It's funny, but I just read back-to-back books featuring people in cults and was disappointed in both of them. This book was enjoyable, but the pacing was too slow and the story felt repetitive. I understand why Barb felt she needed to treat Lynette with kid gloves and earn her trust slowly, but it affected my enjoyment of the story.

A very unfortunate case of 'if this hadn't been an arc I'd have bailed on it'. The last quarter of the book did pick up a bit, but I still can't honestly say I had a particularly good time with this book.

The premise is interesting, and it's what made me want to read it in the first place. Lynette used to be a member of a cult until she ran away 12 years ago; Barb is a tourist on vacation at the hotel Lynette currently works at. They slowly get closer over the course of a month, working through Lynette's reluctance to form relationships and dealing with her past. My first problem is that nothing happens in this book until very much later on. It's full of repetition, and not the good kind. I love when books are character-focused, and usually a book being almost solely about character interaction and romance wouldn't bother me at all? But no joke: nothing happened. This was very dull, and I spent a lot of time being bored.

That could have been alleviated through good writing, but that's my second problem. The writing wasn't exactly bad; just really forgettable. All of the dialogue was wooden and robotic. The prose was stilted and abrupt. Often, I'd be left wondering how a character had gotten from point A to B, because there were very few segues or interconnecting moments. It felt like reading a list at times, and even with a unique and interesting plot like this one, I seldom ever felt like anything was high-stakes. There were also lots of little holes in the plot/tiny things that didn't make sense, and sort of frustrated me.

The good: the characters were fine, the romance was cute, and even though it took place over a short period of time it didn't feel rushed or insta-lovey. I liked the themes of healing after trauma, and how sweet and careful these women were with each other, and how much care they took to respect each other's boundaries. The word wasn't used, but I'm pretty sure Barb is demisexual, and the representation was nice to see.

This had promise; I sadly just didn't enjoy it a lot.

Love's Truth is a lesbian romance by CA Popovich.

The beginning had me riveted, so I had high hopes for this book.
Unfortunately, I lost interest as it got to preachy. That just left me annoyed.

This is a very unusual story as one of the main characters has run away from a cult and is trying to rebuild her life. It's an extremely slow burn romance, a lot of the book is spent with a lot of back and forth in Lynette’s mind as she is finding it hard to trust others. I like how the book shows how Barb and Lynn can get to know each other despite the very short period of time they are together.

It is well written and in the second part the pace picks up, but there are a lot of repetitions in the main characters’ routines that some readers might find annoying.

This was a beautiful romance and the thing I liked more was how they had the whole book to know each other before the cult problems became a more active part of the book started. The writing style is fluid, with 43 chapters plus an epilogue, but all of them were short.
Was possible to throw the whole book feel Lyn anxiety because of the PTSD she has from her time in the cult, and it felt nice to see that Barb didn't treat her like everything was in her head.
This book wasn't hard to read, and the romance was easy, Barb and Lyn having good chemistry, the secondary characters are comforting and have dimension.

I was really excited to start reading this one. The blurb seemed unique and interesting. I can tell you that it was for sure an unique read but it was terribly slow. I think what really went wrong with this one is the amount of time Barb spent at the resort and the chemistry between the mains was lacking. Though the mains were decent enough, Barb reminded me of the overly aggressive woman at the bar that you aren't attracted to and who will not leave you alone. I do feel this one could be improved if Barb lived in the same area and met Lynette at her job waitressing at a local restaurant. I know it's not easy to write books and my complaint is not about the writing style, it is about the book as a whole and the story just not being interesting. 2.25 stars

This arc was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.

Slow-burn, vacation romance with a deep-dark-past (escape from a cult) twist. A very slow build with - well-deserved - heaps of anxiety that resolves in high action and an HEA.

It may be hard to have a slow-burn novel and a vacation-romance at the same time, but this book does it. Barb is on an extended vacation in the Wisconsin Dells when she meets Lynette - a server at the hotel's restaurant. Barb is instantly taken by the shy Lynette, but the two share coffees/hot chocolates and river walks and begin to get closer. However, Lynette is wholly resistant to a relationship; her past haunts her and keeps her looking over her shoulder. And when her past finally catches up, it may be the death of her.

**I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

I was really excited about the premise of this book, the idea of someone running away from a cult and trying to assimilate back into everyday life fascinated me and as I hadn’t read any Popovich before I thought this was the perfect opportunity to try a new author for me.

Barb is on holiday. She very rarely takes a vacation and has finally given in to the idea that she needs an extended vacation, choosing a resort that will give her the opportunity to be by the water and explore nature at the same time.

