The Darkest Part: A Living Heartwood Novel

Luckiest Bastard Bastard 2. Ballarat Charter volume 1. With Visions of Red: Broken Bonds Boxset Books 1 - 3. With Visions of Red. With Ties that Bind. With Ties That Bind. Living Heartwood Boxed Set Books 1 - 3. How to write a great review. The review must be at least 50 characters long. The title should be at least 4 characters long. Your display name should be at least 2 characters long. At Kobo, we try to ensure that published reviews do not contain rude or profane language, spoilers, or any of our reviewer's personal information.

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Free eBook Add to My Books. In this series Book 2. Ratings and Reviews 3 65 star ratings 3 reviews. Yes No Thanks for your feedback! Fantastic, i loved the story line, enough drama, suspense, humor. Everything to keep you occupied from page one to the last page. Well written story with a lot of heart.

Keep up the good writing Trisha, I can not wait to start part to to real Mel's story. Hope we will read about Holden and Sam too. I really enjoyed this book. The story line was unique and heart wrenching. The characters were really well developed and glad they were able to heal. The romance was great, want to read more for sure. Once I started reading this book I couldn't stop. Loved the story, the characters and the writing. So glad I found this book and can't wait to read more by Trisha: How to write a great review Do Say what you liked best and least Describe the author's style Explain the rating you gave Don't Use rude and profane language Include any personal information Mention spoilers or the book's price Recap the plot.

Close Report a review At Kobo, we try to ensure that published reviews do not contain rude or profane language, spoilers, or any of our reviewer's personal information. Unfortunately, that could not outweigh the things I disliked about the book. I am going to be upfront in my review and not try and play it off that this has a paranormal aspects to it. The heroine in this suffers from psychosis — she thinks she sees her dead boyfriend and that she needs to help him cross over.

Of course what really needs to happen is she needs to face what happened and let him go. There are three main players in this book. Holden and Tyler Marks who are brothers and Sam Wintry, who they have known and lived next to since she was born. They grew up very c I am going to be upfront in my review and not try and play it off that this has a paranormal aspects to it.

They grew up very close. Sam and Holden were the shyer artsy types where Tyler was the athlete and planned to follow in his father footsteps to become a lawyer. Sam had always had a crush on Holden but for circumstances Sam knew nothing about he pushed her away when she finally got the courage to tell him. From that point on her and Tyler cross the friendship line into a relationship and were planning on getting married before he was killed by a hit and run driver. He knows Sam hates him but it breaks his heart to see her so broken now. When he sees that she is going to go on the cross-country trip that she and Tyler had always planned on her own he puts his issues aside to go with her to keep her safe.

What neither of these two expected to happen on this trip is for their wounds to be ripped open which in turn finally causes the long needed healing of both of them to begin and for them both to realize that something that started a very long time ago was always meant to be. Along with the present this book has a lot of flashbacks which are needed to really explain how everyone ended up where they are today.

In doing that it felt like Tyler was a big part of the book even though he was dead when the book started. These three people suffered so much in their short lives. I really enjoyed this book and plan to read the rest in the series. This book is without a doubt utter perfection!

I have been a huge fan of Trisha Wolfe ever since she sent me her fantasy novella, Unveiled , for review I just fell head over heels in love with her writing style and her stories. When she told me she was trying her hand at a NA Contemporary I was beside myself with excitement. I adore contemporary novels and have been on quite a NA kick lately so I couldn't wait to dive into this one. Imagine just how much more excited I got when she said I could beta read it. I was bouncing in my seat I was so excited. The Darkest Part did not disappoint and is possibly the best novel that Trisha has ever written to date.

I was sucked into this story of love lost, mental illness and desperation and it hooked me and touched me like no other NA Contemp I have read. Maybe it's the fact that my degree is in Psychology but the mental health aspect of this story was what I feel makes it so unique from all the other novels that are out there. A lot of NA novels have some traumatic event that has happened in the past but none of them, or at least the ones I have come across, have focussed on the mental impact that can have in terms of being diagnosed with a mental illness.

