“I’m going to fight for my family and I’ll do it dirty if I have to…
I’m going to prove that you’re still madly in love with me…”
HOLYYYYY SHIT!!!!! I read both Here With Me and Choose Me back-to-back because I quite literally COULD. NOT. PUT. THEM. DOWN!!!! Together they tell a complete story and IT WAS AWESOME!!!!! OMG. My heart!!! Gah!!! The feels!!! I was glued to the page from start to finish and just couldn’t turn those pages fast enough. If you’re looking for a unique, well written, roller coaster of a story that will keep your heart racing the whole way through to fall in love with, I’d HIGHLY recommend these books!!
This is a review of both books because together they tell one story.
The story is about Evan Archer, a Navy SEAL, who fell in love with a girl when they were in high school. They built and planned a life together. He was sent away on a mission that ended up going wrong. It was supposed to be a quick in and out but they ended up away for six years. Ryley was told he was dead. A body was sent home. She buried the man she loved and was forced to move on. Her life fell apart and Evan’s twin brother Nate Archer was there to help her pick up the pieces, and help her raise her son. Until the day Evan came home, with no idea that she didn’t know he was alive… and found her engaged to Nate.
*gasp* 😉
You should know that I’m NOT a fan of love triangles but I’m still loved this series! Here’s why: There were no “teams” for me here. Not even for a single moment. I was never once “torn” between the two guys. Don’t get me wrong, I liked them both, but there was absolutely no doubt in my mind who she should be with and I checked the ending of the second book before I even started them (don’t judge me) to be sure that he was in fact the one. Honestly, I wouldn’t have reviewed these if they’d ended any other way, so basically… Without spoilers, I’ll just say that if you’re worried about anything in them, don’t be! Just enjoy the ride! It’s a wild one that’ll tug all your heart strings in the best possibly way. ❤
The cool thing is that these are actually “romantic suspense” books. The suspense comes from the fact that, remember how Evan’s mission took six years? Well, it wasn’t supposed to. There was a cover up… and a whole mystery there over what the hell happened to their team. It added an ‘edgy’ feeling to the story that I really loved. I needed answers!!! I was just an invested in this part as I was in the romance.
Anyways, when you start the first book you’ll see that you’re hit with the feels right from the start. There’s no ‘easing you in’. You just hit the ground running! I actually love that. I love instantly just being immersed into the story. It’s also one of those stories where I started it, got sucked right in, and suddenly I looked down and I was at 25% … then 60%… then 90% … — it just kinda takes over your life.
It’s honestly hard for me to talk about this any more than this without giving spoilers so I’m just going to stop and hope that you’re intrigued enough to give them a shot because it’s an awesome series!
By the way, I have a ton of quotes highlighted but… every time I look through them, I can see how they *could* be taken as a spoiler so that’s the only reason I decided not to include any here.
These two books tell a complete story. The ending is fully resolved on all accounts and the third book in the series will be a standalone about a completely different guy. His story sounds crazy cool though so I’m excited for it. But that’s separate. Consider these as their own 2-book series within a larger series.
PS: or those of you who (like me) neeeeeeed to know for sure who she ends up with, here’s the spoiler:
| Spoiler Inside | Show |
|---|---|
Dual rating: 4.5+ stars! Contemporary romantic suspense.
____________________________
*** READING ORDER ***
#1 HERE WITH ME — Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback
#2 CHOOSE ME — Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback
Lily says
Love love loooooove these!
Aestas says
YAY!!! 😀
Samantha says
that’s it. I’m starting tonight! Thx 🙂
Aestas says
Very welcome!! Happy reading 😀
Grace says
Ahh, ok. I need to read these lol
Aestas says
Haha!! YES 😀
Stacie H says
Well now that know what I’m going to read next once I finish Fuel the Fire (which I am totaling loving).
Thanks
Aestas says
I’m starting FTF next!! I hope you love these 😀
Alissa says
I seen that you were reading these yesterday, I started reading and like you couldn’t put them down!!! I hung onto every word on the page.. It was brilliantly written and its left me with a book hangover.. I’ve been wanting a book that makes me feel so much for some time now and I got it with these 2 🙂
Aestas says
I feel the same!! These were definitely books that hit the spot 😀
Leanna says
Finished these this morning and loved them too. Such good books!
Aestas says
So glad to hear that!! 🙂
Yvette says
Hmm…sounds like an episode of Homeland, except without the twin brothers. Have you seen it? It’s a great series. Brody goes to war and leaves his wife and children behind. He’s gone for years and everyone thinks he’s dead. His best friend steps in to take care of Brody’s family in his absence. Of course, the best friend winds up falling in love with Brody’s wife and they make plans to marry. And then, Brody returns….
Aestas says
Ha, you’re right, there’s a light similarity in the set-up (I have watched 3 seasons of Homeland) but I will say that it’s different enough that the similarity never came to my mind when I was reading. The focus here is on the couple, not on any potential of him being a bad guy or anything 🙂
Boz says
Started the first book today and like you said it’s gripped me from the first page!!! I have been holding off until the 2nd book released – and I’ve been good and I haven’t read your spoiler -yet!!!
Aestas says
Hahaha 😉 I wonder if you will… ?
Boz says
I was strong and didn’t look!!!
I finished Choose Me today and I loved it. I want more!!
Aestas says
😀
skyline1210 says
Bought these 2 days ago and I’m done. Couldn’t stop reading. Heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. I was so so so happy at the end when everything was resolved about who, what, why… Can’t wait for the 3rd book, I have a feeling it will be the same emotional roller coaster as these two were for me. Great review 😉
Aestas says
Thank you! I’m so glad you loved them!!
misty says
I’m only at the first book but I really want to find out who the 3rd book is about. You have any details? Eeeeee, cant wait!
Aestas says
It says at the end of the second book 🙂
Alin says
Loved the first one that I had to ‘auto buy’ the 2nd !
Heather L says
I love this series.