This book was easy to get into but hard to really feel. So much of it felt like it was just a re-telling versus really experiencing it with the character, which I find I have trouble with sometimes. I'm also finding insta-love is hard for me, I like a bit of tortured souls! This relationship just felt quite quick.

I picked up Where Loyalty Lies by Elle Christopher expecting a light summer read, but wow, this book completely blew me away. The storyline is powerful and emotionally rich, far from your typical romance. It’s a story with real depth, beautifully written and full of heart.
I was especially moved by the relationship between the main characters—the trust that slowly builds, the meaningful conversations, and the genuine friendship that underpins the romance. It felt authentic and deeply touching. The setting is also lovely, but it’s the emotional journey and the connection between the characters that truly shine.
This is not just a feel-good romance, it’s a pure and beautiful story that stays with you. Highly recommended!

Emerson Sinclair had the perfect life on paper. But beneath the Southern charm and picture-perfect marriage, she was quietly falling apart. In a bold move, she walks away from it all and escapes to her late grandmother’s cabin in the Georgia mountains, seeking space to breathe and rebuild. There, she meets Sam Sterling who is grounded, so unlike anyone she’s ever known. He doesn’t try to fix her and just stays when she needs him. Slowly, their quiet connection deepens and makes her feel real again.
This is a moving story of self-discovery and second chances. It is full of emotional depth, particularly as Emerson has to face her family and their destructive nature. I found her sister to be poisonous and her parents quite challenging. What keeps the story from feeling heavy is the hope brought in by characters like Sam and Ute. Sam’s quiet strength and unwavering support offer Emerson the kind of love that doesn’t demand perfection. In turn, Ute adds warmth and a sense of community when Emerson needs it most.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Where Loyalty Lies by Elle Christopher is a deeply emotional and empowering journey that blends love, heartache, and self-discovery into a beautifully told story. With a strong, relatable heroine at its center, this novel captures the quiet resilience it takes to rebuild yourself after being broken down—and the strength it takes to choose yourself.

Emerson’s transformation is the heart of the story, and Elle Christopher handles it with care, patience, and authenticity. Rather than rushing her growth, the novel allows readers to experience the subtle shifts in Emerson’s mindset, her increasing self-worth, and the clarity she gains about what—and who—truly deserves her loyalty. It’s a powerful evolution that unfolds naturally, making her story not only believable but inspiring.

The emotional layers of the book are rich. Love, betrayal, pain, and healing are all explored in a way that feels honest and nuanced. Christopher’s writing is heartfelt and immersive, allowing readers to connect deeply with the characters and their struggles.

Where Loyalty Lies is a compelling reminder that real strength often comes from within, and that loyalty to oneself is the most important kind of devotion. A moving and empowering read, this book is perfect for anyone who loves character-driven stories with heart, growth, and emotional depth.

Firstly, I just have to say WHAT. A. TWIST. I noted some foreshadowing but was still COMPLETELY blindsided - very well done!

I really enjoyed the nostalgic elements, the relatable and heart-wrenching moments, the love, the hurt and most importantly the character development that occurred throughout this book. The personal growth was absolutely brilliant.
I related a lot to Emerson in many different ways. From the terrible ex, and her relationship with her grandmother, all the way down to the way Emmy and Sam were always SO CLOSE to meeting throughout their earlier lives - my fiance and I were like this too. So close but just out of reach.

The one thing I did note, however, was the amount of things Emerson “hadn’t realized”. This phrase was used a LOT in the first half of the book, later changing to “I realized”. It just felt a little bit repetitive after a while. Otherwise it was a very enjoyable story.

I will be recommending this book to others!

Thankyou to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

NetGalley Review – Where Loyalty Lies by Elle Christopher

This book took me by surprise — in the best way.

I'll be honest: the beginning was a bit tough to get through. The family dynamics felt awkward at times, and some of the boundaries between Emerson and her extended family were a little cringey. I even debated DNF’ing early on.

But I’m so glad I kept going.

Once Emerson begins spending more time with Sam, the story really finds its footing. From that point forward, the emotional depth, character development, and slow-burn tension completely pulled me in. What initially felt uncertain evolves into a beautiful exploration of love, identity, and self-worth.

The ending absolutely floored me — it was both shocking and deeply moving. I nearly cried more than once. Elle Christopher delivers a payoff that’s emotionally rich and incredibly satisfying.

Where Loyalty Lies is a quiet, powerful story that sneaks up on you — and stays with you. If you can push through the slower start, you’ll be rewarded with something truly beautiful.

FBOW. Emerson walks away from a life that was merely a facade because deep.down, she was extremely unhappy, not in love with Brad and found life living in a penthouse likened to a cage. She didn't realize her worth or strength that she could do this and would utilize any means necessary to pursue that what she deserved. Moving back to Turnbridge and her Gram's house was exactly what she needed to move forward. It is there that Gram was her biggest cheerleader and let her believe in herself. She encouraged her to follow her dreams and write. She met Sam at exactly the right time because she was reclaiming herself. They both made each other stronger as their live deepens. Sam encouraged her to feel and crying is never a sign of weakness. They trusted each other and the life they were building together. Even when Sam experienced a medical emergency, he still could hear here. I loved the happy coincidence of the ring from Gram and the stones that made up the ring. They were always meant to be.

Less would have been more in the case of this novel, but a likable main character reaching toward a better life made it easier to get through.

The lovely cover beautiful in its simplicity drew my attention to this novel.

I'm giving this one three stars as it is an indie read and has good bones. It could have benefited from strong editing. At 416 pages it has a lot of repetition in sentiments and huge declarations to the point of spoon feeding the reader. More show less tell would have made a difference. That being said there are some real positives such as the setting and the main character's connection to her grandmother that made me want to pick it back up.

Emerson felt like she was living a lie in which she couldn't call the shots in her own life. She was miserable and unfulfilled. She decides to leave her marriage without the support of her family. I couldn't blame her for wanting out of a suffocating existence. The characters are simply drawn the good being spectacular in their kindness and the bad being downright villainous in their nastiness. There is a little growth from Emerson's mother but otherwise the characters are one dimensional. The sister and ex-husband both felt OTT. What I liked the most about Emerson is that she was determined to make a way for herself. Sam Sterling the male lead is steadfast and down to earth. He's easy to like for the most part. A more subtle hand in the way he's constantly building up Emerson would have been smoother. The issue with the way he's portrayed is that his behavior became predictable. There were moments that captured genuine emotion which were wonderful to read. The way the title is worked into the story is heavy handed almost as though the author wanted to be sure readers didn't overlook it.

Despite needing some polish this novel has its shiny moments. There is working through regrets. Emerson's determined spirit pressing into the life she craves. Her grandmother's cabin where she finds solace and shelter had a real pull. The plot works but a more streamlined approach and characters with added dimensions would make a huge impact.

A solid three star read.⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received a free eARC from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is my own honest opinion about the book.

Book Review: Where Loyalty Lies
Release Date: July 15th, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - really liked it
🌶️🌶️ Behind closed doors

(These opinions are mine, if you don't agree, talk about that on your page)

Highlights:
Strength - Her willingness to leave her husband because she knew it wasn’t right for her.
Peace - The way the main characters fall in love slowly, after building their relationship on a strong foundation.
Shocking - I was near tears during the climax of the book.

*Spoilers Ahead*

What I loved:
This entire book felt like a cozy read for a rainy day.
The way the characters don’t immediately KNOW they’re in love, but ease into it, building on a friendship first.

What I did not love:
Her family. Her sister especially.
I feel like it could have been a little bit faster paced and the timeline of the whole book was a little hard to keep track of with all the “a couple of weeks later” going on.

Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok will be posted later today (6/26/25) @freya.victoria.narrates

This book was so good it was emotional
Relatable easy Page Turner get your box of tissues ready because you’re going to need it. I would love to recommend this book to so many people that are looking for this genre.

oh this book was hitting different. and what an emotional gutter punch at times but emotional lifting at others.
love is shown in all its glory here and Elle has exquisite writing skills that make this story come alive.as a reader i was invested and i was connected to the characters so much that i really cared about what was happening for them and then what would happen to them even past the ending of the book.
Emerson has me rooting for her from the very beginning. the situation she is stuck in filled me with so much pain for her. from her marriage to her other family this woman deserved so much more. when she found the bravery to leave it all behind i was her number one cheerleader. and who is there, ohhhhhhhhh who is there but our Sam( yes he is "our" Sam now because hes just lovely). he is there for Emerson and will do anything to be there for her. i felt lucky to read about these two. i felt lucky to have such beautiful writing of such a wonderful love. i felt lucky that i got to love this book.
i love how Elle gave us a story of love and people with no apologies for who they were. it was true, it was immersive, it was beautiful.
i loved this book and cant quite get over just how much i implore anyone to read it. you wont regret a second of it. the only bad thing about it is the loss you feel when its over.

Where Loyalty Lies is a story that completely captured my heart. It beautifully explores the journey of self-discovery, healing, and the kind of love that grows through authenticity and vulnerability. Watching Sam and Emerson's relationship evolve felt so real, it wasn't rushed or overly perfect, but honest, emotional, and full of those quiet moments that stay with you. Their growth, both individually and together, was written with such depth and care.

There were scenes that truly gutted me! The emotional tension had me holding my breath, heart pounding, and covered in goosebumps. I didn't expect to feel so much, but this story got under my skin in the most powerful way.

And let's talk about the setting! Elle Christopher's vivid descriptions made the atmosphere come alive. The small town vibes, the oasis, the warmth of the sun... I felt like I was standing right there with the characters, soaking it all in. It was completely immersive, and honestly, I never wanted to leave. Take me to the oasis, please!

Grateful to have had the chance to read this incredible story! Where Loyalty Lies follows Emerson, our FMC, as she escapes a years long loveless marriage and a lifetime of not feeling like she can measure up to those who should love her regardless…. We get to follow along as Emerson finds herself and her new freedom - she never guessed that she might find something else… or someone else. But when the right person appears even at the wrong time - you can’t pass that up. Emerson is such a strong character and I loved getting to watch her discover that for herself. The little lakeside town of Tunbridge and Emerald Lake itself were so dreamy and picturesque - I wish I could visit myself! This was such an emotional and beautiful story of self discovery, healing, and so much more.

Elle Christopher’s Where Loyalty Lies is an earnest look at a woman coming into her own with the help of a welcoming community. The characters are likable and well developed and the message of the plot is sincere and hopeful. The book could use some editing to streamline the story, but overall this is a pleasant read.

I loved the premise of ‘Where Loyalty Lies’ by Elle Christopher, and the execution delivered.

It’s raw, deep, and incredibly moving.

Here’s a glimpse of the author’s words,

‘What Love Really Is

You never asked me
to be less
so you could feel like more.

You never tried
to fix the broken parts—
just held them
like they were whole.’

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this heartfelt novel.