What do you think?
Rate this book
The Hearts of Sawyers Bend #8
Reckless Heart
Sawyers Bend has a way of hiding its secrets. But this one won’t stay buried forever.
Avery Sawyer runs a successful brewery in Sawyers Bend, but the shadow of her father’s unsolved murder looms over everything. Prentice Sawyer made enemies easily, and a year after his death, no one has been brought to justice. The killer has made it clear - he’s not finished with the Sawyer family.
Avery is tired of looking over her shoulder. She’s determined to find the killer and set her family free from their father’s past. But someone wants her to stop digging—badly enough to break into her brewery and steal the evidence she’s collected. It’s a warning Avery can’t ignore, even if it only fuels her desire for answers.
Police Chief West Garfield has been chasing leads for over a year, and they’ve all ended in dead ends. He’s known Avery since she was a kid, long enough to know she won’t back down, even if she’s diving headfirst into danger. Teaming up might be the only way to protect her, but that’s a complication of its own. Avery isn’t a kid anymore, and West realizes he wants to keep her safe from everyone but him.
In a town where secrets run deep and trust is a luxury, Avery and West must navigate old grudges, buried truths, and their own growing feelings. Because someone in Sawyers Bend will do whatever it takes to keep the past buried—and if they’re not careful, it could cost them everything.
Reckless Heart is a standalone romance with a happy ending. It’s eighth in The Hearts of Sawyers Bend series, featuring the Sawyer family of Sawyers Bend.
Avery Sawyer runs a successful brewery in Sawyers Bend, but the shadow of her father’s unsolved murder looms over everything. Prentice Sawyer made enemies easily, and a year after his death, no one has been brought to justice. The killer has made it clear - he’s not finished with the Sawyer family.
Avery is tired of looking over her shoulder. She’s determined to find the killer and set her family free from their father’s past. But someone wants her to stop digging—badly enough to break into her brewery and steal the evidence she’s collected. It’s a warning Avery can’t ignore, even if it only fuels her desire for answers.
Police Chief West Garfield has been chasing leads for over a year, and they’ve all ended in dead ends. He’s known Avery since she was a kid, long enough to know she won’t back down, even if she’s diving headfirst into danger. Teaming up might be the only way to protect her, but that’s a complication of its own. Avery isn’t a kid anymore, and West realizes he wants to keep her safe from everyone but him.
In a town where secrets run deep and trust is a luxury, Avery and West must navigate old grudges, buried truths, and their own growing feelings. Because someone in Sawyers Bend will do whatever it takes to keep the past buried—and if they’re not careful, it could cost them everything.
Reckless Heart is a standalone romance with a happy ending. It’s eighth in The Hearts of Sawyers Bend series, featuring the Sawyer family of Sawyers Bend.
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 10, 2025
1134 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Ivy Layne
75 books1,286 followersIvy Layne has had her nose stuck in a book since she first learned to decipher the English language. Sometime in her early teens, she stumbled across her first Romance, and the die was cast. Though she pretended to pay attention to her creative writing professors, she dreamed of writing steamy romance instead of literary fiction. These days, she’s neck deep in alpha heroes and the smart, sexy women who love them.
Married to her very own alpha hero (who rubs her back after a long day of typing, but also leaves his socks on the floor). Ivy lives in the mountains of North Carolina where she and her other half are having a blast raising two energetic little boys. Aside from her family, Ivy’s greatest loves are coffee and chocolate, preferably together.
Sign up for Ivy's Reader's Group for free books, exclusive content, giveaways, and more @ ivylayne.com/readers-group
Married to her very own alpha hero (who rubs her back after a long day of typing, but also leaves his socks on the floor). Ivy lives in the mountains of North Carolina where she and her other half are having a blast raising two energetic little boys. Aside from her family, Ivy’s greatest loves are coffee and chocolate, preferably together.
Sign up for Ivy's Reader's Group for free books, exclusive content, giveaways, and more @ ivylayne.com/readers-group
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
June 17, 2025
Small but weird inconsistency. Did anybody else catch this? West’s house is on the road before the Manor then it’s across town?
Text excerpts:
“he went the other way, toward the Manor. Why would he ask about dinner if he was just taking me home? Before we got to the Manor, he flicked on his blinker and turned left onto a narrow road.”
“West walked me out, shielding me from his neighbors’ view until I was safely in the SUV. As soon as he was buckled in, I ducked down for the trip back through town. … I stayed where I was, uncomfortably draped over the center console and out of sight, until we turned into the long drive to Heartstone.”
Also, in the jail cell she can’t tell time because she doesn’t have a watch on, but later when they track her she has a watch. That’s when Hawk says the tracker is in her watch cause she rarely takes it off. Rarely? She like just recently didn’t have it in jail.
Moving on, in the preview to book 9. Paige finds paperwork for Sarah Sawyer. However at the beginning of the book, the family tree has her down as Sara without an h.
Anyway, the way Cole was introduced in this story made me think he was going to be Ford’s love interest lol!
The book was an okay read. I was so excited for it since we were finally getting more of West, but the characters just didn’t pull me in. Which is crazy cause I love this author and have read every single story published on KU.
I hope Paige’s story is interesting, but mostly I hope we find out what drove Ford to hurt his siblings, especially Griffin, and what helped him change so that he started protecting the ones left. We also never saw him make any type of amends or really interact with anyone other that Finn and Avery since his return. Like, what’s the background on him and Finn being together in the same space even though Finn’s character was probably the most hurt by Ford’s actions aside from Griffin.
I’m eagerly awaiting the next story.
Text excerpts:
“he went the other way, toward the Manor. Why would he ask about dinner if he was just taking me home? Before we got to the Manor, he flicked on his blinker and turned left onto a narrow road.”
“West walked me out, shielding me from his neighbors’ view until I was safely in the SUV. As soon as he was buckled in, I ducked down for the trip back through town. … I stayed where I was, uncomfortably draped over the center console and out of sight, until we turned into the long drive to Heartstone.”
Also, in the jail cell she can’t tell time because she doesn’t have a watch on, but later when they track her she has a watch. That’s when Hawk says the tracker is in her watch cause she rarely takes it off. Rarely? She like just recently didn’t have it in jail.
Moving on, in the preview to book 9. Paige finds paperwork for Sarah Sawyer. However at the beginning of the book, the family tree has her down as Sara without an h.
Anyway, the way Cole was introduced in this story made me think he was going to be Ford’s love interest lol!
The book was an okay read. I was so excited for it since we were finally getting more of West, but the characters just didn’t pull me in. Which is crazy cause I love this author and have read every single story published on KU.
I hope Paige’s story is interesting, but mostly I hope we find out what drove Ford to hurt his siblings, especially Griffin, and what helped him change so that he started protecting the ones left. We also never saw him make any type of amends or really interact with anyone other that Finn and Avery since his return. Like, what’s the background on him and Finn being together in the same space even though Finn’s character was probably the most hurt by Ford’s actions aside from Griffin.
I’m eagerly awaiting the next story.
June 20, 2025
I love this series. The setting and the characters are great. I love the way romance is woven with a complex mystery. This book is completely enjoyable and entertaining!!
June 30, 2025
Not one of her better books. I found the heroine annoying, unreasonable, and obstinate. I constantly wanted to slap her. The only redeeming factor was the hero, West. He at least had more sense.
June 25, 2025
Reckless Heart is the penultimate book in Ivy Layne’s The Hearts of Sawyers Bend series. The book gets the reader closer to the burning question of who killed the Sawyer patriarch, Prentice, and it reveals a few secrets. In this story, Wes, the town sheriff, and Avery, one of the Sawyer siblings and a brewery owner, join forces to find the killer and clear Ford’s name.
Wes and Avery have known each other all their lives, with Griffen being Avery’s brother—and the eight-year difference in age between them—Wes never saw Avery in a romantic light until now. In this book, they are sort of thrown together due to Avery’s investigation into Prentice’s murder, and as the town sheriff, Wes could not allow rogue investigations. Avery additionally has problems with an ex-coworker slash boyfriend whom she fired. Not only is the ex doing damage to Avery’s reputation, but her investigation into her father’s murder also gained the attention of a dangerous person. Once Wes and Avery start working together, feelings grow, and they realize that they are meant to be together. However, their newly discovered feelings could be jeopardized by the two-prong attacks on Avery, and Wes needs to do his best investigative work to ensure she survives these attacks.
What worked for me was that Wes, to protect Avery, let go of his black-or-white view of the world. I also liked that he fell first (and hard). There were signs of an alpha there and that was good to see. The suspense element also worked well.
What I struggled with was:
• Wes and Avery have known each other all their lives, and there was never any attraction; them now “noticing” each other after all this time was a stretch. It would have been more believable if those feelings were always there, and they now reached the point where it could not be denied anymore. But no, Wes “suddenly” starts having these thoughts and feelings where Avery is concerned, while Avery’s teenage crush on Wes was mentioned as an afterthought. It is not like they haven’t seen each other in years—they have always been around each other and even interacted socially. I’m sorry, but I found the sudden attraction far-fetched. You don’t just wake up one day and realize that this person you’ve known all your life is “the one”, and this with no prior indication of such feelings.
• Avery’s relationship with Matthew was similarly presented as an after-thought. First, he was just her brewmaster who needed firing. Then, the fact that there was actually a s€xual relationship between them was thrown in out of the blue (and raised a few questions). Were they a couple in the true sense of the word. Were they just friends with benefits? How long were they together? These questions were not addressed in the book.
• Both Wes and Avery were one-dimensional characters. If I do the numbers, Wes was close to or forty years old, and there is no mention of his relationship history. At that age, one would expect there to be something in his background, e.g., was he ever married? If not, why? Was there perhaps a woman who broke his heart in the past and he swore of all relationships and marriage? Then there was Avery … The only relationship mentioned was the Matthew one, and it was only mentioned in a ”by-the-way” fashion. Avery was, I assume, in her early thirties given the eight-year gap between her and Wes, so why wasn’t she married or had someone (of more significance) other than Matthew in her past? Not that I’m saying that everyone should get married by a certain age, but come on: life happens, and at their ages most people have some baggage on the relationship front. The absence of this detail made their characters seem flimsy.
• In as far as Wes and Avery’s relationship was concerned, I did not feel the spark. There was no chemistry whatsoever, and Wes’s character was very dull and boring. Avery’s character, on the other hand, was inconsistent. On the one hand we have this FMC who was presented as a spitfire, while on the other she was very iffy when it came to her relationship with Wes. It felt like she just decided she loved Wes because he said it first—there was no deep emotion or introspection on her part, and it felt like she just fell into the I’m-in-love rage because it was there. Truth be told, Avery’s attitude came across as “Oh, Wes loves me, so I am also in love with him now.” It didn’t matter that she was with Matthew not too long ago (and for the entire two years he worked there for all we know because that was was never clarified). I just did not buy Wes and Avery’s love.
• Then, the author fell back on the now often-used “modern” trope of the FMC being the aggressor in the relationship. Aside from the first time Wes kissed her, Avery initiated all subsequent intimacy. I know we’re all about feminism these days, and I’m a feminist myself, but come on, a being-in-charge-in-the-bedroom FMC does not work well in a romance (at least not for me). Speaking of which, this author wrote love scenes really well in her other books, but in this series, not so much. It was almost like she told herself, “Let me just put it in and get it over with.” The spicy scenes were mechanical, over in the blink of an eye, and lukewarm in my view (and the same applies to the relationship).
There is so much more that I can add, but I think the above is enough. I will not talk about Avery’s TSTL moments or the fact that the family repeatedly included Edgar and Harvey in sensitive discussions when they did not trust those two. Nor will I talk about the proofreading issues, of which there were a few. Suffice to say that the writing and storytelling were still good, and I will read the next (last book) if only to finally find out who killed Prentice.
Wes and Avery have known each other all their lives, with Griffen being Avery’s brother—and the eight-year difference in age between them—Wes never saw Avery in a romantic light until now. In this book, they are sort of thrown together due to Avery’s investigation into Prentice’s murder, and as the town sheriff, Wes could not allow rogue investigations. Avery additionally has problems with an ex-coworker slash boyfriend whom she fired. Not only is the ex doing damage to Avery’s reputation, but her investigation into her father’s murder also gained the attention of a dangerous person. Once Wes and Avery start working together, feelings grow, and they realize that they are meant to be together. However, their newly discovered feelings could be jeopardized by the two-prong attacks on Avery, and Wes needs to do his best investigative work to ensure she survives these attacks.
What worked for me was that Wes, to protect Avery, let go of his black-or-white view of the world. I also liked that he fell first (and hard). There were signs of an alpha there and that was good to see. The suspense element also worked well.
What I struggled with was:
• Wes and Avery have known each other all their lives, and there was never any attraction; them now “noticing” each other after all this time was a stretch. It would have been more believable if those feelings were always there, and they now reached the point where it could not be denied anymore. But no, Wes “suddenly” starts having these thoughts and feelings where Avery is concerned, while Avery’s teenage crush on Wes was mentioned as an afterthought. It is not like they haven’t seen each other in years—they have always been around each other and even interacted socially. I’m sorry, but I found the sudden attraction far-fetched. You don’t just wake up one day and realize that this person you’ve known all your life is “the one”, and this with no prior indication of such feelings.
• Avery’s relationship with Matthew was similarly presented as an after-thought. First, he was just her brewmaster who needed firing. Then, the fact that there was actually a s€xual relationship between them was thrown in out of the blue (and raised a few questions). Were they a couple in the true sense of the word. Were they just friends with benefits? How long were they together? These questions were not addressed in the book.
• Both Wes and Avery were one-dimensional characters. If I do the numbers, Wes was close to or forty years old, and there is no mention of his relationship history. At that age, one would expect there to be something in his background, e.g., was he ever married? If not, why? Was there perhaps a woman who broke his heart in the past and he swore of all relationships and marriage? Then there was Avery … The only relationship mentioned was the Matthew one, and it was only mentioned in a ”by-the-way” fashion. Avery was, I assume, in her early thirties given the eight-year gap between her and Wes, so why wasn’t she married or had someone (of more significance) other than Matthew in her past? Not that I’m saying that everyone should get married by a certain age, but come on: life happens, and at their ages most people have some baggage on the relationship front. The absence of this detail made their characters seem flimsy.
• In as far as Wes and Avery’s relationship was concerned, I did not feel the spark. There was no chemistry whatsoever, and Wes’s character was very dull and boring. Avery’s character, on the other hand, was inconsistent. On the one hand we have this FMC who was presented as a spitfire, while on the other she was very iffy when it came to her relationship with Wes. It felt like she just decided she loved Wes because he said it first—there was no deep emotion or introspection on her part, and it felt like she just fell into the I’m-in-love rage because it was there. Truth be told, Avery’s attitude came across as “Oh, Wes loves me, so I am also in love with him now.” It didn’t matter that she was with Matthew not too long ago (and for the entire two years he worked there for all we know because that was was never clarified). I just did not buy Wes and Avery’s love.
