This was exactly the book I needed right now! Having been in a bit of a book slump for a few weeks, I was beginning to wonder if I would have another book to add to my Favorite Books of 2017 list, and I am happy to report that this gem is now on that list. It had everything that I love in a story - a scarred hero, a courageous heroine, cute dogs, and a love that surpassed all obstacles thrown in its path. Inspiring and heart-wrenching, it made me believe that while time may not heal all wounds, perhaps true love can.

Emma Cooper is homeless, broke, and in mourning. Following her mother's wishes, she sets out on a road trip to find a man named Aiden Sheffield, who is to accompany her to Linx, Texas to spread her mother's ashes. She expects to find suave casanova who her mother fell in love with years ago, but what she finds instead is a young veteran with scars inside and out, who throws up shields to keep others at a distance. His gruff demeanor doesn't phase Emma, especially when she sees how he treats the dogs with affection at the rescue where he works. Setting out on a reluctant journey to mark the end of her mother's time on this earth, they find something they didn't see coming: a love that will bring them full circle to face their pasts and build a future together.

While both Emma and Aiden created a story that will stick with me for a long time, Aiden was really the star of this book. His emotional journey brought up so many emotions in myself, as I sorted through which emotions were my own remembering of past hurts and which emotions were brought about through my empathy with Aiden. I wanted to climb right into the book and beat the crap out of his father, and eventually, I wanted to scream at Emma's mother for her part in Aiden's pain. I am a huge dog lover, having volunteered at several rescues over the years and grown up with dogs, and I can tell you - dogs are excellent judges of character. As soon as I saw how Aiden interacted with his "pack", I knew this would be a hero against which all future heroes would be measured. Here is a man who, despite all odds, managed to come out of trauma swinging and still have a heart. Emma was a beautiful soul, inside and out, who saw Aiden's true self buried beneath his scars. Once she was able to draw him out with patient compassion and humor, it was amazing to see his character blossom.

This is the first book I have read by this author, and it most certainly will not be the last. M.K. Schiller is a gifted storyteller with an insight into the human soul not often seen in modern literature. I would recommend this book highly to any one of my friends or family. It teaches great lessons of healing, love, and compassion.

**I received a copy of The Scars Between Us from Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review**

The Scars Between Us by MK Schiller is a wonderful story of forgiveness, an encompassing love that builds between Emma and Aiden but most of all completing her mother's last dying request. However, I do think that there should be a little warning as it deals with physical and emotional abuse of a child, wife and as a adult. But it's a wonderful story and I'd give it 4.8 stars.

Emma Cooper made her mother a dying promise to find Aiden Sheffield and that they both go to Linx, Texas and spread her ashes in the river. Little does she know how Aiden fits into her mother's life before marrying her father and that she will heal Aiden and his scars with her love. It's a very emotional journey from By the Falls to Texas with several surprises along the way. But will they both be able to fight the demon who hurt all of their lives and live to tell about it?

Aiden Sheffield has a rescue dog sanctuary that he runs with his friend Mac. He also is a up and coming MMA fighter who is training at the farm. When Emma shows up with mothers urn and tells him of her mom's last wishes. Will he and able to return to a place that gave him so many of his scars? He left that city after years of abuse from his father and even though he enlisted into the Marines, he's not sure why the request from her mother gave her because when she learns the truth will she be able to handle the information. There are a lot of secrets that were never told to Emma and he knows he'll do anything to save her from the monster who has made everyone's lives miserable.

Their road trip will bring them closer together than they've ever imagined but first they have to survive their visit to Linx, Texas. I loved how the ending wrapped up everything including their new found family.