One Night Stand: The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski
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| AMAZON | KINDLE |
The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski
Contemporary / Mature YA
J.A. Redmerski (November 16, 2012)
Heroine: Camryn Bennet – Free Spirit, Broken Soul
Hero: Andrew Parrish – Musician, Broken Soul
Setting: USA
Review:
What compels any of us to do the things we do when deep down a part of us just wants to break free from it all?
The Edge of Never is a story about a young woman named Camryn Bennet, who has experienced a lot of loss and heartache. When she has a falling out with her best friend, Natalie, she decides she’s had enough. She boards a Greyhound bus with nothing but her purse, cell phone, and a small bag of clothes and some necessities. Her spur of the moment destination is chosen when she sees a bus station employee eating an Idaho baked potato. What she plans to do when she gets to Idaho, she has no idea. She just knows she needs to escape. What she didn’t expect on her journey is to cross paths with Andrew.
Andrew Parrish is on his way to Wyoming to say goodbye to his father for the last time before he dies of cancer. Instead of driving to see his father, he decides to take a bus. Upon getting on the bus, he sees the blond beauty Camryn and immediately chooses an empty seat behind her.
After an awkward encounter that involves Boston being played very loudly on Andrew’s iPod, a tentative friendship is formed between these two. They both soon learn they may be on different journeys in their life, but they are very much alike. And when it was finally time to go their separate ways, neither could say goodbye. Instead of going back to their lives, they jump in Andrew’s father’s Chevelle and take off on the road with no destination in sight.
Camryn has dreamed of spreading her wings and flying the first chance she gets. She's finally escaped her monotonous life but is unsure where to go, or what to do with her new found freedom. With some guidance from Andrew, she realizes she doesn't need a plan to live her life the way she wants to. And slowly, as her friendship with Andrew becomes stronger, feelings she's been trying to desperately bury come back to the surface. Even though Camryn is reluctant to give her heart away again, she finds herself confiding in Andrew her secrets and desires. She trusts Andrew. He makes her feel alive. And, eventually, she is no longer able to deny her heart's desire. Andrew has officially broken down her walls.
Andrew is a pretty cool hero. He’s a very sentimental, soulful person underneath all the layers. He sings and plays guitar with his soul. His tattoos are sentimental, especially one in particular. He’s a free bird that is trying to live his life to the fullest and doesn’t bother with what society expects from him. But, before he met Camryn, he had started to give up on life. Andrew helped Camryn heal her soul and, in turn, Camryn does the same with Andrew. With Camryn he’s ready to live his life again. However, Andrew is harboring a big secret. Will this secret tear them apart forever?
The chemistry between Camryn and Andrew is a really slow build. For me, there wasn't instant chemistry, where I get the tingly excitement I usually like to get when a couple first meets. I did eventually start to anticipate the little touches and kisses that made me all warm and gooey on the inside. And when these two finally come together, it was deliciously hot!
I love the idea of this story. Two people on two different journeys and fate brings them together is original. That’s the reason I bought this book in the first place. I also really liked the characters and the romance was very sweet and passionate. However, the story was a little too slow for my taste. I kept expecting something big to happen at any moment and nothing ever did. The second half of the book did pick up some, but I kept expecting something more to happen. It was hard to make myself keep reading at times. At the 73% mark in the book is when I actually felt like things were moving along at a better pace.
The ending was a bit of a let down. I felt somewhat manipulated. Andrew and Camryn had dreamed to travel the world instead of living a simple life. What I got instead is a mundane, happy ending I can get in most contemporary romances. I suppose the ending made a lot of readers happy but I wanted something more original, more spontaneous. Especially since that's what the couple talked about during the whole story – live outside of the box. What happens instead was okay, but not the ending I had expected.
Overall, the story wasn't bad. It just didn't blow me away or impact me on an emotional level. The second half of the book is definitely better than the first. This isn’t a very angsty story, if that's what you’re looking for. There is drama but it wasn't over-the-top drama - which can be refreshing. And finally, when you reach the end, pull out the tissues, because the tears will fall rapidly.
Thoughts While Reading:
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Great review. This book has been sitting on my TBR pile and I haven't pushed myself to read it yet. Maybe...someday lol :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Nina! :)
DeleteAwesome review. I agree that it was a bit slow, but overall I liked it. Except I liked the first half better than the second half, lol.
ReplyDeleteThank Gemma! I'm glad you liked it. :)
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