Exiled: A Black Diamond Novel by Jessie Walker

Ms Walker certainly knows how to BRING IT when she graces us with a story. No matter how many books you read, once you finish a Jessie Walker book, all you can do is sit back in wonder and think to yourself … this is what a story is supposed to feel like. Exiled has intensity that pumps your blood faster and anguish that makes you feel shredded.

From the blurb:

Welcome to Black Diamond Resort and Spa…

…paradise for the banished, and my newest prison.

Growing up, I was the problem child teachers didn’t know what to do with.

The troubled teen whose parents wished was never born.

The system’s made of cracks, and I fell through each and every one, all in a futile effort to protect the family legacy.

They tried to fix me.

Doctors…therapists…teachers…pastors…

And they failed. Epically.

Now, eighteen, and fresh out of Hell, I’m thrown into the last place I ever expected.

Rehab.

Enter Nolan Dresden.

Newly divorced. A recovering alcoholic. Almost double my age.

He doesn’t think he needs to be here anymore than I do, and all he sees when he looks at me is a privileged little prince.

But when a team building exercise takes a deadly turn, stranding Nolan and I out in the wild for a night, not only do we find ourselves bonding over our shared trauma…

But surrendering to a current neither of us can escape.

Six weeks.

That’s all we have together before we have to come up for air.

He’s worried I’ll grow attached.

I’m worried he’s right.

But like the storms that rage inside me…

There’s no stopping the inevitable.

And when all is said and done, it’ll be a miracle if either of us walk away unscathed.

“Close your eyes. I’ll close mine too.”

Exiled is a full-length emotional M/M standalone.This book deals with content that may be triggering. A detailed warning can be found on the author's website.

Zakiyya's Review:

Nolan and Skyler are extremely powerful characters in the sense that they will have you hanging on to every moment of their lives.

Skyler holds such a special place in my heart that I don’t think I could EVER forget him …🥺

He’s one of those characters that you wish you could hold close to you and protect from the rest of the world.

Vivid descriptions and meticulous detail ensures that your attention is held throughout – I could not devour this book fast enough.

 

EXILED is an inspirational and heart-wrenching tale of persevering after facing life’s most difficult realities. 

A captivating, angsty read with off the charts, steaming hot chemistry – and most certainly another hit from the talented hands of Jessie Walker.

Rating: 5 Stars

Heather's Review:

Finding this story is why I love multi-author series - I haven't read anything by Jessie Walker previously so finding a new to me author in the midst of this wonderful series is fabulous!  I will say this one is more emotional and more heart wrenching than I typically read, but once I started, I was completely entrenched in Nolan and Syler's story.  This book put me through the emotional roller coaster and as the mother of a child with different needs. made me heartsick in places for the things Sky went through as a child.

If you're not a fan of angst, trauma and recovery than you may not want to get invested in these characters, but if you're willing to hurt with them then the HEA is wonderful.

Rating: 5 Stars

Exiled is available to buy as an ebook or to read with Kindle Unlimited subscription.