The Ones Who Got Away

“Overnight, they’d become members of the same club. A club no one would ever want to join.”

“She’d found these women. Her tribe. And maybe, just maybe, her way way back home after all.”

I remember when I first read the synopsis for this book, I was completely moved by it. I got chills. I knew that this book was going to be a difficult read, but there was just something about this book that was begging me to read it. So, when I finally did get my hands on this book, you can bet I devoured it. My eyes were glued to the pages and my emotions were a total mess.

The Ones Who Got Away is a compelling and unique story. It is a story of horrific tragedy and those who are left to deal with fall out. Each person dealing with their past in their own way. Liv was a total mess, barely hanging on and I could only imagine what the anniversary to these events would do to her. And Finn…He was no longer the golden boy. His life forever changed; thinking of nothing else for the past few years than revenge. However, all that is about to change when Liv re-enters his life. He’s never forgotten Liv. She is the one that got away, the one that always managed to consume his thoughts despite how dark his mind currently is. I was drawn to Finn and Liv. Their pull was intense and so intriguing. I wanted nothing more than for these two to find some light in the dark, some happiness in a world that they don’t understand anymore….

The Ones Who Got Away is an intense and difficult story. It is a second chance story on many levels….A second chance at life. Finding hope amongst the pain. Learning to move past the pain and regret. Accepting that you are a hero, even when you don’t feel like one. Understanding that is ok to feel guilt about surviving, but not letting that guilt destroy your life. This story is filled with so much hope and shows the true beauty that can come from horrific circumstances. And in the end, this is a story about love and when you’re offered a second chance at love, not letting it pass you by.

The Ones Who Got Away is a very emotional and tough story. I applaud the author for tackling such an intense story-line. I thought that she handled it very well and I loved how real and honest she made the characters. The characters are complex, but easy to relate to. Their emotions are very palpable and their story just heartbreaking. Despite the tough subject matter, this really is a great love story. It took me by surprise in the best possible way and I just loved every moment of it. This is my first book by this author and I look forward to discovering more from her in the future.

This is my first Roni Loren book and it definitely won’t be my last! I mean, WOW! How emotional can you get?

The Ones Who Got Away captured me from page 1! The premise is just heart-breaking. These are survivors of a school shooting and it felt real for me because of what is happening here in the US. While this hasn’t happened to me, I could empathize with the survivors.

The first few chapters were very emotional. A trigger warning is suggested because there are flashbacks to that prom night.

The survivors are back to Long Acre to do a documentary and raise funds for the families of the victims. Liv is back after 12 years and reconnects with her secret high school boyfriend, Finn. I love second-chance romance and this book checked all the right boxes for me!

I also love that this features a diverse heroin, a biracial couple and PTSD.

I also love the romance between Liv and Finn, most especially because it is a second-chance romance. When Finn and Liv finally hook-up it was super hot!

The Negs
Based on the reviews I read prior to reading this book, I thought this would have me ugly cry, but it didn’t. The first few chapters were the only really emotional ones and I did shed a tear. But once the romance picked up, it wasn’t as emotional as I expected it to be.

I guess I expected it to be more emotional, especially the romance part. I mean, the PTSD felt real, but I wanted more situations to show that Liv and Finn had PTSD.

Overall Feelings
I definitely enjoyed reading The Ones Who Got Away and I highly recommend it!

*Received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

**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!

From the intriguing blurb to the breathtaking cover, I was so excited to read this book.

The Ones Who Got Away is an incredible story about strength and healing after tragedy.

Liv and Finn are back in their hometown interviewing for a documentary about one of the worst day of their lives - the school shooting on prom night that took so many lives.

The beginning of the book started out very strong with a captivating and moving retelling of the events.
I wanted to know more about the history between Liv and Finn.
Secret high-school sweethearts...was it just the shooting that pulled them apart?
As soon as these two are in the same space, you just know the feelings are still there and the passion is white-hot.

My hat goes off to the author for the way she handled such a sensitive subject; it was emotional but it was also very hopeful and in the end - uplifting.

