Cover Image: Madly Deeply Wildly

Madly Deeply Wildly

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Member Reviews

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was absolutely brilliant and beautifully written. As a survivor of domestic abuse and a diagnosis of PTSD, I related to Renata on every level. What she went through was so accurately portrayed, you could literally feel her pain and fear. Very well done on the authors part describing what it is truly like to have PTSD and the courage it takes to navigate domestic violence.

BUT my favorite part was reading about Renata’s resilience and growth throughout the story…it was so inspiring and gives so much hope. The way she chooses herself and her healing is such a powerful important message that left a huge impact on me.

This story broke me, healed me, tore me apart, put me back together in all the best ways. Most importantly it left me with hope. Hope that there are still good patient loving men out there after experiencing relationship abuse. And Hope is sometimes all we have left to hold onto.

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If you related to It Ends With Us but wanted more of the actual healing process when coming out of such an awful relationship, then this book is for you.

Turner did an excellent job of depicting the lingering effects of domestic abuse. Weeks, months, even years later, all of those emotions and fear are still prevalent in the main character and her journey back to herself and to normalcy is difficult and realistic. This story is raw and real and heart wrenching, but also beautiful with the touching relationships the main character finds in her coworkers and boss.

The issues I had were purely personal: I didn’t connect much with the characters, mainly because I didn’t relate, and for that I am grateful. But I did find myself wishing I could skim through some of the story. While I feel like the pacing was perfect for the story and how it was told, for someone who isn’t connecting with the characters it feels a little slow in some parts- but only some, because I wouldn’t say it’s a “slow-paced” novel.

Overall, I urge you to give this novel a try, especially if you’re in the mood for an emotional, yet light-hearted romance novel with great depth.

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This book TORE ME APART! It was so freakin good. By chapter 3, I was in tears. It broke me and put me back together beautifully. I read this over Father’s Day weekend not realizing how perfect it would be. And Chad…. He’s officially at the TOP of my book boyfriends list… his love and gentleness toward Renata killed me inside. 😭 he was 100% patient with her and I’m just in awe of his character.

This novel is my favorite of the year. The author writes so beautifully and creates a story that heals parts of your heart that you didn’t know were broken…

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"Madly Deeply Wildly" is an enchanting coming-of-age style novel. The characterization is excellent and adds tremendously to the story line and plot points. Readers can expect to feel like they are 'visiting with friends' as they read through this tale that follows the growth of Renata at a particular stage in life.

A very enjoyable read for the casual reader.

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ARC REVIEW

It’s so hard to write about a book that tackles such a heavy topic like domestic violence in a sensitive way. It’s such a big topic and to wrap it up in a 300 page romance novel is near impossible.

Nevertheless Katherine Turner managed to do so in a great way. I think it was written fantastically in regards to that topic.

My only downfall with this book is it just simply wasn’t for me, I am unsure to pinpoint what it was, but the pacing for my personal taste was a bit clunky and I found myself struggling to get into it. That is no fault to the author however as I do believe it was written well overall.

Going into this I do recommend checking the trigger warnings as it is quite detailed in certain scenes.

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I am sorry but this just wasn’t my favorite read. I didn’t dislike it but also didn’t love it. The writing was okay. The cover was cute at least. Literally no other thoughts.

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I absolutely love this book!! To be able to watch Renata’s transformation from being a woman coming out of an abusive relationship to a strong survivor who learned to love herself was amazing. It was great to be able to go on that journey with her even when there were times I was like what are you doing?? You never realize how much fear can hold you back from living or being loved by those around you.
Renata was a writer and her life was about writing she was good at it. She was engaged to Damien who was very abusive to her, but loves to make her feel like it was her fault or that she was the problem and he wasn’t doing anything to her. He made her feel like she was crazy, alcoholic and she was losing her mind. She had a best friend named Connie who tried to help her ,but because Renata was in such denial about what was happening to her she pushed her out of her life. He would keep her trapped in their place for weeks and celebrated when she lost her dream job because her writing started to slip. One day she was able to escape and moved back to her childhood town to start over.
Renata moved to an apartment in Amestown for a great start. She had no self esteem, no faith and even dressed in clothes that were bigger then her. She walked into a cafe to apply for a job where she meets the owner named Fern. Fern hires her on the spot because she likes her name because it was unusual. On her first day she meets Caroline who helps her find who she is and change her life. She also meets Chad a baker who is drawn to her from the first moment they meet. Renata is so scared to be in a relationship and constantly tries to compare Damien and Chad because she is afraid that if she opens her heart to Chad then he will change the way Damien had. Chad is determined to prove to her that he isn’t Damien. Chads love for her is unwavering even when she lies about her past to him. When she comes clean to him it only makes their bind stronger.
I love their relationship and how patient he is with her. Fern and Caroline are two friends who you wished you had in your corner. It was great to see how much Renata changed Adams life bc of their shared experience and even softened him so he could get help. Katherine Turner did such a great job with this book. Thank you Net Galley, Joshua Publishing, and Katherine Turner for letting me read this ARC for my honest review.

