She thought the worst part of her life was over. She was wrong.
Olivia has spent the past ten years running from her past and rebuilding her life into something she can be proud of. As a member of the New York City’s SWAT team, she no longer feels helpless and unable to protect herself… Until her PTSD rears its ugly head when her ex-husband is released on parole. Her emotions run high, and she ends up in the arms of her Sergeant.
Sage was the department’s playboy until she arrived. But coveting her for the last few years was a secret he kept to himself. Now he’s determined to make her his, while battling her demons along the way. Protecting her isn’t a job—it’s personal. Now faced with threatening letters from an unknown stalker and her lover’s quest to erase her trauma triggers, Olivia is left with turmoil between the two. As danger closes in, she is desperate to find answers.
But the truth is more terrifying than she ever imagined.
Really enjoyed reading this book! It had me hooked from the very first chapter. I went into it expecting a pretty predictable forbidden romance with the brother's best friend trope, but I was so incredibly wrong.
Olivia is such a strong, kick-ass NYC SWAT officer who refuses to let her past define her. I really appreciated that she didn't need a man to come in and save her from the trauma of her abusive relationship. Instead, Sage stands beside her, supporting her through her healing journey without ever taking away from her own strength. The way he helps her through her trauma was just another green flag for this man.
And the chemistry between them? Chef's kiss. Their connection was everything. I loved Sage from the beginning, with his patience, kind heart, and protective nature. He was exactly the kind of book boyfriend I love—supportive, respectful, and fiercely devoted.
This book had everything I look for in a dark romance: emotional depth, heartbreaking moments, suspense, and plenty of spice. I couldn't put it down because every chapter left me needing to know what happened next.
Sage and Liv work together and probably shouldn’t be in a romantic relationship together, especially in the type of work they do. But, they make such a sweet couple! This book is well written and the story is so engaging. I did not want to put it down! There is a wonderful mix of spice and suspense that creates a thrilling tale. The characters are incredibly perfect for each other with Sage being there for Liv and wanting nothing more than to create a happy, fulfilled life for her. Liv’s trauma makes it harder for her to accept all that he offers and ultimately her past comes roaring back in the worst way. No spoilers, but I can’t wait to read the book 2 and see how this story weaves into the next one! Spicy, steamy, suspenseful, some triggers, great dialogue, love the secondary characters (maybe mains for the next book??) and I highly recommend this book!
This book was an emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end. The author did a wonderful job blending suspense, romance, and emotional healing into a story that kept me hooked. Olivia is a strong, resilient heroine whose struggles with PTSD felt authentic and heartfelt, making it easy to root for her every step of the way.
The chemistry between Olivia and Sage is undeniable. Sage isn't just a protective love interest—he's patient, supportive, and determined to help Olivia heal without overshadowing her strength. Their relationship develops naturally, adding warmth to an otherwise tense and dangerous storyline.
The mystery surrounding the threatening letters kept me guessing, and the action was perfectly balanced with the emotional moments. If you enjoy romantic suspense featuring strong characters, high stakes, healing from trauma, and a swoon-worthy protector, this is definitely a book worth picking up. I can't wait to read more from this author!
Loved this book! It had me hooked from the very beginning. I expected a predictable forbidden romance with a brother’s best friend storyline, but I was completely wrong.
Olivia is a strong, kick-ass NYC SWAT officer who doesn’t need a man to save her from the trauma of her past. Instead, she has the tall, handsome Sage by her side, helping her navigate the hardest parts of healing from an abusive relationship without overshadowing her own strength.
This book had everything I look for in a dark romance—emotional depth, heartbreaking moments, suspense, and plenty of spicy scenes. It was impossible to put down, and I found myself wanting to know what happened next with every chapter.
If you love dark romance with a resilient female lead, an unforgettable hero, and the perfect balance of emotion and spice, I highly recommend this one!
Wow. This book had me hooked, never wanting to put it down without finishing just *one more* chapter. The suspenseful story was great, and left me wanting more! Sometimes I felt like the spicy scenes were a bit much, but I get how they were used as a type of therapy and were definitely necessary for Olivia. Sage was perfect. Major trauma content including torture and mental, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Definitely read the trigger warnings before diving in blind!! When is book 2 coming out?!!!!
I absolutely loved this book! Having a past with dv myself, I loved watching Olivia heal herself & find her inner strength & pushing through her trauma to find peace & happiness again. Sage was beautifully written & the emotions I could feel through him throughout the book brought tears to my eyes. I cannot wait to see what comes next from this author!
I can’t believe this is the authors first book. She wrote this incredibly well and I loved every second of it. I could not put it down! The healing. The trauma. The flashbacks. Everything was perfect.