A Reason

A Reason, Season, Lifetime #1

by C.L. Champlain

Emma and Eva Bellamy have lived with their abusive father all of their lives. They're used to hiding the bruises and making excuses. When their mom ends up in the hospital in bad shape, people start asking questions. Having already been threatened at gunpoint by their father, they know they have to continue to lie.

Ryan Pierce has watched Emma for almost a year. He knows she gets hurt at home. He decides he needs to save her and make her his.

Emma has been dating Danny, her best friend for almost a year. She can't help but lose her breath when she sees Ryan, but she doesn't want to hurt Danny.

When Ryan offers to teach her self defense and protect her and her sister, she can no longer fight how much she wants him.

Everything happens for a reason. What would you do to protect your reason?

Genres: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, High School

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 4, 2014

About the author

C.L. Champlain resides in a small upstate New York town. She has always had a love for reading, and recently decided to try to put her daydreams on paper. She loves writing about Ireland, where her grandmother's family is from, Scotland where her great grandfather was from, as well as the small upstate New York area where she resides.

Always a fan of romance, and myths and legends, she is enjoying writing Paranormal Romance and Contemporary/New Adult Romance Novels.

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess I'm in the minority on this one. I didn't care for this book at all. I think it had too much going on for one plot. Even though it's a high school romance, I thought the dialogue between the characters was very immature. I got tired of hearing how strong Emma's legs were. I think an entire chapter was devoted to that. Then there's Ryan. I mean he seemed like the perfect guy, but he's all over this girl the day she agrees to date him, and it also happens to be the same day she broke up with her boyfriend?
Ok so let me start from the beginning...
We meet Emma and Eva who are twins. They have an abusive father who hits them and their mother. Their mother is in the hospital again, and needs plastic surgery. Emma's boyfriend tells several people at school about what's going on, and said people corner the girls and confront them. One of these people is a social worker who also happens to be Ryan's mom. The fact that she agrees to the plan they set in motion was weird. I don't know of any social worker who would knowingly ignore abuse, and not report it. Emma claims that her father has the police in his back pocket, but yet they manage to tell the state police. After agreeing to this plan, Emma falls head over heels for Ryan, the star wrestler. The girls go home with him, and the craziness starts.
Over the course of the book, Emma's father manages to die of gunshots brought on my the state police, we find out Emma can talk to the dead(yeah, that made me say "say what?"), one of the cops almost dies but Emma saves him with said gift, Emma's ex starts calling her a whore causing Ryan to beat him up (yeah, said boyfriend caught them snuggling in bed and jumped to conclusions), the ex then rapes Emma, Ryan gets sent to jail because he beats up the ex, then agrees to join the military to get released... It's like it went from "oh really?" to "there's no way this could ever happen."
By the end, Emma marries Ryan and they consummate their marriage in Disney World.
About halfway through the story, I had to start skimming. I just couldn't take it anymore, but I wanted to finish the book.

[Robin Christofaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma is not your average teenager. Her life is shared with her twin sister and their secret home life, until one day when it all comes out in a big way. Together with her friends and some special people, she prepares to confront her demons. But when it rains, it pours, and her problems are not over yet. Emma constantly reminds herself that everything happens for a reason as she takes it all on and handles it with grace.

I absolutely loved everything about this book! It is a story of hurt and struggle, but it also a story of absolute strength and never giving up. It contains very serious subject matter but I love how it is dealt with. It is not faced delicately and swept under the rug. It is faced head-on by each and every character. And the relationship between Emma and Ryan builds in such a tender innocent way into a concrete bond that I couldn't help but cheer for them.

CL Champlain writes such wonderful books with characters that you can relate to and you feel for them.
Reader beware - Your emotions will be all over the place, but I promise that it is worth the ride!

[Angie Sakai]

could not finish @ 34%

[Bomate · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst book I've ever read

[Liz Stephenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Reason by C.L. Champlain 5/5 Very Emotional
I was give this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review, when I started it I thought it was funny have is was for +18’s adults only when I thought I was starting to read a young adult romance book.
Boy was I wrong, the author gets straight to the point, I was invested in reading all of this book right from the start, you may want to have the following to hand before you start reading it, a stress ball so you don’t break your Kindle with temper and rage, tissues cause there going to be tears, chocolate cause you’re going to need it.
Where do I start with the heroine of this book, strength of character does not even start to describe her, she may be small like me but by god her inner strength is phenomenal, at the start there is a character I did not take to, and before the end that turned to pure hate, I could reasons as long as my arm however I don’t do spoilers.
Ryan, you could tell straight away he was as straight as a die, a true protector, Marine was written all over him from the start.
Be warned this book deals with both physical and sexual abuse, so be prepared to be a wreak, it moves at a fast pace however it’s in line with the story, the author leads you into a false sense of security, then rips your heart out, making you feel, anger, distress, hate, nausea and grief all at the same time.
Some things in life can’t be forgiven, it’s a real roller coaster of a read, this is the first book by this author I have read, it will not be the last, was it emotional yes, however a fantastic read.
Emma is not only a true survivor, but also a heroine with amazing inner strength
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/B00... or http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I...

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying, I wasn't sure how I felt when I first received this book. It is a "high school" based which actually happens to be a Military romance, however yes it is for 18+. The reason for this is there is nothing sexual until after the characters turn 18. This book drove me crazy! It had me laughing, wanting to scream, and I shed some tears. You will need tissues and some chocolate to get you through it. The story gets deep but the chemistry between Emma and Ryan is absolutely amazing!

CL Champlain made all of the characters amazing, and they are so well detailed. I LOVE Ryan, I really do, he stole my heart from the beginning.

I recommend this book to everyone who is looking for something with a deep plot, and I am definitely looking forward to getting my hands on the next book in this 3 book series.

I don't like giving spoilers in my reviews, because for some reason I can write enough to tell you the entire book in just a few very long paragraphs!

I really hope you all enjoy this as much as I did!

*I received an ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there was one word and only one to describe this story I would say Empowering. This story is full of strength and overcoming harsh real world realities. These things happen. Quite Sadly, to a lot of people. Abuse in any form. Most are scared to stand up. Fight. Emma was at first, but when she discovered she had people standing behind her. That she could use that strength to fight the bad. I don't want to give away spoilers as I feel that readers should experience the story at first hand. Not through my words or opinions. I will tell you that this story hit my heart. Frankly, it slammed into my chest and beat down the wall covering my heart. In a good way of course followed by many ugly crys. I stayed awake long into the night because I couldn't stop reading. You will too. Don't read this book because I said so. Read it because you want to read a story that is real, and ugly and beautiful all in one. CL Champlain has set the bar high with this one and I truly cannot wait to see what is next from her.

[Christina Civinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got thie arc for this book and I loved this book I am going to.recommend it to my friends when
Started to read it I was like oh my why would a father do that but abuse happens all over the world I was glad when Ryan entered the picture I love there chemistry I hope there is going to be a the book I'm hoping that the story isn't over yet. My mom is just like ryans always treating everyone like her own.this is def a book I would read.over again I started it one night but has to go to bed but when I got home.from work I wanted to finish if you want to read about family and love read this book but remember there is some.abuse in.this.story. the story also.has more people who.become.family I don't want to give to much away so please.buy this book if I didn't get the arc I would of bought it

[J.P. Grider · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Reason hits on every single emotion - love, fear, sadness, empathy, happiness, love, loyalty, devotion, fear, love...and not necessarily in that order. I was so blown away by this book, because I was not expecting so many raw emotions to be such a huge part of this book. CL Champlain weaves a story so tender, yet so strong that I couldn't help but be pulled in from the beginning. Her characters are strong, loyal, and devoted. Ryan and Emma are a fit right from the start - they are lovers, they are fighters. They are my new favorite couple.

And if CL's story doesn't provide you with enough emotions, her 'Note from the Author' just does you in. Obviously this story was one that hit too close to home for the author, and I commend her for her courage in writing it. Excellent story, Ms. Champlain.

[Claire Simmonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was better than I thought it was going to be the first few chapters. I was like ok this is gona be empowerment standing up an. Fighting back an it was but it was also so much more , it has an 18 warning but I would let an older teenager read it the sex is done by consenting 18 year old who are married , its a very touching book an the subjects are dealt with well, an u have a love story in there some miltary romannce there is a rape seen but its not to descriptive but still powerful. An how she deals with it an everything else in this book is with strenth an dignity it is A good book an then to read that the author lived somthing similar took my breath a away and to put help Lines at the end of the book is amazing so if anybody reading this. Book can get a help from this book then that's an amazing thing well done to this. Author for a well written an heartfelt book

[Armymommary Bryson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this when I got home from work tonight and thought "Oh, I'll just read a couple of pages until I fall asleep." It's 430 in the morning and I just finished. Even knowing I had to get up in the morning didn't stop me from the anticipation of what was going to happen. The story starts off with angst and anxiety and continues to expand the emotional range from there. I went from worried, to scared, to happy, and back to scared again before the end. Make sure you have tissues handy and a your favorite drink. I ended the story with wet eyes and a dry throat. I will definite be waiting for the next installment in this series. C.l. Champlain is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was throwing a curve ball every minute. So many shocking things I didnt see coming. I loved it I couldnt put it down. It addressed so many real, raw, scary issues that are avoided.

Emma and Eva are twins who are being abused along with their mother by their awful father. In a small town that comes together Ryan his mother and his best friend step in to help. They are their saviors. Emmas boyfriend Danny isnt what he appears and Emma reveals a secret of her own of special skills. This books has it all. Love, hate, happiness, tragedy, the other side, spirits, and ultimately a HEA.

It was a nice switch up to read about a high school couple so in love and watching them go though so much tragedy was awful but such an inspiring story.

[Judy Hayes gould · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, one word - WOW. This book has so many twists and turns in romance that I was unable to put it down. The love and tenderness between Emma and Ryan was incredible, it transformed me to that age, which isn't easy to do, I'm almost 66 years old. I wish I could have Emma with me as a friend because she has such an amazing way with life. She just seems to be able to make her way through all of the trials that she has to deal with....now let's talk Danny....someone that turns from a friend to an absolutely horrible jerk....I knew him in high school and had similar problems - make he rest in HELL!!

[Marichus Real · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A wonderful story that made me laugh and cry (actually, I ran out of tissues) and left me speechless with tears running down my face. It’s a very beautiful story about courage, love, friendship and loyalty. Although life is sometimes really hard, as the title says, everything happens for a reason. I think this is her best book by far. Well done CL! Looking forward to reading number 2.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Reason is a story of abuse, parting ways and making choices.
It also shows the importance of commitment to your beliefs, peculiar and inexplicable ways of life.

"Someday, there may be a knock on my door, tellling me my husband won't be coming home.
Until then, I'm going to stand by him whenever I can, even from across the world."

[Julianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an ok read for me. I think this must have been one of the first books by this author and could have used a good editor. But it still read ok.

[Jennie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and an awaiting the next.

[Lin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so bad, but I couldn't stop reading it.