This book had me hooked! Devin Em really knows how to build emotion and atmosphere. It was beautiful, a little haunting, and full of quiet power. I didn’t expect it to hit me like that, but whew 😮‍💨… I’m still thinking about it.

This took me entirely too long to read, despite being extremely well written. I want to say it’s because I’m on vacation and I took a few days to catch up on audiobooks I’d checked out, or even that this book is almost 600 pages long, but I fear it’s a bit more than that.

I have a lot of thoughts on this one.

Let’s start with a few things I loved:
* Badass FMC - a morally grey ✨heroine✨?!
* Sweetheart MMC
* The depiction of healing trauma as an adult
* Multicultural romance
* Matching t-shirts 😉
* The careful, considerate way Rachel’s past was portrayed
* The accompanying art! 😍

This was a bit of a second chance romance mixed with some pretty heavy plot. Rachel’s past is fraught with horrors no child should have to endure. Living in a war-torn country and having to fight as a female child soldier is a special kind of hell. Having escaped, Rachel now lives a free life as a successful journalist writing hard-hitting pieces. Gaelen has his own scars to heal from, having had an absentee father, which meant he took it upon himself to step up to care for his mother and younger sister. At the same time, he’s trying to right his father’s wrongs in the medical field by doing good and leaving a legacy he can be proud of.

Over the course of the book, I felt like we covered a lot of ground. Although necessary to lay out a story that encompassed the intricacies of healing, it was just a lot at times. Maybe it was the heavy plot in general that made it seem as though it dragged on or maybe it’s because it was a realistic depiction with many branches to the plot, but the pacing was my only real complaint.

And even then, I get why the flashbacks were important and how the side characters fit into the story. Everyone had a purpose and every scene moved the story forward… so I really can’t put a finger on why it just felt slightly off.

Despite all of that, everything was so well written and felt incredibly well researched. The characters were dynamic and showed growth throughout, regardless of their circumstances. I never felt confused about how or why things were happening, which I feel a book like this could have easily struggled with.

This was a unique romance with more spice than I would’ve thought, looking back. But that opening scene 👀 - I should’ve known better 😅

Also - can we talk about Gaelen?! Ugh what a guy. This is my favorite kind of pairing - an emotionally unavailable, prickly FMC with a MMC who’s obsessed and knows how to approach her as not to scare her. Sign. Me. Up. And then the emotional intelligence that only gets better throughout? Cherry on top. And he’s an all-around ✨good✨ dude? Double cherries. Maybe even hot fudge.

Rachel was such a layered, interesting character. She refers to herself as, “…the dagger in the drawer of spoons.” And even though she’s tried to heal from her past, it’s left her feeling like a burden and has caused her to lock her heart up tight. She’s embraced her sharp edges - “…you couldn’t cradle shattered glass. You either fashioned it into a weapon or discarded it.”

You see what I mean about the writing being so good? Gah, right in the heart 💔

This complex story isn’t a light, easy read, but it’s engaging and rich with plot. Plus, the art of the characters throughout really enhances the whole experience. If you like action with your romance and don’t mind heavier topics being woven throughout, this one is for you.

The Basics:
Doctor 🩺 // Journalist 📝
3rd Person Dual POV
Standalone, but 2nd book in the “Unyielding Hearts” series
HEA 🖤 + epilogue
CW: sexual abuse, violence (war, murder, etc.)
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5


Thank you to NetGalley & the author, Devin Em, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 🤍

I really enjoyed this novel. The story was a good blend of emotion, strong character development and romance. Rachel is a complex heroine—brilliant and guarded, while Gaelen radiates warmth and protectiveness. The chemistry between them crackles, but what sets this story apart is its layered portrayal of trauma and healing in even the harshest circumstances.

This isn't a romantasy but the book is set in a fictional African country, Zungamba. I liked the world building and the fact that the focus of a romance was not on an American or European city for once. There are many plot twists keeping the tension sharp. But amid the intensity, the moments of tenderness between Rachel and Gaelen shine, helping to balance it out.

This is not a simple love story, but it's rewarding. Fans of character-driven romantic suspense will find themselves enjoying this blend of courage, action and steam.

I’m going to have to say this one was not my fav it has potential, but it just wasn’t something that grabbed me from the first couple of chapters. I’ll give it another try but that’s where I remain as of right now.