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A review by _onemorechapter_
Read My Rights by Caz Redpath
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-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? No
3.5
𝑻.𝑾: Grief and Loss, Domestic Violence, Anxiety, Murder
💭Grumpy cop meets runaway single mom in this small-town romance, and let me tell you, sparks fly—and not always the good kind. Elijah, aka Officer Sunshine (lovingly nicknamed by Charlotte), is carrying enough repressed trauma to fill a therapy group, while Charlotte is on the run from a toxic relationship with her little boy, Theo, in tow. Their “meet cute”? Not cute at all—it’s more like meet grumpy when Elijah decides to unload his bad day on Charlotte. Cue tension, sass, and a whole lot of unresolved emotions.
Elijah Weatherston is your classic brooding hero with layers of pain he refuses to unpack. He is desperate to control every aspect of his life as he grapples with the traumatic memories of his father’s murder. I mean, someone gets this guy a therapist, stat. Despite his moodiness, you can’t help but root for him, especially as the story unfolds and you see why he’s built up all those walls. He is a great MMC. He battles trauma and demons, yet he never falls short of wanting the best for the people he cares about. For that, I admired him. Through Elijah, we get a clear sense of what it’s like to go through life despite mental health struggles.
Charlotte Miller, on the other hand, is resilient, sharp-tongued, and just trying to create a safe life for her son. She’s the kind of FMC you want to root for—strong but flawed, with a big heart. And Theo? An absolute scene-stealer. (Kid characters done right always get bonus points.)
The side characters add a surprising twist of coziness. Charlotte unknowingly befriends Elijah’s siblings while settling into her new town, and it’s such a fun dynamic when the dots start connecting. His brother and sister bring humor and warmth to the story, balancing out Elijah’s doom-and-gloom vibe. The small-town setting is also super charming, with all the nosy neighbors and “everyone knows everyone” vibes you’d expect.
I enjoyed how the author provided the timeframes of 15 years prior, present day, and 6 months later because it helped to show how the characters grew and changed throughout the book.
Caz explores more than just anxiety; it’s an exploration of grief management (or lack thereof), how traumatising and crippling not just anxiety can be but also being hyper-vigilant at all times wears you down. It might sound like it was a depressing story - but it’s not.
It’s full of hope, joy and laughter while acknowledging that sometimes bad things happen to good people, but when you reach out and connect with others, they might just reach back and help you.
This debut was so endearing and I cannot wait to read what’s next. All the characters were so fun and I want to dive right into their stories. I’m so excited for Elijah’s brother’s turn to shine.
𝐏.𝐒 Rosehaven has my heart, and if it were a place, then I’d be visiting so I could attend the gala!
𝐏.𝐏.𝐒. I absolutely loved the letter from Grandpa!!!
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐.5
🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Romance
🔸𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: Rosehaven (Book 1)
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Yes!
Fun, flirty and an easy read romance hard to believe it a debut author, cannot wait to read more from Caz Redpath.
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“Do you remember what I told you when we got married?” His voice was weak and his words came out slowly. “I told you I hoped I went before you,” he coughed, interrupting his sentence, “because I couldn’t live a day without you, Lucy.” My mother’s sobs increased in volume.
“Not yet, please.”
"I am happy to be dying, for in death I get to be with your grandma again. There is not a moment that goes by that my body doesn’t ache to be near her. The world hasn’t felt right since she left me."
"You are special and I do not want you to settle for any less than you deserve.
Someday someone will love you like I loved Lily; they will do anything to make you happy. You will mean the absolute world to them and they will live for your smile. They will fight for your smile.
One day, one of you will die, and it will be earth-shattering, but it will be okay. It will be okay because you loved them and they loved you. You lived every day together feeling loved and seen. How lucky you will be to have been loved and to be able to love. It will be okay because you make the most of every moment together.
Promise me you won’t settle for anything less. Life is too short to not be loved in the way you deserve."
"He would have been a man I would have called handsome had he not just called me stupid."
"Hell would freeze over before I let him pursue her."
“I’m surprised you go by Lottie; you seem more like a Charlie to me.” He shrugged.
My heart felt like it stopped at his words. Charlie. I hadn’t been called that since my grandpa died. No matter how old I got, I was always his little Charlie.
It was a nickname that I held dear to my heart. If anyone else tried to call me it when I was younger, it annoyed me. It was a special nickname not to be used by just anyone. I hadn’t even let my own parents use it. Although as I heard it now, there was something that felt right about it. It felt comforting to hear him call me that. The nickname felt safe to be spoken by his lips."
"Sometimes it was those with the brightest smiles who were hurting the most."
"The stony expression officer wasn’t him; at least not all of him. I knew that now and I wished he could remember that, too. That he could remember there was still joy to be had. Just because something awful had happened, didn’t mean he couldn’t keep on living. That he couldn’t enjoy the life he still had. You shouldn’t let the world spoil who you really are."
"You say that like you have a choice as to whether I protect you or not. Spoiler alert, you don’t.”
"I always found myself trying to meet her gaze. There could be hundreds of people in a room and I would always look for her. Look for her eyes, those eyes that made me feel safe."
"Grief always lingered, it never seemed to completely fade. In some ways it was nice because you carried that person with you wherever you went, but it was hard because you are never able to make new memories without this bittersweetness.
You were left clinging onto everything you knew about them, hoping as you got older you didn’t forget anything. That you wouldn’t forget the way they smiled or laughed. That you wouldn’t forget how they looked when they were excited about something. You even wished not to forget the bad stuff, the way they looked when they were sad or angry. All of those emotions were who they were. They were part of your experience with them."
"Charlie was making me want to rewrite every single one of my rules and it was driving me insane."
"People had such an incredible ability to mask the darkness they felt on the inside, it almost made me feel uneasy. I guess I did it, too. I had spoken briefly with Alice about Adam, but never delved into the details. You can get pretty good at masking the pain when you have to do it often."
“You’re safe now,” I said softly. You’re safe now with me. That was what I wanted to say. I wanted to tell her that I would do everything I could to keep her safe. I wouldn’t let anyone hurt her again. She turned her head up to look at me, a teary smile on her face. I knew in that moment there was nothing I wouldn’t do for her. She pulled away and I felt empty without her in my arms."
“Did you know they say you die twice?” Her voice was soft. “Once when your body dies and the second time the final time someone says your name or talks about you? I haven’t known you guys long, but I love the way you all talk about him.” My eyes focused on her smile. “I bet he would have been proud of the people all of you are.”
"It was so bizarre to grieve someone who was sitting right beside you. To grieve the person they used to be and who you wish they still were."
"Charlie deserved better than just being a one-night stand. She deserved someone who would stop at nothing to make her happy. I knew she deserved better than me, even though the thought of someone else having her was like a knife in my chest."
"I didn’t know how to explain my feelings further. I didn’t feel good enough for Charlie, but at the same time, the thought of anyone else having her made my blood boil. I felt protective over her. Possessive, almost. I knew deep in my heart that I wanted her to be mine. Maybe I needed to figure out a way to make myself good enough for her, to be the man she deserved."
“You are such a softie,” Lucas teased as he eyed up the roses. “If you buy Lottie flowers when she’s your fake girlfriend, I wonder what you’d get her if she was your real one?”
Everything. I’d get her everything she wanted."
"I wanted a life with Charlie more than I ever had wanted anything before."
“You know I come as a package deal, right?” My eyes wandered to Theo.
I was nervous for Elijah’s response. I know we had feelings for each other, but I couldn’t blame him if he didn’t want to take on a kid.
He could get any girl he wanted to; he didn’t need to settle for one with baggage.
“I do.” He nodded, his gaze following mine to Theo. “I feel like I’ve won the lottery with this package.” I blushed at his words."
“Careful, you’ll be stuck with us before you know it,” I teased.
“I hope I’m stuck with the two of you forever,” he said, planting a kiss on my forehead."
"I found him Grandpa. I thought to myself as Elijah kissed my neck. I found the person who treats me like you treated Grandma. Thank you for reminding me not to settle for less."
“You showed me a letter not long after we first met that your grandpa wrote,” I began. I was nervous at all the people listening and looking at me, but I kept my breath steady. I kept my focus on her. “He asked you not to settle for any less than you deserve, to be with someone who would fight to make you happy, to make you smile.” I let out a breath before continuing.
“Charlie, I promise you that I will spend every single day of my life giving you everything you deserve. I will fight to keep that smile on your face. You and Theo are my world.” I turned to look at Theo standing next to Lucas. “You know as well as I do that life is short, but I plan on making the most of every single minute life gives me with you. I love you, Charlie, and I always will.”
