This was such a beautiful, unique story that will stay with me for a long time. I got a lot of Archer’s Voice vibes from this, which I loved because that is a favorite book of mine. Oliver Lynch definitely carried this book for me. He was the sweetest, most innocent MMC, yet spicy when needed. Oliver must be protected at all costs. I just adored him. I wasn’t a huge fan of Sydney’s hot & cold attitude with Oliver, but I could also see what kept her acting like that. She was ruined when Oliver was taken 22 years ago and now she doesn’t want to risk losing him again or ruining his pure heart; and she can't stop the inevitable pull to him. The side characters in this story were gold, which I always love. And the plot twists in this – holy moly, they made this book even more unputdownable!

5/5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶️

This is a 5 star read for me. Jennifer is just such an amazing author. I loved Oliver and Sydney’s story. I was captivated from the start and couldn’t put the book down.

The story had so many twists and turns and I just was in awe of these characters from start to finish. I can’t recommend this book enough!

If you loved Still Beating, make sure you read LOTUS! Do not sleep on this! This was the very first Jennifer Hartmann book I’ve ever read and it f*cked me up! It’s dark but not as dark as Still Beating. I love that all the books are related in some way; you’ll often find characters of Hartmann’s books mentioned in all her books!

Thanks so much, NetGalley and Bloom Books, for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

OMG just loved Syd and Oliver acting like tweens who are flirty and finding love for the first time. After Oliver had been missing for 22 years they picked up where they left off. They were the best of friends and already were on the path of childhood sweethearts when he was taken. I loved all the little nuances and the difficulty of him trying to learn everything he's missed.
But the bad guy and the why. OMG didn't even see that coming. The links to Still Beating are there and you don’t have to read that book first but the references will make more sense. There are a few characters from that book that crossover into this book.
And the reason for the title Lotus and why that word stayed with him in his confinement. Can I just tearfully say awwww! I wasn’t expecting that and it wasn’t what he thought it was. The reason for his abduction and the actual result were two very different things, ikyk. Showing that even though some people go missing they aren’t always abused or treated horribly sometimes they are just hidden away.

Also in the author's notes you gave me chills the way you talked about your husband's help with the word Lotus. Love that kind of partnership and brainstorming.

Thank you bloombooks for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

I think this book was entertaining but to me it was SO unbelievable. To think that a man would keep a child captive for 22 years and the man doesn't escape until he's over 30 - and even then, it was only due to the captor falling down the stairs and dying instantly. Really?

Syd can be super annoying at times, but I'm not sure if that's just a coping mechanism or what. It was hard not to read Oliver's dialogue without thinking it sounded robotic. I get he was held captive for years and years, but idk. You can be awkward without sounding like a robot.

All in all, I was intrigued and I continued on and finished the book. It was good and I liked the twist.

1.5 stars.

Romance novels are not typically my cup of tea, but I decided to give this one a chance because I was intrigued by the psychological thriller component of this book. The plot focuses on two main characters who were best friends as children. The male MC (Oliver) was kidnapped as a child, and his female bff (Sydney) never got over the loss. When Oliver suddenly becomes free after 22 years in captivity, he returns to his hometown to begin anew. Obviously romance ensues between the former best friends, but the plot also becomes convoluted by an ongoing mystery/suspense theme that I will not reveal due to spoilers. I feel this book had a lot of potential, but I found the characters and the plot to be unbelievable, unrelatable, and unlikable.

I received e-book and audiobook versions of this novel and I vacillated between both, as neither were able to hold my attention. It was to the point that I wanted to DNF, but chose not to on principle. What should have been an exciting and captivating story was quite boring and I honestly did not care about the characters getting their happy endings.

Appreciation to NetGalley, Bloom Books and the author for the ARCs for me to review!

This was my first Jennifer Hartmann book and it did not disappoint. Everything about this book kept me so captured in the book and I could not stop reading. I wanted to understand the subplot of this book so bad, understand why Oliver was taken and why it connected so deeply to their childhood years that they kept flashing back to. The romance in this book was so captivating, and it had me hooked from the very beginning. I do not think I have ever read the soulmate trope written so well until this book right here. Oliver and Sydney are truly soulmates. Their story brought out so many emotions in me that I have not felt while reading in so long. The depth of this book and all of it's components is enthralling and genuinely a masterpiece. I utterly do not have the right words to say how much this book was so beautiful, the writing was so flawless, but it was also heartbreaking and gut wrenching and kept me on the edge of my seat. Truly a beautiful book. I cannot wait to continue to read books by Jennifer Hartmann because all of her books just moved to the top of my TBR.

I read lotus earlier this year before it was traditionally published and there has not passed a day where I do not think about this book and sweet sweet Elliot. This is the best dark romance I have ever read because while the book is dark the characters are as pure as can be. I recommend this book all the time and will continue to do so. Amazing book!

Lotus by Jennifer Hartmann is a pull at your heartstrings in the best kind of way romance. It was an emotional rollercoaster and kept me in suspense all the way. This author has a way of writing that has the reader in the palm of her hands. The characters are riveting. The plot and twist is astonishing! It's hard to put into words what this book offers. I will forever recommend this read and author!

When I read Hartmann's "Still Beating," I fell in love with the heartache, the hurt, and the healing. It was so phenomenal, I didn't know how "Lotus" would measure up. But boy did it ever. It had me straight from the start. I was hooked on this sweet, traumatized man and his innocence, his humor, his brilliance, and his passion. I was captivated by his eloquence. I mean, seriously, if a man were to speak to me the way Oliver speaks to Sydney, I'd be done for. The story itself was inspiring, and it was made all the better by the depth of the characters. Each one was thoughtfully written, and the time and effort that Hartmann put into making each of them come to life really showed. Then you add the twists held in this story on top of it. I was already sold, but by the time I got to the big twist, I was just gone. Were there hints that I missed leading up to it? Looking back, maybe a few. But I was so invested in being in the story in real-time instead of trying to think ahead that I was there with each character as events were happening. So when the twist came, I gasped, too. And that was everything to me. This book was everything. I'm going to remember this one.

This story was so captivating! It hooks you from the very first chapter and will hold your attention throughout. I couldn't put this one down or stop thinking about it.

It will take you on an emotional roller-coaster and will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. Oliver and Sydney's story is very unique.

Oliver was held captive for 22 years, being told lies and thinking everyone he loves is gone. We explore Oliver's life and the people he had in it, and the people he has after. This unique story offers second chance romance, childhood friendships, mystery, and suspense. The ending is unforgettable, and the story comes together perfectly.

Thank you @netgalley and @read_bloom for this copy! This book is out now, so I recommend you grab a copy soon.

⚠️ Check Trigger Warnings

So....my first book read by this author was Still Beating and while being a great love story...it still takes a toll on your heart. After completion of that book I began to read Lotus since our first introduction to Oliver is in Still Beating. I cannot put into words the emotions that you encounter as you read Oliver's story. Almost immediately I was crying, and the more I read, the more I loved Oliver. This book has it's moment's of true sadness for what has been lost, as well as times that you laugh out loud, yet through it all you realize that for some people this story has been their reality and didn't always have a happy ending. Even though I have only read two books by this author, I am truly grateful for having the opportunity to read these stories. Some people will not read these books due to it's content regarding topics that most choose to ignore is a reality, in not reading them you miss the opportunity to read a story of love, perseverance and rebirth even in the most unbelievable of times. Truly a wonderful read !!!

This was a sweet read overall. I love childhood friends to lovers, and this is that with a twist. Oliver was kidnapped as a child and kept in an underground bunker until he can escape as an adult. His disappearance broke the heart of his best friend Sydney. Years later he escapes and finds out that everything his captor told him was a lie. While trying to put his life back together, he also tries to figure out why he was taken.

Sydney helps to reaclimate Oliver to modern society and the 2 end up falling for each other hard and fast. Sydney tries to deny it and shuts Oliver down for a while which got really annoying quick. She had a tendency to jump to snap conclusions and not think for 5 seconds which was also frustrating.

I was enjoying the story a lot until the author tied it to Still Beating, which I did not enjoy. Cora and Tabitha run into Oliver at the library to bond over being kidnapped? Then Earl ends up being a friend of Bradford? It felt like an unnecessary tie that hampered the story for me. The ending of the story got more heavy/emotional than I was expecting. The SA was hinted at very early on, but did not pan out the way I thought it would. Check the triggers before reading I suppose.

⤷‧₊˚1⭑ || dnf @45%
„𝐇𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈’𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞.“

I hate, hate, hate the main female character. How can someone be so damn annoying?
Every time she opens her mouth I want to scream „shut your mouth please no one cares.“

She was such an insufferable bitch and Oliver deserved so much better. He's the one who comforts her while he was gone and traumatized for 22 years?!

I can't understand how you can like her, sorry not sorry.

I couldn't stop reading!!! This is my first romance by Hartmann and now I'm scrambling to find her other novels. Such a heart wrenching read! Oliver and Sydney are childhood best friends who get ripped apart and put back together in this beautiful romance. Also, the audiobook was very well narrated!! Highly recommend!!

*Thank you @librofm and @bloombooks for the #gifted audiobook and egalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Another amazingly gut-wrenching, heartwarming, and emotionally devastating story from Jennifer Hartmann. I knew I was in for an emotional ride, but I was not expecting the twists and turns this story took.

First, this whole concept in itself is absolutely wild. A little boy is kidnapped and returns 22 years later while the rest of the world moved on... well, all but his childhood best friend Sydney. The raw emotions and ups and downs these characters experience are difficult to not get emotionally invested in. It also helps that the characters are ridiculously likable. I loved Sydney's quirkiness throughout and the eloquent way Oliver always spoke.

I enjoyed the intertwining of characters from Still Beating, and I'm really looking forward to the next book in this world. I've become all too attached to this emotionally devastating universe. The ending as always was something I would've never expected, but alas, I'm realizing that you must always expect the unexpected from Jennifer.

TW abduction and CSA

The synopsis instantly hooked me. I *love* a plot that revolves around a kidnapped child returning years later.

I liked Syd, but I loved Oliver. He’s kind, smart, gentle and a fierce protector. I thought they worked well together. Syd and Gabes tight knit friendship staying strong even after Oliver’s disappearance was nice, and I enjoyed seeing their friendship tested through the stress and chaos of Oliver’s return after 22 years.

I was frustrated with Syd at one point. The victim of CSA was revealed and she was upset that they didn’t tell her when it happened or go to the police. Hello?? They were a scared kid that was groomed and abused for years by a man they knew and trusted, let’s not throw blame!😒

The revelation of what LOTUS meant at the end shook me lol! I was trying to figure it out the entire time and I didn’t guess that.

I’m definitely interested in reading more from Hartmann. 4.5 stars, LOTUS by Jennifer Hartmann is available now.

Thank you to @read_bloom and @netgalley for the eARC! 🦝 🐈

Rating: 5 stars ⭐️

Tropes:
childhood friends to lovers ❤️
second chance 🫶🏻
slow burn 🔥 

This was such an emotional read!! But I loved every minute of it and really wished the best for all the characters. ✨

If you loved Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan, this book is for you! 🩵

Jennifer Hartmann writes amazing but heartbreaking stories about difficult topics that really grip your heart.

In this book you follow Sydney Neville and Oliver Lynch. They once were childhood best friends and neighbours until Oliver was kidnapped on the Fourth of July…

After twenty-two years, he managed to get out and go home again but Oliver doesn't remember a lot from his childhood, until he sees Sydney again..

There are TW for this book (kidnapping, pedophilia, sexual assault of a child,…)

Thank you to Netgalley, Jennifer Hartmann and Sourcebooks - Bloom books for providing me with this copy. All opinions are my own.

Enjoyed this book a lot!

The beginning sucked me in immediately, the middle was a little slow and almost lost me at times, but then the ending was very well done!

Loooooved Oliver and although Syd did NOT act like an almost 30 year old women, I loved them together! Definitely a good read!

This book takes place in the same world of Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann, but if you haven’t read that book then you are still fine. This book follows a man who was kidnapped 22 years ago and escaped and his childhood friend who hasn’t found love after him. This book was just everything and the cutest development/romance story. I loved the writing of this story and how hopeful this book was. Compared to Still Beating which was dark, and traumatic, this book was so much lighter than that but still had the trauma story to it. The meaning behind the story was amazing and there’s no words to describe how amazing the plot and concept was.

This book is written from both Sydney and Oliver’s perspective. Sydney is quirky and her entire world is Oliver until he’s kidnapped and a part of her goes missing. She develops a lot in this book when it comes to her heart and I loved how caring she was. Oliver was kidnapped at a young age and escaped but his world has changed. I loved his journey and how strong of a character he was. His love for his family and the way he let himself heal was well written. There are many side characters in this book, my favorite being Athena who you will absolutely love. The romance is childhood friends to lovers with a couple of steamy scenes.

The ending was so well written and honestly did not expect the plot twist at the end along with the meaning of the title. This book was amazing and one of my favorite reads of this year. I totally recommend checking this book out.

*this e-arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*