Book Review: (Whiskey Sharp) Torn by Lauren Dane

Torn is the third book in the Whiskey Sharp series by Lauren Dane. While each book is enjoyable on its own, the secondary characters and location is carried over from the previous books. I have read the previous books, and enjoyed them very much. 

Beau Petty has been searching his whole life. Searching for a place that fills all the empty spaces in him. Searching for a way to tame the restlessness. Searching for answers to the secret he’s never stopped trying to solve. What he wasn’t searching for was a woman to claim all of him, but when Cora Silvera walks back into his life, he’s ready to search out all the ways he can make her his. Cora has spent her life as the family nurturer, taking care of others. But now she’s ready to pass that job on to someone else. It’s time to make some changes and live for herself. It’s in that moment that her former teenage crush reappears and the draw and the heat of their instant connection is like nothing either of them has experienced. He craves being around her. She accepts him, dark corners and all. 
Beau thinks Cora’s had enough drama in her life. He wants to protect her from the secrets of his past, even if it means holding back the last pieces of himself. But Cora is no pushover and she means to claim all those pieces. 

Torn was a must read when I started, mainly because of the teaser I read at the end of the previous book. I had to read Cora's happy ever after. I still loved Cora through the whole book, and found her blend of strong and vulnerable to be well balanced and written. I thought Beau's character was well written, and his history and struggles with the issues it causes him was well done. I enjoyed seeing them get acquainted and deal with the complications brought on by friends and Cora's family. I like that both dealt with their personal issues, but was annoyed with Beau's efforts to 'protect' Cora by keeping thing from her. I also felt that something big was coming, something bigger than actually happened. I found the end to be a little anticlimactic, but I have hope that another book will come along (perhaps with one of Cora's siblings or one of the remaining single friends) that will include some big revelation to bring Beau's family back into play.  

Torn did not grab me with the same amount of emotion as the previous books in the series, but I still enjoyed it and will continue reading the author's work. I think fans of the author and series will want to pick this one up, but I hope the next is even better.