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.
more
I can’t get enough of this series. This is the second in the True North series. I loved it and can’t wait to read the next one.
The True North series is probably my favorite series of all time. It owns my heart and soul. I love every single book in the series—they are all outstanding—but Steadfast is special in a way that I can’t easily put to words. It’s an emotional journey that will leave you breathless with its intensity and rawness. It will squeeze your heart, and hopefully open your mind.
Steadfast is the second book in the True North series, and a standalone, so you can read it without reading any other book.
Jude Nickel has to rebuild his life after spending three years in prison. He’s been clean and sober for five months now, and he’s returning home to Colebury Vermont after working for the Shipleys. Going back is the last thing he wants, but he’s out of options. He’s an ex-con with a drug addiction, so finding a job is not going to be easy.
The last person he expects to find still in Colebury is his ex-girlfriend, Sophie Haines. He’s still in love with her, but believes he’s not worthy of her. But keeping his distance proves to be impossible, so he and Sophie will need to deal with their past in order to move on. Some of the truths they start to uncover lead to more than one question that has no answer, and finding the answers could lead them to trouble they were not expecting.
Steadfast is a little darker than the other stories in the series, but it has everything to do with the fact that Jude is a recovering addict and an ex-con. His outlook on life is definitely bleak. You can feel his hopelessness. He’s filled with regret, pain, and guilt. Sophie is trapped in the past and trying to make a future for herself. Jude’s return brings her a lot of pain, but also the realization that she needs to move on.
Steadfast is an emotional second chance, forbidden love story about forgiveness, true love, and moving on. Jude needs to find forgiveness in the people he wronged, but he also needs to forgive himself. And that journey is what this story is all about. It’s heartbreakingly real and painfully raw at times. It’s also beautifully written, and it doesn’t lack witty moments. It’s the real deal.
One of the things I admire most about this series is the cast of characters. They add so much depth to the story. The Shipleys are a beautiful family that you can’t help but want to be a part of, and every one of them has something to offer. The setting is also beautifully accomplished. This might be a darker side of Sarina Bowen’s magic Vermont, but it gives it complexity and depth, and the atmosphere she created in this story is palpable and realistic.
I loved Steadfast so much. It’s compelling in every sense. The story, the characters, the setting, the plot twist. It’s worth more than five stars. Steadfast will break your heart and put it back together again in the best possible way. And it will definitely leave you wanting more.
Steadfast was my first read by Sarina Bowen (yes, I know it’s the second book in the series) after I picked it up from my local library and I’m so glad I did. Steadfast was everything it promised to be and more! I fell in love with Jude and Sophie and their complicated love story.
People assume that they know everything there is to know about Jude Nickel and, honestly, they don’t care to give him the benefit of the doubt – not after he spent the last three years locked up for an accident that killed the town’s golden boy, Gavin Haines, who was none other than Sophie Haines’s older brother and the police chief’s son.
Sophie is also used to being judged for her past mistakes, after all, her one rebellious action – dating bad boy and closet drug addict Jude – ended in a heartache unlike any other. Her once bright dreams of singing on Broadway died along with her brother in the accident and three years later she’s still living in Colebury, Vermont with a fledgling career in social services, trying to ignore the sizzling chemistry between her and Jude, who has just returned from a season of hard work at the Shipley’s orchard following his release from prison and subsequent stay at a rehab facility. But some things can’t be ignored – and Sophie and Jude’s rightness is one of them.
Throughout the course of Steadfast, Sophie and Jude battle past and present demons to find something beautiful together. With a little hope and trust, Sophie and Jude make a future for themselves that is better than they ever could have imagined.
