Blurb:
Growing up in
small-town Belcrest, Maddy Jennings always thought she was destined to
be with her childhood sweetheart, Trent Basso. Throughout the
complicated road she has traveled with Trent, someone else has had a
strong presence in Maddy's life. Trent’s older brother Gabe has always
been someone she could count on, therefore neither of them can be blamed
when lines blur from friendship to something more. However, promises
made between brothers threaten to ensure that neither of them will have a
permanent place in her life.
When Maddy returns to her hometown for
her brother’s wedding, she is forced to face both Trent and Gabe for
the first time in two years. While the two Basso brothers fight to win
her heart, she is busy struggling with a past that won't seem to let her
go. Whether she wants to or not, Maddy must decide to either forfeit
her own happiness or forever tear a family apart.
Melinda's Review:
I received this book from the author for an honest review
This story had me laughing, sitting on the edge of my seat,
sobbing, shocked thinking never saw that coming, and at times wanting to crawl
in the book and give whoever I was reading about a good shaking. You begin the book when Maddy is 11 years old
where the majority of the individuals are introduced. Then you jump ahead to the present day where
Maddy is 25 years old. The book goes
back and forth from present time to when Maddy and her friends were kids. I love this setup because you get a little
background a piece at a time while you are see things developing in the present
time.
We get to see Madeline (Maddy or Madgirl) Jennings,
Mackenna Ross, Bryan Edwards, and Trent Basso grow up, go to college, fall in
love, and start their carriers. Things have
not always been easy for the four of them.
They were pulled apart when Maddy had to move at the age of 12 because her
Dad got a new job out of state. Then reunited
when her parents got a divorce and her and her mom returned when she was 15.
Maddy and Trent’s on and off relationship took its
toll. After they left for college whenever
Maddy needed someone to help her though a tough time in her life it was Gabe,
Trent’s older brother, who was there to help her through it not Trent. This caused a huge strain on the Basso family
because both Trent and Gabe loved her and she loved both of them. I was on the edge of my seat so many times
because the book goes back and forth.
You would be reading about when they were kids and it seemed like you
were going to be let in on a big secret and then you are flash forwarding to
the present time. Then you are reading present
time and think you are going to get an answer to something and boom you are
transported back to when they were younger.
Each time you go back to them being younger you get some answers or
insight into why things are the way they are now. I loved that I never knew what was going to
happen. Oh, I thought I did a few times
and boy was I wrong, way wrong for that matter.
I loved the back and forth from present to past format. I liked Trent one chapter then hated him the next,
loved Gabe one chapter and wanted to yell at him the next, Maddy… Maddy …Maddy I
would think this is the chapter she is going to choose one then boom something
happens and she can’t. Oh the drama in
this book kept me on the edge of my seat.
I had to keep going couldn’t put it down because I knew in the next
chapter I was going to get the answers.
Thank you for writing a great story it was an emotional rollercoaster
for me. I laughed, cried, held my breath, found myself staring at the pages in
shock even re-reading a few parts because I couldn’t believe what just happened,
and even said never saw that coming. Oh
and thank you for reminding me of the many times I played MASH as a kid. I sure
hope there are more books to come, because I really want to read more about all
the “Littles” and “Big”.
About the Author:
