Law Maker

Aristocrats of London #1

by Susie Tate

From the USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author comes an opposites-attract, billionaire, age-gap, single-dad contemporary romance, perfect for fans of intense, protective heroes and heroines overcoming trauma to find their happily-ever-after.

She’s not meant for him. But Lord Rafe Sterling gets what he wants.

Invisibility has been Clara’s go-to survival skill since childhood. Now a teaching assistant at the exclusive Molton Prep, she hides behind her glasses and heavy fringe as she avoids her beloved students’ posh parents. Her one secret indulgence? Watching gorgeous, intimidating Lord Rafe Sterling sweep into school to collect his son.

Her crush is ridiculous. Lord Sterling is older, aristocratic, terrifying, and tipped to be one of the UK’s youngest judges. A girl with her background should avoid him at all costs. But it’s not up to her…

Rafe can’t believe the school has the balls to tell him he can’t meet the Miss Clara who told his son his brain “works differently”. But when he bulldozes in, he’s shocked by how the shy, mousy woman affects him. She might be too scared to make eye contact, but she’s fierce in defending his son. And when she becomes his son’s tutor, his obsession with her only grows.

As a rule, Rafe gets what he wants, and he wants Clara. But Clara Morris is not who she says she is, and if Rafe doesn’t keep his eyes open, he won’t see the danger she’s in until it’s too late…

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Forced Proximity, Dark Romance, Billionaire Romance, Abuse

400 pages, Paperback

First published February 24, 2026

About the author

Susie is a USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author who writes addictive, feel-good contemporary romance with heroes who may make you a little ragey, but who always redeem themselves in the end! She’s been a doctor in the NHS for over twenty years and lives in beautiful Dorset with her wonderful husband, three gorgeous boys and an even more wonderful dog.

Reviews

[꧁ ༺Minne༻ ꧂ (Back :)) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Questioning my life choices right now. It’s 5AM and I just finished this in one sitting.



I fell in love with the premise of this novel the moment I read the blurb. At best it sounded deliciously scandalous, and at worst wildly unethical. Naturally, I had to read on for academic purposes (of course). And now my research is complete.

Story: ★★★★☆
Writing and pacing: ★★★☆☆

💘 My findings💘
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
This was my first book by Tate, and it came just shy of four stars for me. My complaints were pretty negligible though, so I rounded it up and gave it four anyway. At first, it felt like my favorite kind of junk food. Sweet, addictive, and impossible to stop even though you know it’s mostly empty calories. I kept reading because it was fun and and comforting, but somewhere along the way the story quietly turned into something heavier and more emotional than I expected.

Clara is a painfully shy teaching assistant who has perfected the art of making herself invisible. She keeps her head down and tries not to draw attention to herself. The only people she’s truly comfortable with are her students. Among them is seven year old Ozzie, a dyslexic student who absolutely adores her. When Ozzie’s father, Rafe, decides to meet the mysterious Miss Clara his son won’t stop talking about, things begin to change. Clara has had a crush on Rafe for months, though on his side it’s very much a case of insta-lust for the win 🤭 Their relationship develops quickly, a little too quickly if we're being honest. Personally, I liked it.

I don’t usually stumble on books like this, but I have to say that I liked that this was a real and comfortable age gap romance. Rafe is 37 and Clara is 27. So many books get labeled as age gap when the difference is barely five years and both characters are already past their late twenties. That never really registers as an age gap to me. Personally, if the younger character is over 26, I need at least a nine year difference for it to feel like one. Once both characters are in their thirties it stops feeling like an age gap and starts feeling like a generational difference instead.

What's interesting about this novel is that the age gap is mentioned, but it’s not really the main focus of the book. Clara’s story is. Beneath the shy exterior there is a woman who has been shaped by abuse and fear. The book doesn’t shy away from showing the long term effects of living in that kind of environment. The instinct to go rigid. The way your body prepares itself for the blow before it even comes. It was sad to read at times. I got annoyed with Clara’s behavior several times, and then I had to remind myself that it’s the result of growing up in a family like hers. Her whole family is a mess, but her father is a real piece of work. I had violent thoughts every time he appeared on the page.



But of course, there’s a silver lining to all of this and his name is Rafe. Rafe. R💗fe. I’m in love. This man is ridiculous and over the top and completely shameless in the way he loves. He’s the kind of hero who decides someone is his to protect and then refuses to back down from that decision. Tate pairs a MMC who is clingy, possessive, absurdly devoted, impatient and isn’t naturally gentle with a FMC who needs constant reassurance, care and patience. The result is simply satisying.

I loved Ozzie and Poppy as well. Ozzie is so stinking cute I wanted to bite his adorable fictional cheeks. He reminds me of one of my students. I didn't realise this was my weakness but men who are wonderful with kids have my heart. The way Rafe is with Ozzie...have mercy, my ovaries.



There was a lot of angst in the second part of the novel and Rafe disappointed me twice briefly, but he makes up for it a million times over. That said, I don't fully agree with the fact that this is marked as dark romance.

Tropes & Themes
🧑‍🏫 Teaching assistant FMC
👨‍👦 Single dad
📚 Child with dyslexia representation
🌪️ Tortured FMC

🧸 Grumpy but secretly soft MMC
🐻 Possessive but devoted MMC

💞 Protective / caretaking hero
🌍 Worlds apart dynamic 

👫 Age gap (37 / 27)

🏠 Close proximity (same house)
🔥 Insta lust 

🩹 Hurt / comfort

💔 Domestic abuse

Spice : 🌶️🌶️🌶️ out of 5




Updates while reading ༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･

A teaching assistant and her student’s dad? How unethical! I suppose I’ll have to read on for...uh research purposes 👀​

[Andy (slow) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2⭐️

This was… bad. 😭

The plot was decent, and I genuinely loved Clara. Her relationship with Ozzie (Rafe’s son) was the only thing keeping my blood pressure in check. Their scenes were adorable.

But the romance? I wasn’t buying it. Clara was supposed to be this shy, timid FMC, yet she launched herself at Rafe the first chance she got. So… where exactly was the timid part?

And then there’s Rafe.

Sir, we get it. You’re a barrister.

If I had taken a shot every time he reminded us he was a barrister, I would’ve needed medical attention before chapter ten.

“I’m a barrister, soon to be a High Court judge.”

“My voice carried the same tone I use in court when defendants step out of line.”

…and approximately 47 more variations.

Respectfully, relax. You’re incredibly smart and successful, but the book acted like you were Batman by day and barrister by night.

The fact that I actually finished this book says a lot more about my inability to DNF than it does about the book itself. 🤡📚

[* A Reader Obsessed * · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

3.75 Stars!

Soooo close but not quite. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy myself as I gobbled this up in a quick two days, ignoring my other reads and obligations in the process.

Just like the blurb says, Clara is shy because of reasons but underneath her severely traumatized self, she has a passion for teaching. When her unconventional methods garner the attention of single dad Lord Sterling, she has nowhere to hide when he comes demanding answers.

Yes, this is over the top with a pretty implausible romantic set up but hey, that’s why we read fiction right?? This contains an age gap romance with a bit of cheese and plenty of cheek, a cute 7 year old, and a dad who loves his son intensely and falls hard for the woman who cares for the boy just as fiercely.

Fair warning that Rafe is an arrogant entitled wanker who knows what he wants and has the clout and connections to make anything happen. Clara is meek due to past and current abuse but has great moments of assertiveness and courage. Also, there’s plenty of laughs, a bit of suspense, great friends and family dynamics, some spice, and a satisfying win for the good guys!

Overall, this was an addictively fast read, and I look forward to seeing Rafe’s outrageous sister Poppy find love with his bestie! Cheers!

[♡Naz♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you’re looking for a sign to dive into the Susie Tate universe, this is it. Law Maker is an absolute masterclass in the "she falls first, but he falls harder" trope. I am totally obsessed.

This was my first introduction to Tate’s writing, and honestly? Chef’s kiss. The way she blends the high-stakes tension of the mafia with the polished elegance of the aristocracy is pure, unadulterated brain candy.

◇ I went in expecting a romance and came out needing a cold shower and a therapist.◇

Let’s talk about THE ABSOLUTE CINEMA that is RAFE and CLARA. Rafe is the definition of "large and in charge," but the way this massive, intimidating man makes himself small just to accommodate Clara’s fears? My heart didn't stand a chance. He radiates that protective, "who did this to you" energy that we all crave, mixed with some seriously spicy daddy vibes that had me folding. And Clara? She is such a badass FMC—kind, resilient, and possessing a quiet strength that makes you want to cheer for her from the rooftops.

The forced proximity in this book is ethically questionable and aesthetically perfect. Is making your son’s teacher work for you and live together a red flag? Maybe. Do I suddenly want to change my career path to elementary education just on the off-chance a billionaire mafia boss whisked me away to his estate? ABSOLUTE.

The domesticity mixed with the underlying danger created a tension so thick you couldn't cut it with a knife. Seeing them navigate their "new normal" while the chemistry simmered in the background was top-tier storytelling.

Can we also get a little commotion for Aussie? That kid is a literal ray of sunshine and added such a beautiful layer to the "found family" dynamic.

On the flip side, Tate knows exactly how to write a villain that makes your blood boil. The neglectful, toxic parental figures in this book had me seeing red—some people truly do not deserve the title, and the way the story handles that trauma felt raw and incredibly human. It made the eventual payoff and the safety Clara finds in Rafe feel so much more earned.

Overall, Law Maker is a gritty, glamorous, and deeply emotional 5-star read for me. It’s snappy, it’s soulful, and it’s got enough heat to melt your kindle. I

f you love a man who would burn the world down to keep his woman safe, and a woman who has the grace to build a new world out of the ashes, pick this up immediately. Susie Tate, you have a new fan for life.

🎶 Alexa play "Let the world burn by Chris Grey" 💅

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Susie Tate book, mainly because contrary to the others I’ve read, where characters have debilitating psychological/ mental issues that they must overcome in order to fall in love and gain the understanding and undying love of the MMC, in this one, the MFC’s issues stem from profound physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her father and an utter lack of agency on her part to save herself (and her brother).

The family abuse trope would normally not be a major problem for me (although it is a slight trigger due to issues with my own father as well as sooo many friends of mine suffering physical abuse at the hands of their (ex)husbands), but the fact that Clara was so incredibly timid and afraid throughout the first hundred pages, constantly flinching and stuttering was cringe-inducing for me. And the thing I keep coming back to is, if Rafe hadn’t forced a meeting with her in order to talk about his son’s dyslexia, Clara probably would have died at the hands of her father within weeks.

I just really hate a non-self actualized heroine with so little agency who does so little to save herself. And to be honest, the fact that Rafe initially seems attracted to and even turned on by her defenselessness so that he can be her white knight and protector was also off-putting.

Add to that the nonsensical string of events that create all their conflict—Rafe flaunting Ophelia in front of Clara ‘cause she’s being standoffish, Clara’s inexplicable decision to keep her identity a secret from him until the trial scene (I mean she KNEW that was coming and she CHOSE to reveal her identity in that manner???), and Rafe’s, what, ensuing embarrassment? that causes him to be such a complete dick when she begs for his help afterwards (his cruel denials almost leading, again, to her death). AND, if Rafe hadn’t met with Lily and Mrs. C. directly afterwards, then what?, he would have just gone home and stayed mad at Clara, also leading to her death? You see? There’s just too much frustrating idiocy on both their parts to justify a HEA.

That said, I read this book to the end in one sitting and even got sucked into the bonus epilogue. There’s no doubt that Ms. Tate is an engaging writer. I just wish Clara had had more of a backbone and Rafe had been less of an entitled douche.

[EM · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

On a Susie Tate reading spree, but Law Maker ended up being a slight disappointment. I was immediately sold on the premise and tropes—and, being entirely predictable, I picked it up without hesitation. Single dad, a tortured and shy FMC with quiet strength, a possessive yet devoted MMC, an age gap, and just a hint of damsel-in-distress energy. It had all the ingredients I love.

Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to that promise. The pacing felt uneven—there’s a noticeable lull in the middle where the story drags. Then, just as things pick up again, the ending feels rushed, as if everything had to be quickly concluded.

That said, there’s still a lot to appreciate here. Clara’s quiet resilience was compelling, and Rafe’s growing obsession adds a satisfying emotional tension. The moments with Ozzie bring a warmth and softness that ground the story nicely, and those character dynamics are where the book really shines.

If anything, what I’m taking away most from this book is anticipation—I’m genuinely excited to meet Poppy. She already feels like a burst of sunshine waiting to collide with what I assume will be a grumpy, stoic rugby star, and that dynamic has me intrigued.

[Anna Ruef · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was completely toxic, and I don’t mean the abuse she suffered from her family.
I mean Rafe; Rafe was toxic.
He was toxic in the way he wouldn’t take no for an answer. He was toxic in the way he would not listen to school protocol. He was toxic in the way that he harassed her in her place of work. He was toxic in the way he pressured her to not only tutor his son, but to move into his home. He threw tantrums when he didn’t get his way, and consistently made her feel threatened in the tone of his voice and is mannerisms when he knew that there was something going on in her life.
And he unforgivably threw her away like a piece of trash the second conflict arose.
Only AFTER he had the full story did he show concern, compassion and his form of “love” again.
Poor Clara went from one toxic relationship with her family to another with Rafe.

