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Bar Harbor #2
Pulled Within
For five long years, Rae Ryan has lived in a storm. Little by little, everything has been taken away from her—her job, her relationship, her best friend and her home. Plagued by nightmares and a terrible family secret, she carries her scars as much on the inside as she does on the outside.
But storms can’t last forever…can they?
Hart Booker, another disappointment from her past, tries to shelter her from the rain. He reminds Rae that forgiveness is possible, that happiness can be found on the other side of darkness, and that beauty rests beneath the ugliness.
Still, no matter how hard she fights to find the light, a sinister figure lingering in the background seems determined to pull Rae back into the shadows.
Can she survive the storm and shed her past? Or is she destined to remain Pulled Within?
Recommended for mature audiences due to explicit language, sexual abuse, disturbing situations, and drug use.
But storms can’t last forever…can they?
Hart Booker, another disappointment from her past, tries to shelter her from the rain. He reminds Rae that forgiveness is possible, that happiness can be found on the other side of darkness, and that beauty rests beneath the ugliness.
Still, no matter how hard she fights to find the light, a sinister figure lingering in the background seems determined to pull Rae back into the shadows.
Can she survive the storm and shed her past? Or is she destined to remain Pulled Within?
Recommended for mature audiences due to explicit language, sexual abuse, disturbing situations, and drug use.
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 12, 2014
94 people are currently reading
731 people want to read
About the author
Marni Mann
62 books7,107 followersUSA Today Bestselling author Marni Mann knew she was going to be a writer since middle school. While other girls her age were daydreaming about teenage pop stars, Marni was fantasizing about penning her first novel. She crafts sexy, titillating stories that weave together her love of darkness, mystery, passion, and human emotions. A New Englander at heart, she now lives in Sarasota, Florida, with her husband and their Yellow Lab. When she’s not nose deep in her laptop, working on her next novel, she’s scouring for chocolate, sipping wine, traveling, or devouring fabulous books.
Visit her at:
WEBSITE: www.MarniSMann.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MarniMannAuthor
INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/marnimann/
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Visit her at:
WEBSITE: www.MarniSMann.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MarniMannAuthor
INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/marnimann/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
December 9, 2014
**Pulled Within generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
5 Beautifully Scarred Stars
Certain authors I expect certain elements present in their stories. While I’ve not a clue what to expect in terms of plot awareness of what to expect in terms of writing and feeling I retain certain ideas about what I’ll read. One such author is Marni Mann. I can’t ever guess her plot lines but I always feel deeply when I read her stories. I’ve once said a Mann story is an unstoppable force, Pulled Within proves to be no exception.
Mann delves into the dark and damaged souls of her characters in an effort to exorcise demons. In doing so she delves into the dark and damaged souls of her readers. The writing lends itself to keeping readers in the dark of the secrets lurking beneath the words. We’re in the point of view of the heroine and such is brilliance as we’re stuck with the same limited knowledge of her story as the hero.
What has happened to this girl who so easily comforts those around her but can’t comfort her own demons? Our, Rae, needs both the strength within her and the strength of someone else the war waged within her. Moving through life as fluidly as the words on the pages furthers the reader’s belief the darkness will find light. The innate courage of her character astounded me. She’s been hurt deeply and her trust in the few she allows inside comes from bravery. No one writes a beautifully damaged female main character quite like Mann. Rae becomes accustomed to hardship, sacrifice, and the most upsetting of tragedies yet still a charming, giving, gifted woman lurks in the shadows of the darkness surrounding her. She feels everything deeply from the relationships she’s lost to the ones she works hard to maintain. Thanks to the smart, concise, haunting words of Marni Mann we feel deeply about Rae too.
The hero presented in Pulled Within gave me something quite different than I’ve experienced before in a novel by this author. He’s a hero whose darkness doesn’t run near as deep as the heroine. One classified as a knight in shining armor. Hart made mistakes of his own admittance. He’s a character moving forward. He’s understanding and compassionate. He’s strong and protective. He’s quite charming even though he’s simplistic.
The dichotomy between the darkness of Rae and lightness of Hart provides an interesting in Rae’s story of redemption. It’s a twist I wasn’t expecting yet one that worked for me in the best of ways. By the end of story I felt proud of these characters for different reasons but I really felt joy for Rae, for her situation, and for her conclusive self-worth.
Marni Mann makes you believe no matter how deep the scar healing is possible. Step into the darkness of this author’s words; relish the demons living inside her characters. This New Adult journey evokes emotion through haunting prose effectively wrapping themselves around our hearts and minds; writing so smart yet easy to read. She makes the dull bright. She convinces the reader to believe in her stories, her characters, and somehow in ourselves no matter what our own darkness may be. It’s an amazing gift to receive as a reader coinciding with another amazing story in Pulled Within. I’m so very fortunate to have been introduced into Marni’s worlds and forever grateful for the stories she writes and the absolute privilege that I'm able to read them.
Favorite Quotes:
“I didn’t just hear his words when he spoke; I felt them push through my jacket and tickle the skin around my navel. Had I closed my eyes, I’d have seen his lips in that exact spot. His tongue, too. My back arching from the syllables he breathed over my flesh.”
“Our paths had diverged, and though we’d ended up with very different lives, we were both in Bar Harbor once again. That was a strange thought.”
“Our relationship wasn’t about my scars. It was about caring for him in a way I hadn’t been able to care for others in my life when they’d really needed me to.”
September 16, 2014
Pulled Within (Bar Harbor #2) by Marni Mann
5 stars!!
It seems years ago when I stumbled across my first Marni Mann book. I read it, devoured it and have been a huge fan ever since. Marni is one of these authors that are still little known, yet her books and writing deserve so much more attention, these are books that deserve to be read. After reading Pulled Within I have to say this is Marni Mann’s best book yet. The development in her writing is exponential, this story is raw and gritty, it is emotional and beautiful, you live and breathe the story, you feel the pain, the angst, the romance, you cannot help but be blanketed in this story, and it takes you over, from your head to your toes and everything in between including your heart.
This is the second book in the Bar Harbor series and this time it is the story of Rae and Hart. You may remember Rae from Pulled Beneath, she was the girl that worked for Saint, she was scarred and he eventually sacked her for causing trouble, so not the most lovable of characters. However, I was always intrigued, what was her history, why was she the way she was, just what happened to her to shape her into the person she was today. You knew that it wasn’t going to be pretty but it would sure be interesting and that is definitely what Marni Mann delivered.
Rae’s life has gone to hell, she has been fired from her job, her best friend has gone AWOL and hasn’t been in touch for months, she is struggling to keep a roof over her head and her ex-boyfriend is flaunting the love of his life all over town, which Rae feels just drives the pain and hurt even deeper. She has come to a pivotal moment in her life, she needs work and she needs it quick to save herself from eviction, as it is her best friend’s apartment she feels that she has to do all she can to keep it so that when he does finally return he will still have his home. Rae is struggling and she finds herself having to travel and work a job that she is not entirely comfortable with, but needs must and times are desperate.
It is while working that Rae meets Hart Booker, she is initially taken aback, her past is staring her right in the face. Hart and Rae have history, he was her high school boyfriend, she thought what they had was special and real, but one night Hart just disappeared, leaving her heart broken and devastated. This was not a part of her past that she particularly wanted to re-visit. Hart however had other ideas, his leaving was not his choice and now that he had reconnected with Rae there was no way he was going to let her slip through his grasp again. For him, just seeing her had reignited past feelings and emotions, ones that he thought he would never feel again. This was just the beginning, this was their second chance and he was taking it with both hands. Now he just needed to get Rae onside.
This is definitely a book about not letting your scars define you, you may hide behind them, but the real you is always there just waiting to come out to the forefront. You just need that faith and belief in yourself to live, to love and be loved. Rae has a lot of baggage with regards to her family life, how her scar came to be and her current set of circumstances. Hart is settled, he is doing well for himself, and they could not be any more polar opposite. They say that opposites attract and that is certainly the case with these two, it is obvious that they were destined to be together, but can Rae move on from her past and look to the future, or will her scars and inner demons drag her down and out?
This is one emotional, lyrical piece of writing; you will be “Pulled Within” this story. Like an emotional vortex you will be sucked in and only spat out right at the end. You will bear emotional scars, you will feel like you have been put through the wringer but you will admire the quality and intricacies of the story. Being drip fed pertinent points leaves you trying to figure out everything yet accomplishing nothing until Marni wraps it up nice and pretty for you.
This can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend that if you haven’t read Pulled Beneath that you pick it up and give it a read, it truly is a brilliant story. Pulled Within does surpass it though, with every book Marni Mann writes she just gets better and better, her confidence shines through and you cannot help but be entranced with her unique story telling ability. It is like a drug, so engaging, so addictive that she has become a 1click author for me. She has me hooked, line and sinker.
www.theromancecover.com
5 stars!!
“Everyone has a chance to heal. Some people choose to stay in the past and let their scars define them. Others choose to let it be nothing more than a mark on their body. That’s what I’ve done. It doesn’t define me. It sure as f**k doesn’t determine where I’m going.”
It seems years ago when I stumbled across my first Marni Mann book. I read it, devoured it and have been a huge fan ever since. Marni is one of these authors that are still little known, yet her books and writing deserve so much more attention, these are books that deserve to be read. After reading Pulled Within I have to say this is Marni Mann’s best book yet. The development in her writing is exponential, this story is raw and gritty, it is emotional and beautiful, you live and breathe the story, you feel the pain, the angst, the romance, you cannot help but be blanketed in this story, and it takes you over, from your head to your toes and everything in between including your heart.
“Back and forth.”
This is the second book in the Bar Harbor series and this time it is the story of Rae and Hart. You may remember Rae from Pulled Beneath, she was the girl that worked for Saint, she was scarred and he eventually sacked her for causing trouble, so not the most lovable of characters. However, I was always intrigued, what was her history, why was she the way she was, just what happened to her to shape her into the person she was today. You knew that it wasn’t going to be pretty but it would sure be interesting and that is definitely what Marni Mann delivered.
“Back and forth.”
Rae’s life has gone to hell, she has been fired from her job, her best friend has gone AWOL and hasn’t been in touch for months, she is struggling to keep a roof over her head and her ex-boyfriend is flaunting the love of his life all over town, which Rae feels just drives the pain and hurt even deeper. She has come to a pivotal moment in her life, she needs work and she needs it quick to save herself from eviction, as it is her best friend’s apartment she feels that she has to do all she can to keep it so that when he does finally return he will still have his home. Rae is struggling and she finds herself having to travel and work a job that she is not entirely comfortable with, but needs must and times are desperate.
“Back and forth.”
It is while working that Rae meets Hart Booker, she is initially taken aback, her past is staring her right in the face. Hart and Rae have history, he was her high school boyfriend, she thought what they had was special and real, but one night Hart just disappeared, leaving her heart broken and devastated. This was not a part of her past that she particularly wanted to re-visit. Hart however had other ideas, his leaving was not his choice and now that he had reconnected with Rae there was no way he was going to let her slip through his grasp again. For him, just seeing her had reignited past feelings and emotions, ones that he thought he would never feel again. This was just the beginning, this was their second chance and he was taking it with both hands. Now he just needed to get Rae onside.
“We were the calm after a beautiful storm that I never wanted to end.”
This is definitely a book about not letting your scars define you, you may hide behind them, but the real you is always there just waiting to come out to the forefront. You just need that faith and belief in yourself to live, to love and be loved. Rae has a lot of baggage with regards to her family life, how her scar came to be and her current set of circumstances. Hart is settled, he is doing well for himself, and they could not be any more polar opposite. They say that opposites attract and that is certainly the case with these two, it is obvious that they were destined to be together, but can Rae move on from her past and look to the future, or will her scars and inner demons drag her down and out?
“I was raining and he was catching me in his hands. Hands I loved, to replace the memory of the ones I didn’t.”
This is one emotional, lyrical piece of writing; you will be “Pulled Within” this story. Like an emotional vortex you will be sucked in and only spat out right at the end. You will bear emotional scars, you will feel like you have been put through the wringer but you will admire the quality and intricacies of the story. Being drip fed pertinent points leaves you trying to figure out everything yet accomplishing nothing until Marni wraps it up nice and pretty for you.
“Back and forth.”
This can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend that if you haven’t read Pulled Beneath that you pick it up and give it a read, it truly is a brilliant story. Pulled Within does surpass it though, with every book Marni Mann writes she just gets better and better, her confidence shines through and you cannot help but be entranced with her unique story telling ability. It is like a drug, so engaging, so addictive that she has become a 1click author for me. She has me hooked, line and sinker.
“Scars and rain. We were more similar than I’d thought.”
www.theromancecover.com
September 11, 2014
NOTE:I was given a free copy of this book with no expectation of a favorable review.
WARNING: This book is not for readers under 18.
Let me just start by saying this: I love Marni Mann's work. She has a lyrical and emotional writing style that really speaks to me as a music fan. This book was no exception. The second in her Bar Harbor series, it focuses on a young girl who is dealing with a painful secret from her past.
Along the way, she comes face to face with another painful reminder of the past while also dealing with a friend's addiction, a recent break up, and the need for new job/home. Through it all, the protagonist (Rae), displays a combination of weakness and strength that makes you want her to succeed.
I can't say too much more without spoiling the story, but I really enjoyed a twist Mann through in just when I thought I had a certain story thread figured out. I'll be looking forward to seeing what's next in this series. I recommend this book for fans of dark fiction and erotic literature.
WARNING: This book is not for readers under 18.
Let me just start by saying this: I love Marni Mann's work. She has a lyrical and emotional writing style that really speaks to me as a music fan. This book was no exception. The second in her Bar Harbor series, it focuses on a young girl who is dealing with a painful secret from her past.
Along the way, she comes face to face with another painful reminder of the past while also dealing with a friend's addiction, a recent break up, and the need for new job/home. Through it all, the protagonist (Rae), displays a combination of weakness and strength that makes you want her to succeed.
I can't say too much more without spoiling the story, but I really enjoyed a twist Mann through in just when I thought I had a certain story thread figured out. I'll be looking forward to seeing what's next in this series. I recommend this book for fans of dark fiction and erotic literature.
September 19, 2014
This review and more at www.tattooedbookreview.com.
” ‘When you’re in my house, I only want you wearing my clothes.’
‘Even your boxers?’
‘If I tell you to, yes. Nothing of yours… Not even panties.’ He bent his head, running his nose across my shoulder and to the opening of the shirt. ‘I want my scent on you- always.’ “
Once again, Marni Mann has stunned me. Each time I read one of her books time stops and the world around me disappears and for those few hours I’m there with her characters, living their tragedies and triumphs and feeling deeply their loss, love, happiness and healing. There’s something intangible about the way Mann connects a reader to her characters. When I read their stories, I feel as if I’m reading my own, though obviously I’m not. Perhaps it’s the way she makes each character so human, so real, flawed, relatable and presented honestly, without judgement and with empathy. Reading Pulled Within, I didn’t feel sorry for Rae when things seemed impossibly bleak or happy for her when moments of healing occurred, I simply felt what she felt, a true connection to the story and the character.
Rae’s story is difficult and tragic and Mann pulls no punches. Her portrait of abuse, trauma, and addiction is stark, gritty, and detailed; there is no sugar coating the truth of what occurs at the hands of an abuser or how bleak the lives are of those living with addiction. And yet in all this darkness, she weaves a story of hope, healing, and second chance love. The result is a perfectly balanced story that is at once tragic and uplifting and has a sexy, sensual edge.
I adored Rae and Hart together. When she’s at incredibly dark place, he comes in and rescues her. It’s not all white knight and now everything is perfect but he’s there for her, offering her safety, delicious sex, and ultimately himself. Their chemistry is scorching but the romance is a slow burn; Rae is slow to trust Hart with her secrets and her pain.
The story is not only about Rae and Hart, however. It’s also about the people that surround their lives, past and present, some good, some bad. It’s about family, blood and otherwise, finding home and the potential for happiness, and moving forward from a damaged past in to a hopefully brighter future. It has mystery and intrigue and bits and pieces of the full story are revealed slowly, keeping the reader glued to the pages. Pulled Within is captivating, honest, sexy, dark, tragic, and ultimately hopeful. It’s everything I could have wanted and more, and I loved it.
“We were the calm after a beautiful storm that I never wanted to end.”
(Note: Pulled Within part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone, though I highly recommend reading Pulled Beneath as well, because it’s fantastic.)
*I received a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of honest review.
” ‘When you’re in my house, I only want you wearing my clothes.’
‘Even your boxers?’
‘If I tell you to, yes. Nothing of yours… Not even panties.’ He bent his head, running his nose across my shoulder and to the opening of the shirt. ‘I want my scent on you- always.’ “
Once again, Marni Mann has stunned me. Each time I read one of her books time stops and the world around me disappears and for those few hours I’m there with her characters, living their tragedies and triumphs and feeling deeply their loss, love, happiness and healing. There’s something intangible about the way Mann connects a reader to her characters. When I read their stories, I feel as if I’m reading my own, though obviously I’m not. Perhaps it’s the way she makes each character so human, so real, flawed, relatable and presented honestly, without judgement and with empathy. Reading Pulled Within, I didn’t feel sorry for Rae when things seemed impossibly bleak or happy for her when moments of healing occurred, I simply felt what she felt, a true connection to the story and the character.
Rae’s story is difficult and tragic and Mann pulls no punches. Her portrait of abuse, trauma, and addiction is stark, gritty, and detailed; there is no sugar coating the truth of what occurs at the hands of an abuser or how bleak the lives are of those living with addiction. And yet in all this darkness, she weaves a story of hope, healing, and second chance love. The result is a perfectly balanced story that is at once tragic and uplifting and has a sexy, sensual edge.
I adored Rae and Hart together. When she’s at incredibly dark place, he comes in and rescues her. It’s not all white knight and now everything is perfect but he’s there for her, offering her safety, delicious sex, and ultimately himself. Their chemistry is scorching but the romance is a slow burn; Rae is slow to trust Hart with her secrets and her pain.
The story is not only about Rae and Hart, however. It’s also about the people that surround their lives, past and present, some good, some bad. It’s about family, blood and otherwise, finding home and the potential for happiness, and moving forward from a damaged past in to a hopefully brighter future. It has mystery and intrigue and bits and pieces of the full story are revealed slowly, keeping the reader glued to the pages. Pulled Within is captivating, honest, sexy, dark, tragic, and ultimately hopeful. It’s everything I could have wanted and more, and I loved it.
“We were the calm after a beautiful storm that I never wanted to end.”
(Note: Pulled Within part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone, though I highly recommend reading Pulled Beneath as well, because it’s fantastic.)
*I received a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of honest review.
October 17, 2014
** BETH'S 4 STAR REVIEW **
Pulled Within is a story about heartache but also about a second chance at love and a chance at healing. We first meet Rae in Pulled Beneath and she now finds herself with no boyfriend, no job and her best friend is on the missing list almost 2 months, they are about to be evicted from his apartment if she doesn’t come up with the money and she is counting down the days to a date every year she never looks forward to, a day that reminds her of a tragic loss that has left her scarred inside and out.
After Brady has finally come back and is now in rehab, Rae finds herself homeless and having to go outside of Bar Harbour to find a job. She decides to crash at Brady’s friends place where she plans to only stay long enough to get enough saved to get her own place and try to get her life back on track. It seems though she can never seem to escape her past, reliving the nightmares from her teens and running back into Hart, the ex-boyfriend who just disappeared one night and never said good bye to her. They both soon realize that feelings are still there but Rae was burned once by him and is not ready to open her heart just yet and trust him.
I really enjoyed this story, it really pulled me in right from the start. From there very first page you could tell that what Rae is dealing with is not something that is going to be easy for her to heal from. There is something tragic from her past and you can tell it has truly broken her. As you read through the story and experience the flashbacks she has in the form of dreams, you can tell that this has something that had severely affected her and still 5 years later she has not dealt with any of it. It slowly builds the story of her past leaving you to continually speculate what has happened to her as you see little bits more and more throughout the story. Rae is so alone, she is estranged from her mother, and the only true family she has is Brady and his dad Shane. That is until Hart comes back into her life and ends up convincing her to come stay with him until she can get her own place. Hart regrets how he left with his parents and never looked back and he wants to right his wrongs. He loves her and he can see she is hurting and wants to help heal her. I really loved these two together, I loved the chemistry they had and at times scenes between these two were very hot and sexy. I loved that he was a bit of an Alpha with her in the bedroom but he was also loving and caring and respected her boundaries and that she needed space and time.
Overall I really enjoyed this story, it was a great story of heartbreak that gave hope of healing and a second chance at love. The one thing I wish is that we could have seen more of Saint and Drew and seen more of their story intertwine Rae and Hart’s. Hoping there is a third book that will tie up some of the loose ends I feel that are left with all of these characters at the end of this book
Pulled Within is a story about heartache but also about a second chance at love and a chance at healing. We first meet Rae in Pulled Beneath and she now finds herself with no boyfriend, no job and her best friend is on the missing list almost 2 months, they are about to be evicted from his apartment if she doesn’t come up with the money and she is counting down the days to a date every year she never looks forward to, a day that reminds her of a tragic loss that has left her scarred inside and out.
After Brady has finally come back and is now in rehab, Rae finds herself homeless and having to go outside of Bar Harbour to find a job. She decides to crash at Brady’s friends place where she plans to only stay long enough to get enough saved to get her own place and try to get her life back on track. It seems though she can never seem to escape her past, reliving the nightmares from her teens and running back into Hart, the ex-boyfriend who just disappeared one night and never said good bye to her. They both soon realize that feelings are still there but Rae was burned once by him and is not ready to open her heart just yet and trust him.
I really enjoyed this story, it really pulled me in right from the start. From there very first page you could tell that what Rae is dealing with is not something that is going to be easy for her to heal from. There is something tragic from her past and you can tell it has truly broken her. As you read through the story and experience the flashbacks she has in the form of dreams, you can tell that this has something that had severely affected her and still 5 years later she has not dealt with any of it. It slowly builds the story of her past leaving you to continually speculate what has happened to her as you see little bits more and more throughout the story. Rae is so alone, she is estranged from her mother, and the only true family she has is Brady and his dad Shane. That is until Hart comes back into her life and ends up convincing her to come stay with him until she can get her own place. Hart regrets how he left with his parents and never looked back and he wants to right his wrongs. He loves her and he can see she is hurting and wants to help heal her. I really loved these two together, I loved the chemistry they had and at times scenes between these two were very hot and sexy. I loved that he was a bit of an Alpha with her in the bedroom but he was also loving and caring and respected her boundaries and that she needed space and time.
Overall I really enjoyed this story, it was a great story of heartbreak that gave hope of healing and a second chance at love. The one thing I wish is that we could have seen more of Saint and Drew and seen more of their story intertwine Rae and Hart’s. Hoping there is a third book that will tie up some of the loose ends I feel that are left with all of these characters at the end of this book
September 19, 2014
Blog Tour on my blog September 19th 2014
Review + Except
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Ringrazio immensamente Marni Mann e The Novel Tease per avermi concesso la straordinaria opportunità di partecipare al blog tour e di leggere il libro in anteprima in cambio della mia onesta opinione. Un grazie speciale alla Mann per regalare a noi lettori storie tanto belle.
“Pulled Within” è il secondo volume della serie “Bar Harbor” della meravigliosa Marni Mann, una scrittrice straordinaria, capace di scrivere storie sconvolgente, inimmaginabili e bellissime. Anche in questo caso ha svolto un lavoro magistrale, per una storia difficile e complessa, che lascia di stucco. Quando le admin del blog “The Novel Tease” mi hanno proposto di partecipare al blog tour non mi sono proprio potuta tirare indietro, non quando adoro immensamente lo stile narrativo della Mann. Ed eccomi ad apprezzare il suo ennesimo libro.
Che cosa succede quando una persona che dovrebbe amarti incondizionatamente e proteggerti dal dolore è la responsabile delle tue cicatrici?
Tutto è cambiato per Rae Ryan quando Drew Stevens è arrivato a Bar Harbor. Saint, l’uomo a cui tiene veramente, non vuole più saperne di lei e i loro dissapori finiscono per costarle il lavoro. Con il suo migliore amico, Brady, alle prese con i propri problemi, Rae si ritrova completamente sola.
Il suo mondo si trasforma di nuovo dopo un incontro con Hart, il suo primo amore che è recentemente tornato in città. Nonostante il dolore che prova per il fatto che l’abbia abbandonata, i ricordi del tempo trascorso insieme le ricordano di giorni più sereni. Un tempo dove non aveva le sue cicatrici. Ma non è più quella ragazza spensierata – è indurita, spezzata. È spinta dentro.
Mentre Rae inizia ad aprire il suo cuore e a lasciare andare le sue emozioni a guarire, nota quel terribilmente familiare e arrugginito vecchio pickup al bar locale. Il suo incubo dal passato è tornato – e lei non può trovarsi nella posizione vulnerabile di sentire la pena che lui è capace di infliggere…
La Mann ha la capacità incredibile di scrivere delle storie assolutamente strazianti ma che ti lasciano, a fine lettura, incredibilmente sollevato, empowered, in un certo qual modo. È difficile trovare una scrittrice che unisca una trama convincente e uno stile impeccabile, ma fidatevi quando vi dico che Marni Mann sa quello di cui scrive. E non importa se sei sempre ad un passo dalle lacrime o se le vicende dei protagonisti ti lasciano con in cuore spezzato, sai sempre che ne vale la pena. In questo secondo volume leggiamo la storia di Rae, la ex compagna di Saint, una ragazza che si pone al mondo in maniera scontrosa e imprevedibile, ma che nasconde una fragilità immensa. Dopo che Saint l’ha licenziata si ritrova ad arrabattarsi come può per sopravvivere ma è difficile in un paese che vive di turismo e di lavoro stagionale, quando l’estate è ormai agli sgoccioli. Più l’autunno si avvicina più Rae è costretta ad allontanarsi da Bar Harbor. Rae è una di quelle ragazze che non si dà per vinta, che anche nel colmo della tempesta cerca di sopravvivere. E deve solo raggiungere intatta il 17 dicembre. Non importa se nel frattempo non mangia e non dorme, quella data significa tutto, girare la boa di quel maledetto giorno di dicembre le riporterà un po’ di serenità. E la solitudine, le inizia a pesare come un macigno.
