She’s seen it all. Faced it all. Survived it all. 

Lyla Dalton lives among laughter, happiness, love… yet she’s locked in the darkness of her past. 

With the demons of her past shoved in boxes in her basement, she can’t open her life let alone her heart. 

He’s had it all. Lost it all. Gave his all.

Sebastian Gage learned the hard way that people aren’t always who they seem. Neither are their apologies. 

For more than fifteen years, he has focused on his business and kept his sex life no strings attached. Then he saw her, the woman who stole his attention one sassy smirk at a time. The woman who would teach him once again that people aren’t always what they seem—sometimes, they’re better. 

Danny’s on Main is a neighborhood bar where strangers become friends, friends become family, and some family becomes… salvation. A place where you learn in order to grab hold of the future, you’ve got to let go of the past. It may take courage to move forward but you’ll find…

Strength in Release

Lyla Dalton and Sebastian Gage...they have circled around each other for years with Gage waiting for his chance to break down her walls and claim her for his own.

Lyla seems strong, sassy, independent, and is smart. But underneath the tough facade she feels damaged, broken, and like she is too much trouble. Her past scarred her and keeps haunting her. And she is worried it may now touch her dear friends that she considers family. They are just finding out more about her after an event that scared her even more. She has a career she kept hidden where she has to admit that love exists and is always full of advice for her friends, but she does not really believe it is possible for her. She is all about control, and getting a release when needed but never getting attached to men.

Her friends don't know all her secrets, but they won't let her run. She is good at hiding, deflecting, and trying to deal with things alone. But her friends are persistent and Gage is beginning to get more impatient. 

But Lyla is a woman that takes finessing. She needs control. She does not respond well with someone coming on too strong or giving her too much space either. She needs people to prove their sincerity and loyalty. It takes a long time to earn her trust, and even then it can be conditional. She can isolate herself, shut people out, and push them away. But deep down she is terrified of rejection or being. hurt.

I adored Sebastian Gage. He is a great combo of burly, outspoken alpha mixed with tender, attentive, intuitive and protective man. He understands she has pain even when she does not share it, and he is not going to be scared away. He has his own trust issues, past pain, and life dramas. He is used to not getting attached to people either and also adopted the f___ and release policy. But he knew that was never going to be an option with him and Lyla.

But these two definitely have some issues to wade through and drama to deal with. Sebastian is more confident that he can make this work. But Lyla has a lot to learn about trust, leaning on people, letting go of her past, and finding strength in release. He is determined to help guide her, and finally claim what he has been wanting all along...her heart, trust, and her body. But Lyla never makes things easy. It is a slow burn full of sexual tension and resistance. They have such  intense personalities and a connection.

I love this series. The writing flows so well, the characters have so much depth, and the stories all have unique story lines and emotional hooks. This group has become a family that they created themselves. I love their camaraderie, care, and support they show each other--Janie, Max, Danny, Julie, Kyle, Cate, Ryan, Ashley, and Elliot along with Sebastian and Lyla are the heart and soul of these books. Their personalities, feelings, and dynamics fuel the stories and have made me become invested and attached. Sure there is drama, angst, miscommunication, hurt, but there is also so much love and acceptance surrounding them.

Thank you Lisa N. Paul for taking the time and having the patience to give Sebastian and Lyla the story they deserved. I have been waiting for their book for years, and I was not disappointed. It kept me captivated and I completely loved it even when it frustrated or hurt me. This was not always easy to read due to some of the subject matter. But it was emotional, passionate, heartfelt, and there was enough humor and happiness to balance it out. And like each of the books in this series, it is not only a beautiful love story, but also a story about survival, sacrifice, friendship, and empowerment. These people all needed anchors, purpose, hope, unconditional love, and more importantly a true home. And they found it together in Charistown and it all started on a Thursday night at Danny's On Main several years ago...

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Pain can leave even the strongest of people weak and hollow. But when fate brings two weak souls together, will the love they find mend the fragments that are barely holding them together, or will the weight of their past finally cause them to crumble?

Max DeLucca has spent seven years trying to forget the betrayal of his past. He lives his life from day to day never looking forward and never looking back. The walls around his heart keep anyone from getting too close and prevent him from feeling too much…until he meets her.

Her entire life, Janie Silver searched for the kind of love that wouldn’t leave her broken and more importantly, wouldn't leave her behind. She longs for a love that can heal the wounds of her past and give her the future she knows she deserves. She thought she was looking for something that just didn’t exist…until she meets him.

Danny’s on Main is where their story begins. A neighborhood bar where strangers become friends, friends become family and some … become lovers

… it all started on Thursday Nights

The Darker the Storm, The Deeper the Pain...

Love knows no bounds when two people are destined to be together. One fights to maintain the distance; while the other battles to close the gap.

The Brighter the Light at the End…

Will they move forward together or finally close the last remaining door to their past?

It’s time for Ryan and Ashley to decide. But once that decision is made, there will be no going back…

Always Reach for the Light…

A Neighborhood bar where old wounds heal, friends become family, and some…become lovers…

Danny’s on Main is where their story continues… Where they all shelter each other during the...

Storm Front.

Lisa N. Paul

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