[Mairi Swan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Law maker is about a lawyer single father and a teacher assistant coming from a very shady background who puts others (who deserve it) above her and tries to do the good thing.
I love how Tate's heroines are coming from drama but they are still strong and resilient despite the circumstances and the heroes are so into themselves that most of the time they cause trouble but eventually recognise their mistakes and have to grovel to gain the heroine's trust back.
I loved their interaction and how the heroine felt safe around him even though he was intimidating and in fact bulldozed his way to her life. My only objection is that I needed a little bit more in depth connection. Their first time together felt a little bit rushed and a little bit out of the heroine's character.
But otherwise the feelings were there and intense and I was touched by the hero's intentions to make everything right for her.

[Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

I ended up finishing this book out of spite. It was awful.
Poorly written, minimal plot, average smut and I’m so tired of cripplingly shy women who can’t speak to other human beings and are so tiny and eat a grape for lunch who need saving by the big rich man. If you’re going to write that at least write it well with good smut not whatever wet rag this was.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️🎧

This book looked at me and said:

• intimidating aristocratic judge
• shy teaching assistant with a mysterious past
• single dad with feelings
• age gap tension
• one quietly formidable woman who will absolutely go to war for a child

And I, a predictable creature, pressed play immediately.

Law Maker delivered exactly the flavor of romance I tend to inhale: an intimidating, hyper-competent hero who thinks he understands everything… meeting a seemingly timid heroine who quietly dismantles that assumption brick by brick.

Was it perfect? No.
Was I still very invested in the emotional ride? Absolutely.

What Worked For Me
(aka: Lord Sterling, Unfortunately I Get It)

Rafe Sterling: arrogant, obsessive, catastrophically down bad

Rafe begins the story exactly as advertised: brilliant, intimidating, and very used to being the one in control.

Which means he is spectacularly unprepared for Clara.

What starts as curiosity about the quiet, nervous teaching assistant slowly turns into something far more intense as he realises she’s far stronger than he initially assumed.

Watching that transition - from mild interest to protective obsession - was one of the most satisfying character shifts in the book.

Once his protective instincts fully activate, Rafe becomes peak protective hero energy, and I was absolutely here for it.

Clara: quiet strength done right

Clara is the definition of a soft-spoken heroine with hidden steel.

She begins the story extremely withdrawn - avoiding eye contact, minimising herself, trying not to take up space - which makes sense once the book gradually reveals the trauma she’s been carrying.

What I loved most is how her strength appears in small but powerful moments, especially when it comes to the children she teaches.

Which brings me to one of my favorite parts of the book.

The dyslexia subplot added real depth

The storyline involving Ozzie and Poppy’s dyslexia added a really meaningful layer to the story.

It wasn’t just background - it genuinely highlighted how perceptive and skilled Clara is as a teacher.

Watching her advocate and help them understand how their brains work differently was a great way to show her strength. Those moments reinforced that Clara isn’t weak at all - she’s simply been conditioned to shrink herself.

Watching Rafe realise he’d underestimated her the whole time?
Excellent romance content.

The audiobook casting was half excellent

Since I listened to the audiobook, I have to mention the narration.

Shane East as Lord Sterling? Incredible.

His voice fits Rafe’s commanding aristocratic energy perfectly. The gravitas. The arrogance. The intensity. It all worked beautifully.

I could absolutely believe this man was an intimidating legal powerhouse.

What Didn’t Quite Work For Me
(aka: Minor Wobbles in the Courtroom)

The narration felt uneven at times

While Shane East was fantastic, Zara Hampton-Brown’s narration didn’t always land for me.

There were moments where the emotional delivery felt a bit over-acted, which occasionally pulled me out of the story. It didn’t ruin the experience, but it did make the audiobook feel slightly uneven in places.

Rafe’s arrogance occasionally tested my patience

Look. I enjoy a confident hero.

But Rafe definitely spends a portion of the book in his “I am a powerful man and therefore always correct” era.

Which means he makes a few assumptions and decisions that had me side-eyeing him.

Thankfully the story does address this and he grows from it, but there were moments where I wanted to gently hand him a mirror and say:

Sir.
Please reflect.

The emotional payoff could have been pushed slightly further

The story builds strong emotional tension around Clara’s past and the danger she’s been living with.

While the resolution works, the final emotional payoff wrapped up a little quickly compared to how much buildup there was.

I wanted just a bit more time to sit in the aftermath.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read for me.

This was my first Susie Tate read, and I really enjoyed the vulnerable heroine paired with an intensely protective hero dynamic.

Clara’s quiet resilience, Rafe’s growing obsession, and the heartfelt moments with the kids gave the story a lot of emotional warmth.

Even with a few pacing and narration hiccups, I had a genuinely good time with this one.

A powerful aristocratic judge falling hard for the quiet woman he underestimated is exactly the kind of romance dynamic I’ll always show up for.

Final Verdict

4 stars.

Protective judge hero.
Soft-spoken heroine with hidden strength.
Single dad feelings.
Emotional healing arc.

Yes, I was absolutely seated.

Turns out the fastest way to destabilise a terrifying aristocratic judge is simply… a shy woman who refuses to let his son be underestimated.

Tropes and Vibes:

• age gap romance
• single dad MMC
• intimidating aristocratic judge
• shy / trauma-survivor FMC
• protective hero energy
• tutor / school proximity
• “she defends my child” moment
• quietly obsessed MMC
• hidden danger
• emotional healing arc
• soft FMC × powerful MMC dynamic

[Aya ☕︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rtc

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

SKIP CHAPTER:16, 19, 26, 41

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

I received this arc a few days before its publication so I'm a tid bit late 👉🏻👈🏻 anyway... Thank you good girls PR for the opportunity to read this book ♥️💛

[Lea ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️
"You were hurt, and I’ll never forgive myself."
i had 0 thoughts going into this so i was shocked when the first 50% was gen good!! then the stupid plot twist happened and it all went downhill.

[NMmomof4 · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The beginning and the H's son.

The Not-So-Good: The criminal family aspect wasn't my fave.

The Bad: The ending could've been much better.

Overall: This started out so good! Sadly, it went downhill from there for me. It never quite picked up the momentum that it started off with too. I really liked the idea of the class differences and the super shy teacher and grumpy powerful dad, but I guess I didn't so much like the criminal family secrets aspect that was revealed later and caused a turn in the overall feel of the book. It felt really repetitive in the inner dialogue, especially when it came to the h's meek behavior and feelings. So that made it get old, quick, and also made be feel like a jerk for feeling that way. I'm disappointed, because this really did have some good potential to start!

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Clara and Rafe's story. Rafe, who is an important criminal prosecutor, is not used to being told no, so when he gets resistance when he wants to meet the teaching assistant that has his son convinced that he learns differently, he reacts poorly. Clara who is super shy but is harboring a mega crush on the Lord Sterling is petrified when he confronts her, but quickly changes her tune when it comes to defending his son. Rafe ends up offering Clara a job as his nanny/tutor and she also ends up moving in with them. There are some big secrets revealed, some sweet moments with the H's son, and a few sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.

Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Clara and Rafe's POV.

Overall Pace of Story: Good, I never skimmed and I thought it mostly flowed well.

Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings

H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Rafe. I appreciated how he acknowledged (at least to himself) his own character flaws and tried to be better, and I really liked his relationship with his son.

h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Clara. I liked her relationship with the H's son and how she became protective of others, but I struggled with her at times.

Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed

Push/Pull: Yes the h pushes away and the H is the main pursuer of the relationship

Heat level: Mild. They have some mild tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.

Descriptive sex: Yes

OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes see cheating spoiler below

Sex scene with OW or OM: No

Cheating: Not IMO but others might think so the H takes OW (that he previously had a casual relationship with, I think?) out to a public event and the OW is "all over" him and kisses him. This happens after the h pushes away and says they shouldn't be together anymore.

Separation: Yes They are separated shortly, but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time.

Possible Triggers: Yes Domestic violence (on page), criminal activity (off page), and the H's son (and sister) have dyslexia (on page)

Closure: This ends in an alright place with what I would call a HFN ending they get engaged

Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences

- Does Not have cheating IMO
- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
- Does have both the h and H pushing away
- Does have a separation between the h and H
- Does have abuse (not by mcs)
- Does Not have a HEA ending

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-3.5 ⭐️

I was SOOO close to DNFing this book. Because the way the MCs get together is so unrealistic and it really annoyed tf out of me. I hated how they immediately started a physical relationship and made it seem like “love”.

But, the last 40% of the book was pretty solid in terms of angst and redemption. I live for a good angst moment. I want my mcs to be devastated. Definitely carried my rating for this book. If it hadn’t had that it would have definitely been 2 stars.

[Amarilis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó bastante!! 🫶🏻 Dulce, ligero y con un poquito de drama.

Clara era un rayo de sol y, después de todo lo que le paso, merecía el mundo entero. Ozzie le da el toque de ternura a la historia, Poppy el toque divertido (necesito leer su libro) y la señora C y Lily eran mágicas, todas deberíamos estar rodeadas de personas como ellas, que nos protejan y apoyen a toda costa.

Y con Rafe... bueno, tengo sentimientos encontrados. Por un lado, me gustó su personalidad arrolladora, su seguridad y su inteligencia. Además, es un lord, así que uff... qué hombre ❤️‍🔥🫠 También me encantó la relación que tenía con Ozzie. Era un padre maravilloso y se notaba cuánto lo amaba. Y aunque a veces podía ser arrogante y mandón, también tenía momentos muy dulces que me hicieron entender por qué Clara se enamoró de él. Además, me lo imaginé con su traje de tres piezas y terminé suspirando igual que ella.

Pero este hombre también tomó decisiones bastante cuestionables. O sea, ¿dices amar a Clara y sales con otra mujer para ponerla celosa? Ahí ya estamos mal, -1000 puntos para Rafe. Y después está la forma en que la trató cuando el secreto de Clara salió a la luz. Entiendo su reacción porque ella le mintió y fue algo grave, pero se supone que es la mujer que amas. No puedes negarle el beneficio de la duda tan fácilmente. Para ser tan inteligente, hubo momentos en los que le faltó pensar un poquito más. Aunque se redimió y con creces, mi corazón vengativo necesitaba un poquito más de arrastre para poder perdonarlo del todo.

Fuera de todo eso, terminé feliz con estos personajes y con la familia que construyeron juntos. Y esos dos epílogos compensan absolutamente todo 💗

[pages_that_burn · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is fragile in the way glass is—strong, but shaped by pressure.
He handles her like she matters.

The love here isn’t loud.
It’s careful. Intentional. Earned.

The story explores difficult topics—you may want to check triggers first.

5 🌟
2 🌶

Single Parent / Tragic Past / Commoner & Aristocrat / Hidden Identity / Who Hurt You?

[Pinky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trigger Warnings: Dyslexia, struggles with stuttering, domestic violence (physical and verbal to FMC and FMC’s mom by dad and brothers), ableism, family imprisoned, parental neglect, alcoholic parent, anxiety, panic attacks, controlling, stalking, power imbalance, bullying, mafia, crime, violence, drugs, death from overdose, PTSD, agoraphobia

I’m not gonna lie, I’m disappointed. I think it's because I’ve read quite a few Susie Tate books that it’s getting repetitive. I wasn’t a huge fan of the FMC, Clara, or the MMC, Rafe. The kid, Ozzie, was adorable, but I still felt meh about the whole thing. It was fun seeing Ollie and Lottie’s kid from Gold Digger. Mia from Unperfect also made an appearance near the end. I didn’t like Rafe since he came off as immature. Whenever things didn’t go his way, he was rude to Clara. And Clara had no backbone; she forgave Rafe so easily. So in terms of grovel? I didn’t see it that way since Clara wasn’t mad at Rafe. He did something that pissed me off, and she brushed over it (I’ll get into it later). I couldn’t buy their romance; they got together way too quickly. It felt like it was mainly based on physical attraction. And we never learn about the characters in depth, especially Rafe.


As a teaching assistant, Clara lives under the radar while helping kids. When a student’s dad insists on meeting with Clara, her whole life changes. Rafe often hears his son, Ozzie, talk about Clara and wants to meet her. But Clara refuses, so it makes him more determined.

Now for spoilers


Clara is teaching Oscar, who goes by Ozzie in class. She is a teaching assistant who has an agreement with the school that allows her to avoid meeting with parents. She is qualified to be a teacher, but she took on this role to avoid meeting with parents. Ozzie has dyslexia and is frustrated with reading, but Clara encourages him. She uses games and cards to help encourage students. Ozzie’s dad is Rafe Sterling, who is Lord Sterling; he is royalty. Clara has a crush on Rafe but has never spoken to him. Clara works with her friend Lily, known as Miss Summerfield. Their headmaster is Miss Clayton. Ozzie ripped a book and threw it at Margot, who is Ollie and Lottie’s kid from the book Gold Digger. Ozzie feels stupid because he can’t read, and Clara tells him he isn't. She says that some people’s brains work differently and that’s okay. He felt frustrated cuz of his dyslexia, and Clara asked if that’s why he threw his book at Margot. Ozzie says he thinks Margot thinks he is stupid, and Clara says she doubts it. Clara tells Ozzie about different celebrities with dyslexia, and Ozzie cheers up. So when Margot goes up to Ozzie and asks if he was mad cuz of his dyslexia, Ozzie is surprised. Margot says that it’s cool to have it cuz you go into a special room. Ozzie apologizes to Margot, and they make up. Ozzie finds a bruise on Clara’s arm, and Clara says she fell.


