Lena Knight: Nothing's fair in Love & Marriage

Book 2 Fostered H(E)ARTS series

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249046287-nothing-s-fair-in-love-marriage-fostered-h

Book Blurb:

What happens when you meet the right person, at the right time, but under the wrong circumstances?

Well, let me tell you all about it...
You end up with a lot of sleepless nights filled with guilt. Why? Because she's verboten. I should leave it at that. Yet, I can't. She has infiltrated my psyche, my mind, and soul, not to mention the old ticker. I earned her friendship, her trust, but all that did was make me want more. Alas, I am not a selfish person. In this scenario, she comes first. And I would never do anything to hurt her, even if it breaks me. And by the looks of it, I am already halfway there, especially since I have to watch from the sidelines, acting like I don't see her pain, don’t notice what he is doing to her, to that little boy who took my heart with one simple smile.

********

Stuck in a hamster wheel, going nowhere, the daily loop just keeps rinsing and repeating. I have a purpose: my family, and I live for that purpose. Somehow, I didn’t realize I lost myself on the way. One interaction changes it all, makes me question everything, shatters the rose-colored glasses, revealing the truth that is my life. 

Tropes:

*forbidden love  *personal struggle  *Autism representation (FMC son) *single mom while married

*Toxic relationship *Blue Collar MMC *Teddy Bear MMC  *MMC and FMC with difficult childhoods 

*Love triangle *Marriage in trouble  *Found Family *he falls first  *some spice  *no cheating  

*Right person wrong time

*friends --> more  *State Challenge Mass (duplicate state) *Indie Author *ARC read *Book Sirens

Thoughts:

Nora (FMC) has a heart of gold her past has shaped her present growing up she always wanted a loving family and when she met her husband Rick and they had their son Declan she thought she would finally have that.  Nora goes out of her way to please others (even when they don't deserve it) and even though she's a stay at home mom she does what she can to keep up around their home and take care of their special needs son... Unfortunately Rick doesn't notice, or maybe does he just doesn't care about Nora's efforts and over the years has built up distance between them with harsh words and actual distance (he is sleeping on the couch).

Luka (MMC) has a troubled past but thankfully was taken in by a loving woman in foster care and along with his foster brother's they have built a close family of their own.  Luka has always wanted a family of his own to love and care for he is the perfect book boyfriend kind, caring, loyal, and fierce when needed, I read the first book in this series and loved him then but love him even more in his own book he's such a sweet teddy bear! 

Nora and Luka meet by chance on Nora and Declan's walk, Luka works construction and Declan while mostly non-verbal is very into the construction vehicles a fast friendship forms between the three of them and then they continue to come together throughout the book due to having more in common than they thought their friend Ryan.  (This part might just be me but when Ryan was introduced into the story I was kind of like "Who?" but I caught on quickly enough after it was explained that they were both friends with him).  

This book continues to follow Nora as she deals with her crumbling marriage with Rick goes back and forth between feeling guilt that she made a commitment to this man that she loves deeply but feels that he is taking advantage of her at all points and her deep sadness over this has even dulled her spirit she is a brilliant musician and singer but hasn't done either in forever because Rick doesn't like it.  Nora is turning into a shell of who she used to be and while her friends have noticed she lost herself somewhere along the way and didn't even notice when it began.

Luka falls in love with both Nora and Declan over the course of the book but struggles with his internal battle to keep at least some distance, he knows it's wrong she's married to another man and she might never be able to be his... but he still can't help falling for her anyways he never acts on these feelings while she is with Rick out of respect towards Nora even though he knows that she is not being treated well in her current situation he wants to be in her life even if that will always be on the sidelines.  

Throughout the book Nora attempts to work with Rick on their marriage and discuss hard topics with him while he continues to make no changes, it's so sad to read about but felt very real as many people deal with these very real changes to their relationships where they grow apart and no longer fit like they used to. 

Don't worry if you don't like a cheating trope there is no actual cheating in this book Nora and Rick's marriage comes to a natural end as that's the way it was heading and Nora allows herself time for just herself and her son.  Nora has given herself time to basically find herself again and in that way it makes the point in the story when she finally goes after what she wants (Luka) so much better!

I did wish that the book didn't focus so much on the crumbling marriage aspect since it was clear from the start that Nora needed to ditch Rick and get her life back even if it was hard (since she was worried about losing his families support which is all she had).  Once Luka and Nora finally got together there was not much left of the book for our main couple to actually "be together" but it did feel more natural and not just she left Rick and now she's with another man the next day I appreciated that she left herself time to grow and find herself. 

Declan was a huge part of the book and you could see how much Nora loved him throughout, it's always nice if there is a kid in the book and they arn't just "taking a nap" and never in the book.  

I loved that Nora and Luka were able to find each other they were each other's missing pieces and finally becoming whole once together and they both deserved so much love after all they had both been through.  

Another great read from this author and I'm looking forward to the next in the series!  Thank you to Lena and BookSirens for this early copy.