HOW TO HEAL A HEARTBREAK (Wilde Ways: Gone Rogue 2) by Cynthia Eden

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 27, 2023

He’s never run from a fight, and he’s not about to start now.

Holden Blackwell, former MMA fighter and current all-around problem solver for the rich and famous, never expects for his ex to appear in his office, asking for his help. Sure, Claudia Fairmont haunts his dreams—and his waking hours—but she hates him, with good reason. Once upon a time, she swore that he’d be the last man she ever needed.

Unfortunately, he’s the only one who can help her now.

The fighter with the tats and muscles for days broke her heart. Crushed it in his powerful fist. She’d vowed never to go back to him, but, now she has no choice. Danger is stalking her. And if there is one thing that Holden can handle? It’s danger. After all, he was the one person who always made her feel safe. She could very much use some safety in the madness of her life. But safety comes with a heavy price.

Temptation. Secrets. And a second chance?

To unmask the threat, Holden has to slip into Claudia’s life and stay intimately close. Luckily, he has the perfect plan already in mind. They’ll pretend to be reunited lovers. He’ll act as if he wants her desperately. That he can’t live without her any longer…A situation that is not far from reality. Because while he’s more than ready to eliminate any and every threat to her, Holden also has plans of his own. An agenda that is long, long overdue.

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REVIEW: HOW TO HEAL A HEARTBREAK is the second instalment in Cynthia Eden’s contemporary, adult WILDE WAYS: GONE ROGUE erotic, romantic suspense series-a spin off from the author’s WILDE WAYS series. This is former MMA fighter turned Wilde Ways agent Holden Blackwell, and vineyard owner Claudia Fairmont’s story line. HOW TO HEAL A HEARTBREAK can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. You do not have to have read the previous series to follows.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Holden and Claudia) HOW TO HEAL A HEARTBREAK follows the second chance romance and relationship between former MMA fighter Holden Blackwell, and winery owner Claudia Fairmont. Five years earlier Claudia Fairmont was jilted by her fiancé Holden Blackwell on the day of their wedding. Heartbroken and devastated, Claudia moved on with her life. Fast forward to present day, Claudia suspects she has a stalker, someone who is setting up our heroine to die, and the only man she can trust is the man who broke her heart. Six months earlier, small things in her life started to go wrong, but the attacks are becoming personal, dangerous and deadly. Holden Blackwell has never stopped loving our story line heroine, and he is about to become guardian and protector of the woman who still owns his heart. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Holden and Claudia, and the potential fall-out as the a predator gets too close for comfort.

Claudia Fairmont has no idea who would want to destroy her life. Her brother and vineyard partner Cooper doesn’t believe Claudia has a stalker but someone has targeted our story line heroine. From the outset, Holden begins to suspect everyone in Claudia’s life, everyone including her brother, a friends and the people from their past but Holden has secrets of his own, and it may be his past that has targeted our story line couple.

The relationship between Claudia and Holden is one of second chances; a relationship destroyed by power and secrets, power that forced Holden to walk away from the woman he loved. As Claudia and Holden’s begin to rekindle what was, someone else is desperate to stop the relationship going forward. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Claudia’s brother Cooper: family friend Seth Wellington; vineyard overseer Reese Rawlins; Officer Zachary Gains, and Holden’s business partner Harley Adaire.

HOW TO HEAL A HEARTBREAK is a story of secrets and lies, power and control, family and friendships, forgiveness and love. The fast paced premise is intriguing and entertaining; the romance is seductive and captivating; the characters are desperate yet determined.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy