*Release Day Blast: Better by S. Walden*

SynopsisTheir relationship has been exposed, and now their lives are changed forever.
For Cadence Miller, the fast track to adulthood proves intimidating and frustrating. She’s a little girl lost—abandoned by her parents and uncertain of her future. She doesn’t think she “fits” anywhere. She’s eighteen. She wants to be older. And the result is both comical and heartbreaking.
Mark Connelly will do anything to provide Cadence a stable, loving home—to be her protector. But he’s just as broken and lost, and his heart won’t let go of his past so easily. He knows he must share his secret with Cadence. And he hopes his revelation won't tear them apart. He hopes it will draw them closer, and make their love better.
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Teaser(Flashback)His heart dropped when he watched her walk into the room. He ignored the snickers and whispers and followed her with his eyes as she walked to one of two remaining seats in his class. Both up front. She had no choice. She’d have to be close to him.When realization dawned that he was the guy from Highway 28, the fear on her face was unmistakable. He felt no such fear. He felt extreme disappointment. And hopelessness.And then, there was the matter of her orange jumpsuit. He didn’t know how to address it or if he even should address it. A large part of him said to leave it alone. She was clearly being bullied, and she thought she would try to turn the tables.But she looked ridiculous. She had to know it. He wasn’t sure if she’d actually won or just thought she did. He tried for a gentle, non-confrontational approach.“Cadence, you might wanna go change,” he said softly.Her eyes went wide. He wasn’t sure why. And then it hit him. He said her name! Yes, he remembered her name. How could he ever forget that name? Cadence. Rhythmic. His song. His life. He decided that afternoon on the side of the road. She was his cadence. It was an alarming moment of clarity now muddled by the realization that she was his student. He thought God was playing another cruel joke on him.

I am huge fan of S. Walden's books, and after reading Good, I was curious to see how the sequel and conclusion to Mark and Cadence's story would play out. 

While this book is about Mark & Cadence's relationship, and how they adapt to living together as a couple, I feel like this was more Mar's story, much in the same way I feel like Good was more Cadence's story. We learn about who he was before Cadence, and what he's been hiding. As in the first book, Cadence, more so than Mark, is faced with moral dilemma's and challenges that most people her age are facing - figuring out who she is, what she wants to do with her life, how she experiences college, her internal struggles and her need to grow up faster because of her relationship with Mark. 

Throughout this book, it is Cadence who shows growth as a character, while Mark simply comes to terms with his past, and tries to be the man he feels Cadence deserves. Together, they find a way to navigate their relationship while dealing with society's narrow-minded opinion about their relationship, and Mark learns how to give Cadence the freedom he feels he's taken away from her because of their age difference. He also encourages her to explore, and experience new things, and finds that making her happy, in every way possible, is what him happy in turn. 

While I loved this book, and it's characters, I would have liked to have been inside Mark and Cadence's heads in this story, like I was in the first - instead, it was like reading an amazing story, standing on the outside while looking in. 

Best part of this book? The epilogue - I don't think the author could have done a BETTER job. It was perfect :)



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S. Walden
S. Walden used to teach English before making the best decision of her life by becoming a full-time writer. She lives in Georgia with her very supportive husband who prefers physics textbooks over fiction and has a difficult time understanding why her characters must have personality flaws. She is wary of small children, so she has a Westie instead. Her dreams include raising chickens and owning and operating a beachside inn on the Gulf Coast (chickens included). When she's not writing, she's thinking about it.
She loves her fans and loves to hear from them. Email her at swaldenauthor@hotmail.com and follow her blog at http://swaldenauthor.blogspot.com where you can get up-to-date information on her current projects.
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