Favourites: 2019 Edition

Ruminations of an Insomniac..

As this year is coming to an end, I really wanted to document this. I'm cutting it close because I had a couple re-reads to do first. So, here's the thing: I read somewhere in the vicinity of 235(ish) books this year; but we didn't actually start this blog/bookstagram adventure until the year was almost over. So several of these books don't have full reviews out yet, but they will be coming here and there throughout the first quarter of 2020.

That being said, I would like to present you with my 10 favourite reads of 2019!! Other than being separated into Top 3, then rounding out the remainder, the books are in no particular order. There was legitimate internal battle, just choosing 10 out of over 200. I couldn't narrow it down, with ranks, more than that. Yes, I realize that technically, there are 14 books on this list. But when whole series' are being released within a calendar year, how am I supposed to choose ONE book out of a series or duet? (Give a girl a break). So I counted completed stories, as one, for the purposes of maintaining some semblance of sanity, while compiling this gem of literary recommendation. And one more thing: I am ACHING to see what these authors (and soooo many more) bring us in the new year!! Now without any further adieu...

Top 3:

Enemies - Tijan

Tijan hit it out of the park this year. Landing two of her 2019 writes in my top 10. Dusty and Stone made the top 3, though. This story, and the characters in it moved me. His stony (pun intended) exterior, and her determined strength. Once, childhood friends (that aspect in a plot always gets me) turned enemies. But just like a football game itself, after just enough back and forth, this story makes it into the end zone and does a victory dance. It may, very well be, Tijan's best yet.

Our full review can be found here. 

Add Enemies to your TBR or start reading now!

Trust - Kylie Scott

Thrown together through an unlikely (yet could happen to anyone) series of events, Edie and John were unexpected. Bound together by a shared experience that few others could possibly understand. To me, their story is one of fate, using terrible circumstances to knit together lives that need to intersect, but also need a desperate push. It's a remarkable journey of healing and hope, realization and connection. This book left me doused in "well shit, that could actually happen," and a healthy dose of gratitude, that these improbable friends were able to lean on each other and heal in their own ways. 

Our full review coming soon. ❤️

Add Trust to your TBR or start reading now!

Broken Knight - LJ Shen 

I legitimately adore Luna and Knight. It sounds odd outside my head, but I sorta hope my little girl grows up with a friendship like theirs. That she finds a Knight to her Luna. I love stories about childhood best friends, to my core, but this one is so much more. And while the relationships themselves are important, LJ Shen also flawlessly depicted the effects of tragedy and trauma, through this story. 

Our full review coming next week. ❤️
Add Broken Knight to your TBR or start reading now!

********************************

Hand Over My Heart Duet - Lindsey Iler 

(Under a Different Sky & Waiting for the Sun) 

Lindsey strung me up like a tug-of-war rope with this duet. She was a new author to me this year (and I've since read all of her books). Nick and Hannah's story is saturated in tragedy. But it's also so full of hope and humour, that it strikes a balance. With a conflicted, passionate hero and a witty, self-assured heroine? This one was 100% worth the emotional roller coaster. 

Our full reviews can be found here & here.

Add the Hand Over My Heart duet to your TBR or start reading from the beginning now!

The Peer & The Puppet - BB Reid 

Fierce heroine. Bad step-brother. Secrets. Angst. Teenage debauchery. And a puppy. How could BB Reid possibly go wrong with this one?? She weaves a journey that took me by surprise. Ever and Four have a magnetic pull, and they try hard to fight it. But we know better than to trifle with the fates.. Doing so just leaves one frustrated. Trust is tested. Lines may be crossed. But in the end, this pair was written in the stars. I mean, their ship name is FourEver, for crying out loud... 

Our full review coming soon. ❤️

Add The Peer & The Puppet to your TBR or start reading now!

