Seven years ago, I vanished from a life of terror, rebuilding myself in a new city with a new identity. I’ve kept my distance, safe in the shadows until a chance encounter at work pulls me toward a man I can’t resist. Just as I start to have hope for a better future, the darkness begins to close in. Now, I’m caught between the life I’ve created and the past that won’t let me go, forced to fight for everything—or lose it all.
Nick
I’ve always believed in love but haven’t let anyone in for years—until I met her. Her eyes speak of a past burdened with pain, and her heart is fortified by walls that seem unbreakable. Yet, I’m irresistibly drawn to her and committed to dismantling those barriers, no matter how long it takes.
***ARC READ*** "The scars of my past might always be with me, but they no longer define me." First thing is first, CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS. And then proceed to this amazing romance, I was in a reading slump before I received this ARC and now. I feel like I got the breath of fresh air I needed. Chloe is such a strong and hard working FMC and Nick 🥵🥵🥵 the MMC. The love they have is beautiful. The protective and possessive nature of Nick makes him one of the best MMCs I have read about. I highly recommend this book for romance readers. And the spice.... Is it hot in here or was it just Nick? (Tee hee) hahaha 🌶️🌶️🌶️.75 out of 5
Such a good read, thank you for the honor of receiving this arc Catherine Rayne!
This was a generally good read, that was very fast paced, meaning I managed to finish it in one day.
The best bits: -Compelling storyline, with focus on domestic abuse and the emotional impact this can have both on someone and their loved ones -Discussions about moving on after the death of a loved one -Generally likeable characters -Fast paced making an easy read
I feel like some characters could have had more depth to them, and this may have added to the story and bumped it up to 4⭐️, the extremely fast paced nature of the book likely impacted in this. This then also meant at times the dialogue felt a bit static/robotic. The spice also felt a bit repetitive and unnecessary at times. However this being said, it was still an enjoyable read for me and I would still recommend for those that like fast paced romances with an element of darker themes.
This is an emotional ARC review of the debut book 'The Scars We Hide' by Catherine Rayne. Storyline 5/5⭐️ Characters 5/5⭐️ 🌶️ 3/5⭐️ Writing style 4/5⭐️
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Stalking,Kidnapping,Domestic Violence,Rape,Torture,Verbal and physical abuse,Abandonment,Gaslighting. The above warnings are NOT between the main characters. Mention of miscarriages(happened in the past),Death of a friend,Mention of difficulty getting pregnant(side character) SYNOPSIS: Chloe has been through extensive trauma which caused her to be cautious and closed off in terms of trust and relationships. She is a strong woman career wise, helping those who were in her position once. Then she meets Nick, who is immediately infatuated with her. Disaster strikes when danger lurks in the shadows, which makes Chloe’s world start to crack again. Will Nick and Chloe be able to overcome this?Will they get their HEA? STORYLINE: I liked the storyline. It is scary to think there are women going through this kind terror! It made me feel so sad. Story was well thought out. CHARACTERS: - Chloe, my gosh she went through such hardships and still despite her fears is trying to overcome it all. It’s hard to get through the circle of defensiveness. -Nick, what a sensitive boyfriend. And just like in real life he is so helpless when it comes to rescuing Chloe. Unlike romance thrillers where the man hero saves the damsel unscathed, this is not that! Loved how down to earth he is. Both of them together are so beautifully synced, and the love for each other is felt throughout. - Zoe, everybody needs a bff like her!! I loved her character. 🌶️- Enough spice, since it’s more down to earth 🌶️, not as elaborate as other books, if you catch my drift. I only rated the main characters’ 🌶️ scenes. Didn’t feel comfy rating other scenes. WRITING STYLE: Since it is a debut novel, I can understand the tension and stress that comes with it. Even tho I liked the storyline, sometimes it felt a little repetitive. But in regard to Chloe’s POV I can totally understand it because it is so so hard to get out of that negative mindset. And how do you get through to the readers on what goes on in the mind of the FMC. Then you need to put down the repetitiveness of those emotions and thoughts. It was like a double feeling for me. Maybe because of the topic in this book that made me feel so sad and helpless.
All in all I found this a good debut book. I enjoyed the storyline and characters, no matter how deep the topic is. The repetitiveness is my only petpeve factor, but this would be from a POV that hasn’t gone through what Chloe did. But other than that. You did a marvelous job on storyline, character building, chemistry! Well job done!
I was honored to be one of the first to read this debut novel by Catherine Rayne. She writes like a woman who has been through what she writes. I have to say there are a number of triggers in this novel, so read with caution. I loved how you got to know the Female Main Character after she had healed some from a past trauma. Unfortunately, not all trauma can stay buried and comes back to haunt her. You see how strong someone can become after a heart retching trauma.
