Tracy Lorraine is a M/F and M/M contemporary romance author. Tracy has just turned thirty and lives in a cute Cotswold village in England with her husband, baby girl and lovable but slightly crazy dog. Having always been a bookaholic with her head stuck in her Kindle Tracy decided to try her hand at a story idea she dreamt up and hasn’t looked back since.
Hunter is the fifth full-length novel in Tracy Lorraine's Rosewood High series. Spoken in dual perspectives, this is Poppy Poore and Zayn Hunter's story.
Poppy hasn't had the easiest life. Her parents checked out years ago and left her to raise her younger siblings. Between taking care of them, maintaining her grades and dealing with a bully trying to ruin her, she doesn't have time to deal with her best friend's brother. She has always had a crush on him but the one time she acted on it, he immediately made her regret it. So she is not about to let him break her heart yet again.
Zayn has always had a thing for his sister's best friend. He made a mistake in the past, but he did so out of self-preservation. She is his best friend's cousin, so that makes her off-limits. Since then he has watched her from a distance. But when he learns of her struggles, he can no longer stay away. He is determined to help her and be with her no matter the consequences. But he has his work cut out for him because she doesn't make things easy for him.
This best friend's brother/bully romance had all of the feels - angst, heartbreak, suspense and love. It was such an emotional journey, and I can't convey into words just how much I loved it. I am always after books that bring untapped emotions out of me, and this one did just that. I was hooked from the start by this fiery hot, thrilling and all-consuming story. Five stars for Poppy, Zane and Hunter!
✨"I’m not interested , I don’t want her, I’m just…intrigued…concerned.Captivated…" ✨
Another spectacular high school bully romance delivered by Tracy Lorraine.
I think Zayn Hunter blowed my mind in just a few pages .
I never imagined someone like Zayn had all that in himself. I’m still shocked .
Finally we see the playboy losing his mask and showing his true meaningful colors . I loved it.
Zayn and Poppy 's story was the most emotional between all the other couples . There are some pretty serious and important thematics that were brought to our attention . I wanted to scream , I hated seeing someone so pure and kind becoming so powerless and scared .
Poppy’s life , like her cousin’s Jake, wasn’t easy , not at all. She had the weight of her brothers happiness and stability on her shoulders . Her parents were completely absent for most of the time. But somehow she always managed kept it for herself , never searching for help . And a shadow at school didn’t make all that more easy . On the outside she was positive , pure and kind with everyone (almost) but on the inside she was dying .
✨ “I don’t need to get lost in a boy.
I just need to survive”✨
Then on New Year Eve something changed , someone noticed her .
Her bestfriend’s brother , Zayn , was her secret crush and object or her hate after being humiliated at his 15teeth birthday . But somehow now he noticed her, he felt something was wrong , and he was set on rescuing her , no matter what.
She tried so hard to fight him, but when the bad boy started to show his sweet and caring side , she was a goner for him.
The chemistry between them was undeniable , but could Zayn get the girl he always wanted before it was too late? ( and before Jake finds out?)
There were some pretty big PLOT TWISTS , some scarier and some happier than others , so get yourself ready for this crazy ride. I t will blow your mind for sure.
I loved my Rosewood high fix. This series has me begging for more with every page.
Zayn and Poppy’s story is emotional and had me wanting to throw a punch or two of my own. The pair do have an enemies to lovers relationship but he isn’t what gives Poppy nightmares. They have a connection. The problem is it could either save her or be her undoing.
Poppy’s home life isn’t all rosie. She’s trying her best to juggle school, family and something dark. Zayn is popular but not the typical hero. When Poppy’s life starts to spiral out of control Zayn seems to be the one person she can turn to. He doesn’t judge. Poppy doesn’t want to open up. A secret relationship works well for her…. Until the one person who is ruining her life finds out.
This is full of twists and turns. It’s a gritty read with a dark quality. It’s a great addition to the series and the characters from the other books integrate well.
I don't even know where to start with this...it's slightly different from the other books in the series as in it has two guys bullying the female lead instead of one, and one of them is much worse than the other (not the love interest, thankfully).
Now this other guy goes and ASSAULTS the mc repeatedly, and she doesn't want to tell anyone that she's being assaulted, and then she runs to the love interest to "make her forget", but after it's over she regrets it and sends him away. Rinse and repeat.
I was so annoyed with Poppy, not just because she didn't tell anyone (although I know how hard it can be), but her behaviour overall. She acts like she knows what she wants, but she doesn't. She won't let anyone even try to help her, she thinks she can do it all herself.
The other characters call her strong, but the only strong thing about her is that she managed to take care of her siblings when her parents couldn't, every other part of her is pretty weak.
I liked Zayn, who is apparently mixed?? I don't remember that being mentioned previously, and I could be wrong so if I am please correct me. But yeah, I liked him until he went and made slavery jokes? He called his own mother a slave driver???? His mother WHO IS BLACK???? In what world is that okay?
None of the other characters from the other books uttered the word "slave" as far as I recall, but in a book with a (half) black main character it appears three times...is this a coincidence or...on purpose?
While we're at it, does that look like a black man on the cover to you? Or at least someone mixed? I don't know the model, so I can't speak for sure, but when I saw it I assumed Zayn was white.
So where does that leave me with the rating? Originally I was planning on giving this 2 stars for the story, no matter how unrealistic, because it was better than Jake and Ethan's books at least, while not as good as Mason and Shane's. But the slavery thing...I'm sorry, one star.
"Hunter" is the fifth part of the "Rosewood High" series by Tracy Lorraine. Told in dual perspectives , get ready to meet Zayn and Poppy!!
I have been salivating for this book right the point where the last book ended!! Zayn and Poppy had me intrigued right from the moment I got to know that they will have a book together. The book was a typical Brother's best friend trope , but it was the emotions and drama that made it so amazing for me.
Poppy is the female lead of this book and has not had the easiest life. With her parents being druggies she is left all alone to take care of her sister and brothers. The last thing she wants is to catch the eye of her brother's best friend. Poppy has always fancied Zayn but never acted on it. The one time she gave in , he made her regret it. So she never did it again. Now he has his eyes set on her again but she will be damned before she lets the pretty jock break her heart again.
Zayn is the male lead of this book. He has always seen Poppy. She might think that he never noticed her , but he always did. And now when he sees that she needs him , he is not staying away. They both have a lot of complications in their relationships. There is Thorn and another bully that won't make things easy for them. Not to mention their own insecurities.
This book was everything I wanted in Hunter's book and poppy was perfect for him. Now don't even get me started on the next book of this series!! Ruby's book is like so high on my anticipated books list , that it is damn near touching the sky lol! That book is going to be freaking perfect and I am so ready for it!
A definite recommendation to all the contemporary romance lovers out there who would love themes like Brother's best friend and second-chances with a tinge of mystery and Bullying in their books.
This series just keeps getting better and better damnnn. This one was sooo emotional, it also felt like the most real bully romance in the series with just the difference that the bully isn't the hero or heroine in this one. That side of the story was super important and it really messed with my emotions.
I loved to meet Poppy, we had only gotten glimpses of her in other books, mainly Jace's, and I really liked getting to know her...even though my heart truly hurt for her due to everything she had going on, it was truly a lot.
I found Zayn super delightful. I believe we only met him in Faze, the short story sort of prequel for Fury and I was super interested in him so I was really happy when I found out he would be the hero in this book. And he did not disappoint one bit!
These two were a bit frustrating at times with their attitudes and the back and forth but I really loved them. My heart really hurt for both of them, Poppy a lot more but for Zayn too because those rejections from Poppy towards the end had me teary-eyed for him.
But I seriously just loved how there was so much to their story, so many things gave it depth and emotion and gosh the surprises in this book had me so shook and so happy! Tracy really outdid herself with this story! I lovedddddd it.
➳ARC kindly provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
*I received this ARC in exchange for a sincere review*
I must say that I was really looking forward to this new book in the Rosewood High series coming out to be able to continue the Fierce that brings us the story of Chelsey and Shane.
In this fifth book in the series we have the troubled story between Zayn and Poppy, Harley's best friend, Zayn Hunter's younger sister. Since Poppy's can remember, she has dreamed of Zayn. However, even though they are almost eighteen, and it has been a few years since their first kiss, on his fifteenth birthday, Poppy knows that he is out of her reach. He treats her badly and in front of everyone else ignores her and does nothing to show that he always wanted her as soon as he laid eyes on her.
Zayn is known to be a womanizer. Everything that moves, he picks up, but Poppy is different. She learned to stay out of his way and any hurt or suffering he might inflict on her. Over the days, Zayn discovers that Poppy is much more than what is in sight. She is a young woman who from an early age had to take on family responsibilities and take care of her younger siblings because of her parents' irresponsibility and addictions. She had to deal with the horrifying and destructive harassment of Preston in her own school for several months, a wealthy boy who only wanted the way to head the football team, which belongs to Poppy's cousin Jake Thorn, but who developed an unhealthy obsession for her and will get no rest until he manages to destroy her in all possible ways.
Once again, Tracy Lorraine brings us a story that messes with our guts and moves us at the right times. Young teenagers at the height of their lives shouldn't have to go through so much drama and suffering, whether physical or psychological, but Tracy always manages to make these characters better people and, in the end, be it for good or for badly, they manage to find their place in the right place.
Looking forward to the story of Ruby and Ashton :)
So many twists and turns, this new addition to the Rosewood series will blow you away!
We met Poppy Poore in the very first book, she's Jake's cousin and one of the few people he's overly protective of, until he fell in love with his Brit. The fact that Poppy is related to the king of Rosewood High pretty much guaranteed that Poppy had no social life since no one wanted to face the beat down that Jake would give if they even tried, but Poppy has bigger issues to deal with than fighting off potential suitors.
Poppy's life isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Her parents have checked out leaving her to take care of her younger siblings on top of completing her own school work and avoiding one of the worst bullies Tracy Lorraine has ever created. Poppy is barely scraping by on a day to day basis when suddenly Zayn, the one boy who has always been able to weaken her knees, wants to ride in on his white horse...Poppy has other ideas about his hero complex and where he can shove them.
Zayn Hunter made a mistake years ago, but he did it out of self preservation. Since then he's watched Poppy from a distance, after all she's Jake's cousin and he's one of his friends and Jake watches everyone like a hawk. No way was he stepping into that pile of snakes, but towards the end of senior year something about Poppy called to him more than ever. The light in her eyes was dimming, the spark she brought with her was disappearing and he didn't like it. He wanted to fix whatever was wrong in her life and more than anything he found he wanted her and all consequences be damned.
Interconnected to the Rosewood series, Hunter is the perfect addition to this world. Returning characters are all there - giving us updates to make everything wonderful in the sense that we need those bits to make sense of the world, and there is just enough insight into what's coming to keep the excitement rolling. It's an epic read!
I’m always a little hesitant when I start reading a series, especially one with more than 3 books as the fear of losing interest plays heavily on my mind but I have never had this problem with Tracy Lorraine’s Rosewood Series.
Hunter is the fifth book in this series and each book keeps on getting better than the last book in the series.
This book along with all the other books centres around one couple and their journey.
Zayn and Poppy’s journey isn’t full of happy times but when they are together you can feel their connection flow from the pages and into your heart.
This book is filled with surprises that will keep you in the edge of your seats! It’s probably my favourite of the series so far!
HUNTER Rosewood High #5 Tracy Lorraine Releasing 19th Nov
POV:Dual Zayn & Poppy Secrets
Poppy is Jake Thorn's cousin. Captain of the football team. She's happy to be in the background. No interest in socialising or being popular. She's smart, caring. Loves her younger siblings and Jake, she'd do anything to protect them. Her home life isn't exactly perfect, her parents have more or less checked out. With that, she's the only one her siblings relay on. She's counting the days for College.
Zayn's on the football team. He moved to Rosewood High from a undesirable town, a few years before, with his Mum and two sisters. His defaul is jerk/asshole. Typical football player, player on and off the field. Which he's proven a few times where Poppy's concerned.
She's been burned by Zayn a few times, but falls for his charm everytime. Hating that he has that effect on her. She trys to avoid him. But Zayn notices that something's not quite right with Poppy. Not that he's interested in her in that way, it's more curiosity. Does he continue his concern about Poppy? He does know that someone is hassling her. She is his Captain's cousin after all.
Can Poppy stay in the shadows? Will anyone notice?
This is such a gritty page turner. Full of twists and turns, some you don't see coming.
Such a great read.
We have FURY (Rosewood High #6) coming January 2021
Tracy Lorraine has done it again, throwing you back into the chaos of Rosewood High and tossing all of the previous assumptions you’ve made about these characters out the window. Hunter is Zayn and Poppy’s story, with Poppy being Jake Thorn’s cousin, and is an enemies to lovers, best friend’s older brother romance.
Poppy has the weight of the world on her shoulders, she just doesn’t show it. She is the one responsible for caring for her younger siblings, with her parents not helping at all, and on top of that, she’s been bullied by someone at her school for the past few years. But no one knows any of this, she keeps it buried beneath the surface, projecting a normal stress-free persona out to her friends and classmates. She’s had a hatred towards Zayn Hunter, her best friend Harley’s older brother, since his 15th birthday when he humiliated her, but he’s the only one who has what it takes to dive beneath the surface and learn about the real Poppy. But Poppy is scared, first of what will happen when her tormenter finds out she has a safe place with Zayn, but also how Jake and Harley will react. But Zayn has had a crush on Poppy since he moved to town, and now he's had a taste of what it’s like for her to be his, he’s not going down without a fight, even with Poppy pushing him away at every turn. But when Poppy’s life is flipped upside down, will they ever have a chance at something real?
Tracy really surprised me with this coupling. Both Zayn and Poppy were secondary characters in the previous books, but you could tell there was tension there, although nothing could have prepared me for everything going on underneath the surface. Poppy’s strength was incredible, she did whatever she had to make sure her siblings were cared for, putting them first and taking on all of the weight of raising three small children. It broke me how she knew she had to, or they would be split up, on top of having to face such bullying every day. She hated to rely on anyone else, hence why she told no one about the situation, but Zayn wouldn’t have any of it. Her feelings for him were so real, and that scared her because she didn’t want to be let down by someone else she loved.
Zayn bombarded his way into Poppy’s life and was there for her to lean on, on tough days but also on good days. I loved how he was with the kids, he was so calm and caring, someone else they could learn to trust. Zayn saw that if he could show Poppy how much he cared about her, and how he would do anything to keep her safe, it would hopefully mean she could finally understand that his feelings were real. He was grittier than the previous heroes in the series, coming from the wrong side of the tracks meant that he had no qualms at going in guns blazing to protect those he loved.
There was a lot of back and forth between Poppy and Zayn, sometimes it felt a bit repetitive, but by the end, I could understand why there was such a cat and mouse game between them. They were explosive as a couple, but Poppy really tamed the bad boy playboy, because she was the one he had wanted all along. She gave him a run for his money, a taste of his own medicine, as she was the only one he couldn’t have, and made him work for her affection, just like he had with all the other girls. But, ultimately, he proved to her that they were meant to be, and he was the only one for her.
One of my favourite aspects of this story was seeing the growth of the relationship between Jake and Poppy from before. There had been glimpses of it throughout his book, but to see them get closer and form a stronger bond was beautiful. They could lean on each other and they both became so much more settled. The ending was intense, much more than expected and I was on the edge of my seat for the final few chapters, I was hooked!
The Rosewood High series keeps getting better and better, I can’t wait to see what direction Tracy takes us in next with Ruby’s story, which has been hinted at and set up so perfectly throughout Hunter. Zayn and Poppy’s story is not for the faint hearted, it has drama and twists at every turn, with heart wrenching and heart-breaking moments, and it’s a must read!!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
This book is the fifth book in the Rosewood High Series and is a great addition to the line up. This is a best friends brother dark romance story will keep you gripped until the end. This book did have my emotions up and down and I really felt for Poppy and all that she has to endure it makes you want to jump in and cuddle her.
Poppy and Zayn go through a lot of ups and downs and they have actually had a connection for a while but Zayn was acting like a total jerk at times and there journey doesn't start of as a very happy one. Poppy is being pushed around at school and things are becoming out of hand. Things are also out of hand at home for Poppy and she is basically running hers, her siblings and her parents lives and its not easy for her she is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. I didn't think that I was going to lie Zayn but he did surprise me in the end.
This book is filled with a lot a lot of twists and turns and this will keep you guessing all the way through. The way that this author writes and her style always pulls me in and I couldn't put this book down. The characters were written great as they always are in this series and it was great that past characters were also in this book. This book has all the drama, suspense, angst, steam and all the chemistry you could want and it flows completely. This love story is one you wont want to miss and I recommend reading the rest of the series so you can see who everyone is.