Finn and Liv both had a lot of issues they had to work through individually and together.
So here comes my hang up with this novel and why I couldn't give the full 5 stars.
This book is a romance and it started out as such, but slowly turned into contemporary fiction with a sprinkling of romance. This is just my opinion (duh) but I'll tell you why I was lead to feel that way.
I'm a big believer in show-don't tell. And when I'm reading a second chance romance, I either need flashbacks of the couple the first time they were in a relationship or a very detailed rebuild of this second chance. This is essential for me to connect.
But what ended up happening is that the issues they had and the internal back and forth overshadowed the rebuild. And the times they were together before the final conflict were glazed over or simply mentioned as "weeks went by" or "over the summer" and that just irked me.

Though it might seem like I didn't enjoy this book, that's absolutely not the case. I believe it was beautifully written novel with great character development and enough humor to balance the angsty bits.

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).

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.

Liv Arias and Finn Dorsey are amongst the survivors from a high school shooting during their prom night about 12 years ago in Long Acre. Liv and Finn were hooking up in secret because Finn was a star football player coming from wealth and Liv was his dad's landscaper's daughter. At the time of the shooting, they were in a closet together when shots rang out, where Finn bolted out of there to check on his date, leaving Liv behind and vulnerable to one of the gunmen. Talk about a complicated situation under the most dire of circumstances and how does one recover from it afterwards?

Over a decade later, the students who survived are all still living with the repercussions of that traumatic event in some form or another. Liv, Finn and several others are back in Long Acre for a documentary segment of the shooting. Although the chemistry between Liv and Finn is still as magnetic as it was before, there's so much hurt and pain and a past where they were completely different people than they are now between them.

I liked how the story sends a strong message about continuing to live one's life to the fullest and to not let the past taint one's future. As for Liv and Finn, the tragedy might have torn them apart, but it also brought them back together, yet they both had to make an effort to have a true relationship. Marred by what happened, they both have their own skeletons in the closet to confront. I also loved the friendship bonds formed between Liv and the other girls, people she didn't hang out with in high school, but yet they were the only ones who understood what she experienced because they were there, too. There's a lot of great, thought provoking points and I enjoyed meeting these flawed characters who all found the strength to take charge of their lives again and to band together.

Liv came to help with the documentary, the twelve years that she had spent away was not long enough to erase the memories. Finn had changed, for what stood across the room from Liv was still the old Finn but time had been good to him. Meeting up with “the girls”, rereading on slips of paper their hopes and dreams, the girls saw that their lives didn’t fulfill what they had hoped to accomplish. The tragic event that had occurred 12 years ago had changed this group, had provoked in them an energy, a desire to make a difference and now, 12 years later as they meet up again, they are now readdressing this issue again.

I really enjoyed the plot of this novel. I liked how the characters were brought together, not the circumstances but how they rallied together twelve years ago. Since leaving, Liv has been diving into her work, focusing on making a name for herself and trying to put her past behind her. Finn has been on assignment and its time that he takes a break. The girls haven’t left the area and they realize they need to make some changes in their lives.

There’s sexual tension between Liv and Finn the minute that their eyes meet. There has to be some history between the two of them but no one seems to know anything. As Finn takes the summer off to relax at a nearby cabin, he offers part of the cabin to Liv so she’d have a place to fulfill her lost dreams on the weekend. Things definitely get hot at the cabin when Liv shows up and when she returns to her job, Liv and Finn can’t wait till the weekend when Liv returns. What will happen when summer is over and Finn goes back to work? Will any of them be able to make a change in their life? Are they able to change? I really enjoyed this novel, it definitely was a steamy one. 4.5 stars

This is my opinion of this novel which I have won in a BookishFirst drawing. Thank you for this novel.

I received this novel via NetGalley from the publisher in return for an honest review.

This book might need a small trigger warning at the beginning. I knew what it was about, but reading it on paper of kindle was like watching a train wreck, it was tough content but I was so intrigued, I couldn't look away. After the prom shooting scene, the book slowed down a lot and I didn't want to really finish it because I had no clue where the author could take the story there. That's probably exactly how the characters felt. What do you do after something so traumatic happens to you?

