Hi, book budies :-) I'm back with a new dark romance series by Pam Godwin. She's a great author whose books I've already tasted and, though cowboys are not my cup of tea, I always go back to the writers I love.

KNOTTED

Book #1 in the TRAILS OF SIN series

Genre: Dark Cowboy Romance

Series: HEAs with no cliffhangers.

Each book is a different couple.

Must be read in order.

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I try to forget her. It’s impossible.

Growing up together, Conor and I shared all our firsts. First love, first kiss, first… Not all our firsts.

We were sixteen the night she was violently assaulted while I helplessly watched. I’ll never forget the sounds of her suffering. Or my inconsolable agony when she left Oklahoma.

Years later, she returns to honor our teenage pact. Except the boy she loved is gone, replaced by a ruthless cattle rancher knotted with secrets. She doesn’t know my dark cravings or the trails of sin that lead to her.

I don’t deserve her, but one truth remains. She’s mine.

MY OPINION

Darkness can be beautiful. This author proves it with her gorgeous writing and her strong grip on emotional turmoil. From the elation of first true love to the ashes of its unfair destruction, it all felt real, deep, and pulled at my heart every wrenching step of the way.

I've never been a fan of cowboys, but whenever I come across a good premise I just dive in. And this is it. I was even afraid of reading the part of the agression to Conor, the sweet female character who is in love with Jake since they were kids at the ranch. Their happiness is cut short and with a blade when fate sets tragedy against them. It was hard to read, I admit it, but I pushed on into a tale of resilience, pain, failure, guilt, revenge and dark, dark love that pierces darker times.

When I thought I knew what was happening, the betrayal and the torn love took a sharp twist that first gutted me, then lit me up like a firework. Wow!

A little bit before the 40% mark, though, it takes another turn that disoriented me. Conor (that name kept putting a guy's face in my mind) just moved on. It's great for real life, but not in a romance. To me it creates a gap between the couple that rarely mends.

Spoiler Alert!

(If the girl is so devoted to her studies and has suffered abuse, why on earth would she go and live with a man? Did she really have the time for it, let alone the need after so much heartbreak and physical pain?).

End of spoiler.

The author dodged two bullets with magnificent plot devices that later on are developed wonderfully, but those things ruined the effect a little bit. So even though the words are beautiful and the story is impressive, I ceased to feel connected to their romance as they stray towards other people.

Anyway, the second half of the story is alive with unorthodox healing, dramatic redemption and scorching-hot, cathartic lovemaking. With the same relentless determination that Jake applies to heal Conor's traume, the story redeems itself. A tour-de-force of sacrifice, crime, the price of freedom, and above all a superb couple that forgives and rediscovers love through sin, courage and incendiary sensuality.

Two other men shine in this tale, Lorne and Barret, and I'd be lying if I denied my curiosity about them. They're next in line for a story, you know ;-)

PREORDER LINKS

BUCKLED #2 - Jul 10, 2018 BOOTED #3 - Sep 18, 2018

Meet the mastermind: Pam Godwin

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Pam Godwin, lives in the Midwest with her husband, their two children, and a foulmouthed parrot. When she ran away, she traveled fourteen countries across five continents, attended three universities, and married the vocalist of her favorite rock band.

Java, tobacco, and dark romance novels are her favorite indulgences, and might be considered more unhealthy than her aversion to sleeping, eating meat, and dolls with blinking eyes.