Finding Freedom

The Rose City #2

by Valentina Burns

For three years, Ivy Harrington has been running from one horrible night. She moved to the City of Roses, built a career, made connections. But her past still haunts her, and she's tired of the hold it has on her life...especially on her love life. So, she comes up with a plan. All she needs is a friend she trusts to get her back into the intimacy game.

Easy-going Sean Thompson tries to roll with the punches, but this time he doesn’t know what hit him. One minute, Ivy’s his best friend, work partner, and neighbor. The next she’s kissing him and asking him for the impossible. She wants casual and no-strings. All action with no commitments. Not exactly what he had in mind with the woman who’s held a piece of his heart since she arrived in Portland, Oregon.

There’s something there, though, hiding behind the cool determination of her eyes. He just can’t quite figure out what.

Can he give her what she wants and keep his heart out of it? Or will this arrangement destroy their friendship and expose every secret they have?

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers

330 pages, Paperback

Published September 14, 2024

About the author

Valentina Burns is a contemporary romance author living on Vancouver Island with her husband, two children and multitude of pets.

She picked up her very first romance novel when she was fifteen years old at her High School fall fair, and has been devouring the genre ever since. She’s long dreamed of writing her own romance books and is inspired by stories that have strong female protagonists and their swoon-worthy, well-muscled heroes. She loves to create believable and relatable characters that readers can connect with.

Drawing upon her own life experiences, Valentina writes books that are genuine, emotional, and entertaining, with more than a little heat served on the side.

Reviews

[abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
4/5 stars
3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶


If you have a history of sexual trauma, check the trigger warnings before reading this one. 

Finding Freedom is a friends with benefits, forced proximity, coworkers, he falls first contemporary romance that tells the story of recovering from trauma.  This was my first read from this author and I really enjoyed it! 

Ivy is a sports PT who moves to Portland after experiencing a sexual assault while in college. Sean is a martial arts trainer/gym owner who helps Ivy learn how to defend herself. Ivy wants to move on from her past and reclaim her sexuality and asks Sean to be her friends with benefits. Sean has real feelings for Ivy and wants more than just FWB.

The character development was really well done in this book. Both Ivy and Sean had traumatic pasts and rich backstories that explained their current mental states. The side characters added a lot to the story and I can't wait to see more of how their stories play out in the future. (Joel and Jordan please!) The characters were relatable and actually felt like real, complex people.


This book was emotionally heavy, as it explores the impact of sexual trauma on Ivy's life. Writing a romance story that focuses on this topic is a tall order, and the author really knocked it out of the park. I'm a therapist who specializes in PTSD and trauma, and was really impressed with how this book was able to accurately and compassionately show how traumatic experiences can affect our thoughts, feelings, and relationships. Both Ivy and Sean were stuck in their pasts and I loved seeing how they supported one another in their recovery. The conversations that Ivy had with her grandmother and Sean had with his brother were beautiful and moving, one of my favorite parts of the book. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more character driven stories from this author!

[Jess Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm healing, you're healing, everyone is healing. Sean and Ivy are healing. It's sometimes difficult to read books that reveal hints of truth about how life really is for people. This book, however hard the topic, portays it in such a way that it feels like you are healing with the characters. Ivy is a kick ass woman healing from trauma and Sean is mr nice guy who is battling his own demons. Their relationship built on trust leads to cold shower level spice and I am here for it. Finding Freedom and the entire series so far has been amazing and 10/10 would recommend. Will you be jealous of the characters? Yes. Will you cry? Probably. Will you wish it was you in the bedroom with Sean? Also yes. Well done Valentina. PEOPLE GO READ IT

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another absolutely amazing book by Valentina! This story covers SA in the most delicate, understanding, and freeing way. It is so clear that this topic is close to Valentina’s heart and she absolutely handled it with care.

Now, after reading Finding Home (Book 1 of this series), I was convinced Gabe was the end all be all. However, Sean far surpassed him. The way Sean is so tender, patient, and loving with Ivy just had me melting on every page. Their love is just oozing with the sickly sweet things I love to read about.

