What do you think?
Rate this book
Haven Bound
Her entire life has been submerged in darkness.
It's his job to bring light back into the world.
Chelsea
I fell in love with him before I was old enough to know what love is, but it wasn't until I turned eighteen that our friendship became something more. I thought we would last forever, but forever didn't include him leaving town without saying goodbye and shattering my heart in the process. Years passed and eventually, I forced myself to move on. I found someone, who for a while, filled the void left behind by Austin. Until his tone towards me turned darker, his words harsher, and his touch more painful. Escaping him wasn't easy, but I did it. Only now he's lingering over my shoulder, making his threatening presence known at every turn.
Austin
Seven years is a long time to be away from the person you love. Chelsea was my light in this otherwise dark and twisted world. Leaving her was the hardest thing I've ever had to do but it was the only way to keep her safe. I've put my job above all else since the day I left. I've never allowed myself to look back on what I left behind. Not until my latest assignment brings me right back home and into Chelsea's life.
Ridding this world of the most godawful people is something I'm good at. I've never hesitated to complete a job or question an assignment. But when I find out that my target is someone with close ties to the woman I love, I'm not sure that I can sink into the darkness while being surrounded by her light.
Haven Bound is the first book of an interconnected standalone series. It is a full-length best friend's brother, second chance romance featuring a plus-size main female character and a morally gray main male character. This book contains dark content that may be triggering for some readers. The romance aspect of this book is not dark. This book contains explicit language and sexual content.
It's his job to bring light back into the world.
Chelsea
I fell in love with him before I was old enough to know what love is, but it wasn't until I turned eighteen that our friendship became something more. I thought we would last forever, but forever didn't include him leaving town without saying goodbye and shattering my heart in the process. Years passed and eventually, I forced myself to move on. I found someone, who for a while, filled the void left behind by Austin. Until his tone towards me turned darker, his words harsher, and his touch more painful. Escaping him wasn't easy, but I did it. Only now he's lingering over my shoulder, making his threatening presence known at every turn.
Austin
Seven years is a long time to be away from the person you love. Chelsea was my light in this otherwise dark and twisted world. Leaving her was the hardest thing I've ever had to do but it was the only way to keep her safe. I've put my job above all else since the day I left. I've never allowed myself to look back on what I left behind. Not until my latest assignment brings me right back home and into Chelsea's life.
Ridding this world of the most godawful people is something I'm good at. I've never hesitated to complete a job or question an assignment. But when I find out that my target is someone with close ties to the woman I love, I'm not sure that I can sink into the darkness while being surrounded by her light.
Haven Bound is the first book of an interconnected standalone series. It is a full-length best friend's brother, second chance romance featuring a plus-size main female character and a morally gray main male character. This book contains dark content that may be triggering for some readers. The romance aspect of this book is not dark. This book contains explicit language and sexual content.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2024
50 people are currently reading
383 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
October 22, 2024
For a debut novel, this was a great book. I enjoyed Chelsea and Austin's story. I love a good small town feel and love that she ran her own bakery. Her background on abuse and trauma was beautifully done. I was wishing there was a bit more of a backstory on the characters relationship. It just felt a little to instalove after 7 years of no contact to just fall back in love right away. I loved that Chelsea was a plus size girly and Austin loved her just the same. His nickname for her!?!? love!!! overall, this was a cute read and an awesome debut novel.
January 1, 2025
The first book to finish in the new year and I absolutely loved it. The mixture of the dark elements of Austin's job and then the sweet romance. I just enjoyed it.
Austin and Chelsea were simply cute together. 🥹
Chelsea's past comes back to haunt her as well as an obsession ex bf.
Her story broke my heart and in some ways I completely related to her story.
And when Austin returns into her life...it's flipped upside down...but let's be honest, in the best of ways.
The way he is with her...protective, but not in a way that says he doesn't think she can't handle herself.
And he's so sweet. The bucket list. 🥺
Everything. Simply everything, I loved.
Austin and Chelsea were simply cute together. 🥹
Chelsea's past comes back to haunt her as well as an obsession ex bf.
Her story broke my heart and in some ways I completely related to her story.
And when Austin returns into her life...it's flipped upside down...but let's be honest, in the best of ways.
The way he is with her...protective, but not in a way that says he doesn't think she can't handle herself.
And he's so sweet. The bucket list. 🥺
Everything. Simply everything, I loved.
October 23, 2024
”Seven years is a long time to be away from the person you love, the person who has been your personal ray of light in this otherwise dark and fucked up world.”⭐⭐⭐⭐.25 🌶️🌶️.5
WHAT A DEBUT NOVEL!! Holy, I flew through this suspenseful romance and was hooked from the first few chapters. I really enjoyed the characters, plot and written style! While Chelsea’s past trauma is at the forefront of this story and motivates the events that take place, I didn’t find it too dark. Her second chance romance with Austin was full of heated tension, tender moments and super sweet gestures.
Austin is the definition of man gone for his girl and this guy FELL HARD when they were younger and never got over his feelings for Chelsea. The way he has to fight to get back in her good graces after hurting her all those years ago was so endearing. Add to that his hot mercenary vibes, the SUPER satisfactory way he’s back in her life to hunt down the men that hurt her, and a dirty mouth for days…and you’ve got a new book boyfriend!
Chelsea in her own right is a strong & ambitious FMC that melts seamlessly into Austin’s tenuous world, accepting his true self without hesitation. I loved how genuine she felt as a character, with her body doubts as a plus size woman and her courage to face her traumatic childhood.
Let’s talk spice - These two had some HEAT and chemistry for days, with some seriously good lines that had me thinking “ok…I see you Kay Thorne..you know how to bring it!” Austin is exactly the possessive, protective alpha you expect as a mercenary, while still being SO TENDER with Chelsea and so dedicated to worshipping every inch of her and showing her how desired she is 🔥
If you are looking for a steamy second chance romance with some great suspenseful plot that will keep you hooked to the end, Haven Bound is definitely worth the read!
November 3, 2024
There is no way this is a debut. No. Way.
The writing? Absolutely phenomenal!
The plot? Has you hooked the entire time!
The characters? Amazing!
I loved this story so so much! Chelsea and Austin are perfection together. I loved that even with 7 years apart they still harbor love for each other! I loved how quickly they picked back up when Austin returned and how fiercely Austin cared for and protected Chelsea through everything! Theres suspense, trauma, spice, genuine love, friendship! Everything you could possibly need for a beautiful love story! Thank you @authorkaythorne for letting me read and review!! I cannot wait to see what’s next 😍
The writing? Absolutely phenomenal!
The plot? Has you hooked the entire time!
The characters? Amazing!
I loved this story so so much! Chelsea and Austin are perfection together. I loved that even with 7 years apart they still harbor love for each other! I loved how quickly they picked back up when Austin returned and how fiercely Austin cared for and protected Chelsea through everything! Theres suspense, trauma, spice, genuine love, friendship! Everything you could possibly need for a beautiful love story! Thank you @authorkaythorne for letting me read and review!! I cannot wait to see what’s next 😍
October 4, 2024
Being an alpha reader for Haven Bound was an absolute joy, and I feel so lucky to have been part of this process with Kay! Watching this story come to life and being involved from the very beginning was such a rewarding experience, and I’m thrilled to finally see Chelsea and Austin’s story out in the world for everyone to enjoy. This book is packed with the kind of emotional depth that will have you completely hooked from the first page.
Chelsea is a beautifully strong, plus-sized heroine whose life has been filled with darkness, but her resilience is incredible. She’s been through so much pain, yet she doesn’t give up—her story is one of strength, survival, and rediscovering her worth. Austin, on the other hand, is that perfect mix of a morally gray hero, whose tough exterior hides the heart of someone who only wants to protect the woman he’s loved for so long. He left her for reasons that tore them both apart, but as fate would have it, he’s brought back into her life—and the chemistry between them is still electric.
What I love most about this book is how it balances the darkness of Chelsea’s past with the hope and love she finds again with Austin. There are some really tough moments that will break your heart, but Kay handles it all with care, allowing Chelsea to reclaim her strength while still showing the tender and intense connection between her and Austin. It’s the perfect second-chance romance with just the right amount of tension and swoon-worthy moments!
This story had me on the edge of my seat, completely absorbed in the emotional stakes. The pacing was spot on, and the plot twists kept me guessing. And of course, the romantic elements are fire—I was rooting for Chelsea and Austin the entire time. I seriously cannot wait for book 2 in this series because if Haven Bound is any indication, Kay is going to continue delivering the kind of stories that pull at your heartstrings and leave you craving more. If you’re a fan of second-chance romance with a touch of suspense and a lot of heart, Haven Bound is an absolute must-read!
This book will stay with me for a long time. Kay’s ability to write characters who feel so real, and a storyline that keeps you emotionally invested, is truly a gift. I’m counting down the days until the next book in the series releases!
Chelsea is a beautifully strong, plus-sized heroine whose life has been filled with darkness, but her resilience is incredible. She’s been through so much pain, yet she doesn’t give up—her story is one of strength, survival, and rediscovering her worth. Austin, on the other hand, is that perfect mix of a morally gray hero, whose tough exterior hides the heart of someone who only wants to protect the woman he’s loved for so long. He left her for reasons that tore them both apart, but as fate would have it, he’s brought back into her life—and the chemistry between them is still electric.
What I love most about this book is how it balances the darkness of Chelsea’s past with the hope and love she finds again with Austin. There are some really tough moments that will break your heart, but Kay handles it all with care, allowing Chelsea to reclaim her strength while still showing the tender and intense connection between her and Austin. It’s the perfect second-chance romance with just the right amount of tension and swoon-worthy moments!
This story had me on the edge of my seat, completely absorbed in the emotional stakes. The pacing was spot on, and the plot twists kept me guessing. And of course, the romantic elements are fire—I was rooting for Chelsea and Austin the entire time. I seriously cannot wait for book 2 in this series because if Haven Bound is any indication, Kay is going to continue delivering the kind of stories that pull at your heartstrings and leave you craving more. If you’re a fan of second-chance romance with a touch of suspense and a lot of heart, Haven Bound is an absolute must-read!
This book will stay with me for a long time. Kay’s ability to write characters who feel so real, and a storyline that keeps you emotionally invested, is truly a gift. I’m counting down the days until the next book in the series releases!
October 27, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. Firstly, I'm stunned that this is a debut novel because of how well it was thought out and executed. Knowing that some struggles that Chelsea deals with in the book stem from the author's own experience made me truly love this book even more, knowing how much courage it takes to write something so personal.
This had all the elements that I love in a second-chance romance. The angst, pining, friendship, and heartbreak were so well done, and it broke my heart to see how two people who were so absolutely in love had to part ways due to their circumstances. I also get why Austin couldn't tell her about it sooner because watching her look at him differently would've crushed him.
The topics of abuse and trauma were well dealt with, giving the readers an insight into what it is like to go through such an experience and what the aftereffects are. The situations were realistic, even if a little hard to read, which made it that much more authentic.
Chelsea was such an amazing character whom I deeply admired and rooted for. She was so much stronger than she realized, and I loved how Austin made her see that. Her past experience with abuse had deeply impacted her, and she still carried the emotional scars. Having a mother who battled with a mental illness herself wasn't easy, and she is trying to navigate her relationship with her mother while also setting up strict boundaries for her own well-being. I really liked the therapy session, which delves deeper into her thoughts on her relationship with her mother and how the only actions and reactions she had control over were her own.
I honestly loved watching Chelsea slowly getting her confidence back with Austin's presence in her life and his constant reassurance and admiration. Watching her fight back all the negative thoughts that plagued her and learning to love herself and find a true sense of peace and freedom was a wonderful journey to witness.
Austin was such a treasure, and I loved how dedicated and committed he was to Chelsea, even when he wasn't in her life for seven years. When he left Haven Beach, he had all but given up on his dreams of a future with Chelsea due to his commitment to his family and their legacy. But once he was back in town and ran into Chelsea, it was like all his feelings came rushing back to the forefront, and he couldn't shove them down this time. The more time he spent around her, the more his resolve grew to never leave her again. Given his job as an assassin, he had insecurities of his own about how Chelsea would react to him once she found out and whether he would lose her if she did. I love, love, love how much Austin loved Chelsea and showed her that with his words and actions.
The romance between Austin and Chelsea was just so heartwarming that you can't help but want them to find their way back to each other. There were some flashback scenes from when they were younger, and those little glimpses into their past were enough to show just how right they were together. In the present, Austin and Chelsea fell into old habits so easily, and finding that level of comfort with each other felt so natural.
They truly helped each other fight their demons and grounded each other. Their unwavering love and loyalty for each other helped them confront their trauma, doubts, and insecurities and slowly feel a sense of hope that they were worthy of more.
The spice was SO good, which was made better by their history, their emotional connection, and how these were also moments that helped Chelsea overcome the insecurities that had been drilled into her mind for years. Austin absolutely worshiped her body and always made it known just how beautiful and gorgeous she was, which slowly helped her let go of the negative thoughts of feeling unattractive.
The situation with her stalker ex definitely kept me on edge, especially when things started getting more tense with time. When it came to her ex, Chelsea's reactions were understandable given her past, but I also loved how resilient she was and didn't break despite everything he tried.
Hailey and Ethan were wonderful and were always there for Chelsea through the years, standing by her side during all the highs and lows, and you couldn't ask for better friends, really.
That epilogue left such a huge smile on my face because, DAMNNNN!! Austin is so freaking swoon-worthy.
I truly hope Kay Thorne continues writing many more books, and I would absolutely read them. And I'm really looking forward to this being a series so we get Zack/Quinn and Ethan/Hailey's books next.
Thank you so very much, Kay Thorne, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This had all the elements that I love in a second-chance romance. The angst, pining, friendship, and heartbreak were so well done, and it broke my heart to see how two people who were so absolutely in love had to part ways due to their circumstances. I also get why Austin couldn't tell her about it sooner because watching her look at him differently would've crushed him.
The topics of abuse and trauma were well dealt with, giving the readers an insight into what it is like to go through such an experience and what the aftereffects are. The situations were realistic, even if a little hard to read, which made it that much more authentic.
Chelsea was such an amazing character whom I deeply admired and rooted for. She was so much stronger than she realized, and I loved how Austin made her see that. Her past experience with abuse had deeply impacted her, and she still carried the emotional scars. Having a mother who battled with a mental illness herself wasn't easy, and she is trying to navigate her relationship with her mother while also setting up strict boundaries for her own well-being. I really liked the therapy session, which delves deeper into her thoughts on her relationship with her mother and how the only actions and reactions she had control over were her own.
I honestly loved watching Chelsea slowly getting her confidence back with Austin's presence in her life and his constant reassurance and admiration. Watching her fight back all the negative thoughts that plagued her and learning to love herself and find a true sense of peace and freedom was a wonderful journey to witness.
Austin was such a treasure, and I loved how dedicated and committed he was to Chelsea, even when he wasn't in her life for seven years. When he left Haven Beach, he had all but given up on his dreams of a future with Chelsea due to his commitment to his family and their legacy. But once he was back in town and ran into Chelsea, it was like all his feelings came rushing back to the forefront, and he couldn't shove them down this time. The more time he spent around her, the more his resolve grew to never leave her again. Given his job as an assassin, he had insecurities of his own about how Chelsea would react to him once she found out and whether he would lose her if she did. I love, love, love how much Austin loved Chelsea and showed her that with his words and actions.
The romance between Austin and Chelsea was just so heartwarming that you can't help but want them to find their way back to each other. There were some flashback scenes from when they were younger, and those little glimpses into their past were enough to show just how right they were together. In the present, Austin and Chelsea fell into old habits so easily, and finding that level of comfort with each other felt so natural.
They truly helped each other fight their demons and grounded each other. Their unwavering love and loyalty for each other helped them confront their trauma, doubts, and insecurities and slowly feel a sense of hope that they were worthy of more.
The spice was SO good, which was made better by their history, their emotional connection, and how these were also moments that helped Chelsea overcome the insecurities that had been drilled into her mind for years. Austin absolutely worshiped her body and always made it known just how beautiful and gorgeous she was, which slowly helped her let go of the negative thoughts of feeling unattractive.
The situation with her stalker ex definitely kept me on edge, especially when things started getting more tense with time. When it came to her ex, Chelsea's reactions were understandable given her past, but I also loved how resilient she was and didn't break despite everything he tried.
Hailey and Ethan were wonderful and were always there for Chelsea through the years, standing by her side during all the highs and lows, and you couldn't ask for better friends, really.
That epilogue left such a huge smile on my face because, DAMNNNN!! Austin is so freaking swoon-worthy.
I truly hope Kay Thorne continues writing many more books, and I would absolutely read them. And I'm really looking forward to this being a series so we get Zack/Quinn and Ethan/Hailey's books next.
Thank you so very much, Kay Thorne, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2024
THIS BOOK! Ah! I loved every little bit of this.
So basically you have Chelsea, curvy FMC with a traumatic past, who is working through her trauma and living her life as a bakery owner. Then you have Austin, Chelsea's first love who disappeared when they were teenagers, and shows up in their hometown out of nowhere. Little does Chelsea know, Austin is back in town because his family "eliminates" people who do bad things, and Austin is one of those people who does the eliminations.
With Austin's arrival back in Haven Beach, he helps Chelsea's confidence grow along with their love for each other. They are the cutest when they are together and Austin is very much your morally grey, but golden retriever for her, MMC. And Chelsea is honestly the most relatable FMC ever - I am her, she is me.
Obviously they go through a set of issues (I don't want to ruin any surprises!) But let's just say that I was shooketh and screaming so much. Absolutely loved and can't wait for everyone to read this!
So basically you have Chelsea, curvy FMC with a traumatic past, who is working through her trauma and living her life as a bakery owner. Then you have Austin, Chelsea's first love who disappeared when they were teenagers, and shows up in their hometown out of nowhere. Little does Chelsea know, Austin is back in town because his family "eliminates" people who do bad things, and Austin is one of those people who does the eliminations.
With Austin's arrival back in Haven Beach, he helps Chelsea's confidence grow along with their love for each other. They are the cutest when they are together and Austin is very much your morally grey, but golden retriever for her, MMC. And Chelsea is honestly the most relatable FMC ever - I am her, she is me.
Obviously they go through a set of issues (I don't want to ruin any surprises!) But let's just say that I was shooketh and screaming so much. Absolutely loved and can't wait for everyone to read this!
August 31, 2024
How is this Kay’s first book??? This blew me away. She writes with sooooo much heart and love. You can tell she poured her entire soul into this beautiful story.
Chelsea and Austin were perfect for each other, they belonged together. Austin is Chelsea’s best friend’s brother, they grew up together, and so belong. But when Austin suddenly goes away, without any explanation, Chelsea is heartbroken. Years later, she comes face to face with Austin, the one that got away.
Sooooo much heart and joy goes into this story. But also a lot of darkness, suspense and shocking moments. I was on the edge of my seat the entire story. This is soooo good! I was very honored to read it early! I mean it when I say, Kay is an incredible story teller! I was drawn in from the very first page.
Chelsea and Austin were perfect for each other, they belonged together. Austin is Chelsea’s best friend’s brother, they grew up together, and so belong. But when Austin suddenly goes away, without any explanation, Chelsea is heartbroken. Years later, she comes face to face with Austin, the one that got away.
Sooooo much heart and joy goes into this story. But also a lot of darkness, suspense and shocking moments. I was on the edge of my seat the entire story. This is soooo good! I was very honored to read it early! I mean it when I say, Kay is an incredible story teller! I was drawn in from the very first page.
October 22, 2024
Haven Bound
Kay Thorne
332 pgs
"Austin Anders could never be the villain in my story because he's always been the hero."
It's rare to read a debut novel that is a winner out of the gate. Kay Thorne's Haven Bound is such a book, and I enjoyed every minute of reading it. I will say that Haven Bound deals with some heavy content, and the FMC Chelsea goes through heavy trauma at a young age and at the current time of the story. Part of that trauma was her best friend and first love, Austin, leaving without warning her senior year. Austin's back and drama is ramping up in Haven Beach, and we're along for the emotionally charged ride. Kay Thorne did an excellent job of tackling some very heavy emotional subjects with a gentle hand. It hit hard and fast, but reading Chelsea's journey to healing was very cathartic. The connection between Chelsea and Austin was fraught with mistakes and uncertainty, but what wasn't uncertain was how Austin felt about her.
Reading how their relationship was stitched back together was heartwarming, and the spicy scenes were sizzling! Kay also gave us a little possessive MMC with Austin, and I loved it! Overall, Haven Bound was well written, evenly paced, and full of characters that added to the story and supported Chelsea and Austin. While I suggest checking trigger warnings to be safe, anyone looking for a positive, curvy FMC representation, soul mate romance with the perfect spice, and some absolute revenge should pick this book up yesterday.
"Austin Anders loves me exactly as I am. Imperfections and traumas be damned. He's never asked me to change. Not when we were younger and not now. For all the men who have told me that I'm worthless, Austin tells me that I'm worth everything. It's his words that I will forever be clinging to when I find myself becoming immersed in darkness."
Thank you, Kay, for writing a book where the curvy girl gets the guy, grows into a strong, beautiful woman, and starts to move past her trauma. May we all find our Austin and ourselves. Opinions expressed in this review are mine and mine alone.
Kay Thorne
332 pgs
"Austin Anders could never be the villain in my story because he's always been the hero."
It's rare to read a debut novel that is a winner out of the gate. Kay Thorne's Haven Bound is such a book, and I enjoyed every minute of reading it. I will say that Haven Bound deals with some heavy content, and the FMC Chelsea goes through heavy trauma at a young age and at the current time of the story. Part of that trauma was her best friend and first love, Austin, leaving without warning her senior year. Austin's back and drama is ramping up in Haven Beach, and we're along for the emotionally charged ride. Kay Thorne did an excellent job of tackling some very heavy emotional subjects with a gentle hand. It hit hard and fast, but reading Chelsea's journey to healing was very cathartic. The connection between Chelsea and Austin was fraught with mistakes and uncertainty, but what wasn't uncertain was how Austin felt about her.
Reading how their relationship was stitched back together was heartwarming, and the spicy scenes were sizzling! Kay also gave us a little possessive MMC with Austin, and I loved it! Overall, Haven Bound was well written, evenly paced, and full of characters that added to the story and supported Chelsea and Austin. While I suggest checking trigger warnings to be safe, anyone looking for a positive, curvy FMC representation, soul mate romance with the perfect spice, and some absolute revenge should pick this book up yesterday.
"Austin Anders loves me exactly as I am. Imperfections and traumas be damned. He's never asked me to change. Not when we were younger and not now. For all the men who have told me that I'm worthless, Austin tells me that I'm worth everything. It's his words that I will forever be clinging to when I find myself becoming immersed in darkness."
Thank you, Kay, for writing a book where the curvy girl gets the guy, grows into a strong, beautiful woman, and starts to move past her trauma. May we all find our Austin and ourselves. Opinions expressed in this review are mine and mine alone.
October 22, 2024
“My entire body shudders at the image and I find myself having to brace one hand against the shower wall as the other continues stroking my aching cock.”
Haven Bound by @authorkaythorne
Austin MF Anders. 🥵 Hitman by day, cinnamon roll by night.
The true epitome of “I’ll slǐt your throat” and “aww baby come here.”
Chelsea is our curvy girl and baddie bakery goddess who gave away her heart a long time ago and never really got it back (iykyk the movie). She has been through so damn much that she is in constant fight or flight and isn’t sure she’ll ever be that girl she once was.
Guess who comes back to town!?
Austin comes back to Haven Beach for an assignment and an ASSignment to get his girl back. And does he ever worship her when he gets the chance to finally claim her! 😈💦
Small town, touch her and die, and found family are just a very of the trope selection.
Normally I’m a pitch black romance girlie but THIS RIGHT HERE, made me kick my feet like a school girl. It was the perfect amount of dark and romantic. I DEVOURED this! I sincerely loved it! I’m so proud of you Kay! 🖤
*check the triggers. Past traumas galore in here.
#havenbound #kaythorne #austinanders #chelseagilmore #romance #smalltown #lovers #plussizeFMC
Haven Bound by @authorkaythorne
Austin MF Anders. 🥵 Hitman by day, cinnamon roll by night.
The true epitome of “I’ll slǐt your throat” and “aww baby come here.”
Chelsea is our curvy girl and baddie bakery goddess who gave away her heart a long time ago and never really got it back (iykyk the movie). She has been through so damn much that she is in constant fight or flight and isn’t sure she’ll ever be that girl she once was.
Guess who comes back to town!?
Austin comes back to Haven Beach for an assignment and an ASSignment to get his girl back. And does he ever worship her when he gets the chance to finally claim her! 😈💦
Small town, touch her and die, and found family are just a very of the trope selection.
Normally I’m a pitch black romance girlie but THIS RIGHT HERE, made me kick my feet like a school girl. It was the perfect amount of dark and romantic. I DEVOURED this! I sincerely loved it! I’m so proud of you Kay! 🖤
*check the triggers. Past traumas galore in here.
#havenbound #kaythorne #austinanders #chelseagilmore #romance #smalltown #lovers #plussizeFMC
October 22, 2024
Tropes:
💙 Romantic Suspense
💙 Plus Size FMC
💙 Second Chance
💙 Darker Themes
💙 Best Friend’s Brother
💙 Mercenary x Baker
💙 Spicy
“𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔. 𝙻𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚓𝚘𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜. 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎.”
I received an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review. A huge thank you for this honor to read this early! 🫶🏻 These are 100% my true feelings and unbiased opinions on this book. Thank you Kay for reaching out about this ARC!
