The light had been snuffed out of Xander Caine’s world a long time ago, leaving him to suffer in darkness. After a tremendous loss, he closed himself off from anyone and everyone, content to live alone in the shadows. Then a woman blew into town with the force of a hurricane and shook everything up.Sage Winthrop was looking to start over. She didn’t have a plan for what her new life would look … would look like, but when she landed in Hope Valley, she knew it was the place she wanted to call home. Then one chance encounter outside of the best coffee shop in town set her world spinning.
Sage and Xander hated each other on sight. However, when they’re forced to work together, that hate eventually turns into something neither of them expected. Their attraction proves too strong to ignore. But when secrets from Sage’s past are revealed and her life is threatened, Xander has no choice but to let go of his demons and step out of the darkness in order to save the woman he loves.
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Oh GOD… when I will gonna learn that every next book in this series could be only better than the previous one ??? I love every single book about Hope Valley… For now, I see that when I’m writting review, about another Jessica’s Prince baby, I can only repeat myself with saying – Wow!!! Now this is my favorite book in the whole series.
And this time, another time after revisiting one of my fave imgainary places, my head is spinning (AGAIN), my heart beats faster than the speed of light (AGAIN), my breath is somewhere, for sure, but I can’t find it right now (AGAIN). I’m not ready to say goodbye.. AGAIN. Coming back to Hope Valley is nothing lees than amazing journey and coming back … to the family.
Xander and Sage ARE AMAZING. From the first paiges their fire burned my fingers – I can’t lie …. gah… what a chemistry, tension…. and love. Xander and Sage are broken, both of them left behind hurtfull memories , very emotional ones. BUT their story just flow by in such a wonderful way – it was one of this books that You can read fast, lots of things happening, every twist, up and down You can feel in the whole body, but You can’t stop reading even for one short moment.
After finnishing my adventure with my fave folks, I’m feeling really greedy for more and another heartbreak writtinen by this author’s hands.
Abomsolutely must read!
Xander and Sage are now my favorite couple in this series. Sage doesn’t let her past get her down, doesn’t let people in general wreck her, and lives life by being true to herself. Xander, on the other hand, is mired in the darkness and pain of his past and doesn’t see any hope of that ever changing. But then he meets the one person who isn’t afraid of him or looking for something more than him to just be himself…and he’s hooked. Sure, his attitude sucks, but Sage is strong and won’t back down. Their transition from antagonists to friends to everything isn’t rushed and is just SO right. And when both of their pasts collide with the present, Xander proves why he’s the right man for Sage and just why he deserves her. Their story is one that I wouldn’t recommend missing!
After finishing each book in the Hope Valley series I always end with a sigh on how good it was. Out of the Darkness, book 6 was no exception! I feel it everytime, but Sage and Xander is my new favorite couple in this series. They both have a heartbreaking past but the difference was how they reacted to it. Xander is still in so much pain and he internalizes it. He doesn’t talk about his past and basically keeps to himself. This makes him broody, gruff and can be vicious with his words and he does not do relationships. On the flip side is Sage, she courageously left a horrible situation and starting a new life in Hope Valley. She is a biker princess and takes no crap from anyone anymore. I loved her spirit and her bad a$$ery! So one can imagine how combustible their first meet could be. And it was! On the surface it can be seen as instant hate but the attraction they felt for each other was strong. Xander was such a jerk and I seriously would have loved to smack him over the head. Sage’s responses were awesome and definitely wanted to give her a high-five lol. The banter between these two and the names they give each other was fantastic and it continues on when they learn they would be working in the same office.
I loved Sage and Xander’s story so much. The chemistry is intense and scorching. It is totally cheesy to say but to see the light of Sage start to over power Xander’s darkness was so heart-warming. Their relationship is definitely not easy and the separation between the two and the cause of it was gut wrenching but the way they came back together and the groveling made it all worth it. Like in pretty much all the previous books in this series, the heroine is put through the wringer but their strength and the love of their men is truly awe inspiring. Another great 5-star read!
And on a side note, if you happen to be a subscriber of this author’s newsletter, the next book she is releasing is a spin off from one of the characters we meet in this book. I love love love the Hope Valley series but I seriously can not wait for this one!
I’m not sure how Jessica Prince does it, but these books NEVER disappoint! She writes strong heroines like no one I’ve ever read, and I freakin LOVE it!! Sage is a bad b*tch, and I would love to be her friend. She took no crap from Xander. She took him head on, which was awesome! Xander ended up with a lot more demons than I thought. He was still a great hero, and he was gone for Sage the first time he met her. I wish that he would have got his head out of his butt a little sooner, but it all worked out in the end. I seriously thought that I wasn’t going to get the satisfying conclusion with Sage’s past, but Ms. Prince didn’t let me down 🙂 Even though this book has it’s heaviness, there were parts that I laughed out loud at. It had a really good balance. We still get little updates on all the previous couples, which I love. The ending was perfect for these two, and I CAN NOT WAIT until the next book in this series comes out.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.
All I can say is wow – Out of the Darkness Jessica Prince’s latest addition to the Hope Valley series is more than I expected from the get-go. The emotional journey the reader goes on with Xander and Sage was not only heartbreaking at times that leads to such a wonderful payoff it makes the whole book worth it. Not to mention some cool twists and we get to meet some new characters along the way.
Xander keeps to himself which is hard to do in the small town of Hope Valley – especially working at Alpha Omega as the resident computer genius. Sage blows into town after leaving her ex in Arizona looking for a fresh start but she also has secrets that she wants to bury and a new town is just the place to do that. When she gets a job as an admin at Alpha she knows the Xander is going to be nothing but a pain – that is until she makes it her mission to become his friend. When one thing leads to another and their relationship goes past friendship Xander does everything he can to keep his feelings for Sage in check – he cant knows that he will only hurt her in the end. Now Sage’s past has caught up to her and Xander needs to make a decision let her go and risk her life or give in and learn to love
I love Sage and Xander – I truly think they are my new favorite couple. Told from dual POVs we get to see both sides of the story and there are some definite things that I was not expecting at all. We get to revisit with some old Hope Valley friends which is always fun but we also get to meet some new characters who I am very excited for (Cannon!). All in all Out of the Darkness was a wonderful surprise in an already great series.
I can always count on a Jessica Prince book to give me all the feels! Out of the Darkness is all about getting a second chance in life and finding the right person to pull you out of the darkness into the light. Xander is the typical damaged alpha male…you know, super hot and emotionally unavailable. I love Sage and her total badassness! She can sling insults with the best of them (Xander) and had me cracking up. She is definitely my favorite heroine in Hope Valley. I loved everything about this book!
I devoured Xander and Sage’s story in Out of the Darkness! The sexual tension, the banter between the two and the overall story just grabbed from the start and didn’t let go until that very last page! A quiet hero and a very feisty heroine made for an excellent story filled with every emotion you could imagine. I have to say that Xander and Sage might be my favorite couple yet!
I have thoroughly enjoyed this Hope Valley series, and this book has managed to worm its way into being one of my absolute favorites. I definitely had a love-hate thing going with this one, though. I loved Sage right from the start, but Xander, well, I wanted to smack him, and I took great satisfaction when Sage did so. But like Sage, I also fell in love with him, and his pain broke my heart. It took the strongest type of woman to make him want to truly live again, and although the road there is a rough one, it’s worth the ride. This is not a light, breezy beach read. Or a cozy snuggle-by-the-fire story. It’s a gritty, real, unputdownable journey from darkness to light—one with a kick-ass heroine, broody hero, and heart-wrenching yet satisfying HEA.
A sincere thank you to the author for providing an ARC for review.
A great read. I absolutely loved Xander, so alpha and sexy. Sage is strong and sassy! Their chemistry is sizzling from the beginning and their enemies to lovers storyline will grab and hold you from beginning to end. Love this series.
These small towns that Jessica Prince creates make me want to pack up and move. Xander was so utterly broken and seeing his and Sage’s story play out with heartbreak and healing absolutely melted my heart with every page.
Out Of The Darkness is the 6th book in the Hope Valley series by Jessica Prince. Each book in this series can be read as a standalone but I recommend that you read them all because there are reoccurring characters that are in each book and the books are just that amazing!
Sage and Xander’s story – Wow!!!! It is just fantabulous. That’s not a word that I use loosely. Their journey towards each other was an emotional rollercoaster ride. It was a seesaw of ups and downs, push/pull, rawness yet I loved every moment of it. They each were broken souls who fit each other like gloves. Sage is beautiful and full of sass, attitude and outrageous personality which fits right in. Her character was comedy gold because I was laughing at every turn, she was just that funny. I loved her zest and her sassy sweet interactions with Xander.
As for Xander, he was conflicted, dark, raw and brooding. He is handsome but suffered a loss. He is not coping well and he runs into Sage and their love journey is bourne. It’s full of feels, steam, push/pull, heartache, ups/downs, conflict, humor, angst, twists, friendships, betrayal, family, romance and love.
I loved Xander and Sage’s story!!! I can’t wait for book 7 next!!!
My Rating: 4.9 stars ********
Another great Hope Valley book!! I loved Xander and Sage’s story. I love these Hope Valley characters so much.
Sage is starting over and comes to Hope Valley. She gets a job at Alpha Omega and falls in love with this town like we all love it.
Xander has a messed up past and doesn’t want anything to do with Sage. She is strong through, she wants to be his friend, even though he pushes her away.
I loved watching their relationship grow into something. I love all the supporting characters. I love Hope Valley!!
I received a review copy before release for an honest review.
This is the newest story in this series. It is book #6 but this one more than any of the others stands very much alone. If you have not read the series yet its a great book to start in on and if you have read the series then you will enjoy this one as we get to meet Xander and Sage both new characters and employees who work at the PI firm in town.
Sage was a fun character and I absolutely loved her story so much. She is a rough around the edges woman. Sorta a law abiding biker chick who truly is happy and confident with who she is. Her father is in jail, her mother and ex are bugging her so she decides to move to a new town and that’s how she ends up working for the PI firm.
Xander is a loner, very grumpy and very rough around the edges. He believes in just sex with no emotions and he spends his time at a rough biker bar. He doesn’t have any friends even though he has been in town awhile. And he does IT work at the PI firm where Sage just got hired.
And that’s how the two get to know the other. I loved how adorable Sage is with Xander and Xander is so adorable as a big, huge grumpy guy. I loved how he could not stay away even though he is not in a good place for any kinda of relationship.
For the most part this was a very fun story and its because Sage is perky, happy and tough. Life has gotten her down a few times but she picks herself up and she fights for what she wants. I absolutely loved her.
Xander though I had a tougher time liking. The truth is he can learn a lot from Sage and to some degree he has given up on life and love and finding happiness. The truth he is a coward about love and that’s why this is not my favorite book in the series. Its still pretty great just not my most favorite. However if you are new to this series, its a great first book to start on.
Well, color me surprised because I was quite convinced nothing could steal the thunder or my affection from The Ladies of Girl Talk and their delicious men. Nothing. I almost would have staked my children on it. Well, I am glad that I didn’t because Xander and Sage just stole the top spot. This book was everything that I have come to love from this author and then some. It was heartfelt, the banter was delicious, and sweet lawd, the characters were everything.
This has been a fantastic series of interconnected standalones. but this book took the series to a whole new level. The baggage that Xander has just made me want to fight for him just like Sage did. He needed friends, and more importantly, he needed Sage. Just as Sage needed him. There were such cute lines in this book. Hell, cute isn’t even the word I want to use. The lines were perfect and not at all cliche. The author wrote everything in such a way that I cannot even imagine the characters saying it any other way. It felt as if the characters were jumping out of the pages themselves and that made me love them even more. Sage is one of my favorite characters that this author has ever written, which says a lot considering how much I FLOVE all the Ladies of the aforementioned Girl Talk.
There is such a depth to these characters and their stories. I was right to be intrigued by Xander because he was so wonderful and just needed someone to help him see that. I am not even going to challenge myself and say that the author cannot get any better because I know she will. I cannot wait to see what is next in this fresh and always entertaining town called Hope Valley. I highly recommend not only this series but any book by this author. She is always a favorite for a reason.
Another yet amazing 5 star story for this brilliant author. This is the 6th book in the Hope Valley series.
Xander is a tall, dark, broody alpha that works at the security firm. He’s battling demons that he carries with him every day. Comes in bad ass Sage who doesn’t scare easily and pushes him out of his comfort zone. Will she succeed in having Xander deal with demons?
This is an intriguing and somewhat suspenseful story. They have connection and spark. Amazing characters that were funny at times. I enjoyed this great storyline that was beautifully written. Another must read.
Rest assured this book could be read as a standalone but for better enjoyment read them all. Told in a dual POV with an HEA. I strongly recommend this story.
I’m fairly certain I felt every single emotion while reading Sage and Xander’s story. I went in thinking Jessica couldn’t possibly have a heroine that I loved more than Gypsy….famous last words of a fool, my friends. Sage. Is. Amazing. Xander. Is. Awesome. I’ll be honest, I wanted to throat punch him occassionally, but I think it’s a testament to Jessica’s skill as a writer that she redeemed him completely.
I think we should all try to be more like Sage. Live life to the fullest, always have compassion for others, and just be a genuinely nice person. And may we all find our own Xander – a complicated, giant, sweetheart of a man.
The Hope Valley series just gets better and better…I can’t wait for the next installment…Bryce is going to be fantastic!
Xander and Sage will take you on a wild ride through their relationship. If you love some female sass and some male bad@$$, then this book is for you. It is part of a series, and yes, you should read the others. However, you don’t have to. Hope Valley is full of bad@$$ men who find their equally bad@$$ women with some bumps along the way. This story follows that path. You will fall in love with Sage as she doesn’t take Xander’s crap. Inside the pages, you will find angst, brotherhood, love, friendship, courage, etc. Dual point of view. No cliffhanger.
Out of Darkness is the sixth book in the Hope Valley series. This is Xander’s story.
I really like Xander. He was this big, handsome man with pain and secrets in his eyes. He was always willing to back up his buddies, but Xander never let anyone get too close. Underneath his gruff and massive exterior he was a sweet and thoughtful teddy bear, but he carried around a lot of misdirected guilt. Xander had been living in darkness until Sage brought light into his life.
When Sage and Xander first met, my impression of her wasn’t positive. I have a lot of respect for confident women comfortable with who they are. I also understood that was the way Sage was meant to be betrayed. Unfortunately, she came across as bitchy and snide to me. The scene about the scone was OTT, followed by a more OTT scene at Alpha Omega Investigations. I can’t imagine a new employee acting that way about a fellow employee on her first day at work. Luckily, her attitude tapers off fairly quickly, and Sage and Xander become friends. There was so much sexual tension between them you cut it with a knife. Thus the reason for them snapping at each other and constantly bickering. In the end I genuinely liked Sage and thought she was perfect for Xander. She helped bring him out of his shell and face the demons from his past. Xander proved to Sage she was the most important thing in his world and would protect her at all costs.
Bryce’s book is next and I’m excited to see how the flirty, easy going man will be brought to his knees by a woman.
4.5 Stars
Holy hotness!!! This series keeps getting better. I love the men in the Hope Valley Series and how they love deeply and fight for their women. The women are amazing badasses themselves.
Xander is a 100% broody hero, that we’ve encountered in every book in the series, with a devastating loss in his past which keeps him in a dark place.
Sage has survived her share of darkness but is a fighter and working to rebuild her life in a new town.
Their meet-cute over a cranberry-orange scone places them immediately as enemies and when they realize they are working together the tension is palpable. The chemistry only intensifies as the story unfolds.
Sage had a morning ritual of picking up coffee and a cranberry-orange scone every day. So I would like to thank Jessica Prince for the hugest hankering of a cranberry-orange scone that has yet to be satisfied.
Another thing I love about this series is how all the characters rally together in times of need. They support and protect their friends fiercely.
Once Xander comes to his senses and realizes his love for Sage, I fell irrevocably for him and how he protected and supported Sage.
I 100% recommend this series!
Xander Caine is a haunted man, he knows he will never feel the light at the end of a very dark tunnel and he deserves it. It’s for this reason he keeps his harsh demeanor and doesn’t get close to anyone. The only outlet he has for has is occasionally hooking up with a willing woman but it is only sex and after he is done he sends them on their way.
Sage Winthrop grew up with the love of her biker father who showed her how to stand up for herself. However when he was sent to jail she lost a bit of the guidance he showed her with a mother who was self serving and used her as a pawn. She thought she found herself again when she married but she couldn’t have been more wrong and now Sage just wants to be free and finds a new home in Hope Valley where she finds a job she knows she is going to love. What she did not expect is to get off to a rocky start with Xander who she calls out every chance she gets. Xander wants her but he knows he is toxic, Sage wants him but she also knows this could end up hurting her in a way she never come back from. They form a relationship of sorts but what happens when Xander is confronted with his past that he has carefully kept hidden, can he find a reason to fight for Sage or will he let her go?
This is probably my absolute favorite in the series. It is dark at times, funny, haunting – everything you want from a good romance. I was hooked from page one and didn’t put the book down until the end. Xander and Sage are a couple you want more of, definitely reread worthy.