Kade & Leilani: Perfectly Imperfect Soulmates! 5 Stars!

Once in a while, if you're lucky, you come across a book that speaks to your very romantic soul. I was fortunate enough to have found this one.

CANVAS OF OUR SOULS introduces us to two people struggling with personal issues within themselves. First, we meet Kade Alvarez, a young, handsome tattoo artist with a strained relationship with his immediate family. In addition to dealing with an intense family dynamic, Kade is also dealing with post-traumatic stress. To cope, he finds solace from his emotional pain through alcohol, drugs, and meaningless entanglements with women just as dysfunctional as he.

Next, we meet Leilani Zaragosa, a young, beautiful fashion stylist trying to carve her own niche in the fashion industry. Leilani is a dreamer. She dreams of success in every aspect of her life, professionally and personally. She is in a relationship with a man named Kyle, who is also in the same industry. What was once an awesome relationship between these two has turned sour. Kyle has been distancing himself more and more from Leilani and she feels very insecure considering the amount of beautiful women Kyle encounters on a daily basis. In addition to feeling insecure about her relationship, she is also very insecure about her designs and career, causing her severe stress and anxiety.

Ironically, these two tortured souls have one common denominator: Kyle. Kyle is Leilani's emotionally distant boyfriend and Kade's goading, emotionally unsupportive younger brother.

A twist of fate brings these Kade and Leilani together and they experience a whirlwind romance of epic proportions! In light of them finding solace in one another, will their love be enough to withstand the demons of Kade's past and the threats of the present that vow to tear them apart?

Author Fortuna Lux is brilliant in this very stunning novel about two people who find each other and heal one another on the strength of their love. Lux tackles the serious topics of physical abuse, alcoholism, and drug use with sincerity and sensitivity. CANVAS OF OUR SOULS could not have been released at a better time, as May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In CANVAS, we have two characters from two very different walks of life suffering from mental health issues. Kade suffers from Survivor's Guilt and Leilani suffers from Imposter Syndrome. These are two very common mental health concerns that many of us have experienced. This makes Lux's characters even more relatable to every reader who has ever felt guilt from walking away from a tragedy unscathed or wrestled with lingering feelings of doubt in their own successes and triumphs. Kade and Leilani are each other's tether to sanity and to see them both come to each other's rescue throughout this novel was rewarding and made my heart sing.

The chemistry between these two characters was phenomenal, each in their own right. I loved them separately before they appeared on page together! When they finally did meet, it was explosive fireworks that tugged at my heartstrings whereas, I needed to make a break for the Kleenex! Their love scenes were sweet & spicy. The further you read into this story, the deeper you fall under their spell. There were so many moments while reading where I became choked up and the tears welled in my eyes. Their connection was just... right... and it will feel RIGHT to you as the reader.

There has been some issue as to whether or not this book was mislabeled as a "Dark Romance". While this may not be considered a "dark romance" in the traditional sense, I think we all can agree that the subject matter of mental illness is a dark and sometimes triggering one. We need to normalize when dark themes and dark subject matter are centered around a romance, it is indeed a dark romance. Mentally, Kade and Leilani begin this book in the dark. Throughout their journey together, they begin to step out into the light and when they are out, they shine.... they shine like diamonds and it's simply magical.

I can go on and on about the wonderful scenes, characters, and compelling storyline throughout CANVAS OF OUR SOULS, but I fear I would not do it enough justice. Fortuna Lux's debut novel is extraordinary, and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for her readers next. This novel has made me one of her readers for as long as she continues to share her stories.

If you are seeking two MMCs with a true, undeniable, 'irrevocably-yours' type of love in a romance novel with a story that will make you believe in a forever love, please read this book. Once you begin reading, it will seem as if this story was crafted especially for you. That's exactly how I felt.

Fortuna Lux, well done! You hit this one out of the park! I can't wait to see what you release next!

Happy reading!