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What's Left of Us
Following a tragic shooting that takes the life of his partner, wounded thirty-one-year-old detective Lincoln Danforth unravels ten years of history during counseling sessions that reveal a decade worth of secrets.
Secrets including the demise of his marriage to Georgia Del Rossi, the daughter of a growing organized crime associate that he married to save from her father.
But will the mandatory therapy make the detective see the consequences of his choices and let go of the past? Or will he remember all the reasons he put his life on the line for the girl he fell in love with?
What’s Left of Us is an emotional standalone romance featuring two star-crossed lovers caught between morals and loyalty.
But how much are the two willing to sacrifice for love?
Secrets including the demise of his marriage to Georgia Del Rossi, the daughter of a growing organized crime associate that he married to save from her father.
But will the mandatory therapy make the detective see the consequences of his choices and let go of the past? Or will he remember all the reasons he put his life on the line for the girl he fell in love with?
What’s Left of Us is an emotional standalone romance featuring two star-crossed lovers caught between morals and loyalty.
But how much are the two willing to sacrifice for love?
493 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2025
133 people are currently reading
1,147 people want to read
About the author
B. Celeste
39 books3,095 followersB. Celeste is a new adult and contemporary romance author that gives voices to raw, realistic characters with emotional storylines that tug on the heartstrings.
She was born and raised in upstate New York where she still resides with her four-legged feline sidekick Oliver “Ollie” Queen. Her love for reading and writing began at an early age and only grew stronger after getting a BA in English and an MFA in English & creative writing. When she’s not writing, she’s working out, binge-watching reality game shows, and spending time with her friends and family.
Email: bcdwrites@gmail.com
She was born and raised in upstate New York where she still resides with her four-legged feline sidekick Oliver “Ollie” Queen. Her love for reading and writing began at an early age and only grew stronger after getting a BA in English and an MFA in English & creative writing. When she’s not writing, she’s working out, binge-watching reality game shows, and spending time with her friends and family.
Email: bcdwrites@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
Shelved as 'stay-away'
February 6, 2025SPOILERS!
Now I understand why some reviewers said they were surprised/disappointed with the ending and how one said she wished he ended up with OW. Personally I don't agree with the later as he should have ended up all alone for the rest of his life but whatever......
My main take here is that I think author was confused on who exactly the main female character was suppose to be because it is definitely not the "wife/ex" even though that's who he ends up with at the end because from beginning to end, we have chapter after chapter with MMC meeting with his Therapist and hearing his POV of how hot she is, flirting with her, etc. Nothing sexual happens between them but they develop a bond and both exchange personal info about each other's marriages and she, along with his family & friends, are all encouraging him to move on from FMC.
What Therapist would tell a client who BTW told her he is still hooking up with his ex (FMC) for angry sex, to move on from FMC? Instead of her exploring his conflicted feelings and perhaps encouraging him to see his role in the breakdown of his marriage so that this whole Therapy plot could make sense, the opposite here happened because up until the very end of the last chapter (all 60 + of it), he is still having feelings for the OW and even asked her out on a date! By then of course he had moved on and forgotten FMC so other than about a few chapters early on where he was very vile towards FMC by using her for angry sex and throwing her to the curb, we never see any love, regret or other warm feelings towards FMC. In fact, the opposite because he gives her up without a fight and even says at one point in his POV that he never loved her so there was no big light bulb moment from that point till the end where he realizes how wrong he is. He regrets marrying FMC and getting involved with her in the first place because he blamed her for his friend's death which wasn't even her fault at all. It was all his for not listening to her & not trusting her!
So after he pretty much left FMC in the dust early on at around the 25-30% or so, all we get is his developing feelings for the OW and are left to believe that he will end up with OW but suddenly someone tells him the truth of what sacrifices FMC made for him and how she helped the FBI take down her Father and now suddenly it's ILY and The END when he sprouted hate towards her for 99% of the story and didn't give a flying crap about her. Had OW said yes to the date instead of a kind of iffy non-answer, would he still be with FMC? 🥺
So I ask again, where was the "Romance" and relationship here between the MCs that I was supposed to be reading about? This IS what the story was supposed to be about according to the blurb, right? False advertising & misleading folks is one of my pet peeves. I purchased this because I thought the story was about the two MCs and their reconciliation - not about his vile thoughts & behavior towards FMC and his attraction & developing relationship with OW for the entire story!
-------------------
For those that are interested about the plot & FMC, MCs met 8 yrs prior when her Mafia Father kicked her out of the house for not marrying OM. She ends up meeting MMC in a bar who is a Detective and they marry because he wanted to help this young stranger. I think she was 18. Anyhoo, the marriage was not suppose to be real but they eventually fell in love & started having sex. FMC said MMC was a bit controlling and he reminded her of her Father and the way she grew up as MMC liked to control everything about her life - like where to work, etc.
This is told in equal parts from chapter to chapter from Past to Present in mostly MMC's POV with FMC's coming more towards the end. The first few chapters is mostly his anger at FMC for leaving him and what he perceives to be as her choosing her Father over him - the man that he married her in order to protect her.
Anyway, MMC was trying to take down her Father and she didn't know at the time that he was involved in illegal acts. She was very young and when she eventually learns who her Father is and what he is doing 9aka with the Mafia), she wants to help her stepmother who is being abused by him and secretly attempts to steal secrets and pass them on to FBI to take him down. She doesn't tell MMC because she knows he won't allow her because of his controlling attitude which BTW it never gets resolved in the end. Lol.
Now communication is not key with either one of them and when she finds out hubby is keeping secrets from her, doesn't trust her and is having her followed, she decides to divorce him so that her Father can spill his secrets and that she can save hubby. Mid you, any normal woman would have divorced his ass for that reason alone but not this sacrificing lamb. Poor thing.
MMC is mad and feels she chose her Father over him so doesn't fight the divorce and pretty much acts & thinks of her as pure garbage from then on because he feels he sacrificed his life to "save" her for nothing and that she should have been more grateful. He never attempts to talk to her and find out the truth at any point in the story. All he does in the first few chapters is have angry sex with her where he treats her like a whore to get off. And when she learns that he & his partner are in danger, she goes to warn him only to have him ignore her which results in him being shot and his partner to die because he didn't freaking listen to her. And of course it's her fault, not his.
And then his therapy sessions begin with OW that as I said lasts up until the end. And if someone had not given him proof that FMC chose him and not her Father after all, he would not have given a rats ass or another thought about her.
So for author to go from all this from start to finish and to end it in the last 2-3 pages with an ILY is beyond pathetic writing and makes absolutely no sense especially when he had feelings for OW and had even asked her on a date in one page, only to turn page and say ILY to FMC? Where's the redemption, grovel, regret, apologies or anything on his part? How did he go from "I never loved her" to "Feeling Lighter" that she was out of his life for good and moving on in his life to suddenly ILY & HEA? And stupid FMC just takes him back because apparently he has some magic dick.
Safety:
OW - As mentioned above, MMC has feelings for his Therapist/OW from start to finish but nothing sexual happens other then mild flirting & checking her out in each session. He does ask her out on a date at the end but she gives him a wishy-washy answer which he interprets that she may not call him. OW acts attracted to him too, blushes and asks unprofessional questions. OW was married and lost her husband in car accident and hasn't moved on yet and MMC feels they have a lot in common. He was totally ready to move on with OW but author I guess decided to put a halt on it to finish this crapfest.
OM - FMC was kissed by OM who she was supposed to marry but she didn't respond back. She is not attracted to him and he is only helping her to take down her Father and acting like they are a couple to convince her Father & MMC to let her go. (She didn't have to worry about that because he never lifted a finger or cared). The kiss did happen when she was still married to MMC and was the basis for the divorce.
Cheating - See above but both were celibate during separation - though not for lack of trying on MMC part.
HEA - Ends with an ILY and supposedly back together with questionable marriage intact as FMC thinks that her shady lawyer may not have filed the divorce papers, and both going to Therapy to make said marriage/relationship work. I wonder if the OW/Therapist was doing the counseling here? 😰
Now I understand why some reviewers said they were surprised/disappointed with the ending and how one said she wished he ended up with OW. Personally I don't agree with the later as he should have ended up all alone for the rest of his life but whatever......
My main take here is that I think author was confused on who exactly the main female character was suppose to be because it is definitely not the "wife/ex" even though that's who he ends up with at the end because from beginning to end, we have chapter after chapter with MMC meeting with his Therapist and hearing his POV of how hot she is, flirting with her, etc. Nothing sexual happens between them but they develop a bond and both exchange personal info about each other's marriages and she, along with his family & friends, are all encouraging him to move on from FMC.
What Therapist would tell a client who BTW told her he is still hooking up with his ex (FMC) for angry sex, to move on from FMC? Instead of her exploring his conflicted feelings and perhaps encouraging him to see his role in the breakdown of his marriage so that this whole Therapy plot could make sense, the opposite here happened because up until the very end of the last chapter (all 60 + of it), he is still having feelings for the OW and even asked her out on a date! By then of course he had moved on and forgotten FMC so other than about a few chapters early on where he was very vile towards FMC by using her for angry sex and throwing her to the curb, we never see any love, regret or other warm feelings towards FMC. In fact, the opposite because he gives her up without a fight and even says at one point in his POV that he never loved her so there was no big light bulb moment from that point till the end where he realizes how wrong he is. He regrets marrying FMC and getting involved with her in the first place because he blamed her for his friend's death which wasn't even her fault at all. It was all his for not listening to her & not trusting her!
So after he pretty much left FMC in the dust early on at around the 25-30% or so, all we get is his developing feelings for the OW and are left to believe that he will end up with OW but suddenly someone tells him the truth of what sacrifices FMC made for him and how she helped the FBI take down her Father and now suddenly it's ILY and The END when he sprouted hate towards her for 99% of the story and didn't give a flying crap about her. Had OW said yes to the date instead of a kind of iffy non-answer, would he still be with FMC? 🥺
So I ask again, where was the "Romance" and relationship here between the MCs that I was supposed to be reading about? This IS what the story was supposed to be about according to the blurb, right? False advertising & misleading folks is one of my pet peeves. I purchased this because I thought the story was about the two MCs and their reconciliation - not about his vile thoughts & behavior towards FMC and his attraction & developing relationship with OW for the entire story!
-------------------
For those that are interested about the plot & FMC, MCs met 8 yrs prior when her Mafia Father kicked her out of the house for not marrying OM. She ends up meeting MMC in a bar who is a Detective and they marry because he wanted to help this young stranger. I think she was 18. Anyhoo, the marriage was not suppose to be real but they eventually fell in love & started having sex. FMC said MMC was a bit controlling and he reminded her of her Father and the way she grew up as MMC liked to control everything about her life - like where to work, etc.
This is told in equal parts from chapter to chapter from Past to Present in mostly MMC's POV with FMC's coming more towards the end. The first few chapters is mostly his anger at FMC for leaving him and what he perceives to be as her choosing her Father over him - the man that he married her in order to protect her.
Anyway, MMC was trying to take down her Father and she didn't know at the time that he was involved in illegal acts. She was very young and when she eventually learns who her Father is and what he is doing 9aka with the Mafia), she wants to help her stepmother who is being abused by him and secretly attempts to steal secrets and pass them on to FBI to take him down. She doesn't tell MMC because she knows he won't allow her because of his controlling attitude which BTW it never gets resolved in the end. Lol.
Now communication is not key with either one of them and when she finds out hubby is keeping secrets from her, doesn't trust her and is having her followed, she decides to divorce him so that her Father can spill his secrets and that she can save hubby. Mid you, any normal woman would have divorced his ass for that reason alone but not this sacrificing lamb. Poor thing.
MMC is mad and feels she chose her Father over him so doesn't fight the divorce and pretty much acts & thinks of her as pure garbage from then on because he feels he sacrificed his life to "save" her for nothing and that she should have been more grateful. He never attempts to talk to her and find out the truth at any point in the story. All he does in the first few chapters is have angry sex with her where he treats her like a whore to get off. And when she learns that he & his partner are in danger, she goes to warn him only to have him ignore her which results in him being shot and his partner to die because he didn't freaking listen to her. And of course it's her fault, not his.
And then his therapy sessions begin with OW that as I said lasts up until the end. And if someone had not given him proof that FMC chose him and not her Father after all, he would not have given a rats ass or another thought about her.
So for author to go from all this from start to finish and to end it in the last 2-3 pages with an ILY is beyond pathetic writing and makes absolutely no sense especially when he had feelings for OW and had even asked her on a date in one page, only to turn page and say ILY to FMC? Where's the redemption, grovel, regret, apologies or anything on his part? How did he go from "I never loved her" to "Feeling Lighter" that she was out of his life for good and moving on in his life to suddenly ILY & HEA? And stupid FMC just takes him back because apparently he has some magic dick.
Safety:
OW - As mentioned above, MMC has feelings for his Therapist/OW from start to finish but nothing sexual happens other then mild flirting & checking her out in each session. He does ask her out on a date at the end but she gives him a wishy-washy answer which he interprets that she may not call him. OW acts attracted to him too, blushes and asks unprofessional questions. OW was married and lost her husband in car accident and hasn't moved on yet and MMC feels they have a lot in common. He was totally ready to move on with OW but author I guess decided to put a halt on it to finish this crapfest.
OM - FMC was kissed by OM who she was supposed to marry but she didn't respond back. She is not attracted to him and he is only helping her to take down her Father and acting like they are a couple to convince her Father & MMC to let her go. (She didn't have to worry about that because he never lifted a finger or cared). The kiss did happen when she was still married to MMC and was the basis for the divorce.
Cheating - See above but both were celibate during separation - though not for lack of trying on MMC part.
HEA - Ends with an ILY and supposedly back together with questionable marriage intact as FMC thinks that her shady lawyer may not have filed the divorce papers, and both going to Therapy to make said marriage/relationship work. I wonder if the OW/Therapist was doing the counseling here? 😰
Shelved as 'nfmaa'
February 5, 2025Best part of the book was the dedication...... almost convinced me to read this. Thankfully I read the reviews first to know the MMC is a pos 😒
January 28, 2025
This was phenomenal. It was written in a very interesting way with dual timelines. One is present day and the other begins several years in the past and leads us to present day. I love dual timelines when they're done well.
The emotions of Lincon and Georgia throughout the book are raw, real, and at times, vulnerable. They hurt each other in so many ways when all they're trying to do is protect them. I was really unsure throughout the whole story how they could ever come back.
There was definitely a healthy dose of suspense and quite a few 'what the heck' moments that made me want to just keep reading until I finished it. It's spicy, suspenseful, emotional, and just all around worth the read.
Thank you to the author and Grey's Promotions for the gifted arc
The emotions of Lincon and Georgia throughout the book are raw, real, and at times, vulnerable. They hurt each other in so many ways when all they're trying to do is protect them. I was really unsure throughout the whole story how they could ever come back.
There was definitely a healthy dose of suspense and quite a few 'what the heck' moments that made me want to just keep reading until I finished it. It's spicy, suspenseful, emotional, and just all around worth the read.
Thank you to the author and Grey's Promotions for the gifted arc
February 27, 2025
I’m just going to dive into the review since I don’t want to give too much away about the book. This one hit all the emotions and took me on a rollercoaster. I loved the storyline and plot.
The MMC is broken, dealing with loss and grief while trying to return to his job as a cop and get the answers he needs—all while attending therapy and doctor’s appointments for his injury and mental health. I wasn’t sure about the FMC at first or how things would play out, but by the end, I understood her choices and grew to appreciate her character.
I will say, my impulsive thoughts were screaming for a scene between the therapist and the MMC because the way this man hits. Especially with that scene at the start—I was feral. But I get that this book isn’t just about the spicy moments; it’s about the plot and emotional depth.
I loved how this story felt different from what I’ve read lately, and everything tied up nicely in the end. Lincoln and Georgia’s journey was truly a rollercoaster, and I loved every moment of it.
Genre/Type: Romance 18+
APK: Kindle ARC
Pages: 499
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Tropes or Themes: Ex’s To Lovers, Roommates, One Night Stand, Divorced, MMC Cop, Past and Present, Injured On Duty, Therapy, Secrets, Lies, Mental Health, Guilt, Grief, Mine, Sexual Content, Dirty Talk, Dom, Sub, Bondage and Hate Sex.
Mentions: Death and Murder
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
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The MMC is broken, dealing with loss and grief while trying to return to his job as a cop and get the answers he needs—all while attending therapy and doctor’s appointments for his injury and mental health. I wasn’t sure about the FMC at first or how things would play out, but by the end, I understood her choices and grew to appreciate her character.
I will say, my impulsive thoughts were screaming for a scene between the therapist and the MMC because the way this man hits. Especially with that scene at the start—I was feral. But I get that this book isn’t just about the spicy moments; it’s about the plot and emotional depth.
I loved how this story felt different from what I’ve read lately, and everything tied up nicely in the end. Lincoln and Georgia’s journey was truly a rollercoaster, and I loved every moment of it.
Genre/Type: Romance 18+
APK: Kindle ARC
Pages: 499
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Tropes or Themes: Ex’s To Lovers, Roommates, One Night Stand, Divorced, MMC Cop, Past and Present, Injured On Duty, Therapy, Secrets, Lies, Mental Health, Guilt, Grief, Mine, Sexual Content, Dirty Talk, Dom, Sub, Bondage and Hate Sex.
Mentions: Death and Murder
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Fable | Everand | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
January 23, 2025
*4 stars*
I'll preface this by saying that this book is unlike anything Celeste has written before. I'm an avid reader of this author and would say that she's written more taboo, contemporary or sports romances. I'm not even entirely sure what category I'd put this title under? Not exactly dark romance but definitely darker for B. I think I'd call this a grey romance. Not dark, not taboo but not a sweet love story either.
Lincoln and Georgia's story is twisty and convoluted and actually pretty clever. I really loved the way Celeste flitted between their past and present without it being annoying or unnecessary. Both characters are quite brutally honest and realistic and raw on the page to the reader whilst also being not as truthful with each other. I'd also say this one definitely had a healthy shot of suspense. I felt pretty tense and on the edge of my seat throughout it. Lincoln was super, brutally manly without being over the top and I'd give Georgia a hug if I could and I'm not no hugger.
I'd also say that this is hands down the sexiest, spiciest book under B's belt. Lincoln and Georgia were BOTH fire! 🔥🌶
You can tell that the research behind the book has been done. It's nice and long to keep you entertained with the perfect pacing, not too fast or too slow, without it feeling dragged out.
All in all, I loved how real both characters were, how well it was written, how the plot had mystery and intrigue and hurt and happiness. It was a perfect blend of moments in their relationship and story.
I'll preface this by saying that this book is unlike anything Celeste has written before. I'm an avid reader of this author and would say that she's written more taboo, contemporary or sports romances. I'm not even entirely sure what category I'd put this title under? Not exactly dark romance but definitely darker for B. I think I'd call this a grey romance. Not dark, not taboo but not a sweet love story either.
Lincoln and Georgia's story is twisty and convoluted and actually pretty clever. I really loved the way Celeste flitted between their past and present without it being annoying or unnecessary. Both characters are quite brutally honest and realistic and raw on the page to the reader whilst also being not as truthful with each other. I'd also say this one definitely had a healthy shot of suspense. I felt pretty tense and on the edge of my seat throughout it. Lincoln was super, brutally manly without being over the top and I'd give Georgia a hug if I could and I'm not no hugger.
I'd also say that this is hands down the sexiest, spiciest book under B's belt. Lincoln and Georgia were BOTH fire! 🔥🌶
You can tell that the research behind the book has been done. It's nice and long to keep you entertained with the perfect pacing, not too fast or too slow, without it feeling dragged out.
All in all, I loved how real both characters were, how well it was written, how the plot had mystery and intrigue and hurt and happiness. It was a perfect blend of moments in their relationship and story.
Read
January 5, 2025If you like SPICY marriage of conveniences on the darker side, look no further!
PREORDER HERE FOR $0.99:
https://geni.us/WLOFAmazon
TROPES:
💍 Marriage of Convenience
🖤 Star-crossed Lovers
💋 Hate to Love You
💔 Infidelity (H with h)
💀 Touch Her You D!e
🌶 SPICY (🌶🌶🌶)
👀 Mafia (ish)
PREORDER HERE FOR $0.99:
https://geni.us/WLOFAmazon
TROPES:
💍 Marriage of Convenience
🖤 Star-crossed Lovers
💋 Hate to Love You
💔 Infidelity (H with h)
💀 Touch Her You D!e
🌶 SPICY (🌶🌶🌶)
👀 Mafia (ish)
February 8, 2025
What's Left Of Us became a highly anticipated read for me because this author brings her A game when it comes to angst and love stories. She never holds back and there's this pure rawness within her characters that leaves you feeling stripped. This story was no different and for a marriage of convenience storyline, she more than delivered the emotional turmoil.
I think that you need to go into this story blindly so my review is going to be very vague. You need to experience these characters in all their messy glory because they're going to make you mad, frustrated, and have you wondering if love is really enough.
Lincoln and Georgia Danforth have been through hell and back as a couple and from the very beginning, you see the love but you also witness the hate and anger. How did they get to that point? How could a seemingly in love couple go from wanting to be each other's everything to not wanting to be in the same room with each other?
Told from dual povs with past and present, What's Left Of Us takes on an emotional gray path that was filled with heartbreak, lies, temptation, and the longing for justice from opposite sides. These characters will put you through the wringer and you'll be left wondering What's Left Of You! This is going down as one of my favorite reads of the year so far so If you're looking for a sexy darkish romance, this one's for you.
January 31, 2025
Lincoln + Georgia
-marriage in crisis
-marriage of convenience
-star crossed lovers
-mafia-esque
-detective mmc
this was my first book by this author...& it most certainly won't be my last! the way she set up the storyline was PERFECT to add the tension & angst...& in doing that the story itself was soooo unique!! i was a ball of anxiety half the time feeling like i wanted to vomit cause i was constantly wondering WHYYYY the hell he would want her & WHAAAATTTT the fck she was thinking.....until BAM...oh. thats why!! 😭😭😭 & it was just perfect!
-marriage in crisis
-marriage of convenience
-star crossed lovers
-mafia-esque
-detective mmc
this was my first book by this author...& it most certainly won't be my last! the way she set up the storyline was PERFECT to add the tension & angst...& in doing that the story itself was soooo unique!! i was a ball of anxiety half the time feeling like i wanted to vomit cause i was constantly wondering WHYYYY the hell he would want her & WHAAAATTTT the fck she was thinking.....until BAM...oh. thats why!! 😭😭😭 & it was just perfect!
February 3, 2025
This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read before and I definitely feel like it’s unlike anything B. Celeste has written! It is told in dual time lines as well as dual POV. The timeline of the past helps you understand and unfold what’s happening in the present. What’s Left of Us is a marriage of convenience romance filled with suspense, mystery and all the hate-to-love vibes. This might just be the spiciest book B. Celeste has written. 🙌
January 25, 2025
What's Left Of Us is a dark romantic suspense story featuring Lincoln and Georgia. When they first meet, Lincoln is in the police academy and Georgia is a little naive and lives under her to father's control. He has plans for her to marry a business associate's son for a deal. She just wants to fall in love. Enter Linc and his protective ways. When her father kicks her out, Linc offers her a place to stay. Their relationship soon turns to more and they get married so her father won't force her to marry Luca. Lincoln never trusts her family and has his colleagues look into his shady business. Unfortunately, Lincoln and Georgia never fully trust each other. They separate and divorce and Lincoln gets hurt in the job. He has to go to therapy and finally takes a deeper look at his and Georgia's relationship. There are some twists and turns throughout the story involving Georgia's family.
January 26, 2025
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes:
❤️Marriage of Convenience
🖤hate to love
❤️Right person,Wrong Time vibes
🖤secret relationships
❤️law enforcement
🖤Touch Her You D!e
❤️Suspense
While this story is very different from B Celeste’s normal emotional and angsty stories this was still a very good unputtable down highly emotional and suspenseful book.
Lincoln and Georgia's story is full of twists and turns and the characters deliver some realistic takes on a relationship. There is also the fact that B Celeste cleverly weaves a dual time line, past and present. This just adds to the suspense of the book.
Lincoln… man i would not say he’s morally gray but he definitely has those elements woven into him. Along with some dirty talking law enforcement hero. Although his story was still heart wrenching. Georgia was a bit more innocent and a lot of that had to do with her sheltered life. Their relationship dealt with a lot of heartbreak and healing.
All in all i really enjoyed this book and like any B Celeste book it deals with some tough topics but the perfect balance of angst, emotion and heart wrenching moments to healing made it an unforgettable read.
Tropes:
❤️Marriage of Convenience
🖤hate to love
❤️Right person,Wrong Time vibes
🖤secret relationships
❤️law enforcement
🖤Touch Her You D!e
❤️Suspense
While this story is very different from B Celeste’s normal emotional and angsty stories this was still a very good unputtable down highly emotional and suspenseful book.
Lincoln and Georgia's story is full of twists and turns and the characters deliver some realistic takes on a relationship. There is also the fact that B Celeste cleverly weaves a dual time line, past and present. This just adds to the suspense of the book.
Lincoln… man i would not say he’s morally gray but he definitely has those elements woven into him. Along with some dirty talking law enforcement hero. Although his story was still heart wrenching. Georgia was a bit more innocent and a lot of that had to do with her sheltered life. Their relationship dealt with a lot of heartbreak and healing.
All in all i really enjoyed this book and like any B Celeste book it deals with some tough topics but the perfect balance of angst, emotion and heart wrenching moments to healing made it an unforgettable read.
February 2, 2025
This is something completely different from this author and I liked it. I enjoyed the way the timeline changed between past and present without confusing the reader. Lincoln and Georgia are married but they are floundering, weighed down by secrets and misunderstandings. The mystery and suspense elements of the storyline were well written and I liked how they impacted the love story. I will admit that both main characters frustrated me at times but they both came good in the end. I would have liked to see more of them in the future in the epilogue but that is personal preference.
February 9, 2025
3.5⭐️
am i toxic for loving them??
am i toxic for loving them??
February 11, 2025
***4,25 "Love is ugly!!!" stars***
"If you let me walk away today without you, our memories will be what's left of us."
I love how Barbara Celeste's mind in working!!!
This time, she took a favorite trope of mine that of marriage of convenience and she took it to another level!!!
Yep, there was here a marriage in crisis here, but the background story was more complicated than that and it had me on the edge of my seat all the time!!!
I got angry, I got frustrated and I wanted to scream many times, but I enjoyed this angsty story very much!!!
Lincoln owns my heart now and Georgia... She was a very complicated creature after all!!!
These two met by accident, but they became so much more...
But is it love enough in a cruel world when hidden monsters are after them???
"Georgia Del Rossi had once been mine.
A woman I was willing to sacrifice it all for.
I almost did. Over. And over. And over."
This story is told in dual POVs, but mainly, it is following Lincoln in the spam of eight years...
He suffered a great loss and a major trauma and he starts seeing a therapist in order to get the go to return to work!!!
In this sessions, he is starting to unravel his past and how things ended like that in the present...
He is also remembering how he and his late wife became a couple... He wanted to save her, but did he save her after all or he made things worse???
Yes, we are taking Georgia's aspect of the things too, but not for everything... I liked hearing her side of the story, but she was making me question so many things...
"What happened to us, Peaches?"
"I don't know."
But I do. It started with the lies.
Lincoln and Georgia started by accident...
Their marriage was one out of convenience in the beginning...
They slipped into a nice routine and as the years were passing by, they started to fall in love...
But there were always people after them... People that were making everything a mess for these two...
So, is love enough to suffer all the ugly things that others are throwing your way???
Can obsession to deliver justice save everything you are holding dear???
Is there loyalty between the couple or their loyalty is lying elsewhere???
Can they survive this mess???
"For some reason, I always come back to you...
And I fucking hate it."
I loved Lincoln very much!!!
I believe that he was trying more than Georgia!!! He definitely loved her more!!!
He was making efforts, even though he had his obsessions over certain matters!!!
Georgia was confusing!!! I wasn't feeling her love... even in the ending!!!
She was feeling awkward in her own skin throughout the book!!!
I can understand that she was coming from another world, but... she was lacking in so many things!!! Yes, in the end, I could understand her better, but she made me furious so many time!!!
These two were tragically amazing together, and they made me sad so many times, but I loved their story either way!!!
"Sometimes the dark is the safest place to be.
Because without the light, you don't see the monsters for what they really are."
**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**
"If you let me walk away today without you, our memories will be what's left of us."
I love how Barbara Celeste's mind in working!!!
This time, she took a favorite trope of mine that of marriage of convenience and she took it to another level!!!
Yep, there was here a marriage in crisis here, but the background story was more complicated than that and it had me on the edge of my seat all the time!!!
I got angry, I got frustrated and I wanted to scream many times, but I enjoyed this angsty story very much!!!
Lincoln owns my heart now and Georgia... She was a very complicated creature after all!!!
These two met by accident, but they became so much more...
But is it love enough in a cruel world when hidden monsters are after them???
"Georgia Del Rossi had once been mine.
A woman I was willing to sacrifice it all for.
I almost did. Over. And over. And over."
This story is told in dual POVs, but mainly, it is following Lincoln in the spam of eight years...
He suffered a great loss and a major trauma and he starts seeing a therapist in order to get the go to return to work!!!
In this sessions, he is starting to unravel his past and how things ended like that in the present...
He is also remembering how he and his late wife became a couple... He wanted to save her, but did he save her after all or he made things worse???
Yes, we are taking Georgia's aspect of the things too, but not for everything... I liked hearing her side of the story, but she was making me question so many things...
"What happened to us, Peaches?"
"I don't know."
But I do. It started with the lies.
Lincoln and Georgia started by accident...
Their marriage was one out of convenience in the beginning...
They slipped into a nice routine and as the years were passing by, they started to fall in love...
But there were always people after them... People that were making everything a mess for these two...
So, is love enough to suffer all the ugly things that others are throwing your way???
Can obsession to deliver justice save everything you are holding dear???
Is there loyalty between the couple or their loyalty is lying elsewhere???
Can they survive this mess???
"For some reason, I always come back to you...
And I fucking hate it."
I loved Lincoln very much!!!
I believe that he was trying more than Georgia!!! He definitely loved her more!!!
He was making efforts, even though he had his obsessions over certain matters!!!
Georgia was confusing!!! I wasn't feeling her love... even in the ending!!!
She was feeling awkward in her own skin throughout the book!!!
I can understand that she was coming from another world, but... she was lacking in so many things!!! Yes, in the end, I could understand her better, but she made me furious so many time!!!
These two were tragically amazing together, and they made me sad so many times, but I loved their story either way!!!
"Sometimes the dark is the safest place to be.
Because without the light, you don't see the monsters for what they really are."
**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**
February 12, 2025
5/5⭐️ 3/5🌶️
Obsessed 🤩 I loved this book so much! It may have been in part because it was so different from what I was expecting. I assumed this would be another cookie-cutter mafia romance (which I still would have loved) but it was so much more.
Our FMC, Georgia, is a naive mafia princess and our MMC Lincoln is a cop. This book has a dual timeline, the past where we get to see the beginning of Georgia and Lincoln’s relationship, and present day where they’re divorced and you’re left trying to figure out what happened between then and now. There’s a mysterious vibe to the whole book while we try to figure out who did what, how much everyone knows, and who’s working for who. There are some dark undertones with the mafia influences and Lincoln’s obsession with taking down her father, but I would not call it a dark romance. Theres some beautiful personal growth as we watch Lincoln struggle with his divorce and losing his best friend.
Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen I would be proven wrong. It was emotional, heartbreaking, mysterious and sexy.
The book does start spice heavy, but it slows down in the middle of the book so if you aren’t a huge spice person don’t let the first few chapters turn you off.
I did notice a few timeline errors (a 15 month pregnancy? 👀) and it could be a little difficult at times to keep track of when we were at, especially as the past was closing in on the present. But otherwise I have zero complaints.
Obsessed 🤩 I loved this book so much! It may have been in part because it was so different from what I was expecting. I assumed this would be another cookie-cutter mafia romance (which I still would have loved) but it was so much more.
Our FMC, Georgia, is a naive mafia princess and our MMC Lincoln is a cop. This book has a dual timeline, the past where we get to see the beginning of Georgia and Lincoln’s relationship, and present day where they’re divorced and you’re left trying to figure out what happened between then and now. There’s a mysterious vibe to the whole book while we try to figure out who did what, how much everyone knows, and who’s working for who. There are some dark undertones with the mafia influences and Lincoln’s obsession with taking down her father, but I would not call it a dark romance. Theres some beautiful personal growth as we watch Lincoln struggle with his divorce and losing his best friend.
Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen I would be proven wrong. It was emotional, heartbreaking, mysterious and sexy.
The book does start spice heavy, but it slows down in the middle of the book so if you aren’t a huge spice person don’t let the first few chapters turn you off.
I did notice a few timeline errors (a 15 month pregnancy? 👀) and it could be a little difficult at times to keep track of when we were at, especially as the past was closing in on the present. But otherwise I have zero complaints.
February 5, 2025
If you’re looking for a raw, dark, and gripping Mafia suspense romance, look no further than What’s Left of Us by B. Celeste. This novel delivers a truly compelling read—after all, when you pair a detective with a Mafia princess, what else can you expect?
Lincoln and Georgia’s story is intense and deeply moving, unfolding through dual timelines that reveal their complicated past and present. As Lincoln recovers from an injury and the loss of his partner, he is forced to confront his past with a counsellor, unearthing old wounds and buried emotions. Both he and Georgia have made mistakes, believing they were acting in each other’s best interests, but the journey of rediscovering their love is nothing short of mesmerising.
The suspense element is executed brilliantly, keeping the tension high while weaving in the emotional depth of their fractured relationship. Watching this couple fight their way back to each other is as heartbreaking as it is captivating. What’s Left of Us is a must-read for those who crave dark romance with high stakes, undeniable chemistry, and an unforgettable second-chance love story.
Lincoln and Georgia’s story is intense and deeply moving, unfolding through dual timelines that reveal their complicated past and present. As Lincoln recovers from an injury and the loss of his partner, he is forced to confront his past with a counsellor, unearthing old wounds and buried emotions. Both he and Georgia have made mistakes, believing they were acting in each other’s best interests, but the journey of rediscovering their love is nothing short of mesmerising.
The suspense element is executed brilliantly, keeping the tension high while weaving in the emotional depth of their fractured relationship. Watching this couple fight their way back to each other is as heartbreaking as it is captivating. What’s Left of Us is a must-read for those who crave dark romance with high stakes, undeniable chemistry, and an unforgettable second-chance love story.
January 25, 2025
4.5⭐️
2.5🌶️
- Marriage of convenience
- Star-crossed lovers
- Mafia-esque
- Suspense
- Spicy scenes
- Infidelity (just a kiss 😉)
This book is much different from what I have read from B thus far. I’ve read her sports romances and loved her writing so I knew I wanted to read this one as well. I loved the past and present aspect of the book and I truly felt for Lincoln the whole time. His story was absolutely heartbreaking. His and Georgia’s relationship is built on convenience and not love like one would normally think would happen before getting married. Lincoln wanted to help her out of the life she was living and to do that he had to endure a lot and so did Georgia. Georgia really had no sense of the outside world due to her upbringing. She seemed very naive, but ultimately helped get Lincoln the answers he wanted without him initially knowing. This definitely isn’t your typical romance novel and it takes a while to get to the answers we were all looking for, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. You can tell that a lot of research went into writing this book. I really was hoping to get more of Lincoln and Georgia’s relationship (I don’t want to spoil anything) towards the end of the book, but still loved how it ended.
2.5🌶️
- Marriage of convenience
- Star-crossed lovers
- Mafia-esque
- Suspense
- Spicy scenes
- Infidelity (just a kiss 😉)
This book is much different from what I have read from B thus far. I’ve read her sports romances and loved her writing so I knew I wanted to read this one as well. I loved the past and present aspect of the book and I truly felt for Lincoln the whole time. His story was absolutely heartbreaking. His and Georgia’s relationship is built on convenience and not love like one would normally think would happen before getting married. Lincoln wanted to help her out of the life she was living and to do that he had to endure a lot and so did Georgia. Georgia really had no sense of the outside world due to her upbringing. She seemed very naive, but ultimately helped get Lincoln the answers he wanted without him initially knowing. This definitely isn’t your typical romance novel and it takes a while to get to the answers we were all looking for, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. You can tell that a lot of research went into writing this book. I really was hoping to get more of Lincoln and Georgia’s relationship (I don’t want to spoil anything) towards the end of the book, but still loved how it ended.
Shelved as 'dnf'
February 5, 2025DNF @ 49%
I wanted to DNF at the first chapter with the way the hero treated the heroine and the abusive sex. I kept trying to see if it would get better from the flashbacks, but i hate this hero. He is divorced from his wife, but keeps using her for sex and then throwing her aside.
He keeps flirting with his therapist and looking at her sexually. he runs into her and seems very interested. I just do not like this at all.
I was going to try to stick with it till I read someone's spoiler review and decided not the waste my time. There is no romance in this. The hero sexualizes the heroine and uses her.
I wanted to DNF at the first chapter with the way the hero treated the heroine and the abusive sex. I kept trying to see if it would get better from the flashbacks, but i hate this hero. He is divorced from his wife, but keeps using her for sex and then throwing her aside.
He keeps flirting with his therapist and looking at her sexually. he runs into her and seems very interested. I just do not like this at all.
I was going to try to stick with it till I read someone's spoiler review and decided not the waste my time. There is no romance in this. The hero sexualizes the heroine and uses her.
February 12, 2025
What’s Left of Us by B Celeste is everything I’ve come to expect from a B Celeste book. I will tell you, PLEASE check your TW with this one.
What I loved most was the dual timelines and dual POV. Hear me out…I know it sounds chaotic. It was NOT!! It was written so well, it was seamless. I’ve never had this happen with a book.
Lincoln is a police detective recovering from an incident (I’m not making light of it, just don’t want to be banned) that his partner did not make it thru. This sets into place therapy for Lincoln, which leads to letting out all of the resentment towards his ex-wife and her family.
Georgia is Lincoln’s ex-wife and daughter of an organized crime associate.
This book is so good, so emotional. I loved every word.
What I loved most was the dual timelines and dual POV. Hear me out…I know it sounds chaotic. It was NOT!! It was written so well, it was seamless. I’ve never had this happen with a book.
Lincoln is a police detective recovering from an incident (I’m not making light of it, just don’t want to be banned) that his partner did not make it thru. This sets into place therapy for Lincoln, which leads to letting out all of the resentment towards his ex-wife and her family.
Georgia is Lincoln’s ex-wife and daughter of an organized crime associate.
This book is so good, so emotional. I loved every word.
January 29, 2025
What's Left of Us is real, raw, and ready to tear your heart to shreds.
February 23, 2025
I loved how different this one felt. The couple's marriage is already over but something still has them connected. We see their love story and their failures in flashbacks. The suspense to this one with the mafia elements was fantastic. To keep from giving anything away, just go in blind and read it!
February 5, 2025
Wow. This book sucked me in and i sooo loved the spice and suspense in it! This is a different, darker and edgier book and i sooo loved it. 5 stars hands down!
February 5, 2025
While this story is quite a departure from B. Celeste’s usual brand of angsty romance, the added element of suspense and intrigue made for one heck of a novel!
I couldn’t put this story down,and I can wholeheartedly say that I was invested in these characters from the prologue.
If you enjoy books featuring:
•romantic suspense
•Right person,Wrong Time
•secret relationships
•marriage of convenience
•leads in law enforcement
•princess-in-the-tower vibes
You will thoroughly enjoy Georgia and Lincoln’s hard-won love story. Their forbidden affair made for the perfect combination of tension,angst, and just the perfect balance of heartache and healing.
I loved it!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3.5 🌶️🌶️🌶️.🫑
I couldn’t put this story down,and I can wholeheartedly say that I was invested in these characters from the prologue.
If you enjoy books featuring:
•romantic suspense
•Right person,Wrong Time
•secret relationships
•marriage of convenience
•leads in law enforcement
•princess-in-the-tower vibes
You will thoroughly enjoy Georgia and Lincoln’s hard-won love story. Their forbidden affair made for the perfect combination of tension,angst, and just the perfect balance of heartache and healing.
I loved it!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3.5 🌶️🌶️🌶️.🫑
February 5, 2025
4.25
This was such a fantastic change for B Celeste. She stayed true to her angsty style while bringing us something a bit darker and domineering. I absolutely got sucked into the back and forth story of Georgia and Lincoln. They have so many secrets between them and juicy details that end up hurting not only each other but also those close to them. I enjoyed the darker twists and the mafia underground story that connects them all.
This was such a fantastic change for B Celeste. She stayed true to her angsty style while bringing us something a bit darker and domineering. I absolutely got sucked into the back and forth story of Georgia and Lincoln. They have so many secrets between them and juicy details that end up hurting not only each other but also those close to them. I enjoyed the darker twists and the mafia underground story that connects them all.
March 5, 2025
Ένα μελοδραματικό σκουπίδι για αναγνώστες χαμηλών απαιτήσεων και δυνατοτήτων, πιο κουραστικό κι από το να σε χτυπάνε στο κεφάλι με ένα κουτάλι ενώ κλαίνε μέσα στο αυτί σου. Η απλοϊκή και πιο επίπεδη κι από την ιδέα που έχει ένας flateaerther για τη γη γραφή δεν έχει τίποτε να προσφέρει σε μια ιστορία με διαρκώς επαναλαμβανόμενα μοτίβα συναισθημάτων, με λιγότερη εξέλιξη κι από ενός κοιλάκανθου. Εν ολίγοις η βαρεμάρα χτυπάει ταβάνι, το τρυπάει και βγαίνει στον επάνω όροφο.
Θεωρητικά συνεχίζει το story χαρακτήρων από άλλο βιβλίο, το οποίο δεν έχω διαβάσει και, ειλικρινά, δε σκοπεύω. Έγκωσα κακό dual POV, πόνο, ενοχές και αυτοκαταστροφή χωρίς καμία πρόοδο και εξέλιξη, αλήθεια πόσο χαμηλά έχει πέσει ο πήχης σε αυτού του είδους την παραλογοτρεχνία με τα dark εξώφυλλα και την άπειρη χλαπάτσα εσωτερικά; Πόσο μίζερι πόρν να αντέξει ένας άθρωπας με τον ελάχιστο αυτοσεβασμό;
Αν αντέχετε ένα ατέλειωτο κύκλο που δεν πάει πουθενά, με χαρακτήρες που ανακυκλώνονται και ανακυκλώνουν τα προβλήματα και τις ανασφάλειές τους, μάλλον έχετε πιο γερό στομάχι από εμένα ή παίρνετε simeco τακτικά. Αναρωτιέμαι αν τέτοια βιβλία προωθούν την ένοια της κενότητας και ως περιεχόμενο και ως προς αυτό που ψυχαναγκάζουν (sic) τον αναγνώστη να αισθανθεί. Το μόνο με το οποίο μπορώ να παρομοιάσω την εμπειρία της ανάγνωσης είναι το να έχει κολλήσει το ποδάρι σου στη λάσπη και να κάνεις κύκλους γύρω από το ίδιο σημείο. Στο βούρκο ενώ στο background κυριαρχούν διάλογοι τόσο ανούσιοι που θα έκαναν το …
-Έρχεται ο Αλέξης, Βίρνα
-Τι εννοείς Γιάγκο πώς έρχεται ο Αλέξης;
-Ο Αλέξης έρχεται
-Μου λες δηλαδή, Γιάγκο, πώς έρχεται ο Αλέξης;
-Ναι Βίρνα, λέω ότι έρχεται ο Αλέξης
του Φωσκόλου, να δείχνει βαθύς, φιλοσοφημένος και όχι αρκετά επαναληπτικός.
Και σαν κερασάκι στην τούρτα, οι «θεραπευτές», όταν δεν είναι σαμάνοι από το Ουγκαγκατούγκου ή χειριστές ονειροπαγίδας από τα απαλάχια, καλό είναι να παρουσιάζονται λίγο πιο κοντά στην πραγματικότητα, δικαιολογώντας την ύπαρξή τους σε μια ιστορία.
Ένα βιβλίο ανούσιο, βαρετό και τοξικό όσο και οι ήρωές του. Το είδος του αναγνώσματος που απασχολεί παχουλές κυρίες, οι οποίες το διαβάζουν καταναλώνοντας ένα τόνο σοκολατάκια, ενώ χρηιομποιούν για avatar στα σόριαλ κάποιο ξωτικό ή νεράιδα με αιχμηρά χαρακτηριστικά και αναλιογίες λιμοκτονούντος μοντέλου.
Θεωρητικά συνεχίζει το story χαρακτήρων από άλλο βιβλίο, το οποίο δεν έχω διαβάσει και, ειλικρινά, δε σκοπεύω. Έγκωσα κακό dual POV, πόνο, ενοχές και αυτοκαταστροφή χωρίς καμία πρόοδο και εξέλιξη, αλήθεια πόσο χαμηλά έχει πέσει ο πήχης σε αυτού του είδους την παραλογοτρεχνία με τα dark εξώφυλλα και την άπειρη χλαπάτσα εσωτερικά; Πόσο μίζερι πόρν να αντέξει ένας άθρωπας με τον ελάχιστο αυτοσεβασμό;
Αν αντέχετε ένα ατέλειωτο κύκλο που δεν πάει πουθενά, με χαρακτήρες που ανακυκλώνονται και ανακυκλώνουν τα προβλήματα και τις ανασφάλειές τους, μάλλον έχετε πιο γερό στομάχι από εμένα ή παίρνετε simeco τακτικά. Αναρωτιέμαι αν τέτοια βιβλία προωθούν την ένοια της κενότητας και ως περιεχόμενο και ως προς αυτό που ψυχαναγκάζουν (sic) τον αναγνώστη να αισθανθεί. Το μόνο με το οποίο μπορώ να παρομοιάσω την εμπειρία της ανάγνωσης είναι το να έχει κολλήσει το ποδάρι σου στη λάσπη και να κάνεις κύκλους γύρω από το ίδιο σημείο. Στο βούρκο ενώ στο background κυριαρχούν διάλογοι τόσο ανούσιοι που θα έκαναν το …
-Έρχεται ο Αλέξης, Βίρνα
-Τι εννοείς Γιάγκο πώς έρχεται ο Αλέξης;
-Ο Αλέξης έρχεται
-Μου λες δηλαδή, Γιάγκο, πώς έρχεται ο Αλέξης;
-Ναι Βίρνα, λέω ότι έρχεται ο Αλέξης
του Φωσκόλου, να δείχνει βαθύς, φιλοσοφημένος και όχι αρκετά επαναληπτικός.
Και σαν κερασάκι στην τούρτα, οι «θεραπευτές», όταν δεν είναι σαμάνοι από το Ουγκαγκατούγκου ή χειριστές ονειροπαγίδας από τα απαλάχια, καλό είναι να παρουσιάζονται λίγο πιο κοντά στην πραγματικότητα, δικαιολογώντας την ύπαρξή τους σε μια ιστορία.
Ένα βιβλίο ανούσιο, βαρετό και τοξικό όσο και οι ήρωές του. Το είδος του αναγνώσματος που απασχολεί παχουλές κυρίες, οι οποίες το διαβάζουν καταναλώνοντας ένα τόνο σοκολατάκια, ενώ χρηιομποιούν για avatar στα σόριαλ κάποιο ξωτικό ή νεράιδα με αιχμηρά χαρακτηριστικά και αναλιογίες λιμοκτονούντος μοντέλου.
January 24, 2025
B. Celeste has delivered a deeply emotional and beautifully written novel with What's Left of Us. This book effortlessly weaves together love, loss, healing, and the complexities of relationships, all while capturing the reader's heart with its raw vulnerability and emotional depth.
The characters are richly developed, and their journey feels incredibly real. The protagonist’s internal struggles and the intricacies of the relationships explored are handled with such care and authenticity that it’s impossible not to become emotionally invested in their story. Celeste’s writing is lyrical and evocative, perfectly balancing moments of heartache with hope, making every page turn an emotional experience.
What stands out most about What's Left of Us is its exploration of how love can shape, break, and rebuild us. The author doesn’t shy away from tough subjects, and yet the narrative never feels heavy-handed. Instead, it’s a testament to the healing power of self-discovery and the importance of finding strength, even in the aftermath of heartbreak.
The pacing of the story keeps you hooked from start to finish, and while there are moments that will make you ache, there’s also an underlying sense of redemption and growth that leaves you feeling hopeful. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, and their journey toward finding peace and acceptance is genuinely uplifting.
In short, What's Left of Us is a beautiful and heart-wrenching read that will resonate long after you finish it. B. Celeste has once again proven her talent for crafting emotional stories that connect with readers on a profound level. If you’re looking for a poignant, soul-stirring book about love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit, this is one you don’t want to miss.
The characters are richly developed, and their journey feels incredibly real. The protagonist’s internal struggles and the intricacies of the relationships explored are handled with such care and authenticity that it’s impossible not to become emotionally invested in their story. Celeste’s writing is lyrical and evocative, perfectly balancing moments of heartache with hope, making every page turn an emotional experience.
What stands out most about What's Left of Us is its exploration of how love can shape, break, and rebuild us. The author doesn’t shy away from tough subjects, and yet the narrative never feels heavy-handed. Instead, it’s a testament to the healing power of self-discovery and the importance of finding strength, even in the aftermath of heartbreak.
The pacing of the story keeps you hooked from start to finish, and while there are moments that will make you ache, there’s also an underlying sense of redemption and growth that leaves you feeling hopeful. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, and their journey toward finding peace and acceptance is genuinely uplifting.
In short, What's Left of Us is a beautiful and heart-wrenching read that will resonate long after you finish it. B. Celeste has once again proven her talent for crafting emotional stories that connect with readers on a profound level. If you’re looking for a poignant, soul-stirring book about love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit, this is one you don’t want to miss.
February 1, 2025
I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC 🥰
B. Celeste delivers a gut-wrenching and deeply emotional story in What’s Left of Us, a romance that explores love, loss, sacrifice, and the weight of the past. This book is not just about second chances—it’s about the toll of choices, the consequences of loyalty, and the struggle between love and duty.
At the heart of the novel is Lincoln Danforth, a thirty-one-year-old detective who is reeling from the tragic death of his partner. Forced into mandatory therapy, Lincoln is confronted with memories he has tried to bury—particularly those of his ex-wife, Georgia Del Rossi. Their love story is anything but simple. Georgia, the daughter of a rising organized crime figure, was someone Lincoln married to save, but their relationship unraveled under the weight of secrets, danger, and conflicting loyalties.
The novel masterfully unfolds through therapy sessions, revealing a decade of love, regret, and heartbreak. Celeste’s writing is raw and evocative, making every flashback feel immersive and every emotion palpable. Lincoln is a deeply flawed but incredibly compelling protagonist, and his journey of self-discovery and reckoning is both heartbreaking and hopeful.
Georgia is just as captivating—a woman who was once protected by Lincoln but ultimately lost him to the very forces they were trying to outrun. Their chemistry is undeniable, but the true strength of the novel lies in its emotional depth and the moral dilemmas both characters face.
If you’re looking for an emotionally charged, beautifully written romance with complex characters and a gripping plot, What’s Left of Us is a must-read. B. Celeste has crafted a hauntingly beautiful tale that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.
B. Celeste delivers a gut-wrenching and deeply emotional story in What’s Left of Us, a romance that explores love, loss, sacrifice, and the weight of the past. This book is not just about second chances—it’s about the toll of choices, the consequences of loyalty, and the struggle between love and duty.
At the heart of the novel is Lincoln Danforth, a thirty-one-year-old detective who is reeling from the tragic death of his partner. Forced into mandatory therapy, Lincoln is confronted with memories he has tried to bury—particularly those of his ex-wife, Georgia Del Rossi. Their love story is anything but simple. Georgia, the daughter of a rising organized crime figure, was someone Lincoln married to save, but their relationship unraveled under the weight of secrets, danger, and conflicting loyalties.
The novel masterfully unfolds through therapy sessions, revealing a decade of love, regret, and heartbreak. Celeste’s writing is raw and evocative, making every flashback feel immersive and every emotion palpable. Lincoln is a deeply flawed but incredibly compelling protagonist, and his journey of self-discovery and reckoning is both heartbreaking and hopeful.
Georgia is just as captivating—a woman who was once protected by Lincoln but ultimately lost him to the very forces they were trying to outrun. Their chemistry is undeniable, but the true strength of the novel lies in its emotional depth and the moral dilemmas both characters face.
If you’re looking for an emotionally charged, beautifully written romance with complex characters and a gripping plot, What’s Left of Us is a must-read. B. Celeste has crafted a hauntingly beautiful tale that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.
February 4, 2025
I have read and enjoyed multiple B. Celeste books, and I always find myself curious about the author’s new releases. When I heard about What’s Left of Us, my attention was instantly grabbed. It promised so many of the things I adore, and I went into the story with high hopes.
I will be entirely honest and say that my feelings toward What’s Left of Us ended up being very mixed. In truth, this is a rounded-up three-point-five-star rating. While I did enjoy the story, I did not enjoy it as much as I enjoyed other books from the author. I think the main reason for this is because of my different levels of investment in the two timelines. While the present timeline had me interested in watching how everything came together, I found it difficult to connect to the characters. In fact, there were some points that made me dislike the male lead because it seemed so at odds with the past version of him that I was enjoying. I know this was to show how he had developed as a character, but I feel like the two versions never fully merged, which is why, even when the timelines were at the same point, I still felt the lack of connection with the present version. I think what would have helped a lot with this is if there had been more at the end of the story. It felt like as soon as the timelines came together, everything happened extremely quickly. I liked the way the more thriller-esque element played out, yet the romance element felt rushed. I wanted much from that conclusion, as I feel it would have allowed me to appreciate the characters’ stories much more.
All in all, What’s Left of Us was a story that kept me engaged. While not my favourite from the author, I can certainly see it ticking the boxes of many.
I will be entirely honest and say that my feelings toward What’s Left of Us ended up being very mixed. In truth, this is a rounded-up three-point-five-star rating. While I did enjoy the story, I did not enjoy it as much as I enjoyed other books from the author. I think the main reason for this is because of my different levels of investment in the two timelines. While the present timeline had me interested in watching how everything came together, I found it difficult to connect to the characters. In fact, there were some points that made me dislike the male lead because it seemed so at odds with the past version of him that I was enjoying. I know this was to show how he had developed as a character, but I feel like the two versions never fully merged, which is why, even when the timelines were at the same point, I still felt the lack of connection with the present version. I think what would have helped a lot with this is if there had been more at the end of the story. It felt like as soon as the timelines came together, everything happened extremely quickly. I liked the way the more thriller-esque element played out, yet the romance element felt rushed. I wanted much from that conclusion, as I feel it would have allowed me to appreciate the characters’ stories much more.
All in all, What’s Left of Us was a story that kept me engaged. While not my favourite from the author, I can certainly see it ticking the boxes of many.
February 13, 2025
Unlike anything B.Celeste has written so far!
B. Celeste’s What’s Left of Us is a SPICY,angsty,emotionally charged & slightly dark romance that tugs at the heartstrings from start to finish. The novel centers on a deeply complicated love story between two characters, navigating the aftermath of a painful breakup. It is a journey through loss, personal growth, and, ultimately, healing.
The story follows the lives of Lincoln and Georgia who are caught in the complex web of their past relationship. After their love falls apart, they are forced to confront not only their own broken hearts but also the unresolved emotions that continue to bind them together. Their journey is one of rediscovery—of each other, themselves, and the emotional scars that have defined them. The author beautifully explores how the characters cope with lingering feelings and the inevitable struggle of moving forward.
These characters…..they are not just flawed, but deeply human. Their pain is tangible, making their individual growth throughout the novel feel genuine.
B. Celeste’s writing is evocative and full of raw emotion. The pacing is balanced, allowing the story to unfold naturally while providing the emotional depth needed to make every scene hit hard.
It’s a slow-burn romance that builds in intensity, making each tender moment and gut-wrenching realization feel earned.
Whether you’re a sucker for second-chance romance or simply enjoy stories with emotional depth,this is a story that I HIGHLY recommend!
B. Celeste’s What’s Left of Us is a SPICY,angsty,emotionally charged & slightly dark romance that tugs at the heartstrings from start to finish. The novel centers on a deeply complicated love story between two characters, navigating the aftermath of a painful breakup. It is a journey through loss, personal growth, and, ultimately, healing.
The story follows the lives of Lincoln and Georgia who are caught in the complex web of their past relationship. After their love falls apart, they are forced to confront not only their own broken hearts but also the unresolved emotions that continue to bind them together. Their journey is one of rediscovery—of each other, themselves, and the emotional scars that have defined them. The author beautifully explores how the characters cope with lingering feelings and the inevitable struggle of moving forward.
These characters…..they are not just flawed, but deeply human. Their pain is tangible, making their individual growth throughout the novel feel genuine.
B. Celeste’s writing is evocative and full of raw emotion. The pacing is balanced, allowing the story to unfold naturally while providing the emotional depth needed to make every scene hit hard.
It’s a slow-burn romance that builds in intensity, making each tender moment and gut-wrenching realization feel earned.
Whether you’re a sucker for second-chance romance or simply enjoy stories with emotional depth,this is a story that I HIGHLY recommend!
February 13, 2025
I recently finished reading What's Left of Us, and I must say, it was quite an emotional journey! This standalone romance dives deep into the complexities of love, loss, and the moral dilemmas that arise when two worlds collide. The story revolves around two characters—one entangled in a life of organized crime and the other a dedicated police officer. Their relationship is intense and filled with challenges that kept me turning the pages.
What really struck me about this book was the emotional depth. B. Celeste did an incredible job developing the characters, making me feel connected to their struggles and triumphs. I found myself rooting for them as they navigated their conflicting loyalties and desires. The chemistry between the main characters was palpable, creating a romantic tension that felt both engaging and relatable.
The exploration of heavy themes such as loyalty to family versus personal ethics added layers to the plot that I really appreciated. It made me reflect on my own values and what I would do in similar situations. While the pacing was generally good, there were moments where it felt a bit drawn out, but I think this allowed for deeper character development, which I ultimately enjoyed.
Overall, What's Left of Us is a compelling read that balances romance with serious themes. I’m glad I picked it up! If you’re looking for an intense romance that challenges moral boundaries, I highly recommend giving this novel a try. It definitely earns a solid four-star rating from me!
What really struck me about this book was the emotional depth. B. Celeste did an incredible job developing the characters, making me feel connected to their struggles and triumphs. I found myself rooting for them as they navigated their conflicting loyalties and desires. The chemistry between the main characters was palpable, creating a romantic tension that felt both engaging and relatable.
The exploration of heavy themes such as loyalty to family versus personal ethics added layers to the plot that I really appreciated. It made me reflect on my own values and what I would do in similar situations. While the pacing was generally good, there were moments where it felt a bit drawn out, but I think this allowed for deeper character development, which I ultimately enjoyed.
Overall, What's Left of Us is a compelling read that balances romance with serious themes. I’m glad I picked it up! If you’re looking for an intense romance that challenges moral boundaries, I highly recommend giving this novel a try. It definitely earns a solid four-star rating from me!
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