This book ruined me for all other books. I normally like the more adult books with hot and steamy romance in them. This was an adult book but it was all about the romance and the emotional and mental relationship and not about the physical aspects. This book was perfection. It has earned a coveted spot on my all time favorites list.Kiersten is a college freshman. She has been through a lot in the last few years and it was a stretch to get her to go off on her own. She has to prove to herself that she can be happy again. She has to prove to everyone around her that she is going to make it. She has spent the last several years holed up in her room living in a sort of haze. Kiersten has a lot to be afraid of and her fears are controlling her life.Weston is the college quarterback. He is a senior and he is also out to prove something. He is out to prove to the world that he is strong. He has to be strong enough. He has to push through and the only way he can do that is by helping save a lost college freshman. He can's change the past, he can't change his future, but he is going to help make someones life brighter.Wes sets out to be Kiersten's life coach. He sees her darkness and her fears and he decides to make it his goal to help her conquer them. They create a list. A list of fears that Kiersten will overcome. We immediately feels drawn to Kiersten but he places her firmly in the "just friends" category. He takes away her nightmares and she makes his heart beat stronger.There is no denying the attraction and Wes decides to take the leap of faith. He is going to let Kiersten in. He plans to tell her everything. He only hopes that his own fears don't drag her down with him. He is living his life at full throttle. Together they set out to be stronger and to be better.“I’m going to make it so hard for you to forget this first kiss that you don’t want anyone else kissing you ever again. When the guy you fall in love with kisses you — it better put this kiss to shame — if it doesn’t, then he isn’t the right guy. Because I’m going to do a damn good job, and I want the guy that earns you, that takes that heart of yours and holds it in the palm of his hands… I want that guy to be able to make you feel things I’ll just be tapping into. Do you understand, Kiersten?” Time is not on their side. As Kiersten comes to understand what is truly happening with Wes, she has to make a choice. She can let it scare her away, or she can stand tall and fight.“So there’s never a reason to be afraid of running out of time — because we keep our own.” “Wherever I am, whatever I'm doing, alive or dead, young or old, my heart will always be with yours. Every beat you feel against your fingertips..." His fingers tapped against my chest, once, twice. "... is me calling out to you. It's you returning the call. It's us talking, communicating, bonding, sharing, Living -- Kiersten, it's us living.” Wes has finally found his reason to live, and it may be too late for them. He has to have faith and be strong and hope against all hope that he gets his happily ever after.“You may not see every single piece of the puzzle that creates your life -- you may not see every move the grand chess player makes -- but know, He is in complete control of the game board. Sometimes certain pieces are moved or knocked over to make room for new ones. Other times, things happen because of the world we live in. But everything in the end, will always turn out for good. It's a nice promise, isn't it? To know there's a reason for it all?” This was me....Me, ugly crying with my Kindle. This book crushed me! And it gave me hope. It is the most amazing story. I literally had goosebumps. It was that good.Well done Rachel Van Dyken!I have liked everything I have read from this author but this one really takes the cake. This book was told from both points of view. This is a quintessential new adult genre book. Both characters are coming into their own as young adults and exploring more adult issues. Wes and his family have been through so much it just broke my heart. He was so sweet and adorable with Kiersten. He was a little obsessed with her long red hair. She was a little in love with his eight pack abs. She has had to deal with more in her short life than anyone should. Through it all, together, they find love in the most unexpected place.I was so afraid to read the end....so afraid. I did not want the sad ending that I was afraid of. Without giving spoilers there is a happily ever after. It was amazing. I love, love, loved it. If I could give more than five stars...I would.
