This book will pull on your heart strings as you feel all of the pain and heartbreak the main characters go through. Travis was positive he met the girl he was going to marry at a young age. Things were going good and plans were set. Everything crumbled down after one moment in time that forever altered Travis and Isabell’s lives. They are now given a second chance at being together. Will they take it and make up for lost time or will things go drastically wrong? I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m almost certain that I read this in a previous release. It seemed very familiar.

Isabel is an abused daughter of a powerful man, who forms a lifelong love with a teenaged boy who betrays her. Years later, after court dates and emotional healing, the two reunite.

There is a lot of forgiveness in this story- A LOT. And it happens in a relatively brief time. I’m not sure after what they all experienced that this plays out as realistic. Still, it was interesting.

I loved this book. I had not realized it was part of a series when I first started, but I enjoyed it so much I went back and read the rest of the series.

I adore Shiloh Walker and Crashed it a perfect example of why. The words just jump off of the pages and suck you in from the first chapter. Shiloh Walker at her finest.

She’d let her guard down only once. It had destroyed her, breaking her heart into such tiny pieces that she’d never been able to find them all.

Fifth in the Barnes Brothers series, Crashed brings us the last Barnes brother romance. Travis fell in love hard when he was younger and as the story opens up, we get a look at text messages between him and a girl named Isabel that start when they're fifteen. It's a summer romance that grew to more as Isabel's family spends every year at their vacation home by Travis. Through the text messages, readers see Travis and Isabel stay committed to each other even while some looming cloud seems to come from Isabel as she tries to avoid talking about what is really going on with her family. When Travis is eighteen and Isabel turning soon, they come up with a plan to elope and flee to California for awhile, Isabel fearing her father's reaction. Travis knows her father is a U.S. District Attorney and Isabel fears him and has only stayed around to try and protect her younger twin sisters but Isabel has been keeping some important secrets. When an FBI agent lays some harsh facts on Travis but not the full truths, their young love goes up in flames.

If it was the last thing he did in his life, Miles would fix what he’d done to these two.

I haven't read the previous books in the series and I didn't spend a lot of time confused here, you'd just miss out on knowing Travis' brother's love stories; family dynamics get well laid out here and the brothers don't really come into the picture into the latter second half. A few tragic instances befall Isabel, she does talk about rape, losing a baby at birth, and infertility (there's also bullying to other characters) for content warnings. This is a second chance romance with the FBI agent, Miles, trying to fix his mistake of breaking these two apart. He was working a case against Isabel's father, human-trafficking, and Travis gets a bit caught in the cross-fire. On the day he and Isabel were supposed to runaway together, he sees something that has him thinking she's a liar and wasn't serious with him, he feels betrayed and never answers her text or phone calls. Isabel goes through the ringer for awhile, with dealing with the fallout of her father and going into witness protection as she helped give evidence against her father and a personal tormentor of hers named Stephen. A few years after the initial breakup, Miles tries to get these two together but hurts and pains still keep them cold. It isn't until ten years later they have their second chance.

She still loved him. She’d never stopped.

While Isabel went into witness protection and became a foster mom, Travis tries to ease the guilt for how he thinks he betrayed Isabel by going to work for Miles. He starts off working for the government and later as an independent contractor who goes in undercover and helps breakup human trafficking rings. It's a little bit of go along with it as his famous family and his well known face are discussed and how he had plastic surgery to make himself look less like them. When he gets severely injured and Miles sends him to his house on the coast to recuperate, his neighbor turns out to be Isabel. The rest of the story is them looking at each other with their hearts in their eyes and then deciding to get together fairly soon, they have an open door scene around midpoint of book. While there was some of that wonderful angst from the hurtful situations they went through and how their relationship was broken up, I would have liked if it had been gritted out longer. Their relationship almost seemed to take a backseat to Isabel's foster kids' dramas, I almost felt like I knew their characters better than the two that were supposed to be the main couple. The second half also brought in some suspense with a past danger rearing his ugly head and then Travis making up with his family that he had iced out for the last decade.

There just wasn't enough continuous focus on the romantic relationship development for me but the ending did deliver a happily ever after bow ending. If you've been a reader of the series, you'll probably love seeing this last Barnes get his HEA and a possible tease for the series to spin-off with one of Isabel's sisters and an operator friend of Travis.

Quick Summary: A second chance at life romance

My Review: Crashed by Shiloh Walker is book 5 in the Barnes Brothers series. It features the relationship between Bella Franklin and Travis Barnes.

About the Book: Bella Franklin is not who she appears to be. There is more to her story. Because of her troubled past, she is now in the Witness Protection Program. She has a new life and a forever family to care for. When her past unexpectedly meets her present, she is startled to discover that the only man she ever loved is now her neighbor. Will they finally be able to heal from the wrongs and wounds that separated them?

My Final Say: This is a story that deals with quite a few serious issues. In fact, I would dare say that it is trigger heavy. It would be fair to say that it is a romance, but in actuality, it is more than that. Readers who are drawn to realistic fiction about surviving trauma, gender identity, etc. will understand this book.

Other: This book gets a red light warning. 🚨 Issues presented in this material: rape/sexual assault, trafficking, bullying and intimidation, LGBTQIA, violence, MDK, fostering/adoption. This book also gets a profanity marker.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Series: Yes

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Shiloh Walker, Inc., IPG), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting the opportunity to review this title.

I have not read the previous books in this series but this was a great read. A second chance romance along with some adorable foster kids and just the right amount of suspense, this book had a lot that I look for in a great read. Travis and Isabel had been a teenage couple, but were pulled apart by Isabel’s father. About twenty years later they connect again after Travis had been taking down men who trafficked other people. The job has worn him down and he is recovering from a wound. Isabel is raising 5 children while she is also in witness protection. To say too much more would spoil the enjoyment of the story. But whether you have read the other books or not, this was a really good story. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Young love, betrayal, heartbreak, angst - this tortured love story has it all. I thought I have read every single Shiloh Walker book. I completely missed this series during my dark years at my evil day job. This book made me feel raw. I love it.

Travis Barnes made an understandable juvenile mistake and he never got over it. Especially when he learns the impact of his mistake. When it comes to abuse, Ms. Walker excels at writing it and making me feel it deep into my bones. I feel so badly for Bella Franklin, Travis's childhood sweetheart. Their young love withstood a lot of adversity but one too many events worked against them.

Learning the backstory of their young love from each of their perspective is moving. They are so innocent and full of hope. They have plans. When it all comes crashing down and the world burns, it is devastating. I'm devastated. But this is a romance, so there must be some kind of happily ever after.

This book is about redemption, self imposed penance, and sacrifice. All these noble ideals that few practice anymore are woven into a moving tale in second chances. Almost all the characters are given a second chance and I wish more people would act with such kindness and grace. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. There are subplots within this story that make it even more meaningful to me. This is contemporary romance is unfiltered and flawed in a beautiful way. Recommended for romance readers who love second chance angst filled themes.

What I liked about Travis was that he admitted he made assumptions, mistakes, and then committed to fixing those issues. He stepped up, became the one person who could be depended on. 5 year old Brooklyn's fascination with him just shows that he could be trusted.

I was captivated by the poignant reunion of Isabel and Travis, who rediscovered each other's presence after a decade-long separation. Their shared journey through numerous hardships left visible emotional marks, which served as a testament to their resilience. Travis, in particular, stood out as an exceptional individual, burdened by an unwarranted sense of responsibility for the past. It was heartrending to witness his self-blame despite the lack of fault on his part. Furthermore, his immediate acceptance of the foster children under Isabel's care spoke volumes about his character.

The undeniable chemistry between Isabel and Travis made it evident that they were meant to be together, evoking a profound sense of warmth and tenderness. Despite certain sensitive themes explored in the book, and occasional disagreements with some aspects, the overall narrative proved to be a compelling read.

*4.5 stars*

A suspenseful, heartwarming second chance…

This author knows how to tug at the heartstrings and Bella and Travis’ story did just that. The tragic circumstances around their second chance at a relationship meant this read was sad and hopeful at the same time...

Together as teenagers, their love was torn apart by the will of Bella’s father and a man who deeply regretted his part in it. Wind ahead years later, reparations were being made in hopes that the past, that still haunted them both, could be overcome. Had their lives survived though, that was the question, and, luckily, we were going to find out…

There was so much anger – SO MUCH – and not just from Bella and Travis. His family, hers, they had all suffered. This, in a way, was a chance for all of them to come together or blow apart once and for good.

With deep emotion, light-hearted humour when desperately needed and a whole of charm – in no small part to Bella’s foster children – this was a suspenseful, love-filled read that was the perfect ending to this wonderful series. Of course, now I want Bella's sisters to have their own story...

I loved watching Isabel and Travis find each other again after they were separated for ten years. They both have been through a lot and have the scars to show for it. Travis is a really good guy and I could not get over how much he blames himself for the past even though it was in no way his fault. I love how he was able to accept the foster kids Isabel were taking care of no questions asked. These two belong together and they make your heart melt. There were subjects in the book that can be hard for some people, and things I didn't agree with, but over all it was a good book.

Bella/Isabel is the daughter of a U.S. Senator but is now in Witness Protection and is a foster mom. She pretends like she has forgot about the boy who broke her heart when she was a teenager.
Travis is a twin and lives a secret life. Travis left Isabel after getting disturbing news about her and started contracting work for the government.
Travis gets hurt and his handler tells him to take time off or he's gone. He let's him stay in his home while he's recuperating. He is breaking up an argument and his neighbor comes out. Bella can't believe Travis is her neighbor. After all these years she would recognize those eyes anywhere. Can Bella forgive him for breaking her heart?

Good story. Some of the characters dialogue ran together. Some of the discussions might affect some people. Sex. Action. Angst. Made me a little teary eyed.

* Voluntarily read and reviewed by Netgalley *

good book and fell in love with this book and story. another home run and good plot and wanted more. good read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Crashed is a fast paced book that really throws a lot at you. There were times that my heart actually hurt for Isabel and Travis and all they went through to get to their HEA. This a good book and I thank NetGalley for this advanced copy.

I was really excited when I got this approval! But honestly, this one just fell a little flat for me and I didn’t get that “wow” factor. It was still a good read, and I’d buy it for friends, but it was average for me.

I really enjoyed this book by a new-to-me author. A second-chance romance with found family and some suspense thrown in, it'll give you the feels for sure. I do believe it's book 5 in a series about five brothers, and all of Travis' brothers and their wives appear at some point. Fans of the series will enjoy it, but as a series newbie, I did find it a little confusing at times.

The book starts off in the past, when Isabelle and Travis were youngsters in love but kept apart in one way or another because of her corrupt father. These early years are at first told through messages sent to each other, and I was immediately drawn in. The POV is third person, mostly alternating between Isabelle and Travis, but a fair number of sections are told from the POV is other characters.

I really felt the pain Isabelle and Travis each felt and the joy they felt rediscovering one another. That said, I didn't really get a sense that they spent a lot of time together as teens, at least not enough for burning devotion that lasts a decade. Some of this story might be told in previous books, I don't know, but I still would have liked to see a more convincing backstory.

I was also a little frustrated by the large number of typos and editing fails. I normally let it slide when the book is an ARC and may not yet be fully edited, but there were so many here, and they increased significantly the closer we got to the end. It made the book feel a little rushed, and that feeling was sort of matched by the not fully convincing (and much too quickly resolved) suspense built in to the story. Names mixed up, words missing, sentences phrased in the positive when it's clear the negative was meant and vice versa.

All this aside, I liked the story and would definitely read more by this author.

I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher and Netgalley. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!

Content warnings: abuse in characters past, miscarriage/stillbirth in backstory, infertility, dysmorphia, bullying

I enjoyed this book it is enjoyable and fun to read. The character development was good and they were complex and multi-dimensional which I really liked. If you like steamy reads this is a must read for sure.

Wow what a jam packed book! There is everything romance, suspense, mystery, and it targets important issues going on in society as well. Very excited to acquire this and share with our readers. I will definitely be sharing more thoughts and a full review, but I’m just so excited to put out there how excited I am for this read!