Destini Mia

Save yourself...

Save me.

 

No one told me back then that princes were death traps.

Quinn Montgomery had an ordinary life. A good education, parents that loved her and a sister Quinn looked up to. Until she didn't.

She's sworn that she'll never follow in Zoe's footsteps– killing herself over a boy. Now a college freshman, Quinn's life slowly begins to unravel and she's forced into nude modeling to help support herself and her family. She's hell-bent on keeping everyone at arms length but Torrin, the university's varsity oarsman, is determined to get passed her cold demeanor. But letting someone in comes at a steep cost and, it turns out, Torrin is connected to Quinn’s family in more ways than she could ever imagine. Quinn

"You'll thank me one day for saving you."

"I've already been saved."

Quinn was an... interesting character. I definitely sympathized with her; fate had most definitely screwed her over, as well as other's decisions. I understood why she was so cold and so rough with others. She had a lot to carry on her shoulders, more than most have to carry at her age. However, I wasn't able to connect with her as much as I would have wanted to. There were times when I was cheering her on and others where all I could think was,

I wanted the best for her but she was getting in her own way.

Torrin

"I like you." "Don't... waste those words on me." He touches my cheek. "You just need someone to show you."

Now here's a guy that can steal your heart. I was grinning like an idiot whenever Torrin would show up. He was so sweet and truly cared for Quinn. What guy can take being crapped on over and over and still come back? Only one that really cares. Where my connection as a reader was lacking with Quinn, Torrin was able to make up for it. There were moments when I just wanted to pluck him out of the book and give him a much needed hug.

Quinn and Torrin's relationship was a slow burn. Nothing was rushed but at the same time, it didn't have me itching to skip some pages and get to the good stuff. With they way Quinn was faring, it would have felt fake if they were rushed into a relationship. Once they were together, though, I could't deny how perfectly they fit. Their support, their love, healed each other.

Stripped/Without you was exceptionally well-written. It flowed easily and Quinn's voice felt real and believable. In Without You, I thought Brooklyn Skye portrayed Torrin's point of view flawlessly. It wasn't overly macho but not too sappy either.

Stripped and it's accompanying novella Without You is perfect for those who are fans of college romances!

Review posted at: Uniquely Portable Magic