RETREAT (Getaway #1) by JAY CROWNOVER :: REVIEW

His lips hit my temple as he lifted the hand splayed across my ribs to settle over my racing heart.
“Destroyed, Sunshine. This is what it feels like to be destroyed.”

Dust off those cowboy boots and head out to Wyoming and prepare to fall in love with the unlucky in love but very delectable Warner men from Jay Crownover’s new Getaway Series! ‘Cause oh boy, didn’t we just fall head over heels for ‘not quite a cowboy’, Cy Warner. What a man. A very sexy, alpha and beautiful man!

As soon as we saw the cover for Retreat we felt compelled to check it out and we were hooked. It’s been 5 years since we picked up a book by Jay Crownover and we couldn’t help but admire how much her writing has grown during that time. It was fabulous! We highlighted a passage on nearly every page, such was the stirring beauty of this authors words which we greedily devoured.

“I like it better when you smile.”
“Haven’t had much reason to do so until you came crashing into my life, Sunshine.”

What a wonderful story Retreat was and what a terrific introduction to a series we want more of already! Retreat is a story of self-discovery  and second chances that had our hearts racing throughout, whether it be with the suspense and thrills that hit us midway through the story, the sheer tangible passion between Cy and Leora (Leo), or from the absolute romance between the loyal, rugged, gruff, masculine alpha with a loving heart, a hidden vulnerability and a deep seated sense of responsibility, and the gorgeous Leo who had become disenfranchised with herself after a failed relationship had her questioning herself and shattering her confidence. Everything about this romance spoke to our hearts.  A sexy, at times thrilling, and always heart-warming romance!

‘His story made my own seem silly and insignificant by comparison and suddenly I knew the bruises on my heart were nothing compared to the scars slashed on his.’

There were a few surprises and some really teary emotional moments in Retreat, and honestly, we don’t think it’s possible to have swooned any more than we did towards the end of this book! Pick us up off the floor! And the chemistry between Leo and Cy! These two were ridiculously hot together! They practically melted our Kindles with one of THE hottest shower scenes we’ve read! Bloody hell it was combustible. The setting, the passion, the romance, the suspense, the absolute beauty of a man who had sacrificed his heart and happiness out of a sense of duty and a woman who never thought it was possible to love and be loved, had our hearts soaring.

“Women like you don’t have to try and destroy things, Leo. You just do, because men like me aren’t strong enough to stay away and we end up wanting things the other isn’t capable of giving.”

Whilst this story does occur over a short time span, and normally we prefer feelings to build a little longer, it didn’t bother us as their feelings came across as completely real and genuine. Both Leo and Cy were mature, had suffered heartache and knew how to communicate. There was no uncommunicative crap between them and so the intensity of their feelings was believable and honest. We really did experience the romance, love and emotion between them both.

“Love isn’t logical or reasonable. Our hearts make no sense.”

We adored every character and reveled in the friendship between Leo and Emrys. Em was a loyal and loving friend who had singlehandedly brought Leo out of a dark phase when her confidence, self-worth and trust had been rocked following a break up with a man who wasn’t who he appeared to be and her own past insecurities.  Bottom line; Leo wasn’t happy with her life and it was at Em’s insistence they get away from it all for a one week trek on a ranch in Wyoming. This trip would serve to be life changing for them both in very different ways. We were completely consumed in Cy and Leo’s story and we found a book boyfriend who’ll be hard to beat in 2017. KA fans, we think you’ll love this one! Pick this one up and let the swooning commence! Sigh…our hearts are still swooning!