The Ones Who Got Away: Volume 1

The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren will tug at your heartstrings beautifully. A heartaching and emotional second chance love story of two survivors bound by more than their tragedy. They are bound by the missed chance to love and now they have the option to leave the past behind and begin again.That sizzling attraction, that open camaraderie, the softness, the heartwarming feels..it was a perfect love story. I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review** This was a second chance romance that came recommended to me by one of my good friends. I had never read a Roni Loren book, but I'm glad I took a chance on this, as I really enjoyed it and I can assure that this will not be my last book by this author. Liv Arias and her classmates her senior year in high school went through a devastating ordeal that no one should ever have to deal with. Fellow students opened fire during the prom killing many people and for those that did survive, their lives were forever changed. It has been twelve years and while Liv is now working as a website designer, she has returned back to her hometown of Long Acre to revisit what happened on that fateful night. She's looking to possibly gain some additional closure, but what she doesn't realize is she might be reopening the biggest wound that has never healed. Finn Dorsey was the big man on campus back in high school and he was also labeled a hero the night of the shooting when he took a bullet for his date. What most don't know is that he also carries an enormous amount of guilt due to the fact that someone else he was very close to, Liv, endured more that night than she should have because of his actions. Finn and Liv have not been in contact in the years since the ordeal, but there are many unresolved feelings. When a kiss happens between the two of them, it reignites the passion that has been lying dormant for so many years. Will these two be able to put the past behind them and start anew? Or will the paths their lives have taken since high school cause them to once again have to walk away from what could be between them? While this was a story about second chance romance, it was so much more for me. It was about discovering who you really are and how the path you thought you were supposed to take isn't necessarily where you are meant to end up. I loved the connection between Finn and Liv and their chemistry was undeniable. The story was well written and it was both emotional and heartbreaking as well as sexy. I enjoyed it from the moment I started reading and I am looking forward to the next book in this series!

First of all, I wish to thank the author / Sourcebooks Casablanca / Netgalley for the advance digital copy of this sneak peek (first few chapters only). Twelve years ago there was a school shooting that still haunts the Texas town to this day. Many of the then senior class were shot and killed by two students. The survivors are the ones who got away. Olivia Arias was Finn Dorsey's little secret. He was from a rich family, she was from the other side of the tracks. They spent every minute they could together ...as long as his friends and girlfriend didn't see them. On the night of the shooting, Finn and Olivia were shut in the janitor's closet. When the shooting began, Finn rushed out to save his girlfriend, leaving Olivia to fend for herself. Finn has spent many sleepless nights remembering how he treated her. Today is the first day they've seen each other in years .. and the fierce attraction is still there ... but it's different now, they are all different now. It is hard to rate such a small sampling (3 chapters) of this Contemporary Romance. The story premise seems to be an interesting one ... especially comparing who they were as teenagers against who they are today. Have they wasted their second chance at life? Or accomplished their hopes and dreams they had before the shooting? Olivia is an interesting character. Evidently she was not always the 'good' girl she is today. She always wanted to be a photographer, but wound up being a web designer instead. Finn is a shadow. There is mention that he spent 2 years undercover .... and that has affected him as well as the school shooting. One of the fascinating things that was mentioned was the fact that none of the survivors have ever married or had children. I don't know where the story will lead. The main message is the relationship between two slightly damaged people with issues that have never been resolved. I look forward to reading the entire book when it's released January 2018.