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Bold As Love #3
Whatever It Takes
Their first year of college isn’t what they expected. Emily is still struggling with the loss of her baby, while Jake seems to have no trouble with it at all. Emily is so conflicted about how to deal with the miscarriage. On top of that, she’s having nightmares. Can Jake help his Sweetness? Will she allow him? Their relationship is suffering and Jake is determined to do whatever Emily asks of him. But when Emily makes a suggestion that she feels will help with her grief, could it tear the couple apart forever?
119 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 2012
32 people are currently reading
876 people want to read
About the author
Lindsay Paige
65 books598 followersLindsay Paige is the author of multiple Young Adult, New Adult, and Sports romances. She also enjoys writing books with characters who deal with anxiety and depression, issues which are close to her heart. Lindsay is a North Carolinian who loves watching hockey, sharing puns, having conversations with her two dogs, rewatching episodes of M*A*S*H, and living her dream of writing books for a living.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
June 1, 2012
Catching up with Jake and Emily four months down the road. We find them in college, working, and practice twice a day for Jake. They usually end up home exhausted by the end of the night. Still in love, but having to deal with the after affects from what happened after graduation. This is where I get cryptic. So if you haven't read the first two I'm not giving you any clue as to what has happened. Let's see if I can do this and still make sense, LOL. (No smart comments for the peanut gallery either, ladies! hehehe) Jake is wanting more open communication, but Emily is tired of seeing what she feels is a pitying look in his eyes. They take a brief break to think things through and it is the worst time for both of them. They finally talk things through and after spending Thanksgiving with both their families over at Emily's head back to their apartment and hectic schedules. Emily is following Jake in his Mustang and with less then 15 miles to go a car cuts Emily off and slams into her side of the car causing it to veer off the highway and into some trees. Emily wakes up in the hospital and can't figure out why she is there. All she remembers is Conrad dropping her off at home. She sees Jake and wonders who in the hell he is and where's Conrad?
Dun, dun, daaahhh.....Now you are asking yourself what's gonna happen. And I'm not gonna tell you. Get the book and find out for yourself. Trust me it's worth the couple of bucks. Don't feel to irritated though, I was just left with the same feeling on the last page of the book. Now I'm gonna be Jonesin' to find out what I want to know. At least you can get #3 a lot sooner then I'm gonna be seeing #4.
Dun, dun, daaahhh.....Now you are asking yourself what's gonna happen. And I'm not gonna tell you. Get the book and find out for yourself. Trust me it's worth the couple of bucks. Don't feel to irritated though, I was just left with the same feeling on the last page of the book. Now I'm gonna be Jonesin' to find out what I want to know. At least you can get #3 a lot sooner then I'm gonna be seeing #4.
November 6, 2016
Gah. A lack of commas is really getting to me, not to mention the monotnous first person narrative where one of the MC just talks at you. Sweetness is sort of a creepy/weird nickname too. This is another rare instance where I'm going to stop reading before the series is over. Two more books like this one? I don't think I can do it.
December 3, 2012
Jake & Emily are young & in love. Going to college, working & hanging out with friends, they’re more or less an All American type couple. Emily, unlike most girls her age, is dealing with some pretty deep pain, though. Having miscarried four months earlier, she’s not finished grieving. Clouded by thoughts of her unborn, she’s become emotionally unpredictable.
While Jake is very busy as a student & aspiring NHL all-star, he is grieving in his own way. Vowing to be there for Emily, Jake fights to keep their love alive. Will the baby’s death be too much to overcome?
Lindsay Paige couldn’t have created a more picture perfect pair. As for two young people dealing with a miscarriage, their reactions are most likely realistic. I imagine this would be quite a popular read among crowds in their early twenties.
Kudos to Lindsay Paige for creating a male lead who acted as more of a Romeo than hound dog even though he had opportunities. Emily’s inner circle was far from supportive & her character would have been better off without them. This couple is one that you’d root for to make it, but, inwardly you fear that they won’t.
I’d have preferred dialogue with a bit more substance. Every time they seemed to make relationship progress, one of the 2 of them fell asleep. A word of caution to sensitive readers: these 2 spend a great deal of time in bed together. Thankfully, not a tremendous amount of detail was given.
‘Whatever It Takes’ is the third installment in the ‘Bold as Love’ series. Number four is in progress. For its genre & male lead, I hand it a 4 of 5 stars as it is a good fit for romantic fiction or young adult fiction as the case may be.
You can learn more about Emily, Jake, & our author at http://authorlindsaypaige.blogspot.com or http://lindsaypaigebooks.com. You can also follow the tour to read other reviews with www.charismamedianetwork.com. View Lindsay Paige’s works on Goodreads & Amazon. I received 1 eBook to write my review. No further compensation was provided. Images used belong to Charisma Media.
While Jake is very busy as a student & aspiring NHL all-star, he is grieving in his own way. Vowing to be there for Emily, Jake fights to keep their love alive. Will the baby’s death be too much to overcome?
Lindsay Paige couldn’t have created a more picture perfect pair. As for two young people dealing with a miscarriage, their reactions are most likely realistic. I imagine this would be quite a popular read among crowds in their early twenties.
Kudos to Lindsay Paige for creating a male lead who acted as more of a Romeo than hound dog even though he had opportunities. Emily’s inner circle was far from supportive & her character would have been better off without them. This couple is one that you’d root for to make it, but, inwardly you fear that they won’t.
I’d have preferred dialogue with a bit more substance. Every time they seemed to make relationship progress, one of the 2 of them fell asleep. A word of caution to sensitive readers: these 2 spend a great deal of time in bed together. Thankfully, not a tremendous amount of detail was given.
‘Whatever It Takes’ is the third installment in the ‘Bold as Love’ series. Number four is in progress. For its genre & male lead, I hand it a 4 of 5 stars as it is a good fit for romantic fiction or young adult fiction as the case may be.
You can learn more about Emily, Jake, & our author at http://authorlindsaypaige.blogspot.com or http://lindsaypaigebooks.com. You can also follow the tour to read other reviews with www.charismamedianetwork.com. View Lindsay Paige’s works on Goodreads & Amazon. I received 1 eBook to write my review. No further compensation was provided. Images used belong to Charisma Media.
