Steadfast by Sarina Bowen

REVIEWED BY Melinda Lazar

Steadfast by Sarina Bowen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Steadfast by Sarina Bowen

This is the second book in Bowen's True North series and can be read as a standalone. But don't. Please read Bittersweet first as its a beautiful story and is also where we first met Jude.

Jude is a recovering addict who, following three years in jail for vehicular manslaughter and possession of drugs, then three months working on a farm, has returned home. Home for him is living above his alcoholic fathers auto repair shop where he attempts to deal with the everyday stresses that he'd normally deal with by using drugs.

Sophie is living in a loveless home. Ever since her brother died at her lovers hand, her family is a shell of what it once was; they're all mired in grief and nobody cares enough to do something about it.

These characters and this whole story were so very good. Jude is an amazing character; he has a huge amount of inner strength and he's such a hard worker. And though each day is a struggle, he's determined to not fall back to bad habits and to prove himself. Sophie is an incredibly strong heroine; dealing with the negativity from her family would have broken a lesser person, but not Sophie. I love that she saw Jude for his faults, and still had faith in him and their love to take action. She was amazing.

This story is a beautiful second-chance romance. It's gritty and raw and oh so very real. Bowen doesn't gloss over Jude's addiction nor does she prettify it and I really love that. I'm just in love with this whole series and I'm DYING for Zach's book, Keepsake. Dying.

Read this series. You won't be disappointed.

*arc received in exchange for honest review.

**Reviewed by Melinda for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

View all my reviews