Author: J.L. Berg
Number of Pages: 280
Release Date: January 24, 2017
Synopsis:
"Head down.Don’t look up.Never make eye contact.
Those were the words I lived by growing up, the words that protected me in an unsafe home. But words are only letters and eventually even they couldn’t keep his hands off me.
Hoping to leave behind the shattered life of my past, I find myself in a boring, small town, with an aunt I’ve never met and at a school I loathe.
But soon I learn, not everything in this world is as black and white as I’ve determined. Sometimes those we are so quick to judge often need a second, third or even fourth time to make a first impression.
And often, there are friendships and even love waiting just around the corner, if we are brave enough to take the first step.
Am I brave?
Or will I hide behind these tattered gloves of mine forever?"
I was so excited when I received an ARC for this book, and I really liked it. I finished it in a little over a day because the plot was so interesting. After reading the synopsis I couldn't wait till I got my hands on this book, but there were a few things that I didn't love.
The plot of this book is what really kept me reading because I needed to know what happened in the end. The ending was really predictable, but I didn't necessarily find that to be a bad thing because I didn't know how the ending would come about. There were a lot of things that happened throughout the book that made me question how it was going to get to the ending, so it never really got boring. Although there were a lot of things that happened really abruptly, and I think that if the book was a little longer I would have liked it a bit more.
Also, I think if the book was longer I would have had more of a chance to connect with the characters. Willow was a very troubled character, but I feel like I never really got to know her because everything felt a bit rushed. Again, the end was really predictable, so it seemed like the author was only trying to get there. So, in that trying to get there the characters almost got lost. So, I didn't really care about the romance aspect of the book either because I was too focused on trying to understand Willow.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book, but I wish it was longer. I wanted to love this book, and I would have if there was only more of it. I wanted to embrace the characters more, and I wanted more of the plot.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars!
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My normally quiet nature seemed to take a backseat when it came to this guy. He made me angry, flustered, and… something else I couldn’t put my finger on.
Annoyed maybe?
No, that wasn’t it.
“What is your problem?” I blurted out, chasing behind him.
“My problem?” he asked, spinning around to face me.
Suddenly, he was too close. I could feel his breath on my face, his presence looming over me.
I took a step back.
He seemed to notice the unease settle around me, and a bit of the edge he carried chipped away.
His next words were said with a slightly softer quality. “Look, maybe we got off on the wrong foot. I didn’t mean to sound so harsh, but if the store doesn’t do well, it’s on me. My dad thinks it’s a waste of time.”
“And you don’t?”
I didn’t know what a rich, popular kid wanted with an old bookstore, but I kept my mouth shut.
He shrugged. “We have nothing in this crummy town, not even a movie theater. Last month, I wanted to see the new Marvel movie, and my friends and I had to drive thirty minutes away just to see it.”
“Haven’t you ever heard of Netflix?” I asked.
“It’s not the same as seeing it on the big screen.”
“I wouldn’t know,” I replied.
“What?” He grinned. “You’ve never been to a movie?”
The way he said it was meant as a joke, but all laughter died when I shook my head.
“Seriously?”
“I mean, I’ve watched several on TV but never at a theater,” I answered, not able to meet his stare.
“I thought you were from the city.”
My eyes flew up to his.
“Oh, so you really did think you were invisible. That doesn’t work around here, Mittens.”
My brows furrowed as I tried to figure out what he meant until he pointed to my gloves.
Mittens.
Cute.
“My name is Willow,” I corrected.
Sam just kept smiling.
“Word of advice, Mittens. The less you try to be invisible, the less interested people will be.”
I let out a heavy sigh, snatching the remainder of the books from the counter.
As he’d reminded me earlier, I wasn’t being paid to mess around.
And I sure as hell didn’t need life lessons from an over privileged daddy’s boy.
I hated this place.
(Starts January 24th)
J.L. Berg is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ready Series, The Walls Duet, and the Lost & Found Duet. She is a California native living in the beautiful state of historic Virginia. Married to her high school sweetheart, they have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she's not writing, you will find her with her nose stuck in a romance novel, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate. J.L. Berg is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC.
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