Review: Nikan Rebuilt by Scarlett Cole

Nikan Rebuilt by Scarlett Cole

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Book number one for 2018 is a fabulous start to the New Year. I've not read any of the previous novels in the Preload series, something I need to change because I loved Nikan and Jenny's second chance romance.

Nikan Monture has it all, except he doesn't. He's never forgotten his first love, the woman he betrayed eight years ago, who vanished into thin air. Now she's back working at the home he and his brothers lived and he wants her back. However, he has to convince her that what they had before can be better because he's a changed man.

Jenny McKade is nervous and excited about returning to Toronto to work. She's going to temporarily manage the home her ex and his band lived when they were teenagers and she has fond memories of spending time there when she was growing up too. The job is everything she's worked for only, the man who betrayed her is likely to cross her path at some point during her temporary job there and she's not sure her heart can handle seeing him again, or can it?

I went in blind with this novel and was instantly intrigued by the author's letter before the beginning of the novel. The inclusion and history of Nikan's First Nations heritage were insightful, informative and sympathetic to the plight of thousands of children taken into care. Nikan was a lucky one, despite his tough start in life, unlike his grandparents. His experience helped to shape the man he became, but simultaneously, he lost touch with whom he was because he'd always managed to put others before himself, except when he didn't and made the biggest mistake of his life...losing Jenny.


"Fall back in love with your life."


Additionally, Jenny's own tragic background and upbringing was a surprise, yet she became a strong independent woman. I loved that she didn't rush to reconcile with Nikan and made sure she worked through her doubts about a reconciliation as he tried to impress her...only to find she appreciated gestures similar to ones she remembered him for and not the ones he could afford now. A woman to love Nikan for the man he always was rather than the wealthy rock star he became.

Although I knew nothing about either the supporting characters and the protagonists before reading this novel, it didn't detract from the reading experience in any way. Ms Cole successfully kept me engaged in the narrative at all time and I instantly became invested in Nikan and Jenny. Their chemistry is electric and the rebuilding of their relationship is believable as is the interactions between secondary characters. At no time did I feel cheated out of not knowing more about any of them, so I can vouch for the standalone status of this novel.

Overall, Nikan Rebuilt is a narrative full of the unexpected. While I'm now interested in reading the earlier books in this series, Lennon's story is definitely one I want to read next.

***arc received courtesy of Swerve via NetGalley***



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It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It's a great post to organise yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog   and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!

What's happening here?

Happy New Year! I'm starting the brand new year by posting later than I usually do, because I was up late celebrating last night. Nothing fancy, just spending time with three other families. As is the norm, there were fireworks at midnight and the kids enjoyed sledging in the dark with the waxing moon peaking through the clouds and firework smoke.

My son goes back to school on Wednesday so it will be good to get back into a routine as I've got my NaNo book to edit. I'm looking forward to the task but also a little sad that the holiday was too short. However, there is a little sunshine due on my horizon later this month, so time to knuckle down for now.

What am I currently reading?

Nikan Rebuilt by Scarlett Cole (arc)

Nikan can never be complete. He's got a rock group made up of the family he built for himself, more money than he knows what to do with, and a stream of groupies falling over themselves to date him. But none of them are her. The one regret that still plagues him, still taunts him with what he could have had.

Jenny is a survivor. Now running a group home after overcoming life in a cult lead by her manipulative father and watching her mother drink the poison he fed his followers, she fights to keep the light in the eyes of every boy who walks through her doors. Far from simple young love, Nik taught her to trust, showed her how good life could be. Before he formed the band. Before he became a famous rockstar. Before he destroyed it all.

A chance meeting after years of no contact shows the connection still blazes between them. But will they have their second chance at love? Or will the weight of their past crush their future together?

Thoughts so far…

This book in number three in the Preload Series which follows members of a band. I had no preconceived ideas on what to expect and am pleasantly surprised as I get deeper into the novel. The author's note at the beginning had me instantly intrigued because I wasn't expecting the plot to be as deep as it is. If I'd read the previous novels in the series I would have been more aware, but that isn't necessary to enjoy this highly emotional second chance romance. I'm at 91% and will finish shortly but it's already a five star read for me.

I'll begin reading The Alice Network by Kate Quinn later today.

Book(s) I've read this past week?

Snow by Mike Bond

Out of the Mist by Lauren Giordano

What are you reading?