ABOUT THE BOOK
He’s the memory that burns like poison. She’s the obsession that devours his control.
Fable
They say angels only exist in heaven.
They’re wrong. Some are born into hell and learn to survive.
I was seventeen when I saved a beautiful stranger from dying in an abandoned garden. He promised to kill the villain in my nightmares. Instead, he shattered my life.
At twenty-three, I’m still running from the evil in my past, and the stranger who betrayed me. He’s back. Colder, and in a position to destroy me again.
I hide in a gilded mansion where elites play, falling for a masked man who makes my body come alive.
But some prisoners earn favors.
And some saviors keep deadly promises.
Wes
They say monsters are made, not born.
They’re right.
Cruelty came from my father. Survival came from the girl who healed me when I was meant to die. She was a glimmer in the darkness, then she betrayed me. Or so I was told.
Now she’s standing in front of me, a grown woman with haunted eyes and a hatred for me I don’t understand.
She doesn’t know I’m the man behind the mask, bringing her desires to life. She doesn’t know I own her world.
An angel once saved me, and I failed her. This time, I’ll keep my promise and reveal who I truly am.
Even if it makes her hate me more.
MY REVIEW
This is the third book in the Cruel Legacies series and my first Tara Gallina novel. The beginning caught my attention, throwing me into a plot where a young woman rescues a young man left for dead on his family’s estate. When they reunite years later, secrets abound and trust has to be earned.
Fable is a beautiful name for a character who has faced so much sadness. She’s a survivor alone in a world filled with cruelty and loss, and she believes that “being forgotten can be a good thing.” Despite all that, I was intrigued by her enjoyment for abandoned places. When she learns the man behind the mask is Wes, she feels betrayed again, but he gives her the safety and belonging that she’s desperately craved.
Wes isn’t afraid of dying, but after his father’s men beat him and leave him for dead, he never expects someone to come to his rescue. The days Fable spends helping him heal and escape stay with him for years, right up until they meet again. He’s told that she betrayed him, but it doesn’t make sense, and he promises to protect her and never lose her again.
Fable and Wes both hit the jackpot for tragic upbringings, and I loved how they bonded when they first met. They definitely have chemistry, though I thought Wes’s deception lasted a bit too long. And as much as I loved the unfolding drama, the pacing near the end felt rushed, and I needed more clarity on how Wes got his revenge for Fable.
Overall, it was an emotional and easy-to-follow story with a happily-ever-after ending. If you’re looking for a second chance dark romance filled with betrayal, danger, and passion, then definitely give this book a try.
Thank you to Ms. Gallina for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Cruel Legacies Series
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tara Gallina writes across various romance genres, from new adult and college to small-town, light-dark, and fantasy. Most of her books are steamy, but she has two sweeter titles.
Her stories blend angst, tormented heroes, heartache, and an occasional splash of humor. Many of her novels come alive through settings inspired by her travels.
When she’s not writing, she loves to visit gardens, New England in the fall, European castles, and Caribbean beaches. She has a fairy garden, a Lady Lair for writing, favors the color pink, and only drinks wine that tastes like melted sugar.
She lives in the Sunshine State, where she and her husband raised their two sons. Her journey began in 2014 when she signed with a literary agent for a young adult retelling. Since then, she’s moved on to publishing steamy romances and hasn’t looked back.
Follow Tara on her website, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, Pinterest, Goodreads, Bookbub, and Twitter.
