Although it broke his heart to leave, Douglas never thought he’d see Connor again. Douglas truly believed becoming a priest was the only way to save both their souls. But when a beloved friend from college arrives at his rectory, he can’t turn his back on her. Now he’s newly widowed, and the father of a newborn.
Connor’s heart has never healed from losing Douglas. Despite twenty-five years passing, Connor hopes the old promise he extracted—show up, and he’d never turn his back on him—might one day come to pass. Meanwhile, he’ll raise his daughter and steal what little bits of personal time he can to help ease his lonely existence.
Yet fate is cruelly kind. Connor’s boy has returned…except he became the one thing Connor cannot ever accept. The Church created bottomless wounds in Connor’s soul that have never healed. Is Douglas strong enough to withstand Connor’s righteous wrath, or will both men’s hearts remain forever frozen?
Related Books: Niall, Aden, and Etsu are featured in Empty-Handed Heart.
Author Lesli Richardson, who is better-known by her more prolific wild-child Tymber Dalton pen name, lives in the Tampa Bay region of Florida with too many pets of various species. Other pen names of hers include PT Long, Calliope Clockwork, Ravyn Wolf, and Zoe Park. She writes in a wide variety of heat levels and genres, from mainstream sci-fi all the way to scorching ménage.
The USA Today Bestselling Author (as Tymber) and two-time EPIC award winner is a part-time Viking shield-maiden in training who loves to sing karaoke and play D&D with her friends. She’s also the author of over 250 books and counting, including The Reluctant Dom, Cross Country Chaos, Her Vampire Obsession, the Bleacke Shifters series, the Governor Trilogy series, and many others.
She lives in her own little world, but it’s okay—they all know her there.
She loves to hear from readers! Please feel free to drop by her website and sign up for her newsletter to keep abreast of the latest news, snarkage, and releases. Honest reviews are always welcomed. They help with a book’s visibility and can boost its placement on book retailer sites. Even a few lines about what you felt reading the book will help. Thank you so much, it’s greatly appreciated!
I don't know how she does it, but every time Tymber Dalton writes a book, I find myself totally engrossed in it to the point nothing gets done around the house. Connor and Douglas's story is heartbreaking yet uplifting at the same time. Just a word of warning, you WILL need your crying towel for this book. I can't say much without giving the story away but I will say that Ms. Dalton's attention to details is unmatched. It's like you are right there in the story and are feeling the same emotions the characters are!! I loved this story so hard and I'm officially claiming Connor and Douglas as "my boys"! Make sure you get this book because it is one of the best she has written out of this series!
I'm an emotional mess, three hours past my bedtime but completely happy. This story moved me, the emotions I felt reading this story were all over the place. I wanted Douglas to have his HEA, if anyone deserved it, it would be him. But them we get more and more of Connor's story and I just melted into an emotional goo pile. The characters in this one came to life for me, absolutely worth the book hangover and long day at work now! Absolutely have no clue what's coming next, and I'm just gonna wait patiently and see!!
This book hit me hard! Being raised Catholic and going to Catholic school, I related to a lot of what was written. Douglas and Conner fell in love in high school. Being Catholic meant that they were committing a sin, as the church was very rigid in their ideas of what was right and and what was wrong. It ended in that Douglas walked away from Conner with a very heavy heart and neither man recovered from the split. Promises were made and 25 years later broke that promise by slamming his door in Douglas' face. Douglas was wearing a wedding ring and Conner found out he also was a priest for years. That triggered something very bad in Conner- something that was a deal breaker. The story shows us how their lives were lived and what brought them back into each others lives. It was very emotional and I could not put the book down because I needed to see what was next. I kept my tissues near me and I really didn't want the book to end. It is such a powerful story that I believe it is a must read!
Suncoast Society, Book 77. Can Douglas and Connor find forgiveness for the past, or is the future already written in stone?
Douglas Koenig has a lifetime of regrets. His beloved wife, Mackie, is gone. He's alone with Zee, his three-week-old baby girl, on his way back to Sarasota to rebuild his life. His mind's a whirlwind of questions. Was it wrong to turn his back on the best thing to ever happen to him 25 years ago? Did he sin when he fell in love with Mackie, knowing his heart belonged to another? He never lied to her. She knew the truth. Was becoming a priest the right thing to do? Was leaving the priesthood when Mackie turned up on his rectory doorstep years later a mistake? Meanwhile, Connor has never forgotten Douglas. He's also never forgiven him. Douglas knew exactly what Connor had endured, the way his soul was destroyed. Why did he never come back? Where's he been? Neither man's heart has ever healed. Both seemingly have just one reason to live. When mutual friends from the Suncoast Society unwittingly build a bridge for Douglas and Connor to meet again, will the two men cross it? Douglas is still his Sir's boy. But can Connor ever forgive him? Perhaps the better question is, can Douglas forgive himself? As the two men bob and weave around the pitfalls of the past and the confusion of the present, can they find a way through this maze of uncertainty? Or will this be the heartbreak that will break their hearts to pieces, this time forever?
In my opinion, this is one of the most unique and utterly heartrending books Tymber Dalton's ever written, second only to The Reluctant Dom. Douglas' soul is literally ripped apart, not just once, but three times. The strength this man demonstrates, his one-of-a-kind belief, the deep commitment to his daughter, his friends, and his faith, is inspirational. I absolutely despised Connor in the beginning. Yes, Connor's endured as much, if not more, than Douglas in some ways. But he's a real p***k in every way when you first meet him. He can't seem to help himself. Despite, or maybe because of, that, Connor soon becomes just as inspirational in his own way as Douglas is in his. I can't say much more about the story without giving away everything. For me, there's no easy way to put into words what this book made me feel. It was very hard for me to read parts of this book. It's one of the few Tymber Dalton books I've had to put down, walk away from, and come back a few hours later to pick up again. The emotions hit me that deeply and drained me that much. But this book was worth every second I invested in reading it. There's true beauty in this story. The BDSM dynamic is off-the-charts hot and riveting in its intensity. Like The Reluctant Dom, this story tore my heart in two yet still restored my faith in some things I thought long gone from my personal life. One reason I love Tymber Dalton's Suncoast Society books so much is they hit me on such a personal level. This one pulled me in, grabbed my heartstrings, and just wouldn't let go. Thank you, Ms. Dalton! Come in From the Cold is fantastic. It deserves so much more than five stars. You've outdone yourself again!
A final note. This is an ADULT book. It contains explicit language and BDSM sexual scenes. If you don't enjoy this genre, this may not be the book for you. There are book synopses and reviews available on Goodreads and all booksellers' websites. Use these resources. DON'T LEAVE A NEGATIVE REVIEW WHEN YOU KNOW YOU WON'T ENJOY THE BOOK. It's not fair to the author. She works hard to provide a quality work product. If you know you'll object to a book's subject matter before you buy it, you're doing yourself and the author an extreme disservice.
This is an unforgettable love story about faith, trust and hope. It begins with two young men who are separated by circumstance and confusion. When Douglas reaches out to Connor after twenty-five years apart, joy turns to anger and grief. Fortunately, faith and friends step in before it is too late. But Connor and Douglas must face the past in order to live a future filled with ecstasy and joy. This book has become one of my favorites in the Suncoast Society series. I know that I will be reading it again soon!
Both men are hurting in different ways. Decisions made as teens have had a lasting effect on both of their lives. It was not surprising that Conner would react as he did. But he is also man enough to back down and admit he is wrong. This one has some hard moments yet is beautiful story.
I don’t normally write reviews because I’m not that great of a writer. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t comment. This book was about forgiveness, grace, and redemption. You have to hang in there with Conor, but it’s worth it. Fair warning, Chapter 36 will leave you a snot sobbing mess. Have tissues.
I've said it before and i'll say it again, Tymber Dalton is a must buy author for me. Weather she writes an emotionally draining book or a completely humorous book, it is always a great read. In this book Douglas and Connor reunite after many years apart. From the beginning it is a rocky start for the two of them. You get to see how they work through their problems, together and with the help of their friends and family. This was both emotional and greatly satisfying to see how their story started to the end of the book. Great book, can't wait for the next in the series.
FYI! Grab a crying towel. The emotions you will experience requires a crying towel. Douglas deals with so many loses in his life. From his first love, to his second love, to a child to his first love again. But good things come to those that wait. And wait he does and good things do come.
I wish I could rate this 10 stars. This has now become the standard by which I will judge all other Suncoast Society books. After 5 years, it has knocked The Reluctant Dom out of its tightly held number 1 spot. TRD is still a close second, but something about this book just got me. I was a little hesitant at first when I was still in the opening chapters when I was only seeing Douglas' perspective. I was worried that I wasn't going to be able to connect with him, but by about a 1/3 of the way through, I was head over heels in love with him. And with Connor, it was love at first sight. What can I say? I love a troubled hero with tons of walls up who just wants somebody to love him. I literally had tears in my eyes the entire middle part of this book. I never ugly-cried like I did in TRD, but this was almost more heartbreaking in some ways. Kayleigh was a much needed bright spot whenever she made an appearance. I hope these characters keep talking to Tymber because I want more.
All I could think when I read certain scenes was that that is what all priests should do when confronted with the seal of the confessional. Some things need to face criminal justice before they can be absolved from your soul. There is so much I want to say about this one but I can't figure out how without spoilers so I will just say read this it is great. If I knew where my old priest was now I'd send him a copy with a note that Douglas is the priest all parishioners deserve. Our priest was not heinous. He was a bigot that told me a 15 year old white girl was not devout enough to be a godmother but a 13 year old Mexican girl was.
This book will hit you in the feels. I love second change romances. This one is one where all the best intentions may still be misconstrued. Add to it broken families and promises, this is a heartachingly romance fraught with obstacles galore.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website on or after June 29, 2021.
Once again Tymber Dalton has brought me to tears (sobbing - so have your tissues ready) she then proceeded to lead me down the path of love that was years in the making and let me tell you when you hear what Douglas says to Conner about his love for him will melt your heart. The time apart gave them the adorable Kayleigh and of course baby Zee. Wonderful story that I couldn't but down.
This one was a different pairing. Doug's story just gets you by the feels then you add in Connor and y0u cant help but want to support these guys to make it thru with all the love and support you can. Just love the girls Kayleigh just stole my heart, I picture her just too cute.
The ability, the skill, the utmost perfection with which Ms. Dalton writes just slays me. I am immediately mesmerized by her characters and by the depth of the story and the way it incorporates BDSM. Instead of BDSM taking center stage as it does with so many books (LOOK AT ME, I AM A MASTER), Ms Dalton is able to make it just another facet of her characters' lives. The writing was superb with the emotions deftly wrapped up in her words. Connor and Douglas broke my heart. This book is one of the Suncoast series of which there are many. They are a mix of MM, MMF, MF, etc. You can easily read them as standalone but it is nice to see past characters pop up in books. Emotional, uplifting, realistic story about faith, love, and the church. Brava Ms. Dalton!
Chapter 35 starts with Connor’s name in error. While this was a huge miss for the beta readers and editor, the story was great. I appreciated the effort to add more substance than usual with these stories. Keep them coming Tymber!
Another stellar read from Ms. Dalton. The mix of religion and how it affected the characters in this story was brilliant, heart wrenching, and affirming. 100% recommend this one!