SPOILER ALERT! I'm not in the business of ruining books, so if you haven't read this book yet, turn back now!
Author: Catherine Cowles
Series: Lost & Found Series book #2
Category: Romantic Suspense
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
"Because I'd loved Nash Hartley for as long as I could remember. Cedar Ridge was just a place. But Nash would always be home." - Maddie
Coming back to the small town after breaking up with an abusive fiancé, Maddie Byrne comes face to face with the best friend she has always loved but never thought she could have.
Maddie was a complex character with a classic abuse victim mentality of blaming herself for letting the abuse happen. Having always had feelings for Nash, feelings that she didn't think were reciprocated, she tried to look for love only to end up in a similar situation of abuse that was the hallmark of her life growing up. While frustrating to read about a character who constantly blamed themselves for the abuse they received, this was a very accurate portrayal of victims.
"'He's wrong. I know you. Down to your soul. If you've forgotten who you are, ask me, and I'll remind you.'" - Nash
I was annoyed with Nash for 90% of the book. Honestly, I just cannot understand his reasoning for not having a romantic relationship with Maddie when he's been in love with her forever. His rationale of not wanting to rock the boat of their friendship is weak considering pushing her away caused him to lose her anyway. Nash's insecurities about being seen as the clown of the family were nonsensical, if he genuinely felt no one respected him because of his actions, maybe consider becoming more responsible.
"Now, the only thing I wanted was my best friend at my side, even if that meant never having him completely. I'd rather have the echoes of him than anyone else." - Maddie
The two main characters have such an intertwined and affectionate history together. Hell, they have slept in the same bed a million times, even joking about morning wood and how much they hug. Basically, they were in an emotional relationship without sex for a good majority of their friendship but Nash refused to cross the line.
Although there were a couple of semi-spicy sex scenes once they finally gave in to their feelings, I couldn't see past Maddie and Nash's friendship. There was no chemistry and nothing really changed between them except now they were physical.
The book's suspense plot had a lot going on. We've got the ex-fiancé who can't let Maddie get the best of him, a vengeful father fresh out of prison, the father's friend who needs to put a woman in her place and a random man irritated he didn't make the SAR team.
Maddie dances on the line of STSL with her many poor decisions of going out in the dark alone or not getting restraining orders. He met you in the same town you are hiding in....trust me your abusive ex knows where you are. I don't understand why she continued to let herself be manipulated by him.
Unsurprisingly, Maddie eventually got kidnapped by her ex-fiancé, however, finding out he randomly murdered her dad because he was the only one allowed to hurt her was a curveball I didn't see coming!
Ultimately, I've decided I just am not enough of a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope to really have enjoyed this book or writing this review. The slow burn was too slow, especially since their only romantic drama was not acting on their feelings. I felt disappointed that they had wasted so much time and Maddie's suffering was indirectly due to Nash not pulling his head out of his ass and taking a chance on them.
Tropes and Themes: Small Town, Mystery, Suspense, Friends to Lovers, Found Family, Stalker.
Blurb
Nash Hartley has always been my everything: Protector. Partner in crime. Best friend. The person who was there for me in my darkest hour.
But my heart wanted so much more. So, when I knew for certain Nash didn’t feel the same about me, I tried to move on. What a mistake that turned out to be.
Now, I’m back in our small town, desperate to escape my living nightmare, and the only person I want to see is him.
As secrets are revealed, and Nash finds out what happened to me, he’ll do anything to keep me safe.
But there are those who will do anything to stop him, and this time neither of us may make out alive…
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