Title: Pretty Pink Ribbons
Author: K.L. Grayson
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 24, 2015
Cover Design: Perfect Pear Creative Covers
Photographer: Tomasz Zienkiewicz Photography
Synopsis
Dying . . .
Dead . . .
Deceased . . .
It doesn’t matter how many times I say it or how many different names I give it, it still means the same thing. One of these days I’ll be nothing but a passing memory, a familiar face in a forgotten photo. But there's three things I need before this life of mine ends . . .
I need to tell him I love him more than life itself.
I need to feel the strength of his arms wrapped around me just one more night.
Most of all, I need him to forgive me.
Eight years ago I broke the heart of the only man I’ve ever loved and today I’m moving home in hopes that he’ll let me put it back together. I’m not sure how many breaths I have left, but I’ll use each and every last one fighting for what I destroyed.
My name is Laney Jacobs and this is my journey.
Excerpt
“I wish it was someone else,” she croaks, swallowing hard. “There are thousands of bad people in the world, but it happened to you.” I watch her eyes fill with tears and then I look away. It’s pathetic of me really; that I’m unable to look my best friend in the face when it’s obvious that she is struggling with this almost as much as I am. But I’ve cried my fair share of tears and although I’m certain my tear ducts have yet to dry up, I don’t want to cry tonight. Somehow I know that if I watch Mia break, then I’ll shatter right along with her.
“I’m glad it’s me.” She gasps, startled by my words, and I rush to try and explain. “If it wasn’t me, it would be someone else, and I would never wish this upon someone else. You know that saying that God will only give you what you can handle?”
She nods.
“Sometimes I tell myself that he just thinks I’m really strong and I can handle it, whereas someone else couldn’t.”
“Does that help?” she asks. “Does that make you feel better about it?”
“No, but it eases my mind. Sometimes when I’m having a good day, it brings me peace, however temporary it may be. But no, it doesn’t make me feel better.”
“Peace,” she whispers, seemingly trying the word on for size. “I want you to have peace.”
About The Author
K.L. Grayson resides in a small town outside of St. Louis, MO. She is entertained daily by her extraordinary husband, who will forever inspire every good quality she writes in a man. Her entire life rests in the palms of six dirty little hands, and when the day is over and those pint-sized cherubs have been washed and tucked into bed, you can find her typing away furiously on her computer. She has a love for alpha-males, brownies, reading, tattoos, sunglasses, and happy endings…and not particularly in that order.
Giveaway
4 stars
K.L. Grayson starts us off with a griping prologue that simply guts you. It starts you with a high, while we as readers know, this is a prelude to utter devastation. K.L. did not disappoint in her story telling. Her writing style flowed and portrayed well depicted images within the readers mind (basically me).
This book is about Laney Jacobs journey, a second chance novel. In as much as it's her journey as the synopsis states, this is also an eye opener to many major themes- strength, loyalty, family, forgiveness and ultimately, love. The perseverance that one resilient woman endeavors upon, while on the path toward forgiveness.
Levi and Laney are young lovers in the town of St.Louis. Laney's dream is to attend the Culinary Institute. However, in order to do so, she must move to California. Away from Levi and away from the love they have. One romantically planned night, Levi surprises her, and instead of the romantic ending, they both leave in heartbreak and despair. While Levi is confessing his love to Laney for the first time in their relationship, Laney has slowly and painfully ripped his heart out by going after her dreams and moving to California. Choosing a life she always wanted over the love that they have. With a single decision, both Laney and Levi's paths are changed. Eight years later, riddled with guilt and regret, Laney Jacobs returns. Searching for forgiveness, searching for the only person she has ever loved, she seeks out Levi.
Returning home is bittersweet. All the memories- the love and heartache come bearing down upon Laney, yet she remains resilient in her search for forgiveness. Running into Levi while his head chef quits. Laney offers to fill the spot until he can find a new head chef. Amazed that Levi is running his own business, and has surpassed the young boy she once knew, she is now looking into the eyes of a gorgeous, sexy, man. Albeit, an extremely angry, sexy man.
Levi has had his heart ripped out by one woman when he was young. His mother left his younger brother, him and his father when they were small. Leaving them, Levi didn't know how not to love. When he found his one true love, Laney, and she cheated him out of being loved, he toughened his heart and stilled his emotions into meaningless encounters that never quenched his thirst. Over the years he has followed Laney's career on-line and as proud of her accomplishments as he is, he will never forget the pain she inflicted upon his fragile heart.
Agreeing to Laney's help, he isn't sure if this is a good idea. Levi is flustered. Laney! His Laney is back, but she hasn't been his in eight years. Yet, the feeling of comfort and love come crashing to the surface as he tries to remain as impassive as possible. I loved the way Levi got angry when he first encountered Laney. It was extremely well put together and I felt Levi's anger and pain.
As much as Laney's goal is forgiveness, she is also hiding a crushing secret, one that she refuses to expose until she can make Levi fall in love with her again. She doesn't want to reveal her secret to him out of fear he will pity her.
Levi soon starts to carefully open himself up to Laney, yet still trying to keep a small part hidden away. His fear of betrayal is alive and fearful within him. He can not handle another heartbreak by Laney. This time, he will be destroyed.
They both fall into an easy going friendship and start going out together. Little things that means the entire world to Laney - a small smile, a silly comment, making her favourite dish- it all brings them closer to each other. While fighting for Levi, Laney's other battle is internally tearing her apart. Her body is shutting down and her physical strength is slowly being drained. Laney is putting on a brave face for Levi, because she still hasn't revealed her devastating secret.
Falling in love with Levi all over again is crushing Laney. Knowing that she will have to hurt him, she focuses on all the good things they both have going for them. Spending time together and simply building their relationship while waiting for the unknown to occur.
"Levi, I love you. I loved you then, I've loved you every single second of every single day for the past eight years and I'm going to love you until the day I die."
*ARC provided by Between the Sheets Promotions on behalf of the author for an honest review* Thanks!
I wished the ending turned out differently.
This could have been such a good basis for other books to follow.
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