****Spoilers beyond this point****

Once Liv agreed to live in the guest house for the summer, that's when things picked back up and I eventually couldn't put the book down. However, I did have three issues with this novel:
1.I didn't like the gun control issue. I felt like it flew too under the radar at the beginning of the book to matter at the end.
2.With Fin being in the FBI, he wouldn't have been able to tell Liv ANYTHING about his job. I don't even know if FBI agents can say they're FBI agents. I'm sure Billings would have fired him if he knew Fin had told Liv about the mission he was going on.
3.Once Liv quit her job, just how much money did she have saved up to live on the lake. Lake living is expensive and how did Fin manage to buy the house for her? Photography doesn't make too much money, especially that quickly.

Other than those things, I loved this book. It was the perfect amount of sexy and thrilling.

Wow! This book grabbed me from the start and wouldn’t let go! I don’t normally read contemporary love stories, or any kind of love unless it is paranormal or erotica, but when I read the blurb about survivors of a school shooting I thought it sounded really interesting. I noticed the reviews with 3 Stars were mainly thinking this was more just a romance and thought it had too much of the violence or story about shooting. Some thought it was too insta-love with Finn and Liv. I think I liked it because there was more story about events that happened in, not only Finn and Liv’s lives, but also those who survived and became friends with her afterwards. The romance was a bonus. Liv had moved away and hadn’t talked to anyone who survived since high school. It just brought back too many memories to everyone involved so they just went about their daily lives trying to forget and make the most of it. I feel like that is one thing that has helped them become successful. Live and some other classmates made a pact their senior year to live life to the fullest for the survivors who would never get the chance to follow their dreams. They were determined to make things happen. I also believe this is why Liv ad her friends aren’t married. They never have time because of work and life. I loved the characters and Liv’s friend Kincaid is one of my favorites. I can’t wait to see if she gets a book. I didn’t think Finn and Liv were too insta-love. After all, in high school they were crazy about each other, even if they never mentioned love. At that age, sometimes you’re afraid to because you’re afraid it will ruin what you have. And who has the nerve to be the first to say it? Liv is grasping onto life like she said she would. Trying to be fearless, not reckless. She is, I think, 30 years old now and has never forgotten Finn or felt the same with anyone. It was mentioned in the beginning how Finn was thinking they were both seeing each other as the people they were in high school. The people in the now were totally different. But deep down, the old Finn and Liv were in there. I feel like it was the perfect timing for them. And they could help each other heal.

This book starts out in the aftermath (think years) after a tragic event in a high school. As adults, the characters have gone their separate ways hoping to forget all about the event that occurred. When they come back together for a tell-all, the main two characters are reunited. The story follows from there- tells about their torrid affair in high school. They were the two who weren't high school sweethearts, but just in it for benefits. And now they're all grown up with a lot of past to put behind them- who knows what could happen?

I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style of the author. It didn't feel cheesy at all, like many romance novels do. I felt compelled to see how the characters grew based on their traumatic experience, but also how they grew into each other's arms based on this trauma. I was equally surprised that I fell in love with the story and the characters because I am not a romance reader at all. Overall, this story was excellently written and staged, and I would recommend it to any person who loves a good romance, or even just a good overcoming the past story.

4.5 stars

Satisfying. There’s angst, hot sexytimes, family dysfunction, lots of humor, and what I love best, female friendships.

I read the first chapter in advance sometime ago so I expected angst, but the funny was a total surprise and brought a balance to the seriousness of the subject matter.

I enjoyed the banter between Finn and Liv and their strong chemistry. Their reconciliation was sweet and snarky and sexy.

A highlight for me is the friendship among Liv, Rebecca, Kincaid, and Taryn. The way they came to Liv's side whenever she needed help was so reminiscent of me and my own friends.

The theme of taking one's fate in hand and going for your dream in the present is something that parallels my own motto of Carpe Diem that's why I have such an affinity with this book.

Some of my favorite lines are from Liv's letter to the Class of 2005:

"... I will not waste the second chance that I have been given, that I will honor all the people we lost by living my life to the fullest.
... I won't play it safe. I won't be practical. I'll live a passionate life ... I promise, Class of 2005, to live the life that scares me."

The only thing that I did not like about The Ones Who Got Away was the texting. The language sometimes verged on juvenile and not the thirty year-olds they were supposed to be. Other than that, I loved it.

*Review copy provided by Sourcebooks and Bookish First.*

This was the first book by Roni Loren that I’ve read and I enjoyed it. The thing that caught my attention and made me want to read the book was the high school tragedy that the main characters (Liv and Finn) experienced. In my opinion, the author did a good job of showing the aftereffects of the tragedy that the characters had been dealing with over the 12 years since it occurred. The majority of the book provides some of the backstory between the main characters and their internal struggles about whether or not to pursue another relationship with each other. After the decision was made to pursue the relationship, it seems like things moved really fast between the Liv and Finn. It was almost like insta-love. It was kind of explained away by them being in love with each other in high school even though they never talked about being in love when they dated in high school. The ending also felt a little rushed and that things were wrapped up a little too neatly. Based on the synopsis, the book had the potential to be an angsty read, but the angst level was pretty low. I liked all of the characters, but I really enjoyed reading the scenes that included Kincaid (one of Liv’s friends). I would love to read a book featuring her story. Since there is a book about Rebecca’s story being released this summer, I hope that Kincaid and Taryn will also have their stories told. I am looking forward to reading more about this group of friends (Liv, Rebecca, Kincaid, and Taryn). Overall, I enjoyed The Ones Who Got Away and I will definitely check out some of Roni Loren’s other books.

The Ones Who Got Away was an unexpected page turner that I read in one sitting.

I waffled on picking up this book for a long time. The cover was attractive to me and I'm a sucker for second chance romances... add in a "rough around the edges" cop and I was really wanting to read this. The one thing that was holding me back is the subject matter. I'm one of those people that doesn't watch the news because it makes me too sad. I get the major headlines but that's it. A book that is based on such a tragic event, especially after all the recent mass shooting events was a hard leap to take.
Once I started it though, I didn't put it down. Yes, there is heavy subject matter. Yes, I cried. But there is so much more to this story than their horrible shared history. If that is what is deterring you from reading this book, it shouldn't.
Usually I focus on the hero of the romances I read, but this is one case where the heroine is a standout. I think Liv is one of my favorite heroines ever. She seemed so real that I wanted to be her friend.

There is a good lead-in to the next book and I was left wanting to read Rebecca's story as soon as possible.

I received an advance readers copy of this book that I have chosen to review.

Jan 16 2018 – 14:19

By lisa

This book was not easy to read but oh, so rewarding. The author does a wonderful job of moving from a nightmare of a school/prom shooting to a great love story. This book did not shy away from the characters dealing with the traumatic aftermath, it was not a quick or easy resolution and they did not always make the most prudent of choices in years immediately following the event but that is much more true to real life.
I really am impressed with how Loren had her characters move forward and on with their lives. This was the first book of what I think will be four, one for each of the four female characters who spend the first year after the event in therapy together. None of the four were friends before and not even in the intervening years but during this book they came to realize how such a tragedy can bond people. Look forward to the next book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book
OMG this book was one of those books that once you pick it up you will not
want to put it down until you finish it. I LOVED this book
Liv Arias and Finn Dorsey are amongst the survivors from a high school shooting during their prom night about 12 years ago in Long Acre. Liv and Finn were hooking up in secret because Finn was a star football player coming from wealth and Liv was his dad's landscaper's daughter. At the time of the shooting, they were in a closet together when shots rang out, where Finn bolted out of there to check on his date, leaving Liv behind and vulnerable to one of the gunmen. Talk about a complicated situation under the most dire of circumstances and how does one recover from it afterwards?
Over a decade later, the students who survived are all still living with the repercussions of that traumatic event in some form or another. Liv, Finn and several others are back in Long Acre for a documentary segment of the shooting. Although the chemistry between Liv and Finn is still as magnetic as it was before, there's so much hurt and pain and a past where they were completely different people than they are now between them.

