Lotus: Second Chance Love with Romantic Suspense

Lotus by Jennifer Hartmann is one of those stories that quietly burrows into your heart and stays there. It’s tender, tragic, and deeply moving in all the ways I’ve come to love from her writing.The story follows Oliver, a boy who was abducted and held captive for over two decades—and Sydney, the girl who never stopped hoping he’d come home. When he finally returns to the world, broken but brave, the two reconnect in a way that’s equal parts painful and heartwarming. Their bond, once innocent and childlike, transforms into something powerful, slow-burning, and emotionally charged.Jennifer Hartmann has this incredible ability to write trauma with such care. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is romanticized. You feel the awkwardness, the pain, the confusion—and eventually, the hope. Oliver’s journey back to himself is handled so delicately, and Sydney is the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for: compassionate, loyal, and just as lost in her own way.What I loved:🔹A slow, healing romance rooted in friendship and trust🔹Deep trauma representation handled with grace and sensitivity🔹Emotional depth that’ll have you crying, smiling, and everything in between🔹Characters who feel real in their brokennessThe message that healing isn’t linear—but love can light the wayIf you’re in the mood for a slow-burn romance that’s heavy on heart and healing, Lotus is an absolute must-read. It’s the kind of book that lingers long after the last page.

I really enjoyed Oliver and Sydney’s story. Beyond it being heartbreakingly beautiful, it’s also full of mystery. I had an inkling in the beginning as to why Oliver was taken, but JH managed to throw me off quite a bit. I love trying to figure out the mystery aspects of a story, so being taken for a little ride was fun for me.I am so glad that I did. I fell head over heels for Oliver. Sweet sweet Oliver is just the best! He is so amazing and swoony! Oliver’s sweet innocence and honesty absolutely stole my heart! Swoon! The love these 2 share for each other shines through, as does their chemistry. It's a slight slow burn, but **wiggles eyebrows** It was done impeccably well. And the twist on what Lotus meant was a little mind blowing. I loved the meaning!!I was introduced to Sydney and Oliver in Still beating and June First, so I was intrigued to learn more about them. There were connections between all 3 books that were quite intriguing. This is a complete stand alone, but I love stories built in the same world. Brings more depth into the author's world. I will be jumping into more of JH’s books hoping to find more easter eggs and gold nuggets.Lotus took us on a mysterious journey with this story. Definitely has some triggers, so read the authors note. I highly recommend reading. I love a good JH story. While Lotus was seriously good, I was a little disappointed that my heart wasn’t completely smashed to pieces… but also extremely grateful LOL.FAVORITE QUOTESWe are yards apart, separated by a pane of glass and twenty-two long years, but I feel something pass between us. A current. A frisson of wayward memories and new possibilities.My lips press together to keep the emotions at bay as I observe this man, processing the realization that I was never far from his mind during those years he was locked away, lost and afraid, just as he was never far from mine. We stayed connected. He turned me into something tangible, beautiful and real.“What did it feel like to you?”My mind is still spinning, my thoughts dizzy and blurred. I’ve never felt anything like that before, so I have little to compare it to, but I try to explain it the best I can. “Like every star in the galaxy tumbled to Earth and crawled beneath my skin.”“I love you, Syd. I loved you then, I love you now, and I’ll love you until my dying day.” There was never a question, never a doubt. I love this woman.

This is such a lovely story. But in it and one of the “main characters “ is heart breaking things that happen. Please check TW’s. It is a must.But it’s a story about survival, growth, love lost but found again. It’s also about not letting the abuser win and taking back control of your life. You are going to live your life the way YOU want to. Not by what happened to you. It really is an awesome story.The last chapter and the epilogue are so charming and lovely and romantic. I’m a romantic at heart and those two chapters are so romantic.Love the main characters- Syd, Oliver, Clem, Gabe and Tabitha from Still Beating!Anyway, I love this story and I highly recommend. I hope you will like it too. Enjoy!

I was so afraid to read this book for so long because I thought it would break me in such a tragic way. And while it did break me a little bit, it made me swoon, tear up, laugh, and feel whole.The depth and the growth in these characters was so well done, and I was glued to this story from start to finish.While the story was incredibly hard to read at times, I was able to push through because Jennifer Hartmann does such a great job of telling a difficult story in a way that doesn’t give way too many details making it impossible to read because of the heartbreak. She has such a way with words that it so rare, and with each book, I love her writing more and more.

I enjoyed reading Oliver and Sydney’s story and found that it wasn’t lacking in any areas. The plot was amazing and extremely engaging. We all know that secrets always leaves ugly scares and forces us to take a deeper look within. I always enjoy a book about sacrifices in the name of love. I would recommend this book to anyone who is stilling waiting for someone special to return to them. I have this book 4 stars because the characters were lovable and the plot was super engaging.

The beginning of this book was very confusing. It took me a couple of chapters to understand what had happened and was happening. I almost thought the beginning should’ve been a throw back to little Sydney and Oliver as younger kids. The ending was cute but I was definitely over the back and forth of frustration/storming off from both of them (mostly Sydney).