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Sugarlake #4
Beneath the Surface
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily McIntire comes the fourth and final interconnected standalone in the Sugarlake series.
Lily Adams ran away and never looked back. She got herself clean and lives a sober life, working hard to give her son a good home in a place where they’ll be safe.
It’s been years since she left Sugarlake, and the last thing she’d expect is her brother sending someone to find her.
Mason Wells is the best private investigator in Tennessee. Tasked with the mission of hunting down Lily Adams, he knows he’s the perfect man for the job. At least he thought he was, until he actually finds her.
Immediately, Mason feels a pull. He needs to know the perky, dark-haired woman and the son she loves more tha the world.
Before he can stop himself, he’s inserted himself into their lives, fake name and all, and even though he tells himself it’s temporary, every day he spends with Lily, the weight of his secrets push down on him more.
When Mason’s past catches up to him, putting Lily and her son’s life in danger, he knows he has to do something major to keep them safe.
Even if it means breaking both their hearts and losing them for good.
****
*Beneath the Surface is the fourth interconnected standalone in The Sugarlake series. It contains mature and graphic content including CSA, domestic abuse, and recovering drug addiction. Reader Discretion is Advised. Full list of TW can be found on the author's website.*
Lily Adams ran away and never looked back. She got herself clean and lives a sober life, working hard to give her son a good home in a place where they’ll be safe.
It’s been years since she left Sugarlake, and the last thing she’d expect is her brother sending someone to find her.
Mason Wells is the best private investigator in Tennessee. Tasked with the mission of hunting down Lily Adams, he knows he’s the perfect man for the job. At least he thought he was, until he actually finds her.
Immediately, Mason feels a pull. He needs to know the perky, dark-haired woman and the son she loves more tha the world.
Before he can stop himself, he’s inserted himself into their lives, fake name and all, and even though he tells himself it’s temporary, every day he spends with Lily, the weight of his secrets push down on him more.
When Mason’s past catches up to him, putting Lily and her son’s life in danger, he knows he has to do something major to keep them safe.
Even if it means breaking both their hearts and losing them for good.
****
*Beneath the Surface is the fourth interconnected standalone in The Sugarlake series. It contains mature and graphic content including CSA, domestic abuse, and recovering drug addiction. Reader Discretion is Advised. Full list of TW can be found on the author's website.*
432 pages, Paperback
First published July 6, 2021
786 people are currently reading
15198 people want to read
About the author
Emily McIntire
25 books28.1k followersEmily McIntire is a #1 New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author whose stories serve steam, slow burns, and seriously questionable morals. Her books have been translated in over a dozen languages, and span across several sub-genres within romance.
A stage IV breast cancer thriver, you can find Emily enjoying free time with her family, getting lost in a good book, or redecorating her house depending on her mood.
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A stage IV breast cancer thriver, you can find Emily enjoying free time with her family, getting lost in a good book, or redecorating her house depending on her mood.
Sign up to Emily's VIP List and never miss a New Release! -> https://mailchi.mp/emilymcintire/sms-...
Upcoming Release
Burning Daylight
Latest Release:
Hexed
Find Emily!
Newsletter sign up -> https://mailchi.mp/emilymcintire/sms-...
Reader Group -> https://www.facebook.com/groups/mcincult
Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/itsemilymci...
TikTok -> https://www.tiktok.com/@authoremilymc...
X -> https://www.x.com/authoremilym
Website -> https://www.emilymcintire.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 729 reviews
July 9, 2025
4⭐️
What an amazing book to finish off this amazing series!! This book delivered on so many levels, both in beautiful way and heartbreaking ways.
One of the things I really like about Emily McIntire's books are her characters. She has this way of writing about them that just makes you fall in love and connect with them on deeper levels. That being said? Lily and Mason were some of the deepest level characters in this entire series. From the very beginning of this series, I've always wanted to know about Lily. Her character drew me in from book 1 when we talked about her and Alina's friendship. I can't lie, there were so many times during this book where I wanted to cry just witnessing Lily's past and her struggle with addiction. She is so strong and she loves with her entire heart despite being weary from her past. Truly admirable!
I absolutely adored Mason in this book too! He was definitely not as fleshed out as Lily but that ended up being okay because it seemed as though Lily was the main focus. He was sweet and loyal to a fault especially when it came to Lily. I never had to question his love for her and while there were times he could come off a bit obsessive, I think overall it worked out in his favor. They were such a good couple and I could feel their chemistry through the pages.
Seeing all the characters from the previous books wrap up and see everyone's happy ending made me so emotional. I grew to love everyone in this series with my entire being and I'm so sad to know I will never be able to get more from them. That's how you know it was a good series when you feel like this. 😭
I also really enjoyed the actual plot of this book! I think Emily McIntire did a good job of balancing relationships and feeling with actual plot and advancement of the book. There were a few times when I thought the spice was a bit excessive, especially in the middle, but the book started off strong and ended strong. I liked the twists and turns when it came to Mason's true character and secret life; I definitely wasn't expecting some things going on. Consider me pleasantly surprised!
Overall, I could not recommend this series enough. This was so special and ended with a bang! Please please please pick this series up and give it a try. The characters were deep and fleshed out and while the plots may not be the most unique, Emily's writing is a force to be reckoned with. The books are funny and entertaining yet deliver that level of seriousness that has you feeling for each of the characters. Would recommend this a million times over! 💜💙
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭:
Me? Actually finishing a series? WILD. 😭
But seriously I'm going to miss this universe once I'm finished with it. I love the Sugarlake series and I have been WAITING for Lily's book 🤭
What an amazing book to finish off this amazing series!! This book delivered on so many levels, both in beautiful way and heartbreaking ways.
One of the things I really like about Emily McIntire's books are her characters. She has this way of writing about them that just makes you fall in love and connect with them on deeper levels. That being said? Lily and Mason were some of the deepest level characters in this entire series. From the very beginning of this series, I've always wanted to know about Lily. Her character drew me in from book 1 when we talked about her and Alina's friendship. I can't lie, there were so many times during this book where I wanted to cry just witnessing Lily's past and her struggle with addiction. She is so strong and she loves with her entire heart despite being weary from her past. Truly admirable!
I absolutely adored Mason in this book too! He was definitely not as fleshed out as Lily but that ended up being okay because it seemed as though Lily was the main focus. He was sweet and loyal to a fault especially when it came to Lily. I never had to question his love for her and while there were times he could come off a bit obsessive, I think overall it worked out in his favor. They were such a good couple and I could feel their chemistry through the pages.
Seeing all the characters from the previous books wrap up and see everyone's happy ending made me so emotional. I grew to love everyone in this series with my entire being and I'm so sad to know I will never be able to get more from them. That's how you know it was a good series when you feel like this. 😭
I also really enjoyed the actual plot of this book! I think Emily McIntire did a good job of balancing relationships and feeling with actual plot and advancement of the book. There were a few times when I thought the spice was a bit excessive, especially in the middle, but the book started off strong and ended strong. I liked the twists and turns when it came to Mason's true character and secret life; I definitely wasn't expecting some things going on. Consider me pleasantly surprised!
Overall, I could not recommend this series enough. This was so special and ended with a bang! Please please please pick this series up and give it a try. The characters were deep and fleshed out and while the plots may not be the most unique, Emily's writing is a force to be reckoned with. The books are funny and entertaining yet deliver that level of seriousness that has you feeling for each of the characters. Would recommend this a million times over! 💜💙
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭:
Me? Actually finishing a series? WILD. 😭
But seriously I'm going to miss this universe once I'm finished with it. I love the Sugarlake series and I have been WAITING for Lily's book 🤭
July 6, 2021
Beneath the surface is book four and the finale book in Sugarlake series. As much as the story comes full circle, I just didn’t want it to end. I knew going in Lilly’s story was going to on the darker side. Here is the deal, I don’t read trigger warnings, ever. The author suggests going in blind, and if you want the trigger warnings click on the link; if you're a sensitive reader, I suggest you do. There are several triggers.
