Reading Connelly’s Horde I wasn’t sure if what I was reading was going to be the flavor of all the rest of the books in the series or what. It is more of an introduction to all of the characters in the series with a light romance mixed in with some hot sex. Even so the characters had me intrigued enough to move on to Cadence Reflection. I’m so very glad I did. The characters Ms. Earl has created are so very compelling. Their stories will draw you in. Get a few tissues and be prepared because life is messy and can be quite heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. Put aside your notions of family and prepare to meet an adopted family with ties closer than blood.

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Putting the past away, facing the fears and letting love blossom can be such a roller coaster ride of emotions. I don’t think I read the blurb for any of the early books in the series before getting ready to write the reviews. Reading them after the fact, let me tell you they are so freaking spot on. I think when I first looked at this series I expected an MC series. And while this series is peripherally related to the MC culture it is not an MC series. At its core, it is a series about extended family and the challenges they face in life. This family’s all alpha patriarch is Des Connelly. He runs a shop called Wheels & Hogs which specializes in custom cars and bikes. Des has a habit of rescuing others. He draws them in and adopts them into his life, his business and his family. That’s exactly how Cadence became a member of Connelly’s Horde.

Cadence has known unbelievable abuse and violence in his short life. Left bleeding and beaten in a dark field he was found and rescued by Des. Nursed back to health by Fern and Doc. These three are his life. But Cadence is far from healed. He buries himself and his secrets in a man whore existence to cope. Nightmares rule his nights. Growing up and becoming the man he’s meant to be is out of reach. Then he meets Trinity and they begin a friendship like no other Cadence has known. For the first time, he’s not trying to get into a woman’s skirts. He’s falling day by day for this beautiful ray of sunshine. Clueless and inept at how to have a meaningful relationship Cadence decides to take a chance with Trinity. For the first time, he’s consumed by someone else. Then when the unthinkable happens he has no context to deal so he reverts to his immature careless self and loses the one woman that has come to mean something to him.

Trinity knows Cadence has a reputation. Getting involved with a man that flits from one woman’s bed to another’s isn’t exactly on Trin’s to do list. But that doesn’t stop her from falling head over heels in love with the man that makes her smile and forget the nightmare life at home is. Then one night they go beyond friendship. The next day he shatters every dream she has. Walking away is as much self-preservation as anything. Now Trinity is dealing with the ramifications of their relationship on her own. Life is brutal and she has no clue if she’ll make it past today let alone whether or not she wants to. Then the Horde comes for her. She’s adopted into a wonderful extended family. Life is the most blessed that she has ever known. Still she’s not going to bend over backward in forgiving Cadence his trespasses. It’s time this boy shows the man he can be.

Interwoven in the story of Cadence and Trinity is the inspiring tale of how an extended family circles the wagons when it comes to dealing with a beloved members cancer. With Fern’s illness, you see just how caring and loving Cadence is at heart and just how devastated he is by her failing health. Cadence Reflection is told from alternating POVs, not all of them the hero and heroines. It is masterfully woven to tell a very rich and emotionally stirring story. I couldn’t put it down. I will warn you to have a box of tissues handy. You’ll cry at the heart-wrenching abuse the heroine and hero have suffered in the past. You’ll cry at the strength of this family as they deal with Fern’s illness. You’ll cry in happiness when things go right. You’ll want to scream, yell and do a bit of violence when evil comes calling. You’ll breathe a little harder when the heat amps impossibly high between these couples. If you’re looking for a book with all the feels you’ve found it.

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After reading Cadence Reflection I knew I had to pick up Gabriel’s Treasure immediately. I couldn’t wait to see where Gabriel and Fern’s story would go. I turned that first page knowing to have my tissue box handy. Dealing with cancer whether personally or not will tear you apart. Ms. Earl has a way of reaching inside you with her story and bringing you to your knees at the wonder of a family’s love, faith, and hope. In Gabriel’s Treasure, you not only take a backseat to the struggle that is Fern’s survival but to the history of these two amazing character’s love affair with life.

Lord, grant me a man in my life like Gabriel. Lest you think he’s infallible, guess again. Doc has his faults. He’s all too human. But the one thing you will never question is just how much he loves his wife. He is a pillar of strength but like all pillars he needs a good foundation to rest on. The love and care of his extended family and a powerful faith are the foundation. And when the pillar tilts the foundation holds it tight and steadily on course through life. But every pillar has its weak point that could cause it to shatter and crumble. Fern is Gabriel’s weak spot. If he loses her his will to live is gone. She is his heart and soul. He’s loved her from the day he rescued her from a thoughtless bully in high school. They’ve had their share of challenges, joys and sadness. He’d give Fern the world at her feet if he could. But life has seen that they won’t have the children she craves. Still he’d give them to her if he could. The medical bills nearly took their home. If not for the love of their family and community it would be gone. Now for the first time, they have real hope. But this new treatment has its risks and it’s going to be a real struggle requiring all their faith in a future together. Gabriel has all the faith in the world when it comes to Fern.

Fern has almost lost her faith time after time. Life is such a struggle. But the love she is showered with keeps her steady and hanging on from day to day. And the love of her husband keeps her fighting to see a tomorrow. Life may have taken her ability to provide Gabriel with a child but it’s blessed them thrice over with an extended family to beat all. Even as she struggles each day, the indomitable Fern continues to be the matriarch of this family. Fern is one of those people we all aspire to be. Watching her fight for one more day with her Gabriel was heart wrenching. Seeing her almost lose faith… totally shattering. Then Cadence and Trinity provide the last ray of hope. It isn’t without risk and recovery is lengthy. Fern is no longer the woman she was both physically and emotionally. She has to fear that she won’t be able to be the wife her husband needs. Recovery isn’t always about the body but also the heart and soul.

Gabriel’s Treasure is an inspiring tale of just how powerful love is. Once again, Ms. Earl has put pen to paper and produced a book I couldn’t put down. For those who might think with the subject matter that this one might be only a sweet romance… think again. Ms. Earl heats up the pages with a past that will have you squirming let alone the rediscovery of romance and love in the aftermath of remission. So looking forward to Holidays with the Horde.

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Wheels & Hogs Series

Holidays with the Horde, Book 4 Now Available!

Reviews for D. M. Earl