I need to start off by saying I found Lili Mahoney thanks to Author Andrea Bills. I was in Andrea’s group, we got to chatting and BOOM she tagged me in a post with Lili and the rest is history. In this journey of blogging, I have virtually and in real life met many authors. I have developed a friendship with them and some I talk to daily. Even though that friendship has formed, I am still honest in my reviews. I may like an author, but not all of their stories may resonate with me. I’m saying that because I want you as my followers to know that I am honest in what I say in the review. I’m not sugar coating it or playing it up because of a relationship that’s formed with the author. Why am I saying this here, well I just like to put it out there that what you read is what you get with me. I’m honest to a fault most times. Even though I met Lili virtually back in March, I actually never picked up a book of hers until this one. Why? I don’t know, my TBR list is long, life happens, and I just didn’t. Now that I have, I want to go back and read the first in this series. Now that my incessant rambling is out of the way, here’s my review.
This is the second book in the Barefoot Pasture series. I will be honest, I have not read the first book at all. After reading this one, I definitely want to. However, you don’t need to read the first one in order to read the second. Lili wrote this young adult story in such a way that I wasn’t lost, but she also wasn’t overloading it with recapping book one. You could draw your own conclusions about things that happened by how she eluded to them.
This story revolves around Tory. She is a young girl who just turned 18 and is looking to find her footing in life. In this book, we really get to see her start to grow and mature more. Tory is a kid, and sometimes reading stories with this age for the main character, I have to remind myself how young she is. There were times that I did want to smack her and say ‘seriously why are you doing that?’ But other times, I thought she handled things with maturity, grace, and heart. She was a character I loved and hated and got frustrated with. This made the story so much more. Tory was a very well written young woman. I liked the depth she had and the growth she had throughout the story. It only made me hungry for book three to see how much more she’s going to grow into an amazing woman.
Jake is for a lack of better term, her love interest. This isn’t really a romance read, so it’s a loose fitting name. He’s known Tory and her family for years and is friends with her brothers. Jake is in his early twenties and already off at college. One thing he realizes is Tory is the woman he wants at his side. Lili captures Jake’s frustration, confusion, love, and every other emotion so well. You know he wants to get to the end of the ride and start the happily ever after, but what Jake forgets is that it’s the journey that makes it worthwhile. Tory reminds him of that. She also grounds Jake and gives him a soft place to land.
Tucker and Tyler are Tory’s brothers. They are her other halves almost. The bond the three of them have is unlike anything I’ve experienced being an only child. She wrote their connection so fiercely you could feel it through the pages as you read. They would all do anything for the other and are there for their highest highs and lowest lows. Each of them is unique but both offer Tory some solid advice and guidance on her journey of life. I hope that someday Lili will write about their story.
Megan, Dillon, and DC along with many others round out the circle of friends for Tory. They each bring a unique dynamic to it and Tory’s life. I am always amazed at how authors can write secondary characters so well that you feel the connections of friendship growing stronger with each turn of the page. Along with the friends, Tory’s parents are also present throughout the book. While fiction stories with troubled pasts or missing parents have a place, I’m always refreshed and renewed when a story shows a family bond as strong as Lili has. It makes me smile, feel all warm inside, and just provides joy. It reminds me of my bond with my parents.
Rusty, what can I say about Rusty. That horse and Tory have a bond, that I think unless you’ve had a horse or maybe a dog, you won’t understand. My college roommate had a horse and many times I would go hang with her or help out when needed. There was this bond with the two of them, that her horse didn’t have with everyone else. Tory and Rusty are exactly like that. I LOVED IT! Although, I’m anxious to see what happens and changes with them as Tory’s life changes into adulthood. I have a theory, but I’m keeping that a secret until the last two books are out.
This is a lengthy read, but one I enjoyed. I seriously didn’t realize how long it was because I was that engrossed in Tory’s life. I really wanted to know about her barrel racing career, her summer, the trials and tribulations she is faced with. Also how she learns and works to become an adult. I thought the plot and issues fit with the age of the characters. They are emerging adults in the world and so their life struggles and concerns are not that of a thirty-year-old. This is truly a young adult read. I think any high schooler could read this and enjoy it. Any adult who likes these stories should check it out. It’s an amazing reminder of how hard work pays off, your work ethic and respect matter at a young age, and sometimes life gets messy and confusing but at the end of the day family, loyalty, and friends are what make it brighter.
I am giving this five pointe shoes because this story gave it all to me. It also made me want to read the first book and the next one as soon as I can.
Now remember followers, this story is a young adult read, so it’s clean. There is a little bit of kissing and maybe some second base looking, but it’s a wholesome excellent young adult read. I can’t stress that enough. I know people go in and are mad if there isn’t something there. So here’s your warning. LOL.
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