Review: Cole has a knack for writing beautifully broken characters and I have loved seeing her dissect them and put them back together.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 14, 2014
Sigh. Brand. Brand. Brand. I've been waiting for his story ever since we met him in If You Leave. I was devastated that he was not the male lead in Before We Fall, but upon finishing, realized it was for the best. I am so happy we got to discover who the real Brand is as well as the hardships he's had to endure throughout his life.Pacing: I am having some trouble pinpointing my feelings on the pacing. I can't decide if the book felt too rushed or if it just flew by because I was that engaged. Honestly? I think it's a bit of both. Cole has an incredibly engaging, fluid writing style and I devour her books. However, I do feel out of all of the relationships she's developed, this is the one I was the least emotionally invested in. I think a large part of that is due to the nature of how Brand and Nora came about and I just felt like I missed some critical development in their relationship.Storyline: I have to give Cole mad props. I had NO idea this story would go in the direction that it did. We see early on that Nora has some issues and fears that stem from working for her father's company. However, Nora's fears run much deeper than she lets on and my stomach was a churning mess by the time we find out the true scope of the horrors she's endured.Nora has had a crush on Brand for years. Being four years younger than him, he never really took notice of her. But she certainly did him. She almost has a case of hero worship when it comes to him. After Brand is forced to return home and an incident brings the two together, she can't help but still idolize the sweet, caring boy turned sexy, protective man. However, Brand is determined to get out of town as soon as he's able and knows it wouldn't be right to give Nora the no strings relationship she desperately wants. However, as the two spend time together and get to know one another, it's only a matter of time before his resolve comes crumbling down....Characters: Nora, as I said, has some pretty heavy issues and fears to deal with. We get an idea of what happened, but do not truly find out the extent of it until much later. She knows that Brand embodies everything a GOOD man should be and her attraction to him only fuels her need to be with him. She shamelessly throws herself at him and he thinks she comes across as a bit desperate. He doesn't want a no strings relationship with her, as he feels she's worth more than that. Because of his protective nature, she believes he can make her good again and chase away the demons she's barely keeping at bay.It has been ingrained in her to 'do what a Greene must' in order to uphold the family name. She feels bound to her obligations to her father and his company, sacrificing what SHE really wants in order to do this.Brand's protective nature and need to save people is due in large part to his own past. After tragedy struck at a young age, he carries the weight of guilt no child ever should and has had to endure that from his parents all his life. He was especially protective of his best friend's younger sister, Jacey, and had come to think of her as more. However, Jacey was a very self-destructive individual and constantly kept running to Brand, as she knew he would always be there to save her. This is part of the reason he doesn't want to let Nora in. He knows their time is limited and doesn't want to end up hurt again, having felt like he just wasn't enough to 'save' or keep her.Final Thoughts: I do feel the events following the big reveal with Nora towards the end wrapped up a bit too easily for me. Brand definitely empowers her and she knows she is safe with him, but I have a hard time believing that everything is right in her world now. I would have thought there would be more of an emotional struggle after finding out all she did. We readers didn't see that and instead are immediately fast forwarded to the epilogue.I do think the epilogue was a beautiful one and very fitting for the storyline, however. It has come full circle from when we first met Brand, and I liked being able to see that for not just him and Nora, but also for Jacey and Gabe as well.Cole has a knack for writing beautifully broken characters and I have loved seeing her dissect them and then put them back together. Each one has faced an emotional journey of their own and it is so fulfilling to watch them get from where they once were to the point they are now.