Today's story is a difficult one that deserves to be read for its intense emotional journey. Darkness and pain take center stage in Love Me For Me, and you need to keep reading to discover just how satisfying this story is......
It’s been three years since Serena King learned to say no—no to the boys that were a desperate cry for help, no to the extra weight she put on in self defense, and most of all no to the abuse that has haunted her since she was fifteen. Now a sophomore in college, all she wants is to be normal. The last thing she expects is a guy who can make her want... make her want everything.
A new guy...
Alex Blackthorn is a bundle of contradictions, a sexy dark haired badness who goes slow... deliciously slow. And despite the iron will that has gotten her through the last few years, Serena finds herself unable to ignore the heat that sizzles between them whenever they’re together.
A dark past...
Serena never thought she could be involved in a relationship, but Alex makes her long for things she thought were out of her reach forever. When he finds out her secret... when he finds out what she did to keep herself sane... will he still want her, or he will treat her just like everyone else?
And Alex has a secret of his own.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Love Me For Me is a dark and gritty read featuring a young college woman dealing with past events that affect her self-esteem yet today. A past of sexual abuse and self-destructive behavior still hangs over Serena and makes it difficult to move forward. Not wanting to be judged by others she keeps herself isolated, with only one person she can call friend. Even that one friend though doesn't know the truth. It's not until she meets a young man with secret pains of his own that she finally starts addressing the past so she can make a future for herself.
Whereas Serena's hidden from the past through self-destructive behaviors early in life and silence now, Alex has embraced what happened to him and turned his outer scars into tattoos. He's moved on from it but senses an immediate bond with Serena and moves slowly in forming a relationship with her. He can relate to her pain but never judges her. He lends his unspoken support to her at every turn and I couldn't help but admire his inner strength and fortitude. Serena thinks she's badly broken and doesn't want to taint him with her dirtiness and darkness so she subtly tries to push him away as he subtly tries to get closer. The longer she's with him the more she starts to heal with baby steps. An unexpected collision with her past forces her to deal with her darkest pain head-on and it's only through Alex's support that she comes out of it alive. The two of these together make a formidable team and once they BOTH wash away the pain can their HEA truly develop.
The adults in this story tend to be seen as the villains. From Serena's disbelieving mother, to a dangerous step-father, to a questionable foster family, it's the adults who pile on the hurt as the collegians work together to heal themselves. The young people of this story are portrayed in a realistic manner, darkness and all. They're the ones having to clean up the mess left by the adults sworn to love and protect them. I found myself drawn to these young people and desperate to help heal them. The issues being dealt with aren't always easy to deal with but are important to bring out in the open. This leads to an unforgettable read with an unlikely hero and heroine. With two more secondary characters hiding from their own darkness, I look forward to more stories being told in this immensely satisfying series.
My rating for this is an A.
*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kate Laurens is a proud Canadian who loves beer, coffee, kickboxing and books. She writes New Adult Romance and falls a little bit in love with each hero that she writes.
Kate loves to hear from her readers. Find her at www.katelaurens.com
She's also on Twitter as @KateLaurens
Kate loves to hear from her readers. Find her at www.katelaurens.com
She's also on Twitter as @KateLaurens
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