Stolen English

Mediterranean #2

by Natasha Boyd

Almost ten years ago Andrea escaped an abusive husband to a life she'd never imagined. Being protected and anonymous, and living on a luxury yacht as crew saved her. It also came with one very bossy, hot, thorn in her side: Head of Security, Evan Roark.

But now Andrea has had enough of hiding and letting her past dictate her every move. The problem is Evan is also on her every move and it’s driving her dilly. Even more so because she’s had a massive crush on him that’s now getting a little too intense with him being in her space all the time. He’s always been there, her protector and her beacon, and always looking so damn fine, but she needs to get out and meet more people stat—the attraction is obviously totally situational. However, she hasn’t been with someone in so long, she feels panicked and frigid, and only Evan seems capable of touching her in a way that makes her body crave more rather than shut down. He’d be the perfect practice on this new journey of freedom she’s taken. It’s a pity he’s never given any indication he might be open to that.

... Until he accidentally does.

What will it take to have them both give in to what has been there for longer than either of them knew? Unfortunately, it might be that Andrea has painted a target on herself by filing for divorce and a panicked Evan will now not let her out of his sight. Which means he’s having to come to terms with the fact that his feelings for her run deeper than he ever dared admit. And he’s having to face the inevitable—she’s going to make him break all of his rules, break down all of his walls, and tell her a truth he’s been hiding for almost ten years. And in the process, probably break his own heart.

Set against the back drop of Southern France, in and around a tiny village reminiscent of Belle’s in Beauty and The Beast, rather than out at sea, STOLEN ENGLISH, is about Andrea, with Evan’s help, trying to recapture a life that was stolen from her a long time ago, a life he may know more about than he’s letting on.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary Romance, Forced Proximity, Audiobook, Slow Burn

458 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 22, 2022

About the author

Natasha Boyd (writing romance as Tasha Boyd) is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of both historical fiction and contemporary romance. Her historical fiction novel THE INDIGO GIRL was long-listed for the Southern Book Prize and was a Southern Independent Booksellers' Association OKRA PICK. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and lives with her husband, two sons and the cast of characters in her head.

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second book by this author but I think I liked Accidental Tryst better. This was set up like a romantic suspense book but then suddenly there was zero suspense. And at that point the book kind of dragged a bit for me.

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

Andrea + Evan

Before you start reading this book please read Broken French first.
Both are standalones, but all the people are in both books!
And this one spoils a tiny little bit in the beginning, because when Stolen English starts, Broken French is not yet done!

Okay. Andrea and Even. There have been sparks for years.
Both are working on Xavier's yacht.
Well, Andrea is the chief steward and works only five months of the year on the yacht and Evan is Xavier's security guy and best friend - so he's around Xavier all year.
Ten years ago Andrea got out of a very dangerous marital situation and Xavier hired her to work on his boat.
Andrea and the reader don't know exactly what happened back then or how deep Evan is involved with things.
Andrea just turned 33 and she thinks that she's finally able to leave the security of the yacht and live a normal life. She got a job in a museum and a cute little apartment in the little town of Saint Paul de Vence.
But Evan is not letting her go that easily. How can he keep on protecting her when she's not on the yacht anymore?
So he rents the room next to hers for the next few months.

LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN ...

══════════════════




ADORABLE!

I loved Broken French so much, so this book didn't have it easy with me. But I really loved it! It didn't have the same exact oomph for me though ... It had all the things: a super hot bodyguard hero, romance, suspense, sparks, sexy times, funny times, heartbreaking times, sightseeing times, adorable moments, et cetera. And I really enjoyed reading it and I LOVE Evan and Andrea so much. I just loved Xavier and his girls a tiny bit more.
Maybe it was Andrea's sad past that made the mood a bit darker. And also the wasted years made me a bit sad or maybe even somewhat angry at them.
But that doesn't mean that this second book was bad in any way.
You won't be able to stop reading - you need to find out how everything will end.

Like the first book, this one was pretty long - and I could say that it was a tiny bit too long with a few scenes or back and forth moments that could've been cut. But it's still all so very read-worthy. Nothing was too much or redundant - I could've read another 150 pages. But it still felt a tiny bit long at various points. No idea what I mean. LOL.

I would not mind seeing these two books as two seasons of a show on Netflix one day. With all the beautiful places and the eating and drinking and the hot guys!

From the beautiful cover to the last scenes in the final epilogue - this was a such a sweet + heartwarming romance with some very serious topics! READ IT!

STOLEN ENGLISH was such a beautiful + heartwarming + sparky + sexy + french + british 'finally' love story. Run to your nearest book dealer to get your own Evan - this one is MINE!




💜 💜

[Just A Girl With Spirit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy forking shirt balls!! 5 fabulous stars for this slow burn so achingly delicious, it had my lower tummy in a knot the whole time. Tasha Boyd y’all. I’m telling you if you don’t know who she is do yourself a favor and get aquatinted. I thought I was crazy over Broken French, which I was, but Stolen English took it next level and that’s all because of Evan Roark. That man is so grumpy, gruff and hot..I loved seeing parts in the story when the armor would crack due to his feelings for Andrea. Only the right author can pull of a bodyguard trope and make it so much more. Natasha Boyd did that. This book brought about emotions so deep and intense that there were times my eyes leaked and I didn’t realize. Seeing Andrea bloom into the glorious sunflower that Evan always knew she was made the story. The heroine is running from her abusive husband and 9 years have passed..Evan. Freaking Evan always protecting, watching and loving from afar.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but not only is this a journey for Andrea healing and awakening into that work in progress, but also a sexual awakening too. When she asks Evan to erase what was before..have mercy. When he asks for consent before doing things —HOTTT. He is now on my top 10 of book boyfriends. He IS the yummiest kind. Protective, controlling, stubborn, sexy asf and yet when Andrea looks at him all of that melts. Swoon on top of swoon y’all. I love this book.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very slow burn BRAD. Good story, low spice. I liked Broken French better than this but really like this author's work! Bodyguard romance. Note: deals with topics of abuse.

[♥ℳelody · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what happened but this was a disappointing follow up to Broken French. I'm now kinda wishing I put up a review for that one just to compare. Oh well. This tried so hard yet showed so very little for it. I was so eager and excited to get my hands on brooding hunky bodyguard Evan and mysterious Andrea's story when a sequel was announced but what we got left me wanting unfortunately. Nothing happens in this. Literally. The romance was boring. The chemistry was non-existent, the dialogue was super cheesy and stilted and read almost like bad YA fanfic at times with the way these two acted. Are we sure this is the same Natasha Boyd who wrote Deep Blue Eternity? Cause it certainly didn’t feel that way. I don't mean that as a dig but more like genuine shock.

Both hero and heroine drove me insane with the constant internalizing in circles and repeating themselves ad nauseam. It almost felt like Boyd had nothing planned for the plot so she had her MC's working themselves up and talking in circles just to fill up the book. The heroine Andrea is written like a hormonal confused teenager, who says one thing yet does another. She's always misreading everything and going from 0 to 180 and then back again a few pages later like nothing happened and it gave me a headache. It made no sense. She's constantly misunderstanding the hero Evan and lashing out but then flirting and giggling with him 5 minutes later. I was confused. She kept saying her attraction to the hero was "situational" how she'll get over her crush and wanting space from him, yet when he says the same thing to her and wanting space she gets upset with him. You can say it but he can't? lol She goes to such lengths in not telling him her new address because she can't stand his hovering and doesn't believe she's in danger but the minute she finds out she is in fact in danger she blames him for not protecting her. 🥴 Which is it? The both of them made my head spin.

The hero Evan for his part was useless. He also didn't make much sense. How are you protecting the woman you love from danger by hiding it from her? *crickets chirping* Evan is so hung up on protecting Andrea because of THE DANGER™️! He can't touch her because of THE DANGER™️! He can't kiss her because of THE DANGER™️! He can't tell her how he feels because of The DANGER™️! Well the danger doesn't really play much of a part in this if any at all which made the whole story feel utterly pointless. For a supposed high stakes romance that culminates after 10 years of mutual secret pining and protecting the heroine secretly and hiding from a dangerous ex, nothing exciting happens. There's no drama, no urgency, no suspense, nothing. Give me something other than a camping trip for your couple to spend time together. They are literally sitting ducks in the small French village. Evan is so over the top about Andrea's safety and hypothetical danger and making decisions for her but he does nothing for it in the end.



The reveal at the end is so underwhelming and anticlimactic regarding the hero's connection to the heroine's abusive husband Angus. It's so convoluted and at parts didn't really make sense timeline wise. Why and how would Evan know to check on Andrea when she was with her husband? How did he know she was being abused? At this point he hasn't even met her or know of her....? Much less how did he know what hospital she was at? His mother working at the same clinic didn't explain that connection enough. She just decides to tell him about a random stranger that showed up where she works? Why? It just raised more questions than answers. There were so many holes in the backstory. At least the way Boyd explained it was very confusing. Stuff wasn't adding up. It was also alluded to more than once that Angus did awful things while in the army with Evan overseas as the big tie in but those awful "terror filled" things are never revealed and kind of skimmed over. There were one too many coincidental things that were revealed as "surprise" twists in the end that made it hard to swallow for me. That last twist as far as past connections go was so unnecessary and you have to suspend all belief to buy it. My eyes rolled so hard they hurt. The abusive ex-husband turning out to be the same bully from the hero's childhood who destroyed his favorite bike. I mean...seriously??

And I don’t think I’ve ever read a masturbation scene that was more cringe and unsexy than the one in this book. It's during the camping trip while the hero and heroine are sharing a tent and Andrea is so hot and bothered she's gotta get off and tell the hero about it.

“Do you ever put your fingers inside yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Do it now. Maybe that will help,” he added as if he was a kindly doctor just helping me out. For some reason the way he said it made me even hotter.

Like a kindly doctor....? Girl WHAT? 😳 The sexy times are not sexy but awkward with the heroine always initiating things and begging the hero who keeps pushing her away. It was uncomfortable and felt like 2 horny teenagers fumbling about. Which is another issue I had, Andrea's actions in this didn't make sense given her backstory. She's been in hiding and on the run from her abusive husband for 10 years, she's terrified of intimacy and touching when it comes to men and yet here she's always the one initiating things, offering blow jobs to "change his mind" and trying to flirt with him and telling him how hot he makes her. It felt so inconsistent to her history. And it also came off desperate and at times aggressive instead of brave. And why on earth did the heroine need to make the final grand gesture??? The hero broke her heart and broke it off with her and yet she's the one who needed to give him a grand sign in the end? Whaaaaat? Excuse me sir, I call foul. Mr. I-Kept-Pushing-You-Away-But-I-Needed-a-Sign-from-You was the definition of absurd. Did I mention how nothing about this book made any sense?

Also, both hero and heroine are British but you wouldn't even know it with their dialogue. They both talk like Americans but suddenly their British "accents" and slang appear in the epilogue when they are back in England. Is that how accents work according to Boyd? I can't help but point out that both hero and heroine are in their mid to late 30's but talked and acted like hormonal teenagers, Andrea in particular. All the "ugh'ing" "holy shit" "perv the shit out of" and "look through your shit" didn't feel sexy or fit their characters. This book was a mess and missed it's mark entirely for me. :(

[readingromantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝗠𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱, 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘇𝘆."

Broken French is a comfort read for me, and I was so excited for Evan and Andrea's story in Stolen English. I was not prepared for it to blow my expectations out of the water!

The danger! The mystery! The pining! The banter and the growth! And you guys, this man. THIS MAN. I'll let the quotes above speak for themselves. This book has become an immediate favorite and comfort read for me.

Stolen English includes:
🌻 Forced Proximity
🌻 Only One Tent
🌻 Sunshine but grumbly and protective MMC
🌻 It's Always Been You
🌻 Dual POV

I highly recommend reading Broken French first! It is not necessary, but adds to the story and is a Single Dad Widowed Billionaire romance that takes place on the yacht Evan and Andrea work on! It is also a favorite of mine and I'm so excited that Stolen English lived up to it and more!

❗Check trigger warnings! Past domestic abuse.❗

[Peggy M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntarily, honest review of it.

After reading and loving ‘Broken French’ (the first book in this series) I was really looking forward to reading this story. Especially since Andrea and Evan were both important secondary characters in the first book and I really wanted to know their love story too. But they weren’t the only familiar faces in this story, we got to meet a lot of the crew members that worked on Xavier’s yacht again. But don’t worry if you haven’t read ‘Broken French’ yet, ‘Stolen English’ can be read as a standalone too.

Nine years ago Andrea ran away from her abusive husband Angus. She traded England for France and found a new and safe place to start a new life (under a new name), far away from her husband. With the support of her colleagues, her employer Xavier and specifically Evan, the chief of security, Andrea managed to rebuild her self-confidence and the wounds of the past, all in the knowledge that she was safe. In those nine years, she worked as a chief steward on Xavier’s yacht in the summer months and in the winter months she worked in an art gallery. But she has now come to a point in her life where she is ready for the next step. She’s ready for love and maybe even a family of her own (inspired by witnessing the love between Xavier and Josie). So she makes the difficult decision to not only file for divorce, something that will surely anger her husband, but she also resigns as chief steward, leaving he security of Evan and his team. A decision that will not only change her life but also Evan’s life, because he will keep her safe if she wants to or not. Can Evan protect her against danger and will Andrea find love again, maybe with Evan?

‘Stolen English’ is a slow burn romance story that takes place in France. The main characters are both British but they work and live in France. You get both POV’s in the story. This story doesn’t take place on the yacht but in a charming little French village where you get to experience everyday life and taste French food and wine. I really liked the French atmosphere in this story.

Both Evan and Andrea were great characters. Evan was loyal, trustworthy, dependable, protective, organized, bossy and stubborn, so his job as chief of security was perfect for him. He could also be charming if he wanted to. Andrea was a kind, brave, intelligent, sensitive, hardworking and strong character. Although you could feel an attraction between Evan and Andrea from the beginning, both hid it for their own personal reasons. But when Andrea left her job and Evan’s protection, Evan was forced to think about his behaviour and feelings for Andrea. But influenced by his protective nature and Andrea’s past, Evan felt that Andrea should make the first move in their relationship. For me personally, I would have liked it more if he had shown her his feelings sooner. Yes, she was sensitive but I also think that she really knew what she wanted. Of course, his own past and the fact that he was trained to protect her made it hard for him to let go and show her his true feelings. I can understand his insecurities but I still had some trouble with it. Especially because it made Andrea doubt not only his feelings for her, but also herself.

I thought that I knew how this story would go but the writer did manage to surprise me here and there. I liked that! Although this was a slow burn story there were a few sex scenes in it too.
Andrea’s past as a victim was mentioned in the story, you got a glimpse here and there of what had happened but not in graphic detail. This wasn’t a dark story, it was a story about hope and being strong.

I really loved the secondary characters in this story. You had the crew of the yacht, Chef, Rod, Meg and Sue and we got to see a little bit of Xavier and Josie too. They had a strong bond, even during the winter months on land and they were supportive an loyal friends. I liked that very much. A new character in the story was Marianne, the owner of the little village house Andrea rented, she was funny and charming. A very likeable character. We even got to meet Evan’s parents.

‘Stolen English’ was a good slow burn story about letting go of your fear and fighting for love.

[Tina Schrader · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you are a lifelong passionate reader, there are things you always dream of - like advanced reader copies. Listen, to read a book before everyone else can - yes please! So when @tashaboyd asked in her Newsletter to apply to get one, I did so. Lightning fast. And I got one. This made me super happy, because I would have preordered the book anyway. Thank you, Tasha!
I‘ve read every single book Tasha published since the Eversea books, that I love and actually love to re-read if the situation requires a comfort read and recommend often.
The Eversea books are the romantic books, and the tryst books the funny books, but the broken/ stolen books are the more serious one - the protagonists in these books (broken French was the first one) are dealing with some serious issues.
Andrea left a violent husband and barely managed to survive. She spent the last nine years as crew on a yacht in the Mediterranean. Evan works on the same boat, but as a bodyguard for Andrea‘s boss, but it was also his job to keep Andrea safe. And maybe also his mission, but Andrea isn’t sure about that.
Now, Andrea has enough, she doesn‘t want her old life back, but a real life back. And maybe she also wants Evan to be a part of her life, but Evan feels he can only do one thing at a time: either keeping Andrea safe from her abusive husband or be the guy at her side. But how can he chose his feelings for her over her safety?
Set in South of France (beam me there right now, please) this is exactly the book you need on cold winter nights.
Tasha is a psychologist, and it shows. She isn‘t a write who publishes a book every few months, you sometimes need so patience to wait for a new one. But she also really cares for her characters, and I actually really like that their story makes sense to me - there are reason why the figures behave the way they do, and this really appeals to me.
I still do hope the French language errors got fixed meanwhile 🙈
If you want to read broken French as well, you should definitly start with it, stolen English will spoil broken French.
Tasha, I really hope I don’ t have to wait years for Gabriel’s and Rod’s story in Broken /stolen Spanish (you are SO going to write it, right? RIGHT?)
thanks for fulfilling my ARC dreams, if you ever need me again, I am your girl :-)

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm afraid I was solely disappointed by this book.
The story was a clear case of self-doubt and self-sacrifice from both MC's, because they each know better what the other deserves and feels and it was frustrating to be in both their heads. My annoyance with this fact prevented me from enjoying it much.
So maybe it was a "it's not you it's me" situation and others might love this story more than me.

[rach⭑ · Rating 1 out of 5]

1⭑

I loved Broken French so went into this book with high expectations that were NOT met. This book was awful and I’m surprised i finished it.

Idk how to put into words how I feel about this book so here’s my lists of things I didn’t like lol.

- main characters had no personality, they were straight up boring
- main characters had no chemistry despite being friends for 10 years; their relationship was just bland.
- female main character was doing all the chasing, to the point she looked desperate and it was making me cringe so bad
- male main character kept pissing me off for no reason
- both main characters are English but speak like Americans*
- the plot of the book was rushed
- I just didn’t like it lolllll

*note to authors - if you make your characters British, stick to that and have them use British words/phrases. If you don’t, all you’re telling me is that you just made them British for no reason and that you were too lazy to do any research.

[Kahlan23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aj keď bola Francúzska lekcia mimo moje komfortné žánre, jej čítanie som si užila. Bola to príjemná oddychovka s letnou atmosférou. A preto som sa tešila aj na pokračovanie tejto knihy v podobe Anglickej lekcie. Postavy Evana a Andrei ma zaujali už vo FL. Bola som teda zvedavá aký bude ich príbeh. Musím priznať, že práve ich príbeh sa mi páčil o kúsoček viac ako ten Josiein a Xavierov.

