Sam@WLABB
Written on Nov 30, 2018
I knew this would be an emotional story. Both the hero and the heroine of this story were broken and suffering due to their circumstances. Willow was weighted down by the secret of her sexual assault, and Isaac was fighting to survive his father's physical abuse. This stuff was heavy and my heart broke and ached for both of them. Yet, Scott managed to infused this story with light and hope. It may have come in waves, but it was there.
One of the beautiful things Scott did was give both Willow and Isaac wonderful support systems. Isaac was lucky to find Martin and Brenda, who became his surrogate parents. They were there for him whenever he needed them, and gave him love unconditionally. It's hard to imagine what sort of man he would have become with them in his life.
Willow was lucky enough, that Angie took her under her wing when she first moved to Harmony. Angie became her best friend, biggest cheerleader, and her confidant. She gave without asking for anything, and supported Willow without expecting explanations. Angie's mother, Bonnie, was also a godsend. She was a therapist, who played a large role in Willow's recovery.
I also liked Willow's path to recovery. She was not saved by the boy. He supported her, along with a few others, but she saved herself. She found her inner strength, her voice, and her fire. It was a tough journey, and it was never depicted as easy or quick, and I appreciated how realistic it came across.
There were quite a few surprises in this story as well. I was not expecting some of the events, which went down regarding the assault to transpire that way, but I was happy about it. I didn't think Scott would take Willow's parents in the direction she did either, but again, I was happy with the way she handled that situation.
This book was a love story, but it was also about the healing power of connection and finding your inner strength. It was about believing it was never too late and not closing yourself off to possibilities. And it was about love, which can endure and last.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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