What do you think?
Rate this book
Stolen Moments #3
The Ruins of Us: Stolen Moments, Book 3
What do you do when the one that got away comes back?
Carter
I thought I was doing right by those Emilia and I both love when I let her go. So why has not a single thing in my life felt right since she left? Emilia is back now, and I'm ready to fight like hell for her. But how do I convince Emilia to give me another chance when she keeps going out of her way to avoid me?
Emilia
It's been years since I've been back in Woodstock. Had it been up to me, I'd never have come back at all. I don't want to be here—I don't want to be around Carter. So why does life keep pushing me back to him?
The Ruins Of Us is the final book in the Stolen Moments trilogy. This trilogy was previous titled Mayhem.
Carter
I thought I was doing right by those Emilia and I both love when I let her go. So why has not a single thing in my life felt right since she left? Emilia is back now, and I'm ready to fight like hell for her. But how do I convince Emilia to give me another chance when she keeps going out of her way to avoid me?
Emilia
It's been years since I've been back in Woodstock. Had it been up to me, I'd never have come back at all. I don't want to be here—I don't want to be around Carter. So why does life keep pushing me back to him?
The Ruins Of Us is the final book in the Stolen Moments trilogy. This trilogy was previous titled Mayhem.
Audible Audio
First published January 14, 2021
646 people are currently reading
2492 people want to read
About the author
Catharina Maura
35 books16.6k followersCatharina Maura is a USA Today and Amazon #1 bestselling author. She writes angsty, fast-paced contemporary romance novels that break your heart before they lead you to a hard-won happily ever after.
Cat lives in Hong Kong with her husband and a dozen houseplants that all have names. When she isn't daydreaming about future characters, she's exploring the world and seeking out new adventures.
You can find Cat's socials and latest updates here: https://hi.catharinamaura.com/bio
Cat lives in Hong Kong with her husband and a dozen houseplants that all have names. When she isn't daydreaming about future characters, she's exploring the world and seeking out new adventures.
You can find Cat's socials and latest updates here: https://hi.catharinamaura.com/bio
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
February 27, 2021
I didn’t *not* like the series but I feel like it was dragged on for way too long. I also hate when books have the two characters in love and then they’re apart for years.. one moves on and goes back home and the SO comes for a visit and leaves the other because the one is basically cheating on them, without *physically* cheating on them. It’s just overplayed and I don’t like reading about the *unintentional* break up over a long lost love. Then minutes later the long lost lovers are back together. It’s really just irritating. Like the whole identity of that person is wrapped in another and they just said “see ya” to their entire life.
So the story dragged on and on in this last book, when it could have ended in the second.
So the story dragged on and on in this last book, when it could have ended in the second.
June 12, 2021
Why did it have to end?!
I feel like my heart has been though a ringer and just stomped on and bit by bit glued back together.
When i say this book had all the feels, I mean every single emotion you can think of this book has it. It's 8 years later and I admire the love Carter and Emilia have for each other. Timings never right for those two but they sure do get in trouble often together.
They're love for each other, the pranks, the happiness, the heartache, the jealousy, the difficulties. Through all of it, they just keep coming back to each other and I'm so happy with this ending! Although I wished it didn't have to end.
Some characters redeemed themselves in this book. And im glad that they could get back to how it was before. Cause I mean love conquers all in the end!
I can't say more than, I loved this book and every single page in it and don't know how I never read this before?! I wish I could re read it for the first time all over again
I feel like my heart has been though a ringer and just stomped on and bit by bit glued back together.
When i say this book had all the feels, I mean every single emotion you can think of this book has it. It's 8 years later and I admire the love Carter and Emilia have for each other. Timings never right for those two but they sure do get in trouble often together.
They're love for each other, the pranks, the happiness, the heartache, the jealousy, the difficulties. Through all of it, they just keep coming back to each other and I'm so happy with this ending! Although I wished it didn't have to end.
Some characters redeemed themselves in this book. And im glad that they could get back to how it was before. Cause I mean love conquers all in the end!
I can't say more than, I loved this book and every single page in it and don't know how I never read this before?! I wish I could re read it for the first time all over again
January 31, 2021
After reading Chaos I had to jump immediately into this book! I needed to find out how the story between Emilia and Carter would end!
