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The One You Fight For
by Roni Loren
Taryn Landry blames herself for her sister's death. Taryn was there the night of the Long Acre High School shooting, but no one knows her real role.
Fourteen years later, and Taryn is now a psychologist and trying to secure funding for the program she's spent her entire career creating, a program she hopes will help prevent future kids from becoming like the ones who shot up her high school. Taryn has no time for anything else, but she's increasingly distracted by a the sexy fitness trainer at the new gym her best friend has convinced her to join.
Shaw Miller is also hiding from the scars of his childhood, blaming himself for the monster his little brother became. Shaw's brother was one of the gunmen and it has ruined Shaw's Olympic career, his life, and the lives of so many others.
Shaw has become a recluse, refusing to have relationships with anyone but his best friend, the friend who's convinced him to return to his hometown to help open new extreme sporting gym. Shaw only agreed if he could be someone else, and if he could be out in a year.
What Shaw wasn't counting on was the beautiful Taryn coming into his life, a woman he met out one evening and had immediate sparks with. A woman he gave a fake name to, a woman who has no idea that her sister was killed by his brother.
This romance has all the warning lights going for - how could these two EVER find a happily ever after?
Well, Loren does it, and with aplomb. You'll find yourself rooting for both Shaw and Taryn, both damaged, both needing to forgive themselves, and both absolutely perfect for each other.
This book avoids being a cliche and is a wonderful example of how to use a terrible, highly charged plot point in a respectful and meaningful way. Loren never digresses into grand standing or politics, but keeps the focus on the victims, giving them names.
So far, one of the best series I've ever read that uses a school shooting as its impetus. Bravo!
Also, love the cover of this book. Taryn is Black and her identity informs and drives the story, but isn't the central conflict.
Fourteen years later, and Taryn is now a psychologist and trying to secure funding for the program she's spent her entire career creating, a program she hopes will help prevent future kids from becoming like the ones who shot up her high school. Taryn has no time for anything else, but she's increasingly distracted by a the sexy fitness trainer at the new gym her best friend has convinced her to join.
Shaw Miller is also hiding from the scars of his childhood, blaming himself for the monster his little brother became. Shaw's brother was one of the gunmen and it has ruined Shaw's Olympic career, his life, and the lives of so many others.
Shaw has become a recluse, refusing to have relationships with anyone but his best friend, the friend who's convinced him to return to his hometown to help open new extreme sporting gym. Shaw only agreed if he could be someone else, and if he could be out in a year.
What Shaw wasn't counting on was the beautiful Taryn coming into his life, a woman he met out one evening and had immediate sparks with. A woman he gave a fake name to, a woman who has no idea that her sister was killed by his brother.
This romance has all the warning lights going for - how could these two EVER find a happily ever after?
Well, Loren does it, and with aplomb. You'll find yourself rooting for both Shaw and Taryn, both damaged, both needing to forgive themselves, and both absolutely perfect for each other.
This book avoids being a cliche and is a wonderful example of how to use a terrible, highly charged plot point in a respectful and meaningful way. Loren never digresses into grand standing or politics, but keeps the focus on the victims, giving them names.
So far, one of the best series I've ever read that uses a school shooting as its impetus. Bravo!
Also, love the cover of this book. Taryn is Black and her identity informs and drives the story, but isn't the central conflict.