love and connection they have for each other more intense as they prove they are much stronger together than apart.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a poignant book and everything Jacob and Catherine have to go through is horrendous, especially given they are the good guys. Catherine has to be one of the most sanguine heroines I have come across, nothing throws her and even under the most difficult circumstances she is thinking of Jacob. Gabriel is a lifeline to both of them and having the whole family together was lovely. The hint of Nate’s story is really intriguing and I can’t wait to read his book. I am loving this series.

[Dimaris rossy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that this book is allowing Catherine's character more development. She steps up to the plate with a leveled enough head. She is definitely resilient. It allowed me to like her more. It was not looking good for her at the beginning since she seemed sheltered in a couple of ways. But now, she is the strength and patience that Jacob needs. He is a man drowning in guilt but very dedicated. This book had the romantic notes mixed in between the danger and action. It never misses that sense of family support, and it's a page turner for sure.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Dearly Beloved (book 1) I could see why the feelings of guilt and self doubt lead to trouble. Both Catherine and Jacob had secrets and were not willing to trust each other. In Dearly Departed, they are forced to rely on each other and hope that their survival will lead to life beyond their doubts and their fears. But will a fake marriage, the thought of fake-dying and the eternal optimism of hope change their direction for a future opportunity of happiness?

[Brigid Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

EPIC!!!

Epic!!! The conclusion to The Wedded Bliss duet is EPIC!!!!

Dearly Departed will have you on the edge of your seat! I went through so many emotions with Jacob and Catherine - Catherine had me chuckling with her talk of murder planes and her prospective passion hobbies, and Jacob, sweet broken Jacob, had me shedding tears. Gah!! I loved their love story and didn't want it to end.

[Stephanie Ditmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that Jacob and Catherine are married everything should be good, but it’s not. Jacob always feels he doesn’t deserve love and happiness and he loves her and when he leaves without her on what should be their honeymoon all hell breaks loose when he finds her waiting for him on the plane. Everything spirals from there and these two are left fighting to survive what’s happening and keeping their marriage together at all costs. I’m excited for the next book.

[Cristina G · Rating 4 out of 5]

The conclusion of Jacob and Catherine’s love story was as heartbreaking as I expected. Jacob is such a broken man with such redeeming qualities if he will just allow himself to see them! Catherine is so perfect for him as she is willing to be everything for him! I definitely preferred book 1 to book 2 but enjoyed this one all the same! Some interesting spinoffs that could come from this one too…but I won’t get into that and ruin anything for any one! A solid read!

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catherine was excited to have Jacob all to herself, but it seems not everything was the way it seemed. Now they are marooned on a tropical Island, and someone is out to get them. I enjoyed the conclusion of Catherine and Jacob's story, with it's danger/suspense, steam and the healing for these troubled souls.
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received, and giving my thoughts and opinions on it.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dearly Departed is the captivating, emotional and epic conclusion of Jacob and Charlotte’s journey. The story picks up from where it ended in the previous book. I had been waiting for this one since finishing the previous book and it was worth the wait. The story picks up from where it ended in Dearly Beloved. I was hooked and was at the edge of my seat with everything going on . Amelia has done a phenomenal job writing this captivating story. Highly recommend this book.

[Stephanie S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picked up right were bk one left off. I enjoyed it but not as much as the first book on the duet. It felt like it dragged on from one part to the next. Although I did enjoy going back to the Theo's island that was featured in another story.

There is an HEA but it may have been me not being in the right headspace recently to have read this as I have enjoyed Amelia Wilde's books in the past. I may give this a re-read later with both books to see if I missed anything.

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the gripping conclusion to Jacob and Catherine's romance. The thrills and emotion are ample as this couple's story continues. Skillfully woven together with drama, danger, heat, action, heart and twists, you best be prepared to cling to the edge of your seat as you keep those pages turning every chance you get even if it means losing sleep. I know I did, and I have no regrets.

[Karin Gesell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was on the edge the whole time! I stressed for Jacob & Catherine as the plane was going down. I worried about them with a madman after them. Jacob had my heart in my throat, and Catherine was brave & intense. And then, my heart broke for him, before it sang with happiness. This takes you through all of it, and just completely engulfs you! LOVED! Can’t wait for Nate’s book

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacob and Catherine are stranded on an island but that doesn't stop the story from completely captivating me. From the danger, drama, and angst to the unexpected twists, steam, and a heartbreakingly beautiful love story this is a page turning read. I loved this action packed conclusion to the Wedded Bliss duet and I can't wait to read the next book by this very talented author.

[Kristy Odom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! We pick up where we left off, and they are hurtling to their deaths. Then there’s an Island, and Catherine has to figure it all out. I loved it! My heart hurt for Jacob, but I loved that their whole family stood up for him.

Can we get Cancer’s story? I want to know all the stuff they can’t tell.

[Terra Drynan-Werder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC for my honest review.
I quite enjoyed the ending to Jacob and Catherine's story. I did find parts a bit hard to keep straight, but all in all truly enjoyed the story. So much happens and I have questions about a few characters (Cancer) and would LOVE to read their story. I am excited about Nate & Lyndia's story as well.

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an ending in Dearly Departed! Amelia has done another amazing job with this book! It will have you hooked from the beginning with all the twists. This story is an intense, emotional, page turner. You will have to read to find out what happens with Jacob and Catherine but I love these characters! They are great together! I would highly recommend this book.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love tortured Jacob and Catherine! The whole flight I was constantly worried what would happen. I really enjoyed watching her figure out that she’s a warrior and capable of caring for Jacob in the toughest of times.
We find out more about Jacob’s demons and why he’s the martyr he is.
It was a suspenseful journey all the way but was a very enjoyable read.

[Lisa Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an epic conclusion of Jacob and Charlotte’s journey, it was so intense. My heart hurt for Jacob and Catherine just surprised me I really thought she was awful but I changed my mind. These two go through so much to be together it's an epic journey that I could not get enough of.

The writing is phenominal and you can feel it all every single trial they went through. Amazing!!!!

[Madeleine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Blew me away again. Catherine and Jacob are both newly married and stranded on an Island. Find out what happens to them and what are their options. Beautiful second chance that was out of this world good.

[Lofty · Rating 4 out of 5]

4*
Jacob and Lydia's story continues from Dearly beloved.
Having gotten married now Jacob is s still determined to protect Lydia & their families.
Unfortunately his plans backfire when Lydia follows him onto the plan.
A great twist in the book