Unloved

by Katy Regnery

My name is Cassidy Porter...

My father, Paul Isaac Porter, was executed twenty years ago for the brutal murder of twelve innocent girls.

Though I was only eight-years-old at the time, I am aware - every day of my life - that I am his child, his only son.

To protect the world from the poison in my veins, I live a quiet life, off the grid, away from humanity.

I promised myself, and my mother, not to infect innocent lives with the darkness that swirls within me, waiting to make itself known.

It's a promise I would have kept...if Brynn Cadogan hadn't stumbled into my life.

Now I exist between heaven and hell: falling for a woman who wants to love me, while all along reminding myself that I must remain...

Unloved.

**NOTE: This book is intended for readers 18+**

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Dark, New Adult, Dark Romance

Audible Audio

First published October 8, 2017

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery has a heart for smart romance featuring strong women and decent men. Almost exclusively self-published, Katy claims authorship of over 60 titles, including three RITA® finalists. Translated into French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, and Turkish, Katy has sold over 1.8 million books worldwide.

Reviews

[SueBee★bring me an alpha!★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! Unloved (stand-alone). Cassidy & Brynn, two deserving, but unloved beings & a twist of fate that opens the door for love!

“She is everything I want that I can’t have…”

Unloved (stand-alone) opens up to Brynn Cadogan taking steps to move on with her life two years after a tragedy. She heads to Mount Katahdin for closure and to say goodbye to her past.

Hermit Cassidy Porter was taken away from civilization after his father was convicted of serial murders. He made a promise never to risk becoming like his father by isolating himself in the mountains.

Both feel unworthy of love until fate cocoons them in Cassidy’s cabin. A victim and a savior until lines are blurred; A slow brewing sexual attraction to explode into uninhibited loving with an expiration date.

“Sooner or later everyone was driven to love someone they could never have.”

Seven words to describe Cassidy Porter: Charming, noble, endearing, broken, lonely, innocent and oh so sweet.



Seven words to describe Brynn Cadogan: Loyal, broken, lonely, depressed, reflective focused and stubborn.

Unloved, told from dual POVs, is a story about two deserving beings damaged by tragedy and circumstances which caused their lives to spiral out of control into merely existing. A beautiful, angsty and sweet tale about getting a second chance at living and the healing power of love.

“She owns a part of me that is already gone—that I can never, ever reclaim again.”

***
Hero: ★★★★
Heroine: ★★★★
Plot: ★★★★
Storytelling: ★★★★1/2
Sexual tension: ★★★★★
Sex scenes: ★★★★
Story ending: ★★★★★
******************************************
OVERALL RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Angst: | HIGH FOCUS |
Darkness: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Humor: | LOW FOCUS |
Kink: | LOW FOCUS |
Romance: | HIGH FOCUS |
Sex frequency: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Suspense: | HIGH FOCUS |

[Alex ✰ Comets and Comments ✰ · Rating 2 out of 5]

“And the
world
stops
spinning.
And all the oxygen made by every tree in that forest is sucked away, leaving me light-headed.
Because I have never seen such a beautiful woman in my life.”

DNF at 65%



Unloved is one of those books. It's a book not meant for everyone. It's a book that will leave you smiling. It's a book that will shatter you no matter what happens.



I was beside myself when I received this ARC because this was on my most anticipated list. I loved the premise of the story and the lil' crazy element that the blurb foreshadowed. I feel awful when you get hyped up for a book and it's like being an inflated balloon. Then when you start the story and get into it, little by little the air is letting out if you're disappointed.

It popped. My metaphorical balloon popped.

"There are no guarantees. Only a monster would gamble someone else’s life when the possibility of a tragic outcome is so much higher than average."

________________

The Writing
If there was anything that travelled with me in this story as I travelled with Brynn - it was Katharine Gilliam Regnery's writing.

Fuck, she can write.

Her prose was beautiful and lyrical and it crushed me when I told myself that unfortunately this was not going to be a 5 star read. But then again, this has been a lot of people's five star reads so maybe it could be yours too and I hope you give this book a chance. It deserves the chance.

I loved how we got the northeast vibes with the accent, the environment and even the colloquialisms. But if there were two things that grated on my nerves after a while it was... *ahem*:

1) We were constantly reminded that 'there' is said 'they-uh'... (same for here etc etc.)
2) Cassidy, our lovely soulful broken boy called his dick his 'pecker'.

'Nuff said.


The Romance
Here's the mathematical simple equation for what the romance in this book constituted of...

(Slowburn + Insta-love) ÷ #being-completely-okay-by-being-taken-and-stitched-up-by-a-stranger = Cute buhhh Cringeeyyy


It was all cuddles and "I'm okay if you're okay" - and for me personally, those types of love can be a hit or miss, as it all depends on the execution. Here's how it's all my fault... I was under the impression that this was going to be a dark read, I don't know if I read it somewhere or it was my own careless thinking. But it wasn't and I had to change my whole armor midst of the story when I realized it wasn't.

Overall, I mildly enjoyed the romance but most of the time it felt very anti-climactic and the kind of sweet that is so sweet it leaves a bad aftertaste in your mouth. I know for certain, that there are romance readers out there that eat this shit up and I wish I was one of them. I must be really hard to please when it comes to reading.

[Patty ~ Wrapped Up In Reading Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

*****FIVE+++++ STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}


I’m just…in awe, and that’s how awe sounds. I don’t know how to feel this much love for someone. It hurts to love her this much. And yet I wouldn’t trade this moment even to cleanse my blood of my father’s poison.








UNLOVED is the story of one EPIC romance between two would be ”star-crossed lovers”. I was captivated from the very first page and was so completely consumed by this beautiful story that I devoured it in less than a day! Katy Regnery’s writing is simply EXQUISITE. I found myself mesmerized by her written words, so much that I practically highlighted about 90% of this book! I think this may just be my most favorite Katy Regnery book! BRAVO!!!




Brynn Cadogan and Cassidy Porter come from different worlds but they are in some ways the same, and it’s as if the fates were determined to bring these two lost souls together. Brynn has suffered a devastating loss and for the past two years, her overwhelming grief has caused her to close herself off from the world. Something she finds from her painful past has given her a new sense of purpose. Brynn is finally ready to move on from her grieving, but she must do it across the country in Maine, in one of the most dangerous mountainous terrains called Katahdin. While on her journey to lay her past to rest, Brynn’s life is threatened by a psychotic hiker but luckily for her, a “guardian angel” was nearby and he saved her from certain death.






Cassidy Porter has lived in his grandfather’s remote cabin in Katahdin almost his entire life. His “tainted” bloodline has kept him closed off from the outside world partly due to prejudice and also for fear of the evil that lives in his genetic makeup. When he hears Brynn’s cry for help he doesn’t hesitate to come to her rescue and with an enormous amount of trepidation he decides to take her back to his cabin to nurse her back to health. He’s been alone for nearly a decade after both his mother and grandfather passed, and he’s never been in the presence of a woman. Cass is mesmerized by Brynn, but he knows that he can never live a normal life with her and that she’s better off without him.




As he nurses Brynn back to health their feelings for each other intensify and a love like they’ve never imagined blossoms between them. Cass won’t allow Brynn to tie herself to him. He’s adamant that once she is fully recovered in a few weeks that she must go back home. Out of desperation, Brynn proposes that they enjoy the limited time they have together with no “strings attached” and no expectations. But once they give in to the passion burning between them, will it be that easy to say goodbye at the end of their three weeks together?





Cass is one of Katy Regnery’s most charismatic and endearing Hero’s by far. Readers are sure to fall deeply in love with him and this story! I can’t say enough just how AMAZING this book is!!





Here are my overall ratings on the book:

Hero: 5++++++
Heroine: 5
Plot: 5++++++
Angst: 4
Steam: 5+++++
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5+++++



UNLOVED releases on October 9th! This is a DEFINITE MUST READ!!





Amazon: http://amzn.to/2xVZ87E
iBooks: http://ow.ly/M2Ub30dJORp
Barnes & Noble: http://ow.ly/dHX930dMySA
Kobo: http://ow.ly/LD2t30dJQQw

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

UNLOVED: Is a full length standalone novel by Katy Regnery and is spoken in ‘Dual Perspectives’ This is Brynn Cadogan and Cassidy Porter's story.



We’re first introduced to thirty year old Brynn who was planning a wedding to the love of her life Jem the last thing she ever expected though was to get a visit by the police saying that he'd been killed, two years have passed and she's become a hermit in her own home, life has stopped, she struggles just to carry on with day to day life.
She'd only kept a few items of his, a matchbook, letters and postcards and his cellphone, for almost two years she'd not looked at any of the items until now, she picks up his cell phone, his dried blood smeared on the screen, charging it up it reveals that during his last moments on earth he was trying to send her a txt one word came through Katahd which she recognised as Mount Katahdin the highest peak in Maine. The place Jem had said his soul had lived until he'd given it to her.

Thinking clearly for the first time in two years she's a woman on a mission and sees that message on his phone as time to lay him to rest and her way of thinking is taking his cell up to the top of the mountain and burying it where he spent so much of his time so that there will always be a piece of him left behind in the one place he loved the most.

Then we're introduced to Cassidy, his father was a long haul truck driver so being on the road for long stretches at a time mean't that his mum and him rarely saw him. At the age of eight his father is arrested. I am the son of the man one reporter called "The bloodiest serial killer" the state of Maine has ever known. His father, Paul Issac Porter had raped and murdered at least a dozen young girls that they know of.

Since his arrest Cassidy has been ostracized and taunted by the locals, they were frightened of his mother and him.
Rapists son
Murderer's son
Freak
Killer

A mother's heartbreaking decision to uproot and move in with her father, Cassidy's Grandfather who lives off the grid in a remote cabin in the woods.

My father was a sociopath who killed a dozen women or more. I found out on my eighth birthday. He was tried and convicted and killed in prison ten months later by a group of angry inmates. It became unbearable for my mother and me to live in town, so we moved here.



It had been instilled in Cassidy by his mother and grandfather to Live quiet their fears that whatever blood flows in his system may be contaminated just like his fathers. I will live quiet. And Paul Isaac Porter's terrifying genes will die with me.

Gearing to hike up the mountain to lay rest Jems memory and bury his cell phone, tragically she doesn't make it up to the top, something happens which has her fighting for survival. Bleeding out and nearing death a knight in shining armour comes to her rescue and carries her seven miles bareback to his remote cabin in the woods and slowly brings her back to health.

Since Jems death Brynn longs for that companionship again. Cassidy vows to always be unloved, to never carry his father's gene on.



The sons of murderers don't deserve to be happy. They are born paying for the sins of their fathers.



MY THOUGHTS: The synopsis is very misleading, I thought I was jumping into a dark, gritty, unusual read which was my main reason for requesting an ARC copy of this, I hoped it would delve more into Paul Isaac Porter, but that also wasn't the case, which left me a wee bit disappointed BUT what we are given worked too, starting this I got that leaky eye syndrome it hit me right in the feels, Brynn's story was so believable and utterly heartbreaking.

So although I was hoping for a dark read this was far from that, it leaned more towards a romance, I loved both leading characters, the story flowed effortlessly, straight away you become hooked, a unique, heartfelt, undeniably raw, slow moving romance that got it's claws into me, a twist in the story that changed the whole outcome which I never saw coming, my mind went off in a completely other route so that was a pleasant surprise. Overall this was a thoroughly unputdownable enjoyable read. My heart broke into smithereens for these two characters but towards the end was slowly put back together again.

[⊱✿⊰ Alicia ⊱✿⊰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Live Quiet Stars



One night can change your life, that's what happened to Brynn when her fiance was killed in a mass shooting. Since that night Brynn has turned into a hermit, she is a web designer who works from home so that made it easier to lock herself away. One night while looking through the box of her fiance's things she finds his phone, she is sure the last message on it was him telling her to climb his favourite mountain. She is determined to do just that.

Jem is showing me, from the grave, how to say goodbye-he's giving me a chance to bury him and move on-but I have to battle my comfortable inertia and start moving to make it happen.

Poor Cassidy, to learn at 8yrs old that your father is a serial killer and to be ostracized just for being his son, the scene at the school was heartbreaking. It must have been hard on him when even the people he cared for the most thought he might have evil in him. After that Cassidy was taken to live off grid at his grandfather's and home schooled.

Geeze, talk about insta love. I suppose if you're stuck in a property in the middle of nowhere it'd be easy to go a little nuts when you see someone you're attracted too. So after spotting Brynn on her hike Cassidy follows from afar, lucky he does because you never know what you'll run into while hiking.



So as it says on the cover this is a love story and although it did have a dark scene it was overly sweet. I can see how everyone loved it, with a broken and unloved beautiful beast of a man who is genuinely a good guy but thinks his bad. Meets a woman with broken heart who can tame the beast who saves her. Everyone loves a fairytale right?



I get it I do and I enjoyed the story there was just a couple of things that dragged it down for me. I dislike when a character's flaw or what they think is a flaw gets played to death throughout a book. Cassidy's fear of becoming his father is justified but just talked about too much. Also the way Brynn after waking up in her condition just accepted everything it just didn't sit right.

I know that all sounds really negative but it isn't it was a good story, I enjoyed it.

➰ Reviewed on behalf of the one-Click Addict Support Group

[Shelby *trains flying monkeys* · Rating 1 out of 5]

Before we even get started...


I admit it. Most of the reviews for this one are positive. Then there is me.

Brynn is grieving her fiancé Jem. He was killed in a mass shooting and she has not come to terms with his death. She finally turns on his cell phone that she was given two years ago and in it she finds a text with her name and the name of some big mountain in Maine that I've already forgotten the name of. Brynn feels like she might be able to move on if she visits the mountain to bury the last piece of Jem that she has.

While on the mountain she gets attacked by a weirdo and is rescued by super reclusive Cassidy. Cassidy lives off the grid with no human contact. Because his daddy was a serial killer that raped and murdered women for kicks. He had it pounded into his head by his mother and grandfather growing up that he could be carrying that gene pool so he thinks he has a future with no sexing or kids and being around anyone in case he goes stabby-stabby.

Lort, this book was tedius for me. After a bit I was kinda cheering for him to go for a walk on the crazy side just to make it interesting.
Yes, I know I'm just a tad bit weird.


But dang. He has lived in solitude most of his life and when he finally gets to making the freaky..he hits those tongue notes the first time?


Then his name for his wanker. Yes, I know that is pot calling kettle black since I just called the thing a wanker.


It's still better than calling it a "pecker."
All I could think of was how bad her lady garden was going to be hurting after he pecked the heck out of it.


I will say that I almost just declined to rate this one and move on. BUT nope..to me and this is subjective..that blurb made me think this was a sorta dark romancy type book. It most definitely is one of the farthest things from it. It's a complete fluffy book and on occasion I like a fluffy book...but this one just didn't cut it for me. ESPECIALLY after that way of wrapping up the story. ...it's a big old one star from me. #sorrynotsorry

Booksource: I received a copy of the book from Edelweiss in exchange for review.

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 5 out of 5]

DO NOT MISS OUT, It'S FREE!!!
Expires This Monday, 10/3/22.
5 Could Not Stop Reading Stars
* * * * *Spoiler Free
2018 RITA and Golden Heart Finalist for Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance
Every time we start a book, we all say a silent prayer it will take you on a journey that will compel you to immerse yourself fully. It doesn't matter the genre, troupe, or style... I think the singular desire is to have a reading experience that won't allow you to put the book down until it is finished.

I am very lucky because I have had many experiences just like that... and some have come from this author, Katy Regnery. Ms. Regnery is one of those writers who plot out her stories in such a way... you are hooked from the start...and she slowly, quietly reels you in until you are so deep in her story you cannot think of anything else.

Unloved is a masterpiece in this style of writing. Regnery gave you everything to make you curious and rabid for this tale...The ideas of the Sins of the Father...a tortured son...and his feeling he is a ticking time bomb makes it hard to turn away. Combined this with a woman who has lost what she thought was the love of her life due to a Mass Murder at a concert/club. With the way, things are today... reckless and unsure... It was not hard to suspend one's thoughts and say ok... I am with you...

This was written with such a sure hand. I have read many mysteries in the past, so figuring things out ahead of time happens more often than not...With this, though, Regnery had me thinking in overdrive... I thought one thing then something else the next...and then she jerked me around to surprise the sh!t out of me...So there is that...

We get so much from this... the reality check of how we finally can let go of a loved one...Of what damage assumptions from others can do...with their not knowing anything about what they are accusing an innocent of...And then there is this complicated love story...it is pure, naive, intense, swoon-worthy, and fairy-tale-like...

This is something very special and I think it is going to be talked about ...a lot. I am so thrilled I was able to read this and do it in one sitting... The Best.

Get ready to have an experience...one that will touch you.
Just plan what you were doing on October 8, 2017, because you will need to clear your calendar.

~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Going in...bracing my heart for this...
●•●•●•●•●•●•●•
Read the Blurb...
And how could I not want to read this...

The Sins of the Father...
Strangling the Heart of the Son...

He thinks He is a Tragedy waiting to happen...
Never deserving Love...
Never risking a chance to have it...

Until She crosses his path...
He knows he can't have her as he must remain...

Unloved-October 8th 2017

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Natalie ~ The Biblioholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassidy Porter had it rough. As the only son of Paul Isaac Porter, a man who was found guilty of the rape and murder of twelve girls, he was treated as the spawn of evil. Truly, the son of the devil must be just like the devil, right? That’s the thing about small towns - you can’t escape the gossip or the judgment. But here’s the thing… Cassidy was nothing like his father. Everyone knew, in their hearts, that he was a good boy. However, DNA is a funny thing and no one can predict when the rape/murder gene will surface. This way of thinking only served to punish the innocent, making Cassidy doubt his purity. It didn’t help that his family didn’t trust in his goodness either.

Brynn also had it rough. She lost her fiance, the man she planned to love forever, to a mass shooter. For two years she has grieved this loss and hasn’t been able to move on. Then one day something reawakens her and she knows just how to say goodbye. Determined to fulfill what she believes is her man’s last wish, she sets out to hike to the summit of the mountain he had always dreamed of bringing her to. However, along the way, she’s brutally attacked and the man who comes to the rescue is none other than Cassidy.

I went into this book thinking it was a dark read. It was the bleeding heart on the cover that fooled me. I absolutely love the cover of this book and can’t wait to add it to my shelves! While it does have a dark tone to it (there is nothing fun about rape, assault or murder), it was more about profound pain, the deepest hurt, the darkest secrets, the glimpses of hope, and the inevitability about the outcome - love.

Because of her, I am loved.

Katy Regnery wove a hauntingly beautiful tale that touched my heart in the sweetest of ways and it was incredibly easy to fall for her characters. Both Cassidy and Brynn were survivors, but I loved Cassidy a bit more for a few reasons, such as his naivete and his simple charm. He was impossible to resist and I was falling all over him right along with Brynn. He was a true hero in every sense of the word and I was excitedly glued to the pages of this story in order to discover his happy ending. He absolutely, positively deserved all the blessings that were headed his way and he’s been added to my book boyfriend vault.

Release Date: October 8, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Dual - 1st person
Heat: 3 out of 5
Type: Standalone

[Dana Ilie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twist that I didn’t see coming.
First I want to tell you that Cassidy is an awesome name for a dude.
This book is exceptionally written, with so much heart and soul you won’t be able to put it down. And holy shit the twist will just about make you faint. I was cheering them on the whole way and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Regnery gives us just the right amount of angst, suspense, and tenderness.
Thank you Tina for the recommendation!

[Jeannine Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Who told you that you had to stay unloved?"

I've been ready to read this for months. It was the kind of book that I hadn't realized I was dying to read until it existed... if that makes any sense? Probably not since it's closing in on 2 AM, but the point is: I was freaking ready for this book. And like the lady boss she is, Katy Regnery didn't let me down. There were a couple things that swayed my rating, but I think they had more to do with my expectations than anything else. This is still one I'll be recommending to anyone looking for a unique love story 😉

-Cassidy-

Oh, man. If you follow my reviews you know what a sucker I am for sweet, beta heroes...



And Cassidy DELIVERED! My heart broke for him almost the entire novel 💔💔 Because despite the obvious good inside of him, he was constantly fearing the worst, and I hated the way everyone else—even his family—made him think he had to worry...

To know that my mother and grandfather share this fear makes it real to me, makes me feel sick, makes me feel like I'm living with a ticking bomb inside me.

I seriously spent most of the book wishing I could give him one big hug, especially when he says he dreams about being kissed or held 😰 It killed me 😭😭😭 Then he meets Brynn, and I was DONE for!

The world stops spinning. And all the oxygen made by every tree in that forest is sucked away, leaving me light-head.

Seriously, is that not beautiful?? ^^ I love Katy's writing and I love how she wrote Cassidy. You want to be mad at him for not seeing his innate goodness and pushing Brynn away, but it's impossible given how torn up he is...

What is it that would bring me satisfaction? That would fill the emptiness? Knowing her? Or hurting her?

Then he saves her from another guy. Again, if you know me, you know how much I LOVE a damsel in distress 😍 It's not so much that I love the heroine being "weak," but I love the anger and protectiveness from the hero. If that's not enough he carries her SEVEN MILES on his back to reach his place and cares for her... I mean c'mon, how could I not fucking love him??!? Plus he gets all awkward when he tries to comfort her (I love an awkward hero 😏)

I reach out and lay a hand on Brynn's shoulders. "There. There."

I have no clue why, but the "There. There." killed me! I was laughing so hard 😂😂

-Brynn-

I liked her a lot! To be honest, I don't have a whole lot to say because the shining star (for me) was Cassidy. But I appreciated how strong and determined she was, and I thought she handled Cassidy's reluctance well. I think it was hard for me to get more feels from her because she doesn't find out about Cassidy's past until late in the book.

-The Story-

This is, primarily, a character driven story. Therefore there isn't much to say other than I loved watching these two grow, individually and together. There was a plot twist at the end that pushed this into a plot driven story, but other than that it's about love and acceptance and I really appreciated the message. And here are just a few of the quotes I loved...

A million times, I've returned to that night, to the simple, nothing decisions that started a chain of events in my life leading to today.

"Saying goodbye doesn't mean forgetting. Moving on doesn't mean you never loved him. I'm telling you to let go. I'm telling you that you're allowed to be happy."