Andrea kedysi ušla pred násilníckym manželom. Pracovala ako hlavná stevardka na luxusnej jachte. Po takmer 10 rokoch sa rozhodla prestať skrývať. Podala žiadosť o rozvod, dala výpoveď a chce začať od znova, možno aj zamilovať sa. Nebude to však ľahké. Stále sa bojí, žeby ju mohol nájsť jej manžel. No je ochotná to podstúpiť aby mohla byť konečne voľná. Jej odchod však nevidí tak ružovo Evan, ktorý sa stará o ochranu rodiny Pascale a jej zamestnancov. Má svoje dôvody, prečo Andreu tak veľmi chráni. Nedovolí aby sa jej niečo stalo keď sa na obzore objaví potenciálna hrozba. Skrýva sa za jeho potrebou chrániť ju niečo viac? A čo vzájomná príťažlivosť, ktorej sú si obaja vedomí? Odolajú jej alebo podľahnú?

Anglická lekcia je kniha, ktorá klame obálkou. Myslíte si že v nej nájdete horúcu romancu skríženú so štipkou erotiky. Ale pod jej povrchom sa skrýva príbeh s naozaj silnou a ťažkou temnou. Tú autorka votkala do príbehu dvoch ľudí, ktorí si hľadajú k sebe cestu. Páčilo sa mi ako autorka dokázala príbehu práve touto témou domáceho násilia dodať istú vážnosť a tak nešlo o ľahkú a presladenú romancu. Myslím, že obe linky aj tá romantická aj tá vážnejšia boli napísané a spracované celkom fajn. Romantická linka bola síce vo svojej podstate veľmi jednoduchá, ale príjemná. Chémia medzi Andreou a Evanom bola neskutočná. Aleže naozaj neskutočná. Napätie medzi nimi by sa dalo krájať. No obidvaja sa svojím citom z istých osobných dôvodov bránia. Postupne prichádzajú na to, že odolať jeden druhému je čoraz ťažšie. Zároveň nad oboma visí tieň v podobe Andreinho manžela. Nad každým z iných dôvodov.

Na postave Andreii bol badať ten vývoj ako sa postupne dostávala z ulity, do ktorej ju vohnal jej manžel a ako sa menila. Ako nadobúdala sebavedomie a bála sa čoraz menej až sa dokázala svojej minulosti postaviť. Ozaj som sa bála, že ako sa táto dejová linka vyvinie a jej rozuzlenie ma prekvapilo. Andrea bola konečne voľná. Čakala ju však už len posledná konfrontácia na ceste za jej šťastím. Tu si musel uvedomiť isté veci aj Evan a potom im už nič nebránilo v ich spoločnej ceste.

Anglická lekcia bola príjemným pokračovaním tejto série, ktoré isto zaujalo. Kniha sa čítala dobre a rýchlo. Ak nad ňou uvažujete, siahnite pred ňou ešte po Francúzskej lekcii, nakoľko sa tieto dve časti v istých momentoch prelínajú. Ja som zvedavá či autorka bude ďalej pokračovať v tejto sérií a ak hej, ktorým z postáv venuje priestor tentoraz. Jeden typ by som mala.

[H-e-l-e-n-a · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andrea ha vivido 'escondida', huyendo de un esposo violento y manipulador. Después de casi diez años, ha decidido poner un alto, pedir el divorcio, y luchar por recuperar su libertad y paz mental.

Evan, como jefe de seguridad de las empresas Pascale, ha tenido un ojo siempre en la situación de Andrea. Ahora que ella ha decidido renunciar a la empresa y tomar las riendas de su vida, Evan corre como gallina sin cabeza tratando de protegerla de la inminente aparición del esposo violento.


El libro me mantuvo enganchada el 75% de él. Ése final tan anticlimático no me gustó nada. Mis expectativas se fueron al suelo en 5 segundos. Digo, super bien que sufriera Angus, pero 'quería ver' que le dieran su merecido, no que me lo contara un tercero que ni idea tenía que existía. 😕

📖
"...You have so much life in you. You always have. It gets brighter every day. I can’t wait to watch you following the sun."

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 - I was so intrigued by Andrea’s story after reading Broken French so knowing this was coming, I was so excited for her to find her happily ever after with Evan. They both deserved it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, totally fell in love with both Evan and Andrea, I’m so glad they found happiness and finally realised that they belong together.

Andrea has been through so so much but to get her through those dark times, she has her protector Evan always in the background making sure she’s safe. I loved how it all came out at the end, it really was meant to be.

“Because you are, Evan. You are everywhere I want to be. You are my beacon. My lighthouse. And wherever you are, I know I’m safe.”

Thank you so much Tasha for the arc!

[Karsyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like these characters, I hope there’s another book!
I think I liked book 1 more, this book was founded on the miscommunication/lack of communication trope 😂 and while normally I’d hate that, I didn’t mind it so much this time around given the circumstances. I also loved the little reveals towards the end, I was NOT expecting one in particular. So I’d give it a 3.5/5 rounding up to 4

[Megan ~The Never Ending Book Basket · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natasha Boyd continues to be an author who I can count on for an epic and unforgettable and all feeling romance that I will truly treasure. I have read and loved every single one of her books. They are utterly incredible, truly breathtaking and beautiful, and they have given me some of the most epic love stories I have ever experienced. They are truly more in the best way and I really don’t have enough words to really capture what it’s like to experience one of her love stories. They are just that unforgettable and outstanding and utterly amazing to experience.

Stolen English was yet another example of why this author is one of my all-time favorites.

This book was captivating from the very first word. It was bursting with such vibrancy and personality from these characters, and that combined with the fiery connection that was ready to topple them both over in every moment, was literally everything. Combine that with the beautiful setting of this book, the phenomenal characters that make up this world and this family, and throw in just everything that Evan and Andrea were building between them, and you have the making of a perfect love story.

I loved every word of this book. I loved being back in this world with characters that I fell so hopelessly in love with when I was reading Broken French. I loved getting to see Evan and Andrea fight like hell against everything they were feeling, only to feel that glorious tension and build up and connection build and build and build to the point of no return. I loved that underneath these characters taking chances and pushing each other away and figuring out what they wanted, that you always knew it was the two of them. You knew through every word and every turn of that page that they were meant to be together. That they had to find a way to love. That they had to get that happily ever after that they both so deserved.

Feeling and needing that with every breath in my body through every word of this book is honestly just a scratching the surface of what I loved about Stolen English and everything that I got with Evan and Andrea.

Those two definitely make you work for it, but let me tell you, that work is so damn worth it. In those moments when these to push each other to the edge, when they make each other want things they don’t think are possible, when they make each other want more, you feel the truth and the vulnerability and the honesty of all of that. You feel everything with them. You feel how they’re putting their hearts on the line for the one person who truly means everything. You feel how even though they might be scared out of their minds to take that next step, they also need that next step like they need their next breath. And getting to be in the midst of that tension and build up and connection and that push in that pole as they thought to get to where they did in this book… It was truly everything.

Natasha Boyd does the most outstanding job of letting you live this book with these characters in a way that remind you why she is such a gifted and talented writer and storyteller. I felt it all in this book. I felt Evan struggle with the changes going on in his dynamic with Andrea, his struggle with his feelings towards her, his struggles with everything that comes to light in this book, and his struggle to stay away from the one person he has always wanted.

I connected deeply to Andrea‘s story of gaining her life and independence back after being on the run and living in fear for so long. This book was truly a celebration of her fight and her heart and everything she had done to put her self back together again. Getting to be with her as she did all of that and more, while also being with her as she waited her way through the ocean of feeling that she has for Evan was nothing short of perfection.

Combine all of that with how this author allows you to understand these characters deepest fears and worries and insecurities, while also showing how they basically give each other life and make each other stronger is incredible. It pulls your heart in something fierce, it invests you completely and deeply in their own individual journeys and what they are building together, and it has you desperate for every second with them. It has you ready for more. It has you eager to see how they will handle the many challenges that come their way on their road to finally being together. And boy do those to get some bumps in the road in this book, but the way that they handle them, the way that they’re in it together, and the way that they give it their all with their whole heart for the chance to be with one another is truly beautiful. And it’s emotionally breathtaking in a way that will sear you to them and everything they give you.

Natasha Boyd once again brings you back to the world of the Mediterranean, to a group of people who are practically family, and to two characters who are truly destined to be with one another. They have seen each other through some of the hardest moments of their lives, and this book explores how They take that chance at what could be. And that chance scares them out of their ever loving minds, but you will love getting to be with them as they take that leap, as they see what could be, and as they put their hearts on the line one last time when it really really matters.

Evan and Andrea truly give you at all in this book and you will love them. Point blank you will love them and their journey and what comes to be with them. You will love the push and the pull that it takes to get there, you will love how they always keep each other on their toes in the most fantastically infuriating way, you will love how everything with them means so much more. You will love that it’s also real and true between them. You will love that they know the other is the one who changes everything. You will love how even in the hardest of moments for these two, it always comes back to them and what could be and their pull to one another. Couple that with the breathtaking level of emotion and vulnerability you get with them along the way, and you have just part of what makes this book so utterly outstanding.

Stolen English was the perfect follow up to Broken French and it has me BEYOND eager to get more stories from this world. I’m going to need Natasha Boyd to keep writing in this world because it is a place I truly never want to leave. This world is full of life and vibrancy and memorable characters that on your heart fiercely and just the most amazing settings that will truly take your breath away. I am loving the world of these books and I really just want more. So please give us more Natasha Boyd, I beg of you!

I really don’t have enough words to really capture what it was like to experience and read this book. This book and the way this author gives you these characters and their love story is why I am a romance reader. This book is the a pitta me of an incredible love story with a happily ever after that will melt you into a puddle of goo on the floor. And you will love it.

You will love every single second of how these characters bear their souls to one another. You will love how they’re willing to fight like hell for one another even if it means they don’t get to be together in the end. You will love how even through the hardest of moments these characters are with one another, they see each other, they feel everything for one another, and they are willing to do everything possible for the other at a chance at that happily ever after. You will love how that connection sparks and burns and builds and builds in the most glorious way till that moment of unforgettable explosion where all bets are off. You will love how everything with Evan and Andrea feels like so much more. You will love how they love one another, how they are with one another, and how they just truly respect one another.

Simply put, you will love them, you will love their love story, and you will love every single second you get with them in Stolen English.

Natasha Boyd once again delivers an epic and all feeling romance that will make you swoon, that will make you smile until your cheeks hurt, that will have you feeling every emotion possible, and that will just have you utterly in love with her characters and their love and journey to that happily ever after. She wholeheartedly invests you and everything her characters share and go through in the story, and she will have you in every breath of her words in this book as she delivers the romance your heart and soul needs. Through her incredible writing she gives you these characters in the most honest and real way, and then a way that will have you basking in every single second you get with them. Throw in some serious fun and spice along the way and you have the makings of one hell of a love story.

And really that’s just scratching the surface of what makes this one of the best love stories and romance novels that I have read this year.

I love everything about this book and I cannot recommend it to you enough. Read this book, bask in this series, live these love stories with these characters. You will not regret it and in fact your heart will thank you for it because everything you get in this world with these characters through these stories and this author‘s words is nothing short of everything. It is what romance books should be and it continues to show again and again the talent this author has with the written word and with capturing and creating love. I’m truly so thankful that I have the chance to read books like this because they make my romance reading loving heart so beyond happy and I can’t say it enough.

Stolen English was beautiful perfection. It is a story about a woman who fights like hell for a second chance at life, and the knight in shining armor who is ready and willing to do whatever it takes to protect her, to be there for her, and to make sure every one of her dreams come true. It is a story of resiliency, heart and emotion, and so much admiration and adoration between these two. It is a story of two people who are truly destined for one another. It is a story of what happens when that leap of faith and that second chance at it all truly makes all the difference in the world. Because that chance, and that leap of faith? It can truly change the trajectory of your entire life and your love and everything if you allow yourself to have it… And Andrea and Evan are the epitome of that in this book.

They are everything, right along with their amazing love story.

So seriously, just read this book. Read it, love it, and love every single word of it. You will not regret it. Not one little bit. Read this entire series and better yet read every book by this author. You will love every single word she gives you, and you will love the epic an unforgettable love stories you get in this book, and an every other one of her books. Natasha Boyd is truly one of the best, and Stolen English just proves that again and again a million times over.

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the worst book ever. DNF @ 44%.

Why? Why was this even written? I adored book one. It is one of my faves. But this is a disaster. Andrea acts as if she is fifteen and not her thirty three.

If they'd just sat down and talked this could have been a much better read. Evan wasn't much better. He was in La La Land with his feelings.

[Marcia Esders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am I the only one swooning?

