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Review
I really enjoyed this book. It’s a beautiful story which sucked me in from the very first chapter.
Evie and Leo were foster kids together. Coming from awful circumstances, and thrown into a life that really wasn’t a whole lot better, they became best friends and were each other’s lifelines, and even at their young ages, they fell crazy in love.
“He’s my best friend in the world, the boy I’ve grown to love intensely, the boy who makes me want to stay awake because reality is finally better than my dreams.”
Then, when Evie is 14 and Leo 15, he is adopted and moves away, promising to return for her when she is 18.
“I’m going to kiss you now, Evie, and when I do, it’s going to mean that you’re mine. I don’t care how far away from each other we are. You. Are. Mine. I’ll wait for you. And I want you to wait for me. Promise me you won’t let anyone else touch you. Promise me you’ll save yourself for me.”
OMG! How perfect is this kid!!! But (in a scene that had me tearing up 2% into the book), he leaves, and Evie never hears from him again.
Eight years later, and Evie has dragged herself out of her past, and is making a life for herself. And I absolutely love her! She is so resilient and has a sensational attitude. She has been through hell, has been let down by everybody in her life, yet she has never given up, and she’s never let it change her. She is kind, caring, and generous and she’s fought to get by and create her own life on her own terms, and she’s done it all alone. Bravo!
Things change for her when she notices she has a ‘stalker’ – a random hot guy who has been following her around. When she finally confronts him, she discovers that he’s actually a nice guy, and he introduces himself as Jake, a friend of Leo’s who is checking up on her on his behalf. They have a freakish attraction and there is some epic banter – “I was actually just going to offer you some candy. It’s in my van over there”, and very quickly Jake, makes his intentions known.
“I’d like to take you to dinner tonight.”
“Oh.” I say, surprise. “Um, I -”
“Evie, it’s a yes or yes question.”
Believing that she has moved on from her long lost love, Evie embarks on a whirlwind romance with Jake which is intense and moves very quickly. But it’s still very realistic. They obviously feel very deeply for each other, but they also have fun together. I could understand why Evie falls so hard and fast for Jake – I did too! He’s sweet, caring, funny, and oh-so-hot.
Suddenly I’m on my back and he’s over me. “You want to play, beautiful?”
There are some ups and downs for them though, and Jake is clearly keeping secrets from Evie, but I love how hard he tries to keep things good between them. He is affectionate and loving, and throw in the little gestures and surprises, and his tenderness with Evie, and I was wishing I had a Jake of my very own!
Told from Evie’s POV, intermingled with her present with Jake, is her and Leo’s story from their childhood, as we see the bond that the two of them shared, and how the events of her past have shaped her into who she is. There are some twists and turns, and while I found the plot to be really predictable, it didn’t ruin the story for me, it just made me anticipate what I knew was coming even more.
*Please note – this is a MASSIVE spoiler – don’t look unless you’ve already read the book.
This is a gorgeous story about love, forgiveness and moving on, and has one helluva swoony ending. I loved it.
4 stars.
Other books in the Leo duet
Leo (#1)
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Leo’s Chance (#2)
Review
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Check out our Author Spotlight on Mia Sheridan.