The Torment of Two; Shameful Secrets #5
(#5 within a series)
Publication Date: May 20, 2024
Genre/Tropes: New Adult/Enemies to Lovers/Suspense Romance
Author: K. Webster
Review Rating: 5 Gold Stars
Review/Synopsis:
Review:
K Webster rounded out this series with a story that was filled with all the feels. From laughter to tears and every emotion in-between. From the very first chapter, I was held within the books’ grip and brought tears, I knew that this book would be good, but it moved me beyond expectations!
To say that both Gemma and Two flourished by the end of this book would be an understatement. They blossomed bigger and brighter together than I could have anticipated.
Gemma Park loves her family, there is little doubt that she does, but she also feels like a prisoner trapped within the four walls of her home. She has an overprotective father, a mother that constantly worries about her, and multiple brothers who care just a bit too much. Yes, she realizes that these are selfish problems, as everyone in her life does care, but that also means she never gets any freedom to be alone or to be herself. It’s stifling, it’s controlling, and it’s lonely for a young girl.
Now that Gemma was beginning college this was the first time she had the opportunity to be free. To really find out who Gemma Park was without her family hovering. So while she was never lacking emotionally or physically, Gemma needed to spread her wings.
When she meets Tristan-or Two as everyone calls him, he may be one of the few people who instantly dislikes Gemma upon sight. The problem, they are partners on a huge project that takes up the majority of their grade. Gemma has her work cut out for her, so it’s a good thing she likes hard work.
Two is grumpy, but also kind of sweet. He’s a conundrum of opposites and I loved his character from the beginning of the book. Two is hyperfocused on projects he likes, but he’s also a bit of a mess in so many other ways. I adored that he was the opposite in so many things in comparison to Gemma, but she saw underneath his outer layer to his sweet soul. While they shared the same sort of passion in spirit they just displayed it in a completely different way. 🥰
Their relationship was a slow burn, but they had chemistry from the start. There was an innocence about the two of them that was endearing and sweet and completely different than the other Park siblings. A wonderful surprise for the final book.
Speaking of the whole series, there are quite a few cameos from from past books and with this being the last Park family book it made every appearance bitter sweet.
Synopsis:
From USA Today Bestselling Author K Webster comes an enemies-to-lovers, new adult M/F small-town romance!
She craves freedom from her overbearing family, and being a student at Park Mountain University is exactly that for her. Until she’s partnered up for an entire semester with a surly, difficult man who despises her immediately for no reason at all. So much for an escape…
At PMU, I can finally be free to be my own person away from the Park family name.
This semester, though, my happiness is threatened when I meet him.
Tristan “Two” Sheridan is a grumpy jerk who nearly runs me over with his hunk of junk car and then has the audacity to blame me.
Our dislike for one another is instantaneous.
Imagine my horror when not only is he in one of my new “blow-off” classes, but I’ve also been partnered up with him for a labor-intensive class project for a huge portion of my grade.
His distaste for me is mild at first, but the second he learns my name, it turns to utter contempt.
Why does he hate me so much?
What did I ever do to earn such nastiness from a man I don’t even know?
Beneath Two’s crankiness are secrets—secrets I plan to uncover. With each encounter, I peel back more of the mysterious layers of the handsome man with the pale gray eyes and find there’s someone likeable deep down beneath. And, despite his grudge against me and my family, I think he can’t help but like me too.
As we spend more time together on our project, and just when I think I’ve got a handle on Two, I start getting harassed by someone else. This person stalks me at every turn, leaving me anonymous creepy notes and promises of a future together.
The stalker is the least of my problems, though. When Two reveals the true reason for hating me—the crushing secret that has tormented him his entire life—my own world is suddenly turned upside down. I feel inadvertently responsible and want to somehow make it all better.
A budding romance burns hot between us as our walls come down, but we have to keep it a secret. My parents will vehemently disprove of our coupling, and his will be utterly destroyed. Under the guise of our project, we’re able to spend stolen moments together, stoking the flames of our growing feelings for one another, keeping the bitter truth from our families.
But my stalker has other nefarious plans that keep escalating in nature.
In order to get help from my father and my brother’s cop fiancée, I will have to come clean. My life may depend on it. Ugly truths will be brought to light and Two’s family will no doubt suffer the consequences. I dread the day I’ll be forced to spill the truth.
Is this thing between me and Two worth all the heartache and pain destined for our future?
Only time will tell…
***This is a complete M/F standalone novel with a happily ever after. Tropes for this book enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine, college, new-age romance, opposites attract, historical preservation nerds, hidden rooms and treasure hunts, romantic suspense, mental health rep, and secret romance.***
Shameful Secrets Series
1 – The Teacher of Nothing (Callum’s Book)
2 – The Tangle of Awful (Hugo’s Book)
3 – The Heart of Smoke (Jude’s Book)
4 – The Law of Deceit (Dempsey’s Book)
5 – The Torment of Two (Gemma’s Book)
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