Buy: Kindle Ebook | Paperback

Review

“This was never the course I intended to take, but there is no doubt it led me to where I was supposed to be.”

4 life changing stars

I loved this book – with a unique set up, a broken hero and a beautiful love story, I was captivated from the very first page.

Brett’s life was torn apart four years ago when a fatal car accident injured his wife and left her emotionally shattered. Sarah is no longer the person that he spent seven blissfully happy years with, instead she is an angry, bitter woman who bears no resemblance to the love of his life.

I love Sarah with all my heart, but I am not clinging to the woman in my arms, but rather to the life I thought we were going to have together. I have to accept that she isn’t there anymore. Her heart might still be beating but the bloody, confused, emotionally lost woman I am holding now, is only the shell of my first and only love.

Brett is a good guy with a huge heart. He has tried so hard to hold on to Sarah, and when he couldn’t, he was there for her in whatever way he could be. But hasn’t been able to move on.

Jesse works in the local coffee shop and has been crushing on Brett for a long time. She is shy and quiet, but when she finally works up the courage to make a move, Brett hesitantly accepts her offer of a date (with a bit of a push from his best friend), and suddenly the idea of moving on becomes a possibility as Jesse – almost the complete opposite of Sarah – brings happiness into his life for the first time in a long time.

I love the way she goes from shy to pissed, with only one smirk from me. If I ever do break this conservative woman out of her shell, she is going to be quite the handful. The thought only makes my smile widen.

This is such a sweet relationship! There are so many sweet and funny moments, and a whole lot of swoon (and a little bit of sexy time). But as fast as Brett is falling for Jesse, he is torn between the ties that keep him stuck in his past and the possibility of creating something new

“Something beyond my control draws me to you. You make me feel alive again, and as selfish as it sounds, I will do absolutely anything to hold on to that. But I’m terrified that it will mean breaking you in the process.”

It’s an incredibly complicated set up for a new relationship, and the issues that they have to face are both heartbreaking and shocking. There is a lot of drama and angst, but it never felt overdone. It’s a rare situation that they find themselves in (and, let’s face it – Sarah is a bitch from hell. I get that she’s got issues, but OMG!!!), but I could understand their reactions to everything, and I thought the way they worked through it was both beautiful and realistic.

And through it all, Jesse is amazing! She’s shy and she has some insecurities, but deep down she is incredibly strong, and the way she deals with everything that happens in the story just blew me away. She is honest with Brett, and opens herself up to him completely, and I could understand her insecurities over his past, and living in Sarah’s shadow but the way that she is there for him, and accepts all of him, is absolutely amazing.

“Please, Jess, I don’t want to stand here for another minute without kissing you. I’ve had a shit night and I’d love to forget it with you. When I’m with you, the world goes silent.”

And I loved watching Brett realise exactly what Jesse meant to him, and how hard he was willing to fight for her

“Jesse, you’re my perfection.”

*swoon*

I also need to give a quick shout out to Brett’s best friend, Caleb. The man has his own heartbreak to deal with, but he is there for both Brett and Jesse, and was in their corner fighting for them the whole way. I love him, and can’t wait for his book up next!

“He looks at you subconsciously. His eyes track your every move in the mornings. He’s been trapped in the past for too long, and it’s like he knows you are the one person who can save him.”

There is a lot of emotion as Brett and Jesse find their way forward, and I could feel everything right alongside them. It’s an intense ride, but a truly beautiful story.

I’ve put her through hell on the journey but I know I will spend a lifetime making that up to her.

This is my first book my Aly Martinez, and I really love her style. This book has drama, but it’s also funny, sweet, swoony and romantic, and there are some clever little twists in there as well. Brett and Jesse’s love story was beautifully written, and I’m not ready to let go of these characters yet so I’m diving straight into the next one.

I loved it – 4 stars.