Review: Truly Mine by Kennedy Fox

TRULY MINE

Kennedy Fox
Publication date: May 23, 2019

Series: Mason & Sophie #1 | Roommate Duet #3
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Format: Audio
Source: Hoopla
4 Stars

The night we met, I instantly wanted to know the brunette bombshell’s deepest secrets. She was pure temptation, and I was mesmerized by her soulful bedroom eyes. 

As one drink led to two, I craved more of her playful banter and taunting lips. Resisting her wasn't an option, and we quickly became a desperate mess of tangled limbs and hot kisses. Once it became obvious that meeting her wasn't a coincidence, everything changed. 

After years of keeping her at a distance, I want to pull her close as a threat emerges in her life. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe, to show her I'm the good guy, but one night takes a tragic turn for the worse when her boyfriend and I start throwing punches. 

And it ends when I’m arrested for his murder.

Mason and Sophie had one sizzling hot encounter that left them both wanting more. But Mason quickly friend-zoned Sophie, convinced he had nothing to offer her. Over the next couple years, they engaged in a constant push-pull, wavering between friends and (mostly) polite acquaintances. Sophie kept waiting for Mason to come to his senses and Mason was torn between wanting Sophie desperately while feeling emotionally scarred and unworthy after a previous relationship went terribly wrong. When Sophie finally decides to move on and begins seeing a new man, warning bells immediately go off for Mason. Despite cautioning Sophie, who accuses him of being jealous, the relationship continues until Sophie finds herself tied to a man who has turned violent and possessive.

There were so many times in the first part of the story that I wanted to throttle Mason. He ran so hot and cold with Sophie and it’s no wonder that she was confused about where they stood and why she waited so long before moving on. Mason decided he was no good for Sophie instead of letting her make that call. But, just like with past books/characters, Kennedy Fox has a way of changing my feelings about characters, making me see them in a different light and understanding them better. Before I know it, I’m head over heels for them and pulling hard for them to have all the love they deserve. The same was true with Mason. This guy had a huge heart and was protective without being a caveman about it. He struggled so hard to walk the line between being Sophie’s friend while keeping himself removed enough to protect his heart.

She deserves better than I could ever offer her, better than someone who’s fighting their own demons and is an emotional mess. The more I remind myself of that, the better. - Mason

Sophie is the older sister of Lennon (from the previous duet) and her character had quite a journey throughout Truly Mine. It was heartbreaking so see the changes in her: from confident and fun-loving to broken, secretive, and pulling away from everyone in her life that loved her and cared for her. She became so isolated, constantly covering up what was happening behind closed doors, and even concerned pleas from her sisters and friends did not help. When it all came to a head, Mason and Sophie are drawn together and the back and forth nature of their relationship in the past is set aside as a strong bond is formed between them.

If you have feelings for me the way I have feelings for you, then please tell me. Tell me so I can stop second-guessing. - Sophie

This was angsty, slow burn at its finest and Mason and Sophie went through so much both separately and together. It felt as though the timing was never right for them and even when it seemed like finally their time had come, tragedy strikes again.

Kennedy Fox laid the foundation of Mason and Sophie’s relationship so well and it made easy to see how much these two cared for one another and what they went through individually to finally be together. These were two characters who truly deserved peace and happiness in their lives. One of my favorite aspects was the strong bond between this friend group and the unconditional support they gave each other (sometimes even while giving each other crap). The banter and humor were the perfect balance to the darker moments. There was a heavy dose of tension and suspense and – no surprise – a cliffhanger than had me downloading the next book immediately. Kennedy Fox has quickly become a go-to choice for emotional and addictive reads.

Note: Truly Mine is the first book in the duet that makes up Mason and Sophie’s story. While the two books can be read as a duet, the experience is much fuller if you read the previous duet, Baby Mine and Baby Yours (Hunter + Lennon’s story) first.

Trigger warnings for domestic violence: on-page physical/verbal/emotional abuse

HAVE YOU READ THE ROOMMATE DUETS SERIES?