The day I met Emily Bennett my whole world changed. Sure, we were just kids, but I was old enough to know my life would never be the same. She was my best friend. My destiny. My fate. I wasn’t wrong…I just didn’t know how twisted fate could be.

Nikki Fallon

After the death of my mother, moving from my dark and dreary trailer park to sunny California, I was focused on one thing – finding a sister I’d only just learned existed. Falling in love with him wasn’t part of the plan. But he filled a void I never knew was possible to fill. He had to be my fate. My destiny. Until the day I finally found out who my sister was…and how twisted fate could be.

Review

How do you go on – continue to live your life – when the person who meant everything to you is no longer there? How do you act as if their loss hasn’t destroyed every part of you and left you with regrets and sadness that you don’t know how to deal with? This is the tragic situation that Nikki Fallon and Zack Martin find themselves in when their lives come crashing down around them, and they’re left behind, forced to carry on. Fate weaves a tangled web, though, and soon their paths cross. They become each other’s lifeline – a way to ease the pain that’s sustained them since their loss, but with untold secrets festering to be revealed, the new lives they’re trying to live may be snatched away from them before they even really get started, and once again, Nikki and Zack may be left behind without each other to help ease the burden.

Nikki’s life hasn’t been easy. Being raised by a singer parent, who is both mentally and physically ill, caused her to become the caretaker for most of her mother’s life in less than stellar conditions. Through it all, though, Nikki’s fought to keep her head above water and take every day as it comes, regardless of what she’s faced with, and that outlook has helped her overcome a plethora of bad situations. But when her mother dies, everything that she’s ever known is called into question as soon as she finds a piece of her mother’s past that links Nikki to another person. This connection may be the silver lining that Nikki’s been looking for since losing her mother, but it’s going to take strength and determination to see it through until the end, and even when she gets there, it might not be the news that she wants to hear.

Zack’s life hasn’t been anything like Nikki’s; in fact, the only connection that they share is due to the losses they’ve both experienced. The circumstances surrounding the death of his loved one weighs heavily on Zack and consumes him with guilt, which he finds extremely hard to move on from. But when Nikki enters his life, he feels a sense of peace wash over him that he never expected, and despite his regret and feelings of betrayal, he finds himself needing to be in her presence to survive the days when the depression wants to drag him under.

Left Behind is a beautifully written tale about what it takes to let go of the pain and carry on even when one’s heart tells them not to. It’s a cathartic experience that illustrates how secrets have a way of coming out and changing all aspects of one’s life, but as long as they can be dealt with, those revelations don’t have to destroy one’s future. Vi Keeland and Dylan Scott do a tremendous job of developing both Nikki and Zack as characters, and despite the fact that I figured out the twist early on, the writing style allowed me to still enjoy the reveal and cheer Nikki and Zack on towards their happy ending.

A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 poison apples

Excerpt

He looks up and I watch his eyes take me in. Slowly. They rake over me, dropping from my eyes to my glossed lips down to my exposed shoulders. Taking his time, he follows the neckline of my simple, yet body contouring sundress, lingering when he reaches my full breasts. I’m sufficiently covered, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t aware that the dress showed off my assets well. Tight around my chest, gathering snuggly at the waist, with a scant amount of cleavage. Just enough coverage to still leave something for him to imagine. And I watch his face change as his imagination takes off running.

His eyes drift down my legs, tanned now from the eternal California sun. Momentarily he’s lost in what he sees and doesn’t even notice I’m watching him leer. Totally worth the extra effort getting ready tonight, I couldn’t be happier at the reaction I get. Eventually, his eyes make their way back up to mine and I arch one eyebrow, letting him know he’s been caught. A normal reaction might be to look embarrassed or perhaps even flustered a little. But not Zack. Instead, he flashes me a wicked grin. “You look incredible.” He’s the one doing the leering, yet I’m the one who ends up blushing.

Watch the trailer at: http://youtu.be/cy7W_QO34y0

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About the Authors

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn’t change for the world. She is a bookworm and has been known to read her kindle at stop lights, while styling her hair, cleaning, walking, during sporting events, and frequently while pretending to work. She is a boring attorney by day, and an exciting smut author by night!

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Dylan Scott

Dylan Scott is a New York trial attorney, wife and mother of four. She believes her job as a trial attorney is a subcategory to the field of entertainment more than law. With a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature she believed teaching English was a destined career choice until she realized her life long talent of “argument” could actually be her job. A recent, fairly boring, midlife crisis resulted in a brief stint as a middle school English teacher which confirmed that she wasn’t ready to give up the law. Dylan has also taught legal courses at the college level and worked with at-risk inner city youth in the roles of mentor and coach. She is co-author Vi Keeland’s biggest fan.

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