Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Sworn Enemy 
SERIES: Wild Heart Ranch
AUTHOR: Kelly Fox
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: pages
RELEASE DATE: April 20 , 2022
BLURB:
Hating Justin Jennings should be a lot easier than this.
He nearly ruined my life, and I swore when I left town that I’d become the opposite of him in every possible way.
I’ve kept that promise, traveling the world to save the people who cannot save themselves. The lost, the trafficked, the stolen. This work is my life’s mission, and now my father has given me the land to expand my operations.
The caveat? It’s in the same small Texas town that I escaped all those years ago.
As much as I try, I’m unable to avoid him. Worse, all I see is a broken man putting himself back together bit by bit.
I want to hate him so much.
But he’s making it impossible.
The only thing easy about any of this is how quickly I’m falling for my sworn enemy.
REVIEW:
Note: While this is the first book in a new series, it is a spinoff from two other series of this author’s, Rebel Sky Ranch (Justin is introduced) and Wrecked: Guardians (Charlie’s backstory setting) and I think is best appreciated having read some of those books first – in particular Goodnight.
Charlie Wills has returned home to Central Texas, something he never thought he would do. After all, it’s not like he has great memories here. Justin Jennings is still hard at work on his recovery. These two have a particularly bad backstory from their younger days. The reasons for that are finally coming to light. While some of their past is shared in previous books, that story is shared here in a way that is pretty organic to this book and it’s clear that these two guys have been enemies for most of their lives. And it’s also clear that they have more in common than they ever thought. The rest of the story is really a redemption arc for Justin who we have previously seen as a villain over the course of other books. Neither man has had an easy go of it and both are in recovery. Theirs are not easy stories, but it’s important to see the progress and recovery that they have worked so hard for.
Charlie, after surviving his adolescence has turned his life around and now is dedicated to saving lives and providing hope and healing to others. When he comes home to his family ranch, he is in contact with his high school nemesis repeatedly. Justin was the one who pushed Charlie over the edge.
Justin, for his part, has recently hit the skids and he is in recovery, but not without a lot of help. Charlie learns that Jusin’s life was not all it was cracked up to be. Justin has suffered his own abuse and it definitely colored his world. His self-hatred did a real number on him too. Justin is truly sorry for what he did, but it’s not going to be a cakewalk to apologize to Charlie. There is so much history here, but maybe, just maybe they will be able to work their way through it. It’s clear that there is a thin line between hate and love and when true feelings are shared, things change.
This isn’t an easy book to read. There is a lot of abuse and mental health and addition to get through. Please read the trigger warnings seriously. But in the end, this is a beautiful redemption story that is worth the read. Justin and Charlie are coming from two different angles, but they fit together and need each other more than they ever though possible. I’m a fan of this author and this is another worthy book in this world she’s created. highly recommended.
RATING:
BUY LINK:
Amazon
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