ABOUT THE BOOK
She betrayed him. Now, he’s back to claim everything—including her.
Gabriel Grimm was supposed to be dead.
Once, he was the golden heir—untouchable, unstoppable—until a scandal shattered his world, leaving his name in ruins and his body in a shallow grave. But Gabriel didn’t die. He disappeared, forging himself into something harder, colder, unbreakable. And now, after years in the shadows, he’s ready to take back what was stolen.
Starting with her.
Isabella Hart was everything to him. His love. His salvation. And the woman who stood by while her father destroyed him. Now, she’s at the heart of the empire he’s about to dismantle. But taking down her father isn’t enough. Gabriel wants Bella, too. Ruined. Broken. His.
She swears she wasn’t part of the betrayal. That she fought for him. That the past isn’t what he believes.
But Gabriel stopped believing in love the day he died.
Now, he only believes in vengeance.
Yet every time he touches her, the past comes roaring back. The hunger. The need. The lie he tells himself—that breaking her will make him whole again.
But if he’s wrong, then claiming her won’t be his triumph… it will be his downfall. And her undoing.
MY REVIEW
Second-chance, enemies-to-lovers tropes are intriguing to me. I love the angst, the passion, and the struggle to find love again, and this book gives me that and more!
My first J. Kenner novel revolves around Isabelle and Gabriel, who were madly in love until a tragic turn of events takes Gabriel away. Five years later, Isabelle is still trying to navigate life without him until she finds out that he’s not actually dead, and he’s back for revenge against her father and Isabelle herself.
I won’t reveal the spoilers because readers will want to experience the twists and turns for themselves, but the weight of grief and pain that both Isabelle and Gabriel carry throughout the story is volatile. I found myself deeply enthralled in their struggles as they both grapple with their past, the unsaid words, and the relationship they once had.
The pacing of the book really kept me glued to the pages. It flowed well, and the supporting characters enriched the story further. With that said, I did find some moments a little repetitive. It felt like just when one conflict was resolved, it would appear again later. But honestly, it didn’t take away much from my overall enjoyment. I was hooked and ended up reading it in one sitting because I seriously couldn’t put it down.
If you’re looking for a captivating read that explores themes of love, loss, and emotional complexity, I highly recommend giving this book a shot.
Thanks to Ms. Kenner for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J. Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and #1 International bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.
In her previous career as an attorney, JK worked as a clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practiced primarily civil, entertainment and First Amendment litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, as well as in Austin, Texas. She currently lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and two rather spastic cats.
Follow Julie on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Pinterest, Instagram, and Goodreads.
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