For the Roses [Suncoast Society‪]‬

Suncoast Society, Book 73, by Tymber Dalton

It was hard when Meri Dutton lost her job eight months ago. But she could always find another job, right? Then came the cancer diagnosis. A double mastectomy ate through every penny she had...savings, retirement account, and severance package. Recovering, trying to find a job took every ounce of her strength. When her Dom, Peter, took one look at her post-surgery, told her he just wasn't attracted to her anymore, and left? That he expected her to be grateful for being "open and honest?" Her world imploded! That's when her younger brother, Ron, showed up. Despite Meri having kept all this from him, he somehow knew something was wrong. When he showed up on Meri's doorstep, ready to move her back to Sarasota, Meri couldn't say no. But going back to Florida, starting over again, letting her little brother take care of her? Meri might be a sub but she's always been independent. Little by little, Meri tries to pick up the pieces. Old friends trickle back into her life. She finds a job, even if it's nothing like her old one. Then lightning strikes. As she's easing back into BDSM, she attends a munch with Ron. While catching up with old friends, she sees a man who seems very familiar. He should. Over 20 years ago, Elvin Wynn, a/k/a Mr. "Dub," used to be her and Ron's teacher. He's certainly NOT the man she remembers. He could be a double for The Rock! But, wait, wasn't also he married back then? Where's Mrs. "Dub?" Why is he here? As answers slowly emerge, Meri realizes she feels an spark of attraction for this man. But he used to be her teacher. He's black. She's white. He's curious about dominance and BDSM. She's a sub with decades of experience. Seriously, can any of this work? Elvin's no fool. After he discovers what Meri's been through, he's determined to take it slowly, cautiously. There's so much at stake. Just as things start to show promise, Elvin's past barrels into his present, threatening everyone and everything. This has the potential to rip Elvin's life to shreds. It could gut Meri to her very soul. Is Meri truly as fragile as she seems? Will everything they've struggled to build be destroyed by a vindictive whirlwind? Or is it possible the BDSM, the fledgling relationship, between Elvin and Meri has created a glimmer of trust and belief? Can that be enough? Or will bitterness and vengeance destroy everything in its path?

I literally could not put this book down. Meri is incredible! I felt every second of her pain, physical and emotional. Her fight to maintain her dignity, independence, to survive on her own is inspirational. What she's been through would destroy anyone. But it's her realization that no one can go it alone, that she needs support, her family and friends, that hit far too close to home for me. We all need trust and belief. It's a constant journey everyone has to make. And Elvin? OMG! This man is gorgeous, inside and out! He's been through a lifetime of pain. Yet he's not just survived; he's thrived. There's a saying that the best vengeance is living well. Elvin embodies all that and more. Meri and Elvin's individual journeys are captivating. Together they're riveting. If you're a long-time reader of the Suncoast Society series, old familiar friends return. Eliza, Rusty, Jackson, Noah, Grant, Darryl, Susie, Tony, and Axel are just a few. Then there's Ron. I adored him. He made me laugh out loud so many times. Seriously? A real-life Viking re-enactor, complete with sword, shield, gauntlets, mead, a horn to drink it from, and mock battles that leave you gasping? His sense of humor is second to none! I seriously hope we'll see more of Ron in the future because he's a true gem! Ms. Dalton is second to none when it comes to telling real-life stories with genuine people. She sprinkles in the genuine beauty, honesty, and truth of BDSM, creating a non-stop thrill ride and emotional roller coaster that charms you from beginning to end. Thank you, Ms. Dalton! You've provided countless hours of incredible reading, and this book is no exception. I wish I could give For the Roses 100 stars! It's easily another five-star winner!

A final note. This is an ADULT book. It contains explicit language and sexual scenes. If you don't enjoy this genre, this may not be the book for you. There are book synopses and reviews available on Goodreads and (Amazon) all booksellers' websites. Use these resources. DON'T LEAVE A NEGATIVE REVIEW WHEN YOU KNOW YOU WON'T ENJOY THE BOOK. It's not fair to the author. She works hard to provide a quality work product. If you know you'll object to a book's subject matter before you buy it, you're doing yourself and the author an extreme disservice.

Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!