• Then, the author fell back on the now often-used “modern” trope of the FMC being the aggressor in the relationship. Aside from the first time Wes kissed her, Avery initiated all subsequent intimacy. I know we’re all about feminism these days, and I’m a feminist myself, but come on, a being-in-charge-in-the-bedroom FMC does not work well in a romance (at least not for me). Speaking of which, this author wrote love scenes really well in her other books, but in this series, not so much. It was almost like she told herself, “Let me just put it in and get it over with.” The spicy scenes were mechanical, over in the blink of an eye, and lukewarm in my view (and the same applies to the relationship).
There is so much more that I can add, but I think the above is enough. I will not talk about Avery’s TSTL moments or the fact that the family repeatedly included Edgar and Harvey in sensitive discussions when they did not trust those two. Nor will I talk about the proofreading issues, of which there were a few. Suffice to say that the writing and storytelling were still good, and I will read the next (last book) if only to finally find out who killed Prentice.
June 11, 2025
Welcome back to Sawyer’s Bend, North Carolina…
An ‘sleepy’ little town, nestled in the mountains of North Carolina & home to the Sawyer family…siblings still dealing with the ‘fallout’ of their father’s murder & his will…
Someone (and the family & others will tell you the list is long) walked into Heartstone Manor & shot their father point blank….then framed one of them…
Weird things have been happening ever since the will was read…and it was ‘decreed’ that if they want their inheritance—everyone moves home & lives within Heartstone Manor for five years…after which their trusts will be handed over…
Reckless Heart, is the eighth installment in the series…and is Avery & West’s story. Avery runs the brewery in town….comes up with ideas for new beers & such…and just fired her brewmaster—who wanted more control of the brewery.
West is the chief of police & best friends with Avery’s older brother, Griffen. Meaning…they’ve been around each other most of their lives.
The Sawyer ladies (Quinn, Avery, & Sterling) are trying to find ‘fresh’ threads to pull in regards to their father’s murder…looking for the jeweler who may have made the necklace that Quinn had found in the hunting cabin months ago…
Then someone ‘breaks’ into the brewery…
They find out that there have been other break-ins that hadn’t been reported…
It seems that someone may still be ‘gunning’ for Ford, who was released from prison…
Plus numerous other little twists & turns in the book.
Was my one guess earlier in the series as to who was the bad guy right? Yes & no…I was right that the person was involved…but it seems that there is yet another individual who could be ‘gunning’ for the Sawyer family.
I absolutely loved this book…I mean, I finished it in about nine hours (throughout the day), & will probably be doing a re-read soon, to see what little pieces I could have missed the first time around.
Five out of five stars & I’m on pins & needles now waiting for the last book in the series: Ford’s story. I’m happy to see that he’ll be getting his shot at happily-ever-after, & I’m super curious to find out who it was that pulled the trigger prior to the start of Stolen Heart.
Go grab a copy if you haven’t…it’s the perfect way to spend a weekend, curled up with a book & ‘escaping’ to the mountains of North Carolina.
An ‘sleepy’ little town, nestled in the mountains of North Carolina & home to the Sawyer family…siblings still dealing with the ‘fallout’ of their father’s murder & his will…
Someone (and the family & others will tell you the list is long) walked into Heartstone Manor & shot their father point blank….then framed one of them…
Weird things have been happening ever since the will was read…and it was ‘decreed’ that if they want their inheritance—everyone moves home & lives within Heartstone Manor for five years…after which their trusts will be handed over…
Reckless Heart, is the eighth installment in the series…and is Avery & West’s story. Avery runs the brewery in town….comes up with ideas for new beers & such…and just fired her brewmaster—who wanted more control of the brewery.
West is the chief of police & best friends with Avery’s older brother, Griffen. Meaning…they’ve been around each other most of their lives.
The Sawyer ladies (Quinn, Avery, & Sterling) are trying to find ‘fresh’ threads to pull in regards to their father’s murder…looking for the jeweler who may have made the necklace that Quinn had found in the hunting cabin months ago…
Then someone ‘breaks’ into the brewery…
They find out that there have been other break-ins that hadn’t been reported…
It seems that someone may still be ‘gunning’ for Ford, who was released from prison…
Plus numerous other little twists & turns in the book.
Was my one guess earlier in the series as to who was the bad guy right? Yes & no…I was right that the person was involved…but it seems that there is yet another individual who could be ‘gunning’ for the Sawyer family.
I absolutely loved this book…I mean, I finished it in about nine hours (throughout the day), & will probably be doing a re-read soon, to see what little pieces I could have missed the first time around.
Five out of five stars & I’m on pins & needles now waiting for the last book in the series: Ford’s story. I’m happy to see that he’ll be getting his shot at happily-ever-after, & I’m super curious to find out who it was that pulled the trigger prior to the start of Stolen Heart.
Go grab a copy if you haven’t…it’s the perfect way to spend a weekend, curled up with a book & ‘escaping’ to the mountains of North Carolina.
June 10, 2025
Can this family ever catch a break? There are so many twists and turns in Sawyers Bend! While this book can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the series in order to catch all the pieces that tie everything together—just my two cents.
The mystery of Prentice Sawyer’s murder continues to haunt the family, and trouble always seems to find them. But through it all was the romance between West and Avery—I LOVED it! Their connection had such a slow burn that ignited into something unforgettable. Plus, it was a thriller!