The Darkest Part not only dwells on it but it is the focus of the story. It has a twist of magic and all the way through you are trying to figure out whether it is a twist of fate and magic or whether it is just a part of the mental illness. It is so cleverly wrote and well done that it has you double thinking and double guessing all the way through.

Only an incredibly talented author would be able to pull that off and Trisha Wolfe does it perfectly. Sam has lost the love of her life. When her boyfriend dies Sam is distraught. But it only lasts so long when she starts to see his Ghost Her family are convinced she has a mental illness But Sam knows its real Enlisting the help of Tyler's estranged brother Holden they take off across the country with Tyler's ashes and take him on one last journey. But the more state lines the cross the more lies of Tyler's past comes to light.

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Sam finds out the dark truths her love kept from her and discovers a darker side to Tyler she never knew Can Sam really get over Tyler when so much is coming to light she never knew? And can she really truth the truth of Tyler's 'ghost' or is it really just a figment of a mental illness. Sam is on a journey to find out She is one of my favourite heroine's of all time.

I know I always talk about how much I want a kick-ass heroine in my books but this is the exception. Not that Sam isn't kick-ass, in her own way she is, but she is vulnerable and has so much trouble to go through and face and you cannot help but love her and root for her all the way through. Although the book is without a doubt a romance, Sam goes through a journey of self-discovery and learns so much about herself and that I find is the best part of the book.

I love the journey that Sam goes on in discovering herself and her struggle of what she believes is true yet everyone else thinks its a mental illness. I love Sam's journey and it makes the book just so unbelievably perfect! I am head over heels in love with Holden. Holden has a past, a seriously messed up past and he is such the bad boy, yet he is perfect in every way. Right from the moment Holden was introduced I fell head over heels in love with him. In everything he did I just loved him more.

He is one of those book boys that you want to grab into the book and pull him out because you love him so much you need him to be read and for him to love you! I think he has taken a permanent spot in my Top Book Boyfriends gallery! The Darkest Part has everything you could possibly want. It has bucket loads of sexual tension, heart-melting romance and love, yet it also has something darker It has that struggle of self-perservation and self-worth and it really takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

I couldn't put it down. I loved every single moment of it. I have read the majority of Trisha's other books and I adore them. I love her fantasy novels but I have to say I think her real talent comes out in this contemporary novel. In contemporary there is nothing to hide behind. No fantasy world, or creatures, or powers The Darkest Part is the best of her books without a doubt. She has really found her place in this genre and I can guarantee she is not going anywhere.

The Darkest Part is pure perfection and a must read for everyone. This is one book that will never leave you. The depth of emotion is so potent that it really grabs you and takes you on this journey and you feel every emotion along with Sam and Holden. You will read it and no matter how long it is since you read it, it still stays with you long after you've finished.

I cannot praise The Darkest Part and Trisha enough. Trisha Wolfe is definitely one author to watch out for. I can see big things for her in the future. Her writing is perfect and her storytelling is one of pure talent and power. The Darkest Part really shows the extent to her storytelling skills and it is pure perfection in every way.

Oct 04, Coco. I have said it before and will say it again, I love Trisha Wolfe. She is an amazing writer who creates these characters that I adore, and never want for them to leave my heart. Her stories leave me breathless, panting, and seriously rooting for the main characters despite the circumstances because they are relatable, they feel and express powerful emotions, and the romances are sizzling. The Darkest Part is no exception to any of this and only increases my level of love for Trish and her writin I have said it before and will say it again, I love Trisha Wolfe.

The Darkest Part is no exception to any of this and only increases my level of love for Trish and her writing. Sam is seeing her dead boyfriend and I can't decide how much it was contemporary or if is should be classified as more of a paranormal, because I believe her and don't think that she is crazy. I think that she is legitimately seeing his spirit and that she is on a mission to help him cross over and find peace instead of fading into the dark.

