ALL RHODES LEAD HERE

 5 STARS *****

Let me just start with saying that Mariana Zapata is one of my favorite authors. I just love how she tells a story. It just sucks me right in. This book was no different. 

Our heroine Aurora is trying to start over. She moves to her hometown and rents a garage apartment. There we meet our hero Tobias, who is her landlord. He is a true Mariana Zapata hero with all the brooding and standoffish behavior in the start. But let me tell you once he decides what he wants and that being Aurora in his life, it was just A-mazing. 

"Why do you look so surprised? You've got the sweetest, kindest heart, Buddy. It wouldn't matter what you looked like, you'd still be my angel."

"You're mine. Just as much as Am is. Just as much as anybody will ever be."

And talking about the supporting characters, I really loved Amos. He was such a darling. Clara and Jackie were also good. But Amos just stole my heart with his sweet and kind heart.

"Scarred for life watching you grab Dad's butt like that, but I'll get over it. Thanks for wondering!" he hollered sarcastically before shaking his head and closing the door.

Amos wrapped a loose arm around my back, which was pretty much the equivalent of the warmest hug from anyone else in the world, and patted my spine  twice- letting me hug him back- before he pulled away.

So yeah, considering all thing I more than loved this book. The relationship between Aurora and Tobias was very well developed. It certainly had the Mariana Zapata charm. I would definitely recommend this book.

Into the deep by Samantha Young

Live young. Live hard. Love deep.

Charley Redford was just an ordinary girl until Jake Caplin moved to her small town in Indiana and convinced her she was extraordinary. Almost from day one Jake pulled Charley into the deep and promised he was right there with her. But when a tragic incident darkened Jake’s life he waded out into the shallows and left Charley behind.

Almost four years later Charley thinks she’s moved on. That is until she takes a study year abroad in Edinburgh and bumps into none other than Jake Caplin at a party with his new girlfriend. The bad-boy-turned-good attempts to convince Charley to forgive him, and as her best friend starts spending time with Jake’s, Charley calls a truce, only to find herself tumbling back into a friendship with him.

As they grow closer, the spark between them flares and begins playing havoc with their lives and relationships. When jealousy and longing rear their destructive heads, Charley and Jake struggle to come to grips with what they mean to one another.

And even if they work it out, there is no guarantee Charley will ever trust Jake to lead her back into the deep…

3 Stars

Jake was the new guy in town. Jake and Charley got attracted to each other from the first time they met. 

I twisted my head to follow her gaze and found myself staring past the fire and into the dark eyes of Jake Caplin. I felt his look seize hold of me and I swear to God, my breath hitched in my throat. He was beautiful.

They fell in love with each other. Their love was so strong everyone was certain it was forever.

“I’m scared, Jake,” I whispered honestly. “We’re so young. There are a lot of years ahead of us to lose this.”

“Don’t think like that,” he replied, his tone hard and implacable. “We’re never going to lose this, Charley. I promise. Now tell me you love me.”

I sucked in a deep breath. “I love you, Jacob Caplin.”

But unfortunately, life is unpredictable. Something really bad happens and Jake breaks up with Charley. Charley gets heartbroken.

Desolation crashed over me. Nausea rose through me, my eyes burning with tears I was determined to keep in check around him. But the realization that he’d ended it, that we’d never talk again, that I’d never feel his warm hand in mine, that no one would ever look at me or make me feel the way he made me feel ever again shattered me. The tears started to fall and Jake looked sharply away.

Fast forward 4 years. Charley is in Edinburgh studying abroad and there she meets Jake Caplin again at a party. But it appears that Jake is not alone.

My focus drifted as I moved to turn back to the group and I caught a profile in the crowd that made the blood rush in my ears. I froze, my eyes taking in the familiar jawline and straight Roman nose. Familiar lips kissed an unfamiliar forehead.

It couldn’t be him.

My heart sped up as I watched the profile turn. A more than familiar beautiful smile hit full force and winded me.

For what felt like forever, I drank in the sight of Jacob Caplin—the first boy I’d ever loved.

I hadn’t seen him in three and a half years.

 Jake wants her forgiveness and he wants them to be friends. As they grow closer, the spark between them flares and begins playing havoc with their lives and relationships.

I really enjoyed this book. Charley was just great. She's one of my fav book heroines. She was such a smart-ass. I really liked her. I was kinda disappointed with Jake. He's behaviour was very shitty, the way he broke up with Charley. And after 4 years when they meet again, he gets confused and he just wants to string her along. At some point i started hating him. I just wanted to yell at him: "MAKE A CHOICE YOU IDIOT!!!!!" The other characters were also good. The book was overall good.