This book right here is why I love Alexis Winter’s works. This story is filled with trauma and heartache but then so much love and passion, and I didn’t want it to end.
The fifth book in the Men of Rocky Mountain series focuses on
Ryder, the town’s fire chief and resident Thor lookalike, and Steph, the former
bartender and now manager/instructor at the local Pilates studio who has a stormy
and mysterious past. They first met while Steph was working at a bar in their
small town, and a friendship formed. There was always an undercurrent of attraction
between the two, but neither of them acted upon it for quite a long time.
Eventually though, Ryder and Steph’s relationship went from just friends to a
whole other level. Then just as they’re becoming more than friends in comes
Steph’s past, and so much happens from there. This book delves into topics of physical,
emotional, and mental abuse at the hands of her ex, and it explores the
evolution of Ryder and Steph’s relationship from friends to lovers and all of
the complications in between.
The premise of this book is heavy for sure, but it’s a topic
that is so important. Steph’s life has been so hard and filled with loneliness and
fear, and this story has so much emotion laced throughout every bit of it. Sure,
there are steamy and swoony bits that I absolutely adored, but then there are
the more difficult parts. Those are the parts that will break your heart, but
then from those we get to see this wonderfully courageous and strong heroine that’s
found it in herself to take charge and do what she needs to do to finally fight
for the sort of life she wants. Steph’s story shows a woman at odds with her fear
and her longing for something more, something better. The way Steph perseveres
is nothing less than admirable, and I loved every bit of her transformation.
And then there’s Ryder. I’m completely wowed. He’s seriously
that good. Ryder’s not just the swoony fire chief that’s good to his very core;
he’s complex and at times frustrating, and it makes him my favorite male
character in this entire series. I loved seeing how he started off seeming like
this formidable and sexy alpha of a character, but then the deeper you get into
the book, you realize he’s so much more than just the hot fireman. He’s the
perfect counterpart to Steph’s character, and the way they play off each other
feels exactly right.
This is a wonderfully composed story that deals with difficult
subject matter, but it’s done so well. This story has a lot of emotion,
suspense, and drama but with a lot of sweetness and steam, and I can’t recommend
it enough.
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