I loved this book so much. Seeing Emilia and Carter 8 years later was amazing. Both of them grew so much and I just loved to see their development. I was so glad to see that Emilia grew a back bone and was no longer the little girl that everyone could push around! I also loved the man Carter became and the fact that now he made all the right decisions in fighting for Emilia and sticking to her side even against his family.
I was also happy that Emilia was able to have a better relationship with her own father and that he was much more present. She was no longer alone and feeling like she had no family at all.
Even if they ended up regretting what they did and apologizing, I still hate Kate and Helen for how they behaved towards Emilia and what they did to Emilia and Carter’s relationship. They took years of happiness from them! If I was in Emilia’s shoes I would never forgive them and even though she did it, I am still happy that she was able to stand up for herself and to acknowledge that their relationship would never be the same.
I also read the additional chapters 5 and 10 years later and the extra prologue the author wrote on when Emilia, Kate and Carter met for the first time at the treehouse! I loved to see all this.
I am sad that the story has ended and that I no longer have anything to read about Emilia and Carter. But I am happy with how the story ended and that despite the emotional roller coaster, everything ended the way it should have.
I absolutely recommend this trilogy! I can’t wait to read more books from Catharina Maura!
I loved this book so much. Seeing Emilia and Carter 8 years later was amazing. Both of them grew so much and I just loved to see their development. I was so glad to see that Emilia grew a back bone and was no longer the little girl that everyone could push around! I also loved the man Carter became and the fact that now he made all the right decisions in fighting for Emilia and sticking to her side even against his family.
I was also happy that Emilia was able to have a better relationship with her own father and that he was much more present. She was no longer alone and feeling like she had no family at all.
Even if they ended up regretting what they did and apologizing, I still hate Kate and Helen for how they behaved towards Emilia and what they did to Emilia and Carter’s relationship. They took years of happiness from them! If I was in Emilia’s shoes I would never forgive them and even though she did it, I am still happy that she was able to stand up for herself and to acknowledge that their relationship would never be the same.
I also read the additional chapters 5 and 10 years later and the extra prologue the author wrote on when Emilia, Kate and Carter met for the first time at the treehouse! I loved to see all this.
I am sad that the story has ended and that I no longer have anything to read about Emilia and Carter. But I am happy with how the story ended and that despite the emotional roller coaster, everything ended the way it should have.
I absolutely recommend this trilogy! I can’t wait to read more books from Catharina Maura!
February 23, 2023
DNF 30% I’m so disappointed in what I’ve read so far, that I just stopped reading..
It’s the same shit between Carter and Emilia just a different book title. I truly thought Emilia would come back wiser and stronger! How I was so wrong… supposedly she’s 27 but still acts no different then she did in the other 2 books. Still the same girl pinning over Carter even after 8 years. 🙄
And Carter was no different.. what a bummer..😔
It’s the same shit between Carter and Emilia just a different book title. I truly thought Emilia would come back wiser and stronger! How I was so wrong… supposedly she’s 27 but still acts no different then she did in the other 2 books. Still the same girl pinning over Carter even after 8 years. 🙄
And Carter was no different.. what a bummer..😔
March 2, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
This series was so good! Carter and Emilia are soulmates, but damn did everything happen to push them apart. I really enjoyed the breakdown of the books. 1st one was in high school, 2nd was in college, and 3rd was adulthood. You got to see them grown and finally find happiness. 🥰
This series was so good! Carter and Emilia are soulmates, but damn did everything happen to push them apart. I really enjoyed the breakdown of the books. 1st one was in high school, 2nd was in college, and 3rd was adulthood. You got to see them grown and finally find happiness. 🥰
March 22, 2021
"Baby, I've been yours since the day I laid eyes on you."
Oh my heart, this Mayhem series was absolutely incredible. This is an enemies to lovers, sibling's best friend trilogy that gave me ALL THE FEELS! In the first book (Mayhem) Emilia and Carter start off as "enemies" as Emilia becomes best friends with Kate (Carter's sister). Their prank wars are epic and eventually their chemistry transitions them from rivals to lovers. Of course they make mistakes because they are young but their love is so pure. In the second book (Chaos), they make the jump into college time frame and their love story will just captivate you as they fall head over heels for each other. And then, bring the tissues because your heart will be ripped out (I cried for multiple chapters). And Kate and Helen- I was so angry with them (I may have thrown my kindle against the wall). And then we have the last book (The Ruins of Us) that takes us into adulthood and heals all of those messy emotions.
"I've missed you too, Emilia. Every second of every day, Minx. You were always on my mind, always in my thoughts and in my every dream."
Emilia and Carter absolutely captured my heart. Emilia had the perfect blend of vulnerability and feistiness and she tugged at my heartstrings with her emotional connection to Carter's family. And Carter- OMG - he is definitely my newest book boyfriend and he was so completely in love with Emilia and knew she was the one from the beginning! So many amazing moments- a few of my absolute faves were the first time these two admitted their love for each other, all of the moments with Carter and John, and of course the amazing epilogue. Their HEA was worth every tear along the way!
Oh my heart, this Mayhem series was absolutely incredible. This is an enemies to lovers, sibling's best friend trilogy that gave me ALL THE FEELS! In the first book (Mayhem) Emilia and Carter start off as "enemies" as Emilia becomes best friends with Kate (Carter's sister). Their prank wars are epic and eventually their chemistry transitions them from rivals to lovers. Of course they make mistakes because they are young but their love is so pure. In the second book (Chaos), they make the jump into college time frame and their love story will just captivate you as they fall head over heels for each other. And then, bring the tissues because your heart will be ripped out (I cried for multiple chapters). And Kate and Helen- I was so angry with them (I may have thrown my kindle against the wall). And then we have the last book (The Ruins of Us) that takes us into adulthood and heals all of those messy emotions.
"I've missed you too, Emilia. Every second of every day, Minx. You were always on my mind, always in my thoughts and in my every dream."
Emilia and Carter absolutely captured my heart. Emilia had the perfect blend of vulnerability and feistiness and she tugged at my heartstrings with her emotional connection to Carter's family. And Carter- OMG - he is definitely my newest book boyfriend and he was so completely in love with Emilia and knew she was the one from the beginning! So many amazing moments- a few of my absolute faves were the first time these two admitted their love for each other, all of the moments with Carter and John, and of course the amazing epilogue. Their HEA was worth every tear along the way!
March 9, 2025
I don’t even know how Emelia’s tear ducts kept up with all the crying she did.
May 20, 2025
I loved this 3-book series even though I ugly cried through a good portion. Their pranks began when they were children and got them in detention too many times to count. I really hated Kate throughout most of the series, but she was finally able to redeem herself. All the characters in the books are amazing, and you feel that you know them personally and feel their excitement and pain. The chemistry and sex are smoking hot!
I cried my heart out. The pain and suffering Emilia went through was crushing. Kate and Helen destroy Emilia 's spirit and crush her heart. Kate is just a nasty vile creature.
I highly recommend this series and anything written by Catharina Maura. Her books are well written, and she draws on all your emotions.
Hoopla listen 🎶
I cried my heart out. The pain and suffering Emilia went through was crushing. Kate and Helen destroy Emilia 's spirit and crush her heart. Kate is just a nasty vile creature.
I highly recommend this series and anything written by Catharina Maura. Her books are well written, and she draws on all your emotions.
Hoopla listen 🎶
December 14, 2022
A very satisfying conclusion for our Carter & Emilia 🤍 I’ve decided that I will never not recommend this trilogy. It was SO good. I didn’t even expect to love it as much as I did, as it was originally just a random read I picked up when craving an angsty book, but I clearly ended up obsessed lol. My only complaint is that Carter is every girl’s dream and unrealistic to how men actually are 😂 but that’s not even really a complaint because isn’t that WHY we read & fall in love with the guys in our books??
So excited to read more of Catharina’s work!!
So excited to read more of Catharina’s work!!
December 21, 2020
Such an incredible book to finish off the trilogy.
I was so sad when it started that Emilia was still in London. But as always Catharina delivered an excellent story.
This book was definitely the biggest emotional rollercoaster of the 3 books.
I laughed, I cried and my heart soared for the characters.
I love that the book highlights the relationship between not only Emilia & Carter, but their relationships with their families too.
I definitely wasn't ready for this series to end.
I was so sad when it started that Emilia was still in London. But as always Catharina delivered an excellent story.
This book was definitely the biggest emotional rollercoaster of the 3 books.
I laughed, I cried and my heart soared for the characters.
I love that the book highlights the relationship between not only Emilia & Carter, but their relationships with their families too.
I definitely wasn't ready for this series to end.
December 15, 2020
Absolutely loved this! It is so amazing from start to finish I was so torn the whole way through the book between me wanting it to finish and me never wanting it to end! It was so true to the characters and definitely did their love story justice! Literally could not put it down it grips you from the very beginning! AMAZING author, love all of her books she’s fabulous!!
