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Count on Me #7
What Lies Beneath
“Look forward.”
They say.
“Focus on what comes next. Not on what came before.”
I want to do that.
I just can’t.
Not until I find that book, hand it over, and make Isabelle see that even when things were at their bleakest, she was there.
Make her understand that she’s always been with me.
Right from the very start.
Every happy ending has a beginning...
This is ours.
They say.
“Focus on what comes next. Not on what came before.”
I want to do that.
I just can’t.
Not until I find that book, hand it over, and make Isabelle see that even when things were at their bleakest, she was there.
Make her understand that she’s always been with me.
Right from the very start.
Every happy ending has a beginning...
This is ours.
ebook
Published April 19, 2016
86 people want to read
About the author
Melyssa Winchester
32 books240 followersMother, Sister, Daughter, Best Friend, Avid Book Reader, Author, Overall Crazy Person.
I'm Melyssa and I was born and raised in what is now known as the mega city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I'm the country girl stuck in the city girls body and anytime I can get away from the big city lights and settle somewhere far more slower is always such a treat.
I'm a mother to probably the four most amazing kids on the planet. (Yes that's a typical mom answer isn't it?) They have brought so much joy to my life and without them I'm not entirely sure where or what I'd be doing. They've taught me so much that I only hope I can do the same for them as they grow.
When I'm not with them I'm doing one of two things. Either curled up with my e-reader and as many books as I can handle or watching marathons of Supernatural, Sons of Anarchy or Veronica Mars.
Lastly, I'm always on the lookout for my next book boyfriend, even if I have to create him in my own stories. can't go wrong with a good book boyfriend. :)
I'm Melyssa and I was born and raised in what is now known as the mega city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I'm the country girl stuck in the city girls body and anytime I can get away from the big city lights and settle somewhere far more slower is always such a treat.
I'm a mother to probably the four most amazing kids on the planet. (Yes that's a typical mom answer isn't it?) They have brought so much joy to my life and without them I'm not entirely sure where or what I'd be doing. They've taught me so much that I only hope I can do the same for them as they grow.
When I'm not with them I'm doing one of two things. Either curled up with my e-reader and as many books as I can handle or watching marathons of Supernatural, Sons of Anarchy or Veronica Mars.
Lastly, I'm always on the lookout for my next book boyfriend, even if I have to create him in my own stories. can't go wrong with a good book boyfriend. :)
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 26, 2016
I went into this expecting a prequel type story ....and it was but not like I expected. It was SO MUCH MORE!! This is a beautifully written story about two characters we have already come to know and love. The story is told in the present, flashing back and with diary entries. I loved how everything unfolded and the unique way that we, the readers were brought into their lives.
I am huge MW fan, she always delivers a heartfelt, emotional read that sometimes can even bring you out of your comfort zone. Her books are always brilliantly told. She makes you dig deep, feel, think and be thankful and appreciate the small things.
I recommend this entire series!!
"She was Beauty. She was Belle."
I am huge MW fan, she always delivers a heartfelt, emotional read that sometimes can even bring you out of your comfort zone. Her books are always brilliantly told. She makes you dig deep, feel, think and be thankful and appreciate the small things.
I recommend this entire series!!
"She was Beauty. She was Belle."
April 6, 2018
3,5 Stars
Did I really need to read a book from Kayden's POV that largely deals with his past in order to feel complete? The answer to that is a definite "NO!"
But, did I enjoy reading a book from Kayden's POV that largely deals with his past? The answer is a resounding "YES!"
What Lies Beneath starts with Kayden looking for his journal from when he was younger so that he can show Isabelle just how much of an impact she had in his life from way back then. However, the journal ends up being a "curse" for Kayden and he has to deal with his past colliding with his present as ugly, painful and bitter emotions are brought to the surface. He also has to deal with whether or not Isabelle can handle everything in that journal or if it's the final straw that could push her away.
I could always understand and sympathise with all the events that have taken place in Kayden's life and how he became who he is, but I could never condone his actions. What Lies Beneath spins all of that around. It shows us a boy who can't understand why he is going through all the pain and raw emotions that has become a part of his life. Kayden's emotions are so raw and human - his love and hate, his need for comfort and understanding, his goal to be feared and the conflicting feelings inside him that creates the person he becomes.
