My mother’s choice was to abandon us with our abusive father.
My brother’s choice was to go to prison for killing the boy who assaulted his soulmate.
Camden Cole’s choice was to fall in love with a shattered girl who had absolutely nothing to offer him but heartbreak.
It was one summer beneath the trees, but with Camden, I had a place where I belonged.
A friend who was always waiting for me.
A boy who I caught staring at me more often than not.
He was mine, but when the world closed in and secrets exploded all around us, it was my choice to let him go.
Choices. Everyone makes them.
But mine would ruin us all.
REVIEW: 3.5 STARS
"Consequences come in all colors."
I'M ALWAYS EXCITED for a book by Aly Martinez. Always. There has not been one book that I haven't wanted to devour, and knowing how much I enjoyed Release, Reclaim was going to be another puzzle piece added to this story and a natural must read for me. If you are looking for an easy read, one with a love that spanned years and showed true strength when it would have been easier to let go - this is your book.
This book focused on Nora‘s childhood and what unfortunately happened. We know what happened based on Release, but we got to revisit this storyline which allowed it to be read as a standalone. It was a good catch up, but it also added a lot of lip-service. If you read Release, you know Nora's story growing up. You know what she went through, and you know Ramsey's big secret. And oh boy, did it get heavy in this book. Like, we honestly went down a fairly dark path in Nora's heart and mind, and she dealt with some nasty stuff. However, as heavy as it got with everything going on in Nora’s life, it kind of.... just went away. And quickly. While I was glad for the reprieve, it was almost too quick.
But, if the prize in this game of life is Camden, I think she made out in the end. I love love love him so very much!!! He was a super sweet softie with a heart of gold that no man will ever live up to. My gosh, he was the light at the end of the tunnel. He was so understanding and so giving and just absolutely perfect. He wasn't your typical alpha, well - he wasn't an alpha at all, but he was a man true to his word and that was the sexiest part about him. He and Nora grew up together - not in your typical way, so to watch their relationship evolve the way it did added some sweet layers to it.
"He knew all the dirty and broken parts of me and still came back, holding me as though he could keep me together."
REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD, and no one wanted it more than I did. Seriously, reading this book had me angry at times!!! I hate when people get away with stuff and things never seem to catch up with them. But with that came the chance for some outside interference, and boy did Aly excite me!! The Easter egg she dropped in here was smile inducing to say the least! Oh my gosh, I smiled the minute I started seeing some names I knew from her GP Series! Once again, she's got me all excited for her Guardian Protection series to restart because that series is amazing. So much action and strong, gnarly, smart men walking around that Agency. Yumminess in literal form.
So, my overall issue I had was that it felt linear and didn’t differentiate much from one emotion to the next, from one page to the next. It was pretty even from start to finish without much of a climax to anticipate or come down from, and I feel like that's one of the many things I look forward to with Aly's writing. I always get a journey and a ride, and I just felt like this one stayed pretty chill.
Before anyone misunderstands my rating or thinks it's bad, please understand that it is NOT. This was a good book, a great book - and it was good for a wonderful smile. But what I didn't get from it was the rush, the excitement of a chase for a love that was destined to be. Aly Martinez is easily one of my go-to authors, still is - don't question that - and I will continue to brag about and pick up and read and gift out her books as often as she releases them. She has never ever done me wrong on a book. She's always worth the read. This one just sat in a very calm mode and never really had highs or lows. It was just very even keeled.
I think what I'm trying to say, and I'm almost too scared to say was this felt anticlimactic and lacked any real flair. For an author I absolutely love and enjoy, that hurts me to say. It was a great story, but it just didn't move me like she usually does. The writing? Brilliant, of course, and she flowed. I never felt a hiccup in the storyline. It just felt the storyline was lacking a little something. It felt like it was more of a placeholder book, with the anticipation of more GPA coming out, but it was a really cute story by the time it was all said and done. Worth the read.
"Our story was a tangled tale of time and distance."
~BEE
My review for Release: http://bit.ly/35wn27v
~MEET ALY MARTINEZ~
Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five- including a set of twins. Currently living in Chicago, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.
After some encouragement from her friends, Aly decided to add “Author” to her ever-growing list of job titles. So grab a glass of Chardonnay, or a bottle if you’re hanging out with Aly, and join her aboard the crazy train she calls life.
~CONNECT WITH ALY~
I love how you described Camden!
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