Ma dal passato, ecco che rispunta Hart, il ragazzo che le ha spezzato il cuore, scomparendo nel nulla, ma che in realtà non ha mai dimenticato. Ormai Hart è un uomo, fatto e finito, e anche lui ha la sua dose di cicatrici raccolte sul campo. Quelle maledette cicatrici che Rae si porta sul viso. Quelle cicatrici che fanno la differenza tra il perdersi e il salvarsi, tra uscire allo scoperto o nascondersi sotto la sabbia, tra il camminare a testa alta, orgogliosi o rannicchiarsi in posizione fetale e dondolarsi avanti e indietro. Ed è questo che fa la differenza in una storia che non ha nulla di facile, che si frange contro le esigenze di una vita che mette i bastoni tra le ruote.
Non si tratta solo della romance, che pure è intensa e appassionante, non si tratta solo delle scene più erotiche, che pure ti lasciano con quel senso di soddisfazione e un sorrisetto compiaciuto, no si tratta del perdono e della rinascita, si tratta di raggiungere la consapevolezza che la colpa non è tua, che non ti puoi dilaniare il corpo e la mente per qualcosa di così terribile. Il passato è una macchia oscura che rischia di inghiottire tutto al suo passaggio. Ma si deve andare avanti, Rae ha tante persone che la amano, a dispetto dei pregiudizi e delle mancanze di chi le sta intorno.
È sempre Rae che racconta la sua storia in prima persona e ho molto apprezzato questa scelta, perché se Hart è estremamente importante nella crescita e nella liberazione della ragazza, pure è lei la vera protagonista, sono le sue scelte e le sue vicende a fare la differenza. È lei che detiene le redini della storia e ne modella il ritmo. Rae con il suo sarcasmo e il suo fisico statuario. Rae con la sua intelligenza vivace e i suoi moti irrequieti.
Non ci sono moltissimi personaggi secondari, ma quelli che ci sono contano tantissimo. A partire proprio da Brady, il migliore amico di Rae di cui veniamo a scoprire molti dettagli e che avevamo conosciuto già in “Pulled Beneath” e che io ho adorato dal primo momento. E poi soprattutto Shane il padre di Brady, che ha fatto da padre anche a Rae. Di una tenerezza unica, di un sostegno vero, di una gentilezza estrema, la descrizione della casa, mi ha lasciato commossa.
L’ambientazione è sempre quella di Bar Harbor il paesino sull’oceano, in Maine del primo libro, che affascina con i suoi spazi ampi, la pioggia, le tempeste, l’aria aggressiva di gente che pensa agli affari propri.
Il particolare da non dimenticare? Una felpa con cappuccio.
“Pulled Within” è un libro eccezionale, intenso, passionale, struggente, che tra alti e bassi, tocca con delicatezza temi importanti, regalandoci una protagonista forte, un uomo da invidiarle e una trama impeccabile. La Mann intesse con le sue parole una vicenda crudele, per regalarci ancora una volta la speranza della liberazione. Per vedere la luce, bisogna conoscere il buio. Io intanto aspetto buona buona il terzo volume della serie. So che sarà spettacolare.
Buona lettura guys!
Review + Except
http://pleaseanotherbook.tumblr.com/p...
Ringrazio immensamente Marni Mann e The Novel Tease per avermi concesso la straordinaria opportunità di partecipare al blog tour e di leggere il libro in anteprima in cambio della mia onesta opinione. Un grazie speciale alla Mann per regalare a noi lettori storie tanto belle.
“Pulled Within” è il secondo volume della serie “Bar Harbor” della meravigliosa Marni Mann, una scrittrice straordinaria, capace di scrivere storie sconvolgente, inimmaginabili e bellissime. Anche in questo caso ha svolto un lavoro magistrale, per una storia difficile e complessa, che lascia di stucco. Quando le admin del blog “The Novel Tease” mi hanno proposto di partecipare al blog tour non mi sono proprio potuta tirare indietro, non quando adoro immensamente lo stile narrativo della Mann. Ed eccomi ad apprezzare il suo ennesimo libro.
Che cosa succede quando una persona che dovrebbe amarti incondizionatamente e proteggerti dal dolore è la responsabile delle tue cicatrici?
Tutto è cambiato per Rae Ryan quando Drew Stevens è arrivato a Bar Harbor. Saint, l’uomo a cui tiene veramente, non vuole più saperne di lei e i loro dissapori finiscono per costarle il lavoro. Con il suo migliore amico, Brady, alle prese con i propri problemi, Rae si ritrova completamente sola.
Il suo mondo si trasforma di nuovo dopo un incontro con Hart, il suo primo amore che è recentemente tornato in città. Nonostante il dolore che prova per il fatto che l’abbia abbandonata, i ricordi del tempo trascorso insieme le ricordano di giorni più sereni. Un tempo dove non aveva le sue cicatrici. Ma non è più quella ragazza spensierata – è indurita, spezzata. È spinta dentro.
Mentre Rae inizia ad aprire il suo cuore e a lasciare andare le sue emozioni a guarire, nota quel terribilmente familiare e arrugginito vecchio pickup al bar locale. Il suo incubo dal passato è tornato – e lei non può trovarsi nella posizione vulnerabile di sentire la pena che lui è capace di infliggere…
La Mann ha la capacità incredibile di scrivere delle storie assolutamente strazianti ma che ti lasciano, a fine lettura, incredibilmente sollevato, empowered, in un certo qual modo. È difficile trovare una scrittrice che unisca una trama convincente e uno stile impeccabile, ma fidatevi quando vi dico che Marni Mann sa quello di cui scrive. E non importa se sei sempre ad un passo dalle lacrime o se le vicende dei protagonisti ti lasciano con in cuore spezzato, sai sempre che ne vale la pena. In questo secondo volume leggiamo la storia di Rae, la ex compagna di Saint, una ragazza che si pone al mondo in maniera scontrosa e imprevedibile, ma che nasconde una fragilità immensa. Dopo che Saint l’ha licenziata si ritrova ad arrabattarsi come può per sopravvivere ma è difficile in un paese che vive di turismo e di lavoro stagionale, quando l’estate è ormai agli sgoccioli. Più l’autunno si avvicina più Rae è costretta ad allontanarsi da Bar Harbor. Rae è una di quelle ragazze che non si dà per vinta, che anche nel colmo della tempesta cerca di sopravvivere. E deve solo raggiungere intatta il 17 dicembre. Non importa se nel frattempo non mangia e non dorme, quella data significa tutto, girare la boa di quel maledetto giorno di dicembre le riporterà un po’ di serenità. E la solitudine, le inizia a pesare come un macigno.
Ma dal passato, ecco che rispunta Hart, il ragazzo che le ha spezzato il cuore, scomparendo nel nulla, ma che in realtà non ha mai dimenticato. Ormai Hart è un uomo, fatto e finito, e anche lui ha la sua dose di cicatrici raccolte sul campo. Quelle maledette cicatrici che Rae si porta sul viso. Quelle cicatrici che fanno la differenza tra il perdersi e il salvarsi, tra uscire allo scoperto o nascondersi sotto la sabbia, tra il camminare a testa alta, orgogliosi o rannicchiarsi in posizione fetale e dondolarsi avanti e indietro. Ed è questo che fa la differenza in una storia che non ha nulla di facile, che si frange contro le esigenze di una vita che mette i bastoni tra le ruote.
Non si tratta solo della romance, che pure è intensa e appassionante, non si tratta solo delle scene più erotiche, che pure ti lasciano con quel senso di soddisfazione e un sorrisetto compiaciuto, no si tratta del perdono e della rinascita, si tratta di raggiungere la consapevolezza che la colpa non è tua, che non ti puoi dilaniare il corpo e la mente per qualcosa di così terribile. Il passato è una macchia oscura che rischia di inghiottire tutto al suo passaggio. Ma si deve andare avanti, Rae ha tante persone che la amano, a dispetto dei pregiudizi e delle mancanze di chi le sta intorno.
È sempre Rae che racconta la sua storia in prima persona e ho molto apprezzato questa scelta, perché se Hart è estremamente importante nella crescita e nella liberazione della ragazza, pure è lei la vera protagonista, sono le sue scelte e le sue vicende a fare la differenza. È lei che detiene le redini della storia e ne modella il ritmo. Rae con il suo sarcasmo e il suo fisico statuario. Rae con la sua intelligenza vivace e i suoi moti irrequieti.
Non ci sono moltissimi personaggi secondari, ma quelli che ci sono contano tantissimo. A partire proprio da Brady, il migliore amico di Rae di cui veniamo a scoprire molti dettagli e che avevamo conosciuto già in “Pulled Beneath” e che io ho adorato dal primo momento. E poi soprattutto Shane il padre di Brady, che ha fatto da padre anche a Rae. Di una tenerezza unica, di un sostegno vero, di una gentilezza estrema, la descrizione della casa, mi ha lasciato commossa.
L’ambientazione è sempre quella di Bar Harbor il paesino sull’oceano, in Maine del primo libro, che affascina con i suoi spazi ampi, la pioggia, le tempeste, l’aria aggressiva di gente che pensa agli affari propri.
Il particolare da non dimenticare? Una felpa con cappuccio.
“Pulled Within” è un libro eccezionale, intenso, passionale, struggente, che tra alti e bassi, tocca con delicatezza temi importanti, regalandoci una protagonista forte, un uomo da invidiarle e una trama impeccabile. La Mann intesse con le sue parole una vicenda crudele, per regalarci ancora una volta la speranza della liberazione. Per vedere la luce, bisogna conoscere il buio. Io intanto aspetto buona buona il terzo volume della serie. So che sarà spettacolare.
Buona lettura guys!
November 18, 2014
* A review copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review *
Amazon Link---->>Pulled Within (The Bar Harbor Series Book 2)
~~ 4 Healing Stars ~~
Pulled Within is the second book in Marni Mann's series, but can be read as a standalone. This book was truly it's own story. I was shocked at how little some of the other characters from the first book weren't in this book.
I enjoyed this book and the author's writing style. She knows how to create an engaging storyline that keeps your attention all the way through. I think the only thing that I didn't like was that to me this seemed more like Brady's story of healing then it was Rae's. I thought Brady's storyline took up too much space. I understand that Rae and Brady were BFF's, but I would've liked the healing to be more about Rae and her past. I thought it took to long for her past to be revealed, so it made the healing part of her story a little rushed. I did like that we got bits of her past through flashbacks. Normally I think flashbacks are risky, but in this story they worked. I was also happy to see that Rae and Hart didn't take too long to reconnect. I liked watching their relationship unfold throughout most of the book. I truly felt their feelings were genuine.
We met Rae in book 1 Pulled Beneath. She was only in that book every now and then, we don't really get to know Rae until this book when everything is revealed. Rae is a troubled person and a broken soul who is determined to help everyone in her life and fix their issues, without really looking at herself and her issues. Rae had a tragic event happen to her and her family when she was younger and her life has revolved around 12/17. She just reminds herself that she needs to get through that day. So besides this tragic event she was dating Hart (in high school) and her disappears without so much as a word, leaving Rae hurt and confused. But now 5 years later Hart is back in Bar Harbor and determined to get Rae back. I really liked Hart….he was the right mix of Alpha male and sweet and tender. Although I did find his reason for leaving in the past kind of weak and uneventful. I was kind of expecting something a little bigger. I did like that even though Hart knew Rae was hurting inside, he never gave up on her and didn't push her. He just helped her through the tough times until all was revealed Rae was truly on a self-destructive path until she reconnected with Hart and he helped get her on the right track.
I would recommend this book to everyone who is looking for that second chance romance and a book about learning to heal yourself, so that you can put the past behind you.
Follow Us at :: Book Bitches Blog | Facebook | Twitter
Amazon Link---->>Pulled Within (The Bar Harbor Series Book 2)
~~ 4 Healing Stars ~~
Pulled Within is the second book in Marni Mann's series, but can be read as a standalone. This book was truly it's own story. I was shocked at how little some of the other characters from the first book weren't in this book.
I enjoyed this book and the author's writing style. She knows how to create an engaging storyline that keeps your attention all the way through. I think the only thing that I didn't like was that to me this seemed more like Brady's story of healing then it was Rae's. I thought Brady's storyline took up too much space. I understand that Rae and Brady were BFF's, but I would've liked the healing to be more about Rae and her past. I thought it took to long for her past to be revealed, so it made the healing part of her story a little rushed. I did like that we got bits of her past through flashbacks. Normally I think flashbacks are risky, but in this story they worked. I was also happy to see that Rae and Hart didn't take too long to reconnect. I liked watching their relationship unfold throughout most of the book. I truly felt their feelings were genuine.
We met Rae in book 1 Pulled Beneath. She was only in that book every now and then, we don't really get to know Rae until this book when everything is revealed. Rae is a troubled person and a broken soul who is determined to help everyone in her life and fix their issues, without really looking at herself and her issues. Rae had a tragic event happen to her and her family when she was younger and her life has revolved around 12/17. She just reminds herself that she needs to get through that day. So besides this tragic event she was dating Hart (in high school) and her disappears without so much as a word, leaving Rae hurt and confused. But now 5 years later Hart is back in Bar Harbor and determined to get Rae back. I really liked Hart….he was the right mix of Alpha male and sweet and tender. Although I did find his reason for leaving in the past kind of weak and uneventful. I was kind of expecting something a little bigger. I did like that even though Hart knew Rae was hurting inside, he never gave up on her and didn't push her. He just helped her through the tough times until all was revealed Rae was truly on a self-destructive path until she reconnected with Hart and he helped get her on the right track.
I would recommend this book to everyone who is looking for that second chance romance and a book about learning to heal yourself, so that you can put the past behind you.
Follow Us at :: Book Bitches Blog | Facebook | Twitter
October 17, 2014
This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 stars
Pulled Within is the story of a scarred young woman, Rae Ryan, who was trying desperately to get her life on track.
Rae was my favorite character in this story. Like all of us, she has things in her past that have scarred her. Unfortunately, she hasn’t been able to move on. I really liked that this story starts with Rae at rock bottom. We get to see her start to put the pieces of her life together, and we witness a strength in her that she didn’t know she had. Rae has been merely existing for a while, and when she’s finally forced to live again, I feel like she really seizes the opportunity…at first.
Rae got a new job and was making good money; she had a prime opportunity to get her life in order by herself. It was the appearance of the hero in this story, Hart Booker, where I felt this book began to go downhill. I couldn’t buy his reasons for leaving her all those years ago, and his excuse for never bothering to call was incredibly flimsy. And there was no groveling scene. I am not necessarily a huge fan of groveling scenes; I don’t generally need them, but I needed one in this book. It would have made it a lot easier to believe when Rae gave up the new life she was creating when he crooked his finger. To top that off, things happened later in the story that made me doubt his level of commitment to her, and again, his reasons fell flat. I wasn’t a huge fan of the hero in this one.
Brady, on the other hand, Rae’s troubled best friend, was a character I really liked. Brady was a broken man who was also trying to get his life together, and unbeknownst to him, he was the catalyst that forced Rae into getting her life together. It was obvious he genuinely cared for her and wanted what was best for her. Once Brady’s life got on track, he was a great support system for Rae.
There was a lot of family drama in this one, and I thought it was well written and interesting. It was obvious how the events of her past had shaped the woman Rae had become.
Saint’s appearance in this book and the way he treated Rae were a huge disappointment to me. She was mean to Drew in the last book, and I get that, but Saint knew parts of Rae’s past, and for him to be so mean to her put his character in a bad light for me. When I finished the first book, Saint was left with an aura of mystery to him that I really enjoyed. At the end of this one, I no longer liked him.
While I did have some issued with this book, I did really like Rae’s character. I just think a hero with more of a backbone would have been a better fit for her and the story overall. At this point, I am undecided on whether or not I’ll be reading more of this series.
This review was originally posted at Badass Book Reviews.
2.5 stars
Pulled Within is the story of a scarred young woman, Rae Ryan, who was trying desperately to get her life on track.
Rae was my favorite character in this story. Like all of us, she has things in her past that have scarred her. Unfortunately, she hasn’t been able to move on. I really liked that this story starts with Rae at rock bottom. We get to see her start to put the pieces of her life together, and we witness a strength in her that she didn’t know she had. Rae has been merely existing for a while, and when she’s finally forced to live again, I feel like she really seizes the opportunity…at first.
Rae got a new job and was making good money; she had a prime opportunity to get her life in order by herself. It was the appearance of the hero in this story, Hart Booker, where I felt this book began to go downhill. I couldn’t buy his reasons for leaving her all those years ago, and his excuse for never bothering to call was incredibly flimsy. And there was no groveling scene. I am not necessarily a huge fan of groveling scenes; I don’t generally need them, but I needed one in this book. It would have made it a lot easier to believe when Rae gave up the new life she was creating when he crooked his finger. To top that off, things happened later in the story that made me doubt his level of commitment to her, and again, his reasons fell flat. I wasn’t a huge fan of the hero in this one.
Brady, on the other hand, Rae’s troubled best friend, was a character I really liked. Brady was a broken man who was also trying to get his life together, and unbeknownst to him, he was the catalyst that forced Rae into getting her life together. It was obvious he genuinely cared for her and wanted what was best for her. Once Brady’s life got on track, he was a great support system for Rae.
There was a lot of family drama in this one, and I thought it was well written and interesting. It was obvious how the events of her past had shaped the woman Rae had become.
Saint’s appearance in this book and the way he treated Rae were a huge disappointment to me. She was mean to Drew in the last book, and I get that, but Saint knew parts of Rae’s past, and for him to be so mean to her put his character in a bad light for me. When I finished the first book, Saint was left with an aura of mystery to him that I really enjoyed. At the end of this one, I no longer liked him.
While I did have some issued with this book, I did really like Rae’s character. I just think a hero with more of a backbone would have been a better fit for her and the story overall. At this point, I am undecided on whether or not I’ll be reading more of this series.
This review was originally posted at Badass Book Reviews.
Want to read
May 16, 2021I loved Pulled Beneath, but Seductive Shadows is my favorite Marni-book, which is shelved as erotica, so I went through some withdrawals jumping from that to New Adult (not that I'm complaining; Mann does New Adult correctly).
I found the author again who has achieved favoritism amongst my already favorite authors in this book. It was beautiful. Mann writes books that guarantee darkness, that guarantee survival, gorgeous storytelling, and great sex, and Pulled Within delivers. It is brilliant because no one reads Pulled Beneath and wants to read about evil-ish Rae (at least I didn't) and then you pick up this book and you definitely want to read about Rae. Mann reverted to that tortured soul I found in Charlie in Seductive Shadows - the survivor - and made it happen freshly with a twist that I never saw coming. Her lyrical style pulls you in like a slow burn, and her damaged characters break you down. Rae makes you cry, tears you to pieces, and gives you something else that I can't describe other than if I said
With every book, Mann achieves this magical air in realistic fiction: it's like she knows you and is all like
She's a literary sorcerer as far as I'm concerned. I've always wanted to write a book wherein the protagonist fell in love with the reader. I haven't done it yet, but reading a Marni-book is kinda like that, and probably as close as I'm ever gonna get.
I found the author again who has achieved favoritism amongst my already favorite authors in this book. It was beautiful. Mann writes books that guarantee darkness, that guarantee survival, gorgeous storytelling, and great sex, and Pulled Within delivers. It is brilliant because no one reads Pulled Beneath and wants to read about evil-ish Rae (at least I didn't) and then you pick up this book and you definitely want to read about Rae. Mann reverted to that tortured soul I found in Charlie in Seductive Shadows - the survivor - and made it happen freshly with a twist that I never saw coming. Her lyrical style pulls you in like a slow burn, and her damaged characters break you down. Rae makes you cry, tears you to pieces, and gives you something else that I can't describe other than if I said
In darkness I look for the stars
With every book, Mann achieves this magical air in realistic fiction: it's like she knows you and is all like
I'm gonna write a book for that one person
She's a literary sorcerer as far as I'm concerned. I've always wanted to write a book wherein the protagonist fell in love with the reader. I haven't done it yet, but reading a Marni-book is kinda like that, and probably as close as I'm ever gonna get.
September 11, 2014
*I received an arc of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review*
I read Pulled Beneath and this book is a wonderful sequel. I personally think to read them together is perfect. However, it can be read as a stand alone and still be great.
Rae Ryan is a girl that has struggled. As I read this book I felt like I was suffering with Rae. She's been heartbroken and left behind. Then, Rae's ex boyfriend, Hart Booker, shows up back in her life. One day, years ago, he just up and left her. Now he wants to love her, take care of her and make up for hurting her so badly. It takes a lot for Rae to let him back in. She needs to be honest with him about some of the terrible things that have happened in the past. But Hart is persistent. If anyone can make Rae whole again...it's Hart.
Marni Mann has a beautiful way of writing. Her characters seem like they could be people I know. They're realistic in what they feel and go through. This is my second book by Ms. Mann and I can't wait to read more!
5 'I'm pulled' Stars!
I read Pulled Beneath and this book is a wonderful sequel. I personally think to read them together is perfect. However, it can be read as a stand alone and still be great.
Rae Ryan is a girl that has struggled. As I read this book I felt like I was suffering with Rae. She's been heartbroken and left behind. Then, Rae's ex boyfriend, Hart Booker, shows up back in her life. One day, years ago, he just up and left her. Now he wants to love her, take care of her and make up for hurting her so badly. It takes a lot for Rae to let him back in. She needs to be honest with him about some of the terrible things that have happened in the past. But Hart is persistent. If anyone can make Rae whole again...it's Hart.
Marni Mann has a beautiful way of writing. Her characters seem like they could be people I know. They're realistic in what they feel and go through. This is my second book by Ms. Mann and I can't wait to read more!
5 'I'm pulled' Stars!
September 12, 2014
I read the first book in the Bar Harbor series and was extremely anxious for the second one to come out. But, with almost any series, you never know if the following books with hold true to the first books. Pulled Within not only lives up to Pulled Beneath, it surpasses it. I could not put it down. Rae tugged at my heart and won me over. I had to know what was causing her night mares and what had happen to her brother. Her happy ending was a must happen for me to be happy.
Pulled Within is raw and full of emotion. I had tears, I smiled, and I even giggled a little. I am not sure that a book has ever hit me with so many emotions and then left me wanting so much more in all my years of reading. Marni Mann is absolutely amazing. This series is definitely at the top of my recommend list and my must read list. Anyone who misses these books will be sorry and will be missing out on some great reading.
I do have to mention that this is definitely an adult book. There is explicit language, sexual abuse, drug use, and disturbing situations.
Pulled Within is raw and full of emotion. I had tears, I smiled, and I even giggled a little. I am not sure that a book has ever hit me with so many emotions and then left me wanting so much more in all my years of reading. Marni Mann is absolutely amazing. This series is definitely at the top of my recommend list and my must read list. Anyone who misses these books will be sorry and will be missing out on some great reading.
I do have to mention that this is definitely an adult book. There is explicit language, sexual abuse, drug use, and disturbing situations.
September 17, 2014
Pulled Within is solid proof that Marni Mann is only getting better!
Full review on Agents of Romance -
http://www.agentsofromance.com/events...
Full review on Agents of Romance -
http://www.agentsofromance.com/events...
December 19, 2014
Well...I cannot believe I didn't love this book.
I love the author. (I don't know the author, I just mean as a reader of her books.) I stumbled across her Memoirs Aren't Fairytales: A Story of Addiction once upon an Amazon freebie and it was one of those books that kept me from sleeping and made me a reader for life. Regrettably I did not review that book (not here anyway...I might have gushed about it on Amazon) and in order to do so now, I would have to reread it, which I haven't had time to do, but I was just...blown away. There's not even another way to put it. And I am not easily blown away. I loved Marni's writing. Despite that though, this is actually only the second book of hers I've read. I have most of her books, but I keep saving them for when I know I need a win. This one, however, I got as a review copy so I was on a time limit (which I think I missed by a day or so--whoops). I didn't read the first Bar Harbor book yet; I read the prologue, and I suspect I will like that one much more. I started this one after reading the prologue of the other book and just in that first impression chapter, I sensed right away I would not like Rae's story as much. It felt different. Also, Rae struck me initially as a character I might have a hard time loving. (I'm so picky about my heroines. Seriously picky. I actually ended up almost/kinda liking Rae, until the end when I just stopped caring about everything.)
Now, before I dig in, I will say that this is a very difficult thing to write about and the handling of such a storyline...it is not possible to please everyone, and in most cases, the handling of it absolutely will not please me. I can be somewhat harsh and have a zero-tolerance policy for people who behave in certain ways under these circumstances, and most authors/characters (and people, for that matter) are much more forgiving than I am. So the things that bothered me will not necessarily bother you. I actually usually avoid realistic fiction that deals with childhood sexual abuse as a central storyline specifically for this reason. I am not unbiased.
Anyway. There are several reasons this book didn't really work for me, and the first and most relevant reason is that it's a romance that, in my opinion, should not have been a romance. I don't mean because I didn't connect with the couple (although I didn't; I will get to that in a minute) but because the MC, Rae, is so fucked up. She is so unhealthy, and the last thing someone in her condition needs is a romantic entanglement. What I would have liked to see instead was the rest of the story--Rae's story. Rae learning how to heal herself and moving on to become a healthy, functioning person who might then be ready for a romantic relationship. I'll assume (since I haven't read the first book) that maybe Brady was such a central part of this story because he was in the first book, and since I don't know, I won't speak to that, but what I feel personally would have made A LOT more sense would have been Brady, instead of being super fucked up and working out his own issues, being Rae's best friend, the person who was there for her when she needed someone as she worked her own issues out. Not Rae being "rescued" by some dude from her past.
