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Southern #4
Southern Sunrise
Buried secrets never stay hidden in the South.
Emily
I fell in love with him when I was fourteen. Under the stars, he told me he loved me, and under the stars we promised to love each other always. But under the stars, he broke my heart by walking away.
He left me without a second glance. I was just an afterthought.
Now he's back, but this time, I'm not falling for his Southern charm.
Maybe.
It’s time I get my happily ever after, even if part of me wishes he was still mine.
Ethan
I found out on my twenty-first birthday that everything I thought I knew was a lie, and the man I had grown up thinking was my father wasn't.
The pain I felt blinded me, making it impossible to hear what anyone said.
I left them all behind, including her, my best friend and the woman I was going to marry.
Five years later, I'm back, only to find the woman I still love has another man's ring on her finger.
She’s going to marry my best friend unless I stop her. And this time, I only have until sunrise to change her mind.
Emily
I fell in love with him when I was fourteen. Under the stars, he told me he loved me, and under the stars we promised to love each other always. But under the stars, he broke my heart by walking away.
He left me without a second glance. I was just an afterthought.
Now he's back, but this time, I'm not falling for his Southern charm.
Maybe.
It’s time I get my happily ever after, even if part of me wishes he was still mine.
Ethan
I found out on my twenty-first birthday that everything I thought I knew was a lie, and the man I had grown up thinking was my father wasn't.
The pain I felt blinded me, making it impossible to hear what anyone said.
I left them all behind, including her, my best friend and the woman I was going to marry.
Five years later, I'm back, only to find the woman I still love has another man's ring on her finger.
She’s going to marry my best friend unless I stop her. And this time, I only have until sunrise to change her mind.
289 pages, Paperback
First published May 21, 2020
About the author
Natasha Madison
81 books6,992 followersWhen Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author's nose isn't buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she's in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It's a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn't listen to her...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 414 reviews
September 9, 2020
3 stars
Ever since I started reading this series, I was excited for an Ethan book. I couldn't wait to get this kid's story.
Ethan is Jacob and Savannah's son, but if you've read the earlier books you know that's not what it seems... Ethan is also in love with his high school sweetheart, Emily. They have a forever kind of love. Or so Emily thought until Ethan took off for years once he learned his family's secret.
I loved Emily and I adored Ethan, and by the end I was happy with how their story turned out. I didn't love the way Ethan handled things at all though. I mean, my life had a similar situation and it just boggles my mind that he would treat Jacob the way he did. It irked me enough that I felt I could never truly fall in love with this book, which makes me sad because it had so much potential for me.
I listened to the audio book which was narrated by Brian Pallino and Morais Almeida. Both did a great job. I listened to this entire series in audio and I enjoyed listening to them all. If you're looking for a second chance romance, give this one a try. It might just be the book for you!
Buried secrets never stay hidden in the South.
Ever since I started reading this series, I was excited for an Ethan book. I couldn't wait to get this kid's story.
Ethan is Jacob and Savannah's son, but if you've read the earlier books you know that's not what it seems... Ethan is also in love with his high school sweetheart, Emily. They have a forever kind of love. Or so Emily thought until Ethan took off for years once he learned his family's secret.
I loved Emily and I adored Ethan, and by the end I was happy with how their story turned out. I didn't love the way Ethan handled things at all though. I mean, my life had a similar situation and it just boggles my mind that he would treat Jacob the way he did. It irked me enough that I felt I could never truly fall in love with this book, which makes me sad because it had so much potential for me.
I listened to the audio book which was narrated by Brian Pallino and Morais Almeida. Both did a great job. I listened to this entire series in audio and I enjoyed listening to them all. If you're looking for a second chance romance, give this one a try. It might just be the book for you!
“I belong to you, my heart belongs to you in this life, in our past life, and in our next life, it will always be you.”
July 11, 2020
These days finding a 2nd chance romance that doesn't have the usual trope of hero f**ing around with others while heroine stays frozen, is like one waiting for a unicorn. Surprisingly, both MCs remained celibate during the separation which is why it gets a 4 star rating from me!!
Hero & heroine were childhood sweethearts and engaged to be married. However, after graduating HS, Hero learned that his Father was not his Bio Daddy and he left everyone (his family & heroine) to go find himself. He joins the Marines and doesn't return for 5 years after he comes close to dying.
Heroine in the meantime was left heartbroken and grieved for him for a few years. However, in the present she is engaged to his BFF who is an asshole but she never slept with him.
What I liked:
- Heroine does not easily forgive or take him back. It takes about 40% before she attempts to forgive him. (WooHoo!)
- His family is also awesome. They lay it out for him about his selfishness & unacceptable behavior. Eventually, they all forgive him but the point is that unlike others, these characters did not make it easy for him right away.
- His Dad who raised him & Jenna (heroine's BFF who tells it as it is!)
- The fact that it is only 5 year separation and not your typical 10+. (Hallelujah!!!)👏👏👏
What I didn't like:
- Hero selfishness not to consider his actions of both leaving the people who loved him and not looking back.
- The unforgivable action of changing his last name to hurt the man who loved, sacrificed, and raised him! The only Dad he ever head! My heart hurt for his Dad. (the scene where he had it out with him was one I will not forget in a long time).
Was he telling the truth?” I look at her. “Did you never sleep with him?”
She gets up now. “That’s none of your business.” She puts the glass down and then tries to walk away, but I grab her hand, and she stops and looks down, seeing her hand in mine.
“I haven’t been with anyone either,” I say and let go of her hand. “I just wanted you to know.”
-----------
“You left me,” she says the three words that cut me. “You just left me.” She turns in my arms now. “You left me, and I had to learn how to breathe without my chest hurting. I had to learn how to go an hour without wanting to call you. I had to learn how to wake up and pretend I was okay. I had to learn how to live again.” She puts her head down and cries, and I pull her into my arms. “I can’t survive that again.”
“You don’t have to. You won’t ever have to,” I say. “Let me prove it to you,” I beg her. I will spend my whole life begging her. “You deserve so much better than me,” I admit. “You deserve someone who doesn’t make you cry. You deserve a man who lifts you up instead of pulling you down. You deserve a man who has never hurt you. You deserve a man who doesn’t have you doubting your worth because you are worth everything. You deserve all of that.” My heart breaks. “I should let you find it, but I’m not that good of a man. I am going to prove to you that I deserve it.” I put my hand under her chin to lift her face up to see me. “There is nothing more in this life I need to do but prove it to you.”
“What if you realize that you aren’t in love with me?” she asks the question I’ve asked myself over and over again. One of my biggest fears is that she realized she never really loved me.
“How could I not love you?” I say and then take her hand and place it over my heart. “You come into the room, and my heart feels so big it might come out of my chest. I look over at you, and my heart races. Emily, you are my heart.”
“Ethan.” She says my name, “I beg you.” Her voice goes low. “Don’t do this if you aren’t sure.”
“You are my reason,” I say. “You are the reason that I get up in the morning. You are the reason I fought to live. You. Are. My. Reason.”
Hero & heroine were childhood sweethearts and engaged to be married. However, after graduating HS, Hero learned that his Father was not his Bio Daddy and he left everyone (his family & heroine) to go find himself. He joins the Marines and doesn't return for 5 years after he comes close to dying.
Heroine in the meantime was left heartbroken and grieved for him for a few years. However, in the present she is engaged to his BFF who is an asshole but she never slept with him.
What I liked:
- Heroine does not easily forgive or take him back. It takes about 40% before she attempts to forgive him. (WooHoo!)
- His family is also awesome. They lay it out for him about his selfishness & unacceptable behavior. Eventually, they all forgive him but the point is that unlike others, these characters did not make it easy for him right away.
- His Dad who raised him & Jenna (heroine's BFF who tells it as it is!)
- The fact that it is only 5 year separation and not your typical 10+. (Hallelujah!!!)👏👏👏
What I didn't like:
- Hero selfishness not to consider his actions of both leaving the people who loved him and not looking back.
- The unforgivable action of changing his last name to hurt the man who loved, sacrificed, and raised him! The only Dad he ever head! My heart hurt for his Dad. (the scene where he had it out with him was one I will not forget in a long time).
Was he telling the truth?” I look at her. “Did you never sleep with him?”
She gets up now. “That’s none of your business.” She puts the glass down and then tries to walk away, but I grab her hand, and she stops and looks down, seeing her hand in mine.
“I haven’t been with anyone either,” I say and let go of her hand. “I just wanted you to know.”
-----------
“You left me,” she says the three words that cut me. “You just left me.” She turns in my arms now. “You left me, and I had to learn how to breathe without my chest hurting. I had to learn how to go an hour without wanting to call you. I had to learn how to wake up and pretend I was okay. I had to learn how to live again.” She puts her head down and cries, and I pull her into my arms. “I can’t survive that again.”
“You don’t have to. You won’t ever have to,” I say. “Let me prove it to you,” I beg her. I will spend my whole life begging her. “You deserve so much better than me,” I admit. “You deserve someone who doesn’t make you cry. You deserve a man who lifts you up instead of pulling you down. You deserve a man who has never hurt you. You deserve a man who doesn’t have you doubting your worth because you are worth everything. You deserve all of that.” My heart breaks. “I should let you find it, but I’m not that good of a man. I am going to prove to you that I deserve it.” I put my hand under her chin to lift her face up to see me. “There is nothing more in this life I need to do but prove it to you.”
“What if you realize that you aren’t in love with me?” she asks the question I’ve asked myself over and over again. One of my biggest fears is that she realized she never really loved me.
“How could I not love you?” I say and then take her hand and place it over my heart. “You come into the room, and my heart feels so big it might come out of my chest. I look over at you, and my heart races. Emily, you are my heart.”
“Ethan.” She says my name, “I beg you.” Her voice goes low. “Don’t do this if you aren’t sure.”
“You are my reason,” I say. “You are the reason that I get up in the morning. You are the reason I fought to live. You. Are. My. Reason.”
July 2, 2020
Release Date: July 7, 2020
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Second Chance Romance
Southern Sunrise is the 4th book in the Southern series. I recommend reading these books in order as they are interconnected, and past books may be spoiled if you read them out of order.
First and foremost, this is my favorite book (so far) in the series. I love a second chance romance and Natasha Madison wrote this one perfectly. It hit all the emotions, had a bit of angst, and a tiny bit of hate/love. Emily and Ethan were written flawlessly. Ethan was overcoming some shocking family news and picked up and left everything in his life behind (including his girlfriend, Emily). 5 years later, he’s back and will stop at nothing to win back the love of his life. Emily doesn’t make it easy for him. She was engaged to another man for one thing (no worries, there is no cheating), and she was so broken when he left her without a word for five years that she couldn’t stand the thought of being in the same room as him. But his determination was stunning and watching him prove his love was sensational to read about. I just loved it to pieces!
One of the things I wished this book had was a bit more backstory. I wanted to see what happened to Ethan while he was in the military (it’s skimmed over) as it had such an effect on his reasons to come back home. Not only that, I would have imagined he’d be a bit more emotionally broken because of the horror he faced while serving his country. This wasn’t the case though and it looked as if he had an easy time of it. Another thing I would have loved to see if a few flashbacks from when Emily and Ethan were in love as kids. There are a few scattered here and there but I would have loved to see them together in the past. It would have added a bit more depth.
All in all, even though I am being a little nitpicky, I loved this one. As I mentioned, it’s my favorite of the series so far and I’m itching for another book. Natasha mentioned at the end of this one that the next release will be in March of 2021 and I can’t wait!
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Second Chance Romance
Southern Sunrise is the 4th book in the Southern series. I recommend reading these books in order as they are interconnected, and past books may be spoiled if you read them out of order.
First and foremost, this is my favorite book (so far) in the series. I love a second chance romance and Natasha Madison wrote this one perfectly. It hit all the emotions, had a bit of angst, and a tiny bit of hate/love. Emily and Ethan were written flawlessly. Ethan was overcoming some shocking family news and picked up and left everything in his life behind (including his girlfriend, Emily). 5 years later, he’s back and will stop at nothing to win back the love of his life. Emily doesn’t make it easy for him. She was engaged to another man for one thing (no worries, there is no cheating), and she was so broken when he left her without a word for five years that she couldn’t stand the thought of being in the same room as him. But his determination was stunning and watching him prove his love was sensational to read about. I just loved it to pieces!
One of the things I wished this book had was a bit more backstory. I wanted to see what happened to Ethan while he was in the military (it’s skimmed over) as it had such an effect on his reasons to come back home. Not only that, I would have imagined he’d be a bit more emotionally broken because of the horror he faced while serving his country. This wasn’t the case though and it looked as if he had an easy time of it. Another thing I would have loved to see if a few flashbacks from when Emily and Ethan were in love as kids. There are a few scattered here and there but I would have loved to see them together in the past. It would have added a bit more depth.
All in all, even though I am being a little nitpicky, I loved this one. As I mentioned, it’s my favorite of the series so far and I’m itching for another book. Natasha mentioned at the end of this one that the next release will be in March of 2021 and I can’t wait!
July 12, 2020
Two stars because the heroine held on as long as she could. But she was still a bit of pathetic. Come one she begged his manipulative bitch of a mother to sell her his house and have lived there for the whole 5 years! If that doesn’t say pathetic I don’t know what will.
The fact that everyone said that her new fiancé wasn’t a good enough man for her pissed me off to no end. Sure the author and her cliché writing had the fiancé turned out to be a cheating asshole but who’s good enough for her? The asshole that ran away at the first sign of trouble? The asshole that did NOT want to return home? Is that what everyone thinks is good enough man for her? In all honesty, she ended up paying for something she didn’t do. She ended up paying for his parents lies and mistakes. If she’s not careful he’ll run away again like a little bitch.
I hated his manipulative bitch of a mother in the first book as much as I did here. No one seem to think that they did wrong in keeping their lies. They lied to him all of his life and the would have continued doing so if it wasn’t for someone else reveling the truth. The fact his fake father told him that he would do it again and again means they weren’t regretting that they’ve lied all of his life.
He has no right to question if she didn’t have sex with her fiancé. I don’t know why the author didn’t have her have sex with him. It would have served him right to hear how “his one” had sex with his own best friend and that she moved on in every sense of the word.
The lies should have ended in book 1. This book was just another way to get more money from readers.
What a joke of a man. He changed his last name because he didn’t know who he really was only to change it back! 🙄🤦🏻♀️🤣
**Book NOT provided by anyone but my own damn money.**
The fact that everyone said that her new fiancé wasn’t a good enough man for her pissed me off to no end. Sure the author and her cliché writing had the fiancé turned out to be a cheating asshole but who’s good enough for her? The asshole that ran away at the first sign of trouble? The asshole that did NOT want to return home? Is that what everyone thinks is good enough man for her? In all honesty, she ended up paying for something she didn’t do. She ended up paying for his parents lies and mistakes. If she’s not careful he’ll run away again like a little bitch.
I hated his manipulative bitch of a mother in the first book as much as I did here. No one seem to think that they did wrong in keeping their lies. They lied to him all of his life and the would have continued doing so if it wasn’t for someone else reveling the truth. The fact his fake father told him that he would do it again and again means they weren’t regretting that they’ve lied all of his life.
He has no right to question if she didn’t have sex with her fiancé. I don’t know why the author didn’t have her have sex with him. It would have served him right to hear how “his one” had sex with his own best friend and that she moved on in every sense of the word.
The lies should have ended in book 1. This book was just another way to get more money from readers.
What a joke of a man. He changed his last name because he didn’t know who he really was only to change it back! 🙄🤦🏻♀️🤣
**Book NOT provided by anyone but my own damn money.**
February 25, 2021
SPOILERS SPOILERS
This is going to a very stabby, ranty review and I apologize for that, but this is everything wrong with bad contemporary romance, small town romances or whatever subgenre this falls under.
The Zero Hero: The zero hero is a whiny little toe tag that flounces off in an epic huff when he finds out that the man who raised him, loved him and sacrificed his own happiness for this brat is not his biological father. Were the dad and the bio mom idiots for lying to him? Yes, but they loved him. As someone who was adopted, if the man that raises you isn’t your father then who is, you ungrateful toad?
Jackass leaves family and fiancee for five years so he can pout in the military and finally comes home to the ultimate Prodigal Son welcome home with one exception. His little sister is furious and calls him out for the big whiny weeny he is, but it doesn’t last long enough. Get over yourself dude.
The wilting heroine:
Heroine mourns for five years, buys the house he was raised in from his mother for crying out loud, and half-heartedly moves on with a new man. A new man no one thinks is right for her because her soul mate is still out there. You know the soul mate that left you literally crying in the dust as he zooms away in his car.
The half-baked and unworthy fiancee:
The big bad fiancee has been friend-zoned by the heroine, but it’s okay as the author demonizes him by not only having him cheat on her with a skanky young thing, but gets the skanky young thing pregnant. “Skanky” is more than implied which is very unfair as this poor fictional girl had no idea that the cheating fiancee was with anyone else, and she is humiliated in public. Hey, it’s okay as the humiliation comes from the poor little heroine. I guess if the heroine can’t lash out at the ones that deserve it, the hero for dumping her or the fiancee for cheating on her, then this chick will do. Nothing like a little condescending slut-shaming to move the story along. Creating a cheap female so the heroine and friends can smirk and be superior over her is not a good writing tool.
There’s a happy every after of course because their love is pure except when they are having epic down and dirty sex or when the hero leaves. Just hope nothing else happens in his life like a broken nail or a flat tire because his candy ass rear will be out the door.
Oh, and the hero’s nickname for the heroine is Sunrise. That’s soooooooo sweet.
This is going to a very stabby, ranty review and I apologize for that, but this is everything wrong with bad contemporary romance, small town romances or whatever subgenre this falls under.
The Zero Hero: The zero hero is a whiny little toe tag that flounces off in an epic huff when he finds out that the man who raised him, loved him and sacrificed his own happiness for this brat is not his biological father. Were the dad and the bio mom idiots for lying to him? Yes, but they loved him. As someone who was adopted, if the man that raises you isn’t your father then who is, you ungrateful toad?
Jackass leaves family and fiancee for five years so he can pout in the military and finally comes home to the ultimate Prodigal Son welcome home with one exception. His little sister is furious and calls him out for the big whiny weeny he is, but it doesn’t last long enough. Get over yourself dude.
The wilting heroine:
Heroine mourns for five years, buys the house he was raised in from his mother for crying out loud, and half-heartedly moves on with a new man. A new man no one thinks is right for her because her soul mate is still out there. You know the soul mate that left you literally crying in the dust as he zooms away in his car.
The half-baked and unworthy fiancee:
The big bad fiancee has been friend-zoned by the heroine, but it’s okay as the author demonizes him by not only having him cheat on her with a skanky young thing, but gets the skanky young thing pregnant. “Skanky” is more than implied which is very unfair as this poor fictional girl had no idea that the cheating fiancee was with anyone else, and she is humiliated in public. Hey, it’s okay as the humiliation comes from the poor little heroine. I guess if the heroine can’t lash out at the ones that deserve it, the hero for dumping her or the fiancee for cheating on her, then this chick will do. Nothing like a little condescending slut-shaming to move the story along. Creating a cheap female so the heroine and friends can smirk and be superior over her is not a good writing tool.
There’s a happy every after of course because their love is pure except when they are having epic down and dirty sex or when the hero leaves. Just hope nothing else happens in his life like a broken nail or a flat tire because his candy ass rear will be out the door.
Oh, and the hero’s nickname for the heroine is Sunrise. That’s soooooooo sweet.
June 11, 2020
“You and me, Sunrise, it’s a forever kind of love.”
6 HUGE STARS
OMG, this book! An emotionally stunning second chance romance that is all about healing, forgiveness, and coming home. This book has all the feels and I devoured it from start to finish. I loved every single moment and I’m riding an absolute giddy high of book love, so you’ll have to excuse my epic gushing.
I read this book coming off the previous one - Southern Storm – which I really struggled with. I was honestly terrified going into this book thinking it was going to be an angsty love triangles with characters making silly decision – but no! It’s nothing like what I thought, it’s everything I didn’t know Iwanted needed, and it rocked my little world.
Redemption came for me in the first chapter, which is when Ethan finds out the big secret his parents have been keeping (read my not-so-gushy review of Southern Storm if you want details on that one). It’s gutwrenching, but it’s infinitely satisfying as we see Ethan let loose with all of the anger that I was feeling on his behalf (finally giving me an outlet for my own feels), and it sets the scene for the rest of the book as, angry, lost and grieving, he storms out on his family, and the girl he loves.
It's five long years later when he returns to town, and he is a changed man. He’s been through hell, but he’s ready to face up to his past and finally make amends for leaving the way he did. He knows it’s going to be difficult and that he has a lot to make up for, but it’s time.
And here come the feels!
Ethan very quickly learns that not only has he changed in the time he’s been away, but so have the people he left behind. He shattered them, and they are still grieving his loss, especially the girl he left behind, Emily.
Emily and Ethan fell in love as teenagers, and they were it for each other. First loves, true loves, soulmates, they were planning their future together when Ethan up and left. Emily was left broken, but she has picked herself up and tried to move on, and that includes getting engaged… to Ethan’s best friend of all people. Whaaaaat? If, like me, this particular plot twist turns you right off, don’t fear!
The initial scenes with Ethan and Emily together are fantastic! Full of chemistry and emotion, and that feeling of building anticipation as we revel in all of the longing that is so clear between them. Ethan makes it really clear early on that he wants Emily back, and in epic romance hero style, he lays his heart on the line for her, even as she tries to keep her distance.
Oh swoon!
But while Emily is relieved to see Ethan safe, healthy and at home, she can’t trust him with her heart again. It almost destroyed her the last time he left, and she can’t risk it happening a second time. I love Emily – she’s sensible, she’s smart, and she’s absolutely relatable. I could understand her decisions and the way she acted, and I was fully on her side as she held nothing back from Ethan
It’s so emotional, so swoony, and so exciting watching everything unfold between these two! They have a lot to work through, and the feels are intense, and I was in tears watching it all come out. I was feeling everything with them, and I thought their reconnection played out perfectly! Paced well, with so much emotion, it’s realistic, sensible and functional, and the mix of heart-wrenching declarations, sweet moments, and passionate sexy time is mixed well with the laugh-out-loud banter and sense of fun that Ethan and Emily have between them. Their love for each other shines through each and every encounter, and I adored every moment of them together.
But Emily isn’t the only one left shattered when Ethan left. His family were all devastated by his abrupt and shocking absence, and he has a lot of fences to mend. One by one, we get to see him make his peace with the people he let down, and oh, my heart. Those special moments are beautifully written with so much emotion, and almost every single one of them had me in tears. He gets the answers he needed, and he is able to explain himself beautifully. I understood and empathised with him, I was never angry with him, and I love how he owned his mistakes and made such an effort to make things right.
It’s epic. It really is. And there’s this sense of the series coming full circle as so many of the things I was wrestling with are resolved, and we get this sense that everything is as it should be – even if the journey to get there was a hard one. If I had to go through the dramatic turmoil of the preceding books to get this story – it was worth it. The feels are there, but without all the angst (which I appreciated) and I finished the book with a massive cheesy grin and happy tears streaming down my face.
It's a beautiful story of family, forgiveness and healing, and of realising and fighting for the life that you want. An instant favourite, and one of Natasha’s best, I love it so much!
6 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
6 HUGE STARS
OMG, this book! An emotionally stunning second chance romance that is all about healing, forgiveness, and coming home. This book has all the feels and I devoured it from start to finish. I loved every single moment and I’m riding an absolute giddy high of book love, so you’ll have to excuse my epic gushing.
I read this book coming off the previous one - Southern Storm – which I really struggled with. I was honestly terrified going into this book thinking it was going to be an angsty love triangles with characters making silly decision – but no! It’s nothing like what I thought, it’s everything I didn’t know I
Redemption came for me in the first chapter, which is when Ethan finds out the big secret his parents have been keeping (read my not-so-gushy review of Southern Storm if you want details on that one). It’s gutwrenching, but it’s infinitely satisfying as we see Ethan let loose with all of the anger that I was feeling on his behalf (finally giving me an outlet for my own feels), and it sets the scene for the rest of the book as, angry, lost and grieving, he storms out on his family, and the girl he loves.
It's five long years later when he returns to town, and he is a changed man. He’s been through hell, but he’s ready to face up to his past and finally make amends for leaving the way he did. He knows it’s going to be difficult and that he has a lot to make up for, but it’s time.
And here come the feels!
“This is my home.” … It took me five years to get back here, and every single day is going to be one step in getting my life back.
Ethan very quickly learns that not only has he changed in the time he’s been away, but so have the people he left behind. He shattered them, and they are still grieving his loss, especially the girl he left behind, Emily.
Emily and Ethan fell in love as teenagers, and they were it for each other. First loves, true loves, soulmates, they were planning their future together when Ethan up and left. Emily was left broken, but she has picked herself up and tried to move on, and that includes getting engaged… to Ethan’s best friend of all people. Whaaaaat? If, like me, this particular plot twist turns you right off, don’t fear!
The initial scenes with Ethan and Emily together are fantastic! Full of chemistry and emotion, and that feeling of building anticipation as we revel in all of the longing that is so clear between them. Ethan makes it really clear early on that he wants Emily back, and in epic romance hero style, he lays his heart on the line for her, even as she tries to keep her distance.
“Do me a favor and let me be. If you ever cared about me at all, just let me be.”
He walks to me now, and I don’t move, I can’t. “I’ll let you be,” he says the words. “But for the record, I loved you every single day that I was gone. I loved you every single second. In my darkness, you were my light … “In my pain, you were my strength, and when I looked into the face of evil and fought for my life, you were the reason I wanted to live.”
Oh swoon!
But while Emily is relieved to see Ethan safe, healthy and at home, she can’t trust him with her heart again. It almost destroyed her the last time he left, and she can’t risk it happening a second time. I love Emily – she’s sensible, she’s smart, and she’s absolutely relatable. I could understand her decisions and the way she acted, and I was fully on her side as she held nothing back from Ethan
“You left me,” she says the three words that cut me. “You just left me.” She turns in my arms now. “You left me, and I had to learn how to breathe without my chest hurting. I had to learn how to go an hour without wanting to call you. I had to learn how to wake up and pretend I was okay. I had to learn how to live again.” She puts her head down and cries, and I pull her into my arms. “I can’t survive that again.”
“You don’t have to. You won’t ever have to.”
It’s so emotional, so swoony, and so exciting watching everything unfold between these two! They have a lot to work through, and the feels are intense, and I was in tears watching it all come out. I was feeling everything with them, and I thought their reconnection played out perfectly! Paced well, with so much emotion, it’s realistic, sensible and functional, and the mix of heart-wrenching declarations, sweet moments, and passionate sexy time is mixed well with the laugh-out-loud banter and sense of fun that Ethan and Emily have between them. Their love for each other shines through each and every encounter, and I adored every moment of them together.
“I belong to you, my heart belongs to you in this life, in our past life, and in our next life, it will always be you.”
But Emily isn’t the only one left shattered when Ethan left. His family were all devastated by his abrupt and shocking absence, and he has a lot of fences to mend. One by one, we get to see him make his peace with the people he let down, and oh, my heart. Those special moments are beautifully written with so much emotion, and almost every single one of them had me in tears. He gets the answers he needed, and he is able to explain himself beautifully. I understood and empathised with him, I was never angry with him, and I love how he owned his mistakes and made such an effort to make things right.
“I’m the same man … I just have a few broken pieces.”
It’s epic. It really is. And there’s this sense of the series coming full circle as so many of the things I was wrestling with are resolved, and we get this sense that everything is as it should be – even if the journey to get there was a hard one. If I had to go through the dramatic turmoil of the preceding books to get this story – it was worth it. The feels are there, but without all the angst (which I appreciated) and I finished the book with a massive cheesy grin and happy tears streaming down my face.
“I loved you then, I’ll love you forever.”
It's a beautiful story of family, forgiveness and healing, and of realising and fighting for the life that you want. An instant favourite, and one of Natasha’s best, I love it so much!
6 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2020
This book has been lingering in the back of my thoughts since I started the series. It's something I have experienced first-hand, finding out by accident that my parents aren't actually my parents. And it's hard to express how much that fundamentally changes you. How it fractures your relationship with the people closest to you.
Because despite nothing changing, everything you think you know about yourself is suddenly wrong. And the people you have trusted have lied to you for your entire life. So I completely understood where Ethan was coming from, BUT I couldn't justify his actions.
Emily was such a sweetheart and knowing how in love they were, I couldn't grasp how Ethan could have walked away. So, I was glad when Emily didn't just roll over and welcome him home. I was even more glad to see him realise the pain and devastation he left behind and set about making amends.
The love and chemistry between these two was awe inspiring. I felt like they were inevitable from the start. And I really loved this conclusion to their family drama. I can't wait to see the next lot of secrets that Natasha has in store for us next year.
Because despite nothing changing, everything you think you know about yourself is suddenly wrong. And the people you have trusted have lied to you for your entire life. So I completely understood where Ethan was coming from, BUT I couldn't justify his actions.
Emily was such a sweetheart and knowing how in love they were, I couldn't grasp how Ethan could have walked away. So, I was glad when Emily didn't just roll over and welcome him home. I was even more glad to see him realise the pain and devastation he left behind and set about making amends.
The love and chemistry between these two was awe inspiring. I felt like they were inevitable from the start. And I really loved this conclusion to their family drama. I can't wait to see the next lot of secrets that Natasha has in store for us next year.
January 14, 2022
Natasha Madison does a great job at getting you hooked up on series and kudos to her, you end up binging the entire series even though the books are a bit underwhelming. I just need to know what’s going on with these characters and how the story will end. Like I said before, they read like one continuous story. This book jumps in time from the previous 3, as with the previous ones there’s editing and continuity issues but this is Ethan’s book and he is now an adult. Ethan is Savannah and Jacob’s son, but by now you’ve read the previous books (there’s no way I can suggest these as standalones) so you know that the truth is different and that stupid Savannah has decided never to tell her kid the truth (even though by now pretty much everyone knows) but Ethan finds out anyway. Ethan throws a tantrum and pulls a Kallie and disappears for 5 more years. Then he comes back and his girlfriend is there waiting for him (well she’s engaged to some dude but we’re told right away she doesn’t love him and hasn’t even been intimate with him. Of course she’s still pining for him and of course he now wants her back and it takes him just a few days to convince her to get him back. It’s pretty parallel to Southern Chance and the Jacob/Kallie storyline sans the baby drama. They’ve both also remained celibate for years. Natasha’s heroes and heroines in this series are super faithful to each other, even if they’re apart for almost a decade so you gotta give it to her. But they’re all also a little martyrized and unable to move on for years. It’s just weird. With that said, I’m still invested and hopefully the other kid’s stories will be better since the whole Jacob/Savannah/Ethan secret that was dragged for 4 books is finally out in the open and thankfully done for. Hooray for that!
July 7, 2020
I will not sugarcoat this, as by now based on the synopsis you will figure out that this story will gut you. If you have been following the series from the beginning, you will understand my reasons for saying this. After the last installment, I was waiting for the ball to drop and drop it did, and the outcome was devastating. The story was bittersweet, and it was one heck of an emotional rollercoaster ride.
Southern Sunrise demonstrated how secrets can destroy the best of relationships. The hero, Ethan, was living his best life. Plans to marry his childhood sweetheart and graduating from college were on the top of his list. However, the revelation of a devastating secret would rock his world and derail those plans. The pain and the anger stemming from the revelation led to him walking away from all he held dear. Five years later he returned home to face the devastation his actions caused and to win back the heart of the only woman he ever loved. Along the way, he would learn the true meaning of sacrifices.
Throughout most of the story, I straddled the fence as it relates to Ethan’s actions. I understood how he must have felt, discovering the secret his family kept from him for years, but I did not agree with the way he handled the situation. The shock and perceived betrayal led to him abandoning his loved ones for five years. At the time I found his actions selfish, but I figured it had a lot to do with his level of maturity.
I felt for the persons affected by Ethan’s decision, but the person my heart broke most for was Emily. Despite being engaged to another man, her heart belonged to Ethan. A fact which would reveal itself on Ethan’s return. To say their reunion was bittersweet would be an understatement. It was gut wrenching and heart-breaking. Ethan knew he had a lot to make up for and it would prove harder than the tragedies he faced in the past five years.
I admired the growth Ethan showed. He recognized the pain his actions caused and tried to make amends. ‘It takes a real man to realize his mistake, but an even better one to make things right’.
Southern Sunrise by Natasha Madison showed the importance of family, friendship, forgiveness, healing and second chances. It revealed that amidst pain and loss, hope shines like a beacon.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Overall, I found this to be a wonderful addition to the series and would recommend it without reservation. A note of caution in the series needs to be read in order.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
Southern Sunrise demonstrated how secrets can destroy the best of relationships. The hero, Ethan, was living his best life. Plans to marry his childhood sweetheart and graduating from college were on the top of his list. However, the revelation of a devastating secret would rock his world and derail those plans. The pain and the anger stemming from the revelation led to him walking away from all he held dear. Five years later he returned home to face the devastation his actions caused and to win back the heart of the only woman he ever loved. Along the way, he would learn the true meaning of sacrifices.
Throughout most of the story, I straddled the fence as it relates to Ethan’s actions. I understood how he must have felt, discovering the secret his family kept from him for years, but I did not agree with the way he handled the situation. The shock and perceived betrayal led to him abandoning his loved ones for five years. At the time I found his actions selfish, but I figured it had a lot to do with his level of maturity.
I felt for the persons affected by Ethan’s decision, but the person my heart broke most for was Emily. Despite being engaged to another man, her heart belonged to Ethan. A fact which would reveal itself on Ethan’s return. To say their reunion was bittersweet would be an understatement. It was gut wrenching and heart-breaking. Ethan knew he had a lot to make up for and it would prove harder than the tragedies he faced in the past five years.
I admired the growth Ethan showed. He recognized the pain his actions caused and tried to make amends. ‘It takes a real man to realize his mistake, but an even better one to make things right’.
Southern Sunrise by Natasha Madison showed the importance of family, friendship, forgiveness, healing and second chances. It revealed that amidst pain and loss, hope shines like a beacon.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Overall, I found this to be a wonderful addition to the series and would recommend it without reservation. A note of caution in the series needs to be read in order.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
July 7, 2020
4.5 stars!
“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙚, 𝙎𝙪𝙣𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙖 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚...”
Natasha Madison pulled out all the stops with Southern Sunrise. Ethan and Emily's story was heartbreaking and healing at the same time. Angst, heat, tension, and love were all prevalent in this one. Ethan learns his true biological identity (which you learn in Southern Chance and Southern Storm and he finally comes to terms with the people he calls family and the ones he loves.
I really adored this story! Natasha drew some tears from me on this one for sure. It was everything I wanted for Ethan's story!
“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙚, 𝙎𝙪𝙣𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙖 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚...”
Natasha Madison pulled out all the stops with Southern Sunrise. Ethan and Emily's story was heartbreaking and healing at the same time. Angst, heat, tension, and love were all prevalent in this one. Ethan learns his true biological identity (which you learn in Southern Chance and Southern Storm and he finally comes to terms with the people he calls family and the ones he loves.
I really adored this story! Natasha drew some tears from me on this one for sure. It was everything I wanted for Ethan's story!
July 19, 2021
OMG……..this is absolutely my favorite so far of this series. This book has the feels for sure!!!
I seriously ugly cried during this book…..snot running down my face, had to stop reading because it was too blurry from the tears kind of crying.
Ethan is grown up in this book and he is blindsided by his paternity which has him questioning everything.
I will say I was a little disappointed in Ethan for his rapid departure and disregard for his families feelings BUT I decided I would chalk it up to immaturity due to his age.
Once he returned to town it was an emotional roller coaster until the end of the book.
Really good book!!
I seriously ugly cried during this book…..snot running down my face, had to stop reading because it was too blurry from the tears kind of crying.
Ethan is grown up in this book and he is blindsided by his paternity which has him questioning everything.
I will say I was a little disappointed in Ethan for his rapid departure and disregard for his families feelings BUT I decided I would chalk it up to immaturity due to his age.
Once he returned to town it was an emotional roller coaster until the end of the book.
Really good book!!
June 24, 2020
I am SHOOKETH! I devoured this book in well UNDER 24hrs. Something I haven't done in a VERY LONG time! I also messaged Natasha multiple times while reading to express my shock, my heartache, my emotions, my joy. Again, something I haven't done in a very long time. I inhaled every. Single. Word.
Southern Sunrise is WITHOUT A DOUBT:
The best book of the Southern Series. Natasha really did save the best til last! Not even kidding one bit!
The best book Natasha has ever written. The storytelling is immaculate and utterly amazing! I was OBSESSED with this book from beginning to end. Held captive by two beautiful characters that I rooted for all the way through. If you have read any of Natasha's books, hold your horses because this one is going to top anything that came before it.
A Top Read of 2020. Easily. Hands down. Again, not kidding. I'm truly being serious. This book has it all, will make you feel it all. It's truly something special. I'm still thinking about it weeks later and I wish I could read it again for the first time!
So, if you read any book this year. Make it this one!
Southern Sunrise is WITHOUT A DOUBT:
The best book of the Southern Series. Natasha really did save the best til last! Not even kidding one bit!
The best book Natasha has ever written. The storytelling is immaculate and utterly amazing! I was OBSESSED with this book from beginning to end. Held captive by two beautiful characters that I rooted for all the way through. If you have read any of Natasha's books, hold your horses because this one is going to top anything that came before it.
A Top Read of 2020. Easily. Hands down. Again, not kidding. I'm truly being serious. This book has it all, will make you feel it all. It's truly something special. I'm still thinking about it weeks later and I wish I could read it again for the first time!
So, if you read any book this year. Make it this one!
May 9, 2020
Southern Sunrise by Natasha Madison is one of those books that ingrains itself into your soul.
Madison has the incredible ability to bring her characters to life in such a way you feel like you are a part of the storyline.
That you can actually feel the emotions as every event unfolds.
I knew in my heart that Ethan’s story was going to be a tough one.
So much anger and so much hurt.
But boy, is it worth all the feels!
Madison reminds us the importance of family, of forgiveness, and of redemption.
No matter how lost we may be. There is always hope for more. For love.
“I loved you every single day that I was gone. I loved you every single second. In my darkness, you were my light,”
And at the end of the day, that’s all each of us can hope for. That we find our own light in our darkness.
5 Outstanding Stars
Madison has the incredible ability to bring her characters to life in such a way you feel like you are a part of the storyline.
That you can actually feel the emotions as every event unfolds.
I knew in my heart that Ethan’s story was going to be a tough one.
So much anger and so much hurt.
But boy, is it worth all the feels!
Madison reminds us the importance of family, of forgiveness, and of redemption.
No matter how lost we may be. There is always hope for more. For love.
“I loved you every single day that I was gone. I loved you every single second. In my darkness, you were my light,”
And at the end of the day, that’s all each of us can hope for. That we find our own light in our darkness.
5 Outstanding Stars
August 6, 2020
Okay, I'll be honest, even though Natasha Madison books are somewhat similar in pattern given in the storyline...I just have to read her next book, and the next, and so on...
She writes some of the best angst parts and some of the best groveling out there, too and her men are true and honest alphas you can count on...
and her stories' endings are overly sweet, sometimes sappy and gushingly romantic you can't shake the notion of a fairytale BUT somehow I endure it all...LOL (the romantic part I mean, and that's a hard thing for me to do *smirks*)
but here, I have to say there were just too many loopholes in the plot of the story that I couldn't just over look, and those were intertwined into the dialogues, so i couldn't really miss them, now could I?!
And sure, that's my pet peeve, I guess BUT that doesn't mean you should pass this one...
And still, Natasha Madison will always be a 1-click author for me, well, for all the guilty pleasure in the sweet romance stuff *wink wink*
So, looking forward to her next series...wooohooo!
She writes some of the best angst parts and some of the best groveling out there, too and her men are true and honest alphas you can count on...
and her stories' endings are overly sweet, sometimes sappy and gushingly romantic you can't shake the notion of a fairytale BUT somehow I endure it all...LOL (the romantic part I mean, and that's a hard thing for me to do *smirks*)
but here, I have to say there were just too many loopholes in the plot of the story that I couldn't just over look, and those were intertwined into the dialogues, so i couldn't really miss them, now could I?!
And sure, that's my pet peeve, I guess BUT that doesn't mean you should pass this one...
And still, Natasha Madison will always be a 1-click author for me, well, for all the guilty pleasure in the sweet romance stuff *wink wink*
So, looking forward to her next series...wooohooo!
August 4, 2020
3.5 Stars 🌟
July 5, 2020
I've read about Ethan ever since he appeared in Jacob's life. I've since read snippets about him in the previous books, but I wasn't prepared to read his own book. I don't even know if I could write this review right now..I read this in one sitting because I don't think you can stop once you start.
This is an emotional, gripping second chance story that's filled with regrets, forgiveness and acceptance. And not just between Ethan and Emily, but also Ethan and his family. When he discovered who he really was, he left home after saying hurtful things to his parents, without regret, or a second glance. He also left Emily, the love of his life.
5 years, and all it took was nearing death while on a mission for him to come back home. He knew it wouldn't be easy for everyone to accept his homecoming, especially for Emily, the woman he still loves. But if he was to stay home for good, he needed to start making amends and ask for forgiveness.
This is truly beautiful. I don't think there's any other way this book can be describe as.
This is an emotional, gripping second chance story that's filled with regrets, forgiveness and acceptance. And not just between Ethan and Emily, but also Ethan and his family. When he discovered who he really was, he left home after saying hurtful things to his parents, without regret, or a second glance. He also left Emily, the love of his life.
5 years, and all it took was nearing death while on a mission for him to come back home. He knew it wouldn't be easy for everyone to accept his homecoming, especially for Emily, the woman he still loves. But if he was to stay home for good, he needed to start making amends and ask for forgiveness.
This is truly beautiful. I don't think there's any other way this book can be describe as.
June 27, 2020
This was a book that I was really looking forward to, so I'm sad that I didn't like it near as much as I thought I would. The blurb alone had me all in my feels, and since I've read all the other books in the series I was eager to see how Ethan's story all played out.. But it just felt very anti-climatic to me.
So Ethan learns that he's not the biological son of the man he's always called dad, and feels like his entire life is a giant lie. He doesn't trust anyone anymore and feels like it he doesn't know who he is, how can he be good to anyone? So after saying some very hurtful things, he leaves his entire family and fiance behind, and doesn't return for another five years. Then he acts so surprised how much everything and everyone has changed with his absence.(🙄)
Emily is still trying to piece her heart back together after the love of her life left her without looking back. She's engaged to her ex's best friend, but you can tell right away what an asshat he is, so you know they're not walking down the isle. Emily's entire world is yet again flipped upside down when Ethan arrives back home. She wants absolutely nothing to do with him, but when her engagement crumbles and she realises that she doesn't hate Ethan as much as she thought she did, she slowly starts letting him back into her heart.
This is all fine and well, and maybe it's because I didn't feel the emotional pull between the characters or particularly like Ethan that much, but I was just so bored. Everyone pretty much forgave him like it was nothing (except for Jacob) and with how much pain he caused, I just didn't find that very believable.
The only character I truly felt bad for was Jacob. Not only did he lose Kallie for a number of years, but did the selfless action of raising a child he knew wasn't his, but loved him just as much, if not more. He had his heart completely broken by Ethan, and I was glad that someone didn't forgive him so easily. Their reunion was sweet, and I'm glad it happened, but only for Jacob's sake.
I liked the message that family is so much more than just DNA, but I just didn't feel anything for our two main characters. I loved seeing more of our previous couples, but all in all, this just wasn't the book I hoped it would be.
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions.**
So Ethan learns that he's not the biological son of the man he's always called dad, and feels like his entire life is a giant lie. He doesn't trust anyone anymore and feels like it he doesn't know who he is, how can he be good to anyone? So after saying some very hurtful things, he leaves his entire family and fiance behind, and doesn't return for another five years. Then he acts so surprised how much everything and everyone has changed with his absence.(🙄)
Emily is still trying to piece her heart back together after the love of her life left her without looking back. She's engaged to her ex's best friend, but you can tell right away what an asshat he is, so you know they're not walking down the isle. Emily's entire world is yet again flipped upside down when Ethan arrives back home. She wants absolutely nothing to do with him, but when her engagement crumbles and she realises that she doesn't hate Ethan as much as she thought she did, she slowly starts letting him back into her heart.
This is all fine and well, and maybe it's because I didn't feel the emotional pull between the characters or particularly like Ethan that much, but I was just so bored. Everyone pretty much forgave him like it was nothing (except for Jacob) and with how much pain he caused, I just didn't find that very believable.
The only character I truly felt bad for was Jacob. Not only did he lose Kallie for a number of years, but did the selfless action of raising a child he knew wasn't his, but loved him just as much, if not more. He had his heart completely broken by Ethan, and I was glad that someone didn't forgive him so easily. Their reunion was sweet, and I'm glad it happened, but only for Jacob's sake.
I liked the message that family is so much more than just DNA, but I just didn't feel anything for our two main characters. I loved seeing more of our previous couples, but all in all, this just wasn't the book I hoped it would be.
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions.**
July 8, 2020
5 Stars!
WHOA BABY! My heart is full of so many freaking emotions after reading this brand new book by the crazy talented Natasha Madison. Y'all, oh my goodness! All the feels. ALL. THE. FEELS. Natasha ripped my heart apart during this journey then very slowly put it back together, even better than before.
Natasha Madison is a master with her words, a creator of unforgettable characters, and she play with my heartstrings on just about every page in this UNPUTDOWNABLE book but dang, it is sooooo very worth it by the end.
Southern Sunrise is the fourth standalone in the Southern series and I can't get enough of this BEAUTIFUL, ADDICTING series. The heat. The passion. The feels. The emotions pouring off of every page. THAT second chance that was YEARS in the making. You'll be addicted to Emily and Ethan and every single person you ney along the way, by the very last word.
THIS. BOOK. Seriously y'all ain't ready this one or these two people. Emily and Ethan. Oh my my my, these two. You'll be wrecked and gutted to the very core in moments (the feels!), and you'll be hanging on by a thread in others (the angst!), but what I can promise is that THEIR strength, HIS determination, and THAT WAIT will be so very, very worth every tear and broken heart string.
Ethan and Emily don't have an easy road to forever and they find love can hurt, be riddled with secrets, and it's completely complicated at almost every turn but THIS kind of love? Once in a lifetime that you just can't EVER give up.
Natasha, never every stop writing! Please!
I highly recommend this book.
Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog.
WHOA BABY! My heart is full of so many freaking emotions after reading this brand new book by the crazy talented Natasha Madison. Y'all, oh my goodness! All the feels. ALL. THE. FEELS. Natasha ripped my heart apart during this journey then very slowly put it back together, even better than before.
Natasha Madison is a master with her words, a creator of unforgettable characters, and she play with my heartstrings on just about every page in this UNPUTDOWNABLE book but dang, it is sooooo very worth it by the end.
Southern Sunrise is the fourth standalone in the Southern series and I can't get enough of this BEAUTIFUL, ADDICTING series. The heat. The passion. The feels. The emotions pouring off of every page. THAT second chance that was YEARS in the making. You'll be addicted to Emily and Ethan and every single person you ney along the way, by the very last word.
THIS. BOOK. Seriously y'all ain't ready this one or these two people. Emily and Ethan. Oh my my my, these two. You'll be wrecked and gutted to the very core in moments (the feels!), and you'll be hanging on by a thread in others (the angst!), but what I can promise is that THEIR strength, HIS determination, and THAT WAIT will be so very, very worth every tear and broken heart string.
Ethan and Emily don't have an easy road to forever and they find love can hurt, be riddled with secrets, and it's completely complicated at almost every turn but THIS kind of love? Once in a lifetime that you just can't EVER give up.
Natasha, never every stop writing! Please!
I highly recommend this book.
Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog.
July 7, 2020
OMG!!!!!! What a story. From the moment I started Ethan and Emily's book I knew I was in for an emotional roller coaster. Natasha DID NOT disappoint. I also finished it in one sitting, which doesn't happen often, but I HAD to find out how it ended!!!!
Crapola, there is so much I want to say, but I'm afraid I'll give things away. I will say this, my heart broke for Ethan, but as a parent I wanted to throttle him for the way he left and the pain he caused those he loved. Don't get me wrong, I get it, but I still wanted to slap him.
Sweet Emily broke my heart and she could never really move on, although she did try(Ugh..that creep)She was still close with his family, which I loved. I love that she didn't forgive him right away and he definitely had to earn back her love. The moments they shared are what true love is all about.
The moment that made me cry the most was when he made amends with the last person. It's real, it's raw, and the pain is certainly palpable.
This was a great ending to the series, although, I think we might get one more book...YAY!!!!
Crapola, there is so much I want to say, but I'm afraid I'll give things away. I will say this, my heart broke for Ethan, but as a parent I wanted to throttle him for the way he left and the pain he caused those he loved. Don't get me wrong, I get it, but I still wanted to slap him.
Sweet Emily broke my heart and she could never really move on, although she did try(Ugh..that creep)She was still close with his family, which I loved. I love that she didn't forgive him right away and he definitely had to earn back her love. The moments they shared are what true love is all about.
The moment that made me cry the most was when he made amends with the last person. It's real, it's raw, and the pain is certainly palpable.
This was a great ending to the series, although, I think we might get one more book...YAY!!!!
April 6, 2021
From the start of this series I have been eager for Ethan’s story but nothing could have prepared me for all my heart would feel while reading this story. I love small town romances. Secrets in this small town never stay buried and boy did Ethan learn that the hard way. To the point that he could do nothing but escape his home town and in turn leaving the love of his life Emily. My heart broke for Ethan as he learned all that his family had kept hidden from him. After five years, Ethan is back and Emily is shattered as she has tried so hard to move on from him and just when she finally made the decision to try a relationship with someone else. This was not an easy story to read. Emily and Ethan have so many raw emotions to work through. As they talk, and reconnect and get over the heartbreak the story unfolds to one of happiness after acceptance and forgiveness and in the end true love.
June 28, 2020
-Jenna, ☆☆☆☆☆
I knew after reading the end of book three that this one would be quite emotional but I wasn't prepared for the level of emotion that it brought out. I teared up during almost every chapter. I wanted to hug Emily so much through all this. She was so sweet but strong and just loyal as can be. Ethan, although I didn't appreciate him at times, definitely redeemed himself. They were just completely meant to be together. The story was pretty simple and easy to follow but the angst and feelings it brought out, the conversations not just between the main characters but all characters, was extraordinary. It ended so beautifully and just the right way. Another book added to my "must have" bookshelf.
I knew after reading the end of book three that this one would be quite emotional but I wasn't prepared for the level of emotion that it brought out. I teared up during almost every chapter. I wanted to hug Emily so much through all this. She was so sweet but strong and just loyal as can be. Ethan, although I didn't appreciate him at times, definitely redeemed himself. They were just completely meant to be together. The story was pretty simple and easy to follow but the angst and feelings it brought out, the conversations not just between the main characters but all characters, was extraordinary. It ended so beautifully and just the right way. Another book added to my "must have" bookshelf.
July 8, 2020
ugh i really can’t with this series.. i’m not trying to be nit picky but there’s always something in each book that bothers me! there were phrases being repeated in the same paragraph - like eight times! why?? Idk if it’s that these were rushed to be written or because of the times or what. I can’t help but compare this to her earlier works that I loved and i’m really disappointed with this series as a whole.
July 1, 2020
I mean, *sigh* my heart on this one, FULL REVIEW & teaser on my BLOG -> CLICK HERE
July 10, 2020
THE BEST IN THE SERIES!
Ethan is mine!
Get ready to be sucked in this story that will give you all the feels and consume you from page one.
From the exquisite opening, through twists and torment, Natasha Madison weaves an irresistible story of family and friends, trust and betrayal and LOVE.
Will Strong love overcomes pain?
Ethan is mine!
Get ready to be sucked in this story that will give you all the feels and consume you from page one.
From the exquisite opening, through twists and torment, Natasha Madison weaves an irresistible story of family and friends, trust and betrayal and LOVE.
Will Strong love overcomes pain?
June 27, 2020
* A review copy was provided by the author *
~ 5 Sunrise Stars ~
What an amazingly beautiful and emotional story about love, family and forgiveness!!!
Southern Sunrise is my favorite of this series, and that is saying something because I loved all the books in this series. I think this is definitely my favorite series by Natasha Madison.
This story had so many feels in it. It was such an emotional rollercoaster but I loved every bit of it. I was so excited to see we were going to get Ethan’s story and this book didn’t disappoint at all!!!
We met Ethan as an 8 year old little boy in the first book of the series, but in this book we see him grow into a mature young man. His road to redemption and forgiveness is not an easy one and he has many hoops to go through to get the trust back from everyone in this series, but I loved taking this journey with him.
This could be considered a standalone novel, but I would HIGHLY recommend reading the other books in this series first to get the full reading experience. Plus you have to know how Ethan’s story starts to full appreciate how his story ends. This story is told in Dual POV and I thought the flow and pace of the story was perfect. Nothing was rushed when it came to Ethan and his family but nothing dragged on either.
I also loved Emily for Ethan. I thought she was such a strong character. I loved that she didn’t just roll over because Ethan came back. She made him work for it!!! I admire that.
I would 100% recommend this book and series to all romance readers. If you love a family saga set in a small town with good old fashioned southern charm, then this is the series and books you should read!!
I look forward to seeing what Natasha gives us in the future. I fall in love with her books the more that I read!!!
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~ 5 Sunrise Stars ~
What an amazingly beautiful and emotional story about love, family and forgiveness!!!
Southern Sunrise is my favorite of this series, and that is saying something because I loved all the books in this series. I think this is definitely my favorite series by Natasha Madison.
This story had so many feels in it. It was such an emotional rollercoaster but I loved every bit of it. I was so excited to see we were going to get Ethan’s story and this book didn’t disappoint at all!!!
We met Ethan as an 8 year old little boy in the first book of the series, but in this book we see him grow into a mature young man. His road to redemption and forgiveness is not an easy one and he has many hoops to go through to get the trust back from everyone in this series, but I loved taking this journey with him.
This could be considered a standalone novel, but I would HIGHLY recommend reading the other books in this series first to get the full reading experience. Plus you have to know how Ethan’s story starts to full appreciate how his story ends. This story is told in Dual POV and I thought the flow and pace of the story was perfect. Nothing was rushed when it came to Ethan and his family but nothing dragged on either.
I also loved Emily for Ethan. I thought she was such a strong character. I loved that she didn’t just roll over because Ethan came back. She made him work for it!!! I admire that.
I would 100% recommend this book and series to all romance readers. If you love a family saga set in a small town with good old fashioned southern charm, then this is the series and books you should read!!
I look forward to seeing what Natasha gives us in the future. I fall in love with her books the more that I read!!!
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July 8, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After the ending of Southern Storm, I knew Ethan’s story was going to be brutal, but jeez. Bam, first freaking page in and I was smacked with so many emotions. Heartbreak, anguish and so much pain.
Ethan’s whole life is turned upside down when he learns the man he has looked up to, respected and loved his whole life, isn’t actually his father. He is left feeling like his reality, his life and the very foundation he grew up on has disappeared. My heart seriously broke for him. I cannot even begin to comprehend the intense emotions he must have felt when he learnt the truth. But, when you look past the pain he suffered and the pain he caused others, the path he took when he lost his way makes him the man he is today.
Deserted by her soulmate, Emily was left to pick up the pieces of her life and somehow try to move on. Whilst she did remain hopeful for years that he would return, it was refreshing to see a heroine pick herself up, brush herself off and move on as best she could. I mean, she was holding herself back and not allowing herself to love with everything she had, but hey, she still showed strength by living everyday as best she could.
I loved Ethan and Emily’s story. It seriously had all the feels. It wasn’t only a story of soulmates reuniting. It was also about forgiveness, respect, love and the bonds of family no matter their DNA. Sometimes I felt like things were a little over the top, but hey, it’s a fiction novel and it still left me with a warm and cosy feeling and a smile on my face.
Also, is anyone else curious about the lonely and broken solider who made an appearance at the end of the book? Uh I am! Finger’s crossed Carey gets his story told next.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for honest review.
After the ending of Southern Storm, I knew Ethan’s story was going to be brutal, but jeez. Bam, first freaking page in and I was smacked with so many emotions. Heartbreak, anguish and so much pain.
Ethan’s whole life is turned upside down when he learns the man he has looked up to, respected and loved his whole life, isn’t actually his father. He is left feeling like his reality, his life and the very foundation he grew up on has disappeared. My heart seriously broke for him. I cannot even begin to comprehend the intense emotions he must have felt when he learnt the truth. But, when you look past the pain he suffered and the pain he caused others, the path he took when he lost his way makes him the man he is today.
Deserted by her soulmate, Emily was left to pick up the pieces of her life and somehow try to move on. Whilst she did remain hopeful for years that he would return, it was refreshing to see a heroine pick herself up, brush herself off and move on as best she could. I mean, she was holding herself back and not allowing herself to love with everything she had, but hey, she still showed strength by living everyday as best she could.
I loved Ethan and Emily’s story. It seriously had all the feels. It wasn’t only a story of soulmates reuniting. It was also about forgiveness, respect, love and the bonds of family no matter their DNA. Sometimes I felt like things were a little over the top, but hey, it’s a fiction novel and it still left me with a warm and cosy feeling and a smile on my face.
Also, is anyone else curious about the lonely and broken solider who made an appearance at the end of the book? Uh I am! Finger’s crossed Carey gets his story told next.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for honest review.
July 7, 2020
This is one of the most beautiful book I’ve read this year. I knew it would be heartbreaking but Natasha made me cry with this book.
This book is a beautiful second chance story about forgiveness and about family.
Ethan and Emily were childhood sweethearts.
They were even engaged. But one day Ethan got a news that devastated him and he left everything and everyone behind.
I confess, I was mad at Ethan. I understood him but I was still mad and my heart broke for everyone.
After five years Ethan returns and everything changes..
My favorite scene? That last person he made amends with. It made me cry.
This book give me so many emotions. I didn’t want it to end. Natasha is one of my favorites authors and wonderful storyteller. But she scored with this book.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 13, 2020
4.5 ⭐
June 14, 2023
I wanted to love this one, but it was just okay. Still planning to continue the series at some point.
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