Revelry

by Kandi Steiner

From the bestselling author of Weightless and A Love Letter to Whiskey

Wren Ballard is trying to find herself.

She never expected to be divorced at twenty-seven, but now that the court date has passed, it’s official. The paperwork is final. Her feelings on it aren’t.

Spending the summer in a small mountain town outside Seattle is exactly what she needs. The peaceful scenery is a given, the cat with the croaky meow is a surprise, but the real kicker? A broody neighbor with nice arms, a strange reputation, and absolutely no interest in her.

Anderson Black is perfectly fine being lost.

He doesn’t care about the town’s new resident — he’s too busy fighting his own demons. But when he’s brought face to face with Wren, he can see her still-fresh wounds from a mile away. What he doesn’t see coming is his need to know who put them there — or his desperation to mend them.

Sometimes getting lost is the way to find yourself. Sometimes healing only adds a new scar. And sometimes the last place you expected to be is exactly where you find home.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Small Town Romance, New Adult, Slow Burn

334 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 20, 2017

About the author

Kandi Steiner is a USA Today and #1 Amazon Bestselling Author living in Tennessee. Best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal.

An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. Her love for writing started at the ripe age of 10, and in 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.”

She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a hopeless romantic and found herself bursting at the seams with love stories she was eager to tell.

When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, hiking, yoga, spending quality time with her family (fur babies included) and soaking up the sweetness of life.

CONNECT WITH KANDI:
➜ NEWSLETTER: kandisteiner.com/newsletter
➜ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/kandisteiner
➜ FACEBOOK READER GROUP (Kandiland): facebook.com/groups/kandilandks
➜ INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/kandisteiner
➜ TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@authorkandisteiner
➜ PINTEREST: pinterest.com/authorkandisteiner
➜ WEBSITE: www.kandisteiner.com
Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
➜ www.kandisteiner.com/events

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars!!!!



Kandi Steiner has a way with words. All of her stories have an impact on me, and Revelry is no exception. It made think about my life and I think it’s a book that a lot of people can relate to. Trying to balance life, dreams, goals, relationships etc isn’t always easy to do, but for Wren Ballard it was more difficult than most. Because she had a husband who wasn’t supportive of her wants and dreams. 



After that relationship ended, Wren was in a funk. She needed some time to get away, to find herself again. Wren ends up renting a cabin for the summer in a small mountain town. She wants the peace, quiet, and tranquility the mountains offer. What Wren never expects is to be taken in the way she is by the town's people. They are a great bunch that accept her and embrace her from the start. Then there is Anderson Black.

Anderson used to be the life of the party in his small town, but things changed for him. Now he is quiet, broody, and keeps to himself. When he sees Wren, something changes for him. He feels something he hasn’t felt in a long time. Desire. Longing. A spark from within.

She was stunning, a sophisticated woman straight from the pages of a magazine. And I was a lumberjack.

Neither Wren or Anderson is looking for, or is in a place for a relationship, but there is something between them that can’t be ignored. Their brokenness calls to one another. They start to heal each other without even trying. The attraction and chemistry between them was palpable, but it was so much more that that.

He kissed me with an intention so pure and powerful I knew I’d never experience it again—not in all my life. It was one of those singular moments, the ones that tattoo themselves on our hearts, embed themselves under our skin and further down still until they exist as part of our blood stream. They connect to our hearts, our brains, our organs that we rely on, and in turn they become a very source of life, themselves.

Gah! The writing in this book is so stunning! It’s so descriptive and beautiful. It seems like with every new book Kandi writes, her writing only gets better and better. Wren is a character I could really connect with and I think she’s one that will be relatable for most women. I admired her for having the strength to not take the easy way, but go the road that is more difficult. In the end, it will make all the difference in the world for her.


I love a damaged leading man, so it was no surprise that I adored Anderson Black. Anderson struggled with fighting his demons and trying to move on from his past. It's been years and no one could seem to get through, but Wren is able to help him move forward. They moved forward with their lives together and were a great pair. Aside from the leading characters, there are so many fantastic secondary characters in this book who offered unconditional friendship and great advice. I think Momma Von was my favorite!

“Life doesn’t exactly give us what we need when it’s the perfect time. It’s not a pitching machine straight over the plate. Life throws curve balls—hard and fast, unpredictable. But you still have to hit that sucker or strike out swinging.”

Revelry is a profound story of two people with a second chance at life and love. It’s light on the angst, heavy on the feels and will leave you swooning and smiling! I love this book and this author and highly recommend!

[Just Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

***3 STARS***

For my unfiltered reviews... https://prettymessreading.wordpress.com/

Look, I didn’t love this one but I didn’t hate it. I just didn’t really like it. I really didn’t like the main character, Wren. She was blah…..

If you looking for a simple story line then Revelry by Kandi Steiner will work. Just know that it doesn’t measure up to A Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner. Two different Kandi’s wrote these books. There was the great writer and then came the mediocre writer.



I didn’t like Wren at all. I promise that chick plays the martyr throughout this whole book. She was a sweet enough girl but I never connected with her, ever.

Anderson, he was there. There was nothing special about him, to me. The author never really gave me a enough words for me to get a visual in my head. So, yeah, he was there.

Ok, let’s talk about the story line real quick here. I knew going into this book that Wren was recently divorced but I didn’t know I was going to have to hear about in every other paragraph. OMG, that shit was driving me crazy. I kept thinking, “Can we get back to the story, please?” If I had to hear one more time about how her ex husband didn’t like her without makeup or in heels I was going to contemplate throwing my damn Kindle across the room.

For the first 60% of the book I was wondering what the fuck did she actually get divorced over. She came across as a female who wasn’t able to stick it out and actually work to fix her marriage. But to be fair, by the end of the book I understood her reasons for leaving her husband but for a long time I didn’t and it made me dislike her. I guess that’s more of a flaw in the writing and not the story-line but you get what I’m saying.



There was one sentence that she said in the first half of the book that made me feel a bit bad for her…

“… one day I realized that every time I gave him what he wanted, I lost a piece of myself. I left before I lost the last one.” – Wren

I was like, "Okay, this girl may have potential." But she didn't.

Let’s spill some tea on Anderson.

He was a broken man because he felt bad about a conversation he had with his cousin before she drowned. It’s been 7 years and he still hasn’t forgiven himself. He was moody, yet sweet. I never disliked him like I did with Wren, I just never felt a connection to him as a reader. And that folks is the end of the tea on Anderson because there wasn’t much more to him than that.

Blah…



Where in hell was the character development?

I think I’m going to end my review here. I am bored writing it. It’s becoming just a tedious to write as it was to read. But on the bright side, at least the cover was cute – even though they forgot to blend her real hair in with the weave. I know I’m not the only won’t who noticed it.



A lot of people liked this book and you may to, so don’t let my review stop you from forming your own opinion. It’s free on Kindle Unlimited so at least you won’t waste any money on it if you don’t like it.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished Revelry and then sat for an hour. ONE WHOLE HOUR deciding how I would sum up the reading experience. Asking myself how to fully encapsulate everything that is Revelry. So, after taking inspiration from the book, I opened Google and looked for good description words. Through my search I came across:


Awe-inspiring;
“arousing awe through being impressive or formidable.”


This lead me to look at impressive and formidable…

Impressive;
“evoking admiration through size, quality, or skill; grand, imposing, or awesome.”

Formidable;
“inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable.”

To me, Revelry, IS awe-inspiring, impressive and formidable.

