Forsaken Trail (Runaway, #4)

by Devney Perry

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.I had a blast with the previous books in the Runaway series and have been looking forward to reading Forsaken Trail. Perry did not disappoint. She delivered a well-written enemies-to-lovers tale, which left me smiling from ear to ear at its conclusion.

In Forsaken Trail, the road trip with a certain Cadillac continues and job of taking it to its next destination belongs to Aria. The reader met Aria in the previous installment when she received the car which she will take to Arizona to hand over to her twin sister, Clara, who will be next in line to deliver it to its rightful owner. However, making this visit meant that Aria would have to deal with Broderick Carmichael, her sister’s boss. She detested his cavalier attitude towards money and disliked him from the first time she met him.

Brody and Clara are very close, and she was his only friend. He had plans to attend his brother’s wedding, and Clara would have been his date to this awkward event. However, when Clara fell ill, Aria stepped in as his back-up date. The moments spent together at the wedding led to some interesting revelations. They would learn first impressions are not necessarily accurate. The chemistry between them burned so bright they ended up giving into their attraction, which led to a one-night stand. They returned to their normal after that sizzling night of passion. Several weeks later Aria discovers she’s pregnant, a discovery which would change her life forever.

I had a wonderful time getting to know the characters. I admired Aria’s determined and resilient spirit. She had a tough childhood, however she rose above it to become a confident, intelligent, stubborn and sassy individual. Brody’s upbringing was the completed opposite of Aria. However, despite living a life of privilege, he had his share of emotional scars. He didn’t have suitable role models for love or relationships.

Even though they were from different worlds, they worked well together. They had their share of both good and bad moments as they attempted to maneuver the complexities of the situation they found themselves in. Aria is one who desires control of her life and hates it when Brody does things, even if it’s coming from a good place, without consulting her.

The dual POVs helped the reader to gain a better understanding of the characters’ thoughts and feelings and the reason for their actions. Aria’s need for control and Brody’s desire to show his affection through extravagance led to several angsty moments between them, but eventually they found a balance. They had their share of passionate and tender moments which warmed my heart and led to a wonderful ending.

Forsaken Trail was an excellent addition to the Runaway series, and it left me looking forward to the next book. Fans of the author and the series will enjoy this latest installment. This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading