Author: Stephanie Rose
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 16, 2018
Blurb
Simmer (verb): to stew gently below or just at the boiling point; to be in a state of incipient development
My life was always at a simmer… only stewing, never going anywhere. I was left to fend for myself when it came to affection or love, so I learned to go without.
I refused to let them see how broken and lonely I was; it was much easier to hide behind a false reality. I didn’t want anyone’s pity. I didn’t need it. Pity wouldn’t put food on the table or keep a roof over our heads. That was all me.
Now, I have a second chance at a dream long forgotten. It demands hard work and sacrifice—with absolutely no distractions. A recipe I already know all too well, raising a daughter on my own.
Drew Kostas is everything I’ve ever wanted but couldn’t let myself have.
He’s younger, gorgeous, charming—and relentless. He sees beyond the hardened shell I’ve built to protect myself, coaxing out a softer me I don’t recognize.
It doesn’t matter how I melt in his presence when the heat between us threatens to boil over.
That’s the thing about heat. When it rises, everyone gets burned.
Especially when they’re foolish enough to fall in love.
My Review
“I fought hard to not let myself fall in love with him, but I feared I already lost the battle.”
“He made me feel loved, protected, and worth it.”
Simmer is a sweet second chance romance with a slow burn that leaves you aching for more…
Simmer follows the story of Sara and Drew. We first got a glimpse and taste of Sara in Rewrite. And I’ll be honest with you, I wasn’t 100% sure that she would be able to redeem herself. But, if there is one thing I love, it’s when authors prove me wrong. And let me tell you, Stephanie Rose, totally proved me wrong.
In Simmer, we finally get to see Sara’s full story. We get to see everything that she endured and get to understand the choices that she made. She’s not perfect, but she was doing what she thought was best and at times, let fear drive her actions. All she ever wanted was the one thing she’s never gotten: Love. Sara’s life has never been easy, but when life presents her with a second chance and an opportunity to grab a long forgotten dream, she takes a chance and hopes that this decision will give her everything she’s always wanted. But, the one thing she never saw coming was Drew. Drew is everything Sara has always wanted, but never let herself have. He’s young, sexy, confident and totally charming. His presence is consuming and he is the type of man that won’t give up on the things that he wants. He sees beyond Sara’s tough exterior and will do anything to bring her out of her shell and put a smile on her face. But timing is everything and Sara can’t afford any distractions. The fire that burns between these two is hotter than ever and a fire like that can not be ignored….
For me, Simmer answered so many questions. I loved getting to really know and understand Sara. I loved getting to see Josh and Briana again. The relationship between these three is so complicated, but I really enjoyed seeing their situation change and grow. I loved seeing the way they came together and how strong their family unit became.
I adored Drew for Sara. He was exactly the friend she needed and wasn’t going to let Sara push him away. He showed her that she was deserving of love and kindness. That family isn’t always bonded by blood; that family can be who you choose. Drew was sweet and charming and completely swoon-worthy.
And speaking of Drew and Sara, I just loved these two together. Their romance was the perfect slow burn. I just loved watching their friendship grow into something more. Their chemistry was off the charts and I couldn’t help but be consumed by their story.
Simmer is a fabulous read from beginning to end. I thought Simmer was passionate and well-written. It’s filled with real characters and real situations. The story is easy to connect with and will consume you. Sara isn’t perfect. She is real. She is flawed. But, I promise you, her story is worth it and is definitely worth checking out!
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*
She married her prom date and has a LEGO obsessed son. She believes there is nothing sexier than a good guy who loves with all his heart and has made it her mission to bring as many as she can to the page.
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