Intriguing and emotional read.

There was a lot going on in this book. I was really drawn to the cast of characters, and immersed in the long and involved journey of Payton and Josh. Their road is so difficult, that at times it was difficult to feel any joy in their connection, and I wondered what is was all about. However I am intrigued to read further into the series and am hoping to ultimately get more of a happy ending for Payton and Josh.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Payton has never had a boyfriend, not really. She has sworn to all that she would never be like her mother. It's not that she doesn't notice guys, she's just never seen one that was memorable. Until now...
Her life is in shambles and the last thing she needs is a persistent guy trying to get her attention- especially when he already has it. The feelings her brings out in her scare her. She doesn't know what to do.

Josh can't get the crying girl out of his mind or dreams apparently. He knows he's got to try to get her attention. Once he has it, he knows he won't want to let go.

We can't always get what we want and sometimes we don't know what we want. See if Payton can figure it out before Josh decides it's too much.

reviewed for Reviews from the Heart

I liked his book. I think what I loved the most was the characters seemed to very real and had an individual story which made me connect with them. When I was reading Payton's POV, I could struggle with her pain, her loss, her regret that she has about her mother.When I was in Josh's head, I loved how consistent he was, how much he liked Payton and very patient guy. Hailey was difficult to handle. sometimes, even I was frustrated but Josh never gave up on her and believed in her. I think I want Hailey to be my best friend! She was so amazing throughout the book! I really really adored her. I hope she gets her own book, too!

Highly recommend this book to everyone who loves a good story, about healing, love, friendship.

I really enjoyed this story. It hit close to home with Payton's mom. If you've read it, you know what I'm talking about. It wasn't the same as what I went through, but still hurts. Anyway, I really loved how patient Josh was with Payton and how the story progressed. Aside from some spelling mistakes, it was a really good story. It wasn't too quick, but it allowed the reader to learn more about characters. I absolutely loved Josh's character. He's such a great guy. So sweet and caring. Payton's best friend Hailey was a riot too! Funny as hell! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone 17+. There's some strong language and mildly explicit scenes. But other than that, it was a really great read. I can't wait to read books 2 and 3 next!

Payton Whitmore seems to be having a really bad day. She has a few insecurities that seem to add to her vulnerability which also affects her emotionally. Josh seems to be having a bad day as well. It’s interesting to watch these two skim around each other’s space before they truly come into contact with each other. The author makes Payton strong enough that she can feel comfortable enough around Josh that she finally has the courage to share some of herself with him. But she also shows the frustration that Josh feels as he tries to have a relationship with Payton.

Hailey is a good friend to her Payton and tries to help her get out of her comfort zone. She was a great way to move the story along. Having this in a college setting also helped because it showed some of the daily struggles these two had as they try to find a way to cope with both school and their personal lives.

Our author has given her readers a book that has a lot to it but that’s not a bad thing. This was certainly a great first book for this series. We have family issues that need to be dealt with and personal obstacles that seem to get in the way, trying to get through college life, have time with friends and have the beginnings of a relationship and where that will lead. I got the impression that Payton’s ending came with a little lesson – see if you think so too. It will be interesting to see how Ms. Robertson follows up with Jackson’s story. You do meet him here but there’s more to him than that. You get a little hint about his story if you read to the very end of this one.

I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The great debut novel by Emily Robertson with wonderful characters. Payton Whitmore is committed to completing her college degree without any distractions, specifically boys. Josh Portwood lives life to the fullest every day of college. When these characters meet it's easy to see that they're meant for each other.

Payton and Josh's love story is emotional and powerful. This book is well written and I loved every second of it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.