Confessions: Henri: Confessions Series, Book 5

Poor Henry. All he wants is to finally be free and have someone love him. A very good read. On the the next book.

I love when a character from one set of books gets their own story, and Henri was just one of those characters. We learned about his childhood and a little bit of his relationship with Priest from Priest, Julie, and Robbie’s stories, but we only get glimpses of the shadowy Henri. I adored the depth Ella Frank gave this amazing character in his own book. Living life on the outside, and very much the underdog; he constantly feels like he doesn’t deserve happiness. This made me want a HEA for him even more.Henri meets Bailey at the wedding for Priest, his ex. He has very conflicting feelings about it and doesn’t actually stay for the ceremony. Drowning his sorrows in the hotel bar, Bailey finds him and they strike up a conversation. Lust is thick in the air and they agree to go upstairs to Bailey’s room, but Henri stands him up. Fast forward 2 weeks and both are still obsessing on the night that didn’t happen, and after a second chance encounter, there’s no going back.Their relationship, while unlikely on the outside, each man ends up being quite perfect for the other. Bailey is the light to Henri’s darkness. Henri is bold, while Bailey is more reserved. And the passion they feel for each other develops easily into more as time passes. But Henri has secrets, and he isn’t ready to share them with Bailey just yet. This plot thread continues into the second half of their story in Bailey. I just loved the state of anticipation this story left me in and dove right into the conclusion of their story.

A chance meeting at a wedding, sparks lust and more between the epitome of a bad boy Henri and straight-arrow Cop Craig “Bailey”. This is an intriguing, somewhat dramatic romantic tale. I thought the MCs were enough interesting, though I wished there was more personal interaction than narrative between the two. There also needs to be a bit more creativity in the dialogue between MCs besides the usual “most beautiful” or “most sexy man I’ve ever seen” or “He’s hot”, etc. However, I was caught up in the premise, wondering when the other shoe would drop — when Henry’s dark background would be revealed. That feeling leads me to read Bailey’s story next. Rating: 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

***5 ‘Good, Scary...Exciting’ Stars***OMG.*swoons and faints in a perfect imitation of a southern belle*Henri and Bailey are just...mmmmm...The swoons, the melting, the twitterpating heart, the NEED to dunk myself into an ice bath (B.O.B wasn’t available at this time because I read at work ~ I should have known better, but that’s when they popped up on the Kindle and I just had to start it)...these two just worked me over in the best of ways and I’m sooo freaking happy we’ll be getting more of them!When it was announced that Henri was getting his own HEA I swear I did the full on squeal/happy dance thing because after meeting him in Priest the need to know more about him was strong and he is all kinds of bad boy, smexy, too damn charming for his own goodness, but when you add in all that he’s gone through and just seeing the inner workings of his heart...puddle of goo! And Bailey. Sweet, heart of gold and just a genuinely good person and I love how comfortable he is in his own skin.As for their journey thus far. The chemistry between Henri and Bailey is intense. There is no doubt that these two are into each other on the physical level because they simply delight in just seeing the other, but they are also connection on a more personal level. It is slow going, which I had no problem with since this is part one of their story, but they are building a base that I hope will hold strong once the flood gates open.~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~

4.5*Well hello there Henri. I must confess you weren’t at all who/what I was imagining, but I’m not even mad about it! I loved your vulnerability and the softer side of you we got to see in this story. You are such a contradiction- all dark and broody and pierced on one hand, on the other this unguarded, hopeful, slightly broken man. I’m not going to say anything more about you, though- I want people to discover all the facets of the man that is Henri Boudreaux themselves!Henri’s story was so much more than expected- in really the best ways. It was so touching, and much more emotional and heartfelt than previous interactions with the man would have led us to believe. I loved getting a look into Henri’s past, to see what made him into the man he is today. And I really loved seeing him so unsure of himself when it came to Bailey. I thought these two were great together, even as opposite as they are. This is a definite slow-burn/slow-build when it comes to a relationship between Henri and Bailey- there’s some avoidance and back and forth, from both of them. But when things come together, the pay-off is definitely worth it!I’m really looking forward to Bailey’s book, as there’s a lot left to be discovered and revealed.

I just fell in love with Henri in Confessions: Priest. I just knew he would still be around. It didn't surprise me to learn that Henri and Bright Eyes stayed in touch - I was glad to read that.This book, I'm assuming, is going to lead into something else when Bailey has his turn next. These two!!! I couldn't get enough of them floundering and finding their way. Poor Henri and his feelings...….he's just numb with all these new feelings for this Cop that he's drifting, and it's good to see he's human. It will be awesome to see what Bailey's brother has to say about all of this. He's a curious one that Sean. Hmmm.We got to see the "Trio", which I absolutely loved. Of course, I want to see all these men get their HEA and I know it's coming (I hope). I just know that Bailey will be sticking by his Henri when it hits the fan. And I hope we get to see Priest's reaction to learn that Henri is just warm marshmallow goodness on the inside! Paybacks are a...…….

I love Henri! Reading these connected series is worth the effort. I have read them out of order which is okay as long as you read each characters series in order.

Much as I like Bad Boy Henri and sweet Craig Bailey, this story didn’t grab me as much as others in the series. Perhaps it was a bit short and their characters didn’t get developed as much as other guys in Confessions. However, I liked his physical description as I envisioned him as a lookalike of that famous musician singer in “Thin Lizzie”, Phil Lynott, and Bailey in my mind was a lookalike of Bradley Cooper. So let me go see now how Book 6, “Bailey” completes this whole unforgettable Confessions series for me. I won’t forget any of these guys anytime soon, Tate, Logan, Robbie, Priest, Julien,Henri and Bailey. Thanks Ella Frank.

“If I don’t kiss you in the next two seconds, I think I might just f***ing die.”It has taken me so long to get to this book because I knew I needed a day of having sweet feck all to do so I could sit and devour it, and that’s what I’ve done.I absolutely adore Bailey. I want to wrap him up in my arms and protect him from the world. I get that as a cop that’s his job but I don’t care! He is too precious for this world.And then you have Henri, dark seduction and sin wrapped in leather and piercings. The saying ‘opposites attract’ has never felt more fitting and I can’t get enough of it.I cannot wait to see where they end up, I reckon tears and heartache are on the horizon, but it’ll end well... Right?I love that this story didn’t drop Priest, Julien and Robbie, heck we even got some Logan goodness.. I really like Sean and Xander, I hope we get to find out what’s going on with Sean. Ahhh. I need to read BAILEY now! I loved this story so much. My heart is too full of feels.Here’s another one of my favourite moments just because...“All he’d been thinking about was how f***ing incredible last week had been, and how he would do just about anything to see Bailey again. Even, apparently, stalking.”

Henri was a fast paced and fabulous read. That hooked me in from the very first page. As Henri as a character was so mysterious and I immediately fell for him because he came across as so self assured when flirting with Bailey. Yet, extremely vulnerable as he watched a happy Priest greet guests at his wedding.And this story certainly gave me plenty of feels. Especially when it came to learning about Henri's history with Priest, and I found it very intriguing how the Henri of today is still very much dictated by his complicated feelings and past with Priest. Yet that made his pursuit of Officer Bailey all the more interesting and to be fair to Bailey he gave as good as he got to the guy who kept ghosting him. Although, to me he did seem a little too innocent and good to really work with the dark, mysterious Henri. But they did work and the chemistry between the pair really sizzled and so did they when they eventually got together.And I'm certainly excited to find out what happens next, when the conclusion of this story is released.Would definitely recommend.

“They were both looking for ways to bend their rule for just another moment with each other, and he was starting to think that being caught up in this man’s strings just might be the best f/ing experience of his life.”Gah.Ok I'm really surprised with these two, I wasn't quite expecting what I got. But I'm not complaining.It's that strong connection, lusty but then so many layers. Emotional. And just the getting to know each other that makes me giddy!Henri is out here breaking my heart with his past and the loneliness that plagues him. Bailey deserves someone that loves him wild and crazy. He's definitely getting that in Henri, I think.I'm excited to read more but also anxious af for all the things still waiting to be out in the open gah.Also the hurt between Priest and Henri guts me and I'm hoping that can be truly mended but gah my heart.

These Confessions series seem to be getting shorter and shorter! But of course the price stays the same or more. Feel cheated? Only because the stories don't have the depth they need to make this series like the Temptation one. Too many lengthy flashbacks , not enough substance between the two MC's. Too bloody short!Don't get me wrong, I want to see where this goes, but ppft, hope Bailey's story (shorter in length than this I see!!), is better. Ms Frank's recent forays have been a notch down in quality unfortunately. Ah well.