Defying Eternity by Melanie Martins

"Our relationship is ill-fated. Everyone saw it but us.
We, on the other hand, thought nothing but death could tear us apart.
And like clockwork, death came to tear us apart.”

This is the fourth installment in the Blossom in Winter series, with a life-changing revelation turning Petra’s world upside down as she finds herself torn between justice and love, agony dripping veins forcing her to stand decisive. Seeking justice would paint her as her husband’s worst enemy, while her rationalizing the love they have, would display her downfall on a silver platter. Despite everything, sacrifices are to be made: for otherwise all that Petra has come to terms with, and has at stake is to crumble mercilessly, leaving her with little to no choice in the matter. The ever-persistent question of will, and if yes, how, their bond is to survive the burden of such lies and treacherous secrets is what actually kept me and the audience of this series hooked to the story’s rather fast-paced progress. Every little 'progress' bore a heavy price on Petra, changing the face and fact of every union and truth she’s been told and held close to her.

Umbrella terms and themes of love and relationship, as challenging to capture as in words (even in fiction) as they are to truly and genuinely experience. In the fourth book, the author continues to season and grit the series with a balance of twists, turns and rather unexpected surprises, parting even the reader honestly taken aback at times. 
To witness how to love and it is much written and extensively talked about endeavors bring out our best and worst self was something I didn’t think I’d find myself fancying, but oh well, I did. A hero like Alex was something entirely new to my adorned lists of male protagonists. Assured, calculated, worldly, ruthless but at a soft-core intention: Alex.
Similarly, Petra had me fawning as an impressed reader, for she could clearly hold her own against the untouchable and pedestal-seated, larger-than-life Alex.

The story really had me hooked, and akin to the last three books, I mostly flew through this one as well. Looking back, discovering the series was a happy accident, and I ended up being hooked and captivated by it from the start. Money, secrets, sex, power, intrigue & betrayal are all part of all that the saga of Petra and Alex, and more.
This is definitely up there on my list of prodigious stories that just keep you on the edge while pulling you in.

However, it made me gloomy about finishing it. Notwithstanding that, eagerly looking forward to the release of the fifth part of Alex and Petra's story in the first half of 2022.