June 26, 2017
Thank you, Lindsay Paige, for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the third book in the Bold As Love series. It was just an good as the two before it. Emily and Jake face new challenges in this one. They are both still mourning from their loss in I'm Yours. They learn that even though they are madly in love still, they have been taking each other for granted. Challenges come that bring them trials, and one big challenge, that helps them fall in love deeper all over again. They learn they need to "work together to build a beautiful masterpiece that only their puzzle pieces can do." They end of the book leaves a question in the air about what trial may come next, and I can't wait. This is a very sweet romantic series.
This is the third book in the Bold As Love series. It was just an good as the two before it. Emily and Jake face new challenges in this one. They are both still mourning from their loss in I'm Yours. They learn that even though they are madly in love still, they have been taking each other for granted. Challenges come that bring them trials, and one big challenge, that helps them fall in love deeper all over again. They learn they need to "work together to build a beautiful masterpiece that only their puzzle pieces can do." They end of the book leaves a question in the air about what trial may come next, and I can't wait. This is a very sweet romantic series.
May 31, 2012
I couldn’t wait to get started on the third installment in the Bold as Love series.
This book has a few more challenges for Jake and Emily to tackle and there are times when you are not sure this relationship withstand it.
I will say Lindsay Paige did not disappoint me and I was thrilled with Whatever It Takes. Lindsay’s writing is great and I will say for a young woman herself she is doing a fantastic job and she should be so proud of herself.
I cannot say too much about this story as it hasn’t been released and I don’t want to give anything away. But take my word for it if you enjoyed Book one and two you know you have to read Book 3 – Whatever it Takes.
This book has a few more challenges for Jake and Emily to tackle and there are times when you are not sure this relationship withstand it.
I will say Lindsay Paige did not disappoint me and I was thrilled with Whatever It Takes. Lindsay’s writing is great and I will say for a young woman herself she is doing a fantastic job and she should be so proud of herself.
I cannot say too much about this story as it hasn’t been released and I don’t want to give anything away. But take my word for it if you enjoyed Book one and two you know you have to read Book 3 – Whatever it Takes.
April 5, 2012
Loved this book.You must read books 1 and 2 to follow book 3..or else you will be missing a major chunk of the story.The story takes up a few months after Jake and Emily start College.I could not put the book down.Its a great series of books that you really do not want to miss reading.Give the series a chance and you will definitely be sucked into Jake and Emily's life.
May 15, 2012
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS AT READING, EATING AND DREAMING I WAS BLAIR WALDORF
"To me, love is putting another person before yourself. Love is being completely mesmerized by a trait that is common in most people, but appears extraordinary coming from the one you love. Love means doing what's best for the other person, no matter what it means for you. Love is always there. Time can only strengthen love. I view love as a co-dependency. You can only love someone else if they allow you to and it applies to yourself. To be loved, you must place trust in another person." - Jake from Whatever It Takes
Whatever It Takes, the third novel in the Bold as Love series by Lindsay Paige, was another chapter in Emily and Jake's lives.
Readers were introduced to Emily and Jake in Sweetness, the first novel in the Bold as Love series. In I'm Yours, the second novel in the Bold as Love series, readers watched as Emily and Jake prepared themselves for an unplanned pregnancy and grieved a terrible, unexpected loss. In Whatever It Takes, Emily and Jake struggle through their first year of college. They must juggle school, jobs, hockey, and cohabitation, while coping with the loss of their baby. Their journey isn't easy. Dealing with their grief in different ways, Emily and Jake must open up to one another and depend on one another like never before. And right when everything starts to come together for them, the unexpected happens and they have to fall in love all over again!
Told from both Emily and Jake's perspectives, Whatever It Takes was a great addition to the Bold as Love series. It's an emotional, short story that showcases two likable young adults and the struggles and challenges they face. Young adults will relate to and fall in love with Emily and Jake more and more as they face new challenges as a couple.
I love how each book in this series is short chapter in Emily and Jake's lives. In this series, they struggle and overcome real-life obstacles. Their strength, determination, and love for one another make them admirable individuals, as well as a swoon-worthy couple.
I said this in my review for I'm Yours, and I am going to say it again now because it's so true. I love this series because Jake and Emily are relatable and likable characters! It's obvious that the author has a good impression of teenagers and the challenges they face in life. In my opinion, Emily and Jake's strong affection for one another was spot on of a young couple in love. Their behavior was authentic and realistic. Ms. Paige did a a fabulous job capturing the essence of teenagers in love.
I gave Whatever It Takes (Bold as Love #3) by Lindsay Paige 4 STARS. I strongly recommend this series!
Fun Facts:
The Bold as Love series is going to be a nine-book series.
The author, Lindsay Paige, is a high school senior!
-XOXO
READING, EATING AND DREAMING
Click here to win a copy of Sweetness, I'm Yours & Whatever It Takes
"To me, love is putting another person before yourself. Love is being completely mesmerized by a trait that is common in most people, but appears extraordinary coming from the one you love. Love means doing what's best for the other person, no matter what it means for you. Love is always there. Time can only strengthen love. I view love as a co-dependency. You can only love someone else if they allow you to and it applies to yourself. To be loved, you must place trust in another person." - Jake from Whatever It Takes
Whatever It Takes, the third novel in the Bold as Love series by Lindsay Paige, was another chapter in Emily and Jake's lives.
Readers were introduced to Emily and Jake in Sweetness, the first novel in the Bold as Love series. In I'm Yours, the second novel in the Bold as Love series, readers watched as Emily and Jake prepared themselves for an unplanned pregnancy and grieved a terrible, unexpected loss. In Whatever It Takes, Emily and Jake struggle through their first year of college. They must juggle school, jobs, hockey, and cohabitation, while coping with the loss of their baby. Their journey isn't easy. Dealing with their grief in different ways, Emily and Jake must open up to one another and depend on one another like never before. And right when everything starts to come together for them, the unexpected happens and they have to fall in love all over again!
Told from both Emily and Jake's perspectives, Whatever It Takes was a great addition to the Bold as Love series. It's an emotional, short story that showcases two likable young adults and the struggles and challenges they face. Young adults will relate to and fall in love with Emily and Jake more and more as they face new challenges as a couple.
