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bookboyfriendandhusbandmake3's review against another edition
4.0
So good
An emotional journey towards happily ever after. I loved this duet. I finished both books in 1 day. It was great
An emotional journey towards happily ever after. I loved this duet. I finished both books in 1 day. It was great
sonja_ahrb's review against another edition
4.0
Because of You ripped my heart to shreds, but After You put it back together. I definitely enjoyed the conclusion to Nikki and Derek’s story much more than their beginning. I was still frustrated at times, but there were so many warm, heart melting moments plus the happily-ever-after payoff at the end that made it all good. It wasn’t an easy duet to read, but I love Nikki and Derek and I’m so happy that they finally found their peace!
~ Sonja, 4.25 Stars
~ Sonja, 4.25 Stars
psychodavis's review against another edition
5.0
Perfect ending
I loved how Sam wrote this book, it was the perfect follow up. I could not put it down the moment I started and finished the book in one day because I just had to know where Nikki and Derek would end up.
I loved how Sam wrote this book, it was the perfect follow up. I could not put it down the moment I started and finished the book in one day because I just had to know where Nikki and Derek would end up.
nineinchnails's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
the jump in quality from the first book is crazy but i still didn’t really click with this story
illidia316's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a great ending to Nikki and Derek’s stories. I loved the time jump, it was very easy to follow. The new characters introduced in this book are fantastic, especially Cassidy. Again, there is a lot of sex in this book, but that was to be expected after the first book. I’m very glad that I happened across these books, and I will definitely read more by this author.
hannas_heas47's review against another edition
5.0
loved the HEA
Book one was saddening but this book makes up for it! Loved the sequel and love the covers. Five huge stars!
Book one was saddening but this book makes up for it! Loved the sequel and love the covers. Five huge stars!
julie_loves_books's review
5.0
“Our hearts beat together now, like they’ve known the secret all along. Like they’ve been waiting for us to catch up. He and I may have two separate hearts, but we share the same soul. I’m not positive where we go from here, but of one thing I am certain: wherever we end up, we will go there together."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
While Book 1 was full of drama, Book 2 was a bit on the angsty side. Nikki has sworn off love and focused 200% on her work. But when the past catches up to her and offers her a chance to have everything she's dreamed of, can she open her heart? She has forgiven, but she hasn't forgotten.
It's a never ending battle between what she wants and what she'll allow herself to have. It's a struggle that does get a bit repetitive at times, but with Sam's writing, it didn't get to be too much for me. I did at times want to yell at her to just take a chance, but I understood where she was coming from.
I loved the first half of this book. The banter, the story, it's all pretty great. Nikki is letting herself enjoy the gift she's been given. But then she gets stuck in her own head and can't get past the fact that Derek didn't choose her and she's afraid that will happen again. I think Derek more than proves his love and commitment to her and does everything in his power to try and win her back. Her reluctance is what slows the last half of the book down a bit.
I'm happy with how it ended, but this ending doesn't hold a flame to the ending in Book 1. I would have loved to have something a bit more emotional, but I'm happy with what she gave us. It was the perfect ending to their story.
P.S. If you're a Carter fan, there are definite hints of him in Derek.
P.S.S. There is also a Pretty in Pink reference! #duckie
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Like an alcoholic spends the rest of their life recovering from their sickness, I know I’ll spend the rest of my life recovering from mine. Love.
Perhaps I have a flair for the dramatic, but I am my mother’s daughter, after all. She wrote letters to her ill-fated lover; I wrote mine a book.
He has already ruined one of my lives—can’t he leave this one alone?
A whole fleet of ice soldiers come to my heart’s aid, working as quickly as they can to repair the damage. To rebuild the wall he just exploded with little more than a lean-and-smirk.
If the boy was dangerous, the man is probably devastating.
“It’s been six years, Derek.” His smile wilts.
“I know how long it’s been, Nikki.”
“You can’t just show up after six years.” Gesturing to his body, he says,
“And yet, here I am.”
Guys without the ability to set you on fire with their kisses can’t incinerate your heart.
“You taste like cider,” he murmurs against my mouth.
“You feel like heaven,” I tell him.
God, I love to be wanted by him.
“Fuck, Nikki.” Just hearing my name from his lips is like the sweetest sin there could possibly be.
I missed the force of Derek’s kisses. Other men don’t kiss like this, with this passion, like a hurricane of pleasure, sweeping me off solid ground and sucking me into his storm.
People with hangovers probably shouldn’t attempt doggy style, and my body is currently really angry about it, while also being deeply satisfied.
His hand tangles in my hair and he kisses me forever, but still somehow not long enough.
“I can’t believe that bastard looked in my eyes, shook my hand, and then fucked my girlfriend,” Henry replies.
“I don’t want to be your villain, Nikki.”
“Because I want all your words.”
Two hearts. One soul.
I would be defeated if ever I let my heart take the reins—defeated, destroyed, pounded to dust. I have the dumbest heart anyone has ever had.
“Derek, I don’t have time for an orgasm.” He pauses, lifting his head to pin me with his blue eyes as effectively as his hands pin my wrists.
“Then you are definitely living your life wrong, Harmon. Thank God I’m here to save you.”
“I admit nothing,” he says. “I wasn’t trying to get you pregnant, I just didn’t do anything to actively not try.”
“Right,” she says, nodding. “Fuck buddies always drop everything they’re doing to take care of one another. That’s like the first rule of being fuck buddies. You’re nailing it. You should write a fuck buddy manual.”
“Take the chance. Go all in for me one more time, Nikki. I won’t make you regret it this time. I promise.”
“I can handle a little pain,” he assures me. “Only thing I can’t handle is losing you. That’s not a mistake I’m going to make again, no matter how much you fight me, so you might as well wave the white flag now.”
“It’s only a book, Derek. It was a fantasy, nothing more.”
“Well, it's my fantasy."
“‘Our hearts beat together now, like they’ve known the secret all along. Like they’ve been waiting for us to catch up. He and I may have two separate hearts, but we share the same soul. I’m not positive where we go from here, but of one thing I am certain: wherever we end up, we will go there together."
“We can have the same ending you gave them. Choose to love me now, Nikki,” he implores, meeting my gaze.
Two hearts. One soul.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
While Book 1 was full of drama, Book 2 was a bit on the angsty side. Nikki has sworn off love and focused 200% on her work. But when the past catches up to her and offers her a chance to have everything she's dreamed of, can she open her heart? She has forgiven, but she hasn't forgotten.
It's a never ending battle between what she wants and what she'll allow herself to have. It's a struggle that does get a bit repetitive at times, but with Sam's writing, it didn't get to be too much for me. I did at times want to yell at her to just take a chance, but I understood where she was coming from.
I loved the first half of this book. The banter, the story, it's all pretty great. Nikki is letting herself enjoy the gift she's been given. But then she gets stuck in her own head and can't get past the fact that Derek didn't choose her and she's afraid that will happen again. I think Derek more than proves his love and commitment to her and does everything in his power to try and win her back. Her reluctance is what slows the last half of the book down a bit.
I'm happy with how it ended, but this ending doesn't hold a flame to the ending in Book 1. I would have loved to have something a bit more emotional, but I'm happy with what she gave us. It was the perfect ending to their story.
P.S. If you're a Carter fan, there are definite hints of him in Derek.
P.S.S. There is also a Pretty in Pink reference! #duckie
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Like an alcoholic spends the rest of their life recovering from their sickness, I know I’ll spend the rest of my life recovering from mine. Love.
Perhaps I have a flair for the dramatic, but I am my mother’s daughter, after all. She wrote letters to her ill-fated lover; I wrote mine a book.
He has already ruined one of my lives—can’t he leave this one alone?
A whole fleet of ice soldiers come to my heart’s aid, working as quickly as they can to repair the damage. To rebuild the wall he just exploded with little more than a lean-and-smirk.
If the boy was dangerous, the man is probably devastating.
“It’s been six years, Derek.” His smile wilts.
“I know how long it’s been, Nikki.”
“You can’t just show up after six years.” Gesturing to his body, he says,
“And yet, here I am.”
Guys without the ability to set you on fire with their kisses can’t incinerate your heart.
“You taste like cider,” he murmurs against my mouth.
“You feel like heaven,” I tell him.
God, I love to be wanted by him.
“Fuck, Nikki.” Just hearing my name from his lips is like the sweetest sin there could possibly be.
I missed the force of Derek’s kisses. Other men don’t kiss like this, with this passion, like a hurricane of pleasure, sweeping me off solid ground and sucking me into his storm.
People with hangovers probably shouldn’t attempt doggy style, and my body is currently really angry about it, while also being deeply satisfied.
His hand tangles in my hair and he kisses me forever, but still somehow not long enough.
“I can’t believe that bastard looked in my eyes, shook my hand, and then fucked my girlfriend,” Henry replies.
“I don’t want to be your villain, Nikki.”
“Because I want all your words.”
Two hearts. One soul.
I would be defeated if ever I let my heart take the reins—defeated, destroyed, pounded to dust. I have the dumbest heart anyone has ever had.
“Derek, I don’t have time for an orgasm.” He pauses, lifting his head to pin me with his blue eyes as effectively as his hands pin my wrists.
“Then you are definitely living your life wrong, Harmon. Thank God I’m here to save you.”
“I admit nothing,” he says. “I wasn’t trying to get you pregnant, I just didn’t do anything to actively not try.”
“Right,” she says, nodding. “Fuck buddies always drop everything they’re doing to take care of one another. That’s like the first rule of being fuck buddies. You’re nailing it. You should write a fuck buddy manual.”
“Take the chance. Go all in for me one more time, Nikki. I won’t make you regret it this time. I promise.”
“I can handle a little pain,” he assures me. “Only thing I can’t handle is losing you. That’s not a mistake I’m going to make again, no matter how much you fight me, so you might as well wave the white flag now.”
“It’s only a book, Derek. It was a fantasy, nothing more.”
“Well, it's my fantasy."
“‘Our hearts beat together now, like they’ve known the secret all along. Like they’ve been waiting for us to catch up. He and I may have two separate hearts, but we share the same soul. I’m not positive where we go from here, but of one thing I am certain: wherever we end up, we will go there together."
“We can have the same ending you gave them. Choose to love me now, Nikki,” he implores, meeting my gaze.
Two hearts. One soul.