4 Wine Glass #Review of The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren
*Posting 01/02/18 @ 8pm EST

Twelve years ago, the lives of the Long Acre High School seniors were forever changed when two class mates began a shooting massacre. Now each of the survivors are trying to do just that, survive. Those that are left each carry their own scars; some you can see, others you can't. This is the story of the ones who got away...

Roni Loren delivers a darkly divine story of healing and second chances in her new series, The Ones Who Got Away! At the beginning of the tale, we're introduced to Liv Arias, a woman who has worked hard to overcome the tragedies of her past. When she is asked to take part in a documentary on the anniversary of the Long Acre High School Shooting though, she soon realizes that she may not have put all of those past demons to rest. With the help of some friends, women that came together and formed a life-long bond in their time of need, Liv is determined to be the person she dreamed of being all of those years ago. The first step is taking a chance with her high school sweetheart, Finn Dorsey. Finn is battling his own demons though, and despite how much he might yearn for that life he always coveted with Liv, he made a promise to those who didn't make it. To find the people behind supplying mere teenagers with the guns that ended so many lives. Can Finn put the past behind him for good or will it always shadow his future?

The Ones Who Got Away is brimming with emotion and endurance. The story-line itself sucked me right in. When a tragedy like a mass shooting happens, always in the forefront of your mind is the victims. But what about the survivors? This book delves deep into psyche of what one might feel surviving that sort of catastrophe. It's dark, painful, and not at all pretty. It's such a unique context to set a romance in. Despite the somber background though, the chemistry that Finn and Liv share is undeniable. The cover of the book perfectly represents a scene that will curl your toes. (Except, why does the male model look like he's holding his breath?) The banter between the two was entertaining as they got reacquainted in all sorts of fun ways, and I loved how supportive they were of each other. With a long road of healing in front of them though, they had plenty ups and downs to navigate which at times was heart wrenching. It was all balanced very well.

If you've read Roni Loren's past works, The Ones Who Got Away is a little bit different then what you've come to expect from this author. A little darker, a little sweeter, and a little less kink. However, it is not any less wonderful. I can't wait to read more from this series, and the other Long Acre High School survivors. They've each formed this incredible bond that regardless of their differences and possible past animosities, is unbreakable. A recommended read for contemporary romance readers looking for an unparalleled story that will capture your heart.

The author did a great job explaining and tying in the background of the characters. They had such a traumatic experience in their high school years with a school shooting. A documentary brings them all back together again. Friendships were developed over the trama. When they return the girls make a pact to work harder on that friendship, as no one knows them and understands them as they do. Sparks fly between Finn and Liv. It is a sweet love story. Can they overcome the fears they have and be together? The author gives great detail about the characters lives from early on as well as present. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.

**Advanced copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher 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!

This was a sweet second-chance romance with much more emotional depth than one might expect! I felt so much compassion for these characters that wasn't borne out of typical angst or drama, but out of an understanding of the grief they carried as survivors. Kudos to Roni Loren for affecting me in such an unexpected way!

Roni Loren’s The Ones Who Got Away was an emotional and riveting love story between two people connected by a shattered past. What could have easily turned into an angst-filled novel full of dramatic moments was in fact a sweet, but hot story about two people trying to move forward from a harrowing experience that has changed their lives forever.

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.

This is the kind of story that grabs you from the first chapter and holds on to you. The details pour out around the here and now. And what a here and now it is.

Liv survived and she's back for an interview for a documentary. A school shooting. A nightmare. She survived but her dreams have died. She exists. And as she comes together with all the others that got away, she discovers she's not the only one. And Finn may be the worst for wear. His demons go deep. Needless to say, these characters were real and I loved them all. I wanted so much for only good things for them.

I think a story of how the survivors fair after a major shooting is, unfortunately, such a relevant and poignant topic. This one definitely had my emotions all tied up. There just wasn't a clear path to recovery for any of them. I was just hanging on and hoping for them. And at one point, I was so very proud of Liv. I cheered and was so happy.

The writing is great. I wanted to devour it from start to finish and it was only my life getting in the way that stopped that. It's a great way to start this new year. There is hope. Dreams can still happen.

If you enjoy a survivor story with lots of sexual tension, then you should definitely give this one a go. Go on, add it to your TBR list. You won't regret it.

This book completely overlook my life by not being able to put the story down from the moment I started it. I completely loved every single part of this story and felt myself tearing up so many times and laughing at the same times. This shows how amazing this author was able to intricate the emotions into the story. I haven't read a storyline like this before and was completely entranced by it. The characters were incredible and I instantly loved them. I hope that there will be another story about these characters and we learn more about the characters we were introduced to in this story.

First time reading a book by Roni Loren well let me tell you I couldn't put this book down.

Liv Arias and Finn Dorsey were one of the few students who survived a horrible tragedy at Long Arce High School twelve years ago. Since then everything has changed since that horrible night.

Twelve years ago Liv and Finn were secretly seeing each other but ever since that night they went their separate ways. Liv has never fully recovered from that night but has manage to move on with her life (so she thought). However when she and few other students decided to go back to Long Acre to do a documentary about that night to raise money for the victims families. She never thought that seeing Finn would bring back all those memories and feelings back. As she tries to figure her life out she has to decide if she wants Finn to be in her life again. Will they be able to overcome that terrible night?

I received an ARC from Net Galley for a honest review.

This was my first Roni Loren book, but it sure won't be my last!!

The Ones Who Got Away was everything I could have hoped for! Fantastic writing, suspenseful, and the romance was amazing! I can't wait to see what's next for the rest of the girls!

I’m really disappointed that The Ones Who Got Away didn’t work out for me, as it was one of my highly anticipated reads of the year. The beginning of the book had everything going for it, Liv and Finn are finally reunited 12 years after one of the toughest moments in their lives. They were both involved in a school shooting, luckily Finn and Liv managed to make it out alive, but all these many years later, they’re still learning to deal with the anxiety, regrets and heartache from the aftermath. I loved the first scene between Finn and Liv, you could instantly tell that what had happened between them years ago, the intensity and longing was still there. And I think that’s where one of my annoyances came from in this book, it was clear as day that both Finn and Liv wanted each other, but there was a lot that both of them had to deal with and I could understand that, but after everything that they had been through, I just felt that they both deserved some happiness in their lives, life was too short and they really needed to take advantage of that. The constant back and forth between the characters I really wasn’t a fan of, because when Finn and Liv finally did let their defences down from time to time, their relationship was smoking hot! It was raw, intense, but also beautiful! And I just wanted both of them to realise that, some characters were quicker to the uptake of what they had in front of them, so why couldn’t they both just stop making the excuses. Another thing I wasn’t a fan of was that both character were meant to be in their late 20’s, but with the way they were going on and talking, it really came across as if they were younger characters, for me their maturity really was lacking at times. I don’t want to come across as only having negative things to say about this book, because there were aspects that I did enjoy, like the friendships that characters were able to make along the way, how strong they had become with all the things that they had to deal with and of course the steaming hot scenes I was of course a fan of, but I just wished I could have loved this one more.

Liv and Finn had a secret romance back in high school that was obliterated when a school shooting tears their lives apart. There’s more to their story than what was made public, a reality that hurt both Liv and Finn. Twelve years later they are reunited with the other survivors, and the old raging chemistry they felt before is stirred up again, but can they get past the damage the shooting and their actions caused?

The setup here sounded amazing to me, and I’m a huge fan of Roni Loren’s work (her erotica), but somehow Liv and Finn’s romance and story didn’t really touch me. I did enjoy the story overall, but I didn’t feel the yearning and connection that was supposedly there between them. Also, I felt the issue keeping them apart in the long term, (Finn’s job situation) wasn’t as big of a deal as Finn was making of it. I think when you fall in love with “the one” you find a way to make it work. What about all the wives who live without their husbands while they’re off serving a tour in the military? They find a way, and I thought Finn could somehow adjust his duties, so they weren’t apart, so I was a bit frustrated when it took so long for him to clue in on the possibilities.

I haven’t read anything from Roni Loren I haven’t loved, so I think this might’ve been a fluke that I didn’t love it, or possibly my reading mood at the time. I’m still a huge fan of her writing and I look forward to the next in this series, Rebecca’s story in The Ones You Can’t Forget. I felt bad for her!

Liv Arias never thought she would make the trip back to the place that holds so many painful memories for her, but here she is facing that past, and the man who broke her heart into a million pieces. As much as she wants to hate him for breaking her heart, she just can't seem to muster any distaste when he is sitting in front of her telling her how sorry he is for the night he walked away from her and put her in danger. The next thing she knows she is closing the distance between them and putting her lips on his, and the moment they meet the sparks start to fly all over again. When she agreed to do the documentary and return to her old high school she never thought she'd run into Finn again, but now that she has she is so sure she can walk away from him again...

Letting Liv go was the hardest thing that Finn Dorsey has ever done, their time together back in high school meant so much to him, and the thought that he was the one who put her in danger on that fateful night damn near kills him every time he thinks about it. Through the years he has often wandered if she followed her dreams of being a famed photographer, if she is still has feisty and daring as she use to be, and if the sparks they once shared would still be there if he had the chance to kiss her once more. Returning to his hometown has him on pins and needles, the idea of being so close to the place that changed his life all those years ago is almost more than he can bare... then he sees Liv again and all that doesn't seem to matter as much. His plan was to return home, face his past, and find a way to finally put it all behind him... he never expected it would also reunite him with the woman who has held his heart all these years.

The Ones Who Got Away is a heart-wrenching and riveting read that is sure to keep you under it's spell from start to finish! From the moment your eyes land on the page it will start toying with your emotions and have your heart in your throat, but little by little it begins to take on more of an uplifting vibe...one that will leave you smiling. Watching these two wonderfully crafted characters reunite, find a way to deal with all their unresolved feelings and fears, and get to a place of love was truly a beautiful and touching thing to witness. I have to say this is by far one of the best first reads that I have had in a long while, Ms. Loren's thought provoking story line gave me the feels, squeezed my heart, and moved me beyond words... it's definitely one I will treasure for a while! Highly recommend this one... it's just too damn good to pass up!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.

I really enjoyed this adult romance about two people finding their way back to each other after experiencing a traumatic event together. Liv and Finn have coped with the tragedy of a school shooting the best they can for the past 12 years, mostly by shutting other people out and immersing themselves in their work.

When they reconnect during a documentary filming, the connection they felt 12 years ago is still there. Finn encourages Liv to try to push her safety net to the side and try really living for a while (though, of course, he's one to talk). As they get close, they wonder if this is something that can last, or just something that will carry them through the next few months until Finn goes back to his super top-secret dangerous job. 

I'm a sucker for second-chance romances, and I really liked Liv and Finn and liked watching their relationship build as the story unfolded. It's both sweet and hot. Liv also has a good group of female friends around her, and they feel pretty fleshed out; I'm pretty sure we'll see them further developed in stories of their own. I appreciate that the book deals with the aftermath of the shooting rather than centering on the event itself. I'm still not sure how I feel about the handling of it as a whole, but I did love the message of the importance of living life to the fullest--to live the life that scares you.

Should you read it? There's some powerful stuff here, plus a lot of hot chemistry and great banter. I'll admit that the cover sucked me in--but it's more than just a pretty face.

I was excited to have the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book on NetGalley.

“The Ones Who Got Away” by Roni Loren delivers all the feels and fun a reader craves from a great romance. Ms. Loren is a gifted storyteller, who has won Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award.
In light of recent shootings, I was worried that this book could be a downer, but instead “The Ones Who Got Away” is a story about rebuilding one’s life in the wake of tragedy. The characters are unique and captivating. I was overjoyed to discover that this book is the first in a series, because I want Rebecca, Kincaid, and Taryn to receive their own well-deserved happy ever afters.

Liv’s life was forever changed when two of her classmates decided to gun down all the happy kids at prom. She bands together with three other girls and they promise to honor those who died by living the best lives possible. Over a decade passes and the women are brought together by a documentary on the shooting. They look back at the promises they made and have not kept.

Liv is reunited with Finn, the rich kid who snuck away with her at prom only to flee once the first shots were fired to protect his date, inadvertently alerting one of the gunmen to Liv’s hiding place. When Finn and Liv reunite, their passion for each other reignites. Whenever the two of them are together on the page, the story sizzles with sexiness and humor. The presence of Rebecca, Finn’s prom date, who is now one of Liv’s sisters in tragedy, ups the conflict for the couple. The book nicely sets the stage for Rebecca’s quest for Mr. Right without taking away from this fantastic tale of second chance love.

This is a superb series starter. I highly recommend this extremely satisfying story.

This story touches on the topic of "living vs. surviving".

After one event changed Liv and Finn's lives, it tore them apart but all it took was one meeting for the flames to be stoked. Finn survived by trying to make up for what he perceived as his failings; the effects of the event. Liv managed her fears by making safe choices.

But can they go through life by just surviving? Do they make the leap of faith? This poignant story takes you through their character growth. Their undeniable attraction and need for one another keeps the story hot and interesting.

*ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley; opinions are my own.

The Ones Who Got Away is an emotional story between two people connected by a shattered past. What could have easily turned into an angst-riddled novel full of dramatic moments was instead a story about two people trying to move forward from a harrowing experience that has changed their lives forever. It was a better story than I was actually expecting, and I will look up this author in the future.

As I read this not sure I could handle this one. Mass school shooting. Survivors still dealing with emotions of their survival after twelve years and probably will for the rest of their lives. With that said I began to read this book with a heavy heart and open mind. While the book caught me in many emotions as I read the pages, I was able to realize there is hope and life and love, even despite such a tragedy. Ms. Loren created a hero and heroine, high school sweethearts, Finn and Liv who dealt with the events differently and were reunited during the filming of a documentary. They came to realize their love attraction for each other was still there. True it took a while to realize it was love, both being in denial, but we are ecstatic they are together even if it seems to be for a summer.
Thank you Roni Loren. You have taken a devastating subject and given those survivors hope and love in the lives of at least two people caught up in a torturous world. I for one who love to read of their other classmates, Rebecca, Kincaid, and Taryn. Please?

This is the first book that I’ve read by Roni Loren and it will most certainly not be the last! Ms. Loren’s writing will sweep you away from page one until the very last word. And the storyline is one that is revelant to each and every one of us today.
The book begins with the heroine, Liv Arias, recounting her experience of a horrific event that happened her senior year of high school to an interviewer for a documentary. Several of her fellow classmates have come back to their small town to be a part of the documentary as well. But the one person Liv wasn’t expecting to see was Finn Dorsey, the boy she loved in high school. He had disappeared after graduation twelve years ago and Liv didn’t even know if he was alive.
Despite the time and distance there is still a strong spark pulling Liv and Finn together as if they were magnets. But it’s a spark that Finn fights because he has a secret and knows he won’t be around long enough to do anything but cause Liv pain if they hook up. And Liv is anything but a hookup for Finn.
Liv is also meeting up with some girlfriends while they’re all in town. Friends that always swore they’d stay in touch but never did. The past was too painful and it was easier to forget if they left everything and everyone behind.
This story is about healing and reconnecting. It’s about reliving and facing fears that have plagued all of the characters for over twelve years now. It’s also a love story...but a love story that doesn’t guarantee a happy ending.
Ms. Loren is an excellent writer who has developed wonderful characters and who has created a story that draws you in and takes you along for the ride. Oh! I almost forgot the steamy sex scenes!
This is a standalone book and does have a HEA. I highly recommend this book to any romance reader who wants a great story to delve into and let the author take you on a journey that will tug at your heart and lead you through a myriad of emotions. It’s a book that you won’t want to put down until you’ve read every last word.