2 Book Lovers Reviews

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See more of Shelley's Contemporary Romance

​There was always a spark between Celia and Cain, but in this installment of the Over Series, we finally get to see their story play out. 

Grief and guilt are two emotions that Celia knows too well.  Burdened with the promises and decisions that she made when she was only a teenager, Celia lives with the guilt and repercussions of her past actions.  She lives a lonely life.  She has no living family members left, and only a few close friends.  Celia keeps herself closed off, not sharing the parts of her past that she wishes she could have handled differently.

Cain is a great character.  He’s a manly man, a no-nonsense, tell it like it is kind of guy.  He hasn’t been romantically involved with someone for a few years, he chooses to keep his relationships free and easy.  He doesn’t make promises or commitments that he isn’t prepared to keep.  When Cain is called to help a new tenant who is locked out of her house, he is more than a little captivated by the beautiful, feisty young woman.

Celia and Cain have a good rapport.  He loves to make her smile, and she can’t help but smile when he’s around.  He makes her feel alive – a feeling she hasn’t enjoyed in quite a few years.  Their friendship and attraction evolves into desire and deeper feelings, but Celia can’t allow herself to be free from the past.  

I was invested in the characters and their story right from the first page.  J.A. DeRouen has done an incredible job of creating characters that you care about, want to see succeed and find their slice of happiness.  From the main characters to the supporting characters, as a reader, I felt connected to them, as if they could be members of my own family, or my own group of friends. 

The book alternates between the past and the present and is told from both Cain and Celia’s perspectives.  The story flows effortlessly and allows the reader to witness the events that shaped the character’s lives.  I think that this was the perfect way of handling Celia’s story.  It allows you to see what she endured and gives you a better understanding of her feelings.  As likable as she was, there were times when I could’ve given her a big hug, or tried to shake some sense into her.  Just when I thought that I had her story all figured out, that I knew what she was dealing with, the author surprised me.

Storms Over Secrets is a well-rounded story.  It is an emotional story that will not only touch your heart but also fill you with hope.  It could bring a smile to my face one minute, a tear to my eye in the next, and then have me laughing out loud.  I would highly recommend this book (and series) to any fan of contemporary romance.  I can’t wait to see what she has in store for Marlo!

*5 Stars*