I really, really loved this book. I loved how real it was. As fun as cutesy romances are, it felt like Steadfast was a book that could connect with people on a visceral level. Rather than sweeping Jude’s addiction and the problems and heartache it caused under the rug, Steadfast actively worked to address his issues and follow along with his struggle. You felt Jude’s desire to be better and his internal fight when faced with temptation and fueled with self-deprecating thoughts. Likewise, you could feel Sophie’s love for Jude and her frustration at her lack of knowledge about how to help him. I greatly admired Sophie’s tenacious advocacy for Jude, her refusal to write him off like so many others have, and her willingness to believe in Jude. Their love is messy and complicated for sure, but most of all, it’s steadfast.
Wow. Just wow.
I was not expecting the drama and tension that accompanied this book, and I love it when I’m surprised. I loved this audio book so, so much! If there ever were two people that deserved a happily ever after, it was Jude and Sophie. I loved their journey, and I loved the fact that Sarina Bowen didn’t shy away from the tough subject matter. She did a beautiful job of creating tension, while not veering into the overdramatic angst. Definitely worth a listen, highly recommend!
All of this authors books are wonderful.
I have never had a character make me feel so proud of him and that is exactly how Jude made me feel. This isn’t only a love story it was a story of unwavering strength to turn your life around and make amends for the bad choices you had made. Jude and Sophie’s story broke me and had my heart and soul aching for all the pain, hurt and loss that they had suffered at the hands of addiction. I cried tears for their pain, I cried tears for the accomplishments and lastly I cried tears for the joy and inspiration that their story and love brought me. This was a story of continuing struggles but ultimately it was about hope. The narrators drew me in and had the story dancing behind my eyes as my mind envisioned it. Jude and Sophie’s story is one that had me entranced from the start and one that I just didn’t ever want to end. Steadfast is emotional, passionate, steamy and thoroughly uplifting.
Eye opening, and raw—
Love the whole series!!!!!
I liked Jude’s story…I felt the title “bittersweet” was more suited to this book because that’s exactly how I felt reading it. The story was sexy and the characters felt very real. A well-written book and the dual narration was great. I enjoy the lack of cliches and unpredictability in Ms. Bowen’s books.
I can sometime be super snob about storylines that deal with topics like addiction and mental health because these areas can be further stigmatized by authors and artists. These topics were treated with dignity and respect in Steadfast and this book was truly amazing. I loved Jude and Sophie. I loved their journey back to each other. I loved how real this story is. I’m obsessed with the True North series and I can’t wait to start the next one.
From the moment I started this series, I wanted to read Jude’s story. He was so down-trodden, trying so hard to be a better man, tortured by the demons that haunted him all while trying to start over. Jude knew the odds were against him. Knew he’d never make it for long in a community that was the scene of his downfall. Knew he had lost the love of his life, but somehow, he knew he had to keep trying. He was determined drugs wouldn’t control the rest of his life the way it once did.
Every day was a battle. His story was real, believable and heartbreaking. His strength and determination was admirable and made him that much more loveable. I wanted to wrap him up in a protective cocoon and protect him from the gossip, the hatred, the mistreatment and the battles he faced every day.
Sophie was stuck. Stuck taking care of a family that barely exists since the death of her brother. Stuck in the memories of a man she once loved that tore her life apart. Stuck, unable to move forward unless she finds the answers she’s needed for 3 years. Only one man has the answers or so she believes.
Neither believes a future together is possible after the destructive past they share but fate has other ideas. Steadfast is the story of a love that never gives up. A love that survives and grows despite lies, devastation, and loss because what’s meant to be will always find a way.
This story ripped me apart and made my heart yearn for a happy ending. And I did not see that ending coming!
Such a different book. Jude isn’t a millionaire, pro athlete or movie star. He is a person with demons and issues which made me love him even more. I didn’t think I would like it but I was wrong. Made me think about people and flaws and forgiving
I absolutely loved every single second of this. It was a beautiful and emotional story with very real characters dealing with hard situations. It was so touching, heartwarming, and full of hope, I couldn’t stop reading. An excellent piece of work!
This book was an unusual read for me because the H is a reformed drug addict who just got out of prison. Of course, a standard plot device in many novels is the fact that heroes are frequently unjustly convicted of some crime they either didn’t commit or had no choice EXCEPT to commit. But in Steadfast, Jude, the male lead, actually was a druggie and pulled himself up and out with a lot of help from others who gave him help when he needed it. What I liked about this story was how Jude didn’t cut himself much slack, but still could find it in himself to care about others. I found that I could not only forgive him his weakness, but also rooted for him to straighten out and get his girl!
4.5
This second book in the series has a totally different feel to it. Not in a bad way, because I think I enjoyed it more, but it definitely showcased a different vibe.
In book one, there was plenty of family love and loyalty from the Shipley’s and it’s what Jude envied while he was working on the farm for the last six months. But it was time to go back home as the only place he could work through the winter was at his father’s garage. He was a shell of man being an alcoholic, so Jude took over most of the duties and jobs they did get. Sophie’s home life wasn’t much better. Things might look normal from the outside, but everything is crumbling on the inside since her brothers death three years ago. The last thing she expected was to see Jude return.
This story is heartbreaking but full of hope. Jude has demons and an addiction that is crippling and has him on edge some days. I’ve never been down that road, but I assume anything could set you off to easy your pain and use again. It’s a battle of your own wits to keep you sane. One of his healthy addictions was Sophie, she bought sunshine to his dark and lonely days and nights. They only problem being, her father would have a conniption if he found out she was seeing Jude again, and being the town’s chief of police, it could go very bad for Jude, and it had in the past. Keeping it a secret will not be easy.
I really loved this couple, their story isn’t always pretty, and there’s ups and downs and twists and turns but it’s still a beautiful tale. I was so pleased that even though Jude had to leave the farm, he still found his happy ending with Sophie, it took some doing, but they got there. I also loved each time he went back to the farm, not only for himself but so that I could catch up with all the Shipley’s too! Looking forward to heading back there again with Zach’s book.
Jude, fresh off his stint in prison and working a season at the Shipley farm, heads to his hometown to start over. Sophie, who lost more than Jude when he went to prison, doesn’t expect to see him back in town, yet alone at the soup kitchen where she volunteers. If you’re a sucker for a second chance romance (it’s me…I’m talking about me), then you don’t want to miss this one! There’s even a little mystery to be solved in this one! And some of the Shipleys make an appearance too! u2063
You want to lose yourself in a book? This is the one. I was sucked into Jude and Sophie’s world immediately. I ached for them the way they ached for each other. Every time they were together – in bed and otherwise – I FELT it and it left me craving more. This was one of those precious books that you can’t put down, and you think about constantly when you do have to put it down. It’s the best possible elixir of angst, lust, love and drama, topped with a dash of mystery. I want to read it again and I only finished it yesterday.
Oh my goodness! This book was so unusual and thought provoking and touching and well written! I just loved these characters and their Very Big love! The heartbreak of addiction and the feeling of hopelessness were raw and real. But the hope! Such an amazing story of perseverance and courage and… steadfast love. I stayed up Soooo late reading this book! Excellent! Highly recommend (along with all the other books I’ve read by the amazing Ms Bowen). For more about addiction, watch this Ted Talk – https://www.ted.com/talks/johann_hari_everything_you_think_you_know_about_addiction_is_wrong/up-next?fbclid=IwAR2d4TWgLDwqPK0F7oOlaS0jxsSKqDF1pjD9BhCWWPjA5eXxe5-1PUF9_rE
I listened to the audiobook. This is a mm contemporary romance set in the USA. Part of a series but can be read as a standalone. This is about Sophie and Jude. This book contains flashbacks in time. Lots of side characters mentioned that have their own books in this series. Jude has just got of out jail after serving 3 years for killing Sophie’s brother Gavin..or did he. Great audiobook.
Second chances
Such a poignant and beautiful look at a character facing opiate addiction.