Review: Overcoming the past
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 14, 2014
A story of overcoming a damaging past and learning to trust and open up again.This is the story of Kaiya and Ryker who have both been done wrong by someone close to them in the past. They each handle those situations differently though.... Kaiya doesn't let anyone get close to her while Ryker is more of a man-whore. Complete opposites.. but as they sometimes say, opposites attract.Kaiya lives with her brother Kamden and he is the only one she truly feels safe with. He protects her and makes sure that her past will not come back to ever hurt her again. When she has nightmares it is Kamden who is there to sleep with her and help calm her down. He truly is a big brother to her and loves her dearly and only wants what is best for her. Unfortunately he doesn't believe that Ryker is the guy for his little sister.When Kamden brings his little sister into the gym that Ryker works at he has an instant attraction to her. There is just something about Kaiya that is different. She ends up signing up for a Kickboxing/Self-defense class that Ryker is an instructor for. He knows that there is something that is holding her back that she is afraid of and he only wants to help her but he is also wanting to act on his attraction. There are definitely mixed emotions. Over time he works with her to build up her skills and calls her his 'warrior'.The past has a way of presenting itself though and in those times it is when we are truly tested. Can we stand up to our biggest fears and show how strong we have become and face the past or will it overpower us again after all that time has past???This is a great story of the internal struggle of two characters and told from both of their points of view. I couldn't imagine having to live and continually go through the reminder of what Kaiya had experienced in her past over and over. The nightmares alone would be complete torture. But it is also a story of redemption and second chances because there comes a time when you have to face your fears and no longer let them have that power of you. Sometimes you will do it by yourself, sometimes you will do it with a family member beside you, and sometimes it will be your love.