Juliana Stone

This book almost did me in. Every once in a while I come across a book that will have me in tears and feeling every emotion the characters do and completely absorbs me The Christmas He Loved Her is that book times a million. This is such a heartfelt, gut wrenching story. There are so many aspects and so many feelings that it was almost too much at times. I didn't know what to feel half of the time.

"But right now, in this lifetime, in this moment... it's different. It's raw and it's hungry, show more and I don't think that I can live without you."
~Raine

We start with Jake Edwards, who lost his brother overseas and blames himself, and Raine Edward his brothers widow. Raine and Jake have known each other since they were kids, and Raine fully admits that she was always in love with both Jake and Jesse. I have read the widow story line before, but it is so much harder to read when the late spouse was a likable, upstanding person. What the story conveys so well though, is that there are different kinds of love. I never feel like Jake and Raine were betraying Jesse. When you lose someone you love there is always pain to overcome, but where Raine and Jake are concerned there is almost too much pain to deal with. They are dealt so much more than the loss of a brother/husband and they almost miss their chance at happiness again.

"'We're trying to survive,' she whispered through tears.
I'm trying to survive."
~Raine

At first Jake and Raine try to form a relationship without clearing their history first, and it works for a while. Despite their love for one another they both have too many secrets and feel too much blame to form a cohesive relationship. Raine is such a heartbreaking character, she has experienced enough grief for an army. The one thing she finds that she needs in her life is Jake. Not as a crutch or as a replacement for Jesse, but to make her heart whole again. With the circumstances she has been handed in life she finds that if you can find that all consuming love, it shouldn't matter who it is with, she needs to grab it and live her life without regrets. Jake on the other hand can't get past the guilt of watching his brother die in front of his eyes, and he feels that by falling for Raine he is taking over Jesse's life. These two have to learn to forgive themselves, Jesse and each other. This is such a beautiful story of two people finding acceptance and learning to love again. Juliana Stone is a fantastic writer and I am in awe of how captivating this story is. The Christmas He Loved Her is a book that sets the standards for all books in my opinion. Make sure to pick up a copy and fall in love with Jake and Raine the way I did!

Happy Reading!
*ARC provided by Net Galley in exchange for an honest opinion* show less

The Bad Boys of Crystal Lake are back and Oh. My. Goodness. Juliana Stone pretty much ripped my heart to shreds with Jake and Raine's story. There is so much raw emotion and anguish in The Christmas He Loved Me, it is positively gut wrenching. This deeply emotional read will make you laugh, cry and ultimately rejoice as Jake and Raine finally break free of their haunting pasts and find their much deserved happily ever after.

A year and a half after he left town following his brother Jesse's show more funeral, Jake Edwards returns home just in time for the holidays. Waiting for him are all of the problems he left behind and topping the list of things he would give anything to avoid? His childhood friend and Jesse's widow, Raine. Running a pretty close second? His overwhelming (and somewhat misplaced) guilt. Guilt over Jesse's death. Guilt over his feelings for Raine. And underneath it all? The never ending grief he feels for the brother he has lost.

Grief is an emotion that Raine knows all too well. She is deeply depressed, barely able to function and spends most of her days with her head buried under the covers. Jake's homecoming is just the catalyst Raine needs to begin emerging from her sorrow.

Neither Jake nor Raine are prepared for the irresistible attraction they feel for one another. Nor are they ready for the emotions that surface after they give in to their passion. Both are haunted by an incident that precipitated Jake's departure and neither knows how to bring it up without destroying their fragile new relationship. But it is long buried secrets that threaten to destroy them as they try to plan their future together.

Jake and Raine are also facing some difficult family issues. Raine's mother, Gloria, essentially abandoned Raine as a child to work as a missionary. Gloria has recently returned to try to salvage their relationship, but Raine's hurt and anger make it difficult for her to give Gloria a chance. Jake has an easier time repairing the damage to his relationship with his parents but the secret Jake is keeping from them keeps him mired in the past. Their tight bond is strong enough to withstand anything, but it takes almost of the entire novel before Jake fully believes this.

The Christmas He Loved Her begins around Thanksgiving and continues through the Christmas season. It is not a light and fluffy holiday read, but it is a beautiful story of love and forgiveness. Jake and Raine are dealing with realistic and incredibly painful issues but Juliana Stone makes all of the heartbreak (and tears) worthwhile with a touching and uplifting ending that perfectly sets up the next novel in the Bad Boys of Crystal Lake series. show less

4.5 stars.

Some Kind of Normal by Juliana Stone is a poignant yet very sweet young adult romance. It is a riveting story about two teenagers who are trying to come to terms with serious, life altering situations before they leave their small home town for college. Although this beautifully written novel deals with realistic problems, there is very little angst or unnecessary drama but this does not lessen the emotional impact of the overall story.

The past year has been difficult for both show more Trevor Lewis and Everly Jenkins. Trevor is still trying to deal with the long term effects from the traumatic brain injury (TBI) he sustained in a car accident. Everly is working up the courage to confront her father about information that could destroy her family. The two form an unlikely friendship that slowly turns to romance but will their relationship survive the burdens both are carrying?

Trevor's recovery from the car accident has been long but he has overcome the worst of his injuries. He is just now coming to the realization that he will never be the same person he was before the accident but he is still having trouble accepting this newfound knowledge. Just as he begins to adjust to his new "normal", unexpected complications arise and this setback means another possible alteration to his goals and dreams.

Everly has had a pretty charmed life. Her father is the pastor of a small church and she has never really had her faith tested. But the secret she has been keeping makes her doubt everything she knows about her life, her parents and her beliefs. Everly has been unable to confront her father about a conversation she overheard, but things are rapidly deteriorating at home. A crisis is building but Everly still cannot find the courage to get answers to the questions that are haunting her.

The romance between Everly and Trevor slowly grows over the course of the novel. At first reluctantly forced to spend time together as Everly tutors Trevor, they quickly realize they have misjudged each other. As trust builds between them, they support one another as problems crop up and their concern gives way to deeper emotions. Trevor is extremely patient with Everly as their relationship evolves from friendship to love, but will their fledgling romance survive when real life complications arise?

Written in first person from alternating points of view, Some Kind of Normal is a well-written novel with multi-faceted, likable characters. Juliana Stone deftly handles difficult topics with a great deal of sensitivity and she does not downplay the repercussions that occur during the resolution of the various story arcs. The novel ends with a realistic conclusion that is immensely satisfying. It is a marvelous young adult romance that I heartily recommend to readers of all ages. show less

This was a sweet romance between Monroe and Nate, two broken teenagers trying to survive the pain and guilt brought on by one careless mistake. Told from alternating points of view, it took awhile for their secrets to be revealed, especially Monroe's which keeps the reader guessing. I liked both the main characters, maybe Nate a bit better, and their romance developed fairly realistically although the focus on Nate's 'hotness' became annoying after a while. However, what really spoilt it for show more me was the ending. It was just too cliche for my tastes, but otherwise quite a touching read. show less