Readers who like their reads full of angst will be drawn to Love Survives by Jennifer Foor, the second installment in the Love's Suicide series. Keep reading to get a taste of this complicated romance, along with my impressions of it, and then add it to your bookshelf....
It will rip you apart and possibly put you back together again.
I know this because it's my story.
The pain and anguish experienced in this is what it was like to hold onto hope that some day we'd find each other again. I won't sugar coat the details of what I went through to have her, nor will I apologize for any actions that led me right back into her life.
Sometimes love isn't enough.
Sometimes it takes a little fate.
EXCERPT:
Dear Mom and Dad,
I wanted you to know that I’ve arrived overseas, and have settled in the best I’m able to. I owe you both an apology. Never in a million years did I see things playing out the way they have. I didn’t show up at the wedding to ruin everyone’s lives. The truth is that I couldn’t help myself. I had to pursue her, because I’ve loved that girl since we were children. She’s everything to me.
I know I made a mess of things. I screwed up and embarrassed you. I ruined my relationship with Branch, but I think you deserve to know why. All this time, all the years since they started dating, he’d been feeding Kat and I lies, keeping us apart. From the age of twelve he told me Kat wasn’t interested. I trusted him.
Apparently he was doing the same to Kat, telling her that I didn’t like her that way. All this time we could have been together, but instead he weaseled his way into her heart, making her feel bad for ever having feelings for me.
I’m not saying that what I did wasn’t wrong. I know right from wrong. Two people went into my hotel room that night, and what happened was mutual. We knew the risks, but took them anyway. I honestly couldn’t stop myself. Once the truth was revealed nothing could have kept me from her.
I snapped.
You may never be able to understand what it’s been like for me, watching her with him, year after year, as if I was a punching bag. I’ve got thick skin, but even the toughest person would have broken down at some point. I’ve been trained to replace pain with power, but this doesn’t apply. I’m on a path of destruction, because I simply don’t care anymore. Branch ruined my life. He was the reason I had to get away. Joining the military was my way out. I knew it would keep me from coming home, and bearing the burden of watching them happy. I punished myself for loving her, and attempted to move on with no result. No matter how hard I try I can’t stop loving her, and that’s why I know I can’t come home. There’s nothing left there for me except pain. I’ll never regret being able to live under the same roof as my two best friends, but I will hate myself for not going after what I wanted sooner. I could have prevented all of this. We could be sharing our lives together, having children, and waking up to knowing nothing will tear us apart. Instead I’m on the other side of the world, throwing myself into defending my country, because it’s the only thing keeping me going.
I can’t promise that I’ll write back all the time. It’s hard for me to sit down and put my feelings on paper. I’ve already been warned that what I’m about to see over here will haunt me forever. I’m used to living in hell, so I’ve got every reason to believe that I’ll get through it. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry that I was such a disappointment. I was acting out, because I couldn’t have what I wanted. Jealousy took control, forcing my hand to make irrational decisions. At the end of the day I deserve to be here, in the middle of this battle zone. If something happens to me and I don’t return please don’t dwell on my death. Just know I’m no longer in any pain. Nothing will ever hurt me again.
Thank you for bringing me up right, and teaching me what was love was. As much as it hurts, I don’t regret experiencing it. How I feel about Kat is something special. Not everyone finds their true love so early in life. Perhaps that’s why I couldn’t keep her. Maybe I had enough time with her when we were younger. No matter the case, I’m appreciative.
Take care of her and Branch. Help them to make amends. We’ll always be family.
Until next time with love,
Brooks
FIND AT GOODREADS here.
I wanted you to know that I’ve arrived overseas, and have settled in the best I’m able to. I owe you both an apology. Never in a million years did I see things playing out the way they have. I didn’t show up at the wedding to ruin everyone’s lives. The truth is that I couldn’t help myself. I had to pursue her, because I’ve loved that girl since we were children. She’s everything to me.
I know I made a mess of things. I screwed up and embarrassed you. I ruined my relationship with Branch, but I think you deserve to know why. All this time, all the years since they started dating, he’d been feeding Kat and I lies, keeping us apart. From the age of twelve he told me Kat wasn’t interested. I trusted him.
Apparently he was doing the same to Kat, telling her that I didn’t like her that way. All this time we could have been together, but instead he weaseled his way into her heart, making her feel bad for ever having feelings for me.
I’m not saying that what I did wasn’t wrong. I know right from wrong. Two people went into my hotel room that night, and what happened was mutual. We knew the risks, but took them anyway. I honestly couldn’t stop myself. Once the truth was revealed nothing could have kept me from her.
I snapped.
You may never be able to understand what it’s been like for me, watching her with him, year after year, as if I was a punching bag. I’ve got thick skin, but even the toughest person would have broken down at some point. I’ve been trained to replace pain with power, but this doesn’t apply. I’m on a path of destruction, because I simply don’t care anymore. Branch ruined my life. He was the reason I had to get away. Joining the military was my way out. I knew it would keep me from coming home, and bearing the burden of watching them happy. I punished myself for loving her, and attempted to move on with no result. No matter how hard I try I can’t stop loving her, and that’s why I know I can’t come home. There’s nothing left there for me except pain. I’ll never regret being able to live under the same roof as my two best friends, but I will hate myself for not going after what I wanted sooner. I could have prevented all of this. We could be sharing our lives together, having children, and waking up to knowing nothing will tear us apart. Instead I’m on the other side of the world, throwing myself into defending my country, because it’s the only thing keeping me going.
I can’t promise that I’ll write back all the time. It’s hard for me to sit down and put my feelings on paper. I’ve already been warned that what I’m about to see over here will haunt me forever. I’m used to living in hell, so I’ve got every reason to believe that I’ll get through it. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry that I was such a disappointment. I was acting out, because I couldn’t have what I wanted. Jealousy took control, forcing my hand to make irrational decisions. At the end of the day I deserve to be here, in the middle of this battle zone. If something happens to me and I don’t return please don’t dwell on my death. Just know I’m no longer in any pain. Nothing will ever hurt me again.
Thank you for bringing me up right, and teaching me what was love was. As much as it hurts, I don’t regret experiencing it. How I feel about Kat is something special. Not everyone finds their true love so early in life. Perhaps that’s why I couldn’t keep her. Maybe I had enough time with her when we were younger. No matter the case, I’m appreciative.
Take care of her and Branch. Help them to make amends. We’ll always be family.
Until next time with love,
Brooks
FIND AT GOODREADS here.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Readers who read the previous book in this series, Love's Suicide, will already have an inkling of what to expect from this book. For those new to this emotionally intense read you'll be put through the wringer to see the actions of that story in a whole new light as told from the perspective of Brooks. While you can read this book on its own you'll find a more well-rounded and emotionally compelling story by reading both books as there's lots of thoughts and feelings not spoken aloud. On its own, this book kept me fully immersed in the dangerous world and hidden pain Brooks went through and left me conflicted by all the sacrifices he made to make Katy happy. On a whole I was enthralled by this story's constant twists and turns but frustrated by those things too.
Brooks has loved Katy since he was a boy but was led astray by a brother who's far less chivalrous than him, who kept him from telling Katy how he felt. He always felt he was the lesser twin to the more outgoing Branch which had him stepping aside as his bother laid a claim instead. This left Brooks pining for her for years with running away to the Army his only chance at peace. With one last chance to claim her before her wedding though he makes a questionable choice that leads to big ramifications and even more pain in his future. Returning home a wounded man, both physically and emotionally, he's desperate to fix all that's broken in his family and finally form a relationship with Katy based on truth. Brooks's love for Katy was undeniable and he would do anything to make her happy even if it hurt him. While this is romantic it's also a bit sad as Brooks was a good guy who deserved a more worthy woman than the fickle Katy. His love blinded him and led him to poor choices and lots of emotional self-flagellation. I was drawn to his supportive side though which was always there for Katy when she needed a shoulder to cry on, but on a whole he left me hot and cold as he could've grasped his happiness much sooner if he'd only been more assertive.
Thankfully Katy was often in the background in this story as her actions left many people in ruin. She was emotionally manipulative as I felt she played with Brooks's feelings. She believed Branch's lies despite the connection she always had with Brooks. Her poor choices led to even more heartbreak and her distracting nature put Brooks in jeopardy when he ran off to war. As a heroine, she was frustrating and I'd hoped for better for Brooks as he deserved someone just as committed to him as he was to her.
While this story left me frustrated, the characters still pulled me in with their twisted web of lies, heartbreak, and emotional tug of war. The main characters made me angry at times as well as become a bit misty-eyed which kept me turning the pages despite my frustration. That shows how talented Ms. Foor is in that I kept reading against my will. Surrounding these two flawed yet compelling main characters is a cast of secondary characters that add to the emotional highs and lows. They too didn't always do the right things but their actions took us one step closer to Brooks finally getting the girl of his dreams. Ms. Foor has crafted another intensely emotional read that challenged and frustrated me but left me satisfied once the final page was turned.
My rating for this is a B-/C+
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
GET A GLIMPSE OF THE PREVIOUS BOOK IN THIS SERIES....
My heart belonged to Branch and Brooks Valentine since we were children, when we were all too naïve to know what that even meant. We didn’t understand that when we became adults, love would change us. I had to make a choice and when I did, it ripped our bond apart. Brooks left town, and he took half of my heart with him. It was difficult, but I coped and planned my future with Branch. I thought I’d made the right decision. I loved him and I always had.
Brooks showed up to be our best man the night before our nuptials. After drinks and too much reminiscing, I ended up in bed with the wrong brother. To avoid the humiliation and the fact that I’d ruined all of our lives, I left Branch and the only family I’d ever known.
That’s where my story should have ended.
Two years, one beautiful little girl and an abusive marriage later, I was standing there staring at the man that would always hold my heart.
The only question was…
Would I give it to him
I’m Katy Michaels and this is my story.
FIND AT GOODREADS here.
Brooks showed up to be our best man the night before our nuptials. After drinks and too much reminiscing, I ended up in bed with the wrong brother. To avoid the humiliation and the fact that I’d ruined all of our lives, I left Branch and the only family I’d ever known.
That’s where my story should have ended.
Two years, one beautiful little girl and an abusive marriage later, I was standing there staring at the man that would always hold my heart.
The only question was…
Would I give it to him
I’m Katy Michaels and this is my story.
FIND AT GOODREADS here.
Jennifer Foor is an award winning Contemporary Romance Author. She's best known for the Mitchell Family Series, which includes ten books.
She is married with two children and spends most of her time behind a keyboard, writing stories that come from her heart.
She is married with two children and spends most of her time behind a keyboard, writing stories that come from her heart.
WEBSITE: http://www.jenniferfoor.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/jennyfoor
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