Description:
“Who am I? For all intents and purposes, I am the nice guy; the loyal brother and decent citizen. I am quiet and non-confrontational. I am the brother nobody worries about and can always depend upon. To my family, I am the good one. However, that’s only what they see on the outside.” ~ Jeremy Evans
Outwardly, Jeremy Evans is a typical guy, the calmest of the Evans brothers. He’s obsessed with cars, enjoys the company of beautiful women, and is devoted to his family. Inwardly, however, Jeremy is a ticking time bomb. Torn between what’s right versus what’s wrong. When the attempted rape on Darcie occurs, Jeremy finally loses the battle within himself. The pure hatred for Sulfur Heights consumes him and escape is all he thinks about.
One year later, he is secretly engrossed by the drug-infested underworld. Jeremy’s double life leads him on dark and sinister paths of drugs, violence, and rage. The Evans family is destroyed after Presley’s murder and consequently, Jeremy’s arrest. He’s sent to prison where he’s forced to survive with the mistakes he’s made on his conscience. However, only one thought lingers. It consumes the years he spends locked in a cell. Retribution.
Cami Ryker used to have a picture perfect life. She was loved by her family and happy with her life until her brother’s sudden death tore her family apart. Cami is forced to care for her ailing mother and assume the responsibilities of a normal adult. However, when the bills are paid and her mother is tucked away for the night, Cami likes to cloud her mind in order to escape her daily struggles. Late one night, a stranger trolling the streets rescues her in a dark alley. The mysterious stranger will become one of the most important people in her life until the day he’s sent to prison.
Four years later, Jeremy is released and seeking redemption for his mistakes, but the betrayal is still thriving amongst the Evans family. Will Jeremy finally find the solace within to gain the forgiveness from his family that he desperately craves? And is it possible for Jeremy to save those he loves and exonerate himself in the process?
**Mature Content Warning** 17+ for language and sexual content**
Review:
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Jeremy’s story is a dark but necessary addition to the Sulfur Heights series. After he turned his family’s world upside down in BLIND LOVE, it’s only been a matter of time before we needed to hear Jeremy’s side of the story.
If you’ve read any of the Evans brothers’ stories, you know that each of the Evans brothers would do anything for their family. Even with Jeremy, who was always a bit more mysterious and reserved even to his own family, there was never a doubt that deep down he had the best of intentions where his family was concerned. But after Jeremy was arrested by the DEA for being a drug dealer and the brothers realized he’d been connected to Carter, the family wondered if they’d ever really known Jeremy at all. Jeremy had struggled with the darker parts of himself for a long time and had only been comfortable letting a few people see both sides of him. His family saw the good, reliable Jeremy. The drug world saw the dark and murderous Jeremy.
But Cami knew both sides of Jeremy and loved him completely. From the moment she’d first laid eyes on him, she knew he was different. After he saved her life, Cami knew he’d been put in her life for a reason and she wasn’t going to let him go, no matter how hard he pushed. Before Jeremy went to prison, he insisted Cami leave Sulfur Heights and move on with her life. He knew she deserved better than he could give her and he didn’t want her waiting for someone who might never make it out of prison alive. But when he’s released and returns to Sulfur Heights to finally come clean to his family, he realizes just how much his choices have impacted everyone he loves. Each person in the Evans family is forced to face old wounds and Cami must decide once and for all if Jeremy’s good side can prevail or if he’ll always be ruled by his darkness.
The Sulfur Heights series has always dealt with dark subject matter, but these last few books in the series seem to be increasingly heavier as a whole. While Darcie faced unimaginable horrors in SCARRED LOVE, there was always the hope that Reggie could save her. But Drake’s second story in SURVIVING LOVE and Jeremy’s story in REDEEMED LOVE were on a different level. Drake was so buried in pain and grief that I couldn’t help but feel helpless along with him. Jeremy is so sure he doesn’t have any redeeming qualities that even I started to question if he could ever find a happily ever after. Is there ever a point of no return? For Jeremy, it certainly seemed like he might have crossed it.
M.S. Brannon once again refused to shy away from the darkness and for that I appreciate her bravery. If, like me, you read multiple books in the Sulfur Heights series in a row, you might need a couple rainbows and sunshine books afterwards to recover, but I’d still strongly recommend the series. It is dark mixed with hope and above all highlights a family that has faced every adversity imaginable and chose to face their hardships together rather than allow their struggles to tear them apart. The series concludes in the fall of 2014 with EVERLASTING LOVE, the Evans family epilogue, and I can’t wait to see what Ms. Brannon has in store for this incredible family.
**Complimentary copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
**Reviewed by preppea on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews.
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M.S. Brannon was born and raised in the Midwest. She still resides there today with her wonderful husband and son. When she is not writing or reading, M.S. Brannon spends time with her family, watching movies, and discovering new music. She writes romance because she believes love and heartache is the rawest emotion one can experience.Social Links:
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