Bended Love
by Kat Caldwell
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Romance
ISBN: 9781964171975
Print Length: 343 pages
Reviewed by Melissa Suggitt
Their pasts tried to break them, but together they’re learning what it means to heal.
In Bended Love, Kat Caldwell delivers a romance that’s tender and tumultuous—a story of love, family, and healing.
Scarlett is barely holding it together while raising her nephew, Ben, after her sister, Rhoda, left him on her doorstep. At just 24, she’s trying to carve out a career as a baker and caterer, but her life feels like a series of uphill battles: her best friend Nasreen is moving away, she’s just lost her latest job, and her love life is a complicated mess.
Enter the incredibly fit and handsome Tristen, a musician with his own set of scars. With a childhood marked by a mother’s addiction and ongoing issues, he’s now facing a paternity battle brought on by the deception of his twin brother Talon. Tristen’s life might be a mess, but when he starts spending time around Scarlett, he can’t help but be drawn to her resilience and vulnerability.
The two are unable to avoid each other. Their paths continue to cross, especially when Ben’s father signs him up for boxing camp at Tristen’s gym. But when Scarlett takes a job in the kitchen at Camp Soul, a youth music camp where Tristen’s friend is letting him record and produce, their initial connection turns to undeniable chemistry. The time they spend around each other only amplifies their attraction. I was screaming at him to kiss her so. many. times.
Scarlett is haunted by feelings of unworthiness, convinced she isn’t enough for someone like Tristen. But Tristen’s patience and genuine admiration gradually break down her walls. Watching him pour his heart into their relationship, with the respect and care Scarlett never believed she deserved, is nothing short of swoon-worthy. He’s everything a woman dreams of—a man who not only sees her for who she is but for all she’s endured, and he loves her all the more for it.
Even when she breaks down, revealing what happened to her as she cries into his arms on the porch, Tristen’s attention is undivided, his affection unyielding, and his respect unwavering. Terrified that her past and her pain might make her “too much,” Scarlett, like so many women, has been conditioned to feel like she’s not enough. That’s why seeing this kind of love in women’s fiction is so important.
Tristen pursues her gently, with patience and sincerity, cherishing every moment by her side. True romance, he proves, isn’t about grand gestures but about the small, meaningful acts: seeing her beauty as she is, holding space for her pain, and making her feel valued. This is the essence of a real man, one who desires a woman not for her perfection but for her soul.
Through their journey, we see glimpses of their painful family histories: Scarlett’s mother Candi remains emotionally distant and hurtful, while Tristen’s mom Ivy is on a path to redemption, having embraced sobriety and therapy to make amends.
With an engaging blend of romantic tension, authentic dialogue, and well-drawn characters, Bended Love keeps readers engaged and rooting for Scarlett and Tristen despite their flaws. This isn’t just a love story—it’s a heartfelt exploration of self-worth, resilience, and healing. Scarlett and Tristen’s bond goes beyond physical attraction; they share a deep understanding of each other’s pain, forming a connection that feels inevitable and electric.
Bended Love is bound to make readers swoon and cheer. It’s an unforgettable romance with heart and depth, a sure-fire recommendation for anyone who believes in the power of love to heal even the deepest wounds.
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