Extremely relevant scenario--unfortunately--these days, students dealing with the aftermath of a shooting. In this case, it's been ten years, and survivors are gathered to speak for a documentary film. I found it engaging and emotional. Will definitely be recommending to my contemporary romance readers.

This is a very timely contemporary romance novel, which features survivors of a high school shooting twelve years later. How their lives turned out reflects what they lived through, and it was interesting to see who they had been, who they became, and what happened after coming together to work on a documentary filmmaker's project. I will look forward to future entries.

The author took what could be a difficult topic to traverse in our current society and created a story line that focused on growth, goals, and love. I really enjoyed seeing the main characters reflect on their lives and make active choices to better them. By the end of the book the reader is able to see healthy growth.

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.

Not for me. I didn't enjoy it. I just couldn't get into it and found myself putting it down alot

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!

DNF @ 21%, so no rating.

I was really hoping to like this one, but I just didn't. This story did now flow for me; it just felt too forced. And the strong connection between the heroine and hero after years of not seeing each other didn't feel real. Also, I thought it was odd that a group of girls who'd spent no time bonding in high school had buried a time capsule together and then planned dinner when they were all in town. I had hoped to like The Ones Who Got Away, but I just couldn't get into it.

Olivia/Liv stood in the gym, but this wasn’t the gym where it happened. That building had been knocked down within months of the tragedy - a memorial now stood there. The school had a new name now also. A memorial now stood where the gym had been. Liv avoided the memorial afraid that it would trigger all the things she had fought so hard to lockdown. Even after twelve years she couldn’t bear to look at a list of the names of the kids who hadn’t survived that prom night so long ago. Now they were just names on a stone. The interviewer said “ You said you weren’t in the gm when the first gunman came in. Daniel Morrow was the filmmaker and putting the documentary together. He had he had got eighteen survivors and one of the shooters mothers to agree to an interview. Maybe Liv wasn’t going to be able to handle letting the memories come forward again. She had agreed to do this as the director was going to do good things with the money that was made. Liv hadn’t went to the gym because she went to the janitor’s closet to tell him off but passion overtook them both. Then they heard gunshots and Finn left the closet to protect Rebecca who was actually his date and the Joseph- one of the shooters had a gun pointed at Liv but Joseph- one of the shooters walked away and blocked hre in the closet. Joseph and Trevor -the other shooter had a list that was of the people they considered the happy people and if they were stupid enough to be happy in this world then they deserved to die. Then Liv heard more shots and presumidly that was when Finn had been shot protecting Rebecca. Liv remembered the cries for help. After Liv was done Daniel said finn was the next person he was to interview. Liv had avoided Finn after everything had happened. Because seeing finn even his face on tv triggered the flashbacks. Liv was trying to leave as Finn approached but she still felt that jolt of awareness she always had anytime Finn was around. Their eyes locked and Finn asked her to join him for a drink later on Liv said she was busy and Finn added if you change your mind call him at his hotel. Finn had saved her each day of the semester ,giving her something to look forward to. Seeing Liv had taken Finn back to the time when he looked forward to was sneaking away with Liv. A Bittersweet ache like Finn hadn’t felt in a long time had tightened his chest and stole his breath. Finn wanted to take the haunted look out of Liv’s eyes. He knew the scars of the past were permanent and he had left a vicious one on Liv. Liv had so many questions she would have liked Finn to answer.
I really liked this novella but i felt it was way too short. One minute I was reading snf loving this story and the next it was over and I felt I was left hanging. The ending too rushed for me. I would have liked more backstory on the characters especially Finn and Liv. Also after they both left town. I was just left wanting more. That annoyed me and I was disappointed for these reasons and that was why this was a three.

What to say, what to say :D
I was quite excited about this book, the beginning was promising, but then come 50 % of the book and I just lost my interest, and that's a bummer :/
Lately I have trouble finding really great contemporary romance, I still read contemporary, but much more romantic suspense, dark romance, thrillers, urban fantasy, it's like I'm in a contemporary romance slump, dang!
Maybe is that, or maybe this is not a book for me.
So, read it, maybe for you will be right book :)

How does one move past the tragedy of witnessing one’s classmates being murdered and knowing you are one of a few survivors?

What life changing decisions would make in a situation such as this?

It has been twelve (12) years since Olivia Moreno aka Olivia Arias witness such a tragedy. A tragedy, which changed her life forever. Since that day, she has tried to survive in our own way. The scars from this tragedy is deeply buried, and she has tried throughout the years to move past the painful memories. She would come to learn however, moving past the painful memories would not come easy. When asked to take part in a documentary designed to pay tribute to her fallen classmates she accepted, especially as the proceeds were going to the victims ‘family. What she never counted on was her present colliding with her past in the form of her high school sweetheart Finn Dorsey.

Finn Dorsey has his share of demons from his past. Demons created by the tragedy, which struck Long Acre High School twelve years ago. He never forgot the girl who owned his heart in high school and seeing her twelve years later made him realise she still had the power to bring him to his knees. He knew establishing a reconnection would be painful as he was determined to take down the people responsible for placing the guns in the hands of the perpetrators behind the Long Acre High massacre. Guilt played a significant role in his decision to go after the gun suppliers. However, he would discover life has a way of putting a wrench in even the best-laid plans.

The Ones Who Got Away is a story which has the capacity to tug on your heartstrings. From the first page, I knew I would be in for an emotional and intense journey. I loved the fact the story did not just focus on the romance between the protagonists. The author explored both the positive and negative effects the tragedy had on the survivors. Their emotions leapt off the pages, and I had no problem relating to their pain and fears. It all appeared so realistic.

The story demonstrated the importance of surrounding ourselves with persons who will inspire us to be better versions of ourselves. Olivia’s circle of friends who shared the memories of the tragedy provided her with this support system. It further showed how they tried to move on from the tragedy several years later.

I enjoyed the pace at which the romance developed. Olivia and Finn shared a bond that survived twelve years of separation. I enjoyed their interaction with each other and I thought they were perfect for each other. Despite the attraction, which sizzled between them, they were wary of risking their heart. Pursuing the physical aspect of their relationship seemed the safer bet. Will they be able to move past their fears and embrace all that love had to offer?

Conclusion/Recommendation
The Ones Who Got Away is a powerful story of love, second chances and dealing with the aftermath of tragedy. With the perfect blend of passion and emotion, this story will stay with me for some time. I can easily say this is my favourite so far for 2018. I am eager to discover what next is in store with this series.

With the political (and generally gross climate) in America these days I almost stopped reading The Ones Who Got Away once I realized it was about the survivors of a school shooting. I'm glad I stuck with it, but it should come with a trigger warning for some readers.

If you can get past the tragic beginnings of their story, Liv and Finn have chemistry, romance, and depths worth exploring. Plus, who doesn't like a love story between the grown-up versions of the high school goth girl and the all american prom king?

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.

LOVED this. If I could give it ten stars, I would. The story is gripping and emotional and you fall right into it.

High school tragedy strikes members of the senior class who are then reunited ten years later where the flame is rekindled between Liv and Finn. The characters were flawed, interesting and real.

I love Roni Loren's books but I shouldn't have read this...because now I'm dying to read the rest of it! January is a long way off but I couldn't resist the chance. I can't wait to see more of Finn and Liv, and to get the rest of the story. What happened at the school and why, and how did the tragic events affect all of them, and I need more of Finn's back story as well!

The Ones Who Got Away is a story about a couple who survive a horrific experience at their high school prom and reunite twelve years later while filming a documentary. I enjoyed reading this story and getting to know the characters. I think the author handled this sensitive storyline very well and I look forward to reading her next book.

Another beautifully written story by a fabulous auto-buy author. An emotional take on the second-chance romance, this book will have you hooked from page one. My advice: Read it when you don't have to get up early the next day!

Roni Loren’s latest novel is a book that I honestly wasn’t sure I’d be able to read because the romance involves reuniting two survivors of a devastating school shooting. In the last year, my tolerance for contemporary plots with abuse and/or trauma has vastly decreased. Even in a good year, there are few authors I would trust with such a sensitive subject matter. Fortunately, Loren treats her characters with compassion and sensitivity. The characters are more than what happened to them and their story is about living, not just surviving.

More than a decade after a shooting devastated the Long Acre High School Senior Prom, survivors have gathered in their hometown to participate in a documentary with proceeds to go to charity. When four women who bonded in the early days following the tragedy get together and unearth messages from their former selves, they find that they may not have moved forward as much as they think they have. Is just hanging in there really enough?

In many ways, Liv Arias is prospering. She has a successful career and has reached a healthy place after some troubled years spent burying her troubles in sex and alcohol. Her teenaged goals may seem superficial – pursue photography and passionate love affairs – but they highlight the fact that passion in any form is something that Liv is definitely missing and maybe it’s time to take some risks.

Finn Dorsey is a fellow survivor who has spent the last decade mastering the lone-wolf approach. His relationship with Liv at the time of the shooting was complex in a way that only teenagers can pull off and he carries a lot of guilt and regret for what happened to her that night that he hasn’t processed fully. He is also an FBI agent coming off of a difficult years-long undercover assignment. He needs to recuperate and transition back to normal life before his superiors will allow him to take another long-term undercover assignment. When he confides his “live alone at a remote lake house” summer plans to Liv, she quite reasonably points out that they’re pretty much crap.

“That is such a man plan.”
“A man plan.”
“Yes. You don’t know how to be among the living anymore, so you’re going to…go live alone in a cave. Right. Good thinking. That will pop your how-to-be-human skills right back into place.”

A summer romance becomes truly inevitable when Finn and Liv come up with a plan that mutually benefits them both. Finn will still hermit away at his lake house for the summer, but Liv will come up for long weekends to keep him company and to work on her photography. They, of course, agree to keep things platonic but that quickly goes out the window.

Finn and Liv’s romance is, in many ways, the easiest part of their story. Their chemistry is palpable and the joy and comfort they bring each other is beautiful. They’ve always fit well together and, since coming together for the first time, neither has met anyone else who lights them up in any similar way. Picking things up again is almost effortless and it’s nice to see neither of them struggle with admitting how they feel. Being in love is easy for them. Maintaining a functional relationship and letting go of baggage and distractions is harder.

I can’t wrap up this review without touching on the truly lovely female relationships in this book. The women in this story have been through hell and back and they have each other’s damn backs. They celebrate each other’s triumphs and they support each other unequivocally. I have no doubt that this thread will continue through the rest of the series, and I’m excited to see it play out.

"These women were fierce and tough and brave. And for the first time in longer than she could remember, she realized she was one of them. Those words applied to her, too."

The Ones Who Got Away is ultimately a story of hope and perseverance. It isn’t a gentle read, but it is a powerful and hopeful one.

When I read the excerpt of this book months ago, I knew that this book what going to be different to what I've been reading lately. With the advent of self-publishing sometimes is hard to find a read that shakes you to the core. This book is one of these reads.

The premise of the book is different: School shooting survivors reuniting for a documentary. The first thing I want to say about that is that the author handled a delicate theme with the utmost respect. This wasn't a cheap plot point. It was a well thought out. I especially liked how she handled talking about survivor's trauma.

And when you think about all that I am saying here, you still don't think this will a romance book. Hence the magic of this book: In a world of excess and shock value, the delicate handling of the book's theme is what makes this a great book. Romance has flourished in the midst of all this horror...And doesn't this give you hope?

I can't wait for "The One You Can't Forget"!

The Ones Who Got Away is the first book in a series by the same name about several survivors of a school shooting (at the prom, nonetheless! OMG, the descriptions/nightmares here were vivid--just a heads-up), twelve years later. This one deals with two of the survivors, Liv and Finn; the only other survivors we meet are all women (Rebecca, Kincaid, and Taryn) so presumably their SOs will not be fellow survivors...? Though I could be wrong--time will tell.

Anyway...

The four women, who hadn't been particularly close before the shooting, came together afterwards and at one point before graduating and going their separate ways, wrote letters to be opened in ten years in which they each pledged--to themselves and to honor their classmates who didn't "get away"--to do certain things with their lives. They all missed the decade mark, but when they are brought back to town for a documentary about their experience, the woman who had custody of the letters brings them with her. Over drinks, the four of them read their letters out loud and decide what they have or haven't accomplished (with not a little bit of justification and hedging on some of their parts--and a teensy bit of cringing, too ;))

Liv's pretty sure she doesn't actually need to go through with her younger self's plans--and absolutely sure that she doesn't need to pick things up with Finn where they left off (she was from the wrong side of the tracks, and his father was very controlling and not terribly nice, to put it mildly, so theirs was a secret relationship) but of course fate--and Ms. Loren--have other ideas. I loved watching Liv and Finn as they reconnected, came to terms with their pasts, and figured out a way that they could move together into a future--second chance romance at its best :)

I'm not sure how this managed to be my first book from Ms. Loren, but it absolutely won't be my last! Rebecca's story is next--can't wait!

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.