✯Blog Tour Review✯Hidden Barriers (Barriers #2) by Sara Shirley

 

 

Hidden Barriers is book two in the Barriers Series and is considered a stand-alone and doesn't contain a cliffhanger. Some scenes do overlap with Frozen Barriers. It's suggested to read Frozen Barriers first, simply to understand the characters history more.

Josh & Sam's Story

Love has been hiding for too long. What happens when it reveals itself?

Josh Page, a Massachusetts State Trooper, wants nothing more than to put his first love behind him. His career is all he’s ever known for the last ten years. Seeing her is a constant reminder of what he could have had if he had not put his career first years ago.

Relationships and dating women have never been part of his lifestyle. He continues to have meaningless sex with women as an attempt to distance himself from his past. That is until he opens the door and a sassy roller derby girl stares back up at him.

*****

Samantha Daley’s past haunts her. After college, she spends years building a new life with new friends, roller derby, and a bustling business under her feet. Her past suddenly comes rushing back after just one phone call.

Afraid to love, she never imagines a life where one man can turn her world inside out and make her reevaluate what she wants in her future. Almost instantly, she’s attracted to the man in front of her. He pushes her trust to a new level and is willing to take a chance with her.

Will Sam be able to handle the reminders of her troubled past enough for her to be with Josh, or will it be Josh’s secrets that threaten to tear them apart in the end?

**For mature audiences. 18+. This book contains sexual and abusive situations, and strong language.**

 ✯✯5 Heart Warming Stars!!✯✯

Where am I supposed to start? I read Frozen Barriers and fell in love with Emily & Jeremy. I fell in love with their story and Jeremy's family was the best of the best. When I found out the next book was going to be about Jeremy's older brother Josh. I was stoked!! But, I was not expecting was to fall in love with Josh & Sam MORE then Emily & Jeremy. Yet, I totally did.

Josh can not escape Sue his first love. They broke up years ago. But, she became best friends with his younger sister Courtney. Now, she's pregnant with his brother's best friend Dave. His parents have basically adopted her. Like they do with all their children's friends. Josh doesn't plan on settling down and have a family with the white picket fence. Instead he keeps to the one night stands. He might keep them a little longer. But, that's it and he doesn't plan on changing it.

Samantha AKA Sam AKA Sammy Sweet Cheeks is running from her past too. After the worst experience of her life she moved. Only her parents & younger brother Drew knows where she's at. She wants to keep it that way. After her ex-boyfriend Stone, Sam never wants to be with another guy for the rest of her life. Sam owns a successful wine bar called Vines and is on a roller derby team. She lives with her roller derby team. Sam doesn't realize just how strong she is. I think one of the reasons why I love her so much is her favorite drink is Jack Daniels. A girl after my own heart!

After Sam & Josh literally bump into each other. Josh is instantly intrigued with the feisty girl who's dressed all crazy in the middle of winter. After they bump into each other. Josh thinks about Sam all the time. 

Josh wants to get to know Sam. He hasn't been this crazy about a girl in 10 years. Sam can't seem to keep Josh out of her mind. All her derby girls and brother think it's time for her to move on. To find love. And, the fact he's a cop makes him even better. 

Both Josh & Sam are falling head over heals in love with each other. Yet, Sam pushes Josh away every chance she gets. Josh on the other hand is totally confused with what he's feeling. He hasn't felt this kind of feelings in forever. He's falling deeper and deeper for Sam then he ever thought possible. 

Josh & Sam finally tell each other everything!! They both agree that their feelings are real. Josh & Sam agree to give it everything that got and go from there.

Josh is so so sexy. He knows Sam has a major sweet tooth. He'll show up with enough candy for cavities to fill 5 people's teeth. LOL.. Sam & Josh are perfect together!!

Just when things in Sam & Josh's life are finally starting to come together. They are the happiest they've ever been. Then, everything comes crashing down around them. 

Josh has to really let Sam in 110%. He must finally let his past into his present. But, he doesn't know how too. Sam's past comes back full force. Now, she's lost. She's a shell of herself.

Josh & Sam and all their friends and family must fight. Fight to keep Sam & everyone she cares about safe.Sam has to get over her insecurities. Josh must let out his feelings. There is definitely a lot these 2 must get over in order to make it work.

Now, even though this is considered a standalone. I strongly, strongly urge you to read Frozen Barriers first. Because, there was enough of Jeremy & Emily's story that was in it coming from Josh's POV. Which I loved!! 

This is definitely a must read series!! Between Courtney (Josh & Jeremy's younger sister)and his parents. Then, Sam's brother & derby friends. You'll love every one of them. Sara made me really feel everything the characters were feeling. I still can't believe it's her 2nd book. She;s def a author that is going to be on the #1 sellers lists. Because, she's a natural!!

 

JOSH

The feeling of sleeping in your own bed is comforting in and of itself. When you fall asleep in the arms of a beautiful woman, that’s peace. The moment you wake up next to the woman who’s quickly taking your heart in her hands, comfort and peace cease to exist. This is absolute euphoria.

        I’ve been lying here watching her sleep for a while now. The sun has been slowly creeping its way into the room through her windows, illuminating the glass chandelier over her bed. Rainbow prisms dance against her walls as I gently push aside a stray hair, so I can just watch her sleep.

        I already knew I was quickly falling for her, but after last night, I knew she was it for me. Yeah, true, we’ve only known each other for a short time, but when you know, you know. There is still so much about her that’s a mystery, but I could spend the rest of my days willing to find out.

        Lying here, facing her, I push that pesky stray hair from her face again and wonder how it was that any man, let alone her ex-boyfriend, could ever want to hurt her. The heinous things he did sickens me. What could have run through his head to want to take her life? She’s the most angelic creature, and I have to wonder what could have been.

        Where would I be now if Stone actually succeeded in killing her that night? My body tenses immediately at the idea of her not being here with me. Even now, I don’t have any power to help keep that asshole behind bars, but I’m definitely going to find out everything I can about the fucker, and I will protect Sam the best I can. If that means giving my life for her, then I’ll do it. If I already took an oath to serve and protect strangers, I will gladly put my life on the line for her.

SAM

I move away from Josh who continues to talk on his phone with my brother. I scuffle my heavy legs through the room over to the kitchen cabinet I need. Josh watches me with concern written all over his face, but I know there isn’t anything I can say to make him leave. If I thought not having space before this was bad, unless by some miracle they find Stone soon, there won’t be any way I can handle Josh’s overprotective nature for another week.

        I pull open the cabinet and grab the bottle of Jack, foregoing the shot glass. I shut the cabinet door and twist the top off the squared bottle. As I bring the bottle to my mouth, the stinging smell hits me first before I tilt my head back and chug until I can’t take the burn anymore. I straighten my head, coughing as the burn wears off in my throat until I feel the warmth coat its way into my system. Only this isn’t what I need right now.

        I stare at the bottle in my hand and start laughing hysterically before screaming at the top of my lungs. As I continue to scream and laugh, tears well in my eyes, but not before I catch sight of the girls rounding the corner to see what’s going on. Josh stands there, silently watching me mentally break down. Nick storms through the front door, most likely thinking the worst has happened, considering his hand is already on his holster ready to draw his gun. All of them think I’m losing my shit and quite possibly I am.

        For three years I was safe and happy with my new life and friends. I had just found love and a future with a man who was willing to deal with all my bullshit, and in less than a few weeks, I’m back to where I was three years ago. Everything I worked so hard to overcome is disappearing in a flash.

"Live your Dreams, Follow your Heart"

Emily Cameron is America's newest figure skating star looking for her own personal identity. Her high profile life was never her dream, it was her parents.

Jeremy Page is a minor league hockey player who always imagined himself playing for the NHL.

A chance encounter has them crossing paths after several years apart. Which way will his heart lead him? Will Emily embrace his charm?

Just when things finally fall into place, an unexpected event occurs leaving Emily reevaluating everything in her life.

Can Emily escape from under her parent's intrusive ways and take a chance on love? Will Jeremy be able to break down the barriers that have held her back for so long?

Book 1 of the Barriers Series. This story does not have a cliffhanger. **Mature Subject matter. 18+ due to strong language and sexual situations**

A romance novel addict finds herself staying up well past her bedtime to see how the next story is going to end. Sara spends her days living on a vineyard in wine country with her husband and cat. Her family hailed from Italy where her ancestors lived in the mountains of Rocca di Cambio. A former Broadway star and champion skier whose career was cut short because of her passion for being a wine sommelier. It was on her way west where she met her husband, the President of a very influential MC in California. You can find her riding off through the vineyards on the back of a Harley almost every night.

Her passion for books has been viewed as borderline obsessive. But, when all you have is time and a bottle of wine awaiting you as the sun sets off the veranda writing became second nature.

In Vino Veritas