- Sisters Best Friend - Secret Relationship - He Falls First - High School - New Adult
Zayn has crushed on his younger sister's best friend; Poppy since he was 13YO and was dared to kiss her. Unfortunately, Zayn ruined it by letting his ego get in the way, resulting in Poppy hating on Zayn ever since. Fast forward to Zayn's senior year, and not only does he have his sights set on competing in college football, but he also has his sights on Poppy.
Poppy unfortunately comes from a rough family life. With a mother who suffers from postnatal depression, and a father who rather turn to alcohol to solve his problems, she is stuck looking after her younger 3x siblings, including a new born, while her parents live it up getting high every other night. Poppy sets her sight on doing well in school & becoming successful to give her siblings a better life. This means a lot falls on her shoulders. And when a high school bully sets his sights on her, she will do her best to stay strong & not let him ruin her. Even if he is only bullying her for ensuring her cousin notices him. Poppy may hate Zayn, but he isn't he boy who torments her.
When Zayn not only discovers Poppy's family life, but also that she is being bullied - He will do what he can to protect & help Poppy. She may push back, but he can see her needs her. And when she finally lets him in, he will do what he needs to be that person. But when Poppy's world comes crashing down, he may need to push himself in being there for her more than he ever has.
Poppy is trying to balance not only school but being there for siblings since her parents aren’t and if that isn’t enough she has attracted the attention of the wrong person who is making a difficult situation even that much more difficult. The last thing she needs is the attention of her best friend’s brother especially since they have a past she wants to forget.
Zayn has had feelings for Poppy for a while but between her being his sister’s best friend and being friends with her cousin he needs to keep his distance. That is about to change when he is the only one who notices that all is not right with Poppy. He is determined to break through the walls she has built around herself and show her that they are meant to be together he is the one person she can count on to be there for her.
Zayn and Poppy’s journey is filled with angst and obstacles but there is no denying that they are so much stronger together than apart.
La trama de esta novela es sumamente atrapante pues al conocer la vida de la protagonista y todo lo que debe pasar te dan ganas de entrar a las páginas y poder golpear a uno que otro personaje y consolar a Poppy.
Hunter es ese jugador sexy que gracias a un gran esfuerzo y trabajo duro de su madre pudo salir de un parque de remolques que no era nada bueno, y llegar a Rosewood dónde a tenido la oportunidad d e un futuro mejor, pero a este lugar también se llegó a topar a una pequeña que le robó el corazón ❤️ y que por seguir el estereotipo a tenido que lastimar y negar sus sentimientos por ella.
Poppy es una joven con una fuerza y valentía impresionante pues tiene que vivir situaciones que a su corta edad no debería hacer como el tener que ser la cuidadora de sus tres hermanos y tener que cuidarse ella de el acoso de un psicópata que la atormenta día a día .
Tanto Hunter como Poppy deberán luchar contra ellos mismos para poder llegar a tener un final juntos y a su vez juntos poder pasar por situaciones que los pondrán al filo de la muerte.
Man this series just keeps getting better with each book I read.
This story is about Poppy, Jakes younger cousin and Zayn a jock and friend of Jake. We got glimpses of both of these characters throughout the series but it was amazing to see their own story come to life.
Poppy has a hard life. She get‘s bullied, but not by our Hero but by another guy in school. Her family life also isn‘t as great anymore as before. She‘s struggeling and keeping to herself except for one faithful new year party where Zayn our Hero suddenly shows interest in her.
This event snowballs into an emotional, steamy and a kinda forbidden love story with many ups and downs and plot twist.
Many of these plot twist were so unexpected it through me for a loop! I enjoyed the book alot! It had a few harder topics then previous books, but it just showed us how perfect Zayn and Poppy are for eachother.
Throughout the book I was a little bit confused and angry at how Jake never noticed or stept into Poppys homelife but it was later on explained and I could understand better after that revelation.
5 ⭐️
ARC kindly provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
Poppy is trying to keep everything together for herself and her siblings as their parents aren't interested enough to care about them. She's trying to make it through school and avoid her bully/stalker Preston from the football team. Zayn has always had feelings for his best friend's sister Poppy. He finds out about Preston and is determined to protect her from him. The two have a difficult road ahead. Can the couple come out together in the end? A good read.
