Saturday, September 5, 2015

Out Now! To the Steadfast by: Briana Gaitan...Review



Book Info

To The Steadfast
by Briana Gaitan
Genre: Coming of Age Romance
Cover Artist: Romantic Book Affairs
Release Date: August 31st 2015
BUY NOW: TO THE STEADFAST http://amzn.to/1NfD6hf
$2.99 or Free with KU


Resolute. Firm. Unwavering
That was my love for him.
Steadfast for as long as I can remember.

As my best friend's brother, he ignored me before noticing me. He protected me, bought me my first beer, but eventually became my undoing. 

There was a time I would have died to get him to notice me, now I'd do anything to forget him. 
I'm not the one who can tame him, and he's not the guy who will change for me.
This isn't a story about falling in love, this is a story about falling out of love.
Unrequited love. 
And finding the strength to move on.
Here's to the steadfast.

*This is a standalone story that crosses years from YA into NA genre, due to heavy subject matter this book is for ages 16 and up. This is not your typical love story.*


My review: (ARC provided)
4 stars!
This book was very well done, but don't expect to get all warm and fuzzy. I'm struggling with this because I didn't get the ending I'd hoped for. This book makes you feel though and that's the purpose of reading right? to feel and ponder. Well this book definitely had me thinking. I'm so angry with Dakota (Cody) our heroine, she made some really bad choices and did so repeatedly. There were many times I wanted to jump into my Kindle and shake her. I know this book is a standalone but it feels a little incomplete. I can't spoil the ending but I was like WTF just happened? Not necessarily in a bad way but a I need to know more way. I would love to get a follow up even if it's a novella. I just want to know what happens to all of these characters. I wouldn't classify this as a love triangle but at points it certainly felt like one. 

Mischa and Cody have known each other for awhile. Cody is Mischa's sisters best friend and Cody and Mischa have secretly pined for each other. Mischa is the town bad boy and "white trash" and Cody the town smart girl, the good girl, the rich girl. Circumstances bring them together and more tear them apart. I honestly have to say this is one of the first times I didn't root for the first love. Mischa pissed me off and Cody and him together pissed me off more. And then there was Violet, Mischa's sister who was just as bad and so self-centered.

Killian-he was Cody's crutch her childhood best friend the person she could relate to most. I loved him so much. I think he was my favorite and my heart hurt for him. One of my favorite scenes was the dinner scene between Cody and Killian's family. It put a little humor in the book just when it was needed.

Bassam- A boy Cody meets in college. I wish I got to know him more but what I did know I adored. 

The problem is Cody couldn't see the good in any relationship because she was too scarred from the past. She pushes everyone away until it's too late.

If you are looking for a book that is going to get you gooey and mushy then this isn't the book for you, but if you want a book that has you feeling and thinking then I say give it a try. This is more of a story about a character, her mistakes, her first love, her growth or lack thereof and everything in between.

HEA? (3)<<<click here if you want to know.


About the Author
Briana Gaitan is the bestselling author of the Hollywood Timelines series (The Last Thing and The One Thing) and coauthor of the Ethereal Underground series. 
Briana is a southern native and self-proclaimed geek. She has never wanted anything but to create whether it be composing music, decorating her house, or giving voices to the characters inside her head.Her days are spent obsessing over a good read, raising her three kids, and watching anything on the SyFy channel. Through her writing, she hopes to inspire others to believe in the impossible.


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