By sharing our pain with each other, we aren't doubling it, but halving it.

We kiss while the smoke of one life winds around us and the promise of another is finally—finally—within reach.

There were plenty more, but I'm trying to show some self control.



Only two things kept this from being a 5-star read for me...

1. It had a bit of an insta-love feel. Not so much in action, because he was determined to push her away, but in thought.

Honestly, I thought this would have more angst. I was expecting, and wanting, him to be more resistant to her in the beginning. Likewise, I thought she'd be more standoffish. She trusts him instantly. There isn't any wariness to staying in this random guy's cabin, miles from civilization. I was excited for those two things, and I wanted several more conversations that fostered a deeper relationship that neither could deny or pull away from. But they knew almost instantly, after only a handful of conversations that they loved each other. Here's two quick examples... *they meet at 23%

At 42% Brynn thinks...

"Suddenly, I have this existential notion that there can't be a me without a Cassidy."

At 60% Cassidy thinks...

"I love her. I will love her until the sky falls. Until the sun and moon fail to rise. Until Katahdin crumbles. I will love her forever."

Both stunning lines, and quotes that I love. But I wish they'd come later in the book.

*I also want to note that their time together is roughly a month, and I think they love each other by week two.

I didn't hate this aspect, which really is a testament to Katy's writing because normally insta-love doesn't work for me much at all, I was just expecting something different.

2. The twist at the end [BEWARE, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SPOILER] I really wouldn't click on it if you plan on reading this...

LAST CHANCE
Okay, one more chance. Because seriously, this is the SPOILER OF ALL SPOILERS...
*sigh* You asked for it...

Cassidy isn't actually a serial killer's son 😱👀

As far as twists go, it's a good one, especially with how it was done. BUT, to me, it took a way from the message of the book. Or at least the message I was hoping for. I love the idea that we are more than where we come from, or who our parents are. Despite my affinity for crime shows, I don't know what the statistics are involving serial killers and their children, but I loved the idea that Cassidy could come to accept himself for who he was, a person separate from his father and his father's crimes.

That isn't what we got though. Instead everything works out, nice and neat, and Cassidy doesn't have to worry about it anymore. And TO ME, it devalued the message *I thought* I was going to get.

But this is also tricky because at the same time I'm thinking... How often do books deviate from what we think would happen? Would we really want to read a book where we knew exactly what would happen and nothing changed?

Obviously I can only speak for myself, but when I read character driven novels I'm not looking for a crazy twist. I want to watch the characters overcome their struggles, not for them to be neatly explained away by a twist. I know not everyone feels this way and I'm not trying to be harsh. I don't think this is a bad book because of this. I think this just came down to my expectations.

I wanted a story about Cassidy accepting himself as the son of a serial killer, about Brynn loving him for who he was rather than where he came from, and about the idea that "we are so much more than our parents..." <-- That's a quote from the end of the book. But that wasn't the case. The real son ended up being a horrible human being, too...

"To be honest, it wasn't such a huge surprise that the son of a serial killer would get into some trouble of his own."

And Cassidy was really the son of a preacher.

Hopefully what I'm saying makes sense and isn't disrespectful, because that's not my goal AT ALL. It was a great book, and a clever twist; I was just expecting, and wanting, something different.





I need to emphasize that these are 100% ME things and were about my own expectations. But neither kept me from flipping the pages like a madwoman when I had a spare second to read. And like I said above, I still recommend it and I still enjoyed the heck out of it ☺️

Safety: No OM/OW drama!

This spoiler refers to a prior relationship. It wouldn't be much of a spoiler since we learn the information in the very first pages of the book, but I still blocked it --> Brynn was previously engaged. Her fiancé was killed in a mass shooting two years prior to her meeting Cassidy.



Closure: There's an epilogue one year later. They are married and expecting! 🤗

*ARC generously provided for an honest review*

----------------------------------------

HOLY. SHIT! This sounds fan-fucking-tastic!!!! AND I WON AN ARC!! 😱😍

**Thank you Katy!**

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cover is OK. For ME personally I think it implies a darkness to the read (along with the blurb) that really isn't a good reflection of the story. That said, the composition and title work are both good. So it isn't a BAD cover just maybe not that great a representation of the story itself.

I enjoyed this one. It didn't exactly turn out to be what I thought it was going to be based on the blurb (a dark romance) but it was still an excellent read. The writing was fantastic. The pace was good. The plot was engaging and kept me turning the pages. It was a slow burn and only had one mild sex scene that takes place after 70%. This one is light on secondary characters but the ones we get add some good extra layers to the story. It made me tear up a few times, and I liked the twist. I can usually Sherlock a twist coming a mile away, but this one took me by surprise. Although if I am 100% honest I also found it a bit farfetched, but OK I went with it.



Both main characters were very likable. I ADORED Cassidy. He was just so sweet and endearing. I usually HATE virgin heroes in books because nine times out of ten they are entirely unbelievable. That said, this fell into one of the very few times a hero being a virgin made sense. I adored Brynn as well. The beginning of this book had me in tears. More so today when yet again lives have been lost in a senseless mass shooting. My heart broke for her, but I also loved how accepting she was to opening her heart once again. And I loved how she never gave up on Cassidy. Saving him as he had saved her. Lastly, this was wrapped up in a lovely epilogue.

So even though this may have turned out not to be a romance with any darkness to it I can still honestly say that it is a romance worth reading and gets two thumbs up from yours truly.

[Aestas Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG!! I fell absolutely in love with this story. With its heart-wrenching feels, gorgeously swoony love story, and unexpected surprises, this book really was the complete package! An addictive romance entwined with a mystery in a way that kept my undivided attention as I read. If you're looking for a amazing new book to read, definitely try this!

*Side note* I need to start this review with explaining something that might be super obvious to you but was quite confusing to me. Cassidy is a male -- it's the hero's name. Brynn is a female -- the heroine. I've only ever seen those names with the opposite genders so I just wanted to clear it up at the beginning in case anyone else has confusion.

That being said, I knew I wanted to read this book from the moment I saw the blurb:

My name is Cassidy Porter...
My father, Paul Isaac Porter, was executed twenty years ago for the brutal murder of twelve innocent girls.
Though I was only eight-years-old at the time, I am aware - every day of my life - that I am his child, his only son.
To protect the world from the poison in my veins, I live a quiet life, off the grid, away from humanity.
I promised myself, and my mother, not to infect innocent lives with the darkness that swirls within me, waiting to make itself known.
It's a promise I would have kept... if Brynn Cadogan hadn't stumbled into my life.
Now I exist between heaven and hell: falling for a woman who wants to love me, while all along reminding myself that I must remain...
Unloved.

Isn't that intriguing?! With that kind of unique premise, I couldn't wait to dive in and devour this story. And once I started reading, I absolutely couldn't put the book down!

Now, given the most recent tragedies on the news, the very first scene of the book had such a strong impact. Even though I was barely a few pages into this book, I felt this woman's pain deeply. I hurt for her loss and for the life she lost with her fiance. To lose a loved one in such a violent manner had left scars on her heart that seemed impossible to heal and the writing was so vivid and seamless that I just absorbed all her emotions right off the page.

The rest of the world moved on from the Steeple 10 Shooting, ever more numb to the news of similar events, out of sympathy for nameless strangers who meet the same tragic end.
But I can’t seem to move on.
I had someone in the crowd that night who had a name, who was dearly loved. Those of us who survived are the walking wounded. Or, the walking dead.

Two years after her fiance's death, she finds a clue in the last message he was typing to her on his cellphone right before he died, and so she sets off on dangerous hike in an effort to find peace and finally let go.

