Zoey and Kellen's story starts out very rough. Zoey has had a hard life and is now getting emancipated from a mother who does not love her. She works full time and goes to school, basically taking care of herself. Her friends Addy and Maya, well they all take care of one another.
At first, Zoey cannot stand Kellen, since the wife beater who is beating her best friend Maya, is his brother - Damon. Zoey tells him at every opportunity she hates him and wishes he would leave. Kellen, in a series of twists, likes her even though she is so abrupt with him - every time.
Kellen is also a victim, since his brother Damon was always beating him as a kid. Kellen loves his sister-in-law Maya, and her kids. Kellen is a bright spot in all of their lives. Lives that have started healing now that they live with Zoey.
Zoey sees a whole new side to Kellen, when she witnesses how wonderful he is with Maya and her 2 kids. She suddenly wants that attention on her, and she is willing to give it a try. Kellen, who has waited for a chance forever - happily gives her this chance!
Together, Zoey and Kellen are better than when they are apart. He is good for her, helps her see the reality of being an adult and what she says can hurt others. Kellen learns that love comes in all forms - even very coarse and sometimes desperate like it does from Zoey. When she is with him she is all in. Can this last?
Really good and sometimes funny story that makes some of the bad get chased away with the good. Carter Ashby makes us laugh quite a bit with very clever wit in this book. We also get to cry when the bad things happen too. Serious love story for the serious reader! Well done!!
***This ARC review copy was given free from Netgalley.com for reviewer purposes.
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 - Carter Ashby)