In The Unlikely Event - LJ Shen 

LJ Shen stepped outside her norm for this one, but she nailed it. A chance encounter, a continental divide, a twist of fate. The story of Mal and Rory is one that urges us to take chances. To follow our heart, because our head isn't always right. Jumping back and forth between past and present, rounds out the both heartbreaking and hilarious tale. So much of their story popped out at me unexpectedly, but I think that's the best part about it. 

Our full review can be found here. 

Add In The Unlikely Event to your TBR or start reading now!

The Brayshaw Series - Meagan Brandy 

(The Boys of Brayshaw, Trouble at Brayshaw, Reign of Brayshaw)

Oh, those Brayshaws.. Meagan Brandy was also a new-to-me author this year. Her heroines are strong and her supporting cast is relentlessly vivid. Raven, the girl who legitimately gives zero f**ks. Maddoc, the strong, brooding pack leader. Captain, the thoughtful caretaker. Royce, the quietly broken funny man. Yet, with so many deeply rooted personalities, the story never gets overshadowed. I did a re-read with each book that released in this series, and I found myself more and more drawn in with each new cover I cracked. I can't wait to read more about this world (in Captain and Royce's books) later this year.

Our full review can be found here. 

Add The Boys of Brayshaw to your TBR or start reading from the beginning now!

Teardrop Shot - Tijan 

I solemnly believe that Charlie and Reece will hold a spot on my yearly reads for a very long time. Their story is one filled with wit and quirkiness, but also of startling reality. The level at which they understand each other is what real life fairy tales are made of. And the journey they take together through these pages makes my heart both ache with compassion and swell with triumph. So much truth rests within these pages. From the notion of taking interest in someone because of an obscure personality trait, to the earth shattering realization that stupidly tragic things happen all the time, even to the young and in love.

Our full review coming soon. ❤️

Add Teardrop Shot to your TBR or start reading now!

St. Michaels Duet - Harlow Cole 

(Interference & Stealing Home) 

Brayden and Ashley were written in the stars. Stamped on Fate's "to do" list, underlined, and in bold. Brayden has known it most of his life, but convincing Ashley may be a bigger challenge. Not only does this duet cover so many tropes (childhood friends, brothers best friend, sports, first love, second chance... though technically some of those overlap), but its pages guided me through so many emotions. I laughed, I cried, I yelled.. But what really brought me to my knees with this one, was their spark and the poignancy with which their story was portrayed.

Our full review can be found here. 

Add the St. Michaels Duet to your TBR and start reading from the beginning now!

Bad Habit - Charleigh Rose

The heart wants what it wants, even though sometimes we wish we could drop that want like a bad habit (see what I did there? But actually, I didn't.. Charleigh Rose did). Asher is brooding and Briar is naive. He knows both of those facts, but she's in denial about her identifier and confused about why his is true. Their story played out unexpectedly to me, it honestly caught me a little off-guard. But their hearts were so deeply embedded in the ink and their pull was undeniable. These beautifully written minds coaxed my own, inviting it into their world. A calm surrender, into a story that is anything but.

Our full review coming soon. ❤️
Add Bad Habit to your TBR or start reading now!

What Do You? - K Dosal McLendon

Ramblings of a Bookworm...


What Do You See? (Book 1)

Everything in your life can change within the blink of an eye, and it's not until then that you realize all that you have and how blessed you truly are.  We tend to take things for granted - it's always been there, so therefore it always will be, right?  We rarely ever stop to really take stock of our lives and truly see what is around us.  We look, sure; but do we truly see?

"Some things are not so easy to see, Jake.  Especially when they have no desire to be seen." 

I drive this same road ten times per week - to and from work, Monday through Friday - and I've always just driven on auto-pilot.  Stop sign, accelerate, stop sign, turn, stop sign, accelerate, and so on.  My journey is forty-five minutes to an hour each way, depending on traffic, and my mind tends to wander.

