❤~🌟~❤4.5 HEART-THROBBING STARS!❤~🌟~❤
“I see her, see my own battered soul reflected in her eyes. And it undoes me.”
Angsty single dad romances are my KRYPTONITE, and when we get one penned by the gloriously talented C.M. Seabrook, talk about sweet euphoria!!
THE STORY:
Single Dad Kade Savage has been badly burned in love and his heart belongs to one and only lady. His precious little princess, Lola. But fate has different plans in mind for this jaded tortured soul! For on one of the worst nights of his life, he is drowning his sorrows in an out of town bar, and in his drunken haze he is transfixed by a stunningly beautiful songbird whose tragic lyrics mirrors the agony in his own heart. Drawn together by a force out of their control, the two strangers seek comfort and solace in each other’s arms for one unforgettable night of carnal bliss! But when the sun rises the next morning the angelic beauty is gone.
Their paths collide yet again 5 months later when Sophie’s car breaks down when she's passing through Kade’s hometown of Port Clover and winds up in his family run Savages and Saints bar. Little Lola instantly warms to her but Kade? Ummm…not so much! Still reeling from the shock of seeing the mystery woman who’s consumed his every waking thought since their explosive encounter, he is distrustful of her sudden reappearance in his life. But seducing the growly single dad is the last thing on a Sophie’s agenda. Petrified, penniless and on the run from a psycho ex, she is in desperate need of a fresh start and, despite everything, her dire predicament causes the white knight in Kade to ROAR to the surface.
Although Sophie hates accepting charity, she is eternally grateful when “her beautiful stranger” hires her to wait tables/perform at Savages and Saints, offers her the vacant apartment above the bar and provides refuge from the storm of chaos that threatens to engulf her. They agree to keep things strictly professional but the close proximity causes their red hot attraction to burn brighter than ever, and the gravitational pull between them cannot be denied! Can these two wounded spirits find love and healing in each other’s arms…or will deadly repercussions forever tear them asunder?
MY THOUGHTS:
Oh my sweet lord!
I could not resist the GRAVITATIONAL pull of this hot, smolderingly sexy, intensely emotional book about two lost broken souls who get a shot at a beautiful new beginning together! I just loved, loved, loved this novel from the first wildly addictive page to the wondrous denouement. This is the second book in the Savages and Saints series, and while it can definitely be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the first book TORMENT first.
There’s just something about GRAVITY that just punches you in the gut. The plot is masterfully crafted, teeming with small-town charm, heart palpitating twists and turns, tumultuous angst, and blazing hot interludes!
As always, Ms. Seabrook’s vibrant, engaging, and intensively emotive narrative sucks you in and leaves you UTTERLY TRANSFIXED. I couldn’t bear to put this book down and who could blame me, really? I mean Sophie and Kade have an explosive chemistry, the soul deep connection between them set my heart all aflame, and each and every one of their interactions is pulsating with smoldering heat, palpable discord and deep poignant emotion! ! I adore how the endearingly sweet yet uber secretive heroine brings out the alpha protector—and the fiercely possessive lover--in this gruff single dad who has all but given up on love. And it's utterly intoxicating to behold the magnetic push-pull between these two kindred spirits as they valiantly try to resist temptation until there is nothing left to do but SURRENDER!
As for the character development? Top notch as always! Kade was, in short, absolutely mesmerizing!!! Talk about a SWOON-WORTHY ALPHA MALE who is tall, dark and ruggedly gorgeous on the outside, yet beneath his battle scarred shield of armor is a man who is so fiercely protective, loyal, kind and chivalrous! His whole world revolves around his work, his family, and most especially his beloved daughter Lola. He will do anything to shield his motherless little girl from being hurt again and has closed himself off from romantic love—with good reason. But then a beautifully wounded songbird bursts into his world and it’s forever changed.
And…yikes…he may have just met his match in the broken down department. Sophie has suffered an unbearable loss that has permanently marked her life, and the haunting sadness that glimmers in her deep, soulful, hazel eyes nearly brings Kade to his knees. Plus she’s in danger and THAT JUST WON'T DO!
I have so much ADMIRATION AND EMPATHY for Sophie who has endured so much hardship and tragedy yet still manages to find beauty in the world again. I was drawn to her aching vulnerability, her strength, her courage, and her resilience. And despite the grief in her own heart, she brings joy and hope not only into Kade’s life but his sweet little girl’s! Her music plays a pivotal role in her healing journey, and it also brings the hero and heroine together in remarkable ways. As does fate and destiny!
And...gah...don’t get me started on the heart-melting scenes with Kade’s precocious little princess! Lola was such a bright ray of sunshine and I couldn’t stop grinning at the things this adorable little scene stealer said and did. And the way she helped filled the holes in the grief-stricken heroine’s fractured heart was just beyond powerful!
I also love the warm, hospitable small-town of Port Clover...and the secondary cast, comprised mostly of the close knit Savage and St. James clans, complimented the main storyline in extraordinary ways. And I found the pacing of the story to be pitch perfect, with plenty of drama and romance and suspense to keep me riveted throughout.!!!
Although this story is virtually flawless, I did have to knock a half star off the rating because of a sinister revelation at the end that, frankly, I found totally unnecessary and just did not sit right with me. But that quibble aside, the story was amazeballs….and omg THAT FINAL CHAPTER!!! You better have tissues handy because this book contains one of the most ENCHANTING STORYBOOK ENDINGS I have ever read! Epic swoony feels, folks!!!
BOTTOM LINE:
GRAVITY pulled me in, swept me up and away and gave me a velvety soft place to fall! At its core, this is a powerful and passionate tale about fate and destiny, hope and healing, overcoming grief, loss, hurt and heartbreak, and, finally, embracing a second chance at love against all odds!