I love me a good small town romance, add in some darker themes AND a plus sized FMC… ding ding ding we have a winner!! Such an amazing debut novel! Second chance romances are truly becoming a favorite for me, I love the overwhelming emotions that you feel when reading one! I truly felt for Chelsea and her trauma, I was rooting for her and so happy to see her have her happy ending! Austin is a top-notch book bf and the connection and chemistry between the 2 was undeniable! I love when a morally gray man has a very soft interior especially for his lady!
This story gave me all I wanted and more! Chelsea was so sweet and so strong, Austin was soooo hot and the spice was incredible! So many emotions, and such an impactful story. Kay handled tough topics with grace! Thank you Kay for reaching out to me about this ARC! It was an honor to read your debut! 🌻
💙 Romantic Suspense
💙 Plus Size FMC
💙 Second Chance
💙 Darker Themes
💙 Best Friend’s Brother
💙 Mercenary x Baker
💙 Spicy
“𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔. 𝙻𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚓𝚘𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜. 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎.”
I received an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review. A huge thank you for this honor to read this early! 🫶🏻 These are 100% my true feelings and unbiased opinions on this book. Thank you Kay for reaching out about this ARC!
I love me a good small town romance, add in some darker themes AND a plus sized FMC… ding ding ding we have a winner!! Such an amazing debut novel! Second chance romances are truly becoming a favorite for me, I love the overwhelming emotions that you feel when reading one! I truly felt for Chelsea and her trauma, I was rooting for her and so happy to see her have her happy ending! Austin is a top-notch book bf and the connection and chemistry between the 2 was undeniable! I love when a morally gray man has a very soft interior especially for his lady!
This story gave me all I wanted and more! Chelsea was so sweet and so strong, Austin was soooo hot and the spice was incredible! So many emotions, and such an impactful story. Kay handled tough topics with grace! Thank you Kay for reaching out to me about this ARC! It was an honor to read your debut! 🌻
October 29, 2024
What a STELLAR debut from Kay Thorne!
This story had me laughing, crying and clutching my imaginary pearls throughout the entire book.
Chelsea is a curvy baker who refuses to let her past issues define who she is and consume her life. Coming from a troubled household with a mentally unstable mother and an abusive step-father, she became very close to Hailey Anders and eventually was taken in by them when she was a teenager. Chelsea and Hailey's brother Austin have had crushes on each other since they met but when Austin just packs up and leaves one day, Chelsea is left heartbroken. Fast-forward several years and Austin is back in town, although Chelsea doesn't know why, she isn't upset about it at all.
This story is a PERFECT second-chance, small town romance with a morally grey....lets just call him a "fixer". While there's a LOT of trauma to unpack in this story, its written so well it makes you feel all the emotions each character is feeling . The mental health representation and the care that each of these characters all have for each other is amazing, it shows the love that they all have for each other and truly shows the lengths that some people will go to for the people they love.
This story had me laughing, crying and clutching my imaginary pearls throughout the entire book.
Chelsea is a curvy baker who refuses to let her past issues define who she is and consume her life. Coming from a troubled household with a mentally unstable mother and an abusive step-father, she became very close to Hailey Anders and eventually was taken in by them when she was a teenager. Chelsea and Hailey's brother Austin have had crushes on each other since they met but when Austin just packs up and leaves one day, Chelsea is left heartbroken. Fast-forward several years and Austin is back in town, although Chelsea doesn't know why, she isn't upset about it at all.
This story is a PERFECT second-chance, small town romance with a morally grey....lets just call him a "fixer". While there's a LOT of trauma to unpack in this story, its written so well it makes you feel all the emotions each character is feeling . The mental health representation and the care that each of these characters all have for each other is amazing, it shows the love that they all have for each other and truly shows the lengths that some people will go to for the people they love.
October 27, 2024
**ARC Review**
This book felt like coming home. It was so comforting and had those elements of suspense that leave me hanging on for more with each and every page, right up until the end!
Cheers to Kay on this beautiful debut! I love a good story of how the main character's overcome the darkness they have been through, in order to let their light shine! This book was both cozy & captivating and I am so happy I got the chance to read it early!
The second chance aspect in this was so unique in the fact that the MMC had been gone for seven years after basically leading our FMC on, knowing he would have to leave, but oh the reunion was EVERYTHING! There is nothing like a second-chance romance where the FMC & MMC were "childhood friends", it is packed with tension and so fun to read!
Add in the nickname "Sunflower" & I was smitten with these two!
Austin returns with no intentions of our curvy, smart mouthed FMC Chelsea still being within his grasp, but immediately realizes just how much trouble he is in. But what he doesn't realize until later just might tear them apart again, not to mention putting Chelsea at risk.
Will the secrets they keep from each other tear them apart for good?
I guess you'll have to read it to find out!
This book felt like coming home. It was so comforting and had those elements of suspense that leave me hanging on for more with each and every page, right up until the end!
Cheers to Kay on this beautiful debut! I love a good story of how the main character's overcome the darkness they have been through, in order to let their light shine! This book was both cozy & captivating and I am so happy I got the chance to read it early!
The second chance aspect in this was so unique in the fact that the MMC had been gone for seven years after basically leading our FMC on, knowing he would have to leave, but oh the reunion was EVERYTHING! There is nothing like a second-chance romance where the FMC & MMC were "childhood friends", it is packed with tension and so fun to read!
Add in the nickname "Sunflower" & I was smitten with these two!
Austin returns with no intentions of our curvy, smart mouthed FMC Chelsea still being within his grasp, but immediately realizes just how much trouble he is in. But what he doesn't realize until later just might tear them apart again, not to mention putting Chelsea at risk.
Will the secrets they keep from each other tear them apart for good?
I guess you'll have to read it to find out!
October 23, 2024
This was such a great book for a debut novel! A new fan of Kay Thorne here! Austin and Chelsea are childhood friends to lovers and then Austin disappears at age 20, Chelsea is 18. 7 years later they reunite and begin to put the pieces back together of their relationship they once had. Haven Bound has some of my favorite tropes; touch her and die (Austin is a mercenary for his family’s business) and unalives the bad guys which is why he left Chelsea all those years ago which she had no clue. Chelsea is a plus size woman with body image issues to do childhood and emotional relationship abuse. Her stepfather and ex boyfriend did a number on her but she got the help she needed and go through with Austin by her side. It was a beautiful and heartbreaking story. The spice was also on point and Austin is a top tier book boyfriend. I loved it!
October 12, 2024
Pub date: October 22, 2024!
Thank you author Kay Thorne for reaching out to me to be an ARC reader!!!
“Do something that you will cause an anxious reaction but in a controlled environment where you know you’re safe.”
“Austin Anders could never be the villain in my story because he’s always been the hero.”
“You were the first thing I thought of when I woke up every morning, the last thing I thought of when I went to bed every night, and the only thing I ever dreamed of while I slept.”
This book was GOOOOOOD. Like wow. I’ve been in a hard slump and I didn’t think this would pick me up like it did. It was one of those books that if I started I had to finish in one sitting (and did) because it just grips you in right away. I am pickyyyyy when it comes to second chance and this is done sooooo perfectly God bless Kay Thorne for real. I love the mental health representation in the story, sweet Chelsea has been through the wringer in life but seeing her growth at the end ugh is just sooo powerful. Plus she’s a plus sized girlie and her finding her confidence made me so happy.
Austin is EVERYTHING. I loved his willingness to protect, like he almost didn’t have a second thought when it came to doing what needs to be done for his family. Although it was a hard choice and it continues to be for him, he will do ANYTHING for those he loves. He his also a hugeeeee caretaker in more ways than one ;)
If you love second chance, suspense, found family, and sweet treats this is the book for you!! It’s such a great and easy read, I feel like it’s one I’ll pick up again and can DEFINITELY lift you out of that slump! Did I mention the chapters are short?? Yes please.
Thank you author Kay Thorne for reaching out to me to be an ARC reader!!!
“Do something that you will cause an anxious reaction but in a controlled environment where you know you’re safe.”
“Austin Anders could never be the villain in my story because he’s always been the hero.”
“You were the first thing I thought of when I woke up every morning, the last thing I thought of when I went to bed every night, and the only thing I ever dreamed of while I slept.”
This book was GOOOOOOD. Like wow. I’ve been in a hard slump and I didn’t think this would pick me up like it did. It was one of those books that if I started I had to finish in one sitting (and did) because it just grips you in right away. I am pickyyyyy when it comes to second chance and this is done sooooo perfectly God bless Kay Thorne for real. I love the mental health representation in the story, sweet Chelsea has been through the wringer in life but seeing her growth at the end ugh is just sooo powerful. Plus she’s a plus sized girlie and her finding her confidence made me so happy.
