by Amber Hart
Book: Before & After #2
Publisher: K-Teen
Pub Date: Dec 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, New Adult
Format: eARC
Source: Tour
Book Links: Goodreads Amazon
Sometimes secrets kill. Maybe slowly, maybe painfully. Maybe all at once.
Melissa smiles. She flirts. She jokes. But she never shows her scars. Eight months after tragedy ripped her from her closest friend, Melissa is broken. Inside her grows a tumor, fed by grief, rage, and the painful memory of a single forbidden kiss.
Javier has scars of his own: a bullet wound, and the memory of a cousin shot in the heart. Life in the States was supposed to be a new beginning, but a boy obsessed by vengeance has no time for the American dream. To honor his familia, Javier joins the gang who set up his cousin's murder. The entrance price is blood. Death is the only escape.
These two broken souls could make each other whole again - or be shattered forever. Our time will come. And we'll be ready.
My Review: I do love these contemporary books, and Amber does have a knack for it!
Melissa had a lot going on in her life and yeah she could have dealt with it in a few ways, but she stood up tall and went forward with her life. I love the strength she has to do this and how it lasts through the book. There are times where she deserves some time to just grieve and do her thing, it can't always be easy to hide your scars for so long.
Then Javier joins the picture with his own scars. Losing a cousin and wanting revenge for it. And boy did he have it all planed out in detail. But....hes one of those cute guys that well can be an instant hit or take some getting used to. Javier wasn't an instant hit, but once the story was going he slowly grew on me.
Now mix them together. Alone Javier was the guy I didn't like, but then with Melissa in the picture he became the nice caring Javier that I liked. Then you see the love between them and its just amazing. They help each other out. Melissa helping him with choices and Javier helping her see how beautiful she is.
I love this story and Amber's writing. So perfect and I can't wait to read more by her!
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