She’s gorgeous and determined to be left alone.
He’s intrigued and intent on inserting himself into her solitary life.
When Kane Harmon rescues Halley Ward from the side of the road, he discovers the most beautiful, wealthy, and loneliest person woman he’s ever met.
She says she isn’t interested in him—or anything outside of her painting and her bungalow. Kane knows a lie when he hears one.
… knows a lie when he hears one.
Soon, he’s a part of her life and bringing color back into her world but is she strong enough to join him in a future than can be as bright – as long as she’s brave enough to try?
* This book was formerly called Fearless. No changes from original.
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I normally love Carley Phillips writing, but this was a miss. Unnecessary use of F*** and early references to hard and wet.
I love this series from Carly Phillips!
Wonderful beginning to a new series.
Heart felt and real. Enjoyable read
Great characters! Kane is so perfect and Halley is the fragile soul that doesn’t begin to live until Kane reappears in her life. The extended families of these two characters are authentic. They are fun, supportive and round out the story. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for them.
Carly Phillips has the ability to write great characters that are real and relatable. Characters that you’d love to get to know or even be friends with. Halley was much more tortured than many of the other female characters I’ve read in Phillips’ books, but that just made me feel for her that much more. She’d had a rough start to her life, being caught up in the foster care system for years before a wealthy aunt was able to track her down. And as with many kids who are put in the system, Halley suffered through things that no kid should have to deal with.
Kane was a sweet, lovable character. He was very attentive to Halley and seemed to understand her better than she did herself sometimes. He gave her exactly what she needed even when it was just space so that she could figure things out for herself. He didn’t really come swooping in to save the day, like many of Phillips’ heros, but he saved Halley from a lonely, colorless life.
These two had good chemistry, and a solid groundwork was laid down for the continuation of this series.
Actual Rating 3.70
I in no way disliked this book. I liked both of the characters, Kane moreso than Halley. This was a very quick read that I finished really fast. Halley and Kane both have jaded pasts with parents who are addicts. But Halley is more scarred than Kane and he has made it his mission to open her up.
I love Kane’s determination to get Halley. He was immediately intrigued by her and able to both read her and knew exactly what she needed. He opened her up from the closed off hermit who keeps to herself. Kane was perfect for her. I really felt for Halley and the things she went through as a kid that traumatized and scarred her. She’s afraid to let anyone get close to her, but Kane has an uncanny ability to get her to let down her defenses. There is a bit of drama, but it blows over fairly quickly and I was happy with the way the book ended.
The romance is alright, if not a bit sweet. Things progress very fast since this is a short book. The conflict is so small its almost nonexistent. The writing is pretty good. I thought Fearless was an alright book. It is good, its just not as good as I hoped it’d be. I do want to read the rest of the books in this series.
Wonderful book – always enjoy Carly Phillips books
YES!! A new Carly Phillips series!! I can’t even tell you how excited I was for this series to come out! But to be honest, this book fell flat for me. I am not sure what it was with this one… The characters were well written. But I just didn’t feel it at all.
Kane Harmon is an auto mechanic in Rosewood Bay. He is all about the women, but more specifically, women who do not live in Rosewood Bay. So, when an old friend of his from high school comes back to Rosewood Bay, he finds himself wanting more from her than just friendship.
“He’d has his share of women and he’d had good sex. He’d never had blow-his-mind, off-the-charts, nobody-else-would-do sex before Halley. And something told him he never would again, so he’d better f*cking find a way to keep her in his bed.. his life.”
~ Carly Phillips, Fearless (Rosewood Bay #1)
Halley Ward is back in Rosewood Bay. An unexpected situation brings her and Kane back into each other’s lives. But she is determined to keep him at arms length. She does not do relationships due to her past. But of course, that will never do for Kane…
“The sight of Halley and that puppy hit Kane hard. She’d obviously fallen for the poor, abandoned dog because she could relate to him, somehow. He’d seen her eyes when Lyndie has mentioned he’d been cold and frightened, then taken in and fostered temporarily. The situation had hit home and his heart hurt for all she’d lived through. He might have issues with his father, but he’d always has a parent and a roof over his head he knew was safe, that he could trust. Something had obviously happened to Halley in one of those foster homes. She’d said the one where she’d been accused of stealing and thrown out had been a picnic compared to one of the others. Just what was she holding inside? And how could he get her to talk about it and unburden herself?”
~ Carly Phillips, Fearless (Rosewood Bay #1)
I liked, not loved this book. BUT, I will tell you that you need to read this because the second book in this series, Breathe, is so good. You kind of need the background to fully enjoy Breathe. I loved Breathe!
Of course, it’s Carly Phillips so you have to read this one and make up your mind. But know that as this series continues, you will love it.
“I’m no longer afraid, because you taught me how to live. You make me want to be fearless.”
~ Carly Phillips, Fearless (Rosewood Bay #1)
#Beautiful #Puppies #EmotionalSupportDog #Monty #Mine #ImYours #YoureMine
What a captivating story. It had me from the start.
This is full of emotion, drama and romance. It is well written, and it has enough twist and intrigue that keeps you turning pages. The characters are well developed and very likable even with their flaws.
Kane and Halley both have had bad family issues. They both have experienced things that make it hard to trust people and relationships, so they don’t.
Kane is a sexy mechanic who is strong, reliable and loyal. He runs his families garage in a small coastal town. After getting hurt, he stays away from the female tourist that only want a summer fling.
Holley is a painter living in a small beach cottage. After spending years in foster care, she was adopted by her aunt as a teenager. However, because of what she experienced she doesn’t trust people and stays to herself.
I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more in this series.
There hasn’t been a book by Ms. Phillips that I didn’t enjoy, some more than others of course. This felt different than all the others I have read and I enjoyed that even more. Life is filled with so much drama and angst that I love to fall into a book without any. I loved Kane and Halley together. I can’t wait for Breathe.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Mary Jo –
This book shows us that just because a person’s family finds them and gets them out of the foster care system, that not all is well and good.
Not all foster care situations are bad, not all are good either. Kids who grow up under less than ideal circumstances have a hard time adjusting to what others consider normal.
Halley was traumatized and, fortunately for her, wasn’t further abused by her foster family. She’s spent a lot of time wondering ‘What if?’ What if her father hadn’t died? What if her mother hadn’t turned to drugs? What if she and her sisters hadn’t been separated? Mostly, she’s wondered why she wasn’t good enough for her mother to love. She’s tended to be a loner because if you don’t get close to people, they can never leave you.
Kane knows a bit about that. His mother died when he was 15 and he had to grow up way too fast. His father’s gambling problems left him and his sister often wondering if there would be food to eat and a roof over their heads. When he was able, he bought the garage from his father and has built a solid life for himself, even if it’s a bit solitary.
Kane and Halley’s life slowly begin to intertwine, with Halley wanting to maintain a superficial relationship. Kane’s in it for the long haul, he just needs to convince Halley to take a chance on him and forever.
Ruthie –
This is the first in a new series, and does a good job of introducing us to the Ward sisters, Phoebe and Halley today. Some of Halley’s past comes to light through the book, but there is clearly more to reveal about Phoebe in the next installment.
Halley has benefitted from being rescued by her rich aunt from a terrible foster family, and now hides herself away with her paints by the sea. She is slow to trust and would rather remain alone than find herself in a crowd. A chance encounter with a sexy mechanic, Kane, reminds her that she is still a woman with needs, and somehow, she lets him persuade her to take a chance.
Kane has not had an easy life either, and is of an age that he knows what he wants and is prepared to put in the effort with Halley. He comes over as a wonderful man, and even Halley cannot fail to be charmed by him. However, her past is a huge weight on her shoulders she seems reluctant to lose. At times, I wanted to remind her of all the good that she was experiencing rather than the sadness of the past but thankfully, Kane really was a man of substance, and came through for her.
There were some important side players in this book, which deserve their story to be told too, so I will be reading on with interest. This is a shortish story which gives a good story, without too much angst, and a satisfying ending – with clearly more to be revealed as the next story is published.
Lee’Anne –
I enjoyed this read – it’s not your typical Carly Phillips book but I like that she doesn’t disappoint when writing outside her “norm.” I’m giving this 3.5 stars – I found that though there were a few parts that were slow, for the most part this was a fast-paced read that had its humorous moments balanced well with its steamy/romantic moments, making it a good read.
