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nadine_booklover's review
3.0
3.5 stars
"A fear only has the power your mind gives it."
The Girl In The Closet deals with very tough topic that makes this whole book pretty dark and depressive. And this is also the reason why this story is a slow burn romance. But due to a great writing style and well developed characters, you won't be bored once. This story has a lot to give if you are open and read between the lines.
"I love you so much. Not only because you helped me, but because you reached into the darkness and brought me out into the light."
Cole and Birdie were quite a match. Both beautifully written with well paced character development, they give this story a beautiful and intense frame.
The Girl In The Closet is a gritty, emotional and unique story that will make your heart ache.
"You've taught me how to look at myself and the world. I no longer see darkness. When I close my eyes, you're all I see. It's okay. I'll be your air, and you can be my light."
"A fear only has the power your mind gives it."
The Girl In The Closet deals with very tough topic that makes this whole book pretty dark and depressive. And this is also the reason why this story is a slow burn romance. But due to a great writing style and well developed characters, you won't be bored once. This story has a lot to give if you are open and read between the lines.
"I love you so much. Not only because you helped me, but because you reached into the darkness and brought me out into the light."
Cole and Birdie were quite a match. Both beautifully written with well paced character development, they give this story a beautiful and intense frame.
The Girl In The Closet is a gritty, emotional and unique story that will make your heart ache.
"You've taught me how to look at myself and the world. I no longer see darkness. When I close my eyes, you're all I see. It's okay. I'll be your air, and you can be my light."
naughtybookaffair's review
5.0
This is the first book that I have by Michelle. I am so glad I started with this one. Full of emotions twists and turns suspense and heart wrenching moments. Definitely a page turner. Birdie has a past noone would ever want to remember. But the past haunts her every single day. She finally gets the chance to be happy with Cole but the past comes back to haunt her. Fast forward and they get another chance but will the past take it all away? Amazingly written. You can easily feel what Birdie is feeling. The fear she goes through every day. This book was indeed enjoyable. Michelle gained a fan with this one and has me wanting to read more.Highly recommend.
lianareadsblog's review
4.0
I love when the cover reflects so much the main character from the book.
The story begins when both main characters are teenagers and because Birdie had a traumatic childhood she is always shy and keeps to herself even if Cole is trying to get her attention and demonstrate her that he is caring and won’t let her go through her panic attacks by herself. They start to have feelings for each other but she is still scared of her horrible psycho of her father even if he is still in prison, the fears that he induced in her won’t let her get over and live her life as she would want and should have live it. That’s why he choose to enroll in the marines and after years and losing his cousin and his friend in the war he returnees home with his own demons to fight.
I loved that we have both POV and get in each character mind, the writing is great, entertaining, the story itself is about a slow burn love that hasn’t faded with the years and overcoming ones traumatic experiences as both have to accept the past and going through a very difficult situation ( talking about mental health issues ) so they can dream of their future together and their happily ever after.
The story begins when both main characters are teenagers and because Birdie had a traumatic childhood she is always shy and keeps to herself even if Cole is trying to get her attention and demonstrate her that he is caring and won’t let her go through her panic attacks by herself. They start to have feelings for each other but she is still scared of her horrible psycho of her father even if he is still in prison, the fears that he induced in her won’t let her get over and live her life as she would want and should have live it. That’s why he choose to enroll in the marines and after years and losing his cousin and his friend in the war he returnees home with his own demons to fight.
I loved that we have both POV and get in each character mind, the writing is great, entertaining, the story itself is about a slow burn love that hasn’t faded with the years and overcoming ones traumatic experiences as both have to accept the past and going through a very difficult situation ( talking about mental health issues ) so they can dream of their future together and their happily ever after.
emgibson77's review
4.0
The Girl in the Closet was one hell of an emotionally dark read. It slowly ripped my heart out and put it back together again. I loved every agonizing minute of it! This book will stay with me for a long time!
becsa's review
4.0
Bridget "Birdie" Liles has lived her life in fear but felt a little bit safer while her father has been in prison and she was adopted by Pastor & Mrs. Liles when she was 5 years old. But now 15 years later her father is out of jail and she is barely holding on.
Cole Trenton grew up with Birdie and she was a very special part of his life but he had decided to join the Marines and he left Birdie in their small town.
Now 8 years later Cole is back after the death of his best friend. Will Cole try and pick up the pieces with Birdie again or will she push him away knowing her father could come for her at any moment?
This was such an awesome read and this series is so awesome so far!!
I loved Birdie and she was just this girl that you wanted to pick up and make all her pain go away. She was coping so much better than I imagine I ever could but at the same time she wasn't. I could understand why she was reluctatnt to get involved with Cole as part of her must have thought that she was going to die soon.
Cole was living with so much grief after what happened to Hunter that he was really struggling but then found a purpose with trying to keep Birdie safe. I liked that they had a past together and that he had cared about her for so long.
I loved watching the change in both Cole and Birdie with how they adapted to the pain of their respective pasts and how they made the decision to move on from it and grow and figure what they meant to each other.
You knew the whole time that something was going to go down but it was a matter of when and where. I liked how it all happened but I was almost expecting more due to the big lead up to it.
The very end was awesome!
The end of the book with Reece left you hanging a little bit and I can't wait to see what happens in her book next!!
Cole Trenton grew up with Birdie and she was a very special part of his life but he had decided to join the Marines and he left Birdie in their small town.
Now 8 years later Cole is back after the death of his best friend. Will Cole try and pick up the pieces with Birdie again or will she push him away knowing her father could come for her at any moment?
This was such an awesome read and this series is so awesome so far!!
I loved Birdie and she was just this girl that you wanted to pick up and make all her pain go away. She was coping so much better than I imagine I ever could but at the same time she wasn't. I could understand why she was reluctatnt to get involved with Cole as part of her must have thought that she was going to die soon.
Cole was living with so much grief after what happened to Hunter that he was really struggling but then found a purpose with trying to keep Birdie safe. I liked that they had a past together and that he had cared about her for so long.
I loved watching the change in both Cole and Birdie with how they adapted to the pain of their respective pasts and how they made the decision to move on from it and grow and figure what they meant to each other.
You knew the whole time that something was going to go down but it was a matter of when and where. I liked how it all happened but I was almost expecting more due to the big lead up to it.
The very end was awesome!
The end of the book with Reece left you hanging a little bit and I can't wait to see what happens in her book next!!
nean's review
5.0
Birdie/Bridget has been with her foster family for a while and doesn’t want to remember her father, she has been crushing on Cole for just as long.
By chance Bridget realises that Cole is interested in her but she worries about her past and how she can’t get past it. Just as Cole and Bridget find each other Cole leaves for the marines.
When Cole returns from the marines he has he’s own scares and nightmares, but when he hears about Bridget’s father threatening her he wants to do nothing more than protect her.
Cole knows some of Bridget past and that she has scares, but when he finds out more, all he wants to do is get rid of her father.
Bridget doesn’t understand how Cole can want her and often mistakes his feelings all wrong – all Cole wants to do is put Bridget back together again.
Between both of their scares and nightmares they have to work together to find love and let go of their pasts.
By chance Bridget realises that Cole is interested in her but she worries about her past and how she can’t get past it. Just as Cole and Bridget find each other Cole leaves for the marines.
When Cole returns from the marines he has he’s own scares and nightmares, but when he hears about Bridget’s father threatening her he wants to do nothing more than protect her.
Cole knows some of Bridget past and that she has scares, but when he finds out more, all he wants to do is get rid of her father.
Bridget doesn’t understand how Cole can want her and often mistakes his feelings all wrong – all Cole wants to do is put Bridget back together again.
Between both of their scares and nightmares they have to work together to find love and let go of their pasts.
thesassybookworm's review
4.0
So I don't know what to say about this one. It was a good book, but lord it was depressing as F-CK. From beginning to end...depressing without a single lighthearted break until the very end. That said, the writing was still very good. It was well paced. The plot was engaging. The baddie aspect was OK (a little underdeveloped). I wouldn't say this was an angsty book relationship wise, mostly because this couple is not even a couple until 77% into the book (although they both love the other). Needless to say, because of the slow burn nature of the story the heat level was super low. There was also no OW or OM drama.
There was a good cast of secondary characters (one of which appears to already have a book of his own), and both main characters were likable. The heroine was a virgin (groan), but in this case, it made sense. I don't think the hero was a manwhore, but I am reasonably sure he slept with OW in the eight years they were apart. Which I am adding because I know it will bother some people since he claimed to be "in love with her always." However, it is never mentioned one way or the other. Last, it was all wrapped up in a sweet ending.
christyheartsbooks's review
4.0
Bridget aka Birdie has had a rough rough life. Her biological dad physically, mentally and emotionally abused her at a very young age. She was fortunately adopted by a loving family when her father went to prison but it was too late, the damage to her was done. She had two friends, Reece and Clay, but she led a very quiet and reserved life. But she has had a long time crush on Cole that she will never act on because of her fears among others. Cole has also been harboring a crush on Birdie for a long time but was apprehensive about pursuing her because he knew that there was trauma there. But right before is scheduled to ship off to basic training for the Marines, he lets his feelings be known to Birdie. Despite her feelings and how badly she wants a relationship with Cole she pushes him away because of her bio dad. Skip to 6 years later and Cole is back with his own demons but he refuses to walk away from Birdie again.
I was afraid to read this book when I first read the blurb last year. After reading An Ocean Between Us, I was worried about the dark content of this story. I am glad that I got over that fear and am mad at myself that it took so long to do that. I was completely wrong about everything and I am glad for that. Cole is just as swoon worthy as Aiden. He is protective and caring and loving and patient. He can see past all the emotional and physical scars and loves her fiercely. He wants to help her and pushes her to accept herself. She also is just has caring and loving as Cole and wants to help him slay his demons. "....I’ll pick up all your pieces, and I’ll cherish them in my heart, but don’t ask me to look for my pieces. I don’t know where they are." This line from Birdie slayed me. I really loved that they help each other battle their demons. For how horrific Birdie's life was their story is really beautiful. This one also had the suspense element in it which I really enjoyed. I can tell that the suspense aspect/story line of this one is not over and will play out in the next book in this series too.
I was afraid to read this book when I first read the blurb last year. After reading An Ocean Between Us, I was worried about the dark content of this story. I am glad that I got over that fear and am mad at myself that it took so long to do that. I was completely wrong about everything and I am glad for that. Cole is just as swoon worthy as Aiden. He is protective and caring and loving and patient. He can see past all the emotional and physical scars and loves her fiercely. He wants to help her and pushes her to accept herself. She also is just has caring and loving as Cole and wants to help him slay his demons. "....I’ll pick up all your pieces, and I’ll cherish them in my heart, but don’t ask me to look for my pieces. I don’t know where they are." This line from Birdie slayed me. I really loved that they help each other battle their demons. For how horrific Birdie's life was their story is really beautiful. This one also had the suspense element in it which I really enjoyed. I can tell that the suspense aspect/story line of this one is not over and will play out in the next book in this series too.
si0bhan's review
3.0
The Girl In The Closet is the second book in Michelle Heard’s Southern Heroes series, and I enjoyed it both more and less than The Ocean Between Us.
With the first book in the series, I finished the book with the feeling it could have offered a bit more. It was an interesting story, but it didn’t pack the emotional punch I had been hoping for. With this second book, I felt much the same.
Again, we have a heavy topic to deal with throughout the book. It’s a darker story than the first, but it never quite reached the level of darkness I had anticipated. We were on the cusp – aware of it, but we never jumped in as deep as I’d anticipated. I enjoyed this book more than the first because I spent so much of the story interested in how everything would come together, eager to get the answers of what happened. I enjoyed this one less than the first because I was let down by what I was given, I had hoped for more.
As with the first one, my final verdict is the story had potential but it didn’t live up to it in the way I had hoped for. A part of me is interested in seeing where the rest of the Southern Heroes series goes, but at the same time I’m not invested enough to continue when there are other series I care more about.
With the first book in the series, I finished the book with the feeling it could have offered a bit more. It was an interesting story, but it didn’t pack the emotional punch I had been hoping for. With this second book, I felt much the same.
Again, we have a heavy topic to deal with throughout the book. It’s a darker story than the first, but it never quite reached the level of darkness I had anticipated. We were on the cusp – aware of it, but we never jumped in as deep as I’d anticipated. I enjoyed this book more than the first because I spent so much of the story interested in how everything would come together, eager to get the answers of what happened. I enjoyed this one less than the first because I was let down by what I was given, I had hoped for more.
As with the first one, my final verdict is the story had potential but it didn’t live up to it in the way I had hoped for. A part of me is interested in seeing where the rest of the Southern Heroes series goes, but at the same time I’m not invested enough to continue when there are other series I care more about.