Redemption Road

The Road #2

by Amanda McKinney

Alternative cover edition of ASIN B092DLNYK8

Redemption: The act of being saved from sin, error, or evil.

Antiques dealer by day, secret painter by night, Rory Flanagan arrives home to find a man, battered and bruised, sprawled out on her newly upholstered Victorian sofa. The brash, six-foot-four stranger takes an unusual interest in Rory’s vintage gold pendant—given to Rory by her mother the day she was killed.

They say Christian Locke is a loner, an orphan, a mysterious cowboy the small-town gossips deem an outsider. They tell her to stay away. But Rory can’t ignore the connection she feels to the mulish recluse, or the interest he has in the cursed necklace she wears around her neck.

Christian says he doesn’t believe in fate, but every twist and turn of the pendant’s story seems to lead her to the same place...

Welcome to Redemption Road.

Your secrets are not safe here.

(Due to serious subject matter and mature content, please be aware that this book might be an emotional trigger for some readers.)

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Romance, Suspense, Small Town Romance, Contemporary

ebook

First published August 3, 2021

About the author

Amanda McKinney is the Amazon Charts bestselling and multi-award-winning author of more than thirty romance and thriller novels. Her books have received over fifteen literary awards and nominations, including the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence, and have been included in lists such as POPSUGAR's 12 Best Romance Books, and featured on the Today Show.


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www.amandamckinneyauthor.com

Reviews

[Paula (on hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was kind of interesting. It has a few triggers that you need to be aware of incase this is not for you.

Since it a romantic suspense, there is a murder of a young woman who was mutilated and heroine comes across on though the actual murder is done off page. Then there is the heroine who tried to commit suicide 2x and she is Anorexic. The Hero has his own issues too in the form of accidentally attempting to kill his adopted Dad.

Since this a slow burn romance, it takes more then 80% for the Mcs to get romantic but because there is a mystery here in both Mcs backgrounds, I don't think it takes away from the story because you see these two become friends and needing each other.

In fact this "need" to help each other overcome their current & past issues is what was interesting for me.

Now the part that I loathed and had me almost DNF'g is In the beginning before heroine meets Hero, she runs into her ex BF who is now married and in one stupid move she attempts to have sex with him because she is depressed & needing an outlet to forget. He ends up pushing her away & she is embarrassed. That turned me off immediately especially since she knew he was married & didn't even want him back!

I realize that if anyone reads this review will be confused, but this is a somewhat confusing read in itself. Part romance, part suspense and part something I can't explain. I did end up liking the MCs both as a couple and as individuals in the end. I especially liked the vibe the author created of two people who needed one another to survive in this world. They both had issues and I loved the fact that each one helped the other overcome them so that they can get to a place where they lived their HEA and become who they were meant to be. Maybe that's the message here. Sometimes we need a helping hand to face what sometimes seems insurmountable.

Safety. No cheating. No OM/OW drama. Neither are virgins. Heroine was in a relationship of 2 yrs I think with OM I mentioned above and Hero's past is not mentioned other then that he had been with a few women.

[Corinne [hiatus] · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf 30%
I loved the first book in this series but for some reason I can't get into this one.
It's a suspense romance and the main heroine is suffering from grief induced anorexia.

I'm in a weird funck lately. I may come back to this in the future.

[Teri Ruscak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda McKinney
Redemption Road (A Small Town Mystery Romance)
ARC REVIEW
Christian and Rory
An awesome romantic suspense read!

[KaylaJane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. Just okay but kinda boring. Skimmed a lot.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Redemption Road by Amanda McKinney
A Small Town Mystery Romance

Captivating, compelling, complicated ~ this story had me invested from beginning to end. Words on the page evoked thoughts, feelings and memories while creating vivid images that will stay with me for a long while. This author creates multi-layered, intricately crafted, complex stories with memorable characters that I feel I know in real time.

