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Hawkthorpe
Sanctuary of Lies
In a dark, why-choose romance about the healing power of chosen family, a woman finds sanctuary in a remote town and in the arms of three men desperate to claim her―even as her abusive past continues to hunt her down.
Everleigh Banks has a secret.
Living under a false identity, she’s plagued by the lingering trauma of her husband’s cruelty. Hiding in the small town of Hawkthorpe is a last-ditch effort to bury the evil she’s fled.
It’s a fresh start, but she didn’t count on three complications carrying their own demons to steal her fragile heart and refuse to surrender it.
There’s Sterling, hot-tempered and gruff, a widower grieving his wife’s mysterious death. Leo, Sterling’s adoptive brother, the playful optimist who seeks to fix everyone. And Fletcher, the stoic former pilot, struggling with survivor’s guilt from the crash that stole his voice.
Their love defies limits, but under the cloak of snow-capped mountains, these four are happy to share.
As Everleigh’s lies spiral out of control, she’ll have to face her past to protect their future. Because no matter how deep the darkest secrets are buried, some ghosts can’t be outrun.
And this ghost wants his wife back.
Everleigh Banks has a secret.
Living under a false identity, she’s plagued by the lingering trauma of her husband’s cruelty. Hiding in the small town of Hawkthorpe is a last-ditch effort to bury the evil she’s fled.
It’s a fresh start, but she didn’t count on three complications carrying their own demons to steal her fragile heart and refuse to surrender it.
There’s Sterling, hot-tempered and gruff, a widower grieving his wife’s mysterious death. Leo, Sterling’s adoptive brother, the playful optimist who seeks to fix everyone. And Fletcher, the stoic former pilot, struggling with survivor’s guilt from the crash that stole his voice.
Their love defies limits, but under the cloak of snow-capped mountains, these four are happy to share.
As Everleigh’s lies spiral out of control, she’ll have to face her past to protect their future. Because no matter how deep the darkest secrets are buried, some ghosts can’t be outrun.
And this ghost wants his wife back.
399 pages, Paperback
Published September 29, 2026
About the author
J. Rose
27 books2,637 followersJ Rose is an independent dark romance author from the United Kingdom. She writes challenging, plot-driven stories packed full of angst, heartbreak and broken characters fighting for their happily ever afters.
She’s an introverted bookworm at heart with a caffeine addiction, penchant for cursing and an unhealthy attachment to fictional characters.
Feel free to reach out on social media, J Rose loves talking to her readers!
Enquiries: j_roseauthor@yahoo.com
Stalk J Rose here:
www.jroseauthor.com/socials
Newsletter sign up:
www.jroseauthor.com/socials
Buy J Rose's books:
www.jroseauthor.com/books
She’s an introverted bookworm at heart with a caffeine addiction, penchant for cursing and an unhealthy attachment to fictional characters.
Feel free to reach out on social media, J Rose loves talking to her readers!
Enquiries: j_roseauthor@yahoo.com
Stalk J Rose here:
www.jroseauthor.com/socials
Newsletter sign up:
www.jroseauthor.com/socials
Buy J Rose's books:
www.jroseauthor.com/books
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 364 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sometimes I wonder what has happened to this author that makes her write in such an emotionally intelligent yet beautifully draining way?
Every single book I’ve ever read by J Rose has hurt so good. I can’t describe my love for her work. At this point, I’m scared for what she will write next because how does she keep THINKING THESE THINGS AND PUTTING WORDS TO PAPER LIKE THIS ?!
The emotional detail is excruciating. Not just in this one, but in all of her works.
Sanctuary of Lies definitely hit home in a few ways, as does a lot of her books and/or characters. As soon as you connect in any way with one of Rose’s characters, whether it be by simply enjoying the character or trauma bonding, you know you’re in for a treat.
I ate this book up in one sitting because I connected with these characters INSTANTLY. Emotionally, spiritually, physically. All 4 of them, to even the tiniest degree. And I was down bad. I had to sit the book down multiple times and collect myself (as I have done with all of J’s books ngl).
Everleigh was scared but strong. Resilient in a way that she didn’t want to be but HAD to be.
Leo was pure light, yet constantly making sure he didn’t end up alone again.
Sterling was lost and grieving, and god knows all I wanted to do was hug him.
And Fletcher. I think he was grieving the most. Himself. His future. His plans.
The little plot twists at the end?! I fucking cried. I CRIED.
I mean I cried earlier but this had me staring at the ceiling like no one talk to me.
And Christopher is a twatwaffle, hope he rots.
I seriously cannot wait for this new adventure in Hawkthorpe!
5 ⭐️
3 🌶️
Thank you so much to Valentine PR, team, and J for this advanced copy!
Every single book I’ve ever read by J Rose has hurt so good. I can’t describe my love for her work. At this point, I’m scared for what she will write next because how does she keep THINKING THESE THINGS AND PUTTING WORDS TO PAPER LIKE THIS ?!
The emotional detail is excruciating. Not just in this one, but in all of her works.
Sanctuary of Lies definitely hit home in a few ways, as does a lot of her books and/or characters. As soon as you connect in any way with one of Rose’s characters, whether it be by simply enjoying the character or trauma bonding, you know you’re in for a treat.
I ate this book up in one sitting because I connected with these characters INSTANTLY. Emotionally, spiritually, physically. All 4 of them, to even the tiniest degree. And I was down bad. I had to sit the book down multiple times and collect myself (as I have done with all of J’s books ngl).
Everleigh was scared but strong. Resilient in a way that she didn’t want to be but HAD to be.
Leo was pure light, yet constantly making sure he didn’t end up alone again.
Sterling was lost and grieving, and god knows all I wanted to do was hug him.
And Fletcher. I think he was grieving the most. Himself. His future. His plans.
The little plot twists at the end?! I fucking cried. I CRIED.
I mean I cried earlier but this had me staring at the ceiling like no one talk to me.
And Christopher is a twatwaffle, hope he rots.
I seriously cannot wait for this new adventure in Hawkthorpe!
5 ⭐️
3 🌶️
Thank you so much to Valentine PR, team, and J for this advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*Why choose
*Small Town
*Dark romance (so check the triggers)
Once more, a good book by J.Rose. I love her stories and how she development her characters and their truamas. I love the relationship building and the story as one. It's a standalone, but easily could be more of them.
*Small Town
*Dark romance (so check the triggers)
Once more, a good book by J.Rose. I love her stories and how she development her characters and their truamas. I love the relationship building and the story as one. It's a standalone, but easily could be more of them.
September 30, 2026
Liberation
Run, Everleigh Banks, run! I'm screaming that with every detail of what she's escaping is revealed. Yes, she's already on the run, but geez, what a piece of 💩 is that "man" she's leaving. Domestic violence, including gaslighting, isolation, and verbal and physical abuse, throughout her marriage are shown in little flashbacks. On top of that, Christopher is a.... I'm not going to finish that as it might give away too much.
Everleigh, also known as Eden Coles as she tries to establish a new life, has been nothing more than a pawn throughout much of her life, be it her egg donor or the monster often referred to as her husband. I admire her strength to run and start anew. Regardless of what she's leaving behind, sometimes the best answer is to save yourself first.
Crumpled in a deserted bus shelter, I hysterically cry for the first time in years. Perhaps I shouldn’t have run. It would’ve been easier if I stayed and let his venom strip the remaining skin from my bones until I shriveled up into a husk and left this world for good.
But I did run. I escaped.
Because deep down, I want to live so badly.
-- Everleigh Banks
For as dark as this gets, it has sweet and loving moments that make it easy to enjoy. I love how Cassidy, Maverick, and other residents of Hawkthorpe welcome her with open arms, a hot meal, and a place to lay her weary body. They are a wonderful found family that she needs to help her heal and move forward.
Of course, the attraction to Leo and Sterling Vale and Fletcher Wright helps even more. 🤭 They are all broken in their own ways, be it childhood trauma, loss of a loved one, or the sense of failure from a mission gone sideways. I love how the fueling of the chemistry between Everleigh and the three men allows them to see some of their truths and emerge on the other side stronger.
Her name rolls across my tongue like sweet molasses. I like the way it sounds. Sharp. Determined. Powerful.
-- Leo Vale
The drama is a little overdone on an occasion or two, whether that is due to the writing, the narration, or a bit of both, I can't say for sure, but I did tune out that part a wee bit.
As mentioned, I listened to the audio book. The narrators, Jake and Bridget Bordeaux, are good. There isn't much difference between the male voices, which makes it hard to keep track sometimes. That and my other comments above are my only complaints. I otherwise like the listen, including the sound effects. 🎧🧡🎧
Story: 4 stars
Narration: 4 stars
Listening Speed: 1.75x
H1-3 = 29-34; h = 29
TROPES & TRIGGERS:
🎙 Dual narration
🏡 Small town romance
✨️ Why choose - MFMM
🖤 Dark romance
☠️ Touch her and die
❤️ Found family
⚕️ Mental health rep
🎖 Former military
🙊 Secret identity
☠️ Who hurt you?
🔥 Open-door steamy scenes 🌶
🕐 First person, dual POV
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you, Valentine PR, for this ARC. I LOVED it!
There is nothing I love more than a why choose with a strong found family, but when all the characters are a little messed up in their own way and need to lean on each other for support? I am SO sat.
I loved the whole vibe of this book. A why-choose with found family, suspense, hidden identities, and a little mystery plot? Yes... please.
Our FMC, Everleigh, is on the run from her abusive husband and goes as far as the bus will take her. She ends up in a small town in the Lake District, cold and stranded on the side of the road by a bus stop. When she finally accepts a simple act of kindness, she quickly realizes this town is different. The community seems so cohesive and that is something she has longed for her whole life. Just to feel like she belongs.
Then she meets brothers Leo, Sterling, and Fletcher, and she’s intrigued by each of them in their own way.
Leo ... The sweetheart who is just trying to keep his family together and healthy.
Sterling ... The hard exterior who lost his wife and doesn’t know how to let anyone in.
Fletcher ... The vet carrying a boatload of trauma that our girl Everleigh can relate to on a much deeper level.
Each of these men is so different and unique that it’s hard to pick a favorite. BUT I am always drawn to the broken ones, so I think I’m leaning toward Fletcher.
This is a why choose, and yes, the spice is GOOD, but the story itself was genuinely intriguing, and I could not put this book down.
I can’t wait for more in this universe. My only downside? I wish this was a duet. I feel like there was so much more story to tell with these four!
All in all, this was a solid Why Choose standalone for my mystery girlies who love a strong found family vibe.
There is nothing I love more than a why choose with a strong found family, but when all the characters are a little messed up in their own way and need to lean on each other for support? I am SO sat.
I loved the whole vibe of this book. A why-choose with found family, suspense, hidden identities, and a little mystery plot? Yes... please.
Our FMC, Everleigh, is on the run from her abusive husband and goes as far as the bus will take her. She ends up in a small town in the Lake District, cold and stranded on the side of the road by a bus stop. When she finally accepts a simple act of kindness, she quickly realizes this town is different. The community seems so cohesive and that is something she has longed for her whole life. Just to feel like she belongs.
Then she meets brothers Leo, Sterling, and Fletcher, and she’s intrigued by each of them in their own way.
Leo ... The sweetheart who is just trying to keep his family together and healthy.
Sterling ... The hard exterior who lost his wife and doesn’t know how to let anyone in.
Fletcher ... The vet carrying a boatload of trauma that our girl Everleigh can relate to on a much deeper level.
Each of these men is so different and unique that it’s hard to pick a favorite. BUT I am always drawn to the broken ones, so I think I’m leaning toward Fletcher.
This is a why choose, and yes, the spice is GOOD, but the story itself was genuinely intriguing, and I could not put this book down.
I can’t wait for more in this universe. My only downside? I wish this was a duet. I feel like there was so much more story to tell with these four!
All in all, this was a solid Why Choose standalone for my mystery girlies who love a strong found family vibe.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"𝒀𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆, 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒐𝒘. 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆."
𝑳𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒂𝒓. "𝑵𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖."
"𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒕?"
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️ 2/5
I have had the incredible privilege of being part of J. Rose’s ARC team for this entire series, and I genuinely cannot explain how honored I feel every time one of these books lands in my hands.
J. Rose, you write some of the best, darkest, most emotionally complex books I have ever read. You do not simply give your characters trauma. You carefully dismantle them, scatter their emotional organs across the floor, and then make us watch as they slowly learn how to put themselves back together.
Is it painful?
Yes.
Am I repeatedly volunteering for the suffering?
Also yes.
At this point, J. Rose could send me a grocery list containing nothing but eggs, milk, and unresolved abandonment issues, and I would prepare myself for a five-stage emotional breakdown.
Sanctuary of Lies is what happens when you trap someone in a cage for so long that one day, she finally looks at the person holding the key and says:
Enough.
Everleigh Banks has spent years trapped inside an abusive marriage that slowly stripped away her confidence, independence, and sense of self. She has been controlled, isolated, and taught to survive by making herself smaller.
Then she discovers something she was never meant to see.
And she runs.
New town. New name. New identity. New life.
Everleigh becomes Eden and disappears into Hawkthorpe, a remote little town surrounded by snow-capped mountains, secrets, and several emotionally damaged men who apparently come as a package deal.
Ma’am.
Most women flee an abusive husband and find a quiet apartment.
Everleigh fled hers and accidentally found a traumatized three-man starter pack.
Honestly? Good for her.
She deserves compensation.
Hawkthorpe is supposed to be a place where Everleigh can disappear. She keeps her story close, trusts no one, and lives with the constant fear that her husband will find her. Even when she is physically safe, her body does not understand that the danger has passed. Trauma follows her into rooms, alters the way she interprets kindness, and warns her that every helping hand may eventually become another fist.
Her mistrust made complete sense.
Everleigh does not arrive in Hawkthorpe ready to begin a romance. She arrives barely ready to breathe.
That is what made her healing journey so powerful. It is not neat, linear, or conveniently completed because three attractive men decide they want her. Love does not magically erase years of cruelty. Safety must be demonstrated. Trust must be earned. Even affection can feel threatening when every previous kindness came with conditions attached.
Everleigh has to learn that survival is no longer the only future available to her.
She is allowed to want.
She is allowed to choose.
She is allowed to exist without apologizing for the space she occupies.
Watching that realization slowly take root in her absolutely destroyed me.
After years of being told who she was, Everleigh finally begins deciding who she wants to become. She finds friendships. She discovers purpose. She starts using her voice without immediately bracing for punishment.
She does not become strong when she leaves her husband.
She was already strong.
Leaving gives her the chance to finally see it.
Then we have Sterling, Leo, and Fletcher—three men carrying enough emotional damage to qualify Hawkthorpe for its own dedicated trauma response unit.
Each one is struggling differently, and I loved that they were not presented as flawless rescuers arriving to repair Everleigh. They are not healed. They are not emotionally stable. Some days they are held together by loyalty, stubbornness, and what I assume is an industrial amount of caffeine.
They give Everleigh sanctuary, but she becomes part of theirs too.
Sterling is gruff, hot-tempered, and still drowning in the grief of losing his wife under mysterious circumstances. He has never received the closure he needs, so his pain remains open—an unanswered question he cannot stop touching.
He is prickly. Difficult. Protective.
In other words, I saw the emotional barbed wire surrounding him and immediately said, “That one. I want that one.”
Sterling’s anger is not his entire personality. It is the armor protecting grief he does not know how to release. Everleigh’s arrival threatens the careful emotional distance he has maintained, because wanting someone again means admitting there is still a living part of him capable of being hurt.
Sir does not handle this realization calmly.
Bless him.
Leo, Sterling’s adoptive brother, is the playful optimist and compulsive fixer. If someone around him is hurting, Leo wants to solve it. If there is tension, he wants to smooth it over. If a family member begins emotionally unraveling, this man is already reaching for invisible duct tape.
His warmth was desperately needed, but his constant need to fix everyone is also rooted in fear. Leo is terrified of losing the family he has, so he makes himself useful. He tries to become indispensable because perhaps then no one will leave.
Someone hug this man immediately.
Actually, several people do.
That is one of the advantages of why-choose romance. We have adequate staffing.
Then there is Fletcher.
Sweet, silent, devastating Fletcher.
A former pilot haunted by survivor’s guilt, Fletcher returned from war carrying injuries that are physical, psychological, and emotional. The crash that changed his life also stole his voice, leaving him to communicate in other ways while struggling beneath the weight of everything he survived.
Fletcher broke my heart differently.
He is stoic and withdrawn, but his silence is never emptiness. There is so much happening beneath it. He notices. He watches. He cares. And when he cannot repair what is broken inside himself, he starts repairing everything around him.
Walls. Floors. Pieces of the house that may or may not actually require attention.
Sir is one difficult afternoon away from renovating the entire town because therapy feels too direct.
Every time Fletcher began tearing apart another section of the house, I wanted to gently take the tools from his hands and say, “Baby, the damaged foundation is metaphorical.”
His need to fix the physical space around him becomes such a heartbreaking reflection of what he cannot fix inside himself. He may not know how to speak about his guilt, fear, or pain, but he can replace damaged wood. He can strengthen a wall. He can create a safe home with his hands when he does not yet believe he deserves to feel safe inside his own body.
I am unwell.
Completely. Medically. Emotionally.
Please respect my privacy during this difficult time.
What made this relationship work was that Everleigh, Sterling, Leo, and Fletcher are not four broken pieces magically forming one perfect person. They remain complicated individuals with different needs, fears, and wounds.
But together, they create stability.
Each one becomes a crucial part of the structure they are building. When one begins to buckle, the others help hold the weight. Not because love cures everything, but because healing becomes possible when you no longer have to carry everything alone.
And that is the heart of this book.
Sanctuary is not simply the isolated house or quiet town where Everleigh hides. Sanctuary becomes the people who believe her. The friends who show up. The men who protect her without demanding ownership of her choices.
That distinction mattered so much.
Everleigh escaped a man who called control love. She needed partners who could show her that protection and possession are not automatically the same thing. Sterling, Leo, and Fletcher may be intensely protective—and praise everything holy, they absolutely are—but they also give her room to decide what happens to her own life.
They do not save a helpless woman.
They stand beside a survivor while she saves herself.
Now, are these men protective enough to make certain parts of my brain sit up like a dog hearing a treat bag?
Obviously.
A dangerous man wants his wife back, and three traumatized, increasingly devoted men are standing between him and Everleigh.
Good luck, sir.
You are not approaching a frightened woman living alone anymore. You are approaching a woman who has reclaimed her strength, surrounded by three men with military experience, grief-fueled rage, protective instincts, and approximately zero remaining patience.
I would personally recommend turning around.
Immediately.
Possibly relocating to another continent.
The suspense created a constant shadow over Everleigh’s new life. Her husband may not be physically present at every moment, but the threat of him is. Every unexplained sound, unfamiliar face, or disruption carries the possibility that her past has finally caught up with her.
Because men like him do not see escape as freedom.
They see it as disobedience.
And this particular ghost does not want closure.
He wants his wife back.
The problem is that the woman he believes he owns no longer exists.
Everleigh has found people who remind her that she belongs to herself.
The romance develops alongside that healing, and I appreciated that the relationships each had their own emotional texture. Sterling, Leo, and Fletcher do not blur into one collective love interest. They approach Everleigh differently, connect with different parts of her, and offer different types of safety.
Leo brings warmth and playfulness.
Fletcher brings quiet understanding and steady presence.
Sterling brings intensity, friction, and the kind of gruff protectiveness that makes me want to commit several fictional mistakes.
Together?
Oh, this woman is COVERED.
Emotionally.
Physically.
Possibly from several directions, but Amazon is a delicate Victorian maiden, so I will allow everyone to use their imagination.
The spice did not overpower the emotional story, which was the right choice here. Everleigh’s relationship with intimacy has been shaped by abuse and control, so trust had to come before heat. The spicy moments worked because they represented choice, safety, and pleasure on her terms.
She is not surrendering because she has been forced.
She is choosing to let people close.
That difference is everything.
The found-family element may have been my favorite part. Hawkthorpe slowly becomes populated with people who do not just tolerate Everleigh’s presence—they make room for her. Cassidy, Maverick, Piper, and the other side characters bring warmth to a story carrying some incredibly heavy themes.
And yes, I briefly looked at Maverick and wondered whether this why-choose situation was about to receive an unexpected staffing increase.
Do not judge me.
J. Rose has trained me to remain alert.
I also loved the connection to the wider shared world. Those little threads feel like a reward for readers who have been here, emotionally suffering with these characters and collecting fictional trauma like loyalty points.
If I had one complaint, it is that I wanted more.
More background. More yearning. More individual time between Everleigh and each man. More exploration of the bonds among Sterling, Leo, and Fletcher. More pages allowing every layer of grief, guilt, fear, and love to unfold.
These four characters carried enough emotional material for more than one book. I could easily have followed them through a duet and remained seated with snacks, tissues, and my therapist’s emergency number.
The final confrontation also could have been expanded. The threat hanging over Everleigh is enormous, so I wanted the eventual collision with her past to feel just as large. The resolution worked, but after so much fear and anticipation, I would have gladly taken another hundred pages of suspense, protection, revenge, and these men demonstrating why pursuing their woman was a catastrophically poor life choice.
Does wanting more mean I enjoyed the story less?
Absolutely not.
It means J. Rose created characters I was not ready to leave.
Sanctuary of Lies is a dark, emotional why-choose romance about trauma, grief, survivor’s guilt, abuse, and the terrifying vulnerability of beginning again. But beneath all that darkness is a story about reclaiming identity and discovering that family can be chosen.
Everleigh does not find a perfect life in Hawkthorpe.
She finds something better.
A real one.
Messy. Complicated. Occasionally held together with renovations and emotional duct tape. Filled with people who carry their own wounds but still reach for one another.
She finds three men who do not ask her to become smaller so they can feel bigger.
She finds friends who believe she is worth protecting.
Most importantly, she finds herself.
Four stars for Everleigh’s strength, three beautifully damaged men, a found family that made my heart ache, and enough protective energy to power the entire town.
J. Rose, thank you for trusting me with this series.
I remain honored, emotionally compromised, and fully prepared to follow you into whatever fresh psychological devastation comes next.
Please check the content warnings before reading. This story explores domestic abuse, coercive control, trauma, PTSD, grief, survivor’s guilt, violence, and other potentially difficult subjects.
Come for the why-choose romance.
Stay because four damaged people discover that sanctuary was never a place.
It was each other. 🖤
𝑳𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒂𝒓. "𝑵𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖."
"𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒕?"
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️ 2/5
I have had the incredible privilege of being part of J. Rose’s ARC team for this entire series, and I genuinely cannot explain how honored I feel every time one of these books lands in my hands.
J. Rose, you write some of the best, darkest, most emotionally complex books I have ever read. You do not simply give your characters trauma. You carefully dismantle them, scatter their emotional organs across the floor, and then make us watch as they slowly learn how to put themselves back together.
Is it painful?
Yes.
Am I repeatedly volunteering for the suffering?
Also yes.
At this point, J. Rose could send me a grocery list containing nothing but eggs, milk, and unresolved abandonment issues, and I would prepare myself for a five-stage emotional breakdown.
Sanctuary of Lies is what happens when you trap someone in a cage for so long that one day, she finally looks at the person holding the key and says:
Enough.
Everleigh Banks has spent years trapped inside an abusive marriage that slowly stripped away her confidence, independence, and sense of self. She has been controlled, isolated, and taught to survive by making herself smaller.
Then she discovers something she was never meant to see.
And she runs.
New town. New name. New identity. New life.
Everleigh becomes Eden and disappears into Hawkthorpe, a remote little town surrounded by snow-capped mountains, secrets, and several emotionally damaged men who apparently come as a package deal.
Ma’am.
Most women flee an abusive husband and find a quiet apartment.
Everleigh fled hers and accidentally found a traumatized three-man starter pack.
Honestly? Good for her.
She deserves compensation.
Hawkthorpe is supposed to be a place where Everleigh can disappear. She keeps her story close, trusts no one, and lives with the constant fear that her husband will find her. Even when she is physically safe, her body does not understand that the danger has passed. Trauma follows her into rooms, alters the way she interprets kindness, and warns her that every helping hand may eventually become another fist.
Her mistrust made complete sense.
Everleigh does not arrive in Hawkthorpe ready to begin a romance. She arrives barely ready to breathe.
That is what made her healing journey so powerful. It is not neat, linear, or conveniently completed because three attractive men decide they want her. Love does not magically erase years of cruelty. Safety must be demonstrated. Trust must be earned. Even affection can feel threatening when every previous kindness came with conditions attached.
Everleigh has to learn that survival is no longer the only future available to her.
She is allowed to want.
She is allowed to choose.
She is allowed to exist without apologizing for the space she occupies.
Watching that realization slowly take root in her absolutely destroyed me.
After years of being told who she was, Everleigh finally begins deciding who she wants to become. She finds friendships. She discovers purpose. She starts using her voice without immediately bracing for punishment.
She does not become strong when she leaves her husband.
She was already strong.
Leaving gives her the chance to finally see it.
Then we have Sterling, Leo, and Fletcher—three men carrying enough emotional damage to qualify Hawkthorpe for its own dedicated trauma response unit.
Each one is struggling differently, and I loved that they were not presented as flawless rescuers arriving to repair Everleigh. They are not healed. They are not emotionally stable. Some days they are held together by loyalty, stubbornness, and what I assume is an industrial amount of caffeine.
They give Everleigh sanctuary, but she becomes part of theirs too.
Sterling is gruff, hot-tempered, and still drowning in the grief of losing his wife under mysterious circumstances. He has never received the closure he needs, so his pain remains open—an unanswered question he cannot stop touching.
He is prickly. Difficult. Protective.
In other words, I saw the emotional barbed wire surrounding him and immediately said, “That one. I want that one.”
Sterling’s anger is not his entire personality. It is the armor protecting grief he does not know how to release. Everleigh’s arrival threatens the careful emotional distance he has maintained, because wanting someone again means admitting there is still a living part of him capable of being hurt.
Sir does not handle this realization calmly.
Bless him.
Leo, Sterling’s adoptive brother, is the playful optimist and compulsive fixer. If someone around him is hurting, Leo wants to solve it. If there is tension, he wants to smooth it over. If a family member begins emotionally unraveling, this man is already reaching for invisible duct tape.
His warmth was desperately needed, but his constant need to fix everyone is also rooted in fear. Leo is terrified of losing the family he has, so he makes himself useful. He tries to become indispensable because perhaps then no one will leave.
Someone hug this man immediately.
Actually, several people do.
That is one of the advantages of why-choose romance. We have adequate staffing.
Then there is Fletcher.
Sweet, silent, devastating Fletcher.
A former pilot haunted by survivor’s guilt, Fletcher returned from war carrying injuries that are physical, psychological, and emotional. The crash that changed his life also stole his voice, leaving him to communicate in other ways while struggling beneath the weight of everything he survived.
Fletcher broke my heart differently.
He is stoic and withdrawn, but his silence is never emptiness. There is so much happening beneath it. He notices. He watches. He cares. And when he cannot repair what is broken inside himself, he starts repairing everything around him.
Walls. Floors. Pieces of the house that may or may not actually require attention.
Sir is one difficult afternoon away from renovating the entire town because therapy feels too direct.
Every time Fletcher began tearing apart another section of the house, I wanted to gently take the tools from his hands and say, “Baby, the damaged foundation is metaphorical.”
His need to fix the physical space around him becomes such a heartbreaking reflection of what he cannot fix inside himself. He may not know how to speak about his guilt, fear, or pain, but he can replace damaged wood. He can strengthen a wall. He can create a safe home with his hands when he does not yet believe he deserves to feel safe inside his own body.
I am unwell.
Completely. Medically. Emotionally.
Please respect my privacy during this difficult time.
What made this relationship work was that Everleigh, Sterling, Leo, and Fletcher are not four broken pieces magically forming one perfect person. They remain complicated individuals with different needs, fears, and wounds.
But together, they create stability.
Each one becomes a crucial part of the structure they are building. When one begins to buckle, the others help hold the weight. Not because love cures everything, but because healing becomes possible when you no longer have to carry everything alone.
And that is the heart of this book.
Sanctuary is not simply the isolated house or quiet town where Everleigh hides. Sanctuary becomes the people who believe her. The friends who show up. The men who protect her without demanding ownership of her choices.
That distinction mattered so much.
Everleigh escaped a man who called control love. She needed partners who could show her that protection and possession are not automatically the same thing. Sterling, Leo, and Fletcher may be intensely protective—and praise everything holy, they absolutely are—but they also give her room to decide what happens to her own life.
They do not save a helpless woman.
They stand beside a survivor while she saves herself.
Now, are these men protective enough to make certain parts of my brain sit up like a dog hearing a treat bag?
Obviously.
A dangerous man wants his wife back, and three traumatized, increasingly devoted men are standing between him and Everleigh.
Good luck, sir.
You are not approaching a frightened woman living alone anymore. You are approaching a woman who has reclaimed her strength, surrounded by three men with military experience, grief-fueled rage, protective instincts, and approximately zero remaining patience.
I would personally recommend turning around.
Immediately.
Possibly relocating to another continent.
The suspense created a constant shadow over Everleigh’s new life. Her husband may not be physically present at every moment, but the threat of him is. Every unexplained sound, unfamiliar face, or disruption carries the possibility that her past has finally caught up with her.
Because men like him do not see escape as freedom.
They see it as disobedience.
And this particular ghost does not want closure.
He wants his wife back.
The problem is that the woman he believes he owns no longer exists.
Everleigh has found people who remind her that she belongs to herself.
The romance develops alongside that healing, and I appreciated that the relationships each had their own emotional texture. Sterling, Leo, and Fletcher do not blur into one collective love interest. They approach Everleigh differently, connect with different parts of her, and offer different types of safety.
Leo brings warmth and playfulness.
Fletcher brings quiet understanding and steady presence.
Sterling brings intensity, friction, and the kind of gruff protectiveness that makes me want to commit several fictional mistakes.
Together?
Oh, this woman is COVERED.
Emotionally.
Physically.
Possibly from several directions, but Amazon is a delicate Victorian maiden, so I will allow everyone to use their imagination.
The spice did not overpower the emotional story, which was the right choice here. Everleigh’s relationship with intimacy has been shaped by abuse and control, so trust had to come before heat. The spicy moments worked because they represented choice, safety, and pleasure on her terms.
She is not surrendering because she has been forced.
She is choosing to let people close.
That difference is everything.
The found-family element may have been my favorite part. Hawkthorpe slowly becomes populated with people who do not just tolerate Everleigh’s presence—they make room for her. Cassidy, Maverick, Piper, and the other side characters bring warmth to a story carrying some incredibly heavy themes.
And yes, I briefly looked at Maverick and wondered whether this why-choose situation was about to receive an unexpected staffing increase.
Do not judge me.
J. Rose has trained me to remain alert.
I also loved the connection to the wider shared world. Those little threads feel like a reward for readers who have been here, emotionally suffering with these characters and collecting fictional trauma like loyalty points.
If I had one complaint, it is that I wanted more.
More background. More yearning. More individual time between Everleigh and each man. More exploration of the bonds among Sterling, Leo, and Fletcher. More pages allowing every layer of grief, guilt, fear, and love to unfold.
These four characters carried enough emotional material for more than one book. I could easily have followed them through a duet and remained seated with snacks, tissues, and my therapist’s emergency number.
The final confrontation also could have been expanded. The threat hanging over Everleigh is enormous, so I wanted the eventual collision with her past to feel just as large. The resolution worked, but after so much fear and anticipation, I would have gladly taken another hundred pages of suspense, protection, revenge, and these men demonstrating why pursuing their woman was a catastrophically poor life choice.
Does wanting more mean I enjoyed the story less?
Absolutely not.
It means J. Rose created characters I was not ready to leave.
Sanctuary of Lies is a dark, emotional why-choose romance about trauma, grief, survivor’s guilt, abuse, and the terrifying vulnerability of beginning again. But beneath all that darkness is a story about reclaiming identity and discovering that family can be chosen.
Everleigh does not find a perfect life in Hawkthorpe.
She finds something better.
A real one.
Messy. Complicated. Occasionally held together with renovations and emotional duct tape. Filled with people who carry their own wounds but still reach for one another.
She finds three men who do not ask her to become smaller so they can feel bigger.
She finds friends who believe she is worth protecting.
Most importantly, she finds herself.
Four stars for Everleigh’s strength, three beautifully damaged men, a found family that made my heart ache, and enough protective energy to power the entire town.
J. Rose, thank you for trusting me with this series.
I remain honored, emotionally compromised, and fully prepared to follow you into whatever fresh psychological devastation comes next.
Please check the content warnings before reading. This story explores domestic abuse, coercive control, trauma, PTSD, grief, survivor’s guilt, violence, and other potentially difficult subjects.
Come for the why-choose romance.
Stay because four damaged people discover that sanctuary was never a place.
It was each other. 🖤
Read
September 25, 2026Poignant story with high octane emotions, debilitating yet hopeful. It was a scintillating read .
Elizabeth Banks is a woman on the run, just a brush ahead of danger to her life by her husband. She takes a bus to as far as she can go then gets stranded on a cold. Rainy bus stop shelter. A kind soul offers her coffee and a place to catch her breath.
Now she’s Eden in Hawkthorpe, a place to rest, recuperate and recharge. Like any small town it’s cohesive and compact with people who care for one another.