In contrast though to Brynn's present day story, we begin the Cassidy's story back when he was a boy. The chapters alternate between Brynn and Cassidy and his throwbacks were crucial to showing the reader what kind of events had formed his identity. Brought up as the only son of a serial murderer and rapist, he'd been an outcast since childhood.

I am the son of the man one reporter called “the bloodiest serial killer the state of Maine has ever known.” … It’s a fact.
And now it follows me wherever I go.
Rapist’s son.
Murderer’s son.
Freak.
Killer.

It didn't matter that he was as good and pure as the his father had been evil, everyone assumed the worst from him and treated him as though he'd committed the crimes himself. And while the thought of everything his father had done revolted him to his core, he remained ever terrified that somehow the madness was genetic and could be passed on. So he became resolved to live out the rest of his life in isolation, thus ending the genetic line of evil.

For each story of a serial killer’s child becoming a police officer or a teacher and living a normal life, there’s another story that supports the idea that evil can be inherited. And each one chills me through…
While having children is physically possible for me, it is ethically impossible.
Which means that, despite my urges and longings, loving a woman is impossible too.
Because it would be wrong to deprive a woman of children, and it would also be wrong to risk infecting the world with the terrible legacy I might carry in my DNA.

So for each of their own reasons, Brynn and Cassidy's worlds collide on a remote mountainside. He quite literally saved her life. If he'd arrived on scene even a few seconds later, she would have suffered a fate worse than death. So suddenly the man who lived his whole life trying to stay away from everyone had become her unlikely hero.

[This] beautiful girl asleep on my chest, her ear over my heart, needs me right now. So I hold her close and let me eyes shut as the sun lowers over “the greatest mountain.”
I don’t really know her.
I don’t have any right to her.
I shouldn’t get attached to her.
In a handful of days she will be gone.
But right now, there is simply nowhere else on earth I’d rather be.

It was absolutely heart-breaking to see how Cassidy had conditioned himself to believe it would be too dangerous to ever let anyone love him. He was such a genuinely good and kind man but he firmly believed that he was genetically predisposed to be evil and that thought horrified him so much that he would rather isolate himself than risk anyone being exposed to the man he feared he might become. But then came along this woman who changed everything. And as he slowly nursed her back to health in his remote cabin, they grew closer and she offered him the one thing he never thought he'd have...

She’s come dangerously close to offering me something I might actually be able to accept — no-strings-attached physical intimacy with an expiration date.
No commitment.
No marriage or children or forever.
No chance of infecting the world with my father’s genes.
Without realizing it, she’s giving me the opportunity to love her without breaking my promises.

As time passed, a deep love and attraction grew between them until finally they had to face the truth that neither one of them wanted to let the other go. I'm not gonna lie, things got a wee bit cheesy and insta-lovey for my taste, but let's be honest, this is fiction so I just went with those parts since I was really enjoying the overall story so very much.

With a firm expiry date on their growing relationship, all the emotions were heightened as they savored and cherished each new experience they shared while also being keenly aware of how close they were to it all ending.

“If I ever see you again, I’ll never be able to let you go.”

AHHHHH but then a TWIST!! I'd actually loosely considered something like this in the back of my mind from the moment when **that** happened but I'd been too wrapped up in the story to give it serious thought and so when everything began to be revealed I just couldn't turn the pages fast enough. And I especially loved that the heroine was the one who put the pieces together. From that moment on, the story turned into a bit of a mystery and it was so thrilling as she raced to save the man she'd grown to love from something even he didn't know about.

**** HAPPY SIGH ****

This is the kind of book you can completely loose yourself in. It's one of those blissfully addictive and effortlessly well-written romances that sweeps you away and tells you a unique story that makes your heart-racing and keeps you reading until the sun comes up. I loved it and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a wonderful read!

I will love her until the sky falls.
Until the sun and moon fail to rise.
Until Katahdin crumbles.
I will love her forever.

Rating: 4.5 stars. Contemporary Adult Romance, standalone.


Buy UNLOVED, A LOVE STORY (Kindle)
Buy UNLOVED, A LOVE STORY (Paperback)
Buy UNLOVED, A LOVE STORY (iBooks)

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[Arini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tell me what do you call . . . a woman who doesn’t have experience on the matter whatsoever but decides to climb the second highest mountain in the world by herself???

She mad.
She crazy.
She insane.
She bold.

I wanna be her. Especially if in that said mountain, she’d meet a ruggedly handsome and dashing young man who lives in simplicity and isolation for most of his life, understands very little of how modern society works, has an endearing and innocent personality but carries dark secrets of his own, and still is a virgin.

As much as I don’t want to be willing to go any length for a man, that prospect is very tempting.

Anyway, . . .

Hidden Gem Alert!

Please make way for this book cause I think I just found a hidden treasure.

Well, maybe not so much as hidden as it is underappreciated? Idk, the thing is I wouldn’t have known about this if it weren’t for Jess’ (Peace Love Books) booktube video: Reading Wild Romances YOU Recommended.

Read the synopsis for this book and tell me you weren’t the least bit intrigued!

If you love mountain men and romances set in the wilderness, read this book! Especially if you enjoy reading books by author Mia Sheridan. This book is kind of a reminiscence for Archer's Voice and Savaged.

Adored the H, didn’t like the h at the beginning mostly because she . . . well, basically pushed the H to sleep with her. It was a little insta lovey, and the plot twist at the end was unexpected, a little dramatic, but still very nice.

It’s just a lovely and angsty story of two broken people who didn’t think they’d be able to heal and find love again after what’d happened to them.

Just a warning, this book is shelved on Goodreads as dark and judging by the synopsis, some readers might expect it to be so. I’d like to point out that it is NOT. It rather falls into the sweet and fluffy kind. Okay, you’re welcome and happy reading!

(Note: Originally Read as an Audiobook in 2020, but Shelved on the “2018 Reading Challenge”)

[Deanna❤Pink Lady❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 "Everything" Stars


What can I say about Unloved? First and foremost is that I LOVED it. The beautiful and methodical storytelling of Katy Regnery is a true journey of love. A love story like know other. A reawakening of being and feeling alive to where the Unloved becomes Loved.

What every wonderful love story does, is take the reader on a journey. It brings two people together......the why and how is how the author captures and engages the reader. This journey lead me to highs and lows, sadness and joy and most of all it covered all my emotions to make me feel for Cassidy Porter and Brynn Cadogan.

Cassidy and Brynn are alike and similar at the same time. Their emotions have a darkness that keeps them isolated but their isolations come from different worlds. Their backgrounds are different but it's those background and lives that eventually lead them to one another. Life doesn't always deal you a fair hand but goodness and love can be uncovered in the most unlikely of ways and places.

I loved the storytelling in Unloved. It was laid out both visually and picturesque. I felt transported to remote Maine where living off the grid was key to the story. Cass and Brynn's journey of being strangers to becoming friends to then lovers is beautifully transitioned throughout the book. It wasn't rushed or forced, it just happens quaintly and naturally. Cassidy is Brynn's rescuer and from that recuse and care, the story begins. The background why these two connect drives the story and in so creates their transforming journey in each of their lives.

Learning to let go, trusting, and holding to your convictions, as well as grief, sorrow, isolation, joy, hope and love are all laid out and experienced in this moving love story. Step by step, page by page, the journey of Cass and Brynn will make you feel and make you feel LOVED.

Book is #LIVE
~Amazon (US): http://ow.ly/mGB230fIEh4
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~Amazon (AU): http://ow.ly/EmJc30fIE0W
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~Apple iTunes: http://ow.ly/M2Ub30dJORp
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~Paperback (unsigned): http://ow.ly/wgNm30fIoiJ
~Paperback (signed): http://ow.ly/yu7J30fIony

-advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review-

[Emma Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 You’re killing me, Smalls! stars

Sweet, tortured beta male? ✅
Smart, emotionally intelligent writing? ✅
A plot twist I honestly did not see coming? ✅
Realistic depiction of grief and moving on and finding your way back to love? ✅✅✅

The situation was an intense one, but the fiction of it was well-balanced by the emotional realism and depiction of the characters. Moreover the writing is just so damn smart. Bonus points for referencing my all-time favorite novel in the entire universe A Prayer for Owen Meany and one of the best movies ever The Sandlot. It’s almost like the universe has been plotting to bring me and this author together....🤔❤️

[Malene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassidy has been raised by other people’s beliefs and fears. They manifested themselves so strongly that he as an adult lives a very isolated and solitary life. Without much human contact. When he comes across Brynn everything he’s been taught to believe and live by comes into question. One thing is certain. He’s drawn and attracted to her and when she’s in danger only one thing matters. Rescuing Brynn.
Brynn also lives a very isolated life because of a horrible and tragic experience two years ago. She’s purposely pulled herself away from her friends. Only contact is with her parents.

When Cassidy and Brynn meet both their lives changes. Their meeting reawakens something in both of them. A need to want more and a need to make changes. For themselves and their lives.
I really enjoyed Unloved and the direction of the story. Brynn and Cassidy are two intriguing people who’ve had their share of losses. Their connection was instantly and obvious. No matter Cassidy’s DNA he truly proved what a gentle and beautiful soul he was. Yes, he kept struggling with his family history and who he thought he was destined to become. Brynn was strong and patient with Cassidy. She brought out the good and wonderful sides of him. Their friendship evolved with a great pace into more. The twist at approximately 80% was a surprise and added a little angst which I enjoyed.

Unloved was a fabulous and beautiful love story that perfectly captures and explains that your environment and DNA not always determine who you are going to become as human being. Cassidy is proof of that.

4 BadAssDirtyMyTreasureStars


ARC provided for an honest review

[Dilek VT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4 stars!

My name is Cassidy Porter...
My father, Paul Isaac Porter, was convicted twenty years ago for the brutal murder of twelve innocent girls. Though I was only eight years old at the time, I am aware, every day of my life, that I am his child, his only son. To protect the world from the poison in my veins, I live a quiet life, off the grid, away from humanity. I promised myself, and my mother, not to infect innocent lives with the darkness that swirls within me, waiting to make itself known. It’s a promise I would have kept . . . if Brynn Cadogan hadn’t stumbled into my life. Now I exist between heaven and hell: falling for a woman who wants to love me, while all along reminding myself that I must remain... UNLOVED!

This is the blurb of this book and it sounds as sad as hell.

This book is the story of a 27-year old guy, who is the victim of his family. Because Cassidy’s father was a rapist and a serial killer, he lost all friends at school. Then, his mother and grandfather raised him off the grid, homeschooling him and all the while telling him he should stay away from people to prevent the evil genes in his DNA to come out and do the horrible things his father did.

What a pathetic situation! A child growing up, believing that he has the potential to be a rapist and a serial killer. And it is his family that makes him believe that. So so sad.

“Does my mum think I’m a bad seed, Gramp?” He winces, looking away from me.
“She worries ’bout you.”
“Do you think I’m a bad seed?” I want him to say no quickly, but he doesn’t, and a chill races through my body, pinging off my bones and making me cold.
He searches my face for a long while before saying, “You’re Paul’s son, Cassidy.”
“But I’m me ,” I insist, “not him!”
“I ain’t know what’s inside of you, Cass,” he says, reaching out to cup my cheek with his weathered palm. “I’ve prayed to every god that ever was that whatever was inside Paul ain’t inside of you too, son. And you’re a good boy. Seems impossible that you could go down such a dark path one day. But the reality is, well, there ain’t no way to know for sure.”

Then, there is Brynn. She is 30 years old. Her fiancé was killed in a mass shooting 2 years ago and she has been living a life of a hermit since then, doing work in her house and ignoring her family and friends.



Life and fate brings these two very different people together, whose paths wouldn't normally cross. They are both hurt. They have both experienced deep pain. But their lives and stories are very different. However, they cannot prevent themselves from falling in love with each other.

I am in Cassidy’s house.
Cassidy’s eyes are different colors.
I don’t know how I know Cassidy.
Cassidy doesn’t want to hurt me.
My body hurts.
Don’t breathe too deep.

***

I only know that there is me and there is Cass and there must be God too because only God could have imagined our unlikely pairing, because only a God who loves us could have led us to each other.

Brynn feels something for someone for the first time in two years and she is bolder. She wants to be with Cassidy but he pushes her away, thinking he is bad for her as he grew up being told that he shouldn’t love a woman and be loved. He was told he shouldn’t have any children to pass his corrupted genes and so he remained unloved so far up until he was 27 years old.

However, now, no matter how hard he tries, he can’t stop loving Brynn. He also cannot stop her from loving him.



“I’d never hurt you,” I murmur, the words so soft, I can barely hear them. I’d never hurt anyone. But there is that tiny part of me that isn’t convinced, that reminds me of who I am. I don’t know what genes lurk inside me, biding their time to make themselves known.

Their connection is romantic, tender, emotional and although it can become gritty at times, most of all, it is healing.

“Cass, I’d give anything.”
“Anything ?” I grind out. “Anything, but . . .” Her lips close, but lightly, and she tilts her head. “Don’t you see? Everything’s already yours.”
Kill me.
Dead.
I reach for her cheeks, cupping her face as I find her lips with mine.

***

“You are . . .” he murmurs breathily, moving his hips up experimentally as his tongue darts out to wet his lips, “the greatest . . . treasure . . . of my entire life.”



This heartbreaking and heartwarming story is very slow paced. It unfolds very slowly, leading to an unexpected plot twist. The Maine setting, the lake and the mountain are all described vividly so I could picture it so well in my mind.

I love you, I wish I could say. And if things were different, I’d love you forever, my sweet angel. Thank you for giving me the happiest days of my sorry life. Thank you for seeing the good in me when I know there is so much bad deep inside. Thank you for loving me when I was certain I’d spend the rest of my life unloved.

I promise—I give you my most sacred vow—that I will never come looking for you again. I will leave you alone to find happiness. I will leave you alone so that I know you’re safe.

***

She will be safe now. And that’s all that matters. As for me? I am damned. I am a murderer now... just like my father.

***

I have a beautiful, nameless guardian angel hero whom I love.
Who left me here.
Who doesn’t know who he really is.
Who is as lost to himself as he is to me.

Their love is heartbreaking most of the time but their story has a very happy ending, don’t worry!

Why 4 stars, why not 5?

Well, I really loved this book, it was good but it could have been perfect...only if two things were different.

1. In this story, we get dual point of view, which is good but both characters think more than speak. It makes it dragging a little bit. It is a very slow-paced book full of monologues. For example, she asks a question, then he thinks in his mind about how he will respond and what she will think about it and this inner monologue goes on two pages or so and then, he gives a short answer.

Also, some descriptions are unnecessarily long.

E.g. Finished with the dishes, I pour the soapy water down the drain and put the bucket on the floor. I’ll take it outside and dump it later. Then I slide the rinse-water bucket over to where the soap bucket was. I add a little soap to it so it’s ready for tomorrow’s dirty dishes...

2. I also didn’t like the plot twist. I would rather a different ending to their story. “Their love and trust healing both of them" kind of ending would be my favorite.

This unexpected plot twist and soon after that, things being wrapped up too nicely and too easily made this raw and heart-wrenching story sound like a fairy tale towards the end.

In my opinion that twist was unnecessary.

All in all, it is still a very good book to read. Recommended!

[Aurelia]

2.5 stars
It was fine. I didn't hate it. To be fair though i'm not one for fluffy romances, they always make me cringe, although seeing as everyone else seems to really love it I'm gonna have to say it's not the book it's me , well...I guess that's what comes with the territory of being a cold hearted bitch.

[Katy Regnery · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Excerpt from Unloved, a love story by Katy Regnery. All rights reserved. Coming October 2017.)

I pull the curtain to her room aside and feel my whole body recharge just from the simple act of checking on her. The covers rise and fall softly as she sleeps with her dark hair spread out on the stark white cotton of the pillow. My heart swells until my chest feels tight and I rub the place over my heart with my palm, wondering if—I mean, if there was a parallel universe in which I was allowed to consider a future with her—one day I wouldn't ache with reverence at the very sight of her. I wonder if I’d ever take her for granted, and somehow I know I never would.

Not that it matters. My dreams of devotion are pointless.

I remind myself that during a human being’s lifetime, their DNA methylation, or how genes are activated and used, is not static. For instance, a change in methylate levels can turn on a gene that should have stayed off, and cause cancer. Should my methylate levels change over time, the wrong gene could be turned on and I could become a serial killer. I have no way to know and no way to prevent such an outcome.

There are no guarantees. Only a monster would gamble someone else’s life when the possibility of a tragic outcome is so much higher than average.

[Faerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐3.7

❦ Plot:
Emotional, gripping, and quietly intense, Unloved brings together two wounded souls - the self-isolating mountain man and the grieving woman. Set in the rural beauty of Maine, the story introduces Cassidy Porter, son of a convicted serial killer; convinced that living in isolation is the best way to prevent himself from repeating his father’s evils, he retreats to a secluded cabin in the wilderness. When Brynn's journey of closure leads her to peril on Mount Katahdin, Cassidy finds himself unable to look away, forging a bond that forces both parties to confront the shadows of their past. The premise is intimate and weighty, balancing sorrow with a sense of hope and courage.

❦ Writing Style:
Regnery’s prose is lyrical yet direct, quickly immersing readers in an atmosphere of reflection and raw feeling. The dual narrative offers insight into both perspectives, allowing their inner worlds to unfold with quiet vulnerability. The pacing alternates between introspective calm and emotional intensity, capturing the rhythm of healing and connection. The novel is written with compassion and restraint, leaning into emotional realism.

❦ Characters:
Cassidy is an unusual and compelling male lead - gentle, reclusive, and burdened by generational guilt. His sensitivity and moral depth contrast beautifully with his rugged independence, creating a likeable character who is both tragic and quietly noble (swoon!). Brynn is a thoughtful, empathetic counterpart whose grief feels real and sensitively drawn. Her determination to find meaning beyond pain gives her an understated strength without erasing her sense of humanity. Together, their relationship grows with a gentle but heartfelt intimacy, rooted in respect and mutual care.

❦ Impact:
At its core, Unloved explores self-acceptance, forgiveness, and the search for peace when the past feels inescapable. It demonstrates the power of being seen - and loved - despite fear and shame. The emotional impact is enduring, tender, and likely to linger with those who connect to stories of quiet resilience.

❦ Entertainment Value:
This novel will appeal most to readers who enjoy deeply emotional, introspective romance with strong psychological undercurrents. It’s not a light read, but it’s a moving one - compassionate, hopeful, and achingly human. Those who favour slow-burn connection and emotional honesty will find Unloved a quietly rewarding experience.

Genre:
❦ Contemporary Romance
❦ Romantic Suspense

Tropes and Themes:
❦ Dual POV
❦ Healing through connection
❦ Grief and renewal
❦ Isolation
❦ Guilt by association
❦ Building trust
❦ Compassionate love
❦ Second chances

Content Warnings:
⚠ Emotional trauma
⚠ Grief and loss
⚠ Violence

[Bindi Boo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Started off SO awesome.. then the middle bit became too dramatic and unbelievable.
Brynn, who is mourning her dead fiancee meets Cassidy, a socially awkward and isolated mountain-man after an attack on the mountains. He medically treats her and allows her to heal, all while becoming friends then falling completely in love with each other. The problem? Cassidy has a HUGE secret.. one that makes him unlovable and perhaps not the best choice for a happily ever after. So he pushes her away. Brynn then goes on a hunt to find out the backstory.

I had a few issues: I just couldn't get over the fact they had all those intense feelings in ONE month. Maybe it's just me, the hero did have an element of innocence and he was an absolute sweetheart, however Brynn is also the first girl he ever touched and talked to. What if it had been another woman and not Brynn? Would he have fallen in love with her too? I'm not even going to mention the very isolated cabin (where are you rangers!??)

Then the ending.. really??!! that plot twist *shakes head* How did that make anything better, if not worse, by proving that it was absolutely right to judge a child by what their father or mother did. DNA proves that if your father was a nutcase, you're surely to become one !?? Perhaps if Cassidy stayed who he was (without that twist) and his loving environment made him the way he is, that would have been a wonderful message to pass. Something we all need right about now. But, nope, that was just not right. Super disappointed!

[Lana Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars

Arini, thank you for bringing this gem on my radar, because I enjoyed the hell out of it.

It was heavily character centered and oh so well done. The slow dance around each other, the inner struggles and the complicated feelings, it was really well crafted, I loved every minute of it.

The ending felt way too convenient for my taste, with the topic of genetics handled too superficially, it could've really been done better. Because even though I was happy with the ending, I wanted more. I wanted the revelation not to be so plain and I wanted the twist at the end not to be so fairytalish.

But the rest was wonderful. If you are okay with some improbable twists and turns and only come here for the feels, this book is for you.

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read, except how the twist came out... I didn’t care for the it...Review to come <3

[Auntee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been pondering how to review this one since I finished it days ago. How to convey how much I loved it and to convince other readers to give it a try...

I can't do it. Sometimes the ones you've loved the most just leave you speechless. But I'll try.

Cassidy Porter, 27, has been living off the grid for most of his life. Well, ever since his serial killer dad was arrested and convicted of raping and murdering numerous young girls. His mother decided it would be best to leave town with young Cassidy and live in a remote , secluded part of Maine with his grandfather. Live quietly, they tell Cassidy. No one needs to know about your father. And if you stay away from civilization, maybe you won't become what he was.

This is something I never realized. Can you really inherit this personality disorder from one of your parents? Is this a genetic thing or is it a product of your environment? Can you inherit a gene that predisposes you to become a killer?

Well Cassidy certainly fears that he could become like his father. So he shuts himself away from civilization and lives a self sustaining existence with only his mom and grandpa (and some chickens and goats!) for company with a spectacular view of Maine's Mt. Katahdin. If he stays away from humanity (and especially women) he won't be tempted to hurt them. But Cassidy's Mom and grandpa have been gone for 10 years now, leaving Cassidy all alone. What he craves more than anything in the universe is love, companionship, and a family. But he can never have that...

But then Brynn Cadogan, 30, stumbles into his life. Poor Brynn is on a journey to Maine to bury the past. Her fiancée (Jem, an avid hiker and Maine native)) was murdered 2 years ago in a mass shooting straight out of today's headlines, and Brynn is finally ready to move on from her sorrow. She plans to bury Jem's cellphone near the peak of Mt. Katahdin.

Sometimes Cassidy watches (out of sight of course) the hikers who come to Mt. Katahdin and the Appalachian Trail. He sees Brynn from a distance, and is captivated by her beauty. Against his better judgment, he follows her and a few other hikers, keeping well out of sight while he battles with his emotions. It's wrong to want like this....he needs to put this woman out of his mind. But then he hears a scream....and nothing matters but protecting Brynn.

Oh my, I have to stop right there, or I'll be picking up this book and reading it again!

Trust me when I say that this is one beautiful love story. I soooo wanted Cassidy to open up to Brynn (almost right away) and tell her why he was living in seclusion and why he felt it was impossible to have a woman in his life. I knew Brynn would understand. But the author dragged it out nicely, having Brynn and Cassidy fall in love (and oh my, their first time together...*sigh*), with the expectation that Brynn would return to her former life in a few weeks time (no Brynn, don't leave Cassidy!) Heartbreaking!!!

But then there was a twist...could this change everything? Oh please oh please oh please...!:)

I just love Katy Regnery's writing style. Her stories are so unique, and she seems to love her damaged/tortured heroes. (I do too!) She does steamy very well too...:)

Cassidy and Brynn have to be two of my favorite characters of all time (and certainly of 2018). It's rare for me to love everything about both the hero and the heroine, but it was easy to love Cass and Brynn.

I can't rave enough about this one.
5 big stars!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW for loss of a loved one, assault, and attempted murder.

If you're looking for a "trapped in the woods together romance," this is exactly what you need.

When I started this book, we're immediately dropped into our main character's trauma over losing her fiancé to a mass shooting. I really felt for Brynn and how much she was grieving over losing the love of her life. She decides to climb a mountain after finally opening her fiancé's cell phone to find some sort of closure over losing him. As she's climbing the mountain, she's attacked and almost killed until she's saved by Cassidy, who has been living alone in the mountains. Cassidy was such a gentle, damaged soul and I just loved him so much. Since his dad was a serial killer, he's horrified he's inherited an evilness passed on from his dad, so he secludes himself from everyone. Cassidy reminded me so much of Archer in Archer's Voice and I think fans of that book would love this. There is just a genuine pureness to Cassidy and I just loved him.

I loved how our main characters were stuck in this cabin in the middle of the wilderness together, but I did think it got a bit dull in the middle when they were STILL stuck in the cabin. They only ever really leave in the beginning and the end, and I would have loved more action in the middle. This focused more on our character and their journey towards loving each other than really anything else until the final conflict at the end. I loved the romance, so I didn't mind it too much, but I would have liked the pace to have picked up a little bit in the middle.

Overall, I really enjoyed this romance! It's sweet and really delves into where our natures come from and if a person can really be unworthy of love. I'd definitely recommend, especially the audiobook!

[Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“There’s are no guarantees. Only a monster would gamble with someone else’s life when the possibility of a tragic outcome is so much higher than average.”

This book was on my radar from the moment I read that heart stopping blurb. Being the son of a serial killer and falling for a woman who makes you want to have a normal life?! I was prepared to INHALE the crap out this story and bask in the high effect of what I was going to experience and even though I’m a bit disappointed, I can’t take away the fact that it held my attention.

Brynn has been through a lot in the past two years. Losing her fiancé was devastating ng but losing him in such a brutal way was the worst pain imaginable and getting over something like that, is not an easy thing. With sheer will and determination, Brynn decides that it’s time to move on and let her fiancé go in the best way by climbing his favorite mountain. But getting to the top is not going to be an easy feat and when she encounters a dangerous scene, meeting her rescuer is going to change the course of her plans.


“The son of murderers don’t deserve to be happy. They are born paying for the sins of their fathers.

Cassidy Porter is from a line of bad blood. Being the son of a notorious serial killer in the town of Maine, he’s heard it all when it comes to the “town talk”. Having been isolated and living in his family cabin from the age of nine, Cassidy is now a grown man that has nothing but the wilderness to keep him company and he’s ok with that. But when he first stumbles upon a stunning brunette who’s determined to make it on her own up an infamous mountain, something happens to him for the first time in his life. Feeling desire and attraction for another person is a normal thing but for someone like Cassidy that might have a killer gene, it can be deadly. When a chance encounter brings him closer to Brynn, what will happen when desire begins to override everything that he’s been taught about himself?


I have to say first and foremost that I really thought that this was going to be a completely different read. I was expecting something dark and gritty that was going to throw me for a loop and make me gasp and cringe at the same time and sadly, I never got it with this. The one thing that I will say is that this author can write and I truly loved the innocence of one of the main characters. This person was lovable in their own right and I’m glad I got to witness their firsts in so many things. With that being said, I think if you’re looking for a nice darkish read with some sweet moments, then this book is most definitely for you.

*Teasers used are from the author's fb page.


  

[Alex ♈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very unique story.

I never read about a hero, or any character, with similar background. My heart broke for the little boy; and I saw the hero as a lost child, even when he was 27.

Beautiful love story. But the twist and events surrounding it were a bit too unrealistic. I know its fiction, but I still couldn’t believe no one saw the ‘secret’.

Very beautifully and poetic written, especially the chapters from his POV.

My high rating is mostly for the writing and psychological aspect of the story.

[Syndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart! I think I need to bury some part of my heart into this story. What a beautiful beautiful story. My heart is full is of mix emotion. Sad, heart breaking, touched and then healed. I love love love this book.

This is the first book by Katy Regnery. She has a gift to make the story twisted at the end. Oh that twist plot is unexpected. I really dont see it coming.
Even though I rate this book 5 stars, I am bit annoyed with Brynn. She is such a drama queen.

I am looking forward for other books by Miss Regnery.

5 stars

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, that was ... amazing.
I really enjoyed reading it.
I cried A LOT! ☺



Both Cassidy and Brynn have such sad pasts/lives/stories.
Btw. was I the only one who had to remind herself that Cass is the boy? I was halfway through a chapter from his POV, when I realized that I did it again, and confused his girly name with Brynn. Very weird name-choice! ☺

Anyway. This was such an adorable & sweet & heartbreakingly moving romance.

It was also all a bit insta and ... there's this word I'm looking for when people just pretend that it doesn't matter that things don't make sense? Like in a time-travel movie. When you go back 2 minutes into the past and then you meet your 'older' self and then those 2 minutes are up...what happens? Are you both gone? Does one of you just pixel out like Michael J. Fox in that moment when it doesn't look as if his parents would ever fall in love with each other? And now I realize I'm talking like a crazy person, because there is no time travel, but this word I'm looking for exists, but I have no idea what it is.
What I mean is that Brynn just accepts that she wakes up in this stranger's house. As if it was completely logical that she is there. She doesn't question it at all! Ugh, forget I said anything. I'm confusing myself right now!

OK, where was I? I LOVED THE BOOK! Cassidy is such an amazing person - considering the way his mom and grandpa raised him. He's ... just amazing. A bit weird... because he just doesn't question anything he was told and taught. He could've been written a tiny little bit more worldly. It's not like he was never out there in the big world. He lived there for 8 years and he goes there to shop and stuff. But ..ugh...doesn't matter. There were some tiny little weird things about this book that you just have to not think about,I have to add a little spoiler thingy here -
the not questioning things. Cassidy's mom went to church with him for 8 years and nobody EVER saw that the preacher had the same 3 birthmarks on his face? but I realllllly enjoyed reading it - I had to finish it in one day - I wanted to see how things would end for those two. And they end very good for those who are worried.

I also really want to see this book made into a movie or a netflix show!


♡ ♡