Chloe has been haunted for 7 years by a past that she wants to forget. She thinks that she has found the man of her dreams, but her world is shattered when that past comes back. She endures her worst nightmare and thinks that all is lost when she finally gains the strength to fight for her life. It is not always easy, and the journey that she goes on is one that many, unfortunately, have had to battle. I felt everything she was going through while in her nightmare. Though not as intense as Chloe’s story, I think all of us women have had to endure a level of trauma and find the strength to move on with our lives.
Nick has had his own trauma that he has had to overcome in life. Once he finds Chloe, he has to dig deeper than he has ever had to before, to help her open up and overcome a level of trauma that no women should have to endure. Nick is the backbone that helps ground Chloe in a life where the shadows can hurt you. You can feel the love that Nick has for Chloe from early on in the story, it only becomes more apparent as their story evolves.
Overall this book may not be for everyone, as there are some strong themes, but I think that it is a story that will help many heal, as you go through the nightmare with Chloe and Nick. You see how much strength it takes to get out of such a soul crushing event and come out better on the other side, with help and a great support system.
Though there are a lot of heavy themes in this book, there is also a level of spice that helps cut some of the tension. Some of the spicy scenes help with the plot and healing that is needed in this book. I thought there were just enough details and not too repetitive as some authors can be with their spicy scenes.
I look forward to seeing where the rest of this series takes us, I think that this is going to be a trilogy
Catherine Rayne did an amazing job exploring the emotional struggles of escaping an abusive past and allowing oneself the opportunity to find love even when it's hard. The Scars We hide takes readers on an powerful journey of hope, fear, sadness, anger, but most importantly, of love. Chloe is such an amazing character. Her strength shows through on every page even if she doesn't see it herself. You will feel all of her emotions right alongside her and will be cheering her on throughout the book. Nick is the type of man every girl needs in their life, especially those who have gone through something similar to Chloe. His patience and understanding as Chloe heals will have you falling for him right alongside her. Both Chloe and Nick have tragic pasts that they are trying to heal from. Their connection and understanding of each other’s needs help them through this journey. However, when Chloe's past threatens to take away this new chance at love, both Chloe and Nick have to fight to ensure they get their happily ever after. Nick and Chloe's friends and family bring an extra dose of love and support that keep them going throughout the story. This being a debut novel, the story was very well written. The beginning did seem a little fast paced with certain parts seeming to be glossed over while other details seemed to take a forefront, this may be due to Chloe's past trauma and needing to always be aware of her surroundings. The relationship between Chloe and Nick was more of an insta-love rather than the slow burn I would have expected. However, this was nice to see as Chloe had been through so much and deserved to find the type of love Nick was able to give her. This book is definitely worth reading but is full of triggers and they should be considered before starting.
Arc reader review : thank you so much for the opportunity to read this debut book. Please check trigger warnings. There are really heavy parts in the book.
Overall rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spice: 🌶️🌶️ 🌶️
Favorite Quote : “ I don’t give a damn about your scars. They’re apart of you and tell the story of your survival”
For being a debut I found It very well written and the emotions I felt reading It hit me strong. From happy to tears to anger she got them all.
Chloe is the FMC. Chloe has been through so much and goes through so much in this book. During parts of her pov I felt as if I was there with her. So detailed and raw. Bravo! Her journey of healing hasn’t been easy and I loved her growth and strength she showed as she healed from her trauma.
Nick is the MC and I need a nick in my life. This man walks the walk and isn’t all talk. While he has been through his own trauma his support during the healing process was simply the best. He was strong and supportive and would give her the world. He was exactly the perfect match. Every man can learn something from Nick.
Zoe is a supporting character and I fell in love with her. Everyone needs a best friend like Zoe.
the spicy was well written and was mixed in well to help break up the heaviness.
This story got me in so many feels that I had to step away several times. This was by no means a bad thing, because I loved this story so much. The story appears to start in the middle of Chloe's journey, so may seem a bit confusing, but it's necessary for the story progression, and makes sense further into the story. She's been through a lot, and when Nick enters the picture, you can tell it's feelings at first sight for them both. She tries to fight it, but he's so charming.
Both have a lot of trauma in their life, and it comes back for Chloe in a really bad way. Nick has to decide if he can handle both of their demons, and risk it for love.
Please read the trigger warnings for this book, as there are several instances that may be triggering for some readers.
I loved this book, and finding out it's the author's debut just blows my mind.
Please note that I did receive an ARC of this book and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
ARC Reader: To start this review I would like to inform anyone who wants to read this book to please, please, please, read the trigger warnings. This story does have a lot of graphic details that can be triggering to some. This book is debut book by Catherine Rayne and is so wonderfully written. I enjoyed this book so much that I practically read the whole thing in one sitting. Chloe our main character has not had an easy life. Facing a lot of obstacles that haunt her as she continues to grow and get past these. Unfortunately those obstacles come back and drastically change her life throughout the story. Chloe is a strong and brave character that fought through out the whole story to change everything. Nick our MMC has his own challenges but does not let that stop him from loving Chloe and fighting for her no matter what happens. This story was very well written and had many surprises that kept me second guessing what was going to happen next.
Chole is the FLC that’s has gone through so much, so before reading the book i highly suggest reading the trigger list. This book was definitely emotional. Chole escaping and hiding from an abusive past, her savior, who is her best friend husband dying, the boyfriend leaving her, and then her abuser finding her again and grapes her (which is why you must check trigger warning)!
Nick being the MMC has been holding her down supporting her in every way possible. He truly was that character I needed in this book. He was written to perfection. The plot was good as the suspense. If you are looking for a book to read that’s emotional and well written this one will be one for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
There were definitely some hard to read parts of this book due to how well the author described some of the abuse poor Chloe experienced. It will break your heart. Chloe and Nick's story of strength and overcoming the trauma of abuse was really well written. They were both very real and down to earth. I loved how he stayed by her side through everything and supported her. She really needed that and probably only recovered as well as she did because he was there for her. Be aware of the triggers for sure, but it was a great book.
Absolutely loved this book. Chloe the FMC has been through so much trauma and yet she is still so strong and resilient. Nick has in own share of trauma and I love how protective he of Chloe. I just loved this book. Definitely watch for triggers. I’m so impressed with the author Catherine Rayne. This is her debut novel and I felt that she’s been writing for years with how great this book is. Definitely looking to read more books from her in the future!!!!
This was a well written book, and the story kept me interested the whole time. I enjoyed the action and suspense in the middle and seeing Chloe as a survivor and finding her strength.
What a book! I felt like I went through an emotional rollercoaster. The story brought me in and held my attention. I enjoyed how the story moved and how the MFC dealt with her past and worked on healing.
Please check the trigger warnings before reading because it does have some tough subject material.
The FMC Chloe- oh I wanted to hug her so bad. After escaping an abusive ex-boyfriend, she tries to move forward. The first man she trusts after him shatters her heart, and she wonders if she'll ever find love.
That's when our MMC Nick comes in with a thud. No, really, she runs straight into him. He is so patient with her and feels instantly connected to her. He has his own demons and tragedy from his past. He shows her how important she is to him and that she deserves so much.
Also, let's not forget when Cole (Mr. Ghosts her out of nowhere) comes back with his declaration of love and refusal to take no. Nick is quite calm with it all.
When the worst case scenario happens and her ex kidnaps her- he tries to break her down, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.
Nick never stops looking for her, and when she escapes and thinks she's unlovable, he's there to piece her back together. He even lets Cole help.
The spice level is 🌶🌶🌶, appropriate and spread through.
The characters were easy to root for and feel for. I teared up a few times.
I do wish there were a little more details in the back stories, more about Nick. More details about Chloe and Zoe's friendship.
For a debut novel, I was impressed and can't wait to read the next in the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The Scars We Hide is one of those stories that truly stays with you. From the very first page, I was hooked by the emotional depth and honesty Catherine Rayne poured into these characters. The struggles, the pain, and ultimately the hope of healing were written so beautifully that I felt every moment right along with them. The cover is stunning and captures the spirit of the story perfectly, but it was the heartfelt writing inside that really stole my heart. This is a book I won’t forget anytime soon.
This was OK. Could have been 4 star but as a personal opinion it's 3. I don't really like reading about main characters sleeping with other people on page. I think that was what put me off from the start. Other than that the story was interesting and it was fast paced. The characters did have chemistry. I loved Nicks protective and possessed nature. Chloe was trying to live again from Her awful past. This is quite emotional and full of suspense.
Wow what an emotional story! Chloe has been through so much and still came out strong! I absolutely loved her! Victor was an absolute monster. Cole didn't realize what he had in front of him. Nick was patient and such amazing guy. This has a ton of trigger warnings so be prepared.
The book 'The Scar We Hide' is a heartfelt and suspenseful romance about rebuilding after trauma and learning to trust again. With gripping tension and emotional depth, it’s a powerful story of love, resilience, and the fight to reclaim a future.