This story was perfect from beginning to end. Not quite a slow burn, but slower and I loved that! I also loved getting little bits here and there of other characters I loved from book 1. I also really enjoyed another set of real, relatable characters with real reactions and feelings. Valentina truly has a knack for making her stories feel like real life with real people. All in all, I am just so glad Valentina writes and creates these wonderful stories. I can’t wait to see what happens in Joel’s story next!😍

[Jara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main female and male characters are highly relatable. This story helps me understand how much grace it requires for a man to be patient with a woman who is recovering from sexual assault/trauma. True love waits...

Excerpt:

“So, you want a man, Ivy?” Hope asked with a suggestive eyebrow waggle.

“No,” came the automatic response. A cop-out more than anything, and she knew it. She also knew that if she wanted anything in her life to change, she’d have to stop with the cop-outs.

“Maybe,” she added begrudgingly. “Any man, or one man in particular?”
Hope asked, and Ivy knew immediately to whom she was referring. She wasn’t ready to go there, so instead she answered with another truth.

“Maybe it’s not so much that I want a man. Maybe it’s more that I’m tired of being afraid to go for it.”

Hope was silent, listening serenely as she sipped her wine. The silence allowed Ivy’s train of thought to flow out of her.

“I thought I had it all behind me. I thought that if I made myself strong and learned how to defend myself, then I wouldn’t be afraid, but what I didn’t count on were all the other things I would still be afraid of that have nothing to do with being attacked.”

There were a handful of people who knew that Ivy had been sexually assaulted in college. Hope was one of them. She’d been there the night it happened, and in the aftermath, and for every moment since. She was as much a part of this journey as Ivy, so Ivy knew Hope spoke with deep understanding when she gently said, “You mean like trust. Intimacy.” She set her glass on the coffee table. “Sex.”

Ivy dropped her gaze to her lap and nodded. “Yeah,” she whispered. “It’s not like I don’t ever want to have sex again. Heck, I’m just as horny as most twenty-somethings. I see someone I like, and I want to jump on them like any other hot-blooded person.”

Namely, she wanted to jump on a certain six-foot-five, amazingly muscled but gentle-hearted, specimen of a man who’d been the only one in recent history who got her juices going.

“It’s been a long while, and the last time was, well, against my will and, you know, ugly, so it’s scary to think about going there again. Even if I want to.”

“Of course it is,” Hope acknowledged. “So maybe it’s time you took a leap of faith and worked toward overcoming those fears.”

Ivy looked at her dubiously. “Overcome my fear of sex?”

She wasn’t sure it was possible. How was she ever supposed to go there again with a man and not have it tainted by the horribleness of the past?

Hope nodded. “Yes, and your fear of intimacy. Build on your ability to trust.” She spoke so calmly and assuredly that it sounded almost easy. “Take back your sexuality, Ivy.”

“How am I supposed to do that? I can’t walk up to someone and say ‘Hey, you’re hot and you seem like a nice guy too. Wanna do it?’”

Hope let out a laugh. “No, not exactly, but maybe find someone you trust and let him help you rediscover your sexuality in a safe, meaningful way. Pick someone you care about and who cares about you and will be gentle with you and go at your pace.”

Ivy snorted. “Oh yeah, like that guy actually exists.”

Hope raised her eyebrows knowingly, because they both knew that guy actually did exist. And he lived across the hallway.

“I couldn’t ask Sean to do that,” Ivy murmured, taking a sip of wine to take the edge off the butterflies that had erupted in her stomach at the prospect of rediscovering her sexuality with Sean. She thought of his strong arms around her, hoisting her up his long body so she could wrap her legs around his waist, and took another gulp of wine to ease her suddenly dry throat.

“Ivy, everyone knows Sean has been interested in you for eons.”

“He is not.” To emphasize her point, she flicked her hand toward the door. “He’s out on a date as we speak. With someone who is not me.”

“Maybe because you shot him down every time he made any kind of pass at you.”

“Sean has not made a pass at me,” Ivy declared. She got an incredulous stare in response.

“Has he?” she demanded, her mind backtracking through all the moments she and Sean had shared, and there were many. Hours spent together in the gym, training or consulting on clients. Friday evenings in Bowie’s, sharing a drink and talking about the week. After he moved in across the hall, there’d been many nights watching Netflix, eating popcorn, and making bad jokes about the equally bad TV they were consuming. Since she’d come to Portland, she had countless memories that featured Sean. None of them included him making a pass at her. She wasn’t that oblivious. Was she?