I love how each book in this series is short chapter in Emily and Jake's lives. In this series, they struggle and overcome real-life obstacles. Their strength, determination, and love for one another make them admirable individuals, as well as a swoon-worthy couple.
I said this in my review for I'm Yours, and I am going to say it again now because it's so true. I love this series because Jake and Emily are relatable and likable characters! It's obvious that the author has a good impression of teenagers and the challenges they face in life. In my opinion, Emily and Jake's strong affection for one another was spot on of a young couple in love. Their behavior was authentic and realistic. Ms. Paige did a a fabulous job capturing the essence of teenagers in love.
I gave Whatever It Takes (Bold as Love #3) by Lindsay Paige 4 STARS. I strongly recommend this series!
Fun Facts:
The Bold as Love series is going to be a nine-book series.
The author, Lindsay Paige, is a high school senior!
-XOXO
READING, EATING AND DREAMING
Click here to win a copy of Sweetness, I'm Yours & Whatever It Takes
June 12, 2012
The third installment of Lindsay Paige's Bold As Love series continues the story of Jake and Emily. Sure they love each other, but is love enough to keep you together through all the ups and downs of life? What poses more of a threat the grind of learning to live busy lives together, or the unexpected crisis from outside that always strike you?
This book is a little more polished, a little more confident than I have seen before from Ms. Paige. I think she is also settling into what is going to be her definitive writing style. Less a long chronological narrative, and more a series of small defining vignettes. Almost as if one is looking at a scrapbook of the emotional high and low points of a relationship. I find it stylistically interesting and even compelling. It makes for quick pleasurable reading. It also seems to quickly get at the heart of your main characters. you see them at their best and worst moments, and truly are those not the moments that define us?
I will buy the upcoming 4th installment of this series when it comes out without a doubt. I am even more excited to see she is working on another book, not a part of this series. That too I will buy as soon as it is available. I think working both the series and other works will help her continue the visible growth she is making. I feel as if I am watching a future superstar getting ready to burst forth and take the world by storm.
This book is a little more polished, a little more confident than I have seen before from Ms. Paige. I think she is also settling into what is going to be her definitive writing style. Less a long chronological narrative, and more a series of small defining vignettes. Almost as if one is looking at a scrapbook of the emotional high and low points of a relationship. I find it stylistically interesting and even compelling. It makes for quick pleasurable reading. It also seems to quickly get at the heart of your main characters. you see them at their best and worst moments, and truly are those not the moments that define us?
I will buy the upcoming 4th installment of this series when it comes out without a doubt. I am even more excited to see she is working on another book, not a part of this series. That too I will buy as soon as it is available. I think working both the series and other works will help her continue the visible growth she is making. I feel as if I am watching a future superstar getting ready to burst forth and take the world by storm.
March 7, 2016
This book is hard to read, poor Jake constantly has to take, take and take Emily's constant crap. And it's one thing after another and it just becomes annoying to read after awhile. Emily in the other books is great just this book it's hard to stomach her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2022
Another good book about Jake and Emily’s romance story. This book talked about Emily’s miscarriage. Readers learn that Emily miscarried at the end of the second book. This book also was filled with twists and turns in Jake and Emily’s romance story.
July 26, 2022
Loved!
August 8, 2012
If you want to see more of my reviews, check out my blog @ Moosubi Reviews!
Note: I decided to do a series review for the first three books in the Bold As Love series, which includes Sweetness, I’m Yours, and Whatever It Takes. This review goes over what I liked / didn’t like in each book, as well as the series as a whole.
Series Overall Rating: 2.5 / 5
Disclaimer: The fact that I received free copies of this series in exchange for an honest review has not affected my rating. This review expresses my honest opinions.
For the most part, I found that this series of books was way too short. If I remember correctly, each book averaged at about 1000 or 2000 Kindle Locations. Regarding some serious issues like bullying and pregnancy, I believe some of the issues were glazed over, as well as the relationship building between Emily and Jake.
Book One: 2 / 5
My main problem with this book was the relationship building between Emily and Jake. I understand there’s lust between the two, but considering that both claimed to “love” each other after such a short while, I didn’t see much growth. Sure, they went out for some walks and some fun days with Drake. But personally, I find it hard to believe that someone as closed as Emily would open up to Jake after such a short while. Moreover, I found it hard to believe that Jake would start off by being so nice to Emily, then falling heads-over-heels in love, considering he’s such a popular hockey player. In both real life and other realistic fiction, it’s a pretty common theme that the popular guy falls in love with the shy and quiet girl, although it definitely doesn’t happen that quickly or easily between the two.
Moreover, although Drake was adorable, I found that Drake’s character wasn’t exactly right for a guy his age :/ I don’t know about everybody else, but usually guys his age don’t enjoy hanging out with high school girls as friends, or play in McDonald’s play house. Video games and hockey are more realistic hobbies, but I still found his language and attitude towards Emily to be unrealistic.
Book Two: 2.5 / 5
I thought that I’m Yours was better than Sweetness, although I’d still like to mention some issues. The first is that the characters Connor (Emily’s ex) and Claire (jealous girl) seemed to be very minimal in the book. I was hoping for more conflict between them, and there wasn’t much. Claire was probably mentioned once in the beginning, and Connor only had a few chapters to himself. It just seemed unrealistic :/ Moreover Jake and Emily’s parents seemed pretty cool and nice, but a bit too nice. Whenever Jake and Emily might or are in some kind of trouble, their parents always seem to help them out of the issue and just say “don’t do it next time” or “I’m always here to support you”. While it’s sweet that they’re this supportive, it’s a bit unrealistic.
On the other hand, what happened to Emily at the end seemed pretty realistic. Her emotions were well portrayed and beautifully flushed out. It definitely had some potential for Emily to grow as a person, and Jake to grow as Emily’s companion.
Book Three: 2.5 / 5
*slight spoilers ahead*
Like I’m Yours, I thought that Whatever It Takes was a large improvement from the first book. However, the mention of some characters, like Eve and Kyle, seemed to be glazed over. Kyle definitely had a bigger role in the book than Eve, but his involvement was still pretty limited. After he involves himself with Emily and takes action, Jake and Emily get into a little squirmish, but seem to resolve the issue in a very short amount of time. After that, Kyle still appears, but he dramatically changed, which I find unrealistic considering his type of attitude. As for Eve, her role is limited to glances at parties or conversations at the coffee bar. Was she supposed to make Emily jealous? It definitely didn’t seem so, and there definitely wasn’t any conflict involving her. She seemed like a pretty pointless character, actually.
However, even though this might make me sound like a complete jerk, I was glad that Jake and Emily got into their first fight. I don’t really recall any major fights in their relationship so far, and it was nice to see that they weren’t perfect. Their make-up however, seemed mainly orchestrated by their parents, which kind of irked me :/
Moreover, when Emily gains amnesia, her memory regain was much, much too quick for my liking. Maybe I was hoping for more struggles? This is also due to the length of the book too – the amount of material in the actual book was pretty short, and I suppose amnesia wasn’t supposed to be the focus of the book.
*end spoilers*
Series Overview: Overall, I feel that the Bold as Love series wasn’t really for me. From the start, everything seems very rushed, and a lot issues that are supposed to be more serious are glazed over. I will not be reading the next installments :/
Note: I decided to do a series review for the first three books in the Bold As Love series, which includes Sweetness, I’m Yours, and Whatever It Takes. This review goes over what I liked / didn’t like in each book, as well as the series as a whole.
Series Overall Rating: 2.5 / 5
Disclaimer: The fact that I received free copies of this series in exchange for an honest review has not affected my rating. This review expresses my honest opinions.
For the most part, I found that this series of books was way too short. If I remember correctly, each book averaged at about 1000 or 2000 Kindle Locations. Regarding some serious issues like bullying and pregnancy, I believe some of the issues were glazed over, as well as the relationship building between Emily and Jake.
Book One: 2 / 5
My main problem with this book was the relationship building between Emily and Jake. I understand there’s lust between the two, but considering that both claimed to “love” each other after such a short while, I didn’t see much growth. Sure, they went out for some walks and some fun days with Drake. But personally, I find it hard to believe that someone as closed as Emily would open up to Jake after such a short while. Moreover, I found it hard to believe that Jake would start off by being so nice to Emily, then falling heads-over-heels in love, considering he’s such a popular hockey player. In both real life and other realistic fiction, it’s a pretty common theme that the popular guy falls in love with the shy and quiet girl, although it definitely doesn’t happen that quickly or easily between the two.
Moreover, although Drake was adorable, I found that Drake’s character wasn’t exactly right for a guy his age :/ I don’t know about everybody else, but usually guys his age don’t enjoy hanging out with high school girls as friends, or play in McDonald’s play house. Video games and hockey are more realistic hobbies, but I still found his language and attitude towards Emily to be unrealistic.
Book Two: 2.5 / 5
I thought that I’m Yours was better than Sweetness, although I’d still like to mention some issues. The first is that the characters Connor (Emily’s ex) and Claire (jealous girl) seemed to be very minimal in the book. I was hoping for more conflict between them, and there wasn’t much. Claire was probably mentioned once in the beginning, and Connor only had a few chapters to himself. It just seemed unrealistic :/ Moreover Jake and Emily’s parents seemed pretty cool and nice, but a bit too nice. Whenever Jake and Emily might or are in some kind of trouble, their parents always seem to help them out of the issue and just say “don’t do it next time” or “I’m always here to support you”. While it’s sweet that they’re this supportive, it’s a bit unrealistic.
On the other hand, what happened to Emily at the end seemed pretty realistic. Her emotions were well portrayed and beautifully flushed out. It definitely had some potential for Emily to grow as a person, and Jake to grow as Emily’s companion.
Book Three: 2.5 / 5
*slight spoilers ahead*
Like I’m Yours, I thought that Whatever It Takes was a large improvement from the first book. However, the mention of some characters, like Eve and Kyle, seemed to be glazed over. Kyle definitely had a bigger role in the book than Eve, but his involvement was still pretty limited. After he involves himself with Emily and takes action, Jake and Emily get into a little squirmish, but seem to resolve the issue in a very short amount of time. After that, Kyle still appears, but he dramatically changed, which I find unrealistic considering his type of attitude. As for Eve, her role is limited to glances at parties or conversations at the coffee bar. Was she supposed to make Emily jealous? It definitely didn’t seem so, and there definitely wasn’t any conflict involving her. She seemed like a pretty pointless character, actually.
However, even though this might make me sound like a complete jerk, I was glad that Jake and Emily got into their first fight. I don’t really recall any major fights in their relationship so far, and it was nice to see that they weren’t perfect. Their make-up however, seemed mainly orchestrated by their parents, which kind of irked me :/
Moreover, when Emily gains amnesia, her memory regain was much, much too quick for my liking. Maybe I was hoping for more struggles? This is also due to the length of the book too – the amount of material in the actual book was pretty short, and I suppose amnesia wasn’t supposed to be the focus of the book.
*end spoilers*
Series Overview: Overall, I feel that the Bold as Love series wasn’t really for me. From the start, everything seems very rushed, and a lot issues that are supposed to be more serious are glazed over. I will not be reading the next installments :/
December 18, 2019
Adorable
This series is adorable. It's like a first love. A bit rushes crazy and chaotic. While so e pieces could be a little more developed this series is contagious and I keep wanting more.
This series is adorable. It's like a first love. A bit rushes crazy and chaotic. While so e pieces could be a little more developed this series is contagious and I keep wanting more.
May 3, 2012
Note: Although this review does not contain spoilers with respect to "Whatever It Takes," it does assume familiarity with the events of "Sweetness," and "I'm Yours." You should read those before you read "Whatever It Takes," and this review :-)
Have you heard that awesome new(ish) song, “Springsteen,” by Eric Church? It’s a bittersweet nostalgic reminiscence of a teenage romance that started at a Springsteen concert. It recalls the relationship’s arc in lyrics, song titles and echoes of melodies and choruses. Like Lindsay, Eric is from North Carolina, and is awesomely talented. But what really made me think of it (and you should definitely check it out!), is not only that it reminds me of Lindsay, and her gift of being able to capture the sweet intensity of falling in love for the first time, but also of how well some of my favorite Springsteen lyrics relate to “Whatever It Takes”:
"Whatever It Takes" opens in media res, with Jake and Emily settling into their first year of college, and their first time living together in an off campus apartment. Life is pretty doggone challenging for them: in addition to classes, they both have jobs (Em’s is at a hipster college town coffee shop called Coffee Beans), and Jake’s hockey commitments are demanding, too. That doesn’t really leave a lot of room for relationship building, but it does leave plenty of room (especially on those late and lonely night-times) for the ghost that still haunts Emily: “Today marks four months since I lost the baby. I thought it would get easier, but every time I think about it, it’s just as bad as when it happened.”
Even though this reader had hoped that Emily’s grief at the loss of the baby was lessening at the end of I’m Yours, it appears to be moving, if at all, on its own timetable. While Jake seems to be able and ready to move on, Emily is goin’ down slow, and, characteristically, is unwilling to share her nightmares and pain with Jake, in a misguided attempt to spare him (Pro tip – this is NOT a good relationship strategy, hopefully Emily will learn that someday!). And while the emotions and conflicts this issue creates means that their hoped-for “Eden” is not exactly paradise, it surely does contain a couple of wily serpents: Kyle, a rich and attractive guy friend of Emily’s new girlfriends, who claims to have insights that will help Emily with her grief; and Eve, the attractive goalie of the women’s hockey team, who seems a little too interested in helping Jake skate over his relationship troubles with Emily. And although Jake and Emily’s love is an amazingly intense edifice, it sometimes looks like the foundations are still a bit on the shaky side once the emotional ground starts moving. Then, just when they finally seem to be finding their footing, circumstances conspire to challenge them yet again (you just know the last third of a Lindsay book is gonna shake things up).
“The course of true love never did run smooth,” Shakespeare reminds us, and that is surely the theme of this volume of the Bold as Love series. Told in alternating points of view, like its predecessors, this book shares their beautiful direct and simple yet deeply affecting poetic style, as well. Lindsay is able to convey so intensely the confusion, conflicting feelings and overwhelming emotional storms of life that even a profound and deeply committed relationship can experience. Sometimes I did want to reach in and give Emily a shake or two, but of course that is all part of the experience of being pulled in so deeply. This is definitely a book of sunlight and shadows, and will leave you wanting more of Jake and Emily’s elusive quest for that HEA they so desperately deserve. It’s a worthy and richly readable successor to “Sweetness” and “I’m Yours” that will leave fans of this charming and emotionally imaginative young author satisfied … but only until the promised next installment.
Have you heard that awesome new(ish) song, “Springsteen,” by Eric Church? It’s a bittersweet nostalgic reminiscence of a teenage romance that started at a Springsteen concert. It recalls the relationship’s arc in lyrics, song titles and echoes of melodies and choruses. Like Lindsay, Eric is from North Carolina, and is awesomely talented. But what really made me think of it (and you should definitely check it out!), is not only that it reminds me of Lindsay, and her gift of being able to capture the sweet intensity of falling in love for the first time, but also of how well some of my favorite Springsteen lyrics relate to “Whatever It Takes”:
"It ought to be easy ought to be simple enough
Man meets woman and they fall in love
But the house is haunted and the ride gets rough
And you've got to learn to live with what you can't rise above,
If you want to ride on down in this tunnel of love"
"Whatever It Takes" opens in media res, with Jake and Emily settling into their first year of college, and their first time living together in an off campus apartment. Life is pretty doggone challenging for them: in addition to classes, they both have jobs (Em’s is at a hipster college town coffee shop called Coffee Beans), and Jake’s hockey commitments are demanding, too. That doesn’t really leave a lot of room for relationship building, but it does leave plenty of room (especially on those late and lonely night-times) for the ghost that still haunts Emily: “Today marks four months since I lost the baby. I thought it would get easier, but every time I think about it, it’s just as bad as when it happened.”
Even though this reader had hoped that Emily’s grief at the loss of the baby was lessening at the end of I’m Yours, it appears to be moving, if at all, on its own timetable. While Jake seems to be able and ready to move on, Emily is goin’ down slow, and, characteristically, is unwilling to share her nightmares and pain with Jake, in a misguided attempt to spare him (Pro tip – this is NOT a good relationship strategy, hopefully Emily will learn that someday!). And while the emotions and conflicts this issue creates means that their hoped-for “Eden” is not exactly paradise, it surely does contain a couple of wily serpents: Kyle, a rich and attractive guy friend of Emily’s new girlfriends, who claims to have insights that will help Emily with her grief; and Eve, the attractive goalie of the women’s hockey team, who seems a little too interested in helping Jake skate over his relationship troubles with Emily. And although Jake and Emily’s love is an amazingly intense edifice, it sometimes looks like the foundations are still a bit on the shaky side once the emotional ground starts moving. Then, just when they finally seem to be finding their footing, circumstances conspire to challenge them yet again (you just know the last third of a Lindsay book is gonna shake things up).
“The course of true love never did run smooth,” Shakespeare reminds us, and that is surely the theme of this volume of the Bold as Love series. Told in alternating points of view, like its predecessors, this book shares their beautiful direct and simple yet deeply affecting poetic style, as well. Lindsay is able to convey so intensely the confusion, conflicting feelings and overwhelming emotional storms of life that even a profound and deeply committed relationship can experience. Sometimes I did want to reach in and give Emily a shake or two, but of course that is all part of the experience of being pulled in so deeply. This is definitely a book of sunlight and shadows, and will leave you wanting more of Jake and Emily’s elusive quest for that HEA they so desperately deserve. It’s a worthy and richly readable successor to “Sweetness” and “I’m Yours” that will leave fans of this charming and emotionally imaginative young author satisfied … but only until the promised next installment.
February 5, 2013
I think this was by far the best book so far in the series.
Jake's and Emily's relationship is addicting, I couldn't put it down.
Jake is a sweetheart. He's so lovely. Nice guy ever-Perfect boyfriend.
He loves so much to Emily that he would do anything for her.
“Sweetness, I love you. So much. I wish I could take all of this pain away from you. I'll do
whatever it takes. Please, don’t push me away. I don’t know if I can handle that. You are my everything.
We lost the baby. I can’t lose you too.”
My heart keeps dying as if it’s a squeaky toy being aggressively chewed on by a dog. I can’t even
form coherent thoughts, much less speak.
“I’m here for you. Always. Forever. Always and forever. No matter what happens. Please
Sweetness.”
and
Emily.
Emily's a nice girl who has had to deal with a lot in her short life. Can you imagine going through what she did with her mother and then losing a baby while in high school?
Well, she is dealing with a miscarriage and still grieving the loss; thinking about her baby all the time and having these horrific nightmares that keep getting worse.
Behind Kyle’s right shoulder is the most beautiful scene.
A mother is watching as her husband is lifting their son up high and making gushing noises that
cause the baby to giggle. That laugh tears me apart. It’s surreal and perfect. Pretending that this hasn’t bothered me as much as it has all these months stops at the sound of that baby’s precious laugh. A laugh I will never hear from my own baby.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Jake on his knees watching me intently. I lean to my right to rest against him. The picture is painted too well and I couldn’t stand to look at it anymore. Arms that I love so much envelop me. I welcome Jake’s comfort, but I don’t want it. Jake’s voice is struggling to get words out and cracks.
While Jake seems to be able and ready to move on, Emily is going down slow, and she doesn’t understand how and why he’s like that, and she hides her grief from him.
I have learned something from all of this. Grief is this massive boulder that weighs you
down until it eventually squishes you. Having that weight sitting on you makes everything harder. It's harder to breathe, harder to move, and harder to live.
What I was trying to do was hold the grief on my shoulders all on my own. Jake and I both lost
something that day. Together is how we should have handled it, instead of trying to do so separately.
“I love you”
“I love you too, Sweetness.”
“No. I love you. I love how you open the door for me. I love how affectionate you are. How caring,
loving, and amazing you are. I love every single piece of you. You've stood by me through the good and the bad and I honestly don't know how I would have made it through this without you. I can only hope that I can give you the same amount of love and strength that you give me.”
In this book, they both deal with a lot of stress. First the baby, then college, and the stress of working their relationship becomes very fragile.
It was a nice quick read.
And Emily and Jake really have grown on me.
4 stars.
I just read this: 'The Bold as Love series is going to be a nine-book series.'
Jake's and Emily's relationship is addicting, I couldn't put it down.
Jake is a sweetheart. He's so lovely. Nice guy ever-Perfect boyfriend.
He loves so much to Emily that he would do anything for her.
“Sweetness, I love you. So much. I wish I could take all of this pain away from you. I'll do
whatever it takes. Please, don’t push me away. I don’t know if I can handle that. You are my everything.
We lost the baby. I can’t lose you too.”
My heart keeps dying as if it’s a squeaky toy being aggressively chewed on by a dog. I can’t even
form coherent thoughts, much less speak.
“I’m here for you. Always. Forever. Always and forever. No matter what happens. Please
Sweetness.”
and
Emily.
Emily's a nice girl who has had to deal with a lot in her short life. Can you imagine going through what she did with her mother and then losing a baby while in high school?
Well, she is dealing with a miscarriage and still grieving the loss; thinking about her baby all the time and having these horrific nightmares that keep getting worse.
Behind Kyle’s right shoulder is the most beautiful scene.
A mother is watching as her husband is lifting their son up high and making gushing noises that
cause the baby to giggle. That laugh tears me apart. It’s surreal and perfect. Pretending that this hasn’t bothered me as much as it has all these months stops at the sound of that baby’s precious laugh. A laugh I will never hear from my own baby.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Jake on his knees watching me intently. I lean to my right to rest against him. The picture is painted too well and I couldn’t stand to look at it anymore. Arms that I love so much envelop me. I welcome Jake’s comfort, but I don’t want it. Jake’s voice is struggling to get words out and cracks.
While Jake seems to be able and ready to move on, Emily is going down slow, and she doesn’t understand how and why he’s like that, and she hides her grief from him.
I have learned something from all of this. Grief is this massive boulder that weighs you
down until it eventually squishes you. Having that weight sitting on you makes everything harder. It's harder to breathe, harder to move, and harder to live.
What I was trying to do was hold the grief on my shoulders all on my own. Jake and I both lost
something that day. Together is how we should have handled it, instead of trying to do so separately.
“I love you”
“I love you too, Sweetness.”
“No. I love you. I love how you open the door for me. I love how affectionate you are. How caring,
loving, and amazing you are. I love every single piece of you. You've stood by me through the good and the bad and I honestly don't know how I would have made it through this without you. I can only hope that I can give you the same amount of love and strength that you give me.”
In this book, they both deal with a lot of stress. First the baby, then college, and the stress of working their relationship becomes very fragile.
It was a nice quick read.
And Emily and Jake really have grown on me.
4 stars.
I just read this: 'The Bold as Love series is going to be a nine-book series.'
December 11, 2012
Whatever It Takes is about an average couple, Jake and Emily. They’re busy with their jobs and schooling, and Jake is an aspiring NHL star. They both deal with the struggle of finding time to spend together, like any other couple nowadays. Having miscarried a baby four months earlier, they’re also still grieving the loss in their own ways. Jake doesn’t think about it as much as Emily does and she doesn’t understand how and why he’s like that, and she hides her grief from him. She has a good guy friend who she talks to a lot about the miscarriage because his mother went through the same thing, but things went a little farther and he ended up kissing Emily and Jake saw it. Jake and Emily spend some time apart and realize that they can’t live without each other. They spend the holidays together and Emily gets into an accident and loses her memory. She has no idea who Jake is. Will she remember? Jake will do whatever it takes to get his Sweetness back.
This book made me cry a few times. First off, I could never imagine losing a baby, whether it be through miscarriage or after the baby was born. And there’s no way I could grieve by myself. I know I would definitely need the help of my partner to get through it. Then when Emily gets into the accident and loses her memory, I couldn’t even imagine how Jake feels – to see the person you love with all your heart not remember who you are? How heart wrenching would that be? But I’m so glad that he refused to give up and wanted to help her. That’s true love right there.
