REVIEW: The Wisdom Within by Gwen Martin (The Collective #3)

THE WISDOM WITHIN

The Collective - Book Three

by Gwen Martin

Release Date: July 18, 2024

Review

Finally! Nik’s story. So proud of this young man who has, and continues to fight for his sobriety. He’s a great guy, full of compassion and deep strength, but he hasn’t moved past the stage of being in recovery. Until Micah.

Micha is lovely and warm, but oh my it’s difficult to witness his journey. His sister is an addict and he’s unable to really see the truth of the situation. He is firmly in the ‘love it out of her’ camp, no matter who tells him differently. It’s a common struggle for loved ones, and it’s almost as hard to witness as the addiction.

These two start as a casual distraction, but their connection and the growth of their feelings also allow them to see their world through a fresh perspective, one with a bright future full of love and friends and family.

It’s a heartfelt and satisfying read.

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Synopsis

At five years sober, Nik Ward is the picture-perfect recovering addict. With a carefully curated schedule that includes a job, volunteer hours, and hobbies, his routine shields him from the claws of addiction. All good, steady, healthy . . . and boring. Until he meets Micah.

Micah just wants everything to go back to the way it was before his twin sister became an addict. He’d give anything to free her from the depths of her addiction, but if she doesn’t try to get sober by their mother’s vow renewals, he’ll have to cut her out of his life for good—no matter how much it hurts. Micah needs a distraction, and instead of dwelling on his ultimatum, he finds the perfect distraction in Nik.

When the two men meeting turns into a series of hot and heavy hookups, both of their plans go out the window. Unless Nik can find the wisdom within to live off-balance and Micah can learn meet his loved ones where they’re at, their budding romance may thrust them both into the depths of the world they’re desperately trying to escape.

Trigger Warnings: Drug abuse of a secondary character, deep discussions of drug recovery and drug abuse.

The Wisdom Within is a hookup-to-lovers, angsty, bisexual romance, that's heavy on the hurt with a whole lot of comfort, and a hard-won happily ever after. This book can be read as a standalone.

About Gwen Martin

Gwen Martin is from Florida where the sun was always shining, and the humidity is always high. In 2020 she and her partner moved to Knoxville for a change of scenery with their five cats, and a whole lot of dreams.

Writing came to her at a young age, where she scribbled stories instead of paying attention to math lessons. She spent many years in fandom, exploring her writing opportunities before deciding to take the dive into self-publishing.

Gwen has a strong love affair with cold brew coffee, black cats, and nerding out in a variety of fandoms. When she’s not writing, she’s reading everything she can get her hands on, crocheting compulsively while listening horror gamer playthroughs,and vibing to spotify playlists for inspiration. And best of all, loving the best creatures on earth—her harem of gatos.

Where to find them: