Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Good book about two people who have put up walls around their hearts to keep them safe. For Tae, it's been her and her mom against the world her entire life. April was only fifteen when she had Tae, so they sometimes seem more like sisters than mother and daughter. Life has been challenging, but things are finally looking up. April has a good job as a receptionist with Adrenaline HQ, which provides activities/adventures for disabled kids and adults and wounded warriors. Tae has her own event planning company, which is finally taking off thanks to a contract with that company.
Tae worries about that contract when she feels her first fundraiser for them is a failure, even though Jake, the owner, is satisfied with the results. Tae is a worrier, and I loved how Jake tried to ease her fears. He tells her to go ahead and leave, and she mistakes another car for her Uber in her rush. To her dismay, the car's driver is Riggs, Jake's brother, and her high school one-night fling. She hasn't seen him since he left for the Marines shortly after that.
Riggs has left the Marines and come home for the summer before starting his new job. He's part-owner of the business but leaves it to Jake to run. But Riggs worries about Jake, one of those wounded warriors he tries to help. He's always adored his older brother, who stood between Riggs and his abusive father, and he fears that Jake is putting himself at risk. He promises to stay around for the summer and help expand the company.
I loved watching the rekindling of the relationship between Riggs and Tae. The sparks between them are instantaneous, but neither wants anything to do with them. Riggs is leaving at the end of the summer, and after everything she witnessed with her mother, Tae refuses to give a man any power over her life. So they make a pact to ignore the sparks and keep to friendship only. By keeping the physical out of the mix, they've allowed themselves to get to know each other as adults. I loved the time they spent together helping with the activities and the quieter times when they just talked. It was amazing to see how well they understood each other as both recognized kindred spirits in the self-protection game.
The sparks of attraction didn't take too long to overcome the friendship pact. Though they say it's just a fling, neither one wants to admit their hearts are involved. Tae knows she's falling for Riggs and will end up hurt, but she doesn't want to give up a minute of their time together. Riggs is a harder nut to crack. His walls are thick, and his head even thicker. I loved the conversations between him and Jake, who tries to break through Rigg's walls while Riggs fights him (sometimes literally) every step of the way.
At the same time all of this is going on, Tae is going through a bit of an identity crisis. For her entire life, April has told her that her father died in the war. But Tae recently encountered someone who claimed to know her father and that he was alive. Tae is hunting for the truth without involving her mother, whom she protects. I ached for Tae and the confusion she felt. Though she's determined to investigate on her own, Riggs involves himself in the search behind her back. While his intentions were good, his execution created the potential for disaster. Tae's feelings of betrayal by everyone were understandable, and I didn't blame her for her anger. There's a lot that goes on surrounding the truth that is revealed. In the long run, relationships change but grow stronger. Tae's anger at Riggs is especially strong as she pushes him away. I liked that he admitted he was wrong. He also finally realized the truth of his feelings for her. I loved the conversation between Riggs and Jake, as Jake tries to make him see what he'll have to do to win Tae back. "Use your words, idiot!" The light bulb moment was satisfying; I liked seeing them finally come together. The epilogue was a terrific wrap-up.
#netgalley
Tae worries about that contract when she feels her first fundraiser for them is a failure, even though Jake, the owner, is satisfied with the results. Tae is a worrier, and I loved how Jake tried to ease her fears. He tells her to go ahead and leave, and she mistakes another car for her Uber in her rush. To her dismay, the car's driver is Riggs, Jake's brother, and her high school one-night fling. She hasn't seen him since he left for the Marines shortly after that.
Riggs has left the Marines and come home for the summer before starting his new job. He's part-owner of the business but leaves it to Jake to run. But Riggs worries about Jake, one of those wounded warriors he tries to help. He's always adored his older brother, who stood between Riggs and his abusive father, and he fears that Jake is putting himself at risk. He promises to stay around for the summer and help expand the company.
I loved watching the rekindling of the relationship between Riggs and Tae. The sparks between them are instantaneous, but neither wants anything to do with them. Riggs is leaving at the end of the summer, and after everything she witnessed with her mother, Tae refuses to give a man any power over her life. So they make a pact to ignore the sparks and keep to friendship only. By keeping the physical out of the mix, they've allowed themselves to get to know each other as adults. I loved the time they spent together helping with the activities and the quieter times when they just talked. It was amazing to see how well they understood each other as both recognized kindred spirits in the self-protection game.
The sparks of attraction didn't take too long to overcome the friendship pact. Though they say it's just a fling, neither one wants to admit their hearts are involved. Tae knows she's falling for Riggs and will end up hurt, but she doesn't want to give up a minute of their time together. Riggs is a harder nut to crack. His walls are thick, and his head even thicker. I loved the conversations between him and Jake, who tries to break through Rigg's walls while Riggs fights him (sometimes literally) every step of the way.
At the same time all of this is going on, Tae is going through a bit of an identity crisis. For her entire life, April has told her that her father died in the war. But Tae recently encountered someone who claimed to know her father and that he was alive. Tae is hunting for the truth without involving her mother, whom she protects. I ached for Tae and the confusion she felt. Though she's determined to investigate on her own, Riggs involves himself in the search behind her back. While his intentions were good, his execution created the potential for disaster. Tae's feelings of betrayal by everyone were understandable, and I didn't blame her for her anger. There's a lot that goes on surrounding the truth that is revealed. In the long run, relationships change but grow stronger. Tae's anger at Riggs is especially strong as she pushes him away. I liked that he admitted he was wrong. He also finally realized the truth of his feelings for her. I loved the conversation between Riggs and Jake, as Jake tries to make him see what he'll have to do to win Tae back. "Use your words, idiot!" The light bulb moment was satisfying; I liked seeing them finally come together. The epilogue was a terrific wrap-up.
#netgalley