Isabelle, on the other hand, remains one of the most strongest characters I have ever read about. She's more confident, assertive and fiesty and while she still deals with autism and the challenges that she faces, she doesn't let it control or define her. Isabelle's growth from Count On Me to What Lies Beneath is one of the most amazing and believable things I have ever read about.
When I found out that this book was going to deal with Kayden's past, I was reluctant to read it. I'm not a fan of flashbacks and I felt that I knew everything there was to know about Kayden's past. However, What Lies Beneath shows information from Kayden's past that I knew about such as the abuse that he got from Dean, but details incidents that were only mentioned in passing or weren't mentioned at all in previous books. This means that there isn't tedious repetition of something that I've known and read about before.
What Lies Beneath is also not just flashbacks from the past, but the past intertwining with the present as we see the effects of the journal on Isabelle and Kayden. What Lies Beneath is relatively drama-free. There is a tiny amount of drama, but it isn't overpowering. The drama also stems more from internal factors than external factors.
There are a few typos, misplaced words and sentence construction errors, but they don't detract from the story. However, the dialogue and actions that take place in What Lies Beneath are difficult to understand and follow. It frustrates me that I couldn't fully visualise what was going on.
What Lies Beneath is not a necessary book in the Count On Me series, but it certainly does add more to Kayden's and Isabelle's relationship.
"It's weird how things that happened years before, ones that you haven't even really thought about in forever, are always just there. They never really go away." (Kayden Walker)
Did I really need to read a book from Kayden's POV that largely deals with his past in order to feel complete? The answer to that is a definite "NO!"
But, did I enjoy reading a book from Kayden's POV that largely deals with his past? The answer is a resounding "YES!"
What Lies Beneath starts with Kayden looking for his journal from when he was younger so that he can show Isabelle just how much of an impact she had in his life from way back then. However, the journal ends up being a "curse" for Kayden and he has to deal with his past colliding with his present as ugly, painful and bitter emotions are brought to the surface. He also has to deal with whether or not Isabelle can handle everything in that journal or if it's the final straw that could push her away.
I could always understand and sympathise with all the events that have taken place in Kayden's life and how he became who he is, but I could never condone his actions. What Lies Beneath spins all of that around. It shows us a boy who can't understand why he is going through all the pain and raw emotions that has become a part of his life. Kayden's emotions are so raw and human - his love and hate, his need for comfort and understanding, his goal to be feared and the conflicting feelings inside him that creates the person he becomes.
Isabelle, on the other hand, remains one of the most strongest characters I have ever read about. She's more confident, assertive and fiesty and while she still deals with autism and the challenges that she faces, she doesn't let it control or define her. Isabelle's growth from Count On Me to What Lies Beneath is one of the most amazing and believable things I have ever read about.
"She was Beauty. She was Belle." (Kayden Walker)
When I found out that this book was going to deal with Kayden's past, I was reluctant to read it. I'm not a fan of flashbacks and I felt that I knew everything there was to know about Kayden's past. However, What Lies Beneath shows information from Kayden's past that I knew about such as the abuse that he got from Dean, but details incidents that were only mentioned in passing or weren't mentioned at all in previous books. This means that there isn't tedious repetition of something that I've known and read about before.
What Lies Beneath is also not just flashbacks from the past, but the past intertwining with the present as we see the effects of the journal on Isabelle and Kayden. What Lies Beneath is relatively drama-free. There is a tiny amount of drama, but it isn't overpowering. The drama also stems more from internal factors than external factors.
There are a few typos, misplaced words and sentence construction errors, but they don't detract from the story. However, the dialogue and actions that take place in What Lies Beneath are difficult to understand and follow. It frustrates me that I couldn't fully visualise what was going on.
What Lies Beneath is not a necessary book in the Count On Me series, but it certainly does add more to Kayden's and Isabelle's relationship.
"Life with you, loving you, it's worth every fight." (Isabelle Reagan)
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May 3, 2016What Lies Beneath: What You Need to Know Before You Read
1.Timeline: This book picks up about a year after Unbroken.
2.There will be references to their years before Count On Me here.
3.As much as this entire book ties into them as a couple, you’re going to get glimpses into the life Kayden led that were merely spoken of or glossed over in the original story. It’s a hard reality, so if you’ve got issues with abuse, tread carefully.
4.POV: This one is told strictly from Kayden’s POV, though Belle, Dillon, Grace, Daphne, Dean and Tristan make appearances in varying degrees.
5.No Bullshit. No real drama either, but there is a lot of intensity from Kayden, so it is dramatic and emotional in that regard. Kayden kind of swerved me that way. LOL
6.It’s being written because Kayden, he needs this. Probably even more than I do as the writer.
7.This is not the end. This is not their end. This is their beginning. Look for book 9 for the actual end. Where I finally put Kayden and Belle to bed (other than appearing in Tristan’s book #10)
8.You’re going to need Count on Me and All My Heart to really get the full impact of this story, so this one can’t be read standalone. If you don’t know Kayden and Belle this one might not be worth your time.
9.It’s safe. Unless you’ve got issues with physical abuse from the eyes of a child living it, it’s 100% safe. Which technically, so is their original story.
10.Genre: It’s technically NA based on their ages in current timeline, but also YA in the memories that appear. What bring them closer.
11.This one is a little steamier than their previous two books. Still tame in comparison to a few of my others, but you see a little more than previous Kayden and Belle books.
12.If you even remotely enjoyed Count On Me (or any of the others in the series), you should enjoy this. At least I’m hoping you do.
Available Now! <3
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1SJUidn
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1VzyKaE
iBooks: http://apple.co/20LFTDT
Kobo: http://bit.ly/22CZfKB
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1QeCrcY
Paperback (Amazon): http://amzn.to/1Nkll34
1.Timeline: This book picks up about a year after Unbroken.
2.There will be references to their years before Count On Me here.
3.As much as this entire book ties into them as a couple, you’re going to get glimpses into the life Kayden led that were merely spoken of or glossed over in the original story. It’s a hard reality, so if you’ve got issues with abuse, tread carefully.
4.POV: This one is told strictly from Kayden’s POV, though Belle, Dillon, Grace, Daphne, Dean and Tristan make appearances in varying degrees.
5.No Bullshit. No real drama either, but there is a lot of intensity from Kayden, so it is dramatic and emotional in that regard. Kayden kind of swerved me that way. LOL
6.It’s being written because Kayden, he needs this. Probably even more than I do as the writer.
7.This is not the end. This is not their end. This is their beginning. Look for book 9 for the actual end. Where I finally put Kayden and Belle to bed (other than appearing in Tristan’s book #10)
8.You’re going to need Count on Me and All My Heart to really get the full impact of this story, so this one can’t be read standalone. If you don’t know Kayden and Belle this one might not be worth your time.
9.It’s safe. Unless you’ve got issues with physical abuse from the eyes of a child living it, it’s 100% safe. Which technically, so is their original story.
10.Genre: It’s technically NA based on their ages in current timeline, but also YA in the memories that appear. What bring them closer.
11.This one is a little steamier than their previous two books. Still tame in comparison to a few of my others, but you see a little more than previous Kayden and Belle books.
12.If you even remotely enjoyed Count On Me (or any of the others in the series), you should enjoy this. At least I’m hoping you do.
Available Now! <3
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1SJUidn
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1VzyKaE
iBooks: http://apple.co/20LFTDT
Kobo: http://bit.ly/22CZfKB
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1QeCrcY
Paperback (Amazon): http://amzn.to/1Nkll34
April 21, 2016
Melyssa has written a lot of different characters in this series but my favorite still remains Kayden and Belle. I suppose that’s because other than Take Me With You having a lot to do with her oldest kid, it’s the realest one.
What Lies Beneath expands on that. MW taking a topic she knows a hell of a lot about and throwing the reader even more into it. Belle experiencing moments that I know for a fact after asking before writing this review are accurate depictions of what her own daughter has gone through recently.
She wrote real, she wrote as emotionally as she did when she started the Count on Me franchise and she took what was already great and made it even better.
A book told from Kayden’s point of view only (other then the little surprise later) you get to go deeper into his life with her and without her in it. You see things that your gonna wish you didn’t. Possibly even experience emotions you weren’t even aware you were able to. Least that’s how it went down for me.
But its also gonna make you believe in the power of love. What it can mean to someone who for their entire life believed they weren`t worthy of it. Its gonna bond you even more to Belle and Kayden and their longevity.
Its shorter than some of the others, but for whats there it packs the same damn emotional punch ive been coming to expect with an MW read.
If your thinking of picking this one up, your gonna need Count On Me at least first, so snag that one first and find out what im talking about with the emotional punches.
What Lies Beneath expands on that. MW taking a topic she knows a hell of a lot about and throwing the reader even more into it. Belle experiencing moments that I know for a fact after asking before writing this review are accurate depictions of what her own daughter has gone through recently.
She wrote real, she wrote as emotionally as she did when she started the Count on Me franchise and she took what was already great and made it even better.
A book told from Kayden’s point of view only (other then the little surprise later) you get to go deeper into his life with her and without her in it. You see things that your gonna wish you didn’t. Possibly even experience emotions you weren’t even aware you were able to. Least that’s how it went down for me.
But its also gonna make you believe in the power of love. What it can mean to someone who for their entire life believed they weren`t worthy of it. Its gonna bond you even more to Belle and Kayden and their longevity.
Its shorter than some of the others, but for whats there it packs the same damn emotional punch ive been coming to expect with an MW read.
If your thinking of picking this one up, your gonna need Count On Me at least first, so snag that one first and find out what im talking about with the emotional punches.
April 23, 2016
I generally don't read novella's but with this series I wanted to. Before reading What Lies Beneath ( Count On Me Series 7) Count on Me should be read first. This present story compliments the first book. This is not just a story, it's a journey for 2 best friends to lovers. I won't go into much details about the first story.
Kayden and Belle will confront their troubled past in order to move on into a fulfilling future as adults. By reading a series of their personal diaries they will be able to move on. Kayden will also confront some people from his past. We will be going back to where it all began.
This story is poignant, sad as well as hopeful. So beautifully written that it made me want to hug them. Strong characters that are so unlike any other. They are survivors from their past. Fair warning this story is addictive and engaging.
Told in Kayden's POV with one from Bella toward the end. It does have an happy ending for this sweet couple. I highly recommend reading this entire series starting with the first book. The readers won't be disappointed in the least. The Count On Me Series is one of the bests series I've had the pleasure of reading.
Kayden and Belle will confront their troubled past in order to move on into a fulfilling future as adults. By reading a series of their personal diaries they will be able to move on. Kayden will also confront some people from his past. We will be going back to where it all began.
This story is poignant, sad as well as hopeful. So beautifully written that it made me want to hug them. Strong characters that are so unlike any other. They are survivors from their past. Fair warning this story is addictive and engaging.
Told in Kayden's POV with one from Bella toward the end. It does have an happy ending for this sweet couple. I highly recommend reading this entire series starting with the first book. The readers won't be disappointed in the least. The Count On Me Series is one of the bests series I've had the pleasure of reading.
April 19, 2016
Kayden takes us back to a time before his life became tragic. We get to see Kayden when he was a little boy and Belle was his best friend. Two kids who just liked to spend time together and play. We knew his brother was cruel, but we had no idea how cruel.
Until now.
Now, we see what made Kayden the bully he turned into before Count on Me began.
It's all right there in the pages of his journal and as he takes us down memory lane with the love of his life will he be able to forgive himself for his past? Did Belle truly forgive and forget? Or is this journal going to prove to be too much for either one of them to handle?
Another fantastic book by Melyssa Winchester to compliment this series.
Until now.
Now, we see what made Kayden the bully he turned into before Count on Me began.
It's all right there in the pages of his journal and as he takes us down memory lane with the love of his life will he be able to forgive himself for his past? Did Belle truly forgive and forget? Or is this journal going to prove to be too much for either one of them to handle?
Another fantastic book by Melyssa Winchester to compliment this series.
to-read-soon
April 24, 2016"ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review... Thank you Melyssa!:)"
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews