Drifting Hearts (The Anchor Book 2) by E.M. Denning

One of the best redemption storylines I've read so far!


From the Drifting Hearts blurb:

Kieran Taggart’s days are spent looking after his family. He keeps tabs on his baby brother, who is still travelling abroad. He helps his mom out with her shelter, and he keeps his older brother Shane from being too stupid with his money. Kieran usually loves how generous his brother is, but not when he ends up tangled in someone else’s mess because of it.

Clayton Cross knows he messed up his life. One minute he was working with his best friend, and the next, he’d cleaned out the business accounts and left that friend high and dry. Taking the money was only supposed to be a temporary means to an end. The odds should have been in his favor, but once again things didn’t go his way.

Clayton hits rock bottom when he’s assaulted, and with nowhere to go, he’s forced to turn to the best friend he betrayed for help. Archer wants nothing to do with him, but can’t bear to let Clayton suffer.

Given refuge at Patricia Taggart’s shelter, Clayton can attend therapy and heal his broken bones. With his life in shambles and the future a complete mystery, all he knows for certain is that everyone hates him. Shane and Archer keep their distance, leaving Kieran to step in when Clayton needs help.

Kieran should have no use for a man like Clayton. A man who stole from his best friend and dug himself into a hole that Kieran’s brother had to pull him out of. Even so, the more time they spend together, the more Kieran feels his heart drifting toward Clayton. Maybe he wasn’t such a bad guy after all. Maybe he just needed someone to care for him.

But how could he entertain the idea of a relationship with a man his brother despises? Falling for Clayton Cross is a terrible idea. So why can’t Kieran seem to help himself?


Angel's review:

When I read Turning Tides, (the first book in this series) and read about what Clayton did to Archer, I thought there would be no way he could be redeemed. Cause obviously if he could do something so heartless to his best friend then he's not a good person, right? I was really wrong.

E.M. Denning somehow made Clayton's character one that I sympathized and felt compassion and empathy for. He's had a rough life, he's never felt like he was good enough for those around him, and never felt as though he had anything substantial and if worth. Definitely doesn't excuse what he did, however, it helped explain his thought process behind what led him to doing what he did.

Despite Kieran being a massive grump for most of the book, I adore him so much. He's guarded and skeptical of most people but especially Clayton, rightfully so. However, overtime he realizes that Clayton is a good man, who has a good heart, who just made bad decisions. He made mistakes that cost him almost everything, but he's putting in the work to change, to heal, and to do better.

I enjoyed seeing these two men dance around their attraction, there was a nice buildup, a "will they, won't they" type of scenario. Especially because both of them felt as though they shouldn't be together because of everything that happened in Clayton's past. I thought the writing was engaging, the dialogue was entertaining and very emotional at times. I liked being able to witness Clayton grow and evolve, he admitted what he did was wrong, and put in the work and effort to change, To become a better version of himself, and that was really amazing to see happen.

Once Kieran got over his grumpy-ness, his open support of Clayton was so sweet, he did what he could to show the other man he was loved and cared for. And I just loved how they interacted with one another.

Oh! I have to add that I LOVED the mention of Bennett's Diner, and the characters from that series, it was really awesome to see those characters have mini cameos in this story.

I'm really looking forward to Brodie's story and seeing what's in store for this wonderful family.

Heather's Review:

We all need a little redemption in our lives... and Clayton needs a lot.  I truly appreciate the slow building of trust between Clayton and Kieran, the open loveliness of Kieran's mother and the way that the characters from Turning Tides and the Breakfast at Bennett's series integrate into this book.

These characters were true to themselves and eventually built each other up stronger - which is a great bonus of building to their HEA.  I can't wait to see what happens in Brodie's story!

Drifting Hearts is currently available as an e-book and paperback and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription