A review by redhairedashreads
A Bloom in Winter by J.R. Ward

4.0

 
4 stars - It was really good

Thirty-three years ago Apex met the male who was the one for him. Unfortunately they were both prisoners at the Prison Camp and Callum has been severely abused by the warden. Apex is determined to wait for him though and spends the next 33 years waiting to run into Callum again after the prison break. One fateful night on a security installation job, he finally finds him again and they get their second chance, that is if they are both strong enough to reach for it. 

This book was a very emotional one and pretty long considering this is supposed to be a between story for the series. This follows two different couples: Apex and Callum and Mayhem and Mahrci. While there are two couples in this story, the majority of the focus is around Apex and Callum, but the two couples' stories are intertwined. 

“You are allowed to move forward. You don’t have to stay where you’re stuck, with the pain.”

Apex was initially introduced in The Jackal as one of the Prison Camp members. Apex met Callum when they were escaping to help Kane and fell hard. Unfortunately, Callum was captured and tortured and raped by the prison camp warden. Apex and Callum had a heartbreaking story full of trauma. From the very beginning they are struggling against all the PTSD both of them have experienced and it prevents them from being a couple. Thirty-three years later when they meet again they get a second chance at their relationship, but it isn’t easy and it almost doesn’t work. I really enjoyed these two’s relationship even though it was heartbreaking at times. 

“I’m learning that this healing business is nearly as violent as the trauma itself.”

The second couple in this were Mayhem, another prison camp survivor, and Mahrci, the daughter of Apex’s boss. These two had an instant love/attraction relationship that was pretty good considering they are initially side characters. But we do get chapters with their POV throughout the book and see how quickly Mayhem falls for Mahrci and why she is basically running from her father. Ward did a great job at making two relationships work while also providing an overarching story about the Brotherhood. 

Overall, this was a really enjoyable romance for the series. I have had my issues with how some of this series has progressed but Ward still does a good job at making an emotional and captivating romance. I am really interested in seeing what will happen next with this new threat against the brotherhood in future books. Also, I love romances where the guy gets flowers for his guy! We need more of that. 

TW: rape and abuse discussed; PTSD; torture; death of mother and sibling in childbirth mentioned; 

 
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