REVIEW: From Here to You by Jamie McGuire

Publisher's Summary:
As Darby Dixon sits in a tiny Texas church bathroom on her wedding day holding a positive pregnancy test, she realizes that of all the bad decisions she's made in her life, marrying her abusive fiancé would be the worst. She's never been able to stand up for herself, but she'll sure as hell stand up for her baby. With just the cash she has on hand, she runs to get a bus ticket to the farthest place she can afford. Between her sheer grit and pageant-queen smile, she lands a job as a front desk clerk at the Colorado Springs Hotel. It's not a glamorous life, but she and her baby are all that matters.

A former Marine, Scott "Trex" Trexler has worked in the most dangerous, corrupt, war-torn places on earth. Now he finally has a chance to return to the last place he'd felt at peace--Colorado Springs, Colorado, to take a new job with the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, a top-secret military installation buried deep within the granite.

The moment Trex walks into the inn, Darby knows he's dangerous. There's no way she wants to get involved with another man who seems to be keeping way too many secrets. As charming and devastatingly gorgeous as Trex is, he clearly isn't telling her everything. But as wildfires rage on the mountain and Darby's ex-fiancé shows he isn't so willing to let her go, both she and Trex are soon to find out that what you don't know absolutely can hurt you.

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Loosely connected to the Maddox Brothers books by the same author, From Here to You tries hard to be a sweeping romance full of angst and too much extra plot. Unfortunately, the relationship that develops between Darby and Trex feels predictable, trite and far too rushed. From the first few chapters, it is too easy to for readers to predict the outcome--Ex beauty queen Darby, discovering she's pregnant, flees her abusive soldier fiance and lands in Colorado Springs.  Low and behold, ex Marine, ex FBI, current private government contractor, Trex appears as her knight in shining armor.

They're soulmates! But Darby can't make up her mind and tends to make some really impulsive, stupid decisions and Trex is far too enamored with her to see that things might get worse before they get better.

**SPOILER**

Reader's can see abusive Shawn's return a mile away. Darby does some stupid things that put her and her baby's lives in jeopardy but convenient that Trex and his super team of highly trained ex-soldiers can fix it.

Honestly, I wanted to like it, but the pacing was slow and reading to the end felt like work rather than escapism. A 3 out of 5 is generous since it should be more like a 2.5 out of 5.

There are similar authors like Colleen Hoover and Jay Crownover who handle the genre with more flare.

REVIEW: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Growing up in a small town in Maine, Lily Bloom's life wasn't always easy.  Her father might have been the mayor, but he also spent years emotionally and physically abusing her mother.  Lily great up with terror and hate in her heart.  One bright spot yet filled with melancholy was Atlas, a homeless boy from school with whom she grows particularly close. And yet, even their relationship ends with heartbreak but Lily just can't quite forget him.

Skip forward nine years, Lily lives in Boston and works in marketing but it isn't her passion.  One night following the funeral of her father, she meet Ryle Kincaid, a dashing neurosurgeon. Each hurting, they share several naked truths but part ways.  However, fate intervenes, bringing the two together again. Lily thinks that life just might be too good to be true...and it is.

Much happens in a short period of time.  Lily begins a relationship with Ryle, only to have Atlas pop back into her life.  She's ready to move on; however, jealousy and other behaviors begin to paint a dangerous picture of Ryle.  Soon Lily becomes the type of woman she swore never to be--lying about abuse and convincing herself to stay because each time Ryle swears it will never happen again.

This is the type of book that left me with conflicting emotions.  I spent most of the book shouting aloud and furious with the characters.  In its favor, that means that I was highly engaged with with lives of these characters.  On the flip side, Ryle is a douche. I hate him with a fiery passion but he has a few redeeming moments but needs to seriously own up to his issues AND continue intensive therapy.

Lily's characterization is very realistic of someone who has grown up in an abusive household, promising that she won't follow the same path, only to find herself in the same situation. During these moments of indecision I was very frustrated. However, there is redemption and an emotional maturity once she has the "it ends with us" epiphany.  I liked the ending and that Lily and Atlas seemed to finally come full circle in each of their lives so that they can really have a shot at forever.

Overall, It Ends With Us isn't my favorite Hoover novel to date.  That award still goes to Hopeless; however, this is still an engaging new adult 'romance' with an important message.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Follow the author on Twitter:  @colleenhoover


#ItEndsWithUs #allthefeels #fightdomesticabuse

REVIEW: Be With Me (Wait For You #2) by J. Lynn

Be with Me is the second in the Wait for You series and follows Teresa (Tess), Cam's little sister as she falls for his best friend Jace. A survivor of physical abuse, Teresa's life is in transition since a potentially career ending knee injury has derailed her full time dance studies.  Trying to heal, she's beginning college classes and trying to ignore her growing feelings for her brother's best friend.

Jace has some secrets of his own which stunt his ability to commit to anyone for fear of being hurt. What he feels for Teresa is all too real and he has a lot to work out in the emotional department if they're going to have a happy ending.

Besides their romance, the novel centers profoundly around surviving physically abusive relationships.  Teresa got out of one and when she sees that her roommate might be in a similar situation, she speaks up despite a devastating outcome.

I adored this book too. It continues to build upon characters introduced in book 1 and I love that Cam and Avery are back.  I like Teresa and Jace. The attraction is believable as is the smoldering build-up of their relationship. The trials and tribulations are expected for character development.  The pivotal story climax for Teresa had me on the edge of my seat.

All in all a great romantic, sexy book with plenty of heart.  Check out the audiobook read by Sophie Eastlake!

Final rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Follow the author on Twitter: @JLArmentrout


#bewithme #waitforyou #jenniferlarmentrout #romance #newadult #domesticviolence #bookreview