3.5 Smooches!
Synopsis
How do you heal after everything has been ripped away from you?
Completely devastated and alone, Tristen cannot fathom life after losing Cami and his unborn child. He attempts to find normality in his broken world but everything seems wrong.
Aria is compelled to help Tristen and cannot escape the undeniable connection she feels for him, even though Cami was one of her closest friends. She tries to help him move forward by befriending him but quickly realizes that there is more.
Tristen and Aria are both struggling to deal with these confusing emotions. Can they find happiness even when they feel utterly broken?
Review
Having read Sinfully, (which I recommend reading first) I was anxious about Tristen’s story. As I read, I could feel the anguish he was going through and felt. He lost the woman that he loves and on top of that the loss of his unborn child. His world has been turned on its axis. But when a friend of Cami’s is introduced to his life, he begins to come out of his darkness. Aria is a sweet funny girl and both she and Tristen feel this pull for one another. But it’s for different reasons. I felt that Tristen was using Aria as a crutch and it wasn’t fair of him. And Aria accepted this because she wanted a little more from Tristen. Both characters have their history and demons to battle.
Regretfully is book 2 of the Sinfully Series but can be read as a standalone. Characters from Sinfully come over into Regretfully, but to fully understand the relationship of them, read book one. There are many twists and turns in this book. A lot of story changing. I felt as though the author tried to tie everyone’s story in one book. And the 2nd half of the book, in my opinion, didn’t quite fit. There was a lot going on, weddings, babies, even an ER visit. I understand that life can be hectic and the author may have wanted it to be ‘real’ but to be honest, it stressed me out. I read to get away from my crazy life and I began to feel overwhelmed while reading. I really enjoyed Sinfully and don’t remember this much going on. I have met Leighton Riley at signings and she’s such a sweetheart. But when it came to book 2 I didn’t hate it or love it. Just was a neutral fit for me. This book may appeal to readers that enjoy the plot twists with a side of flashback sex scenes. As the book ended, I am assuming Aria’s story is next. I hope her story will sit better with me.
3.5 smooches for Regretfully by Leighton Riley.
~Sarah