Kane is a mechanic who, due to his father’s gambling problem, now owns their family garage. In the past, Kane has been into the typical “rich tourist” type women who are always coming to their small seaside town, but recently he’s been burned and refuses to have anything to do with that kind of woman. Halley is new to town and has had a rough past, she was in foster care most of her life until finally being taken in by her rich aunt. Halley and Kane’s relationship is slowly developed throughout this book – almost too slowly and the main reason I gave 3.5 stars instead of four. Halley repeatedly tells Kane she doesn’t want a relationship, but Kane is persistent.
There is a lot of yanking back and forth with this book – by that I mean there were several instances where I thought this is it, they’re going to get together, and then they didn’t… it was frustrating a few times. Them actually getting together though, made it worth it. I love Kane’s character – he’s so sweet and so very persistent when it comes to gaining Halley’s trust. I’m interested to see whose story we’re going to get in book two.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Fearless (Rosewood Bay #1) by Carly Phillips to read and review for this tour.
**Received ARC for a fair and honest review**
Fearless is the first book in the Rosewood Bay series. This is Halley and Kane’s story. I enjoyed this book, but it stagnated a few times where I needed to force myself to continue which is why I rated this book at 4 stars. Overall I did enjoy it, I enjoyed the storyline, Halley at times was a bit too weak of a character for me though, and I absolutely loved Kane. Halley and her sister Phoebe ended up in foster care when they were young because their father had been KIA while in Afghanistan and her mother turned to drugs. Unfortunately they were separated and didn’t have the easiest time. When their Aunt Joy found them, they were already teenagers but took them in. While out driving Halley’s auto breaks down and when she calls for a tow, a familiar face from high school is the one to show up.
Once you get through the areas where the story stagnates, the story is enjoyable and moves, but Halley makes some bad decisions that really make you want to smack her and say what the heck is wrong with you. I like the premise for these stories and am very interested to see if Breathe unfolds a little smoother with less stagnation. Hope this helps. Happy Reading!!!
This book is definitely a must read in the new Rosewood Bay Series! I LOVED this read so much I inhaled each page quicker than the next and just couldn’t put it down. Kane and Halley’s story was filled with so many emotions…… abandonment, hurt, helplessness, love, chemistry and hope. Hope for finding the one person you can trust not to leave and love you unconditionally. This book will pull you in and leave you with all the feels when it ends. So prepare yourself for one great read!
Fearless is book 1 in the new Rosewood Bay Series and what a way to start, if this book is anything to go by Carly Phillips has another hit series on her hands.
Kane runs the local garage in the beach town of Rosewood Bay, he is not interested in relationships after getting jilted and used by a summer vacationer, he has enough on his plate trying to stop his father gambling and helping out his single mum sister as well as running the garage. Things could be about to change for Kane when he goes on a tow truck pickup and he finds the woman stranded is no other than Halley Ward a woman he hasn’t seen in years, maybe Kane is about to realise relationships can work if you are with the right person, but will Halley want a man in her life…….
What can I say about the characters in this book apart from you will fall in love with them, Kane is the sweetest, kindest , caring man you could wish to meet and Halley is the girl that was bullied at school learning not everyone is out to hurt you and maybe she should and could open up her heart……
This book has strong characters and an even stronger storyline, it captivated me and I could not put it down, it left me wanting more and I can’t wait for book two in this amazing series. I’m going to go as far as saying THIS IS A MUST READ !!!!!
Fearless takes fans of Carly Phillips into the world of Rosewood Bay. Kane Harmon is a man that’s good at rescuing people. He’s trying to make up for the shortcomings of a parent that allowed temptation take him in the wrong direction. Halley Ward just needs the right incentive to break out of her shell. She’s grown up to shy away from people. It’s a story that shows that there are people who should not be parents. They forget they have little ones that rely on them to be around and take care of them. I don’t know if it’s a case of something in the brain that we just won’t figure out but they don’t realize how that behavior can affect their loved ones.