Evan is in a league of his own; he is beyond swoon worthy and a god among men. He will do whatever it takes to keep those he loves feel safe and protected no matter the cost, even if the cost is his personal happiness.
Evan has loved Andrea for so many years now but can’t admit his feelings because he fears that could distract him from protecting her. Andrea has been through hell and back and is ready to face her fears and embrace her future. Where does Evan fit into these plans? Can he fit into these plans?
Enjoy all the twists and turns and hold on for Evan and Andrea.

[Anne OK · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Broken French, the first book in this series and really enjoyed it – and was hoping that Boyd would give Andrea and Evan their own book. Yippee! She did and I loved Stolen English even more. Both these books can be read easily enough as a standalone, but why not treat yourself to both?

There’s suspense, great characters, fantastic settings and, of course, ROMANCE all rolled into an exciting and fantastic love story between two broken spirits.

Well-written – maybe a tad bit too long with some repetitive language – but still held me captive and proved to be great reading.

[Jessica | JSxReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

~ thank you so much to Tasha for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review ~

☆☆☆☆.25/5

Spice: 🌶

Tropes: friends to lover, forced proximity, slow-burn, ‘it’s always been you’, boy-obsessed (yes, I was thriving)

Please be mindful of trigger/content warnings - this book contains mention of violent and non-violent domestic abuse (might be worth reading the afterword first).

Even though the Mediterranean series are interconnected standalone, I would highly recommend reading Broken French first before diving into this one, as the events in Stolen English transpire parallel to the latter half of Broken French, and you’ll spoil yourself little bit otherwise!
On that note, let’s get into the review…

I’m so fucking in love with her, I don’t know how she doesn’t see it in every sweep of my gaze, in every touch of my fingertips. I don’t know how I’ve denied it as long as I have. I may as well be screaming it.”

'Stolen English' follows Andrea who, after running from an abusive husband nine years ago, finds safety working onboard a mega yacht where she meets Evan Roark aka Mr Safety Patrol, the sexy British chief of security for her employer. We enter the story on Andrea’s 33rd birthday, at point in time where she is feels ready to make the difficult decision to file for divorce from her husband and resign from the job to figure out the next part of her life and work towards what she really wants - to find herself, to love again and maybe have kids of her own. However, divorcing her husband exposes Andrea to potential danger and so Evan, ever the protective hero, makes the totally reasonable, extremely logical decision (honestly hilarious to read) to move right next door to Andrea to keep her safe, and what ensues is battle of wills and all the fun…

I’ve been screaming, crying, throwing up for their story ever since the club scene in the previous book (iykyk, and if you don’t, run and read Broken French right this second, nanny x single dad on a YACHT, what more could you want?) and I could not wait to be transported back to Southern France to watch them fight for their happily every after when this was announced!

What I loved most, was Andrea’s character arc. This is someone who had to overcome so much adversity, she knew what she wanted and continually fought for herself despite all her fears. I also adored how she brought out Evan’s more sensitive and caring side.
Were there times when I wanted to bang my skull against the table and scream at them both to open their eyes and see how the other felt? Absolutely. But through these 400 or so pages, you really come to know Andrea and Evan - their character, behaviours, mindsets, hopes, dreams and fears. So, as much as they could be frustrating at times, the way they interacted with each other, and the manner which they reacted to certain situations was consistent with what I learned about their character. Long story short - I couldn’t be too mad at either of them. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow in to that something more - their chemistry was undeniable and their love story inevitable (a feeling a felt most especially towards the end).

I have to admit no-one could have prepared me for some of the twists that were revealed towards the end. I, with every fibre of my being, blame the last 10-20% of this read for the reason I stayed up until 6am on a work night trying to see how the rest of the story would play out. Was a tired? Yes. Was it worth it? Definitely.

'Stolen English' at its core a heartwarming slow-burn filled with great banter, steamy moments (here’s looking at you tent scene) and such fun secondary characters (I loved being back with the rest of the crew and meeting some new faces!) whilst touching upon sensitive topics. All of which keep you engaged from the beginning through to the epilogue

I’m praying the epilogue is hinting at an age-gap romance for chef in the future because I truly, truly need it!

p.s. the Lewis Hamilton fan in me might have rolled their eyes at the mention of a certain formula one driver but it was instinctive, I promised it could not be helped.

p.p.s petition for Evan to take me to a grand prix next season <3

[Leah Inkrott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This follow up to Broken French is a truly satisfying read, but they should be read in quick succession. Stolen English begins about 2/3 of the way through Broken French and runs a parallel timeline with a lot of references to significant events captured in the first book. I found myself having to go reread excerpts from Broken French to refresh the details to get a full picture of the emotion that the experience left in that character.
Through most of Stolen English I felt frustrated by Evan and Andrea’s interactions, but it is true to their character flaws and allowed them to evolve. Their backstories continued to intrigue me and I was surprised by their individual journeys that led to this pivotal moment in their stories. It left me with so many feelings to sort through.

SPOILERS AHEAD: I expected the book to be about Andrea’s experience and how Evan could fit into her new future, but after reading it I feel that the story was really more about Evan and his devotion to a woman who was off limits to him. While the book starts with Andrea and goes back and forth between the two points of view, in hindsight it is Evan’s POV that is most important because he is the one with the full picture. The spicy scenes also had a more carnal need to them and were less romanticized than I’m used to seeing, even though told from Andrea’s POV, which seemed to add to the long building desire that Evan felt for her.

Overall, this is not my favorite Tasha Boyd story, but I like that she explored a difficult subject (domestic abuse) and the lasting effects that it can have not only on the victim, but on anyone who is aware of it. It is also a tribute to the networks of people that devote their time, resources, and funds to making a difference in the lives of those victims.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book….this special, beautiful escape is just what I (we all) need right now. Have you ever read a book and wondered if the Author stepped silently into your life and was taking notes writing out your secrets, your thoughts and dreams? This book was that for me and for that, it will always have a special place in my heart.
One of my FAVORITE quotes in STOLEN ENGLISH explains exactly my feelings on books and reading.

““What do you love so much about reading?” I lowered my knees to the ground and knelt in the middle of the room. “It saved my life,” I said. “In my darkest moments, I could always escape to another world and live there for a while. It made life manageable. For a while, I sought out difficult and heart breaking stories.” His brow furrowed as he approached. “Why?” I lifted a shoulder. “Ways to make my own situation not feel so hopeless, I guess.”

Books absolutely saved my life, and my favorite stories are ones that rip my heart out, stomp on it and make me FEEL.