Hunter se ha convertido en uno de mis libros Favoritos de la serie por su protagonista Popy por todos los desafíos a los que se tuvo que enfrentar y la forma como lo asumió es de admirar y yo amo a las protagonistas valientes. Saber un poco más de los protagonistas de los libros anteriores me emociona.
I feel so overwhelmed by Hunter and Poppy’s story! Poor Poppy! That girl has suffered in so many ways that no one should ever have to suffer, much less a teen! It blows my mind the things she went through and survived! I’m so glad she and hunter have each other now! She deserves a HEA!
this book had 4-5 star potential. i was so excited for it but it didn’t meet my expectations. with that said though, i still really liked this book 🖤🖤🖤
I have enjoyed every book in the Rosewood High series and Hunter was no exception. Poppy is a girl who is going through so much that she is nearly at the end of her rope. She doesn't think anything that anyone does could possibly make her life any worse than it is now. The desolation of her situation really hit me in the heart and I felt so sad for her. Hunter has always been attracted to his sisters best friend but he has always been afraid of getting too close. The attraction between these two ramps right at the beginning of this story and as Hunter learns of the situation Poppy finds herself in he can't stop himself from wanting to help her. I loved the glimpses of all the past favourites from this series and yet again am eagerly anticipating Ruby's story. An amazing emotional journey of love and overcoming a bad situation.
Hunter is the fifth book in the Rosewood High series. It is a best friend’s brother romance with quite a few plot twists and a little bit of a darker edge to it than the rest. I must admit, I had a bit of a hard time connecting with Zayn. Don’t get me wrong, I had really grown to love his playful and easy-going personality from the previous books and was super intrigued by him. But I had a hard time reconciling the image I had procured in my head to his picture on the cover of the book. I know, I know, absolutely ridiculous reason why, but hey, can’t change the facts. So, whilst the beginning of the book was a tinsy bit harder for me to get into, it definitely picked up once I got a lot deeper into getting to know him.
What seems to be Tracy’s MO lately, or definitely with this series anyway, is these alpha and formidable bad boys who open themselves up, so we get a little look see into their big mushy hearts. There’s nothing more I love seeing than a hero being brought to their knees by an incredibly strong and fierce heroine.
Along with the forbidden and secret relationship between Zayn and Poppy, there was also the dash of thrill and danger from an outside enemy. Again, I have been really enjoying where Tracy has been taking this series with the slightly darker undertones to the threats and stories.
I cannot wait to see where Tracy takes the series next, especially with that ending and the mystery surrounding Ruby. I love a good stepbrother romance, so I’m pumped to see how it all unfolds. And ah, is anyone super curious about the mysterious Kane? *raises hand* I am!!
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Well, I was not expecting ANY of this to happen when I started reading Hunter by Tracy Lorraine. I'm honestly...freaking SHOCKED.
I'll be the first to admit I have a slight addiction to the Rosewood High series. Drama, angst, chemistry, sexy AF guys, tough as nails girls. The storylines are detailed and original while flawlessly interweaving past couples.
But y'all. Zayn and Poppy's story was darker, grittier, angstier...I mean, I could keep going. I seriously was not expecting this story. Zayn and Poppy were straight
While I absolutely loved Zayn, I fell in love with Poppy. Those moments behind closed doors of her house shattered me. She was so strong. And she never had a minute to spare. Bullied at school and then being a parent at home. Such a star!
I'm still comming out of the fog of the story, it was so emotional, so powerful, so raw.
I’m sorry but I didn’t like Poppy. She wanted to be with Zayn, the next minute she didn’t, then she had sex with him, then she regretted it. That’s what happened trough all the book. I don’t like when the girl sleeps with the guy and then regrets it. You gotta own it and face the music!! And don’t get me started with the “this was a mistake”.
Zayn Hunter and Poppy Poore suck you in, spit you out, pull you back and, ultimately, hold you there. At fifteen, Zayn had already had a crush on Poppy for years but he believes he's not good enough for her. After all, someone from Harrow Creek doesn't belong in Rosewood and, even though he lives there now, he doesn't believe he fits. He's good friends with the king of Rosewood, Jake Thorn, plus he's a star athlete. That should be enough to give him some confidence, right? Jake Thorn's cousin, Poppy, lives a nightmare with her 3 sweet siblings and disgraceful parents who have checked out. Either high on drugs, holed up in their room or just missing, it's been Poppy who has raised Austin, Sofia and baby Cooper. Her world revolves around them and there's nothing she won't do to keep them happy and safe. Poppy has crushed on Zayn for quite awhile and, three years ago, it's the night of his fifteenth birthday. The bottle lands on her and the birthday boy takes her into the closet for seven seconds in heaven. Zayn surprises her with a passionate kiss, but turns into a jerk when he humiliates her right afterward. Jake stands up for her and lets Zayn know, with his fists, that his insulting language won't be tolerated. From that point on, Zayn and Poppy are embroiled in a love/hate relationship. Now almost 18 and 17, they are still crushing on each other, but haven't broken through their love/hate barrier. Whenever they find themselves in a room together, there is a palpable energy between them that Poppy snuffs out quickly; that is, until their New Year's Eve kiss. That was the kiss that flipped the switch from enemies to friends, with hopes of more. But once again, Zayn hurts her when she realizes she was simply a dare! He wishes he could take that back because he realizes that he messed things up with her once more. Zayn won't give up on her and, soon enough, the passion wins out and they find themselves in each other's arms and beds. Poppy's life couldn't get better...or worse. There's someone sending her threatening messages and stalking her around the school and at home. She has her suspicions of who it is, but she's not quite sure. She doesn't want anyone to know and she can handle it herself. As the threats increase and she sees someone following her, she knows for sure that it's her classmate, Preston Hellburn. He's that rich kid who gets anything he wants, but wants what he doesn't have...the respect of the school. He'll do whatever's necessary to be the big man on campus, period. When Poppy gets a visit from CPS, her world splits. Her parents finally hit the wall and now she's in danger of being separated from her siblings. Fortunately, she has a sweet aunt who takes them in. It's at her aunt's that she learns a most life-changing secret! Zayn's mother, Jada, asks Poppy to come live with them and, as usual, she and Zayn have another misunderstanding. It seems that one minute they're fine and, the next, they're having another argument because of jealousy and miscommunication. They can't seem to shake the angst, but that's teenage hormones! The resolution of the stalker is traumatic and changes everybody involved in ways that they never knew possible. Taking a look at what matters the most, there are happy endings, but a few unanswered questions remain. Zayn's dad was only heard of but never seen until the end. Who is he and what about that angry face in the yard? Ms. Lorraine knows how to tie things together beautifully while leaving just enough wiggle room for a future story. Well done!
Poppy has had a crush on Zayn Hunter for years but because he is best friends with her cousin Jake, Zayn stays far away from Poppy. Life isn't easy for Poppy as she does her best to raise her siblings while her parents are off doing things they shouldn't be. At the same time she is also terrorized and bullied by Preston Hellburn who makes her life very difficult.
Zayn Hunter is one of the popular kid at school and isn't willing to cross the "bro code" and wreck his friendship with Jake by acting on his feelings towards Poppy. Yet when Zayn learns about what Preston is doing to Poppy he becomes somewhat of a guardian over her.
Will Zayn ever get the courage to act on how he feels for Poppy before it's too late?
This is another great book in the series and I can't wait for more!!
Poppy was an incredible character as she is someone who had been through so much and had to continue to fight through some terrible things because of what Preston was putting her through. She was giving up so much to raise her siblings while her parents were being absentee and she didn't feel safe in her own home which was so sad. She had wanted Zayn for so long but he was cruel to her and she struggled with letting go and actually being a teenager.
Zayn was such a jerk at the beginning of the book with how he treated Poppy. I got why he was "afraid" to betray Jake and I was happy when he finally began treating her right once he realized everything she was going through. Yet I was also mad when he acted like he didn't care about Poppy and was doing stuff with other girls.
Poppy went through so much in this book and I felt awful every time something bad happened. I hated how much trust she had in certain people as it ended up back firing and she found herself in really bad situations. I was very happy when Jake and Zayn were able to show up at the right time.
I was happy at the end of the book when Zayn finally admitted how he felt and Poppy was able to get the help she needed to get over everything that had happened to her.