Unloved

This started out with a pretty dark tragedy, then moved into a series of stubborn and possibly unwise actions by heroine Brynn (which totally fit with where she was in her life and make sense as a natural response to the tragedy, but I was still sort of shaking my head at her), and then she met Cassidy and I just melted.

Romances with this type of hero completely untouched never-even-kissed-anyone virgins are pretty rare, and believable circumstances for it are even more so, but Katy nailed it. As a side note, I really liked Cassidy's different-colored eyes — so unique and memorable.

Once I got stuck into this book, I couldn't put it down. Even if grieving heroines and overly challenging wilderness hikes aren't usually your thing, this is absolutely worth reading.

The message? When the right time comes, you must set your grief and history behind you and open your heart to love.

Favourite quote? “Deep inside, something that had almost given up on life knows for sure that it's completely, vibrantly alive again, and my heart laughs because I barely remember happiness like this, but it's here, and it's now, and it's Cassidy holding me in his arms and kissing me for the first time.”

How I found this book? I heard about it on Facebook and Twitter and through the author's newsletter, and purchased it for myself.

4.5 stars (rounded up to 5) • rare • truly excellent, blew me away, unforgettable