A moving new stand-alone novel of forbidden love by USA Today bestseller Sarina Bowen.
Jude lost everything one spring day when he crashed his car into an apple tree on the side of the road. A man is dead, and there’s no way he can ever right that wrong. He’d steer clear of Colebury, Vermont forever if he could. But an ex-con in recovery for his drug addiction can’t find a job just anywhere.
… anywhere.
Sophie Haines is stunned by his reappearance. After a three year absence, the man who killed her brother and broke her heart is suddenly everywhere she turns. It’s hard not to stare at how much he’s changed. The bad boy who used to love her didn’t have big biceps and sun-kissed hair. And he’d never volunteer in the church kitchen.
No one wants to see Sophie and Jude back together, least of all Sophie’s police chief father. But it’s a small town. And forbidden love is a law unto itself.
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This is the second book in the True North series, and while I loved the first one, this one was even better!
We were introduced to Jude in Bittersweet. He cane to work on the Shipley farm after being released from drug rehab and after serving three years for manslaughter. After a few months of hard work, he ventures home where his life unraveled. His ex-girlfriend, Sophie, who happens to bevthe chief of police’s daughter, as well as the sister of the man who died in the car accident which sent Jude to prison, is still there. And they still have tons of chemistry despite knowing the ramifications if they get involved again. They spend time together inadvertently, while both cope with the issues still surrounding the car accident.
I loved Jude. He played on my sympathies from the start, and I so wanted him to succeed. Watching a loved one go through detox and try to stay sober (which I’ve done) is one of the hardest things to do, and Sarina Bowen wrote this so eloquently!
I’m looking forward to more in this series!
We first meet Jude in Bittersweet, and to be honest, he was very much a background character for me. I wasn’t certain how much story was there, especially one as moving as it was destined to fail. As a recovering drug addict, who just finished serving time, Jude is just trying to rebuild his life. With no other choice, he heads to his hometown to attempt to do that. Jude’s addiction was at the forefront of the story, and a driving factor. The way Bowen handled Jude’s addiction was authentic and powerful. Every minute of every day was a struggle for him, and that was so very honest in the writing. It seemed I was always holding my breath, praying for Jude to stay strong.
Sophie’s struggle was just as heartbreaking. Remaining at home to care for her despondent mother, Sophie is living a half-life, when the only boy she ever loved, the only one she can never have, comes back to town. Sophie and Jude’s reunion is expected, but the heightened emotions had my heart racing. For a couple with such a deep history, their reunion was unhurried and raw. The loyalty Sophie showed Jude while they dug into a mystery, the outcome of which had the positional to rock their small town, was nothing short of stunning.
I cannot imagine how difficult this book was for Bowen to write. To say it was an emotional read would be a massive understatement. The emotion spilled off of every page, from start to finish. I was not expecting to be so moved by this story, though by now, I know Bowen never disappoints.
I loved this book. Jude and Sophie are my new loves. I was intrigued with Jude in Bittersweet and his backstory was one the immediately piqued my interest. But this book was so much more than I could have ever hoped for. I couldn’t help loving Jude and his struggle with being a recovering addict. His daily battle to not fall into old habits. But I loved learning how he and Sophie fell in love and how much he still cared for her despite not thinking he’s good enough for her. And then there’s Sophie who despite all the pain Jude caused her and her family, she still takes the time to see how Jude actions affected him. She never stopped loving him. They were so sweet and hot together and she was exactly what he needed. Hope. A shining beacon.
I also loved that Jude still goes to the Shipley farm for dinner on Thursdays. I love the Shipley’s and would have been so sad if I didn’t get more of them in this book. They were more family and friends to him than anyone in his entire life. The suspense was great and had me on edge with angst. The ending was so exciting and scary and I loved every minute of it.
This book is so good and I loved it obviously. Definitely better than Bittersweet in my opinion. My fave so far.
Jude and Sophie are characters that will stay with me for a long time.
Loved it!
Love all of her books!!