Mysterious and suspenseful with a hero you’re not sure you can trust (though you really want to), this novella packs a punch in a short amount of time. A love story in reverse, the reader is introduced to Ashley and Noah/Aaron after the fallout from his deception. The two met and fell in love, planning their lives together.... all for it to come crashing down when Ashley discovered that Noah has been lying to her the whole time. Turns out he’s not the man she thought he was, and now that they’ve come face to face for the first time in months, she doesn’t know what to think. Standing in front of her is a man who claims to love her, but deception fills their past and their future would look vastly different than she had planned. Add in the looming threat over both of them, and it’s no wonder that this novella ends in a CLIFFHANGER.

Lisa Renee Jones’ writing drew me in from the start, making me sympathize with Ashley while also connecting with Noah. Like Ashley, I know that Noah has been deceptive in the past - and is definitely trying to control the situation in the present - but I couldn’t help but fall for him. His feelings for Ashley are obvious right away, so it’s hard to hate him for the things he’s done. I can’t talk much about the plot, but I definitely felt like I was just settling into the story when the novella ended. We’re given some insight into how they were as a couple in the past, and an introduction to their current situation before the rug is pulled out. I’m already connected to the story enough that I would definitely continue on with their journey, but just know that you will be left unsatisfied at the end of this installment. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Can’t wait to read the rest of Ashley and Noah’s story.