Once Loved by Cecy Robson

Shattered Past #2

     "Every memory Lety Tres Santos has from her childhood comes with a scar—some emotional, some physical. Her father is an abusive drug addict, and her mother enables his destructive behavior. College offers Lety a fresh start . . . until her father finds a way to ruin that, too. Now, after losing her scholarship to kick off junior year, Lety must somehow stay in school, pay tuition, and turn a deaf ear to the whispers that follow her. And she intends to do it all without Brody Quaid’s help.

     Brody is a lacrosse star, a 4.0 student—and as a freshman, he fell hard for the beautiful and spirited Lety. But their relationship crashed and burned because he couldn’t break through the walls she’s put up around her heart. With Lety hurting more than ever, Brody strives to win her back and make her believe in real love and true partnership. That will mean opening up secrets locked away in his own past—and trusting someone more than he’s ever dared.

     Lety knows how painful it can be to depend on the wrong man. She also knows how much Brody wants to do this the right way. But it takes more than sizzling desire to move on and build a future together."

I received this book from NetGalley for review.

I enjoyed this book so much more than the first one. Though it took me a minuet to remember that Lety was in the first book.

Lety is a really compelling character, she's smart, loyal, kind, giving. But she has her share of demons when it comes to her father, secrets that she wants to stay buried. Brody was a great character as well, and he too had some issues with his family that he wants to bury.

Though the main focus of the book was their relationship, the skeleton of the story was both of their messed up families, and them slowly getting closer through learning each others secrets.

I really loved reading about them fighting through all the messed up crap in their lives, I teared up more than once for their struggle. We got a taste of what Lety's home life growing up was in the first book through Teo's eyes. (review Here) But in this one we really get a taste of what the man who calls himself their father is capable of, so the strength she has is really impressive.

Brody comes off as this really light-hearted optimistic guy, but when the skeletons he tries to keep hidden in his life come out, Lety slowly realizes and accepts that their lives aren't too different. It's an uphill battle with Lety unconvinced that by accepting help from someone who cares for her isn't going to break her. And once she realizes that and stands up not only to her past but stands up for her future, she becomes a much happier and stronger person that she ever thought possible.

I can't wait to read the next book.