I am in awe at Kandi and her story telling. I admire her honesty, her truth and the way she weaved heartbreak and sadness into something so beautiful and passionate. I respect every word, every sentence, every brutal truth, every damning insecurity, every personal flaw. All of it.

Revelry wasn't a quick read for me. Sometimes the truths were a little too honest. Sometimes the heartache was too painful. Oftentimes I found myself stopping to process just how heavily the book impacted me, personally.

But Revelry was also stunning. The passion and emotion so, so strong. I found myself smiling, swooning, loving. Just FEELING. EVERYTHING. I even fell in love with a damn cat!!

Anderson & Wren are intense, so beautiful, so broken, so raw and so, so passionate.
They tattooed themselves on my heart and  embedded themselves under my skin. They stole my heart, my mind, my soul and every single breath I breathed while reading. And my gosh! THEY ARE HOT! They are that sizzling, consuming kinda hot. Their intimacy was hotter than a burning flame, their connection brighter than a firework.

Revelry infected me like no other ever has. I saw parts of myself, parts I know I have to work on. But Kandi gave me hope, fed me strength, through her story and her characters she made me believe again. And I thank her immensely for that.

[Brittainy Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the love of everything good in the world.

I freaking adored this book. Full review to come!

[Angie - Angie's Dreamy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

"For the first time in my life, I was owed nothing, and I owed nothing. Lonely or not, I was free."

Kandi Steiner has fast become one of my favorite authors. I fell in love with her when I read Weightless and continued that love affair when I picked up A Love Letter to Whiskey. And now she's done it once again with Revelry. Kandi has such a distinct way of telling a story. It sinks its claws inside you and pulls you in completely. I felt like Wren and Anderson's story was intoxicating and I loved the feels in Revelry. Where Weightless and Whiskey were utter angst-fests, Revelry set itself apart with a bittersweet kind of angst. The kind that doesn't necessarily kill you, but makes you ache and yearn and burn for the characters in the best way. This novel shows you that life doesn't always go as planned, and that's OK. It's part of the journey. Life's messy and a messy life is a good life! This truly is a story of self discovery, of forgiveness, and second chances. And I just loved it.

"A part of me knew I was playing with fire, but I told myself I could handle the burn."

Revelry is a story I think a lot of people will relate to on some level. Wren is fresh off of a divorce. She's in a rough place. Life looks different than she thought it would. She's dealing with guilt, with a heavy dose of despair and loneliness that comes from a failed marriage and crushed dreams of what could have been. She's grieving, lost, floundering, and she hopes the summer in a cabin in Seattle is where she'll find some peace. Some healing. And maybe even some inspiration. Wren's a fashion designer who owns a popular boutique and she needs inspiration for her next line of clothing. She also desperately needs to lose herself in her sketches. Her art is her life line.

Anderson Black isn't living, in fact he's carrying around so much pain from his past he's decided he doesn't deserve to really live, he just needs to get by. Anderson is cold and angry, broody and unwelcoming when we first meet him. I wasn't sure how to take his character at the start but once he spotted Wren... boy, oh boy, I felt it!!!! :: shivers ::

"One moment, one look, and the haze I'd walked in for years blew out in a breath.
Because every day was the same.
And then I saw her."

Both of these characters are wounded. Their baggage is significant. They're in no place emotionally for any kind of a relationship. But there's a draw that they can't fight and it's delicious! I literally couldn't put this book down. Each page had me hooked. I loved the sweetness of the banter, but also the heaviness that accompanied the storyline at times. This book is ALL heart. All soul. And I saw that in this pages, in the chemistry that Anderson and Wren had. It sizzled. The need they had to lose themselves in each other was addicting and heart pounding!

"Touching Wren was like taking ecstasy, every sense enhanced. My skin was almost too sensitive to her touch, my ears too aware of her breaths, my tongue too tender for the taste of her. If she really was a drug, addiction wasn't just a possibility —it was a certainty."
--
"I've got you," he said, voice low, arms tight around me. And he did. He had me. In more ways than he knew.

I know I said this before, but I feel the need to say it again. This story is brimming with pure heart. It's so well written. Kandi's an eloquent, beautiful writer who's words always make me think and feel. I love reading her stories because they're honest. They're real. There's something magical about them that sets them apart from the rest. I find her writing breathtaking and with each book she puts out, it gets better and better and better.

Revelry was heartbreaking, but more so sweet and inspiring! Anderson and Wren spend the summer finding themselves and the journey is beautiful. I truly love second chance romances and I think this portrayed life after heartbreak perfectly! I LOVED IT. I really did. I, 5 fantastic stars, LOVED IT!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review



per·spi·ca·cious
/pərspəˈkāSHəs/
adjective
having a ready insight into and understanding of things.

I think it’s pretty much given that Kandi Steiner has established herself as an author who has this tremendous gift in storytelling. In all honesty, she slays you with her lyrical prose, flawed characters, and raw emotions. So after reading my first Steiner book, A Love Letter To Whiskey, in which I highly recommend, I instantly became a fan of this author. If you have read my review, then you are well aware that this book knocked my literary world off it’s axis as I rated this book as one of my top ten reads of last year. I didn’t think Steiner could top A Love Letter To Whiskey, as it was absolutely brilliant and poignant but I was wrong. In her newest release, Reverly, Steiner once again held me hostage with her words. I reveled and drown with her characters as their brokenness and vulnerability coursed through my veins.

We left the questions, the expectations, the fears, all of them shed like clothing on the edge of the cliff we both jumped off willingly.”

Revelry is one those stories that grips you right off the opening pages. The raw honesty and vulnerability of the heroine, Wren Ballard consumed me. Wren is twenty-seven years old and recently divorced. After leaving a ten year relationship, she is free. If you are thinking she must have had a physical abusive relationship, that is not the case. Wren will always love her ex-husband. He was a big part of her life but after several years into the relationship, things began to change. They drifted apart. Her love for him changed. And before she could resent and hate him and lose herself completely, Wren made the biggest decision of her life. To leave and be free. Call it selfish or what not, it was something she had to do in order to find and love herself once again.



So when Wren decided that she needed to get away for the summer, she decided to rent a cabin in a small town outside of Seattle. In this summer cabin, it is there Wren reflects on her life. The choices and the path that led her to this point in her life. As the new girl in a small town, it was quite inevitable to stay hidden as one neighbor inserted herself into Wren’s life. As Momma Von introduced Wren to the neighbors, she was also introduced to Anderson Black.

One cabin wasn’t the same. One car caught my eye. One moment, one look, and the haze I’d walked in for years blew out in a breath. Because every day was the same. And then I saw her.”

Anderson is a broken man. He revels in his guilt and grief. He blames himself for the death of his baby cousin. Seven years has passed and it seems Anderson can’t seem to let go of the guilt and sadness. It consumes him to the core hence leaving no room to love completely. That is until, he saw the eyes of Wren Ballard. A woman who also had sadness in her eyes.



Two broken and damaged individuals. Yes, Wren and Anderson were those two passing ships in the night that collided. A collision awaiting to happen. As Wren and Anderson danced around their attraction to one another, they soon found themselves wanting and needing each other. As they both opened layers and layers of scars, regrets, guilt, and sadness to one another, they began to drown in each other’s warmth. Those broken and shattered pieces slowly began to get pieced back together. A once broken heart afraid to love began to love again. A soul filled with guilt and remorse finally began to break free of it’s chain. But what happens when reality sets in and Wren must return back to her life in Seattle, will she be able to walk away from Anderson?

Our eyes searched and closed and searched again. Our tongues tasted every inch , like one might be different than the other, like no single part of us should be left untouched. It was the most intense sexual experience of my life, every single time.”

They say love is kind but it also can be selfish. Is it wrong to be selfish when it comes to love? And the answer to that can only be answered by you. Love is just a word. Four letters. That’s it. L-O-V-E. Yet, the definition of love is something that is hard to explain. But what can be explained is that love gives meaning. And for Anderson Black, Wren Ballard is his definition. She gives love meaning. A purpose. And that can also be said for Wren as Anderson is her second chance at love and life.



This story. These characters. These words. These emotions that Kandi Steiner had coursing through my veins are the very essence of why I love her books. Revelry is a prime example of a love story that showcases that love is truly indeed a journey. There is no right or wrong way. The roads may be bumpy, smooth, or full of twist and turns. It is a path that anyone is willing to take and venture out for. It may take days, months, or years to get to the final destination of happiness and peace. And for Wren and Anderson, this journey of love, peace, forgiveness, and truth began when two broken souls mended each other’s brokenness. So if you are looking for a story that weaves passion, love, truth, and understanding then I highly recommend you to revel and get lost in the words of Kandi Steiner. The writing was lyrical. The story was poignant, beautiful, heartfelt and unforgettable. All there is left to say, go read this book and of course, I think it’s fitting if I end this review with a word of the day.

re·com·mence
/ˌrēkəˈmens/
verb
begin or cause to begin again.

Kandi Steiner

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review coming right up 🍴

——

I started my 11th Kandi Steiner book the other day on audio 🥹 I’m living for the emotion / angst 🙌🏻

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've only read one other by this author A Love Letter to Whiskey which I LOVED so I couldn't wait to dive into this one to see what kind of journey she's was going to take me on!!

RIVALRY: Twenty-seven year old newly divorcee Wren Ballard an renowned local designer in Seattle is now completely on her own and on a road to self discovery, she’d walked away from a ten year relationship and a seven year marriage, trying to find the woman she once was and the only way to do that is by spending three months renting a summer cottage which for her seems like the perfect place to heal.

Somewhere along the way, our love grew black, charred from an angry fire fuelled by resentment.

Most of the inhabitants were friendly apart from one man that didn’t return her friendly wave but stood their staring at her with a scowl on his handsome face, he obviously didn't want to give her the time of day.

Being free and living recklessly if only for a moment after a few wines under her belt she decides to take the plunge and enjoy the spa pool in her birthday suit, enjoying the simplicity that country living offers she lets out an almighty shriek when something slimy lands on her chest, arms flailing like a windmill breaking her wine glass in the process when finally slipping out of the tub she not only lands on a slither of glass but puts her foot through a rotten plank, it can’t get any worse than that can it? Worse think again. A blinding flashlight piercers her eyes.

It was the guy I’d seen earlier, and if possible his frown was even deeper than when he’d stood at the edge of my driveway. And then there was me.
Naked.
Wet
And bleeding.
Awesome.



Anderson Black is sliding down a slippery slope of despair finding it hard to claw his way out even though six years have gone by. The only thing he finds reprieve in is working with his hands, fixing cars, helping out where needed. He was closed off to life.

It's not until Anderson offers to fix up all the things that are broken around the cottage that they start healing, start opening up to the other, she brings out a hidden side to him that even the locals haven't seen before and he teaches her that it's ok to be herself with him.



Slowly they mended each other, slowly they fell in love, slowly they started to live life again.

This is a slow burn stand-alone romance novel that will appeal to all that steer clear of insta-love reads, if that's you then this one is a must have come release day. For me to have given this 5 stars I think some of what was in this could've been taken out as it made it too drawn out and I found my attention span waning, overall I do enjoy a slow burn romance but it needs to captivate me on all levels for me to be fully focused. I need to feel every emotion known and that is what I came across with my first read by this author. But overall Revelry is still a solid read.

[Megan✦❋Steamy Reads Blog❋✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love Kandi Steiner’s books and from the first moment I read ‘A Love Letter to Whiskey’ I was hooked on this amazing author. Her poignant and profound writing always moves me and she has fast become a one click author for me. ‘Revelry’ was a highly anticipated read for me and it did not disappoint. I loved this story purely for the journey she led me on; the journey of taking pause and reflecting on the past and the associated self-discovery that it brought. If you are looking for a story that is as real as life itself or have never read any of this author’s amazing works before, then definitely give this a go.

Wren is one of Seattle’s most popular fashion designers and after the end of her seven year marriage to her high school sweetheart she is in desperate need of a sea change. A summer away in a cabin appears to be the answer. After everything Wren has been through all she is seeking is peace and quiet in the mountainous serene town, what she didn’t anticipate were the inquisitive, intrusive, mostly friendly and talkative town folk.

Anderson Black has not had the easiest of lives as of late. He has definitely had his fair share or pain, despair and heartache. He lives his entire life by a routine. Today is the same as yesterday, as it was the day before and the day before that, as it will be tomorrow. He has no concept of time any more as a result and each and every day blend together with the same mundane routine being played out.

“Because every day was the same. And then I saw her.”

All that soon changes when Anderson lays eyes on Wren for the first time; he starts to develop feelings he hasn’t allowed himself to feel for a long time. I absolutely fell in love with Anderson, but then I am a massive sucker for a tortured hero and I loved being a part of the adventure he goes on to overcome his grief and welcome the prospect of love. It was a joy reading Anderson’s journey as he attempts to transform his life.

“Maybe I wasn’t broken after all, maybe I was only learning to walk on a new kind of path, a gravel road my tender feet had yet to master. And though I knew the night would usher in dark thoughts, ones of failure and uncertainty, I smiled despite them. Because right then, if only for a moment, it felt like everything would be okay. I would be okay.”

Wren and Anderson’s story took me on the most incredible ride and I just did not want to get off, not once. Two lost souls who are striving to overcome their grief and heartache and what they find within each other, neither of them saw coming (comfort, friendship, yearning and passion).

Kandi Steiner is fast becoming a favourite author of mine. This is only my second read of hers, but I know it won’t be my last. ‘Revelry’ was so deep and poignant I just couldn’t get enough of the beautifully written words. I recommend this story to anyone who wants to be taken on a magnificent journey of self-discovery.

[Kandi Steiner]

Grab your copy or read for free with your Kindle Unlimited subscription ➜ amzn.to/2ozjLAm



★★★ Exclusive Goodreads Sneak Peek ★★★

"This is old man Ron. Don't be offended if he grunts at you a lot and never smiles. He's as soft as a baby duck, but he doesn't want anyone to know it."

Ron humphed and I giggled.

"Ron served in the Navy for twenty-nine years," Momma Von added.

"Wow, thank you for your service."

He humphed again, reaching into his plaid shirt pocket for a cigarette.

"So what are you up to today, Miss Wren?"

It was me who humphed this time, earning me a sideways grin from old man Ron. "Maybe I should take that beer."

Momma Von chuckled and popped up from her chair, returning a moment later with a cold Bud Light. "You're not too sure what you're doing out here, are you girl?"

I shook my head, cracking the top on the beer and taking a drink in lieu of answering the question.

"That's alright," she decided, rocking back. "Time spent lost and searching is time well wasted."

I offered a small smile, wondering if I was really spending my time lost and searching or just lost, period. She watched me for a beat as if she knew I was questioning, as if she already knew the answer.

She opened her mouth to speak again but paused, her eyes catching behind me as a grin broke on her face. "Afternoon, Anderson!"

My grip on the can tightened marginally and I turned, catching his eyes as soon as I did. He'd stopped just at the edge of her driveway, dressed in the same jeans as the day before with a white thermal this time, sleeves still pushed up to his elbows. Except I saw those arms differently now that I'd felt them wrapped around me.

"Happy Sunday, Momma Von," he called back, but his eyes stayed on mine long enough to light my skin on fire before he looked away.

"What are you working on today?"

"Morrisons' shed. Planned on finishing it last night, but got a little distracted." His eyes flicked to mine and I blushed, taking a long drink from my beer to mask the embarrassment.

"Not like you to get distracted," she called back, and I swore I felt her eyes on my neck. "You met Wren yet? She's renting out Abe's cabin up the road."

He looked at me then, really looked at me, and my cream shirt suddenly felt completely see-through, along with my skin. I waited for him to say we'd already met, to tell them about last night, to make a joke out of me.

But instead, he adjusted the grip on his tool box and said, "Nice to meet you."

Oh sure, now he says it.

"You too," I squeaked, clearing my throat. Momma Von was definitely watching me now.

He didn't say another word, just offered a wave in our direction before clearing the view of the driveway. I turned back in my seat, aiming for calm and casual as I sipped from my can.

"That's Anderson Black," Momma Von said, eyes still glued to my rosy cheeks.

"Good man," Ron said simply. He took the last drag of his cigarette and put it out in his empty beer can before standing.

I looked up, waiting for him to tell us he'd be right back or that he'd see us later, but he did neither. Just walked heavy-booted down the stairs and the drive, cutting a left at the end.

"The men talk too much around here," I said, eyes on where he'd just disappeared.

Momma Von barked out a laugh. "Come on, let me show you my cabin."

Continue reading ➜ amzn.to/2ozjLAm

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOW LIVE!
*Amazon*B&N*
Read an excerpt HERE.



This is only my third Kandi Steiner book that I've read but I already count her as a favorite author. Her words have this sweet melody that has continuously made me smile throughout all of her stories abd Revelry was no different than what I was expecting. These broken characters made my heart hurt in the best way possible but it was Wren's character that really did me in. She surprised me because I actually connected to her in a really strong way. Which I think speaks to how well this author writes because Wren and I have absolutely nothing in common. I've never been through a divorce, yet her pain spoke to me on so many levels and had me tearing up a few times. I really liked that I was so connected to her character and it made this reading experience an amazing one.

I was cheering her and Anderson on the whole time and I knew they would be perfect together. They both had a lot of pain in their pasts but when they were around one another it was like that pain lessened and they remembered to actually live in the present, not the past. I found Anderson adorable in a really hot way. I honestly just wanted to cuddle him and make his pain go away, so it made me extremely happy to see him actually try with Wren and to stop thinking he deserved the worst in life.

Overall, this story was so beautiful that I can't not recommend it to everyone I know. This is a book of what comes after the pain, what your life can be after heartbreak, and proves that second chances are possible.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Jen Zingaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say enough about Kandi Steiner and her writing. It is so emotional and smart! I picked up this book after reading A Love Letter to Whiskey. Both of these books made me feel all kinds of emotions. She writes about real characters that aren't perfect and struggle with the events in their life. This story in particular is about learning to love yourself for who you are and not to worry about what everyone else thinks about you. It's something we've all struggled with in our lives at some point or another. It really hit me right in the heart. Sometimes you have to let things go even if you don't want to. We get one life to do the things that make us happy. Wren is essentially starting over and travels to a quiet little town to get some inspiration. During that time, she was able to inspire others to do the same. This book is written so beautifully and I was so happy with the ending of this story. And everyone NEEDS a Momma Von in their life! In fact, I want to be just like her. :)

[Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐3.75 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

They say when one door closes, another one opens and if I could sum up this book into one quote, I would choose this one. Kandi Steiner gave us a story about heartbreak, grief, and finding love in the most unlikely places.

Two broken people.

One small town.

And a summer they will never forget.



Wren has gone through one of the most painful decision any adult has ever had to make. Some people think that getting a divorce is just a simple task but it’s not. Emotionally it’s horrendous because you’ve spent years building a life with that person, your bodies are in sync, your day to day activities revolve around them and a piece of your heart will forever be with that person no matter what. So knowing that all of the love and memories you’ve built over the years has now come down to signing one piece of paper, is heartbreaking. But for someone like Wren who’s marriage has been over for quite some time, that moment is also FREEING.

Being a fashion designer and owning her own boutique, Wren decides to take some off to get her head together and work on her new line. What’s a better way to get inspiration for your line? Renting out a cabin in a small town for the summer. But with Wren’s new found freedom comes something that she wasn’t expecting and little does she know that Anderson Black is about to mend her broken heart.



For the past seven years, Anderson Black has been non existent. He does the same thing everyday from the moment he wakes up and he’s ok with it because it gives him something to do. And when you have something to do, your mind becomes distracted with other things and you can’t dwell on the one thing that will put you back in your own personal hell. So you see, having a routine isn’t such a bad thing. But all of that goes to s*** when Anderson meets Wren for the first time.

“One moment, one look, and the haze I’d walked in for years blew out in a breath. Because everyday was the same. And then I saw her.”

I found myself completely sucked in with this setting! Everything felt cozy and natural I could’ve pictured everything that these characters did. As for Anderson, he was absolutely perfect to me and I loved the fact that we got to see him vulnerable, domineering, and loving all at once.

Even though I really did enjoy most of this story, I had a few issues with Wren which caused me to struggle with my rating. I loved that she went after her dreams and made it into a successful business and I really liked the fact that she didn’t have all l the answers for everything and she was figuring things out as she went along. But… she frustrated me a few times and her continuous talk about the past became too repetitive for me. I think that if that was factored out, I would’ve been able to connect with her more. Aside from that, this was still an enjoyable story and if love reading about broken characters who find love with each other, then this one is for you.

[Nazanin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 a-chance-to-live-again Stars

Wren married her high school sweetheart. Over time, his husband’s love changed and became conditional.

"No matter how I tried, I could never be what he needed. Failure is my biggest fear, and every single day I failed him in some way. I watched the love drain from his eyes for years."

So eventually, seven years after their marriage they divorced. She decided to go somewhere else for summer. She’s a little lost and trying to find out herself again.

Anderson had a cousin who was everything to him. She was like a sister to him, his best friend until she died because of his mistake and now he feels guilty. After that, he became secluded. He cut ties with his friends. Every day was the same for him until he saw her!

This one was not so good and not so bad either. I think it was an okay read. Not compelling or intriguing but enjoyable/likable. It was slow. The writing and characters were good. The story is told in dual POV, 1st person.

[• Lisa • · Rating 4 out of 5]

FOUR PERFECT SUMMER STARS.

"Everyday was the same. And then he saw her."



Kandi Steiner has done it once again. I'm happily in my romance bubble and have fallen in love with this authors latest romantic creation. If sweet and swoony is your 'go to', then you will most certainly not want to miss out on this love struck novel. Steiner, has recently become an author that I really admire, not only for her lovely writing talent but also for her heart and love for this crazy romance world. To say that I was happy to get the chance to read this book would be putting it mildly.



