Worth the Wait by Claudia Connor

Blurb

The first in a spin off series of the New York Times Bestselling McKinney Brothers, WORTH THE WAIT takes readers on a journey through young love into adulthood in a heartwrenching, second chance love story.

Nick Walker thought nothing could destroy what he had with Mia. He certainly never thought he would be the one to destroy it.

Now ten years later, Mia James is in Special Agent Nick Walker’s path once again and this time he’s determined to shed the weight of regret and finally claim the future that was always meant to be theirs.

It won’t be easy. Mia’s heart was shattered by Nick and now, just when she’d pieced it back together, it’s been broken again, bringing their past to the surface, including her own secret about that day everything went wrong.

***Every title by Claudia Connor is a Contemporary Romance and a full stand alone novel. No cheating, no love triangle, no cliff hanger.

My Review


Grief. Guilt. Loss. Love. Regret. 

Nate and Mia's story encompasses all of that and more.

Told in both past and present, I enjoyed the flashbacks into their younger years very much, the meat and potatoes of the story, if you will.

You see Nick's pain and struggles to raise his younger brothers and sister, you feel them in your gut, and you finally understand.

I must say though, I feel there was a missing chapter that was needed to connect the past Nick and Mia to the present Nick and Mia. Although you know how still so much in love they are with the other, their "reconnecting" was too instantaneous for me. After so many years apart and the way they left things, I needed more. 

Regardless of my feelings on that, I enjoyed this story very much.

If you're a fan of this series, there's a little bit of everything here for you. Not only do you finally get Nick and Mia's story, which brought me to tears more than once, but you get a little more about young Hannah, more Matt and Abby, and a little dangling carrot on Luke... perhaps Zach as well?  

Looking forward to the next book already! 

AMAZON US / UK 

Touch the Sky by Christina Lee and Nyrae Dawn

Lucas Barnett and Gabriel Stewart didn’t have it easy as kids. They were only trying to deal with bad situations at home when they became lifelines for each other. Their pipe dream was to someday meet in LA, where Lucas would design skyscrapers, and Gabriel would learn to fly. But then Gabriel disappeared without so much as a goodbye, and Lucas got himself in trouble with the law. 

Five years later, both men are at a loss when they run into each other at a Hollywood bar. Lucas is still angry, but it’s not as if Gabriel could control how his mind and body had betrayed him. Being found on the ledge of that bridge had changed everything.

The attraction is immediate, but it’s more than their inability to keep their hands off each other. Neither man expects the fierce connection pulling them together. Unfortunately, ignoring their problems doesn’t make them disappear. Gabriel’s internal struggles are serious…dangerous. And no matter how much Lucas wants it to be true, saving Gabriel won’t make up for not being able to save his mom. If they don’t find the strength to face their own demons before the darkness takes hold, they risk more than just losing each other forever. 

Very sweet and sad all in one.

A story about life, loss, forgiveness and acceptance.

They were so sweet as kids, full of hopes and dreams, yet both their lives were so screwed up. 

They had each other and that was all they needed.... until they didn't.

These boys shared a shy and sweet, almost insecure love with a deep down bond... even years later.

I really enjoyed this collaboration. 

Christina and Nyrae delved into some pretty tough issues like mental health, addiction, death, etc.

It was heartbreaking.

There were bouts of sexiness and fun, of course, and I really enjoyed those parts, but overall it was truly an emotional and beautiful story. 

Amazon US / UK

The Fire Between High & Lo by Brittainy Cherry

Blurb

There once was a boy, and I loved him.

Logan Francis Silverstone was the complete opposite of me. I danced while he stood still. He was quiet, and I was always running my mouth. He struggled to find a smile while I refused to frown. 

The night I saw the darkness that truly lived inside of him, I couldn’t look away.

We were broken together, yet somehow whole. We were wrong together, but always right. We were the stars that burned across the night sky, searching for a wish, praying for better tomorrows.

Until the day I lost him. I threw us away with one hasty decision—a decision that changed us forever.

There once was a boy, and I loved him.

And for a few breaths, a few whispers, a few moments, I think he loved me, too. 

***

Book #2 in the Romance Elements Series.

My Review

Brittainy has done it again. 

She never ceases to amaze me, nor does she know how to write a book that doesn't bring me to tears!

This story broke my heart more than once. 

It was full of sweet, young love, at the same time filled with agony and heartbreak. 

Poor Lo. 

I can't count the amount of times I cried for him.

She came from a lifestyle where fancy dinners were normal, I came from a world where dinner wasn’t always available.

Ugh... the parts from Lo's childhood killed me!!!

No words I have will do justice to this book. It was equally beautiful as it was gut-wrenching.

This story is jam-packed with love, friendship, hardship, pain, agony, desperation, hope...

it's a must read for sure!!!

“One day at a time. That’s all it takes to get through anything. Don’t think too much about the future or keep your brain running on the past treadmill—just stay in the now. Be here now. That’s the best way to live life. In the moment. One day at a time.”

Amazon US / UK

To The Stars by Molly McAdams

In the second book in New York Times  and USA Today  bestselling author Molly McAdams’ Thatch series, Knox Alexander must convince his long-time love Harlow Evans that they’re meant to be together.

He promised to wait for her.
She told him he was wasting his time.
Not waiting for him ended up being the biggest mistake of her life.

When they were younger, Knox Alexander swore to Harlow Evans that he would wait for her to turn eighteen so they could be together. But that was three and a half years away, and Harlow couldn’t ask him to give up all the fun and thrills of going away to college for her. As the years passed, Knox remained a constant in her life—whether she liked it or not—but when her eighteenth birthday came around, Harlow’s heart belonged to someone else.

Every day for the last four years, Harlow has been haunted by that fateful choice. And though he may appear unaffected by what happened in their past, Knox has always tried to fill the void Harlow left. But when he comes stumbling back into her life and refuses to leave, will Harlow finally let him into her heart…?

There were definitely elements that I enjoyed... fate, true love and all that jazz.. but I had problems with several of the characters and their actions, making things a little too unreal for me. 

The disturbing abuse was not a factor. The blurb tells you, warns you, what you're about to read. 

Collin was one creepy mother fu#@er!!!

She was scared out of her mind, as was I for her!

This story is about a girl who is being severely abused. Bravo Molly for creating this horrible character and making me feel it!!! 

That, I most definitely give kudos for!

But it is also about a love and bond that was formed between two people that could never be broken.

Their love was solid, albeit having developed very quickly, it was beautiful.

"I love you to the moon and back" 

"The moon isn't that far, Harlow."

"Isn't it?" 

"No. Not far enough."... "I want to love you to the stars."

And therein lies one of my biggest problems. 

For the love and connection they had, his unyielding love and determination, their 'break up' didn't make sense to me! 

I can't spoil what happened or how, but Knox!!! What happened dude?

All that time waiting and then... just like that!!!??? For real??

There were other issues that I had with the story pertaining to the family and friends, but as always.. it's my opinion and I will leave it at that.

If you are a believer in 'true love will prevail' and the idea of abuse does not dissuade you, then please read this book!

Molly definitely knows how to write about love, and how to expel emotions from her readers!

Amazon