**3.5 Stars**

I'm not exactly sure how I feel after reading this, but I do want to know what ultimately happens so I will be tuning into book 2. The beginning of the book is just devastating and then the middle and end is filled with a troubling relationship between Jack and Laurel and then the book ends with a shock.

Jack and Laurel obviously have chemistry, but their relationship is in very rough shape. I didn't care for Jack's character much, particularly with regard to his manipulation and lying. I am intrigued by Isaac and what role he plays in this whole story and there are obviously a lot of unanswered questions.

Overall it was a mysyerious, engaging read, but I think something was maybe missing.

Loss.
Heartbreak.
And death.

“We weren’t just lovers. We weren’t just husband and wife. We weren’t just best friends. We weren’t just occasional enemies. We were survivors, bound to each other by the kind of excruciating torture no human should ever have to endure.”

In just one night Laurel and Jack's life turns upside down with a flick of a switch. They are lost and alone, but don't know what to do. They are breathing but not living......

Laurel is broken beyond repair. Doesn't know how to talk to her husband and things have become so strained they can't be in the same room together. And decides enough is enough.

Its time to move on with her life.

But how much heartbreak can this woman take before it all comes crashing down on her.....
How will she cope with this loss that has shattered her soul?

Read to find out.

A good read as usual by Cassia Leo. A joy to read from beginning to end.

This story is superb but I wish it was all complete in one book as I hate having to wait for the next one to see what happens.

Laurel and Jack seem to have it all in their marriage,love, money and a beautiful new baby until one horrific night when everything is turned upside down.
Two years later their marriage has deteriorated to the point that they are hardly speaking to each other and Laurel decides that she needs to get away for a while. She goes to her Mother's house in Portland and tries to start a new life, recover from her heartbreak and decide if she wants to stay married to Jack. Jack on the other hand does not want to let her go.

The story was very well written and really sucked you in from the beginning, however I am left at the end of the book with a creepy feeling about the husband and the neighbour next door. and wondering whodunnit and if there will be a twist in the tale. Don't want to give the plot away you will have to read it! Cassia please hurry and write the next book the suspense is killing me.

OMG... How can this story end like that? I need more! I need answers... Need to know what becomes of Laurel and Jack.

This story had me from the beginning- 3 chapters in and your heart will break for this couple. From there it will be a whirlwind that will test the love of Jack and Laurel. They had everything one minute and was dealt a heart-wrenching tragedy that puts their connection, their lives and their marriage to the test.

Obsessed with the need for revenge Jack dives into the an obsession for answers that causes a strain with Laurel.

Not wanting to relive the night that changed her life- Laurel never wants to really discuss it.

Cassia Leo is an amazing author who pulls you in and doesn't let go- leaves you gasping and screaming why? No!! and what happens next?

You will not regret picking up this amazing well-written romance -

This is not a stand alone. It is a cliffhanger and it is highly addictive! Three chapters in and I had experienced the greatest high, the most amazing love, and the most heartbreaking thing imaginable! It just kept hitting you with punch after punch and I loved it! Bring on book 2, no I mean seriously, I need it NOW!!!

this woman can do no wrong when it comes to writing books... i have loved her for a long time and would read any thing she writes.. you have done it again ,. thank you for letting me read this ... a GREAT READ you need to get it RIGHT NOWWWWWWWW...

Jack and Laurel are married, in love and they are enjoying their first born child. Everything is perfect until they decide to go out to celebrate their anniversary while Laurel's mother is watching the baby. Their life will change for ever when criminals will get inside their home and they will kill both the baby and the grandmother. After 2 years Jack is still hooked with finding who did this and getting his revenge. Laurel after breaking down she cannot face any image of that day and she can no longer stand Jack's obsessions. She decides to leave Jack and she moves to her mother's place trying to revive the neglected garden. Laurel will meet Isaac and slowly she will start taking her life into her hands and standing on her own feet. Jack will be persuaded to start seeing a wedding counselor, but will it be enough? Can they survive their wedding and their love?

Though I found the story unique I have to admit that at times I found it boring and too lengthy analyzing feelings or dragging too much into events. Though the story includes plenty hot scenes between Jack and Laurel and flirty scenes between Laurel and Isaac, I struggled to get on reading the book to reach the end.

So it says right on the title that this is part of a series. Let me clarify that: this is NOT a stand alone. It very much ends on a whopper of a cliffhanger.

The question is if you will be invested enough to find out what happens next.

Jack and Laurel have suffered a horrific, heartbreaking loss. Their ways of managing their grief differ, though. I liked how Cassia Leo showed you that we don’t all mourn the same way. The problem for Jack and Laurel is that they can’t really communicate about those differences. Well, they can’t communicate verbally. They most certainly do communicate physically. (That aspect … I don’t know. It felt so forced and manipulative to me.)

The proposed separation proves to be a big positive for the book. It helps develop Jack and Laurel separately from each other, particularly her. Jack remains a bit one-note, and I’m hoping Leo digs deeper with him in the next installment. One thing I’ll say about him as a character: Leo warns you that he’s going to make a knee-jerk decision regarding Laurel. She tells you that this is something he’s done in the past, so you are not surprised when he does it again.

There is a pervasive sadness to this book that rarely dissipates. Every character you meet has a sad story, and you start to wonder if any of these people will ever be happy. I guess we’ll find out in Seeds.

Firstly, I think we should all take a moment and appreciate the cover. It’s nice isn’t it?
When I started reading the book, I was a little confused, usually romance novels are about people falling in love this one started with a couple that was obviously established and happily in love with each other. I even had to check my Kindle to make sure I didn’t accidently start on the epilogue. But by the end of the chapter, I understood why the author started the book like she did and was overcome with all the emotions because of it. Cassia Leo did an incredible job of describing how Jake and Laurel dealt with the aftermath of that brutal instant. It was heartbreaking and intense.
The description pretty much has Jake summarized he really is a cocky a**hole. I have to say; I was disappointed at first. Usually, I fall in love with the hero, but this time I caught myself getting frustrated with Laurel for giving Jake so many chances, for trying to make it work. I wanted to empathize and at times I would but they were in this real fight – or – fuck cycle and while I know there are plenty of relationships where that’s the norm it didn’t sit right with me.The sex scenes were hot, but I didn’t feel any love or romance in them. Cut the pages out with no context, and damn… but knowing they were just fucking to avoid tough conversations made me feel uneasy.
Now, Issac. Where to start, I think I fell in love with him. I’m not sure if I was supposed to or not, but I really, really want to see him happy.
I have to say this book dealt with some heavy topics. Topics that are sometimes grossly romanticized or cloaked in a love conquers all blanket. After the first chapter, I was worried this would be another one of those books. I can’t even express how happy I am that it wasn’t.
The part of me that works as a social worker during the day is cheering, jumping up and down thrilled that a book realistically described the grief and struggles a couple faces when dealing with a tragedy.
The part of me that wants to go home in the evening, read fairy tales and forget all about the bad things that happen in the real world is eating a pint of ice cream and watching cute cat videos on YouTube.

Over all it was a well written book, with a story line that I’m sure will hit close to home for too many people. I’m sure I will read more books by Cassia Leo and would absolutely recommend it.