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Review
This is a beautifully heart warming love story, with some very serious themes, and it sucked me in right from first chapter.
Torrey is a no-nonsense, straight talking girl who finds herself down on her luck and out of options. Trying to get back on her feet, she makes a temporary move to “Smallbutt, Nowheresville” to live with her estranged Mother, the local preacher, where she quickly earns a reputation as a bit of a bad girl.
Jordan is back in his home town after spending eight years in prison. Sad and broken, he is persecuted by the community (including his family) who still want to punish him for his crimes, and he lives a mostly solitary life plagued by the guilt of his past actions.
There were days when I wished they’d lock me away forever, because that’s what I deserved. For reasons I didn’t understand, life had given me a second chance, and that was hard to deal with. I had no clue how to live anymore.
Needing to work as part of his parole, the only person willing to hire him is the local preacher, and Jordan ends up working as a general handyman for Torrey’s mother. When he and Torrey meet there is an instant spark of attraction, and the two of them form an unlikely friendship.
“Here, everyone knows my story and has decided I’m trash.”
“Except me,”…
“Yeah, but that’s because you don’t know me.”
Her eyes don’t flinch.
“You want me to leave you alone?”
…
“No, I don’t want you to leave me alone.”
… “Good”.
Jordan’s shyness and insecurity is no match for Torrey’s straightforwardness, and she soon encourages him to open up, and as they get to know each other, they start to fall for each other, with Torrey determined to help Jordan move on with his life and Jordan trying hard to rebuild his life and be the man that Torrey deserves.
When I was with her, for the first time in a long while, I didn’t feel judged. I couldn’t figure out why, but she seemed to accept me for who I was. Not that I knew what that meant anymore, but she made me feel alive.
As with other books I have read by this author, her characters are amazing. Jordan’s vulnerability is absolutely heartbreaking. Reading all that he has been through, his struggle to readjust to life outside of prison and how it all impacts on him is devastating. And the fact that it’s a believably real-life situation makes his story even more emotional. His low self-worth and disbelief that Torrey would want anything to do him is so incredibly sad, but it forms a fantastic place for him to start finding his strength again.
“I’m just so fuckin’ grateful that you’re here.” He took a deep breath. “And I really want to kiss you right now.”
Torrey is strong, sassy, and confident. She is a little bit lost herself, but she doesn’t let it get her down, she goes on living her life, uncaring about what others think of her, and encourages Jordan to do the same. She isn’t afraid to tell it like it is, or push him when he needs it, but is also caring and supportive, and their relationship is absolutely beautiful.
“It’s okay, Jordan. You’re safe with me.”
Their chemistry is crazy, but the romance is slow building and realistic, with every little moment captured – the meaningful moments, as well as the playful, sweet, and sexy times. And the more time they spend together, the more they impact on each other’s lives as Torrey finds her anchor, and the real Jordan starts to emerge. I loved the way he was with Torrey – he wanted her so badly, but was always respectful and so open with his feelings (and whenever he called her ‘sweetheart’, I just melted!). And I loved watching him learn how to cope with the demons of his past and claim his life back, and as his confidence grows, there is lots of swoon and hotness to be had!
“I want you with me – all of you. It’s not just fuckin’. Not for me, not with you. I know you think it’s because I haven’t slept with a woman in a long time, but it’s not. It’s because it’s you, and I meant it when I said I wanted to make love to you.”
I was stunned by his little speech.
“Let me make love to you, Torrey Delaney,” he said, his voice tender and almost pleading.
With the story told in dual POV, we get right to the heart of both of these characters, and I loved seeing both sides of their story. I loved watching them find their way forward together while battling against the past, as well as the brutal and cruel judgements and expectations of others. Although possibly a little cheesy in places, Torrey and Jordan’s story is beautifully told, and I felt everything that they were going through as they fell in love and fought for a life together.
“It’s not just that you accept me for who I am. You make me want to be more than I thought I could ever be.”
Deeply emotional, and truly heartwarming. 4 stars.