This book is written in dual perspective and it flashes back to Sam and Tyler's life so that we get a picture of their love and relationship, but we also see Sam and Holden, the other main character, and this is where things get really complicated in the most juicy way possible. Holden and Tyler and brothers and Tyler and Sam grew up best friends, but Sam and Holden also have a romantic past, but it doesn't end well. And I yearned for the moment where I found out Holden's side because from Sam's perspective he just seems like a big jerk, but I knew that something more.

Because I fell for Holden too. The psychological element seemed really well done and researched. As one who suffers from depression, I can relate with what Sam was going through. As a daughter and seeing my mom going through losing my dad, the love of her life, I also can really vouch and relate to the paralyzing grief and feeling of being lost, and tell you that Trisha really nails it. It was a mystery in the sense that I didn't know if she was really seeing Tyler or if it was really a psychosis. The road trip aspect was also a lot of fun. It brought Holden and Sam together and they bonded over their love for Tyler and on the way found themselves healing.

They also build on that friendship they used to have, and I loved every single conversation, deep, light and even the fights because so much truth comes out. Things that shouldn't be hidden. I felt for Sam, but also saw her strength and was proud of herself wanting to heal and taking steps to stand up for herself, and still wanting to honor Tyler's memory. I fell in love with Holden, because even though he has a rough past, and has mistakes, he loved his brother, and made unbelievable sacrifices for him.

He is sexy, confident, but will help those he loves and give them the shirt off his back. We also find out that Tyler had secrets, and it was painful to find out the darker side of him. It also made me begin to question some of the things I thought were facts. Some of it was a great surprise and twist in the story as well. This is realistic, emotional and powerful. Beautifully written and it touched my heart. I will read anything Trisha writes and definitely can't wait for the next book in the Living Heartwood series. Powerful, emotional, beautifully written with a building and sizzling romance.

Jul 06, Aa'Ishah rated it really liked it Shelves: I don't think it's possible to be disappointed by Trisha Wolfe. I opened this, safe in the knowledge that all I had read before I had liked, and expected good things. I think it's safe to say I got good things. In fact, with such a beautifully emotional story and with characters you just want to hug, I'd go so far as to say I got wonderful things.

At first disbelieving I don't think it's possible to be disappointed by Trisha Wolfe. At first disbelieving, now she holds on to seeing him and talking to him to help her get through each day. Her parents, on the other hand, have her meeting with a psychiatrist. She decides she needs to help Tyler cross over, and a plan starts to form: Never mind the fact that she might not be ready for him to go.

When Holden, Tyler's brother, returns to the neighbourhood to see where Tyler's case is at, Sam enlists his help to get hold of his brother's ashes. Holden is the last person she wants to ask given their past, but there's no other choice. What she doesn't plan is for Holden coming with her. Holden, who is increasingly worried at Sam's mental state with each day. Holden, who has secrets of his own. With the past clinging tightly to both of them, it's uncertain whether they'll be able to make it back out. This is a bit of a difficult one because it's marketed as a contemporary, yet there also seems to the be the possibility of the supernatural.

The matter of Tyler's ghost and Sam's mental state is portrayed in such a way as to leave room for doubt. A little more definition may have been desirable, but I believe it works equally well either way. Whichever end of the spectrum this book falls at, the ghost works to bring a delicious level of darkness, on the one hand through its own presence and on the other through conveying Sam's highly troubled state of mind. Add to that a roadtrip and two characters each undergoing their own emotional journey, and there was no way I was being parted from this book before finishing.

Once again Wolfe's writing style proves irresistible, flexible enough that she creates a world so different from her usual creations - real rather than fantasy - and yet still so complex. In addition to which, two perspectives that are clearly different. Sam and Holden are both broken characters, shown to be so in different ways. Ghost or no ghost, she isn't ready to let Tyler go, and that has caused her to let go of herself. Holden is barely holding it together under the weight of guilt and secrets - and now also being close to Sam.

One of the things that really struck me about him was how thoughtful he was. As far as he's concerned Sam is unstable, and in his interactions with her you can see him think through what the best approach would be at any given moment so that she isn't pushed too hard arguments withstanding.

It probably sounds patronising here, but the novel depicts someone very intelligent and very concerned. For such broken characters, then, I thought the roadtrip a perfect way to make and show their own personal journeys. I think that's one of the reasons I love roadtrip stories. At the same time as honouring Tyler's memory they were making their own, and the dynamics between them were constantly changing. There was outright hostility and forgiveness and fear and love and everything in between, not to mention the pretty awesome Biker Melody helping things along.

The past was confronted, demons or do I mean ghosts? Until finally there was just me, face stretched into a wide smile and the presence of two new characters in my heart. The Darkest Part shows what it means to lose someone and to let go. It's beautiful, emotional, well-written. Frankly by this point I don't expect anything less of Trisha Wolfe. If you haven't yet read anything by this author, I would strongly urge you to do so. Seriously, why haven't you? Whether it's myth, fantasy, adventure or, as is the case here, mystery, emotion or even simply a tale of two individuals, there is no doubt that she has you sorted.

This review is also posted on my blog. As much as I'm doing this trip for Tyler, truth is, I'm doing it for me, too. I'm tired of being scared. I'm doing this to set Tyler free, yes, to help him cross over--but deep down, I know it's about more. Who others say is a hallucination. Only problem is, she has to go with Holden or not go at all. Why is this a problem? Now, spending even five minutes in a room with him seems insurmountable. I found this to be really intriguing; hopeless; dark. I loved the last book I read that featured a road trip and that was The Edge of Never.

Everything she had dreamed about had vanished into thin air and now she has to cope with it all alone. Holden was the heart of the story for me. Even though Tyler is long gone, his presence still lingers and it was great to watch unfinished business between the brothers work itself out and Holden get relief from years of guilt and horrible memories. I believed his story and I felt connected to it. The chemistry Holden and Sam had was good and enjoyable.

I loved how their story got a realistic ending with a touch of happiness rather than everything being over the top amazing. She had the possibility to experience two very different loves and I enjoyed reading about both of them. By the way, I saw on Goodreads that it's marked as a part of a series, but I do believe it's a stand-alone.

• Triumphant in Spiritual Warfare: Developing a Relationship With Prayer is Essential in Spiritual Warfare.
• Die Geschichte der Psychotherapie: Von der Magie zur Wissenschaft (German Edition)?
• Living Heartwood Series by Trisha Wolfe?
• The Darkest Part (Living Heartwood, #1) by Trisha Wolfe!

Perhaps there'll be some companion novels in the future. More of my reviews can be found my blog. Here's a good story that draws you in - nicely paced - characters with depth. Trisha Wolfe played with this idea of psychosis versus actual paranormal activity here very well. Nobody was ever quite sure which it was, characters and reader alike.

With the New Adult genre, the characters can get a bit angsty at times. For me, the language here tended to be a bit overmuch. But then you have the plot, which was really good! There were several elements that surprised me. The tension that Wolfe kept un Here's a good story that draws you in - nicely paced - characters with depth. The tension that Wolfe kept until the end was great, revealing each thing little by little without driving us crazy.

And overall, I did like the way the relationship unfolded. It was gradual and appropriate given the time frame. This book was self published with some errors, but it was nothing that stood in the way of the story. It's a good story and pretty well told. I think this can hold its own with most of the big-publisher NA's out there. This is also included briefly in a wrap-up I did of several NA contemporary books: Feb 20, Vani rated it liked it. A pesar de eso, es un muy buen libro y Oct 25, Melanie rated it really liked it Shelves: Things like this , horrible tragedies they have to have a reason why.

Something or someone has to be the cause. Because I can't go on in a world where horrible things happen for no reason at all. Trisha Wolfe is an amazing author. Her characters are all written so that they become a part of you. You are there in the pages of the book right along with them experiencing every emotion that they are feeling. The highs, the lows, the happy, the sad, the heartbreaking, the love and the heat. There Things like this , horrible tragedies they have to have a reason why. There is nothing more fulfilling then finishing a book and having that feeling of contentment.

Yes, you've ran the gamut of emotions, but in the end you got just what you wanted. That is what you get when you read a Trisha Wolfe book. Childhood friends Sam and Tyler were supposed to be married. They were supposed to live a long and happy life together.

They had their honeymoon all mapped out. But Sam's world is ripped apart when Tyler is killed in a hit and run accident. How do you possibly go on when all your plans, hopes and dreams have been shattered? How do you act normal in the world when you are clinging to the ghost of the man you love who has been visiting you since his death? In Sam's case, that grip on reality is slipping. Her family are worried. She refuses to leave the house other than to go to visit her therapist. In fact she barely leaves her room and all that keeps her going are Tyler's visits.

But she soon comes to the realisation that she needs to help Tyler cross over to the other side and the way to do that is to take the trip that her and Tyler had planned and spread Tyler's ashes along the way. So she enlists the help of Tyler's brother Holden. He agrees to get her Tyler's ashes on the condition that he takes the road trip with her.

I want to own her. Every last bit of her, I want to make mine. I want to do so much more than just be with her. Sam and Holden are both damaged. Their time together on this road trip is spent making discoveries, learning secrets and reliving memories. They fight and they test each other. They face old feelings and new. But boy didn't that change quickly!!

Holden has been cast as the black sheep of his family. The bad boy with tattoo's and a lip ring. Wanting nothing to do with his father or the family business he has forged his own path in life. But Holden has secrets. So many heartbreaking secrets!! The things that he has been carrying around on his shoulders would be enough to crush anyone. But he is so caring and loving. Trisha Wolfe is an expert at writing hot, swoony males and Holden Marks is the cream of the crop.

The Darkest Part (Living Heartwood, book 1) by Trisha Wolfe

Sam's pain over losing Tyler was so real. She was so broken down by losing him. There were different scenes throughout the book where my heart broke for her. I could picture what everyone was seeing when they looked at her in my mind so clearly. The girl who was slowly losing her grip on reality. She is passionate and strong willed. Her and Holden were so perfect together. I loved the way their relationship developed. I loved that it was so up and down. I loved the way they loved!!! It's about letting go when all you really want to do is hold on, but it's also about love and second chances.

One of my favourite reads this year!! Aug 18, Maddi rated it it was ok. I first picked up this book because of the many great reviews I saw for it on Goodreads. I liked the way this book started, I instantly felt connected to the characters and felt for their loss seriously, I nearly cried by the 3rd chapter.

I read some really good reviews abou I first picked up this book because of the many great reviews I saw for it on Goodreads. I read some really good reviews about it and wanted to see where the author went with the idea. But I was disappointed by how it was executed. The author was trying to constantly justify the relationship by pointing out that Sam and Holden did have a relationship before, but I disagree that one make out session in the rain 5 years ago counts as a relationship.

I also originally thought the idea behind this story was really cool. A girl diagnosed with psychosis after her fiance dies? And Sam has problems.

So naturally Tyler was a serious part of her life and tied up in her very soul, of course she nearly lost her mind when he died! She jumped from one relationship to the next before she was even taking her meds regularly! It just felt unrealistic and really bothered me! Sam needs to discover who she is on her own before she becomes totally dependent on another guy!!

I would have preferred it if Holden and Sam could have formed more of a close friendship on their road trip by getting to know each other and working out their issues before they began having sex. However there were things I liked… I loved Holden! His brutal honesty was really appreciated. There was no sugar coating anything Holden had to say. He had a funny yet serious inner voice that I really enjoyed. I also genuinely liked the big secret in the book.

Oh and the sex scenes were massively hot. Seriously turned up the heat. It can fight off any outside threat that tries to invade, and in rare cases It may be the darkest part, but a living heartwood is a force to be reckoned with. Yes, this one's pretty similar to Jasinda Wilder's Falling Into You but it's definitely not the same. Call me a masochist but for some reason, I'm just really drawn to this kind of tragic stories and "The way I see it, the heartwood is strong, beautiful, and resilient.

Call me a masochist but for some reason, I'm just really drawn to this kind of tragic stories and this one definitely did not disappoint in making me tear up. That said, I was quite shocked that the author was brave enough to actually include a rather paranormal touch to the story I just didn't expect it from a new adult story but nevertheless, I have to say that it worked to the story's advantage and more than anything And then, there's the whole mystery aspect of the story as well.

The Darkest Part

Holden and Sam were all about finding out the truth behind Tyler's sudden death and I loved that I really wasn't able to correctly predict what really happened. Oh, and let's not forget the romance brewing between Holden and Sam. The fact that they had a sort of history made me warm up to them more even though there was an air of wrongness to what they're feeling towards each other because of Tyler. You were his heaven on earth. And you're still looking out for him, even in death. The story's length proved to be a disadvantage in my opinion because there were still a lot of things that puzzled me and questions left unanswered and unresolved.

I really felt short-handed a bit because I wanted more of view spoiler [Tyler's ghostly presence hide spoiler ] , more depth and insight into Holden's character and persona as well as a deeper understanding of what Holden and Tyler went through in their household. The story felt more like a shortcut to me and that's what hindered it from being completely compelling and captivating.

It's like towards the end, the author just wrote what I should be feeling and thinking instead of letting me feel it through the story development. But hey, I'm still pretty much a fan of Trisha Wolfe. I still recommend this read because it's definitely a unique new adult story that's worth getting lost in. View all 3 comments. Aug 15, Belle rated it really liked it Shelves: A beautiful, heart-wrenching story about how one event can change the outcome of your life, how one choice can impact another and how you must move on from the past in order to be free.

This follows the story of Sam whose childhood best friend turned boyfriend, Tyler, recently died in a car accident. Reeling from her loss she is considered mentally unstable by those around her as she believes she can still see the boy she lost. Holden, Tyler's brother, returns in order to discover the truth behin A beautiful, heart-wrenching story about how one event can change the outcome of your life, how one choice can impact another and how you must move on from the past in order to be free.

Holden, Tyler's brother, returns in order to discover the truth behind his brother's death, and instead runs into Sam, a girl he loved and left behind all those years ago. Both with take a journey together through time, and learn the key to moving on in life is to uncover the secrets and let the truth set them free.

But in this case some of these truths will be harder to face than either of them could ever imagine. One fighting for sanity, one fighting against guilt… they will learn it takes love and each other to heal their broken hearts. I really enjoyed this read, and I won't give away the secrets but let me tell you I loved the path they both traveled together and I loved how both memories and words in a diary were written to delve into the character's past. The changes in POV's also helped carry the storyline along and allowed us to fully comprehend all sides.

Although I do wish we could have read more about Tyler's story. Jan 01, Amanda Sheila rated it really liked it Shelves: Mostly because the idea of still clinging with the past, especially a "ghost", is kind of rubbing me in the wrong way. Because I knew it'll never gonna end up happy.

But this book, surprisingly, I enjoyed it. Sam's family is questioning her sanity when she admit that she starts seeing Tyler's ghost. Tyler, her fiance, is dead before they got married. But Sam is sure that she's indeed, seeing Tyler's ghost. And then to make her last goodbye, she decide 3. And then to make her last goodbye, she decides to do a road trip to scatter his ashes in a place that Tyler would have loved. But then suddenly, Holden is back. Holden is Tyler's older brother who secretly, had a past with Sam.

Both of this scarred young people, are in for a journey of revelation. It's a bit predictable, to be honest, because I have read this style of storyline before, in Jasinda Wilder's book I can't remember the title. That's why I'm not exactly surprised by the twist. But I do enjoyed the author style of writing, because it's been quite a while since I read New Adult books so this one's pretty much refreshing. Overall I liked it, I also liked how Holden behave around Sam. He's a great guy.

Look forward to read another book by this author! Jul 20, Alyssa rated it liked it. August 6, Rating: Trisha has a way of creating a beautiful, intricate story, with tough, interesting characters, and a swoony, sweet romance. I was apprehensive about this book, because I usually dislike New Adult contemporary romance novels.

They seem like the same story, over and over, right? And yet, somehow, authors are making a ton of money with New Adult contemporary romance stories, even though the stories seem recycled! I didn't love this book - it wasn't life-changing for me - but I really enjoyed it.

This book is definitely a different kind of New Adult contemporary romance. There was a dark, raw edge to this book, and it wasn't about rape or abuse or anything that most NA contemporary romance include. Sam is suffering, because her boyfriend and fiance died five months ago from a hit-and-run accident. The sad thing is, she's totally seeing his ghost.

It's all a figment of her imagination, a product of broken psyche.

Everyone thinks she's crazy Sam is the only one who fervently believes that she isn't insane, that Tyler's ghost is real, and that she can see him and hear him. Things begin to unravel when Holden, Tyler's brother and Sam's first crush, comes back to town. Sam and Holden are slightly at odds, but they strike up a terse agreement, and agree to go on a roadtrip together there is so much more to the story than that, but I'm just giving an overview. Basically, this book is one long roadtrip.

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Actually, I think it's a week long. But the entire book is the roadtrip involving Sam and Holden. During this time, we get to see how tormented both of them really are. Both of them have so much to handle, in their own ways. Both of them have self-inflicted problems, and both of them are in denial about something. She's a weak person throughout the book, in terms of her personality, and even in the end, she still seems weak.

I feel like her character development wasn't all that great. Like, she came to a certain decision at the end It felt like she just pulled it out of nowhere. But I really liked Holden. He's not flashed in front of us as the typical New Adult contemporary romance male protagonist. He's hot, yes, and he has a ton of tattoos, but he's not thrust out of the pages, teeming with abs and cocky grins and melty voices and arrogant swaggers. He is complex and twisted in his own way, and not a total alpha male though there are some alpha male parts of his personality that shined through the story.

The story is kind of slow, and the pacing is slow, but I enjoyed the story. I enjoyed the psychological progression of Sam's healing. I really liked the dual points-of-view, but I feel like that's a prerequisite for New Adult contemporary romance novels. I love the perspective that feature adds to the story though! Overall, I enjoyed this book. I probably won't be re-reading this book a billion times, but I am so happy that I got a chance to read it! What I Did Not Like: She's crazy in the worst way possible, after Tyler's death. And Sam has a lot of problems.

And I got irritated with her a lot. But I understand and can empathize.

Living Heartwood Series

That made this book easier to read. I feel like the characters in this book don't communicate very well, until the very end. This is a problem with most New Adult contemporary romance books though. The guy and the girl never really explain how they feel, until the very end of the book. I can see why this appeals to authors - it shows growth in the characters - but at the same time, so many books feature characters that don't communicate well. Would I Recommend It: This is a good read! I would recommend to New Adult contemporary romance lovers, but also to people who like a book with a solid romance and heartbreaking plot.

This book isn't all about what one would think about, when referring to an NA contemporary romance novel. So, there are so many audiences for this book! Lindy's Thoughts The Darkest Part by Trisha Wolfe was such a beautiful story about first love that is lost and then found, with heartbreak, secrets, finding yourself, and learning how to pick up the pieces when your life doesn't turn out the way you had always planned or thought it would. Wolfe writes the most beautiful prose. Her words have a poetic quality to them and painted beautiful pictures in my head.

This story was difficult for me to read, because it was so realistic of life and the Lindy's Thoughts The Darkest Part by Trisha Wolfe was such a beautiful story about first love that is lost and then found, with heartbreak, secrets, finding yourself, and learning how to pick up the pieces when your life doesn't turn out the way you had always planned or thought it would. This story was difficult for me to read, because it was so realistic of life and the devastation of loss.