A review by originalbooknerd
Heart of Thorns by S. Massery

dark emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

πŸˆπ‡πžπšπ«π­ 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐑𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬 - π’π‘πšππ¨π° π•πšπ₯π₯𝐞𝐲 𝐔 𝟐 - π‘πžπ―π’πžπ°πŸˆ 
 
Author: SJ Sylvis & S. Massery 
 
Couple: Briar & Thorne 
 
Tropes: 
- College Football 
- Shadow Valley U 
- Fake Dating 
- Angst 
- Suspense 
- Black Cat Vibes FMC 
- Reverse Grumpy/Sunshine 
 
Review: S.J .Sylvis and S. Massery did it again with π‡πžπšπ«π­ 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐑𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬! This is the second book in the Shadow Valley U series and is a complete standalone with very little character overlap. Briar and Thorne are not your typical football x fake dating couple and the way these two authors were able to weave the suspense and mystery into their romance had me grasping at straws to guess who was to blame for Briar’s accident at the beginning of the book. This book immediately sucked me into the story as SJ and S. Massery immediately amp up the tension and mystery from page one and then leave us guessing about events and identities for the first half of the book. 
 
π‡πžπšπ«π­ 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐑𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬 was a complete 5 star read that balanced the sports romance, cocky jock and tortured artist perfectly between Briar and Thorne and I loved getting to see all their violent and tender sides. I think what really captivated me though was how Thorne was not your typical cocky jock or rich boy MMC. The way he melted for Briar and showed his vulnerability to the prickly heroine had me swooning and rooting for him to get his head on straight. These two authors really did amazing with π‡πžπšπ«π­ 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐑𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬 and Briar may ultimately be one of my favorite FMCs this duo has done. They mastered the balance of revenge and fear as she began to dig into her accident and I appreciated how they made Brair a fierce and fiery FMC who just needed the right man to help soften her sharp edges! 
 
π‡πžπšπ«π­ 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐑𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬 is another great book in the Shadow Valley U series and I am excited to see what comes next! There was so much upheaval and angst in this book that had me salivating for Briar and Thorne to get their HEA that it almost beat out the exceptional tension and heat these two had from the first glare. SJ Sylvis and S. Massery did these two justice with this book and hopefully they appear in books to come! 
 
Rating: 5/5; π‡πžπšπ«π­ 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐑𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬 is not your typical football romance and had me on edge waiting for more as Briar and Thorne catapulted to their HEA! 
 
Thank you SJ Sylvis for the eARC!