Heather~Reading Haven~
I am a thirty something wife and mother of two. I read in all of my free time and some of my not so free time. Sleep, who needs sleep! I started out several years ago and after finding some amazing books and even more amazing friends GR has become my favorite place to hang. I started out with Urban Fantasy that was heavy on the romance and branched out in to straight contemporary romance. Now I am reading a variety of book. Some New Adult, some Contemporary Romance, some YA, Erotica and some Dark Erotica. If there is a love story in there, I'll read it. I am a complete sap for a good love story. I prefer a HEA (insert unicorns, rainbows and kittens). I really dislike major cliffhangers when there is more than a few months gap between releases. I read so many books that I forget the story line. I sometimes wait until the whole series is out so I can plow through the whole thing. :-)
This book ruined me for all other books. I normally like the more adult books with hot and steamy romance in them. This was an adult book but it was all about the romance and the emotional and mental relationship and not about the physical aspects. This book was perfection. It has earned a coveted spot on my all time favorites list.Kiersten is a college freshman. She has been through a lot in the last few years and it was a stretch to get her to go off on her own. She has to prove to herself that she can be happy again. She has to prove to everyone around her that she is going to make it. She has spent the last several years holed up in her room living in a sort of haze. Kiersten has a lot to be afraid of and her fears are controlling her life.Weston is the college quarterback. He is a senior and he is also out to prove something. He is out to prove to the world that he is strong. He has to be strong enough. He has to push through and the only way he can do that is by helping save a lost college freshman. He can's change the past, he can't change his future, but he is going to help make someones life brighter.Wes sets out to be Kiersten's life coach. He sees her darkness and her fears and he decides to make it his goal to help her conquer them. They create a list. A list of fears that Kiersten will overcome. We immediately feels drawn to Kiersten but he places her firmly in the "just friends" category. He takes away her nightmares and she makes his heart beat stronger.There is no denying the attraction and Wes decides to take the leap of faith. He is going to let Kiersten in. He plans to tell her everything. He only hopes that his own fears don't drag her down with him. He is living his life at full throttle. Together they set out to be stronger and to be better.“I’m going to make it so hard for you to forget this first kiss that you don’t want anyone else kissing you ever again. When the guy you fall in love with kisses you — it better put this kiss to shame — if it doesn’t, then he isn’t the right guy. Because I’m going to do a damn good job, and I want the guy that earns you, that takes that heart of yours and holds it in the palm of his hands… I want that guy to be able to make you feel things I’ll just be tapping into. Do you understand, Kiersten?” Time is not on their side. As Kiersten comes to understand what is truly happening with Wes, she has to make a choice. She can let it scare her away, or she can stand tall and fight.“So there’s never a reason to be afraid of running out of time — because we keep our own.” “Wherever I am, whatever I'm doing, alive or dead, young or old, my heart will always be with yours. Every beat you feel against your fingertips..." His fingers tapped against my chest, once, twice. "... is me calling out to you. It's you returning the call. It's us talking, communicating, bonding, sharing, Living -- Kiersten, it's us living.” Wes has finally found his reason to live, and it may be too late for them. He has to have faith and be strong and hope against all hope that he gets his happily ever after.“You may not see every single piece of the puzzle that creates your life -- you may not see every move the grand chess player makes -- but know, He is in complete control of the game board. Sometimes certain pieces are moved or knocked over to make room for new ones. Other times, things happen because of the world we live in. But everything in the end, will always turn out for good. It's a nice promise, isn't it? To know there's a reason for it all?” This was me....Me, ugly crying with my Kindle. This book crushed me! And it gave me hope. It is the most amazing story. I literally had goosebumps. It was that good.Well done Rachel Van Dyken!I have liked everything I have read from this author but this one really takes the cake. This book was told from both points of view. This is a quintessential new adult genre book. Both characters are coming into their own as young adults and exploring more adult issues. Wes and his family have been through so much it just broke my heart. He was so sweet and adorable with Kiersten. He was a little obsessed with her long red hair. She was a little in love with his eight pack abs. She has had to deal with more in her short life than anyone should. Through it all, together, they find love in the most unexpected place.I was so afraid to read the end....so afraid. I did not want the sad ending that I was afraid of. Without giving spoilers there is a happily ever after. It was amazing. I love, love, loved it. If I could give more than five stars...I would.
