ARC Review: Can't Let Go (Original Heartbreakers) by Gena Showalter

Can't Let Go

The Original Heartbreakers #5

by Gena Showalter

*ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Blurb via Goodreads:

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? Impossible.

To 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.

About the Author

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty books in paranormal and contemporary romances, as well as young adult novels. Her series include White Rabbit Chronicles, Angels of the Dark, Otherworld Assassins, Lords of the Underworld, Alien Huntress and Intertwined.

Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated all over the world. The critics have called her books "sizzling page-turners" and "utterly spellbinding stories", while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise”. 

Connect with Gena:   Facebook    Twitter     Goodreads     Website 

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My Review

Gena Showalter knocked it out of the emotional ballpark with Can't Let Go! It has been, by far, my favorite of the Original Heartbreakers Series. Jude is the most addictive male role to date in the series (at least for me he was!) and I adored Ryanne's spunk, independent, take no crap attitude. It's hard to find lead female characters that do not annoy me at least once throughout a novel. Ryanne's constant sexual banter back and forth with Jude was absolute perfection. She was the one flame that was able to melt the ice surrounding his tattered heart. They had amazing chemistry that basically slid right off of the pages. 

The plot is fast paced with never a dull-moment. The entire cast in this series are so well-crafted that I feel like I could jump in my car, drive to this Strawberry lovin' small town, and pop in Ryanne's bar for a drink with these folks. I live in a small town but this world that Gena Showalter has crafted makes me green with envy! Everyone is so close but not of the nosey variety (mostly anyways ha). 

One of my favorite Jude moments: "Every day, in a thousand different ways, you undo me, love. You're my world." Take a moment... swoon.... Who knew Jude, the ice-cold, stone hearted, bitter soldier could rock my literary world with words? He's amazing. 

Overall, huge 5 Star read for me. Loved it! I can't wait for Brock & Lyndie's story!!!!!


Overall Rating: 5 Stars
Cover Rating: 4 Stars
Plot: 5 Stars - Plenty of ups, downs, highs & lows. You cheer & you rail for and at the characters.
Climax: 5 Stars!
Ending: 5 Stars <-- LOVED the epilogue!