In life, it is said that everything happens for a reason. If that’s true, how can you explain death? Especially when it happens to someone so young, so beautiful, and so innocent? My name is Bain Adams, and I struggle with these thoughts every day. I’ve been through hell and back, somehow surviving the unimaginable. My sister took her life six months ago, and now, what’s left is a shell of the man I once was, a shadow of the person I used to be. Do I miss that life? Absolutely. But I miss her more, every day. I pray time will ease the pain and help my suffering while I search for the answers…but so far, nothing.
Happiness is something I knew so long ago, and now it’s nothing but a faint, distant recollection of the life I once had. My name is Arion LaSalle, and seven months ago my life was shredded to pieces when my fiancé disappeared while deployed. He never came home, burning a hindrance of pain and agony within my soul. For so long, I lived my life believing everything happens for a reason, until now. ‘Cause none of it makes any sense. Why Nate? Why only him? Since getting through each breath is a struggle, I put on a fake persona, pretending I’m someone I’m not, living my life recklessly. Because for me, it was all taken far too soon.
4.5 Stars!
Review: Holy cliffhanger, Batman! Just like to throw that one out there when I finish a book and feel like throwing my kindle across the room. I always scare my husband when, out of nowhere, I just scream "No way!" followed by a big sigh.
Bain has spent the last six months questioning everything and barely getting by. His twin sister, Kinsey, allegedly killed herself, with no warning whatsoever, and Bain has been in a tailspin ever since that time. His mom and dad have also been coping in their own ways - his dad through work, and his mom through alcohol. Bain has also been self-medicating his own grief, though no one ever seems to catch on to that, at all. He was very high achieving prior to that and basically on his way to the NBA, and he has taken all of the months since her death off to take care of his mom and take pills. That seems to be it. And what is so sad is that no one ever seemed to worry about him or check on him. That is so indicative of grief and loss, though, and a truly traumatic event in the family.
Arion, on the other hand, has spent the last seven months trying to deal with the loss of her fiancé, Nate, who was killed while deployed with the military. Her way of dealing with his sudden death was to start sleeping with every man that she was able to engage in a random hook-up that would agree to no commitment. For some reason, this part bothered me, because it really seemed so at odds with her character. I definitely understand that grief and loss shows up in people very differently, but, for me, this felt really out of character, and I didn't connect to that for her. In other ways, I definitely felt her grief - her not being able to get out of bed for weeks, just focusing on work, only talking with a few trusted people, etc.
Once these two meet, there is instant chemistry between the two. They have an...interesting...first encounter, but then they meet again and just keep being drawn to one another. Arion lets Bain know her rules, and he is willing to follow them, but they both start to slowly slip on the rules, over time, until they know that they care for one another. For Bain, he is glad to have someone in his life as he delves more into his sister's death. Arion, however, begins to freak out and try to prevent herself from depending on Bain for any happiness, whatsoever. She really struggles with wanting to let anyone else in, which is so hard to watch.
Just as these two begin to work through some of these issues, and to make steps to move forward with a future together...something completely crazy happens. I was left with many questions when I finished this book, so hopefully the next book will address some of them. For instance, Kinsey's death still has some questions, or at least the need for more resolution, but there are also a few other things that I just want to know more about. I definitely enjoyed Bain and Arion, and they have some major heat factor. Bain, aside from his brief drug use, is just a good guy. He's had a lot going for him in the past few years, but he has suffered this major loss, while also having to be the parent and sole child in the family now, in many ways, yet he is still going strong. Can't wait for the next book!
Jessica
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