“Plenty of times. Enough that it’s obvious to everyone but you that, yeah, he’s just that into you.”

Hope looked at her meaningfully, arching one of her perfectly groomed eyebrows. “Ivy, he moved in beside you. He didn’t have to leave his old place. There was nothing wrong with it. It was closer to the gym than this apartment. But he moved in as soon as Gabe and Ruby moved out. Why do you think that was?”

Ivy hadn’t ever thought about it. When she’d heard Sean was moving in she’d been giddy with excitement. She hadn’t really questioned why. “It’s a two-bedroom?”

Hope rolled her eyes then reached for her wineglass and downed the contents. She got up and gathered the empty takeout boxes. “Look, I have to go. I told the sitter I’d be back by 9:30, but for the record, I think this is a good plan.”

“Plan? Asking Sean to be my fuck buddy is not a plan, Hope.”

It’s a fantasy.

Hope pursed her lips, making a face that reminded Ivy she was every inch the aristocrat she’d been raised as. “Don’t be crude, Ivy. Not a fuck buddy, more like a friend, who you trust, who is the perfect person to help you reclaim your confidence as a sexually healthy and vibrant young woman.”

She headed toward the kitchen, pausing only to toss a casual look over her shoulder. “And if anything happens to grow from there, well, then that’s a happy consequence, right?”

Right. As if. Assuming that she actually went ahead with this, and further assuming Sean actually agreed to this ridiculous plan, there was little to no chance that after he saw how insecure and uptight she was when it came to sex, that he’d actually want her. The idea was ludicrous.

____

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (New Living Translation).

[emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

there's no greater joy then stumbling on a book and enjoying it more then you could have ever imagined. when Valentina reached out about sending me this book, I had to say yes just based on her being Canadian, the adorable cover, and an intriguing premise. after having read it, I can add good writing, strong characters, deep emotions to the list of positive qualities about this book. this book touches on several hard topics, it's not a book thats light and fluffy, or rather its not only light and fluffy. where there is sadness, there is joy. where this is darkness, there is sunshine. where this is insecurities, there is assuredness. and thats the beauty of it. it feels raw and real.

this isnt a book where you will agree with every decision the characters make, but its a book written so well that you understand the characters thought process, the things they are struggling with that are influencing them. while I found myself struggling with the way certain things were worded, I never felt confused or frustrated, we were kept well informed as readers which is so important in a book such as this where this is a lot of miscommunication. youre going to feel every emotion on the spectrum with this book, and thats the perfect reading experience.

my first Valentina, but it wont be my last.

[Sarah Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Valentina for providing me with an ARC of this book to read and review. It is my very first ARC and I was so thrilled to read this book - and it did not disappoint. This is the second novel in the Rose City Series and I ended up enjoying this one more than Finding Home (which was also a wonderful book!). I’m not a writer but I’ll try my best to convey my feelings toward this book. Firstly, I cried at least five times reading this (twice before the half-way point!). Keep in mind, I am a Cancer moon and therefore no stranger to tears when reading. Unfortunately, I think a lot of people can relate to some part of Ivy’s story and her battle overcoming sexual assault. Ivy is not a perfect character, and neither is Sean, but that’s what makes them so much more realistic. I love reading a story where characters have real flaws and struggles. It makes them relatable and gives them a humanity that would otherwise be lacking. That really is one of my favourite parts of Valentina’s writing - her ability to craft characters you feel you personally know and feel like people in the real world while still possessing that romance novel level of swoon appeal. Speaking of which, Sean’s romance hero swoon appeal is off the charts. His patience and understanding with Ivy is beyond sexy! Not to mention his other, more physical, attributes. He is really always there when Ivy needs him and never rushes her (as a Taurus this is a big YES to me). I was already intrigued to know more about Sean and Ivy when I first met them in Finding Home. Speaking of Finding Home, you do hear from Hope and Gabe in this story as well and they are also dealing with their own struggles but always make time to be there for the important people in their lives. It was fun to check in with them again. And Joel! We also see Joel a bit in Finding Freedom and his brotherly relationship with Ivy. Big shoutout to Ivy’s Grandma who was one of my favourite characters. If there is ever a backstory on her - I would totally read it! And she’s right - a cup of Earl Grey tea is always the answer!

Thank you Valentina for writing this book, telling important stories, and reminding everyone that they deserve a happy ever after.

I’m going to end this review with some beautiful quotes from the book.

“I thought if I made myself strong and learned how to defend myself, then I wouldn’t be afraid, but what I didn’t count on were all the other things I would still be afraid of that have nothing to do with being attacked.”

“He could read her nuances flawlessly, knowing when to push her and when to let her retreat. He understood, without having to ask, when she needed to be held close and protected and when she needed to stand on her own and feel strong and capable.”

“Everything with Ivy happened so gradually, like a wave in the middle of an ocean starting as little more than a movement, but landing hours later on the shore with a crash.”

“I don’t owe anyone more than I am willing to give.”

[Genesis Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Congratulations, Valentina, on all of your books! Finding Freedom was the first one that I read, and I am glad I did. Ivy and Sean have a powerful story.
Ivy has spent years reclaiming her life after an SA, and now, she wants to claim that part of herself that is able to experience intimacy, pleasure, and love. I want to express that this was a compelling, though not necessarily easy read. Ivy’s body has kept score, and the path is not straightforward. There are several on page flashbacks and some description of the event itself, all written realistically and respectfully.
I want to remind readers that there is no RIGHT way to survive an assault. No right way to live through/handle in the moment something that should never have occurred in the first place. In this story, Ivy’s body froze. Dissociated. It did the best it could to protect her during a traumatic experience---and that’s valid. Not everyone’s body turns to fight, even if that is a logistical option. Many, many people freeze, fawn, and or dissociate. Showcasing that experience is actually really important, and as someone who doesn’t fight or flight myself (despite over 14 years of martial arts training), I really connected with Ivy’s experience. Thank you, Valentina, for how you wrote this. The trust between Ivy and Sean in this story is beautiful. They have been friends and co-workers for a number of years, loving each other from the safety of friendship. Sean suspects that Ivy has experienced something traumatic but doesn’t know what, and Ivy fears that sharing what happened to her will change how he sees her. Throughout the book, we see them navigate and trust each other to hold space for all of the hard feelings. There was space for both of them to be angry and messy, and because of their trust, anger was a safe emotion. I found that really refreshing.
This is a romance. Sean and Ivy get their happily ever after, and there are some nice on-page smutty bits throughout, too. I can't imagine this was an easy story to write, but stories like this are important. Everyone deserves to know that their story is their own and be loved completely.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that certainly touches you when read it and although the subject isn't one that's discussed openly and still feels taboo to some. Both Ivy and Sean have moved to Portland for a fresh start for different reasons. After a lot of hardworking Sean opens his own Gym, trying hard to to make his parents proud even though he'd lost them both years ago. Ivy was broken and insecure when she arrived in his Gym hoping to toughen herself enough to be able to protect herself. Both drawn to each other but neither prepared for anything other than friendship. Both worried about their past and the secrets they held deep inside. Can they help each other or is the past to hard for either one of them to overcome. This is the second book in the series some of the characters from the previous book appear, both can be read as standalone. I loved how carefully and sensitive the book is and helps built self worth and understanding that sometimes you have to let people in to be able to move forward love, trust and honesty is a big part of it. I loved this book and I'm looking forward to Joel's story. I was lucky enough to receive this as an ARC copy and this is my own personal and honest opinion and review of the book. I wish I could give this more than five stars

[Vanessa Tse · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀
*check TW/CW’s*

𝖠𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄:
𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒐𝒎 (𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝑪𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 2) follows Ivy’s journey. Ivy moves to City of Roses (Portland, Oregon) after 3 years of running from one horrible night. She built a career, made connections but her past still haunts her and she’s tired of the hold it has on her life. She comes up with a plan, Ivy decides to reclaim her body but with a little help of her friend, Sean. What will happen to their friendship once their feelings get involved?….


𝖬𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗌:
This book was heartwarming and wrenching that it delves into a much deeper topic. I felt for Ivy, going through such an unspeakable trauma. Ivy is such a strong FMC while Sean is the sweet & gentle alpha MMC. I love the connection & chemistry between Ivy + Sean! ❤️‍🔥 During the time Ivy and Sean had spent together, their feelings grow stronger, they learn to open up to one another and they both heal by accepting the trauma together! ❤️‍🩹 Their trauma does not define what their whole life is gonna be like, and with that being said I genuinely love how realistic this book makes me feel! 🥹 I can’t tell you how many times I cried while reading this book whether it was sad or happy. This book will be forever one of my favs!!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy Release Day to Finding Freedom 💜✨

This story was both heartwarming and wrenching (TW: SA).

