MOST LOVE STORIES HAVE ONE BEGINNING AND ONE ENDING. THIS LOVE STORY HAS MANY.
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julie Ann Walker comes an epic story about sacrifice, friendship, and the awe-inspiring power of love.
Maggie: Ten years ago, Cash Armstrong stole my heart. Then he promptly joined the army—dragging my best friend with him—and left me crying on the front porch in a red sequined prom dress. Now he’s back. They’re both back. Cash, the one who still has my heart. And Luc, the one who saved my life.
Cash: How do you know if you’re at the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end? That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out since a traumatic brain injury made me “unfit to serve.” I’m back in New Orleans, and picking up the shattered pieces of my past means I must confront where my life’s journey began… and where it all might end.
Luc: Long ago, Maggie May was mine. Not mine in the way you might think. She was mine because she was my only friend. Then Cash came along and we became brothers by something stronger than blood. We became brothers by choice. When tragedy struck, I was forced to make a decision that changed all our lives. I thought, after ten years, it was safe to come back home. I was wrong…
Review:
A totally different vibe from everything else I’ve read by Julie Ann Walker–heck, it takes place in New Orleans, a setting known for its laid-back, party atmosphere (where I totally want to go now, BTW–thanks for that, Ms. Walker!) not one of her usual adrenaline-fueled locations–I knew this 3 volume, 900-page series was going to be quite a commitment going in, but since I loved everything else I’ve read from her, I was game.
Even though it’s not a romantic suspense, there is plenty here to keep the reader guessing. Even though we get 3 POV characters in Maggie, Cash, and Luc, there are secrets that they’re keeping–from the world, from the reader, and even from each other. One big secret (why Cash left 10 years ago) is finally revealed toward the end of this book–that question was driving me crazy–but there’s plenty more to come in the next two volumes (what’s “the Plan”? What exactly happened 10 years ago in the swamp?) and of course the suspense of whether or not the past will come back to haunt them all might make me crazy before the story’s over. Thank goodness all 3 volumes are available at once!
I can honestly say I’m not 100% sure where this story is going to end up, and that might keep me up for a few nights because I have to know, darn it. I’m not a huge fan of love triangles, and this one definitely veers that way–hopefully Ms. Walker can bring us to a resolution and HEA that takes into account how much I like all 3 of them…
Now–back to reading for me. Volumes 2 and 3 await!
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.