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em>(Book 1 of the Devastation Trilogy)

He doesn’t know how to let go…


I was a husband, a father, a politician. Now, I’m just lost.

Maybe they can help find me, I don’t know. Maybe I shouldn’t be found.

Maybe the devastation that is my life should be allowed to crumble and decay.

There is no comfort in a funeral dirge, no solace in empty words spoken to me.

There is no release from this hell but death, and I can’t do that yet.

I don’t know how to let go.

But…maybe they can help me hold on.

[85k words, political romance, mmf] A standalone trilogy set in the same world as the Governor Trilogy, Determination Trilogy, and others.

285 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 26, 2019

27 people are currently reading
200 people want to read

About the author

Lesli Richardson

175 books446 followers
Lesli Richardson is the writer behind the curtain of her better-known and more prolific USA Today Bestselling Author pen name, Tymber Dalton (her "wild child" side). She lives in the Tampa Bay region of Florida with her spouse and too many pets of various species. When she's not playing D&D with her friends or shooting skeet, she's a part-time Viking shield-maiden in training, among other pursuits. The two-time EPIC award winner is also the author of over two hundred and fifty books and counting.

She lives in her own little world, but it's okay, because they all know her there.

She also loves to hear from readers! Please check out her website for links, and to sign up for updates to keep abreast of the latest news, snarkage, and releases. There you'll also find reading order lists, and more information about her different series.

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Community Reviews

5 stars
62 (46%)
4 stars
50 (37%)
3 stars
13 (9%)
2 stars
4 (3%)
1 star
3 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for Melanie.
115 reviews
April 30, 2019
Lesli Richardson conveyed a man's grief and horror (while he's holding on to them) as no one else has for me before. I never realized how bad some people's nightmares really are and hope that I never have to experience anything like them. This story vividly stayed with me for many. many hours.
It is about George, the governor of Tennessee, Casey, his chief of staff, and Declan, his deputy chief of staff. We follow George as he tries to cope with his grief and nightmares and the evolution of his relationships with Casey and Declan- all while running for reelection. It is gritty, raw, and sometimes you just want to scream at the characters while, at the same time, not being able to put the book down. I can't wait to see what the next book will bring.
Profile Image for Кат.
392 reviews
May 14, 2019
This MMF story has painful grief and PTSD in it. Reading the Governor Trilogy first would help understanding what dear George has been through, but is not required.

There are clues and hints that I should have paid closer attention to so that chapter fourteen and chapter thirty would not have made me gasp. As I think back now I realize......well never mind, I don’t want to ruin it for you.

I wish Declan Ronald Howard were a more three dimensional character; but then that is what book 2 SOLACE is for.....I cannot wait!
Profile Image for Tabi Ann.
1,102 reviews5 followers
May 29, 2019
Emotional Turmoil

Not really know how yo describe this book, other than how much I loved the storyline. This story truly will gut you to the core and you will find your own self curled up crying feeling all the emotional baggage that George has to carry.

There will be times that this book will make you laugh, but for the most part you need to bring tissues and settle in for a long ride. You will be wondering if the light at the end of the tunnel will ever be there.

Until Next Time... Tabi
Profile Image for Laura.
937 reviews6 followers
June 6, 2019
I was blown away by this book. George Forrester is a character that we met in the Governor Trilogy. His story is his painful grief after losing his wife. George is the governor of Tennessee. He is only held together by his chief of staff, Casey and her deputy, Declan. This book follows George as he tries to cope with his PTSD. This book was powerfully written.
Profile Image for Carole-Ann.
2,740 reviews87 followers
December 19, 2019
Totally blown away, not to mention crying for most of the time.
This is the story of George, trying to carry on after the loss of his wife (see The Governor Trilogy), with help (!!) from his Chief of Staff Casey, and Declan.

A number of shenanigans by Casey, throws Declan into George's path (and there's a whole other story behind that too!!), but it's muted by George's grieving.
116 reviews
May 11, 2019
This book is a great start to the trilogy. George, Casey, and Declan they make for a good story through grief and reelection. The relationship and interactions between them are well written and I can't wait to see where the trilogy continues.
Profile Image for Jax.
1,059 reviews
March 28, 2020
I really enjoyed this entire trilogy. I enjoyed all of the switching. But I got a similar feeling to the Governor trilogy in the sense that it’s not a true triad; and there are stronger feelings between two of the three.

Still, I loved the vulnerability, the switch between sadist and sweet, and the conviction of the characters. There’s still a bit of skimming and erroneous story telling. But I’ll keeping reading anything that Lesli Richardson writes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kathy.
65 reviews
January 15, 2021
I liked reading about George's journey after his wife's death and the relationship he developed with Declan. I have to say though that I am not a fan of Casey. She kept herself so distant from others that it's hard to feel for her.
Profile Image for Delilah Stephans.
106 reviews33 followers
March 1, 2021
George’s story is just as well done as any of the previous books. So don’t think it’s not. It was a hard read because it, in some ways hit too close to home. Remove the PTSD elements and the grief is too true.
Profile Image for Bonnie.
978 reviews
May 16, 2019
What a story! My heart went out to George and his struggle to get back to a life not haunted by his dead wife. A well done story and reminiscent of the emotions brought out in The Reluctant Dom.
1,278 reviews29 followers
May 17, 2019
I loved this book it was so engaging and heartbreaking as well
Profile Image for Edit.
1,592 reviews19 followers
June 29, 2019
3.5 stars

* Hero(s) - 3/5
* Heroine(s) - 3/5
* Secondary Characters - 3/5

* Plot - 4/5
* Romance/Steam - 4/5
* Drama/Conflict/Angst - 3/5

* Writing Style - 4/5
Profile Image for Saskia.
1,775 reviews54 followers
January 12, 2020
The first book in this series and it takes place in the same world as the Governor Trilogy, but this series focuses on George who we have met in the Governor trilogy. If you haven’t read this series then you would be fine reading this as it is.

This first book is told from George POV and we see how he is coping after the incident or more accurate how he is not coping at all until he gets a little nudge.

It is a beautiful, sexy and heartbreaking story.
Profile Image for Clem2605.
57 reviews47 followers
July 4, 2022
I liked this book but... I don't know.

It may be me or it may be the author, but I didn't love the characters the way I loved Owen, Carter, Susa, Shae, Kevin and Chris.
I mean, we're speaking about two of my favorite stories from 2021, so there's a level here and I can't blame the author for disappointing me a little from time to time. The first two stories were so great that it's bound to be difficult to stay on the same quality.

Anyway, it doesn't mean I won't read the rest of the series, just that I won't enjoy it as much as the first two.

And Lesli Richardson is still a very talented author!

Clem2605
Profile Image for J.L..
Author 14 books72 followers
July 15, 2024
This trilogy works as a stand-alone, but works better when read after the main three books of the original Governor series.

Buckle up and prepare for ALL THE ANGST. George more than deserves it after what he has experienced, but it's not an easy read. Luckily, he has Casey to drag him out of his nightmares with the liberal application of personal and political manipulation. This isn't a traditional romance by any means, but it's a fantastic story of character and recovery.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews

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