Avery and West have known each other since they were kids, he’s her brother Griffin’s best friend. Now, West is chasing leads about her father’s murder. Every time they think they’ve found the killer, it leads to even more questions and secrets. And with Avery determined to prove her brother Ford’s innocence and free their family from the shadows of their father's past, West is right by her side.
The mystery about the necklace continues and reveals so much more. Avery and Sterling are trying to track down the woman who owned it—but someone steals her notes, the necklace disappears, and her brewmaster, who she fired, starts making threats. All of this puts Avery in danger, and West is right there with her while protecting her. The investigation only pulls them closer together.
I was shocked by what was revealed about the necklace, and what we found out about Cole, Ford’s lawyer - jaw-dropping! And don’t even get me started on the Sawyers' nanny, Paige—OMG!
This book had everything: suspense, romance, family drama, and secrets that just keep unraveling. It’s a must read. I received an ARC of this book, and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
The mystery of Prentice Sawyer’s murder continues to haunt the family, and trouble always seems to find them. But through it all was the romance between West and Avery—I LOVED it! Their connection had such a slow burn that ignited into something unforgettable. Plus, it was a thriller!
Avery and West have known each other since they were kids, he’s her brother Griffin’s best friend. Now, West is chasing leads about her father’s murder. Every time they think they’ve found the killer, it leads to even more questions and secrets. And with Avery determined to prove her brother Ford’s innocence and free their family from the shadows of their father's past, West is right by her side.
The mystery about the necklace continues and reveals so much more. Avery and Sterling are trying to track down the woman who owned it—but someone steals her notes, the necklace disappears, and her brewmaster, who she fired, starts making threats. All of this puts Avery in danger, and West is right there with her while protecting her. The investigation only pulls them closer together.
I was shocked by what was revealed about the necklace, and what we found out about Cole, Ford’s lawyer - jaw-dropping! And don’t even get me started on the Sawyers' nanny, Paige—OMG!
This book had everything: suspense, romance, family drama, and secrets that just keep unraveling. It’s a must read. I received an ARC of this book, and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
June 4, 2025
Avery is still on the hunt for the woman that owns the necklace that they found. She has a few issues though. One, she just fired her brewmaster and he threatened her. Second someone stole what her notes that she needed. And third, where is the necklace now? Police Chief West Garfield knows there isn’t that much crime going on in his town of Sawyers Bend but he needs to clear Prentice Sawyer case.
I so enjoy this series. With each book we learn a bit more about their “dear old dad.” There are so many secrets. With Avery and Sterling trying to find out who killed their father and clear Ford’s name, there is always someone trying to stop it. Or trying to take the Sawyer family down. You knew Matt was going to be an issue from the start. The reasons show his screws were coming loose in his head. But there was twists and turns about the necklace too. I was so glad that Avery and West got together. They certainly were a great pair. Both stubborn but knowing when to bend for the other. I was totally shocked with what happened towards the end. I did not see that coming. I figured that would carry to the next book but nope. I certainly didn’t expect the one person that the family knew. Of course, at the end, I wanted to scream. UGH! Well, we still need to read about Ford. This will all be cleared up once we learn everything from Ford. And why do I have the feeling the nanny Paige with hook up with him. Now we wait for “Forbidden Heart.”
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I so enjoy this series. With each book we learn a bit more about their “dear old dad.” There are so many secrets. With Avery and Sterling trying to find out who killed their father and clear Ford’s name, there is always someone trying to stop it. Or trying to take the Sawyer family down. You knew Matt was going to be an issue from the start. The reasons show his screws were coming loose in his head. But there was twists and turns about the necklace too. I was so glad that Avery and West got together. They certainly were a great pair. Both stubborn but knowing when to bend for the other. I was totally shocked with what happened towards the end. I did not see that coming. I figured that would carry to the next book but nope. I certainly didn’t expect the one person that the family knew. Of course, at the end, I wanted to scream. UGH! Well, we still need to read about Ford. This will all be cleared up once we learn everything from Ford. And why do I have the feeling the nanny Paige with hook up with him. Now we wait for “Forbidden Heart.”
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 10, 2025
This is the 8th story in The Hearts of Sawyers Bend Series and Oh My do we find out how the Chief of Police, West finds himself investigating another incident involving a Sawyer. Avery has had a tough two days when she’s had to fire her brewmaster and taking on the brewery responsibilities on her own. When her office has been broken into the recipe for her fall brew is gone along with her research for the necklace they are hoping to lead them to the one responsible for killing their father, Prentice does her life get complicated. With Ford under protection at the Manor his life is lonely so Avery does what she can to clear his name and it puts her and her sister in danger along with those indirectly involved. West knows Avery is off limits being his best friend’s older brother, Griffen so to see how Avery’s crush becomes more is a wonderfully new experience for them both! As more troubling events occur and Avery is put in dangerous situation do clues get revealed and the Sawyers and West come together to figure out who’s behind the mysterious events! Their ending will give Avery and West some needed answers but boy do they have one question with no solution and unanswered questions. The Sawyers are one unique family that has come together over tragedy and the ruthlessness of a father whose never showed love.
