The last six years of Richard Ramsey's life has been built on lies, guilt, regrets, anger, pain, and vengeance. Under that broody exterior, there is a man suffering internally and holding in his dark truths. While he and his band, Carolina George are beginning to celebrate success, he cannot forget that he has lost the most important thing to him for reasons he could not share. He left devastation and heartbreak in his wake in his hometown of Dalton, South Carolina years ago. 

But now he and his band, Carolina George, are back in his hometown for his sister Emily and Royce's wedding. And all the demons and ghosts are coming for him. And he finds himself face to face with his biggest, loss and regret, Violet Marin. 

As Richard and Royce and a few select others try to keep danger at bay and protect those they love, enemies are lurking in the shadows, threats are coming from various sides, secrets are unraveling, and lies are being exposed. But Richard knows now that he not only has to protect Violet, but he is not strong enough to leave her again. But getting her to believe that will be another challenge. 

She has to protect her own heart and others from being hurt again. She is untrusting, unsure, bitter, angry, and scared. She knows he has power over her and he will be hard to resist. Their connection is strong, but it has been bent and broken. Their chemistry simmers and sparks around them. But she can't take the thought of letting him in and being destroyed again. 

Richard is a man looking for revenge, redemption, forgiveness,, and salvation the only way he knows how with the ultimate goal to reclaim the life he walked away from. But he knows the secrets he holds could destroy everything. 

There are so many intricate layers to this story spanning over six years that have been building through this series. Lies. Secrets. Hidden agendas. Connections. Threats. And it has now all been unleashed and it is spinning out of control. 

It is an intense, emotional, suspenseful, passionate second-chance love story. It is written in dual points of view with some flashbacks in this author's unique and lyrical prose that holds you captive to the intensity of the story. It had me white-knuckling my kindle and at times holding my breath. It shows the importance of faith, friendship, family, and the possibility of soul mates. From heartbreak to hope. Destruction to rebuilding. Loss to reclaiming. Lies to honest vulnerability. Secrets to full exposure. Darkness to light.

This is Richard Ramsey's long and tortuous journey home.

Even though this can be read as a stand-alone novel, it is closely related to Catch Me When I Fall and I recommend reading both. It brings back all of the characters we have grown to care about so much with the members of Carolina George, Sunder, and even A Riot of Roses and all of their significant others and some family members. There are also many levels of antagonists and threats. I have to admit it is not always an easy read due to the darker aspects and so many moving parts to keep track of. But there are also small joys, laughter,  and love emanating from all of these people lightening the heaviness. Sweet Daisy, outspoken Mel, and band bassist Rhys tend to demand attention and steal any scene they are in. I am interested to see where wildman Rhys's story is going to take us. I have an inkling and a hope of who he might end up with.