Two scarred and wounded souls find healing, hope, and love in Earth Bound. Lexi’s book was the one I was waiting for most in the Sea Haven/Sisters of the Heart series and Christine Feehan did not disappoint.

At eight years old Lexi was kidnapped and taken to a cult by a sadistic pedophile who imprisoned, raped, and abused her. When she escaped at seventeen, her entire family was murdered. Years later Lexi has found some semblance of peace on the farm she and her “sisters of the heart” – five other women who also lost loved ones to violence – own. Lexi carries both visible and invisible wounds from the past and it all comes flooding back when members of the cult find her. She’s saved by the most deadly man she’s ever met: Gavriil Prakenskii. In Gavriil Lexi sees another wounded soul, one she can help. Their bond is instantaneous, knocking them both for a loop.

The Prakenskii fated mates bond (for lack of a better term) kicks in immediately for Lexi and Gavriil, but that doesn’t mean the road to happily ever after is an easy one. Lexi is a survivor and I loved her quiet strength and caring heart. But she’s also incredibly wounded and suffers from PTSD. Having both the cult members after her and this new and frightening attraction to Gavriil come at the same time increases her panic attacks and I so desperately wanted to see her find peace and happiness. Gavriil is her perfect match. He’s terrifying even to his hardened brothers but there is so much love in him that no one but Lexi can see. He’s lethal, yes, and definitely protective, but he shows Lexi patience and understanding right off the bat. He’s open about falling for her but he doesn’t ever pressure her and makes it clear that he never will about any aspect of their relationship. Gavriil helps Lexi continue her healing journey but she helps him as well. He’s so alone and he’s deadly because he has to be but she sees him as a person. She sees his humorous side, his caring, and she is as protective of him as he is of her. I absolutely loved them as individuals and as a couple. Their love story is one of healing, understanding, and unconditional support.

Earth Bound is the fourth book in the Sea Haven/Sisters of the Heart series but it can easily be read as a standalone. That being said, the most exciting moments for me outside of Lexi and Gavriil’s relationship were those with Gavriil and his brothers. The seven Prakenskii brothers were taken as children and raised to be weapons. Gavriil is the second oldest and he’s incredibly protective of his younger brothers, especially Ilya. I loved seeing all five brothers who are currently in Sea Haven unite in this one and it added another level of emotion to this story. And I cannot write about this book without mentioning Lexi’s sisters. Their bond and love for one another is vital to this series and it was a joy to watch them all together. I’ve read Earth Bound twice and was enchanted by it both times. I cannot wait to see what Feehan has in store for Lissa, the fire element who is more than she seems, in Fire Bound.