Review will post tomorrow, 7/24/2017.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The beginning completely drew me in and kept me reading. From reading the blurb I figured it would be a slightly darker, over the top, angsty contemporary romance. And I was right. When the book opens Emma sets out on a mission to find one Aiden Sheffield, who she’s never heard of before, but wants to find so she can fulfill her mother’s dying wish. The Aiden she finds is an enigma. He’s big and strong and gorgeous, but he’s also scarred and seems to be carrying demons around with him every second of the day. He’s an animal lover who helps run a sanctuary for abused dogs, yet is also a fighter who gets into the ring and beats his opponents down for money. He’s a former marine who has traveled the world. She learns that her mother was once his step mother, but he won’t tell her much more than that. But she forms a connection to him pretty quickly anyway.

Emma came across as a sad, lost woman who after the deaths of her parents, had no idea where she belonged. As she and Aiden head out across the country, taking the long way to Linx, Texas in order to spread Emma’s mother’s ashes, they get to know each other and honestly, I liked them together. I mean Aiden kept so many secrets that it began to drive me a bit nuts, but I still liked that this author let him and Emma get to know each other before they fell into bed. There were all kinds of lustful thoughts between them, but it took a good while before they acted upon them.

Then the fall into bed and all the secrets of Aiden’s relationship with Emma’s mother come out and I wasn’t so sure what the heck to think.

First of all, I was slightly nauseated by how Emma’s mother, Angela aka Amy, just left a young boy in such an abusive, terrible situation. Of course Emma and Aiden talk it out and excuse her actions because she herself was abused, but in my head I was like HELL NO. No excuses for you, lady. The flashback scenes Aiden has in the form of nightmares tell a terrifying, sadistic story of a man in power who mentally and physically tormented his wife and child, and no amount of excuses could make me feel better about why Aiden was left by someone he trusted to suffer alone. After all this comes to light I will admit I braced myself for more awful when this couple finally arrived in Linx. And I was right to do so. The ending is a turbulent, wtf is going on, whirlwind of confrontation and evil deals and violence and murder. Also, the whole town was in on it? Like nobody had the balls to come forward and protect this boy? Not one person? I mean.. what?

In the end, and despite the over the top dramatic conclusion, I liked this couple and was thankful for the way this author chose to revisit them in the future.

Favorite Quote:

She is the girl who lost everything.
I am the boy who never had anything.

The Scars Between Us is a heartbreaking, emotional story about loss and healing. There is detailed abuse so be forewarned if this is a trigger for you.

Emma Cooper is fulfilling a promise she made to her mother. Go find a man named Aiden Sheffield and go with him to Linx, Texas to spread her ashes. She doesn't know what to expect when she meets him, but what she finds definitely isn't anything she could possibly have imagined. For one, he's the most beautiful creature she's ever seen. Two, he is cold and barely speaks to her. Three, he and a gorgeous older man named Mac run a dog rescue at their home. The contradictions abound...

As she and Aiden make the road trip to Linx, she discovers things about Aiden that make the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She also falls in love with him, and reluctantly, he with her.

Emma and Aiden have an interesting chemistry. On one hand, they push and pull and go back and forth. He insults her and she pulls back. But on the other hand, she lets him in and he reciprocates. And then there's their physical chemistry, it's pretty hot. The reluctance he feels to get involved seems to make it hotter, make them hotter. It's not quite love hate, but it's pretty close to it at times.

As things wrap up and the big reveal happens, I was cringing, because I knew from the earlier details about Aiden's past, that it was going to be brutal, and it was. But, it could have been much worse, I'm glad for MK's restraint so that The Scars Between Us was not truly dark. A little bleak and black at times, but not so detailed that I was dying by the end. And then the epilogue was so sweet, it wrapped things up perfectly.

Thank you MK for this beautiful story. It will stay with me for a long time!

The Scars Between Us by M.K. Schiller is a stand alone novel. This book gutted the hell out of me. I literally just finished the book and now I'm sitting here and I have no words. What I can say is, This IS a 5 Star read !!
Meet Emma Cooper and Aiden Sheffield. Both are sent on a journey that will keep you at the edge of your seat.
Emma lost both her parents and mourns them deeply. Now she is about to fulfill her mothers last wish. This last wish includes a trip to Aiden and convince him to accompany her.
Aiden has deep issues and scars, visible and invisible.
Everytime I thought I had it all sorted out, bam, came another twist or unexpected turn that left me breathless.
Favorite Quote: " She is the girl who lost everything. I am the boy who never had anything. "
The Scars Between Us is the heart wrenchingly story of two lost souls, broken people. This book is raw and gritty and Wow, just Wow.
I highly recommend this book and wish I could give more than 5 stars. I love this book, Thank you MK Schiller !

Rating 4.5/5

From the moody cover to the tumultuous suspense, this book packs so much into this enthralling read. Endeavouring to fulfil the promise she made to her dying Mum, Emma Cooper is heading for Linx, Texas stopping en route to ask Aiden Sheffield to go with her. Only problem to start with is that she has no idea who Aiden is or what his connection is to her mother . . . but that’s a minor problem when you consider what happens as she uncovers secrets from the past and opens herself and Aiden up to the evil that awaits them.

This is a real page turner, with great characters with many facets and secrets. It is a story about grief, changes, danger, heartbreak and forgiveness as well as moving on in life. It is a complex story where only revisiting the past and discovering what really happened can help everyone involved come to terms with events and look forward to the future - if only they can survive the present!

It is a story which involves some difficult subjects, including physical and emotional abuse, the abuse of power and trust and demonstrates how others don’t always know what is happening behind closed doors. It is also a story of an unexpected romance between two scarred individuals, with so many twists and turns! If you enjoy contemporary romantic suspense and can cope with the emotive abusive aspects that the author skilfully brings vividly to life you’ll probably love reading this - I did!

I requested and was given a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion after choosing to read it.

I almost passed over this book because of the book cover. I don't know why but it just didn't catch my attention. It felt a bit plain and even after reading the book,I can't get it to sync with the story for me. But the blurb hinted in so many ways at a mystery in the tale that I was tempted to get my hands on it. And wow, the author has delivered an emotionally impacting book.

A bit of warning, guys, this book deals with abuse and there are so many triggers throughout the book. So be careful while reading it. If you are fine with sensitive material, you have to read this book. I recommend it strongly. I haven't read MK Schiller's other books so I went in blind but I can see myself reading this author in the future though with a bit of caution.

As for reviewing the book, I don't even know where to start. The story itself is a very impacting one. The way the author has dealt with the subject is pretty good. And the story alone doesn't make the book.The characters and their reactions to their pasts and the journey they undertake to the future make the story an unforgettable one. The history of abuse highlighted is detailed enough to get me immersed in the pain. I felt as if I was there beside them during the scenes.

The story is told in both of the protagonists',Emma and Aiden, POV. This is my favourite type so I was pretty happy to deal with their thoughts and feelings. And this also made me fall for them because I totally could understand their actions. It was a roller coaster ride of emotions for me. It made me sad, angry and happy as I read the book. At the end, I was sure I was smiling, happy with the way the author has dealt with the horrific antagonist. Wow, I never knew such a villain. It sure makes me wonder at the human mind and the way humans can be animalistic.


As emotionally trapping as the book was, there were the love scenes which kind of didn't go with the flow of the story. I felt as if they weren't relevant to the tale and I could have done without them in such detail. Another part which I felt detracted a tiny bit from the book was the side journey they took on the way to Linx. I was wondering what was the point when reading it.

The story's pace was aligned well with the content. My mind didn't wander at any point and the twists and turns and detours the story took were hard hitting and kept me occupied till the end. As far as I am concerned the author delivered way beyond what she promised with the blurb.

My one line review : A poignantly hopeful love story with a hint of mystery.

My rating : 4.5/5

My reread factor : 4/5

Title: The Scars Between Us
Author: MK Schiller
Genre: Contemporary romance
Stars: 5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I saw this book was up for review and almost passed it by. The title got me and I had to take a closer look. It is a beautifully written story. Once I started I couldn't put it down. The characters are relatable, likable and real. The characters had me invested in what I was reading. I laughed, had my heart broken and fell in love with them. This is such a beautiful story and I'm so thankful I had a chance to read this book!

**received an advanced copy for an honest review**

The story in this called to me with this being the first time in reading this author. She has developed some strong characters in this one that are larger than life. Emma will combined with Aiden tell some turbulent story with the quest they are on. Together they will pull on every emotion you have at one time or another. The depth that this goes to is the kind I wish more had for example the parts that are dark but they are part of what goes on in life to some. The light is mixed in there two with it being stronger than the dark to slowly eat it away. Aiden was one fascinating guy too that my heart become his too real quick. Emma is quite the character also with her mouth saying some funny things. You stick to them all the way because you too have to know what the result is going to be.

https://www.amazon.com/review/RRJJKZOOGGX0Q/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

“She told me to find Aiden Sheffield and ask for his forgiveness on her behalf. She said you were her greatest regret. She wanted you to be present when I laid her ashes to rest at this river in Linx, Texas.”

Emma Cooper is on a mission to fulfil her mother’s last wishes but she never expected Aiden Sheffield – or her attraction to this prickly man.

“This girl comes into my life, uninvited, bringing with her all the turbulence of a hurricane, unearthing all the demons I buried a long time ago.”

Aiden is taciturn and shrouded in mystery. He never expected Emma Cooper or his reaction to her. He behaves out of character where she’s concerned. He never planned to ever go back to the town where he grew up, but the more time he spends with Emma, the more he realises that there’s no way he’d let her go to that town on her own. However, her appearance dredges up unwanted, horrible memories, which he refuses to discuss with her.

This was a fantastic, moving story! It was kinda beautiful but also kinda harrowing. It was a pretty emotional read with some really surprising and shocking twists and turns in the storyline. I found it hard to put down. It was riveting and also heart-stopping.

“She smells of sweetness – honey and vanilla and innocence. I don’t want to do anything to ruin all those special things.”

I loved watching Emma and Aiden fall in love during their road trip. I loved how Emma’s goodness seeps into Aiden’s life, making it brighter and happier. I loved how she lights up his life and makes him laugh. This book was such a big mix of sexy and heartwarming, mingled with some disturbing stuff. Such beauty entwined with such ugliness. The attraction between them is undeniable and my heart ached for Aiden and his belief that he was no good for her. He didn’t want the darkness inside him to touch her. I absolutely adored how well Emma saw through to the heart Aiden.

“She is the girl who lost everything. I am the boy who never had anything.”

Oh, the feels! Thoroughly recommend this book!

The Scars Between Us is a great read! This story will draw you in from start to finish, and there twists you never saw coming. It was well written, and it flowed well. This book put me through all the emotions. I liked the characters Ex Military turned MMA Aiden, who at times was a butthead, and sweet Emma who's alone in the world. They were genuine and they showed raw emotions.
Finding love when you least expect it.

I just fell in love with this book. Something just sparked with me and totally pulled me in.

While the subject is familiar, an ex-military guy with many pains and anger in his life, and a young girl who has no one in the world, this could have very well been a poor me, I am angry at the world book. But instead the author chose to bring these two together through respect, enjoyment, and protectiveness.

This book is full of growing heat, sexy passion, fun, loyalty, and a huge twist that you do not expect at all. I have never read this author before, but this will not be the last book by her that I read. The Scars Between Us is unique and one you will want to read over and over!

Aiden is awesome, the writing is awesome, and this book is going on my Best of list, because I just loved it that much!!

The blurb for this book really enticed me. The secrets kept by someone but how they ripple out into the lives of others. Not an easy book to read at times, but then that is fine by me, sometimes you need something that gets under your skin in a none creepy way to read. And this book certainly did that, i loved reading the story and learning about Aiden and who he is and how Emma and Aiden can help shape each others lives to something more

review on goodreads under the name kimothy

M.K. Schiller - a new-to-me author - delivers an almost perfect New Adult romance with The Scars Between Us.

Emma Cooper's mother has passed away and left her a rather cryptic set of instructions: find a Mr. Aiden Sheffield, and convince him to come to the small town of Linx, Texas, to scatter her ashes. Intriguing, no? Well, I thought so, and it only gets more intriguing as you read and begin to wonder just what exactly is the connection between Aiden and Emma's mother...

I really enjoyed this book. If it weren't for that pesky needing to sleep thing, I'd have read it in one sitting. It immediately draws you in with the question of who the heck is Aiden, and once you actually meet Aiden and see the instant chemistry between him and Emma, you just won't want to stop reading until you find out everything there is to know.

Physically, Aiden sounded absolutely divine, and the swoon factor in this book is pretty darn high. Also, the fact that he rescues dogs was an instant hit with me - love dogs. I wasn't really fussed about the cage fighter aspect, but since this book only covers a few days, that wasn't really a part of the story anyway.

Character-wise, at first glance Aiden appears to have the stereotypical brooding hot guy with a back-story thing going on, but as I read on, I found it was all done really well and didn't seem at all contrived. Once you actually know Aiden's story, you'll definitely accept he has every right to brood and be a little Negative Nancy now and then. His problems are not superficial, and I thought this part of the story was tragic but fascinating.

As for Emma, she was fun. It might seem as though her characterisation wasn't as detailed or as interesting as Aiden's, simply because she's generally just a nice girl who's lived a happy, normal life. We, as readers, live through her rose-tinted outlook and experience each new revelation in this book as yet another blow to the happy bubble she's previously existed in.

The romance I thought was pretty perfect. Although the attraction for both was instant, they don't hop to it so soon you're not emotionally prepared for it (hate it when authors do that). No, I was definitely invested in them both by the time the first kiss happened. I did lots of grinning and even laughed aloud a few times at the dialogue.

So cute.

I'm now going to explain what I meant when I said it was almost perfect, and because this is quite subjective, I thought I'd leave it until the end.

So, having read a few NAs, I've come to expect them to be intensely emotional, and for there to be at least a section of the book that completely emotionally destroys me. That has me lying like a quivering pile of heartbroken goop on the floor, unable to process all the feelings. I'm sure if you're interested in reading this book, you've probably already read a few of them yourself. In fact, since the cover art keeps reminding me of Travis Maddox, we could easily use Beautiful Disaster as an example of a New Adult book that gut punches you repeatedly until you're crying out for mercy. Now, you see, I like that. Love it, in fact. And in this genre, I kinda expect it, too. That's not to say this book didn't produce feels, it did. But just not to the degree I crave. Schiller instead opted to keep it more tense and action-y, which is her right to do so, of course. I guess what I'm saying is, I have no actual complaints about what was in this book, but for me, there was just a little something missing that kept it from being a 5 star read. Because I'm apparently a masochist.

Still, if you're an NA junkie, maybe a book that's not quite so emotionally draining could be a welcome relief every now and then!

Overall, The Scars Between Us was wonderful book, and I'll definitely be checking out this author's future reads.

4 Stars ★★★★ A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

If you want all the feels, read this book. Wow, so freaking good. I was not at all ready for the emotional rollercoaster that was Aiden and Emma. I loved the intensity between them from the moment they met. I couldn't help but cry for Aiden. I loved that Emma made him face the hard things he had been through but was there to heal him at the same time. They're both such strong characters and they complimented each other beautifully. This story is so complex and real. It's gritty and heart-warming but extremely sexy. I absolutely loved this book.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

***5 ‘In Between Moments’ Stars***

My whole reason, not WHOLE, but the main reason I took a closer look at The Scars Between Us was the cover, I loved/love the look and tone of it and then I read the description. That was the hook. I needed to find out what the deal with Linx, Texas was and the little mystery of how Emma’s mom knows Aiden and from the first page I was hooked. I did the “I’m just gonna peek at it” Peek...yeah. I ended up reading about 5 or 6 chapters. This book had it all for me: Characters I cared about, moments that brought out all kinds of feels and a nice little mystery that kept me turning the pages until the very end.

I adored Emma. This woman has been dealt so many emotional gut punches in a short span of time that it’s a miracle she hasn’t just curled up in a corner and shut the world out. This isn’t to say that she has a handle on everything, because she isn’t, but she hasn’t allowed her grief to consume her. I loved her strength, determination, sass and compassion.

Aiden. It was hard not to love and then adore Aiden. He’s curt, something of an a&%hole and definitely gives off a ‘don’t come near me’ vibe, but much of it has to do with his past, which was quite heartbreaking. But under all of that is a man with a gentle, genuine and compassionate heart and soul with a slightly quirky sense of humor and takes protecting those he calls his own very seriously.

I really enjoyed watching their relationship evolve from strangers to sort of friends to lovers. There were the ups and downs, but for the most part the angst was low and the way everything played out felt natural. As much as I loved Aiden, and believe me there is a lot to love about the gruff man, Emma took center stage for me because she was full of surprises and really brought out the man that Aiden was always meant to be without realizing it. The smexy was hot, but it was watching as they got to know each other and became more intertwined on an emotional level that really did it for me.

This is my first book by M.K. Schiller and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The writing was engaging, the book flowed well and at a good pace and the dual 1st person POV was excellent. The twists and turns throughout the book were done very well, some I saw coming, while others were total surprises, so it was a good mix. There are things in this book that will be triggers for some, but they are handled well and are necessary to the storyline and character development. The secondary characters were all well written. I loved Mac and I’m keeping my toes crossed that Carson may get his own book in the future. But regardless, I’ll be keeping an eye on Ms. Schiller and what books she’ll be putting out in the future.

when emma meets aiden in the scars between us everything changes. her plans. her feelings. her expectations. because she was imagining she'd meet some old, spurned lover. but instead, this guy is in his twenties. and he's not happy to see her. but she promised her mother she'd ask him to release her mother's ashes at the river in linx, texas. and you can't go back on someone's dying wish.

emma isn't what aiden expects at all. they are connected in ways that emma has no idea about, and aiden hesitates to tell her because he figures it would do her no good to know the truth. he's survived a childhood filled with trauma and torture and then joined the marines and saw things that reaffirmed his sense that the world is filled with dark, unpleasant things.

but now they are on this road trip that will take him back to the place where all the pain in his life began and he knows that he has to find a way to protect emma from it. he'll do anything for her. he'll die for her. incredible that meeting her would bring light back into his world. but she's an optimist at heart, even when she's lost everything in her world, she still expects things to get better. there's no way he'd ever shatter those illusions.

and what's amazing in this romance is that it doesn't matter. secrets like the one's aiden is trying to keep never stay buried. eventually he has to tell her everything and turn her world upside down. but even in those moments, these two never let go of each other. the connection between them only gets stronger as the walls come down. because they may have not spent much time together, but they still know who the other person is down to their bones. their need for each other, to love and protect and save each other will keep them going. i loved it. i loved their relationship. i loved how there wasn't a big blow up or grand gesture required to prove their love.

what they go through is bigger than that. it's horrifying and devastating and deeply traumatizing. but it's about how they survive. it's about how they find a way to love each other. it's about healing and moving on from the past. it's emotional and oh-so-beautiful to find something to hope for after so much pain.

4.5 stars!

This is my first read by this author, and I am so glad I picked this book up! The blurb intrigued me, and I am happy to say that the story was everything that I was hoping for and more. A raw and emotional character-driven story that is both deeply profound and so much fun, with the different aspects balanced perfectly to create a read that had me laughing, swooning and falling in love, at the same time breaking my heart with its dark and gritty drama. It was a wonderfully immersive story, and I loved it!

After tragically losing both of her parents in the space of a year, 20-year-old Emma Cooper is carrying out her mother’s last wishes by seeking out a man named Aiden Sheffield, and travelling with him to the small town of Linx in Texas to scatter her ashes. She has no idea who Aiden is or how he is linked to her mother, but she is determined to keep the promise she made. When she travels to Oregon to find Aiden, he is far from what she was expecting. She assumed he would be a past love of his mother’s, but instead he turns out to be a handsome young man that instantly sets Emma’s heart racing. But far from being welcoming, he is a broody asshole who appears to want nothing to do with her.

Aidan is the hot-guy-romance-hero trifecta – he’s an ex-SEAL, an MMA fighter, and he runs a dog shelter (*swoon*). So from that alone we know he’s tough and strong with a heart of gold. His attraction to Emma is as immediate as hers is for him, but he resents her coming into his carefully constructed life and reminding of a past he has worked so hard to overcome. But he shares some of his past with her, and after she ends up staying at his ranch with him for a few days and he spends some time with her, he knows there is no way that he can allow her to return to the town that almost destroyed him, so he agrees to go with her.

His smile is sad. “You've been carrying it for a long time, Emma. Let someone else carry it for a while.”


Road trip! I freaking love road trip books! There is something about the experiences of travelling, and the intensity of two people being together all day every day that creates a wonderful set up for a romance. Add in the ridiculous chemistry that sizzles between Emma and Aiden, and the stage is set for some awesome fireworks!

I absolutely loved the relationship between these two. Yes, there is darkness and drama, but there is also a fantastic sense of fun, and the teasing, flirting and banter is sensational!

“Do you really think I’d risk my lovelies being strewn all over the internet?”
“Well, no. Wait what do you mean by lovelies?”
The pretty blush crawls across her collarbone. “Shut up. Don’t make fun of my euphemism.”
“You can say a word like euphemism, but not vagina.”
She makes a disgusted face. “It’s an ugly word.”
But it’s such a beautiful thing.
“I prefer to call my stuff lovelies. The bottom line is my lovelies are for my own private enjoyment not public consumption.”
I nod slowly. “Uh huh. How about you replay that sentence in your head again, Cooper.”
“What I said…” She face palms herself. “Shit, it makes me sound like I masturbate a lot.”
“Yeah, it does, but there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s nice we have so much in common.”


The story is written in dual POV so we get to see where both of them are at, and I loved the opportunity to get inside of their heads – experiencing the light and the not-so-light moments right along with them.

I buy us hot dogs and try not to watch Emma eat hers. I’m must full of great ideas these days. Yeah, buy her some phallic food and dare your dick not to jump. What a fun game this is. In fact, why stop here? I’m sure she could go for a banana or, better yet, a Popsicle. Shit, what the hell is wrong with me?

I don’t want to care for her. I want to be indifferent, pretend she does not affect me in any way, but she makes it impossible…because she affects me in every way.


The emotion between them builds quickly but realistically, and I could feel each little shift in their relationship, and I loved every fun, sexy moment of it! From reluctant allies to friends to lovers, their open acceptance of each other, and of all that happens between them, is absolutely beautiful to read.

“There is nothing in the world that can make me forget you. There is no ignoring what I’m feeling. There is no letting you go.”


But their road trip is leading them down a dark path, and as they slowly fall for each other, Aiden starts to open up about his past and all that he has been through, and it is absolutely heartwrenching. This book has some incredibly dark themes and it’s not always an easy read. It’s graphic and disturbing, and there are definitely some triggers to be aware of (physical and emotional abuse of both children and adults), but it’s written with heart and emotion, and it really allows you to understand all that Aiden has been through and how much he has overcome. My heart ached for him, and it made him all the more incredible for being able to open himself up to Emma so completely.

Cut me a break, Emma. I’m in new territory with no map or compass. Give me a second to find my way to you...please.


And that darkness that haunts Aiden so deeply becomes all too real as they reach their destination. Will they be strong enough to face the horrors of the past head-on, or will it destroy them and all that they have managed to build together?

I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “Don’t let me lose you.”
“You won’t.”


I loved this book. It’s a heart-pounding ride, and the blend of dark drama and sweet, fun, chemistry-filled, sexy romance is really well done. Emma and Aiden are wonderful characters, and their journey – both literal and figurative – is beautifully written. My heart ached for them and all that they went through, and I feel like I experienced it all alongside them as they deal with the past, experience the present, and move towards their future.

I wasn’t ready to let these characters go, but the book ends in a great place, and I finished this book with a huge grin on my face.

Absolutely beautiful – 4.5 stars.

A deeply emotional story of two people who have a deeper connection than they realize at first glance. In fact, Emma has no idea why her mother wanted her to include Aiden when she spread her mother's ashes or why they had to spread them in Texas.
The scars that are revealed are both literal and metaphorical. Aiden has multiple visible scars, while Emma has internal, emotional scars. The journey these two go on while discovering not only themselves, but each other, as well, is poignant.
Can two people who never met and have a shared connection find a way to build a future together? Or, will the scars of the past keep them apart?
The Scars Between Us delves into the topics of abuse, family and trust. I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.