A decade after a horrific school shooting, this group of survivors reconnect to participate in a documentary of that event. It’s heartbreaking as they relive that tragic day. They also relive the time after the shooting when they made a sort of time capsule, filling it with letters declaring their intentions for their then futures. In the letters they promise to move forward and state specifically how they will honor the shooting victims by living their own lives to the fullest. The focus is mostly on Finn and Olivia. At the time of the shooting they were together in a secret relationship because Finn’s family didn’t approve of Olivia since she was the daughter of their landscaper. After that horrible night, Finn and Olivia went their separate ways and never spoke again until this reunion of sorts. Lots of pain, guilt, and trauma was hovering over them now while they waded through it all. It was a heartbreaking past and their journey to find a future together. I thought the book was just a bit slow moving, and maybe in light of the crazy world we live in where these tragic events happen in real life, it seemed a little too somber a subject, leaving me somewhat somber myself.

The Ones Who Got Away is an emotional and captivating new series by Roni Loren, whom I had never read before. The author pushed boundaries with this unique book that peaked my interest from page one.

This book follows the lives of survivors of a shooting years back. A documentary brings those survivors back to the one place they wanted to put into their past. Liv and Finn have each tried running, but are brought back right to where it all fell apart.

Liv and Finn were part of each other’s lives in high school, but their relationship was secret. Liv was Finn’s biggest secret and there is unfinished business between the two of them. Finn is determined to show Liv how much she meant and still means to him, regardless of what others say.

Their story is one of love, heartbreak, running from the past and coming together once again to make a future. Until time runs out and one of them runs. Again.

Throughout this entire book, I felt every emotion. This story could happen in everyday life and the author did an amazing job of writing these characters and their story of love. I was captivated from start to finish and look forward to more in this series.

Thoughts: This wasn’t your typical Roni Loren - the vibe felt a little different to me, but in a refreshing sort of way. Something a little different and distinctive. This is the first book I have read that surrounds/involves a past school shooting, and it tackles it in a sensitive way. I enjoyed the story of these two characters and the book immediately captures your attention and interest. I am looking forward to more in this series!
Favorite quote(s): “You yourself said that kiss was a mistake. So don’t come prancing around here half dresses with your Batman abs and talking about where to put my hands. No one likes a tease, Dorsey.”
Rating: A

4.5 Stars / Top Pick / Review by: Laurencl

I really enjoyed "The Ones Who Got Away". This is such a perfect book and it's about finding love after a tragic past. I really enjoyed the characters and I would like to see more about them in future books. I can't wait to see more from this author. This story really pulled me in from the beginning. Readers will fall in love with the characters. I love how well and respectfully the author wrote about the shooting. I felt it was a good way to write about such a sad thing that happened.

I could not put "The Ones Who Got Away" down. NOR voluntarily reviewed a reviewer copy.

[ Insert thunderous applause here ]

This book was AMAZING. Yes, it deals with a rather heavy topic of a school shooting and the psychological aftermath (but it's totally not a graphic description or anything like that), but the EMOTIONS in this book are off the charts.

I LOVED Liv. It's like Roni took all of the obnoxious qualities in the typical contemporary romance heroine and had Liv act the opposite: like a real person. I also couldn't get enough of her sass and the funny things she would say!

And Finn. I mean, good gracious. When things got emotionally intense between him and Liv, the things that came out of his fictional mouth blew me away. He's just an all-around stand-up guy who happens to be five-alarm hot.

And the ending! Sigh...this is absolutely a book I would read again, and a solid reminder of how infinitely talented Roni is as an author!

But it gets better! I see this is book 1 of a series. In this book, I met several other positively delightful and intriguing heroines, and I am ECSTATIC to read their stories too!

(I received a copy of this book in consideration of an honest review)

A decade after a horrific school shooting, this group of survivors reconnect to participate in a documentary of that event. It’s heartbreaking as they relive that tragic day. They also relive the time after the shooting when they made a sort of time capsule, filling it with letters declaring their intentions for their then futures. In the letters they promise to move forward and state specifically how they will honor the shooting victims by living their own lives to the fullest. The focus is mostly on Finn and Olivia. At the time of the shooting they were together in a secret relationship because Finn’s family didn’t approve of Olivia since she was the daughter of their landscaper. After that horrible night, Finn and Olivia went their separate ways and never spoke again until this reunion of sorts. Lots of pain, guilt, and trauma was hovering over them now while they waded through it all. It was a heartbreaking past and their journey to find a future together. I thought the book was just a bit slow moving, and maybe in light of the crazy world we live in where these tragic events happen in real life, it seemed a little too somber a subject, leaving me somewhat somber myself.

The Ones Who Got Away is an emotional and captivating new series by Roni Loren, whom I had never read before. The author pushed boundaries with this unique book that peaked my interest from page one.

This book follows the lives of survivors of a shooting years back. A documentary brings those survivors back to the one place they wanted to put into their past. Liv and Finn have each tried running, but are brought back right to where it all fell apart.

Liv and Finn were part of each other’s lives in high school, but their relationship was secret. Liv was Finn’s biggest secret and there is unfinished business between the two of them. Finn is determined to show Liv how much she meant and still means to him, regardless of what others say.

Their story is one of love, heartbreak, running from the past and coming together once again to make a future. Until time runs out and one of them runs. Again.

Throughout this entire book, I felt every emotion. This story could happen in everyday life and the author did an amazing job of writing these characters and their story of love. I was captivated from start to finish and look forward to more in this series.

Thoughts: This wasn’t your typical Roni Loren - the vibe felt a little different to me, but in a refreshing sort of way. Something a little different and distinctive. This is the first book I have read that surrounds/involves a past school shooting, and it tackles it in a sensitive way. I enjoyed the story of these two characters and the book immediately captures your attention and interest. I am looking forward to more in this series!
Favorite quote(s): “You yourself said that kiss was a mistake. So don’t come prancing around here half dresses with your Batman abs and talking about where to put my hands. No one likes a tease, Dorsey.”
Rating: A

4.5 Stars / Top Pick / Review by: Laurencl

I really enjoyed "The Ones Who Got Away". This is such a perfect book and it's about finding love after a tragic past. I really enjoyed the characters and I would like to see more about them in future books. I can't wait to see more from this author. This story really pulled me in from the beginning. Readers will fall in love with the characters. I love how well and respectfully the author wrote about the shooting. I felt it was a good way to write about such a sad thing that happened.

I could not put "The Ones Who Got Away" down. NOR voluntarily reviewed a reviewer copy.

[ Insert thunderous applause here ]

This book was AMAZING. Yes, it deals with a rather heavy topic of a school shooting and the psychological aftermath (but it's totally not a graphic description or anything like that), but the EMOTIONS in this book are off the charts.

I LOVED Liv. It's like Roni took all of the obnoxious qualities in the typical contemporary romance heroine and had Liv act the opposite: like a real person. I also couldn't get enough of her sass and the funny things she would say!

And Finn. I mean, good gracious. When things got emotionally intense between him and Liv, the things that came out of his fictional mouth blew me away. He's just an all-around stand-up guy who happens to be five-alarm hot.

And the ending! Sigh...this is absolutely a book I would read again, and a solid reminder of how infinitely talented Roni is as an author!

But it gets better! I see this is book 1 of a series. In this book, I met several other positively delightful and intriguing heroines, and I am ECSTATIC to read their stories too!

(I received a copy of this book in consideration of an honest review)

Although this is a second chance romance, it is truly so much more than that. It is an emotional and heartbreaking story and while some of it was difficult, I enjoyed it very much. At it's core, this is a love story and is at times is sad, sweet and hot. An extremely traumatic event in high school, the likes if which no one should have to endure, tore Liv and Finn apart and changed their lives forever. They went through hell back for some years to follow while they learned to put their lives back together again and deal with the aftermath.
12 years later Liv and the rest of the survivors return home because of a documentary about the tragic massacre. It is there she sees Finn again for the first time and the air still crackles between them. They have never lost what has always been between them. They rekindle their romance but can they continue to move forward from their awful past if they are together? Or will the reminders of what they lived through while others weren't so lucky tear them apart?
Excellent writing and storytelling along with a couple you want to see have an HEA more than anything, are what make this book totally worth the read.

I came across the cover and synopsis of this book and thought that it looked interesting, plus , it would give me chance to experience a new author.
Wow, am I glad I did. The story’s main characters are Liv Arias, and Finn Dorsey. Two survivors of a school massacre that killed many kids and left physical . psychological and emotional scars on those that survived. They had had a secret relationship during their last year in HS, but that too ended after the incident. Liv’s went through guys and sex as a way to cope. Finn joined the FBI in order to stop weapons being sold to minors. After 12 years , they meet again when a documentary is being made of the survivors.
The plot is complex, heartbreaking, and bittersweet. Not only are these two, very well developed characters, but the secondary characters are as well. I hope the author gives us the stories of the other three gals who created a bond after their lives were devastated.
Kudos to Ms Loren for this excellent story that is real and touching.
I was gifted this copy by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Let’s start the year off right with a recently released contemporary romance. I snagged an advanced copy of Roni Loren’s The Ones Who Got Away from NetGalley last month. I’m excited to share my thoughts with you all!

The main narrative focuses on the romance between two ex-high school sweethearts. It’s a great romance with well-written and complex characters. Finn and Olivia grow not only as a couple, but as individuals throughout the story. Believable character growth is so important to me, especially in romances. If the romance does nothing to enhance the individual, then what’s the point? The dual point-of-view provides insight into each of them as well as adds some spice during the sex scenes. Additionally, these two individuals have a mature, adult romance. They share their feelings with each other! They talk about their problems! They overlook contrived drama! Talk about refreshing.

These characters are survivors of a mass shooting. Time is spent exploring the fear and anxiety the character’s experience due to their tragic past, but the shooting itself is only referenced. I appreciate the author’s restraint from providing disturbing details. Secondary characters with physical impairments from the shooting would have added more depth to the story.

If you’re looking for an in-depth story about mass shootings, I highly recommend Dave Cullen’s Columbine. It’s a phenomenal exploration of the mass shooting at Columbine High School in 1999. It not only talks about that infamous day, but it includes truly encouraging stories from many survivors of the shooting.

tl;dr A well-written romance featuring complex characters, a steamy romance, and a hopeful message.

THE ONES WHO GOT AWAY
Author: Roni Loren
Pub. Date: January 2, 2018
Publisher: SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca
Romance: Contemporary

Synopsis:

THE ONES WHO GOT AWAY is the first in a new series written by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Roni Loren. Olivia “Liv” Arias and Finn Dorsey were two of the few survivors of a mass school shooting during the class of 2005’s senior prom. Twelve years later, they reconnect after agreeing to be interviewed about the horrific attack. Their mutual attraction still exists and they each must face the effects the tragedy has had on their lives. Deeply bonded, they give in to their desires and agree to a brief summer fling which quickly turns into much more.

My thoughts:

Addictive! Emotional! Hot! THE ONES WHO GOT AWAY was a page turner from start to finish. Full of emotional scars and sizzling lust, it’s a book that you won’t want to miss.

Happy Reading!

***I received an ARC copy of this novel and was happy to give my honest review.

This is a powerful, emotional and tragic love story. Finn is a determined man whose only focus in life is taking down the people who sold guns to classmates who used them to kill most of his glass. Guilt also motivates him. Liv is trying to live the life her mother wanted for her. But all she does is work. Finn and Liv secretly dated in H.S. but the tragedy tore them apart. 12 years later they run in to each other back at the school. They decide to forge a new friendship and help each other with some personal issues. As they fall in love again, they learn to come to terms with the past. It's an intense storyline that will make you cry, but Finn and Liv also provide comic relief. This absolutely belongs at the top of your TBR list, unless you have a personal connection to a school shooting, it's probably too emotionally intense for those people. It really is a brilliant story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

I really like Roni Loren and she has convinced me to read outside of my comfort zone in the past. So even if the idea of a romance about the survivors of a high school shooting did not sound overly appealing I knew I was going to at least give it a shot and I am so glad that I did. This book was nothing like I was afraid it was going to be. I loved the friendships the female survivors forged even though they hardly knew each other before the most traumatic event that brought them together. I loved the focus on their strength and healing. I could also relate in a small way to taking stock of your adult life and comparing it to the aspirations of your 18 year old self. Then of course there was the romance. I love Liv and Finn's backstory and connection. Things in the the present were all handled a bit too tidily for my tastes but I was fully invested in their story. I really loved this one and cannot wait for the next in the series.

Roni Loren kicks off another new series that is bound to be epic, if the rest if anything like this first book. I have always loved her stories. They pull me in, the type of book you will lose sleep for so you don't have to put it down.

Liv and Finn were secret high school sweet hearts, but now, along with a few others, they are only known as the ones who got away. And it feels like all of their lives changed forever that day, and the course of their futures did too. It's like the lives they were supposed to lead were taken from them, even though they survived.

I like watching them find themselves again in this story. There is a lot of pain to work through, a lot of hurt, but a lot of healing. This was an emotional read for me and I shed more than a few tears. It was just so. So. GOOD. I will definitely be reading this more than once and look forward to the next book.

"Broken glass still made art. Sometimes, the most beautiful kind." Heartachingly relevant to what is happening way to often in high schools recently. Finn and Olivia continue to struggle with the aftermath of that horrific night and how it has altered their lives from that point on. I continuously thought throughtout the book "but did they REALLY get away from what happened?" Such a well written dipiction of how your past can dictate your future. I am anxiously awaiting the rest of the books in this series.

3.7 stars.. I really enjoyed this book. Follows 5 characters Olivia, Finn, Kincaid, Rebecca & Taryn. This story focuses on Olivia & Finn's history and present. The characters are reunited during a reunion of sorts. A horrible high school tragedy that brings the cast of characters together and has them re-examining their lives. The story is heartbreaking and lovely. The history back in high school for Olivia & Finn is sad and watching them reconnect is beautiful. This is a slow burn romance kind of and you can see the heartbreak coming but its endearing and made me cry regardless. However seeing them rekindle what they had was funny. Seeing the friendship between the women in this story is amazing. Also, seeing how the group is dealing with the past tragedy and how is still affects them was heart wrenching and endearing. Looking forward to Rebecca's story next.

This book hit all my spots. It was romantic. Slow but steady build. Steamy but not over the top and excessive. Emotional. It actually pulled a few years from me, which a book hasn’t done in a while. If I had a criticism, I would say that it spent a lot of time building to the relationship, which I loved, but then three days together, a week apart, a trip to his parents and now they’re in love. They had history and I guess it’s forgivable for that reason, but I was a little shocked they used the L word after being so hesitant toward one another. And then there was no real time afterward spent developing the understanding of their love. Maybe I just wanted more book because it was sooo good. Off to read the next one in the series.

This was an enjoyable contemporary romance book. Finn and Liv are survivors of a school tragedy and years later they are brought together again and must decide what is important to them. I really liked the characters of Finn and Liv. Both are easy to like and I enjoyed following their story. The banter and chemistry between them was well written and believable. I liked how for the most part they were real with each other and real about their feelings for each other despite the circumstances. This was a nice change of pace from a lot of the fantasy I have been reading. Overall, I would recommend this to fans of other contemporary romance books and I will likely check out the second book. I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley as well as a copy from Bookish Firsts.

We get introduced to the Long Acre survivors right in the beginning. They were not friends in high school due to social differences but were brought together by the tragedy at the school. I liked that even though they lost touch they reunited years later to open the time capsule together. Their bond seemed to grow stronger during the book and I liked the differences in personalities. Liv and Finn's history makes the current relationship flare hotter and I do mean HOT. The cover of the book perfectly illustrates a scene in the book. The parts with them together have great banter. Liv finally comes out of the cocoon she's been in since the tragedy and I liked seeing her find herself and her dreams again. I received a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.