May 26, 2025
With all Ivy Layne books we get a thriller murder mystery along with the romance. This book however was more thriller than anything and I loved it! The romance between West and Avery was there of course, it just had a different feel. If you read it and have read the rest of Ivy’s books you’ll understand. She did put Avery through her paces with this one, she did not have an easy time making her way through all the twists and turns during this story. I don’t think she could have had a better counterpart than West. Since he’s a cop, the murder mystery peaking was perfect timing. You know besides not having all the answers, I’m left with so many more I think. Now I will wait with bated breath for Fords book so I can finally learn who took Prentice out. While this is a standalone, there is a lot of build up throughout the series and to have the full effect I highly recommend reading all of them as well as this one. Ivy Layne always hooks me with her books, they’re always my perfect escape.
June 2, 2025
Family Drama
Sawyers Bend, NC just keeps the mystery of Prentice’s murder and the drama of the Sawyer Family going. Can they EVER catch a break? Well Avery is tenacious like a bulldog and she will not give up on getting answers about who killed Prentice even though she couldn’t care less that he’s dead! Running a brewery doesn’t seem to keep her out of trouble but especially when her sister Sterling is near so they, along with Quinn, have decided to be junior sleuths but are they ready for what they might find? When the chief of police, West, tells the ladies to STOP it does absolutely No good even though he’s a family friend and is trying to keep them safe while also doing his job. Yes life goes on but with a whole new set of rules that makes absolutely no one happy. Let’s throw in some major chemistry between Avery and West, a crazy jilted ex, underhanded dealings, too many tourists and “Oh Yeah,” a psychopath and you have a great story. I know that Sawyers Bend has several more stories and I Cannot Wait to read them. Thanks Ivy Layne for a great series!
Sawyers Bend, NC just keeps the mystery of Prentice’s murder and the drama of the Sawyer Family going. Can they EVER catch a break? Well Avery is tenacious like a bulldog and she will not give up on getting answers about who killed Prentice even though she couldn’t care less that he’s dead! Running a brewery doesn’t seem to keep her out of trouble but especially when her sister Sterling is near so they, along with Quinn, have decided to be junior sleuths but are they ready for what they might find? When the chief of police, West, tells the ladies to STOP it does absolutely No good even though he’s a family friend and is trying to keep them safe while also doing his job. Yes life goes on but with a whole new set of rules that makes absolutely no one happy. Let’s throw in some major chemistry between Avery and West, a crazy jilted ex, underhanded dealings, too many tourists and “Oh Yeah,” a psychopath and you have a great story. I know that Sawyers Bend has several more stories and I Cannot Wait to read them. Thanks Ivy Layne for a great series!
May 31, 2025
I don’t know how Ms. Layne is able to make each book better than the last one! Her writing grabs you from the beginning, and you don’t want to put the book down. Plus with this being a book in a series, I was able to catch up with some of the characters from past books. Avery and West's story was thrilling with twists and turns that I was surprised about often. It was crazy that Avery had known West since they were children since West was her brother Griffin’s best friend, but had never looked at each other with romantic feelings. Once West had to investigate Avery being threatened and bad things happening at her brewery, this threw the two together and they started building feelings for each other. Avery wasn’t the only one threatened, but “accidents” had been happening to different members of the family since their father’s had left this earth. This book had me on the edge of my seat more often than not. The book was so good, I strongly encourage you to read it.
June 20, 2025
I am constantly amazed by how this author manages to make each book better than the last. Her writing captivates you from the very beginning, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. Being part of a series, this book also allowed me to reconnect with some familiar characters from previous installments. Avery and West's story was filled with thrilling twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. It was fascinating to learn that Avery had known West since childhood, as he was her brother Griffin’s best friend, yet they had never seen each other in a romantic light. However, when West began investigating the threats against Avery and the troubling incidents at her brewery, their relationship started to evolve. The tension escalated as it became clear that Avery wasn't the only one in danger; various "accidents" had been occurring to different family members since their fathers' passing. This book was a rollercoaster of emotions, and I highly recommend it.
June 11, 2025
I love all the intrigue in this series, and as with West's investigation, for every question answered, at least another question arises! Reckless Heart has some fabulous reveals and plot twists intertwined in a romance that takes Avery and West by surprise. It was fun to follow the couple as they discovered and rediscovered each other throughout the book. West may have been a relatively quiet guy when we met him in prior books, but his possessive streak comes out in full force when Avery is faced with danger! As for Avery, she has her sister Quinn's independant streak, but she's still fighting to prove herself and make her place in the (brewing) world. Despite the billionnaire aspect, the characters are absolutely relatable and I'm very attached to all of them. Avery and West are probably the most down-to-earth of the bunch and I was their biggest cheerleader as I read along!
June 11, 2025
I received an ARC and I'm freely reviewing.
What?!? Gah, this book, I have no words to describe how amazing West and Avery's story is. Buckle up, buttercups this ride is a doozy. Now, I'm hoping you have read the other books in this series for two reasons. One, so you know what's going on although this is a standalone. Two, well this series is amazing and it just needs to be read.
West is the chief of police and Avery is a sister that is determined to clear her brother. Both have been aware of the other for years but never more than a quick thought because West is the best friend to Avery's oldest brother. West is a straight-laced, fair guy that needs to solve this crime because it's the right thing to do. Avery wants to solve this for brother because he protected and saved her when others don't care for him, she does. The twists in this book are wonderful and this ending, wow. I cannot wait for the next book!!!
