This ARC was courtesy of netgalley - all thoughts and opinions are mine and unbiased

I had to read this all in one go - couldn't put down - I became emotionally involved from page one right to the end

No spoilers - but there is a trauma - the author has done a wonderful job of presenting the trauma through the heroine, Ruth - but I did find it upsetting and - won't lie - there were tears - very satisfying !! I love a romance I can get involved in !!

A second chance romance - this was a lovely read - I recommend to anyone who loves their romances with a little bittersweetness to them

Be warned it is a heartbreaking tale of pain and resilience, a second chance in love and of healing.

Warning trigger : past rape

I do not know about other readers but I felt like I was living Ruth and Adam’s story through their mind, like when you think by yourself.
Not every thoughts well organized, more a succession of disjointed ideas and rambling feelings, everything in jumble like when you are confused, scared.

I tried to clear all the confused thoughts from Ruth’s mind. I wanted to understand what has arrived to her to change her from a wild young woman to one suffering deep fears, afraid to live again.
Now I have completed my read, in retrospective, Mrs Vanessa Riley did a beautiful job transcribing the post trauma stress disorders affecting Ruth.

The beginning was a bit unsettling, with many ideas, events and talks going everywhere.
I had to learn to understand Mrs Riley’s writing style, but it was just for a short time.
I was heartbroken for what they both had to suffer. Adam, treats and physical violence when Ruth after surviving the attack that “killed” her husband, has to face belittling and talk as if she was a nobody or a liar. I sure think her family has its faults but they did not rejected her, their way of dealing with her pain was the cause a lot of heartaches but they did not rejected her as many family would have done in view of her odd circumstances.
Adam has secrets, those same secrets torn them apart, nearly killing them both and changing them. Sure, now he is back and discovered his wife is not like he thought, he wants to win her back. But she is no more the young lovely woman he remembers. Time and difficulties have changed her. Worst, she does not recognize him. So he decided to court her, hiding who he is.
He is stronger, and prepared, no more the young idealistic man from four years back. He knows the mistakes he made and he paid dearly for them but now he has to redeem himself in Ruth’s eyes as she was a collateral victim in his family feud.
This is their second chance but will each one comprehend how much the other has changed, how much they suffered, the depth of their scars and wounds, visible or hidden.
Is love enough to heal everything, to clear the mind of the nightmares haunting Ruth’s night and day?
A poignant and touching romance of two souls drawn to each other despite time, pain and distance.

I was granted an advance copy through Netgalley by the publisher Entangled Publishing, I also purchased my own copy. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

It's okay.
A bit choppy in parts.
Mystery over the events during the separation esp concerning the heroine.
No intimate scenes with anyone other than the Hero and heroine.
HEA.