April 2, 2023
Random find on KU but I loved this trilogy so much
November 26, 2024
“The Ruins of Us” is the story of Emilia and Carter.
Second chance romance between a couple separated by time, and reunited by circumstances. This one has the heroine returning home to help her sick father, only to realize he has moved in with her ex/ neighbor and the hero is paying for her father’s treatment. She has a boyfriend who she does not love, and returning back brings all those suppressed feelings for her ex to the surface. The hero has never forgiven himself and his family for breaking the heroine’s heart, but this time he will not let her go.
It’s pretty dramatic in parts but the OW/OM drama was a lot and I felt the heroine should have been more honest with her ex. Loads of inside jokes and “stealing” by the heroine, but the hero just has heart eyes throughout the book. Also never got a clear picture of what happened with the hero’s sister and her but most loose ends were tied by the end.
Unsafe
3/5
Second chance romance between a couple separated by time, and reunited by circumstances. This one has the heroine returning home to help her sick father, only to realize he has moved in with her ex/ neighbor and the hero is paying for her father’s treatment. She has a boyfriend who she does not love, and returning back brings all those suppressed feelings for her ex to the surface. The hero has never forgiven himself and his family for breaking the heroine’s heart, but this time he will not let her go.
It’s pretty dramatic in parts but the OW/OM drama was a lot and I felt the heroine should have been more honest with her ex. Loads of inside jokes and “stealing” by the heroine, but the hero just has heart eyes throughout the book. Also never got a clear picture of what happened with the hero’s sister and her but most loose ends were tied by the end.
Unsafe
3/5
January 16, 2025
This hits EVERY TIME
First time read review: Wowowowowowowow. WOW.
This series was just so good, i loved the character arcs and how emotional everything was. I am obsessed with Emilia she is such a strong character. The way she handles everything is 10/10 I literally don’t think this fictional character could ever do wrong. Carter and Emilia are just the absolute best!!!!!
I loved her dad and his meddling too🥹
I loved the ending I cried so much reading this!!!
5 star series
First time read review: Wowowowowowowow. WOW.
This series was just so good, i loved the character arcs and how emotional everything was. I am obsessed with Emilia she is such a strong character. The way she handles everything is 10/10 I literally don’t think this fictional character could ever do wrong. Carter and Emilia are just the absolute best!!!!!
I loved her dad and his meddling too🥹
I loved the ending I cried so much reading this!!!
5 star series
October 2, 2022
I flew through this series - having to read the next book immediately after finishing the one before. I could not put it down and the characters infiltrated all my thoughts!
The last book was definitely my favourite (I’m a sucker for a happy ending!), but I liked that the characters were older and everything just felt nearer and easier to read!
I definitely loved all the books though, and would recommend them to anyone looking for a good romance.
The last book was definitely my favourite (I’m a sucker for a happy ending!), but I liked that the characters were older and everything just felt nearer and easier to read!
I definitely loved all the books though, and would recommend them to anyone looking for a good romance.
November 23, 2023
This was a 3.75 star read.
I felt like it was the same problems that were in the other two books but drawn out. I was mad at the MFC by like the second chapter with her boyfriend that she should have dumped by 20% into the story.
I do like a good HEA. Although I think it was rushed towards the end. We have spent 3 books with these characters- I wanted to relish in their happiness for a bit.
I felt like it was the same problems that were in the other two books but drawn out. I was mad at the MFC by like the second chapter with her boyfriend that she should have dumped by 20% into the story.
I do like a good HEA. Although I think it was rushed towards the end. We have spent 3 books with these characters- I wanted to relish in their happiness for a bit.
March 10, 2024
Ms.Maura is just eating
January 17, 2021
I read all 3 of these books and fell in love with both the author and the characters. Catharina took me on a journey that I couldn't put down. I connected with the characters in the books and I felt every single emotion that they felt as well as so much more. I would highly recommend reading Cat's books xx
February 7, 2021
If I could give ten stars I would. This is book three in the series. Carter and Emilia stole my heart in Mayhem which was book 1. My heart broke for them in Chaos which was book 2 and The Ruins Of Us took us on a Roller Coaster of a ride that kept me glued to my seat until the very last page was read. You will laugh, cry and cheer for this couple throughout this entire series. The Ruins Of Us concludes this series in the best way possible and will leave you thinking about Carter and Emilia long after you are finished reading it. I absolutely loved it.
March 10, 2023
Liked it until she cheated on her boyfriend
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2023
Oh Catharina. If nothing else I can say that it’s interesting to see how significantly her writing has improved since she wrote these! Maybe in 10 more years she’ll write a good book.
July 19, 2021
4.5 unbreak my heart stars
After reading Until You it was no problem understanding that this author loves giving us a sexy dirty talking hero, well now she gave us one in 3 books and we got to watch him grow up from the sweet virgin to the f&$@ me on the porch swing hottie!
Minx may be one of the selfless heroines I have ever read. It was about time she finally put her happiness first. The end of book 2 had me so emotional and it continued throughout this book all the way to the end.
I will say that it was very hard for Kate to redeem herself till the very end but I’m not sure I’d be able to forgive/forget if she had done what she done to me but just like Minx says the past is in the past and now they have forever to look forward to.
….this is also me pleading to the author that I’m going to need a story for Kate after reading the bonus scenes!
After reading Until You it was no problem understanding that this author loves giving us a sexy dirty talking hero, well now she gave us one in 3 books and we got to watch him grow up from the sweet virgin to the f&$@ me on the porch swing hottie!
Minx may be one of the selfless heroines I have ever read. It was about time she finally put her happiness first. The end of book 2 had me so emotional and it continued throughout this book all the way to the end.
I will say that it was very hard for Kate to redeem herself till the very end but I’m not sure I’d be able to forgive/forget if she had done what she done to me but just like Minx says the past is in the past and now they have forever to look forward to.
….this is also me pleading to the author that I’m going to need a story for Kate after reading the bonus scenes!
April 16, 2024
a bittersweet happy ending
Let’s say book 2 did a number, I cannot forget the ugliness that Emilia went through and Carter torn between both and his family.
Now book 3 finally comes to light where this time they do not hold back, yes there were still trust issues for Emilia but without her father bringing her back, I knew this book was going to be good. Btw I love the older Carter 😍.
Let’s say book 2 did a number, I cannot forget the ugliness that Emilia went through and Carter torn between both and his family.
Now book 3 finally comes to light where this time they do not hold back, yes there were still trust issues for Emilia but without her father bringing her back, I knew this book was going to be good. Btw I love the older Carter 😍.
June 20, 2022
Is it bad that I was rooting for Carter the whole time? Poor Sam.
In the final chapter of Carter and Emilia’s story, Emilia returns for the first time in 8 years to be with her ailing father. The same father that Carter has done everything to try and save. Tension is thick, there is so much pain between both of them, so much animosity between Emilia and his family, can they break through it and find room for their love?
Continue the ugly crying, this book was everything.
In the final chapter of Carter and Emilia’s story, Emilia returns for the first time in 8 years to be with her ailing father. The same father that Carter has done everything to try and save. Tension is thick, there is so much pain between both of them, so much animosity between Emilia and his family, can they break through it and find room for their love?
Continue the ugly crying, this book was everything.
August 14, 2024
Perfection.
This book is the last one in the trilogy and follows them into their adulthood.
It’s set eight year after the second book and while that broke my heart it was necessary.
I still love Carter and Emilia with all my heart, they’re my babies!!
I still didn’t really forgive Helen and Kate but at least they tried.
I loved this story as much as the first two
This book is the last one in the trilogy and follows them into their adulthood.
It’s set eight year after the second book and while that broke my heart it was necessary.
I still love Carter and Emilia with all my heart, they’re my babies!!
I still didn’t really forgive Helen and Kate but at least they tried.
I loved this story as much as the first two
August 12, 2024
4.5⭐️
I loved this series so much!
Amelia & Carter’s story took so many twists & turns & ups & downs but they never stopped loving each other
This book was my favourite of the 3 & they were all great.
Such quick addictive reads.
I loved this series so much!
Amelia & Carter’s story took so many twists & turns & ups & downs but they never stopped loving each other
This book was my favourite of the 3 & they were all great.
Such quick addictive reads.
November 20, 2022
Such a heart wrenching story! It’s like I was a glutton for punishment as I turned the pages rapidly. Extremely emotional! So much hurt and pain, yet love prevailed! Wonderful conclusion!
December 10, 2024
Defos the worst out of the three should’ve only been 2 books
June 15, 2025
I was so happy how their story ended and that Kate kind of redeemed herself.
August 25, 2025
Thank god.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews