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Make You Mine
Layla
Moving back to Whiskey Bay was never the plan. Then again, losing Jacob five years ago was also never part of the plan, either. That's when everything became complicated.
I can't stay here. I don't belong here, and everyone knows that - even Cameron. Especially after what happened...
I'm just going to focus on my last semester of college, and get the hell out of here, as long as I stop screwing up.
If only Cameron didn't look so damn sexy...
Cameron
Now that Layla's back, my entire world has changed. Nothing matters except getting her to see things for what they really are.
How stupid is it that I've had feelings for her, even when she was with my twin brother?
I can't let her go again, not this time. Not when she's this close...
I'll do whatever it takes to let Layla know how I feel about her before she leaves again, probably for good.
Make You Mine is the first standalone novel in the Whiskey Bay Series.
Moving back to Whiskey Bay was never the plan. Then again, losing Jacob five years ago was also never part of the plan, either. That's when everything became complicated.
I can't stay here. I don't belong here, and everyone knows that - even Cameron. Especially after what happened...
I'm just going to focus on my last semester of college, and get the hell out of here, as long as I stop screwing up.
If only Cameron didn't look so damn sexy...
Cameron
Now that Layla's back, my entire world has changed. Nothing matters except getting her to see things for what they really are.
How stupid is it that I've had feelings for her, even when she was with my twin brother?
I can't let her go again, not this time. Not when she's this close...
I'll do whatever it takes to let Layla know how I feel about her before she leaves again, probably for good.
Make You Mine is the first standalone novel in the Whiskey Bay Series.
271 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2020
6 people want to read
About the author
Merissa Bartlett
15 books10 followersMerissa Bartlett is a Canadian author who dabbles in both contemporary and dark romance. She writes about sassy, damaged female leads and the broody alphas that fall in love with them. She’s an introverted bookworm who is never far from wine, her Yorkie, Ella, and some form of caffeine.
You can find out more by following Merissa on Facebook @authormerissabartlett and Instagram @authormerissa
You can find out more by following Merissa on Facebook @authormerissabartlett and Instagram @authormerissa
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 22, 2020
Layla leaves her home in Whiskey Bay when her boyfriend Jacob is killed in a car accident. She blames herself for what happened and thinks the rest of the town does too. During her college years she takes refuge in alcoholic and parties trying to drown her grief and remorse until her parents force her to return home to finish her studies. Going home, seeing her old friends again, and especially seeing Jacob’s twin brother Cameron again, will awaken all kinds of feelings, both good and bad.
Cameron can’t believe that Layla has returned after all this years and still doesn’t know how to take it, he has always been in love with her. Although he knew that his brother didn’t deserve her( he was controlling, jealous and also he hooked up with Layla’s best friend)has never done anything. But now he has doubts about whether he did the right thing bc even after so long his heart continue to beat for her.
A love story marked by tragedy, where both characters will ave to overcome their grief and forgive themselves for their mistakes and forget the past if they want to have a chance in the future.
Cameron can’t believe that Layla has returned after all this years and still doesn’t know how to take it, he has always been in love with her. Although he knew that his brother didn’t deserve her( he was controlling, jealous and also he hooked up with Layla’s best friend)has never done anything. But now he has doubts about whether he did the right thing bc even after so long his heart continue to beat for her.
A love story marked by tragedy, where both characters will ave to overcome their grief and forgive themselves for their mistakes and forget the past if they want to have a chance in the future.
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September 3, 2020Who is the mood for a little drama?
September 25, 2020
I got this book under the 'Read it & Reap' Program in exchange for an honest review
Almost perfect
The story: Layla, Jacob, and Cameron are childhood friends. Jacob and Cameron are also twins, which makes it even more interesting. At one point Layla and Jacob start dating, and Cameron is third-wheeling with them almost all of the time but seems ok with it. So, one evening Cameron knocks on Layla's door and tells her that Jacob is dead. The next day Layla flees her hometown but has to come back 5 years later.
What I didn't like:
1. for some reason in my copy all the words with double l, were missing one l, which made it a bit difficult to read. I guess, it's just something with the file, so just a minor thing to mention.
2. little bits of repetitiveness in characters' thoughts and phrases they say. I know it happens in real life a lot, but I don't really like it in dialogues between people.
what I liked:
1. writing! it is the first in a long time where the writing is so smooth. It flows easily, and thus, the book is read effortlessly. I kept turning pages without even noticing and following how many chapters I've read.
2. the story is told from Layla and Cameron's points of view. While in some books it is not justified, here different POVs add interesting details (especially from Cameron) and deepen the understanding of what and why things happened the way they did.
3. no unnecessary characters. Every character in their place, add something to the story, and actively participate in the plot. And what's more important, there are no unexpected people introduced close to the end of the story.
4. Love scenes are concise and to the point. There are no lengthy descriptions of characters' bodies/actions/etc. But at the same time, chemistry and emotions are evident.
5. The story of the main characters' relationship is not all easy and fun. They really have to relive and work with a lot to overcome the past and deal with the present.
6. There is no overly sweet happy ending. Although the story obviously ends well, not everything is fine.
To sum everything up, this book was so great, I didn't want it to end.
I definitely would like to read more by the author.
Almost perfect
The story: Layla, Jacob, and Cameron are childhood friends. Jacob and Cameron are also twins, which makes it even more interesting. At one point Layla and Jacob start dating, and Cameron is third-wheeling with them almost all of the time but seems ok with it. So, one evening Cameron knocks on Layla's door and tells her that Jacob is dead. The next day Layla flees her hometown but has to come back 5 years later.
What I didn't like:
1. for some reason in my copy all the words with double l, were missing one l, which made it a bit difficult to read. I guess, it's just something with the file, so just a minor thing to mention.
2. little bits of repetitiveness in characters' thoughts and phrases they say. I know it happens in real life a lot, but I don't really like it in dialogues between people.
what I liked:
1. writing! it is the first in a long time where the writing is so smooth. It flows easily, and thus, the book is read effortlessly. I kept turning pages without even noticing and following how many chapters I've read.
2. the story is told from Layla and Cameron's points of view. While in some books it is not justified, here different POVs add interesting details (especially from Cameron) and deepen the understanding of what and why things happened the way they did.
3. no unnecessary characters. Every character in their place, add something to the story, and actively participate in the plot. And what's more important, there are no unexpected people introduced close to the end of the story.
4. Love scenes are concise and to the point. There are no lengthy descriptions of characters' bodies/actions/etc. But at the same time, chemistry and emotions are evident.
5. The story of the main characters' relationship is not all easy and fun. They really have to relive and work with a lot to overcome the past and deal with the present.
6. There is no overly sweet happy ending. Although the story obviously ends well, not everything is fine.
To sum everything up, this book was so great, I didn't want it to end.
I definitely would like to read more by the author.
September 1, 2020
2 1/2 Stars
One of the major mysteries to this love triangle of sorts was the reasons leading to Jacob’s death seven years ago.
Along the way to this painful discovery, we get to know the major players in this storyline that flips back and forth in time. Layla was dating Jacob, but had feelings for his twin Cameron at the same time. In addition to their twin dynamic, there was Tash, Layla’s best friend and Ryker, Cameron’s bestie.
As side characters that took up a lot of space, they were unlikeable and pretty awful as friends, both past and present.
Lots of alcohol flowing even with Layla’s mom and aunt. There seemed to be a big disconnect with everyone’s fear of driving (history of fatal accidents) and their irresponsible party attitude.
Tash sped around consistently but Layla thought she was careful because she wouldn’t drive before everyone was buckled in?
While Ryker was with Tash, he constantly told Cameron that he wanted Layla, and Tash openly makes a play for Cameron as well.
Layla was also kind of a mess as she was still struggling to obtain a degree without flunking out completely. All this at thirty percent of the book and it grew increasingly frustrating to read about Tash’s antics and disloyalties in addition to Layla’s complacency.
Cameron and Ryker ended up growing throughout the storyline which was a bright spot in this slow moving romance that read more like a YA coming of age Genre.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
One of the major mysteries to this love triangle of sorts was the reasons leading to Jacob’s death seven years ago.
Along the way to this painful discovery, we get to know the major players in this storyline that flips back and forth in time. Layla was dating Jacob, but had feelings for his twin Cameron at the same time. In addition to their twin dynamic, there was Tash, Layla’s best friend and Ryker, Cameron’s bestie.
As side characters that took up a lot of space, they were unlikeable and pretty awful as friends, both past and present.
Lots of alcohol flowing even with Layla’s mom and aunt. There seemed to be a big disconnect with everyone’s fear of driving (history of fatal accidents) and their irresponsible party attitude.
Tash sped around consistently but Layla thought she was careful because she wouldn’t drive before everyone was buckled in?
While Ryker was with Tash, he constantly told Cameron that he wanted Layla, and Tash openly makes a play for Cameron as well.
Layla was also kind of a mess as she was still struggling to obtain a degree without flunking out completely. All this at thirty percent of the book and it grew increasingly frustrating to read about Tash’s antics and disloyalties in addition to Layla’s complacency.
Cameron and Ryker ended up growing throughout the storyline which was a bright spot in this slow moving romance that read more like a YA coming of age Genre.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 7, 2020
⚔️⚔️ONE INTERESTING JOURNEY⚔️⚔️
Incredible! Merissa delivers one incredible thrill with this intriguing heart pounding, pulse racing, page flipping dynamo, hooking you from the start and reeling you in for the duration, wrapping this gem up sleek, shiny and tight. A surging tempest of vexing mishaps and perplexing events, noting the taxing trials and arduous tribulations, alongside the dramatic twists and intricate turns, putting our characters through their paces, testing them in ways they could have never imagined. Boundaries are amplified and exploited, baring the trembling truth, fierce feels and electrifying escapades, booting this baby into the eye of the storm, slamming it into a frenzy with an astonishing culmination. Continence and dynamics in layer upon layer that you peel back with each page your drawn into this web so profoundly until everything else ceases to exist. The characters, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits add depth and diversity, transforming into outstanding personalities. The scenes are abundantly descriptive with colorful details that blend and flow, creating a majestic backdrop that's so rich and lively it feels you were transported to ground zero with them. Fantastic job Merissa, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
Incredible! Merissa delivers one incredible thrill with this intriguing heart pounding, pulse racing, page flipping dynamo, hooking you from the start and reeling you in for the duration, wrapping this gem up sleek, shiny and tight. A surging tempest of vexing mishaps and perplexing events, noting the taxing trials and arduous tribulations, alongside the dramatic twists and intricate turns, putting our characters through their paces, testing them in ways they could have never imagined. Boundaries are amplified and exploited, baring the trembling truth, fierce feels and electrifying escapades, booting this baby into the eye of the storm, slamming it into a frenzy with an astonishing culmination. Continence and dynamics in layer upon layer that you peel back with each page your drawn into this web so profoundly until everything else ceases to exist. The characters, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits add depth and diversity, transforming into outstanding personalities. The scenes are abundantly descriptive with colorful details that blend and flow, creating a majestic backdrop that's so rich and lively it feels you were transported to ground zero with them. Fantastic job Merissa, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
October 23, 2020
I received a free ARC from Goodreads New Adult Book Club for the promise of an honest review.
It was a good book. I give it 3.5 stars because I feel like part of the story is missing. The part that is missing is Layla and Jacob's relationship. We get pieces of it but not enough to understand the anguish Layla is feeling. I would love to see a prequel to this book that shows Layla and Jacob's relationship.
Make You Mine is about Cameron and Layla's relationship. Layla went away to college to help ease her grief over losing her boyfriend, Jacob who died in an car accident. Jacob is Cameron's twin brother. Cameron has always had romantic feelings for Layla. Layla was attracted to Cameron but she pushed those feeling aside because she loved his twin brother. It has now been 4 years since the accident and Layla returns home. She is still grieving Jacob's death because she blames herself for his death. Layla and Cameron strike up a friendship again to try to overcome their grief. Their old attraction returns and they have to learn how to let go of their unhealthy attachment to Jacob's death before their romantic relationship can grow. There are individuals who do not want to see them together and try to pull them apart.
This is very emotional and angsty. There are times you want to cry. There are times when you hold your breath. There are times when you are mad.
It was a good book. I give it 3.5 stars because I feel like part of the story is missing. The part that is missing is Layla and Jacob's relationship. We get pieces of it but not enough to understand the anguish Layla is feeling. I would love to see a prequel to this book that shows Layla and Jacob's relationship.
Make You Mine is about Cameron and Layla's relationship. Layla went away to college to help ease her grief over losing her boyfriend, Jacob who died in an car accident. Jacob is Cameron's twin brother. Cameron has always had romantic feelings for Layla. Layla was attracted to Cameron but she pushed those feeling aside because she loved his twin brother. It has now been 4 years since the accident and Layla returns home. She is still grieving Jacob's death because she blames herself for his death. Layla and Cameron strike up a friendship again to try to overcome their grief. Their old attraction returns and they have to learn how to let go of their unhealthy attachment to Jacob's death before their romantic relationship can grow. There are individuals who do not want to see them together and try to pull them apart.
