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The Archer Brothers #1
Here with Me
Ryley Clarke has grown up with the military in her blood, with both parents serving their country. Ryley knows the risks of being married to the military. But when the unthinkable happens, and her future husband is killed in action, Ryley can barely survive... until Evan's twin brother, Nate, helps her pick up the pieces.
After serving on a special mission with the military for six years, Evan Archer returns home to find the unthinkable - the love of his life, Ryley Clarke - engaged to his brother, Nate. With Nate on deployment, Evan needs to figure out what happened in his absence, and more importantly, how to win Ryley back from the man he once considered his best friend, but now thinks of as his rival.
After serving on a special mission with the military for six years, Evan Archer returns home to find the unthinkable - the love of his life, Ryley Clarke - engaged to his brother, Nate. With Nate on deployment, Evan needs to figure out what happened in his absence, and more importantly, how to win Ryley back from the man he once considered his best friend, but now thinks of as his rival.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2014
560 people are currently reading
10510 people want to read
About the author
Heidi McLaughlin
122 books7,431 followersHeidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers.
In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.
Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018.
To stay connected with Heidi visit www.facebook.com/authorheidimclaughlin or heidimclaughlin.com
In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.
Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018.
To stay connected with Heidi visit www.facebook.com/authorheidimclaughlin or heidimclaughlin.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 895 reviews
April 4, 2015
::: FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED ::: 4.5+ STARS!! :::
HOLYYYYY SHIT!!!!! I read Here With Me and Choose Me back-to-back because I quite literally COULD. NOT. PUT. THEM. DOWN!!!! Together they tell a complete story and IT WAS AWESOME!!!!! OMG. My heart!!! Gah!!! The feels!!! I was glued to the page from start to finish and just couldn't turn those pages fast enough. If you're looking for a unique, well written, roller coaster of a story that will keep your heart racing the whole way through to fall in love with, I'd HIGHLY recommend these books!!
This is a review of both books because together they tell one story.
The story is about Evan Archer, a Navy SEAL, who fell in love with a girl when they were in high school. They built and planned a life together. He was sent away on a mission that ended up going wrong. It was supposed to be a quick in and out but they ended up away for six years. Ryley was told he was dead. A body was sent home. She buried the man she loved and was forced to move on. Her life fell apart and Evan's twin brother Nate Archer was there to help her pick up the pieces, and help her raise her son. Until the day Evan came home, with no idea that she didn't know he was alive... and found her engaged to Nate.
*gasp* ;)
You should know that I'm NOT a fan of love triangles but I'm still loved this series! Here's why: There were no "teams" for me here. Not even for a single moment. I was never once "torn" between the two guys. Don't get me wrong, I liked them both, but there was absolutely no doubt in my mind who she should be with and (don't judge me) I checked the ending of the second book before I even started them to be sure that he was in fact the one. Honestly, I wouldn't have reviewed these if they'd ended any other way, so basically... Without spoilers, I'll just say that if you're worried about anything in them, don't be! Just enjoy the ride! It's a wild one that'll tug all your heart strings in the best possibly way. ❤
The cool thing is that these are actually "romantic suspense" books. The suspense comes from the fact that, remember how Evan's mission took six years? Well, it wasn't supposed to. There was a cover up... and a whole mystery there over what the hell happened to their team. It added an 'edgy' feeling to the story that I really loved. I needed answers!!! I was just an invested in this part as I was in the romance.
Anyways, when you start the first book you'll see that you're hit with the feels right from the start. There's no 'easing you in'. You just hit the ground running! I actually love that. I love instantly just being immersed into the story. It's also one of those stories where I started it, got sucked right in, and suddenly I looked down and I was at 25% ... then 60%... then 90% ... -- it just kinda takes over your life.
It's honestly hard for me to talk about this any more than this without giving spoilers so I'm just going to stop and hope that you're intrigued enough to give them a shot because it's an awesome series!
By the way, I have a ton of quotes highlighted but... every time I look through them, I can see how they *could* be taken as a spoiler so that's the only reason I decided not to include any here.
These two books tell a complete story. The ending is fully resolved on all accounts and the third book in the series will be a standalone about a completely different guy. His story sounds crazy cool though so I'm excited for it. But that's separate. Consider these as their own 2-book series within a larger series.
PS: or those of you who (like me) neeeeeeed to know for sure who she ends up with, here you go:
Dual rating: 4.5+ stars! Contemporary romantic suspense.
_______________________________________
For more of my reviews, book news and updates:
✦ Main blog: Aestas Book Blog
✦ Facebook Blog Page
✦ Twitter
✦ Subscribe by email
HOLYYYYY SHIT!!!!! I read Here With Me and Choose Me back-to-back because I quite literally COULD. NOT. PUT. THEM. DOWN!!!! Together they tell a complete story and IT WAS AWESOME!!!!! OMG. My heart!!! Gah!!! The feels!!! I was glued to the page from start to finish and just couldn't turn those pages fast enough. If you're looking for a unique, well written, roller coaster of a story that will keep your heart racing the whole way through to fall in love with, I'd HIGHLY recommend these books!!
This is a review of both books because together they tell one story.
The story is about Evan Archer, a Navy SEAL, who fell in love with a girl when they were in high school. They built and planned a life together. He was sent away on a mission that ended up going wrong. It was supposed to be a quick in and out but they ended up away for six years. Ryley was told he was dead. A body was sent home. She buried the man she loved and was forced to move on. Her life fell apart and Evan's twin brother Nate Archer was there to help her pick up the pieces, and help her raise her son. Until the day Evan came home, with no idea that she didn't know he was alive... and found her engaged to Nate.
*gasp* ;)
You should know that I'm NOT a fan of love triangles but I'm still loved this series! Here's why: There were no "teams" for me here. Not even for a single moment. I was never once "torn" between the two guys. Don't get me wrong, I liked them both, but there was absolutely no doubt in my mind who she should be with and (don't judge me) I checked the ending of the second book before I even started them to be sure that he was in fact the one. Honestly, I wouldn't have reviewed these if they'd ended any other way, so basically... Without spoilers, I'll just say that if you're worried about anything in them, don't be! Just enjoy the ride! It's a wild one that'll tug all your heart strings in the best possibly way. ❤
The cool thing is that these are actually "romantic suspense" books. The suspense comes from the fact that, remember how Evan's mission took six years? Well, it wasn't supposed to. There was a cover up... and a whole mystery there over what the hell happened to their team. It added an 'edgy' feeling to the story that I really loved. I needed answers!!! I was just an invested in this part as I was in the romance.
Anyways, when you start the first book you'll see that you're hit with the feels right from the start. There's no 'easing you in'. You just hit the ground running! I actually love that. I love instantly just being immersed into the story. It's also one of those stories where I started it, got sucked right in, and suddenly I looked down and I was at 25% ... then 60%... then 90% ... -- it just kinda takes over your life.
It's honestly hard for me to talk about this any more than this without giving spoilers so I'm just going to stop and hope that you're intrigued enough to give them a shot because it's an awesome series!
By the way, I have a ton of quotes highlighted but... every time I look through them, I can see how they *could* be taken as a spoiler so that's the only reason I decided not to include any here.
These two books tell a complete story. The ending is fully resolved on all accounts and the third book in the series will be a standalone about a completely different guy. His story sounds crazy cool though so I'm excited for it. But that's separate. Consider these as their own 2-book series within a larger series.
PS: or those of you who (like me) neeeeeeed to know for sure who she ends up with, here you go:
Dual rating: 4.5+ stars! Contemporary romantic suspense.
_______________________________________
For more of my reviews, book news and updates:
✦ Main blog: Aestas Book Blog
✦ Facebook Blog Page
✦ Subscribe by email
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October 24, 2014Mixed rating – 2 stars and 5 stars
(spoiler-free)
Well this is one of those times where I don’t know how to rate a book. I adored the writing – it was evocative, fluent, and brilliant. I highlighted like crazy and I had to pause a couple of times because it was painful to read. The military subject matter was also weaved nicely into the story, adding an edgy, suspenseful tone. However, the way the book is styled did a big injustice to one of the characters and as a result, it lead me to resent the other two later on (and I’m NOT talking about cheating here). Cheating is literally the least of my concerns with this book by the way.
I’m going to split the rest into 2 parts: a 5 star review and a 2 star review.
5 star part
Like I said in the beginning, the writing is beautiful. Exquisite. And extremely evocative. With a premise like this one that promises angst, tears, and heartbreak, terrific writing only adds to the strife and conflict.
“I’m here because six years ago I lost the love of my life but now he’s back from the dead, and in a few weeks I’m set to marry my best friend. His brother.”
Welp! For starters, I liked how the author laid out the first half of the book through therapy sessions that provided the background story and shed light on the relationship dynamic among the heroine Ryley and the twin brothers in love with her, Evan and Nate. I also appreciated that these characters were extremely honest about their feelings and where they stood with each other. No second guessing. No indecisiveness.
“It’s how he made me feel. The sun was brighter. The clouds were bigger. The birds even sang louder once I met him. I know not everyone has that experience, but I did. He was like my daily dose of life.”
Simply put, Ryley and Evan are it for each other. They have that soul mate love and had a life planned out but one military operation changes everything for them. With Evan presumably dead, Ryley painstakingly moves on with her life and though it was unexpected, she gradually fell in love with Nate, her best friend and Evan’s twin.
“Sometimes love has an odd way of working around pain.”
This is where the intriguing military aspect kicks in. Evan thought it’d be a quick, simple operation but as days, months, and eventually years pass by he’s given no leeway to return home even though he and the rest of his team accomplished the goal. On top of that, families and friends are told that they all died just months after they leave so their return 6 years later is met with confusion, denial, and bitterness.
“When he was there on my front porch, my [grocery] bags should’ve dropped. My eggs should’ve splattered all over my driveway and my gallon of milk should’ve exploded. Instead I stood there staring at the ghost who had taken the form of my former fiancé as he descended the stairs of our front porch. His smile was bright until he saw my face and then it died.”
And this is where the 2 star part comes in.
2 star part
I’m not going to outright tell you the guy who has Ryley’s heart but knowing how much this author loves her second chance romances and the way this book was written in alternating Evan and Ryley POVs, it will be very obvious. The first 50% of this book I was confident it’d be at least a 4.5 star read. The writing, the emotion, the love…it all spoke to me and squeezed my heart.
But one thing that’s neglected in the synopsis and most reviews is that Nate – the man Ryley’s engaged to – is physically ABSENT for 97% of the book. You see, both Evan and Nate are Navy SEALs and when Evan was thought dead, Nate still continued on his missions and such. Nate left Ryley thinking they were in love and getting married soon, which was blown out of the water when Evan returns.
I do want to preface that Ryley made it very clear who was her soul mate. She loved both men, but in very different ways. And as much as I believed that Ryley and Evan’s love was stronger than what she feels for Nate, Evan is the one who completely destroyed any sympathy I had for him.
“Her, I’m willing to forgive. Him, I’m not even willing to try.”
Evan thinks of their engagement as a betrayal. Which emotionally, maybe it was. But technically? Logically? NO. He was thought dead. They buried him. They were able to move on. A heartbroken girl with a presumably dead fiancé doesn’t need to stay heartbroken forever. A man who lost his twin doesn’t need to suffer forever. And if they could move on and find solace in each other, then there shouldn’t be a single reason to think that Nate and Ryley’s love was inappropriate or a betrayal as Evan would call it.
At this point, I was extremely frustrated with the author because there wasn’t a single Nate POV until the very last chapter. WHY? By excluding Nate’s POV and his insight to this entire situation, the love triangle, the blame, basically everything is one-sided and it all tips towards Evan’s side. It’s like condemning a man who wasn’t present at his own trial. The author did not give Nate a chance to explain his side, to fight for the girl he loves. And I FUCKING HATED THAT. Whether or not that was the author’s intention, this emotional manipulation made me resent and hate Evan in the second half of the book and made me question why Ryley didn’t defend Nate as she should’ve since he’s her fiancé now.
I know some are not going to care about this issue, but it’s big for me. I’m the kind of reader who will always sympathize and root for the underdog, the second place finisher, the runner up. And that is Nate in this book. He came in second in everything. Ryley noted several times that even his sister was closer to Evan and her dad favored Evan over Nate. And now the author doesn’t give us his POV until the very last chapter? That was a huge disservice to his character.
So with these feelings and thoughts warring in my head, I can’t rate this book like I normally would. At this very moment I am itching to slap a 2 star because the author – intentionally or unintentionally – wrote this book in a way that clearly favors one character over the other and screwed over the underdog. But at the same time, the depth of emotion evoked because of her beautiful writing and the military aspect of the story I can’t ignore either. A mixed rating is the only way that allows me to stay true to my honest feelings for this book but also acknowledges the author’s merits.
Here With Me is the first book in the Archer Brothers series and not a standalone. The story is not concluded and will continue on in book 2 Choose Me.
P.S. As for the lack of images, I'm just dead tired :)
(spoiler-free)
Well this is one of those times where I don’t know how to rate a book. I adored the writing – it was evocative, fluent, and brilliant. I highlighted like crazy and I had to pause a couple of times because it was painful to read. The military subject matter was also weaved nicely into the story, adding an edgy, suspenseful tone. However, the way the book is styled did a big injustice to one of the characters and as a result, it lead me to resent the other two later on (and I’m NOT talking about cheating here). Cheating is literally the least of my concerns with this book by the way.
I’m going to split the rest into 2 parts: a 5 star review and a 2 star review.
5 star part
Like I said in the beginning, the writing is beautiful. Exquisite. And extremely evocative. With a premise like this one that promises angst, tears, and heartbreak, terrific writing only adds to the strife and conflict.
“I’m here because six years ago I lost the love of my life but now he’s back from the dead, and in a few weeks I’m set to marry my best friend. His brother.”
Welp! For starters, I liked how the author laid out the first half of the book through therapy sessions that provided the background story and shed light on the relationship dynamic among the heroine Ryley and the twin brothers in love with her, Evan and Nate. I also appreciated that these characters were extremely honest about their feelings and where they stood with each other. No second guessing. No indecisiveness.
“It’s how he made me feel. The sun was brighter. The clouds were bigger. The birds even sang louder once I met him. I know not everyone has that experience, but I did. He was like my daily dose of life.”
Simply put, Ryley and Evan are it for each other. They have that soul mate love and had a life planned out but one military operation changes everything for them. With Evan presumably dead, Ryley painstakingly moves on with her life and though it was unexpected, she gradually fell in love with Nate, her best friend and Evan’s twin.
“Sometimes love has an odd way of working around pain.”
This is where the intriguing military aspect kicks in. Evan thought it’d be a quick, simple operation but as days, months, and eventually years pass by he’s given no leeway to return home even though he and the rest of his team accomplished the goal. On top of that, families and friends are told that they all died just months after they leave so their return 6 years later is met with confusion, denial, and bitterness.
“When he was there on my front porch, my [grocery] bags should’ve dropped. My eggs should’ve splattered all over my driveway and my gallon of milk should’ve exploded. Instead I stood there staring at the ghost who had taken the form of my former fiancé as he descended the stairs of our front porch. His smile was bright until he saw my face and then it died.”
And this is where the 2 star part comes in.
2 star part
I’m not going to outright tell you the guy who has Ryley’s heart but knowing how much this author loves her second chance romances and the way this book was written in alternating Evan and Ryley POVs, it will be very obvious. The first 50% of this book I was confident it’d be at least a 4.5 star read. The writing, the emotion, the love…it all spoke to me and squeezed my heart.
But one thing that’s neglected in the synopsis and most reviews is that Nate – the man Ryley’s engaged to – is physically ABSENT for 97% of the book. You see, both Evan and Nate are Navy SEALs and when Evan was thought dead, Nate still continued on his missions and such. Nate left Ryley thinking they were in love and getting married soon, which was blown out of the water when Evan returns.
I do want to preface that Ryley made it very clear who was her soul mate. She loved both men, but in very different ways. And as much as I believed that Ryley and Evan’s love was stronger than what she feels for Nate, Evan is the one who completely destroyed any sympathy I had for him.
“Her, I’m willing to forgive. Him, I’m not even willing to try.”
Evan thinks of their engagement as a betrayal. Which emotionally, maybe it was. But technically? Logically? NO. He was thought dead. They buried him. They were able to move on. A heartbroken girl with a presumably dead fiancé doesn’t need to stay heartbroken forever. A man who lost his twin doesn’t need to suffer forever. And if they could move on and find solace in each other, then there shouldn’t be a single reason to think that Nate and Ryley’s love was inappropriate or a betrayal as Evan would call it.
At this point, I was extremely frustrated with the author because there wasn’t a single Nate POV until the very last chapter. WHY? By excluding Nate’s POV and his insight to this entire situation, the love triangle, the blame, basically everything is one-sided and it all tips towards Evan’s side. It’s like condemning a man who wasn’t present at his own trial. The author did not give Nate a chance to explain his side, to fight for the girl he loves. And I FUCKING HATED THAT. Whether or not that was the author’s intention, this emotional manipulation made me resent and hate Evan in the second half of the book and made me question why Ryley didn’t defend Nate as she should’ve since he’s her fiancé now.
I know some are not going to care about this issue, but it’s big for me. I’m the kind of reader who will always sympathize and root for the underdog, the second place finisher, the runner up. And that is Nate in this book. He came in second in everything. Ryley noted several times that even his sister was closer to Evan and her dad favored Evan over Nate. And now the author doesn’t give us his POV until the very last chapter? That was a huge disservice to his character.
So with these feelings and thoughts warring in my head, I can’t rate this book like I normally would. At this very moment I am itching to slap a 2 star because the author – intentionally or unintentionally – wrote this book in a way that clearly favors one character over the other and screwed over the underdog. But at the same time, the depth of emotion evoked because of her beautiful writing and the military aspect of the story I can’t ignore either. A mixed rating is the only way that allows me to stay true to my honest feelings for this book but also acknowledges the author’s merits.
Here With Me is the first book in the Archer Brothers series and not a standalone. The story is not concluded and will continue on in book 2 Choose Me.
P.S. As for the lack of images, I'm just dead tired :)
May 30, 2015
Here With Me could be the love child of the movie Castaway and the TV show The Client List. Even though those two shows don’t have anything to do with the military they have elements that are in this book. The premises are similar but the settings are different.
”Time doesn’t heal anything. It just prolongs the hurt and pain."
The plot line is one of intrigue and heartbreak. Evan was deployed on a secret mission for 6 years. SIX YEARS! He left behind a pregnant fiancee along with a twin brother, and his parents. When he returns his fiancee, Riley had moved on because she was informed by the military he was dead. SIX YEARS! I know, I already pointed out how long he was gone for but I want to emphasize that is a long time to think someone is dead. A lot of pain and confusion ensues when your dead lover shows up after six years.
”It’s messy. Our family life is complicated. … This family needs help!!!!”
Poor, Riley! Gah, I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes. In that six years since she's buried Evan her life has moved on. Which is a normal part of life ... it's the fact it's with his twin brother, Nate, that makes me cringe. WHAT NOW?! Nate's deployed on a mission when Evan shows up thinking he’s coming home to his waiting fiancee and son. He had no idea his family thought he was dead. Something was botched with Evan's secret military mission! Is the military covering up their mistake? Did Nate know Evan was alive all these year? I need answers!!!
”It would be so easy to fall back into a routine with Evan, and I wish that I could without consequences.”
From their meet cute when they were teenagers until now Riley has always loved Evan. But now she’s promised herself to his brother! How can this end good? Whose heart is going to be broken? Whose ring will she wear?
Eenie meenie miney mo!
I choose no one . . . actually I’m totally rooting for Evan BUT I haven’t heard Nate’s side of the story. I’m sure after I read the next book with Nate’s pov I will be totally confused on who should get the girl.
SERIES:
Untitled
Continuing story.
”Time doesn’t heal anything. It just prolongs the hurt and pain."
The plot line is one of intrigue and heartbreak. Evan was deployed on a secret mission for 6 years. SIX YEARS! He left behind a pregnant fiancee along with a twin brother, and his parents. When he returns his fiancee, Riley had moved on because she was informed by the military he was dead. SIX YEARS! I know, I already pointed out how long he was gone for but I want to emphasize that is a long time to think someone is dead. A lot of pain and confusion ensues when your dead lover shows up after six years.
”It’s messy. Our family life is complicated. … This family needs help!!!!”
Poor, Riley! Gah, I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes. In that six years since she's buried Evan her life has moved on. Which is a normal part of life ... it's the fact it's with his twin brother, Nate, that makes me cringe. WHAT NOW?! Nate's deployed on a mission when Evan shows up thinking he’s coming home to his waiting fiancee and son. He had no idea his family thought he was dead. Something was botched with Evan's secret military mission! Is the military covering up their mistake? Did Nate know Evan was alive all these year? I need answers!!!
”It would be so easy to fall back into a routine with Evan, and I wish that I could without consequences.”
From their meet cute when they were teenagers until now Riley has always loved Evan. But now she’s promised herself to his brother! How can this end good? Whose heart is going to be broken? Whose ring will she wear?
Eenie meenie miney mo!
I choose no one . . . actually I’m totally rooting for Evan BUT I haven’t heard Nate’s side of the story. I’m sure after I read the next book with Nate’s pov I will be totally confused on who should get the girl.
SERIES:
UntitledContinuing story.
February 10, 2016
"She’s mine. She always has been and always will be."-Evan
Here with Me is both heartbreaking and beautiful. The stage is set for lives to be changed forever. The scenario these characters were placed in challenges what we think is right and wrong. It questions commitment in times of war and peace. What is more important- loyalty or love? Here with Me is set in the present time but the past is revealed piece by piece as the story progresses.
The story begins in a therapists office. Ryley is broken. Evan is broken. The therapist most help them find healing. They need help to find their way.
Evan and Ryley have been in love since high school. Despite Evan's service as a Navy Seal, they have made their relationship work. They have shared all of their firsts and are looking forward to a beautiful future together. Then Evan receives orders. He is to ship out on a mission. Ryley supports her soldier. After sharing the news that she is pregnant with his baby, he ships out.
What was meant to be a short mission turns out to be a long drawn out series of missions. It is dangerous. Ryley is home pregnant and missing him. He is with his seal team in the jungle and Ryley is alone.
Ryley receives word that Evan is gone. She is plunged into grieving. Evan's mother turns her back on her. The only person that seems to be able to give her support is Evan's identical twin brother Nate. They have always been friends. Now that Evan is gone, Ryley is forced to find her way through the dark.
Six Years Pass...
Evan returns home thinking he will receive a heroes homecoming. What he finds when he comes home is his worst nightmare come to life. Ryley is engaged to another man. His brother!
Evan and Ryley decide to see a therapist. The only way they can make sense of the craziness in their life is to figure out what went wrong! Evan wants Ryley back. Evan wants to meet his son EJ! Ryley loves Evan but now she feels a special loyalty to Nate. Frankly, the entire scenario calls for a box of tissues, bottle of vodka, and some Xanax!
“I’m going to fight for my family and I’ll do it dirty if I have to. I’ll be the one standing up at your wedding stopping it, and I’m going to prove that you’re still madly in love with me even though we haven’t seen or been with each other in six years. Your body sings for me, I felt it when I sat down next to you.”-Evan
Ryley slowly lets Evan back in to her life. In her heart she knows what is right. Evan will stop at nothing to get his girl back! Evan is a strong hero and is well matched with Ryley. The endurance it takes to be in the military is like nothing else. The passion Evan has for his family takes over all of his senses.
“I want my family back, and I’m going to tell you this right now, I’m very angry with Nate. I was told that he knew everything. Hell, I thought you were sending me care packages only to find out you thought I was dead. But there’s no excuse for Nate."-Evan
The conflict between the two brothers in intense. Nate isn't there to defend himself and Ryley is caught in the middle.
"I’m committed to someone else, and the fact that I have to keep reminding myself of that is not a good thing."-Ryley
Perhaps one of the most jarring elements of this book is the little boy caught in the middle. Even though Evan is his father, Nate has been raising him. When Evan holds his son for the first time, I felt like I needed to call my pastor for prayer. Frankly- it caused the "ugly girl cry" to happen!
"Seeing my son in the flesh for the first time is indescribable. When he was standing there holding Ryley’s hand, I wanted to break down and cry. I’m not ashamed to admit it. I wanted to sob like a damn baby because my chest hurt."
"Our lives are being turned upside down with hearts shattering."
There are so many feels in this read. Of course you have a feeling at the direction the story is going to go. You just don't know when it will happen. How will it happen? Who did this to them? If you are looking for the answers you won't find them in this first book. Lucky for you the second book is already out. You won't have to wait to find out!
“And what makes you think I’m not going to marry Nate.”-Ryley
“Simple, you love me.”-Evan
I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed this book. I tend to shy away from angst and pain and yet I enjoyed every second of this read. The plot was so riveting and truly unique! However outlandish it sounds, the book really worked. If you believe in true love and the importance of family then you will enjoy this read.
“I’m not sorry,” he whispers against my skin. “As far as I’m concerned, we’re together. We didn’t break up unless you want to break up with me now.”-Evan
***The Archer Brother Series***
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
November 26, 2014
*4.5 Stars*
”Everything I knew I had, everything that I thought was waiting for me, isn’t.”
Well, well, well Heidi McLaughlin I stayed up way too late and read this book in one sitting. The story line and the writing grabbed me from the very first chapter. What a heartbreaking mess Ryley finds herself in. I just feel terrible for all the characters involved. It all starts when Ryley’s dead fiancée shows up at her doorstep six years after she buried him.
This story is told in alternating povs of Ryley and Evan and all the feelings of confusion, anger and love propelled me to read on because Ryley is now wearing another man’s ring and it’s Evan’s twin brother, Nate’s. Ryley’s son, EJ also only knows Nate as his father. The author doesn’t stop there but adds a conspiracy theory because he has been gone for six years and his family buried him. During these six long years, Evan received care packages, pictures and letters that he thought was from his girl.
”None of this adds up. The Navy was supporting us, we were on a mission to recover children who were being used as sex slaves and someone here was telling everyone that we’re dead!”
While Evan and Ryley attempt to reconnect, Nate is away on a mission and so his pov isn’t dropped to the last chapter. Still Ryley has some big decisions to make…
”Do I marry this man who has been everything to me for the last five years? The man that is the only dad my son – his nephew – knows? Or do I do what is expected, what you see in the movies and go running back into the arms of the man that I love, the man that I was told was dead?”
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and I hope that book two is just as well done. This story does indeed end with a cliffhanger with everything left wide open going forward. This series has a lot of potential and so many directions it could go!!
”There are so many lies surrounding this mess that I fear we’ll never have our answers.”
”Everything I knew I had, everything that I thought was waiting for me, isn’t.”
Well, well, well Heidi McLaughlin I stayed up way too late and read this book in one sitting. The story line and the writing grabbed me from the very first chapter. What a heartbreaking mess Ryley finds herself in. I just feel terrible for all the characters involved. It all starts when Ryley’s dead fiancée shows up at her doorstep six years after she buried him.
This story is told in alternating povs of Ryley and Evan and all the feelings of confusion, anger and love propelled me to read on because Ryley is now wearing another man’s ring and it’s Evan’s twin brother, Nate’s. Ryley’s son, EJ also only knows Nate as his father. The author doesn’t stop there but adds a conspiracy theory because he has been gone for six years and his family buried him. During these six long years, Evan received care packages, pictures and letters that he thought was from his girl.
”None of this adds up. The Navy was supporting us, we were on a mission to recover children who were being used as sex slaves and someone here was telling everyone that we’re dead!”
While Evan and Ryley attempt to reconnect, Nate is away on a mission and so his pov isn’t dropped to the last chapter. Still Ryley has some big decisions to make…
”Do I marry this man who has been everything to me for the last five years? The man that is the only dad my son – his nephew – knows? Or do I do what is expected, what you see in the movies and go running back into the arms of the man that I love, the man that I was told was dead?”
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and I hope that book two is just as well done. This story does indeed end with a cliffhanger with everything left wide open going forward. This series has a lot of potential and so many directions it could go!!
”There are so many lies surrounding this mess that I fear we’ll never have our answers.”
November 19, 2015
>>>FREE!! AMAZON <<<
4.5 LifeIsUnfair stars
When I had read the blurb for this, I thought "Wow, this sounds very intriguing. I really need to check this out!"
Was I disappointed when it finally came to my hands?
The writing is EPIC! I enjoyed so much how the first part of the book was written in alternative POVs, while attending therapist's sessions! I haven't met something like that before, so I devoured it. I could already imagine this as a movie in my mind and it worked, for me, at least. Especially reading as they were going down on their memory lane. I found it fascinating!
Back to the plot now!
Evan Archer was in a mission with the Navy for 6 years and when he returns home, he finds his fiance not only welcoming him, as he expected, but in denial, because she claims that he's supposed to be dead. Meanwhile, she's engaged to his twin brother, Nate.
Obviously, Evan isn't dead and now Ryley is utterly confused with what she should do with her life. Evan was her high school sweetheart, her first and only love, she was about to marry him, until she was informed about his death. Even though, she tried to move on and she's about to get married to his brother, she still has feelings for him. After all, she would be his wife, if he wasn't claimed to be dead. On the other hand, we have her five year old son, EJ, who has met Nate as a father and she is engaged to him, so what is she supposed to do now?
The other half of the book was really sweet & had me in awe several times. I loved how Evan tried to get everything that he had lost. Especially his bonding moments with his son, EJ. They were really adorable! Evan struggles with the fact that Ryley isn't available though and he's trying hard to change that.
What makes me rate it 4.5 and not 5? The loss of Nate's POV. Sadly, Nate's POV came only close to the ending, something that made me think that this wasn't fair for his character.. The book seemed completely one sided and I may get the reason that the author did that, it doesn't make me feel better as a reader though. Because when I read the blurb I thought I would really struggle to pick one of them for Riley, but it seemed who the author favored & it somehow felt manipulative to me.
Last but not least, the last chapters of the book were really thrilling, giving a sense of adventure to the story. I loved how it kept me on my toes & about the cliff in the end, it wasn't something that makes me impatient for the next book, but it gives me the idea that it's going to be very interesting.
4.5 LifeIsUnfair stars
When I had read the blurb for this, I thought "Wow, this sounds very intriguing. I really need to check this out!"
Was I disappointed when it finally came to my hands?
The writing is EPIC! I enjoyed so much how the first part of the book was written in alternative POVs, while attending therapist's sessions! I haven't met something like that before, so I devoured it. I could already imagine this as a movie in my mind and it worked, for me, at least. Especially reading as they were going down on their memory lane. I found it fascinating!
Back to the plot now!
Evan Archer was in a mission with the Navy for 6 years and when he returns home, he finds his fiance not only welcoming him, as he expected, but in denial, because she claims that he's supposed to be dead. Meanwhile, she's engaged to his twin brother, Nate.
Obviously, Evan isn't dead and now Ryley is utterly confused with what she should do with her life. Evan was her high school sweetheart, her first and only love, she was about to marry him, until she was informed about his death. Even though, she tried to move on and she's about to get married to his brother, she still has feelings for him. After all, she would be his wife, if he wasn't claimed to be dead. On the other hand, we have her five year old son, EJ, who has met Nate as a father and she is engaged to him, so what is she supposed to do now?
The other half of the book was really sweet & had me in awe several times. I loved how Evan tried to get everything that he had lost. Especially his bonding moments with his son, EJ. They were really adorable! Evan struggles with the fact that Ryley isn't available though and he's trying hard to change that.
What makes me rate it 4.5 and not 5? The loss of Nate's POV. Sadly, Nate's POV came only close to the ending, something that made me think that this wasn't fair for his character.. The book seemed completely one sided and I may get the reason that the author did that, it doesn't make me feel better as a reader though. Because when I read the blurb I thought I would really struggle to pick one of them for Riley, but it seemed who the author favored & it somehow felt manipulative to me.
Last but not least, the last chapters of the book were really thrilling, giving a sense of adventure to the story. I loved how it kept me on my toes & about the cliff in the end, it wasn't something that makes me impatient for the next book, but it gives me the idea that it's going to be very interesting.
April 4, 2015
The blurb was better than the book.
March 30, 2015
4-4.5 Stars
That quote says it all. This book was intense. Heartbreaking and full of emotional distress. I can't even imagine being in this situation. Here with Me is a fast-paced, romantic suspense that had my heart beating fast. My main issue, I would have preferred Evan and Nate to have been friends, instead of twins, but I still really enjoyed this one. I'm looking forward getting some answers and finding out who will get the girl...It better be Evan. I love that man <3
April 21, 2015
4-4.5 StArS
Review Posted 20th April'15
I don't want to give away 1 mile of this road you'll be travelling with Ryley Archer except to say...
WHAT WOULD YOU DO, if this happened to you...
Ryley has grieved for her husband Evan Archer for six long years, declared dead when he went on a mission and never returned.
Evan's twin Nate, over time slipped into his own twin's life....loving the women and child he's brother had left behind.
Then one day, all their worlds are rocked.....when Evan returns home.
BOY OH BOY, Hell I'm not even sure I would know what to do!!!
Like the tyre' s on a car, a puncher can pretty much stop you in your tracks.
Well this story punctured my heart and stopped me in my tracks dead.
.
So Ryley, left to unravel her feeling, not knowing which way to turn, this was one hell of a bumpy ride, at times exhilarating!!
I quiet literally raced full throttle thru the pages, to find out how this journey would end!!
Well, if your interested to know what happens....you'll just have to hop in the car....and trust me and we'll see if we get to the final destination in one piece..... *snickers*.....hell have you seen my driving!!
Review Posted 20th April'15
I don't want to give away 1 mile of this road you'll be travelling with Ryley Archer except to say...
WHAT WOULD YOU DO, if this happened to you...
Ryley has grieved for her husband Evan Archer for six long years, declared dead when he went on a mission and never returned.
Evan's twin Nate, over time slipped into his own twin's life....loving the women and child he's brother had left behind.
Then one day, all their worlds are rocked.....when Evan returns home.
BOY OH BOY, Hell I'm not even sure I would know what to do!!!
Like the tyre' s on a car, a puncher can pretty much stop you in your tracks.
Well this story punctured my heart and stopped me in my tracks dead.
.
So Ryley, left to unravel her feeling, not knowing which way to turn, this was one hell of a bumpy ride, at times exhilarating!!
I quiet literally raced full throttle thru the pages, to find out how this journey would end!!
Well, if your interested to know what happens....you'll just have to hop in the car....and trust me and we'll see if we get to the final destination in one piece..... *snickers*.....hell have you seen my driving!!
October 25, 2014
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT A FREAKING BOOK!!!! Review coming once I've gathered my thoughts... WOW! Let me just say that this author has earned a fangirl over here.... My God. Angsty perfection.
WHAT A FREAKING BOOK!!!! Review coming once I've gathered my thoughts... WOW! Let me just say that this author has earned a fangirl over here.... My God. Angsty perfection.
March 24, 2018
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
It was a very interesting book with a really riveting topic.
My problem with it is that I don't see the pieces matching together well.
- I found very strange the general behavior of the characters in each situation, just plain odd.
- The story had difficulties moving along. The characters had very repetitive thoughts and they didn't seem to bring them to a real define place. There was little advance to the story, thus it seemed like a really short book. Fortunately all three books should be out by now so I can start reading the second one immediately.
- I had a problem with one of the less important characters' story. The fact that his parents would't accept him because they thought he was an impostor is absurd, utterly ridiculous, we are suppose to be reading about real life events not sci-fi. There are so many other possibilities to choose for the parents not accepting the return of their son from the dead, that I am completely dumbfound as to why would the writer choose something so far from logic.
- It blows my mind that EJ grew up believing his dad was Nate and not Evan. It seems like a HUGE insult to the memory of his father. A kid can be rise by a man and call him Dad knowing that his biological father was another man who died serving. I think that to tell a son later in life who his real father was is a much greater shock and carries way more impact and consequences to deal with that growing up always knowing. Honestly I don't understand why Evan is not more pissed about this than everything else.
Overall, it was a very quick and easy read, peculiar and interesting even though after only reading a few pages you can already tell how this first book is going to end. I can't deny that I want to know more and see the resolution. I am really hoping they end up having a POLYAMOROUS RELATIONSHIP.
It was a very interesting book with a really riveting topic.
My problem with it is that I don't see the pieces matching together well.
- I found very strange the general behavior of the characters in each situation, just plain odd.
- The story had difficulties moving along. The characters had very repetitive thoughts and they didn't seem to bring them to a real define place. There was little advance to the story, thus it seemed like a really short book. Fortunately all three books should be out by now so I can start reading the second one immediately.
- I had a problem with one of the less important characters' story. The fact that his parents would't accept him because they thought he was an impostor is absurd, utterly ridiculous, we are suppose to be reading about real life events not sci-fi. There are so many other possibilities to choose for the parents not accepting the return of their son from the dead, that I am completely dumbfound as to why would the writer choose something so far from logic.
- It blows my mind that EJ grew up believing his dad was Nate and not Evan. It seems like a HUGE insult to the memory of his father. A kid can be rise by a man and call him Dad knowing that his biological father was another man who died serving. I think that to tell a son later in life who his real father was is a much greater shock and carries way more impact and consequences to deal with that growing up always knowing. Honestly I don't understand why Evan is not more pissed about this than everything else.
Overall, it was a very quick and easy read, peculiar and interesting even though after only reading a few pages you can already tell how this first book is going to end. I can't deny that I want to know more and see the resolution. I am really hoping they end up having a POLYAMOROUS RELATIONSHIP.
October 22, 2014
I went into this book blind. I didn't read the synop or any teasers beforehand, I wanted to really FEEL this story. Boy did I ever.
Ryley Clarke loses her fiancé, Evan Archer in an accident while he's serving as a Navy Seal. She knew this was a risk as she grew up in a military family, but no amount of knowledge could have prepared her for that pain. After burying the love of her life, Evan's brother Nate becomes her "knight in shining armor" so to speak. He helps her mourn, heal, and eventually love again. There's only one problem. Six years later, Evan comes back. He never died. It wasn't his body. It wasn't his funeral. So many questions with very little answers.
"I'm here today because six years ago I lost the love of my life and now he's back from the dead, and in a few weeks I'm set to marry my best friend. His Brother."
Confused and hurt, Evan doesn't know how this life (his life) went on without him. Everyone thinks he is dead. Everyone lived on with their life. His BROTHER stole his fiancé. She's wearing a ring now that isn't his. But Evan isn't going down without a fight. He will do whatever it takes to win his girl back, even if that means hurting his brother Nate.
" The thought of Nate and Ryley together turns my blood cold. I want to kill him. If was in my unit, he'd be dead for touching something that doesn't belong to him. "
"I want to forget he's my brother and destroy him."
Evan is a dream book boyfriend. He's the kind you are still talking about 2 years later. From his humor and snark to his cocky/alpha ways, I fell head over heels for this guy.
Heidi McLaughlin did an amazing job of writing interesting relatable characters. I felt as if I was "in" this story. From start to finish, I was completely hooked. Every page was just as exciting as the one before and this storyline- blew me away. I will warn anyone who starts this- it will be continued. This is a series- do I care? Not AT ALL. This book made me excited to read a series again.
By the end of this story my heart had broken no less than 10 times. God love Evan, he came home to a living hell. I'm SOOOOO #TeamEvan - he's her "one" but sometimes life steps in and your #1 is taken and then the #2 becomes how you survive. This story isn't just a love triangle or another military story. It's magic in-between those pages. I could see this on the big screen one day. It's THAT kind of read. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy (Oct 23- just TWO days) - it will NOT disappoint.
"I believe you can find your soulmate at any age; it's the circumstance that brings you together"
-Evan Archer
Ryley Clarke loses her fiancé, Evan Archer in an accident while he's serving as a Navy Seal. She knew this was a risk as she grew up in a military family, but no amount of knowledge could have prepared her for that pain. After burying the love of her life, Evan's brother Nate becomes her "knight in shining armor" so to speak. He helps her mourn, heal, and eventually love again. There's only one problem. Six years later, Evan comes back. He never died. It wasn't his body. It wasn't his funeral. So many questions with very little answers.
"I'm here today because six years ago I lost the love of my life and now he's back from the dead, and in a few weeks I'm set to marry my best friend. His Brother."
Confused and hurt, Evan doesn't know how this life (his life) went on without him. Everyone thinks he is dead. Everyone lived on with their life. His BROTHER stole his fiancé. She's wearing a ring now that isn't his. But Evan isn't going down without a fight. He will do whatever it takes to win his girl back, even if that means hurting his brother Nate.
" The thought of Nate and Ryley together turns my blood cold. I want to kill him. If was in my unit, he'd be dead for touching something that doesn't belong to him. "
"I want to forget he's my brother and destroy him."
Evan is a dream book boyfriend. He's the kind you are still talking about 2 years later. From his humor and snark to his cocky/alpha ways, I fell head over heels for this guy.
Heidi McLaughlin did an amazing job of writing interesting relatable characters. I felt as if I was "in" this story. From start to finish, I was completely hooked. Every page was just as exciting as the one before and this storyline- blew me away. I will warn anyone who starts this- it will be continued. This is a series- do I care? Not AT ALL. This book made me excited to read a series again.
By the end of this story my heart had broken no less than 10 times. God love Evan, he came home to a living hell. I'm SOOOOO #TeamEvan - he's her "one" but sometimes life steps in and your #1 is taken and then the #2 becomes how you survive. This story isn't just a love triangle or another military story. It's magic in-between those pages. I could see this on the big screen one day. It's THAT kind of read. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy (Oct 23- just TWO days) - it will NOT disappoint.
"I believe you can find your soulmate at any age; it's the circumstance that brings you together"
-Evan Archer
June 20, 2015
4.5 Stars
Swoon! Laugh! Cry!
This book had my emotions all over the place. I truly loved it.
What would you do if the love of your life died? Only, he didn’t actually die? And you had moved on … with his brother?!
This story of first love found & lost … oh my goodness! So sweet, so romantic! Evan and Ryley melted my heart with their tale.
I enjoyed the writing style - having the majority of the story told through therapy appointments worked really well. Getting both main character’s pov’s cemented the story. There’s some mystery added into the plot as well … I am definitely invested in finding out more! I really need to know the truth.
And of course, I just know the author is going to make me fall in love with Nate in book 2. Heck, just one chapter from his pov and I’m already half way there.
Amazing love story!
Swoon! Laugh! Cry!
This book had my emotions all over the place. I truly loved it.
What would you do if the love of your life died? Only, he didn’t actually die? And you had moved on … with his brother?!
This story of first love found & lost … oh my goodness! So sweet, so romantic! Evan and Ryley melted my heart with their tale.
I enjoyed the writing style - having the majority of the story told through therapy appointments worked really well. Getting both main character’s pov’s cemented the story. There’s some mystery added into the plot as well … I am definitely invested in finding out more! I really need to know the truth.
And of course, I just know the author is going to make me fall in love with Nate in book 2. Heck, just one chapter from his pov and I’m already half way there.
Amazing love story!
April 28, 2015
Oh hell no. I'm diving straight into the next book !!!!!
May 2, 2015
I was the firework. I was the butterfly.
I was every analogy you could think of.
I didn’t see stars. I became the star.
My first kiss was everything it was meant to be
AND MORE.
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG
I need to start the next book ASAP!!!!
September 21, 2014
Loyal Heidi fans are going to be blown away by Here with Me. The characters are well-developed and the heartache they face because of forces beyond their control will keep you biting your nails throughout. You will take Ryley into your hearts from the very beginning and suffer with Evan as he discovers what has happened to the woman he loves and son he never met during his six-year absence. And what to do about his twin brother? Believe me, you will NOT be disappointed!Heidi McLaughlin
April 23, 2015
3 Stars
Well, I have to say, I expected more than what I got. The blurb definitely intrigued me.I did end up liking the story, however. Just not as much as I thought I would.
The story starts out with Ryley and Evan retelling certain parts of their lives to a counselor, separately. At this point, Evan has returned back to the states after being deployed on a mission in the SEALS for 6 years (kinda hard to believe, if you ask me, but you're not so my opinion is moot). Evan left Ryley when she was engaged to him and pregnant with his child. The mission was supposed to be a quick in-and-out, but his stay lasted 6 years. Within that six years, Ryley and Evan's family receives the worst news possible; Evan has died in combat. And Ryley is left trying to piece her and their son's life back together. In steps Evan's twin brother to help.
So here's the thing, I couldn't get a good feel of the characters. I kept on forgetting that these characters were supposed to be in their 30's. It almost felt like an NA with how some things were written and played out.
Steam caliber is low, but this turned out to be a good thing because I think it would've made me hate some characters if things were more intimate. With that being said, this is a lightweight love triangle. Yes, 3 parties are involved, but there's no sneaking and betrayal (in the pure sense). The angst is definitely there. I found myself eager and anxious to find out what was going to happen next. And there is a hefty cliffhanger . :)
Well, I have to say, I expected more than what I got. The blurb definitely intrigued me.I did end up liking the story, however. Just not as much as I thought I would.
The story starts out with Ryley and Evan retelling certain parts of their lives to a counselor, separately. At this point, Evan has returned back to the states after being deployed on a mission in the SEALS for 6 years (kinda hard to believe, if you ask me, but you're not so my opinion is moot). Evan left Ryley when she was engaged to him and pregnant with his child. The mission was supposed to be a quick in-and-out, but his stay lasted 6 years. Within that six years, Ryley and Evan's family receives the worst news possible; Evan has died in combat. And Ryley is left trying to piece her and their son's life back together. In steps Evan's twin brother to help.
So here's the thing, I couldn't get a good feel of the characters. I kept on forgetting that these characters were supposed to be in their 30's. It almost felt like an NA with how some things were written and played out.
Steam caliber is low, but this turned out to be a good thing because I think it would've made me hate some characters if things were more intimate. With that being said, this is a lightweight love triangle. Yes, 3 parties are involved, but there's no sneaking and betrayal (in the pure sense). The angst is definitely there. I found myself eager and anxious to find out what was going to happen next. And there is a hefty cliffhanger . :)
November 26, 2014
OMG!
This book!!
what happens when a girl meets the guy of her dreams...
Then he goes to the Navy and she is told he is dead...
S
I
X
Y
E
A
R
S
L
A
T
E
R
BHAM!! She is engaged to her brothers twin when he is "back from the dead"? only he was never dead....
Loving the Archer Brothers? not so simple...
so says the cliffy...
lets see what happens....
who will she choose?
....To be continued....
This book!!
what happens when a girl meets the guy of her dreams...
Then he goes to the Navy and she is told he is dead...
S
I
X
Y
E
A
R
S
L
A
T
E
R
BHAM!! She is engaged to her brothers twin when he is "back from the dead"? only he was never dead....
Loving the Archer Brothers? not so simple...
so says the cliffy...
lets see what happens....
who will she choose?
....To be continued....
May 14, 2021
**I purchased these years ago, but looks like they are currently in KU**
I been working on this one for a long time. I originally picked it up months ago, and couldn’t get through it. (the first ½ is SLOW going) I decided to try again on Monday, and the fact that I was still working on it Thursday…is telling. I literally did anything (Sims, Alias marathon, Crikey! It’s the Irwins) rather than pick this up. With all that said, the ingredients are prime for an angsty angst-fest, so others might enjoy it, but I struggled. I found some parts 4 ⭐ good, but found other parts (like much of 0-50%) 2 ⭐worthy. I’m going to split the difference. *This does end in a cliffy, and continues with Choose Me.
The blurb sets this up nicely, in a nutshell… Evan and Ryley were HS sweethearts. They were engaged and expecting when he left on a mission. Shortly after she’s informed, he’s dead. This is spoilery- so stop reading if you want to be blind, but it does play out within the first couple chapters...
For some reason Evan’s mission lasted 6 years, and during that time… four soldiers were told their loved ones were awaiting them at home. He even received care packages from “Ryley” with pictures and updates on his kid. Meanwhile, their families were notified of their deaths. Ryley struggled, but eventually got into a relationship with Evan’s twin brother Nate (who has always loved her) and got engaged. It’s all very Pearl Harbor (the movie) and Consolation.
SPOILERS I’m tagging the rest but will try to be general.
I been working on this one for a long time. I originally picked it up months ago, and couldn’t get through it. (the first ½ is SLOW going) I decided to try again on Monday, and the fact that I was still working on it Thursday…is telling. I literally did anything (Sims, Alias marathon, Crikey! It’s the Irwins) rather than pick this up. With all that said, the ingredients are prime for an angsty angst-fest, so others might enjoy it, but I struggled. I found some parts 4 ⭐ good, but found other parts (like much of 0-50%) 2 ⭐worthy. I’m going to split the difference. *This does end in a cliffy, and continues with Choose Me.
The blurb sets this up nicely, in a nutshell… Evan and Ryley were HS sweethearts. They were engaged and expecting when he left on a mission. Shortly after she’s informed, he’s dead. This is spoilery- so stop reading if you want to be blind, but it does play out within the first couple chapters...
For some reason Evan’s mission lasted 6 years, and during that time… four soldiers were told their loved ones were awaiting them at home. He even received care packages from “Ryley” with pictures and updates on his kid. Meanwhile, their families were notified of their deaths. Ryley struggled, but eventually got into a relationship with Evan’s twin brother Nate (who has always loved her) and got engaged. It’s all very Pearl Harbor (the movie) and Consolation.
SPOILERS I’m tagging the rest but will try to be general.
June 30, 2016
2.5 Stars
I tend to avoid love triangles; however, this one has a twist. Evan, a Navy SEAL, leaves his pregnant fiancé, Ryley, when deployed on a special mission. When he’s “killed” in the line of duty, Evan’s twin brother, Nate, is there to help Ryley pick up the pieces. Six years later, Evan returns home to find that Ryley and Nate are engaged and his son calls his brother, “Dad.” The premise sounds intriguing. The problem with this story is in its execution.
There isn’t any chemistry between Evan and Ryley, although they’ve been in love since high school. It doesn’t help matters that the two aren’t even in the same room together until nearly halfway through the book. Before that, each character is telling someone else the story of how they met. It creates a feeling of detachment. If you’re looking for romantic gestures or swoon worthy moments you won’t find any here. Expecting a little heat? Look elsewhere.
The characters are in their thirties and yet the dialog sounds very immature, almost as if they are new adults. The narrative is extremely repetitive. It feels like a long, drawn out story where very little actually happens.
The third person in this love triangle, Nate, is spoken of often but doesn’t appear until the final chapter. The story concludes in the next book; however, I just don’t care enough find out how it ends.
I tend to avoid love triangles; however, this one has a twist. Evan, a Navy SEAL, leaves his pregnant fiancé, Ryley, when deployed on a special mission. When he’s “killed” in the line of duty, Evan’s twin brother, Nate, is there to help Ryley pick up the pieces. Six years later, Evan returns home to find that Ryley and Nate are engaged and his son calls his brother, “Dad.” The premise sounds intriguing. The problem with this story is in its execution.
There isn’t any chemistry between Evan and Ryley, although they’ve been in love since high school. It doesn’t help matters that the two aren’t even in the same room together until nearly halfway through the book. Before that, each character is telling someone else the story of how they met. It creates a feeling of detachment. If you’re looking for romantic gestures or swoon worthy moments you won’t find any here. Expecting a little heat? Look elsewhere.
The characters are in their thirties and yet the dialog sounds very immature, almost as if they are new adults. The narrative is extremely repetitive. It feels like a long, drawn out story where very little actually happens.
The third person in this love triangle, Nate, is spoken of often but doesn’t appear until the final chapter. The story concludes in the next book; however, I just don’t care enough find out how it ends.
July 3, 2016
OMG!!!!!! devoured this book in one day...I NEED more! full review to come!!!!
*edited 11/23
So this book gave me the chills from the moment I read the first page and I could not put it down...I devoured this book in ONE DAY! When I picked up Here With Me, I was in a book funk, not having had any luck in the previous couple of books that I had read, so this came at just the perfect time. From the opening page, I was suspicious, intrigued and coupled with the mystery and romance that I knew was bound to be present, I knew that I was in for a tumultuous ride.
From the blurb, you know that Evan Archer returns home after being gone for 6 long years, to a life that he no longer has. His fiance being engaged to his twin brother and his son thinking that he is dead. THIS alone broke me and I cried tears for the lost years for this couple who had so much love, who were soul mates; always destined to be together.
Written in alternating POV's in Ryley and Evan's voices while meeting with their therapist trying to figure out a way to move forward, I adored learning their history of how they met and their lives and thoughts throughout their years both together and separated. How they first met put a smile on my face; that love at first sight feeling when your heart beats rapidly in your chest and you know you have experienced magic happening.
Heidi really did this so well as their emotions, their feelings were also mine. The story was so heartfelt and beautiful because THIS is a true love story and even a week later writing this review, I can't get them out of my mind or heart.
As I was reading Here With Me, I couldn't help but begin to question whether these situations really happen in real life. That something so devastating could happen that could tear a family apart; wondering who had their best interests at heart as I also felt their anger, betrayal and of course the mistrust because I didn't know or understand who could do this to someone.
I'll be honest and say that yes there is a cliffhanger and there is more to this story as I was left with an OMG how could it end here feeling!! But I will leave you with this....
Knowing that Ryley loves Evan and his brother Nate, I don't know how she can make this decision on who to be with when her heart and mind love both men so differently. How do you choose between your soul mate vs. the man who saved you and built you back up again?
I'm almost afraid to pick up the next book when it releases because I'm afraid to learn the truth behind what happened, who knew and what the ultimate outcome could be...just thinking about it again gives me the CHILLS!!!
THIS BOOK is Heidi's BEST WORK to date...powerful, heartbreaking, emotional and SO realistic, I really did genuinely cry for a lot of this book because Heidi masterfully wrote an epic love story that has embedded in my heart and I KNOW it will for you too! <3
*edited 11/23
So this book gave me the chills from the moment I read the first page and I could not put it down...I devoured this book in ONE DAY! When I picked up Here With Me, I was in a book funk, not having had any luck in the previous couple of books that I had read, so this came at just the perfect time. From the opening page, I was suspicious, intrigued and coupled with the mystery and romance that I knew was bound to be present, I knew that I was in for a tumultuous ride.
From the blurb, you know that Evan Archer returns home after being gone for 6 long years, to a life that he no longer has. His fiance being engaged to his twin brother and his son thinking that he is dead. THIS alone broke me and I cried tears for the lost years for this couple who had so much love, who were soul mates; always destined to be together.
Written in alternating POV's in Ryley and Evan's voices while meeting with their therapist trying to figure out a way to move forward, I adored learning their history of how they met and their lives and thoughts throughout their years both together and separated. How they first met put a smile on my face; that love at first sight feeling when your heart beats rapidly in your chest and you know you have experienced magic happening.
Heidi really did this so well as their emotions, their feelings were also mine. The story was so heartfelt and beautiful because THIS is a true love story and even a week later writing this review, I can't get them out of my mind or heart.
As I was reading Here With Me, I couldn't help but begin to question whether these situations really happen in real life. That something so devastating could happen that could tear a family apart; wondering who had their best interests at heart as I also felt their anger, betrayal and of course the mistrust because I didn't know or understand who could do this to someone.
I'll be honest and say that yes there is a cliffhanger and there is more to this story as I was left with an OMG how could it end here feeling!! But I will leave you with this....
Knowing that Ryley loves Evan and his brother Nate, I don't know how she can make this decision on who to be with when her heart and mind love both men so differently. How do you choose between your soul mate vs. the man who saved you and built you back up again?
I'm almost afraid to pick up the next book when it releases because I'm afraid to learn the truth behind what happened, who knew and what the ultimate outcome could be...just thinking about it again gives me the CHILLS!!!
THIS BOOK is Heidi's BEST WORK to date...powerful, heartbreaking, emotional and SO realistic, I really did genuinely cry for a lot of this book because Heidi masterfully wrote an epic love story that has embedded in my heart and I KNOW it will for you too! <3
September 28, 2014
This book is hands down Heidi's best yet. Coupled with her ability to weave an intricate tale such as this with loveable and relatable characters such as Evan and Ryley sets this book apart from the rest. Heidi holds your attention with lies, mystery and a timeless love story that will grip your heart and leave you begging for more. Evan will melt your heart and Ryley's plight will pull it apart. This is a book you don't want to miss. The roller coaster of emotions is worth the ride!
October 11, 2014
I loved everything about this book. I loved all the detail that was put into the back-story and the suspense it brought. I loved the angst, the love, the longing...the questioning of everything that's taking place. And I loved that it left me wanting more--like now!! #EvanisMine
May 19, 2015
2.5 stars. This wasn't a bad book, I just didn't think much of it. It didn't bring out any emotion and I was kind of bored listening to the audio. Some of the main characters seemed kind of dumb and the situation just didn't make sense.
October 21, 2014
THIS IS A MUST READ!!!
One of the toughest reviews I have had to write since I started this site. Not because of how horrible the book was, on the contrary you can tell that it was the opposite by just looking at the amount of trees I gave it. It's because of that exactly why I took hours and not minutes to reflect on what I felt. Here With Me was amazing. The story itself, the characters, the setting, the voices, the background, everything about this novel just fell into this perfect synchronization.
I knew McLaughlin was a great writer from past books I have read but this novel just took her to a whole other dimension. I will now tell everyone that Heidi McLaughlin is truly an exceptional author. Great would not do her justice anymore. Negative side to that now, is that she raised the bar and future books she publishes have competition to beat in Here With Me. Possibly the sequel to Here With Me, will have to wait to find out.
Before getting deep into the story, I want to go to the end. I was fortunate enough to read an early manuscript of Here With Me, so at some point in time, McLaughlin did not disclose this was a planned series. I though what I was reading was a standalone. Boy was I wrong, and McLaughlin is lucky we don't live in the same states. I probably would have attacked her (in a friendly way) after I stop repeating, "No she did not just end the book like that" a million times. Put it this way, Here With me has made my top ten list of books with jaw-dropping cliff hanger endings. Bravo! And this is a great thing for me FYI.
Alright now on to the story that cause all the feels while reading. Here With Me follows the lives of Ryley, Nate and Evan. Ryley is now a grown women that both parents served the military and she grew up surrounded by all that. As fate would have it, Ryley's boyfriend ends up enlisting along with his twin brother. Riley just couldn't get away from the military life and its risks. Ryley's boyfriend she met by chance is Evan and his brother is Nate. These three were inseparable until the day they enlisted and it was time to go serve their country. Before leaving Evan does propose and turns out Ryley is pregnant. So the plan is when Evan gets back they will marry and live as a happy family.
If life was that simple most of the time. Tragedy strikes and Ryley is informed that Evan has been killed in action. Her world is devastated, if it isn't for Evan's brother Nate, Ryley would probably not have survived the tragedy while raising her son. Nate always had stronger feeling for Ryley, but he knew she was completely devoted and in love with his brother. But with times, Ryley and Nate do become closer as they help and support one another through the years after Evan's passing. Ryley and Evan's child even knows Nate as his daddy. Now Nate has taken it to the next step and that is to marry Ryley. They will be wed.
Do you believe in ghost? Well you might when you start to see the person you were madly in love with walking up to you that has been dead for years. This is the case with Ryley and Evan. Turns out Evan was not killed after all, it was all a lie. Apparently the military fed lies to both Ryley and Evan during those years. And Evan basically freaks out when he understands why Ryley was not waiting for him with balloons for his long homecoming and instead wears a rock on his ring finger from his brother he left taking care of her while he was deployed. Yea it just got real and add to it all that Nate is not deployed and has no clue that his brother is alive.
These life changing events will set off even more life changing events and throughout the whole journey, Evan will not give up on Ryley and he will play dirty if he has to to win her back and his son. Then add to all this finding out "Why?" this even happen and why the military seems to be hiding or something worse what went on with Evan's special mission.
This is one sequel I will be desperately awaiting for. I need to know what happens next, so many things are left open at the end including one big moment, that I need to know the reactions to it all. I can't wait!!!
People I really meant it, read this book. Its amazing and will set off every emotion in the dictionary. Everything was just great from start to end. So I really hope I did it justice with my review and explain why its a must read. - Yara
One of the toughest reviews I have had to write since I started this site. Not because of how horrible the book was, on the contrary you can tell that it was the opposite by just looking at the amount of trees I gave it. It's because of that exactly why I took hours and not minutes to reflect on what I felt. Here With Me was amazing. The story itself, the characters, the setting, the voices, the background, everything about this novel just fell into this perfect synchronization.
I knew McLaughlin was a great writer from past books I have read but this novel just took her to a whole other dimension. I will now tell everyone that Heidi McLaughlin is truly an exceptional author. Great would not do her justice anymore. Negative side to that now, is that she raised the bar and future books she publishes have competition to beat in Here With Me. Possibly the sequel to Here With Me, will have to wait to find out.
Before getting deep into the story, I want to go to the end. I was fortunate enough to read an early manuscript of Here With Me, so at some point in time, McLaughlin did not disclose this was a planned series. I though what I was reading was a standalone. Boy was I wrong, and McLaughlin is lucky we don't live in the same states. I probably would have attacked her (in a friendly way) after I stop repeating, "No she did not just end the book like that" a million times. Put it this way, Here With me has made my top ten list of books with jaw-dropping cliff hanger endings. Bravo! And this is a great thing for me FYI.
Alright now on to the story that cause all the feels while reading. Here With Me follows the lives of Ryley, Nate and Evan. Ryley is now a grown women that both parents served the military and she grew up surrounded by all that. As fate would have it, Ryley's boyfriend ends up enlisting along with his twin brother. Riley just couldn't get away from the military life and its risks. Ryley's boyfriend she met by chance is Evan and his brother is Nate. These three were inseparable until the day they enlisted and it was time to go serve their country. Before leaving Evan does propose and turns out Ryley is pregnant. So the plan is when Evan gets back they will marry and live as a happy family.
If life was that simple most of the time. Tragedy strikes and Ryley is informed that Evan has been killed in action. Her world is devastated, if it isn't for Evan's brother Nate, Ryley would probably not have survived the tragedy while raising her son. Nate always had stronger feeling for Ryley, but he knew she was completely devoted and in love with his brother. But with times, Ryley and Nate do become closer as they help and support one another through the years after Evan's passing. Ryley and Evan's child even knows Nate as his daddy. Now Nate has taken it to the next step and that is to marry Ryley. They will be wed.
Do you believe in ghost? Well you might when you start to see the person you were madly in love with walking up to you that has been dead for years. This is the case with Ryley and Evan. Turns out Evan was not killed after all, it was all a lie. Apparently the military fed lies to both Ryley and Evan during those years. And Evan basically freaks out when he understands why Ryley was not waiting for him with balloons for his long homecoming and instead wears a rock on his ring finger from his brother he left taking care of her while he was deployed. Yea it just got real and add to it all that Nate is not deployed and has no clue that his brother is alive.
These life changing events will set off even more life changing events and throughout the whole journey, Evan will not give up on Ryley and he will play dirty if he has to to win her back and his son. Then add to all this finding out "Why?" this even happen and why the military seems to be hiding or something worse what went on with Evan's special mission.
This is one sequel I will be desperately awaiting for. I need to know what happens next, so many things are left open at the end including one big moment, that I need to know the reactions to it all. I can't wait!!!
People I really meant it, read this book. Its amazing and will set off every emotion in the dictionary. Everything was just great from start to end. So I really hope I did it justice with my review and explain why its a must read. - Yara
September 3, 2017
2.5 stars.
DNF @ 92%
I can't believe I DNF this book so close to the end... what a disappointment !!!
I just don't care how it is going to end... anyway said end is written in the stars since the very start.
(and by the way, thaks to reviews of the second book : you confirmed to me that I was just right in my predictions!!!)
My major issue with this book was the fickleness of the writing. I had the impression this book was written by multiple authors who didn't speak to each other. That was really disturbing.
An example ? At first, the story if narrated by both MC through a session with a psychologist. Once during the h' session, she sees the H across the window and she is upset as hell just from the sight of him. Then, a few pages further, she meets him in a crowded bar, sits beside him and invites him to her\their house so he can meet his child. Huh ????????
I liked the beginning, I even thought it was going to be a solid 4 stars-rating, maybe a 5-stars if the book kept me happy and interested.... but the more it goes, the more my interest was going south until the point I just couldn't take anymore of the two of them. I don't care what are the reasons behind this messed-up military operation... I don't care what will happen to Nate... I don't care to know how the MC will get their HEA.....
I. JUST. DON'T. CARE.
DNF @ 92%
I can't believe I DNF this book so close to the end... what a disappointment !!!
I just don't care how it is going to end... anyway said end is written in the stars since the very start.
(and by the way, thaks to reviews of the second book : you confirmed to me that I was just right in my predictions!!!)
My major issue with this book was the fickleness of the writing. I had the impression this book was written by multiple authors who didn't speak to each other. That was really disturbing.
An example ? At first, the story if narrated by both MC through a session with a psychologist. Once during the h' session, she sees the H across the window and she is upset as hell just from the sight of him. Then, a few pages further, she meets him in a crowded bar, sits beside him and invites him to her\their house so he can meet his child. Huh ????????
I liked the beginning, I even thought it was going to be a solid 4 stars-rating, maybe a 5-stars if the book kept me happy and interested.... but the more it goes, the more my interest was going south until the point I just couldn't take anymore of the two of them. I don't care what are the reasons behind this messed-up military operation... I don't care what will happen to Nate... I don't care to know how the MC will get their HEA.....
I. JUST. DON'T. CARE.
April 3, 2020
Fajna historia, ale początek był dla mnie zbyt nużący... dopiero w połowie zaczęło się rozkręcać, a końcówka zostawiła mnie w zawieszeniu, że raz dwa trzeba sięgnąć po kolejną część :P
April 10, 2015
“I’m here because six years ago I lost the love of my life, but now he’s back from the dead, and in a few weeks I’m set to marry my best friend. His brother.”
Every love triangle is painful and confusing for all parties. It wouldn't be called a triangle if the decision of who to choose is easy, right? Take into account an additional facet to the already complicated situation like it's an unintentional triangle involving twin brothers, unexpected because one of them was thought to be dead.. then it makes for a very messy and emotional turmoil.
This was the situation our three characters found themselves in.
Looking into Ryley and Evan's past, how they met when she was just sixteen and he was seventeen, to how their relationship developed was sweet and inspiring. She met both brothers the same day, but there was an instant pull towards Evan. It was love at first sight, total devotion from the very start for both of them. He was her first in everything. Although they were young when they fell in love, they proved that what they felt was real and all-encompassing. They were inseparable for 10 years through everything until that fateful day that he was called for a mission as a Navy SEAL that changed the course of their lives.
Although twins, Evan and Nate were opposites.
Evan was outgoing, popular with the girls, life of the party, the goofy jock, rule breaker, made people feel relaxed and at ease.. but with Ryley, he was sweet, caring and loving. He taught her everything. He made her feel loved, secured, cherished. He had the bad-boy facade yet a nice guy inside. He was her whole world and she loved him with everything she had. Their love story was picture-perfect, until he disappeared.
Nate was calm, more academic, smart, an overall good guy, and her best friend. When she lost Evan, he was her rock, the person who picked up the pieces that was shattered when she lost Evan and helped her become whole again. He was a constant support in her life that loving him was easy. He provided a father figure to her son and proved that he was always in her corner.
I loved both men for different reasons. I hope you will give this book a chance so you can discover those reasons.
Ryley was a likeable character, it was not surprising that she got the love of two amazing men. What I loved most about her was her honesty. She didn't hide her feelings nor was she embarrassed to admit how she felt when she saw Evan again. She knew how she felt, acknowledged that she was in a complicated situation and she didn't justify any of her actions. She faced the situation with her heart on her sleeves. Usually, in a triangle involving two men and a girl, the girl would receive the brunt of the readers' wrath because of indecisiveness or even selfishness. Trust me when I say this won't be the case here. Kudos to the author for her brilliance in how she portrayed Ryley's character. It wasn't easy to make a girl that came between brothers likeable, but the author did.
Reading stories about people serving in the military, no matter what unit, always makes my heart swell with gratitude. It is because of them that we sleep soundly at night, walk the streets safely, and look forward to a positive future. Sometimes I think it's the most unrewarded occupation, and it's definitely a selfless line of work. It isn't a job but a calling, a vocation. The author depicted the heartaches and sacrifices of these men and their families in a powerful and emotional manner.
I won't lie, this book was gut-wrenching. The characters were trying to piece together what went wrong and how to deal with their emotions and their situation. The most devastating part was how to find the balance of being happy that a loved one was still alive and how to deal with the fact that you already moved on. I felt Ryley's pain, happiness and confusion because it wasn't a case of falling out of love with Evan. He died and she needed to move on, but when she did, he was suddenly back. Can she just leave everything and pick up where she and Evan left off like she didn't mourn his death? Can she continue with the life she built with Nate and ask Evan to accept that she already has a new life?
Like I said, this book will put you through the wringer emotionally, but it will be worth every tear you will shed and each pain you will feel. It was beautifully written and you will love all three characters. I virtually hugged each one of them when I finished reading this book.
December 28, 2015
Me encanto y al mismo tiempo me desgarró.
Tengo un montón de sentimientos encontrados, es inevitable no ponerte en los zapatos de cada uno de los personajes y sentir toda la avalancha de dolor, alivio, amor, resignación, odio y más y más...
No llegué ni siquiera a la mitad del libro cuando ya estaba toda mocosa y llorando, porque sí... tengo corazón de pollo y soy una llorona, pero sobre todo leer a Evan ¡OH MI JESUCRISTO! me retorcía del dolor.
Evan lo perdió todo, y lo peor es que él ni siquiera lo sabía, en su mente el seguía teniendo a su familia, sus amigos y ellos sin embargo pensaban que estaba muerto. Imaginen su sorpresa cuando vuelve y en vez de tener un grato y amoroso recibimiento no hay nadie y su novia-prometida-amor de vida en vez de correr a sus brazos se queda petrificada porque pensaba que el murió... y para acabarla de amolar se entera que ahora es la prometida de su hermano el cual estuvo criando a su hijo como suyo. Pobre, pobre hombre...
Hubo un momento en que de verdad quise medio odiar a Ryley, porque no me cabía en la cabeza cómo se relaciono amorosamente del tal forma con Nate (hermano de Evan) y sobre todo porque los dos son gemelos, para mí fue en llegado punto y aunque suene frío como si estuviera tratando de remplazar a uno con el otro... y eso, joder, no se hace. Tal vez en el profundo dolor de ella, no se dio cuenta de esto, pero sigo sintiendo eso. Ahora si hay algo que no le perdono y que me hizo enojar fue el hecho que no le diera su lugar a Evan como papá y le mintiera a su hijo diciendo que Nate lo es, ok... si es un niño y ok tal vez es demasiado duro de explicar, pero simple por el hecho de cuando ella creía que Evan estaba muerto por respeto a su memoria, siempre recordarle de una manera dulce que él era su papá NO NATE!!
Respira, exhala, respira, exhala...
Pero en sí el lugar de Ryley es taaaaaan complicado, ama a Evan, siempre fue el amor de su vida, su alma gemela, pero también ama a Nate, que aunque no de la misma forma hay sentimientos y no quiere lastimarlo, porque el chico a sido su suporte durante 6 años donde creyó que Evan estaba muerto.
¿Cómo arreglar semejante situación sin lastimar a nadie?
Simplemente no se puede y cuando llegué eso, creo que seguiré llorando como mendiga :c
Don't cry
Sólo hasta al final te muestran un poquito de Nate y la verdad tal vez este mal yo, pero le tengo un coraje tremendo a este personaje... insisto y puedo ser terca, pero ESO NO SE HACE, aunque pienses que tu hermano este muerto simplemente por respeto no te metes con su mujer, no la tipa de la cual siempre has estado enamorado y le escondías a tu hermano, es como traicionarlo en cierto punto, esperando a que no este, así que NO ENTIENDO A NATE. Y tal vez es porque estoy enamorada de Evan, porque es un sol ese hombre y toda la situación es devastadora.
Enserio me acuerdo de Evan y siento feo... hubo un momento en que tuve que soltar el libro respirar y quedarme tranquilita y retomar la lectura, que fue cuando Evan conoció en persona a su hijo, estaba chirriando de las lágrimas y a moco tendido.
No sólo te comprometes con los personajes principales si no que yo sentí por todos, los padres de Ryley, la mamá de Evan, su hermana, sus amigos... TODOS...
Ahora lo que me carcome es saber por qué dieron por muerto a Evan y sus amigos... quién fue la horrible persona, o personas que están detrás del todo el misterio.
Y sencillamente necesito leer el siguiente libro, pero me da miedo, miedo de saber que Ryley va a meter la pata.
¡Un libro increíble!
ME ENCANTÓ ♥
Tengo un montón de sentimientos encontrados, es inevitable no ponerte en los zapatos de cada uno de los personajes y sentir toda la avalancha de dolor, alivio, amor, resignación, odio y más y más...
No llegué ni siquiera a la mitad del libro cuando ya estaba toda mocosa y llorando, porque sí... tengo corazón de pollo y soy una llorona, pero sobre todo leer a Evan ¡OH MI JESUCRISTO! me retorcía del dolor.
Evan lo perdió todo, y lo peor es que él ni siquiera lo sabía, en su mente el seguía teniendo a su familia, sus amigos y ellos sin embargo pensaban que estaba muerto. Imaginen su sorpresa cuando vuelve y en vez de tener un grato y amoroso recibimiento no hay nadie y su novia-prometida-amor de vida en vez de correr a sus brazos se queda petrificada porque pensaba que el murió... y para acabarla de amolar se entera que ahora es la prometida de su hermano el cual estuvo criando a su hijo como suyo. Pobre, pobre hombre...
Hubo un momento en que de verdad quise medio odiar a Ryley, porque no me cabía en la cabeza cómo se relaciono amorosamente del tal forma con Nate (hermano de Evan) y sobre todo porque los dos son gemelos, para mí fue en llegado punto y aunque suene frío como si estuviera tratando de remplazar a uno con el otro... y eso, joder, no se hace. Tal vez en el profundo dolor de ella, no se dio cuenta de esto, pero sigo sintiendo eso. Ahora si hay algo que no le perdono y que me hizo enojar fue el hecho que no le diera su lugar a Evan como papá y le mintiera a su hijo diciendo que Nate lo es, ok... si es un niño y ok tal vez es demasiado duro de explicar, pero simple por el hecho de cuando ella creía que Evan estaba muerto por respeto a su memoria, siempre recordarle de una manera dulce que él era su papá NO NATE!!
Respira, exhala, respira, exhala...
Pero en sí el lugar de Ryley es taaaaaan complicado, ama a Evan, siempre fue el amor de su vida, su alma gemela, pero también ama a Nate, que aunque no de la misma forma hay sentimientos y no quiere lastimarlo, porque el chico a sido su suporte durante 6 años donde creyó que Evan estaba muerto.
¿Cómo arreglar semejante situación sin lastimar a nadie?
Simplemente no se puede y cuando llegué eso, creo que seguiré llorando como mendiga :c
Don't cry
Sólo hasta al final te muestran un poquito de Nate y la verdad tal vez este mal yo, pero le tengo un coraje tremendo a este personaje... insisto y puedo ser terca, pero ESO NO SE HACE, aunque pienses que tu hermano este muerto simplemente por respeto no te metes con su mujer, no la tipa de la cual siempre has estado enamorado y le escondías a tu hermano, es como traicionarlo en cierto punto, esperando a que no este, así que NO ENTIENDO A NATE. Y tal vez es porque estoy enamorada de Evan, porque es un sol ese hombre y toda la situación es devastadora.
Enserio me acuerdo de Evan y siento feo... hubo un momento en que tuve que soltar el libro respirar y quedarme tranquilita y retomar la lectura, que fue cuando Evan conoció en persona a su hijo, estaba chirriando de las lágrimas y a moco tendido.
No sólo te comprometes con los personajes principales si no que yo sentí por todos, los padres de Ryley, la mamá de Evan, su hermana, sus amigos... TODOS...
Ahora lo que me carcome es saber por qué dieron por muerto a Evan y sus amigos... quién fue la horrible persona, o personas que están detrás del todo el misterio.
Y sencillamente necesito leer el siguiente libro, pero me da miedo, miedo de saber que Ryley va a meter la pata.
¡Un libro increíble!
ME ENCANTÓ ♥
December 3, 2015
4.5 stars
I've read several military romances, and this is definitely one of my favorites for 2 reasons:
1) Interesting love triangle with the two brothers in love with the same woman.
2) The possible conspiracy that kept one of those brothers apart from her for so long.
This book takes place after Evan's surprise return, gone six years and declared dead. But he is very much alive. And he is very confused why the woman he was going to marry, a woman who had his child, is about to marry his brother. Oh yes! It's like a bad soap opera, only really good.
Evan and Ryley share their love story, with alternating POVs, as they each meet with a counselor to help them through this big change in their life. It's there that we learn of how they met and quickly fell in love.
I was very torn throughout the story as to who Ryley belonged with. Since we only get Evan's POV and not Nate's, it's easy to side with him. The two share a son and it's clear that his love has not died one bit for Ryley. But can she really walk away from Nate? She formed something special with him and he became known as her son's Dad, even though he wasn't the biological one.
Based on what I know so far, and the obvious connection and love for each other, I'm siding with Evan for now. But I hold the right to change my mind, lol.
This story leaves us with a cliffhanger that you sort of had to know was coming. And we have to wait to find out:
1) Who will Ryley choose?
2) Who kept Evan and his team away for 6 years and why?
Thankfully book two is out so I can get some answers!
Side note: I listened to this on audio and probably would have 5 starred this book had I read it. So my recommendation is: audio - no, reading book - YES!
I've read several military romances, and this is definitely one of my favorites for 2 reasons:
1) Interesting love triangle with the two brothers in love with the same woman.
2) The possible conspiracy that kept one of those brothers apart from her for so long.
This book takes place after Evan's surprise return, gone six years and declared dead. But he is very much alive. And he is very confused why the woman he was going to marry, a woman who had his child, is about to marry his brother. Oh yes! It's like a bad soap opera, only really good.
Evan and Ryley share their love story, with alternating POVs, as they each meet with a counselor to help them through this big change in their life. It's there that we learn of how they met and quickly fell in love.
I was very torn throughout the story as to who Ryley belonged with. Since we only get Evan's POV and not Nate's, it's easy to side with him. The two share a son and it's clear that his love has not died one bit for Ryley. But can she really walk away from Nate? She formed something special with him and he became known as her son's Dad, even though he wasn't the biological one.
Based on what I know so far, and the obvious connection and love for each other, I'm siding with Evan for now. But I hold the right to change my mind, lol.
This story leaves us with a cliffhanger that you sort of had to know was coming. And we have to wait to find out:
1) Who will Ryley choose?
2) Who kept Evan and his team away for 6 years and why?
Thankfully book two is out so I can get some answers!
Side note: I listened to this on audio and probably would have 5 starred this book had I read it. So my recommendation is: audio - no, reading book - YES!
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