Almost Loved

by Mira Toria

Falling in love is easy.

After Bradley, Lyris is convinced that love is temporary and the repercussions are permanent, but everything changes when she meets Hale. Falling in love with him begins as something tumultuous and unexpectedly effortless despite her resistance.

Lyris loves him.
Hale loves her.
Staying in love is hard.

As their pasts start to surface, how hard will they fight to stay together? Her ex holds a piece of her heart and he won’t give up without a fight – but that might not be necessary. Hale has a secret of his own that is enough to threaten everything before it even begins.

This isn't just a love story.
This is their story.

Genres: Romance, New Adult

350 pages, Unknown Binding

First published March 6, 2015

About the author

Mira Toria is a a bit of a romantic even though she flat out denies it. She daydreams more often than she would like to admit and often times she can be found scribbling story ideas onto any writeable surface because a clean napkin comes to mind before her phone.

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Reviews

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved the cover. It fits especially when I finished reading the book.

I kind of like how there's like a lesson in this story. Lyris wasn't herself and was reluctant to try and be in another relationship after her trip from London due to experiences because of her ex. When she meets Hale. the beautiful (her words not mine) bartender it's the first time she feels something but is hesistant, so they flirted and all but nothing happened. She chanced it to fate which in a roundabout way, the term, "it's a small world", fitted perfectly not once but twice but I'll leave that for later.

Thanks to the support of her friends especially Evey, all things were okay between her and Hale until her ex showed up and told her something about Hale's past which he never mentioned.

I actually felt for Lyris especially what she've been through because of her ex. Her hesitation was understandable but I probably would opted for her to talk to someone professional if this kept on being a nuisance to her life. Although Hale was a good medicine and she probably needed to overcome this herself.

I hated Bradley so much. I hated him more when he caused a strife between Hale and Ly. Just when everything seemed to be in place he had to mess him up. He really is a calculating b*st*rd. Hopefully, he gets whatever is coming to him, He's a liar especially when he said he changed. I'm glad that Hale persevered in what he was doing. I find the letters and flowers sweet even if the letter itself wasn't romantic. I liked how how they do their romance gestures differently. I only hated that it took them a while to be together again and if it wasn't for that surgeon planting those seeds, it probably would have turned out differently. I'm so glad she finally came to her senses. It may took a while but I'm quit content it was closer than what I've read from other books which is in years.

I really like the supporting characters especially Evey. I liked how she's blunt especially when she gives her pep talks/advices to Lyris because she has the guts to say things that Ly denies within herself. I wished there was a short story how West and Evey came to be. It's just my cup of tea how friends become lovers. I liked how the author wrote their histories although not elaborated enough.

I loved how it ended despite the fact Hale made an *ss of himself in their reunion. Although there is no closure regarding Hale's past. It seemed it was drop after their fallout.

I received a copy for a blog tour.

[Caro [The Book Rogue] · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the description, I had a few things in mind I thought would happen, but I'd say that Almost Loved positively surprised my by being not like I expected from other contemporary romance reads. I love the clichés, the patterns, no question -- I read the genre because I love them so much, right? -- but it was still nice to find a story that really doesn't go with the flow.

Hale's and Lyris' story wasn't about an attraction too hard to fight, even though they were too different in character, but after the initial little spark that's always physical, they build their relationship on something far more important: smiles. For me personally, it's the most important thing about a relationship. If your partner can make you smile by being too childish, maybe even by annoying the hell out of you, and surprise you, then s/he's the one you need to keep. Those two made each other smile, with jokes, being smart and snippy, and everyday experiences that suddenly become special because you're doing them together. They were such a sweet couple, and so careful with one another because it was the second shot (not the overly romantic first!) for both of them.

Almost Loved also defied several clichés.
No 1: Guys have to be jerks. Hale and West were both cute beyond measure, I'm totally in love. They weren't jealous, acting tough, impatient, or keeping secrets for the wrong reasons.
No 2: Time is not of the essence! There are so many insta-love stories out there which result in marriage and kids sooner much rather than later, but this story was patient, and thus all the sweeter!
No 3: Love can't fix all your problems. It was so unexpected when Lyris really broke up with Hale and took her time to find herself first, instead of trying to have him do the motherload by showering her with his love.

Since it was so awesome in all the build, and I really liked the characters, why did I deduct half a star at the end? Well, while the dialogues and situations really made me laugh out loud when fun was the intention, they didn't pierce all the way into my heart when it was about the drama. As I experienced it, I really wanted it to make me cry when I found out all the horrible parts, but it was more a bittersweet taste for these parts as well. But still amazing, and I can only recommend!

Area Scan: Flow: 4/5 -- Vocab: 3/5 -- Plot: 4/5 -- Heroes: 5/5 -- Sidekicks: 5/5 -- Villains: 5/5 -- Romance: 5/5 -- Drama: 5/5 -- Suspense: 3/5
Overall: 4.5/5

[chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost Is Never Enough...

How does one explain why they loved a book? In words? Expressions? I tried creating a formal review but words failed me. There are no words to describe how much I loved this book. It was… Well, it was. I read this book twice before writing my review and the both times I read it, I was blown away.

Everyone who knows me knows that I hate rom-coms. I despise them. I think I said that I would burn every single rom-com if I could. But saying that, I loved Almost Loved. Normally, I steer clear of anything to do with romance but when I saw this book on Wattpad I just had to read it. So I did. Then I heard it was being published. Excitement coursed through me and the book nerd in me jumped for joy. When the opportunity arose to read an advance copy in exchange for a review I jumped at the chance.

Love is never what you expect. Sometimes it's less...But sometimes it's more.

With every page turn I was drawn in. Even though I had read this book before it felt like the first time. Almost Loved isn’t your typical “boy meets girl” romance, it’s so much more than that. It’s mystery, it’s thrills and more importantly, it’s love. While I still hate any romance book, Almost Loved is the exception. Yes, it’s a romance but it’s a romance that I liked. Nay, loved. There are no words in the English language that can describe how much I enjoyed this book, so I think I will use this; amazebrillfandabidosieasdfghjklawesomesaueballs. And I mean it. It is that good.

Have you ever wondered if we've reached a place where the only thing left for us to do is fall? That the hardest part hasn't even begun?

Mira Toria, hats off to you my dear. Your debut novel is as astounding as Channing Tatum’s butt.

[Addy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't remember the last time I've felt so giddy reading a book. Almost Loved made me fall in love with the characters, the writing, and the beautiful story. I'm so glad to have had a chance to beta read before its release.

I am so so extremely proud of you, Mee! YOU DID IT.



I was kindly asked to be one of the first readers for Mira’s debut novel. It was quite an honor as I had previously read the first few chapters on Wattpad and remember adoring the story! I was ecstatic and impressed by Almost Loved, a love story but not just your typical love story. Lyris and Hale both have reasons to stay away from each other, to stay away from falling in love. But it seems like fate has a different idea.

One of the many aspects of the story that I loved was the writing. I was easily swept away by the description and the dialogue. I love witty dialogue! I couldn’t help but laugh and swoon and want to cry. Along with the dialogue was the great character dynamics. You have to have good character dynamics in order to have good dialogue. The two correlated like peanut butter and jelly. I absolutely adored Lyris and Evey’s relationship. It reminded me of my relationship with my best friend and to me that is authenticity. It brought a smile to my face whenever I read about the two, teasing each other and telling each other things that the other needed to hear.

Aside from the male protagonist (we’ll get to him in a bit), there were secondary characters that added a certain sweetness and reality to the story. Like West and Leon, Evey’s boyfriend and Lyris’ friend, who added their own kind of quriks to the novel. West and Leon were protective, both in different ways. They were also loyal and witty. West particularly made me laugh more than once out loud. I realize that I’m talking about these characters like they are real. But you don’t realize how very real they were to me because the author made it so.

Then, there was Hale. Ah, Hale. You are my new book boyfriend. It is unbelievable how he made me giddy with his undeniable charming self. He was strong and persevered. He was also honest from the start as the past constantly surfaced. I won’t say more than that as I don’t want to spoil you! I like how Hale tried, how he was willing to put his past aside in order to give his blossoming relationship with Lyris a chance.

This isn’t your typical “boy meets girl” story or a typical romantic comedy. How can I explain it? It’s a love story, where both parties are desperately trying to figure out what to do and how to move forward in hopes to finding a love that is real – truer than their past relationships. To me, that is a great message to have realized while reading. Most people don’t realize that they can find love again even when they think it’s quite impossible.

Lastly, you have your leading lady, Lyris. She is so easy to relate to. She’s been hurt (as many of us have been) when it comes to an ex-boyfriend. We see her struggle and slowly begin to evolve from the woman she is at the start of the story to the woman she ends up to be. It’s a beautiful evolution that is wonderfully written. I also love her voice. It made the story far more interesting because of amazing narration!

I didn’t just adore Almost Loved. I loved Almost Loved. There was no almost about it. But don’t just take my word for it, give this story a shot. It’s currently 99 cents on Amazon! That is a steal for a uniquely woven tale of finding love again.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit that I struggled a bit starting this book. Lyris felt like a confusing character, contradicting herself within her personality. At work, she was carefree and happy. At the party where she first meets Hale, she has confidence as a slight bitchy streak that casts away any man who comes within her comfort zone. And then all of a sudden, she would be reduced to a puddle of despair. She couldn't make up her mind about what she wanted from Hale. She keeps referring to her ex Bradley, but never talks about what was so awful about her relationship with him. I will say that I am sure many of us have had that ex who haunts us and makes it difficult to move on for a little wihle.

Halfway through, as the relationship between Hale and Lyris intensifies, I was feeling better about the two of them and rooting for them to make it. Truths are starting to come out and their relationship is truly tested. As I got to know more about her past with Bradley, Lyris's confusion and vacillating feelings started to make more sense. Hale shows that he is even more vulnerable than you would have originally thought, as well, with his own past experiences. It is interesting how these two lives are so much more intertwined than anyone had ever imagined.

I felt like the truth about what happened with Bradley seemed almost too intense and crazy. More consequences should have resulted from those interactions. A fraction of those events would have sufficed to explain how much pain he had caused her and feel more realistic to me.

I feel comfortable giving this book three stars because it has some great potential as a romance. Their struggle is familiar on many levels. You want to root for them both as a couple and for overcoming their own personal demons. I can also feel this author's ability to grow as a writer as she continues on her journey.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Amphitrite · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked: I gotta say, when I began to read Almost Loved I wasn't expecting half of what happened and it sucked me in to the story so much that I went from casually reading the book when I started because I was hesitant due to the summary (come on guys, it screamed angst at me but still wanted to read it) but as I saw how hot and cold Lyris' personality could be I was thrown for a loop and I thought that would be a negative thing, but eventually it made a lot more sense to me. I usually don't try and guess what's going to happen in a book, but with this one that's what I spent a lot of time doing as I realized something was going to happen, and I wanted more pieces to fit into the puzzle about Lyris and Bradley, and even what Hale was keeping secret.

What I didn't like: It's not a real "dislike" its more of a "I really wanted more about all the characters" kind of situation. You get me? I just wanted to know more about the side characters, Evey especially because I liked her a lot.

Overall Review: I thought this book was, for the most part, different from the books I've read in the romance genre. I usually don't apply "suspenseful" to the genre but this book has suspense in it which I liked, it left me with room for doubt about the outcome and rooting for what I wanted to happen before the story was over. It kept me glued to the page and I really enjoyed it!

Recommend?: Sure! It's a great debut novel and I can't wait to see what the author writes next!

[Stephanie Derbas (In Wonderland) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog: In Wonderland

Mira Toria nailed it. This book was beautiful. Mira's writing is flawless. This is a unique romance book. It veered away from the typical cliches you'd usually find in romances but it was every bit as lovely. Kudos to you, Mira.

Almost Loved was a beautiful debut by Mira Toria. I honestly cannot wait to read more by her! What I loved most about this book was that it wasn't just about the romance. It had a realness to it. I felt for Lyris and the struggles she went through. She actually sounds a lot like one of my friends. Hesitant to start anything because of a previous bad relationship.

I really liked not only the main characters Lyris and Hale but I also loved most of the secondary characters like Evey. Especially Evey. She was blunt and honest and supportive. Just like one of my best friends. I really admired Evey.

It's really hard describing why you love a story. But I did. This book was a breath of fresh air within the romance genre. The only reason why it's not a 4 star is because I wanted more of everything. I wanted to hear about Evey and West. I wanted more romance. I wanted more between Lyris and Hale and I wanted closure with Hale's past.

If you're in the mood for a beautiful romance that feels more real than most of the other books out there, then you should check Almost Loved out because that's exactly what you will get. I tip my hat off to you Mira!

[Selina Liaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books & Sweet Epiphany
www.booksandsweetepiphany.wordpress.com

P.S. You can read an excerpt of the book in my website. :)

I've received a copy of Almost Loved for review and I gotta say, it was an extremely interesting experience.

I was never a fan of fictional romance but this was something different. If you're finding for a lot of angst, suspense (I never knew romance could be suspenseful) and a smile at the end of the book, this book is it.

The characters in the book are compelling and romantic actions are kinda what you expect in this kind of book but yet, it will surprise you because this whole thing just doesn't go with the flow. If you like that sort of thing, be prepared to grip your book, tablet or reading device (maybe even you table and chair) and go on for that ride.

I literally spent most of my time figuring what they hell happened (which I love) and why in the world Lyris (the main character) has such a cold and hot personality. It was pretty fun and I went, "OH." when I read it all.

Overall, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars!

By the way, this book is rated NA.

[Raj]

DNF @15%

The story was written in 3rd Person.

I wasn't very fond of the names. I'm also not a fan of 3rd person POV's and I was trying to get myself used to it but I always get distracted by the names.

At 15% I dropped it. The ex stuff didn't really interest me. THe story ain't that interesting and I didn't get attached to the characters..

[Ro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book!

[Tressa (Wishful Endings) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a DNF for me. Some may like it quite a bit more than I did. I just didn't connect with the characters, all the blatant innuendo, and such. Just not my type of book and I was expecting something more.