REDEFINING US | BY HARLOE RAE

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MY REVIEW

This is a heartbreaking story, the turmoil that Xander is going through is almost too much to bear. He is in so much pain that it’s almost unbearable to read. I feel so bad for him. The only way he knows how to cope is to push everyone away.

Willow is missing Xander so much that she will do whatever it takes to get him back, even put up with his vitriol.

Xander and Willow have been best friends for as long as they can remember, they always had each others back until Xander went off to enlist and never spoke to Willow again.

“When I am having a bad day, or we get into brutal battle, or a friend gets hurt, or… just something awful happens, I will think of your smile because it always makes me happy.”

Xander and Willow grew up together and were friends since they were about 8 years old. They both were in love with each other but never spoke up and said anything. They were both too afraid of rejection.

“Willow Shae, I could never stay away from you longer than necessary, so you don’t even have to ask. But yes, I promise and swear I will be back as soon as possible to return to our regularly scheduled friendship.”

Willow has been aching for any type of contact from Xander its been three years and she has no clue where her best friend is or if he’s even alive at this point.

Xander is dealing with so much and keeps pushing everyone away, he even tries to push Willow away and she goes but she comes back and realizes that she wants to help. No one knows what Xander’s been through. And Willow is a crisis counselor so she has some experience dealing with trauma.

But being so close to the situation is a little harder for her but she manages to reach Xander and help pull him out of the worst of his trauma. He’s not healed but he’s trying where as before he just gave up on himself.

“Don’t let go, alright? I mean it. I can do this but I need you here. I don’t care how that makes me sound. You’re my strength when the darkness threatens to consume me.

I loved seeing them finally open up to each other and say how they felt. I also love how sweet Xander ending up being with Willow after his initial shock and anger.

“I’m in love with you, Willow.” I don’t let the sharp hitch in her breath deter me. “The deep, life changing, irrecoverable, all consuming kind.

They had to work hard to communicate with each other without misunderstanding one another. They had to fight for every inch of ground.

And I love how even though Willow was mad at Xander for not communicating with her she didn’t leave him in his world of torment. She pushed through because she knew he needed her to be a friend more than anything else.

“My sweet Wills, you are the love of my life. My fated destiny. You are my soulmate. My light in the darkness. You’re my queen. The one I want to grow old with. My brave savior. You’re my beginning and end. My absolute everything.”

I love how they fit together and I love and angsty story, but this one was a bit hard to take at certain points. I had to come back to it when I could. 

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WOULD I RECOMMEND:

I would definitely recommend this book. If you’re looking for a tortured soul that is trying to find his way to the light for the woman he loves then this is the one for you.

This is some what in the grump/sunshine trope but that is because of everything that Xander went through.

This was such a heart wrenching story, even though I had to put it down I still finished this book pretty quickly because it was so engaging. Oh and I loved the tidbits from their past together, where we could see their friendship.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Harloe Rae is a USA Today & Amazon Top 10 best-selling author. Her passion for writing and reading has taken on a whole new meaning. Each day is an unforgettable adventure.

She’s a Minnesota gal with a serious addiction to romance. There’s nothing quite like an epic happily ever after. When she’s not buried in the writing cave, Harloe can be found hanging with her hubby and kiddos. If the weather permits, she loves being lakeside or out in the country with her horses.

Harloe is the author of the Reclusive series, Watch Me Follow, the #BitterSweetHeat series, Ask Me Why, the Silo Springs series, Left for Wild, and Leave Him Loved. These titles are available on Amazon.

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