Review: Another powerful read in this series. I loved Brad!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 17, 2014
"I'm sorry Mabry. If I had know you were going to be in my future, I would have been a better man in my past."Brad Johnson was always a cocky, egotistical, self-centered player. We saw him begin to change a little in Present Perfect. Amanda gave Brad a glimpse into what it was like to have someone who cared about him, even if he was not truly ready for it at the time. And other situations over the years, shaped him into the man he has become and has made him want to be a better man. And now we see him finding a woman and falling in love. The problem is that she wants nothing to do with love.Mabry has issues...big ones that are not easily faced or solved. Brad has some too. Both of their pasts are full of reasons why they did not feel truly loved or accepted. Mabry's past has significantly marked her. And she had to develop ways to cope...the least of which is avoiding emotional entanglements. She needs to numb her pain from her past and has certain ways to do it. She also has deep seated fears that rule how she faces life.(Quote)I was stupid to have thought I could have something casual with him seeing as how he affects me, mind, body, and soul. There's something between us, a deep connection, as if we were supposed to find each other in this life.They are compatible in their lives, careers, intellect, and passion. They have amazing chemistry and affect each other like no one else has before. But they have buried secrets and hidden pain that keeps rearing its ugly head and driving a wedge between them.This book exposes the effects of depression and how different people cope with it. It shows how one person's actions have a ripple effect on other's lives and has far reaching effects. And sometimes the past does not stay buried and continues to affect the present.This story is told in both Brad and Mabry's points of view in alternating past and present. We see both of their pasts unfolding and shaping the people they became. They both suffered loneliness, heartbreak, loss, guilt, and pain. We see how they try to deal with it and how ineffective it can be.“I know you’re scared, so am I. But we can do this together. We’re not alone anymore. Now we have each other. I don’t know what the future holds. All I know is that I need you in mine.”And we witness two lost and broken people that have been through so much, but finally find someone worthy of holding onto, trying to heal with, and be a better person for. But they are still so afraid that they are going to lose the connection that has become so important to them. My heart alternately broke for both Brad and Mabry during the course of this book. There were underlying issues swirling around bringing their pasts crashing into their present and possibly ruining their chance at a future. But I was so impressed with how far Brad has come since we first met him.(Quote)I try to mentally prepare for my past to collide with my present, and pray that my future with her doesn't become a casualty.This book had a different feel than Present Perfect. It was a bit darker, but it was also sweet, emotional, and heartfelt. They had pain, damage, and struggles. There were times that one or both of them felt hopeless. But they both had to keep digging deep to find their inner strength to conquer their demons to even try to move on. It was not an angsty book. It was a bittersweet, emotional journey towards understanding, healing, and forgiveness.It pulled me in right from the first page and I was completely invested as their pasts and stories slowly unfolded, while also seeing their present relationship and issues. I loved them as a couple even if they were not perfect, and all along I hoped that they could find enough healing together to truly find complete happiness for the first time in their lives.This was another unique, surprising, moving, and emotional installment in this series. It can be read as a stand alone as the author did relay some of the pertinent events from the first book, but I still recommend reading Present Perfect first because it is a beautiful, poignant love story and it also gives even more insight into Brad when he was younger. I was not sure Alison could top Present Perfect since it was one of my fave reads of 2013 and totally took me by surprise, but I think she managed to write another story that is unique and amazing in its own right. I highly recommend these books. They are very well written, the characters come alive from the pages, and she throws in surprises and twists that make them even more interesting. I am a sucker for a good epilogue, and I have to say that the way she did the epilogue for this book just made it that more special. When I finished this book all I kept thinking was "Wow!". Well, it is even worth a "Wamfu!" (You will see what that means once you read it.)Thanks to Alison G. Bailey for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. Will be posted at : Reviews by Tammy and Kim.