And on that note...I did not care at all about Hart. He had one or two five-star moments where I wanted to cheer him on (in ) but for the most part...no. I never connected to him, and I did try. It wasn't until I was about halfway through the book that I finally admitted to myself that I just was not feeling the couple, and maybe that wasn't going to change. I suspect part of the problem is that I did not get to experience the moment when Rae and Hart first met, and when he randomly resurfaced so many years later, he was just sort of perplexed, like, "You mad, bro?" He wasn't sorry for completely abandoning her without another word ever, he had no actual reason for why he never even bothered to contact her again, and yet, I'm expected to believe he was so caught up on her that all these years later he came back to Bar Harbor hoping he would get her back in his life? I didn't. At all. I felt like he trivialized his role/responsibility for the pain that he caused her, and then he just made it worse. The--very brief, very bullshit--story of his ex-girlfriend and all that she put his family through. Hart, for some reason, not standing up for Rae to his super-bitch mother (who NEVER liked Rae, and yet he's sure she's only behaving so rudely toward Rae because of his ex, and he's sure she'll come around! Just be patient, Rae. Just accept her abuse and hide and...fuck no. What is wrong with you? You are an adult man). I'm told he wanted them to end up back together, but it didn't feel that way to me at all. It felt like he happened to be back in town for work so he looked up an old girlfriend, and then jumped head-first into a relationship for no reason that I could pick up on. Because she was there? The worst part for me was how completely different Rae was--she was not even remotely close to being anything like she had been when they were in a relationship, so them just picking their relationship back up made no sense to me. She was basically a completely different person.
I should also note I'm not much of a second-chance love story gal either (unless it's a part one and part two thing). I have a hard time catching up to couples whose love I never got to witness firsthand. I don't just believe them when they're like, "Oh, no, we were in love before, so it's cool." So it always feels like they're moving too fast for me.
"What bothers me about your relationship is that I can't touch your face...and he knows why that is. That I see pain in your eyes and I don't know what caused it, but he does. He has the answers to all my questions, and it doesn't feel like you're getting any closer to telling me what they are."
Rae's back story. Oh, my God. It took WAY too long to trickle out. It takes almost the whole entire book before you finally get the whole story of how she got her scar, and I really hated the trickle. Since it was told piece by piece, there was no tension for me, only impatience. If the story had been told all/mostly at once maybe there would have been some shock, some...impact, but since it trickled out piece by piece over the entire length of the book, I had no reaction whatsoever to any of it. (Either I was annoyed that the chapter ended after one question was answered without answering anything else, or I was annoyed because the book was almost over and I still didn't know what the hell the back story was. Honestly, if this book would have been written by anyone but Marni Mann, I probably would have DNFd out of irritation instead of finishing it. I actually just DNFd a book at about 60% last week because the heroine was doing exactly what Rae was doing and wouldn't let me/the reader in.) Even when the "big" scene finally happened, I still didn't know how she got the damn scar. That came after, but...it lost all its impact for me. By the time I knew everything, I was tired of waiting and then annoyed that it hadn't been anything surprising. Why take that long to reveal it when it was probably what you expected for at least half the book anyway? If you're making me wait until the very end of the book to know what happened, I better get a twist!
The book was a touch too long. As I mentioned, I feel this book would have been just fine without the romance storyline, but at times it was also unnecessarily detailed. Now, personally, I'm a detail minimalist. I don't need a lot of detail in books, but I acknowledge this is a personal preference. For me, it made it drag from time to time when I would have preferred just move along with the story and get some answers. For instance, I don’t need to be walked through every time Rae rolls a joint and smokes it. I get the gist.
Family was such a loaded word and it could have meant many things. I wondered how he'd ever understand how dark and chaotic it was for me.
The ending disappointed me. I felt that it cheapened Rae’s entire journey. So ideal. Too tidy. I felt the gritty emotional realism was sold out for a sunny ending. The most perfect way this seriously imperfect situation could ever be tied up—
No. THIS IS NOT HOW THIS WORKS.
Maybe in the most perfect scenario you could possibly dream up where all the people involved come together to support Rae’s healing, but it was made very clear that was not the case here…and yet this story got the “perfect” little ending, and I hated that. That’s not how these situations shake out. Someone who employs denial as a defense mechanism does not suddenly snap out of it after X amount of years and say, “Okay, yeah, now I can suddenly accept that ” without doing some SERIOUS work on herself, which she clearly had not, or we would have noticed that in her previous scenes.
Sometimes toxic people have to be cut out of your life, regardless of how damaged you are—no, because of how damaged you are. Surviving this kind of experience makes you stronger, and when you’re stronger, you can move on with your life without people who caused your pain. Portrayed realistically, but by that point, it was too much. I checked out as soon as the mom started her bullshit.
And what the everloving fuck was with all of the intentional unprotected/irresponsible sex? This is the most disturbed I have ever been in a book where the couple didn’t use protection. Because usually it just isn’t thought of/considered, it is not a conscious decision to stop using birth control (with a partner you've been with for less than a month). And Rae is not an emotionally healthy person; she is NOT healthy enough to become someone’s mother. No way. In no universe should you risk getting pregnant right now. AT ALL. And, I hate to be the one to tell both of you adults this, but unprotected sex is how you get pregnant! Now you know. STOP.
So...this has the look of a rather bad review, but it really isn't; I did like the book, I do like Marni's writing, and I would recommend this one--as long as you don't have a sexual abuse trigger, don't mind second-chance love stories, and you have the patience for a drawn out back story reveal. It's a good story, Rae's a good character...it just missed the mark for me.
Plus it's Marni Mann, so a 3-ish for her books would be like a 4-4.5 for most other books. ;)
September 26, 2014
Source: ARC from author
My Rating: 5/5 stars
My Review:
Every once in a while, every single one of us likes to sit down and have ourselves a little pity party. You know the kind I’m talking about: all hang dog sad with a pint of ice cream, your favorite pjs and, a good ugly cry book or movie. Yeah, you’ve been there. Next time you go there, pick up Marni Mann’s Pulled Within and you’ll get a serious dose of “my life so doesn’t suck that hard!”
Rae originally shows up in Pulled Beneath, the first book in the Bar Harbor series and she is not really someone worth your sympathy or concern. She is sad and angry and frequently an enabler to her best friend, Brady. Rae’s only real redeeming quality is that no matter the circumstances she is there for Brady. Even if she can barely care for herself, Rae is there is for Brady and that is how Pulled Within begins, Rae being there to rescue her best friend. Brady has finally hit rock bottom and with no one else to call (because who calls their parents in a situation like this?), he calls Rae to come save him from himself. Though she is not in a good position to do so, Rae rescues Brady and even in his pathetic state he sees how very bad Rae looks.
Though she has tried desperately to hold it together Rae is out of work with no prospects in sight, she is within days of being evicted and, a critical and crippling anniversary is looming. With everything going to Hell quickly, Rae isn’t sure she has anything left to drag herself out of the awful this time around. But, what choice does she have? With Brady finally making an effort to clean up his act, Rae summons all her resolve and courage and goes on the hunt for a place to stay and a job so she can get back on her feet. What Rae doesn’t expect is the return of Hart Booker, the one man who has the power to derail her plans to get her life back on track, break her completely and, watch as she finally succumbs to the abyss that is her world.
Hart Booker is wealthy, successful, intelligent, stunningly gorgeous and, willing to do anything to reclaim his place in Rae Ryan’s world. The woman he sees before him is sad, broken, damn near defeated and, nothing like the girl he abandoned without a word years ago. Though the abandonment wasn’t entirely his doing, Hart knows he has a lot to make up for and he is more than willing to do so. Without doubt, Hart is still head over heels in love with Rae and he knows that if she will just give him a chance – even the smallest of chances - he can bring some light back into her darkened world. Hart has a lot to catch up on and if he is ever going to call Rae his own he is going to have to break down her walls and understand what has brought her to the dark and lonely place she seems to constantly be in.
The return of Hart rocks Rae’s world and once she understands the how and why of his abandonment it becomes a bit easier to allow him back into her world. The road to an HEA for Hart and Rae is rocky, twisting and turning and one that will force Rae to face the demons of her past. Hart is rock-solid and he wants to help Rae but even he is taken aback by the circumstances that have led to Rae’s current state. Hart offers a safe place to live, a secure job and, lots of love but the hurdles are high and the drama is as intense as the sexual tension between the two.
The Bottom Line: Pulled Within absolutely pulled me in from the very beginning and didn’t let go until the very last page. After book one, I was bound and determined to hang on to my intense dislike of Rae but Marni Mann has put together one hell of a story and totally changed my mind. Rae Ryan is a survivor and given the serious amount of sh*t she has faced in her life, it is a wonder she is still standing and able to get out of bed every day. Though she certainly engages in some destructive behavior, Rae wants to be better, wants to feel better and, most importantly wants to live a happy and fulfilled life. Even at her lowest moments Rae digs deep and finds the courage and the energy to keep moving forward and I found it increasingly difficult to dislike a character with that level of determination. Once Hart comes back into Rae’s life, everything changes and you slowly begin to see Rae become the person she wants to be. Though the road to an HEA certainly isn’t easy (I’m not sure Marni Mann is ever going to allow her characters an easy road!) it is worth it and Rae and Hart certainly fight for it. The intensity in Rae is balanced by the lighter side of Hart and even though this read is laced with sadness there is always that ray of hope right underneath the surface. Once again, Mann has given the reader solid characters with real and believable stories – characters that can absolutely be found in the real world. Everything in this read is a perfect balance with no single (the sex, the drama, etc.) overshadowing another. In all, another excellent read from Marni Mann and one I highly recommend!
My Rating: 5/5 stars
My Review:
Every once in a while, every single one of us likes to sit down and have ourselves a little pity party. You know the kind I’m talking about: all hang dog sad with a pint of ice cream, your favorite pjs and, a good ugly cry book or movie. Yeah, you’ve been there. Next time you go there, pick up Marni Mann’s Pulled Within and you’ll get a serious dose of “my life so doesn’t suck that hard!”
Rae originally shows up in Pulled Beneath, the first book in the Bar Harbor series and she is not really someone worth your sympathy or concern. She is sad and angry and frequently an enabler to her best friend, Brady. Rae’s only real redeeming quality is that no matter the circumstances she is there for Brady. Even if she can barely care for herself, Rae is there is for Brady and that is how Pulled Within begins, Rae being there to rescue her best friend. Brady has finally hit rock bottom and with no one else to call (because who calls their parents in a situation like this?), he calls Rae to come save him from himself. Though she is not in a good position to do so, Rae rescues Brady and even in his pathetic state he sees how very bad Rae looks.
Though she has tried desperately to hold it together Rae is out of work with no prospects in sight, she is within days of being evicted and, a critical and crippling anniversary is looming. With everything going to Hell quickly, Rae isn’t sure she has anything left to drag herself out of the awful this time around. But, what choice does she have? With Brady finally making an effort to clean up his act, Rae summons all her resolve and courage and goes on the hunt for a place to stay and a job so she can get back on her feet. What Rae doesn’t expect is the return of Hart Booker, the one man who has the power to derail her plans to get her life back on track, break her completely and, watch as she finally succumbs to the abyss that is her world.
Hart Booker is wealthy, successful, intelligent, stunningly gorgeous and, willing to do anything to reclaim his place in Rae Ryan’s world. The woman he sees before him is sad, broken, damn near defeated and, nothing like the girl he abandoned without a word years ago. Though the abandonment wasn’t entirely his doing, Hart knows he has a lot to make up for and he is more than willing to do so. Without doubt, Hart is still head over heels in love with Rae and he knows that if she will just give him a chance – even the smallest of chances - he can bring some light back into her darkened world. Hart has a lot to catch up on and if he is ever going to call Rae his own he is going to have to break down her walls and understand what has brought her to the dark and lonely place she seems to constantly be in.
The return of Hart rocks Rae’s world and once she understands the how and why of his abandonment it becomes a bit easier to allow him back into her world. The road to an HEA for Hart and Rae is rocky, twisting and turning and one that will force Rae to face the demons of her past. Hart is rock-solid and he wants to help Rae but even he is taken aback by the circumstances that have led to Rae’s current state. Hart offers a safe place to live, a secure job and, lots of love but the hurdles are high and the drama is as intense as the sexual tension between the two.
The Bottom Line: Pulled Within absolutely pulled me in from the very beginning and didn’t let go until the very last page. After book one, I was bound and determined to hang on to my intense dislike of Rae but Marni Mann has put together one hell of a story and totally changed my mind. Rae Ryan is a survivor and given the serious amount of sh*t she has faced in her life, it is a wonder she is still standing and able to get out of bed every day. Though she certainly engages in some destructive behavior, Rae wants to be better, wants to feel better and, most importantly wants to live a happy and fulfilled life. Even at her lowest moments Rae digs deep and finds the courage and the energy to keep moving forward and I found it increasingly difficult to dislike a character with that level of determination. Once Hart comes back into Rae’s life, everything changes and you slowly begin to see Rae become the person she wants to be. Though the road to an HEA certainly isn’t easy (I’m not sure Marni Mann is ever going to allow her characters an easy road!) it is worth it and Rae and Hart certainly fight for it. The intensity in Rae is balanced by the lighter side of Hart and even though this read is laced with sadness there is always that ray of hope right underneath the surface. Once again, Mann has given the reader solid characters with real and believable stories – characters that can absolutely be found in the real world. Everything in this read is a perfect balance with no single (the sex, the drama, etc.) overshadowing another. In all, another excellent read from Marni Mann and one I highly recommend!
April 4, 2016
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
I really loved the first book in Marni Mann's Bar Harbor series, and was excited to get the next book from her. I will admit that when I found out it was about Rae though that I was a bit worried about how I would like it. She wasn't my favorite character in Pulled Beneath, and I was prepared to have to really work to like her in this one. But that didn't end up being the case at all. She really won me over, and it was good to see a different side to her. There was so much more beneath the surface with her that I never could have guessed, and I was glad that I gave this book a shot.
Rae hasn't had an easy life. She has lost pretty much everyone and everything that she has ever cared about. With her best friend Brady off to rehab, she is evicted from the apartment they shared when she can no longer cover the rent by herself. Looking for any way to make money, she looks for a new job at a casino since she got fired from her last job working for her ex. While working at the casino, she runs into the boy who broke her heart years before. At first Rae wants nothing to do with him after he left her without saying goodbye years ago, but Hart is determined to win her over. When Rae needs help more than ever before, Hart will do whatever it takes to show her that he will be there for her. But can Rae move forward and get over her past? Will she allow Hart in again after he hurt her so long ago?
I really liked Hart. He was sweet and patient, and he was a really caring guy. He looked out for Rae and would do anything he could for her. He was a good guy that seemed really genuine, and he didn't seem to get caught up in what others though. All of that being said, I really didn't understand why he never just called and told Rae what had happened and why he left all those years ago. It just didn't make sense to me that this guy could be the same one that would do something like that. He was supposed to really love Rae then and now, but it just didn't make sense that he would leave her without a single word. Rae had been through so much. She was tough on the outside, but it was really just a facade. I liked getting to see what had forced her to become the person she was, even if it was ugly and horrible for her to have gone through everything that she did. It really explained so much of her behavior and why she did the things she did in the first book as well as this one. I loved how fiercely loyal she was though. Her friendship with Brady really made me change my opinion about Rae. She was such a great friend and would have done absolutely anything for Brady and his dad Shane. I loved her with Hart and I thought that they had amazing chemistry and a great romantic relationship, but her friendship with Brady was what really won me over.
Overall, I really thought that this was a great second installment. I knew once I started this one that I was going to enjoy it and that I was going to see Rae in a completely different light. I think that Marni Mann did an excellent job taking this character that the reader really didn't like in the first book, and then showed us all the reasons that Rae was able to redeem herself and become this heroine that you could root for. She deserved a happy ending after everything that she had been through, and I was glad that her journey played out the way it did. I will say that I love Brady, and I can't wait to get more of him. He is flawed and has made a ton of mistakes and bad choices, but I honestly can't wait to really get to know him better. I look forward to reading more from Marni Mann in the future and will be anxiously waiting for more in this series.
**ARC Provided by The Novel Tease**
I really loved the first book in Marni Mann's Bar Harbor series, and was excited to get the next book from her. I will admit that when I found out it was about Rae though that I was a bit worried about how I would like it. She wasn't my favorite character in Pulled Beneath, and I was prepared to have to really work to like her in this one. But that didn't end up being the case at all. She really won me over, and it was good to see a different side to her. There was so much more beneath the surface with her that I never could have guessed, and I was glad that I gave this book a shot.
Rae hasn't had an easy life. She has lost pretty much everyone and everything that she has ever cared about. With her best friend Brady off to rehab, she is evicted from the apartment they shared when she can no longer cover the rent by herself. Looking for any way to make money, she looks for a new job at a casino since she got fired from her last job working for her ex. While working at the casino, she runs into the boy who broke her heart years before. At first Rae wants nothing to do with him after he left her without saying goodbye years ago, but Hart is determined to win her over. When Rae needs help more than ever before, Hart will do whatever it takes to show her that he will be there for her. But can Rae move forward and get over her past? Will she allow Hart in again after he hurt her so long ago?
I really liked Hart. He was sweet and patient, and he was a really caring guy. He looked out for Rae and would do anything he could for her. He was a good guy that seemed really genuine, and he didn't seem to get caught up in what others though. All of that being said, I really didn't understand why he never just called and told Rae what had happened and why he left all those years ago. It just didn't make sense to me that this guy could be the same one that would do something like that. He was supposed to really love Rae then and now, but it just didn't make sense that he would leave her without a single word. Rae had been through so much. She was tough on the outside, but it was really just a facade. I liked getting to see what had forced her to become the person she was, even if it was ugly and horrible for her to have gone through everything that she did. It really explained so much of her behavior and why she did the things she did in the first book as well as this one. I loved how fiercely loyal she was though. Her friendship with Brady really made me change my opinion about Rae. She was such a great friend and would have done absolutely anything for Brady and his dad Shane. I loved her with Hart and I thought that they had amazing chemistry and a great romantic relationship, but her friendship with Brady was what really won me over.
Overall, I really thought that this was a great second installment. I knew once I started this one that I was going to enjoy it and that I was going to see Rae in a completely different light. I think that Marni Mann did an excellent job taking this character that the reader really didn't like in the first book, and then showed us all the reasons that Rae was able to redeem herself and become this heroine that you could root for. She deserved a happy ending after everything that she had been through, and I was glad that her journey played out the way it did. I will say that I love Brady, and I can't wait to get more of him. He is flawed and has made a ton of mistakes and bad choices, but I honestly can't wait to really get to know him better. I look forward to reading more from Marni Mann in the future and will be anxiously waiting for more in this series.
**ARC Provided by The Novel Tease**
October 6, 2014
I absolutely love reading an author that improves with each book. Not only does it show growth as a writer, but it shows a great progression of the story. You see this mostly in authors who write series books. Marni Mann is on book two of her Bar Harbor series with Pulled Within. I read her other series, The Shadows, and can tell that she has even come so much farther in her craft. The writing is more concise, the plot and characters are solid, and the story itself if much tighter. That all being said, I really enjoyed reading Pulled Within. I was intrigued about Rae's story in book one and wasn't let down with what Mann presented us in book two.
Rae Ryan has had a very hard life. Her past is riddled with tragedy and she has done her best to combat her ghosts the best she can. Unfortunately, in Pulled Within she's reached rock bottom. She's about to become homeless, she's jobless, her best friend is missing, and there is no one whom she could turn too. She's utterly alone in the world. Until Hart Booker walks back into her life.
Hart was her boyfriend in high school and her first love until he up and moved away without so much as a good-bye. He left her feeling abandoned and heartbroken. Now he's back and determined to help her get her life back in order and convince her he's never going to leave her again. And there's hot sex. LOL!
Mann had all the elements of a good, steamy romance. She's proven with her past work she knows how to weave a compelling story. But there are some issues I found. I couldn't connect with Hart very well. I didn't see him motivations as clearly as we saw Rae's. He's back in town and ready to be with Rae full on, but why? It's been many years since they have seen each other but he is ready to pick up from the last time they had been together. Something didn't ring true with me here. His character is very redeemable though and it was an issue that I could look over.
Rae was a very story female protagonist and I really enjoyed seeing her growth. All the cast was present from the first book. Even Drew and Saint from book one. But I have to tell you, I loved them in book one, but not so much in book two. Mann created a very irritable and unlikeable character in Saint in book two. Everything I liked about him was gone in the very limited appearances he made in book two. I wished that Mann would have brought more of his relationship with Rae full circle so we weren't left with a sour taste in our mouths.
All and all, the book is very good. I got into the characters and felt that like I was really in Bar Harbor. I would suggest reading this book and the series, it's an interesting romance with the right amount of angst and drama.
Rae Ryan has had a very hard life. Her past is riddled with tragedy and she has done her best to combat her ghosts the best she can. Unfortunately, in Pulled Within she's reached rock bottom. She's about to become homeless, she's jobless, her best friend is missing, and there is no one whom she could turn too. She's utterly alone in the world. Until Hart Booker walks back into her life.
Hart was her boyfriend in high school and her first love until he up and moved away without so much as a good-bye. He left her feeling abandoned and heartbroken. Now he's back and determined to help her get her life back in order and convince her he's never going to leave her again. And there's hot sex. LOL!
Mann had all the elements of a good, steamy romance. She's proven with her past work she knows how to weave a compelling story. But there are some issues I found. I couldn't connect with Hart very well. I didn't see him motivations as clearly as we saw Rae's. He's back in town and ready to be with Rae full on, but why? It's been many years since they have seen each other but he is ready to pick up from the last time they had been together. Something didn't ring true with me here. His character is very redeemable though and it was an issue that I could look over.
Rae was a very story female protagonist and I really enjoyed seeing her growth. All the cast was present from the first book. Even Drew and Saint from book one. But I have to tell you, I loved them in book one, but not so much in book two. Mann created a very irritable and unlikeable character in Saint in book two. Everything I liked about him was gone in the very limited appearances he made in book two. I wished that Mann would have brought more of his relationship with Rae full circle so we weren't left with a sour taste in our mouths.
All and all, the book is very good. I got into the characters and felt that like I was really in Bar Harbor. I would suggest reading this book and the series, it's an interesting romance with the right amount of angst and drama.
October 10, 2014
In Pulled Within, the second book in the Bar Harbor Series, author Marni Mann transports the reader back to Bar Harbor, Maine for another intricate, emotional, and complex tale filled with loss, lies, secrets and betrayals ... a tale of struggle and heartache ... and a journey of healing, and redemption. Written in the first person narrative, the reader follows Rae Ryan on her emotional journey as she learns to overcome her traumatic past, move forward, and embrace happiness in her life.
The author does a wonderful job of weaving a tale that is raw, complex, and full of angst. The drama and mystery of Rae's past takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride. With an intriguing cast of characters who are realistic and flawed, to a richly detailed setting that transports the reader to the cool oceanfront of Bar Harbor, you can't help but get drawn into the mystique of Rae's stormy past as it slowly unfolds. Add in the sudden reappearance of ex-boyfriend named Hart Booker who comes back to Bar Harbor and wants to save her from her past, Rae finds herself pulled to him once again ... but can Hart help Rae heal, and find the happiness she so desperately wants in her life?
The intricate complexity of the story had enough drama and intriguing twists and turns that kept me captivated and turning the pages. The author introduced the reader to Rae in Pulled Beneath, the first book in the series, and I was so intrigued by this secretive and broken girl, that I was really glad to see that Rae's story would unfold in Pulled Within.
I loved the mixture of the mystery and the undeniable attraction and romance between Rae and Hart. I loved the chemistry and deep emotional development of Rae and Hart's relationship, especially how they complement and balance each other. The author does a great job of letting the reader feel a real connection with the characters as the story unfolds. I enjoyed following Rae's emotional journey, the curiosity that I had about Rae from the first book has been completely satisfied, and I can't wait to see what author Marni Mann has in store for her readers in next book in the series, Pulled Apart.
Pulled Within is a breathtaking story of one young woman's journey of overcoming a traumatic past through forgiveness, healing, love and redemption.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
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The author does a wonderful job of weaving a tale that is raw, complex, and full of angst. The drama and mystery of Rae's past takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride. With an intriguing cast of characters who are realistic and flawed, to a richly detailed setting that transports the reader to the cool oceanfront of Bar Harbor, you can't help but get drawn into the mystique of Rae's stormy past as it slowly unfolds. Add in the sudden reappearance of ex-boyfriend named Hart Booker who comes back to Bar Harbor and wants to save her from her past, Rae finds herself pulled to him once again ... but can Hart help Rae heal, and find the happiness she so desperately wants in her life?
The intricate complexity of the story had enough drama and intriguing twists and turns that kept me captivated and turning the pages. The author introduced the reader to Rae in Pulled Beneath, the first book in the series, and I was so intrigued by this secretive and broken girl, that I was really glad to see that Rae's story would unfold in Pulled Within.
I loved the mixture of the mystery and the undeniable attraction and romance between Rae and Hart. I loved the chemistry and deep emotional development of Rae and Hart's relationship, especially how they complement and balance each other. The author does a great job of letting the reader feel a real connection with the characters as the story unfolds. I enjoyed following Rae's emotional journey, the curiosity that I had about Rae from the first book has been completely satisfied, and I can't wait to see what author Marni Mann has in store for her readers in next book in the series, Pulled Apart.
Pulled Within is a breathtaking story of one young woman's journey of overcoming a traumatic past through forgiveness, healing, love and redemption.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
September 12, 2014
I rated Pulled Within (Bar Harbor #2) by Marni Mann FIVE FABULOUS leaves!!
"Everyone has a chance to heal. Some people choose to stay in their past and let their scars define them. Others choose to let it be nothing more than a mark on their body."
Pulled Within left me speechless. After I finished this book, I was gutted. The story is beautiful, devastating, and emotional. It's one of those books that will stick with you forever. Marni Mann showed us the struggle of Rae and the struggle to function day to day. Underlining the story is the hope and the gift of life itself. Pulled Within is the perfect title for this book, because you get pulled into the lives of these strong characters and you just can't get enough.
Rae Ryan had a rough couple of years and now it feels like her world is coming to an end. She is out of a job. Rae was dating her boss and now he is with Drew from the first book. She is also about to be evicted and her best friend has been MIA.
In Pulled Beneath, we meet Rae, all we really know about her is she has a scar on her face and she was dating Saint. Rae is reminded of her past every day and soon the anniversary of what happened is approaching. Just then Hart comes back into her life. Hart Booker was Rae's high school boyfriend who left without a single goodbye. Years have passed and Hart is back in Bar Harbor. When they reconnect, Rae is not ready for a relationship and let someone in, but the love that Hart had for her while they were separated never changed. He tries to rescue Rae from all the pain that has come her away. Rae is a fighter and such a strong heroine. She is stronger than she even realizes. There are so many more things I don't want to tell you because I do not believe in giving spoilers. Just let me say, this book will stick with you in so many ways.
This book made me REALLY think too. We all have scars, some are physical and some are emotional. I, myself, has a 'scar' being in a wheelchair. Just like with Rae, when people look at you for the first time and do not know your story, you are judged. I just felt like this book made me feel. I have longed to feel contacted to a character for a long time. Thank you, Marni for being an amazing author and being my friend. You are fabulous! Thank you for giving us this amazing book. You have such great talent with your words!
A gifted copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review by Jodie Rae.
"Everyone has a chance to heal. Some people choose to stay in their past and let their scars define them. Others choose to let it be nothing more than a mark on their body."
Pulled Within left me speechless. After I finished this book, I was gutted. The story is beautiful, devastating, and emotional. It's one of those books that will stick with you forever. Marni Mann showed us the struggle of Rae and the struggle to function day to day. Underlining the story is the hope and the gift of life itself. Pulled Within is the perfect title for this book, because you get pulled into the lives of these strong characters and you just can't get enough.
Rae Ryan had a rough couple of years and now it feels like her world is coming to an end. She is out of a job. Rae was dating her boss and now he is with Drew from the first book. She is also about to be evicted and her best friend has been MIA.
In Pulled Beneath, we meet Rae, all we really know about her is she has a scar on her face and she was dating Saint. Rae is reminded of her past every day and soon the anniversary of what happened is approaching. Just then Hart comes back into her life. Hart Booker was Rae's high school boyfriend who left without a single goodbye. Years have passed and Hart is back in Bar Harbor. When they reconnect, Rae is not ready for a relationship and let someone in, but the love that Hart had for her while they were separated never changed. He tries to rescue Rae from all the pain that has come her away. Rae is a fighter and such a strong heroine. She is stronger than she even realizes. There are so many more things I don't want to tell you because I do not believe in giving spoilers. Just let me say, this book will stick with you in so many ways.
This book made me REALLY think too. We all have scars, some are physical and some are emotional. I, myself, has a 'scar' being in a wheelchair. Just like with Rae, when people look at you for the first time and do not know your story, you are judged. I just felt like this book made me feel. I have longed to feel contacted to a character for a long time. Thank you, Marni for being an amazing author and being my friend. You are fabulous! Thank you for giving us this amazing book. You have such great talent with your words!
A gifted copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review by Jodie Rae.
September 20, 2014
I received a copy of this story for an honest review for The Reading Room Blog.
Author Marni Mann knows angst and heart break, but best of all she knows how to temper it with the right amount of hope. That skill of balancing dark and light is transparent in her new release Pulled Within.
Rae Ryan is out of options. No guy, no job, no best friend and no home. Desperation causes her to take an out of town job that brings her face to face with the one person who may care enough to save her, the one person who may push her enough to face the ghosts of her past
Hart Booker loved Rae Ryan when they were young but dreams of becoming a famous ball player separated the pair. Hart always regretted how the two parted and vows to not only win back the girl he never forgot but also to help heal her scars inside and out.
What I Loved: Pulled Within is chock full of raw emotion. Mann translates Rae's internal struggles so vividly I swear I could physically feel Rae move from the chaos of her rage to the pain of her heartbreak. The chemistry between Rae and Hart is strong and the banter between the two is very, very steamy.
What I Didn't Love: Rae is put through the ringer and I found myself feeling for a character that one I absolutely hated in Pulled Beneath. But near the end of Pulled Within something is revealed that made me feel like some of the hardship Rae faced was unnecessary. I was also disappointed that by the end of the story Rae still viewed Drew (the heroine from Pulled Beneath) with hatred and contempt.
Favorite Quotes:
"We were the calm after a beautiful storm that I never wanted to end."
"But maybe there was a home out there for me, and Hart would be able to help me find it. As long as it kept the storms out, that would be enough for me."
Pulled Within is a moving tale of loss and redemption, of love and forgiveness. While Pulled Within can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading Pulled Beneath first. It's a wonderful book and adds depth to the overall Bar Harbor universe. Overall I love the Bar Harbor Series and can't wait for the next one to be released.
Happy reading
Author Marni Mann knows angst and heart break, but best of all she knows how to temper it with the right amount of hope. That skill of balancing dark and light is transparent in her new release Pulled Within.
Rae Ryan is out of options. No guy, no job, no best friend and no home. Desperation causes her to take an out of town job that brings her face to face with the one person who may care enough to save her, the one person who may push her enough to face the ghosts of her past
Hart Booker loved Rae Ryan when they were young but dreams of becoming a famous ball player separated the pair. Hart always regretted how the two parted and vows to not only win back the girl he never forgot but also to help heal her scars inside and out.
What I Loved: Pulled Within is chock full of raw emotion. Mann translates Rae's internal struggles so vividly I swear I could physically feel Rae move from the chaos of her rage to the pain of her heartbreak. The chemistry between Rae and Hart is strong and the banter between the two is very, very steamy.
What I Didn't Love: Rae is put through the ringer and I found myself feeling for a character that one I absolutely hated in Pulled Beneath. But near the end of Pulled Within something is revealed that made me feel like some of the hardship Rae faced was unnecessary. I was also disappointed that by the end of the story Rae still viewed Drew (the heroine from Pulled Beneath) with hatred and contempt.
Favorite Quotes:
"We were the calm after a beautiful storm that I never wanted to end."
"But maybe there was a home out there for me, and Hart would be able to help me find it. As long as it kept the storms out, that would be enough for me."
Pulled Within is a moving tale of loss and redemption, of love and forgiveness. While Pulled Within can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading Pulled Beneath first. It's a wonderful book and adds depth to the overall Bar Harbor universe. Overall I love the Bar Harbor Series and can't wait for the next one to be released.
Happy reading
September 12, 2014
This book deals with some serious issues. Rae's life is not what she dreamed it would be. She has dabbled with some drugs, has lost her job, and since Brady went to rehab she is about to be homeless. Her childhood was not a happy one. She went through some terrible things. Things that change you as a person forever. She is not the same anymore. After finding a new job in the town a drive away she runs into an old flame. Hart is back. For Rae this isn't all good. He broke her heart broke her. He left her and then her life went down hill. She needed him and he wasn't there. So she is conflicted about what to do with him. The problems with drugs really hit home to me. My family has been affected by them more then once. So I felt like I understood where Rae was coming from. I didn't like her in the previous book but, after this one she has my respect. Will Rae be able to turn her life around? Can she survive?
I loved Hart. I mean, he did something he shouldn't have done and he regrets it. He knows that Rae is having trouble and has been through some serious crap. He gives her time and does not push her to tell him everything, He is jealous of Brady, about how much he knows about Rae and Hart doesn't. Rae and Brady are as close of friends as you can get and that's it. Hart knows this and is able to get over it. I felt like Hart saved Rae. That if he hadn't shown up she may not have survived. Seriously. That's how bad it was. I felt so bad for her. To have to live that life. Hart opened her heart to love again. After so much pain she was finally ready to love again. Will it last or is Rae destined to be in pain forever?
This was a very hard book for me to read. Just with how hard the drug addiction stuff has been for my family. It changes lives and isn't an easy thing to deal with for any part of the family. This book was written so well and it was so true to life. I really liked it. I can't wait to see where this series will go from here. I am hoping we get Brady's story!
I loved Hart. I mean, he did something he shouldn't have done and he regrets it. He knows that Rae is having trouble and has been through some serious crap. He gives her time and does not push her to tell him everything, He is jealous of Brady, about how much he knows about Rae and Hart doesn't. Rae and Brady are as close of friends as you can get and that's it. Hart knows this and is able to get over it. I felt like Hart saved Rae. That if he hadn't shown up she may not have survived. Seriously. That's how bad it was. I felt so bad for her. To have to live that life. Hart opened her heart to love again. After so much pain she was finally ready to love again. Will it last or is Rae destined to be in pain forever?
This was a very hard book for me to read. Just with how hard the drug addiction stuff has been for my family. It changes lives and isn't an easy thing to deal with for any part of the family. This book was written so well and it was so true to life. I really liked it. I can't wait to see where this series will go from here. I am hoping we get Brady's story!
October 8, 2014
*I received this free copy in exchange for an honest review*
Pulled Within (The Bar Harbor Series #2) by Marni Mann
Four Stars
****
From the beginning, I knew this would hook me. I didn't have the will to put it down and when I did, I kept thinking about it!
Rae is a complicated character. From the start we know something isn't right. This person has seen things and its messed her up. She's trying to fix everyone but herself. She's secretive, but the town knows what happened. The outside version of it anyways. We get flash backs now and then but they left me just as in the dark as anything else. When the truth came out, I had a hunch about what it was but surprised me nevertheless.
Brady is Rae's best friend. He's been down for awhile, going down a dark road because of his own past. We don't really delve into his character but I'm glad we got to get something from him. Plus this isn't his story-its Raes.
Hart= amazing. From the start I fell for him. He was a sexy, grinning fool that wanted Rae. Nothing stopped this man. Like Brady, we didn't get much into his past but I liked it that way. It reminded me that we're focused on the main characters feelings and tribulations. Still, he was amazing and always there. I just wish we got to connect with him more.
I was waiting for the ball to drop and it came-just not in a crushing blow. It seemed too tame I suppose. There wasn't really a big collision involving the main couple. Sure they fought, but that didn't last long. So it kind of stayed flat with a few bumps.
I had one major question though: What about Drew? A big reveal towards the end happened and I was hoping to see where that went in the epilogue but nothing. I felt the epilogue was rushed but maybe there is a third being made?
Despite this, I did enjoy the story. It was a pull the heart strings kind of reading, messing up emotions on the ride. I do recommend this story.
Emma Lynn
Review via http://reviewtwobooks.blogspot.com/
Pulled Within (The Bar Harbor Series #2) by Marni Mann
Four Stars
****
From the beginning, I knew this would hook me. I didn't have the will to put it down and when I did, I kept thinking about it!
Rae is a complicated character. From the start we know something isn't right. This person has seen things and its messed her up. She's trying to fix everyone but herself. She's secretive, but the town knows what happened. The outside version of it anyways. We get flash backs now and then but they left me just as in the dark as anything else. When the truth came out, I had a hunch about what it was but surprised me nevertheless.
Brady is Rae's best friend. He's been down for awhile, going down a dark road because of his own past. We don't really delve into his character but I'm glad we got to get something from him. Plus this isn't his story-its Raes.
Hart= amazing. From the start I fell for him. He was a sexy, grinning fool that wanted Rae. Nothing stopped this man. Like Brady, we didn't get much into his past but I liked it that way. It reminded me that we're focused on the main characters feelings and tribulations. Still, he was amazing and always there. I just wish we got to connect with him more.
I was waiting for the ball to drop and it came-just not in a crushing blow. It seemed too tame I suppose. There wasn't really a big collision involving the main couple. Sure they fought, but that didn't last long. So it kind of stayed flat with a few bumps.
I had one major question though: What about Drew? A big reveal towards the end happened and I was hoping to see where that went in the epilogue but nothing. I felt the epilogue was rushed but maybe there is a third being made?
Despite this, I did enjoy the story. It was a pull the heart strings kind of reading, messing up emotions on the ride. I do recommend this story.
Emma Lynn
Review via http://reviewtwobooks.blogspot.com/
October 13, 2014
I Have to say that I really enjoyed this 2nd book of the Bar Harbor Series, the first book being Pulled Beneath. I really…really loved the first book and was excited to start this second one. This book did not disappoint..it was soooo good!!! Although you really will want to read the first book because…like I said it was really good. I feel that this second book can be read without the first.. this book is a very heart felt story about Rae Ryan and the demons she is fighting currently and from her past.
For five long years, Rae Ryan has lived in a storm over which she has no control. Little by little, everything has been taken away from her—her job, her relationship, her best friend and her home. Plagued by nightmares and a terrible family secret, she carries her scars as much on the inside as she does on the outside.
Then she runs into one of her old boyfriends from her past. Hart Booker, she is so shocked to see him walk back into her life. She wants to push him away but he continues to keep fighting for her even tho she keeps pushing him back.
“You can trust me,” he said softly. A laugh burst through my lips. It was either laugh or cry…and laughing felt safer. “I did trust you, and you fucking broke me.” His gaze turned intense. “That was five years ago, Rae.”
Hart Booker, another disappointment from her past, returns to Bar Harbor and shelters her from the rain. He reminds Rae that forgiveness is possible, happiness can be found on the other side of darkness, and beauty rests beneath her scars. But a sinister figure lingering in the background seems determined to pull Rae back into a past she’s been trying to outrun. Can she survive the storm and become part of the light she so desperately desires? Or is she destined to remain Pulled Within?
This is one of those stories that you will feel everything that the characters are going through. And I love the way that makes you feel!!! I hope you pick this series up and read it. Soooo good!!!
I gave this book 5 Smooches!!
Trish
For five long years, Rae Ryan has lived in a storm over which she has no control. Little by little, everything has been taken away from her—her job, her relationship, her best friend and her home. Plagued by nightmares and a terrible family secret, she carries her scars as much on the inside as she does on the outside.
Then she runs into one of her old boyfriends from her past. Hart Booker, she is so shocked to see him walk back into her life. She wants to push him away but he continues to keep fighting for her even tho she keeps pushing him back.
“You can trust me,” he said softly. A laugh burst through my lips. It was either laugh or cry…and laughing felt safer. “I did trust you, and you fucking broke me.” His gaze turned intense. “That was five years ago, Rae.”
Hart Booker, another disappointment from her past, returns to Bar Harbor and shelters her from the rain. He reminds Rae that forgiveness is possible, happiness can be found on the other side of darkness, and beauty rests beneath her scars. But a sinister figure lingering in the background seems determined to pull Rae back into a past she’s been trying to outrun. Can she survive the storm and become part of the light she so desperately desires? Or is she destined to remain Pulled Within?
This is one of those stories that you will feel everything that the characters are going through. And I love the way that makes you feel!!! I hope you pick this series up and read it. Soooo good!!!
I gave this book 5 Smooches!!
Trish
October 9, 2014
This is yet another gripping and emotional book by one of my faves Marni Mann!!
Marni Mann has done it again. She's written an emotional, note worthy book that is simply mesmerizing from the first pages. She is one of those authors that hooks you right from the get go and makes you stay up late, regardless of early morning commitments, in order to read, devour and finish her brilliant work.
Pulled Within is the second book in "The Bar Harbor" series. This time we learn about Rae who is hiding something quite shocking and emotional. She is a tough girl on the surface, she protects herself however she feels necessary but she hides a wealth of pain right below the surface and most don't know anything about her. Rae was a character I related to right away, she is strong, independent and self sufficient. She hides a lot behind those eyes but is really broken beneath it all. The way she grows through this book is truly heart wrenching.
Hart the guy from Rae's past that she never could quite let go of shows up just in time to see Rae's life unraveling and he wants to be the one to save her. But does she want to let him? Can she trust him after all he did? Hart is one of those guys that you just know is HOT!! He is intense, sexy and charasmatic.
"Everyone has a chance to heal. Some people choose to stay in their past and let their scars define them. Others choose to let it be nothing more than a mark on their body."
Marni's writing only gets better. I've read and reviewed every single book she has written, and this book is yet another win for me. If you enjoy emotional, romantic, heart gripping story lines, this book is a MUST READ for you.
Marni Mann has done it again. She's written an emotional, note worthy book that is simply mesmerizing from the first pages. She is one of those authors that hooks you right from the get go and makes you stay up late, regardless of early morning commitments, in order to read, devour and finish her brilliant work.
Pulled Within is the second book in "The Bar Harbor" series. This time we learn about Rae who is hiding something quite shocking and emotional. She is a tough girl on the surface, she protects herself however she feels necessary but she hides a wealth of pain right below the surface and most don't know anything about her. Rae was a character I related to right away, she is strong, independent and self sufficient. She hides a lot behind those eyes but is really broken beneath it all. The way she grows through this book is truly heart wrenching.
Hart the guy from Rae's past that she never could quite let go of shows up just in time to see Rae's life unraveling and he wants to be the one to save her. But does she want to let him? Can she trust him after all he did? Hart is one of those guys that you just know is HOT!! He is intense, sexy and charasmatic.
"Everyone has a chance to heal. Some people choose to stay in their past and let their scars define them. Others choose to let it be nothing more than a mark on their body."
Marni's writing only gets better. I've read and reviewed every single book she has written, and this book is yet another win for me. If you enjoy emotional, romantic, heart gripping story lines, this book is a MUST READ for you.
October 12, 2014
If you want to have a physical reaction to a book, Marni Mann's, Pulled Within, will do just as the title describes. I was hooked at the very first page and was sad to reach the end, not wanting the story to be over. I love how I didn't have to read Pulled Beneath (Book 1: The Bar Harbor Series) in order to get into this book. But since I did read it, it was like an awesome bonus.
Marni is such an incredibly detailed writer who makes you feel every ounce of emotion pouring through her MC. Along with the intense character depth, I was able to vividly imagine each scene as if I were standing in the middle of it.
Rae has lived through torturous times and suffers daily, seeing no end in sight to her misery. The people she has grown to depend on, depend on her more, leaving her fragile and alone within the tight confines of her thoughts and memories.
Hart comes back into her life at just the right time, picking up her pieces, while trying desperately to put them back together is some kind of comprehendible order. A true hero is one who saves someone from themselves, and Hart proved to fit this role perfectly.
Lifelike characters, realistic scenery and imaginable emotions make Pulled Within a heart throbbing, nail biting novel that will bring you to tears while you fight for Rae's happiness along with her.
Marni Mann has done it again—best book yet. I can't wait to see what she comes out with next!
Marni is such an incredibly detailed writer who makes you feel every ounce of emotion pouring through her MC. Along with the intense character depth, I was able to vividly imagine each scene as if I were standing in the middle of it.
Rae has lived through torturous times and suffers daily, seeing no end in sight to her misery. The people she has grown to depend on, depend on her more, leaving her fragile and alone within the tight confines of her thoughts and memories.
Hart comes back into her life at just the right time, picking up her pieces, while trying desperately to put them back together is some kind of comprehendible order. A true hero is one who saves someone from themselves, and Hart proved to fit this role perfectly.
Lifelike characters, realistic scenery and imaginable emotions make Pulled Within a heart throbbing, nail biting novel that will bring you to tears while you fight for Rae's happiness along with her.
Marni Mann has done it again—best book yet. I can't wait to see what she comes out with next!
September 22, 2014
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Can you like a sequel more than the original? Does that EVER happen? I’ll admit; it’s extremely rare, kind of like seeing a unicorn frolicking with Bigfoot under a rainbow. Well, break out your camera because this one does just that!
Rae’s story is tragic and touching. She is broken so many ways, and while I felt a little lost in the beginning because it had been so long since I read the first novel, as the story goes on, I realized I didn’t really need it. This is truly her story. The characters are interconnected from the first novel, but this one could be read almost independently to the first in the series.
One similarity between the two is the sigh-worthy love interest. Hart is great mixture of cocky and kind. He’s the boy next door with a twist that, at times, was a little Fifty Shades. My only complaint was he was almost too perfect at times. But perhaps his perfection is meant to counterbalance her obvious imperfection.
I was a little frustrated with the build-up, the countdown of days. I would have liked to learn more about Darren earlier on, but that build-up led to one heck of a reveal later on. This one is definitely worth checking out!
4.5 Stars
Can you like a sequel more than the original? Does that EVER happen? I’ll admit; it’s extremely rare, kind of like seeing a unicorn frolicking with Bigfoot under a rainbow. Well, break out your camera because this one does just that!
Rae’s story is tragic and touching. She is broken so many ways, and while I felt a little lost in the beginning because it had been so long since I read the first novel, as the story goes on, I realized I didn’t really need it. This is truly her story. The characters are interconnected from the first novel, but this one could be read almost independently to the first in the series.
One similarity between the two is the sigh-worthy love interest. Hart is great mixture of cocky and kind. He’s the boy next door with a twist that, at times, was a little Fifty Shades. My only complaint was he was almost too perfect at times. But perhaps his perfection is meant to counterbalance her obvious imperfection.
I was a little frustrated with the build-up, the countdown of days. I would have liked to learn more about Darren earlier on, but that build-up led to one heck of a reveal later on. This one is definitely worth checking out!
4.5 Stars
September 19, 2014
Marni Mann's writing has evolved this series to make each book exceed the previous. Both books in these series can be stand alone and have such strong characters, you develop a need to know more about each one. I believe this is Marni Mann's best book I have read so far.
I loved the first book, Pulled Beneath. Drew and Saint were a winning combination and could not help but fall in love with both of them. When I learned that this story was about Rae, I was reluctant. She was not favored character in past book.
Boy was I wrong. I love her. Rae's life story was gripping, intense and bleak but resilient. However with Brady's life on the rocks and Rae not having a happily ever after, I was Pulled into the book and read it non stop.
I try to stay strong, but I could not stop from crying. So much emotion from finding out the real Rae, you can't but feel her anguish.
Despite all the sadness of how Rae became Rae, Hart shows up after years of leaving her. His feelings are intense. How do you move forward with someone that left you behind? That is what Rae had to figure out. I am not telling anymore about their love story. It is just too good.
.
I loved the first book, Pulled Beneath. Drew and Saint were a winning combination and could not help but fall in love with both of them. When I learned that this story was about Rae, I was reluctant. She was not favored character in past book.
Boy was I wrong. I love her. Rae's life story was gripping, intense and bleak but resilient. However with Brady's life on the rocks and Rae not having a happily ever after, I was Pulled into the book and read it non stop.
I try to stay strong, but I could not stop from crying. So much emotion from finding out the real Rae, you can't but feel her anguish.
Despite all the sadness of how Rae became Rae, Hart shows up after years of leaving her. His feelings are intense. How do you move forward with someone that left you behind? That is what Rae had to figure out. I am not telling anymore about their love story. It is just too good.
.
October 29, 2014
Pulled Within, Bar Harbor #2
By Marni Mann
Tomes Rating: 5 Stars
Tissues Rating: 5 Boxes
I am still suffering from a book hangover following Pulled Within. This story is about Rae. At first I was not a fan of Rae, especially after some of her actions from Pulled Beneath. But, quickly I started to feel each and every emotion that Rae felt. She is left in a difficult position when her best friend (and sometimes roommate) Brady is missing. He calls her to be rescued, but her problems are just as large as his are. In a twist of fate, Rae sees Hart, the boy who broke her heart before she was ‘damaged’ and left her while they were still dating. Rae and Hart must learn to heal with each other. As I read Pulled Within I was in tears as more of their history comes out. Each page was heartbreaking but also about finding the light in our faults. In the end I Rae has become one of my favorite female characters of 2014. The epilogue was a wonderful gift.
By Marni Mann
Tomes Rating: 5 Stars
Tissues Rating: 5 Boxes
I am still suffering from a book hangover following Pulled Within. This story is about Rae. At first I was not a fan of Rae, especially after some of her actions from Pulled Beneath. But, quickly I started to feel each and every emotion that Rae felt. She is left in a difficult position when her best friend (and sometimes roommate) Brady is missing. He calls her to be rescued, but her problems are just as large as his are. In a twist of fate, Rae sees Hart, the boy who broke her heart before she was ‘damaged’ and left her while they were still dating. Rae and Hart must learn to heal with each other. As I read Pulled Within I was in tears as more of their history comes out. Each page was heartbreaking but also about finding the light in our faults. In the end I Rae has become one of my favorite female characters of 2014. The epilogue was a wonderful gift.
September 23, 2014
I love Marni Mann's previous books, but this one really got to me. This story pushes all of the right emotional buttons for me, and in the right order. It pushes buttons I didn't even know I had. I won't rehash the plot as I know there are already several other reviews up. But, I have to say that Rae is the most compelling protagonist I've come across in a long time. She and Hart compliment each other so well. I highly recommend Pulled Within. Also, and this may seem an odd thing to notice, Marni Mann can describe a scene SO well; filthy bedrooms, and sketchy bathrooms in particular. There are a couple of scenes that I'm still creeped out about. I feel like I was right there. No worries though, because she also did an amazing job describing how hot Rae and Hart get each other, so it all works out. Can't wait for Marni Mann's next book.
October 19, 2014
Okay I just finished Pulled Beneath and thought no way can it get better. I was wrong. In the first one Rae was a bitch and in some cases she is yet she has a reason. My heart broke for her and what she has endured all these years since the tragedy that happened. Here is a young woman who sadly was dealt with a bad thing in her life and now she is just trying to survive. Hart seemed genuine and the love he has for her is stronger than it used to be. The pain that Rae goes through each year is beyond anything she should go through alone and even though she has shied from anyone getting real close to her Hart is there. Marni Mann really blew me away in this book filled with such love, heartache and pain it made me cry and cheer for Rae. Highly recommended for you might have hated Rae you will understand everything after this.
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November 15, 2014
Another amazing story by Marni Mann. Pulled Within is filled with so many roller coaster emotions that can hit you pretty hard. It was heart pounding and addictive since the beginning and you are just sucked in.
The way this story was written is emotional‚ raw and real. This story makes you feel. The character developed is out of this world. It´s flipping awesome.
I absolutely love Marni´s writing style and how much it evolves with each next book she publishes. I can´t wait to read more from her.
≧◔◡◔≦ 5 ✰ read ≧◉◡◉≦
>>>Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review<<<
The way this story was written is emotional‚ raw and real. This story makes you feel. The character developed is out of this world. It´s flipping awesome.
I absolutely love Marni´s writing style and how much it evolves with each next book she publishes. I can´t wait to read more from her.
≧◔◡◔≦ 5 ✰ read ≧◉◡◉≦
>>>Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review<<<
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