Review: Silent Scars by Ada Frost (Surviving #4)

Note: This ARC was provided by Tasty Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

His country may consider him a hero, but Ryan Dermont knows that he will never be worthy of such a distinction. He failed his men while at war abroad, and he failed his brothers and nephew while fighting a different war years ago. Ryan has physical scars, but the scars that are buried deep within him are the ones that bring up the worst of his nightmares. Honorably discharged from the Marines, Ryan finds himself across the pond and working with his adoptive brother and is tasked to provide security for Aloura Cavendish, the daughter of a well-known doctor and researcher. Aloura's been targeted by someone out to destroy her father, and with the threats becoming bolder, Ryan is determined to protect her with his life. But there's one thing that Aloura wants that Ryan may never be able to give--the monster behind the man.

I'm new to the Surviving series and to author Ada Frost, but after having finished Silent Scars, the fourth and latest book in said series, not only has my curiosity about the first three books been piqued, I've become an instant fan of the author's. Yes, this book was an advanced reader's copy, so there were certainly issues that needed to go through a round or two of editing, but setting that aside--because it isn't really fair to judge a book on editing issues if it's been given to you as an ARC and you've been forewarned--this was an intensely heartrending and gut-wrenching story. Ryan Dermont lives his life in the darkness of a past that he seems incapable of letting go completely, convinced that he is undeserving of love and trust from his brothers and from the woman who shines  brighter than he thought possible--Aloura Cavendish.

Different forms of abuse are part of Ryan's past and it's a past that's intertwined with those of his five other brothers and his nephew. While the abuse isn't explicitly described in the story, the way Ryan describes his years growing up with his parents makes it easy to understand why he's as traumatized as he is. He may be thirty-six years old, but the post-traumatic stress disorder he suffers from isn't limited to his war experiences as a Marine. The burden he carries--tortuous memories and self-inflected guilt--torments him, but while he doesn't think himself worthy of the love of his brothers, they're there for him, simply waiting for him to finally open himself up to them and what they have to offer. It's working with Aloura as his client that allows him to slowly take the initial steps of exorcising his past, although it is no simple feat.

Aside from Ryan dealing with his past and he and Aloura trying to figure out if they should or shouldn't make a go of their feelings for one another, figuring out who was going after both Aloura and her father was quite interesting. I had one suspect in mind, but then there was a certain point in the story where I scratched him off my list and decided to focus on someone else. Thankfully, I was proven right, but the reasons behind the plot had me dumbfounded and caught me totally by surprise. Of course, I love it when that happens because then the author has been able to get one over on me. This book also made me tear up a couple of times--proof that I was quite emotionally invested in Ryan, and to a certain degree, Aloura. The first three books in the Surviving series are on my to-be-read list and I'm giving Silent Scars 4.5 stars. ♥

Date Read: 03 December 2015

Learn more about Ada Frost.

Purchase Silent Scars on Amazon.