Cruel Water (Portland ME #2)

By Freya Barker

Synopsis

Innocence marked her…

Violation crippled her…

Love left her raw…

The life she carefully rebuilt is challenged when she is confronted with the sins from her past. The carefully applied protection is at once ripped away, leaving her exposed and vulnerable.

Her single night of indulgence with the silver-eyed stranger is only the beginning. He sees right to the heart of her and she is unable to ward off emotions that have been deeply buried. With the sting of betrayal still fresh in her soul, she’s surprised to find herself opening up to the honest integrity of the sharp-eyed, rough-looking biker.

When he lost everyone who mattered, he was left without roots and learned to be content simply living in the moment. Completely unprepared for the feisty blonde bartender with old pain marring her clear-blue eyes, he questions his own rules of detachment, as she unwittingly finds a way under his skin.

Appearances deceive and when the masks fall away, revealing deep, dark secrets, there is nothing left but to hang onto each other and survive the storm

Review

Could Cruel Water being #2 of the Portland ME Series be just as good as From Dust #1?

Yes most definitely it was and I can only believe that the next two books will just cement this series as one you would read again and again. Firstly before you pick this up you MUST read From Dust, not linked but there is a timeline and you will not want to ruin surprises in the storyline. So I am very happy that characters in From Dust definitely make a return in this next instalment and they develop more, particularly Tim and Dino.

The whole Portland ME Series is one amazing emotional roller coaster with each book obviously touching on some hard real life issues but told in an open and realistic way, it is not sugar coated, it can be dark and dirty but it is about repairing yourself.

Viv’s story is told with such dignity, it is real, she is still a passionate and headstrong woman but she is as fragile as glass and it was incredible to see how she could just shatter to pieces, my heart broke for her.

Now onto her brothers reactions which were varied and I think probably reflected a true and very honest response. The way her brothers processed their own feelings about how they let their only sister down was a really integral part of this story. The author did not soften the edges, it was raw and in your face, it made me sad, angry and I felt the loneliness and despair of Viv so much I could barely breathe at some moments, my chest hurt with sadness.

The moulding of Viv as a young child is so true, it does happen and Freya is spot on with the “conditioning” and “getting clean” part of this storyline – gave me goosebumps.

I could continue to rave about this story but I am scared to reveal too much – it is simply amazing – another wonderful journey of finding your true love and having them accept you.

You will have an incredibly hard journey with Viv but the rewards at the end are truly worth the rocky waves you will travel.

Quote: That dirt is not yours, it never was And if they made you dirty – I will make you clean

My Rating: