Imagine being in love with the same girl since you were ten
years old, only to have her fall for your twin instead. This story is rocky.
It will rip you apart and possibly put you back together
again.
I know this because it's my story.
The pain and anguish experienced in this is what it was like
to hold onto hope that some day we'd find each other again. I won't sugar coat the details of what I went
through to have her, nor will I apologize for any actions that led me right
back into her life.
Sometimes love isn't enough.
Sometimes it takes a little fate.
Love Survives is book two in the Love Suicide Series by Jenn Foor. You do not have to read book one in order to read book two. That being said. I did not read book one.
I was conflicted with this book.
The story is of Brooks Valentine and his lifelong love for his next door neighbor, Kathryn Michaels. Brooks has been in love with Katy since they were 12, the only problem is Branch, Brooks twin brother, has always been in his way. This causes Brooks' life into a downward spiral. The
whole time Brooks is miserable. Everyone in his life knows this, his brother, his parents, they know he loves
Katy. Branch's lies keep Brooks and Katy apart. And so in order to flee from the pain, he enlists in the Army.
I guess my pain problem with this book is that as much of a great guy Brooks is, he was such a pushover. Everyone knew his feeling for Katy, including Katy, yet he really did nothing about it. There wasn't a lot of dialogue but mostly inner thoughts of how Brooks saw everything that was going on around him. Katy I had a real love hate relationship with her too. She knew the real deal with Brooks. And as soon as it looked like things were finally going to come together for her and Brooks...they would run. It was frustrating to say the least. Brooks actions should have spoken louder that Branch's lies and deception. Brooks was always the one to be there as her friend, her protector, her savior. It was painful to watch how brutally mean Branch was to his brother,
deceiving both Brooks and Katy into believing they were better off as
friends.
There is so much more to their story, but I'm not one for giving the full rundown on a book. But I will tell you, if you enjoy angst. This book is full of it and you'll enjoy the book. I'm not the best at taking large quantities of angst and so this book pushed me a little over the edge. Was the story good? Yes. Would I read book one to see the story from Katy's POV? More than likely yes.
An author writes to tell a story, to push buttons, to make you think. And Jenn Foor did all those things and more.
Dear Mom and Dad,
I wanted you to know
that I’ve arrived overseas, and have settled in the best I’m able to. I owe you
both an apology. Never in a million years did I see things playing out the way
they have. I didn’t show up at the wedding to ruin everyone’s lives. The truth
is that I couldn’t help myself. I had to pursue her, because I’ve loved that
girl since we were children. She’s everything to me.
I know I made a mess
of things. I screwed up and embarrassed you. I ruined my relationship with
Branch, but I think you deserve to know why. All this time, all the years since
they started dating, he’d been feeding Kat and I lies, keeping us apart. From
the age of twelve he told me Kat wasn’t interested. I trusted him.
Apparently he was
doing the same to Kat, telling her that I didn’t like her that way. All this
time we could have been together, but instead he weaseled his way into her
heart, making her feel bad for ever having feelings for me.
I’m not saying that
what I did wasn’t wrong. I know right from wrong. Two people went into my hotel
room that night, and what happened was mutual. We knew the risks, but took them
anyway. I honestly couldn’t stop myself. Once the truth was revealed nothing
could have kept me from her.
I snapped.
You may never be able
to understand what it’s been like for me, watching her with him, year after
year, as if I was a punching bag. I’ve got thick skin, but even the toughest
person would have broken down at some point. I’ve been trained to replace pain
with power, but this doesn’t apply. I’m on a path of destruction, because I
simply don’t care anymore. Branch ruined my life. He was the reason I had to
get away. Joining the military was my way out. I knew it would keep me from
coming home, and bearing the burden of watching them happy. I punished myself
for loving her, and attempted to move on with no result. No matter how hard I
try I can’t stop loving her, and that’s why I know I can’t come home. There’s
nothing left there for me except pain. I’ll never regret being able to live
under the same roof as my two best friends, but I will hate myself for not
going after what I wanted sooner. I could have prevented all of this. We could
be sharing our lives together, having children, and waking up to knowing
nothing will tear us apart. Instead I’m on the other side of the world,
throwing myself into defending my country, because it’s the only thing keeping
me going.
I can’t promise that
I’ll write back all the time. It’s hard for me to sit down and put my feelings
on paper. I’ve already been warned that what I’m about to see over here will
haunt me forever. I’m used to living in hell, so I’ve got every reason to
believe that I’ll get through it. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry that I was
such a disappointment. I was acting out, because I couldn’t have what I wanted.
Jealousy took control, forcing my hand to make irrational decisions. At the end
of the day I deserve to be here, in the middle of this battle zone. If
something happens to me and I don’t return please don’t dwell on my death. Just
know I’m no longer in any pain. Nothing will ever hurt me again.
Thank you for bringing
me up right, and teaching me what was love was. As much as it hurts, I don’t
regret experiencing it. How I feel about Kat is something special. Not everyone
finds their true love so early in life. Perhaps that’s why I couldn’t keep her.
Maybe I had enough time with her when we were younger. No matter the case, I’m
appreciative.
Take care of her and
Branch. Help them to make amends. We’ll always be family.
Until next time with
love,
Brooks
Jennifer Foor is an award winning Contemporary
Romance Author. She's best known for the Mitchell Family Series, which includes
ten books.
She is married with two children and spends
most of her time behind a keyboard, writing stories that come from her
heart.
Love’s
Suicide
My heart belonged to Branch and Brooks
Valentine since we were children, when we were all too naïve to know what that
even meant. We didn’t understand that when we became adults, love would change
us. I had to make a choice and when I did, it ripped our bond apart. Brooks
left town, and he took half of my heart with him. It was difficult, but I coped
and planned my future with Branch. I thought I’d made the right decision. I
loved him and I always had.Brooks showed up to be our best man the night before our nuptials. After drinks and too much reminiscing, I ended up in bed with the wrong brother. To avoid the humiliation and the fact that I’d ruined all of our lives, I left Branch and the only family I’d ever known.
That’s where my story should have ended.
Two years, one beautiful little girl and an abusive marriage later, I was standing there staring at the man that would always hold my heart.
The only question was…
Would I give it to him
I’m Katy Michaels and this is my story.
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