Did not have time to even read the book since it was archived not long after i was accepted to read it

As a tremendous fan of Still Beating (a story with overlapping characters), I put reading this off for a while. I both knew my attachment to that particular story, the characters, even the tonal quality of the writing would bleed into Lotus-experience. And I truly wanted a cleaned palette to truly immerse myself in this story not as journey to plug the Still Beating sized hole in my heart but rather as its own independent experience. So time has passed, and I've finally come to revel in Sydney and Oliver's love story, and I'm so glad I have them the time and space to capture their own piece of my heart.

Oliver. My goodness. This man. 22 years a captive, taken as a boy, now free and trying to resocialize himself into a world that is a fundamentally place, while also coming to terms with being a man now populating that world. He made this book for me- from is eccentricities to his big beautiful heart. He's dreamy, he's thoughtful, he's a beautiful soul, and I felt his soul so deeply on these pages. Jennifer develops him beautifully- he's a character that deserved his own story, and I'm so glad I got to experience through his eyes. Sydney I found a bit less likable- but perhaps because she paled in comparison to the beautifulness of Oliver. At times I found her selfish and overly dramatic, but in the end I did root for her. She's clearly connected to Oliver in a powerful and unbreakable way, and their chemistry together is beautiful

This story is certainly lighter in some aspects (though with the same dark beginnings) than Still Beating, and much more endearing/sweet and charming at its core. Part of that was that we spend little time immersing ourselves in Oliver's past. I do think it's important to truly connect as intensely with him knowing just all that he's faced, all he's overcome, to be where he is now....but I don't think we needed to see all of that to "get" him- we do. A lot of the story has to deal with him coming to terms with himself as now a man- a man with sexual desires and needs. And I loved reveling in his connection with Sydney, his exploration of himself as an adult, his journey romantically. I just wish we'd had a bit more about the totality of his psychological experience, the impact of his time in captivity. Just what a mind-f this is for him. I told myself I wouldn't compare, but this is where Still Beating excels- the way that story explores the existential impact of trauma, of FREEDOM post capivity, and I just wanted a bit more of that here. I felt I was missing some of the heartwrenching depth Jennifer usually delivers, which made the story feels less substantive even if I really enjoyed it overall.

I also loved how everything came together- moments and pieces of information that seemed random at times all came together full circle, and Oliver deserved a true and complete HEA. And Jennifer gave him a compelling one. It's a beautiful and sweet story, and I'm so glad that I got to experience it's charm.

This book was great! I loved Still Beating so I was very excited to receive Lotus! I will say that it was a lot slower than Still Beating and I wanted more of Oliver's back story early on and not as sprinkled into the present story. I think more of his would have made the book move a lot faster for me. I cannot wait to read The Stars Are on Our Side! Thank you so much NetGalley, BloomBooks and Jennifer Hartmann for letting me read Lotus with it's new cover!

The character development >>>

im convinced every book i read by this author will rip my heart out and have me in tears. wow.

grab your tissues and tub of ice cream for this ine

This is only the second book I’ve read from this author, and I’m convinced of one thing…her goal is to rip reader’s hearts apart while dragging them through the mud…backwards. Jesus. I am wrung out from reading this book. But I loved every second of it. At times I thought that there was no way that the characters could come back from all this trauma. I mean, it just felt like they’d been through too much. So I was pretty excited when the author weaved everything together perfectly and made it all work. The trauma was still there, but the characters were working through it and living their HEA’s.

The character development was phenomenal in this book. All the feelings were practically jumping off of the page. This book was incredibly written and I can’t wait to read more of the author’s work!

Wow, this book was so emotional and absolutely shattered me. The romance between Sydney and Oliver was so incredibly sweet and everything they went through together just made them stronger. It was such a beautiful story and I'm so glad I read it.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

This is the story of Sydney and Oliver who were childhood best friends until Oliver disappears.... Twenty-two years later he resurfaces, and their story continues as they reconnect as adults both suffering from trauma. Sydney from losing Oliver all those years, and Oliver from being snatched from his world and thrown into another with a fabricated and so messed up narrative. This book had moments of such emotional depth. I love childhood friends to lovers stories and this had a different angle being the two main characters had been separated. Oliver had such a pure innocence as he tried to establish himself in the real world. I enjoyed how the two tried to figure out their current relationship and watching the natural progression as they reestablished their special bond. There is also mystery and suspense mixed in beyond the romance. I could have done without the spicey moments, but I appreciated the sweet, fun parts of the story. Overall, a solid read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was really good! I was pulled in from the very beginning. I couldn't put this down. I love the development of the story and characters. It was such a well done story and I couldn't get enough. I was flipping the pages late into the night! Jennifer does such a great job with character development and plot. It's a well round story and one you won't want to miss!

🤍Book Review🤍

📖 Lotus By Jennifer Hartmann 📖

Overall Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spicy 🌶️🌶️.5

My Thoughts ~ man there is just something with the way Jennifer writes that gets me hooked every time. This book got my attention from start to finish. I read it in one sitting as I was on the edge of my toes at the mystery of the plot and having to find out the meaning of Lotus. It definitely takes you on a roller coaster of heartbreak and devastating events in their life’s.

It also takes you through times where two people are learning to love and experience love while getting to know each other again. As well as figuring out the mysteries of what happened all those years ago and what is happening now.

I absolutely adored Oliver and his character I do feel he was a bit overly childish at times I understand the plot of the book so don’t get me wrong I know why he is portrayed that way just a little much for my liking at times.

Syd was okay I didn’t love her as much as I was hoping to but nonetheless she still fit with the storyline.

I don’t think this can compare in anyways to Still Beating as I absolutely lovedddd that book but overall Lotus was a good read.

“There is beauty to be found everywhere…even in the things that scare us.”

“You heal me. Every day you put another piece of me back together,”

“You always deserve what is meant for you, and if anything is meant to be, it’s us,”
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#lotus #jenniferhartmann #bookstagram #booktok #bookreview #netgalley #bookworm #booksbooksbooks #kindle #goodreads

I enjoyed this book. It wasn’t nearly as dark as the other book that I read written by this author, Still Beating, but these characters still go through some pretty tough stuff. Oliver disappeared as a child and has been found alive 22 years later. Sydney and Oliver were best friends as children and she has remained close to his brother in the years since Oliver’s disappearance.

I loved getting the chance to see Oliver work through the things that he has been through and finally get some answers. Syndey and Oliver were great together and it was interesting to see how they had been affected by the things that happened in their past. It really seemed like they were destined to be together but it was obvious that it would take some work. The mystery involving Oliver’s disappearance kept me guessing and surprised me before the book drew to a close.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrators did a great job with the story. Marie Hawkins and TJ Clark both did a great job of portraying this group of characters and I felt like they added just the right amount of emotion to their reading. Their narration added a lot to my enjoyment of this wonderful romance. I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very well-done romance filled with characters that really deserved their own happily ever after. I hope to read more of this author’s work in the future.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Bloom Books and Tantor Audio.

This book - it gets you right in the feels

Sydney and Oliver were best friends all through childhood until Oliver was suddenly missing.
Sydney was shattered, stuck. She never gave up hoping he'd return.

So what happens in adulthood when suddenly Oliver is back, the same but different? Their story will hit all your emotions!

Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I Voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced copy of this book. All Thoughts and opinions are my own.
I recommend this to those who likes: friends to lovers, captive, dark, romantic suspense, emotional read, and a happily ever after.
I could not put this book down .

A really orginal story, raw and emotional, I was so curious to see how it would have unravelled, I wished there was more chemistry between the characters shown in other ways other than sexual tension, sometimes a few miscommunications were a bit unrealistic but overall it was a nice read.

Lotus by Jennifer Hartmann is the story of Oliver and Sydney. Sydney and Oliver at one time where childhood friends. But Oliver ended up disappearing on the 4th of July several years ago. This book goes back from the past to the present with Oliver coming back. This was a page turning read and I can't wait to read more from this author.