Lynette escaped from a cult in her early twenties after having been there for 12 years. She’s still trying to heal, get through her everyday life and try not to be found and taken back to the cult. Not only that, but she hasn’t had good experiences from her past relationships, so the last thing she’s looking for is a vacationer to catch her eye.

I did really enjoy the storyline itself, in that I could see why the two fell for each other, what they would bring to each other in a relationship and why they would want to pursue that, but because of the setting and the time period, the story became very repetitive very quickly.

Lynette works in the hotel dining area, so this means a significant amount of the book revolves around their interactions in this dining area, or in Barb’s hotel room. I found it a little challenging at times to keep track of the timeline, as we within the interactions the characters are often worried about Lynette being late back for work, so we get glimpses into their conversations, but then all of a sudden she needs to be back, making things feel jolted at times.

I found the relationship to be believable, I just wish it had the opportunity to grow further within the storyline, though I do understand what Popovich was aiming for. The details within the book are interesting and I found the fact that the characters communicate a breath of fresh air.

I definitely wouldn’t rule out another Popovich book, and I’d be interested in reading more about this topic too if it appears in other sapphic books.

I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is listed as a romance. When I read the description, I thought I would give it a spin. I have read a few of Ms. Popovich’s books and have found them interesting. The synopsis of Love’s Truth sounded different because it details a person who is dealing with the effects of trauma caused by being raised in a cult environment.

Lynette McCarthy and Barb Donnelly are the two main characters. Lynette is a person who grew up in a cult and escaped when she was 24. Needless to say, the trauma she experienced during those years has resulted in her distrust of people. Barb has her dream job of working as a conservationist in the Wisconsin Dells. She is drawn to the mysterious Lynette and tries to get to know her.

I did not feel a connection to either character. Also, the story was slow, particularly during the first half. The pace of the book, however, did pick up in the second half. Unfortunately, my interest had already started to fade well before this point.

Although I plan to read any of Ms. Popovich’s future books, I only rated this book with 2 out of 5 stars.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I dnf this one. Just couldn't get into it at all. Very repetitive and just never felt the spark that was supposed to be there. The premise was very intriguing and just fell flat

Lynette is a cult survivor working at a hotel when she meets Barb, a conservation officer, who is on her first holiday in a long while. Barb immediately feels a connection to Lynette and starts asking to spend time together when her schedule allows. The two grow closer, but will their short time together be enough time to find a future together.

I could not connect to this love story, there was no room for the development of their feelings or their connection. We didn't get much of a feel for the characters either before we were thrust into their relationship which seemed to go from date to date without much development of their feelings. Lynette's story was interesting and unique and could have been something really special but fell flat with the rest of the story which was quite dry. This story was missing all those delicious moments of tension and chemistry but was rather more of a point-form summary of the activities they did together. I can't really recommend this book except if you're interested in Lynette's story, which didn't really get the focus it could have.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

2.7 out of 5

I was excited to read 'Loves Truth', It's been a while since I've read something completely different, and I've certainly not read anything which is centered around cults. But unfortunately, I was left slightly deflated.
It felt like nothing really happened in the story and it did seem to be repetitive quite a lot, approaching the same thing over and over again. I felt there were no sparkes or any form of chemistry at all between the main characters.

When Lynette McCarthy was young, her parents pledged sole loyalty to a charismatic leader. Now at the age of 24, not only did she escape but is dealing with her trauma and trying to heal the best way she knows how to try to make a new life in a different world which at times can be challenging. When she meets a conservation officer, her vow to never make herself vulnerable again is put to the test.
Barb Donnelly grow up in a military family, she has pride and a sense of duty. She loves life, she loves her job in Michigan but she needs time away. While taking time to reflect in Wisconsin Dells, she meets the mysterious Lynette, who at once captures her attention.
Lynette believes she is beginning to trust her heart, her past catches up with her, and her secret threatens to destroy her one chance of happiness.
I was given a copy for an honest review.

This is the first book I have read from this author. It was very well written and the characters were interesting as well. I can honestly say that I haven't read anything that dealt with a character being from a religious cult in a romance before this book. Lynnette was such a fragile person and the struggles that she endured day in and day out were astronomical. I loved the relationship between Lynnette and Barb it was really sweet and cute. I loved that Barb was a good foil for her because she definitely needed someone who was kind, loving, and supportive. I would definitely recommend this author and I would for sure read another book from this author.

While the book has potential, this version just didn't cut it for me. It's a very slow burn romance. The first third of the book feels very repetitive in action and dialogue. While I understand with the characters past it's going to take awhile to trust, this is the most casual mundane romance I've ever read.

The plot for this this book is good. Lynette is a victim of a cult and has escaped. She found work a resort and met Barb. The story is about love and recovery from PTSD. The characters are good, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. My only criticism is the book was a little too long and was really detailed in spots. I enjoyed this bo0ok and recommend it for romance readers. I received tis book from NetGalley as a reviewer but my thoughts and opinions are my own.

𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴.

It's not everyday that I hear about cults so the premise of the book is certainly fasinating. Lynette is a cult survivor and I wish there were more backstories of her life in the cult, her interaction with its members and her relationship with her parents. I thought that could have made the book much more interesting than it is.

The story is centered on Lynette and a love interest, Barb, a lesbian tourist staying in the hotel she works in. I guess this would have been interesting too had the storytelling been less repetitive. I can understand slowburn, given how complex Lynette's life and mental state are as a cult survivor and her apprehension towards falling for someone. But being repetitive was unnecessary and I suspect Popovich will lose a few readers to it. This is a shame because the story does get more exciting in the final quarter of the book.

Romance wise, I felt that it was a bit underdeveloped and I wasn't convinced that the feelings between Lynette and Barb were deep enough for it to be called love.

I requested this book with a few thoughts - I like to read a romance now and then that’s an easy read, slow burn, happy ending. BUT when I read the description and saw the details about Lynnettes past in the cult I thought oh this could be a really interesting mix with some deeper trauma (which is definitely something I read often)

Unfortunately the book fell short for me. Not only did the author rush over a lot of the aspects of Lyns past, but the character development was very surface level. Fair enough if that was the only flaws I’d say - well I did want an easy read romance.

My main issue with this book was the repetitive plot line. Every single day we know what Barb and Lyn are going to do and we are told the same dialogue day after day for the 3-4 weeks that they get to know one another. This felt really lazy and made the romance a bit unbelievable. (Like that’s a lot of omelettes and hot chocolate)

At one point I really just felt that the continued dialogue of day after day at the hotel so boring that I found myself checking and rechecking how much I had left.

After about 80% the story picks up a bit but it just wasn’t enough for me.

I also found some aspects of the relationship development a bit problematic and annoying. I get you can do the whole hot cold trope .. but it felt like for a character with Lyn’s past that Barb would say she understood and respected her space .. but then her actions seemed to do the opposite.

I really didn’t like any of the characters other then Starr .. the golden retriever

Thank you NEtGALLEY and Bold Stokes for the ArC in exchange for an honest review

My review of Love’s Truth by C.A. Popovich is going to be a mixture of good and not so good. I was really intrigued by the premise of the story and the blurb describing what the book was about. The cover caught my eye as well. After all, there’s a dog on the cover, and not just a dog, but a smiling Golden Retriever. I’m a sucker for dogs in general and Goldens in particular.

In the story, Lynette McCarthy is a survivor of a repressive religious cult. Her parents entered the cult when Lynette was twelve, and she escaped when she was a young adult. The author obviously did her homework and gave this character the fears and behaviors we would expect from someone with this personal history. I was able to connect with Lynette and the other main character Barb Donnelly which made it easier for me to read the book. Ms. Popovich also did a good job describing the different settings in the novel.

The book has a very slow first half. There is little real action, mostly conversation between the two main characters on their (non)dates, and a lot of the dialogue is repetitive. The second half has more action and is therefore more interesting. While I was able to connect with the characters, as I mentioned above, they still lacked depth. Barb, especially was very much a surface character.

I would have to describe this novel as just fair. I’m giving this book a 3.5 star rating, mainly for the second half of the story.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

This is a slow burn romance that for me focused on breakfast (omelets), coffee, muffins and hot chocolates. very repetitive. I liked the main characters Lynette and Barb. I thought the story handled Lynette's PTSD well. However, I thought the story needed more dialogue and less meal time which made it a bit lacking for me. 3 stars.


I received an ARC from the publisher Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Love's Truth was not the book I think it could have been. The plot is interesting and the PTSD from cult survivor Lynette would justify the slowburn romance this should have been with Barb, a woman on vacation in the hotel where Lynette works for a couple of weeks. My main issue is that a lot of emphasis was placed on Lyns not being able to trust easily based on her experiences yet there is this instant connection and a lot of inner musings about whether or not to start a relationship. After one meeting where Barb grabs an omelet from the station where Lyn is working. That doesn't feel quite right. After that it's a lot of very detailed repetition in a slightly confusing writing style with lots of time jumps where you are not expecting them. The falling in love was not believable to me and the fact that this romance developed in 4 weeks only added to that disbelief where I couldn't reason it away as 'a romance novel thing ' anymore when the plot is based on such a heavy subject matter. I did finish the book because it must be really bad for me to not finish one I started but I am sorry to say it doesn't feel right to me to give more than 2 stars.

*** An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review ***