Review: Wild Willa finally gets her story!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 14, 2014
When I decided to read Unfixable I had no idea it was about a character I had met before. I read the synopsis and thought the character name sounded familiar but it didn't dawn on me until I was halfway through chapter one. That's when I realized I had met Willa Peet in another book by this author called His To Protect. She and her sister Ginger were two of my favorite characters in that book so I was happily surprised that the lovable foul mouthed teen got her own story!Willa had a tough life. Her journey to self discovery began when she started dating the adorably affable, Evan. he her ticket to normal, Captain of the basketball team and popular, He always tried to include her in everything he did. He introduced her to his friends, invited her to parties and even took her to prom. I had such high hopes that Evan and Willa would work out when I read His To Protect. They were so adorable together and Willa needed something stable and beautiful after the life she had endured with her addict mother. But her inner turmoil won't let her have Evan. She feels likes she broken. Unable to love someone like they should be loved or give them what they need. She tried to be what Evan needed but in the end it wasn't enough. To get over her breakup with him she is sent to Dublin after winning a photo contest to spend a month taking pictures of her trip for a magazine.Once there, Dublin changes Willa. From the inside out a slow transformation takes place in her that opens up something she didn't realize she possessed. The Claymore inn she is staying at is how she meets Shane whose family runs the place. He picks her up from the airport and the friction between them, which isn't always pleasant, is something that interests Willa to a certain extent even though she's closed herself off. She doesn't want to make friends and does her best to avoid getting involved but the locals make it hard for her to keep herself away as she makes new friendships and connects with Shane on a deeper level.Out of all Bailey's heroines I have to say Willa is my favorite. Even though she was a tween when I first met her she's grown into a beautiful young woman and her path to finding out who she really is was so beautiful and exactly what I wanted for her. She's a tough little spitfire but it's mostly just her mouth. There's something deeper she keeps hidden from everyone because she doesn't know how to express herself. Shane really opens her up and it's not just the whole "He's everything she never knew she needed" aspect. He is able to open her up because he's exactly like her. He keeps his emotions and feelings locked away and doesn't know how to be close to anyone except his family. I didn't want to like Shane at first. My allegiance was to Evan because he was so sweet and good to Willa. Ultimately though, Shane was the right fit for Willa. He has some daddy issues that keep him from connecting on an emotional level as well. His father wanted him to follow in his footsteps and run the inn but Shane wanted to race and when he followed his heart he was kicked out of his home for his efforts. The loss of his father after that brings him back to run things along with his sister Faith after his mother loses some of her marbles and needs constant supervision. Shane really was a great guy. He loved his family, he protected his sister and he was willing to stick around to show Willa what she needed. He wouldn't let her push him away no matter what she did.The soul searching she does while in Ireland and the discoveries she makes about herself were rewarding not to mention the friendships she makes adding to her vivid canvas. Shane's sister Faith grows on her the more time she spends with her and upon an outing by herself, Willa meets two goofball Irish lads who moonlight as musical pickpockets. Bailey delivers something special in Unfixable and I can't put my finger on what it was exactly. everything just worked together to make this a wonderful story.To be a New Adult venture in Bailey's repertoire Unfixable brought almost as much heat as her adult novels which by the way never leave me unfulfilled in any capacity. There is something special about Bailey;'s writing style that makes me connect with the characters and the way she pens her chemistry just works for me. Every single time. I have yet to read anything of hers that hasn't made me feel on all levels. I might love other characters more than some but I always enjoy them nonetheless. She writes characters that are lovable and unforgettable. No two characters ever feel like the same recycled person from other stories. Her women are fierce and vulnerable at times and her men are strong, protective and sexy. Another strong attribute to her writing is how she brings to life the surroundings of her characters. Everything Willa saw, touched or explored had an emotional connection that I felt right along with her. It's enough to make me feel as if I'm standing right next to the character seeing what they see. It's not super detailed down to the very last aspect but the connection is made through the eyes of the heart.From the emotional upset of Willa's supposed first love and breakup to the finding of something deeper than she has ever known, Unfixable took me on a ride I wouldn't have wanted to miss. It almost felt like watching a child grow up because I had been through so much with Willa already. Don't worry if you haven't read His To Protect yet though, Unfixable can absolutely be read as a stand alone because it honestly does just that. Stands Alone. Willa is her own person and I really felt that throughout her story. I'm hoping now though that the next book will be something involving Shane's sister Faith. She was another spitfire woman and her Irish heritage only makes her that much more interesting. For those who don't want to venture fully into the world of adult novels but want some of the heat and intensity then Unfixable is the right book for you.