Mending Michael

Copy courtesy of Netgalley This was a well WRIITEN story. More realistic romance than most out there. There is a lot going on with the cgaracters and instead if jumping into a relationship to add to the drama, they try to wait. Holly and Mick were by no means ready for a relationship. His life was an utter mess. He did realize that in order to have a successful relationship,with Holly, he needed to fix his life. The author tackles a lot of things in this book. Drug and alcohol abuse, child neglect and family relationships. Even though, these are heavy subjects, we get to enjoy some lively, sometimes humorous dialogue between the characters. Overall an enjoyable read.

F_50x66 Kristine Ruiz's review Jan 11, 15 · edit 5 of 5 stars Read in January, 2015

Holly is a strong willed girl hiding her true self from everyone for fear of rejection. She has friends, who she lives dearly, but at the same time can't emotionally be their for them. She is going to college and her parents are paying for it but she's stuying for something that is only her father wants, to afraid to go against him and fear of losing her comfort she doesn't tell him. She does however start to see things in a new way when her friend rose tells her to work to for own money. So she starts working at her local hangout with Michael the bartender who's always hated her for reasons she feels is the fake id she tried to get away with three years ago.

Micheal has so much going on in his life, the last thing he can think of is a girl, but holly has always made him feeling and want things he could never have, or so he thought. With his parents out of the picture and his sister bringing an unfit parent he tries to raise his nice, but can't seem to keep her in his grasp when social services comes. So he goes into a downward spin and who's there to catch him other then holly.

As time goes on and they spend time together they start to feel for one and other like they never have for anyone else. There's a connection they can't explain but a need to keep their distance. But when Michael finally reveals how he really feels about her but tells her he's not the man she needs and he needs to fix himself first, their worlds start to turn upside down.

With drugs, alcohol, regret, love and so much more can these two find eachother , can they let love win and move on with their lives, or will they forever live in regret?

Mending Michael by J.P. Grider

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Holly is a strong willed girl hiding her true self from everyone for fear of rejection. She has friends, who she lives dearly, but at the same time can't emotionally be their for them. She is going to college and her parents are paying for it but she's stuying for something that is only her father wants, to afraid to go against him and fear of losing her comfort she doesn't tell him. She does however start to see things in a new way when her friend rose tells her to work to for own money. So she starts working at her local hangout with Michael the bartender who's always hated her for reasons she feels is the fake id she tried to get away with three years ago.

Micheal has so much going on in his life, the last thing he can think of is a girl, but holly has always made him feeling and want things he could never have, or so he thought. With his parents out of the picture and his sister bringing an unfit parent he tries to raise his nice, but can't seem to keep her in his grasp when social services comes. So he goes into a downward spin and who's there to catch him other then holly.

As time goes on and they spend time together they start to feel for one and other like they never have for anyone else. There's a connection they can't explain but a need to keep their distance. But when Michael finally reveals how he really feels about her but tells her he's not the man she needs and he needs to fix himself first, their worlds start to turn upside down.

With drugs, alcohol, regret, love and so much more can these two find eachother , can they let love win and move on with their lives, or will they forever live in regret?

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ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Let me just say that the promise of this story is great unfortunately the execution didn't quite turn out as good.

The struggles that these characters go through is so realistic that it really makes you feel for Mick and Holly. You really want to see them fight for themselves but also for eachother.

What didn't work for this book was there was just to many misunderstandings. Normally that wouldn't bother me but in the case of this book they don't actually get together until the very end. On top of that Holly is a virgin and everything pertaining to the actual romance is brushed under the rug since its at the very end so it spoils it.

With this author's writing style it made it hard to read. Not only for the grammatical error but also for her trying to add in words or phrases that just didn't fit in with the story line. I feel like half of the book could be cut out and this would only make the book better.

I really felt that this book wasn't a romance at all. There was a struggle for them to be together but there was too much inner dialogue and not enough of them actually overcoming their issues in order to be together. I fell as though the author dragged out issues and inner turmoil just to make the book longer. I really wanted to actually see Holly and Mick as a couple not just struggling to become a couple.

This book could have been amazing but for me it just fell flat.

Super book! I loved the characters...their depth, their real life issues, their painful journeys back to the surface. Thank you very much!

A realistic adventure for our main characters and their daily struggles in life. Serious subjects like drug and alcohol problems but also topics of speaking truthful to your overbearing parents or obtaining a child from the foster care system when taken. It makes fostering respect and love even more special.

4.0 Stars ARC generously provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

When bartender Mick Ross first sees Holly Buchanan walk into Donny's Bar, his heart comes to a halt. She passes him a fake ID and then mouths off to him when he won't serve her. Mick instantly can't stand her, he believes she is just full of herself and better then anyone else, however he doesn't mind that she is nice to look at.

Holly thinks Mick is an ass, and she has no clue why he can't stand her. Though, she does enjoy looking at his ass.

Three years later Donny hires Holly to waitress at the bar. Mick is less then thrilled, he doesn't want to deal with her smart mouth, especially when his world is crashing down around him.

Holly is desperate to get out from under her fathers thumb. He controls her whole life and since she has no direction she just lets him. Now she is facing a life in finance which she hates. She gets a job to start earning some money on her own in order to show her father she can be responsible. The downside is she has to deal with Mick who seems to grow to dislike her more every day.

Soon Holly learns what all is going on in his life and she feels a desperate need to help. Her involvement with Mick may just give Holly the direction she is looking for.

Mick has more on his plate then he can handle, now he is fighting against the state to get custody of his niece when he can barely take care of himself. He has to deal with Holly at work but soon he finds she is the only thing that helps make his life any better.

Holly is much more patient then I am, she doesn't give up on Mick even when he is a complete ass to her. I was impressed with her compassion but she is no wimp, she does give it right back to him. These two characters learn a lot from each other and about themselves.

This is a story about love and hate, forgiveness, and redemption and learning to find their way.