STOLEN ENGLISH, set in a charming little French Village, is packed with off the charts tension and chemistry, and filled with many many ’swoon bubbles’. I fell so hard for Evan, Andrea’s Lighthouse, her beacon and protector! He was so respectful, self aware and so very growly. Andrea was such a lovable main character, I absolutely adored watching her (un)knowingly torment Even and grow stronger and more independent each day. I am so damn proud of her, and was crying with her every step of the way. Andrea and Evan’s love story was one I will read over and over again. Thank you Tasha for their story.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love, love, LOVE Andrea and Evan! When I read Broken French, I was immediately wondering what the story was behind these two and I'm so glad Boyd decided to write their story. The angst, the tension, the SWOON ... omg *fans self*. There's a particularly sumptuous scene on a motorbike - I shall say no more.
Andrea has been through so much and to discover her story and see her healing journey is very uplifting. I really feel Boyd did Andrea justice. And Evan, oh Evan - the protector ... well, you'll just have to read it.
Five satisfied stars from me for this beautiful story <3

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of feelings after reading this book. I didn’t think I’ll love it more then Broken French, but it’s sooo much better. Evan and Andrea are amazing. There’s lots of depth and character development.
I cried and I laughed and now I have such a huge book hangover that I started the first book again just so I can be with these characters on the Coast of France for a little longer.
I really hope Tasha will read a third book of Chef and Gabriel. I need that so much 😩❤️

[Marian. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean, tenia que seguir con este allí mismo que termine el primero porque aquí amamos a ✨Evan✨

La historia de Andrea me intrigaba y dios mío lo que llore con ella, este libro fue una montaña rusa de emociones, desde la rabia por ella hasta la alegría por ella, Andrea se convirtió en una de mis fmc favoritas POR MUCHO, y leer este libro en este mes fue muy significativo para mi. Evan igual, ex militar y guardaespaldas de su mejor amigo, todo lo que vimos en el primer libro es solo la punta del iceberg, EL TREMENDO PLOT TWIST????? AME COMPLETAMENTE.

Este libro me hizo llorar mas de una vez, me hizo soñar despierta pero sobre todo me hizo creer en el amor y que después de ciertas situaciones se puede salir completamente adelante con las personas correctas alrededor.

Vale la pena completamente leerlo, vale el tiempo y le aseguro que no se arrepentirán de darle una oportunidad ❤️‍🩹

tiene algunos tw: abuso domestico, mención de muertes.

[Josephine]

Dnf

[Seline · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Review to come *

[Briana Bailon · Rating 5 out of 5]

*TRIGGER WARNING: Domestic abuse

Well, well seems like we’re back in Southern France, enjoying the ocean breeze, and romance is in the air, but this time with Andrea and Evan. If you’ve read, “Broken English”, which was the first book that centered on Xavier and Josie, you’ll remember Andrea was the chef steward aboard the yacht and Evan was Xavier’s trusted head of security/ bodyguard. In the last book, there were sprinkles of hints suggesting that there might be something brewing between Andrea and Evan, and now we finally get a chance to read their story! This had the bodyguard trope, summer vibes, little bit of danger, and of course finding love.

Based off the early interactions between Andrea and Evan, there was tension, secret crushes, and an obvious attraction between them. Evan being the alpha protective man wanted to ensure that Andrea was safe at all times, especially concerned over the possibility of being put in danger. Andrea wanted a fresh, new independent start, but with Evan there she felt like she couldn’t get away or ignore her long felt crush over him. In a way, with both Andrea and Evan trying to keep their mutual attraction from each other, it usually resulted in them pushing each other’s buttons. In addition, with Evan renting the room right next to where Andrea is renting for the summer, there was forced proximity and you know what that meant… MORE TIME SPENT TOGETHER WOO!

Throughout the story, there was that bit of element of danger that lurked behind the scenes of the story. With Andrea’s move to start a new job, a new life, she finally took the steps to divorce her estranged husband, Angus. Even in the previous book, it was hinted at that Andrea had left an abusive marriage, and with working for Xavier she had found the chance to get away from Angus as well as hide where he couldn’t find her. With the divorce going on, and Andre leaving Xavier’s work, she was leaving behind the safety of Evan’s bodyguard work… or so she thought. Evan being the protective man that he was, didn’t take any chances when it came to Andrea’s well being. Evan was always monitoring for potential threats such as, Angus, and with his whereabouts not being clear, Evan made sure he was close by to protect Andrea as he always had. There were moments even I was genuinely worried for Andrea, I couldn’t imagine the level of anxiety and fear she must have felt after what she went through at the hands of her husband.

While this story covered the struggles that Andrea endured from her abusive marriage and the return of her ex-husband, it turned out there was more to Evan’s story I wasn’t expecting. Evan was the man I couldn’t get enough of, and while his tendency to protect Andrea sometimes overwhelmed her, he had good reasons for doing it aside from just caring deeply about her. Evan’s personal experience with knowing someone (*his mom) who got out of an abusive relationship was something that had always stayed with him, and from that he knew at least some first hand knowledge that when it comes to victims trying to leave their abuser, it isn’t an easy task. I thought the way that Evan opened up about his mom and what he experienced was a big sad, but to see him now as a strong man who was capable of so much more lent to his strength.

Throughout the story, Evan and Andrea’s chemistry was not only filled with tension, but the desire that they wanted one another. For Andrea, she hadn’t been with anyone in many years, and for her to want to experience that again was part of the steps she wanted to gain in her new independence. Evan, bless his soul was holding back in wanting to go after Andrea for himself, but his sense of honor and protection over Andrea was often used as a way to distance himself for her. In a way, it seemed like Evan thought Andrea was better off without him, but then couldn’t stand the idea of another man being with Andrea. Though once Andrea and Evan started to voice their feelings and actually take action, things got steamy and deep. Evan may have been known as, “Safety Patrol” to Andrea, but OMG THE MAN WAS A DIRTY TALKER AND SO SEXY AND EXUDED ALPHA MALE ENERGY! YASS! Let’s just say, Andrea got over her fear of physical touch and throughly enjoyed her time with Evan (sigh) lucky.