What?!? Gah, this book, I have no words to describe how amazing West and Avery's story is. Buckle up, buttercups this ride is a doozy. Now, I'm hoping you have read the other books in this series for two reasons. One, so you know what's going on although this is a standalone. Two, well this series is amazing and it just needs to be read.
West is the chief of police and Avery is a sister that is determined to clear her brother. Both have been aware of the other for years but never more than a quick thought because West is the best friend to Avery's oldest brother. West is a straight-laced, fair guy that needs to solve this crime because it's the right thing to do. Avery wants to solve this for brother because he protected and saved her when others don't care for him, she does. The twists in this book are wonderful and this ending, wow. I cannot wait for the next book!!!
June 11, 2025
Reckless Heart is the 8th book in the Hearts of Sawyers Bend series and I highly recommend reading them in order! Avery and West are wonderful characters who've been friendly all their lives but discover their attraction and deeper feelings amidst a slew of attacks on Avery and her business. Full of nail-biting suspense on the one hand and a friends-to-lovers romance on the other, this is a great addition to the series, which also brings us one piece closer to finishing the puzzle of their father's murder. I was lucky to have received an early copy and am leaving this review voluntarily and honestly.
June 13, 2025
I will be thinking about this for weeks…
I have been reading this series since it first came out and I have to say I’m in love. The books are well written. It’s great that you don’t have any idea who the bad guy is until Ivy wants you too. Then you’re reading it and you’re like “Ohhh my god! All the pieces fit! How did I miss that? How did I not guess that?”
Anyway, even though not everything is solved this book felt like a good wrap up. I can’t wait for Fords book. Not gonna lie, kinda hope he ends up with the prosecutor. But that’s been a dream of mine since Ivy changed her to a female.
I have been reading this series since it first came out and I have to say I’m in love. The books are well written. It’s great that you don’t have any idea who the bad guy is until Ivy wants you too. Then you’re reading it and you’re like “Ohhh my god! All the pieces fit! How did I miss that? How did I not guess that?”
Anyway, even though not everything is solved this book felt like a good wrap up. I can’t wait for Fords book. Not gonna lie, kinda hope he ends up with the prosecutor. But that’s been a dream of mine since Ivy changed her to a female.
May 29, 2025
Reckless Heart is book 8 of The Hearts of Sawyers Bend written by Ivy Layne. We are back in Sawyers Bend with Avery Sawyer working to solve the mystery of her father’s murder and who set up her brother. Just when i thought we would get all of the answers AT LAST… Ms Layne throws yet another curveball into the case! The way she weaves a tale is masterful and very enjoyable and you cant help but fall in love with the Sawyer family. I am dying to find out who did it! At least I get to enjoy the story while waiting for the truth. Bring it on Ms Layne! Bring it on!
May 30, 2025
Of all the previous books in the series, I think that this is the one I liked the most. The story involved me since the beginning and it left me guessing until the end. I must say that West deserved his happy ending but he really had to remain calm until the end of the story. I really don’t want to spoil but there’s more suspense than romance. I think West was so busy chasing the bad that he really didn’t have enough time to spoil Avery. If you think this series has come to an end then you have another thing coming your way. I really can’t wait to read what happens next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2025
Avery Sawyer has a natural talent when it comes to creating great tasting brews while also stirring up trouble when it comes to looking into her father's death.
When her office is broken into and crucial information is taken, her older brother's best friend West Garfield aka the police chief becomes involved.
A steamy cloak and dagger mystery that has everyone looking over their shoulders and West realizing Avery is everything he never knew he wanted.
Let's hope they find out who is upending their lives to start a new beginning.
When her office is broken into and crucial information is taken, her older brother's best friend West Garfield aka the police chief becomes involved.
A steamy cloak and dagger mystery that has everyone looking over their shoulders and West realizing Avery is everything he never knew he wanted.
Let's hope they find out who is upending their lives to start a new beginning.
June 11, 2025
Oh West and Avery what a wild ride your story was. While this book can be read as a standalone I would highly recommend reading all the books as each one builds on the last and from the start tries to answer the question of who killed dear old dad? This book had so many twists and turns, some I saw coming and others blindsided me and I love that. We got some answers, but also new questions arose. I have enjoyed this series from the start and highly recommend reading it. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book for my honest opinion.
June 14, 2025
incredible
We are back in Sawyers Bend with this one and Ivy still has some tricks up her sleeve. Some of it, I already had a suspicion on but some was not what I expected at all. She kept me guessing until the reveal. We still don’t get all the answers but we definitely get quite a few. Her writing is incredible as usual and it read so easily that time passed in a blur. I was done before I knew it because I just got sucked in. Can’t wait to see what she has in a store for us next.
We are back in Sawyers Bend with this one and Ivy still has some tricks up her sleeve. Some of it, I already had a suspicion on but some was not what I expected at all. She kept me guessing until the reveal. We still don’t get all the answers but we definitely get quite a few. Her writing is incredible as usual and it read so easily that time passed in a blur. I was done before I knew it because I just got sucked in. Can’t wait to see what she has in a store for us next.