What did I love?
This story was just what I needed to find myself lost in. The setting was beautiful, the characters were loveable and the added 'Steiner' charm was all over this book. There are some books that I feel safe with, almost like coming home. Cosy with feelings and a real sense of connecting with the writing, that's exactly what I experienced here and I was pleasantly wrapped up in the story of healing and love. I adored the hero, he was right up my street. Cantankerous and a little on the side of cold to start with - he made my British heart happy (especially as I knew he would be a goner for this books leading lady). Speaking of the heroine, I really enjoyed this authors take on a broken woman finding her way. This heroine was sweet and feisty with just the right amount of vulnerable thrown into the mix. I loved this couple together, they were believable and perfectly, imperfectly matched. Steiner also did a fabulous job at creating friendships - the secondary characters were impressive and utterly squeezable. All in all, I can admit I was a big fan of this story as a whole and I'm left feeling all warm and squishy inside. Win, win.


Why not five?
There is hardly anything that I can pinpoint that makes sense for review purposes as to why this book didn't hit those five star feels. The only thing I can pin it down to, is that I didn't have that insane urge to get back to the pages as I do with a five star book. There was everything to love and not much to be disappointed with in-between these pages. I think it just comes down to my preference in story telling. I probably would have liked a little more angst and faster paced story telling. But these are minor quibbles, this was a darling of a book that swept me off my feet and gave me a romance injection that I really loved.



Final thoughts ...
A note to Kandi Steiner, thank you for writing romance that provides me with the perfect escape. I love your words and your big heart and I can't wait for more. And to my fellow readers, do yourself a huge favour and jump into this wonderful book and fall in love with this moody broody hero who has won my heart and my reading time. Enjoy ... kisses.

[Dilek VT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me tell you first that this book is nothing similar to “A love letter to Whiskey”.

Revelry is an emotional journey of a woman and a man who try to find themselves with the help of each other.

The book has indeed a good story to tell, with likable characters and there are so many life lessons in it. The issue of “falling out of love” is something interesting and a woman who ends her marriage not because of a cheating or a beating husband but for being not happy enough was refreshing to read.

A plot like that could have led to an amazing book if it had been written in another way – but not like this!

My TWO MAIN CRITICISMS about the way the book is written:

1. The book has a very low angst and a very very slow pace, which makes it boring most of the time and it is such a shame because it has a nice story to tell, a very inspiring one.



2. My second and biggest criticism is the scarcity of dialogues and the exaggeration of “reported speech”. It made me feel detached from the characters.

The book mostly relies on inner monologues and a summarized reported version of the dialogues between the characters.

Here is what I mean by summarized Reported Speech:

She asked me questions when we ate lunch and I pretended like I didn’t want to rip open my rib cage and show her everything inside me. Sometimes I gave in, answering her questions or asking some of my own. I’d learned a little about her boutique, about her family, about her best friend in the city. I’d yet to ask what I wanted to most—who was she running from?

***

Anderson had stayed at my cabin all day, and for the first time since our little arrangement, he didn’t work on a single thing. We laid in bed talking, eventually made our way downstairs for my favorite breakfast—coffee and cinnamon rolls—and then we spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening talking on the back porch. It seemed like once the flood gates had been opened that morning, we couldn’t stop the words from pouring out. And it was amazing. I didn’t realize how much I needed to talk about—not just about Keith, but about life in general. Maybe that was the missing part of my experience at the cabin that I hadn’t yet discovered. It turned out the more I learned about Anderson and how he grew up, the more I thought about my own upbringing and how it affected who I was. Throughout the entire day, even when we talked about the difficult subjects, I didn’t have one single bad feeling wash over me. Every conversation was comfortable, every touch welcome, and when Anderson kissed me soft and sweet on the front porch as the sun set before heading off to his own cabin for the night, I was content as could be.

As I said, I would prefer to read the actual “direct speech”, the questions & the answers themselves rather than read the summarized “reported version” of it with no details.



In this type of writing, the writer expects us to understand that they talked and bonded but unfortunately she cannot make me feel it and believe it.

Still, the book has its own beauty and inspiration in parts where it explains how a person should love themselves most and put themselves before the ones they love, or else they will always resent them.

The Plot:

REVELRY is about a newly divorced woman. Wren was married to her high school sweetheart, Keith, for 7 years but the more she sacrificed for her husband the less contented she felt and after a certain point of time, she understood that her husband expected her to be a good wife and a housewife who supports her husband and his career but Wren wanted to be good at her career, too and do things that made herself happy and proud. The more time she spent on her own career the more fights they had. They went to a marriage counselor but nothing changed. They still had fights and their intimacy became less and less.

Not being happy enough is normally not a reason people make a decision of divorce but she had the courage to do it. Her friends and family were upset about her decision. Keith begged for her not to leave him but she felt that they were not a good match anymore and she left him.



6 months after her divorce, she goes to live in a small town near the mountains and a river. It is pictureque and peaceful. She rents a cabin there for 3 months. There, she meets Anderson. He is still mourning the death of his cousin who died 6 years ago. He has a huge feeling of guilt. He is existing but not living.



Wren and Anderson – the two damaged souls – are instantly attracted to each other and soon they start an affair. The whole town is surprised because Anderson never had a girlfriend before. There are very nice side characters who contribute to the story, especially Momma Von.

Wren is in that town for 3 months and Anderson and Wren do not make any promises, they just seize the day. When the time to separate comes, they need to make a decision. Their decision is nothing traditional, but it is what makes them happy. Ergo, we can call it a "happy end".

Is it hot and emotional?

There are hot moments between them but there is no dirty talk or even any emotional talk at all. So, you can expect hot scenes with no talking. Silent movie :)

As for the feelings, confessions and bonding, I couldn’t feel it at all due to the indirect speech of the characters, reporting us what happened rather than us witnessing these dialogues.

I felt and understood what Wren was going through and how Anderson helped her to a certain degree but I never understood why Anderson’s feeling of guilt lasted for 6 years and ended so easily with Wren (again I put the blame on the scarcity of dialogues).

Inner monologues are of course important for the readers to understand what is going on in the characters’ minds but there should always be a nice balance between the inner monologues and dialogues.

All in all, if you are OK with a very slow pace and a book which mostly depends on reported speech, then, you may try it, it has a beauty of its own.



Here are some excerpts from the book, that still make the book worth reading in spite of its flaws…

His love had changed, just as mine had, and all that remained between us was a toxic opposition of values that left him angry and me resentful. The difference was that I still wished him happiness, but he only wished me to be his.

***

Every day was the same. And then I saw her.

***

I was falling in love with her. It didn’t hit me as a shock or a grand revelation because I’d already known it. I couldn’t even put a finger on the exact moment I’d stepped off the cliff and started the fall, but I didn’t need to. All that mattered was that I faced the truth. I didn’t want to lose her. And if I didn’t want to lose her, I had to fight to keep her.

***

“Pride is such a funny thing, isn’t it? You never really even know it’s there until it’s wounded.”

***

“And who’s to say what’s right and what’s wrong when it comes to relationships?”
“Everyone,” I chimed in. “In my experience, anyway.”
“Yeah well, you ever wonder why so many have an opinion about what you do with your life, though? Is it because they really think what you’re doing is wrong, or is it because they need to convince themselves that what they’re doing is right?” Momma Von didn’t give me a chance to respond before brushing her hands off and hooking her arm through mine. “Come, let’s walk.”

***

Funny, isn’t it, how often we fight what our hearts try to tell us. We argue with logic, digging our heels in, sure we know what’s best. This is right, we say, 'This is what I’m supposed to do.' We stamp down the loudest voice, the one inside us, choosing to listen to the flurry of those around us, instead. But it’s not until that moment we truly listen and obey the very thing that pumps blood into our veins that we really find peace.

***

“For years I tried to reach you, tried to make it work, and it was never enough for you. No matter how I changed, no matter what I did to earn your love. It came with conditions, Keith, and ones that I’d never meet. I gave and gave and gave until I reached the point where if I gave any more, I’d lose myself.”

***

“You want forgiveness,” she finally said. “From Keith, from your family, but what you don’t realize, peaches, is you are the only person who can give yourself the forgiveness you seek.” She smoothed a hand over my head. “It will never come from them, and you have to let that go and be at peace with it so you can eventually be at peace with yourself, too.”

I cried, though no tears came out. Her words hit me harder than any book I’d read, any advice I’d been given from Adrian. She was right. I wanted to be forgiven, and I felt like I never would be. I was so tired of apologizing, and yet it was all I knew how to do.



I wasn’t going to argue with myself anymore over whether my choices had been selfish or brave. I didn’t care if they were either. Because they were right, for me. This was my life, and I only had one. I didn’t know how long it would be, I didn’t know who would be in it, but I did know that I deserved to live it. Happily. And that’s what I intended to do.

***

Maybe she was right. Maybe I was strong for leaving, brave for chasing my dreams. Maybe, though my life path was different than I’d ever thought it would be, and different than what the “right” path is in some peoples’ eyes, it was perfect for me. And maybe I could inspire others to find their own happiness, no matter what that may be.

[NMmomof4 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

Overall Opinion: Well... I took some time away from this after I finished it, because I wasn't quite sure how to rate it. I think it had the potential to be better, but I have too many things that didn't work for me to give it more than a "just ok" 3 Stars. First and foremost, the ending. This is my second read by this author, and like A Love Letter to Whiskey (which I really did enjoy) I really struggled with the lack of closure! I hate the vagueness of what we were given too. I feel like I need some type of concrete commitment, or at least a farther glimpse into their future to see that they're on the right track! I also struggled with the fact that the parts where they were connecting through long conversations and great moments together was just given to us as past tense type of mentions instead of giving us readers those moments to experience! I didn't fully feel their connection, and I'm sure that was a big part of that. Lastly, I struggled with the H. I liked him, I did! I just felt like it was obvious (to me at least) at times that a female wrote his character, or at least he felt a little too feminine in some of his behaviors and words. I like my men manly, so this wasn't a good thing for me. Again, I think it had great potential...but ended up just ok for me :/

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Wren and Anderson's story. Wren is trying to find herself by taking some time off in a cabin in the country after a not-so-nice divorce. She meets her neighbors, and one of them is the grumpy Anderson. Anderson is just going through the motions of living his day to day life, because he is carrying the heavy weight of guilt and grief from his past. They have a few unpleasant intereactions, but then they start a friendship of sorts that turns into more and they fall in love. They both work through their baggage, there are some sexy times, some big life changes made...and they get a HFN ending.

POV: This alternated between Wren and Anderson's POV.

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

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

H rating: 3 stars. Anderson. I liked him, but I did feel like he had a few moments where he seemed too feminine for my liking.

h rating: 4 stars. Wren. I liked her. I liked how she fought for her own happiness.

Sadness level: Low/moderate. No tissues needed, but I did tear up a few times.

Push/Pull: Yes They both push away and also pursue the relationship at times.

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

Descriptive sex: Yes

Safe sex: Yes and no Some scenes have condom use mentioned and some seemed to not mention it. I don't remember any mention of birth control, std statuses, or previous practices.

OW/OM drama: Yes The h's ex shows up and causes a little drama. The h also has an OM interested in her. The H has a ex f-buddy that causes some drama too.

Sex scene with OW or OM: No

Cheating: No

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

Possible Triggers: Yes The h is recently divorced (on page), the H lost his close cousin to an accident (off page - memories), and the h experienced emotional abuse from her ex (off page - memories).

Closure: This is my biggest issue with the book! I needed more concrete closure for the couple! I would call it a HFN ending.

How I got it: It was part of my kindle unlimited subscription.

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

- Does Not have cheating
- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
- Does have both the h and H pushing away
- Does have a short (2 week) separation between the h and H
- Does Not have abuse by mcs
- Does Not have OTT sad parts
- Does Not have a HEA ending

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 HUGE STARS!!

Once again Kandi Steiner delivers a book that will take your soul and breathe life into it. She did it with A Iove letter to whiskey, and with this book I can't even tell you how full my heart is. I just read a book that is now a part of me, I will never forget this beautiful love story or how it made me feel. Full of great characters and that irresistible slow burn that we all crave, with just the right amount of angst, this is a story you need in your life asap!

Wren Ballard is a 27 year old boutique owner/clothing designer trying to get back on her feet and gain some independence after the failure of her 10 year marriage. She's trying to embrace her freedom and do a little soul searching in order to resume her regularly programmed life, and she has a major addiction with 90's music which automatically made her my literary soulmate.

Summertime is the perfect time for a fling In my opinion and set just outside of Seattle in a cozy cabin town, this book truly transports you to that fantasyland desperately needed to fully escape. And of course, per usual, Kandi's words are breathtakingly beautiful without being overly descriptive or dragging on, in fact it's just the opposite. The descriptions are so vivid and natural, I felt like I was smelling the smells in the mountain air and hearing all of the wonderful sounds of the cabin and the boots on the hiking trail, and the purrs of the vagabond cat, it was just perfect. Like movie picture, perfect. I wanted to live every moment with these characters because of the lyrical quality of the words. This story is a precious little gem that I want to wrap up and keep safe in my jewelry box of favorite books.

Anderson... Oh this man. Anderson Black is a local handyman in town and he's struggling to get by from day to day because of the weight he bears of an unreasonable guilt he carries with him. He's broody, short winded and ruggedly handsome and I loved watching his transformation from a wounded soul into a dream come true. Watching a man live with so much pain and guilt and then witnessing him come full circle at the heels of a woman who owns his heart is one of the most romantic things ever. Kandi captures this so perfectly, I can't even explain or comprehend how she does it, but it takes your breath away and makes you pause and really think about the beauty of love and what it overcomes to shine so brightly in the end. Her writing is simply, magical.

Watching these two characters rise and fall through the courtship of their relationship was everything I'd hoped it would be. All the unknowns and doubts and vulnerability peaks made this book seem so real to me, I can't gush enough about how well this was done. In the end, I went through every emotion on my book-emotions-requisite-list, and that's saying a lot! I laughed, I cried, I oohhh'd & ahhh'd, I gasped and goosebumped. It was great, like really REALLY great. I can only hope this story moves other readers in the way it moved me because it is currently at the top of my list.

[1-Click Addict Support Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just WOW!! Kandi Steiner had done it again and touched my heart with her beautiful words.

I knew this was going to be a tear jerker and I prepared myself for it yet I wasn't prepared enough.

Wren & Anderson, two beautiful lost souls that held on to so much pain not knowing if they would ever be able to live without it. My heart ached for both, wanting them to be able to let go of their pain and live life.

Without each one realizing it, they were meant to find each other and help each other heal. I loved the crew at Gold Bar: Momma Von, Julie, Yvette and well Ron because he gave Anderson the word lashing he needed to "Let Go" and live.

"Stop asking yourself what other people will think or what you should do and listen to your heart. You ignored it for years with Keith,” she reminded me. “Don’t take away its voice now that you’ve finally stopped to hear it.”

Thank you for such an emotionally beautiful second chance at love and forgiveness!! -Kara, 5 Stars

[aNneMarLi - Chatterbooks Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because everyday was the same. Until I saw her...

Gah! The feels of this book is just too much! Am I overwhelmed?I don't know...What I know, is that reading this book is so raw, intense, powerful and seemed to make me feel vulnerable. My heart is in a twist, wrenching so hard. I feel some..and then more. Who would have thought right? But then, Do I owe anybody an explanation for this? I don't think so, I have the rights to my feelings anyway, but you know what? What isn't right is to just hide the feelings I have with this book. So,yes I owe myself at least the courage for me to speak what emotions this book evoked me. I might not convey it the way you wanted to be but...God! Swear Revelry is more than it seems to be. It's so emotional and speaks so highly of life's plot twists, so relatable and really struck me straight to the heart.

She was stunning, a sophisticated woman straight from the pages of a magazine. And I was a lumberjack.

Revelry follows the story of Wren and Anderson Black. So different yet almost the same. As the blurb speaks, each carries a baggage of their own. Two lost souls, a newly divorced woman and the other battles a demon from his past. Reading their journey grabbed me from beginning until the end. Tropes like this is just something I am rooting for because I wanted to feel the emotions that comes with it. And I was not disappointed with Kandi's delivery for this one. I might have been looking forward to that "angst" tropes like this is usually associated with, but who am I to complain? I am loving the feels still. It's angst-ish, heartfelt and addicting. I love how I was pulled into it. The feels of reading their past, their struggles, the battling of demons, and the heartaches is just so alive that I have no problem connecting with them. The only problem is, I cannot let go of them. Ironic, because this book is a definition of finally letting go.

Overall, I will recommend this book. Kandi Steiner delivered a story well rounded and awe inspiring. It was heartbreaking knowing what they each carried before they finally met, yet it was heart warming knowing in the end they finally find their home with each other, amidst the curve balls thrown at them and the bumps in the roads along the way. This book, it will be etched in my heart because it speaks highly of reality. Scenes after scenes are believable, I was lost in them. Kandi's words is like music to my ears. The story is a true definition of forgiving yourself first before you can forgive others, to finally let go so you will can find your true self, to love and be love but loving yourself first. Because it's when you finally learn to forgive and love yourself first, you can wholeheartedly learn to love others too.

For Wren and Anderson, their journey wasn't an easy feat. It wasn't just all heart breaking moments too. There were happy moments and hot ones where you can say, Life doesn't sucks you know, it rocks! But of course, the highlight was and always will be, the time when they finally let go. That moment when they have pondered on things, accepted and learned lessons from the past because it was in that moment they have fought for what they believe will make them happy. To love each other and finally find their home. God! It was the most heart fulfilling moment ever.

Indeed,

Life throws curve balls—hard and fast, unpredictable. But you still have to hit that sucker or strike out swinging.”

[Malene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revelry is a captivating story that really resonated with me. The themes were something that I in one way or another could relate to or at least understand. It wasn't as heavy with emotions as I expected and I liked that because this was all about the journey of Wren and Anderson.

They're both mourning but for different reasons. Anderson because of the loss of a loved one and Wren the loss or failure of her marriage. Again there's more to the story than that. It's also about self discovery and finding your way back. Maybe not to the person you once was but to a new, better and improved version of yourself. Taking charge and accepting your failures and forgiving yourself in the process.

Wren and Anderson meet each other at the right time in their lives when they both needed to. They find solace and understanding in one another. It doesn't happen right away and I loved that.
Their first introduction is fabulous, filled with interest and attraction.
Wren has lost her inspiration to create new designs for her fashion line. It's more deeper than that. Her history with her ex husband explains perfectly what she's been fighting against or should I say whom. She's definitely doing a lot of soul searching.
Anderson is still so rooted in his old ways when it comes to letting people in, that even friendship or interactions with Wren takes its time. I enjoyed how their interactions slowly evolved into friendship and then lovers. The pace was spot on and only gained in intensity. It was beautifully and flawlessly executed. They're so insecure about themselves and yet again they both possess so much strength when finally need it to support one another.
The secondary characters are fantastic. Especially Momma Von and Ron who are Wren and Anderson's sounding board in the time of need. Also they have experienced loss and can relate to them.

Kandi Steiner has created and delivered a beautiful and poignant story about acceptance and forgiveness. About rediscovering your voice, your spirit and embracing it. Definitely a must read.

4 BadAssDirtyAwakeningStars


Arc generously provided for an honest review

[Yvette (Booksandbandanas) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every single time I read a Kandi Steiner book I always, always know it is going to be the most intense, heart felt ride for the best how ever many pages.

Revelry was just what I expected.

Heartfelt, intense, addictive, and a must read.

Anderson & Wren meet when after a heartbreak she decides she needs to get some space, clear her head and what better way to do that then in a cabin in Seattle's mountains for 3 months. Anderson, lives I guess you can say in a cabin just down the way from her. She is living on a street if you will were she meets people, friends, humans, that will ultimately become her home.

"she wanted me, she craved me, too. So I thanked her with my mouth, my hands, my heart."



Wren & Anderson don't have INSTA love, which I loved. They work up to something much more profound and heart felt, they both have been left heartbroken for entirely different reasons, so the connection is undeniable.

Love comes when you least expect it in all types of different ways. Kandi shows you not just through the main characters, but all the supporting characters just how much that meaning is true.

If your looking for a heart felt story about second chances, and just feel good true love. Look know further. Kandi's writing is addictive and soul bearing as ever.

Must read.

[Syndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually romance book is more focusing on the steamy sex, vulnerable heroine and alpha male hero. The story usually concluding with HEA where the hero saves the heroine. But this book... is different. There is the hero, heroine and the sex. But instead of focusing on the masculinity and the feminism of the hero and heroine, this book focus on each of the main characters. And what really wins my heart is the hero and heroine each have to go through their own journey in order to come back to full circle.

Yes there are several second characters who helping/ supporting the development of the main characters, but still the hero and the heroine goes through their own journey. And the journey has a depth to it. I can relate to Wren journey. She is trying to figure out what she is worth, who she is, and what she wants in life and love.

The journey is amazing. Personally I found this story is inspiring. I love it.

5 stars

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ★'s

I really enjoyed Kandi Steiner's A Love Letter to Whiskey so I had no hesitation reading this book. I enjoyed the premise of two broken people coming together, healing each other and falling in love.

Wren has just gotten divorced and has never really been on her own. Determined to find herself, she drives up to the mountains and rents a cabin for the summer and meets Anderson.

Anderson has his own problems and just getting through day by day is torture until he sees Wren and she changes everything.



I really enjoyed Anderson...I liked seeing him open up and come out of his shell and just live again. Wren, on the other hand, was a bit much. While she was having a good time, her doubts and insecurities brought her down. Her inner dialog killed me...she just went on and on. I felt like we heard some things a hundred times!

The small group of neighbors were pretty amazing. They really treated each other like family. I loved Momma Von...what a character! And Old Man Ron was something else...I'm glad he was there for Anderson.

I did enjoy the journey...there were some intriguing dramas but overall, I liked how things worked out. I'm definitely looking forward to more of Kandi Steiner's stories.

[Shayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a damn fool guys! A damn fool! You wanna know why? Because this is my very first read from Kandi Steiner, and I'm kicking myself for not starting her books sooner. I mean, where has this author been all my life and how can I keep her? This woman...this woman reaches into your chest, caresses your heart, and carefully mends you back together, all in the span of a couple hundred pages. At first, I had no words. I had to decompress and figure out how I can fit the time in to read it all over again. Now, I have SO MANY WORDS and not enough time to share them with all of you. Just do me a favor, despite all of my ramblings about this book, you only should have one takeaway from this book...It's FREAKING MAGIC! Yes, the book cover is STUNNING. Yes, the synopsis will suck you in, but it's the story, the absolute BEAUTIFUL and RIVETING love story that will make you a true fan for life!

"...this - our love - I will fight for it, Wren. Until I have no breath left to fight."

See, right there! That quote was just EVERYTHING! These characters were just EVERYTHING! Wren and Anderson's story BLEW ME AWAY on every possible level! Two people, completely lost, find solace and companionship in one another. They find respect, friendship, and passion in each other's hearts. Time is not on their side. Location is not on their side. But love...love IS on their side. This book made me SO HAPPY guys! SO SO HAPPY! I can't even keep it all in! You can't help but get totally lost in the beautiful uniqueness of this heartwarming romance. If I could turn back time and experience this feeling all over again, I definitely would! You don't know what you're missing if you haven't dived into a Kandi Steiner romance. Once I finished Revelry, I knew I had to get my hands on her complete backlist, because I've completely fallen in LOVE with Ms. Steiner's words.

[Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐ 4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐
I adored this book💓
Loved every single word of it😍
⚫⚪⚫
This story was too good and I'm in awe of reading this Beautiful broken Story💘
I also loved the part in the story when the author healed their soul layer by layer slowly and very carefully. Showing us every part, thought of the characters.
It was truly an amazing read.
⚪⚫⚪
I was reading this book and I felt it how Wren was changing and fighting for finding her True self. Ignoring the consequences she was just in her own world her, own bliss and far away from the scars and reality. Only trying to live her life and searching herself together. She was remarkable change to see until the end of the book.
⚪⚫⚪
Anderson was a whole lot of another person and seeing him facing his fears of all was actually a big deal to watch. It was highly emotional but Loveable to Read.
⚫⚪⚫
For Me,
Revelry was the story of survival, of Revelation, of getting in touch with your inner self and finding the Real You.

A broken love story of two person who had taken a hit in their soul n were lost.

The journey of two people finding themselves, finding love and healing the scars that was etched on their soul.
⚫⚪⚫

Some times you are just want to be gone from the life you live
A break something that'll make you find your breath
A fresh start is not the thing you need a fresh mind with clear goals n view for your present is what you want

Wren wanted to find herself because she had lost a part of herself she needed something so that she does t shatter n become a type of person which whole but still broken from inside
Her self regard was tarnished because of comments n what people said to her
Some part may be her fault but her heart was pure n she didn't want to taint it


Anderson lived a life in the present where his existence was meaning less only counting days, he was living , but not exactly alive he had become a ghost, captured by the things he thought he did, surrounded by the guilt that felt like a burdened on him...

I felt for the guy, the guilt he boards the way Kandi Steiner wrote him you just wanted to reach that man and hold him.

Their story was beautiful with so much more in it, that'll force you to think about life.
This story has a message which will reach you and touch heart..

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come!!

I'm so excited for this one <33 :)

 

  

[Linathebookaddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Revelry
Author: Kandi Steiner
Category: Romance
Series or Standalone: Standalone
POV: Dual, First Person
Plot: 4
Characters: 4
Scorching Level: 4
HEA: Not telling


Once again Kandi Steiner manages to captivate with her heartfelt writing! I love this author and this book was different from her previous ones. Lighter but oh so emotional.
Wren wants to pick up the pieces of her life and so she moves to a remote cabin. Alone with her thoughts, she thinks upon her life, wondering if her choices are right. Divorced and hesitant of new relationships and friendships, she never expected to be drawn to Anderson.
Anderson is a man living to punish himself. Ghosts of his past haunt him and he wants nothing to do with the city girl who moves close to his home.
But life has different plans and these two will be forced together by fate.


One moment, one look, and the haze I’d walked in for years blew out in a breath. Because every day was the same. And then I saw her.

I loved the characterization; the heroes are relatable, flawed and perfectly imperfect. The storyline was refreshing and the chemistry between Wren & Anderson strong.
My only complaint is that I found Wren's inner musings a bit repetitive and I felt the book could have been shorter. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
I recommend it!

[MoodyJess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kandi Steiner, you're my new hero.

I signed up for this ARC ages ago, nearly forgetting that I had it on my TBR. Then it popped up on my kindle and the rest is history-so they say.

I am in complete and utter AWE over the brilliance that is REVELRY. Completely forgetting the blurb and forgoing the opportunity to read it, I dove right in without any expectations and the AMAZING book surprised everything beyond my wildest dreams.

I wish I could relay to you how wonderful this book is. The writing, the characters, the pace and poignancy and the perfectly imperfect lives of everyone in it.

Grief is a horrible feeling. In comes and goes, it sticks around, it moulds you, and it can define you. If you let it. Anderson let it mould him. For the last seven years, he's been locked up tighter than a Swiss bank and no one could break down his impenetrable walls. Guilt is also a horrible feeling. It never leaves until you want it to. And in order for it to leave, you need to forgive yourself. But doing that is easier said than done. A hermit by night and hard worker, jack of all trades by day, Anderson is lost, lonely and in purgatory grieving the loss of his beloved cousin, Dani. There isn't anything anyone can say or do to bring him back from the dark place he keeps himself locked in. The only place he thinks he now deserves.

Divorce. Unimaginable pain. Loving someone but knowing that it's not enough can tear you asunder. From the person you thought you were, to the person you've become. Wren is stuck. She's stuck in between the person she's longed to be and the person she was while married. Her divorce was necessary, but horrible nonetheless. Taking time away from her business, her friends and her ex, she tries to find a way back to her true self. She just never realized what going through a divorce meant until she left town to heal on her own and without her best friend, ex husband, Keith

Finding a place just north of Seattle, Wren has come across a gaggle of beloved individuals and their families in a small town about an hour away from her old life. Figuring that it's enough of a distance to get the job done, she's immediately immersed in the daily love of the folks from Gold Bar. Everyone is on hand to greet her upon her arrival, and they welcome her instantly into their crew with open arms.

The thing is, when two people so forlorn, so encapsulated by fear and heart ache and trust issues are near, they're like magnets, they're drawn to each other-they can't help but be pulled by this invisible force to want to try and console the other. Even though the intent to share their fears and worries and biggest kept secrets to one another is well intentioned, healing is still required and it may or may not be the best to do it with someone in such a similar mind space. Or is it? Maybe it's the opposite, and what they both really need is for someone to empathize exactly with what their feeing and help them be brought out of the funk, and do it as a team.

I am completely blown away by Steiner's writing skills. This book ebbed and flowed perfectly and catapulted me to the small town north of Seattle with it's wonderful characters. From Momma Von to Ron, from Rev the cat and even the big "B" Sarah, I was transfixed by this beautiful story. It filled me with hope and joy, sadness and then hope and joy all over again. I don't think I've ever felt such an array of emotions while reading a book before. I feel reborn. Renewed.

What I loved most was how realistic the theme was. How incredibly pure and raw and uninhibited the story was. I especially appreciate how this book leaves you with a little something to think about. It wasn't a true HEA in the very essence of the phrase, but it left you just hoping that it all worked out in the end.

I want more from Steiner. Sign me up.

ARC generously received in exchange for an honest review

*reviewed by Jess for Joandisalovebooks blog*