Austin is EVERYTHING. I loved his willingness to protect, like he almost didn’t have a second thought when it came to doing what needs to be done for his family. Although it was a hard choice and it continues to be for him, he will do ANYTHING for those he loves. He his also a hugeeeee caretaker in more ways than one ;)
If you love second chance, suspense, found family, and sweet treats this is the book for you!! It’s such a great and easy read, I feel like it’s one I’ll pick up again and can DEFINITELY lift you out of that slump! Did I mention the chapters are short?? Yes please.
October 12, 2024
Hey book besties! Let’s spill the tea about Haven Bound by Kay Thorne!!!
Are you into sexy Batman-esque mercenaries? How about adorable, curvy, FMCs, that aren’t annoying? Well then Austin and Chelsea are your next favorite characters! Chelsea has a lifetime of trauma she is running from and Austin is ready to protect her at any cost! This second chance romance is definitely cozy! But be sure to look at the trigger warnings as the trauma is very authentic. That being said the action starts on page one and never lets up until the last page! I had to binge this one because I had to know what happened next!
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Heartthrob: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Are you into sexy Batman-esque mercenaries? How about adorable, curvy, FMCs, that aren’t annoying? Well then Austin and Chelsea are your next favorite characters! Chelsea has a lifetime of trauma she is running from and Austin is ready to protect her at any cost! This second chance romance is definitely cozy! But be sure to look at the trigger warnings as the trauma is very authentic. That being said the action starts on page one and never lets up until the last page! I had to binge this one because I had to know what happened next!
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Heartthrob: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
October 29, 2024
Haven Bound was a great read. The author thoroughly developed the characters - the FMC Chelsea, owns a bakery, has a traumatic history, seeking therapy, some anxiety issues, and has a second chance at love after a seven year separation. Austin, the MMC is a softie but has had to harden up for the life that took him away from Chelsea. There are some good side characters that I hope we get to see more of in the next book. Overall, I think Kay did an awesome job of writing this story, tackling the dark elements with ease and showing just how sweet the love was between the MC’s.
January 3, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Austin and Chelsea. What a wild ride this book was !!-: my first book of the new year I couldn’t have asked for any more than they gave. This book was all things sweet, spicy, (holy heck Kay can write some SPOICE 🥵) and heart stopping anxiety with the Romantic Suspense aspect that had me biting my nails.
I’m just going to say, I am firmly in my Romantic Suspense Era this year, and I enjoyed this one so much.
Austin is back in town after being gone for super top secret family business for 7 years. He left Chelsea behind when things were just starting to heat up between them, and Chelsea is shocked to see he’s back in town.
Chelsea has been through enough in her life. She doesn’t need someone else to break her heart. Especially when she let Austin break it once before.
But Austin is in town for business, and that business might be closer to Chelsea than either of them know.
I loved seeing their relationship progress. They had a lot to catch up on after so many years. And I truly felt like they never really fell out of love with one another, they just learned how to cope with the loss.
Once these two were all in? They were ALL IN. Austin is so overprotective over Chels, and Chelsea for once in her life has no problem being cared for and protected by someone who cares for her.
THIS MAN KEPT THEIR LIST. A list of things they always said they would do together. FROM SEVEN YEARS AGO. He kept it. Told her to add some more things to it 🥹 I can’t. So sweet.
Also, he’s got a massive back / shoulder / bicep tattoo.. just saying 😂😌
Also, also.. this man is OBSESSED and I mean OBSESSED with his plus sized queen. Like LOVESSS her body. Can’t help himself. Gotta have it at all times OBSESSED. And he never fails to tell her how beautiful she is to him 🥹
I can’t wait for the next books in this series because this one was FULL of easter eggs that have me wondering.. who’s next? We have a couple of couples it could be! This won’t be my last Kay Thorne read, that’s for darn sure !
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Austin and Chelsea. What a wild ride this book was !!-: my first book of the new year I couldn’t have asked for any more than they gave. This book was all things sweet, spicy, (holy heck Kay can write some SPOICE 🥵) and heart stopping anxiety with the Romantic Suspense aspect that had me biting my nails.
I’m just going to say, I am firmly in my Romantic Suspense Era this year, and I enjoyed this one so much.
Austin is back in town after being gone for super top secret family business for 7 years. He left Chelsea behind when things were just starting to heat up between them, and Chelsea is shocked to see he’s back in town.
Chelsea has been through enough in her life. She doesn’t need someone else to break her heart. Especially when she let Austin break it once before.
But Austin is in town for business, and that business might be closer to Chelsea than either of them know.
I loved seeing their relationship progress. They had a lot to catch up on after so many years. And I truly felt like they never really fell out of love with one another, they just learned how to cope with the loss.
Once these two were all in? They were ALL IN. Austin is so overprotective over Chels, and Chelsea for once in her life has no problem being cared for and protected by someone who cares for her.
THIS MAN KEPT THEIR LIST. A list of things they always said they would do together. FROM SEVEN YEARS AGO. He kept it. Told her to add some more things to it 🥹 I can’t. So sweet.
Also, he’s got a massive back / shoulder / bicep tattoo.. just saying 😂😌
Also, also.. this man is OBSESSED and I mean OBSESSED with his plus sized queen. Like LOVESSS her body. Can’t help himself. Gotta have it at all times OBSESSED. And he never fails to tell her how beautiful she is to him 🥹
I can’t wait for the next books in this series because this one was FULL of easter eggs that have me wondering.. who’s next? We have a couple of couples it could be! This won’t be my last Kay Thorne read, that’s for darn sure !
October 23, 2024
4.5
This was a sweet book! Definitely a cozy read with some well written spice 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵 like damn.
It's about a girl with an abusive childhood who reunites with her best friends brother whom she had a secret thing with before we mysteriously had to leave her for 7 years. Austin is swoony 😍 I want to be his sunflower
This was a sweet book! Definitely a cozy read with some well written spice 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵 like damn.
It's about a girl with an abusive childhood who reunites with her best friends brother whom she had a secret thing with before we mysteriously had to leave her for 7 years. Austin is swoony 😍 I want to be his sunflower
October 20, 2024
What a phenomenal debut for Kay Thorne! After reading this book, I’ve found myself completely in love with her writing. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the story and characters were thought out and executed, especially for this being her first novel. Everything flowed beautifully and the end left me craving more from Haven Beach!
Austin Anders… Where to begin with this intense, beautiful man! Austin has to be one of the best book boyfriends ever written. He’s the perfect mix of alpha male, golden retriever, touch her and die, and melt your heart. His fierce need to protect others and destroy the bad guys while being soft and gentle for the woman he loves was so deliciously attractive. I found myself absolutely melting for him at every turn, especially at the nickname and the list! It broke my heart that he had to give up his dreams and walk away from the love of his life in order to keep her safe and honor his commitment to the family business. Thankfully, a new and unexpected assignment brought him home and right back to her, where he belonged. The more time he spent at home and in Chelsea’s presence, the more he couldn’t fight his feelings for her. Leaving a second time just wasn’t an option and watching him come to that realization was a huge highlight for me!
Chelsea Gilmore is such an amazing female main character. I can relate to her personally on so many levels. As a woman who has suffered from body issues and dealt with trauma from an abusive relationship myself, I really have a soft spot in my heart for her. I loved watching her overcome her insecurities and blossom under the kind of love that Austin showered her in. Once she discovered her voice and how to use it, she became the best version of her true self. I really loved that for her!
The amount of love between Austin and Chelsea was so breathtaking for me. From the beginning of the book to the very end, you could FEEL it. It was so undeniable and so unwavering. They both were the light in the darkness for each other. They worshipped each other. They saved each other. This was probably my favorite thing about the whole book because I know what it’s like to go from the relationship that destroys you to the one that’s everything you’ve ever dreamed of and more. It’s life changing!
Also, the chemistry and sexual tension between these two was so off the charts! I can’t tell you how many times I gasped, giggled, screamed and danced in my seat while reading. Austin has that BDE — Any sexy “d” word applies to this man, so use whichever one you see fit! And, as a proud member of the thick girls club myself, I can’t get enough of a sassy, sexy, curvy bombshell of a woman like Chelsea! Her finding her confidence under Austin’s praise was so incredibly hot. These two are nothing but a raging fire together!
To quickly touch on the suspense — There were a few unexpected twists that I didn’t see coming, which left me shocked and wanting to read further! Bravo to Kay for keeping us readers on our toes!
As for the epilogue, I’m so happy that Kay decided to write one because it tied everything together perfectly. I really loved the length of it and the dual pov. I feel like that’s something you hardly ever see in romance epilogues, so that was a huge bonus for me.
I can’t tell you how excited I am over this debut for Kay. Haven Bound has to be book one in a series. I desperately need Ethan and Hailey’s story and Zack and Quinn’s — There’s a whole lot brewing between these characters and I think I speak for everyone when I say that we want and need more!
Kay — Thank you for making me a part of your ARC team and giving me the opportunity to read your first book. You really poured yourself into this and it shows. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the fact that you allowed yourself to be vulnerable enough to write based on your own personal experiences. You really spoke up for us girls who’ve suffered from trauma and body issues. I feel so seen and represented! I think you have a very big future ahead of you and I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Austin Anders… Where to begin with this intense, beautiful man! Austin has to be one of the best book boyfriends ever written. He’s the perfect mix of alpha male, golden retriever, touch her and die, and melt your heart. His fierce need to protect others and destroy the bad guys while being soft and gentle for the woman he loves was so deliciously attractive. I found myself absolutely melting for him at every turn, especially at the nickname and the list! It broke my heart that he had to give up his dreams and walk away from the love of his life in order to keep her safe and honor his commitment to the family business. Thankfully, a new and unexpected assignment brought him home and right back to her, where he belonged. The more time he spent at home and in Chelsea’s presence, the more he couldn’t fight his feelings for her. Leaving a second time just wasn’t an option and watching him come to that realization was a huge highlight for me!
Chelsea Gilmore is such an amazing female main character. I can relate to her personally on so many levels. As a woman who has suffered from body issues and dealt with trauma from an abusive relationship myself, I really have a soft spot in my heart for her. I loved watching her overcome her insecurities and blossom under the kind of love that Austin showered her in. Once she discovered her voice and how to use it, she became the best version of her true self. I really loved that for her!
The amount of love between Austin and Chelsea was so breathtaking for me. From the beginning of the book to the very end, you could FEEL it. It was so undeniable and so unwavering. They both were the light in the darkness for each other. They worshipped each other. They saved each other. This was probably my favorite thing about the whole book because I know what it’s like to go from the relationship that destroys you to the one that’s everything you’ve ever dreamed of and more. It’s life changing!
Also, the chemistry and sexual tension between these two was so off the charts! I can’t tell you how many times I gasped, giggled, screamed and danced in my seat while reading. Austin has that BDE — Any sexy “d” word applies to this man, so use whichever one you see fit! And, as a proud member of the thick girls club myself, I can’t get enough of a sassy, sexy, curvy bombshell of a woman like Chelsea! Her finding her confidence under Austin’s praise was so incredibly hot. These two are nothing but a raging fire together!
To quickly touch on the suspense — There were a few unexpected twists that I didn’t see coming, which left me shocked and wanting to read further! Bravo to Kay for keeping us readers on our toes!
As for the epilogue, I’m so happy that Kay decided to write one because it tied everything together perfectly. I really loved the length of it and the dual pov. I feel like that’s something you hardly ever see in romance epilogues, so that was a huge bonus for me.
I can’t tell you how excited I am over this debut for Kay. Haven Bound has to be book one in a series. I desperately need Ethan and Hailey’s story and Zack and Quinn’s — There’s a whole lot brewing between these characters and I think I speak for everyone when I say that we want and need more!
Kay — Thank you for making me a part of your ARC team and giving me the opportunity to read your first book. You really poured yourself into this and it shows. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the fact that you allowed yourself to be vulnerable enough to write based on your own personal experiences. You really spoke up for us girls who’ve suffered from trauma and body issues. I feel so seen and represented! I think you have a very big future ahead of you and I can’t wait to see what comes next!
October 22, 2024
Haven Bound🩵
By @authorkaythorne
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️.5
“You’ve already shown me how you worship my body, now show me how you can ruin it.”
Hey there, remember my obsession with introducing swoon-worthy book boyfriends? Buckle up, because you’re about to fall head over heels for Austin Anders! A total green flag, with a secret assignments career/identity that’s somehow even greener than the red flags?👀🔪🔫
Austin is the perfect mixture of a morally grey, touch her & 💀, whose rugged exterior hides that he’s actually a complete cinnamon roll guy with such a big heart.Also, the mouth on this man is a real heartstopper—in more ways than one!…..🫠 AND 🥵…..Oh boy, don’t even get me started on the sweetest nickname he’s got for Chelsea!🥹💛
Oh, and did I mention that this is a second chance romance with a whopping SEVEN YEARS of radio silence between them?🤯
Chelsea, our dazzlingly fierce and fabulously curvy queen of this story,
showed us that seeking help is perfectly acceptable, even if it sometimes feels like a burden.
Showed us the true reality of the thoughts that often cloud our decision-making in every decision we make,
showed the vulnerability it takes to open up about your past,
showed how our pasts do not define our futures.
Chelsea is portrayed not as someone who relies on her past experiences as a crutch, but rather as a strong and genuine individual. Chelsea is a survivor, rather than merely a victim. That is the most vital element that made this story so relatable. The authenticity of the trauma had me in tears.
This story had all the feels! I found myself giggling at the witty banter, blushing like a school girl during the adorable moments, feeling the heat with all that SPICE, and shedding tears when it hit me right in the feels. I was practically begging for more of their story! OH, and those side characters… YOU GUYS, I’m on the edge of my seat for what’s coming next!
What to expect:
🩵 Dual POV
🌻 Second Chance
🩵 Touch her & 💀
🌻 Mental Health Rep
🩵 Childhood Trauma
🌻 “You’re Mine”
By @authorkaythorne
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️.5
“You’ve already shown me how you worship my body, now show me how you can ruin it.”
Hey there, remember my obsession with introducing swoon-worthy book boyfriends? Buckle up, because you’re about to fall head over heels for Austin Anders! A total green flag, with a secret assignments career/identity that’s somehow even greener than the red flags?👀🔪🔫
Austin is the perfect mixture of a morally grey, touch her & 💀, whose rugged exterior hides that he’s actually a complete cinnamon roll guy with such a big heart.Also, the mouth on this man is a real heartstopper—in more ways than one!…..🫠 AND 🥵…..Oh boy, don’t even get me started on the sweetest nickname he’s got for Chelsea!🥹💛
Oh, and did I mention that this is a second chance romance with a whopping SEVEN YEARS of radio silence between them?🤯
Chelsea, our dazzlingly fierce and fabulously curvy queen of this story,
showed us that seeking help is perfectly acceptable, even if it sometimes feels like a burden.
Showed us the true reality of the thoughts that often cloud our decision-making in every decision we make,
showed the vulnerability it takes to open up about your past,
showed how our pasts do not define our futures.
Chelsea is portrayed not as someone who relies on her past experiences as a crutch, but rather as a strong and genuine individual. Chelsea is a survivor, rather than merely a victim. That is the most vital element that made this story so relatable. The authenticity of the trauma had me in tears.
This story had all the feels! I found myself giggling at the witty banter, blushing like a school girl during the adorable moments, feeling the heat with all that SPICE, and shedding tears when it hit me right in the feels. I was practically begging for more of their story! OH, and those side characters… YOU GUYS, I’m on the edge of my seat for what’s coming next!
What to expect:
🩵 Dual POV
🌻 Second Chance
🩵 Touch her & 💀
🌻 Mental Health Rep
🩵 Childhood Trauma
🌻 “You’re Mine”
October 13, 2024
This story was so real and emotive. I instantly related to and connected with Chelsea and saw some of myself reflected in her. Kay has done an amazing job of creating a very authentic feeling FMC. Haven bound is a heartfelt represention of mental health, overcoming trauma and unconditional, unbreakable love.
Long gushy review ahead
I'm not always a huge fan of second chance but in this case it was done so well and it felt spot on.
Austin is the perfect mix of touch her and die, morally grey vililanty and sweet talking cinnamon roll. His nickname for Chelsea is so cute and turns me to unexpected mush. He doesnt think he deserves her little does he know that he's the handsome, protective, uplifting man that she needs and that we all deserve.
Their connection is palpable and the build up delicious. The writing style is easy to read with perfect chapter lengths while also painting a vivid picture. The dual POV is sublime.
The spice is so well done - perfectly built tension and evolving need for each other. A great mix of sweet/loving and filthy. Dirty talk, worshiping each other and my favorite "good girl"& "eyes on me"🥵
I felt vulnerable reading the pages and wanted to give both Chelsea and my younger self a big hug and tell them better things are coming. While it was heartbreaking reading about Chelsea's past and there is some dark themes impeded throughout there was also funny and incredibly beautiful moments to balance the dark.
I love the development of the characters and how they both help each other heal and bolster each others self worth. A thrilling twist near the end, a loyal found family and a perfect HEA. 😘
An amazing debut novel from Kay. A flawless depiction of love mixed with dark elements and gripping thriller aspects that make it unique , imbued with emotion. I devoured this.
Long gushy review ahead
I'm not always a huge fan of second chance but in this case it was done so well and it felt spot on.