July 29, 2025
Not a stand alone
## This book does NOT stand alone. Yes, the romance is a different couple (West & Avery), however the rest was confusing because I hadn't read the previous books. There were so many characters that I couldn't keep them straight. The murder of Prentice Sawyer remains unsolved at the end of this book. Apparently it will be solved in the final installment next year. I liked Avery a lot. I thought she was brave, capable, and honest. West was just OK. I can't recommend this book UNLESS you've read the previous ones in this series.
## This book does NOT stand alone. Yes, the romance is a different couple (West & Avery), however the rest was confusing because I hadn't read the previous books. There were so many characters that I couldn't keep them straight. The murder of Prentice Sawyer remains unsolved at the end of this book. Apparently it will be solved in the final installment next year. I liked Avery a lot. I thought she was brave, capable, and honest. West was just OK. I can't recommend this book UNLESS you've read the previous ones in this series.
June 10, 2025
This is a 5 star read and then some. I can not wait for the next book. I have loved reading every book this author has written. Her series, The Hearts of Sawyers’ Bend has been fantastic. Ivy is able to carry such intensity yet soft romance and a mystery that goes from book 1. This story stars West and Avery and you can’t help but root for this couple. You need to read the books in order and I guarantee you’ll be hooked too.
June 13, 2025
Loved this!!
I loved this story of Avery and West! He's her brother's best friend and they've known each other their whole lives. But now they see each other in a different light. When Avery is attacked, West finally makes a move. Their chemistry is fire. I.love how he is always there for her. Now we just need the mystery of Prentise's murder to be solved. I can't wait for the next book! I love this book and series. I highly recommend!
I loved this story of Avery and West! He's her brother's best friend and they've known each other their whole lives. But now they see each other in a different light. When Avery is attacked, West finally makes a move. Their chemistry is fire. I.love how he is always there for her. Now we just need the mystery of Prentise's murder to be solved. I can't wait for the next book! I love this book and series. I highly recommend!
June 16, 2025
Reckless Heart, a dangerous wild ride.
Avery is a determined women, desperate to keep her brewery going despite the kick back from firing her brewery master. West is a cop equally determined to protect Avery despite her kickass attitude. Lots of drama and still keeping up the mysterious murder of Prentis Sawyer, a real whodunit with the bonus of an evolving love between good boy West and stubborn women, Avery.
Avery is a determined women, desperate to keep her brewery going despite the kick back from firing her brewery master. West is a cop equally determined to protect Avery despite her kickass attitude. Lots of drama and still keeping up the mysterious murder of Prentis Sawyer, a real whodunit with the bonus of an evolving love between good boy West and stubborn women, Avery.
July 23, 2025
4.5⭐️
Holy Drama!! Book 8 of the series. This book sucked me in and read it in one sitting.. Loved watching West and Avery's story unfold. From a break in to getting trapped in a burning building to being arrested to being kidnapped, just so much drama!! I loved it.. So glad we got some answers but still trying to figure out who killed Prentice.. If you plan on reading this book, I suggest you start with book 1 of the series!
Brothers best friend
age gap
friends to lovers
Alpha MMC
Holy Drama!! Book 8 of the series. This book sucked me in and read it in one sitting.. Loved watching West and Avery's story unfold. From a break in to getting trapped in a burning building to being arrested to being kidnapped, just so much drama!! I loved it.. So glad we got some answers but still trying to figure out who killed Prentice.. If you plan on reading this book, I suggest you start with book 1 of the series!
Brothers best friend
age gap
friends to lovers
Alpha MMC
July 29, 2025
SO darn close!!! This series has kept me intrigued since Sawyers Bend began with Griffen. I love the connection of West and Avery. She’s a strong woman who mostly knows her worth, and the small town Sheriff knows it and is not afraid. I also love that this is not a pining for one another story, and it’s a natural connection because they’ve matured as adults. Keep reading! We still don’t know who killed Prentice Sawyer! Gah!
June 10, 2025
Another good entry in the Sawyer family saga. This can be read as a standalone, but it does build on the previous books, so I believe it would be better enjoyed if read in order. I liked Avery and West, and I really enjoyed how the mystery was moved along. I'm really looking forward to the next one.
I received an ARC of this book, and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC of this book, and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 10, 2025
What??
I'm so confused.. I thought we'd find out who murdered Prentice, but it seems like we're getting another book? I'm hoping its Ford's story...I only hope he survives it with a happy ending!
Otherwise, this was an engaging read...and for as long as it was, it flew!
Please tell us it won't be long to find out who murdered Prentice!!
I'm so confused.. I thought we'd find out who murdered Prentice, but it seems like we're getting another book? I'm hoping its Ford's story...I only hope he survives it with a happy ending!
Otherwise, this was an engaging read...and for as long as it was, it flew!
Please tell us it won't be long to find out who murdered Prentice!!
June 11, 2025
I love this book so much! Avery and Wests book is amazing. I love how the two get together. Their relationship was fun to read about because Avery doesn't let anyone tell her what to do. I love how the author answered a lot of questions in this book. I love getting to visit with the other characters as well. Definitely recommend!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews