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Forever #1
Forever Innocent
"Our baby died on prom night, and nothing was ever the same again."
Corabelle doesn’t feel like any of the other college girls. On what should have been one of the happiest nights of her life, she and her boyfriend Gavin watched a nurse disconnect the ventilator from their seven-day-old baby. During the funeral two days later, Gavin walked out and never returned.
Since then, her life has been a spiral of disasters. The only thing that has helped is her ability to black out whenever the pain gets too hard to bear, a habit that has become an addiction.
When Gavin shows up in her astronomy class four years later, he is hell-bent on getting her back, insisting she forgive him. Corabelle knows she can’t resist the touch that fills the empty ache that has haunted her since he left. But if he learns what she has done, if he follows the trail back through her past, her secrets will destroy their love completely. And once again, she’ll lose the only person who always believed she was innocent.
New Adult Contemporary Romance
Corabelle doesn’t feel like any of the other college girls. On what should have been one of the happiest nights of her life, she and her boyfriend Gavin watched a nurse disconnect the ventilator from their seven-day-old baby. During the funeral two days later, Gavin walked out and never returned.
Since then, her life has been a spiral of disasters. The only thing that has helped is her ability to black out whenever the pain gets too hard to bear, a habit that has become an addiction.
When Gavin shows up in her astronomy class four years later, he is hell-bent on getting her back, insisting she forgive him. Corabelle knows she can’t resist the touch that fills the empty ache that has haunted her since he left. But if he learns what she has done, if he follows the trail back through her past, her secrets will destroy their love completely. And once again, she’ll lose the only person who always believed she was innocent.
New Adult Contemporary Romance
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 23, 2013
696 people are currently reading
4865 people want to read
About the author
Deanna Roy
40 books681 followersDeanna Roy is the six-time USA Today bestselling author of women's fiction. She is a fierce advocate for all the children in her care, biological, fostered, and adopted, and the mothers, who like her, lost babies to miscarriage.
She writes books under four names:
Deanna Roy with three-hanky reads in the Forever series:
JJ Knight with her romantic comedy Pickleverse:
Abby Tyler with sweet small-town romance, including the Applebottom series:
Annie Winters with romantic suspense serials, including The Vigilante's Lover:
You can follow Deanna and read pre-release sneak peeks and free ebooks on her private list. Subscribe!
Deanna also writes a series of books for middle grade readers, including JINNIE WISHMAKER, MARCUS MENDER, and ELEKTRA CHAOS.
She's pretty easy to spot on Facebook and Instagram.
She writes books under four names:
Deanna Roy with three-hanky reads in the Forever series:
JJ Knight with her romantic comedy Pickleverse:
Abby Tyler with sweet small-town romance, including the Applebottom series:
Annie Winters with romantic suspense serials, including The Vigilante's Lover:
You can follow Deanna and read pre-release sneak peeks and free ebooks on her private list. Subscribe!
Deanna also writes a series of books for middle grade readers, including JINNIE WISHMAKER, MARCUS MENDER, and ELEKTRA CHAOS.
She's pretty easy to spot on Facebook and Instagram.
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July 11, 2016 DNF at 56% of the book; Spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk
Corabelle and Gavin have a painful past. They were best friends, then lovers, and made plans to go to the same college. All that changed when Corabelle got pregnant and their baby boy Finn (love that name) died. Already vulnerable, Corabelle needed Gavin to be there for her and instead, he hightails it out of the funeral and never returns. Until they see each other in astronomy class 4 years later. Corabelle is a shell of who she once was. Gavin desperately wants her back.
This book started pretty strong. I quite liked Corabelle’s determination and strength when she could have been a simpering weakling after all of her experiences. The main problem I had was with Gavin. From the blurb, you’d think he realized his mistake in leaving Corabelle and want to get her back, right? Here’s a snippet from the blurb:
“When Gavin shows up in her astronomy class four years later, he is hell-bent on getting her back, insisting she forgive him.”
So he sees Corabelle with a guy (potential boyfriend material, but never actually is her boyfriend) and loses his temper, and instead of confirming that fact, he runs off to find some fucking prostitutes!!! He even has a special one, Rosa!
“After her I found other girls, closer, in San Diego, and realized that prostitutes were a perfect solution. No strings. No mess. No mistakes.
Yeah, whatever dude! *Inner shudder* You wanted to atone for your past mistakes, you DO NOT run off into another woman’s arms. It turned out he couldn’t get it up with her and he has *gasp* an epiphany: since he couldn’t perform for another woman it’s a fucking SIGN that he needs to work on Corabelle. *cue eyeball roll*
That wasn’t event the worst part. The NUMBER 1 reason I slapped a DNF to this book was the communication between Corabelle and Gavin. The lack of it, I mean. Both of them have their secrets. Gavin got his nuts chopped off after the funeral so he’s afraid Corabelle will take it personally since Finn died. Corabelle got into some pretty deep shit at a previous college and has regular panic attacks. They both tell themselves that they need to tell each other their secrets, but it ends up with them having sex, avoiding each other the next day, having sex, avoiding the main topic. I literally wanted to jump in the book and yell at them to keep their hands off of each other for a minute so they could actually talk . I was pretty much done after I got to almost 60% of the book and the story plot didn’t evolve much. Add some makeout scenes, plus a sex scene and there you have it folks.
I am just so fucking angry about the plot timeline, which ties into their whole lack of communication issue. The sad part is that I did spend a good portion of my time reading this book and by the time I got past the halfway mark, there was no plot, no character development, nothing to connect me to this story enough for me to finish it. Truly disheartening because I really wanted to enjoy this story.
To be fair, I DID NOT attach a star rating to the book since I didn’t finish it, but I really believe that what I read was enough for me to give it a 2.5 if I chose to rate it.
I wish the author well in future works, but this book was just SO NOT for me.
Copy provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Corabelle and Gavin have a painful past. They were best friends, then lovers, and made plans to go to the same college. All that changed when Corabelle got pregnant and their baby boy Finn (love that name) died. Already vulnerable, Corabelle needed Gavin to be there for her and instead, he hightails it out of the funeral and never returns. Until they see each other in astronomy class 4 years later. Corabelle is a shell of who she once was. Gavin desperately wants her back.
This book started pretty strong. I quite liked Corabelle’s determination and strength when she could have been a simpering weakling after all of her experiences. The main problem I had was with Gavin. From the blurb, you’d think he realized his mistake in leaving Corabelle and want to get her back, right? Here’s a snippet from the blurb:
“When Gavin shows up in her astronomy class four years later, he is hell-bent on getting her back, insisting she forgive him.”
So he sees Corabelle with a guy (potential boyfriend material, but never actually is her boyfriend) and loses his temper, and instead of confirming that fact, he runs off to find some fucking prostitutes!!! He even has a special one, Rosa!
“After her I found other girls, closer, in San Diego, and realized that prostitutes were a perfect solution. No strings. No mess. No mistakes.
Yeah, whatever dude! *Inner shudder* You wanted to atone for your past mistakes, you DO NOT run off into another woman’s arms. It turned out he couldn’t get it up with her and he has *gasp* an epiphany: since he couldn’t perform for another woman it’s a fucking SIGN that he needs to work on Corabelle. *cue eyeball roll*
That wasn’t event the worst part. The NUMBER 1 reason I slapped a DNF to this book was the communication between Corabelle and Gavin. The lack of it, I mean. Both of them have their secrets. Gavin got his nuts chopped off after the funeral so he’s afraid Corabelle will take it personally since Finn died. Corabelle got into some pretty deep shit at a previous college and has regular panic attacks. They both tell themselves that they need to tell each other their secrets, but it ends up with them having sex, avoiding each other the next day, having sex, avoiding the main topic. I literally wanted to jump in the book and yell at them to keep their hands off of each other for a minute so they could actually talk . I was pretty much done after I got to almost 60% of the book and the story plot didn’t evolve much. Add some makeout scenes, plus a sex scene and there you have it folks.
I am just so fucking angry about the plot timeline, which ties into their whole lack of communication issue. The sad part is that I did spend a good portion of my time reading this book and by the time I got past the halfway mark, there was no plot, no character development, nothing to connect me to this story enough for me to finish it. Truly disheartening because I really wanted to enjoy this story.
To be fair, I DID NOT attach a star rating to the book since I didn’t finish it, but I really believe that what I read was enough for me to give it a 2.5 if I chose to rate it.
I wish the author well in future works, but this book was just SO NOT for me.
Copy provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
January 17, 2014
5 stars
Gavin and Corabelle did not have it easy, in fact, what they went through is not something anyone should ever go through, but sadly for them it was their reality and something they had to survive at such a young age. Years after Gavin left Corabelle alone at the funeral parlor; fate has thrown them together once again. Not prepared for the emotion that comes when they see one another, they do everything they can to keep their distance, only it’s kinda hard when you’re in the same class and have nowhere else to really go.
Gavin can’t help wonder, what it all means, there has to be a reason she is here with him. Corabelle is trying to move on, trying to stick to her goals, but seeing Gavin again brings back all the memories, how could he still turn her world upside down.
Realizing that without each other they were just going through the motions, day-by-day. They both have a lot to confess, guilt about the things they did eating away at them. Everyone handles loss in different ways and they are no exception, but it takes them being together to finally see what they everything they have been missing.
Forever Innocent is a book that completely moved me, it was heartbreakingly beautiful. This isn’t a topic that most would read about, but I though it was tastefully written. I don’t know how many times while I was reading this book that I reached out to touch my kids, just making sure they were still there. This was a five-star read for me because of all the emotion I felt, I really connected and went through each memory with them, I usually stay clear of books that make me cry, but this is one that I was glad to tear up for.
Their story followed how they each dealt with their greatest loss and the road that brought them to where they are today. I couldn’t help but root for them the entire way; they both deserved a second chance at love, especially one like theirs. I am happy to say that this book wasn’t a complete downer, there were some witty dialogue, crazy fun friends, and sexual-chemistry between Gavin and Corabelle that just made it even more special. This isn’t a stand-alone read, but the ending just makes you wonder what is coming next. I had to jump right in, having devoured this in one sitting, I needed the second book because I wanted their HEA so bad.
