Reviews

I almost DNF'd this at page 58 after a couple of back-to-back fatphobic remarks (eating with chopsticks keeps people skinny, bad guy was "so big and round" he had "piggy little eyes"). Still kinda wish I did.

This book really frustrated me. I've heard really great things about this author/series, and this one in particular seemed to be beloved, but maybe it's just not for me.

Let's start with the good:

Riona: I really enjoyed her. I love a bitch who is assertive and knows what she wants but also has some walls that she needs to figure out how to break down to let people in.
The barn scene was hot, no lie.
She got to save herself - the scene at the end was a pretty big turn-on.
Love a bitch with a gun who will mercilessly kill someone who betrayed her first.

Things I was conflicted on:

The overhanded horse analogy, and Raylan saying he wants to set her free. It read nice, but I just didn't feel it.
The half-hearted resolution that gives him his family and her her career - it reads as all sacrifice on her side, not on his.
We have no clue what her law office in Tennessee looks like - is she working remotely for the same agency? starting her own?
The mix between Chicago mafia plot and Tennessee ranch plot - It felt like 2 stories jammed into one, especially with the depth of infodumping about Raylan's parents' past. I enjoyed the extended family, but the switch was pretty jarring.

Things I did not like at all:

See above re: fatphobia.
The first (two) kisses are from her POV, and we get nothing about her feelings / kissing back /etc The first one ends in a slap and the second...
"He grabs me by my ponytail and kisses me again, even harder. Then he lets go of me and we pull apart, staring at each other and panting audibly.”
That's it. Nothing about her physically responding. Not even an internal thought about it beyond "we knew we had crossed a line". Did you? I have zero information about her participation, desire, or reaction to this kiss.
Some of the descriptions during sex.... "harder than a poker" "like I was milking her" etc.
He also grabbed her throat during sex... after she was nearly killed by someone trying to drown her with their arm wrapped around her throat AND she's woken from multiple dreams of that same thing
During one of the info dumps, I'm pretty sure the author has the character POVs switched. It starts as Raylan but a few lines in between the monologue are from Riona's POV before it goes back to Raylan.

All that to say - not for me. I might give Sophie Lark another look in a bit, but I'm feeling a bit burned by this book, tbh.

Content Warnings

chibilani's review

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adventurous emotional relaxing tense medium-paced

4.25

s_verheij's review

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4.5

I thought it would be my least favorite but it was a lieeee.. LOVE IT

madelynbea's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kcstewart90's review

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adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

headcanonheadcase's review against another edition

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5.0

Just when I thought I had a favorite couple in this series, Sophie Lark adds a new one to consider.

I really enjoyed the teasers of Riona and Rylan that we got at the end of Bloody Heart so I was really excited for their book and Broken Vow delivered. I was not expecting all the action, but if fit them perfectly. The change of setting from Chicago to Tennessee kept the series fresh.

Riona's spirit and will was compared to a horse and that analogy was just about perfect for her. She needs someone who recognizes her power and strength and will let her run. And Rylan perfectly bridges the gap between small town guy and man with a past. It was perfect.

paige_h27's review

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emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

robynsbooknook's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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