Kristie J’s review of Unloved by Katy Regnery
Contemporary Romance published by Katharine Gilliam Regnery 7 Oct 17
Cassidy Porter is a young man who has exiled himself because of the legacy of his parentage. The first part of the book goes into this in more detail, but his father was a serial killer who raped, mutilated, and then murdered a number of young women. He was discovered and sent to prison, but Cassidy and his mother are also in a different kind of prison. They are hated by the community for the horrors committed by their husband/father. His mother is very concerned the same kind of animal lives on in Cassidy and takes him to live with her father in the mountains of Maine completely off the grid. They live with no electricity, no running water, none of the modern conveniences we take for granted. First Cassidy’s mother died and then his grandfather, so Cassidy has been living a life of seclusion, afraid himself that he might have the monster gene in him. Any kind of relationship is not in the cards for him.
Brynn Cadogan is a young woman who hasn’t been able to really move on when her fiancé is shot in a mass shooting two years previously. He loved hiking in the outdoors and the mountains of Maine were some of his favourite places for hiking. When Brynn comes across his cell phone and the last message mentioned a mountain in Maine, she decided it was a sign, and although not very experienced herself, decided to hike to the top and bury the phone before finally allowing herself to move on. When she is viciously attacked, Cassidy comes to her rescue and nurses her back to health. They are attracted to each other, but Cassidy has lived alone for a long time and hasn’t even had a friend since he was a young boy. Add to the fact that he believes they have no future and he’s freaked out a few times. Brynn is confused since he keeps a lot of his history close to the vest due to the same of his parentage.
I’ve read a few Katy Regnery books and enjoyed them and this is another one to add to the list. The reader’s heart aches for the loneliness of Cassidy. He’s more of a Beta type hero, but when done well, they can be just as good, if not better than, as an alpha hero.
I had a bit of a harder time warming up to Brynn. I felt her mourning went on a bit too long. Another thing I found somewhat frustrating was the length of time it took for Cassidy and Brynn to meet. I know the author had to ‘prepare’ their stories, but since I wasn’t all that keen on Brynn, I would have been fine spending less time with her leading up to their meeting.
But overall, I enjoyed this book. Cassidy makes it worth it.
Grade: B
Summary:
From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Vixen and the Vet comes an unforgettable story about loss, redemption and the healing power of love.
My name is Cassidy Porter…
My father, Paul Isaac Porter, was convicted twenty years ago for the brutal murder of a dozen innocent girls.
Though I was only eight-years-old at the time, I am aware – every day of my life – that I am his child, his only son.
To protect the world from the poison in my veins, I live a quiet life, off the grid, away from humanity.
I promised myself, and my mother, not to infect innocent lives with the darkness that swirls within me, waiting to make itself known.
It’s a promise I would have kept…if Brynn Cadogan hadn’t stumbled into my life.
Now I exist between heaven and hell: falling for a woman who wants to love me, while all along reminding myself that I must remain…
Read an excerpt.
