To the StarsThatch #2
By:
Molly McAdams
Published:
Feb. 9, 2016
Publisher:
William Morrow PB
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Source:
eARC from publisher in exchange for a honest review
GR's Summary:
In the second book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Molly McAdams’ Thatch series, Knox Alexander must convince his long-time love Harlow Evans that they’re meant to be together.
He promised to wait for her. She told him he was wasting his time. Not waiting for him ended up being the biggest mistake of her life.
When they were younger, Knox Alexander swore to Harlow Evans that he would wait for her to turn eighteen so they could be together. But that was three and a half years away, and Harlow couldn’t ask him to give up all the fun and thrills of going away to college for her. As the years passed, Knox remained a constant in her life—whether she liked it or not—but when her eighteenth birthday came around, Harlow’s heart belonged to someone else.
Every day for the last four years, Harlow has been haunted by that fateful choice. And though he may appear unaffected by what happened in their past, Knox has always tried to fill the void Harlow left. But when he comes stumbling back into her life and refuses to leave, will Harlow finally let him into her heart…?
My Thoughts:
A valuable lesson that I have learned from reading Molly McAdams is that I need to emotionally prepare myself, before diving into one of her books. I also need to load up on tissue for tears, take a few breaks to regroup, and follow it up with a light fluffy read. No matter the emotional turmoil, angst, and tears, her books are ones that I truly treasure. Ms. McAdams has such a way of writing, that I "feel" everything that her characters go through. I sympathize with them, anguish with them, and hope that they will get eventually get the peace and happiness that they deserve.
In To the Stars, we get Harlow "Low" Evans and Knox Alexander's story. These two met when Low was just fifteen years old and Knox was seventeen going on eighteen. They couldn't be together, due to their age gap. However, they talked on the phone constantly, and saw each other frequently. Knox wanted to do the honorable thing, and so, he promised Low that he would wait for the day that she would turn eighteen, and they could be together. Circumstances changed, and Low ended up married to another man, but they both never stopped loving one another.
Fast forward four years later and Low is married to an abusive, sadistic, wealthy, and powerful man. She cannot escape her fate, due to the fact that he threatens to harm her family, and has proven that he has just the means to do it. Knox is a firefighter, who works hard, lives with his two best friends Graham and Deacon, and plays the field. There isn't a woman who can measure up to Low. When fate brings these two back together, the stakes are higher than ever. Knox cannot risk losing the only woman he's ever loved. Yet, his biggest concern is for her safety. Can her rescue Low, and live the happily ever after that he's always dreamed of?
To the Stars was raw, traumatic, disturbing, and realistic in the portrayal of abuse. I felt every slap, hair-pull, bruise, and choke-hold that Low endured at the hands of her crazy husband. He was controlling, possessive, jealous, and paranoid. Ms. McAdams captured the fear, desperation, guilt, and helplessness that victims endure at the hands of their victimizers. Low's abuser, Collin, made my skin crawl, and I hated him with a vengeance. If you've ever wondered why a woman would stay in an abusive relationship, read this book. It isn't as easy to get away as you would think.
Secondary characters from the first book in the series, Letting Go, made a reappearance. I enjoyed reconnecting with Grey, Jagger, Graham, and Deacon. Although, Graham and Deacon irritated me at times in the story with the way they treated Low, I know that they were just being overprotective of Knox. You'll be happy to know that they redeem themselves in the story as they take on the 'Mother Hen' role with Low.
Secondary characters from the first book in the series, Letting Go, made a reappearance. I enjoyed reconnecting with Grey, Jagger, Graham, and Deacon. Although, Graham and Deacon irritated me at times in the story with the way they treated Low, I know that they were just being overprotective of Knox. You'll be happy to know that they redeem themselves in the story as they take on the 'Mother Hen' role with Low.
Low and Knox were meant to be. They both made mistakes along the way, but that's why this story was so realistic. I think their youth, as well as outside influences were what worked against them at the beginning. Low lost her glow, and was scarred from the abuse that she endured. Yet, Knox could still see through to the girl that he had fallen in love with. Their love was eternal, and I wanted them to find their way back to each other.
My Rating:
Book Teasers:
Book Excerpt:
Just as she was leaning in for another kiss, she jolted and her eyes widened. “What’s wrong?” I asked when she didn’t say anything or move.
“I think…”
“What?”
“Did a bird just poop on my head?” she asked in a horrified voice.
I laughed loudly, and looked at her like she’d lost it. “In the middle of the night? I doubt it.” Still laughing, I rolled us over and pressed my body closer to hers. As I brought my mouth back down to hers, I felt the rain start falling against the back of my neck. I let out a sigh against her lips, and said, “And that would be your bird.”
“No, no!” Harlow scrambled out from under me and off the blanket, and tried to take off in the direction of my truck, but I was up and after her within seconds.
I hooked an arm around her waist before she could get far, and swung her body back against mine.
“Knox!” she screamed through her laughs as she tried to get away from me. “We need to get back to the truck!”
“What’s a little rain when you’re from Seattle?”
“Because I always look awful when I see you, and I actually tried to look nice this time!” She giggled and tried to pull away again, but stopped when I pressed her back to my chest.
“You wanted romantic,” I whispered into her ear, and wrapped an arm around her waist. I played with the sliver of skin exposed on her stomach, and smiled when she shivered against me. Taking the loose collar of her shirt in my other hand, I pulled until it fell down her arm, and moved my mouth in a line across her shoulder. “Dance with me.”
Harlow turned her head slowly toward mine, and our eyes locked for heated seconds as I swayed us back and forth. An audible exhale blew past her lips when I traced the bridge of my nose along her jaw and trailed the tips of my fingers up her stomach, across her chest, and down her arms. Grabbing her hands in mine, I turned her around so we were facing each other, and pulled her close again as I resumed the slow dance.
I’d played this out differently in my head when I’d stopped her from running back to my truck. I’d thought of having fun with the dance and making her laugh in that way that always got to me. But this … with our slow movements in the pouring rain with the girl I’d waited years for … I wouldn’t want it any other way.
About Molly McAdams:
Molly grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband and furry four-legged daughters. When she's not diving into the world of her characters, some of her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling, and long walks on the beach … which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies and fried pickles, and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm ... or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren't really happening.
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