Rafe wanted to meet the teacher who told Ozzie that his brain is different. Lily and Miss Clayton tell Rafe that he can’t meet Clara. He gets curious about Clara since Ozzie is always talking about her. Ozzie loves Clara because of how she teaches him. So Rafe threatens to complain to the governors about the school to Miss Clayton. Miss Clayton used to teach Rafe, so she would roast him for stuff he did in his childhood. Apparently, Rafe went to school with Ollie. Rafe is a lawyer and an aristocrat, working to become a judge. He divorced his wife, Sophia, who fought for joint custody. But she’s always on vacation, and Rafe comes to pick up his son on the days he has Ozzie. We never learn about Sophia’s relationship with Rafe in detail. Rafe insists on meeting Clara, so Miss Clayton tells Clara. Clara doesn’t want to put the school at risk. When Rafe shows up, Clara is quiet while Rafe says he has heard a lot about her. Ozzie tells Rafe to use his inside voice and avoid cursing. Rafe is really cute with his son, always hugging him. But he was condescending to Clara. He tells her that he is pissed that Clara said Ozzie’s brain works differently from others. Clara says that’s true, and when she gets mad, she gets confidence. She usually flinches and stutters from the trauma she has faced growing up. Rafe says that Clara doesn’t seem to know what she is doing cuz she can’t even speak to Rafe.

Clara is 27, and Rafe is 10 years older than her. She is pissed and says she is qualified, listing all her qualifications. She says that Ozzie is smart, but he has dyslexia. Rafe wants to know why Ozzie won’t read at home with him. Clara asks if anyone discouraged Ozzie at home, and Rafe is annoyed. Ozzie feels that his dad is smart and doesn’t want to disappoint him. When Rafe asks to read, Ozzie says no. Rafe asks if anyone made Ozzie feel down, and Ozzie says that the nanny called Ozzie stupid. Rafe fires her right away and wants to meet Clara again. Clara gets a call from her younger brother Zach, who is 15. Zach begs Clara to come home to help him study. He also struggles with learning, and Clara’s card games help. They have an abusive father who runs a criminal network. Clara’s brother Freddie went to jail, and she has another brother named Ruben. Ruben is involved in her father’s business, but he does try to protect Clara and Zach in his own way. Clara’s mom was pregnant at 17 and stuck with her dad since. She drinks all the time and seems jealous that Clara has freedom. When Clara visits, her dad isn’t home, so she and Zach catch up. Clara was doing something called the Big Terrible Thing. It was clear that Clara was working with the police to get her family arrested. When Clara went home, I was anxious the entire time. The last time she visited to help Zach, she was beaten. So I was surprised Zach asked her to come again, but he was desperate. His dad threw his books out since he didn’t want him to study. Clara helped raise Zach, and he calls her “Cla-Cla.” Anyway, Clara’s dad finds her and beats her.


Clara is away from school for days because of her injuries. Ozzie is in a bad mood since Clara isn’t there. So Rafe goes to complain to Miss Clayton and Lily, saying he doesn’t pay the school for a teacher to take time off. He came off as entitled and rude; it just pissed me off. When Clara finally came back, Rafe asked what had happened, and Clara said that she fell. Rafe assumes that it is an abusive boyfriend. Even after seeing her injuries, he says that she can’t take time off like that cuz of Ozzie. Clara says she’s sorry her injuries inconvenienced him. She does flinch when he’s near and stutters. Rafe tries to be careful around her, but he comes off as a prick. But whenever she stands up for herself, Rafe loves it. Rafe asks Clara if she can teach Ozzie at home. He wanted someone to stay and read with Ozzie so that Ozzie would eventually read with him. Clara had a thug named Skinny Pete follow her home. He wanted to make sure that Clara didn’t snitch about her dad beating her. Clara needs money since she wants to run away with Zach someday. She feels like she betrayed Zach when she left home, but she’s waiting for him to turn 18 to run. So when Rafe offers to pay a lot, Clara asks how much. Rafe is disappointed that Clara is excited about money cuz he thought she cared about the kids. He is attracted to her, though. He offers Clara a large amount and asks her to start. When Clara sees Skinny Pete, she runs into Rafe’s car. He can tell she is jittery and scared about someone, but he takes her to his place. Clara finds out that someone called Ozzie stupid. Clara gets pissed and calls Rafe over. When Clara is protective of Ozzie, saying someone called him stupid, but he’s a smart kid, Rafe smiles. Rafe tells her that it was a nanny whom he had fired. Clara lived with Lily for a bit since Lily wanted to keep Clara safe. Lily and Miss Clayton know about Clara. But Clara says she should move back home.


When Rafe noticed Clara wasn’t eating, he made sure Ozzie told Clara to eat with him. Rafe was working on a big case for a family network of criminals. He heard that there was an informant from inside the family who helped hack into the family’s accounts to find evidence to bring the whole family down. It was clear this was Clara. We meet Rafe’s sister, Poppy, who is famous. Poppy and Clara became friends. She has dyslexia, and Clara offers to help her. When Rafe overhears Clara arguing with Lily about where she lives, Rafe says he will go with Clara to her flat. When he sees Clara’s place, he says she won’t be living there. It is very unsafe; his home has a whole security system. Ozzie even has a driver who is a security guard. So Rafe takes Clara to his home and insists she live with him. Clara feels safe whenever she is in Rafe’s home. Rafe would notice what Clara likes, and it would appear in the cupboard, like her obsession with pickles. Clara had a fear of leaving home. When Clara is making something, she burns her hand. Rafe puts her hands under the water while standing behind her. Clara feels things for him, so she avoids him. Anytime Rafe tries to talk to her, she is shy and looks at his tie. I hated that he went on a date, but it was just mentioned with no details. He says he isn’t interested in anyone other than Clara. When Ozzie finally reads to Rafe, he gets teary-eyed and encourages Ozzie. Once Ozzie leaves, Rafe kisses Clara and makes out with her on the couch. But when Ozzie comes back, Rafe jumps off and lies about Clara dropping her glasses.

“Clara lost her glasses,” said Lord Sterling in a hoarse voice. “I was trying to help her find them.”
“By lying on top of her?” Ozzie asked.

Clara avoids Rafe again, which pisses him off. He starts being snappy with Clara, which really annoyed me. Like just cuz something doesn’t go his way, he acts like a child. When Clara knocks on his office door, Rafe tells her to speak to him while facing him. Clara asks if he is busy, and Rafe says he is. Clara says she feels like she took advantage of Rafe and apologizes for the kiss. Clara says she has always had a crush on him and blabbers about loving how he puts his overcoat on. She admits she used to watch him through the window, and I was just cringing. Rafe is amused and asks what else she imagined while touching her. Then they kiss and have sex on his desk. After that, they have sex often, but it’s more brushed over. He wants to sleep in bed together, but Clara always leaves, which annoys him. He wants people to know they are together, but Clara wants to keep their relationship a secret. She is scared of Ozzie’s reaction, but Ozzie loves Clara. Clara meets Rafe’s parents, the Earl and his wife, along with his grandma. Sophia comes to visit and acts like she owns Rafe’s home. She feels threatened by Clara, and Rafe says that they are no longer married. He has been affectionate with Clara when he can. Poppy loves that they are together, and they invite Lily over. When Clara sees Sophia hug Ozzie, she can tell that Sophia loves her son. So Clara tells Sophia that Ozzie talks a lot about her and that she heard that Sophia gives the best hugs. Sophia apologizes for being rude. Rafe’s parents and grandparents tell Sophia to leave. But they are welcoming to Clara once they meet her. Poppy comes home drunk with Rory, who is Rafe’s age. Poppy is 25, and Rory is 12 years older than her. They are the next book, but I’m not that interested. Rory insulted Poppy in the past. Poppy got drunk, and Rory hates that. They’re not sure why Poppy is acting this way, but when Rafe notices that Poppy is injured, he gets pissed. Clara is mad at the way Rory is speaking about Poppy and stands up for her. Clara doesn’t tell Rafe much about herself, even when he asks. She lied that she was an only child whose parents died, one from cancer and one from a heart attack. Ozzie reads to Poppy, who also encourages him.

Then Clara is called by Skinny Pete to come home cuz her dad insisted. Clara lies to Rafe about going out. When she goes home, her mom is scared for Clara, but her dad says that he knows Clara is fucking Rafe. Rafe is involved in their trial, so Clara’s dad says to help the family for once. He uses Zach as blackmail, so Clara has no choice. Clara looks sad and tells Rafe she should move back soon. This pisses Rafe off, and instead of thinking clearly, he decides he wants to show Clara what would happen if she leaves. He has a gala and brings a girl named Ophelia over in front of Clara. This pissed me the fuck off. Ophelia tries to kiss Rafe and touches his lips, but he ducks. Clara burns her hand accidentally, and Rafe holds her hand under water as he did before. Clara tells Rafe to leave, but he tries to apologize. When Clara raises her voice, Poppy tells Rafe to leave. So he leaves with Ophelia, which got me angrier. He went through with it, and the entire time, Ophelia was all over him. Like what the fuck bro. Clara wanted to talk to Rafe about her family. But she decided not to cuz Rafe looked good with Ophelia and was better off with someone like her. So when Rafe comes home, instead of making him grovel, she just looks sad. And sure, I love when a girl shuts down. Especially cuz Rafe feels bad. But he spent the whole night with Ophelia when he could’ve stayed or sent Ophelia away. It shows that if Clara doesn’t do what he wants, he can replace her. Instead of Clara standing up for herself, she has sex with him. Rafe says he is sorry, Clara seems upset, and he keeps checking in. He can tell that this feels like goodbye. Clara says not to forget that she cares about him. When he has to leave for a big trial, he tells Clara he will see her when he is back.


But when he gets to the trial, he is shocked to see Clara there. The trial was against the Masons, Clara’s family. Clara’s real name was Clarabelle Mason; she went by a different name in school. Rafe thinks Clara tricked him and his son to manipulate him. It was so stupid cuz Clara did nothing to show that. He tells the judge he needs to be taken off the case cuz he knows Clara intimately. Rafe is pissed cuz his career is ruined, and that’s when Clara asks for his help. She tries to talk to Rafe, but he shakes her off. Rafe goes to Miss Clayton and Lily to complain. Miss Clayton and Lily told Rafe to shut up. When they find out that Clara is gone, they ask Rafe where she went. Rafe asks why they are concerned. He is honestly so stupid. He thinks Clara is with family, so she’s safer than she was with the abusive ex. Clara never told him she had an abusive ex, she never told him where she got the bruises. This is why I can’t buy their love; they barely knew each other. Rafe calls Grant, a detective working on the case, and asks about Clara. Rafe asks why Clara wasn’t on the files, and Grant refuses to answer. Rafe realizes that Clara was the informant and gets a knock on his door. Zach pushes Rafe and yells at him for how he treated Clara. He says Clara is in danger with his family. So Rafe asks for Clara’s address and promises to take care of Zach. When Rafe gets to Clara’s home, Miss Clayton and Lily are outside. Rafe says he will knock on the door and deal with this himself.

Meanwhile, Clara’s dad found out that Clara was the snitch. He yells at Clara, and when her mom tries to help, she is beaten. So Clara says she is glad she snitched on her dad. When Clara’s dad beats her, she punches him and knocks him out with a frying pan. I was proud of her; she ran out and ran into Rafe. She asks her mom to come, but her mom doesn’t leave her dad. Rafe fights some thugs, but Miss Clayton stops them all while Lily records it. Clara passes out, so Rafe takes her to the hospital. He gets her a private room and insists on taking care of her. Whenever he raises his voice, Clara is scared. So he is gentle and approaches her carefully. Clara thinks she bothered Rafe enough, thinking he doesn’t love her. Even though all Rafe did was dedicate his time to her, eventually telling her he took time off for her. At this point, it was getting annoying and repetitive. Rafe tells her that she can stay with him at his home with Zach. Zach loves Rafe, and Rafe helps him with figuring out school shit. Rafe beats the dad up with the police’s help. When Clara says she doesn’t need his help and will pay him back, Rafe is pissed. But when she sees he is injured, she runs up to him, and he kisses her. He takes her to his place, cuddles Clara and kisses her head, but nothing more. Poppy gives Clara her clothes, and Clara slowly starts to wear colour. In the trial, all of Clara’s brothers and dad are sentenced to life in prison. Clara’s mom refuses to leave their home. Ruben asks to meet Clara, and Clara says she wants to meet her dad, too. So she asks Rafe to come with her. Ruben asks Rafe to take care of Clara. He tried to look out for Clara, but he didn’t do enough. When Clara meets her dad, she says she is glad he is in jail. Rafe makes him kneel and insult himself in front of Clara. Clara spits on him, and they leave. Clara admits she thinks Rafe doesn’t want her since he doesn’t fuck her. Rafe says he does, and he didn’t do anything cuz he wanted to be careful. He says he didn’t do anything with Ophelia. I swear that could’ve been a great grovel moment, but nope. They have sex and get back together, saying they love each other. He didn’t use a condom and says he doesn’t mind if she gets pregnant, and Clara says she is on the pill. Ozzie and Margot act out in a play, and we see Lottie and Ollie in the audience. Both Zach and Clara go to therapy for PTSD. Rafe’s career is fine, and he becomes a judge. Rafe takes Clara to a gala. Mia is there since they are talking about domestic violence. Then Rafe proposes to Clara on their way home. In the bonus epilogue years later, Clara and Rafe have a kid named Tilly. They throw a party for Zach for his 21st birthday. Ozzie and Margot are teenagers who play with Clara’s kids. Clara is pregnant again, and they have a girl and one more boy. It was cute, but I was bored and annoyed with the characters.

Stay safe folks!

[Brooke ✌︎㋡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susie Tate has written a book that I was able to literally binge in one sitting...yes it was all day but I just wanted to keep reading!

Clara's family was TERRIFYING! Poor Clara was the unfortunate daughter of a crime lord that seems to have many people in his pocket to do all his spying and dirty work. Clara is a sweet teacher's assistant that loves working with kids and has taken a special interest in Ozzie, a 7-year-old with dyslexia and also the son of the hot lawyer (soon-to-be judge) Rafe. Rafe exudes power and she has been noticing him and crushing on him for quite some time. That's not why she took an interest in Ozzie because Ozzie really need some help and Clara had all the right tools to lead Ozzie in the right direction which is why Ozzie deams Clara his faovrite person. Upon Rafe's demand to meet Clara, because Clara doesn't do meetings with parents, Clara describes Ozzie's situation and what he needs to catch up in class. Soon, Rafe requests that Clara becomes Ozzie's private tutor and since no one says no to Rafe, Clara finds herself at his estate many days a week tutoring and having dinners with them.

All of her secrets start to come out when she can no longer hide her bruises. While her and Rafe are helplessly attracted to each other, her father finds out who she's with and decides to use Clara to get to Rafe in a case that is supposed to be the pinnacle of Rafe's career. This is where it starts getting crazy and sooo good! You just have to read it to see for yourself! Rafe is such a bad ass!

Tropes:
🥊 Protective MMC
❤️‍🩹 FMC with Trauma
🍏 Aristocratic Barrister x Teacher
💖 Single Dad
🫆 She Comes From a Family of Criminals
🇬🇧 Takes Place in London
❤️‍🔥Slow Burn
💋 Dirty Talking MMC

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

Favorite Quotes:
💋"How did I do it in your dirty little dreams, darling? Hard, fast?"
🥊"Families like mine have been in charge of this country for 𝒸𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓊𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓈 … When it comes to extortion, you're lightyears behind us. You should have thought twice before you decided to yank the chain of a member of the aristocracy you stupid fuck. Your family's gangster activities are child's play compared to mine." BAM!

Thank you so much to Good Girls PR and Susie Tate for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Amanda Blanche · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love me a good Susie Tate book. These are my guilty pleasure reads - because its drama and over-protectiveness with a bit of the damsel in distress vibes. She likes for her FMCs to have vulnerabilities and insecurities. Flawed, but strong.

The wallflower and the lawyer. Clara is an education assistant, painfully shy, the only people she can really talk to are the children she teaches. She’s made herself a shadow, hidden away in plain sight to keep herself safe from her dangerous family. Until one day, when a bulldozer of a dad of one of her students calls her out into the light. Rafe is a lawyer, strong willed, outspoken and wealthy, the world has been kind to him in a lot of ways, but when he hears an education assistant is diagnosing his son with dyslexia - he’s got a lot of questions. Intimidated by Rafe, Clara is speechless, until he sparks a fire of anger in her and draws out her personality. Doesn’t hurt that Clara has had a crush on him for months, watching him from afar. But now that Clara is out of the shadows for Rafe, he can’t seem to look away. But Clara still hides a lot of herself and her family away from Rafe, and a true relationship can’t be built on lies.

[veerali · Rating 3 out of 5]

hero saves heroine in danger 🤝🏽 vee

[♡ Midedoe ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Canan]

Bazı sahnelerde Rafe o kadar tatlıydı ki 😍Tamam koruyucu bir tavrı vardı ama böyle sarılmalar, anlayışlı yaklaşımlar benim kriptonitim gibi bir şey 🤩

Rafe herkese haşin oğluna yumuş yumuş bekar bir baba. Başarılı bir avukat ve aynı zamanda aristokrat. ✅
Clara prestijli bir okulda asistan öğretmen, utangaç, ürkek ve sessiz ama çocuklar konusunda başarılı bir kadın.Bir de sırları var tabi. 😳

Ozzie sayesinde yolları kesişir çiftin. Oğlunun zihninin farklı çalıştığını söyleyen öğretmenle konuşmak Rafe'in en doğal hakkı.Tabi kadını bulabilirse.

Clara için gerçekten korkunç bir hayatta kalma sınavı olmuş.Buna rağmen ayakta durmaya çalışması çok güzel. Bazen bu kadar pasif olma, her şeyi kendi üzerine alma diyorsunuz ama yaşadıkları düşünülünce tavırlarında yanlış bir şey de bulamıyorsunuz.

Rafe ilk başlarda ön yargılı bir pislikti açıkçası. Mesleği gereği daha anlayışlı ve bazı şeylerin farkında olmasını bekledim. Ama inatla dar bir pencereden bakmaya devam etti.
Yaşam koşulları aynı ortamda bulunmalarını gerektirince işler değişmeye başladı.

Kitaplarda karakterlerden birisi mutlaka bir aptallık yapar ya hani...Burada Rafe'in yaptığına pek kızamadım ben.Adam sordu, ilgilendi.Müneccim değil ki. O durumda yaşananlar olabilecek bir şeydi.

Ben kitabı beğendim.İkincisi çıkınca mutlaka okumaya çalışacağım.
Poppy ve Rory cephesi merak uyandırdı 🔥

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“How did I do it in your dirty little dreams, darling?”

Dare I say that this is my new favorite book by Susie Tate?! This audiobook was fantastic. I love Shane East, and Zara Hampton-Brown is a new narrator for me. Their duet narration was a true gem!

This story follows Clara, a teacher that truly loves her job and the kids she’s able to help overcome their learning difficulties. She’s spent her life trying to survive and distance herself from her dangerous & abusive family. She would do anything to get her younger brother safely away from them, and she does. Regardless of the consequences to herself. Clara is so insanely strong. She struggles talking to parents and men in general due to her trauma, but one parent wasn’t going to let that slide.

