Can't Let Go: A Bad Boy Romance by Gena Showalter

Title: Can't Let Go (The Original Heartbreakers #5)

Author: Gena Showalter

Publication Date: October 31, 2017

Publisher: Harlequin Books

Blurb: With trust issues a mile long, Ryanne Wade has sworn off men. Then Jude Laurent walks into her bar, and all bets are off. The former army ranger has suffered unimaginably, first being maimed in battle then losing his wife and daughters to a drunk driver. Making the brooding widower smile is priority one. Resisting him? Impostsible. 

For Jude, Ryanne is off-limits. And yet the beautiful bartender who serves alcohol to potential motorists tempts him like no other. When a rival bar threatens her livelihood—and her life—he can't turn away. She triggers something in him he thought long buried, and he's determined to protect her, whatever the cost. 

As their already scorching attraction continues to heat, the damaged soldier knows he must let go of his past to hold on to his future…or risk losing the second chance he desperately needs.

Review:

Certain authors, when paired with the term "new release", make my heart do a happy pitter-patter dance against my breastbone.  Such was the case with Gena Showalter and her upcoming novel Can't Let Go: A Bad Boy Romance (Original Heartbreakers).  This is the fifth book in the Original Heartbreakers series, though I didn't realize that until I was nearly half-way through the novel at the mention of Dorothea and Daniel, characters from the fourth book in the series Can't Hardly Breathe (a book I reviewed a couple months ago, here.)  That shows how aware I am...

(Before you decide 'I'm not going to read this series that's already five books in, hear me out.  I never read The Original Heartbreakers #1-#3 and I didn't need to read #4, Can't Hardly Breathe, to understand what was happening in Can't Let Go... but given that there were a couple overlapping characters you might start with Can't Hardly Breathe if you want to give this novel a go.)

In the first couple pages we are introduced to Jude and I instantly fell under the spell of his good looks and bad boy attitude.  That was short-lived though once I learned that the cause of this attitude was due to the death of his family, wife and twin daughters, at the hands of a drunk driver.  Suddenly the emotions running through my body were not those of love and passion, but rather of sadness and hopelessness.  It is only due to the splendid writing of Gena Showalter that those feelings quickly faded into feelings of optimism and anticipation.  Jude is one of those characters that will keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what he will say and do next.

At first glance Ryanne Wade appeared to be one of those overdone female protagonists.  You know the type... had a bad experience with men in her past and now no longer trusts men or believes in love.  Yeah, that type.  Thankfully, Ryanne turned out to be more than that.  She has trust issues, but doesn't judge all men for the actions of a few, doesn't let her beliefs about men run her life, and isn't entirely closed off to the possibility of love.  She's a powerful, independent woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to reach out and grab it.  Relatable to many women, I'm sure.

The chemistry between Ryanne and Jude is off the charts from page one, which I can appreciate.  There's nothing more frustrating that a romance novel that just refuses to take off and find it's footing. You won't find that here.  Between these pages you'll find ice and fire, night and day, Ryanne and Jude.  The passion between the two of them is brilliant and heart-pounding.  The most powerful part of their relationship is that Jude, a man who despises alcohol with every fiber of his being, finds it within himself to help Ryanne protect her bar, a business he does not respect.  You won't be disappointed.

All in all, this book is a classic Gena Showalter novel: well-written with strong characters and an action-packed plotline.  It comes out October 31st and you can pre-order it here.