Three Rivers by Chloe T. Barlow
Synopsis
How do you start over when you gave everything to one life, one plan, and lost it all?
Althea refuses to allow herself to love again. Imprisoned in grief at twenty-four after her husband’s sudden death, she’s convinced her heart died along with him. She spends her days honoring his memory by clinging to the legal career he helped her to build and to the remaining pieces linking them together.
Griffen’s been running from his past. Despite success as an author and investigative journalist, he’s been traveling through life on autopilot. For a decade, he’s chosen perilous adventures and meaningless sex over the danger of any attachments. When he finally returns home to Pittsburgh, he’s slammed by the awakened memories and regret he’s spent years trying to escape.
A chance encounter brings them together. Their instant desire for each other – and the bond they discover between them – shocks them both. Despite her best efforts, Althea can’t resist Griffen’s charm or his intriguing proposition – if she agrees to a no-strings affair with him for the two weeks he’s in town, he swears he’ll walk away when their time is up. Assured she can test the waters of a new life while keeping her vow never to betray her husband’s memory by opening her heart to another, Althea throws herself into the escape Griffen provides her.
Their perfect plans go awry when the intensity of their connection overwhelms them. Will they risk it all on the chance of something great together…or will the power of their secrets and guilt tear them apart?
Review
A young Widow, vows never to find love again after the loss of her husband breaks her heart beyond repair.
Back in his hometown, Running from his past and the demons that follow, Griffen tries his best to only live in the present.
This is a story of love, loss, redemption, betrayal and eventually, hopefully a HEA. Barlow has truly impressed me with her realistic portrayl of these characters, written in a way that you actually get to see their flaws. This book is definitely one that you need to buckle up for because you are in for an emotional roller coaster ride!
The fact that Griffen is in some way connected to Althea's late husband really had me wondering exactly what was going on? However, I LOVED the fact that Tea's grief was palpable, she wasn't just jumping blind into another relationship, not like in movies where widows magically heal because they went on a date, Althea grieved and trust me when I say you'll grieve right along with her.
But, when she realizes how she feels for Griffen, the chemistry is out of this world! Griffen is definitely going to be at the top of your Book Boyfriend list, he's hot, Rich, and total Alpha male!
This book has it all!!! Steamy sex, Alpha male, love, loss and even some comic relief from Althea's friends, Jenna and Aubrey.
All in all Chloe Barlows Debut Novel was a Hit in my opinion! A 5 star read! Bravo Ms. Barlow, I can't wait to read what you come up with next!