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Amazing well written book that made me cry multiple times. Story sucked me in at the first chapter. Glad it did have the trigger warnings before hand to warn of what was to come.

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Thank you NetGalley and Joshua Publishing for letting me read this ARC copy.

I will have to give this a 3.5 stars, rounded to 4. I loved the character building Renata had throughout the story. Unfortunately, I found it to be very slow and didn’t really catch my attention until about 50%, which is the main reason I docked a star and a half. I very much enjoyed the rest of the story.
This does have a trigger warning at the beginning, and if domestic violence is a trigger, please do not read this as it is very distributive at times.

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Renata escaped her abusive relationship with her ex Damien and through a series of events of trying to get back to her old self she meets Chad. A relationship blooms between the two, but not without some bumps brought on by her past. Chad is wonderfully observant and very overprotective. One could even say, too overprotective.

This book had me in my feels. It really shows the toll that an abusive relationship has on your mental health, your self worth and your future relationships. It shows how difficult the trauma can make life in general, for both sides of the relationships. Katherine did a beautiful job writing this, I found that I was learning things about myself and how I was reacting to Renata's way of handling things. I had to put myself in check a few times and I think learning that will only help me in my everyday life. You could say this book is the love story of Renata and Chad, but really it's the love story of Renata finding and loving herself.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

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Great read! It had all my emotions going throughout this whole book. Renata is a girl who was in an abusive relationship and her growth on how she gets out of that relationship and finds herself again.

I love the character growth with Renata but also the relationship growth between her and Chad! I love that it puts you into the mind of Renata and her past and you get to know about her abuser and how he made her feel and how she has PTSD and her working and growing through her trauma throughout the whole book.

I didn’t like how it felt like we were missing pieces of the story sometimes. While I was reading it was like we were talking about one day and then the next it was 6 months later. I feel like I missed out on some of Rena’s growth and her working through her trauma. I wish we could have learned more about her therapy sessions and the short stories she wrote for the journal about her and Chad’s relationship. It never really says anything more about what happens with Chad through those 6 months, I would have liked to know about his therapy and how he was going through the breakup too.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It made me cry as well as laugh. I’m so glad Rena got her “happily ever after” at the end of the book. I would recommend this book to a reader who likes a quick read that like’s character growth.

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I thoroughly recommend this book for romance readers who are looking for something real. The love here is hard earned and ultimately feels authentic. Renata has just left an abusive relationship and finds new friendships, family and love in a cafe and bakery. It's an insta-love with Chad, who is the king of cinnamon rolls. Renata's journey towards self-love first takes time and I did feel for Chad during their breakups. There's longing and angst and steam and baking and laughter and music and so much more.
My main quibbles are that as an Australian, I can't imagine a romantic hero being named Chad. But as this book shows, names can have wildly different connotations and meanings. Also his quick affection feels a bit like love bombing.

Overall Katherine writes beautifully, gets the reader into Renata's mind and show us the many and complex faces of domestic abuse, without this becoming misery porn. I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Turner and the publisher for this ARC.

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Madly, Deeply, Wildly is an emotional and heartbreaking novel about healing from domestic abuse and finding inner strength to overcome the mental and physical aftermath of the relationship.

I really liked this book, it reminded me of It Ends With Us but for me it was executed much better. With more compassion and consideration towards the heavy themes in the book. It was a tough read, at times I was uncomfortable reading some of the flashbacks that Rena had, but it’s made me so much more aware of the different kinds of abuse that can happen in relationships,

I loved Rena’s new friends that she made, they really rallied round her and made her feel so welcome and apart of their friendship group, something she needed after leaving everything behind to start again somewhere new.

I did feel like some parts were a little rushed, although I think part of that was because of the jump in timeline. Rena and Chad’s relationship seemed to develop quite quickly in my opinion, and the times where they “broke up” seemed a little unnecessary, when they could have just communicated with eachother, it was a bit back and forth at times!

Overall I did really enjoy it! I found the writing style really easy to read and I loved the descriptive elements! It was a beautiful and heartbreaking story to read!

Thank you NetGalley, Katherine Turner and Josha Publishing for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review!

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Madly Deeply Wildly by Katharine Turner is an emotionally compelling novel that explores themes of trauma, healing, self-discovery, and love. Rena, a domestic abuse survivor, and Chad, a skilled baker who has raised his younger sister on his own, are both struggling with issues of trust and intimacy due to their past experiences. The author weaves their individual journeys together as they learn to overcome their traumas and build a future together.

Turner's writing style is engaging and vibrant, using descriptive language to create vivid images that allow the reader to immerse themselves in the characters' experiences. Her talent for creating relatable and authentic characters is evident, as Rena and Chad feel like real people with complex emotions and motivations.

One aspect of Madly Deeply Wildly that stands out is the author's portrayal of trauma and healing. Turner avoids cliches and presents a nuanced and realistic depiction of these experiences. She emphasizes the importance of self-love and self-acceptance in the healing process and highlights the role that healthy relationships and supportive communities can play.

As someone who has also experienced trauma and loss, I found Rena's story particularly relatable and inspiring. Chad was also a refreshing change from the typical alpha male love interest, with his emotional intelligence and respect for women's boundaries.

Overall, Madly Deeply Wildly is a beautiful story about learning to trust and love again after experiencing trauma and loss. Katharine Turner's writing style is both engaging and thoughtful, making for a genuinely compelling and satisfying read.

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A beautiful yet incredibly heart-breaking book that explores the struggles of healing from the trauma of an abusive relationship (both physical and emotional) and trying to build a new life again. I loved seeing Renata gain strength throughout the book and learn about herself again and also find love. Although this deals with a lot of hard, raw elements I found this to be such a fun book with an adorable romance with loads of chemistry. This is a great book for romance fans as it's unique from anything I've read before yet still gives you all those heart-warming feelings.

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Let’s make some dough!

Oh so yummy Chad, a dreamy book boyfriend for sure!
Escape into a love story that’s so hard but so ohhh good!!

Renata just left a mental and physical abusive relationship after being brainwashed by a monster. You will read about her psychological journey that will frustrate and touch you in such ways that only those who have been there could only relate. There’s so much heartbreak and strength in all of it. I was swallowed right into it from the start, because of such captivating writing.

The characters are fun, relatable, loveable and frustrating. I personally know how the mental abuse is difficult and relatable, but its teaching is highly recommended. A HEA that is what one can only wish for everyone who’s been through half of what Renata went through.

Thank you Netgalley, @kturnerwrites
and Josha Publishing, LLC for approving me to read and review, I absolutely loved it and must read more from Katherine.

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LOVED LOVED LOVED!!!
I want to start off by thanking Netgalley, Katherine Turner and Josha Publishing for a digital advanced readers copy of this fabulous book in exchange for an honest review. Oh Renata!!! I've lived her life - okay, not so much the loss of parents or working in a coffee shop - but absolutely mirrored the relationship with Damien (who totally sounds like satan). I could literally feel the anxiety and pain oozing off of this poor woman as she was continually mentall and physically abused - the gaslighting making her doubt her own sanity and the emotional abuse that had her terrified to move outside of her own mind. Enter a new support system with a built in love interest - and sooooo much healing, starts and stops, a little more heartbreak and growth - okay - that's an awful lot to pack into a book - but it was there - oh yeah - add a touch of "it's about dang time", butt kicking and love love love!!! This was a phenomenal book that I whole heartedly recommend!! I'm reserving all of Ms Turner's books at the library - I love her style and passion!!

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4.5 stars
Renata just got out of an abusive relationship with her fiancé Damien and moved back to her hometown. She’s an aspiring writer but she lost her words. While on the journey to finding her ability to write again, she gets a job as a cashier at a cafe. Here, she meets Fern, Caroline, and Chad—a trio of friends that welcome her into their group. She begins to date Chad and find her words again. Damien unexpectedly comes back. Will Renata and Chad be able to make their relationship work, or will Renata’s past ruin their future?

I really enjoyed this book! It’s the first book I’ve ever read by Katherine Turner and I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it. I thought Renata was so strong. She went through so much in her life—the loss of both her parents, an abusive relationship (see the trigger warnings below), being laid off from her job—and she came out stronger than ever in the end. Chad was a great presence in her life. He was just a normal guy, but he was so understanding and thoughtful. I honestly loved that he was so normal and down-to-earth. He knew exactly what Renata needed and was so aware of her emotions, and his own emotions. He had his own demons too and could be extremely over-protective. Caroline and Fern were also great supporting characters. Caroline was my favorite. It was a really beautiful story. Renata came to terms with and overcame her past. She learned to love again, while also finding herself, learning to love herself, and moving forward with her career.

TW: physical and emotional abuse and rape

Madly Deeply Wildly comes out on June 23! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

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Upon starting this book I was hooked! I could not put this down.
This story was written in Renata's POV only and really helped to understand her and how much she was growing mentally and emotionally throughout. The story is about Renata's journey of survival from domestic abuse.
After leaving her fiance, Damien, Renata moves back to her hometown in hopes of starting fresh. Here, she gets a job, meets new friends, and begins to find her way back to writing again.
Renata's journey to loving herself again while also beginning to trust others was truly unforgettable. Every obstacle she faced provided a great depth of understanding from her POV. I felt everything that she was feeling through Katherine Turner's beautiful writing. This story gave me every emotion along the way and I am so glad I was given the opportunity to read and review this piece.
Thank you to Josha Publishing and NetGalley for granting me an ARC read.

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This book had me clutching my chest as I read it (in a good way). How unbelievably sweet and also ridiculously sad at the same time. I love how it dealt with the ways that abuse in all forms can leave a lasting mark on a person, as well as how it can sometimes leave a mark on relationships. The characters were so fleshed out and full of their own personalities that it made them easily loved, and also easy to root for and sympathize with. Very enjoyable read.

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