Review of Marred: Kyle and Violet (Cliffside Bay # 4) by Tess Thompson

Marred: Kyle and Violet

A playboy with a painful past finds help he never expected to need, in the most unlikely of places, in this standalone, opposites-attract romance from USA Today bestseller Tess Thompson.

Real estate developer Kyle Hicks only has time for three things: his latest project, his very best friends, and his next no-strings-attached tryst. Struggling single mother Violet Ellis is just as busy. Between her son, her failing business, and her historical preservation work, there’s never any time to catch her breath.

While Kyle’s bringing progress to Cliffside Bay, Violet’s fighting to protect the small town’s increasingly rare charm. But for once they’ll find themselves on the very same team when a brand new project that neither of them anticipated arrives.

As this unlikely pair quickly learns, working together will require trust and respect. And there just might be something else simmering under the surface of their once-acrimonious relationship -- something special that both of these former rivals are willing to fight for.

USA Today bestselling author Tess Thompson invites you into the world of Cliffside Bay to meet a group of five best friends, the women they love, and the stories that bring each couple together. Each book in the Cliffside Bay Series is intended to be read and enjoyed as a sweet standalone, but for maximum enjoyment read this binge-worthy series in order.

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon * B&N * iTunes

**My thoughts*

We already knew that Kyle was a wealthy, attractive playboy, and Violet was the hippie single mother who owned a struggling store. On paper, there is no way that these two should ever hook up. And yet we saw glimpses of that beloved enemies-to-friends trope being hinted at in previous books.

So Kyle finds out that his playboy ways have finally caught up to him. He had unknowingly fathered a child. But the baby's mother had unfortunately died from an infection soon after Mollie Blue's birth. He has to step up an be this baby's father. And though he is doomed to struggle, he is also destined to become one of the best fathers ever.

Violet gets involved because Honor knows that she would be the perfect person to teach Kyle how to care for a baby. Plus now that her store has closed, she needs money.

Inevitably, sharing the care of Baby Mollie Blue causes an impenetrable bond between the two to form. And of course, anyone would fall in love with Violet's precocious young son Dakota.

I love that we finally get to know more about both Kyle's and Violet's posts so that we can better understand them. We meet parts of their families, which helps to explain so much and also lays foundations for potential future stories.

They have both come so far in their lives, which just shows that determination can help you snap those horrid cycles.

We also get to know Mary a bit more, who happens to be the focus of Book 5.

Though this book primarily focuses on Violet and Kyle and their developing relationship, all of the other characters are still a vibrant part of the story. So often in series like this, once a couple is matched up and their initial story is told, they almost fall by the wayside with only slight mentions. But Tess keeps them all very active, engaged, and present, which I appreciate.