From bestselling author, Dr. Rebecca Sharp, comes a steamy, small-town romance with a dash of suspense.Laurel Ocean knows loss like the sea knows the shore.The loss of her parents took her from Carmel Cove and the loss of her grandfather brought her back. Unexpectedly inheriting the shambles of her family’s coffee shop, her first instinct is to run. After all, it’s just something else to lose.So, … After all, it’s just something else to lose.
So, Laurel makes a plan: fix up the business, sell it, and get out of town. And it would’ve been perfect… if the building hadn’t come with a condition: a stubborn, broody, and distractingly sexy contractor.
Eli Downing made a promise to look after Laurel, and offering to repair the coffeeshop is just the start. He’s not going anywhere whether she likes it or not. And for as many walls as she pays him to fix, he’s determined to tear down the same from around her hardened heart.
The longer she stays, the more Laurel finds herself beholden.
To her family’s legacy. To her loyal hometown. And to the man healing her heart.
Unfortunately, Carmel has only given Laurel one outcome she can rely on. And when loss draws another line in the sand, will she flee from her fears or fight for her future?
Beholden is the first enemies-to-lovers standalone in the Carmel Cove series.
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I loved this book. Rebecca Sharp has given a tale full of raw emotion, heat, and suspense. The relationships between the characters of Carmel Cove are beautiful. The plot was well developed. The whole book was woven into a seamless story that drew me in from the very first page. I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone.
Once again another amazing book by rebecca that had me glued to the pages from the get go.
I Absolutely love this sort of romance and the way that the story was described in so much detail you can feel, touch and taste everything that shes describing.
As the story unfolded so did my heart, I felt everything, I laughed and cried.
What an amazing story.
Worth many more than 5*
This gave me all the feels. It’s a slow burn of a romance so at times it felt as though it was dragging but Laurel and Eli kept me going. They’re sweet and healing from different things in their own way. I like that he didn’t give up on her and kept getting her walls to come down. There is some angst and a little suspense but it doesn’t overtake their story.
Once again Rebecca Sharp owns my bookish heart and reminds me why I wait on bated breath for each of her novels to release!
Beautiful writing, a romantic story, an amazing hero, and a small town I never wanted to leave are just some of the things that made BEHOLDEN another five star read.
Words cannot even describe how incredible of a story this is. The story literally took my breath away. So much so that I cannot even begin to put into words the emotional turmoil I felt and rollercoaster I went on. The characters have flaws and suffered so much, yet they strive to get back a sense of normalcy and heal. In the process healing one another. This is one of her best stories yet and I cannot wait for more of this series to release.
So much grief and pain…
Laurel faces an emotional suffering, she already lost her parents and now the loss has happened all over again.
Unexpectedly she inherits her family’s coffee shop. She makes a plan of fixing it and running away. But there’s Eli, he and the rest of the town have other ideas.
He promises to keep her safe, and at the end he gives her so much more.
I have to point this out: the story and the characters are amazing, but the way Rebecca writes… Truly beautiful.
We meet Laurel a.k.a. Ishkey, a nickname given to her by her pap. Laurel is home from school with the flu which she caught from her friend, Jane. While hanging out with her Pap, Laurel and he go outside to get fresh ocean air near Big Sur and her Pap tells her that her legacy doesn’t need to be the coffee shop that has been in her family for generations. Laurel was supposed to have a sleepover with her cousin, Jules. Jules has decided that she wants to be a nurse and she tried to convince Laurel to commit to it even though they’re only in ninth grade.
I absolutely loved this book. I recently lost my aunt in February so this book was amazing. I’ve never cried so much while reading a book but I loved all the characters especially Laurel & Eli
OMG, I am ashamed to say this is the first book I have read by Dr. Rebecca Sharp and boy was I MISSING OUT on so much goodness!
This book, whew, that prologue! I could smell the picture, smell, and feel how the author described the scene. I could feel the bonds that tied the two family members together and it immediately drew me in. This book broke my heart and yet put me back together again with the chemistry and strength the two main characters portray. It is a fantastic story of how strength, love, and community will overcome the darkness.
This book, gah, I can relate to it so much because I grew up in a community similar and this book left me with a smile and anxious for the next in the series. This should be a must read on your TBR!
Oh my Goodness what another Spectacular read by the wonderful writing of Rebecca Sharp.
Her words always take my breath away, and fill me with so much emotion and Awe.
I Loved every single moment I spent in Carmel cove with Laurel,Eli and all the towns folk we get to know.
After her grandfather’s untimely death, Laurel is struggling to be back in her home town where she feels like she lost so much,so young.So all that she wants to do is leave as soon as possible,but there always seems to be hurdles in the way stopping her and one of those obstacles is in the form of dependable, protective,and hotter than sin Eli Downing .He always seems to be there when she needs him most.
Eli finds himself drawn to Laurel like a moth to a flame and he makes it his mission to help her move through her grief and hopefully stay in town…the attraction between these two is electrifying and no matter how much they resist the chemistry gets stronger.
I was so hooked by this story and it kept me on my toes as there is a suspenseful element to this book along with the Romantic side. So it has everything you could possibly want in a good story that will entertain you throughout.Sexy,sweet and Emotional it will totally captivate you until the end.
This is a phenomenal start to a great series,I love the characters in this town they all intrigue me,and I am already eager for the next book .
5 Brilliant Stars
When I read a book I really need to feel a connection with the couple. Laurel and Eli had very little chemistry, it felt like it was forced.
I get lust and feeling attracted to someone at first sight but I didn’t quite get the two of them being a couple. This made it very slow for me to get into.
You do however get a spark about 60% into the book.
They both carry a lot of guilt with the passing of her pap, it’s hard to lose a loved one. It brings them together again even though she tries to resist. The story takes an unexpected turn of events that you don’t see. You know something going to happen but you’re not quite sure what.
This was an okay read for me.
Reviewer: Phyl
This is a very heartfelt story. Made me cry but also gave me joy and pride. The word community falls short, the people in Carmel Cove are family to each other. With the exception of a few bad apples, but they are not important. What is important is the constant support that Eli gives Laurel even when he is also struggling with hard times and loss. And thank God for him because he is like a rock. Laurel tries to keep distance but good thing he is patient and persistent without overcrowding her because when she finally realizes that she needs him, there is no doubt that he is there. He builds her up and awakens in her a strong and courageous soul. And it’s like she is reborn with a new appreciation for life and love. And the way she builds up her spirits, the business, friendships and relationships is just beautiful. This town and the people in it are something special.