My review will be vague. First off, the book is beautiful. Especially with Lilly and Mason's demons, how they found each other, and Lilly’s journey to healing. Their story is raw, intense, heartbreaking, passionate, flawed, messy, and loving. This is by far my favorite book in the series.
Their love wasn't supposed to happen; that is the best part of the book. It's what makes it so raw. Both are running from their past and trying to move forward. Mason is so loving, patient and asks what Lilly needs, and when she doesn't answer, he just knows. He is a loveable bad boy. Lilly's world is her son; she is a warrior and survivor. I absolutely love her,
The sexual chemistry is just amazing and scorching hot. I was literally excited, sitting on the edge was reading CNC play. The author can write some great sex scenes. The book gave me a ton of feelings and did play at my heartstrings. The writing just flowed off the pages and gave me a flawless book that captived me from page one—a must-read book.
My review will be vague. First off, the book is beautiful. Especially with Lilly and Mason's demons, how they found each other, and Lilly’s journey to healing. Their story is raw, intense, heartbreaking, passionate, flawed, messy, and loving. This is by far my favorite book in the series.
Their love wasn't supposed to happen; that is the best part of the book. It's what makes it so raw. Both are running from their past and trying to move forward. Mason is so loving, patient and asks what Lilly needs, and when she doesn't answer, he just knows. He is a loveable bad boy. Lilly's world is her son; she is a warrior and survivor. I absolutely love her,
The sexual chemistry is just amazing and scorching hot. I was literally excited, sitting on the edge was reading CNC play. The author can write some great sex scenes. The book gave me a ton of feelings and did play at my heartstrings. The writing just flowed off the pages and gave me a flawless book that captived me from page one—a must-read book.
September 8, 2021
I've waited the entire series for Lily's story, and it did not disappoint! Her personal journey and the romance between her and Mason is everything I wanted it to be. Lily is flawed, broken, and misunderstood, but more importantly, she's a survivor.
She's been through so much in her young life, and she's made a lot of wrong turns along the way. Lucky for me, my favorite stories are the complicated and complex ones where the hero and/or heroine aren't perfect. They make bad decisions, lose their way, do shitty things, and we get to see them change and pull themselves out of their messes.
I don't want a boring character that never makes mistakes. Give me the train wrecks, the morally gray, and the emotionally scarred. That makes an interesting story!
It was easy to be angry at Lily in previous books, but I knew there was more going on with her than we knew. I was happy to finally see the entire picture, and I loved watching Lily find her happiness and heal. She had so much trauma from an early age. Despite finally having a family that loved and protected her, she wasn't able to move on from it. Unfortunately, nobody noticed until it was too late.
I loved Mason right from the start. He was everything Lily needed and deserved. Don't get me wrong, Mason isn't perfect. He makes a lot of mistakes, but through it all, I knew Lily had his heart. I was one hundred percent sure he would do right by her, and that he was exactly what she needed.
Beneath the Surface is a beautiful story, not only about love, but family, friendship, pain, healing, loss, and personal growth. It wrapped the series up nicely. I couldn't have asked for more.
Contemporary romance fans, this one's for you!
She's been through so much in her young life, and she's made a lot of wrong turns along the way. Lucky for me, my favorite stories are the complicated and complex ones where the hero and/or heroine aren't perfect. They make bad decisions, lose their way, do shitty things, and we get to see them change and pull themselves out of their messes.
I don't want a boring character that never makes mistakes. Give me the train wrecks, the morally gray, and the emotionally scarred. That makes an interesting story!
It was easy to be angry at Lily in previous books, but I knew there was more going on with her than we knew. I was happy to finally see the entire picture, and I loved watching Lily find her happiness and heal. She had so much trauma from an early age. Despite finally having a family that loved and protected her, she wasn't able to move on from it. Unfortunately, nobody noticed until it was too late.
I loved Mason right from the start. He was everything Lily needed and deserved. Don't get me wrong, Mason isn't perfect. He makes a lot of mistakes, but through it all, I knew Lily had his heart. I was one hundred percent sure he would do right by her, and that he was exactly what she needed.
Beneath the Surface is a beautiful story, not only about love, but family, friendship, pain, healing, loss, and personal growth. It wrapped the series up nicely. I couldn't have asked for more.
Contemporary romance fans, this one's for you!
June 20, 2025
Finally back to finding some 5 star books!! I’ve had so many lately that were duds but I just had a feeling I would like this one? (I’m not sure if it was just the cover or what drew me in but it was a straight up Barnes & Noble find!)
I hadn’t been influenced and didn’t even know this author wrote this style of contemporary romance - I’d read some of her fantasy / retelling romances and enjoyed those too but didn’t make the correlation until I went to add it to Goodreads!
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 - Takes a bit to get to the spicy scenes - the beginning is very much a slow burn but once it started: 🥵
TWs: Chikdhood SA, adoptive/foster situations
I hadn’t been influenced and didn’t even know this author wrote this style of contemporary romance - I’d read some of her fantasy / retelling romances and enjoyed those too but didn’t make the correlation until I went to add it to Goodreads!
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 - Takes a bit to get to the spicy scenes - the beginning is very much a slow burn but once it started: 🥵
TWs: Chikdhood SA, adoptive/foster situations
March 28, 2023
This is one of the worst freaking books I’ve ever read. It literally ha EVERYTHING THAT I HATE:
1. Single mum
2. A stalker
3. A liar
4. Rape fantasy
“My stomach clenches when she so casually mentions the fact that she’s fucked Alex. My Alex. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me. It does, but I remind myself that we all have our pasts, and while I can’t fault him for his”
“Our pasts” ??? IT WAS A MONTH AGO BABE 😃 and he knew you were friends with the girl ?? And he thought of you while fucking her ??
Also why did her child become irrelevant once they started fucking ? 😭 shouldn’t he be her only priority wtf
1. Single mum
2. A stalker
3. A liar
4. Rape fantasy
“My stomach clenches when she so casually mentions the fact that she’s fucked Alex. My Alex. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me. It does, but I remind myself that we all have our pasts, and while I can’t fault him for his”
“Our pasts” ??? IT WAS A MONTH AGO BABE 😃 and he knew you were friends with the girl ?? And he thought of you while fucking her ??
Also why did her child become irrelevant once they started fucking ? 😭 shouldn’t he be her only priority wtf
dnf
May 9, 2025I'm dnfing @40% cuz it's too spicy for me even though I skip the spicy parts
October 20, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.75 stars)
What a book to end a series! Each installment made me fall even more in love with this group, and somehow every book just kept getting better. Beneath the Surface was such an emotional and powerful conclusion. There are definitely some trigger warnings to check before diving in, but the way the FMC’s story unfolded was worth every second. She’s been through so much, and seeing her finally get her HEA felt so well earned.
There were definitely moments when the MMC was hard to root for. He made choices that hurt, but in the end, I understood why he did what he did, even if I didn’t love it.
If you haven’t picked up this series yet, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s emotional, messy, and full of redemption in the best way
What a book to end a series! Each installment made me fall even more in love with this group, and somehow every book just kept getting better. Beneath the Surface was such an emotional and powerful conclusion. There are definitely some trigger warnings to check before diving in, but the way the FMC’s story unfolded was worth every second. She’s been through so much, and seeing her finally get her HEA felt so well earned.
There were definitely moments when the MMC was hard to root for. He made choices that hurt, but in the end, I understood why he did what he did, even if I didn’t love it.
If you haven’t picked up this series yet, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s emotional, messy, and full of redemption in the best way
December 2, 2021
10-years ago, Lily fled her small town of Sugarlake and never looked back. She struggled with a serious drug addiction & dated an abusive drug dealer. But the second she saw the two lines on the pregnancy test, she vowed to change for her little boy—and she did. Now she works at a small diner in Arizona, struggling to make ends meet. That’s where she meets Alex. And out of nowhere, Lily falls hard & fast for Alex. Considering her past, Lily doesn’t trust easily, but she wants to trust Alex with her whole heart.
Little does Lily know, Alex is actually a PI Lily’s brother hired to find her. But when he encounters Lily for the first time, he knows she’s different than every other person he’s had to investigate. Running from his own past for the last decade, Alex relates to Lily more than she’ll never know.
When their pasts come back to haunt them, Lily & Alex will have to decide if what they have is worth fighting for.
Beneath the Surface by Emily McIntire is book 4 in the Sugarlake series. I was curious about Lily’s story ever since she was introduced in Emily’s debut novel, Beneath the Stars. She seemed pretty irredeemable for me but once I learned her past & her struggles, I gained so much more understanding & empathy for her. Alex was a great match for her & they were meant for each other. If you’re looking for some angsty, drama-filled romances, the Sugarlake series is for you! 4/5 stars.
Little does Lily know, Alex is actually a PI Lily’s brother hired to find her. But when he encounters Lily for the first time, he knows she’s different than every other person he’s had to investigate. Running from his own past for the last decade, Alex relates to Lily more than she’ll never know.
When their pasts come back to haunt them, Lily & Alex will have to decide if what they have is worth fighting for.
Beneath the Surface by Emily McIntire is book 4 in the Sugarlake series. I was curious about Lily’s story ever since she was introduced in Emily’s debut novel, Beneath the Stars. She seemed pretty irredeemable for me but once I learned her past & her struggles, I gained so much more understanding & empathy for her. Alex was a great match for her & they were meant for each other. If you’re looking for some angsty, drama-filled romances, the Sugarlake series is for you! 4/5 stars.
July 21, 2022
Loved Lilly and Mason’s story!
I think this has been my favorite book in this series. I loved Lily’s evolution and growth so much. And Mason was just the sweetest and swooniest tough guy imaginable. The audiobook is also great, narrated in duet style. I’ve definitely become a fan of Emily McIntire’s work, so I can’t wait for what she brings next!
I think this has been my favorite book in this series. I loved Lily’s evolution and growth so much. And Mason was just the sweetest and swooniest tough guy imaginable. The audiobook is also great, narrated in duet style. I’ve definitely become a fan of Emily McIntire’s work, so I can’t wait for what she brings next!
July 6, 2021
Oh my heart- what a beautiful story- a story of hope and healing, forgiveness and understanding, of liberation. Lily and Mason completely captured my heart- hands down my favorite of the series. This series has been all about characters finding the courage to face the broken parts of themselves- making the invisible visible- an act of bravery made possible by the restorative potential of unconditional love- and there is no more heartfelt or moving articulation of that theme than in this series finale.
Ever since our first book, I’ve been curious about both Lily and Mason- the missing baby sister who by all counts is a tragedy, and the stoic and intimidating investigator tasked with hunting her down. Both are everything I wanted and more- hauntingly beautiful characters that moved me to my marrow.
Lily is EVERYTHING. What a beautifully heartbreaking and empowering character- the most compelling character of the entire series. Emily unveils her to us with such compassion and empathy. A survivor of such trauma and heartbreak, a fighter in every word, Lily is the heart and soul of this series- the epitome of every beautifully penned theme Emily has created. This is a woman who has every right to have crumbled completely, but she hasn’t- she’s clawed her way for survival day in and day out of love for her family, and a resolute stubbornness to not become her past. More so than any other character- Lily has been an enigma, misunderstood and unfairly characterized. But Emily proves yet again that all is not as it seems, that to truly understand someone’s heart you have to seek it- to listen, to understand, and after waiting so long to understand a character whose decisions have hurt so many, we see her heart. And it is BEAUTIFUL- heartbreaking, tormented, vibrant, and fragile. Her journey is everything I love about this series- her refusal to succumb to her pain, her vulnerability, her courage in facing her demons inspired by a life changing love, a girl embracing and learning to face her brokenness, not because it makes her weak, but it makes her human, and that makes her strong. Her redemption and healing- what a glorious thing to behold.
And Mason, he catalyzes her healing. Ironic, because their love begins with well-meaning manipulation, but manipulation nonetheless, and that hurts- because Lily is a character who has long been abused by the manipulations of men. But Emily gives Mason such depth- complexity, tenderness, thoughtfulness and care. He’s everything Lily needs- even if their connection is, well, complicated in more ways than one. I loved Mason so intensely- but most of all I love the way he loves Lily. The way he’s the safety net she needs to heal. He’s a beautiful contradiction- a rough and scary man that gives Lily the only safety she’s known. A man deceiving her who is somehow the most truthful thing in her life. They connect over their brokenness, find peace and acceptance in one another. The chemistry is delicious- but the way they communicate, the way they twine together emotionally- THAT Is what this series is all about, and this is the most captivating articulation of Emily’s ability to tie two souls together so remarkably.
I’m so glad I discovered this series and the beautiful resonance of Emily’s impassioned and raw writing. Being inside her characters’ heads is a unique and transfixing experience- she imbues them with such emotional transparency, a bleeding meta-vulnerability that makes her stories feel so intimate- and raw. We breathe their pain, we feel their heart beat. You can’t help but become emotionally consumed- but Lily and Mason are next level. And, like always, we have plenty of steam- here the steam playing a crucial and unusual role in healing- just be sure to check the trigger warnings. Engaging story, delicious steam, captivating character development, and a thematic undertone - she’s got it all.
The beautifully flawed and tragically broken characters have captured my heart completely, and this conclusion is a bittersweet goodbye. Mason and Lily find their happiness, but Emily also finds a way to perfectly bring everyone to close- because this story isn’t just about them finding their way to to each other, it’s also about this beautiful chosen family finally being whole again. About each of them finally finding the full happiness, because the missing piece of the puzzle has locked into place. Each gets a moment to shine, but in the end, it’s about their unity, their togetherness. The peace they all finally find- not because they are any less broken, but because they found themselves in their brokenness, and they found healing and safety at long last in each other. And my heart is so full! 💙
Ever since our first book, I’ve been curious about both Lily and Mason- the missing baby sister who by all counts is a tragedy, and the stoic and intimidating investigator tasked with hunting her down. Both are everything I wanted and more- hauntingly beautiful characters that moved me to my marrow.
Lily is EVERYTHING. What a beautifully heartbreaking and empowering character- the most compelling character of the entire series. Emily unveils her to us with such compassion and empathy. A survivor of such trauma and heartbreak, a fighter in every word, Lily is the heart and soul of this series- the epitome of every beautifully penned theme Emily has created. This is a woman who has every right to have crumbled completely, but she hasn’t- she’s clawed her way for survival day in and day out of love for her family, and a resolute stubbornness to not become her past. More so than any other character- Lily has been an enigma, misunderstood and unfairly characterized. But Emily proves yet again that all is not as it seems, that to truly understand someone’s heart you have to seek it- to listen, to understand, and after waiting so long to understand a character whose decisions have hurt so many, we see her heart. And it is BEAUTIFUL- heartbreaking, tormented, vibrant, and fragile. Her journey is everything I love about this series- her refusal to succumb to her pain, her vulnerability, her courage in facing her demons inspired by a life changing love, a girl embracing and learning to face her brokenness, not because it makes her weak, but it makes her human, and that makes her strong. Her redemption and healing- what a glorious thing to behold.
And Mason, he catalyzes her healing. Ironic, because their love begins with well-meaning manipulation, but manipulation nonetheless, and that hurts- because Lily is a character who has long been abused by the manipulations of men. But Emily gives Mason such depth- complexity, tenderness, thoughtfulness and care. He’s everything Lily needs- even if their connection is, well, complicated in more ways than one. I loved Mason so intensely- but most of all I love the way he loves Lily. The way he’s the safety net she needs to heal. He’s a beautiful contradiction- a rough and scary man that gives Lily the only safety she’s known. A man deceiving her who is somehow the most truthful thing in her life. They connect over their brokenness, find peace and acceptance in one another. The chemistry is delicious- but the way they communicate, the way they twine together emotionally- THAT Is what this series is all about, and this is the most captivating articulation of Emily’s ability to tie two souls together so remarkably.
I’m so glad I discovered this series and the beautiful resonance of Emily’s impassioned and raw writing. Being inside her characters’ heads is a unique and transfixing experience- she imbues them with such emotional transparency, a bleeding meta-vulnerability that makes her stories feel so intimate- and raw. We breathe their pain, we feel their heart beat. You can’t help but become emotionally consumed- but Lily and Mason are next level. And, like always, we have plenty of steam- here the steam playing a crucial and unusual role in healing- just be sure to check the trigger warnings. Engaging story, delicious steam, captivating character development, and a thematic undertone - she’s got it all.
The beautifully flawed and tragically broken characters have captured my heart completely, and this conclusion is a bittersweet goodbye. Mason and Lily find their happiness, but Emily also finds a way to perfectly bring everyone to close- because this story isn’t just about them finding their way to to each other, it’s also about this beautiful chosen family finally being whole again. About each of them finally finding the full happiness, because the missing piece of the puzzle has locked into place. Each gets a moment to shine, but in the end, it’s about their unity, their togetherness. The peace they all finally find- not because they are any less broken, but because they found themselves in their brokenness, and they found healing and safety at long last in each other. And my heart is so full! 💙
October 15, 2025
Emily freaking McIntire 😭😭
Read at your own risk if you want the most perfect ending to a series.
Read at your own risk if you want the most perfect ending to a series.
April 24, 2022
I thought that I would love this but Lily was so annoying and childish in her hate for Lee, even when she realized the love between her and Chase she continued to belittle their friendship and not take responsibility for her lying to everyone around her and using them to lie to all the others around them. I do feel bad for what happened but, to me, it doesn't give her the excuse of thinking badly about Lee and what their friendship meant, and constantly saying Lee was only friends with her to get to Chase.
February 19, 2023
“And it starts right here, in Sugarlake, Tennessee, beneath the stars.”
What a perfect finish to the series.
What a perfect finish to the series.
July 6, 2021
Book 4 in the Sugarlake Series by Emily McIntire was another disaster waiting to happen. Looks like I’m adding another author to my avoid list. The story itself, while it had a lot of potential, it left a lot to be desired as well.
This really could have been a GREAT book but the writing is VERY amateurish. This is one of my top genres I love to read so you better bring your A game. Unfortunately, this was not like all the 5 stars claimed it to be. I should have known it when I read the dreaded "I received this arc in exchange for my honest opinion!”
I'm sorry Ms. McIntire, I hate giving harsh negative reviews but I feel this keenly. I think your quality of writing strongly diminished or went downhill after Beneath The Stars. Very predictable and uninteresting writing.
When it comes to the story, it lacks creativity, uniqueness and excitement. It was also 100% predictable. Like I said, this genre is one I love to read. You need to get creative with the storyline to compete with the uprising trend in these novels right now. The fact that it dragged on, and on, and on, without any character development made it that much harder to finish.
I wish I had better things to say but sadly I don't think I'll read anymore from this author. I really wanted to like it, I really did. I read the whole thing and came away irritated at the wasted potential.
This really could have been a GREAT book but the writing is VERY amateurish. This is one of my top genres I love to read so you better bring your A game. Unfortunately, this was not like all the 5 stars claimed it to be. I should have known it when I read the dreaded "I received this arc in exchange for my honest opinion!”
I'm sorry Ms. McIntire, I hate giving harsh negative reviews but I feel this keenly. I think your quality of writing strongly diminished or went downhill after Beneath The Stars. Very predictable and uninteresting writing.
When it comes to the story, it lacks creativity, uniqueness and excitement. It was also 100% predictable. Like I said, this genre is one I love to read. You need to get creative with the storyline to compete with the uprising trend in these novels right now. The fact that it dragged on, and on, and on, without any character development made it that much harder to finish.
I wish I had better things to say but sadly I don't think I'll read anymore from this author. I really wanted to like it, I really did. I read the whole thing and came away irritated at the wasted potential.
July 4, 2021
I love when authors are able to completely change your mind about a character.
When I first read Beneath the Stars , the first book in the series- I was not a fan of Lily. Her character angered me.
As I was reading this book , it only took one chapter for me to change my mind . Emily gave us Lily’s perspective and it was everything. You felt for her. I wanted to jump in the book and give her a hug for ever doubting her.
Such a great ending to this series.
When I first read Beneath the Stars , the first book in the series- I was not a fan of Lily. Her character angered me.
As I was reading this book , it only took one chapter for me to change my mind . Emily gave us Lily’s perspective and it was everything. You felt for her. I wanted to jump in the book and give her a hug for ever doubting her.
Such a great ending to this series.
September 20, 2022
this was def my least fave BUT the epilogues were everything and i want to read an entire epilogue about these characters because i love them so much and want the best for them 😭😭 pls read this series it was so good
April 25, 2025
I probably should have DNF'd this book at about a quarter of the way through. It didn't pick up until about seventy percent in. I didn't read the first three books in this series so I don't know if this is an outlier or not. This book was annoying. The majority of it was spent in angst, and "womb throbbing", and blending of auras, and feeling so safe and seen and understood. For the love of all the is holy move along! Seriously it took 3 whole chapters to bring down the big bad villain. I think so much more time needed to be spent developing the plot than the love story.
Lily's character was more bearable, to an extent. She had a realistic tragic back story and was doing her best to stay afloat and take care of her kid. For the most part, she was doing everything to put her kid first (except for the tattoos). I still don't know why she couldn't call her family and at least tell them she was safe (I'm also confused by the Derek character. He seems to have a lot of importance). Maybe that's explained in another book. Mason/Alex though really is kind of an unsympathetic character. Creepy PI falls for a woman he's never even talked to and then never tells her the truth until in typical romance book/film fashion it comes spilling out in a dramatic fashion and they don't talk it and they leave in a heartbroken huff. The typical "I'm doing this for her safety" blah blah blah. Then I guess it's supposed to be sexy but it always came across as aggressive, but the second he got into her place he started backing her into walls and caging her in. Don't get me wrong, I like to be caged in just like the next girl (see backwards hat trend on Tik Tok) but something about him immediately going after her so intently after just gaining access to her personal space was off putting. Sort of off topic but I'm noticing a concerning trend with female authors. They write these male protagonists who have their own issues and traumas, but they seem to heal themselves by catering to the healing of the female protagonist. Mason seems to fall into that category as well. He grew up in an abusive household but he is so focused on Lily and her traumas throughout the entire book. We're always talking about and criticizing how men write women (rightfully so). I think it would be hypocritical if we didn't look at how women write men as well.
What fantasy world is this book set in? Lily has a free on call babysitter at all times. This lady Susan is ready to take Chance at the drop of the hat with no questions asked? I understand there are good people in the world and there are plenty of older neighbors who have watched young kids for families for free but Lily just seems to send Chase over to her whenever the plot needs Lily and Mason to have some time alone. Fantasy number two, some of these sex scenes are not physically possible. I think the author said that Mason was 6'7" and Lily is 5'2". Even if I misread, and am off by a couple of inches, anything done standing was not possible. I don't know about ya'll but if you've ever tried anything with someone who is taller than you (I'm working with a 6"-7" height difference) the logistics ain't easy. Unless he's physically holding her off the ground, which it didn't sound like it, that man has to be in a full squat. Visual that; not very sexy. Fantasy number 3, Mason is the best PI around at 6'7", tatted to high hell, gorgeous, and riding a Harley. Yes, I can totally believe that he can blend in and stay inconspicuous in his surroundings. Fantasy number 4 they never once discuss contraception or STDs. I think this is the first book I read where not one mention of either of these things was mentioned. Not that I'm judging Lily, but we know her past is sketchy and who knows what she might have picked up when she was deep in her addiction. Based on Mason's decision making with Lily and his slutty ways I'd be concerned about him as well. This one is nit picky, but fantasy number five is Lily's tattoos. I thought she got them before she ran away. When I found out she got them after running away to Arizona I wanted to know with what money. She's always talking about how she has to stretch every dollar, how she walks everywhere, doesn't have a cell phone, we find out she's three months behind on rent, but somehow she had money for all these tattoos. Tattoos aren't cheap and she's worried about putting food on the table. Make it make sense.
Lastly, the sex scenes. To each their own is mostly what I have to say. I've already mentioned the logistical issues. The scenes weren't bad but I wouldn't consider them good either. I think the diner scene was the best followed by the rain. My main issue was the vocabulary she chose to use. Words such as milked, womb, walls, fluttering, shaft, juices, and mewls where used over and over again many times in the same sentence. Personally I don't really like those words to begin with so to see them over and over again drove me nuts.
So after this rather scathing review I have to say I'm excited to read Hooked by Emily McIntire. It's currently on my shelf and getting close to the top of my next to read.
Lily is a singly mom to three year old Chase. Four years ago she ran away from home when she found out she was pregnant to get clean and to escape from her abusive drug addict boyfriend Darryl. She is working at a diner when a mysterious man enters. He sits in a booth reading the Art of War and not ordering anything. He keeps to himself until a table of men give her a difficult time. He steps in to tell them to back of. Instead of thanking him she tells him she can handle herself. And so they are introduced. Then we switch POVs. The mysterious stranger is Mason and he knows exactly who Lily is. He is a PI hired by Lily's brother, also named Chase, to track her down. He usually doesn't make himself know to his subjects but something about Lily draws him in and he can't stay away. He keeps finding himself drawn into her orbit until he introduces himself as Alex to her and gives her little snippets of truth about himself. Lily's friend and coworker Annabelle takes an immediate liking to Mason/Alex and Lily gives her the go ahead to pursue him. She is not interested in getting involved with anyone. Her focus is on staying clean and being a good mom. Since Lily is not giving him the time of day Mason/Alex take Annabelle out and they start hooking up but that doesn't help with his inability to stay away from Lily. He keeps weaseling into her life further but he knows he'll have to come clean eventually not only about the fact that he's a PI hired by her brother but also about the fact that his true name is Alex Wells and he is the only son of the dangerous man James Wells; potentially the future president of the United States. Things progress when Lily's long time babysitter Susan has to suddenly leave town to take care of her sister who was in a car accident. Now without anyone to take care of Chase, Mason/Alex says he'll help. Lily is Literally backed into a corner bother metaphorically and physically by Mason/Alex but she will only cross the line metaphorically. She lets him babysit Chase but she rebuffs his advances. Her excuse is that he is with Annabelle. When she says that he denies it. Then Annabelle says they aren't together either and that he only has eyes for Lily and gives her the go ahead. Now that she doesn't have that barrier she's running out of excuses. Finally she calls her sponsor Derek back in Tennessee to see what he has to say and he basically tells her to trust her gut and she deserves to be happy. So she gives in and they start sleeping together. The big problem is that she can only get off if it's rough and or/ perceived as nonconsensual because of her early childhood trauma. Mason/Alex handles this with grace. So deeper down the rabbit hole they go. He still hasn't confessed his two big secrets and now they have run into his ex-fiancé after their first real date. Lily is pissed because it's a reminder that she really knows next to nothing about this man and she has let him so deeply into her life. She's fallen for him and her kid loves him. They make up and declare their love for each other that night. Later that same night, Mason/Alex's uncle shows up at the motel and makes him go to his father. His father threatens Lily and Chase. So to protect them Mason/Alex finally calls Lily's brother Chase and tells him where Lily is at, makes her get evicted since she was three months behind rent, and sets everything in motion to make sure she gets the hell out of dodge. Before he can confess everything in private, Chase comes to town to get Lily and it all comes out at once. Lily and both Chases leave for Tennessee and Mason/Alex leave to join his father. While in Tennessee Lily confronts the ghosts of her past and tries to repair the relationships that were broken a decade ago. Mason/Alex plots with his ex-fiancé to bring down his father. It turns out his father had groomed her at 15, gotten her pregnant at 19, and forced her to have an abortion. Lucky for them the man likes to keep pictures. So they steal the pictures and at a press briefing they reveal to the world that James Wells is a pedophile. Now that Mason/Alex's dad is out of the picture, he can work on getting Lily back. Meanwhile back in Tennessee one of Lily's past ghosts has come back to haunt her. She stopped at a gas station to fill up on her way to visit her sponsor Derek and she felt like something was off but she couldn't find anything wrong. So she continued on. When she got to Derek's, nobody was there but she let herself in and was going to wait. Turns out she was followed, by Darryl. He worked at the gas station, saw her, and followed her. He beat her to within and inch of her life and shot her in the shoulder. Derek had just arrived home when he heard the gunshot and Darryl fled. She woke up in the hospital bruised and in pain but overall okay. Chase takes her home where she finds Mason/Alex there. She continues the healing process both physically and mentally. Mason/Alex and Chase go get a little justice on Darryl. They give him a good beating before turning him over to the cops anonymously. Pretty quickly Lily forgives Mason (his chosen name. He hates his given name Alex) and they go on to have three more kids, she works in fashion with one of her friends, Mason is a stay at home dad, and they live happily ever after.
July 11, 2021
RIVETING & STEAMY!! HEARTBREAKINGLY PERFECT!!!
Sometimes a broken soul can only find solace in another of it's kind. I am 100% positive that is exactly what happened in Beneath the Surface! Lily found what she needed in Mason simply because his demons understood hers and only together could they overcome the tragic things they have endured! Lily spent most of this series as a broken soul yet she was so tenacious in this book. You'll find out why when you read this and I promise you; you won't be able to resist falling for this sweet, lost girl & her entire world! The way that Mason just KNOWS exactly what Lily needs, I couldn't tell you how many times I swooned!
This series just got better with each book and by the time I finished book 1 I needed Lily's story so you can imagine how I felt by the time I hit book 3. With each book you get little glimpses of the couples from before. Going into this book I needed her story but I never once thought I'd fall for them the way that I did. I never once thought I'd end it with this being my favorite love story from this series!
What an AMAZING way to end this series.
I am ending this series completely in love with every character, every couple and the family they created together.
*This is a series of standalones, you do not have to read every book in order to understand the other but I highly recommend reading from the first book if you want to truly enjoy the journey of this world. Beneath the Stars is book 1 of the Sugarlake series!
Sometimes a broken soul can only find solace in another of it's kind. I am 100% positive that is exactly what happened in Beneath the Surface! Lily found what she needed in Mason simply because his demons understood hers and only together could they overcome the tragic things they have endured! Lily spent most of this series as a broken soul yet she was so tenacious in this book. You'll find out why when you read this and I promise you; you won't be able to resist falling for this sweet, lost girl & her entire world! The way that Mason just KNOWS exactly what Lily needs, I couldn't tell you how many times I swooned!