“Crossing the line isn’t about forgetting the people we love. It’s about not letting our past sorrow steal our future joy.”
Gavin and Corabelle did not have it easy, in fact, what they went through is not something anyone should ever go through, but sadly for them it was their reality and something they had to survive at such a young age. Years after Gavin left Corabelle alone at the funeral parlor; fate has thrown them together once again. Not prepared for the emotion that comes when they see one another, they do everything they can to keep their distance, only it’s kinda hard when you’re in the same class and have nowhere else to really go.
Life seemed to be throwing us at each other. Hadn’t it done enough already?
Gavin can’t help wonder, what it all means, there has to be a reason she is here with him. Corabelle is trying to move on, trying to stick to her goals, but seeing Gavin again brings back all the memories, how could he still turn her world upside down.
You didn’t find someone you loved and lost a long time ago just to lose them again. I refused to believe it. I wouldn’t let that happen.
Realizing that without each other they were just going through the motions, day-by-day. They both have a lot to confess, guilt about the things they did eating away at them. Everyone handles loss in different ways and they are no exception, but it takes them being together to finally see what they everything they have been missing.
Forever Innocent is a book that completely moved me, it was heartbreakingly beautiful. This isn’t a topic that most would read about, but I though it was tastefully written. I don’t know how many times while I was reading this book that I reached out to touch my kids, just making sure they were still there. This was a five-star read for me because of all the emotion I felt, I really connected and went through each memory with them, I usually stay clear of books that make me cry, but this is one that I was glad to tear up for.
Their story followed how they each dealt with their greatest loss and the road that brought them to where they are today. I couldn’t help but root for them the entire way; they both deserved a second chance at love, especially one like theirs. I am happy to say that this book wasn’t a complete downer, there were some witty dialogue, crazy fun friends, and sexual-chemistry between Gavin and Corabelle that just made it even more special. This isn’t a stand-alone read, but the ending just makes you wonder what is coming next. I had to jump right in, having devoured this in one sitting, I needed the second book because I wanted their HEA so bad.
September 19, 2013
Advance Reviewer Copy in exchange for honest review. Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Forever Innocent takes you on an emotional journey of heartbreak, loss, fear, love, guilt, hate, sadness, happiness, anger, and resentment.
Corabelle and Gavin were two childhood friends who became lovers then parents. Their perfect love story came to an end when they both experience the tragic loss of their 7 day old baby boy, Finn. The death of Finn greatly impacted Corabelle and Gavin. Their lives were forever changed and the once happy loving relationship was destroyed.
"I have to believe we found each other for a reason..Despite everything we'd been through, I wanted nothing between us, and to find that place had always bound us. Passion. Emotion. "
Four years has passed since the death of their baby and destiny or fate reunited Corabelle and Gavin once again. The love between Corabelle and Gavin still strongly exists. They knew they were each other soul-mates and they belonged to each other.
The love and attraction these two had for each were evident after being separated for four years. While the couple were trying to rebuild their relationships, we get flashbacks of their happy and sad times and of course their memories of Finn. The alternating POV of Finn's death happened to be the most gut wrenching and heartbreaking thing to read. You could feel the loss and sadness that Gavin and Corabelle experience while watching their beloved Finn pass before their eyes.
During those four years apart, past secrets were being kept. Mistakes were made, guilt and regrets were consuming and haunting them. When these secrets were exposed, Corabelle and Gavin are at a crossroads in their journey to the happily ever after. Readers are left a bit of cliffhanger and would have to wait till Forever Loved to be released.
I am hoping that Gavin and Corabelle will finally get their forever and second chance to a happily ever after ending.
Forever Innocent reminds all of us that everyone grieves in their own way whether it be shutting out people of their lives, thoughts of suicide, depression, anger, rebellion, addiction, or running away. Gavin and Corabelle dealt with their grief and regrets in the only way they knew how and so I am looking forward to reading the next book in hopes that they both will finally be on the same path of healing and forgiveness.
Deanna Roy
** I would rate this book a 3.8**
Forever Innocent takes you on an emotional journey of heartbreak, loss, fear, love, guilt, hate, sadness, happiness, anger, and resentment.
Corabelle and Gavin were two childhood friends who became lovers then parents. Their perfect love story came to an end when they both experience the tragic loss of their 7 day old baby boy, Finn. The death of Finn greatly impacted Corabelle and Gavin. Their lives were forever changed and the once happy loving relationship was destroyed.
"Our baby died on prom night, and nothing was ever the same again."
"I have to believe we found each other for a reason..Despite everything we'd been through, I wanted nothing between us, and to find that place had always bound us. Passion. Emotion. "
Four years has passed since the death of their baby and destiny or fate reunited Corabelle and Gavin once again. The love between Corabelle and Gavin still strongly exists. They knew they were each other soul-mates and they belonged to each other.
"Crossing the line isn't about forgetting the people we love. It's about not letting our past sorrow steal our future joy. Our lives were made up hundreds of these lines. Choosing when to cross was different for each person. We each had our own timeline for letting go"
The love and attraction these two had for each were evident after being separated for four years. While the couple were trying to rebuild their relationships, we get flashbacks of their happy and sad times and of course their memories of Finn. The alternating POV of Finn's death happened to be the most gut wrenching and heartbreaking thing to read. You could feel the loss and sadness that Gavin and Corabelle experience while watching their beloved Finn pass before their eyes.
During those four years apart, past secrets were being kept. Mistakes were made, guilt and regrets were consuming and haunting them. When these secrets were exposed, Corabelle and Gavin are at a crossroads in their journey to the happily ever after. Readers are left a bit of cliffhanger and would have to wait till Forever Loved to be released.
I am hoping that Gavin and Corabelle will finally get their forever and second chance to a happily ever after ending.
Forever Innocent reminds all of us that everyone grieves in their own way whether it be shutting out people of their lives, thoughts of suicide, depression, anger, rebellion, addiction, or running away. Gavin and Corabelle dealt with their grief and regrets in the only way they knew how and so I am looking forward to reading the next book in hopes that they both will finally be on the same path of healing and forgiveness.
Deanna Roy
Want to read
July 29, 2013 I just was sent a little excerpt from this book and liked the sound of it! Plus, I love second-chance romances so I'm adding it to my list :)
"Our baby died on prom night, and nothing was ever the same again."
Corabelle doesn’t feel like any of the other college girls. On what should have been one of the happiest nights of her life, she and her boyfriend Gavin watched a nurse disconnect the ventilator from their seven-day-old baby. During the funeral two days later, Gavin walked out and never returned.
Since then, her life has been a spiral of disasters. The only thing that has helped is her ability to black out whenever the pain gets too hard to bear, a habit that has become an addiction.
When Gavin shows up in her astronomy class four years later, he is hell-bent on getting her back, insisting she forgive him. Corabelle knows she can’t resist the touch that fills the empty ache that has haunted her since he left. But if he learns what she has done, if he follows the trail back through her past, her secrets will destroy their love completely. And once again, she’ll lose the only person who always believed she was innocent.
New Adult Contemporary Romance
"Our baby died on prom night, and nothing was ever the same again."
Corabelle doesn’t feel like any of the other college girls. On what should have been one of the happiest nights of her life, she and her boyfriend Gavin watched a nurse disconnect the ventilator from their seven-day-old baby. During the funeral two days later, Gavin walked out and never returned.
Since then, her life has been a spiral of disasters. The only thing that has helped is her ability to black out whenever the pain gets too hard to bear, a habit that has become an addiction.
When Gavin shows up in her astronomy class four years later, he is hell-bent on getting her back, insisting she forgive him. Corabelle knows she can’t resist the touch that fills the empty ache that has haunted her since he left. But if he learns what she has done, if he follows the trail back through her past, her secrets will destroy their love completely. And once again, she’ll lose the only person who always believed she was innocent.
New Adult Contemporary Romance
September 8, 2013
This is a book that will stay with me for a very long time, and although it ends with a bit of a cliff-hanger I can forgive Deanna Roy for it because, in all honestly I kind of need a break from the exhaustive emotional roller-coaster she put me through in the last 35% of the book.
Corabelle and Gavin grew up together, had a baby together, lost their baby together, then fell apart separately.
I must admit that when I initially started reading Forever Innocent, my first thoughts were that there is no way all of these things can have happened to a young couple in their early twenties, but as you keep reading you realise that things started between Corabell and Gavin at a very young age, so the passing of time and the events that they have had to deal with make the story even more emotional.
This is quite a deep book and it deals with alot of heavy issues, not just the loss of a child, but drug taking, prostitution, underage sex (although this isn't really confirmed, it is the way it seemed to me) and to a degree mental illness to name but a few.
Corabelle and Gavin, as a result of the loss of their child are both in very dark places when they run into each other after 4 years apart, and the book being written from both their POV's gives you a painfully honest insight into how each of them are dealing with their lives, emotions and the unresolved issues that they still have between them. Both have secrets, and both are scared to share them for fear of losing the other again.
Deanna knows what she is talking about with regards to the loss of a child, and I have nothing but respect for her writing this book. It was only after finishing it that I discovered this, but throughout the book I felt it had been written from experience rather than research, the emotions were so raw, painful and at times had me sobbing into my tissue. I will never look at a butterfly in the same way again that is for sure.
It almost feels wrong to say I can't wait for book two Forever Loved, but I really want too see this couple get their HEA, because they really deserve it.
I want to thank Deanna Roy and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book, and for that privilege I am pleased to provide the above honest review.
Corabelle and Gavin grew up together, had a baby together, lost their baby together, then fell apart separately.
I must admit that when I initially started reading Forever Innocent, my first thoughts were that there is no way all of these things can have happened to a young couple in their early twenties, but as you keep reading you realise that things started between Corabell and Gavin at a very young age, so the passing of time and the events that they have had to deal with make the story even more emotional.
This is quite a deep book and it deals with alot of heavy issues, not just the loss of a child, but drug taking, prostitution, underage sex (although this isn't really confirmed, it is the way it seemed to me) and to a degree mental illness to name but a few.
Corabelle and Gavin, as a result of the loss of their child are both in very dark places when they run into each other after 4 years apart, and the book being written from both their POV's gives you a painfully honest insight into how each of them are dealing with their lives, emotions and the unresolved issues that they still have between them. Both have secrets, and both are scared to share them for fear of losing the other again.
Deanna knows what she is talking about with regards to the loss of a child, and I have nothing but respect for her writing this book. It was only after finishing it that I discovered this, but throughout the book I felt it had been written from experience rather than research, the emotions were so raw, painful and at times had me sobbing into my tissue. I will never look at a butterfly in the same way again that is for sure.
It almost feels wrong to say I can't wait for book two Forever Loved, but I really want too see this couple get their HEA, because they really deserve it.
I want to thank Deanna Roy and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book, and for that privilege I am pleased to provide the above honest review.
October 3, 2013
*3.5 stars*
This book has a brilliant blurb and I was expecting BIG things when I opened it up, but it just fell a little flat for me. Yes it had its moments of being deeply emotional but on the whole it really only skimmed the surface of what it could be.
Fast forward 4 years from said prom night, and Corabelle is a shell of her former self. She's lost not only her baby, but the love of her life too. As well as dealing with some hidden demon. She is attending university but keeps herself to herself, she hasn't had a boyfriend in those 4 years and at her job at the coffee shop, she's known as 'Iced Latte'.. that cracked me up.
Gavin has been living a similar life, battling his own demons too. Walking out on his own life the night of his son's funeral is a mistake he has had to live with or the past 4 years, as well as trying to attend university too. He has nothing, makes no relationships and doesn't bond with anybody. Keeps himself to himself and that's okay for him. Until he meets Corabelle again..
Having them end up in the same college class had me rolling my eyes but what else could I expect from a book? Their second chance at love didn't come about straight away, Corabelle was very hesitant. As you can imagine. Once it did start though, and it was before 50% I'm sure, then it did. Not. Stop. I get it, you haven't seen each other for so long and you have history, but jeez I found it TOO much. There needed to be more to the story than them constantly sleeping together whenever they had a moment to themselves. I wanted to know about the past, what caused Gavin to walk out? Why is Corabelle constantly feeling so guilty?
We do eventually find out what had gone on, and honestly, the scenes we are given when Corabelle and Gavin go back in time to when their baby, Finn died, and those scenes were horrific. I was just a mess. This was the only time where I felt any emotion through the whole book, my heart hurt and I just wanted to hug every character involved. Aside from that? I didn't feel anything.
I wasn't aware this this was the start of a series. There is definitely more of their story to tell, both of them are battling some pretty serious demons. And whilst I didn't love this book, I am invested enough to find out how they overcome all of their issues. There is a minor cliffhanger but nothing to get your knickers in a twist about. You just want to know where it goes from there...
*ARC provided by NetGalley on behalf of Casey Shay Press in turn for an honest review.*
This book has a brilliant blurb and I was expecting BIG things when I opened it up, but it just fell a little flat for me. Yes it had its moments of being deeply emotional but on the whole it really only skimmed the surface of what it could be.
"Our baby dies on prom night, and nothing was ever the same again."
Fast forward 4 years from said prom night, and Corabelle is a shell of her former self. She's lost not only her baby, but the love of her life too. As well as dealing with some hidden demon. She is attending university but keeps herself to herself, she hasn't had a boyfriend in those 4 years and at her job at the coffee shop, she's known as 'Iced Latte'.. that cracked me up.
"Corabelle used to light up a room. Her laughter was the happiest sound in the world."
Gavin has been living a similar life, battling his own demons too. Walking out on his own life the night of his son's funeral is a mistake he has had to live with or the past 4 years, as well as trying to attend university too. He has nothing, makes no relationships and doesn't bond with anybody. Keeps himself to himself and that's okay for him. Until he meets Corabelle again..
Having them end up in the same college class had me rolling my eyes but what else could I expect from a book? Their second chance at love didn't come about straight away, Corabelle was very hesitant. As you can imagine. Once it did start though, and it was before 50% I'm sure, then it did. Not. Stop. I get it, you haven't seen each other for so long and you have history, but jeez I found it TOO much. There needed to be more to the story than them constantly sleeping together whenever they had a moment to themselves. I wanted to know about the past, what caused Gavin to walk out? Why is Corabelle constantly feeling so guilty?
We do eventually find out what had gone on, and honestly, the scenes we are given when Corabelle and Gavin go back in time to when their baby, Finn died, and those scenes were horrific. I was just a mess. This was the only time where I felt any emotion through the whole book, my heart hurt and I just wanted to hug every character involved. Aside from that? I didn't feel anything.
"The pregnancy has failed. Then parenthood failed."
I wasn't aware this this was the start of a series. There is definitely more of their story to tell, both of them are battling some pretty serious demons. And whilst I didn't love this book, I am invested enough to find out how they overcome all of their issues. There is a minor cliffhanger but nothing to get your knickers in a twist about. You just want to know where it goes from there...
*ARC provided by NetGalley on behalf of Casey Shay Press in turn for an honest review.*
September 7, 2013
“Crossing the line isn't about forgetting the people we love. It's about not letting our past sorrow steal our future”
This is a beautiful story about two broken people, who have experienced great loss, a loss they have never fully recovered from.
Corabelle is starting fresh. She had her life all planned out in New Mexico, but after a lapse in judgement left her arrested, she was asked to leave her safety bubble and set sights for San Diego. She is broken. She lost her baby days after he was born, the love of her life walks out on her when she needed him the most, and the only thing she has left is her education. She's a recluse. She has her heart set on finishing her degree in the hopes that it will help her move forward and forget the past that is still haunting her. What she doesn't expect is running into her former love in her astronomy class.
Gavin up and left the life that he once knew. He walked out on the one person in the world that would always be there for him and he never looked back. He has been drifting through life, as a shell of the former person he once was. He does what he can to get by and has picked up a few habits along the way. He's attending UCSD working towards a degree in Geology, never in his wildest dreams did he ever imagine himself face to face with the woman that was once his salvation standing across from him in his Astronomy class.
Gavin
Corabelle
I honestly wanted to love this story but for some reason there was that little something missing for me, and I found myself not being able to connect with the characters and their story as I'd hoped I would. I can imagine what a tragic loss like would do to a person and the recovery is excruciating but for some reason I just couldn't feel anything for either of them. I know how heart breaking it is to lose a child and I know everyone grieves in their own way but I just couldn't feel that connection that I want to feel when I read a book.
Don't get me wrong, it's beautifully written and those flash back scenes where we witness Finn's last moments with his parents were so bloody heart breaking. The author has pulled off those moments perfectly and you can't help but shed a tear for the young couple.
I don't know? Maybe it's an off day for me but I just wasn't feeling this one today. Though I am looking forward to see where the road takes Corabelle and Gavin in the next book.
3.5 Stars
This is a beautiful story about two broken people, who have experienced great loss, a loss they have never fully recovered from.
Corabelle is starting fresh. She had her life all planned out in New Mexico, but after a lapse in judgement left her arrested, she was asked to leave her safety bubble and set sights for San Diego. She is broken. She lost her baby days after he was born, the love of her life walks out on her when she needed him the most, and the only thing she has left is her education. She's a recluse. She has her heart set on finishing her degree in the hopes that it will help her move forward and forget the past that is still haunting her. What she doesn't expect is running into her former love in her astronomy class.
Gavin up and left the life that he once knew. He walked out on the one person in the world that would always be there for him and he never looked back. He has been drifting through life, as a shell of the former person he once was. He does what he can to get by and has picked up a few habits along the way. He's attending UCSD working towards a degree in Geology, never in his wildest dreams did he ever imagine himself face to face with the woman that was once his salvation standing across from him in his Astronomy class.
Gavin
Corabelle
I honestly wanted to love this story but for some reason there was that little something missing for me, and I found myself not being able to connect with the characters and their story as I'd hoped I would. I can imagine what a tragic loss like would do to a person and the recovery is excruciating but for some reason I just couldn't feel anything for either of them. I know how heart breaking it is to lose a child and I know everyone grieves in their own way but I just couldn't feel that connection that I want to feel when I read a book.
Don't get me wrong, it's beautifully written and those flash back scenes where we witness Finn's last moments with his parents were so bloody heart breaking. The author has pulled off those moments perfectly and you can't help but shed a tear for the young couple.
I don't know? Maybe it's an off day for me but I just wasn't feeling this one today. Though I am looking forward to see where the road takes Corabelle and Gavin in the next book.
3.5 Stars
May 2, 2023
This is a NA second chance romance.
It was an okay book. Mainly I thought that people who are 22 years old and have been through really bad thing, know that keeping secrets never works out.
The FMC is sometimes very innocent, when it comes to the things she had done. I can't understand, why her parents never told her to take therapy.
After reading this I found out that there is a second book about this couple and several others for other side characters. But I'm not sure, if I will read the other books.
It was an okay book. Mainly I thought that people who are 22 years old and have been through really bad thing, know that keeping secrets never works out.
The FMC is sometimes very innocent, when it comes to the things she had done. I can't understand, why her parents never told her to take therapy.
After reading this I found out that there is a second book about this couple and several others for other side characters. But I'm not sure, if I will read the other books.
October 1, 2013
Holy crap. The dreaded cliff strikes again. I really need to start doing my research before reading a book.
This book kept me hooked from page one. I loved the history between Corabelle and Gavin. It added so much depth to the story. It was easy for me to feel the connection between them, and feel how connected they once were.
There was so much sadness and grief I this book. My least favorite thing about the book is the exact same thing that made it so great…the emotion. The author literally had me in tears.
My only other complaint was the ending. I’m not sure how many more books there will be, but this had a definite Fallen Too Far feel…like it stopped right in the middle of the story. I seriously hate that. And I could spend page after page ranting about it, but I just don’t have the energy to do that right now.
I’ll definitely be reading the next book because I HAVE to know what happens to Corabelle and Gavin. I really want to see them get their HEA. After everything they’ve been through, they deserve it.
This book kept me hooked from page one. I loved the history between Corabelle and Gavin. It added so much depth to the story. It was easy for me to feel the connection between them, and feel how connected they once were.
There was so much sadness and grief I this book. My least favorite thing about the book is the exact same thing that made it so great…the emotion. The author literally had me in tears.
My only other complaint was the ending. I’m not sure how many more books there will be, but this had a definite Fallen Too Far feel…like it stopped right in the middle of the story. I seriously hate that. And I could spend page after page ranting about it, but I just don’t have the energy to do that right now.
I’ll definitely be reading the next book because I HAVE to know what happens to Corabelle and Gavin. I really want to see them get their HEA. After everything they’ve been through, they deserve it.
Want to read
May 20, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (5/20/2019)! 🎁
September 6, 2013
"Our baby died on prom night, and nothing was ever the same again."
I'll be honest. With a description that started like that, I was expecting Forever Innocent to be much more emo than it was. I was expecting histrionics on a scale only middle schoolers can aspire to. What I walked away with was a deep sense of what losing a baby you didn't expect must do to someone emotionally. Especially when you are just leaving highschool. I know that my high school self would not have coped well with half of what Corabelle and Gavin went through.
Both of their reactions to the death of their baby made total sense. They weren't the reactions that you would hope to have in that situation, but realistically... Yeah. Self destruction would rule my mental space for a while, I'm sure. Then, to top it off, if I was Corabelle and dealing with the misplaced guilt and the baby-daddy running off, never to be seen again, on the day of the funeral? I might have a few emotional problems too. There were some really painful scenes in this book, that were incredibly hard to read.
Now, for the reasons that this only got a "liked" star rating. One big thing that confused/annoyed me was the non-presence of Corabelle's parents post-Finn. They seemed very involved in both H/H's lives, and then weren't there for their daughter emotionally afterward? It seems like they would have been able to help and see that she needed psychological help. Near the end, we also began slipping into emo territory, but it was only around the last 30 pages. And the ending was... abrupt to say the least. When I saw that this was the beginning of a series, I wasn't surprised. They still have some pretty major issues to work out.
My biggest issue though was that I never connected with Corabelle or Gavin. I didn't particularly like or dislike either of them, so it was hard to cheer on their (possible) HEA. The scenes I most connected with were the flashbacks of the events surrounding Finns birth, but this was in a more general way, not specifically because it was those two characters going through these heart-rending moments.
Overall, a refreshingly grounded look at two kids who had a kid, lost their kid, lost themselves, and tried to make it work years later. Nothing in their story was easy, and I don't expect it will get any easier, though I am not likely to read the next installment.
ARC courtesy of Casey Shay Press, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'll be honest. With a description that started like that, I was expecting Forever Innocent to be much more emo than it was. I was expecting histrionics on a scale only middle schoolers can aspire to. What I walked away with was a deep sense of what losing a baby you didn't expect must do to someone emotionally. Especially when you are just leaving highschool. I know that my high school self would not have coped well with half of what Corabelle and Gavin went through.
Both of their reactions to the death of their baby made total sense. They weren't the reactions that you would hope to have in that situation, but realistically... Yeah. Self destruction would rule my mental space for a while, I'm sure. Then, to top it off, if I was Corabelle and dealing with the misplaced guilt and the baby-daddy running off, never to be seen again, on the day of the funeral? I might have a few emotional problems too. There were some really painful scenes in this book, that were incredibly hard to read.
Now, for the reasons that this only got a "liked" star rating. One big thing that confused/annoyed me was the non-presence of Corabelle's parents post-Finn. They seemed very involved in both H/H's lives, and then weren't there for their daughter emotionally afterward? It seems like they would have been able to help and see that she needed psychological help. Near the end, we also began slipping into emo territory, but it was only around the last 30 pages. And the ending was... abrupt to say the least. When I saw that this was the beginning of a series, I wasn't surprised. They still have some pretty major issues to work out.
My biggest issue though was that I never connected with Corabelle or Gavin. I didn't particularly like or dislike either of them, so it was hard to cheer on their (possible) HEA. The scenes I most connected with were the flashbacks of the events surrounding Finns birth, but this was in a more general way, not specifically because it was those two characters going through these heart-rending moments.
Overall, a refreshingly grounded look at two kids who had a kid, lost their kid, lost themselves, and tried to make it work years later. Nothing in their story was easy, and I don't expect it will get any easier, though I am not likely to read the next installment.
ARC courtesy of Casey Shay Press, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2013
I am going to say up front that I have mixed emotions about this book. There was just something missing in Forever Innocent and I just can’t put my finger on it. The writing was good. The story was good. I think my disconnect was with the “here” of the book and not so much the “then” of the book. Does that make sense? Okay, deep breath. I am diving in.
Corabelle and Gavin were together since before they could talk. They grew up together, grew in love together and had a baby together. Their baby lived only seven days and immediately after the funeral Gavin left never to be heard from till four years later.
Corabelle has lived the past four years in a grieving, unresponsive nonmoving state untill Gavin appears in one of her college classes. She is immediately thrown back to four years earlier and you start to see symptoms of panic attacks. Once Gavin talks to her he is hell bent on getting her back.
Yeah, about that…. I have said it before and I will say it again. I have issues with H that rather than stay and help their h through a horrendous time, take off and leave them high and dry. It has been a trend in many popular New Adult storylines. I think it is cowardly and I don’t find it at all attractive.
Having said that, it’s the “then” of Forever Innocent that touched me the most. I cried many tears. This writer really pulled me in during the birth, hospitalization and ultimate death of baby Fin. My heart broke for this young couple. It was touching and incredibly sad.
Where Gavin dealt with this by running away and using booze and hookers to cope, Corabelle just went numb, not living at all and not moving on. I really thought this would be addressed more, I think this is where my disconnect comes from. The now is a contradiction of courting and blame. The ending left me unsatisfied as well. There is no real cliffhanger but the author lets us know there will be more to come in a second book. Will I be reading the next book? Probably not. Was I moved by this book? Absolutley.
3 Stars
T~
*Given via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Expected publication: October 1st 2013
www.ktbookreviews.blogspot.com
Corabelle and Gavin were together since before they could talk. They grew up together, grew in love together and had a baby together. Their baby lived only seven days and immediately after the funeral Gavin left never to be heard from till four years later.
Corabelle has lived the past four years in a grieving, unresponsive nonmoving state untill Gavin appears in one of her college classes. She is immediately thrown back to four years earlier and you start to see symptoms of panic attacks. Once Gavin talks to her he is hell bent on getting her back.
Yeah, about that…. I have said it before and I will say it again. I have issues with H that rather than stay and help their h through a horrendous time, take off and leave them high and dry. It has been a trend in many popular New Adult storylines. I think it is cowardly and I don’t find it at all attractive.
Having said that, it’s the “then” of Forever Innocent that touched me the most. I cried many tears. This writer really pulled me in during the birth, hospitalization and ultimate death of baby Fin. My heart broke for this young couple. It was touching and incredibly sad.
Where Gavin dealt with this by running away and using booze and hookers to cope, Corabelle just went numb, not living at all and not moving on. I really thought this would be addressed more, I think this is where my disconnect comes from. The now is a contradiction of courting and blame. The ending left me unsatisfied as well. There is no real cliffhanger but the author lets us know there will be more to come in a second book. Will I be reading the next book? Probably not. Was I moved by this book? Absolutley.
3 Stars
T~
*Given via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Expected publication: October 1st 2013
www.ktbookreviews.blogspot.com
September 8, 2013
I thought I was going to love this story, but it just didn’t meet my expectations. From the beginning, I couldn’t connect with this book very well. The book just seemed so fickle. I felt like each chapter jumped from one to another. I just didn’t read a smooth transition from any of the chapters that I would normally see.
For most of the story I just couldn’t connect with Gavin and Corabelle. I didn’t like the hero Gavin because he left Corabelle at one of the most traumatic point of their lives. He left Corabelle alone to deal with her pain while he went off with prostitutes. I just couldn’t connect with Corrabelle either. I wish we had gotten to know Corabelle a little better because for some reason she was unlikable to me.
To be honest I thought the book was kind of dull for more than half the book. However, somewhere after the middle the book kept getting more and more heartbreaking. Everything that Gavin and Corabelle went through really ate at me. I cannot imagine going through anything like that.
The ending really did aggravate me. I hate that the ending was left open. There wasn’t a cliffhanger per se but there were so many questions left unanswered. Which I assume was needed to make room for the next book but still nonetheless irritating. I guess I have to see what happens in the next book.
***ARC was provided by netgalley.
For most of the story I just couldn’t connect with Gavin and Corabelle. I didn’t like the hero Gavin because he left Corabelle at one of the most traumatic point of their lives. He left Corabelle alone to deal with her pain while he went off with prostitutes. I just couldn’t connect with Corrabelle either. I wish we had gotten to know Corabelle a little better because for some reason she was unlikable to me.
To be honest I thought the book was kind of dull for more than half the book. However, somewhere after the middle the book kept getting more and more heartbreaking. Everything that Gavin and Corabelle went through really ate at me. I cannot imagine going through anything like that.
The ending really did aggravate me. I hate that the ending was left open. There wasn’t a cliffhanger per se but there were so many questions left unanswered. Which I assume was needed to make room for the next book but still nonetheless irritating. I guess I have to see what happens in the next book.
***ARC was provided by netgalley.
October 5, 2013
See more of my reviews at www.girlbooklove.com!
Whoa. Emotional rollercoaster. Heavy angst. Lots of crying. Really good.
So it took me awhile to be able to process my thoughts! This was one heck of a good book! I was blown away while reading it! (and after!) Corabelle and Gavin’s story was heartbreaking. They lost their son Finn just a few days after he was born. They were young, but I loved how they were so committed to each other and their son. When they suffered that tragic event, they didn’t know how to cope. I don’t think anyone would know how to, but it pushed them to react different ways. Gavin left. Corrabelle felt betrayed and abandoned. Well, years later they are pushed back together and are now having to deal with everything from four years ago. Let me tell you, I can’t imagine how I would react. Probably just like Corabelle did!!!
“Corabelle?”
My name sounded familiar when he said it, as though no one had used it since him. “Yeah?”
“Seems like the world wants us to at least be friends again.”
I didn’t know which words to get stuck on. Friends. Or at least. “Seems like it.”
Both of these characters were so complex and fabulously written. They jump off the page. The storyline is heart breaking, captivating and superbly written. I honestly think this is an incredible book and that readers will fall in love with Corabelle and Gavin like I did.
Whoa. Emotional rollercoaster. Heavy angst. Lots of crying. Really good.
So it took me awhile to be able to process my thoughts! This was one heck of a good book! I was blown away while reading it! (and after!) Corabelle and Gavin’s story was heartbreaking. They lost their son Finn just a few days after he was born. They were young, but I loved how they were so committed to each other and their son. When they suffered that tragic event, they didn’t know how to cope. I don’t think anyone would know how to, but it pushed them to react different ways. Gavin left. Corrabelle felt betrayed and abandoned. Well, years later they are pushed back together and are now having to deal with everything from four years ago. Let me tell you, I can’t imagine how I would react. Probably just like Corabelle did!!!
“Corabelle?”
My name sounded familiar when he said it, as though no one had used it since him. “Yeah?”
“Seems like the world wants us to at least be friends again.”
I didn’t know which words to get stuck on. Friends. Or at least. “Seems like it.”
Both of these characters were so complex and fabulously written. They jump off the page. The storyline is heart breaking, captivating and superbly written. I honestly think this is an incredible book and that readers will fall in love with Corabelle and Gavin like I did.
May 5, 2016
A second chance at love story between two high schoolers who shared an extremely difficult and life-changing situation in their teens, parted and then were once again reunited years later -- but whether or not their relationship full of hurt and secrets can be re-ignited is another story. One that includes a dreaded cliffhanger.
Tempting start to a new NA series that may lead me back to picking up the second book.
Tempting start to a new NA series that may lead me back to picking up the second book.
September 27, 2013
Deanna Roy writes this story about a young couple faced with tragedy and their second chance romance. I really liked the way this story was told. It starts in the present where Corabelle and Gavin are both students at UCSD, their college by the sea. They are both recovering from tragedy and healing in their own ways. For them, its the only way they know how. The story flashes back to the loss and devastation that they faced. I really liked the way it played out. It gave me as the reader the full impact of the tragedy without weighing the book down so much that it became overwhelming.
Corabelle is a bright young woman. She has suffered a horrific tragedy and was left to pick up the pieces on her own. She survived but was not left unscathed. She has never forgotten. She is weighed down with the burden of guilt and secrets that if uncovered could destroy her.
Gavin has been struggling. His father was less than ideal. When he and Corabelle were together, life made sense, things were good. All that changed the day their baby was born. Gavin was put in a situation where he was tested, and in his mind, he failed.
Gavin and Corabelle were "the couple" in their hometown. The community loved them together. So when Corabelle and Gavin found out they were going to have a baby, everyone was happy. But when the baby died a short seven days later, their relationship was destroyed.
Flash forward four years. Corabelle is a shell of her former self. Those close enough to call her friend never see her smile. She is not the same girl she used to be. Neither is Gavin. He is a ball of rage and anger. Corabelle is about to restart her life in a new town at a new school. She transferred her senior year after an incident at her former University. Gavin is struggling to finish school piecing a degree together one semester at a time. On her first day at her new school, Corabelle walks into her "easy A" elective, Astronomy, and comes face to face with her past.
Gavin can not believe his eyes. He has never forgotten or gotten over Corabelle. She was the love of his life. They try to stay apart, but fate keeps pushing them back together. So Gavin decides that he will do whatever it takes to get her back. Even if it means coming clean and admitting that he has been less than perfect.
Corabelle is HIGHLY reluctant to give in to Gavin again. The last time they were together, it nearly destroyed her when he walked away. But Gavin knows the way to her heart and he is intent on making her his yet again.
The sadness over the loss of their sweet baby boy eats away at the couple day by day, each feeling guilt over the loss in their own way. Neither able to move forward alone.
Together, they may just be able to face the demons of their past and move forward. In each others arms, they can breathe again, they can live again.
But what happens when the past catches up with you? Can they survive the truth?
I have to admit, when I read the synopsis of this book, I thought "No way, that sounds WAY to sad.". But I was surprised. This book is about loss, but it is mostly about the triumph of true love. The kind of love that doesn't know time or location. The kind of love that can forgive and never grows old. It was so sweet and heartbreaking.
The story is told from both points of view so we get a glimpse of what both Gavin and Corabelle have had to endure. I really loved the romantic Gavin but I also understood his anger. Corabelle was so young and she blamed herself in so many ways. I thought this author did an amazing job of creating these two flawed and real people. The reality of loss is written about in a way that didn't leave me feeling depressed and alone but hopeful and redeemed. Well done!
This one got four stars for me and was definitely worth the read. I really enjoyed it and found it incredibly sweet and romantic despite the heavy subject matter.
***This book was provided by the author or publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.***
September 8, 2013
I never knew about these," he said. "They showed up later." I tried to cover them, but he pushed my hands away. "They're beautiful." He began kissing each pale line, hip to stomach and back down again. "It's proof that Finn was once here."
This is such a beautiful book that tore at my heart and made me so sad then gave me hope. The writing of is so well done it flows effortlessly and I found myself flying through this book. I will say straight away that this I is a series and Corabelle and Gavin's story isn't done, but this book doesn't end on a cliffhanger and **SPOILER** Gavin and Corabelle are together at the end of this book **END SPOILER** While reading this book I felt the pain Gavin and especially Corabelle felt I cried through out this book, it's very obvious that Deanna Roy took this book very series and to heart and that she had a personal experience related to this book and thats why the pain and feeling jump off the pages while reading Forever Innocent.
Finn and Corabelle have known each other since birth and were best friends till they learned they could be more. Since then they spent every second being together. When Corabelle found out she was pregnant Corabelle and Gavin's plans grew to include there son. But seven days after Finn was born he died and then Gavin left. Now four years later Corabelle has enrolled in her last year of college. When Corabelle walks into class she is shocked to see Gavin. Gavin just wants to get through college and can't believe his eye's when he see's Corabelle. Emotions are high but neither can deny their past or the fact that they never let go of the other. Now Gavin and Corabelle will both have to decide if they can move away from their hurt and make a future together but Pain, loss and secrets may keep them from the only person they each ever loved.
Forever Innocent was one of the most heart wrenching beautiful books I ever read. All I wanted while reading this book was for Gavin and Corabelle to forgive themselves and be happy together. Gavin Loved Corabelle more than anything in this world and only wanted to be with her, and once he thought that may be possible he made sure he did everything in his power to get Corabelle back. Corabelle was so broken after not only the loss of their baby but the loss of the love of her life and my heart broke for her, but she was also strong and decided to get herself and her life back as well as put her trust in the one person who could destroy her. I can't wait to see what happens with the rest of the series, I will be reading every book in this series so that I can see Gavin and Corabelle's happy ending. I can't recommed this book enough.
**Thank you NetGallery for an ARC copy for my review**
This is such a beautiful book that tore at my heart and made me so sad then gave me hope. The writing of is so well done it flows effortlessly and I found myself flying through this book. I will say straight away that this I is a series and Corabelle and Gavin's story isn't done, but this book doesn't end on a cliffhanger and **SPOILER** Gavin and Corabelle are together at the end of this book **END SPOILER** While reading this book I felt the pain Gavin and especially Corabelle felt I cried through out this book, it's very obvious that Deanna Roy took this book very series and to heart and that she had a personal experience related to this book and thats why the pain and feeling jump off the pages while reading Forever Innocent.
Finn and Corabelle have known each other since birth and were best friends till they learned they could be more. Since then they spent every second being together. When Corabelle found out she was pregnant Corabelle and Gavin's plans grew to include there son. But seven days after Finn was born he died and then Gavin left. Now four years later Corabelle has enrolled in her last year of college. When Corabelle walks into class she is shocked to see Gavin. Gavin just wants to get through college and can't believe his eye's when he see's Corabelle. Emotions are high but neither can deny their past or the fact that they never let go of the other. Now Gavin and Corabelle will both have to decide if they can move away from their hurt and make a future together but Pain, loss and secrets may keep them from the only person they each ever loved.
Forever Innocent was one of the most heart wrenching beautiful books I ever read. All I wanted while reading this book was for Gavin and Corabelle to forgive themselves and be happy together. Gavin Loved Corabelle more than anything in this world and only wanted to be with her, and once he thought that may be possible he made sure he did everything in his power to get Corabelle back. Corabelle was so broken after not only the loss of their baby but the loss of the love of her life and my heart broke for her, but she was also strong and decided to get herself and her life back as well as put her trust in the one person who could destroy her. I can't wait to see what happens with the rest of the series, I will be reading every book in this series so that I can see Gavin and Corabelle's happy ending. I can't recommed this book enough.
**Thank you NetGallery for an ARC copy for my review**
September 30, 2013
3.5 stars
When I requested this book on NetGalley, I never thought that I will have similar feeling to what Corabelle and Gavin feel. I know it will be an emotional story and potentially will be a tearjerker book but I'm not an easy crier over books I read. So I was kind of think I can read it just fine like any other sad story and quite sure it won’t affect me since I don't have a child and never give a birth.
Apparently I was wrong. I was fine in first half of the story. I loved how vivid Corabelle and Gavin mind are, especially when Corabelle has episodes. It's so clear and painful I can feel it. There are NA books with characters whose have anxiety issue and have to deal with their episodes but most of them couldn't describe it well. Hence, I couldn't feel it and ended up questioning them whether those are really their episodes they’re talking about. But here, I have to give a thumb up for the author for her well describe through Corabelle.
