Painful pasts, and the judgements of a small town, weigh on a couple as they try to find their HEA just as the past pain returns. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Hero by Hayley Faiman, along with my impressions of this scorching and heart-wrenching romance, then add it to your bookshelf. In honor of this second installment in the Unfit Hero series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $50 Amazon GC too!
Defeated. Coward. Gutless. Weak.
Perceptions define the man that I have become on the inside.
The world may not see me this way, but this is who I am.
Sullied. Contaminated. Worthless. Masked.
The way I perceive myself affects every aspect of my life.
The world may see a perfectly clean person, but on the inside, I am nothing but dirty and scarred.
The world sees us one way.
We see ourselves another.
Perceptions are what we’ve given ourselves.
Perceptions of what we think we deserve.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
From page one this is a quick read, but one that packs quite an emotional punch, as a group of women are still dealing with years of abuse from those who should’ve protected them the most. Helping these women along the way are men with their own painful pasts, men who are perfectly imperfect, with a sweet and scorching romance the result. From the first page to the last this book ties up loose ends from the previous book while telling the heavy tale of Exeter and Wyatt. From erotically-charged encounters to moments of danger and suspense readers will find themselves captivated by drama in and out of the bedroom while setting up storylines for the future.
This is a scorching tale from the very start, a fast-paced story that jumps right into the romance and danger that started with Rylan and Channing. Their story continues here, bubbling in the background, while Wyatt and Exeter take center stage in their emotionally intense instant connection that leads to oh so much more. Bdsm-lite scenes are balanced with sweet and sensitive interactions as Wyatt slowly learns more about Exeter’s painful past which helps him in convincing her to fight for a HEA with him. These two are bruised when we first meet them, but together they build each other up in a powerful romance full of twists and turns. Surrounding this compelling main couple was an equally engaging cast of secondary characters who captured my attention and have left me wanting more. They all have issues of their own though and as this series continues it promises to be one heckuva tearjerker that I’m greatly anticipating.
At a young age Exeter was forced into making an adult decision as her father’s abuse left her with no other options if she wanted to make an escape. She’s made a life for herself since then, graduated nursing school and living on her own, but the abuse has left her self-esteem bruised and the view she has of herself is negative. She sees herself as damaged and unworthy of real love which is why all she engages in is one night-stands. At least that’s all she used to engage in. The moment Wyatt Johnson introduced himself to her they’ve been inseparable as he becomes a man on a mission to claim her. Though he’s a bit domineering early on, it’s just the push Exeter needed to listen to her heart instead of all the negative thoughts in her head. Being with Wyatt was empowering to her, brought out a more decisive side to her too, a side that had her protecting herself when danger arrived on her doorstep once again. I was rooting for Exeter every step of the way as she rose high above all the horrible things that befell her when she was young. She started off timid and uncertain but became stronger-willed and more capable of speaking her desires out loud which made for even steamier storytelling. Her emotional growth was admirable with her friendship with other women (like Channing, Tulip, MawMaw, and Emily) another bright spot for its humor and strong sense of support as each overcame painful pasts to find richly rewarding HEAs.
Wyatt Johnson was on Cloud 9 the night his high school football team won the championship only to hit rock bottom with the discovery of his girlfriend’s pregnancy. Though he was thrilled by the news and had his own plans for their HEA, it was her decision that broke him and led to years of anger and feelings of not being good enough. He never wants to put his heart on the line ever again, become that caught up in another woman, and has been content with his numerous one night-stands ever since. The moment he sees Exeter though is the moment everything changes. It’s instant attraction with images of a future with her that drives him to claim her in this sizzling story of overcoming the past to make a future. Wyatt’s a strong-willed man with a domineering side that often comes out to play in and out of the bedroom. He sees Exeter’s fears and with surprising gentleness though he helps her work through the pain through his unwavering support and acceptance of her. She might see herself as damaged goods but he sees someone who’s a perfect match for him. While helping Exeter work through her issues he also works through his own, letting go of his guilt and anger, to allow himself to be happy in a subtle but powerful moment. Wyatt too has a close-knit group of friends who he can count on in moments of danger and their help is definitely needed during this story because of the truly vile villains inhabiting this tale. These villains didn’t get near the punishment they deserved though, especially with how much damage they left behind. There’s a strong bond between Wyatt and his cousin Rylan as he helped him find HEA with Channing and continues to help her stay safe throughout this book. He also relied on charming fighter Louis, the mysterious Ford, and Sheriff Robby with the glimpses I got of each of these men that have me now waiting with bated breath. His other friend Beaumont also left me wanting more as he’s a man clearly hurting, an alcoholic torn between duty and desperately wanting to be healed. Throughout most of the book Wyatt saw himself unworthy of love and HEA but through his words and deeds I found him to be an unforgettable, though a bit rough around the edges, hero.
This is a scorching tale from the very start, a fast-paced story that jumps right into the romance and danger that started with Rylan and Channing. Their story continues here, bubbling in the background, while Wyatt and Exeter take center stage in their emotionally intense instant connection that leads to oh so much more. Bdsm-lite scenes are balanced with sweet and sensitive interactions as Wyatt slowly learns more about Exeter’s painful past which helps him in convincing her to fight for a HEA with him. These two are bruised when we first meet them, but together they build each other up in a powerful romance full of twists and turns. Surrounding this compelling main couple was an equally engaging cast of secondary characters who captured my attention and have left me wanting more. They all have issues of their own though and as this series continues it promises to be one heckuva tearjerker that I’m greatly anticipating.
My rating for this is an A-
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
I was born and raised in a small farming town in California. I met my husband when I was 16 and he was 19. We married four years later and have two little boys! We lived in Oregon for a few years while he served in the US Coast Guard.
Texas is now where we call home, where our boots rest, and where we’re raising our two little boys and a chocolate lab named Optimus Prime.
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Book sounds great. Terrific post.
ReplyDeletei love the post because it tells me so much about the book and life/
ReplyDeleteLooks very interesting.
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