Synopsis

I was at the top of my game until reality hit in a way I had never imagined, forcing me to face the living hell that had become my life. The ghosts and demons that once filled the pages of my bestselling novels now flooded my mind, consuming my thoughts both day and night.She was hauntingly beautiful, and I was drawn to her in the most unimaginable way.
She was my breath when I had stopped breathing.
She was my hope when I was drowning in despair.
She was my muse when I had lost all motivation.

But nothing good lasted—not in my world anyway.
Like the last days of autumn when the beautiful leaves are stripped away by the long winter days, lurking in the distance; her caring ways and gentle soul were only temporary. Soon it would be taken from me, leaving my heart as barren as those once majestic trees. But unlike those autumn days, she remained, giving me the courage to face the cold, dark winter of my past while uncovering secrets and lies that could be the premise of a bestseller. Only, this wasn’t fiction, this was my reality—a reality I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

Review

4 stars

When Autumn Ends was my first Beth Rinyu
What made me request the book was sorely the plot. No friends review no cover nothing else.

The plot is about a broken and tortured man who will meet a sweet girl who will hopefully help him be happy again. This is one of my favorite tropes!

Ethan is destroyed. He also is a real jerk to everyone Jenna included. It was like a gut reaction. When an animal is hurt he often retreats in his lair and bites anyone in the vicinity.
Well that is Ethan at the beginning of the story.

Jenna wears her heart on her sleeve. She is a loving and caring girl that I wanted to shake some sense into because…that horrid fiancé! Plus who enters a drunk man’s room really? Especially when said drunk turns Dr Jekill and Mister Hyde on you?
Seriously I would have run the other way …and never got to really know Ethan. The story would never have happened.

I guess random acts of kindness do open possibilities.

But I digress.

The plot in a nutshell
Ethan is a famous writer who disappeared from the publishing world one year ago after a terrible tragedy destroyed his world. He is full of guilt and hate. Slowly drowning.

“Darkness was my life now, the only place I found refuge from my own personal hell. I took a seat on the bed and grabbed my favorite remedy from my bag. Lifting the bottle of Jack Daniel’s to my lips, I took a swig and washed down a pill. Reaching into my bag once again, I pulled out his favorite teddy bear, the one he’d sleep with every night.”

Jenna has been dismissed from her editing job when two companies merged. She is to marry a big lawyer even if the closer the big date the more she gets cold feet. Really sweet person she inherited her aunt and uncle huge house on the beach and wants to restore it to open a bed and breakfast.

They will meet when Ethan is at his lowest. He’ll be aggressive with Jenna but she will help him as she can see he is hurting. I told you the girl is a saint!

The plot revolves around getting to know each other, peeling Ethan’s layers away to discover the man hiding under the wounded beast.

Essentially character’s driven you have twists and turns to keep you interested even if I confess to have guessed the big reveal.

Jenna was just admirable. Mature, selfless, courageous, loyal….

She was the perfect woman for tortured Ethan. So perfect I can’t imagine someone like that exists.

“She was open and honest. She wore her heart on her sleeve and didn’t have a hidden agenda. She accepted me for who I was and didn’t try to press for more than I was willing to give. Yeah, she was a little naïve and somewhat indecisive, which normally drove me insane, but it didn’t bother me with her. She didn’t know Jonathan Reed, but given her former profession, I was certain she’d heard of him. She accepted me as Ethan Banks, and that was hard to come by these days.”

I really liked this author’s style, heartfelt, flowing effortlessly, making me cry and smile. Just something perfect for romance!

Recommend it? Yes, absolutely!

Do you know Beth Rinyu? Have you read her books?

Thanks for reading!

Sophie