Cheryl McIntyre

I wasn't sure if I would like this book once I learned it was a young adult, actually it is a "mature young adult" which means it has adult situations, and sex but not erotic elements. It tore my heart out, and left me drained.

I actually discovered this omnibus in my collection and realized I hadn't finished it, but I read the first book which was this one. So I figured it should be listed as read. Although the rest of the omnibus is going into my "archived" books, it should be known that this particular one was worth reading at least once.

A highschool senior is walking to class and sees a young woman's feet poking out of a passenger window in the parking lot. He realizes he has just seen the girl who will be his forever.

Boy lives at home with mom and younger brother. Mom is kind of not there, hero takes care of his little brother most of the time. While all the neighbor kids come over to play and hang out the heroine and hero start a romance that should end with forever.

When the heroine faces her own demons she relies on the hero to be her grounding force.

Sweet, dark, emotional.

I can't remember the details, so forgive me for not being more specific about the names or details. I just remember that the heroine is very damaged. The hero takes it in stride and loves her regardless, and his mother is kind of not there.… (more)

This is one of those, unique books you don't want to put down, and chances are, you probably won't until you are finished. It's a bit raw and very intriguing.
Briar has struggled to move on after her one and only love has moved away. Ben feels obligated to stay with his mother and brother. They need him.
Unfortunately, life happens. And it never happens the way we want it to. Ben's mom dies. He and his brother move back. But with them, they bring a lot of baggage. Ben struggles to stay as far away from Briar as possible. He knows she will be in danger if he doesn't.
Briar wants her friend back. Her best friend. The one she still pines over ever after all of these years.
Tragedy strikes. They are forced to make hard decisions. A group of young adults, now on the run, fighting for their lives.
I think what I liked most about this book is that it goes slowly enough to build up to the end. It doesn't just jump from beginning to middle to end like a lot of books. The story isn't rushed. The relationships are well thought out and build throughout the entire story.
Don't think this is just a book about unrequited love. It isn't. It's about a bond between, not just two characters, but a bond between a group of kids who grew up together, and are now fighting for their lives.
This story is happy and it is sad. I like that the story doesn't give you that everything-will-always-be-okay feeling. The story itself, is fiction, but the relationships are real.… (more)