Release Date: April 6, 2014
Pages: 384
Goodreads Rating: 4.4/5 Stars
My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
My Content Rating: YA (Nothing more than kissing)
Summary from Goodreads: When her parents discover she’s been sneaking out with Isaac Robinson, the forbidden Baptist boy, Mormon girl Destiny Clark decides it’s time to keep their relationship quiet. As their relationship moves to shakier ground, Destiny discovers that Isaac has a terrible secret, and she is left completely shattered.
The moment Destiny feels all hope is lost, Preston Nelson, her longtime church friend and Isaac's bitter rival, arrives like a beacon of light. It isn't long before two separate disasters strike for Preston and Destiny's best friend, Hannah. As Destiny helps them through their issues, she discovers that sometimes the best way to forget about your own problems is to help a friend in need.
Just as her heart begins to mend and her friendship with Preston begins to heat up, Isaac walks back into her life, threatening to rekindle the feelings she’d hoped to bury forever. Will Destiny and Preston find the synchrony they so desperately need, or will she find a way to forgive Isaac and return to his outstretched arms?
***This review may contain spoilers for book #1 in this series. Check out my review of Destiny HERE.*** Also, while you're here, check out the giveaway included with my cover reveal post for book #2.5 HERE!
In this second book, Isaac and Destiny are trying to make it as a couple, but obstacles keep getting thrown in their way. First, Destiny's parents find out that they've been sneaking around, then Destiny starts to get jealous of Isaac's ex-girlfriend. But things go completely south between them when Destiny finds out the secret that Isaac has been hiding from her. She is crushed, and she turns to her longtime friend (and admirer), Preston, for comfort. But, just when her relationship with Preston truly takes off, Isaac decides that it's time to truly clear the air with Destiny - and suddenly she's back to being completely unsure about where she stands with either boy.
What I loved:
- Les Mis. Just like in the first book, the characters were rehearsing for their upcoming production of Les Mis. Since I'm a huge fan of the musical, I loved all of the references to the show and the parallels between the play and the characters' real lives.
- Isaac. There were a few things that Isaac did in this book that really endeared him to me. I don't want to go into too much about what they were, but he came off as a pretty great guy in this book.
- Hannah. Again, I don't want to go into any details, but Hannah has her own storyline in this book that I really enjoyed. I can't wait to find out more about what happens with her.
- Preston. I really liked Preston in the first book (I remember kind of thinking that maybe Destiny would have been better off with him than Isaac) and I loved him even more in this book. Some of the chapters in this book were told from Preston's point of view, and he totally won me over. Preston just seems like an amazing guy. First of all, he worked so hard to hold his family together in the face of his mother's illness, I couldn't help but feel miserable for him when his life was falling apart. And then he was willing to give Destiny a shoulder to cry on - listening to her misery about Isaac and never trying to tell her, "I told you so." When Destiny and Preston first started to transition to something more than friends, he was so sweet and caring, never wanting to push her or take advantage of her sadness over Isaac. I was pretty much a huge Preston fan. Only problem was, I knew I was probably rooting for the wrong guy. Which brings me to -
The negatives:
- Destiny and Preston. I just said how much I loved Preston, but just by reading the synopsis, I knew that things were not going to go smoothly for him and Destiny. And they didn't. I couldn't help but be horrified and sad over the way that Destiny ended up treating Preston (and Isaac, really - read the next bullet point for that one).
- Lack of communication. If you read my reviews often, you know that I hate it when relationships go bad simply because of a lack of communication. This is definitely a pet peeve of mine, and that's exactly what happened here. When Destiny finds out Isaac's secret, she completely refuses to talk to him - ever again. She doesn't even give him five minutes to explain himself, read any of his texts or listen to any of his messages. She completely ignores him. Making me even crazier, she would then pout to herself when he didn't continue to try desperately to get her attention - even months later. I just found the whole thing aggravating and found myself not feeling particularly sympathetic where Destiny and Isaac were concerned.
So, while I found myself enjoying most of this book (especially the beginning and the end), there were parts in the middle that made me plain aggravated with Destiny. I was starting to think she didn't really deserve either guy! Still, I have to admit that I was completely drawn in and I will definitely be reading the next book to find out what happens. Overall, I give this one 3.5/5 stars.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
About the Author
Cindy Ray Hale is a Young Adult author and a book blogger. She lives in a little slice of wooded heaven near Atlanta, Georgia. She spends way too much time following up-and-coming musicians on YouTube and dreams of joining their ranks one day. She’s a bit of a health food nut and can’t live without her daily green smoothies. She tries to stay sane as she juggles writing with four kids, staying active on social media, and keeping up her book blog - Cinnamon Cindy's Book Blog. In addition to writing and self-publishing two Young Adult Contemporary novels, she has also written articles for New Era magazine and The American Preppers Network.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
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