”i’m just a butterfly, ready to touch the sky”
Her saviours are trifecta of brothers ~ Sterling, Leo & Fletcher. Each offers her different ways to love. Cruelty of the past makes her feel undeserved but she finds solace in letting go and letting others take the rein on her own volition. That’s the safe space where she is free to explore.
It’s pulsating, thrumming, spicy, coming to terms with sexuality story that empowers a victim to believe in her wants & needs without the guilt.
“𝐄𝐝𝐞𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈’𝐦 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐨 𝐈 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭.”
Narration by Jake & Bridget Bordeaux are good but I somehow didn’t enjoy their narration . It’s just me.
4 stars for entanglements of limbs and hearts
Follow me on:
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Elizabeth Banks is a woman on the run, just a brush ahead of danger to her life by her husband. She takes a bus to as far as she can go then gets stranded on a cold. Rainy bus stop shelter. A kind soul offers her coffee and a place to catch her breath.
Now she’s Eden in Hawkthorpe, a place to rest, recuperate and recharge. Like any small town it’s cohesive and compact with people who care for one another.
”i’m just a butterfly, ready to touch the sky”
Her saviours are trifecta of brothers ~ Sterling, Leo & Fletcher. Each offers her different ways to love. Cruelty of the past makes her feel undeserved but she finds solace in letting go and letting others take the rein on her own volition. That’s the safe space where she is free to explore.
It’s pulsating, thrumming, spicy, coming to terms with sexuality story that empowers a victim to believe in her wants & needs without the guilt.
“𝐄𝐝𝐞𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈’𝐦 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐨 𝐈 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭.”
Narration by Jake & Bridget Bordeaux are good but I somehow didn’t enjoy their narration . It’s just me.
4 stars for entanglements of limbs and hearts
Follow me on:
Email🌻 Bookbub 🌻 Twitter🌻 Instagram🌻 Blog🌻 Facebook🌻 Amazon 🌻 TikTok 🌻 StoryGraph 🌻 YouTube 🌻
September 21, 2026
“𝐄𝐝𝐞𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈’𝐦 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐨 𝐈 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭.”
As a big J. Rose fan I’m excited to see my girl get recognition in traditional publishing. Sanctuary of Lies has an interesting premise, with all the elements I’ve grown to love in a J Rose story. I liked the friendships that were built and the mental health representation. However, I did not vibe with the romance aspect of this one. I also found the FMC’s behaviour to be very inconsistent at times. The mystery element is what kept me hooked and what made me want to read further. Overall a solid read! Can’t wait to see what future books in Hawkthorpe bring!
As a big J. Rose fan I’m excited to see my girl get recognition in traditional publishing. Sanctuary of Lies has an interesting premise, with all the elements I’ve grown to love in a J Rose story. I liked the friendships that were built and the mental health representation. However, I did not vibe with the romance aspect of this one. I also found the FMC’s behaviour to be very inconsistent at times. The mystery element is what kept me hooked and what made me want to read further. Overall a solid read! Can’t wait to see what future books in Hawkthorpe bring!
July 31, 2026
2.5⭐️
This story had a lot of potential, but the execution just didn't work for me.
The FMC's backstory was intriguing, and I loved the small-town setting and found-family dynamic. I also liked how different each of the MMCs was, but I wish we'd had the chance to get to know them better. Unfortunately, the pacing was so inconsistent that I struggled to fully immerse myself in the story.
The first half of the book reads as though it takes place over the course of a few days, when it's actually supposed to span several months. Nothing in the writing makes that passage of time feel clear, so the relationships the FMC builds with the guys come across as unrealistically fast. At the same time, other parts dragged on, making it difficult to get a sense of the actual timeline.
I also found the FMC's characterization inconsistent. At times, it felt as though she completely forgot about the fears and anxiety that had been such a significant part of her personality, only for them to suddenly reappear when the plot needed them.
Overall, this book felt like a blend of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden and Credence by Penelope Douglas.
This story had a lot of potential, but the execution just didn't work for me.
The FMC's backstory was intriguing, and I loved the small-town setting and found-family dynamic. I also liked how different each of the MMCs was, but I wish we'd had the chance to get to know them better. Unfortunately, the pacing was so inconsistent that I struggled to fully immerse myself in the story.
The first half of the book reads as though it takes place over the course of a few days, when it's actually supposed to span several months. Nothing in the writing makes that passage of time feel clear, so the relationships the FMC builds with the guys come across as unrealistically fast. At the same time, other parts dragged on, making it difficult to get a sense of the actual timeline.
I also found the FMC's characterization inconsistent. At times, it felt as though she completely forgot about the fears and anxiety that had been such a significant part of her personality, only for them to suddenly reappear when the plot needed them.
Overall, this book felt like a blend of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden and Credence by Penelope Douglas.
Review of advance copy
I absolutely loved this dark and mysterious looking front cover image - with the delicate butterfly, but potential trap and the sinister forest behind - it didn't give too much away, not did the title, but I was completely intrigued before even opening the book!
I never read blurbs before diving into a new book - I don't want any spoilers - well, this was one time that I was so happy to have gone in totally blind.
We meet Eden who is clearly running from something, but at this point we're not entirely sure what that is - but piece by piece, her story unfolds and we discover the trauma of leaving an abusive husband back in London.
I loved her side of the story as even within this, there were so many twists along the way.
It certainly showed that outward appearances can definitely be decieving and wealth and comfort do not always make a good home.
Eden is drawn in by a friendly face, miles away in the Lake District. A beautiful setting that offered a little slice of peace and solitude.
I loved how the community rallied round and everyone seemed friendly.
When we meet Leo, I just knew we were looking at our protective MMC - little did I know how things would progress from there and I'm not sure I want to spoiler it - although the blurb clearly states what this is, for those who do read it.
Well, we're looking at a why choose situation and oh my gosh, I was all there for it!
Our three MMC's were all different and I loved each of their backstories and the way things developed with Eden.
Now, I'm not sure about always having such flawed characters all together in a relationship, but oh how this one worked so beautifully!
I was utterly transfixed and totally obsessed with the way this all played out.
Aside from the romance storyline, I loved the thrilling and chilling backstory that Eden brings and I have to say that I was in no way ready for the twists and turns of this thread and when the reveal came, I was so shocked.
Absolute perfection.
This is only the first read in this series and I'm already hooked and waiting for book 2!
I loved all of the side characters we met along the way and I can't wait to be back in this world soon.
I do have a slight teeny complaint though.
I had this on audio book and as brilliant as the narrators were, it took me a while to get used to all the different voices at play.
Also, "Eden" was so, so passionate, which in itself is not a bad thing and I think in moderation this would have been amazing - but it just felt a little too much at times.
Don't get me wrong though, I was completely hooked for the entirety and absolutely adored everything about this read!
I never read blurbs before diving into a new book - I don't want any spoilers - well, this was one time that I was so happy to have gone in totally blind.
We meet Eden who is clearly running from something, but at this point we're not entirely sure what that is - but piece by piece, her story unfolds and we discover the trauma of leaving an abusive husband back in London.
I loved her side of the story as even within this, there were so many twists along the way.
It certainly showed that outward appearances can definitely be decieving and wealth and comfort do not always make a good home.
Eden is drawn in by a friendly face, miles away in the Lake District. A beautiful setting that offered a little slice of peace and solitude.
I loved how the community rallied round and everyone seemed friendly.
When we meet Leo, I just knew we were looking at our protective MMC - little did I know how things would progress from there and I'm not sure I want to spoiler it - although the blurb clearly states what this is, for those who do read it.
Well, we're looking at a why choose situation and oh my gosh, I was all there for it!
Our three MMC's were all different and I loved each of their backstories and the way things developed with Eden.
Now, I'm not sure about always having such flawed characters all together in a relationship, but oh how this one worked so beautifully!
I was utterly transfixed and totally obsessed with the way this all played out.
Aside from the romance storyline, I loved the thrilling and chilling backstory that Eden brings and I have to say that I was in no way ready for the twists and turns of this thread and when the reveal came, I was so shocked.
Absolute perfection.
This is only the first read in this series and I'm already hooked and waiting for book 2!
I loved all of the side characters we met along the way and I can't wait to be back in this world soon.
I do have a slight teeny complaint though.
I had this on audio book and as brilliant as the narrators were, it took me a while to get used to all the different voices at play.
Also, "Eden" was so, so passionate, which in itself is not a bad thing and I think in moderation this would have been amazing - but it just felt a little too much at times.
Don't get me wrong though, I was completely hooked for the entirety and absolutely adored everything about this read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25🌟 | 3🌶️
These four people had enough baggage to fill an entire moving truck, and yet they still managed to become each other’s safe place.
Everleigh is running from an abusive marriage, but her healing never feels instant or easy. Watching her slowly realize she can make her own choices, trust people again, and stop apologizing for taking up space was probably my favorite part. Hawkthorpe also brought that cozy found-family feeling that made the heavier moments easier to take.
Sterling, Leo, and Fletcher are so different that their relationships with Everleigh never felt repetitive. Leo’s warmth, Sterling’s guarded intensity, and Fletcher’s quiet nature each brought something different to the dynamic. I especially liked that trust came before intimacy, and that the spice felt connected to Everleigh figuring out what she actually wanted for herself. It made those moments feel like part of her healing rather than just another part of the romance.
There was a lot of emotion packed into these four, and I got pretty attached to all of them. Watching their individual struggles slowly become something they could lean on each other through was really satisfying, while the suspense kept things moving.
This gave me enough feelings, spice, and protective energy to keep me very happily turning the pages.
~~~~
A sincere thank you to J. Rose, Valentine PR, Montlake, and NetGalley for the ARC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
These four people had enough baggage to fill an entire moving truck, and yet they still managed to become each other’s safe place.
Everleigh is running from an abusive marriage, but her healing never feels instant or easy. Watching her slowly realize she can make her own choices, trust people again, and stop apologizing for taking up space was probably my favorite part. Hawkthorpe also brought that cozy found-family feeling that made the heavier moments easier to take.
Sterling, Leo, and Fletcher are so different that their relationships with Everleigh never felt repetitive. Leo’s warmth, Sterling’s guarded intensity, and Fletcher’s quiet nature each brought something different to the dynamic. I especially liked that trust came before intimacy, and that the spice felt connected to Everleigh figuring out what she actually wanted for herself. It made those moments feel like part of her healing rather than just another part of the romance.
There was a lot of emotion packed into these four, and I got pretty attached to all of them. Watching their individual struggles slowly become something they could lean on each other through was really satisfying, while the suspense kept things moving.
This gave me enough feelings, spice, and protective energy to keep me very happily turning the pages.
~~~~
A sincere thank you to J. Rose, Valentine PR, Montlake, and NetGalley for the ARC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
J is one of my all time favorite authors. Her books are equal parts destructive, traumatic, healing and sexy. She is the reason I love Why Choose romance as much as I do. No one creates a polyamorous relationship like J. This book is no exception.
Everleigh (Eden), Fletcher, Leo & Sterling are individually beautifully broken but together they are perfection whole.
I admired Everleighs strength and determination, she was a fighter. I don't think you're purposefully supposed to pick favorites but I couldn't help myself and Fletcher was just that guy. I will always have a weakness for military veterans and this man and what he went through is devastating and so honorable. I loved every second of his journey and I wish the book continued on so I could know absolutely everything about him.
Thank you so much to Valentine & J for the eARC I feel so honored every time I get even the tiniest glimpse before publication. Seriously check this book out.
Everleigh (Eden), Fletcher, Leo & Sterling are individually beautifully broken but together they are perfection whole.
I admired Everleighs strength and determination, she was a fighter. I don't think you're purposefully supposed to pick favorites but I couldn't help myself and Fletcher was just that guy. I will always have a weakness for military veterans and this man and what he went through is devastating and so honorable. I loved every second of his journey and I wish the book continued on so I could know absolutely everything about him.
Thank you so much to Valentine & J for the eARC I feel so honored every time I get even the tiniest glimpse before publication. Seriously check this book out.
Review of advance copy
Wasn’t expecting to fall in love with this one as much as I did but I did nonetheless. Everything about this book had me hooked and so intrigued to continue reading. The plot twists, the hurt, the characters past and present, the spice, sadness and healing were amazing and had me so emotional the entire read. Ending was perfection and I couldn’t have asked for better. It for sure left some things to be questioned though
October 4, 2026
4.5⭐️
2.5🌶️
🌲Why-Choose
🧡FMC On the Run
🌲Band of Brothers
🧡Small Town
🌲Angsty/Emotional
🧡Disability & Mental Illness Rep
🌲Multiple First Person POV
If you love a heart breaking story about, finding acceptance, healing, and some spice thrown in, then this is perfect for you. This story doesn’t shy away from the harder topics so be sure to read the trigger and content warnings before reading. Everleigh is on the run after leaving her abusive husband. She rode a bus to the end of the line and found herself in the Lake District, far from London. She tells everyone her name is Eden because her husband has powerful connections with a long reach.
Everleigh meets Cassidy who offers her a job in her tavern. Then persuades her to stay in the tavern. At first she doesn’t understand why she’s so kind, because Everleigh isn’t used to there being no strings attached. Everleigh decides to stay long enough to earn money and then she’ll be on her way. She meets Leo, the goofball golden retriever, Sterling the closed off grump, and Fletcher the veteran who is lost in his grief. They aren’t brothers by blood, but they are in all the ways that matter the most. She connects with each of them on different levels. She tries to keep her distance but that’s impossible after the tavern burns down and she goes to stay with the guys.
Everleigh’s journey was heartbreaking. After years of years of mental, emotional, financia abuse, she’s finally able to find her confidence and strength. She may have escaped, but she has to overcome the fear and the condiditoning she experienced for years. She was determined to keep her identity hidden, but never intended to stay long or get attached. But the guys made it impossible not to.
They all have their traumatic pasts but are able to open up with Everliegh and then each other. Leo struggles with fear of abandonment that causes him to cross boundaries to keep everyone happy. Sterling lost his wife years ago and is closed off, but under his hard exterior is a teddy bear center. Fletcher has survivors guilt after losing his team in a helicopter accident that left him scarred and without a voice. Everliegh was the spark the guys needed to face their pasts head on together. Their connection went beyond attraction, each connecting with Everliegh on an emotional level. They start to create a sense of acceptance and belonging that they’ve all been missing.
The mystery of Everleigh’s real identity and the possibility of her past finding her created this undercurrent of suspense throughout the story. They knew she wasn’t being completely honest but they were willing to wait. The stakes get higher as she gets closer to everyone. She finally has people who genuinely care about her and was afraid of losing. She’s forced to tell them everything after an attack. They promise to help and keep her safe. But she knows if she stays they’ll be in danger.
The pacing and passage of time felt off. It read as days but the time actually jumps ahead weeks and months. The spice was perfect and didn’t take over the high emotions of the story. This is an intense romance about damaged people finding comfort, protection, and hope in one another.
🚩Be sure to read the author’s note and content warnings before reading.
Plot: 4
Engaging: 5
Character: 5
Thank you J Rose and Valentine PR for the gifted advanced copy.
📚All thoughts and opinions are my own📚
🐦🔥Follow me on socials @myrisingphoenixera.reads🐦🔥
A Few Favorite Quotes:
“They may be broken. But together, maybe we can be whole again.”
“You’re going to take all of me, love. I want to fill that beautiful c_n+ and f_ €k it into oblivion. Then I’m going to roll your sweet ass over, spread you open, and take you again.”
“Put your arms around my neck and hold on.”
“Love isn’t conditional, Eden. I’m sorry you ever thought it had to be that way. Real love . . . well, it’s just a fact. A state of existence. So you’ll always have my support, no matter what.”
“We’ve all been broken individually, but together, no one would dare harm our family. Not united.”
2.5🌶️
🌲Why-Choose
🧡FMC On the Run
🌲Band of Brothers
🧡Small Town
🌲Angsty/Emotional
🧡Disability & Mental Illness Rep
🌲Multiple First Person POV
If you love a heart breaking story about, finding acceptance, healing, and some spice thrown in, then this is perfect for you. This story doesn’t shy away from the harder topics so be sure to read the trigger and content warnings before reading. Everleigh is on the run after leaving her abusive husband. She rode a bus to the end of the line and found herself in the Lake District, far from London. She tells everyone her name is Eden because her husband has powerful connections with a long reach.
Everleigh meets Cassidy who offers her a job in her tavern. Then persuades her to stay in the tavern. At first she doesn’t understand why she’s so kind, because Everleigh isn’t used to there being no strings attached. Everleigh decides to stay long enough to earn money and then she’ll be on her way. She meets Leo, the goofball golden retriever, Sterling the closed off grump, and Fletcher the veteran who is lost in his grief. They aren’t brothers by blood, but they are in all the ways that matter the most. She connects with each of them on different levels. She tries to keep her distance but that’s impossible after the tavern burns down and she goes to stay with the guys.
Everleigh’s journey was heartbreaking. After years of years of mental, emotional, financia abuse, she’s finally able to find her confidence and strength. She may have escaped, but she has to overcome the fear and the condiditoning she experienced for years. She was determined to keep her identity hidden, but never intended to stay long or get attached. But the guys made it impossible not to.
They all have their traumatic pasts but are able to open up with Everliegh and then each other. Leo struggles with fear of abandonment that causes him to cross boundaries to keep everyone happy. Sterling lost his wife years ago and is closed off, but under his hard exterior is a teddy bear center. Fletcher has survivors guilt after losing his team in a helicopter accident that left him scarred and without a voice. Everliegh was the spark the guys needed to face their pasts head on together. Their connection went beyond attraction, each connecting with Everliegh on an emotional level. They start to create a sense of acceptance and belonging that they’ve all been missing.
The mystery of Everleigh’s real identity and the possibility of her past finding her created this undercurrent of suspense throughout the story. They knew she wasn’t being completely honest but they were willing to wait. The stakes get higher as she gets closer to everyone. She finally has people who genuinely care about her and was afraid of losing. She’s forced to tell them everything after an attack. They promise to help and keep her safe. But she knows if she stays they’ll be in danger.
The pacing and passage of time felt off. It read as days but the time actually jumps ahead weeks and months. The spice was perfect and didn’t take over the high emotions of the story. This is an intense romance about damaged people finding comfort, protection, and hope in one another.
🚩Be sure to read the author’s note and content warnings before reading.
Plot: 4
Engaging: 5
Character: 5
Thank you J Rose and Valentine PR for the gifted advanced copy.
📚All thoughts and opinions are my own📚
🐦🔥Follow me on socials @myrisingphoenixera.reads🐦🔥
A Few Favorite Quotes:
“They may be broken. But together, maybe we can be whole again.”
“You’re going to take all of me, love. I want to fill that beautiful c_n+ and f_ €k it into oblivion. Then I’m going to roll your sweet ass over, spread you open, and take you again.”
“Put your arms around my neck and hold on.”
“Love isn’t conditional, Eden. I’m sorry you ever thought it had to be that way. Real love . . . well, it’s just a fact. A state of existence. So you’ll always have my support, no matter what.”
“We’ve all been broken individually, but together, no one would dare harm our family. Not united.”
October 4, 2026
”i’m just a butterfly, ready to touch the sky”
This is the new release in this New series Hawkthorpe. This is a why choose romance with multiple broken characters and is a real must read
What to expect
🌀Why Choose
🌀Found Family
🌀Small Town Romance
🌀Dark Romance
🌀Disability Rep
🌀Hidden Identify
🌀Tragic Past
Everleigh is a woman who has just escaped and is now on the run. She is so much stronger than she even realised. She ends up in this small town and tries to start over. The only thing is she's scared to death she'll be found.
Leo, Fletcher and Sterling are all different and yet they are the same. They are all going through there own demons. But these guys also have these own personalities and you can't help but love them.
These characters all form mega strong bonds from the broken pieces of each others souls.
They each have a really strong connection which I loved and the mix of spice and nail biting moments was perfect.
I loved the small town feel and how all these guys formed a connection.
This story will have your emotions all pulled right into a tight ball of mix until they're all up and down and you need to catch your breath.
This storyline slowed right down at times and other was fast paced. But this story went so deep at times that you really couldn't take your eyes off the page you just had, had to see what happens next. I loved all the twists and turns and all the angst and suspense. I was completely obsessed with this book.
I've always loved how this author writes, the way she pulls you in and grips your emotions hard. This author really knows how to write broken characters that makes the readers hearts break but we also love them at the same time. I was rooting for all these characters they all had my heart. This author always knows how to do character development perfectly.
I highly recommend this book and I'm sooooooooo excited for more books in this world.
🚩 Check triggers before you start🚩
This is the new release in this New series Hawkthorpe. This is a why choose romance with multiple broken characters and is a real must read
What to expect
🌀Why Choose
🌀Found Family
🌀Small Town Romance
🌀Dark Romance
🌀Disability Rep
🌀Hidden Identify
🌀Tragic Past
Everleigh is a woman who has just escaped and is now on the run. She is so much stronger than she even realised. She ends up in this small town and tries to start over. The only thing is she's scared to death she'll be found.
Leo, Fletcher and Sterling are all different and yet they are the same. They are all going through there own demons. But these guys also have these own personalities and you can't help but love them.
These characters all form mega strong bonds from the broken pieces of each others souls.
They each have a really strong connection which I loved and the mix of spice and nail biting moments was perfect.
I loved the small town feel and how all these guys formed a connection.
This story will have your emotions all pulled right into a tight ball of mix until they're all up and down and you need to catch your breath.
This storyline slowed right down at times and other was fast paced. But this story went so deep at times that you really couldn't take your eyes off the page you just had, had to see what happens next. I loved all the twists and turns and all the angst and suspense. I was completely obsessed with this book.
I've always loved how this author writes, the way she pulls you in and grips your emotions hard. This author really knows how to write broken characters that makes the readers hearts break but we also love them at the same time. I was rooting for all these characters they all had my heart. This author always knows how to do character development perfectly.
I highly recommend this book and I'm sooooooooo excited for more books in this world.
🚩 Check triggers before you start🚩
October 19, 2026
I am an absolute sucker for the whole girl finds sanctuary and gets rescued by a group of hot, brooding men situation, so really… this book had me at the premise. 😂
Eden/Everleigh was stubborn as hell, but also really cute and easy to root for. And the guys? ALL. OF. THEM. WERE. HOT. Exactly what I’m looking for when I pick up a why choose, thank you very much.
I really enjoyed the writing style in this one. It was fast-paced, fun and ridiculously easy to fly through. There was always something happening, and I never felt like the story dragged.
Did I see the plot twist coming from approximately a mile away? Absolutely.
Did I care? Not particularly. 😂 Sometimes I don’t need a book to completely outsmart me. I just need to have a good time getting there, and I definitely did.
Overall, this was a really fun read with a trope I will apparently never get tired of, a stubborn FMC, and a collection of hot men providing both sanctuary and entertainment.
A very solid four stars for me.
Eden/Everleigh was stubborn as hell, but also really cute and easy to root for. And the guys? ALL. OF. THEM. WERE. HOT. Exactly what I’m looking for when I pick up a why choose, thank you very much.
I really enjoyed the writing style in this one. It was fast-paced, fun and ridiculously easy to fly through. There was always something happening, and I never felt like the story dragged.
Did I see the plot twist coming from approximately a mile away? Absolutely.
Did I care? Not particularly. 😂 Sometimes I don’t need a book to completely outsmart me. I just need to have a good time getting there, and I definitely did.
Overall, this was a really fun read with a trope I will apparently never get tired of, a stubborn FMC, and a collection of hot men providing both sanctuary and entertainment.
A very solid four stars for me.
October 6, 2026
ARC REVIEW
[Sanctuary of Lies] de J. Rose 🦋
Este é o mais recente livro de JRose que saiu a 29 de Setembro. É um Dark romance why Choose.
Sanctuary of Lies é essencialmente uma história sobre aprender a voltar a viver depois de sobreviver. JRose compara a metamorfose de uma borboleta 🦋 com o renascimento de Everleigh.
Everleigh está a fugir de uma relação abusiva e tenta passar despercebida. Mas acaba por encontrar três homens — Sterling, Leo e Fletcher ( por aqui team Leo ) — que também carregam as suas próprias feridas e que, de formas muito diferentes, acabam por se tornar o seu porto seguro.
Um livro sobre cura, confiança e construção de uma família escolhida.
O conceito de sanctuary não se refere apenas a um lugar físico, mas sim sobre encontrar pessoas perante as quais já não precisamos fingir que estamos bem.
Este why choose, não se resume à atração física, há muita proteção, intimidade emocional e, principalmente, confiança.
Não é um livro leve, os temas de abuso, trauma, saúde mental, luto e violência são bastante importantes para a história, por isso leiam os trigger warnings antes de começar.
Curiosos?
4.5 ✨
Da vossa Never ✨
[Sanctuary of Lies] de J. Rose 🦋
Este é o mais recente livro de JRose que saiu a 29 de Setembro. É um Dark romance why Choose.
Sanctuary of Lies é essencialmente uma história sobre aprender a voltar a viver depois de sobreviver. JRose compara a metamorfose de uma borboleta 🦋 com o renascimento de Everleigh.
Everleigh está a fugir de uma relação abusiva e tenta passar despercebida. Mas acaba por encontrar três homens — Sterling, Leo e Fletcher ( por aqui team Leo ) — que também carregam as suas próprias feridas e que, de formas muito diferentes, acabam por se tornar o seu porto seguro.
Um livro sobre cura, confiança e construção de uma família escolhida.
O conceito de sanctuary não se refere apenas a um lugar físico, mas sim sobre encontrar pessoas perante as quais já não precisamos fingir que estamos bem.
Este why choose, não se resume à atração física, há muita proteção, intimidade emocional e, principalmente, confiança.
Não é um livro leve, os temas de abuso, trauma, saúde mental, luto e violência são bastante importantes para a história, por isso leiam os trigger warnings antes de começar.
Curiosos?
4.5 ✨
Da vossa Never ✨
October 8, 2026
Ver cómo Eden llega a un pueblecito y conoce a 3 hombres que la salvarán de su pasado, pero a la vez a quien ella salvará de su presente.
Mi favorito ha sido Fletcher. Ex-militar y huraño? Si.
Pero Sterling, el viudo que no se ha acercado a nadie en años hasta que llega ella? También 🤭
Mi favorito ha sido Fletcher. Ex-militar y huraño? Si.
Pero Sterling, el viudo que no se ha acercado a nadie en años hasta que llega ella? También 🤭
September 21, 2026
J. Rose knows how to hook you, torture, and spit you back out and wanting more.
Everleigh’s struggle to find herself while escaping her old life was interesting to watch. And this is where I will contradict myself, I loved that this is an interconnected standalone but I wanted a bit more time with her and the guys, figuring herself out and connecting with them. It felt it was all so quick, even though I loved that this isn’t dragged out for multiple books 😅
If you are new to J. Rose, I think this is the perfect starting book to get acquainted with her writing style without being absolutely destroyed.
But I love that J’s world’s all interconnect in some way and can’t wait to make my way through her entire catalogue. Also, I really want to know Maverick’s story 👀
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
---
Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 💋💋
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Dark: 🌄 dusk
Everleigh’s struggle to find herself while escaping her old life was interesting to watch. And this is where I will contradict myself, I loved that this is an interconnected standalone but I wanted a bit more time with her and the guys, figuring herself out and connecting with them. It felt it was all so quick, even though I loved that this isn’t dragged out for multiple books 😅
If you are new to J. Rose, I think this is the perfect starting book to get acquainted with her writing style without being absolutely destroyed.
But I love that J’s world’s all interconnect in some way and can’t wait to make my way through her entire catalogue. Also, I really want to know Maverick’s story 👀
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
---
Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 💋💋
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Dark: 🌄 dusk
September 19, 2026
✨ARC Review✨
“Sanctuary of Lies” by J. Rose
Rating: 3.5⭐️
Spice: 4.25🌶️
J. Rose was a new author for me, and I really enjoyed their writing style. It’s been a little while since I read a why choose romance, and I was pretty happy with it. I really liked that we got to know each main character individually through their respective narratives, and I have to say that Fletcher was my favorite. Everleigh’s journey was heartbreaking to read, but the confidence and strength she developed over the course of the story was very powerful. I will say that I did start to lose interest around 85%, which is unfortunate because I was riveted in the first half of the book and stayed up until midnight reading. I think the book might’ve just been a little too long for me, but otherwise, I enjoyed it.
Thank you to J. Rose and Valentine PR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
“Sanctuary of Lies” by J. Rose
Rating: 3.5⭐️
Spice: 4.25🌶️
J. Rose was a new author for me, and I really enjoyed their writing style. It’s been a little while since I read a why choose romance, and I was pretty happy with it. I really liked that we got to know each main character individually through their respective narratives, and I have to say that Fletcher was my favorite. Everleigh’s journey was heartbreaking to read, but the confidence and strength she developed over the course of the story was very powerful. I will say that I did start to lose interest around 85%, which is unfortunate because I was riveted in the first half of the book and stayed up until midnight reading. I think the book might’ve just been a little too long for me, but otherwise, I enjoyed it.
Thank you to J. Rose and Valentine PR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this! It's Everleigh & her guys' story & it was a great one! She's running from a very abusive relationship & ends up at a small town. When she meets the guys, the chemistry between them all is electric. They're all fighting their own demons & she's keeping a lot of secrets. But the past always catches up to you & it puts everyone in danger. I loved the found family; the spice was fantastic & I loved the story! Highly recommend this book & author!
Did Not Finish
September 6, 2026This one just wasn’t for me. I started it a few weeks ago, took a break because I wasn’t feeling it, and came back to it only to realize I still wasn’t connecting with the story.
I found Everleigh’s reactions to her trauma inconsistent at times, which made it difficult to connect with her character. The unclear passage of time also added some confusion.
Not every book is a match and I decided to DNF rather than force myself to finish seeing as I wasn't feeling it.
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC.
I found Everleigh’s reactions to her trauma inconsistent at times, which made it difficult to connect with her character. The unclear passage of time also added some confusion.
Not every book is a match and I decided to DNF rather than force myself to finish seeing as I wasn't feeling it.
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC.
September 30, 2026
J. Rose has officially reached the point where I know I'm going to get emotionally invested in her characters before I even open the book, and Sanctuary of Lies was no exception. I thoroughly enjoyed this story! It had the darkness and suspense I expect from her, but there was also something incredibly tender about watching four people carrying very different kinds of pain slowly become a safe place for one another. le sigh 🥹
Everleigh is running from an abusive husband and hiding behind a new identity when she lands in the small town of Hawkthorpe. She's trying to survive without being found, not fall for three complicated men carrying plenty of demons of their own. Sterling is grieving the loss of his wife, Leo is the fixer determined to hold everyone together, and Fletcher is battling survivor's guilt after a crash changed his life forever.
One of my favorite things about J. Rose's why-choose romances continues to be the way she develops the individual relationships and the group as a whole. Everleigh's connection with Sterling, Leo, and Fletcher never felt interchangeable. Each man brought something different to her life, but I also loved seeing how Everleigh's presence affected them. These weren't three perfectly healed men swooping in to save the broken heroine. They all needed a little saving. And watching that chosen-family dynamic develop was easily one of my favorite parts of the story.
I also really enjoyed Everleigh's character development. Her past doesn't simply disappear because she's found people who care about her. We get to watch her slowly reclaim pieces of herself while the threat she escaped continues hanging over everything. That underlying danger kept me turning pages, and there were definitely a few revelations I wasn't expecting.
I will say, this was a little less spicy than I expected from J. Rose, especially after the Anaconda Tales trilogy. But surprisingly, that didn't diminish my enjoyment at all. The relationships and story had me invested enough that I wasn't sitting there impatiently waiting for someone to lose their clothes. 😂 When the spice does arrive, it fits where Everleigh is emotionally and for the trust that's been developing between them.
If anything, my biggest complaint is simply that I wanted more time with them. More of the individual relationships, more of the four of them together, and more time to let some of those emotional threads breathe. Not because J. Rose left something missing. Oh no, far from it. I just wasn't ready to let them go. I wanted to breathe them in a little longer and stay wrapped up in the connection I'd formed with these characters and their story. And really, isn't that one of the best problems you can have when you finish a book?
Sanctuary of Lies gave me suspense, healing, found family, three beautifully complicated men, and a heroine I genuinely wanted to see find her way back to herself. Another thoroughly enjoyable J. Rose read, and I'm already looking forward to returning to Hawkthorpe.
Story: 4⭐️
Spice: 2.5🌶️
Genre:
🖤 Dark Romance
Tropes/Themes:
🖤 Why Choose
🖤 Small Town
🖤 Found Family
🖤 Romantic Suspense
🖤 Hidden Identity
🖤 Heroine in Danger
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Protective Heroes
🖤 Trauma & Healing
🖤 Grumpy Hero
🖤 Disability Rep
🖤 Chosen Family
A huge thank you to J. Rose, Montlake, and Valentine PR for the opportunity to read and review Sanctuary of Lies. As always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Everleigh is running from an abusive husband and hiding behind a new identity when she lands in the small town of Hawkthorpe. She's trying to survive without being found, not fall for three complicated men carrying plenty of demons of their own. Sterling is grieving the loss of his wife, Leo is the fixer determined to hold everyone together, and Fletcher is battling survivor's guilt after a crash changed his life forever.
One of my favorite things about J. Rose's why-choose romances continues to be the way she develops the individual relationships and the group as a whole. Everleigh's connection with Sterling, Leo, and Fletcher never felt interchangeable. Each man brought something different to her life, but I also loved seeing how Everleigh's presence affected them. These weren't three perfectly healed men swooping in to save the broken heroine. They all needed a little saving. And watching that chosen-family dynamic develop was easily one of my favorite parts of the story.
I also really enjoyed Everleigh's character development. Her past doesn't simply disappear because she's found people who care about her. We get to watch her slowly reclaim pieces of herself while the threat she escaped continues hanging over everything. That underlying danger kept me turning pages, and there were definitely a few revelations I wasn't expecting.
I will say, this was a little less spicy than I expected from J. Rose, especially after the Anaconda Tales trilogy. But surprisingly, that didn't diminish my enjoyment at all. The relationships and story had me invested enough that I wasn't sitting there impatiently waiting for someone to lose their clothes. 😂 When the spice does arrive, it fits where Everleigh is emotionally and for the trust that's been developing between them.
If anything, my biggest complaint is simply that I wanted more time with them. More of the individual relationships, more of the four of them together, and more time to let some of those emotional threads breathe. Not because J. Rose left something missing. Oh no, far from it. I just wasn't ready to let them go. I wanted to breathe them in a little longer and stay wrapped up in the connection I'd formed with these characters and their story. And really, isn't that one of the best problems you can have when you finish a book?
Sanctuary of Lies gave me suspense, healing, found family, three beautifully complicated men, and a heroine I genuinely wanted to see find her way back to herself. Another thoroughly enjoyable J. Rose read, and I'm already looking forward to returning to Hawkthorpe.
Story: 4⭐️
Spice: 2.5🌶️
Genre:
🖤 Dark Romance
Tropes/Themes:
🖤 Why Choose
🖤 Small Town
🖤 Found Family
🖤 Romantic Suspense
🖤 Hidden Identity
🖤 Heroine in Danger
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Protective Heroes
🖤 Trauma & Healing
🖤 Grumpy Hero
🖤 Disability Rep
🖤 Chosen Family
A huge thank you to J. Rose, Montlake, and Valentine PR for the opportunity to read and review Sanctuary of Lies. As always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
September 29, 2026
𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔
5⭐️
The title of this book is PERFECT for this story 🗣️ THE RETURN OF THE J ROSE UNIVERSEEEEE! I knew I was going to love this book! 💙 Thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to read this new and beautiful story
The immediate bond between them was one of my favorite things. The way they meet, need each other, and slowly become the safe haven they all needed 🥹 The way they help each other heal and how each of them carries their own demons made me grow so attached to all four of them ❤️🩹
AND THE PLOT TWISTS! THOSE PLOT TWISTS! 😭
There were so many moments when I was literally screaming because EVERYTHING connects! Every secret, every revelation, every little thing that seemed unimportant ends up having a purpose, and I was completely hooked, trying to figure out what was going on!
Giiiirl! I love it when an author doesn’t just write a romance but also builds a great story around the romance ☕️ J Rose has this ability to keep me hooked because there’s always something happening, and I constantly want to know what’s coming next 🫣 And here, between Everleigh’s secrets, the past that haunts her, and the boys’ demons, I definitely couldn’t put the book down!!! Plus, the spicy scenes… SO worth it! 🥵
If you already know her other books, you’re definitely going to love this new story even more and the way everything slowly comes together. It all starts to feel connected 👀
Soooooo: found family, secrets, trauma, romance, men who love way too hard, a brave heroine, and PLOT TWISTS that will make you scream!
J Rose, once again, you had me completely hooked on the story 🫠
🇲🇽
El título del libro tiene el nombre PERFECTO para esta historia🗣️ EL REGRESO DEL UNIVERSO DE J ROSEEEEE! Sabía que iba a amar este libro! 💙 Gracias a la autora por darme la oportunidad de leer esta nueva y hermosa historia
La unión inmediata entre ellos fue de mis cosas favoritas, la forma en la que se encuentran, se necesitan y poco a poco terminan convirtiéndose en el refugio que todos necesitaban 🥹 La manera en que se ayudan a sanar y cómo cada uno carga con sus propios demonios hizo que me encariñara muchísimo con los cuatro ❤️🩹
Y LOS PLOTS! FUCKKKKK ESOS PLOTS!😭
Hubo tantos momentos en los que literalmente estaba gritando porque TODO se conecta! Cada secreto, cada revelación, cada pequeña cosa que parecía no tener importancia termina teniendo un propósito y yo estaba completamente picada intentando descubrir qué estaba pasando!
Giiiirl! amo cuando una autora no solo escribe un romance, también construye una buena historia alrededor del romance ☕️ J Rose tiene esa capacidad de mantenerme enganchada porque siempre está pasando algo y constantemente quiero saber qué sigue 🫣Y aquí, entre los secretos de Everleigh, el pasado que la persigue y los demonios de los chicos definitivamente no podía soltar el libro!!! Además las escenas spicy que tiene… valen la pena! 🥵
Si ya conoces sus otros libros, definitivamente más a amar mucho esta nueva historia y el cómo poco a poco se va construyendo, todo empieza a sentirse conectado 👀
En resumen: found family, secretos, trauma, romance, hombres que aman demasiado, una protagonista valiente y PLOT TWISTS te harán gritar!
J Rose, otra vez me tuviste completamente picada con la historia 🫠
5⭐️
The title of this book is PERFECT for this story 🗣️ THE RETURN OF THE J ROSE UNIVERSEEEEE! I knew I was going to love this book! 💙 Thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to read this new and beautiful story
The immediate bond between them was one of my favorite things. The way they meet, need each other, and slowly become the safe haven they all needed 🥹 The way they help each other heal and how each of them carries their own demons made me grow so attached to all four of them ❤️🩹
AND THE PLOT TWISTS! THOSE PLOT TWISTS! 😭
There were so many moments when I was literally screaming because EVERYTHING connects! Every secret, every revelation, every little thing that seemed unimportant ends up having a purpose, and I was completely hooked, trying to figure out what was going on!
Giiiirl! I love it when an author doesn’t just write a romance but also builds a great story around the romance ☕️ J Rose has this ability to keep me hooked because there’s always something happening, and I constantly want to know what’s coming next 🫣 And here, between Everleigh’s secrets, the past that haunts her, and the boys’ demons, I definitely couldn’t put the book down!!! Plus, the spicy scenes… SO worth it! 🥵
If you already know her other books, you’re definitely going to love this new story even more and the way everything slowly comes together. It all starts to feel connected 👀
Soooooo: found family, secrets, trauma, romance, men who love way too hard, a brave heroine, and PLOT TWISTS that will make you scream!
J Rose, once again, you had me completely hooked on the story 🫠
🇲🇽
El título del libro tiene el nombre PERFECTO para esta historia🗣️ EL REGRESO DEL UNIVERSO DE J ROSEEEEE! Sabía que iba a amar este libro! 💙 Gracias a la autora por darme la oportunidad de leer esta nueva y hermosa historia
La unión inmediata entre ellos fue de mis cosas favoritas, la forma en la que se encuentran, se necesitan y poco a poco terminan convirtiéndose en el refugio que todos necesitaban 🥹 La manera en que se ayudan a sanar y cómo cada uno carga con sus propios demonios hizo que me encariñara muchísimo con los cuatro ❤️🩹
Y LOS PLOTS! FUCKKKKK ESOS PLOTS!😭
Hubo tantos momentos en los que literalmente estaba gritando porque TODO se conecta! Cada secreto, cada revelación, cada pequeña cosa que parecía no tener importancia termina teniendo un propósito y yo estaba completamente picada intentando descubrir qué estaba pasando!
Giiiirl! amo cuando una autora no solo escribe un romance, también construye una buena historia alrededor del romance ☕️ J Rose tiene esa capacidad de mantenerme enganchada porque siempre está pasando algo y constantemente quiero saber qué sigue 🫣Y aquí, entre los secretos de Everleigh, el pasado que la persigue y los demonios de los chicos definitivamente no podía soltar el libro!!! Además las escenas spicy que tiene… valen la pena! 🥵
Si ya conoces sus otros libros, definitivamente más a amar mucho esta nueva historia y el cómo poco a poco se va construyendo, todo empieza a sentirse conectado 👀
En resumen: found family, secretos, trauma, romance, hombres que aman demasiado, una protagonista valiente y PLOT TWISTS te harán gritar!
J Rose, otra vez me tuviste completamente picada con la historia 🫠
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First-ever J Rose book. I know, I know have I been living under a rock?
My curiosity was piqued when I came across this little number one day - I mean, it's a dark why-choose romance; it's pretty much my calling - so off I went on an adventure full of suspense, complex characters, and twists I didn't see coming.
The plot was a solid 8 out of 10 for me. I was happy to read Everleigh's transformation arc while simultaneously waiting for the other shoe to drop, and I even shed a tear or two along the way. But unfortunately, the pace was something I struggled with; it's slower than I'm used to, and because it took so long to get to a certain point, everything after that felt a little rushed...but that's just my opinion and still doesn't take away from the solid plot.
Character-wise, I think this might be the first why-choose where I haven't had a favourite MMC *insert shocked face here*; usually there's one that pips the rest but I can hand on heart say that all the MMCs in this book scored equally as good as the others and I adored each one. Leo brought the cheeky fun side, while Sterling is more of the Dad(dy) of the group, and Fletcher is the silent protector...all played equally important roles, and it just worked so well, especially given each character was also battling their own demons.
Overall, a decent read and well worth a go if you like your books a little slower but still with a meaty plot.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶.5
“I think you’re just about the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, and coming from a man who hasn’t bothered to date in a very long time, that’s saying something. You caught my attention when I wasn’t even looking. Now I can’t look away.”
“Thank you for finding me and bringing me in out of the cold...I think that coffee saved my life.”
My curiosity was piqued when I came across this little number one day - I mean, it's a dark why-choose romance; it's pretty much my calling - so off I went on an adventure full of suspense, complex characters, and twists I didn't see coming.
The plot was a solid 8 out of 10 for me. I was happy to read Everleigh's transformation arc while simultaneously waiting for the other shoe to drop, and I even shed a tear or two along the way. But unfortunately, the pace was something I struggled with; it's slower than I'm used to, and because it took so long to get to a certain point, everything after that felt a little rushed...but that's just my opinion and still doesn't take away from the solid plot.
Character-wise, I think this might be the first why-choose where I haven't had a favourite MMC *insert shocked face here*; usually there's one that pips the rest but I can hand on heart say that all the MMCs in this book scored equally as good as the others and I adored each one. Leo brought the cheeky fun side, while Sterling is more of the Dad(dy) of the group, and Fletcher is the silent protector...all played equally important roles, and it just worked so well, especially given each character was also battling their own demons.
Overall, a decent read and well worth a go if you like your books a little slower but still with a meaty plot.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶.5
“I think you’re just about the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, and coming from a man who hasn’t bothered to date in a very long time, that’s saying something. You caught my attention when I wasn’t even looking. Now I can’t look away.”
“Thank you for finding me and bringing me in out of the cold...I think that coffee saved my life.”
October 5, 2026
J Rose is one of my go to authors and I love how she weaves mental health journeys, romance, found family, trauma and moments of joy amongst all the angst into her books. Sanctuary of Lies is no exception as Everleigh while running from her past ends up meeting three men who can make her feel worthy of the happiness she deserves.
I really liked Everleigh as a character too and although she was skittish and suspicious of everyone thanks to Christopher, I felt her coming back to herself was really organic. I loved her relationship with Fletcher in particular and how she told him one of her secrets. Christopher is fantastic villain and was very sinister; he is definitely not a one dimensional abusive husband.
I usually have a preferred type of MMC, I can never predict which one of J Rose's MMCs will be my favourite. This time round it 100% should have been Sterling, but Leo had me from day one! I loved his caring energy and how he had to overcome his issues with fear of abandonment. Sterling and Fletcher also had their own trauma but Leo's just pulled at my heartstrings.
Although this is a standalone, there is a fabulous cameo which made me swoon. The side characters are also a lot of fun and I could see all of them in their own spin offs. Maverick is awesome and I know Piper is going to be a great FMC!
My interpretation of the star system;
3 stars - I enjoyed it; would read the author again
4 stars - I really liked it; I am invested and definitely want more from this author/series
5 stars - I loved it; I engaged with this book completely until I finished it and it is one I will re-read
I really liked Everleigh as a character too and although she was skittish and suspicious of everyone thanks to Christopher, I felt her coming back to herself was really organic. I loved her relationship with Fletcher in particular and how she told him one of her secrets. Christopher is fantastic villain and was very sinister; he is definitely not a one dimensional abusive husband.
I usually have a preferred type of MMC, I can never predict which one of J Rose's MMCs will be my favourite. This time round it 100% should have been Sterling, but Leo had me from day one! I loved his caring energy and how he had to overcome his issues with fear of abandonment. Sterling and Fletcher also had their own trauma but Leo's just pulled at my heartstrings.
Although this is a standalone, there is a fabulous cameo which made me swoon. The side characters are also a lot of fun and I could see all of them in their own spin offs. Maverick is awesome and I know Piper is going to be a great FMC!
My interpretation of the star system;
3 stars - I enjoyed it; would read the author again
4 stars - I really liked it; I am invested and definitely want more from this author/series
5 stars - I loved it; I engaged with this book completely until I finished it and it is one I will re-read
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sanctuary of Lies was such an emotional and intriguing start of a new series!
I loved the combination of why choose romance, small town vibes, found family and suspense. Everleigh, Sterling, Leo and Fletcher are all carrying their own trauma, and I really enjoyed seeing them slowly come together and learn how to support each other.
Everleigh is on the run from her abusive husband, Leo is trying to keep his family together after growing up in foster care, Sterling is the tough on the outside sweetheart who struggles to let people in after losing his wife, and Fletcher is a mute veteran dealing with trauma and guilt. They were all so different, but somehow worked really well together.
The mental health representation and the focus on healing and supporting each other were definitely some of my favourite parts. I also really enjoyed the suspense and hidden identity aspect!
Since this is a standalone story within the series, everything had to be wrapped up in one book. While I liked having a complete story, I honestly could have used more time with these characters because I think that would have made me connect with them even more.
I also really loved the side characters and am secretly hoping some of them will get their own books
Overall, such a great first published debut for J. Rose, and I’m definitely curious to see what comes next!
I loved the combination of why choose romance, small town vibes, found family and suspense. Everleigh, Sterling, Leo and Fletcher are all carrying their own trauma, and I really enjoyed seeing them slowly come together and learn how to support each other.
Everleigh is on the run from her abusive husband, Leo is trying to keep his family together after growing up in foster care, Sterling is the tough on the outside sweetheart who struggles to let people in after losing his wife, and Fletcher is a mute veteran dealing with trauma and guilt. They were all so different, but somehow worked really well together.
The mental health representation and the focus on healing and supporting each other were definitely some of my favourite parts. I also really enjoyed the suspense and hidden identity aspect!
Since this is a standalone story within the series, everything had to be wrapped up in one book. While I liked having a complete story, I honestly could have used more time with these characters because I think that would have made me connect with them even more.
I also really loved the side characters and am secretly hoping some of them will get their own books
Overall, such a great first published debut for J. Rose, and I’m definitely curious to see what comes next!
September 30, 2026
Sanctuary Of Lies ( Hawkthorpe) What to expect:: 🖤Dark Why Choose 🔥Insane Chemistry 🖤Secrets / Hidden Identity 🔥Intrigue and Suspense 🖤Danger 🔥Trauma and healing 🖤non stop action and much much more . Everleigh , Sterling, Leo and Fletcher , oh my gosh what an emotional journey this was . All 4 were so beautifully flawed and broken . Where to even start? Everleigh is running from a abusive relationship, not only does she start a new life in a out of the way small town , but she slowly builds a new identity/ hesitant to trust and let anyone in . Not for long though because our 3 MMC’s change everything . They may be just as damaged but each has something different to offer . Sterling is absolutely consumed with grief from the loss of his wife For Fletcher it’s trying to deal with the emotional and physical toll losing his voice in a tragic helicopter crash has had on his life and then there is our hero Leo the sunshine and the light out of all 3 men , the most welcoming, the person who always tries to fix what’s broken . Don’t get me wrong , he he has his o demons as well . Love , trauma , healing, trust and second chances . This story was everything absolutely everything I ever could have asked for . Beautiful, emotional, steamy and just utterly addictive
September 30, 2026
*Reverse Harem
*Contemporary
*Multi-1st-PoV
*Small Town Romance
*Dark Themes
*Triggers- inc DV
*FMC on the run
*MMCs with trauma
*Found Family
*Established Harem (3)
*Slow Burn
*Standalone
Emotion filled story of survival!
There’s a lot of emotion in this book for all the characters involved and Rose writes in such a way that you truly feel each and every one of them.
Everleigh has a survivors strength underneath the fragility wrapped around her; she learns that there is still kindness within people when she finds herself in the middle of a small town village. It’s a world way from her previous lifestyle but it’s exactly what she needs to heal <3 Sterling, Leo and Fletcher each have their own trauma stemming from a variety of backgrounds and Everleigh manages to help bring them back to life and the present :) They also each become a different anchor point and safe space for her as she comes to terms with whatever her ex has done! It is a slower burn but it fits their evolving connection and it does bing the spice hen it comes :D The plot is intricately linked although I did see some of the twist/connections coming. The pacing is consistent throughout the overall book is focused more on the characters growth, connection and relationships than an action/drama fuelled story. Overall a good RH read for those who enjoy these tropes!
*Contemporary
*Multi-1st-PoV
*Small Town Romance
*Dark Themes
*Triggers- inc DV
*FMC on the run
*MMCs with trauma
*Found Family
*Established Harem (3)
*Slow Burn
*Standalone
Emotion filled story of survival!
There’s a lot of emotion in this book for all the characters involved and Rose writes in such a way that you truly feel each and every one of them.
Everleigh has a survivors strength underneath the fragility wrapped around her; she learns that there is still kindness within people when she finds herself in the middle of a small town village. It’s a world way from her previous lifestyle but it’s exactly what she needs to heal <3 Sterling, Leo and Fletcher each have their own trauma stemming from a variety of backgrounds and Everleigh manages to help bring them back to life and the present :) They also each become a different anchor point and safe space for her as she comes to terms with whatever her ex has done! It is a slower burn but it fits their evolving connection and it does bing the spice hen it comes :D The plot is intricately linked although I did see some of the twist/connections coming. The pacing is consistent throughout the overall book is focused more on the characters growth, connection and relationships than an action/drama fuelled story. Overall a good RH read for those who enjoy these tropes!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Format: 📱 eBook 📱 (ARC)
Check TWs before reading - this one is heavy
J. Rose certainly knows how to write a story packed full of feelings and emotions, and learning how to live when there's something heavy in your life. Throw in a little suspense (though I will admit to having seen the plot twist(s) coming a mile away), and of course her take on the why choose trope that always has me coming back, and you have one hell of a story.
Despite the acknowledgement of seeing the twists before they were delivered, I did enjoy the read and the characters. But I will also admit that at times I felt Everleigh's characteristics weren't consistent throughout - this could be very well due to her past (and I can't speak to having experiences that she's been through), but it did take me out of the story on occasion when within the same chapter, she jumps from one end of the spectrum to the other.
There's not much I can say without giving anything away, but it was an emotional read that hit deep, with all the main characters battling their own demons in one way or another - most of them internalised. Definitely check the warnings for this one as it is heavy on the mental health (both of the characters and of the readers), but it is a story that gives a well-deserved happily ever after, despite the turmoil that occurs within the pages.
I am curious to return to Hawkethorpe - it's a small town that I'd love to see more of, especially after being introduced to the characters within it's borders.
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the eARC opportunity. These are my honest thoughts that I have provided voluntarily.
Check TWs before reading - this one is heavy
J. Rose certainly knows how to write a story packed full of feelings and emotions, and learning how to live when there's something heavy in your life. Throw in a little suspense (though I will admit to having seen the plot twist(s) coming a mile away), and of course her take on the why choose trope that always has me coming back, and you have one hell of a story.
Despite the acknowledgement of seeing the twists before they were delivered, I did enjoy the read and the characters. But I will also admit that at times I felt Everleigh's characteristics weren't consistent throughout - this could be very well due to her past (and I can't speak to having experiences that she's been through), but it did take me out of the story on occasion when within the same chapter, she jumps from one end of the spectrum to the other.
There's not much I can say without giving anything away, but it was an emotional read that hit deep, with all the main characters battling their own demons in one way or another - most of them internalised. Definitely check the warnings for this one as it is heavy on the mental health (both of the characters and of the readers), but it is a story that gives a well-deserved happily ever after, despite the turmoil that occurs within the pages.
I am curious to return to Hawkethorpe - it's a small town that I'd love to see more of, especially after being introduced to the characters within it's borders.
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the eARC opportunity. These are my honest thoughts that I have provided voluntarily.
October 7, 2026
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I appreciated Everleigh’s strength and determination to get away from an abusive situation and start over again. I also appreciated the emphasis on the fact that verbal/emotional abuse can be just as traumatic as physical or SA. The plot was intriguing, if not a little predictable.
As for the guys, Fletcher was my favorite. I’m a sucker for a damaged, quiet hero. But my god, when she kept calling him Fletch, it kept reminding me of the word “felch”, and I cringed every single time. Leo and Sterling both lacked depth for me (Leo especially).
The suspense of not knowing the depths of Mr. Banks’s crimes was good, but I found his dialogue repetitive and kind of annoying, honestly.
Everleigh’s relationship with the guys felt a little surface-level, and I think that’s due to the unclear timeline. Although months had passed, the characters didn’t interact very much, so the development of love just seemed a little…unbelievable.
A big thank you to Valentine PR and the author for this eARC!
As for the guys, Fletcher was my favorite. I’m a sucker for a damaged, quiet hero. But my god, when she kept calling him Fletch, it kept reminding me of the word “felch”, and I cringed every single time. Leo and Sterling both lacked depth for me (Leo especially).
The suspense of not knowing the depths of Mr. Banks’s crimes was good, but I found his dialogue repetitive and kind of annoying, honestly.
Everleigh’s relationship with the guys felt a little surface-level, and I think that’s due to the unclear timeline. Although months had passed, the characters didn’t interact very much, so the development of love just seemed a little…unbelievable.
A big thank you to Valentine PR and the author for this eARC!
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