What I liked:
* Rory: a woman who seeks control of her life as she spins into what feels like a void of nothingness, an artist who learned at her mother’s knee, compassionate, obsessed, complicated, and intriguing. I really liked and rooted for her to come into her own. The story is hers and I came to know her well.
* Christian: tormented, talented, torn and yet deeper than he knows. Abandoned early in life and then again…he has suppressed feelings and has become a hermit. An artist, creator, caretaker and more compassionate than most. He intrigued me.
* The growing relationship between Rory & Christian was well-paced and perfect.
* Cricket: great canine friend and anchor for Rory
* Fatima, Earl & Jay: loved getting to know them.
* The way the story drew me in and kept me invested
* The way the serial killer was exposed and dealt with
* Getting to know the back stories of Rory and Christians – and how knowing those back stories fleshed out the characters and made this book so much “more”.
* The surprises, twists and turns
* Watching Rory and Christian come into their own and how the two balanced and enhanced one another
* Seeing the “true love” of more than one couple in the story
* The way grief was presented and the impact it had on Rory
* The way guilt preyed and festered and prevented moving on
* The way the title of the book suits this story.

What I didn’t like
* Thinking about the sadistic serial killer and what he was capable of
* Knowing that there are others out there in the world who are experiencing the same things that characters in this book went through and that they may not be fortunate enough to find a positive way to come through safely.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely!

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

[Tiffany Hannick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story will take you on a ride. Rory lost both her parents and her job in a short amount of time and the grief has impacted her in intense ways. She opens an antiques shop and after coming home from being out of town buying stuff she finds a dead woman in the ditch not far from her home. She also finds Christian in her home with a hurt leg. From the moment they saw one another the chemistry is off the charts. Both are broken and need to come to terms with grief in their lives. Their story is full of emotion and forgiveness. There are twists and turns that you don’t see coming. You will become so engrossed in the story that you won’t want it to end.

[Charlotte Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. Redemption Road is another incredibly-written bold, evocative, spine-chilling story of redemption that truly touched my soul. The characters are complex, raw, believable, making this a page-turning mystery that lingers in your thoughts long after the last word. The story is thought-provoking (so uncomfortably real in some parts that I actually cringed) and totally unputdownable. I read it in two days. I highly recommend this book to all mystery, romantic suspense and women's fiction readers. TEN STARS.

[BP34 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an intense romantic suspense book. Be warned there are some triggers like suicide, murder and Anorexia. The book is well written with plenty of drama and action. The book will grab your attention and have you page turning. Rory and Christian will definitely take you on an emotional roller coaster with plenty of twists. Their chemistry is off the charts. The characters are strong and multi layered. I read an arc copy via the author and voluntarily chose to write a review.

[Sandra R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This romance/drama starts off with a bit of a creepy vibe and Rory is clearly spiraling out of control (mentally), after her parent's death. A mysterious man has broken into her house, there are some strange 'goings on' and a suspense vibe. However, a lot of things become clear around half way through and I found this story quite interesting and unusual. There're aren't many steamy romance scenes, although our H/h are together most of the book and their romance is slow burn. It's very well written, with possible triggers for some. I enjoyed it. 4.5 stars.

[Terri McGhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a page turner! I couldn't put it down. Amanda has done another excellent job! I cried and laughed. I felt the emotion and depression of Rory's struggle after the death of her parents ... especially her mother. Christian pulls her through her depression while dealing with his own demons in his past and in the end they save each other. Their love story is one that you feel will last forever.

[Ik · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you say your book is a mystery, at least make it a mystery. There's a murder, but the identity of the murderer becomes apparant quite fast (to the reader, not the ignorant character who holds all the clues). No energy is put into the actual discovery of the murderer's identity in the book: they find out almost like in an afterthought. The same goes for a lot of other things, basically everything that could be called a mystery-bit. Imvesting in mystery was obviously not the goal of this book, which evolves mostly around the 'romance' between dependent, desperate Rory and Christian, who has no real personality whatsoever and basically exists in the book as a two dimensional rude man with a good body. We know this last bit right from the start since it's the only thing Rory falls for when they meet, which is when he broke into her home and for no apparent reason takes of all his clothes awaiting her return. The male-female roles are old-fashioned, so I was quite surprised to find out the book was written recently.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed this as an ARC
Rory is being consumed with her grief over losing her parents to the point it's now become detrimental to herself. Enter Christian. He aloof, intense and pulls at something inside of her she can't explain.
Amanda McKinney took me on a journey of twists, turns, and an emotional rollercoaster ride that is unforgettable. The circumstances that bind the characters in this book were gasp inducing and the very unexpected surprises nearly knocked me off my seat. This story will stick like glue.