This series just got better with each book and by the time I finished book 1 I needed Lily's story so you can imagine how I felt by the time I hit book 3. With each book you get little glimpses of the couples from before. Going into this book I needed her story but I never once thought I'd fall for them the way that I did. I never once thought I'd end it with this being my favorite love story from this series!
What an AMAZING way to end this series.
I am ending this series completely in love with every character, every couple and the family they created together.
*This is a series of standalones, you do not have to read every book in order to understand the other but I highly recommend reading from the first book if you want to truly enjoy the journey of this world. Beneath the Stars is book 1 of the Sugarlake series!
June 12, 2023
➳ 4.25 stars. ✰
ok, this was so much better than the first book !! ( yes i skipped book 2 and 3 because i was dying to read lily’s book 🫣)
All the frustration i had about lily in the first book made this so much more enjoyable.
MASON WAS 🤌🏼🤌🏼 !! so much better than chase !!
My heart aches for lily and everything she went through. She’s such a strong woman ♡ ♡ ♡
The ending felt extremely satisfying and fulfilling ( one problem i had with the first book )
Definitely check the trigger warnings !!!
ok, this was so much better than the first book !! ( yes i skipped book 2 and 3 because i was dying to read lily’s book 🫣)
All the frustration i had about lily in the first book made this so much more enjoyable.
MASON WAS 🤌🏼🤌🏼 !! so much better than chase !!
My heart aches for lily and everything she went through. She’s such a strong woman ♡ ♡ ♡
The ending felt extremely satisfying and fulfilling ( one problem i had with the first book )
Definitely check the trigger warnings !!!
January 31, 2024
4.5⭐️ the book we needed 🥺🤍 I loved this one so much.
July 6, 2021
I absolutely adore The Sugarlake series! Emily Mcintire you did it again!! As I read a new book of yours, you completely and utterly surprise me, everytime. Each book has a special place in my heart, and I cannot decide which one is my favorite. Personally, Emily Mcintire's work is a gem and I cannot wait to see what else she has in store for us! But with all honesty, I was a little bit scared to read this one. Especially, when I saw the reactions of my fellow readers/bookstagrammers, and I just knew that this read was going to destroy me, emotionally. The storyline is phenomenal! It's definitely a raw, emotional and intense read, and as the plot started to unravel I was left speechless. Emily Mcintire's writing is flawless; she addressed difficult sensitive topics and she executed it amazingly! The transitions from each book in this series is outstanding and the storylines flowed beautifully! Beneath the Surface is book #4, and I highly recommend it to start from the very beginning, it will only enhance your reading experience. Trust me, this series is a must read!! You'll fall in love with the characters; you'll feel their pain, sorrow, longing, love and happiness. Your heart will break and soar at the same time, you'll experience an onslaught of emotions.
I'm not going to deluge into too much detail, but the heroine, Lily made an appearance in book #1 Beneath the Stars. Hence, Lily is Chase's sister, the hero from this book. Please keep in mind, that there are some sensitive topics mentioned in Beneath the Surface, in turn it might be unsettling for some readers to read. But, holy, moly wow.... this book is everything!! I truly enjoyed reading Lily's backstory, and my heart ached to see what she experienced.
Lily fights her demons every day, she is most certainly a fighter and survivor. And Mason, (hero) at first his character is vague and mysterious, and as I turned each page a new piece of information about him was revealed. Mason and Lily both have scars skin deep, and their ink/tattoos that covers their skin is like a barrier, shielding off their wounds that is invisible to the naked eye. Their pasts still haunt them to this day. Lily has a lot of baggage; she doesn't allow anyone to get close to her, because of what she experienced in the past. Mason can clearly see Lily's pain, her doubts about herself and I loved how Mason showed Lily that she was enough in every way.
Two people who want to forget about their pasts, both of them have secrets that they want to keep hidden away. Yet, for the first time in their lives, Lily and Mason want to break free and open up to one another. I loved Mason's interactions with Lily's son Chase. And the moments that Lily and Mason shared.. wow.. a combination of heartfelt interactions and heated steamy scenes. And, I was so happy to see all the characters from the pervious books featured in this book! And the ending! It was bittersweet for me, I'm ecstatic that I had the opportunity to read this series, but at the same time I'm sad that I have to say goodbye to these amazing characters. Overall, this book wrecked me and some scenes had me in tears. I'm not joking, I was so close to having an ugly cry. But never the less, I can't stress this enough, this series is amazing! Please do read it.
As a PI Mason was hired to do a job, but he broke the most important rule in his line of work, "never meet your target". He wasn't suppose to meet Lily, he was meant stay away from her, hidden in the shadows. After leaving Sugarlake, Tennessee, Lily is slowly picking up the pieces, to move forward and to leave the past behind her. As a single mum Lily is doing her very best to provide for her son. Lily and Mason are two people who have traumatic pasts, and the secrets weigh heavily on their shoulders.
**I've received an ARC in exchange for my honest review
I'm not going to deluge into too much detail, but the heroine, Lily made an appearance in book #1 Beneath the Stars. Hence, Lily is Chase's sister, the hero from this book. Please keep in mind, that there are some sensitive topics mentioned in Beneath the Surface, in turn it might be unsettling for some readers to read. But, holy, moly wow.... this book is everything!! I truly enjoyed reading Lily's backstory, and my heart ached to see what she experienced.
Lily fights her demons every day, she is most certainly a fighter and survivor. And Mason, (hero) at first his character is vague and mysterious, and as I turned each page a new piece of information about him was revealed. Mason and Lily both have scars skin deep, and their ink/tattoos that covers their skin is like a barrier, shielding off their wounds that is invisible to the naked eye. Their pasts still haunt them to this day. Lily has a lot of baggage; she doesn't allow anyone to get close to her, because of what she experienced in the past. Mason can clearly see Lily's pain, her doubts about herself and I loved how Mason showed Lily that she was enough in every way.
Two people who want to forget about their pasts, both of them have secrets that they want to keep hidden away. Yet, for the first time in their lives, Lily and Mason want to break free and open up to one another. I loved Mason's interactions with Lily's son Chase. And the moments that Lily and Mason shared.. wow.. a combination of heartfelt interactions and heated steamy scenes. And, I was so happy to see all the characters from the pervious books featured in this book! And the ending! It was bittersweet for me, I'm ecstatic that I had the opportunity to read this series, but at the same time I'm sad that I have to say goodbye to these amazing characters. Overall, this book wrecked me and some scenes had me in tears. I'm not joking, I was so close to having an ugly cry. But never the less, I can't stress this enough, this series is amazing! Please do read it.
As a PI Mason was hired to do a job, but he broke the most important rule in his line of work, "never meet your target". He wasn't suppose to meet Lily, he was meant stay away from her, hidden in the shadows. After leaving Sugarlake, Tennessee, Lily is slowly picking up the pieces, to move forward and to leave the past behind her. As a single mum Lily is doing her very best to provide for her son. Lily and Mason are two people who have traumatic pasts, and the secrets weigh heavily on their shoulders.
**I've received an ARC in exchange for my honest review
April 29, 2025
4⭐️
3🌶️
Audiobook🎧
This was such a good ending to the series. I fell in love with it since book one. I loved the entire dynamic of this book. Her relationship with Mason as well as the relationship with her brother and Alina. I do wish she would be a bit easier in Alina, considering Becca did the same to her and Alina was t upset. However, I do understand where Lily was coming from.
Everything that Lily went through was so incredibly heartbreaking, and my heart was hurrying for her. The girl biggest fears became a reality. I do feel like the love was a bit insta, however it did take some time for the relationship to develop. In reality, it was not my favorite love story of the series but it was still good and I really enjoyed it anyways.
My absolute favorite parts though, were the parts with the past characters. I loved them so much that I kept looking forward to whenever they would be mentioned.
Overall, the book was good. I enjoyed reading about all these characters and I think this was the perfect ending to such an amazing series. I highly recommend reading this series and believe is incredibly underrated.
3🌶️
Audiobook🎧
This was such a good ending to the series. I fell in love with it since book one. I loved the entire dynamic of this book. Her relationship with Mason as well as the relationship with her brother and Alina. I do wish she would be a bit easier in Alina, considering Becca did the same to her and Alina was t upset. However, I do understand where Lily was coming from.
Everything that Lily went through was so incredibly heartbreaking, and my heart was hurrying for her. The girl biggest fears became a reality. I do feel like the love was a bit insta, however it did take some time for the relationship to develop. In reality, it was not my favorite love story of the series but it was still good and I really enjoyed it anyways.
My absolute favorite parts though, were the parts with the past characters. I loved them so much that I kept looking forward to whenever they would be mentioned.
Overall, the book was good. I enjoyed reading about all these characters and I think this was the perfect ending to such an amazing series. I highly recommend reading this series and believe is incredibly underrated.
June 14, 2025
5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was the most amazing ending to the Sugarlake series. I'm actually really sad that it's over because I love these characters so much.
I was really looking forward to getting Lily's story as she plays such a big part throughout. I had a feeling that the reason she left, is what happened, but I still had so many shocking moments.
I'm so glad that the FMC eventually found a safe place with the MMC, even though there were some crazy circumstances.
I love the FMC's little boy so much and he brought such a sweet spin to the story.
You get:
• Contemporary Romance
• Spicy
• Small Town
• On The Run
• Single Mom
• Suspense
• Hidden Identity
I highly recommend this one and the whole series! Available on KU, ebook, paperback, and audiobook.
This was the most amazing ending to the Sugarlake series. I'm actually really sad that it's over because I love these characters so much.
I was really looking forward to getting Lily's story as she plays such a big part throughout. I had a feeling that the reason she left, is what happened, but I still had so many shocking moments.
I'm so glad that the FMC eventually found a safe place with the MMC, even though there were some crazy circumstances.
I love the FMC's little boy so much and he brought such a sweet spin to the story.
You get:
• Contemporary Romance
• Spicy
• Small Town
• On The Run
• Single Mom
• Suspense
• Hidden Identity
I highly recommend this one and the whole series! Available on KU, ebook, paperback, and audiobook.
July 3, 2021
This was such a great final book for the series. Lily and Mason’s story touched me. I will admit I don’t typically prefer to read angsty books often, but Emily writes them so well. And this one did not disappoint. It just wrapped everything up for the series so well. I was very happy with how it all ended. I love that Emily brings up mental health and different issues people can have. I tend to gravitate more towards books where characters are flawed and grow from trauma, then the characters being perfect. Cause life isn’t perfect and people definitely aren’t perfect so when we see more angst, conflict and issue with characters it makes them more believable and real for me. So if you are looking for a book and a series as a whole about people who learn and go through self discovery, this is he book/series for you. With this series being complete, I’m excited to see Em does next!
June 16, 2025
I was so ready to get Lily’s story and it did not disappoint! So perfect and I loved the emotion and suspense that was added in this one! I loved chemistry and spark between Lily and Mason! This definitely brought the series full circle and was the perfect ending 😭❤️
August 16, 2021
Another incredible book from Emily, this series will always have a special place in my heart. Lily’s story is one I have been waiting for since Beneath the Stars and it lived up to every single one of my expectations! Emily’s writing is as incredible as always, and the emotional journey she puts you on is tough but so worth it!
Lily has been running for years, from her past, her family, her ex. She finally feels settled, with her son, in a town in the middle of nowhere where no one asks questions, and she can blend into the background. Until Mason enters her life, first as an occasional visitor the bar she waitresses at, and then suddenly more permanently when she’s in a bind with childcare. But little does she know that Mason is actually there for an ulterior motive, as a PI who’s been hired to track Lily down by her older brother Chase. But the more involved Mason becomes in Lily and her son’s life, the more he realizes he doesn’t want to betray her trust and give her up. In the meantime, Mason’s own past comes back to haunt him, and he’s faced with a big decision, but which will he choose?
Mason and Lily could be their complete selves with one another, with no judgement on either part and know that they would be accepted, darkness and light. But that didn’t mean they didn’t keep secrets, and parts of themselves hidden, slowly dismantling their walls that past hurt has meant they’ve constructed over the years.
Lily’s journey of recovery was one that was heart-breaking but had hope too. Emily wrote about the realities of a recovering addict so well, how the craving will never go away, but that learning what’s more important in your life than giving in, and what you could lose by making that choice. Mason was running from his own demons, solving other people’s problems instead of his own, but when he found Lily and realised what he wanted from his life, he knew he had to face his past before he could have a happy future. At times, their story felt quite separate, both dealing with their own lives before they could be a real couple, but I quite like that aspect as although it’s good to lean on each other when going through hard times, sometimes it is something you need to do on your own.
The Sugarlake series is one that will stay with me for a while. Each character is flawed, which makes them real. They aren’t a perfect version of themselves, and one of the things I loved most about the entire group was how after I turned the final page of each couples’ book was that I knew they would continue to grow as people, and couples, forever. Because that’s reality, you are never the same people throughout a relationship, but you develop and change together, adapting to life and what it throws at you as a unit. You support each other and love each other for every flaw. Emily did these characters justice in their stories, tackling difficult subjects with sensitivity and respect, but not sugar-coating anything. In the epilogue, it was amazing to see them all happy and settled, but still work in progress versions of themselves, indicating no one’s perfect, but they all have their own dreams and fears that they will never stop chasing or fighting. The stories were raw and real, and that’s one of the main reasons I would recommend anybody to read this series.
Lily has been running for years, from her past, her family, her ex. She finally feels settled, with her son, in a town in the middle of nowhere where no one asks questions, and she can blend into the background. Until Mason enters her life, first as an occasional visitor the bar she waitresses at, and then suddenly more permanently when she’s in a bind with childcare. But little does she know that Mason is actually there for an ulterior motive, as a PI who’s been hired to track Lily down by her older brother Chase. But the more involved Mason becomes in Lily and her son’s life, the more he realizes he doesn’t want to betray her trust and give her up. In the meantime, Mason’s own past comes back to haunt him, and he’s faced with a big decision, but which will he choose?
Mason and Lily could be their complete selves with one another, with no judgement on either part and know that they would be accepted, darkness and light. But that didn’t mean they didn’t keep secrets, and parts of themselves hidden, slowly dismantling their walls that past hurt has meant they’ve constructed over the years.
Lily’s journey of recovery was one that was heart-breaking but had hope too. Emily wrote about the realities of a recovering addict so well, how the craving will never go away, but that learning what’s more important in your life than giving in, and what you could lose by making that choice. Mason was running from his own demons, solving other people’s problems instead of his own, but when he found Lily and realised what he wanted from his life, he knew he had to face his past before he could have a happy future. At times, their story felt quite separate, both dealing with their own lives before they could be a real couple, but I quite like that aspect as although it’s good to lean on each other when going through hard times, sometimes it is something you need to do on your own.
The Sugarlake series is one that will stay with me for a while. Each character is flawed, which makes them real. They aren’t a perfect version of themselves, and one of the things I loved most about the entire group was how after I turned the final page of each couples’ book was that I knew they would continue to grow as people, and couples, forever. Because that’s reality, you are never the same people throughout a relationship, but you develop and change together, adapting to life and what it throws at you as a unit. You support each other and love each other for every flaw. Emily did these characters justice in their stories, tackling difficult subjects with sensitivity and respect, but not sugar-coating anything. In the epilogue, it was amazing to see them all happy and settled, but still work in progress versions of themselves, indicating no one’s perfect, but they all have their own dreams and fears that they will never stop chasing or fighting. The stories were raw and real, and that’s one of the main reasons I would recommend anybody to read this series.
July 7, 2021
There are a few series that are so close to my heart that I recommend them to everyone. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 is one of them. And I'm not going to lie, adding an unexpected fourth book to it, with a character that has been basically a villain in the first three, and settling the full circle on that... made me nervous.
But my heart is in my chest here, because @itsemilymcintire is a writing genius and 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 was an absolute *chef's kiss* ending to this story.
The final book focused on Lily, who had deep problems with drugs & sexual abuse, and disappeared 10 years ago. She's clean, living with her little boy in a backwoods town. Her brother Chase (of Beneath the Stars fame) hires a private investigator to find out if she's still alive. The PI, Mason, finds her and is immediately drawn in.
This was by far the darkest of the series, but the build up to it made it so I wasn't surprised the twists it took. I loved Lily and who she became, and how her story progressed and ultimately closed. I was so pleasantly surprised by Mason, who wasn't introduced deeply in the other books and ended up having his own full backstory that was compelling and heartbreaking all at once. The spice in this was absolutely sinful and I loved it. (Trigger warning for CNC - consensual non-consent, but boy was it 🔥)
And then there's the most important part - the ending of the series. There's a spoiler - it's not so much of a spoiler as a writing cred I want to give McIntire - that I am dying to write in here, but I won't. If you read this, DM me though so I can gush about it. But every single character got an ending they deserved. These broken people with deep issues came together like perfect puzzle pieces. Every single character came full circle. And I legitimately can't believe my heart is this full.
Recommendation here is to read it from start to finish - in order - for the best experience.
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶
But my heart is in my chest here, because @itsemilymcintire is a writing genius and 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 was an absolute *chef's kiss* ending to this story.
The final book focused on Lily, who had deep problems with drugs & sexual abuse, and disappeared 10 years ago. She's clean, living with her little boy in a backwoods town. Her brother Chase (of Beneath the Stars fame) hires a private investigator to find out if she's still alive. The PI, Mason, finds her and is immediately drawn in.
This was by far the darkest of the series, but the build up to it made it so I wasn't surprised the twists it took. I loved Lily and who she became, and how her story progressed and ultimately closed. I was so pleasantly surprised by Mason, who wasn't introduced deeply in the other books and ended up having his own full backstory that was compelling and heartbreaking all at once. The spice in this was absolutely sinful and I loved it. (Trigger warning for CNC - consensual non-consent, but boy was it 🔥)
And then there's the most important part - the ending of the series. There's a spoiler - it's not so much of a spoiler as a writing cred I want to give McIntire - that I am dying to write in here, but I won't. If you read this, DM me though so I can gush about it. But every single character got an ending they deserved. These broken people with deep issues came together like perfect puzzle pieces. Every single character came full circle. And I legitimately can't believe my heart is this full.
Recommendation here is to read it from start to finish - in order - for the best experience.
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶
July 13, 2023
”happiness is a funny thing. when one person has it, it spreads like ivy, winding its way around everyone else; if only they let it grow.” ♡₊˚
i knew this was going to be so good but LORD i wasn’t expecting to fully adore this with my whole heart 🤧 by far the best book in this series, and lily adams has a special place in my heart forever. she is such a strong character, and seeing her work on being her best self for her son was so admirable and inspiring. i literally cried so much for her and her pain.
and mason,, oof. the perfect man for lily. he saw her for her real self, not the one she puts on for others. their pasts were more closely related than they thought and i think that helped both of them to be there for each other. i loved how he cared for lily’s son, too. they were just so perfect!
my heart was broken and fixed within the pages of this book and i want to reread it immediately already. the ending made me cry! i was so stoked to see all the other couples again and get a glimpse at what their future was like. this makes me wanna move to a small town so badly lmao
my only complaint is how everyone blamed lily for running away. it felt like no one really understood what was happening with her, and i’m not gonna lie i feel like everyone treated her so shittily. it made me really upset. lily deserves nothing but the best 🤧
i knew this was going to be so good but LORD i wasn’t expecting to fully adore this with my whole heart 🤧 by far the best book in this series, and lily adams has a special place in my heart forever. she is such a strong character, and seeing her work on being her best self for her son was so admirable and inspiring. i literally cried so much for her and her pain.
and mason,, oof. the perfect man for lily. he saw her for her real self, not the one she puts on for others. their pasts were more closely related than they thought and i think that helped both of them to be there for each other. i loved how he cared for lily’s son, too. they were just so perfect!
my heart was broken and fixed within the pages of this book and i want to reread it immediately already. the ending made me cry! i was so stoked to see all the other couples again and get a glimpse at what their future was like. this makes me wanna move to a small town so badly lmao
my only complaint is how everyone blamed lily for running away. it felt like no one really understood what was happening with her, and i’m not gonna lie i feel like everyone treated her so shittily. it made me really upset. lily deserves nothing but the best 🤧
July 6, 2021
This one gets ALL the stars! Emily is in a class of her own when it comes to writing emotional characters that don't know how to quit the ones they love, no matter how crazy complicated or emotionally messy. If you really want to feel and live through a character's experience then this book's for you.
Lily's life is painful. There's no way around it and before, all she wanted was to numb it to make it go away. But now that's not an option anymore and every day is about surviving to live another day and be the mother her son deserves. She's so strong but is fully aware of her weak points. Those thorns in her skin that she works so hard to not touch because it will hurt or worse, it will cause bleeding that will be next to impossible to stop.
10 years ago she ran away and left her beloved brother Chase behind along with her family and what she thought were her friends. No matter how far she runs, Chase has never forgotten his baby sister and he's hired a private investigator to look for her again.
While trying to lose the person he was, Mason has learned the skills to become an expert at finding people. When he finds Lily though, he can't seem to finish the job and hand her over to her brother. He's consumed by her and has to know her. Even though it goes against everything he was taught to excel at his job. Even though it puts him at risk of exposing himself. Even though he knows he will hurt her when he'll have to eventually let her go.
This is an intense, passionate story tinged with forbidden and full of secrets. Don't hesitate to follow Emily McIntire as she masterfully takes you down an emotional rabbit hole that will leave you begging for more. Trust me, this is my fourth book from her and I'm beyond sad that this is the end of the series.
If you haven't read the previous books, run and get them now then prepare not to leave your house for a week as you devour them. Trust me, it will be time well spent!
This book does contain circumstances that may be triggering for some readers
Lily's life is painful. There's no way around it and before, all she wanted was to numb it to make it go away. But now that's not an option anymore and every day is about surviving to live another day and be the mother her son deserves. She's so strong but is fully aware of her weak points. Those thorns in her skin that she works so hard to not touch because it will hurt or worse, it will cause bleeding that will be next to impossible to stop.
10 years ago she ran away and left her beloved brother Chase behind along with her family and what she thought were her friends. No matter how far she runs, Chase has never forgotten his baby sister and he's hired a private investigator to look for her again.
While trying to lose the person he was, Mason has learned the skills to become an expert at finding people. When he finds Lily though, he can't seem to finish the job and hand her over to her brother. He's consumed by her and has to know her. Even though it goes against everything he was taught to excel at his job. Even though it puts him at risk of exposing himself. Even though he knows he will hurt her when he'll have to eventually let her go.
This is an intense, passionate story tinged with forbidden and full of secrets. Don't hesitate to follow Emily McIntire as she masterfully takes you down an emotional rabbit hole that will leave you begging for more. Trust me, this is my fourth book from her and I'm beyond sad that this is the end of the series.
If you haven't read the previous books, run and get them now then prepare not to leave your house for a week as you devour them. Trust me, it will be time well spent!
This book does contain circumstances that may be triggering for some readers
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