This is the second book in the Forgiven duology that pairs the Amour siblings and the Daley siblings. Book 1 was all about Luke and Mia, book 2 looks at their brothers Billy and Gus. I enjoyed the first book, but I loved the second. I devoured it in just 2 days!

Billy Daley is a screwup and everyone is better off if he’s not around. At least that’s what he tells himself. His big brother Luke took off after their father died, leaving him on his own, so he knows that’s true. So he’s stayed away from home for years, even after his brother came home, because he believes its for the best.

Gus hasn’t left town, even though everyone else left him. First his friend Luke took off, then his mother died and his sister took off, and Billy took off after they shared a kiss in an alley that he’ll never forget. And Luke came back, then Mia and he’s got a good relationship with them, but that doesn’t make up for the fact that he had to deal with a lot of grief and misery on his own… alone.

Both men have a lot of issues with self-worth, but they are both the absolute best men. Gus hides his loneliness in an endless supply of Grindr hookups and avoids relationships. Billy hides his pain (both physical and emotional) behind weed and alcohol. But Billy makes Gus want to take care of him, and Gus helps Billy see that he’s worth it.

Things are not smooth sailing with these two, tempers and the fear of being hurt keep them from being able to really open up to each other and they almost lose it all. But I adored both of their broken souls. I mean Billy bonds with a feral cat and makes him a pet, how can you resist that?

This duology was my first experience with the author, Garrett Leigh, and I look forward to reading more.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher {Harlequin Carina Press} through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.