WHAT HE ALWAYS KNEWby KANDI STEINER
Left or right.
It’s that simple, and it isn’t simple at all.
If I turn left, the road will lead me back to the man I promised my life to, the one I’d imagined building a family with, the one who’s done everything in his power to get me back.
If I turn right, the road will take me to the man I loved first, the man who brought me back to life, the man who would do anything to keep me.
I knew the fork in the road was inevitable; it was the decision I never wanted to make between choices I didn't know I had.
And I love them both.
My heart is destined to exist in two equal halves — one with each man. But one half beats stronger, the vein running deepest, and holds my choice in silence long before I know it for myself.
The realization of what I have to do, of the heart I have to break, just might break mine too.
Left or right.
All I have to do is take a breath and turn.
"In another lifetime, it could have been us."
I feel like I needed someone to hold my heart more than my hand with this one. I feel like I need to cry and release all these emotions, but I just don't know how. This book solidified my reasons as to why I love angst. It's these kinds of torturous books that I love. This was quite easily.....blissful torture. Blissful, but torture nonetheless. And I loved every minute of it. I absolutely loved it.
I thought I knew who I wanted to have Charlie's heart after starting book one. I was for certain. I had a team picked out, I was makin' t-shirts!! I was completely steadfast in my opinion. And then Kandi threw a wrench in that thought process at the end of the first book, and I started to waver. Well, this book didn't change that wavering. There was so much going on, between Charlie, Cameron, and Reese, that it made me fall for two men, for very different reasons. Which is exactly the same thing that happened to Charlie, and I felt for her.
"I care about you because there is no other choice for me, and I love you the same."
Can YOU imagine all of the sudden only getting 2 months to make your point. To change the course of the previous years and the missed opportunities that were afforded you? I cannot imagine trying to salvage years worth of missing out, screwing up, and not being there. This made for a very time conscious read, one that had my stomach in knots, me biting my nails, and me sending very inappropriate messages to a certain someone.
I feel like Kandi did a great job making sure we didn't feel like this was being played out as if it were a reality TV show. The reasons were real. The desires were real. The love, the pull, the heartache....it was all real. Was I angry at some of Cameron's actions? Hell yes I was. I was mad. Why did he do what he did. Why did he think that was ok and then WAIT?? But the truths fell hard on me with the understanding that Reese did the same damn thing. Why did he do that? Why did he think he had the right to do that? Does Charlie hold any of the blame? Most definitely, but I will never ever be the one to judge affairs of the heart and mind. I will never be the one to say someone's feelings aren't valid and what happened was right or wrong. Because, ultimately, in the end....they all learned something. They each gave to the other what was missing at that time; what was necessary for their hearts to continue beating.
I feel like the voyeur that watched as one couple broke, but remembered why they loved each other; what brought them to each other. All the while, I peeked in on another couple remembering their past and how it shaped their future...and then rooting for love to take hold and persevere.
But that's precisely why I love this trope. This trope lends itself to heartache, but also to reparation. It allows us to see there are always more than two sides to this kind of story. It's not always black and white, plain as day for the eye to see. And that is why I will always read them....the cold hard truth isn't always accessible within the heart's grasp. I love the soul-searching. I love the pain of the truth. I love when love conquers all....no matter what side it's on.
"You are the most sensational woman I have ever known. And your worth is not defined by him."
Trust me when I say you need this duet in your life.
"My heart was broken, but it was still beating. I could work with that."
~BEE
PURCHASE BOOK 1: AMAZON
PURCHASE BOOK 2: AMAZON
MY REVIEW FOR BOOK ONE IS HERE
~MEET KANDI STEINER~
Kandi Steiner is a Creative Writing and Advertising/Public Relations graduate from the University of Central Florida living in Tampa with her husband. Kandi works full time as a social media specialist, but also works part time as a Zumba fitness instructor and blackjack dealer.
Kandi started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.” She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic (like most girls brought up on Disney movies).
When Kandi isn’t working or writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, talking with her extremely vocal cat, and spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys beach days, movie marathons, live music, craft beer and sweet wine – not necessarily in that order.
Join her group Kandiland HERE.
~CONNECT WITH KANDI~
Great review.
ReplyDeleteThank you. <3
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