Take one former bully, unable to forgive himself for the sins of his past… right. But what people don’t see are the scars he carries both inside and out. Scars from a past he can’t run away from and will never be able to atone for, no matter how many times he beats himself over it.
Add one no-nonsense cop who longs to be a Daddy for the right boy…
Jericho “Rick” Matthews never expects the bratty kid who gets on his last nerve to pull at his heartstrings. When he finds Clark battered and fighting for his life in a motel room, Rick’s Daddy mode is instantly engaged. Before he can think of anything else, he must first comfort this hurting boy.
To equal a pair of men who might just be what the other needs.
The two men who thought they couldn’t stand each other are drawn together after a date gone wrong. While Rick tenderly cares for Clark, he decides what this brat needs is a Daddy… someone to help him break free from the past and embrace the promise of many happy tomorrows.
This is the fifth book in the LOVESTRONG series about finding love and being yourself in a small town. Intended only for 18+ readers, this is an mm romance full of all the sweet feels you’d want from an S. Hawke book.
Note: Possible trigger warning for mentions of self-harm and a scene involving a man who’s consented to having himself tied up. What he didn’t agree to was being left that way for an entire weekend. This highly emotional scene is the catalyst to evoke “Daddy’s” protective mode in a tale filled with themes of hurt and comfort and the struggle of overcoming a difficult past.
more
Great series, great audio
Loving this series of books, Susan tackles some very sensitive subjects and does it so well.
In this book, we meet Clark again, its a few years later, no longer the school bully but a very damaged young man, who makes some bad decisions.
Deputy Rick has caught Clark speeding on numerous occasions, but tonight things feel different and then he sees him again at Saints bar. His gut is telling somethings not right but he’s at the bar with his family trying to sort out his mums 60th birthday.
Clark leaves with a dubious character for a night of fun, but is it what he’s expecting.
Rick sees the two men leave the bar but carries on with his night out.
I love the dynamic between these two characters and the way the story twist and turns throughout this book keeps you wondering. But all I will say, the ending is not what you expect but there is a HEA as always but at a cost.
I both read this and have listened on audible, Michael Pauley does a fantastic job. As always I did speed up the narration to 1.25. Loved it.
How to Heal
Lovestrong, Book 5
By: Susan Hawke
Narrated by: Michael Pauley
Series: Lovestrong, Book 5
Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins
Overall
Narration
Story
Read at 1.25 speed on Audible
I love the fact that Clarke gets his story. Rick is a great match. They give each other balance. I like how we got to see Clarke grow. We also see that moving on involves hard choices. I really enjoyed the narration as well. It was well done I felt immersed in the story.
There are many tough topics in this book like self-harm, bullying, and abuse. But that isn’t what this is about. Thank goodness! I could read Clark’s journey without plummeting into a dark place because we get enough info for background and don’t have to live it.
So we catch Clark at the pivotal moment and I didn’t really like him. Mmm, not at all so I was looking forward to him suffering a bit. For what? I don’t know and I feel bad about that. And that’s why this story is special.
Clark is complicated and an ass but so brave. So, so brave. He just needed someone to reach out to him as a person. It’s so awesome to read a story about healing/hurt/comfort that isn’t a sob fest. I went through some emotions, for sure. But really? There is an underlying current of optimism that kept me rooting for Clark. And age gap/daddy kink? Definitely hot.
So now I’m hooked. This book can be read as a stand-alone and out of order. I’m so intrigued by the cast of characters that I Just picked up book one!
Loved this book!!!! Clarke is a wonderful character!!!
Narrated by Michael Pauley, How to Heal is the fifth book in Susan Hawke’s Lovestrong series. Don’t be put off by that “#5” though, this is only the second book in the series I’ve listened to and Ms. Hawke makes it easy to stay in the loop. It is a progressive series, and folks from different books pop in and out, but I had no problem following along. (It does make me want to go back and get the dirty details on what I’ve missed though!)
Michael Pauley is an excellent choice for this series. His smooth, sensual voice never fails to do his job, and the emotion he adds to the intimate scenes is stunning.
We meet Rick in How Not to Break and this sweet man captured a piece of my heart. Holding out hope that one day he’ll find a special boy of his own, I knew Clark was going to end up being perfect for him. Also, the fact that Clark is only 21 (yay, age-gap!), and tall and built, just adds to the appeal of the daddy kink for me.
Just a word about the way Ms. Hawke handles the daddy kink. This is not an age-play story and the daddy/boy dynamic is very relaxed for these two men. It’s done in a healing way, giving both characters what they need as it strengthens their bond.
How to Heal is a beautifully told story of Clark’s progress as he works through the guilt of his past transgressions. It’s a tough road, as Clark is a victim himself. Thankfully he has a great support system in the community which gives him the help he needs as he works his way through the process.
This is a well written and intricate tale. As information is revealed and loose ends sewn up, Susan Hawke weaves in some fascinating details. Sadly the 7 1/2 hours flew by too fast and just leaves me wanting more!