I was a little surprised by my reaction to this book. This is an author where I’ve loved every book that I’ve read. But this one took me a little time to warm up to the storyline. It may be that this is the start of a new series and when you have a book that starts off something new there’s a lot that has to go into it. There’s a lot that the author has to create in order to get this new world started. And that could be why that I just couldn’t seem to connect with these characters. It might just be a case where I need to immerse myself into the series for a while and then I can go back and reread Kane and Halley’s story. Sometimes doing that I get a difference perspective than I did the first time around. The one thing that probably won’t change is that I get a smile by the time I finish the Epilogue.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Halley Ward had a horrible childhood bouncing after being abandoned by her mom. Thankful her aunt found her and her sister Phoebe in foster care she is still afraid to live life to the fullest. Kane Harmon’s luck changes when Halley’s car broke down and he was sent to tow her in. Kane knew Halley was afraid but was determined to get to know this woman. Soon it was apparent to Kane that Halley was who he wanted a life with. Now will Halley be willing to take that chance? Fabulous new series and can’t wait for next book
This was a fantastic read. Halley and Kane are both facing issues in their personal life, but bring out a fun side in each other. Halley is a bit shy and withdrawn at the beginning of the book, but she is still a strong heroine. Kane was sexy, and Halley seemed to bring out this sweet side of him.
It had the perfect amount of drama, and after getting a glimpse at who the couple is for the next book, I can’t wait!!
A great must read!!
A beautifully tender and sweet romance that’ll enrapture you…
Right, so I love Carly Phillips. In my eyes she can do no wrong. There’s just something so uniquely intimate about her writing that gels with me. However, the moment I laid eyes on this book, Fearless, I had and uh-oh moment. I’m not a fan of third person narrative. I know I’ve said this before, but it just doesn’t do it for me. The moment I’m made aware a book is told in the third person I stay clear of it. So, I was really disappointed…at first. I contemplated giving this book a miss, but damn Carly, I couldn’t. Which is a good thing because by the end of the first page I was hooked. I could not put this book down. It didn’t matter that the story wasn’t told in the first person, I just wanted more. I loved the way that the narrative allowed you to get to know the other characters surrounding Kane and Halley. If I’m honest, it’s what made this story that much better.
The plot is low drama…ish. Although the characters have interacted in the past they’re not quite acquainted so it haas this insta-love sort of feel. But at the same time it is very much a slow-burn. I liked that the characters had their demons, but that they never really became more powerful than they could tackle. There are some deep issues addressed in this story—I don’t want to say too much on that front because they are very tightly knit into the plot. I did think that Ms. Phillips addressed each and every one of those issues with sensitivity and awareness. It never felt like she was talking out of her butt in that it didn’t feel like she was underplaying the issues or making them bigger than what they were. Every thing was proportional to the characters and their lives as well as the setting. This is something that Carly has always done brilliantly and in this book it is no exception.
I absolutely loved the characters. I felt like they were easy to get to know and they never felt pre-conceived and obnoxious. I liked their easy interactions and the natural ebb and flow of their affections. Kane was a hero that although flawed he was strong and easy-going. I liked his tenacity, and more so I liked that he was never pushy. Even when he was instigating a moment or situation, he was always very aware of Halley and her limits and he knew how to use them to help her overcome them. Halley is the perfect mish-mash of damsel in distress and strong heroine. SHe has her demons and she is fully aware of them. She never tries to underplay them and she’s honest and upfront about how they affect her and her lifestyle. There was so much strength behind her weaknesses that it made her easy to love and understand…empathise with.
All in all, Fearless was hit with me. From the moment I started it I could not put it down despite the narrative. In fact, Carly has made me completely rethink my aversion to the third person narrative. This is such a beautiful and tender story. I really cannot wait for Breathe and Freed.
Fearless (Rosewood Bay, #1) by Carly Phillips …This is the first book in a new series by Carly and I was lucky enough to preview it through Booksprout and give my honest opinion….I have also ordered a copy. This is Kane and Halley’s story…Kane is everything a girl could want…honest..caring…hard working..and lets not forget great looking…his sister is a single mother..his father has a gambling addiction. Halley and her sister we put into foster care when she was three..her mother is a drug addict..they were saved by her aunt when she was eleven…she has a lot of hangups…I’ll share no more now…so many feelings…good and sad..to get to their HEA….BUT it is so worth it. I can’t wait for the next book… BREATHE…This is Phoebe’s story.