💭Grumpy cop meets runaway single mom in this small-town romance, and let me tell you, sparks fly—and not always the good kind. Elijah, aka Officer Sunshine (lovingly nicknamed by Charlotte), is carrying enough repressed trauma to fill a therapy group, while Charlotte is on the run from a toxic relationship with her little boy, Theo, in tow. Their “meet cute”? Not cute at all—it’s more like meet grumpy when Elijah decides to unload his bad day on Charlotte. Cue tension, sass, and a whole lot of unresolved emotions.
Elijah Weatherston is your classic brooding hero with layers of pain he refuses to unpack. He is desperate to control every aspect of his life as he grapples with the traumatic memories of his father’s murder. I mean, someone gets this guy a therapist, stat. Despite his moodiness, you can’t help but root for him, especially as the story unfolds and you see why he’s built up all those walls. He is a great MMC. He battles trauma and demons, yet he never falls short of wanting the best for the people he cares about. For that, I admired him. Through Elijah, we get a clear sense of what it’s like to go through life despite mental health struggles.
Charlotte Miller, on the other hand, is resilient, sharp-tongued, and just trying to create a safe life for her son. She’s the kind of FMC you want to root for—strong but flawed, with a big heart. And Theo? An absolute scene-stealer. (Kid characters done right always get bonus points.)
The side characters add a surprising twist of coziness. Charlotte unknowingly befriends Elijah’s siblings while settling into her new town, and it’s such a fun dynamic when the dots start connecting. His brother and sister bring humor and warmth to the story, balancing out Elijah’s doom-and-gloom vibe. The small-town setting is also super charming, with all the nosy neighbors and “everyone knows everyone” vibes you’d expect.
I enjoyed how the author provided the timeframes of 15 years prior, present day, and 6 months later because it helped to show how the characters grew and changed throughout the book.
Caz explores more than just anxiety; it’s an exploration of grief management (or lack thereof), how traumatising and crippling not just anxiety can be but also being hyper-vigilant at all times wears you down. It might sound like it was a depressing story - but it’s not.
It’s full of hope, joy and laughter while acknowledging that sometimes bad things happen to good people, but when you reach out and connect with others, they might just reach back and help you.
This debut was so endearing and I cannot wait to read what’s next. All the characters were so fun and I want to dive right into their stories. I’m so excited for Elijah’s brother’s turn to shine.
𝐏.𝐒 Rosehaven has my heart, and if it were a place, then I’d be visiting so I could attend the gala!
𝐏.𝐏.𝐒. I absolutely loved the letter from Grandpa!!!
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐.5
🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Romance
🔸𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: Rosehaven (Book 1)
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Yes!
Fun, flirty and an easy read romance hard to believe it a debut author, cannot wait to read more from Caz Redpath.
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“Do you remember what I told you when we got married?” His voice was weak and his words came out slowly. “I told you I hoped I went before you,” he coughed, interrupting his sentence, “because I couldn’t live a day without you, Lucy.” My mother’s sobs increased in volume.
“Not yet, please.”
"I am happy to be dying, for in death I get to be with your grandma again. There is not a moment that goes by that my body doesn’t ache to be near her. The world hasn’t felt right since she left me."
"You are special and I do not want you to settle for any less than you deserve.
Someday someone will love you like I loved Lily; they will do anything to make you happy. You will mean the absolute world to them and they will live for your smile. They will fight for your smile.
One day, one of you will die, and it will be earth-shattering, but it will be okay. It will be okay because you loved them and they loved you. You lived every day together feeling loved and seen. How lucky you will be to have been loved and to be able to love. It will be okay because you make the most of every moment together.
Promise me you won’t settle for anything less. Life is too short to not be loved in the way you deserve."
"He would have been a man I would have called handsome had he not just called me stupid."
"Hell would freeze over before I let him pursue her."
“I’m surprised you go by Lottie; you seem more like a Charlie to me.” He shrugged.
My heart felt like it stopped at his words. Charlie. I hadn’t been called that since my grandpa died. No matter how old I got, I was always his little Charlie.
It was a nickname that I held dear to my heart. If anyone else tried to call me it when I was younger, it annoyed me. It was a special nickname not to be used by just anyone. I hadn’t even let my own parents use it. Although as I heard it now, there was something that felt right about it. It felt comforting to hear him call me that. The nickname felt safe to be spoken by his lips."
"Sometimes it was those with the brightest smiles who were hurting the most."
"The stony expression officer wasn’t him; at least not all of him. I knew that now and I wished he could remember that, too. That he could remember there was still joy to be had. Just because something awful had happened, didn’t mean he couldn’t keep on living. That he couldn’t enjoy the life he still had. You shouldn’t let the world spoil who you really are."
"You say that like you have a choice as to whether I protect you or not. Spoiler alert, you don’t.”
"I always found myself trying to meet her gaze. There could be hundreds of people in a room and I would always look for her. Look for her eyes, those eyes that made me feel safe."
"Grief always lingered, it never seemed to completely fade. In some ways it was nice because you carried that person with you wherever you went, but it was hard because you are never able to make new memories without this bittersweetness.
You were left clinging onto everything you knew about them, hoping as you got older you didn’t forget anything. That you wouldn’t forget the way they smiled or laughed. That you wouldn’t forget how they looked when they were excited about something. You even wished not to forget the bad stuff, the way they looked when they were sad or angry. All of those emotions were who they were. They were part of your experience with them."
"Charlie was making me want to rewrite every single one of my rules and it was driving me insane."
"People had such an incredible ability to mask the darkness they felt on the inside, it almost made me feel uneasy. I guess I did it, too. I had spoken briefly with Alice about Adam, but never delved into the details. You can get pretty good at masking the pain when you have to do it often."
“You’re safe now,” I said softly. You’re safe now with me. That was what I wanted to say. I wanted to tell her that I would do everything I could to keep her safe. I wouldn’t let anyone hurt her again. She turned her head up to look at me, a teary smile on her face. I knew in that moment there was nothing I wouldn’t do for her. She pulled away and I felt empty without her in my arms."
“Did you know they say you die twice?” Her voice was soft. “Once when your body dies and the second time the final time someone says your name or talks about you? I haven’t known you guys long, but I love the way you all talk about him.” My eyes focused on her smile. “I bet he would have been proud of the people all of you are.”
"It was so bizarre to grieve someone who was sitting right beside you. To grieve the person they used to be and who you wish they still were."
"Charlie deserved better than just being a one-night stand. She deserved someone who would stop at nothing to make her happy. I knew she deserved better than me, even though the thought of someone else having her was like a knife in my chest."
"I didn’t know how to explain my feelings further. I didn’t feel good enough for Charlie, but at the same time, the thought of anyone else having her made my blood boil. I felt protective over her. Possessive, almost. I knew deep in my heart that I wanted her to be mine. Maybe I needed to figure out a way to make myself good enough for her, to be the man she deserved."
“You are such a softie,” Lucas teased as he eyed up the roses. “If you buy Lottie flowers when she’s your fake girlfriend, I wonder what you’d get her if she was your real one?”
Everything. I’d get her everything she wanted."
"I wanted a life with Charlie more than I ever had wanted anything before."
“You know I come as a package deal, right?” My eyes wandered to Theo.
I was nervous for Elijah’s response. I know we had feelings for each other, but I couldn’t blame him if he didn’t want to take on a kid.
He could get any girl he wanted to; he didn’t need to settle for one with baggage.
“I do.” He nodded, his gaze following mine to Theo. “I feel like I’ve won the lottery with this package.” I blushed at his words."
“Careful, you’ll be stuck with us before you know it,” I teased.
“I hope I’m stuck with the two of you forever,” he said, planting a kiss on my forehead."
"I found him Grandpa. I thought to myself as Elijah kissed my neck. I found the person who treats me like you treated Grandma. Thank you for reminding me not to settle for less."
“You showed me a letter not long after we first met that your grandpa wrote,” I began. I was nervous at all the people listening and looking at me, but I kept my breath steady. I kept my focus on her. “He asked you not to settle for any less than you deserve, to be with someone who would fight to make you happy, to make you smile.” I let out a breath before continuing.
“Charlie, I promise you that I will spend every single day of my life giving you everything you deserve. I will fight to keep that smile on your face. You and Theo are my world.” I turned to look at Theo standing next to Lucas. “You know as well as I do that life is short, but I plan on making the most of every single minute life gives me with you. I love you, Charlie, and I always will.”