I wasn’t expecting the reveal towards the end that explained how Evan knew Angus as well as what he knew about Andrea. From the beginning, it was clear that Evan knew a lot about Andrea and her previous life when she was with Angus. Once it got to the point where Angus might have been around, it turned out things were revealed to Andrea that she didn’t know. With Evan coming clean about his own past and his connection to Angus and even having a hand in helping Andrea escape Angus was shocking. It was a bittersweet moment because, it illustrated the truth that Andrea didn’t know, but also brought back painful memories for her. All Evan wanted was to protect Andrea, and ensure she had a life of freedom.

I absolutely fell in love with Andrea and Evan. The chemistry was passionate, romantic, filled with hot tension that made Andrea and Evan all the more crazed with desire for one another. This story dealt with domestic abuse which was heartbreaking to read about what Andrea endured, but she managed to find her way back to living a life she was happy with, and finally sealed the deal with Evan. Evan was the most protective, thoughtful, and selfish man ever, and for all the years he spent hiding his true feelings over Andrea, I was happy to see him finally getting his happy ending with her. The ending was filled with romance, passion, and that raw emotion that both Andrea and Evan felt. In addition, with the ending, came the perfect epilogue and bonus epilogue which gave me more happiness that I could have asked for. If you’ve read, “Broken French”, please make sure to read this book as well since not only will you get to see familiar characters such as, Xavier and Josie, but see the journey that Andrea and Evan went on in order to find their way to each other, and of course live happily ever after.

[Lenka Srolová · Rating 3 out of 5]

Volné pokračování Francouzské lekce sice můžete číst samostatně, ale já doporučuji začít prvním dílem, protože hlavní postavy Anglické lekce tam už celkem dost poznáte.

Andrea má za sebou velmi náročný vztah, po kterém se na jachtě - zaměstnaná u milionáře - vzpamatovává a nyní nadešel čas, aby uzavřela další kapitolu a šla za svými sny.
Šéf ochranky má ale nutkavou potřebu ji neustále chránit a mít ji na očích.

Tasha Boyd v knize rozebírá domácí násilí, které hlavní hrdince nezanechalo jen viditelné jizvy. Po této stránce je to velmi silný příběh, ale jinak mi romantika přišla úplně obyčejná, bez nějaké jiskry a chemie.

Klidně by k Francouzské lekci stačila novela. Takhle to byl zbytečně rozvleklý text, ve kterém převažují průměrné scény.

Děkuji @grada_cz & @nakladatelstvi_metafora za knihu. #spoluprace

[Katie Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ // Every time I thought this story was about to drag, something would happen to hook me and pull me back in.

After nearly a decade of living in hiding from her abusive ex-husband, Andrea decided it’s finally time to reclaim her freedom by filing for divorce, renting a quaint little cottage in a French village, and rediscover who she is. While Evan—the sexy head of security who’s been helping her stay hidden—wants her to be happy and free, he’s not keen on letting her go off on her on when he hasn’t completely eliminated the threat of her ex. So he invites himself along to her new life. The problem? Both of them have undeniable, explosive chemistry, and Evan is worried his romantic feelings toward her might distract him from his self-appointed job of protecting her.


The was a highly engaging story full of passion and plot twists that kept me glued to the page. I couldn’t put it down.

I already liked the main characters, Evan and Andrea, from the previous book in this series, “Broken French,” but their own story makes them loveable. Their story also introduces readers to more entertaining side characters, as well as giving us more from the ones we loved from the first book. The found family aspect among characters is more prevalent in this story than in the previous one.

Even though I love both Andrea and Evan, their constant miscommunication with each other was at sometimes annoying. These two wrote the book for “never assume.” They are both constantly letting their personal insecurities color their interpretations of what each other says and does, and at times I just wanted to slap each of them and say “can you just be bluntly honest with each other?!” Exhibit A:

“My heart sank as I relived the forehead kiss. It was obviously his way of making sure we stayed in the friend zone. Why kiss me on the forehead when my lips were right freaking there?”

And as much as the miscommunication trope annoys me, it made perfect sense for who both of these characters were and provided a layer of depth to their growth throughout the plot as they learned to stop talking pass each other. And, this growth leads to really beautiful moments like this one:

“From now on, we are emotional equals. You’re having a bad day, you tell me. We have to trust in our love for each other. Storms and rain and bad winds, even other people, might cause ripples or waves on the surface but underneath our pool of love is just the same. Fast and deep. It’s so deep, I can’t see the bottom. You need space, you tell me. You need me as close as possible, tell me. The pool is big enough for that. Same for me. But Evan, I’ve never felt more like myself. More like I know myself and know what I want. And it’s you. I want life with you. I would live inside your soul if that was a thing. Everything else is inconsequential. “

The growth Andrea experiences as a woman taking her freedom back and rediscovering herself is especially compelling. And something this story addresses that I think a lot of love-after-abuse stories tend to gloss over is the challenge of defining feelings and their contexts. For example, Evan wants Andrea to fully live in the freedom she deserves and Andrea wants to explore that freedom, so both of them struggle to discern whether the s*dual tension between them is part of her discovery or if she truly has lust-backed-by-romantic feelings for him. And I won’t spoil how this all plays out, but I will share this quote:

“I called you my lighthouse before. Because you were always there, no matter how hard the sea raged and how hard the rain beat down. No matter how hard I snapped at you or how much I pushed you away. You were always there. Quietly and steadily there. And I suddenly realized the lighthouse is immovable. The lighthouse can show the way to safety, but it can’t force a ship to safe harbor. I had to do that myself. “

The biggest critique I have for this story is also something I actually love about it (weird, I know.) It does walk a very thin line of unbelievable and unrealistic, mainly because there’s a level of fate included in this story that typically only makes sense in a fantasy novel. And yet, I actually think Tasha Boyd pulls it off in this story, although some readers may disagree and find it too cliche.

I would recommend this to book to anyone who loved “Broken French,” or “Safe Haven” by Nicholas Sparks. If you think Luc from “Emily in Paris” is a fun side characters, you’ll find the comedic relief provided by some of the characters in this story hilarious.

I’d also recommend it to romance readers who love fairytale love stories with a little bit of cheese, because while this one deals with some serious themes, it also provides the soulmate aspect die-hard romantics crave. And if you’re still not convinced, here’s an excerpt I think will absolutely pull you in:

“‘What do you love so much about reading? “

“It saved my life,” I said. “In my darkest moments, I could always escape to another world and live there for a while. It made life manageable. For a while, I sought out difficult and heartbreaking stories. “

“Why?“

“Ways to make my own situation, not feel so hopeless, I guess. Recently, I’m really into happy endings.“‘