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Run. That’s what Lyla Harper does best. With Rigdon, Kansas hundreds of miles away, she focuses on planting her roots and immersing herself in college life at Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois.

As Lyla tries to play the role of hardworking student by day and barista at night at York Company Coffee House, the monotonous routine is wearing thin. She thinks back to home, the milestones she’s missed and the family that she doesn’t have near.

She’s lonely with the exception of the incubi that will never vacate. With her emotions colliding, she’s once again faced with her vilest adversary; regression.

After all, a person can only pretend to be happy for so long. Davis Moore and the horrid events plague her mind as one text message tests her will to remain strong.

One afternoon in her public speaking lecture, circumstances change for Lyla when Professor Blaine Miller’s eyes meet hers. For the first time, she feels passion, lust and want. Will Blaine change her outlook on life or leave her empty, feeling like the girl she was years before?

Read this emotional tale about self-discovery, overcoming, growth, redemption, relapse, desire, and hope.

**Graphic content including self-mutilation, non-consensual sex, underage drinking, drug use, and physical/emotional abuse. Not suitable for readers under the age of eighteen.**

Unknown Binding

First published September 1, 2014

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About the author

Mary E. Palmerin

19 books425 followers

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5 stars
19 (57%)
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9 (27%)
3 stars
3 (9%)
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1 (3%)
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1 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Christine.
537 reviews37 followers
March 15, 2015
This read is the four years Lyla has moved to Chicago and before she meets Everett and how she gets her job as Michaels assistant.
The story unfolds how she met her Professor Blaine and has a steamy affair with him. But once again all good things come to an end.
I love how we are going forward with Lyla's story but still get some of her past life before Everett came on the scene.
Profile Image for Cecily Bonney.
1,048 reviews5 followers
July 14, 2014
This author is sharp, clever, brilliant, amazing, talented, and humble. I hope you all enjoy this novella as much as I did.

I am so looking forward to getting my hands on book 3 of the Sorrow Series
Profile Image for buzy_reading.
2,666 reviews57 followers
September 4, 2020
While looking for a man to save her during this pivotal moment in her life while also keeping her safe she begins a relationship with her professor.
Revisiting the painful memories that molded Lyla into the survivor she is.
Living in a world of evil monsters while unable to escape their claws of destruction.

Overall:
Mary filled in the missing gaps of how Lyla survived each one of her painful circumstances. We get a better understanding for the way she coped.
I must say after reading up to this point it was better late than never. However, this information would’ve been better received in the order in which it occurred. Delivering this after the fact was a long forgotten memory. For me I had already accepted her choices no longer needing proof of where her fragile mind was.
Lyla’s body has given her nothing but trouble. From the self inflicting scars. From the abuse. From the drugs. From the man who took her innocence. She wants to take back control of her body. She has been faced with good girl versus bad girl. Given her past she succumbs to the destructive nature of her coping mechanisms numbing parts of her mind while pleasuring her body. It’s all part of the process. Mary crafts the details of this process with explicit content.
After years of suffering at the hands of others Lyla self medicated her pain with unhealthy coping mechanisms.

“Friendship from someone who understands me without words.” This statement by Mary explains Lyla’s need for sex. The craving of intimacy is a form of friendship. Friendship means a mutual understanding of the pain she had to endure to get to this point.
Profile Image for Kristin.
350 reviews19 followers
September 9, 2014
I truly love Lyla. She is best lead female character who's been through so much and it seems those ghost are always finding there way back into her soul to torment her more. Lyla has been physically and emotionally damaged from an early start. Highly recommend 18+ and to start reading the books in order. You could probably read this without reading anything else from the Sorrow series but it could get confusing in certain areas. It's best to know all the past characters.

This novella takes you to her college days where she ran off too hoping for a change.

This time we meet "The Professor" Blaine Miller. He's a great combo in one type of man! For once this man can actually make Lyla feel something and it's simply beautiful.

This is a fairly quick read but you once you start you want to finish and reading about the Professor is an added bonus ;) Highly emotional raw read that does have some sensitive issues due to Lyla's past.

Highly recommend this book especially if you've already started the Sorrow series.
Profile Image for Deniz.
85 reviews5 followers
October 26, 2014
So this book mainly takes place during Lyla's time in Chicago, before she met Everett.

In this story, you see a glimpse of Lyla's life and how she coped... and who she met.

Professor Blaine is all Lyla could think about in the beginning, and when she and him kick it off and start meeting each other outside of class, a whirl of confusion and emotions swirl around both Lyla and Blaine.

Blaine tries to get Lyla to see that she is beautiful and worth it, but Lyla just can't seem to believe him. Because of her past, she doesn't trust Blaine and doesn't believe that he will stay.

Ohhhhhh MAN. This book is full of huge twists! Read More
Profile Image for Michelle Taylor.
235 reviews23 followers
April 27, 2015
Trials is the story of Lyla Elizabeth Harper in her college years... After she's finally left Rigdon but before Everett comes into her life.

We learn about the sexy, relationship develops with Professor Blaine Miller. This was Lyla's first "relationship" for lack of better words after her 'situation' occurred in Rigdon. I understand she's been through more than people will go through in a lifetime but I couldn't help but want to shake her and say, "Give yourself a chance, girl!" It's difficult to live with your past and things that have happened but everyone deserves happiness in their life.
Profile Image for Lauri Tribbey.
359 reviews1 follower
February 11, 2015
Emotionally gripping!

Lyla Harper is an emotionally and physically damaged girl. Mary Palmerin has done a brilliant job in telling Lyla's story. Lyla must find her way to becoming a whole healthy person in spite of the many heartbreaking things that happen to her on her journey to recovery.
Profile Image for Jenna.
125 reviews3 followers
October 11, 2014
I loved this. I feel like this gave us the most insight of Lyla she is very honest with herself in all the books but this focuses on her and her alone. I enjoyed the love affair with Blaine and I didn't see the ending coming at all and I felt for Lyla and Blaine on what could have been.
Profile Image for Philomena Callan Cheekypee.
4,020 reviews432 followers
October 17, 2014
This is a great novella by this fantastic author. This series is certainly one of my favourite. The author takes us back to when Lyla was in college. Here she met Blaine the professor.
As per normal the author gives us another beautifully written story with plenty of angst. Loved it.
Profile Image for Debbie.
61 reviews2 followers
November 24, 2015
This saga is gut wrenching and addicting. The author does such an incredible job of dragging you into the story, you feel as though you know the characters personally. Im completely hooked!!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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