His heart and his body have other ideas however when he finds himself sitting next to nineteen year old Emily Barton in his Psychology class. Moving down south to find her own New Life, Emily is shy, smart and beautiful – everything Dexter knows he should stay away from… everything he knows would be too easy for him to break.
But she makes him feel things he’d forgotten even existed. She makes him laugh, smile, care… forget. Without her trying, and without him realizing, Emily has wound her way into the one place he swore to keep locked away forever – his heart. But can she stay there when she discovers the dark past he’s so determined to keep hidden from her? Or will he destroy her too, just like he always expected?
(Not recommended for younger readers due to language, drug/alcohol abuse and sexual content)
★★★★★ STARS!!
It doesn't take many Nicola Haken reads to fall in love with this author. After experiencing her style in the first book I read Saving Amy, she really caught my attention, but with this book she has managed to steal my heart. She has such a unique writing style that captures you from the beginning and you have no hope of letting go until you have finished the last page. Her characters are broken, flawed and lost but have depth and substance to them, and it just makes you feel like you're there in the story living and breathing each and everyone of their feelings and emotions.
Dexter Michaels is a twenty-four year old bad boy that literally needed to board a plane and fly across the ocean to get away from his past. Moving from Ohio to the UK is his fresh start and his plan is to just work, attend university and have random hook ups to satisfy his sexual urges. He's got it all figured out and even has his own very hilarious (if I may say so myself) way he has categorized women, and who he will and will not get involved with.
Emily Barton, is the shy timid nineteen year old girl that is getting out in the world for the first time and wants to finally experience life. She is leaving her home in Cheshire and moving to Central London with her best friend Rachel to attend university. Emily grew up sheltered with posh parents that were all about social status and most definitely not about the emotional well being of their children. As long as they could have the perfect family on the outside it didn't really matter that it was less than perfect on the inside. And because of this Emily was unable to do even the simpilist things normal teenagers got the chance to do like something so simple as hang out with her friends at the mall. So Rachel being the best friend that she is had devised a "New Life" plan consisting of fifty steps to complete during their first year there.
"I want to start living. I want to see things and do things that I've only ever been able to dream about. That's why Rachel devised my 'New Life' list...Fifty steps which I need to tick off in our first year here and then depending on how 'normal' I am after that, she'll decide if it needs adding to."
I wish that at this point I could tell you that Dex and Em meet fall madly in love and ride off into the sunset on his motorcycle, but that is not the case with this romance. Their relationship starts off slowly as they get to know each other at university in the Psychology class they share, at his job and the local watering hole The Blue Apple, and a couple of other places that I'm going to leave out to avoid any spoilers. During this time and keeping with what Mrs Haken is good at things get kinda complicated for the both of them....
Dex because for the first time in a long time he enjoys spending time with someone, he is beginning to open up and share thing's about his past like why he's moved, what his vices were in the states, and he's also beginning to actually feel....an emotion that he has been suppressing for a very long time.
"Everyday I spend with you is perfect....Thank you doll...For making me feel again"
And Em because while trying to find herself she inadvertently found Dex the mysterious American that shakes her to the core and makes everything new and exciting. But at what cost? And when met face to face with the actual root of Dexters evil will she be able to be as strong as she was to break him out of his shell? Or will the demons that he's been trying to keep at arms length and protect her from be too much to bear?
"There's no point in lying and saying I understand, because I don't And I hope to God I never do...But the man I've been getting to know the last few weeks... isn't the man you've just been talking about...Anyone can get lost on the wrong path, Dex. It's whether you have the courage to turn back around that's important"
Told in duel POV's this was a story of dealing with guilt, pushing forward with acceptance and finding love within a person that you least expected. To lighten things up in the midst of the angst and suspense you'll also get colorful cast of characters that will make you laugh uncontrollably while at the same time trying to dry your misty eyes and stop your thumping heart. One of which is Rachel the bestie and all you need to know about her is her nickname....errr well rather the nickname Dex has for her...
Absolutely, positively, another Nicola Haken must read. If I'm being honest I would have to say that I enjoyed this book so much because I feel like Mrs Haken completely let loose. With the setting being in the UK she was able to do so much more with her characters and their banter without the criticism of it not sounding right. Because THIS was SO RIGHT....dialogue like some in this book I have never read anywhere before and I sure as heck will never forget, also Dex's pet name for Emily is sure to make you swoon. Every. Single. Time! (check a couple of quotes above if you missed it ;)
And lastly because everyone dreads it...there is a cliffhanger. Is it good- is it bad? God I don't know what to make of it other than I am hoping for the best but expecting the worst. I really hope that my nerves can handle the emotional rollercoaster I'm almost positive is heading their/our way.
20 Fun, possibly weird, definitely useless, facts about me!
1. I don’t like even numbers – Not good when eating biscuits; one isn’t enough, two is even so I couldn’t possibly stop there… so three it is. Unless I’m being a badass, then it has to be five!
2. I still eat like a child. Orange juice, chicken nuggets and fries for me any day over steak and wine. I won’t eat yogurt with ‘bits’ in and the only sauce I’ll entertain is ketchup. And tea and coffee? Blurgh…
3. I could easily recite the entire script from every Twilight movie.
4. Edward Cullen was my first book boyfriend… The first of many I might add ;-)
5. I’m a total Gleek and proud!
6. I have quite a vast collection of tattoos and hope to be almost covered by the time I’m a wrinkly old lady.
7. I couldn’t possibly get through a day without a bottle of Pepsi Max.
8. I married my high school sweetheart when I was 17 – No I wasn’t pregnant, and yes we’re still together!
9. My favourite food is mashed potato.
10. My favourite colour is purple.
11. I HATED school – like seriously detested the place. There is no way I’ll ever agree when people say they’re the best years of your life.
12. I collect Barbie dolls.
13. My favourite band in the world is The Script.
14. The thought of a world without Netflix makes me sad.
15. My favourite TV show is The Vampire Diaries (Team Damon all the way baby!)
16. If my kids ever ask – I’m secretly the pink Power Ranger ;-)
17. I was born on New Years Eve, which means the whole world celebrates my birthday with me!
18. My comfiest item of clothing is my leopard print pyjama pants (I wear them so often my husband keeps threatening to throw them out!)
19. When I was ten years old I decided I wanted to be American and vowed to only ever speak in an American accent from that day on. I’m not sure how long that lasted, but you can rest assured I’m not still pretending now ;-)
20. If you’ve made it to number 20 then I think you’re awesome!
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