[Suzana · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 + stars
*ARC kindly provided by the author and I’m leaving an honest review*

Amanda McKinney is back again with another powerful, riveting, engaging and invigorating book that’s filled with plenty of suspense, mystery, danger, love and healing. It left me breathless and enthralled. Redemption Road is written with so much depth and heart that will evoke every single emotion (like getting a whiplash because of occurrences that had me hanging on to every word, fast paced plot and a book hangover). I couldn’t help but be captivated by the amazingly written story and a raw, staggering, captivating, darkishly beautiful rollercoaster of a storyline that the author so skillfully intertwined and told. This book is a definite 5 star read! I was hooked from the very first page. The storyline was brilliant and the characters were amazing, raw, real, dealing with real life problems, feelings, demons and judgment. The first person POV added to the mystery and plot. From the moment Christian and Rory met I knew they could be great and good for each other.

��A gorgeous but slightly sullen, grumpy, damaged recluse hero with a weight of the world on his shoulders and demons he needs to overcome
★A jaded, vulnerable heroine who has been through so much and doesn’t know how strong she actually is
★Emotional roller coaster
★Off the charts chemistry
★Second chance
★Unpredictable twists and turns
★Enough emotional baggage to fill a room
★The mystery and danger they are thrown into
★All consuming
★Intense
★Passionate
★Heartfelt / Emotional
★Riveting / Engaging / Gritty/ Gripping/ Raw/ Suspenseful
★Page turner
★Remarkably written / Phenomenal story
★A beautiful love story

Christian and Rory’s story is an emotional, beautiful, deep, dark and raw love story. They challenge each other and make each other better. They shouldn’t work but they absolutely do. They are so smitten with each other. Their love story is messy, emotional, healing, insanely romantic, steamy and utterly beautiful with ALL.THE.FEELS. and SWOON. Of course there are mystery, lies, secrets and danger. Both are damaged, have their own demons and emotional baggage they need to overcome. They changed each other by teaching how to love and trust again. They are effortless and familiar and yet complicated and perplexing. The chemistry between Christian and Rory is undeniable and instant. Their love story is sexy, sweet, dangerous and slightly angsty. I loved their quirkiness, how real they are and their denial. Rory and Christian just work together; they fit and are effortless even though at times it doesn’t look like that because of obstacles – issues – danger - challenges. They are fun, sweet, hot, emotional and stubborn. The pace of the story added to their romance and to them figuring out place in life and how to take second chance. I was very invested in their story which hooked me in from the first page and had me rooting for their happy ending. They started some kind of an easy friendship which somehow turned into more. I love their development from the beginning to the end and that they are proof that love always wins.

An absolutely amazing book with everything you could possibly want if you love mysteries, suspense, romance and small town. With an effortless writing, awe-inspiring details, unputdownable, intense story and a journey of healing, finding faith again, forgiveness, second chance at love / believing in love, secrets, lies, mystery, self-discovery, the author takes us on an emotional, heartbreaking and beautiful journey of the characters and their struggles. THE. EPILOGUE. WAS. EVERYTHING. AND. MORE. I inhaled the pages and I CANNOT wait for the next adventure and what’s to come.

[Carey S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Rory Flanagan is returning home from an antique-hunting trip, and takes a side trip to a mansion estate sale where she embarrasses herself by kissing an ex-boyfriend. He’s now married, and rejects her. She is experiencing a horrible run of bad luck with the discovery of three separate dead bodies, and the stress is eating her alive. She has lost weight, and she lives in a perpetual state of fright. After she discovers the third body within walking distance of her own home, she calls the police and they spend several hours at the scene. When she finally walks into her front door, she discovers an injured guy—who is naked on her couch. He has eaten her food and consumed the wine she was saving for a special occasion. She is pissed off at the same time that she is concerned about his injury. She wants to help him, but she’s soaking wet from the rainstorm and standing out with the dead body, so she goes to change and when she returns, he is gone. Christian Locke is the man that she discovers in her home. He had been camping, and got injured and needed a place to recover before returning to his own home. Before he disappeared on Rory, he was very intrigued by her necklace, which is special to her as it belonged to her mother before she died. Christian isn’t the only one interested in the necklace either…

This story is interesting and keeps the reader spellbound. I could feel Rory’s tension as she discovers that third dead body, and her aggravation that her very limited funds need to replace the food that Christian eats after he breaks into her home. She’s feeling alone and stressed and depressed, and this author helps readers to experience those feelings right alongside Rory through her writing. Rory finally finds Christian again, and they actually end up in an alliance of sorts, and then later they become more. The serial killer is closer than Rory knows, and she actually helps to solve the case. In the meantime, she discovers a sense of renewal with Christian, as does he with Rory. And they discover an interesting history about her necklace…

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

She has nothing left to live for. She’s struggling to keep herself going and her body is showing the turmoil she’s been through and is still going through. She’s opened her own antiques shop, but she’s struggling to keep it open. When she finds a man on her couch in her house one night, her world is shaken up again. It seems that tragedy follows Rory Flanagan ever since her mother gave her the old necklace with the black butterfly on it.

He’s a loner. He was left on the steps of a church shortly after he was born. Adopted by a woman that worked for a prominent family in Berry Springs, Christian Locke is a man that has no family. He is a mystery to the town’s folk. People keep their distance from Christian.

There are a lot of secrets in Berry Springs. When a mysterious young woman is found in the ditch by Rory one night, the entire town is talking about it. Rory isn’t a stranger to the small-town talk, and when she encounters her bully from school at the crime scene, she finds herself worried about the talk in town being centered on her. This story is full of mystery, coincidences, twists, and tragedy. The necklace that Rory received from her mother has its own secrets and mystery surrounding it. When Rory finds a windchime that matches the necklace her curiosity gets the best of her then things really get interesting. I love the suspense, mystery, and characters in this book. I loved the book and found it hard to put down. I love a good who done it story and Redemption Road hits the mark perfectly. With the mystery of the necklace, the journal that Rory picks up, and death of a young woman found in a ditch, there was a lot to figure out in this book, but the twists and turns were nothing I was prepared for. I give this story a 5-star review and I am looking forward to more stories by Ms. McKinney.

[Marti]

Redemption Road by Amanda McKinney A Small Town Mystery Romance

Redemption Road by Amanda McKinney is a romantic suspense novel that has you gasping, crying, and laughing throughout the book. We meet Rory first. She has had her parents tragically killed and lost her job within a short amount of time. She is struggling with living and is not taking care of herself. While on her road home, she finds a dead woman and so starts a novel with lots of twists and turns.

We meet Christian - passed out naked on Rory’s couch. What a howdy! She briefly helps him and he disappears off. Rory is living and running on fumes and can’t deal with much more. She is starting a new shop and trying to make ends meet, but nothing is selling. The second time we meet Christian is when Rory tracks him down and we are introduced to Christian’s world.

Meanwhile, there is weird stuff going on and some of it seems (at least to Rory) centered around her necklace. However Christian is turning into a person who interests Rory. He will need a lot of work. The novel keeps ratcheting up the suspense until the end, when the ending is not expected.

I like Amanda McKinney’s writing and her novels. I was not as into this set of main characters and storyline as I have with her other novels. However, I read this to the end in one sitting and have every intention to keep reading her novels. Redemption Road had themes of redemption, which make the novel a feel good novel on top of the romance.

[Carmella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author and have agreed to leave an honest opinion.

Rory has lost both her parents in the last 6 months and now she is just a shell of her former self. Her grief consumes her and is jeopardizing her life by the sheer neglect of herself. Christian, an abandoned baby that was adopted has his own issues. His life is full of anger over his abandonment and an act he did leaves him with guilt also.

There is one thing that ties these two together and they don't even know it, a pendant given to Rory by her mother right before she died in a car accident. She never removes this pendant.

This story is full of pain that gives way to happiness, it gives this couple the answers they need to be together, be happy and have a future. It isn't an easy transformation for them, they have to learn their way over the bumps. It is also a story about family and the fact that family isn't always blood.

I liked seeing Rory and Christian getting to know one another. They are pretty outspoken and it is hard for them to trust. At the same time they both feel an attraction toward one another which only adds to the tension. Both also have issues with control, which is always hard to let go of!

Nice cast of characters, from Christian's tenants and the older man living on another part of his property that he has never seen to Abram, whom Rory rents her store from. There is also the mystery of the young woman who's body washed up...

I really enjoyed this book! I have to say, I love the way Rory met Christian!....but you have to read it to find out!

[Ellen YS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hauntingly captivating

Similar to Rattlesnake Road I would classify this book as Female Literature speckled with Cozy Mystery under the broad umbrella of Romance. This is not romantic suspense where we have a traditional hero saving the heroine from physical harm. I feel the warning is important as the cover may convey a more traditional romantic suspense story, leaving the author not meeting some readers' expectations.

Rory has lost both her parents in short succession, but the death of her mother haunts her the most. Lost in a feeling of nothingness, her life spirals out of control, and her mental health suffers greatly. Rory has anorexia, and the book starts with a suicide attempt which we only later learn was Rory One night, she finds a dead body (the obvious mystery) as well as a mystery man taking shelter in her home while healing from a hiking injury.

Christian is an enigma, abandoned at a church as a baby, his first adoptive mother died, and his second adoptive family shuns him in his teenage years. As a result, he prefers isolating himself from others and eschews relationships in general.

As the story unfolds, we find that both Rory and Christian have less obvious mysteries surrounding them. And as this is a book, nothing is quite as it appears, and we find interwoven lifelines and events that shaped our characters. In addition, there is a unique depth in how the author treats both MCs emotionally-driven character development. In the end, this is a slow burn romance, and the threads are expertly woven into a great tapestry of a story. However, I have one disappointment in the story related to the killer in our obvious mystery element. I thought the resolution was too easy and not as satisfying as it could have been.

[Keira S · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW : Death, (attempted) suicide, visceral description of a dead body, suicidal thoughts, ED

I was pleased to be provided with an ARC from the author after reading Rattlesnake Road. (Which is pretty much my favorite book so far!) Thank you Amanda for the ARC. All thoughts are of my own.

Let's get down to it then.

What did I like?
- Writing style. Amanda's a wordsmith!
- Depiction of mental health and eating disorders.
- Twists and turns in the book. Very engaging for sure.
- Unique characters.
- Coming full circle. (The necklace)

What could've been better?
- Overall the book ended on a very wholesome note, but the resolution in regards to the killer left me unsatisfied. (At around 75%-80% mark of the book.) I wish there was more to it than just a scene used to pique my interest.
- Rory's behavior towards Jake at the cemetery. I couldn't come to terms with the term of events. I wish there was an explanation as to why the police thought she was crazy and there had been no van or track marks. How did that evidence vanish?
- I admire the author's attempt to tie up every loose end with an explanation, but real people don't always get the answer to every question asked.
- There was a teaser in Rattlesnake Road in regards to Christian, I wish Grey and Declan had made an appearance in this one too. Freaking love Declan...

Overall, it's a wonderful book. Very well written with an intense plot. 3.8/5!

[Nikki Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this fabulously evocative series. The books deal with strong issues in a heartfelt and sympathetic way, neither glamourising nor downplaying the issues. The leads are gloriously complicated and well fleshed out and as with all good books, the author makes you want to shake them while also wanting to give them a cuddle!

Rory fell down a well of grief and doesn't quite know how to get herself out. She lost both her parents in a tragedy and the only thing keeping her going at the moment is her antique shop. When she returns from a short trip, she almost literally falls over a dead body. Already rattled by her find she is stunned to find a large, injured male on her sofa! Quite clearly under the influence of alcohol, he makes off into the darkness.

Christian can't quite believe the fool he made of himself - breaking into people's homes is not what he does. He has demons of his own, abandonment and then being adopted by the least emotional parents ever. But in Rory he finds a kindred spirit. He's not about to let her come to harm - either from herself or others.

There are some triggers to be aware of *suicide/intense grief/eating disorders*

OMW these broken souls call to each other from first meeting. Rory really needs someone to help pull her out of the black fog she is mired in and Christian needs someone to see the generous, helpful soul he tried to hide under all that gruff! I love his little commune and the "family" he has made with his tenants. There are lots of intricate parts to the story and I loved tugging on all those little strings to see what they unleashed!

[Toni M. Dunkleberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real people with real issues.

I've always enjoyed Amanda McKinney's writing and reading this book was no exception. We meet Rory, on the heels of the loss of her Mother and her Father. She literally had no one except for her sweet, three-legged dog Cricket. I felt her depression deeply as she was very close to her Mother.

Coming home one night after going to an estate sale which was so funny, especially after an embarrassing encounter with an old flame. Talk about a gal that was just a train-wreck. Bless her heart, she had a beaten up old truck, she was broke (sort of), but very talented. She comes upon the body of a woman on the road to her home and winds up getting herself arrested when she punches a former school mate.

After finally making it home she discovers someone sleeping on her couch, a very naked and buff Christian Locke. Their story takes off from here, two very damaged individuals, Rory with the loss of her parents, and Christian lost in his own thoughts and feeling like a throwaway.

This story was heart-wrenching from both characters. There was one point in the book that I just had to finish to see what happened. Not giving anything away, but very surprised at the end but also very happy too.This book made me laugh and cry and I couldn't put it down!

[Judi Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't read this one fast enough. Amanda McKinney can really write a romance, thriller and a book that will tug at your heart. Her books have me from the first page!

You know they say anything could be happening when you are reading a book and you wouldn't know it, well this is how her books are! She has definitely moved to my #1 spot.

Okay, in this one Rory Flanagan grew up poor but has the riches with her family. Her mother had attended a flea market and boughta necklace for Rory which she always wears. It does have mysterious symbols and writings on it and even though she is an antique dealer, she has never seen anything like it before. But, her mother was killed in a car accident, and her father just couldn't face live without her and he died 6 months later. Rory is left to struggle on her own and is so depressed she feels like she has nothing to live for and is gradually starving herself to death.

I can't tell you too much about this book as every page is something new, from the man she finds in her home that has been living there for days while she away on an antique buying week, to her 3 legged dog, Cricket who you will fall in love with!

Just grab this book, clear your calendar because if you like romance, a mystery, laughter, surprises and a heartwarming story that is what you will get when you are reading her books!!!

[Rhonda Brant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll tell you what, not many authors can write a book that has the hairs on your neck standing up on end one moment, to laughing, to crying, to OMG no way, throughout the entire story, Redemption Road is definitely a rollercoaster of emotions. Rory is the broken woman who has pretty much lost everything, Christian is also a broken soul that is a recluse, both for similar reasons, both have huge issues to overcome, but when these two meet, it’s definitely something you don’t get over right away. There are a couple of authors that I read that have a knack of writing book after book that just sucks you in from the beginning and doesn’t let you go until the very last page, that doesn’t always happen, but Amanda McKinney is definitely one of those authors, her books are heart stopping, emotional, scary as hell in places, and really tugs at your heart strings, making it a page turner that you stay up late to get to the end. Loved every moment of this book, very much looking forward to her next adventure. Definitely worth the read, and this one is definitely going in my permanent library.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

[Anna Stewart McCall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Christian and Rory's story (we met Christian in Rattlesnake Road). Rory lands in Berry Springs, grief-stricken after losing both of her parents and recovering from a suicide attempt. She meets Christian when she comes home and finds him naked and passed out on her couch. (Is there a dark version of a meet-cute? If so, this is it.) Rory is trying to get an antique store off the ground, recover, and get healthy, and Christian has his own demons.

I love Amanda McKinney, but this is darker than her usual stuff, so tread carefully if you have triggers. Both of these characters are so broken, and the way they help and love each other is gut-wrenching and beautiful all at once. I can't wait for her next one!

What I liked:
-The story was excellent. It was multi-layered and complicated but flowed together seamlessly.
-The themes of health, recovery, and forgiveness
-Fatima and Earl, the tenants that live in the main part of the house Christian owns. They're lively, loving, and funny.
-Hot sexy times!

What I didn't like:
-It's not so much that I didn't like it, just that it won't be one I'll read over and over again. It's dark and deep.

[Claire Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Redemption Road is yet another masterpiece by Amanda Mckinney.

A rollercoaster of emotions right from the beginning of the book. Cristian and Rory's story has everything. The broody alpha male and the heroine both have ghosts in their past and need to heal. But is it that they just both needed to find each other.