Lord Rafe Sterling comes from a family dynasty of powerful barristers. He is a single dad that would do anything for his son Oscar. Even if that means he needs to confront the teacher that is helping his son overcome his dyslexia.

“That’s my good, dirty girl.”

Rafe was a great grump in the beginning! He comes on STRONG and has to work to build trust with Clara. He becomes protective over her and I loved it. He is also a DADDY DOMMMM! 😮‍💨🔥

“Ask nicely, baby.”

In most of Susie Tate’s books, there is a scene where the guy absolutely MESSES UP and then has to grovel his way back into the FMC’s good graces. Rafe’s mess up is going to have you fuming but just know he does everything he can to make it up to Clara. Including putting her father in his place!

“You do understand you’re mine, don’t you, Clara?” Rafe said in that low, commanding voice. I gave a slight nod. “Yes,” I whispered. “And I’m yours too. Don’t forget that either,”

Special shoutout to Clara’s friend Lily & Missi Clayton. These two were not going to leave Clara to face her family alone! I loved them!

I truly loved this book and I am so excited for Poppy’s story next!!

Tropes:
🍏 Aristocratic Barrister x Teacher
💖 Single Dad
🫆 She Comes From a Family of Criminals
❤️‍🩹 FMC w/ Trauma
🇬🇧 London
🤭 She Falls First, He Falls Harder
🥊 Protective MMC
❤️‍🔥Slow Burn
💋 Dirty Talking MMC
🫶🏼 Therapy Rep

[zoy · Rating 2 out of 5]

في قصص كذا ما عرف كيف الأبطال يحبو بعض فيها، وخاصة أن مافي بينهم كيمياء أو تناغم أو شرارة. وهنا أحسهم أثنينهم باردين ومملين مع بعض.
وما افهم ليه كل شوية تخفض عيونها للأرض، ينرفز الوضع. يا بنتي ناظري عيونه، شخصيتها مُحبطة صراحة ومملة جدًا، بس اتفهمها.. خاصة مع خلفيتها وأنها تتلقى العنف من عايلتها القذرين.
الطفل كان لطيف.
القصة ما عجبتني صراحة لأني ما احب اقرا عن عنف منزلي. وحسيت أسلوب الكتابة قديم ما يجذبني. فيه شي مستفز. مدري وش، بس ما جذبني.
على أي حال، ما عرف مشاعري تجاه الرواية، حلوه بس مملة. ومطولينها على الفاضي صراحة.
صفحات كثير كثير كثير. مدري هو مني، لأني صرت أطفش من أوصل ٨٠٪؜ ولا من القصة نفسها.
وأبي أفهم شي واحد، الحين ليه لما يحطون العمل ما نشوف هالجانب منه أبدًا.. يعني البطل رجل قانون وما شفناه ولا بمحاكمة وحده؟ آه بس.
البطله دايم بكل فصل تكرر أن البطل مسيطر، ويخضع الكل من حوله، رغم ذلك كنت ما أشوف هالشي.
كنت أشوفه رجل عادي وممل كذلك.

[Rayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

This is the kind of drama filled angst I eat up with no regrets. It may have been cheesy at times but it’s so binge-able that I couldn’t put it down. While it was entertaining, it could have been even better if the author let us sit with it for a bit. There were a lot of time jumps and telling over showing. Times that could have helped show their relationship develop like the weeks after they first get together are skipped. Scenes that could have had a strong effect were instead summarized, taking out all of the emotion.

I really enjoyed both Clara and Rafe. But with the same issue, I wish they were more developed. It would have been nice to see more of Clara healing. Rage was a lot at times but luckily, came off endearing. He really was a spoiled man who expected to get what he wanted. It was fun seeing how that didn’t work when it came to Clara. He had to learn to be patient.

For the moments we did get, their romance was very sweet. I found myself wanting more though. The bonus epilogue gave me everything I was craving so although it’s not technically part of this book, it convinced me to round this story up to four stars because I genuinely cared and wanted to see their happy ending.

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know how the author did it but she produced an arrogant and rude hero that completely hooked me. He was so out of touch with how an everyday average person lived and I didn’t even care. His love for his son, his sister and then later, his love for Clara sealed it for me. The kids helped as well. Ozzie and Margot were charming. I’ll be reading this one again.

[Devon Knick · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was dreadful. I'm sorry. No character development whatsoever. Just the MMC being a spoiled brat and being loud and angry, and the FMC goes back and forth between crying at doors closing and then she smashes a guy in the head with a saucepan. I just didn't enjoy it at all.

[٭ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster that I still haven’t recovered from… I honestly don’t even know where to begin. With every page, I felt Clara’s pain, her fear, and her heartbreak as if I were the one living through it. I cried… and cried until I felt completely shattered, especially seeing the amount of suffering that poor girl endured suffering she never deserved.

Clara wasn’t just a heroine she was a wounded soul searching for safety, justice, and someone who could truly see her after everything she went through. Her healing journey was deeply emotional, filled with pain but also strength and hope until she finally reached the justice and happiness she deserved after everything she endured.

And Rafe 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳… this man truly deserves applause. He wasn’t just a romantic hero he was safety itself. A man who supported her without pressure, loved her without conditions, and stood by her every second, in her weakest moments before her strongest. I loved how he respected her wounds while also admiring her strength. The way he cherished her and treated her with such care and respect was incredibly touching. Him being a lawyer fighting for her justice added even more depth to his character he wasn’t only emotionally supportive, he was actively fighting for her and with her. We truly need more male characters with this level of maturity, respect, and compassion.

What made the story even more beautiful was the author’s mature and clear writing style. It was obvious that the author is experienced she handled the pain with depth without exaggeration, and wrote the emotions in a way that felt genuine without falling into clichés or cheap dramatics. The portrayal of abuse was handled sensitively and respectfully, never exploitative or superficial, which made the story feel more realistic and impactful. The pacing was balanced, and the emotions were written with sincerity, making it easy to fully immerse myself in the story.

This wasn’t just a love story it was a healing journey, a story about justice, and about a woman who survived abuse and finally found someone who saw her worth and stood beside her. The ending was incredibly satisfying… it made every tear worth it, and I felt genuinely happy knowing that Clara finally got the life she truly deserved.

[Lia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8 ⭐️

[Chrystal J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another masterpiece by Susie Tate. She writes such emotionally complex characters and then weaves them into a compelling story. I fly through her books and then am disappointed I have to wait so long for her next one. The Law Maker series starts strong with this one. Clara and Rafe’s story was easy to fall in love with. Two characters with such fundamentally different backgrounds that find and balance each other had me devour this book. I always appreciate the cameos from characters in her other stories as well. Once again a must read.