Today, however, was different.  I noticed the way the hoar-frost clung to the leafless branches that line the narrow country road; how the pristine white snow sparkled like millions of tiny diamonds as my headlights shone upon it; how the Christmas lights brought life to otherwise quiet homes; how the navy sky started to give way to the power of the sun, slowly fading away to brilliant shades of purples and pinks.  Things I'd never really noticed before suddenly became important in my mind, because who knows what tomorrow will bring?

And that, my friend, is the power of What Do You See?  K. Dosal McLendon invites us into a world of sorrow and beauty, and truly makes you think about all that you have - the beauty of the mundane and the importance of looking beyond the surface while appreciating the world that surrounds you.

Book Boyfriend: 9/10 
Flow: 9/10
Plot: 10/10 
Overall: 9/10

What Do You Regret? (Book 2)

This beautiful second chance romance truly captures the meaning of "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" as K. Dosal McLendon offers insight into the cruelty of cyberbullying and how damaging it can truly be to a person.  When you are broken, sometimes the only plausible solution is to walk away from it all - your friends, your home, even the love of your life.

Between the past/present perspective flips, along with the hero/heroine POV, you get to see the way these two beautiful souls were shattered, and the ways they attempted to mend themselves.  When met with a humiliating and traumatizing experience, will you withdraw within yourself and slowly succumb to the darkness, or develop a thick skin allowing nobody close enough to hurt you again?  Pain has a way of changing someone, whether it's for better or worse, and this novel shows you both sides of the coin.

Even with a broken heart, it has no say of what the mind and body wants, and when you include the soul, you submit to love once again.

Love, loss, character growth, heartbreak, tests of strength... this book has it all.  In this harrowing tale of a love lost, but given the opportunity to ignite once again, you will not be disappointed.

Book Boyfriend: 9/10 
Flow: 9/10
Plot: 10/10 

Overall: 9/10

Both available through Kindle Unlimited

* * * Synopsis * * *

Claire
I believed I had my future all planned out.
College, track, friends, I mean, why wouldn't I? I was a nineteen-year-old girl in college with a dream of being an Olympian that wasn't too far within reach as a college top track star.
A jeep I could roll the windows down while the radio blasted as I sang off-key.
My own dorm that gifted me privacy from my two triplet brothers.
I had it all.
But just like many, I took it all for granted. That's until my life turned upside down, and everything changed. I nearly became one more lost soul. Without the love of my family, friends, and a very charming soccer player, I would've truly lost myself in the process.
This is my story and how I began to see beyond what's right in front of me.
Funny, all I had to do was open my eyes.
The only problem is time.
​
Jake
lived a life never truly paying attention to the world around me. I had my dad, my grams, and my soccer ball. I was perfectly fine with the way I lived life.
Why grow attached to things that can walk away?
That's until I saw her.
The girl I never thought I would find--the one who made me see in a different perspective.

​Oh, and how beautiful it is.

Cole
Regrets, I have many in my life, but the top two regrets haunt me every day.
One is the future I stole from my sister, Claire, because of a car accident I caused.
The second? Grace.
I was six years old when I met the love of my life. I didn’t know. How could I?
After years of my life being filled with Grace, grace itself became my regret.
My sister always said, “The past doesn’t always stay where it should.” And damn, she was right.
My past is staring right at me. Golden eyes, slick blood-red hair, killer body, and a shy smile.
A smile that was once mine, and mine alone.
Grace now lives in the same apartment building, attends the same university, and is friends with my siblings. She came back into my life for a second time. I should walk away, just like she once had.
Regrets. Is it possible to regret the same person twice?

Grace
Living on an island, they always preach about the power of the sea. The hazards of the riptide.
But my riptide was too much for me to fight, and the current never slowed. So, I went away.
Away from him. Cole.
My shore.
Three years ago, strangers broke me with their hateful words.
They didn’t even know me.
But I was weak.
It’s true. People could destroy you with words—in this case, a sex tape. A single video managed to ruin my reputation—my self-worth—and my soul drowned along with it.
After my family isolated me, keeping me away from the aftermath, I left my safe-haven and decided to go to college. My soul knows he’s here, too.

It’s been three years, but now I’m stronger.

Brayshaw Series - Meagan Brandy

Ramblings of a Bookworm...

Boys of Brayshaw High (Book 1)

When you've never had anyone in your corner, it's easy to encase yourself in a protective shield - raise your walls and develop a fortress of sorts with no hope of anyone ever getting in.  If nobody can get in, then nobody can hurt you, right?

Raven Carver has got to be one of the strongest heroines I have ever encountered.  She is quick witted, strong willed, and gives off a facade of fearlessness that is truly inspiring.  However, as you delve deeper into the world, you see that she is broken and fighting to get by from day to day - if that's not strength, than I don't know what is.

"Careful, big man.  That sounds a lot like a king falling.  The ground isn't soft at my feet."

Seventeen years of practical solitude, making her cold and hard, is put to the test when she's removed from her home and forced to attend Brayshaw High, where she meets them - the Boys of Brayshaw.  The three untouchable forces that run the town and everyone within it.

Being strong is hard, but letting people in is harder.

Trouble at Brayshaw (Book 2)

What would you do for the ones you love?  Would you risk everything to protect them?  Give up all you knew just to keep them safe and protect their secrets?  Would you be strong enough to turn your back, crushing yourself in the process, if it meant they would thrive?

Elite families, generations of secrets, and families that run deeper than blood - what could possibly go wrong?  Watching as Raven, a punk with a smart mouth and a serious "I don't give a f***" attitude, fumble through a world of family feuds that span back decades, I was on edge.  The split second decisions made in order to keep her boys safe made me want to rip out my hair, but as frustrating as it was, I understood.

"She climbed from the bottom and came out with sharper claws, not broken ones."

With great responsibility comes great sacrifice.  My breath was stolen from me on several ocassions as seemingly impossible decisions had to be made, turning my world on its axis.  If I thought Boys of Brayshaw High was a whirlwind, Trouble at Brayshaw was a damn tornado.

Reign of Brayshaw (Book 3)

The final installment had me in tears.  Curve ball after curve ball, life altering decisions, painful realizations, and gut wrenching complications.  Watching as people put their trust and safety in the hands of others is always hard, but when that trust can potentially hurt others, it's almost impossible to sit back and watch it play out.

"You've got it all wrong, baby.  Loving you doesn't make me weak.  It makes me unstoppable."

The character development in these books is absolutely incredible.  Watching Raven grow from a girl with trust issues to a fearless leader, and the boys go from stoic leaders to fierce protectors, along with the growth of love, trust, and strength, was inspiring.  I was sucked into this world and knew there would be no escaping it.  The ups and downs, while they were indeed trying at times, were all worth it in the end, and saying goodbye was the hardest part. The only thing that is keeping me sane is knowing that there will be more in 2020.

Book Boyfriend: 9/10 
Flow: 9/10 
Plot: 10/10
Overall: 9/10

* * * Synopsis * * *

Boys of Brayshaw High

"Girls like you aren't exactly welcomed at a place like this, so keep your head down and look the other way."

Those were the exact words of my social worker when she dropped me in my newest hellhole, a place for "troubled teens".

I didn't listen, and now I'm on their radar.

They expect me to play along in their games of hierarchy, to fall in line in the social order they've deemed me fit.

Too bad for them, I don't follow rules.
Too bad for me, they're determined to make sure I do.

Inconceivably attractive and treated like kings...these are the boys of Brayshaw High.
And I'm the girl who got in their way.

Trouble at Brayshaw

“You don’t belong.”

No words whispered in anger have ever rung more true.

They’re the Kings of Brayshaw with the world at their feet, destined for greatness and in need of control.
I’m the girl from the ghetto with nothing to offer and as defiant as they come.

They say it doesn’t matter, that I’m one of them now, and nothing could ever change that. Not even me, should I dare try.

But they’re wrong.
They underestimate how far I’ll go to protect them.

Trouble is coming...and they have no idea.

Reign of Brayshaw

“Trust only those who earn it.”

A sentiment I follow without direction but holds more consequence than ever before.

One decision, five lives, three futures.
This is what’s at stake.

One night, one choice, four broken Brayshaws.
That is where we’re headed.

Unless I stop it.
I 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 to stop it.

I have to remind him of what he’s chosen to forget.

My town. My choice. 𝘔𝘺 ending.

Regretting You - Colleen Hoover

Ruminations of an Insomniac.. 

First, I have to say, this one hit closer to home than I had anticipated. My husband and child's names are pretty much the same as Morgan's (my daughter's name is Clarabelle, not Clara. But seriously now..) It caught me off guard a bit. And I feel like her sentiments in the beginning of the story, are shared by so many mothers. As a stay at home mom, myself, I deeply sympathized with Morgan. Once your baby is grown, who are you then? No career to fall back into. Wanting more, but so unsure of your next steps.

I also have a soft spot in my heart for Clara. Smart, witty, driven, messy, hesitant, unsure Clara. She is every ounce of sixteen, stuck in the middle ground between childhood and adulthood. Wishing for simple but (probably subconsciously) craving complicated. Decisions that will impact her future, her whole life, resting on her shoulders. And her boy? Oh, her boy; sweet, pensive, sure, knowing. I don't want to give away the farm here, but a boy with a camera will always steal a piece of my heart.

“It means people who make mistakes usually learn from them. That doesn’t make them hypocrites. It makes them experienced.” - Jonah

Colleen Hoover managed to gracefully balance the internal struggle of each woman and the external conflict the majority of mother/daughter pairs face. Because of course she did. Let's be real. She's CoHo. I feel like she can write realistic human condition in her sleep. I've yet to read a character of hers that isn't an onion. Layers deep and rounded. (😉) And the lives within this story are no exception.

Fluidly mixing two vastly different "coming of age" scenarios and two dramatically juxtaposed love stories, Regretting You struck perfect harmony. The emotion running through the ink on these pages is palpable and the reality is aching. My heart straight-up Grinch'd, reading this story. But it just had to grow three sizes, in order to successfully wrap this story in the full body hug it deserved.

Rating:

Book Boyfriend: 8.5/10 (and 9/10, but I'm not going to tell you why) 

Flow: 10 /10

Plot: 10/10

Overall: 9/10

Currently available on Kindle (and Kindle Unlimited). 

Synopsis 

From #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Ends with Us comes a poignant novel about family, first love, grief, and betrayal that will touch the hearts of both mothers and daughters.

Morgan Grant and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Clara, would like nothing more than to be nothing alike.

Morgan is determined to prevent her daughter from making the same mistakes she did. By getting pregnant and married way too young, Morgan put her own dreams on hold. Clara doesn't want to follow in her mother's footsteps. Her predictable mother doesn't have a spontaneous bone in her body.

With warring personalities and conflicting goals, Morgan and Clara find it increasingly difficult to coexist. The only person who can bring peace to the household is Chris--Morgan's husband, Clara's father, and the family anchor. But that peace is shattered when Chris is involved in a tragic and questionable accident. The heartbreaking and long-lasting consequences will reach far beyond just Morgan and Clara.

While struggling to rebuild everything that crashed around them, Morgan finds comfort in the last person she expects to, and Clara turns to the one boy she's been forbidden to see. With each passing day, new secrets, resentment, and misunderstandings make mother and daughter fall further apart. So far apart, it might be impossible for them to ever fall back together.

Enemies - Tijan

Ruminations of an Insomniac.. 

I've been having a love affair with Tijan's words since I first discovered Fallen Crest High in 2012. There isn't anything she has written that hasn't captured me. There is so much raw emotion and reality weaved into her worlds. Her characters are so thoroughly relatable. Her plot lines are fluid and entrancing. And, saying all that, Enemies is one of her best yet. 

I mean, what happens when you combine a jaded wallflower, some mean girls, a handful of jocks and a legitimate superstar? Throw in catastrophe that no one, let alone young lives, should ever have to endure. Bound together with a heaping dose of witty banter and melting ink off the pages steam. What is it? It's a recipe. The recipe, for a Tijan masterpiece.

She had me in awe of her prose from almost the first page. In just the beginning quarter of this book, I had already laughed, cried and gasped (wide-eyed, hand over my mouth) on more than one occasion. I'm sitting here, feeling that, though there are many of them, my words may never fully be sufficient to explain. But I will say that Enemies may be one of my favorite reads of 2019. Top 3, out of over 200, this year. Easily. Hands down. Zero question. 

There is so much fire and determination in Stone and Dusty. Both individually and together. They fuel each other in the most intimate way. Not just sexually (though that is 🤯). Despite being in denial, they have a soul-deep lifetime connection that cannot be matched.

There's a 50 yard line between love and hate. And it's been a privilege witnessing Stone and Dusty figure out where they fall.

Book Boyfriend: 9/10 (i'm struggling with a 10 here, though telling you why would give it away. but I sat here, waffling, for a solid 40 minutes having an internal debate) 

Flow: 10/10 (like I said, it's a masterpiece) 

Plot: 10/10 (no part of it felt predictable, and it was so intricately manufactured) 

Overall: 10/10 (my first 10/10 review ❤️. she outdid herself with this one)

Available now through Kindle Unlimited. 

Synopsis

Stone Reeves was my neighbor, and I've hated him since sixth grade.

Gorgeous and charismatic, he became the town's football god, while I became the town's invisible girl.
He went to a Division 1 school for football, while my father was fired by his father.
His team won the National Championship, while my mother died the same day.

He was a first round pick for the NFL ...
... while I made the worst decision of my life.

Now I'm in Texas trying to pick up the pieces of my life.
But, Stone is here.
Stone is everywhere.

It doesn't matter that disaster has struck my life again.
It doesn't matter that he's the one trying to console me.
It doesn't matter that he's the nation's newest football obsession.

Because for me, he always has been and always will be my enemy.

** Enemies is a 100k enemies-to-lovers football romance standalone!

Treacherous - Melissa Toppen & Alex Grayson

Ramblings of a Bookworm...

Treacherous was my second read within my bully romance journey, and Melissa Toppen and Alex Grayson did not disappoint.  The strength and quick wit of Rylee was inspiring, while watching the growth and character development of Zayden and Oliver was heartwarming. 

Kids can be downright cruel, and this gruesome fact was portrayed perfectly within the pages of this novel.  It shows that jealousy and misguided rage can cause a person to do unimaginable things and push boundaries that should never be crossed; how important it is to have someone in your corner to help you through it; how actions from peers truly forms the way people view and act around each other. 

Hate and love are two of the strongest human emotions, and sometimes the lines can be blurred.  Beautifully written, I was bordering on tears for a good chunk of the book. Lines are blurred, trust is given, hearts are broken, and the truth can set us free. ❤

Rating
Book Boyfriend: 8.5/10
Flow: 10 /10
Plot: 10/10

Overall: 9/10

*** Synopsis ***

Senior year was not going how I planned.
It was supposed to be an amazing year- the perfect year.
And it started out that way… until my mom remarried and I found myself in a new town, at a new school, and living with quite possibly the most conniving person I had ever met.
But my horrible stepbrother wasn’t even the worst part.
It was his best friend.

Zayden Michaels.
Gorgeous. Unpredictable. Treacherous.
The kind of guy who sends most sane people running in the opposite direction.
He hated me from the first moment he saw me.
He made it his mission to make sure I knew it too.
I became the target—the bullied.
Until suddenly I wasn’t anymore.

But in a world of rumors, games and deceit, you never really know who you can trust.
Sometimes the best deceptions are the ones you never see coming.

St. Michaels Duet - Harlow Cole

Interference (Book 1)

* I wrote part 1 before even opening part 2. Xoxo 😉

There is something remarkable about someone who will protect those they love with feral ferocity. Not possessive yet with infinite potential of destruction, nonetheless. Dallas and Soot. An unlikely pair to begin with. Books and baseballs. Pictures and pitches. In each other's corner, through thick and thin. A hand to hold, an ear to listen, a shoulder to gather tears. Years side by side lends to a rock solid foundation. 

“You’re everything. Have I ever told you that? I should tell you that more often. I promised myself I wouldn’t wait to tell people.” - Brayden Ross

The thing about foundations though? Unless they are cared for, they can crack and crumble. Lies and broken trust seep in, producing fissures. Breaches, of which the smallest can grow exponentially in the blink of an eye. Rifts fit to lose oneself in. 

And when a beacon of light comes, attempting to lead you home. Desperately seeking to follow it before the damage has healed can have catastrophic consequence.

Book one leaves us on a bit of a cliff hanger. But thankfully, this duet is complete! I'm not sure about you, but it's always exciting for me to find out that the next book is already available. Especially when there are so many raw edges left at the end of the first.

Stealing Home (Book 2)

I must fully admit, where Interference left off, I felt a little broken. Disconnected. Left behind. The story of Dallas and Soot was not an easy one to swallow. There was so much angst and uncertainty plaguing their younger selves. And picking up some 1468 days later, they are still electric. Call the fire department because they are going to end up burning that old boathouse to the ground. (Not actually, that's not a spoiler.. Metaphorically speaking 😉) 

Their love runs so deep its almost painful to watch. Brayden and Ashley brought me to tears more than once. With her fierce determination and unwavering sense of duty. With him being (to borrow from The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants) single-minded to the point of recklessness and unable to wait on the sidelines. They are so very clearly put into this world to be them, but so much forgiveness must precede that fate. And I must say that I did audibly gasp on more than one occasion. Not only because of their spark. But also at the poignancy with which their story was written. 

"What does it say?” she asked tentatively. 

“It’s French,” I replied. “Le pardon est gagné.” 

“What does it mean?” 

“Forgiveness is earned.” - Brayden Ross 

I urge you to jump with both feet. Their story is one of love and loss, in some super unexpected ways. It tells of home, in all its meanings. It lends perspective from a hurting boy, who so badly wants to be seen. And a girl who sees all of him, down to the stars in his soul. A journey of self-discovery and outward realizations. These characters grow in such remarkable ways.

*****

Book Boyfriend: 8/10 (he's got a lot of issues, but almost none of them are his fault. so don't discount him yet. 😍)

Flow: 9/10 (amazing! except for a perspective jump threw me, dramatically)

Plot: 10/10 (let's just say, they should be a "find yourself someone who ______ meme)

Overall: 9/10 - read it! (because can you really go wrong with baseball pants and some friends to lovers, plus best friend's sister action? 😘)

Go, get lost in these characters. And let me know how it goes. Harlow blew me away with so much reality in this story. So much truth about the human condition and the church of baseball. I need to go back through now and jot several pages of quotes down that resonated with me on a soul deep level. ❤️ *Side Note: Another character that gained depth in this second installment, was Nathan. The big brother. The best friend. His arc is beautiful and I sincerely feel he needs his own story to be told thoroughly.... 😁

- Ruminations of an Insomniac

Synopsis:

BRAYDEN

I’m a goddamn prodigy.  It’s true. Ask anyone. 

I threw my first curveball the day I was born. 

The whole town is waiting on me. 

To live up to my father’s famous name. To reach for the stars.  

All I want to reach for is her. 

But Ashley is the sweet addiction I can’t afford. She’s my best friend’s sister. Hell, she’s practically my little sister. For years, I’ve protected her from guys that want one thing. What happens now that I’ve turned into one of them? Who’s gonna shield her from the way I was made, from my little white lies and from what I’m about to become?

My game plan sounds simple: Pitch my way into the Major League draft and stay out of Ashley Foster’s pants. That first part may be statistically difficult. 

The second feels damn near impossible. 

ASHLEY

From the moment we met, I knew he was trouble. 

The kind my mother sent me to find. 

The type that ruins you for any other brand. 

When we were young kids, I didn’t know what to call the frogs and butterflies that danced in my belly whenever Brayden came near. Now I know they have a name. 

Those three little words that could heal or destroy him. 

Before Brayden, my life was normal. And then it wasn’t. It couldn’t be. Ever again. How was I to know stealing his seat would change all our lives?

Anger and forgiveness share two halves of the same coin.

Our story might make you choose sides.

TO WHAT LENGTHS WOULD YOU GO TO EARN FORGIVENESS? WOULD YOU BEG? WOULD YOU BORROW? WOULD YOU STEAL? 

ASHLEY

I’ve given up. On my childish dreams. 

On getting out of this town. On love. On him. 

On everything. 

I’m barely treading water. 

BRAYDEN

I’m the man with it all. 

The pinstriped jersey covering my back garners easy cash, flashy cars and fast women. My gilded name drapes over the city in neon. I have everything. Everything, except the thing I crave most. Ashley Foster. 

There’s one addiction I never tried to beat. 

They say you can never go home again. I’m out to prove them wrong. But what if returning requires facing all the things you destroyed? To what lengths would you go to earn forgiveness? 

Would you beg? Would you borrow? Would you steal? 

Stealing home is the riskiest move in baseball. But the reward... If it works? Winning her back is a chance I’m finally ready to take. 

My pockets are filled with stars. It’s time to follow them home.

This time, I don't want to steal all her firsts, I want to lay claim on all her lasts.

Bully - Penelope Douglas

Ramblings of a bookworm...

There is no greater pain than losing a friend.  But what if that friend becomes a monster, hurting you every chance they get and becoming your tormentor?

"Jared indulged in my misery like it was candy.  He had fed me to the wolves time and time again, reveling in the unhappiness he caused.  Jared, my friend, was completely gone, leaving a cold monster in his place."

Jared and Tatum (Tate) had been best friends, joined at the hip, for four years.  When Jared came back from a trip to visit his dad the summer before Freshman year, everything changed.  Gone was the sweet boy Tate had once knew, and in his place was a monster, determined to make her live a living hell.

My heart ached for Tate as I journeyed through the atrocities she faced at the hands of her former best friend who sabotaged any chance she had at a normal and happy teenage life.  I cheered for her as she finally decided enough was enough, cried when she fell, and smiled when she picked herself back up.

Pain will make a person do some crazy things, regardless if those things are justified or not.  The hatred I felt for Jared shifted to curiosity, to sympathy, to understanding over the course of this heartbreaking novel, and I cannot wait to read Until You, truly getting to know Jared's full side of things.

It pains me to give Jared Trent an 8/10, however due to his cruelty, I couldn't bring myself to rate him higher.  He will be rated once more after I complete Until You, and I'm hoping the additional insight into his psyche will give me an even further understanding of who he is, and who knows - maybe he'll be the first 10/10 I allow myself to give?

Rating
Book Boyfriend: 8/10
Flow: 10 /10
Plot: 10/10
Overall: 9/10

*** Synopsis ***

My name is Tate. He doesn't call me that, though. He would never refer to me so informally, if he referred to me at all. No, he'll barely even speak to me.

But he still won't leave me alone.

We were best friends once. Then he turned on me and made it his mission to ruin my life. I've been humiliated, shut out, and gossiped about all through high school. His pranks and rumors got more sadistic as time wore on, and I made myself sick trying to stay out of his way. I even went to France for a year, just to avoid him.

But I'm done hiding from him now, and there's no way in hell I'll allow him to ruin my senior year. He might not have changed, but I have. It's time to fight back.

I'm not going to let him bully me anymore.

***This novel contains adult/mature young adult situations. It is only suitable for ages 18+ due to language, violence, and sexual situations.