Then, second part of the story comes. Corabelle and Gavin's past are more described, mostly about what really happen to Finn, their son. Here comes my moment to put on hold this ARC since it's too familiar to me. I've been on Corabelle and Gavin shoes when they have to do things to Finn on chapter 33 and 34. I was so surprised I have to put away my Kindle and stop reading for a while. The only book that made me feels this way, the similar way that I can relate to, is If I Stay. It took almost two years to make me ready reading it. If I knew this book will have similar feeling, maybe I will not request it and wait until myself ready. But then, it means I will miss a good-emotional NA book.
Although there isn't something new in the story, I still think that it's a good book. Maybe it's because of my memory that make me liked it or it's because I liked second chance story but one thing for sure it's well written, the author surely knows what grief, regret, and loss feel. If you like an emotional tearjerker story, I think you should read it.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for honest review. Thanks to Deanna Roy, Casey Shay Press and NetGalley.
When I requested this book on NetGalley, I never thought that I will have similar feeling to what Corabelle and Gavin feel. I know it will be an emotional story and potentially will be a tearjerker book but I'm not an easy crier over books I read. So I was kind of think I can read it just fine like any other sad story and quite sure it won’t affect me since I don't have a child and never give a birth.
Apparently I was wrong. I was fine in first half of the story. I loved how vivid Corabelle and Gavin mind are, especially when Corabelle has episodes. It's so clear and painful I can feel it. There are NA books with characters whose have anxiety issue and have to deal with their episodes but most of them couldn't describe it well. Hence, I couldn't feel it and ended up questioning them whether those are really their episodes they’re talking about. But here, I have to give a thumb up for the author for her well describe through Corabelle.
Then, second part of the story comes. Corabelle and Gavin's past are more described, mostly about what really happen to Finn, their son. Here comes my moment to put on hold this ARC since it's too familiar to me. I've been on Corabelle and Gavin shoes when they have to do things to Finn on chapter 33 and 34. I was so surprised I have to put away my Kindle and stop reading for a while. The only book that made me feels this way, the similar way that I can relate to, is If I Stay. It took almost two years to make me ready reading it. If I knew this book will have similar feeling, maybe I will not request it and wait until myself ready. But then, it means I will miss a good-emotional NA book.
Although there isn't something new in the story, I still think that it's a good book. Maybe it's because of my memory that make me liked it or it's because I liked second chance story but one thing for sure it's well written, the author surely knows what grief, regret, and loss feel. If you like an emotional tearjerker story, I think you should read it.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for honest review. Thanks to Deanna Roy, Casey Shay Press and NetGalley.
August 2, 2015
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing this ARC
ok, please bear with me here, coz some of this is probably not gonna make sense, and I'll possibly be contradicting myself a bit.
so here I go with some contradictions, but they all do fit this book. it was light & even funny at points, it was heart warming, heart breaking, & gut wrenching. it was filled with love, hate, friendship, guilt, anger... this book was so filled with feelings & emotions, but written in a way that you didn't drown in it.
"Our baby died on prom night, and nothing was ever the same again."
if you've seen this book, no doubt you've seen that line, it really does grab your attention.
so you're prepared for a heavy, gritty read, but surprisingly it's relatively light. that is until about 3/4 through and they hit you with the horrid details of what they experienced, and I bawled my eyes out!
the butterflies... I absolutely melted. it was such a sweet & thoughtful thing to do.
when Corabelle makes her peace... my stomach was in knots, but my heart ached coz she was going to see Finn.
I was pissed at Gavin for his choices, but could also understand his need to take control over certain matters.
my heart swelled & I though I was gonna cry again when Gavin said “She’s the mother of my son."
and now I'm so excited there's going to be a second book to follow Gavin & Corabelle on their path of healing & forgiveness!
FYI - this one's not a cliff hanger, it is a continuing story, but ends nicely with the promise of a happily ever after
ok, please bear with me here, coz some of this is probably not gonna make sense, and I'll possibly be contradicting myself a bit.
so here I go with some contradictions, but they all do fit this book. it was light & even funny at points, it was heart warming, heart breaking, & gut wrenching. it was filled with love, hate, friendship, guilt, anger... this book was so filled with feelings & emotions, but written in a way that you didn't drown in it.
"Our baby died on prom night, and nothing was ever the same again."
if you've seen this book, no doubt you've seen that line, it really does grab your attention.
so you're prepared for a heavy, gritty read, but surprisingly it's relatively light. that is until about 3/4 through and they hit you with the horrid details of what they experienced, and I bawled my eyes out!
the butterflies... I absolutely melted. it was such a sweet & thoughtful thing to do.
when Corabelle makes her peace... my stomach was in knots, but my heart ached coz she was going to see Finn.
I was pissed at Gavin for his choices, but could also understand his need to take control over certain matters.
my heart swelled & I though I was gonna cry again when Gavin said “She’s the mother of my son."
and now I'm so excited there's going to be a second book to follow Gavin & Corabelle on their path of healing & forgiveness!
FYI - this one's not a cliff hanger, it is a continuing story, but ends nicely with the promise of a happily ever after
January 21, 2015
Received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Forever Innocent by Deanna Roy is such an emotional and heartbreaking read. It kept me absolutely captivated, though at times I had step away for a moment to compose myself I could not put it down.
From the blurb you think the book is going to begin on the night Corabelle and Gavin lost their baby when in fact it starts four years later when they first run into each other. Corabelle has not seen Gavin since he walked out of their son, Finn’s, funeral in New Mexico never to look back. Gavin believes its fate that they are both enrolled in UC San Diego and in the same astronomy class. Regretting his decision to leave Corabelle he sees this as their second chance and will do anything to win her back. However, a person can change a lot in four years and both are have more emotional baggage than the other can imagine.
You don’t read the flashback to Gavin and Corabelle losing their son till almost the end of the book. I felt this made it so much more powerful than if the book had started out that way. You already saw the amount of pain losing Finn caused them and I felt such a strong emotional connection to them that I couldn’t help but cry along with them. The last chapter was heart wrenching and I need to know what’s going to happen to Corabelle and Gavin in their second book Forever Loved.
Forever Innocent is an amazing book and I would recommend it to everyone; just make sure you have a box of tissue next to you.
Forever Innocent by Deanna Roy is such an emotional and heartbreaking read. It kept me absolutely captivated, though at times I had step away for a moment to compose myself I could not put it down.
From the blurb you think the book is going to begin on the night Corabelle and Gavin lost their baby when in fact it starts four years later when they first run into each other. Corabelle has not seen Gavin since he walked out of their son, Finn’s, funeral in New Mexico never to look back. Gavin believes its fate that they are both enrolled in UC San Diego and in the same astronomy class. Regretting his decision to leave Corabelle he sees this as their second chance and will do anything to win her back. However, a person can change a lot in four years and both are have more emotional baggage than the other can imagine.
You don’t read the flashback to Gavin and Corabelle losing their son till almost the end of the book. I felt this made it so much more powerful than if the book had started out that way. You already saw the amount of pain losing Finn caused them and I felt such a strong emotional connection to them that I couldn’t help but cry along with them. The last chapter was heart wrenching and I need to know what’s going to happen to Corabelle and Gavin in their second book Forever Loved.
Forever Innocent is an amazing book and I would recommend it to everyone; just make sure you have a box of tissue next to you.
October 2, 2013
*I was given an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
"Our baby died on prom night, and nothing was ever the same again."
Gavin and Corabelle have a past that no one at their new school knows, and if they have anything to say about it things will stay that way. Both of them are looking for a new start at the college they dreamed of attending since they were children. However, after a tragic lost of a child that had signified all their hopes and dreams and going their separate ways, they never envisioned it to be together. Now they're faced with the question, is there such a thing as a second chance when two people have been through so much?
I knew this book was going to be filled with tears but I never expected something so beautiful. Gavin and Corabelle are some of the most touching characters you'll meet, realistic with their heartbreak palatable. The journey these two take leaves you glued to the pages. The writing is smooth and creative. The way the loss of their child is handled is written as only a mother that has gone through the heartbreak can express, raw laced with the sharp end of a knife. Pages will just fly by as you follow this young couple on their journey of healing and love.
"Our baby died on prom night, and nothing was ever the same again."
Gavin and Corabelle have a past that no one at their new school knows, and if they have anything to say about it things will stay that way. Both of them are looking for a new start at the college they dreamed of attending since they were children. However, after a tragic lost of a child that had signified all their hopes and dreams and going their separate ways, they never envisioned it to be together. Now they're faced with the question, is there such a thing as a second chance when two people have been through so much?
I knew this book was going to be filled with tears but I never expected something so beautiful. Gavin and Corabelle are some of the most touching characters you'll meet, realistic with their heartbreak palatable. The journey these two take leaves you glued to the pages. The writing is smooth and creative. The way the loss of their child is handled is written as only a mother that has gone through the heartbreak can express, raw laced with the sharp end of a knife. Pages will just fly by as you follow this young couple on their journey of healing and love.
December 12, 2013
Wow, I'm not really sure what words I can come up with to review Forever Innocent that would give this book justice. Forever Innocent is such a heart wrenching and emotional story. I am blessed to be the mother of four healthy children. Getting pregnant initially for me was not easy as a long time sufferer of Endometriosis but I was fortunate enough to not have had any miscarriages and gave birth to healthy children. When I was 6 months pregnant with my fourth child a very close friend gave birth to a stillborn baby boy. I really wanted to be able to support her throughout her grief. Reading this story really made me relate to my friend and her family and the grief they suffered at this terrible loss.
I am really looking forward to the sequel to Forever Innocent. There is no real cliffhanger but like me you may be left feeling a little lost and wanting to know what lies in the future for Corabelle and Gavin.
I am really looking forward to the sequel to Forever Innocent. There is no real cliffhanger but like me you may be left feeling a little lost and wanting to know what lies in the future for Corabelle and Gavin.
October 15, 2014
i was trying to be strong when i was reading this, but once it got to the flashbacks, i was bawling my eyes out. this is kind of a weak link for me. just a few months ago, my cousin had a baby, and he died exactly a week after he was born. he was born without a full brain and skull. so reading this here, i kinda feel like i have firsthand account of what it felt like for them.
the writing, characterization - i loved it all!
the writing, characterization - i loved it all!
August 8, 2016
I rarely cry because of a book but I did reading this. It starts off saying Gavin & Corabelle break up because their baby dies at just 7 days old. The whole time I wanted to hear what happened with baby Finn...then halfway through I found myself literally sobbing, when they lose him. Their love story is sweet yet sad. I was completely rooting for them. Can't wait to get to the sequel!
June 12, 2019
Second chance romance. College setting.
Dealing with the grief of loosing a new born baby who lived for 7 days but died of a heart defect.
Separation of 4 years. Hero left after funeral, not returning.
Hero slept with prostitutes during separation, got close to one in particular.
Heroine didn't date (of course).
Hero goes to other woman after being rejected by heroine when they see each other again. They try to be intimate but he isnt into it so he leaves.
Heroine finds texts and pictures from his past women on his phone before he has explained about his past.
Hero and heroine had not used condoms and had not discussed previous partners.
Cliffhanger ending to duet.
Secondary characters with a story brewing for future books.
Dealing with the grief of loosing a new born baby who lived for 7 days but died of a heart defect.
Separation of 4 years. Hero left after funeral, not returning.
Hero slept with prostitutes during separation, got close to one in particular.
Heroine didn't date (of course).
Hero goes to other woman after being rejected by heroine when they see each other again. They try to be intimate but he isnt into it so he leaves.
Heroine finds texts and pictures from his past women on his phone before he has explained about his past.
Hero and heroine had not used condoms and had not discussed previous partners.
Cliffhanger ending to duet.
Secondary characters with a story brewing for future books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2013
I loved this book even though it completely broke my heart. The writing, the characters and the story all had me hooked from the first chapter and this was one of those books that I literally couldn't put down.
Gavin and Corabelle's story was tragic, they had been best friends as kids and that friendship had turned into so much more when they hit their teenage years. These two were meant to be together and with the support of their family and friends, their future was full of promise. Even an unplanned pregnancy couldn't rain on their parade, in fact it was the icing on the cake that sealed their love and their future. Unfortunately, as quickly as they became parents, parenthood was snatched away from them when baby Fin died at seven days old, leaving bot Gavin and Corabelle devastated.
On the day of the funeral, when Corabelle had needed Gavin the most, he had left her, not a word or explanation, he vanished. This man had been her rock and without him, she crumbled.
Four years on and miles from where they had both lived, Gavin and Corabelle were thrown together again when their paths crossed at college:
Any form of reconciliation between these two was never going to be easy. As I progressed through chapters told from both Corabelle and Gavin's POV and as they re-lived past events, I was able to bridge the gaps and fill in the missing pieces and the four years apart had most definitely not been a fairytale for either of them. There was so much hurt, resentment, regret and guilt on both sides and as this surfaced, I wondered whether these two would ever find that peace they desperately needed.
Both Gavin and Corabelle chose very different methods to cope with the loss of the their son and the direction their lives had taken:
Corabelle chose to blackout when the pain got too much and Gavin... well let's just say his choices were a little more unconventional. Under normal circumstances I might have frowned upon some of the things he did but I couldn't help but hurt for him. One decision he did make left me devastated for him though because it was life changing and he couldn't take it back. It was this decision that would eat away at him and as his relationship with Corbelle progressed, I could see the regret creep in.
Despite his choices though, I couldn't help but love Gavin. He was sweet, romantic and some of the things he did for Corbelle were just so heart felt. The butterflies... such a beautiful sentiment he knew would mean the world to her. And when he saw the lines on her stomach... be prepared to feel overrun with emotion:
Corabelle was someone I was desperate to wrap up in cotton wool. She was so fragile and broken, a shell of her former self. But the minute Gavin walked back into her life, I saw a spark. The feelings were still there but she was going to fight them with everything she had:
There was an inner strength I saw resurface, a determination but she too had her own demons and these demons had haunted her since the day Fin was born. She had never shared her secret with anyone but this secret had the potential of destroying any possibility of a future with Gavin.
The writing in "Forever Innocent" was just beautiful and it was heart felt, emotions just jumping from the pages. There were chapters that left me in floods of tears, where moments from the past were relived, where my heart took a severe beating with every word I read. The emotions so raw, the reality of the situation so cruel, I could do nothing but sob my heart out for this couple. Deanna Roy wrote this book from the heart and having read a little about this author at the start of the book, I knew that she would do nothing but give a very honest and realistic account of the subject matters covered.
Corabelle and Gavin's story does have an ending. It's not all hearts and flowers but its as good as it can be considering the circumstances. I can't wait to read the sequel. This is one couple I'm desperate to see come out of the darkness. They truly deserve to with everything they've been through:
Unfortunately, I know it's not going to be plain sailing but here's to hoping the love they share will see them through.
I rated "Forever Innocent" 4.5 Hearts
Gavin and Corabelle's story was tragic, they had been best friends as kids and that friendship had turned into so much more when they hit their teenage years. These two were meant to be together and with the support of their family and friends, their future was full of promise. Even an unplanned pregnancy couldn't rain on their parade, in fact it was the icing on the cake that sealed their love and their future. Unfortunately, as quickly as they became parents, parenthood was snatched away from them when baby Fin died at seven days old, leaving bot Gavin and Corabelle devastated.
"Our baby died on prom night, and nothing was ever the same again."
On the day of the funeral, when Corabelle had needed Gavin the most, he had left her, not a word or explanation, he vanished. This man had been her rock and without him, she crumbled.
Four years on and miles from where they had both lived, Gavin and Corabelle were thrown together again when their paths crossed at college:
Whatever whim or fate had blasted us apart four years ago apparently felt we should not be apart now.
Any form of reconciliation between these two was never going to be easy. As I progressed through chapters told from both Corabelle and Gavin's POV and as they re-lived past events, I was able to bridge the gaps and fill in the missing pieces and the four years apart had most definitely not been a fairytale for either of them. There was so much hurt, resentment, regret and guilt on both sides and as this surfaced, I wondered whether these two would ever find that peace they desperately needed.
Both Gavin and Corabelle chose very different methods to cope with the loss of the their son and the direction their lives had taken:
For a few minutes, I always felt like I knew what it had been like for baby Finn, after the ventilator went off, and his little chest stopped stopped moving up and down.I didn't know any other way to cope.
Corabelle chose to blackout when the pain got too much and Gavin... well let's just say his choices were a little more unconventional. Under normal circumstances I might have frowned upon some of the things he did but I couldn't help but hurt for him. One decision he did make left me devastated for him though because it was life changing and he couldn't take it back. It was this decision that would eat away at him and as his relationship with Corbelle progressed, I could see the regret creep in.
I should have lived my life differently. I should have accounted for the possibility of a second chance. All my mistakes lined up in front of me and no matter how I pummeled them, they didn't fall.
Despite his choices though, I couldn't help but love Gavin. He was sweet, romantic and some of the things he did for Corbelle were just so heart felt. The butterflies... such a beautiful sentiment he knew would mean the world to her. And when he saw the lines on her stomach... be prepared to feel overrun with emotion:
"I never knew about these," he said. "They showed up later." I tried to cover them,
but he pushed my hands away. "They're beautiful." He began kissing each pale line, hip to stomach and back down again. "It's proof that Finn was once here."
Corabelle was someone I was desperate to wrap up in cotton wool. She was so fragile and broken, a shell of her former self. But the minute Gavin walked back into her life, I saw a spark. The feelings were still there but she was going to fight them with everything she had:
God. I would not cry. Would. Not. I was strong. I was a survivor. I had gone four years without him, and I could go plenty more.
There was an inner strength I saw resurface, a determination but she too had her own demons and these demons had haunted her since the day Fin was born. She had never shared her secret with anyone but this secret had the potential of destroying any possibility of a future with Gavin.
The writing in "Forever Innocent" was just beautiful and it was heart felt, emotions just jumping from the pages. There were chapters that left me in floods of tears, where moments from the past were relived, where my heart took a severe beating with every word I read. The emotions so raw, the reality of the situation so cruel, I could do nothing but sob my heart out for this couple. Deanna Roy wrote this book from the heart and having read a little about this author at the start of the book, I knew that she would do nothing but give a very honest and realistic account of the subject matters covered.
Corabelle and Gavin's story does have an ending. It's not all hearts and flowers but its as good as it can be considering the circumstances. I can't wait to read the sequel. This is one couple I'm desperate to see come out of the darkness. They truly deserve to with everything they've been through:
Crossing the line isn't about forgetting the people we love. It's about not letting our past sorrow steal our future joy.
Unfortunately, I know it's not going to be plain sailing but here's to hoping the love they share will see them through.
"Life is short. Go after what you love and ride it as hard as you can."
I rated "Forever Innocent" 4.5 Hearts
July 22, 2022
Poignant and moving, this story feels so realistic. The death of a newborn is so deeply felt and the author describes this so vividly, but without sensationalizing it. For those that have witnessed a similar event, you will realize that the author must have experienced this herself. A wonderful story of moving from the trauma towards living again. I will be reading the next in the series to see how this couple fares.
October 1, 2013
A very touching, heartbreaking, and overall emotional book. But in a good way of course.
First I need to prepare you all…get the tissues. Not kidding, this is one emotional story. Not in the melt your heart kind of way, but in the break your heart, reduce you to sobbing tears emotional. Now, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t melt your heart moments. Because there really are. And I really looked forward to these moments.
So the heart break started from the get-go. Well, if you want to call the synopsis the ‘get-go’. So, if you haven’t read the synopsis for this book then here it is. And if you are one of those that doesn’t read the synopsis prior to reading a book in fear of it ruining the book then please, skim past it :)
Synopsis
"Our baby died on prom night, and nothing was ever the same again."
Corabelle doesn’t feel like any of the other college girls. On what should have been one of the happiest nights of her life, she and her boyfriend Gavin watched a nurse disconnect the ventilator from their seven-day-old baby. During the funeral two days later, Gavin walked out and never returned.
Since then, her life has been a spiral of disasters. The only thing that has helped is her ability to black out whenever the pain gets too hard to bear, a habit that has become an addiction.
When Gavin shows up in her astronomy class four years later, he is hell-bent on getting her back, insisting she forgive him. Corabelle knows she can’t resist the touch that fills the empty ache that has haunted her since he left. But if he learns what she has done, if he follows the trail back through her past, her secrets will destroy their love completely. And once again, she’ll lose the only person who always believed she was innocent.
Yeah, I was a goner after that first line. I knew I was in for an emotional rollercoaster and boy did I ever get one.
This is an amazing story about what happens when something tragic tears a love apart and what can happen when two people find each other again and discover that the love they once shared and thought the lost, might still be as strong as it was four years ago.
There are, of course, secrets that both Corabelle and Gavin harbor and neither is willing to open up and share them with the other. Both are very scared of the consequences of what the other will think when those secrets are revealed. I was dying for these two to just open up and let it all out already. Their past and the way things happened was just too much to just try and forget.
I love how the author portrayed both Gavin and Corabelle as equally suffering individuals after losing their son. Corabelle might show it more, but Gavin definitely struggles every single day with the loss, even four years later. I have never lost a child but after having my daughter, I couldn’t imagine what it must be like.
I feel like there is also a lot of anger between Corabelle and Gavin that lies beneath the pain and heartache. But I got to thinking, how could there not be? They were both young and dealing with the loss of a baby. Gavin walked away. Yes, I understand his reasoning but Corabelle didn’t at the time. My heart literally ached for these two.
So, overall, great story. I laughed, I smiled, I felt, and I cried…a lot. Very, very emotional. So if this is your type of read, then please, go read it. The author does an amazing job at writing an emotional story with just the right amount of heartache and love. Very well done.
Favorite Quote:
"...I wanted to lose myself, fall into my one great love and just let everything disappear. He could do that. He'd been the only one who could ever do that."
October 4, 2013
Corabelle and Gavin were best friends growing up. They naturally progressed into the next stage of romance during their high school years. At the age of 17 they found themselves looking at their future as they embraced the idea of being together forever when they realized they were going to become parents. Their idea of a perfect happily ever after did not include signing papers to have a ventilator turned off their 6-week premature baby boy while everybody else their age was getting ready for prom.
After the death of their week-old-son, Finn, and the funeral that followed, Gavin ran off never to speak to Corabelle again. Four years later they find themselves looking into each other’s eyes again at the “college by the sea” where they had hosted their dreams of attending college together. Corabelle is a recent transfer student and Gavin has been attending college off and on for 4 years while also working full time to support himself.
Corabelle is not happy to see Gavin, to say the least. She has no idea why he ran and what he’s been doing since that time. She wouldn’t want to know either…Gavin has his own secrets to hide.
But now she was here and wanted nothing to do with me. Just as well. If she knew what all I’d done since leaving that funeral, she’d hate me even more.
Corabelle is a different person from when Gavin knew her. She used to laugh and be happy, now she doesn’t know how to be happy. She has had her own secret kept hidden and the guilt eats away at her. The only time she feels free is when she uses her own coping mechanism.
I looked forward to the black. I wanted it, the one thing that always connected me to Finn.
Both of these tortured souls who once had happiness at their feet when they were together, now have nothing but sadness and guilt overwhelming their path to happiness. One has not moved on to even thinking about moving forward into a new relationship, and one has only had sex with those who are available at a cost. They need closure with each other, but with this comes reliving the extreme sadness and accepting the huge loss that they were given. Grab your tissues, because when they relive it, you will be living it right beside them.
Gavin never thought he would be given a second chance at redemption with Corabelle and now when fate inadvertently places Corabelle and Gavin together, his past is haunting him and he wishes he had done things differently. Gavin wants to tell Corabelle but when every opportunity arises, he loses his strength to vocalize his mistakes. Unfortunately, Corabelle visually becomes aware of his past before he has a chance to explain.
I wasn’t going to blame him for what he’d done. That was his past. But he wasn’t the person I thought he was. He’d become somebody else, someone I wasn’t sure I could live with.
Corabelle and Gavin are forced to come to terms with the guilt they have been carrying in order to move on if they want a second chance at love. Each of them blames themselves, but when each of their secrets and inner demons are laid bare, the overwhelming urge to transfer that guilt from oneself to the next cannot be controlled. More guilt is weighed heavily upon Corabelle and she seeks the black. Hopefully Gavin can save her before it’s too late and give her back the happiness and take away the numb that she has been feeling for the last 4 years.
We’d saved each other time and time again. I had faith that whenever one of us needed rescue, the other would always be there.
September 30, 2013
3.5/5 stars
I will be very honest with you all- this book broke my heart several times and as I read I felt I had a vise gripped around my heart. Don't get me wrong- I enjoyed this one, but wow. My emotions were all over the place!
This book is narrated in both Corabelle and Gavin's POVs, which made it all the more heart wrenching. Both Corabelle and Gavin are two very broken people, who after sharing a painful past, are thrown back into one another's lives with no warning. Neither one is ready for the other, yet they can't stop thinking about each other either. After growing up with someone and sharing the things they did, it's so easy to remember how things used to be between them, when they were happy and in love. Feelings are re-ignited and while Corabelle says she wants to move forward, Gavin becomes determined to win her back. He knows he made a mistake leaving her years ago and wants to make up for it. Corabelle tries to push him away and not let herself fall back into what was once beautiful and effortless. If only it were that easy...
I felt both Gavin and Corabelle jumped back in with each other way too soon and way too fast, considering all they've been through. Both of them carry secrets that could destroy the other and until they come clean, they won't be able to truly be happy, despite the fact that Gavin wants them to move forward and think about a future. Both have to be able forgive each other for their pasts, but most importantly they need to be able to forgive themselves. I honestly believe they are not anywhere close to that point as of yet, which is why Corabelle's actions at the end weren't that shocking to me.
Corabelle was such a broken, lost character. She refuses to date after her ordeal and is focused entirely on work and school. She is just not a very happy character, something her best friend Jenny says on multiple occasions- in fact, she said she's never even heard her laugh before. When Gavin shows up in her astronomy class, she is absolutely floored. It's been four years since she's seen him and she has so many feelings come rushing back to her: love, anger, pain, hurt, sorrow... She is very back and forth with Gavin the entire book- never entirely sure he's what she wants, which was a bit frustrating to me.
Gavin has spent his last four years trying to forget the life he once had with Corabelle and their baby. He feels an overwhelming sense of guilt and despair at being the one to sign Finn's papers to take him off the respirator, and not being able to cope afterwards, he makes a decision and leaves. Now, upon being reunited with Corabelle, Gavin now has the shame of his less than honorable actions to add to on top of his guilt. He is determined to get her back- he never stopped loving her and he wants them to have a future together. As I said earlier- these two have too many secrets amongst them and have not received the help they need to be able to deal and move forward, as we see from the conclusion of this book.
While not a cliffhanger, I am definitely ready to see what lies ahead for Gavin and Corabelle. Now that their secrets are out- will they be able to forgive themselves and each other? Or is there too much pain and hurt between them that a future simply isn't attainable? I can't wait to find out!
*Received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
I will be very honest with you all- this book broke my heart several times and as I read I felt I had a vise gripped around my heart. Don't get me wrong- I enjoyed this one, but wow. My emotions were all over the place!
This book is narrated in both Corabelle and Gavin's POVs, which made it all the more heart wrenching. Both Corabelle and Gavin are two very broken people, who after sharing a painful past, are thrown back into one another's lives with no warning. Neither one is ready for the other, yet they can't stop thinking about each other either. After growing up with someone and sharing the things they did, it's so easy to remember how things used to be between them, when they were happy and in love. Feelings are re-ignited and while Corabelle says she wants to move forward, Gavin becomes determined to win her back. He knows he made a mistake leaving her years ago and wants to make up for it. Corabelle tries to push him away and not let herself fall back into what was once beautiful and effortless. If only it were that easy...
I felt both Gavin and Corabelle jumped back in with each other way too soon and way too fast, considering all they've been through. Both of them carry secrets that could destroy the other and until they come clean, they won't be able to truly be happy, despite the fact that Gavin wants them to move forward and think about a future. Both have to be able forgive each other for their pasts, but most importantly they need to be able to forgive themselves. I honestly believe they are not anywhere close to that point as of yet, which is why Corabelle's actions at the end weren't that shocking to me.
Corabelle was such a broken, lost character. She refuses to date after her ordeal and is focused entirely on work and school. She is just not a very happy character, something her best friend Jenny says on multiple occasions- in fact, she said she's never even heard her laugh before. When Gavin shows up in her astronomy class, she is absolutely floored. It's been four years since she's seen him and she has so many feelings come rushing back to her: love, anger, pain, hurt, sorrow... She is very back and forth with Gavin the entire book- never entirely sure he's what she wants, which was a bit frustrating to me.
Gavin has spent his last four years trying to forget the life he once had with Corabelle and their baby. He feels an overwhelming sense of guilt and despair at being the one to sign Finn's papers to take him off the respirator, and not being able to cope afterwards, he makes a decision and leaves. Now, upon being reunited with Corabelle, Gavin now has the shame of his less than honorable actions to add to on top of his guilt. He is determined to get her back- he never stopped loving her and he wants them to have a future together. As I said earlier- these two have too many secrets amongst them and have not received the help they need to be able to deal and move forward, as we see from the conclusion of this book.
While not a cliffhanger, I am definitely ready to see what lies ahead for Gavin and Corabelle. Now that their secrets are out- will they be able to forgive themselves and each other? Or is there too much pain and hurt between them that a future simply isn't attainable? I can't wait to find out!
*Received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
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