Storms and Secrets (The Haven Brothers #2) by Claire Kingsley

 

"I had a feeling everything was about to change."

• Title: Storms and Secrets
• Author: Claire Kingsley
• Publisher: Always Have LLC
• Publication Date: 3/14/2024
• 436 Pages
• Standalone (Book 2)

• Plot: ★★★☆☆
• Spice: ★☆☆☆☆
• Tropes: Best friend’s sibling, Love triangle, Second Chance Romance, Belated love epiphany, Protector, Secrets, Afraid to commit

Trigger Warning: This book contains On-page Graphic Violence and Death. References to Sex trafficking and Early Substance Addiction. Sexual and Physical Assault, Drugging, Emotional Abuse, Kidnapping, Imprisonment 

I will start by saying: I could be the problem here. I am honestly not sure where to begin. Ultimately, I was disappointed by this book. I was excited after reading the excerpt at the end of book one. However, this book just fell flat for me. I found it hard to connect with the characters. Despite that, I wanted to give the book a full chance and finished it. 

This book was a bit heavy and hard for me to get through, referring to the subject matter and pacing. The book referenced heavy topics but didn't fully unpack them. Also, I couldn't feel the couple's chemistry, at least not until the last couple of chapters. Additionally, the spice was low and over fast. There were about two scenes, there was no foreplay, it was vague, and it was over quick. Some moments even felt cringe to me because of the lack of chemistry. In the end, I had aspects I loved, but there were more details I didn't. 

Overall, I do not know why I couldn't relate to these characters. As a result, I acknowledge this review could be biased. Therefore, please go read this book and decide for yourself. Considering I enjoyed book one, I am still looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

“If you tell me we need to wait while the cops do their job, I might punch you in the face.” “Fuck that, son. I’m calling in reinforcements.” “Who?” “The SPS. Let’s go.” The Squirrel Protection Squad?”

In my opinion, a highlight of this book is the small town community and its culture. Firstly, I love the Squirrel Protection Squad (SPS). They were adorable and genuinely wanted to ensure the protection of their community, including those pesky squirrels. It's such a unique and stand-out concept that I just loved. Secondly, even the names of the buildings were so cute: The Knotty Knitter. This just exemplifies how creative a writer Claire Kingsley is. It was really entertaining to learn more about this small town.

Also, while I did not agree with some character decisions but I respected and appreciated that the main characters never gave up. When life got too complicated, they stayed strong and determined to get through it together. 

Lastly, I loved the proposal. I won't say who's, but it was so sweet and thought out. I was proud of the planner. I could read how intentional it was, which made it very beautiful. Claire Kingsley created a fun and suspenseful universe so far, and I am looking forward to seeing what's next. 

 

“If he hadn’t been there, Preston wouldn’t have been angry. I wouldn’t have had any reason to feel uncomfortable. If anything, this was all Zachary’s fault.”

Obviously, I have a few issues with this book. To save time, I will use bullet points this time to keep things simple. 

• This was a clear retelling of the boy who cried wolf, with Zachary being that boy. However, I did not like that no one gave him a chance or believed him despite his sincerity and valid reasoning. 
• He was a troublemaker, and his change of heart was abrupt, but it's also clear they gave up on him a long time ago, frustrating me on his behalf. 
• Had they (police too) listened to him, they could have avoided the main conflict and would have had more details about the villain before things got bad.
• The willful ignorance throughout this book by several characters.
• Marigold: She would discuss the red flags but refuse to believe them throughout the book. 
• As such, she read as desperate to be married like her friends. 
• Brielle: She's young and was being manipulated, so I understand her original ignorance. I feel bad for her; her family situation didn't help, but we got to a point when she knew she should do something, but didn't act because, despite his actions, she wanted to believe he was a good guy. 
• Zachary's Family: They all clearly gave up on him and view him as a screw up. I did not like it because we get Zachary's POV and know that their assumptions are wrong, and it affects their relationships.
• I didn't like the pacing of their relationship and the book. 
• I couldn't read any intimacy or even love between them. It did not feel like a slow burn to me. There simply was no chemistry then; abruptly, they were in a relationship. 
• There was an active love triangle, which the FMC prioritized over the MMC for 55% of the book, and by 60%, they were in a committed relationship and discussing marriage. 

Whelp, that wasn't short or simple, but I had to get that off my chest.     

“I’m in love with you. You’re the oxygen I need to live. I can’t get enough of you.”

If I am being honest, I did not enjoy this book. However, I am not ready to walk away from Kingsley's Universe. I enjoyed their small town, destructive squirrels, and eccentric residents. As stated in the first book's review, this book can be read as a standalone, but it is part of a shared universe. The universe is shared with Kingsley's other preexisting series. Therefore, you may want to read the Bailey Brothers and the holiday spin-off series. Nevertheless, this book does a good job of filling in what we missed. 

Storms and Secrets is a book with a lot of potential. However, it lacked depth and chemistry, making it hard for me to enjoy. Considering this book had wonderful reviews, I recommend reading this book to form your own opinion. I will likely not reread this book, but I will continue with this series.