River Wild by Samantha Towle

A new town. A new identity. Pregnant and alone.
And far away from a past that can never find me.

River Wild.

Moody. Sullen. Asshole.

And my new neighbor.

I have no interest in befriending River. And he definitely doesn’t want to be befriended by me.
Then, he helps me rescue an abandoned dog. And, that day, I see something in his eyes that
reflects back in my own. Sadness. Pain. Loneliness.
I know all of those things well.

An unwanted and unexpected friendship that somehow works. Then, without warning, it turns
into something more.

River and I both have our secrets, and that’s okay. Because I understand him. And he understands
me.

For the first time in my life, I have something I never thought I would have—happiness.
But happiness isn’t forever. Not for people like me.

Especially not when my past is waiting just around the corner, ready to come and take it all away.

Purchase River Wild here.

4 Stars

I will always be a fan of this author, no matter what she writes. And River Wild did not disappoint. It was a different writing style for this author - it is heartbreaking that deals with very dark issues of abuse. And she had me feeling for these characters and rooting for them to find their peace and happiness. 

River's story is rough. It was tough to read, but powerful on how he made it through. And Carrie Ford is  fighter, who is learning to stand up for herself and take her life back - on her terms. 

As Carrie starts her life over in a new town, she finds herself living next door to good-looking, but very angry neighbor. She learns from the towns people, that River Wild, her neighbor, is known as "trouble" and keeps to himself. But the more she interacts with the man, the more she sees the hurt and darkness that lives inside him - it's because she knows that feeling. 

River and Carrie start up an usual "friendship" - it's off and on, because of his moody personality. But the attraction between them starts to grow and they help each other move on from the past. 

Not spoiling any story line details, but I will say this read will stay with you for awhile. The chemistry between these characters fits and it's a slow burn of both of them finding their HEA. 

Samantha Towle is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She began her first novel in 2008 while on maternity leave. She completed the manuscript five months later and hasn’t stopped writing since.

She is the author of contemporary romances, The Storm Series, The Revved Series, The Wardrobe Series, The Gods Series, and standalones, Trouble, When I Was Yours, The Ending I Want, Unsuitable, Under Her, and Sacking the Quarterback which was written with James Patterson. She has also written paranormal romances, The Bringer and The Alexandra Jones Series, all penned to tunes of The Killers, Kings of Leon, Adele, The Doors, Oasis, Fleetwood Mac, Lana Del Rey, and more of her favorite musicians.

A native of Hull and a graduate of Salford University, she lives with her husband, Craig, in East Yorkshire with their son and daughter.