This is very emotional and angsty. There are times you want to cry. There are times when you hold your breath. There are times when you are mad.
November 22, 2020
Make You Mine (Whiskey Bay #1) by Merissa Bartlett
Was an emotional 4 star read.
Layla is returning home after several years, she fled town after a tragic accident. She went to college but things didn’t go great for her there, she was out of control. Now that she is back she’s not sure how receptive people will be.
Cameron is shocked to see Layla back, he still harbors some feelings for her both bad and good. He tries to keep his distance from her but the more he sees her the more he wants to tell her the truth. And of course his parents blame Layla for the accident.
Will Layla and Cameron finally admit to their feelings and get a HEA?
Overall this was a great read. My emotions were all over the place. All of the secondary characters were great, although the “best friend” she was supposed to have made me very angry at her actions. The things that Layla went through were heartbreaking at times.
I feel like we have some things left open and I can’t wait to read what is coming next.
August 26, 2020
This is the first book in The Whiskey Bay Series and it is Layla and Cameron's story. Layla is back in whiskey bay after Jacob died, she was then going to leave again after finishing college but things don't always go as planned. Cameron has had feelings for Layla for years but she was going out with his brother but now she is back and he hopes that he has time to tell her how he feels and gets his wish to be with her regardless of the consequences. Will everything work out or will there be more heartbreak to come. This is the first book that I have read by Merissa Bartlett but definitely not the last as it was so well written and worth reading and I look forward to reading the next book in this brilliant series.
I Voluntarily Reviewed an ARC Copy of this book.
I Voluntarily Reviewed an ARC Copy of this book.
September 2, 2020
Memories
This book is about Layla and Cameron. Layla’s boyfriend Jacob died seven years ago. Cameron was his twin brother. She has now returned to Whiskey Bay where she used to live, and Cameron is still a constant, sad reminder of what she lost those years ago. But there is also a mutual attraction between the two of them, which complicates matters.
It’s an emotional and dramatic story. There are both heartbreaking and heartwarming moments as they discover what is most important. I give this book three and a half stars.
I received a free copy of this book via BookSprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book is about Layla and Cameron. Layla’s boyfriend Jacob died seven years ago. Cameron was his twin brother. She has now returned to Whiskey Bay where she used to live, and Cameron is still a constant, sad reminder of what she lost those years ago. But there is also a mutual attraction between the two of them, which complicates matters.
It’s an emotional and dramatic story. There are both heartbreaking and heartwarming moments as they discover what is most important. I give this book three and a half stars.
I received a free copy of this book via BookSprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 26, 2020
This book left me conflicted. I think there was some real potential here but in the end it fell short. I enjoyed the complexity of the emotions and the history between Layla and Cameron. Their situation was indeed complicated and filled with angst, guilt, turmoil and poignancy. This book does generate some feels but with a very unlikable cast of secondary characters, main characters that I failed to connect with and a writing style and format that just did not work for me, this book was much more of a miss than a hit for me. This is my freely posted, frank review.
September 11, 2020
I had mixed feelings about this story. The author wants us to believe in the characters after having been dealt a blow years earlier. Yet their words and actions don’t allow this to happen in my opinion. The cast of characters were out of control and the author wanted us to believe they had strong convictions but the description of their actions were the opposite of those convictions. So though it had a great premise and intriguing blurb, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would.
August 29, 2020
The book is a good small town romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 1, 2020
I loved everything about it - the characters, the plot, the emotion, the writing!
The author had a unique way of telling the story that had me wanting this book to go on and on.
This review has been voluntarily submitted for your consideration.
The author had a unique way of telling the story that had me wanting this book to go on and on.
This review has been voluntarily submitted for your consideration.
November 10, 2020
This was a pretty good story I must say. I felt like the author did a great job of showing the characters grief and difficulty moving on. I am glad the main characters were able to separate those who were real vs. not real friends, and able to move forward. Plus they had a dog!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2020
Layla and Cameron's journey was a bit of a bumpy one but they were meant for each other, their connection and chemistry was strong. They were made for each other.
I enjoyed this story.
I enjoyed this story.
September 2, 2020
Not my cup of tea. The characters are pretty much a mess. The story it self is drawn out and slow going.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews