Saving 6: an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance with dark, gritty and heartbreak themes

Saving 6 is the third book in the Boys of Tommen series by Chloe Walsh. Joey Lynch is the second son in a broken family. He has spent his entire life trying to keep his unraveling family together after his older brother leaves them behind. He is the protector and pseudo parent to his younger siblings while teetering precariously on the cliff of addiction. The only light in his dark life is Aoife Molloy. The firecracker classmate and his boss’s daughter, she is always looking forward with a bubbly, strong and self-assured attitude. Ever since the first day of secondary school, she has been curious about the fiery, hothead boy that grows each day. They begin a complicated, tangled and very complex friendship as Aoife wants to get closer to Joey while he is desperate to keep her at arm’s length. What they don’t know is that their relationship is combust into a deeper relationship that will change their lives forever. 

Readers meet Joey and Aoife in Binding 13 and Keeping 13 and in Saving 6, we see the beginning of their relationship. I would describe their relationship as an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story. Aoife goes toe-to-toe with Joey as Aoife wants to get closer to this bad boy; however, is she ready for his reality? This story is heartbreaking, gritty and very real. I loved Aoife’s character as a strong woman who doesn’t run from Joey, even after she learns the dark secrets he tries to hide. Joey is desperate for a normal life, for a mother’s love. Overall, I loved this story. It took a while to read it as it is filled with very heavy topics that my mind needed time to process. I also loved seeing the other side of the story from books 1 and 2 without completely rehashing it. I highly, highly recommend Saving 6. Word of warning though, there is harsh language and violent moments and it may not be the story for some readers. 

Saving 6 is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Come Back for Me: a second chance romance

Come Back for Me by Corinne Michaels is the first book in the Arrowood Brothers series. One night, eight years ago, Connor Arrowood was at a crossroads. He was leaving one life behind and heading toward another. Deeply hurting, he finds a woman who is also deeply hurting. They have one night together. No names. No promises. When the morning came, she was gone, he left for boot camp, vowing never to return to his Pennsylvania hometown. Connor is now at a crossroads once again. His military career is ending, his father has died and he is forced to go home and settle the estate with his brothers. Once he’s there, he meets his neighbor, he immediately recognizes the woman he has been dreaming about for eight years. Ellie is stuck in an abusive marriage, desperate to escape but she is unsure how. A series of events brings them together again, Connor vows never to let her go again. But they both hold secrets that could tear their lives apart for good. 

Come Back for Me is a sweet and powerful romance with hard hitting topics. There were harrowing scenes of abuse which broke my heart and cried for Ellie. I cheered as Connor lovingly rescued her and gave her the space to heal. After her abusive husband is arrested, that story is put into the background and the story focuses on Connor and Ellie’s love story. There were a few steamy scenes and deeply emotional scenes. The characters are real and relatable. The emotional scars Connor and Ellie carry are impactful even years after the events which caused them. It is a story of second chances at love, at life, family unity and finding strength in yourself and with others. I enjoyed Connor and Ellie’s story. I enjoyed that the story leads to the next couple’s story. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. After finishing this story, I immediately added the rest of the series to my book wish list. I highly recommend Come Back for Me. 

Come Back for Me is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

The Bandit Queens: did she or didn't she?

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff is a story of one woman’s determination to live life as she sees fit. Geeta’s no-good, abusive husband disappeared five years ago. Everyone in her village thinks she killed him. She didn’t but no matter how much she protests, the rumor still flows from people’s lips. Since her husband has left, she has built a life as a self-made “widow” that has a few perks. No one messes with her. No one threatens her and no one has tried to marry her. Freedom looked so good on Geeta that other women in the village started asking for her help to get rid of their own no-good, abusive husbands. Her reputation seems to be a double-edged sword and she must now protect the life she has built. How far will she go to protect herself and the life she has built? 

The Bandit Queens is filled with very dark humor and even darker depiction of the reality of life for women in India. The powerlessness they feel as they have nowhere to turn to for help. The acceptance of domestic violence where men could do no wrong and women are always at fault. It is no wonder that these women are looking for a way out, any way out. Throughout the book, Geeta looks to the story of Phoolan Devi, the real life Bandit Queen, who was convicted of killing 22 men, serving prison time before being elected to the Indian Parliament. Did Geeta follow her example? The women in her village seem to think so. Overall, The Bandit Queens was a mixture of mystery, thriller and a detailed social commentary on the very real circumstances for women in India. I recommend The Bandit Queens. 

The Bandit Queens is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook