I’ve fallen deeply into the Gibson book world recently. When I saw the cover and the premise for Savage Blooms, I knew I had to read this one! And it was certainly different than I expected! Keep reading this book review of Savage Blooms for my full thoughts.
Summary
For as long as Adam can remember, the legends passed down from his world-traveling grandfather have called him to a crumbling manor in the Highlands. His closest friend Nicola longs for the same adventure, as well as for Adam himself. She’ll follow him just about anywhere – even to the remote wilds of Scotland – if it pushes the pair to surrender to their shared attraction.
But when a storm strikes and strands them unexpectedly, Adam and Nicola find themselves at the mercy of the eccentric owner of the infamous house, Eileen, as well as her brooding groundskeeper, Finley.
Trapped by the weather, and bound by ancient faery magic, Nicola and Adam get more than they bargained for as they become entangled in Eileen and Finley’s world of mind games, deceit and forbidden desire. As ancestral sins are unearthed, Adam and Nicola will have to reckon with the spell Eileen and Finley have cast over them – and whether or not they even want to be free.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Savage Blooms combines a Gothic Haunted House with supernatural forces biting at our heels, spicy and sexy scenes, and relationships with barbs and simmering feelings. With immediate character intrigue, Savage Blooms has a supernatural bite to it. There’s something sinister lurking beneath. While I think this supernatural creepiness is mostly background – until it’s not – I am invested in this series. I love that the spiciness, in some ways, takes the place of intimacy and words, but allows them to show their feelings and vulnerability. There’s a give and take, a power and refuge. The actual big overall plot I feel like gets a bit lost within the middle of the book – except in the explosive ending – the book focuses on characters.
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The underlying layer of family secrets, weathered and festered with age, combined with the memories of the past was interesting. I just wanted a bit more of this consistently. That being said, I’m still intrigued in the sequel especially since I fell for some of these characters. I love how they punish each other and use desire to break down walls between them. It’s a quartet of swirling emotions, whirlwinds of resentment and desire. Throughout Savage Blooms we see the ways we can give someone something they didn’t even know they could ask for. The places of softness and hardness we find, and seek, in people that we rise to meet.
Find Savage Blooms on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon(US)(UK), Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.