A heart warming tale, I really couldn't put this book down and read it in less than a day thanks to Amanda's skill of pulling you into the story. i immediately fell in love with both of the characters and loved the way their love for each other blossomed out of a need to both be saved.

I have always been a believer in fate bringing two people together, and Redemption Road truly is a story of fate.

Amanda thank you again for a beautiful story, one that I am so thankful I was able to read. And the ending was absolutely perfect. I encourage everyone to read this book, you will not be disappointed and can't wait to read your next novel.

I received an ARC of Redemption Road and am voluntarily leaving this review

[Sharon Grow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The grief over the death of her beloved mother is followed six weeks later by the heart attack death of Rory Flanagan’s father. In debt and working to establish her new antique business, Rory comes across the savaged body of a young woman who washed ashore. After dealing with the police, she arrives home to find a naked man on her couch, a very large naked and injured man. Christian Locke lives near Rory and although they prefer their solitude, their dedication to their art brings them closer. Christian was abandoned as a baby and never felt close to the family who adopted him. This story has so much emotion and for me, “aha” moments, as each new twist to the story develops. Will he confront his abandonment issues and will she find peace knowing that she was blessed to have such loving parents? Will they gain strength from each other to finally let go of the past they can’t change to move forward and claim the love and happiness they deserve? A beautiful story of hope and recovery. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation from the author. (by paytonpuppy)

[Anne G. Kasaba · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written romantic suspense book from an author that is known for this genre. I enjoyed the story but felt it got a slow start. This was a bit different than the other books I've read by this author as it dealt more with mental health as the issue the protagonist is dealing with rather than danger. There is an underlying mystery that threads throughout the book and a secondary protagonist also dealing with issues more headspace related issues.

Rory is reeling from the death of both her parents within months of each other. Then she finds a young girls body. She's reached her breaking point. Christian has closed himself off after being abandoned by his birth parents, having an adoptive mother die, and being raised by adoptive parents who aren't very loving. Thrown together reluctantly, first by fate and then in a business deal, they begin to heal each other. But strange things keep happening to Rory and they have to solve to mystery to keep moving forward.

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.

[JP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings about this one…

I started off with a very strong dislike for the heroine. She seemed petty, self-pitying, and self-absorbed. Breaking the Aangel at the estate sale, getting upset that her ex is no longer pining over her even though she dumped him, yet she still appears to be bitter about it. Then kissing him, knowing he’s married, so she can feel better about her patheticness. Awful start.

Luckily she evolves and begins to show a stronger, less selfish side, so there’s that. But I could never understand why the murder was even a part of the story. It served no purpose other than a poorly bolted-on plot device to try to give the book the “darker feel” this series was supposed to have. That part of the story felt poorly thought-out and unnecessary. It also took way to long to get to the resolution/redemption. There seemed to be a number of things that just weren’t necessary or could have been more tightly woven in. Overall, would cautiously recommend, but it’s not one of her best.

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Redemption Road absolutely blew my mind. I could not put it down, and it’s not my typical kind of read. It’s not a high action, super suspenseful kind of novel although, to be fair, there are those moments as well. This was a harrowing and hauntingly beautiful story of dealing with loss, finding friendship and love, and discovering your new normal.
Rory and Christian were strangers that seem drawn together by fate. Christian was the broody outsider with hidden talents that show his true capacity for finding beauty. Rory is heartbroken and fractured with raw real pain, yet she pushes to keep going and find her way. When things get to be too much they find a new path together, which is the unlikeliest of places.
I was drawn into this story by the all too real personalities of the characters, and by the crazy circumstances that are circling them. This is an amazing read. Don’t miss it!!

[A Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the interest of full disclosure, I read the ARC copy. I read the book in one sitting. My husband provided 2 glasses of wine so that I could remain seated in my chair. There are not many books that enroll me in the story from the first page.

I am on my second read as I think that I missed some of the nuances in the first read. It is Christian and Rory's story. It is complex, dark, and compelling. It makes you want to turn the page and get the next part of the story.

I am not going to give the plot line away. There are traumatic events that directly impact both Christian and Rory. What is so compelling about the story is the path that they take to grow as individuals and eventually together.

I would give it 10 stars if I could.