Review: Painfully Hopeful
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 11, 2013
I was gifted this book for an honest review.Lyla Harper has a secret she's been keeping for years. One so hideous and dark shecopes by shutting herself off from the world.Minimal contact with her family, no real friends to speak of, at least none she is willing toopen up to.  She self medicates via a bottle of wine to dull the pain and one more thing...Out for the evening Lyla noticed an attractive man six foot, well built, brown hairand emerald green eyes.Everett Brown noticed Lyla too and a shared cab ride turns into a hot and heavyaffair.I wasn't prepared for Lyla's story; she's suffered so much pain in her teen/adultyears and like most victims blamed herself. Prepare yourself for her selfdestructive behavior. At times, I found myself breathing deep to get through a scene.She never saw the good in herself, she was scarred physically and emotionally.Everett was like a shining light that helped to shield her from the nightmaresthat haunted her.  He gave her hope, self-confidence, and the best damn sex ever.I liked Everett, attorney, single, handsome and knows how to please a womanbut there is something about him I find troubling; he's too perfect, too secretiveabout his past.Bad karma seems to follow Lyla and there were times when I wanted toslap her for the decisions she made.  Decisions that put her in danger, andcould undo all the progress she's making in starting to love herself.I wasn't expecting the ending... What the heck?So now maybe book two will have the answers I'm looking for...What is Everett hiding and why?