Austin is the perfect mix of touch her and die, morally grey vililanty and sweet talking cinnamon roll. His nickname for Chelsea is so cute and turns me to unexpected mush. He doesnt think he deserves her little does he know that he's the handsome, protective, uplifting man that she needs and that we all deserve.
Their connection is palpable and the build up delicious. The writing style is easy to read with perfect chapter lengths while also painting a vivid picture. The dual POV is sublime.
The spice is so well done - perfectly built tension and evolving need for each other. A great mix of sweet/loving and filthy. Dirty talk, worshiping each other and my favorite "good girl"& "eyes on me"🥵
I felt vulnerable reading the pages and wanted to give both Chelsea and my younger self a big hug and tell them better things are coming. While it was heartbreaking reading about Chelsea's past and there is some dark themes impeded throughout there was also funny and incredibly beautiful moments to balance the dark.
I love the development of the characters and how they both help each other heal and bolster each others self worth. A thrilling twist near the end, a loyal found family and a perfect HEA. 😘
An amazing debut novel from Kay. A flawless depiction of love mixed with dark elements and gripping thriller aspects that make it unique , imbued with emotion. I devoured this.
October 13, 2024
This contemporary second chance romance is an incredible story. It has some darker themes, but it’s well worth your time to read. Filled with raw emotion drawn from the author’s own life, her heart and soul is so obviously poured into each word.
The FMC is Chelsea, owner of Buttersweet Bakery. She’s a tall and plus-sized, sweet, strong, resilient woman with a heart to help enrich others lives through her bakery. She had a very traumatic childhood and despite having ended an abusive relationship as an adult, she is still being stalked by the ex who won’t move on. I have experienced the exact type of creepy possessive ex Chelsea has and while it was triggering to endure those scenes, it made me feel seen and represented. She lives with anxiety and PTSD which is incredibly well represented too. Her one great love was Austin, and when he left town without a word it shattered her. Regardless, her heart has always really belonged to him.
The MMC Austin is a professional assassin for his family’s generational business. They appear on the surface to own a chain of expensive hotels but behind that lurks a secret organization who target and remove cruel, evil, nightmarish people who seem to slip through the judicial system. Austin had no choice in his participation once he came of age, and left without explaining it to his one great love, Chelsea, to protect her. Austin is a deep and loving gentleman who fights hard to not allow the dark deeds of his twisted world to swallow him. He feels unworthy of true and lasting love. But once he’s back in Chelsea’s orbit he finds himself powerless against the pull of her heart and falls deeply for her.
This is a story that will stay with me. There’s a delicate balance of darkness and light, and a couple who accept the reality of both of those things co-existing for each of them. I have that in my own relationship. The plot is super compelling and will have you turning pages frantically and the spice is fantastic and very emotion-driven. Telling you any more would spoil the journey for you, and I hope you make time to read this one. It’s important.
The FMC is Chelsea, owner of Buttersweet Bakery. She’s a tall and plus-sized, sweet, strong, resilient woman with a heart to help enrich others lives through her bakery. She had a very traumatic childhood and despite having ended an abusive relationship as an adult, she is still being stalked by the ex who won’t move on. I have experienced the exact type of creepy possessive ex Chelsea has and while it was triggering to endure those scenes, it made me feel seen and represented. She lives with anxiety and PTSD which is incredibly well represented too. Her one great love was Austin, and when he left town without a word it shattered her. Regardless, her heart has always really belonged to him.
The MMC Austin is a professional assassin for his family’s generational business. They appear on the surface to own a chain of expensive hotels but behind that lurks a secret organization who target and remove cruel, evil, nightmarish people who seem to slip through the judicial system. Austin had no choice in his participation once he came of age, and left without explaining it to his one great love, Chelsea, to protect her. Austin is a deep and loving gentleman who fights hard to not allow the dark deeds of his twisted world to swallow him. He feels unworthy of true and lasting love. But once he’s back in Chelsea’s orbit he finds himself powerless against the pull of her heart and falls deeply for her.
This is a story that will stay with me. There’s a delicate balance of darkness and light, and a couple who accept the reality of both of those things co-existing for each of them. I have that in my own relationship. The plot is super compelling and will have you turning pages frantically and the spice is fantastic and very emotion-driven. Telling you any more would spoil the journey for you, and I hope you make time to read this one. It’s important.
October 22, 2024
Amazing debut novel
🌟- 4 🌶️- 2.5
🌻- Second Chance
🧁- Best Friends Brother
🌻- Touch Her and Die
🧁- Grumpy/ Sunshine
🌻 - Always Been You
What an amazing debut novel!! So much heart has been put into this book and you will love the characters.
Chelsea is a beautiful curvy woman with a dark past. She has her best friends, her bakery but she’s fights hard to overcome her most recent demons.
When she was young she fell in love with her best friend’s brother, gave her heart away only for him to leave without telling her. Now he’s back…
Austin’s life changed when he turned 18 forcing him to give up what he thought his future would look like, that included a life with Chelsea. He didn’t think that she would be able to handle his dark. He didn’t know that she had already dealt with dark demons and she would’ve been strong enough to stand by him.
Now that he’s back they can’t ignore the pull that they’ve always had. Can they make it work? With her life submerged in darkness. It's his job to bring light back into the world.
Chelsea is so cute! Even through her struggles she rises up and does what she needs to do and still manages to find her sunshine.
Austin is all kinds of protective hotness! He gets rid of some of the world’s darkest as a mercenary. He will do anything he needs to make sure that Chelsea is safe.
Chelsea and Austin the sweetest together!! The flash backs to them as teens and their dates had my romantic heart exploding!!!
🌟- 4 🌶️- 2.5
🌻- Second Chance
🧁- Best Friends Brother
🌻- Touch Her and Die
🧁- Grumpy/ Sunshine
🌻 - Always Been You
What an amazing debut novel!! So much heart has been put into this book and you will love the characters.
Chelsea is a beautiful curvy woman with a dark past. She has her best friends, her bakery but she’s fights hard to overcome her most recent demons.
When she was young she fell in love with her best friend’s brother, gave her heart away only for him to leave without telling her. Now he’s back…
Austin’s life changed when he turned 18 forcing him to give up what he thought his future would look like, that included a life with Chelsea. He didn’t think that she would be able to handle his dark. He didn’t know that she had already dealt with dark demons and she would’ve been strong enough to stand by him.
Now that he’s back they can’t ignore the pull that they’ve always had. Can they make it work? With her life submerged in darkness. It's his job to bring light back into the world.
Chelsea is so cute! Even through her struggles she rises up and does what she needs to do and still manages to find her sunshine.
Austin is all kinds of protective hotness! He gets rid of some of the world’s darkest as a mercenary. He will do anything he needs to make sure that Chelsea is safe.
Chelsea and Austin the sweetest together!! The flash backs to them as teens and their dates had my romantic heart exploding!!!
December 28, 2024
"𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦𝘢," 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘱 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘣 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘱. "𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵, 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶? 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦, 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺."
𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.
𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱.
May I just say, Austin Anders can call me Sunflower any day.
I knew from the moment I stumbled upon the cover of Haven Bound, I just HAD to read it. One of my absolute favorite things in books is when a morally grey man is a big ole cinnamon roll on the inside when it comes to his woman. I simply adore Austin and I’m so glad to see a plus size FMC with someone like him.
I have never related so much to a FMC than I did with Chelsea. While I haven’t experienced the childhood trauma that she did, I can relate to the not wanting to reach out for help, feeling like a burden, and being made to feel like she’s worthless. Austin helps her break through that lie all the while showing her she is a strong, brave, courageous bad mamma jamma, and I hope to be like her someday.
Found Family is one of my very favorite tropes and I love how Kay played into this so well. Chelsea may not have blood family in her corner but she sure as heck has a beautiful found family.
Thank you, Kay, for making such a relatable, beautiful (inside and out), strong FMC. And for giving me book boyfriend #529. I can’t believe this is your debut novel, and am so stoked for the next book in the series! Superbly done, my friend!
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴏʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ:
Plus Size FMC
Morally Grey MMC
Romantic Suspense
“It’s always been you”
Best Friends Brother
Second Chance
No 3rd act breakup
Found Family
Nicknames (he calls her Sunflower, but also calls her “baby”)
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬.
𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.
𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱.
May I just say, Austin Anders can call me Sunflower any day.
I knew from the moment I stumbled upon the cover of Haven Bound, I just HAD to read it. One of my absolute favorite things in books is when a morally grey man is a big ole cinnamon roll on the inside when it comes to his woman. I simply adore Austin and I’m so glad to see a plus size FMC with someone like him.
I have never related so much to a FMC than I did with Chelsea. While I haven’t experienced the childhood trauma that she did, I can relate to the not wanting to reach out for help, feeling like a burden, and being made to feel like she’s worthless. Austin helps her break through that lie all the while showing her she is a strong, brave, courageous bad mamma jamma, and I hope to be like her someday.
Found Family is one of my very favorite tropes and I love how Kay played into this so well. Chelsea may not have blood family in her corner but she sure as heck has a beautiful found family.
Thank you, Kay, for making such a relatable, beautiful (inside and out), strong FMC. And for giving me book boyfriend #529. I can’t believe this is your debut novel, and am so stoked for the next book in the series! Superbly done, my friend!
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴏʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ:
Plus Size FMC
Morally Grey MMC
Romantic Suspense
“It’s always been you”
Best Friends Brother
Second Chance
No 3rd act breakup
Found Family
Nicknames (he calls her Sunflower, but also calls her “baby”)
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬.
November 4, 2024
I don't even know where to start! I thought this was going to be a cutesy, contemporary romance but it was so much more.
This was heart-breaking and soul-soothing all at the same time. The trauma that our sweet Chelsea endured would've broken most people, but she isn't just anyone. Chelsea is strong and she is insecure, courageous and anxious, and loves with her entire heart while constantly being treated like less than by those who should've protected her. Her heart was broken into pieces only to be sewn back together with love that'll never falter.
Kay wrote the perfect MMC for Chelsea. Austin is protective, strong, but suffers from the same darkness that his sweet Sunflower endured for so many years. He was the rock she needed when she was frozen in fear and the cheerleader she needed when she was feeling bad about herself and her body.
The trauma, therapy, family tension, and healing was so real in this book. The ability to connect with these characters had me unable to put my Kindle down. Kay, thank you for writing an amazing story for Chelsea and Austin that showed realistic obstacles and healing in life and relationships (although I'm sure we aren't all chasing after mercenaries 😂).
This was heart-breaking and soul-soothing all at the same time. The trauma that our sweet Chelsea endured would've broken most people, but she isn't just anyone. Chelsea is strong and she is insecure, courageous and anxious, and loves with her entire heart while constantly being treated like less than by those who should've protected her. Her heart was broken into pieces only to be sewn back together with love that'll never falter.
Kay wrote the perfect MMC for Chelsea. Austin is protective, strong, but suffers from the same darkness that his sweet Sunflower endured for so many years. He was the rock she needed when she was frozen in fear and the cheerleader she needed when she was feeling bad about herself and her body.
The trauma, therapy, family tension, and healing was so real in this book. The ability to connect with these characters had me unable to put my Kindle down. Kay, thank you for writing an amazing story for Chelsea and Austin that showed realistic obstacles and healing in life and relationships (although I'm sure we aren't all chasing after mercenaries 😂).
October 22, 2024
This is such a great bookie book!!! I wasn’t expecting the whole sort of darkness around it, but I really enjoyed it.
Chelsea owns a bakery and who happens to walk in? Her best friend’s older brother, who she once had a spark with before he just upped and left: Austin.
Austin and his family are part of The Phoenix Legion and he has been ordered to kill her abusive step dad.
The plot really was super engaging and I loved the thriller element to it. There were definitely some tricky moments, so please do check the trigger warnings. To be honest, I felt like none of this was far fetched and over the top- the abuse she suffered from the men in her life was just appalling and I felt really sorry for Chelsea.
Austin was just outstanding and I literally love a man who will kill for you. He really is the epitome of ‘touch her and die.’ I gobbled up their relationship and boy oh boy was it HOT as 😈
I hope there’s more to come from the author!! I really did enjoy this read and I’m super glad I stumbled across the author’s page because now she’s stuck with my obsessing over her book 🫢
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Chelsea owns a bakery and who happens to walk in? Her best friend’s older brother, who she once had a spark with before he just upped and left: Austin.
Austin and his family are part of The Phoenix Legion and he has been ordered to kill her abusive step dad.
The plot really was super engaging and I loved the thriller element to it. There were definitely some tricky moments, so please do check the trigger warnings. To be honest, I felt like none of this was far fetched and over the top- the abuse she suffered from the men in her life was just appalling and I felt really sorry for Chelsea.
Austin was just outstanding and I literally love a man who will kill for you. He really is the epitome of ‘touch her and die.’ I gobbled up their relationship and boy oh boy was it HOT as 😈
I hope there’s more to come from the author!! I really did enjoy this read and I’m super glad I stumbled across the author’s page because now she’s stuck with my obsessing over her book 🫢
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
October 24, 2024
5⭐️
4🌶️
Haven Bound is an amazingly fantastic debut from Kay Thorne. The story unfolds as a morally gray unaliver, meets his high school love once again and they get a second chance at a once in a lifetime time kinda love. This book is jammed packed with suspense, swoon-worthy moments, and plenty of heart. What really sets this book apart is how relatable the characters are—you feel their struggles, growth, and vulnerability, making every twist and turn hit home. The mental health representation is handled beautifully, adding authenticity and depth. I also loved that the heroine was tall, curvy, and someone I would want to be besties with. This is a must-read for any romance reader who loves heartfelt, romantic suspense.
If you are looking for your next 5 star read with a shower scene that has you blushing……. Look no further!
4🌶️
Haven Bound is an amazingly fantastic debut from Kay Thorne. The story unfolds as a morally gray unaliver, meets his high school love once again and they get a second chance at a once in a lifetime time kinda love. This book is jammed packed with suspense, swoon-worthy moments, and plenty of heart. What really sets this book apart is how relatable the characters are—you feel their struggles, growth, and vulnerability, making every twist and turn hit home. The mental health representation is handled beautifully, adding authenticity and depth. I also loved that the heroine was tall, curvy, and someone I would want to be besties with. This is a must-read for any romance reader who loves heartfelt, romantic suspense.
If you are looking for your next 5 star read with a shower scene that has you blushing……. Look no further!
October 15, 2024
I had the pleasure of being a part of the Haven Bound ARC team. While I received a complimentary copy of this book, the opinions below are my own.
WOW. This was Kay’s debut book and it absolutely blew me away. Chelsea and Austin’s love story is so wonderfully written. This is the perfect balance of dark and suspenseful and lighthearted, swoon worthy moments.
Austin was Chelsea’s first love and made an unexpected exit from her life years ago. He suddenly reappears into her life and we get to see if they will rekindle their love and pick up where they left off. Chelsea is also in the middle of a mental health journey and is processing some pretty significant trauma from her past - WE LOVE TO SEE THE MENTAL HEALTH REP!!! Haven Bound was a five star read for me! I loved the banter. I loved the suspense. I loved the second chance romance. It was truly the perfect balance of dark and light. Chefs kiss!
Thank you so much for making me a part of your ARC team, Kay! I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved your book. I can’t wait to read everything else that you publish!!
WOW. This was Kay’s debut book and it absolutely blew me away. Chelsea and Austin’s love story is so wonderfully written. This is the perfect balance of dark and suspenseful and lighthearted, swoon worthy moments.
Austin was Chelsea’s first love and made an unexpected exit from her life years ago. He suddenly reappears into her life and we get to see if they will rekindle their love and pick up where they left off. Chelsea is also in the middle of a mental health journey and is processing some pretty significant trauma from her past - WE LOVE TO SEE THE MENTAL HEALTH REP!!! Haven Bound was a five star read for me! I loved the banter. I loved the suspense. I loved the second chance romance. It was truly the perfect balance of dark and light. Chefs kiss!
Thank you so much for making me a part of your ARC team, Kay! I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved your book. I can’t wait to read everything else that you publish!!
January 12, 2025
Overall, I enjoyed this story, especially as a second-chance romance. The premise had so much potential, and I loved seeing a plus-size FMC like Chelsea take center stage. However, I felt like the story leaned a bit too heavily on telling rather than showing, which made it harder for me to feel completely immersed in their emotions.
While I appreciated Austin and Chelsea’s connection, the romance felt a bit rushed. After years of no communication, I would’ve liked to see more build-up and depth in their reunion. Austin’s departure years ago was such a major event, and Chelsea’s quick forgiveness felt a little too easy for me. I wanted more angst and maybe a bit of groveling on Austin’s part to make their reunion feel truly earned.
Even with those critiques, I still found the story enjoyable and appreciated the representation. It’s a sweet and heartfelt romance, and I’m excited to see what Kay Thorne writes next!
3.5⭐️
While I appreciated Austin and Chelsea’s connection, the romance felt a bit rushed. After years of no communication, I would’ve liked to see more build-up and depth in their reunion. Austin’s departure years ago was such a major event, and Chelsea’s quick forgiveness felt a little too easy for me. I wanted more angst and maybe a bit of groveling on Austin’s part to make their reunion feel truly earned.
Even with those critiques, I still found the story enjoyable and appreciated the representation. It’s a sweet and heartfelt romance, and I’m excited to see what Kay Thorne writes next!
3.5⭐️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews