Perfection. We all strive for it, but what happens when the desire to be perfect consumes you? What happens when the need to bury your mistakes blinds you?
Melanie Crane has always been the perfect daughter, friend, student – she’s been perfect at everything, in fact. But when she lets her insecurities, the ones that she keeps hidden from everyone, get the best of her, she falters in her pursuit of perfection. Melanie crumples under the pressure and buries her pain. Numbed by sadness and guilt, she is determined never to let anyone find out how broken she really is.
Bryan Mahoney may appear to have everything in order. He’s charming, witty and completely swoon-worthy. In short, Bryan has life all figured out, but appearances can be deceiving. When the landscape of Bryan’s family changes in an instant, he’s left to pick up the pieces.
Not all bruises leave a mark. Now, weary and afraid, Melanie and Bryan must find a way to let love heal their broken and jaded hearts.
***This book can be read as a standalone. While it does reference characters from the first two books in this series, you do not have to read them to enjoy this story.***
Melanie's father died before she was born. Literally just days before in a freak accident. Raised solely by her mother, she has felt like a burden to her most of her life. Melanie doesn't let too many people get close to her, only her mom, Maddy, Reid, and her two roommates Cammie and Lia. But when Maddy moves away to live with Reid and attend a college closer to Reid, Melanie is left without her best friend for the first time ever.
Melanie has never been comfortable with the way she looks. Always considering herself overweight and unworthy of love she's never been in a relationship. That all changes when she meets Bryan. Bryan is not your typical computer programmer geek. Melanie doesn't know what to make of the gorgeous man working in the computer lab but when she applies for a job there, that's where she finds herself working with a man she wants for the first time in her entire life. Bryan flirts with Melanie, but she feels that he has another motive after all, why would he want her when his ex girlfriend Courtney looks like she just stepped off the runway.
Bryan is determined to show Melanie what a real relationship can be like, Melanie is struggling to overcome the personal issues she has with herself. When they part ways for winter break, something will happen sending them both off in different directions leaving Melanie even more lost than she was before. Ridden with guilt and self doubt that eat away at her can her and Bryan get passed Melanie's betrayal and can Melanie finally learn that she's the beautiful woman that Bryan has grown to care for? Or will this be what tears them apart?
This book was so different from the first two books in this series. Normally when chapters volley back and forth between the past and the present it gets extremely annoying. In this case it actually worked. Going back through their relationship over the past few months actually gives you an insight into how Melanie views herself as a person, her relationship with Bryan, and ultimately leads to Courtney. This book was an incredible journey for Melanie as she struggles to deal with the weight and self image issues that have plagued her for most of her life. I felt sadness for Melanie a lot of the time throughout this novel because Melanie was such a strong beautiful woman but she just couldn't seem to find her way. Bryan showed so much patience and understanding toward Melanie and such loyalty to her younger sister Emmie. Together they make for a great book as their story pulls you in deeper and deeper until you are utterly consumed by their story. I could also relate to Melanie. I've been on both sides skinny looking at girls that are overweight and are unhappy, overweight and longing to have the self confidence that much skinnier women have. This book hit close to home on so many levels and I loved every second of it. This was by far my favorite book in this series and I am looking forward to Lucy's story and other future books in this series. This was an easy 5 stars, I look forward to seeing more of Melanie and Bryan in future books in this series as we learn about the other characters in their story an grow to love them as well.
***ARC provided in exchange for a honest review***
I’ve always been an avid reader. Majoring in English Literature was a no brainer. Becoming a teacher and instilling my love for reading into my students was also a no brainer. I’ve spent the last ten years teaching and I’ve loved (mostly) every minute of it. When I was home on maternity leave for my third son, I discovered a new genre that sparked my creativity. My passion for writing sprang from my love of reading and once I knew I had a story to tell, I couldn’t wait to get it out there. I only hope that my readers enjoy reading my story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
AMAZON | AMAZON UK | BARNES & NOLBES | KOBO
November 4
Reading by the Book | Mary Elizabeth Crazy Book Obsession | The Book Obsessed Momma | Inside the Pages of a Good Book | Sarah's Book Blog | Winding Stairs Book Blog | Shh Moms Reading | Mean Girls Luv Books | Stories and Swag
November 5
HEA Book Shelf | Adventures in Reading | I Feel the Need, the Need to Read | Momma's Secret Book Obsession | FTLOBbyJBlog | Christine's Blog | Mommy's Late Night Book Up | Reading Is My Time Out | Sizzling Pages Romance Reviews | Books Books Books
November 6
Martini Times Romance | The Boyfriend Bookmark | BJs Book Blog | Book Nerds Anonymous | Rose's Book Blog | Book Freak | Up All Night Book Addict | Scandalous Book Blog | BestSellers & BestStallars | Just Booked | Book Worms
November 7
Shhh, Mommy's in the Bathroom.,.Reading | Wolfel's World of Books | Sandwich Making Book Bitches | Sunshines & Mountains Book Blog | Living Fictitiously | The Book Enthusiast | Liezel's Book Blog | Sassy Girl Books | Tiffany Talks Books
November 8
Who You Callin' A Book Whore? | Twinsie Talk Book Reviews | The Whispering Pages Book Blog | Sharing a Bit of Romance | Chapter Break | Storm Goddess Book Reviews | As the Pages Turn | Via Linden Lounge | Wild Wordy Women | Bookaholics Blog | Book Reviews By Lexi
No comments:
Post a Comment