This book made me cry a few times. First off, I could never imagine losing a baby, whether it be through miscarriage or after the baby was born. And there’s no way I could grieve by myself. I know I would definitely need the help of my partner to get through it. Then when Emily gets into the accident and loses her memory, I couldn’t even imagine how Jake feels – to see the person you love with all your heart not remember who you are? How heart wrenching would that be? But I’m so glad that he refused to give up and wanted to help her. That’s true love right there.
May 22, 2012
Did I enjoy this book: It was pretty good. I read it just about every free chance I had. It was another quick read that held my interest for the most part.
Again, as with I'm Yours, there were quite a few sex scenes that were rather explicit for a young adult crowd. The struggles between Emily and Jake were pretty real and difficult for first year college kids. Emily's continuing struggle and emotional breakdowns over her miscarriage dominated most of this book. At times, it was hard to like and connect with Emily and with Jake. At other times, I just hoped that they would find their love for one another and power through.
Possible SPOILER! The twist toward the end was not expected. It was a very interesting way to resolve some tough emotional issues both Jake and Emily were experiencing. I enjoyed the end even though it was a sort of cliffhanger. The story resolved but left an unanswered question that leads to a fourth book.
Would I recommend it: If you have read the first two books in the Bold As Love series - Sweetness and I'm Yours - then, yes, I would recommend that you read this book as well. This is not a book for the younger young adult crowd.
Will I read it again: I will not.
http://everyfreechancebookreviews.blo...
Again, as with I'm Yours, there were quite a few sex scenes that were rather explicit for a young adult crowd. The struggles between Emily and Jake were pretty real and difficult for first year college kids. Emily's continuing struggle and emotional breakdowns over her miscarriage dominated most of this book. At times, it was hard to like and connect with Emily and with Jake. At other times, I just hoped that they would find their love for one another and power through.
Possible SPOILER! The twist toward the end was not expected. It was a very interesting way to resolve some tough emotional issues both Jake and Emily were experiencing. I enjoyed the end even though it was a sort of cliffhanger. The story resolved but left an unanswered question that leads to a fourth book.
Would I recommend it: If you have read the first two books in the Bold As Love series - Sweetness and I'm Yours - then, yes, I would recommend that you read this book as well. This is not a book for the younger young adult crowd.
Will I read it again: I will not.
http://everyfreechancebookreviews.blo...
May 10, 2012
I was so excited to get more Jake and Emily. Like I mentioned before, they are just really compelling characters that are easy to like and care about.
I love Jake's goodness and his love for Emily.
After book two, they faced some pretty tough challenges in their life and relationship and I couldn't wait to start this book to see what Paige had in store for them next.
I am happy to say that I wasn't disappointed at all.
While things were not easy for them in this installment either and they faced some more new (maybe even greater) challenges, I am so happy about the growth that they each have done throughout the books and this one was no exception.
I think this was by far the best book so far in the series.
And while these books aren't perfect and the characters certainly aren't perfect it is just a completely enduring series and you can tell that Paige has grown to love her characters and has a lot invested in them.
I have loved watching her writing grow over the course of these books and I am super excited to see what she has in store for Emily and Jake next and where their life and relationship will go from here.
I truly do love this series and I really hope that more people will be compelled to try them.
I love Jake's goodness and his love for Emily.
After book two, they faced some pretty tough challenges in their life and relationship and I couldn't wait to start this book to see what Paige had in store for them next.
I am happy to say that I wasn't disappointed at all.
While things were not easy for them in this installment either and they faced some more new (maybe even greater) challenges, I am so happy about the growth that they each have done throughout the books and this one was no exception.
I think this was by far the best book so far in the series.
And while these books aren't perfect and the characters certainly aren't perfect it is just a completely enduring series and you can tell that Paige has grown to love her characters and has a lot invested in them.
I have loved watching her writing grow over the course of these books and I am super excited to see what she has in store for Emily and Jake next and where their life and relationship will go from here.
I truly do love this series and I really hope that more people will be compelled to try them.
May 25, 2012
As seen on -> http://readingbythebeach.blogspot.com...
Another installment with exceptional sweetness when it comes to romance. There was slightly more tension when there were issues that the characters needed to work through and that added more to the story. I felt that the characters were actually struggling instead of going through a preface of struggling without actually walking through it.
I do, however, feel that the characters are put through too many different emotional twists. For me, it takes away from each story as each installment offers pretty hectic things to overcome. It was too much for me. I felt that the stories could have focused on less twists and more characterization growth. The emotions weren't there for me because there was too much happening from book 1 to book 3, I couldn't get attached to the characters with so much going on. I can say, though, that there is greater unexpectedness in Whatever It Takes.
I may have some issues, but I also did enjoy Whatever It Takes. It's a shorter read than Sweetness or I'm Yours so prepare to read it in one sitting. It also appears (from the ending) that there will be another installment in the Bold As Love series. Which is always a good thing.
Another installment with exceptional sweetness when it comes to romance. There was slightly more tension when there were issues that the characters needed to work through and that added more to the story. I felt that the characters were actually struggling instead of going through a preface of struggling without actually walking through it.
I do, however, feel that the characters are put through too many different emotional twists. For me, it takes away from each story as each installment offers pretty hectic things to overcome. It was too much for me. I felt that the stories could have focused on less twists and more characterization growth. The emotions weren't there for me because there was too much happening from book 1 to book 3, I couldn't get attached to the characters with so much going on. I can say, though, that there is greater unexpectedness in Whatever It Takes.
I may have some issues, but I also did enjoy Whatever It Takes. It's a shorter read than Sweetness or I'm Yours so prepare to read it in one sitting. It also appears (from the ending) that there will be another installment in the Bold As Love series. Which is always a good thing.
April 24, 2012
Book 3 in a series that started with two teenagers in high school who were falling in love. The reader was taken into the sweet and tender beginnings of their romance. The second book took you through some turbulent times as they try to settle into a relationship. Now in Book 3 Jake and Emily are headed off to college and working through the speedbumps of life.
I adored finding out what was going to be next for this couple - I became a fan of theirs and wanted to know how they would handle being out of the bubble of their parents' homes. They become true adults in this book having to handle very adult situations. A complete twist occurs near the end that took this book in a direction that I couldn't have predicted, I loved it.
So far with this series, I loved book one and definitely enjoyed book 3. I think this is a good YA series, but I would be wary about unsupervised reading, there may be a few sexy times that get a little hot and heavy.
I adored finding out what was going to be next for this couple - I became a fan of theirs and wanted to know how they would handle being out of the bubble of their parents' homes. They become true adults in this book having to handle very adult situations. A complete twist occurs near the end that took this book in a direction that I couldn't have predicted, I loved it.
So far with this series, I loved book one and definitely enjoyed book 3. I think this is a good YA series, but I would be wary about unsupervised reading, there may be a few sexy times that get a little hot and heavy.
August 9, 2012
review on www.booknerdsacrossamerica.com
This review is going to be a bit short. I liked the book but there was some parts that were really rushed through. I really felt so bad for Jake and Emily in the beginning. They both were dealing with a lot of stress. First the baby, then college, and the stress of working their relationship becomes very fragile.
Well, here comes the difficult part, there was a twist in the book that I did not like. It is just my opinion! I felt that Jake and Emily were dealing with enough when this twist developed. On top of that, it was really rushed until the end.
Even though I felt that about the book, I will be reading Book 4 when ever it comes out.
This review is going to be a bit short. I liked the book but there was some parts that were really rushed through. I really felt so bad for Jake and Emily in the beginning. They both were dealing with a lot of stress. First the baby, then college, and the stress of working their relationship becomes very fragile.
Well, here comes the difficult part, there was a twist in the book that I did not like. It is just my opinion! I felt that Jake and Emily were dealing with enough when this twist developed. On top of that, it was really rushed until the end.
Even though I felt that about the book, I will be reading Book 4 when ever it comes out.
October 17, 2015
Alright so, were do I start...
This is the third book of the series, and I really liked it, I thought that they weren't going to end up together. But Thank God they did, because I couldn't have stand if they were turn apart.
Jake and Emily are like this super young pair, but with the super strong and powerful love, I love the way Jake is always trying and don't give up. Emily has taken the worst parts in every story, don't ask me why, but she is always dealing with something. But that makes everything better because I think that it shows how strong a woman can be.
For those who haven't decided yet if the series is worth reading, I would definitely recommend it to you.
I'm soo gonna read the next one until I finish the whole thing.
Great book! Thanks to the author again.
This is the third book of the series, and I really liked it, I thought that they weren't going to end up together. But Thank God they did, because I couldn't have stand if they were turn apart.
Jake and Emily are like this super young pair, but with the super strong and powerful love, I love the way Jake is always trying and don't give up. Emily has taken the worst parts in every story, don't ask me why, but she is always dealing with something. But that makes everything better because I think that it shows how strong a woman can be.
For those who haven't decided yet if the series is worth reading, I would definitely recommend it to you.
I'm soo gonna read the next one until I finish the whole thing.
Great book! Thanks to the author again.
June 23, 2012
I was really excited to read this book as the 3rd installment for the Bold as Love series. While it's a cute book, I did not enjoy it as much as the other 2 books so far. I found the sex to a bit much for a YA book, like another reviewer stated. It just seemed a bit more explicit than needed for the level of the book. Another thing I was a bit thrown off by was the pacing. In some parts it seemed to go very slowly, but then the twist towards the end that changes everything? It seemed to happen VERY fast...almost too fast for me.
That said, it's a cute story. I'll continue the series, because I do like the overall series! :)
That said, it's a cute story. I'll continue the series, because I do like the overall series! :)
December 7, 2012
Whatever It Takes carries on from where book 2 I’m Yours. Emily lost the baby and I truly feel for her locking all her emotions up. It is hard for her but it’s also hard for poor Jake. He has to be strong for the both of them and she starts wondering if he is even bothered that they lost their baby.
This book was great with the sensitive issue of miscarriage and how a young couple copes with their grief.
I really like both Emily and Jake and was cursing when Kyle kissed Emily, cursing at him for doing it and cursing Emily for kissing him back!
This book was great with the sensitive issue of miscarriage and how a young couple copes with their grief.
I really like both Emily and Jake and was cursing when Kyle kissed Emily, cursing at him for doing it and cursing Emily for kissing him back!
April 22, 2014
I absolutely love jake and Emily's story, though this book goes by too quickly... Not in length but it switches topics quickly. There is no detail in how the "big" things happen.. I just feel like the author tried to put too many things into one book. But enough of the negative, after experiencing a traumatic loss jake and Emily go off to college to start their new lives together.,, only who knew it would be this hard? Emily and jake start drifting apart slowly, but rekindle quickly... I really enjoyed this read and looking forward to the next!
July 18, 2012
With these being short books I understand the need to have more then 1, however I assume after this ending the will be another one and I just don't know why so much has to keep going wrong....to me, the story has a hit a lull and I found it hard to continue to read even with the new characters introduced. Also the thoughts in Emily & Jake's heads were very formally spoken which for some reason bothered me.
October 8, 2012
I'm hoping that the 4th book continues on about Jake and Emily becasuse I was left saying to my self "annnnnnnnnnnnnnnd!" so i'm really hoping that we get to see what happens. I feel like the story for them has not finished. Overall i like the series and its a good read but the plot leaves you with mixed emotions. There was too much happening in this book between her depression and the car accident that left her with 'loss of memory'. I stress again though I still liked the books :-)
June 12, 2012
I loved the book. Emily and Jake have a lot more to deal with school, parties, working and sharing an apartment. They have new friends to interact with too. I don't want to give too much away but they have obstacles to deal with but they always find a way back to each other.
I won an advanced copy in a contest from the author
I won an advanced copy in a contest from the author
December 9, 2012
"Whatever It Takes" is the third book in the 'Bold As Love' series. Filled with emotions, this romance/love story and the characters will keep you turning the pages within a fast paced plot. A nice quick read, but be sure to read the first two books to catch up.
This review is based on a complimentary copy which was provided for an honest review.
This review is based on a complimentary copy which was provided for an honest review.
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