Shallow River

This book is amazing. I just loved it so much. I recommend it, it is an amazing book. I loved everything about it, an honest to be I font’s have words to describe how much I loved it. Recommend it 100%This book graphically details an abusive relationship between one of the MMC and the FMC.However, one thing I think H.D. does beautifully is writing about real like traumas and situations.The plot twists that followed were so intense and powerful. I was emotional for so many different reasons while reading this book. But I was cursing and clapping my hands for River the entire time. Absolutely read your trigger warnings before reading. But I definitely read this book for some healing and peace. 🖤🖤🖤💀💀

This is a good story with a HEA, but the horror you going through to get there is intense. I personally don’t have triggers to worry about, but if SA or Physical Abuse of an adult or child are your triggers you may just want to skip this one. It’s not a “one instance” either, it’s the whole dang book. I think the author did a good job describing someone who is a survivor/victim of abuse. You feel sorry for them, but you also want to yell “leave him”. It’s a very frustrating situation as an outsider looking in, but it gives insight into the mindset that you deserve what is happening to you or it’s okay because they love you. There is a FF scene that I don’t feel enhanced the story any and I could have done without it.Spoilers**********River has been sexually and physically abused her whole life. Her mother is a drugged out prostitute, who has never protected or properly loved her child. River gets out of this bad town and goes to college where she falls in love with Ryan, but he’s unobtainable because he’s dating Alison. When he breaks up with Alison, River makes her move and soon she and Ryan are dating. He’s now a lawyer in his father’s company, she’s finishing up school and has moved in with him. He doesn’t want her to work. Alison tries to warn River about Ryan, but it feels like she’s just trying to break them up. Ryan becomes increasingly more condescending and aggressive with River. It soon becomes clear that he is gaslighting her and alienating her from the outside world. She goes to dinner with him and his family only to discover that he has a brother, Mako. This is weird because Ryan always said he was an only child. During this dinner it’s clear the brothers do not like each other. When they get home Ryan hurts River and accuses her of liking Mako. Throughout the story there are many times that Ryan hits, throws, rapes, and sodomizes River. He even drugs and then rapes her as well. He later admitted that he had been slipping her antibiotics to counteract her birth control. During this time, Mako who is a detective and knows his brother and what he’s capable of, tries to catch River away from Ryan and convince her to leave him. River, not wanting to be a damsel, refuses his help, but starts to feel differently towards Mako. After River is brutally attacked and raped by Billy, her abuser from her past, Ryan ignores her and is angry at her for “getting” herself in that position. When he leaves her stuck on the couch and forced to wet herself, then hits her for it. She decides it’s time to leave. She calls Mako who rescues her and takes her to his house, but unfortunately, a few remorseful words from Ryan and she’s back with him a week later. He’s better for a bit, but then reverts back to his true self. He explains that because she left him he cheated on her with his secretary. He makes her feel as though it’s her fault, and that it cancels out because she let Billy rape her. His anger and distance continues on and eventually one night he tells her to get dressed up nice that they were going out. When he takes off his shirt she notices red lipstick and realizes that he’s still cheating on her. This somehow breaks the hold he has on her and she’s ready to fight back. The next time he attacks her she fights back grabs a knife and knocks him out with the drugs he had been using to knock her out. She drags him to the attic and strings him up. While he’s tied up she goes to Alison’s house, confesses that she’s killed him(he’s not dead). Alison calls Mako and suggests that he check on River. He goes to the house when Ryan doesn’t answer the phone and when no one answers the door and he hears noises he goes in the house expecting River to be hurt. He find River and a tied up Ryan. He agrees to help her kill Jim and get rid of Ryan. Ryan confesses that his father had raped him since he was eight and when he was thirteen that’s when they adopted Mako, but their father wouldn’t touch Mako because he knew Mako would report him. This is why Ryan has always hated Mako and never considered him a brother. However, when River starts to feel compassion for Ryan and thinks she shouldn’t kill him, he states that he still would’ve done what he did to River because she was weak and let it happen. River kills Ryan and her and Mako feed his body to the pigs. During this whole story, there was a side story about the Ghost Killer. Mako was the detective on the case and it comes out that the Ghost Killer had killed Mako’s real father, then comes out that River knew who he was all along and didn’t tell Mako. Mako mad by this revelation leaves her home alone, where Billy, the Ghost Killer, attacks and kidnaps her. He takes her somewhere and repeatedly punches and rapes her then confesses that he is actually her father. She, with the help of Mako and his partner, shoot and kill Billy. Mako and River get married and it ends two yrs later with her pregnant.

I want to preface my review by saying this is a very triggering, rough read for, I assume, many.This book graphically details an abusive relationship between one of the MMC and the FMC.However, one thing I think H.D does beautifully, is writing about real like traumas and situations.As someone that has been in abusive relationships, and witnessed abusive relationships, it was like replaying old memories as I read about Ryan and Rivers relationship.With all that considered, there is a HEA, and it truly is beautiful and healing. Something we can all only hope to have.The spice was also a nice touch, of course. 😏If this wasn’t the work of H.D Carlton, I probably wouldn’t have been able to sit through this. But alas, I am a humble simp.Story line: 5 ⭐️🌶️: 4⭐️Characters: 4⭐️ (1 star off bc I hate Ryan that much even though I’m supposed to)Writing: 5⭐️ (ALWAYS 5 with H.D)(Also there is a cat in this book, and no it does not 💀, it does get threatened so be aware of this)

Ok, my reviews are brief, so straight to the point..I gave the book 5 stars because I absolutely had to know what happened & finish the book, keeping my ADD riddled mind’s attention deserves the 5 stars.But…first of all, there should be more trigger warnings. The book is 90% physical, emotional, and sexual abuse of women and children. It was hard to stomach 90% of the time with NO real retribution. I felt the “revenge” was so lacking and it just didn’t do for the amount of abuse endured.Secondly, and this is just a thing that bothers the hell out of me, maybe not others, but the amount of times the MFC got hit in the head, or hit her head or had some sort of major head trauma was exhausting, eventually my own head hurt. And as a medical professional, I can assure you her injuries would have landed her in critical care, I read what should have been brain bleed and TBI on the pages several times. It just wasn’t believable unless her head was made of cinder blocks. It was like reading all this horrendous abuse that resulted in no real injuries. I guess maybe the subject matter was so serious I felt like the injuries should have been a bit more believable,or maybe it was a tough read and that’s just how I processed it.But other than that, even with the abuse, the story was so well written that I felt like I was there. I had a perfect mental picture of each scene and that takes a talented writer. Also, the twists and turns were well delivered. If you’re looking for smut, pass on this book, it ain’t here. Actually the MFC is as so abused I didn’t even want to read about her having sex, it just seemed like she should heal for like, a century or so. But she deserved a good life despite her abuse and the author gave her that. I do recommend the book; it was suspenseful, chilling and dark, not much of a romance till the very end. But definitely worth a read. READ THE TWs.

♾️🌶.5Please check your triggers. This is quite dark and DV related. I am a person with no triggers, but at times, even I needed to take a minute when it got really heavy.I listened to the audiobook for Shallow River, and the narrators were perfection to the point where I really hated the male narrator when he was Ryan. It was very intense.River’s childhood was not easy. She came from a low income area and household, endured years of trauma. Until one day, River believes she found the perfect man, Ryan. Ryan is everything River thought you’d want in a man, attractive, rich, an aspiring lawyer and who would do anything keep River. At first, River is attracted to his attentiveness, which slowly turns into possessiveness. River and Ryan’s relationship takes a dark turn, and no one notices the change or shows concern other than, Ryan’s estranged brother, Mako.This book was so well done. The progression of the abuse was realistic, starting off with controlling behaviour, isolating her, gas lighting, verbal abuse to full on physical abuse it was unreal. My heart broke for River. I could feel her sadness and pain through the pages. The endless cycle of abuse she could not escape at first. It was a hard read at times, but River persevered, fought for herself, and is a survivor.Mako was exactly what River needed. He never strayed too far from her even when she tried and pushed him away. He was always willing to drop everything to make sure she was safe regardless of what she felt or the consequences. I loved Mako 🖤

Honestly if HD carlton writes it, I will read it and wowPotential spoilers....This was probably the most graphic book I have ever read but a story of a horrid subject has been beautifully written. Seeing river get stronger through out the book is inspiring. Her and makos story is adorable and all but river is the real story here.. She is amazing, thank you for writing a book that's both dark and beautiful on this subject.

This book is very well written. I connected with River on many aspects, and by the end felt like I was starting to heal through her a little. H D writes some bad ass female characters that weave their way into my heart. Shallow river was another stepping stone into the healing process.

This book is so amazing. I just loved it so much. I recommend it, it is an amazing book. I loved everything about it, an honest to be I font’s have words to describe how much I loved it.Recommend it 100%

It's the best booking have ever ... it's written in sucha a way that it gives the readers exactly what they are expecting it is my first book by hd carlton and I am in absolute in love with this book can't wait to start the next one ...