This book delves into much deeper topics. Ivy Harrington goes through the unspeakable and this book follows how she finds love and peace on her own terms, but with a little help from her friend Sean.

The romance between Sean and Ivy was addicting. Sean has been IN LOVE with Ivy - like mans was down BADDD. Ivy’s feelings for Sean were so obvious, but dealing with those emotions were more complex. I loved seeing Ivy’s growth and self reflection and how Sean had a positive impact. But more importantly - it was amazing to see how much she had done on her own. She was so unapologetically badass and I loved her. Pls see my fav quote ever below 🫶🏼

“I don’t owe anyone more than I’m willing to give.”

Periodttt.

Miss Valentina reached out to the right people for dealing with such a sensitive and important topic - and wrote a beautiful story. Cannot WAITT for Joel’s book. The little crumbs we got of the mysterious billionaire was not enough.

Thank you Valentina for this arc in exchange for an honest review 🫶🏼

[Luna Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Freedom is the perfect title for this book. It’s number two in the Rose City series and follows Ivy’s journey. She is a strong, feisty FMC who is matched by Sean, an alpha male who is gentle where it counts (and likes to light candles to set the mood 🕯️)

A survivour of s*xual assault, Ivy decides to reclaim her body and establish a friends-with-benefits situation with her close friend Sean (who is clearly in looooooove with her).

In their time together, feelings grow stronger and they learn to be vulnerable and open with one another. Their stories are ones of healing and moving forward—accepting that their trauma is a part of them, but that it doesn’t have to define their lives. It’s a touching, real story and they both feel like real-world people. They aren’t perfect, they don’t always make the best choices, but that is what makes them human (and I’m here for it!)

We also get to see Hope and Gabe (from book one) pop up every now and then, which I enjoyed a lot!

This book is definitely a recommend from me, but it is very important to check the content warnings, as this book deals with sensitive subject matter.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating⭐⭐⭐.75

❤️Friends and lovers
❤️Fun supporting characters
❤️Healing journey
❤️Neighbours to lovers
❤️Boy (man) obsessed in the sweetest way
❤️Friend group that feels like family

This book is very sweet, very gentle and emotional in the best way. Ivy and Sean are such a lovely duo and I’m obsessed with how in love Sean is with Ivy (cue secret pining). As much as I enjoyed this book, I think I enjoyed Gabe and Hope’s story a lot more and I couldn’t help but compare the two. I think this also may be in some way due to the fact I’m very picky with the friends to lovers trope.

This reminded me why I struggle to enjoy the friends to lovers trope because it lacked that tension I love so much. It was as if I had come into a relationship that was already established and I showed up in the third act just in time to catch the end when I wished I could have seen the beginning. If you do love the friends to lovers trope however, this would be a great book for you.

I would recommend it if you love a very sweet friends to lovers romance or the he falls first trope.

Amount of spice:🔥🔥3-4 scenes
Explicitness: 🌶️🌶️🌶️Open door & explicit

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this!! It’s heart wrenching but still with very sweet and caring found family moments. Dealing with such heavy subject matter I thought the major TW of past SA was dealt with well. This also has open door intimacy that was not gratuitous at all, it really showed Ivy’s healing journey. I also loved how it was mentioned more than once that ivy pursuing a relationship on any level since her SA wasn’t going to be the sole thing to make her “all better.” This was very real in that it’s not a linear journey.

The story starts off simple, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. It’s a compliment to the writing that we have our friends to lovers premise which I’m always happy with but as the plot goes on it opens to more complexities and threads. I was taken by surprise by some of the reveals which really added layers to the story.

This was a book I was thinking about when I wasn’t reading it. Ivy and Sean foreverrr. Thank you to Valentina Burns for this ARC!

[Lima · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a hard read sometimes. Only because the topic at hand is heavy. If you have some triggers, then please be aware and make sure you’ll be okay reading this.
Ivy, a sports PT, asks her best guy friend, Sean, for a casual physical relationship to move on from a past sexual assault. Things get complicated when Sean has deeper feelings for her.

I loved this book because it showed a lot of depth and journey that I went through. She went through a lot of healing. She worked on herself. It took a lot, but I loved seeing the process and how there are good days and bad days. Sean is the consent king. I love that he had a lot of patience with her and made sure she was the one in control. Some moments can be a real tearjerker. Whether you’re an Ivy, or the people around her, we can empathize.

[Lauren Curley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy and Sean have been friends since she blew into town years before. As she works inside Sean's gym as a Physical Therapist rehabbing injuries. These two have been putting each other in the friend zone as Ivy is healing from her past that she's yet to share with Sean after all these years. The two really started to hang out more once he moves into the apartment across the hall after their friend Gabe moved out with Hope. Sean has always wanted more, but instead of throwing out his feelings and speaking about wanting more, he's held back a she heals.

When these two finally come together it's smoking 🔥. You really enjoy how these two finally admit they are more than friends.

Spice Level: 🌶🌶

*As always, read blurb and trigger warnings before starting ⚠

[Athena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story!

I didn’t think I could love this book more than the first one, Finding Home. But it turns out I can , and I do! Sean is everything you could ever want in a book boyfriend but my favourite part of his character were his flaws. I loved that both FMC and MMC have pasts to overcome and he was not her saviour. She saved herself! Ivy is power and strength. This story broke my heart and put it back together again. I felt like I was walking with these characters as they walked through their trauma together and found peace and healing on the other side.
Just phenomenal!
Please check trigger warnings before reading but if you can, read this book for a wonderful look into overcoming trauma and finding the will to love.

[Rosie :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥🔥.5

I absolutely loved this book. Wow. I could not put it down! Absolutely heartbreaking and it’s so sensitively written, I felt every emotion during reading it.
Sean is my new favourite book BF! His character is brilliant and felt really genuine.
It was the perfect friends to lovers in my opinion. The development in the relationship was beautiful and felt so authentic and relatable. I also really liked the other storylines alongside the romance.
Ivy is so strong and I just loved to see her journey and how she overcame her trauma.
I’m looking forward to the next book.

-Trauma / healing
-Friends to lovers
-Workplace
-MMA fighter
-Neighbours

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found it sad knowing that Ivy and Sean had some traumatic experience. They both cope with it differently. As the story evolves, I found that both were great for each other not only because of their experience, but because they understand each other. Theres nothing more than to know they are evolving as the story continues.

I did think the book plot was a bit strong and may be be a huge trigger to others.

Aside from the triggers it may cause, there was some spice in it! It changes the mood from feeling bad for them to being like “get it!”

I loved the story and I can’t wait to read more from Valentina. I enjoyed her writing.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Searching for Healing . . .

Ivy Harrington can’t seem to escape the trauma from a sexual assault. She trains with Sean Thompson, a martial arts trainer, to become more confidence and learn defensive moves. But eventually, Ivy needs to get back into her life, move away from the past terror, and claim a future. The path for her is to find someone she trusts completely and begins ask for a friends-with-benefits situation. So she asks Sean. However, he already cares for her. His feelings are real. Would a friends-with-benefits work in their situation? Would Ivy be able to move forward into real love and feelings? Or will Sean be the one left with a broken heart if she walks away?

[Lindsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy is struggling with moving forward in life after a sexual assault three years prior.
She’s thriving in her career but hasn’t been intimate with anyone since that night. Thankfully she had people in her corner to help her afterwards.
Sean is now living in the apartment next door and has an interesting relationship/friendship with Ivy. They trust each other completely so it’s not surprising that Ivy asked him for help.
What she doesn’t know is that he’s not being 100% truthful with her about his past.
I LOVED these two together. Sean was exactly what she needed. He was so patient with her and knew what she needed before she did.

[Smutbookluvr · Rating 4 out of 5]

FMC: Ivy
MMC: Sean
Tropes: friends to lovers, past trauma, gym owner/trainer, neighbors
Spice Rating: 2
Series: Yes (Book Two of The Rose City Series - Interconnected Standalones)
Cliffhanger: No

This one pulls at the heartstrings. It’s a story of healing and learning to live with past trauma. Ivy’s story is unique to her but is similar to many women. This one definitely had me tearing up a bit and not just for her but for Sean’s story as well. I loved that they were able to heal together. It’s a beautiful story and I’m looking forward to seeing what this author has in store next for this series.

[Victoria S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy and Sean. Barely 60 pages in and my heart was racing and pounding wishing they would both just tell each other how they felt. But knowing Ivy’s worries from book 1, I knew she needed time. With both their individual trauma, I knew this was gonna be a good but emotional read.

To write a compassionate book with sexual trauma is hard, but I think Valentina did a smashing job with this one. I loved the curveball towards the end with Sean and Jordan. And I really hope there’s a book with Jordan’s story and hopeful love too!

This book delivered on all levels, heartfelt moments, romance, spice, love, it had it all.

Looking forward to reading Joel’s story next.

[Izobell Terrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked on this book from the start. The chemistry build up was was so hot and I loved that it had hidden grit and elements that surprised me along the way. This is not just your average romance novel its escapism at its very best. The characters had so much to offer and I got caught up in wild ride of Ivy and Sean. If you are looking for an escape of hot steamy romance, palpable chemistry build up with a mix of emotional depth and drama this is for you. I couldn't put it down and now I am waiting to see what the next instalment will be. What am I going to read now?

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was truly not expecting my emotions to run rampant in this book 😭 i knew the story was about a woman trying to find herself and fall in love again after being sexually assaulted, but i was NOT prepared to feel so invested.

i will never say that i could ever understand how someone who’s been sexually abused feels, but damn was i rooting for ivy’s success. i admired her strength, the walls she built, and the motivation she had to become stronger so she would never be pinned down against her will ever again. it was truly inspiring to read.

and sweet, sweet sean. if someone could get an award for patience, it would be this man. i loved how much respect he had for ivy. i loved that he never treated her like she was fragile, but instead like the strong woman she was trying to become. he is the definition of what love should be like post-trauma. and the scene of him reuniting with his brother 😭😭😭 lives in my head rent free. loved this book!

[Colleen Hurley Jozwiak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a difficult one to get through with a lot if past trauma, healing and coming back stronger. Ivy wants to find a FWB to help herself heal from a SA in college. She wants to move to the next stage of healing with her best friend Sean. Sean has a pat on his own. He lost both his parents when he was young and his only brother is just getting out of jail. Ivy and Sean are very careful with each other while trying to explore new things and I really appreciated that.

[Jacqui Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A romance that packs a punch! Ivy and Sean are perfect for each other, but they are also two imperfect individuals struggling with challenging pasts while striving for better futures. This is a story I love. I laughed and cried, but most of all I cheered for Ivy and Sean to earn their happily ever after. They so deserved it and the ending was super.

[Spicy_bookcorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Freedom is the second book in the Rose City Series by @valentinaburnswrites. It focuses on Ivy and Sean, who after a few years of flirting, and wanting to take ownership of her life, Ivy asks Sean for more than friends.

I ugly cried last night, whilst finishing this story. I cannot tell you how raw and unbelievably powerful this book is. Please check the TWs but I just loved everything about the way Valentina has written about healing. Sean is everything you would want a partner to be. I fell in love with him from the get go and he is just this strong, adorable and understanding man who is attuned to Ivy’s emotions. Sean is also battling some demons and my heart just ached for him.
Ivy is everything. She deserves the world.
The romance is top tier and for me, I am not going to mention the spice or use it for #smutsunday because I feel like this book deserves to be admired for its beauty.

I am sad there is currently no more for me to read in this series, but it will not be forgotten.

[blueeyed_bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book pulled all the emotions out of me. The way Sean treated Ivy was breathtaking, and I loved how he truly saw her. I was so glad that I got to see more of Gabe and Hope, they tied in so well with the story. This book had very powerful scenes that helped with rediscovery.

[Sarah John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely fantastic, a great romance novel with plenty of steam but also some great insight on life. Can’t wait to read her other books. Also can’t wait to get physical copies to put on my shelves at my bookstore.

[Karla Escutia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing the angst and chemistry between Sean and ivy was spicy and how he wanted her but did not want to loose her as friend was my favorite part and the scenes when they are together it’s just a chefs kiss 😘