I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for this book forever when, in actuality, it’s only been about a month. Nicole Dykes reached out to me about reading and reviewing for her about a month ago and, having seen her work reviewed by other bookstagramers, I immediately said yes. There is NOTHING like this world she’s created with the Sterlings. This family is absolutely incredible. Every single one of them is special and unique in their own way and the way that they love? It burns so bright. I will admit, I was scared to start this one.  When it first showed up on my kindle I didn’t know when/if I wanted start it. My heart was still hurt from where we left off with Asher and Vivienne in the last book. I’m so glad I gave in and didn’t sit on this. It mended my shattered heart and gave me so much hope. I love the Sterlings!!!

We meet Vivienne in the first book, Regrets, where she shows up with a child, claiming she slept with Colt Sterling and they made this baby together. She’s a little bit of a villain in that story because Colt has died and everyone is trying to find their footing again. Then we get her story, Restrictions, where we see just how truly incredible she is and how much she loves being Baz’s mother. She falls in love with Asher, Colt’s brother, but it ends on a cliffhanger. I was devastated after reading Restrictions. I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle the possibility of a love triangle because that’s a trigger for me. Nicole Dykes even warns us at the end of that book that there is more pain to come. She was right. In this book, “Asher and Viv part two” as I like to call it, our couple has now relocated to California. Vivienne is living with Asher’s sister Lola and Asher shows up and moves into the house too. There is so much hatred at the beginning of this book. It tears your heart in half. Asher is so broken and lost. He loves Baz with all his heart and Viv took him away at the end of the first book. Asher finds purpose in being a father figure to Baz, part of me thinks it’s because he looked up to Colt so much. Asher is determined to not let Colt’s memory fade. He’s so caught up in that idea that doesn’t realize the pain he’s inflicting on himself and others.

So this book is all about Asher growing up. Asher learning how to forgive himself. Asher realizing that he loves Vivienne and cannot live without her. That process is oh-so painful. He’s stubborn and a bit of an ass. Vivienne puts up with A LOT, but it’s all worth it in the end. The way these two grow together, the push and the pull…Gah! Every bit of this book was wonderful and addicting. I applaud Nicole Dykes for her bravery in writing such a complex and compelling story. Writing a duet is tough. A lot of readers don’t make it to the second book. I usually don’t, honestly. But with this one? I was diving head first into book two. Bravo!! I cannot wait to read what Nicole has in store for us next. 5 stars!