Thanks the author and netgalley for my advance copy in exchange for a honest review.
After reading Still Beating I couldn’t wait to read another Jennifer Hartmann book, I just knew she was going to make all those feelings come out and she did.
I loved the relationship that developed between Oliver and Sydney. The were best friends as kids but then Oliver was kidnapped and nobody ever knew what happened to him. But just over two decades later and he has escaped and returned. I always felt from the beginning there was more to this story than we were told I was right. Somethings just didn’t make sense or add up but when the truth really comes out, it is truly heartbreaking to read. There were so many twists and turns and they had me hooked in this book.
I was consumed by the story as I was with Still Beating. It’s the kind of story that makes you see the worst in people, but then no matter what they have gone through they can find their person.

“It’s hard to break someone who has already experienced the worst of life.”

This book is for all those who love a suspenseful slow burn romance. Oliver was abducted as a child, and 22 years later escapes from what he considered to be his home, to find the world is not as he was told, which was non-existent essentially. Meanwhile his childhood best friend Sydney, who has never given up hope of Oliver's return has become best friends with Oliver's older brother and is ecstatic about his return. But how fast is too fast when it comes to rekindling their friendship, and what if one of them wants more?

Jennifer did a wonderful job with Oliver's dialogue and how he spoke, not to mention that the character development was wonderful, watching them grow, and Oliver open up. Reading this book was truly a wonderful experience. I was glad there were trigger warnings at the beginning as there are some adult themes and hard to handle situations.

I was able to guess the twist early on maybe 3/4's of the way through the book, but it didn't make me enjoy it any less!

Thank you, Net Galley, for letting me have an ARC of Lotus in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely amazing. Jennifer Hartmann is such a gifted author - she can make you laugh on one page and cry the very next, make your heart drop into your stomach and then feel totally complete all in the same chapter. How she got this gift with words I have no idea, but I am both jealous and so thankful! I am so, so glad that I live in the same era that she does so that I can be blessed enough to read the words that she put on the page. This book was stunning. 5 well deserved stars and I can't wait to see what's next.

lotus

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

Jennifer Hartmann is officially one of my favourite authors. I’ve read both Still Beating and now Lotus, both of what I’d easily give 5 stars.

I will think of both these bittersweet, emotional stories for the rest of my days and i’ll be telling everyone to read these stories. Jennifer captures some strong topics in these but does it with such a poise and elegance.

I truly loved Oliver and Sydney’s story.
Oliver Lynch was kidnapped and held captive by the elusive Bradford for 22 years before he was found and put back into society.

Sydney and Oliver were neighbours and childhood bestfriends. Syd never got over losing Oliver. So the story follows them growing together and of course falling in-love, there was a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming but once it was pieced together it all made sense.

I loved all the side characters especially Gabe. It was super nice to get a little glimpse of Cora and Tabitha and a mention of Dean who each stole my heart from Still Beating.

if you haven’t already, I highly suggest you read Still Beating followed by Lotus. I hope you love both stories as much as I did.
Both are available on KU for free.

‼️ Please be mindful to check all *trigger warnings* before proceeding to read, some triggers contained *SA, kidnapping, death.
The book will list all content triggers at the beginning prior to reading ‼️

I read this novel thanks to Netgalley and the publisher. This novel was intense and a fast paced read for me. I love Jennifer’s writing style and really enjoyed Still Beating by her. I did enjoy this one as well. The plot was interesting as it surrounds Oliver who was kidnapped at 7 and is now 30. Definitely an enjoyable read!

sadly i am DNFing this at 64%… after still beating and being obsessed with that book i was super excited to get to hear oliver’s story so i’m really bummed that this story wasnt at all what i was expecting it to be.

controversial opinion but -

sydney is so unbearable to me that i feel like finishing this is more of a chore than anything, i was really disappointed to find that she seem to only care about two things. herself & having sex with oliver. this man went through one of the most horrific things a person can go through and yet it was always all about her and what HE could do to fix her traumatic experience of losing him and never trying to help him cope? while also simultaneously treating him like hes not good enough for her?

i really adored oliver. i think he deserves much better than sydney. im still really hopeful that tabitha and gabe’s story will be better and cant wait to read that.