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Beneath the Scars #1
Beneath the Scars
Corporal Riley Nolan is back home and out of the hospital after sustaining severe injuries in a skirmish overseas. His physical injuries may be healed, though he is left with horrible scars all over his body. His mind is still healing, and he has almost no contact with the world outside his small dark apartment.
After the death of her parents and being forced to sell their house and move into an apartment in a new town, Eponine is left picking up the pieces while trying to maintain a normal life for her little sister, Genevieve.
Can these new neighbors help each other heal, finding the light and laughter in the world again? Most importantly, can Eponine help Riley see he's not the monster he believes himself to be beneath the scars?
After the death of her parents and being forced to sell their house and move into an apartment in a new town, Eponine is left picking up the pieces while trying to maintain a normal life for her little sister, Genevieve.
Can these new neighbors help each other heal, finding the light and laughter in the world again? Most importantly, can Eponine help Riley see he's not the monster he believes himself to be beneath the scars?
292 pages, Paperback
First published November 2, 2013
2 people are currently reading
534 people want to read
About the author
Ottilie Weber
48 books104 followersOttilie Weber grew up in Wall, New Jersey, not far from the beach. She always has a book in her hands or nearby, despite her dyslexia. She graduated from The College of New Jersey, earning a degree in History Secondary Education then earned her special education certificate. She now has left New Jersey and teaches in Virginia. Ottilie has a passion for writing, where she is always ready to take on the next project. Her family and close friends are there to help her take on the bumps or potholes in the road.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 17, 2014
This is one of those books where you feel sad when it’s over because the main characters feel like they’ve become part of your extended family and you miss them when there’s no more to read. Weber has a talent for the tiny details that bring each and every one of her characters to life. Even the dog has a realistic personality.
When Eponine and Riley first meet, they are both suffering from past events. Riley is struggling with the events of everyday living with the mental and physical scars of war. Eponine is struggling, having to grow up too quickly after the death of her parents and becoming the sole guardian of her younger sister. Readers get to live through the journey of each of these characters as they learn how to get on with life beyond these life-changing circumstances. This story is touching and relevant to our world today where so many of our country’s brave heroes are suffering the physical and emotional injuries from war.
Eponine makes a great role model for young women. She’s responsible and she doesn’t give in to peer pressure, but is able to formulate her own opinions and decisions using her well-crafted common sense and instincts. I would recommend this book for teens and adults alike.
When Eponine and Riley first meet, they are both suffering from past events. Riley is struggling with the events of everyday living with the mental and physical scars of war. Eponine is struggling, having to grow up too quickly after the death of her parents and becoming the sole guardian of her younger sister. Readers get to live through the journey of each of these characters as they learn how to get on with life beyond these life-changing circumstances. This story is touching and relevant to our world today where so many of our country’s brave heroes are suffering the physical and emotional injuries from war.
Eponine makes a great role model for young women. She’s responsible and she doesn’t give in to peer pressure, but is able to formulate her own opinions and decisions using her well-crafted common sense and instincts. I would recommend this book for teens and adults alike.
September 12, 2014
A modern day version of Beauty and the Beast.
Riley is about to be deployed so he breaks up with his girlfriend he wasn't really attached to her anyway. She curses him by saying that looks will only get you so far and hopes that a bomb explodes and ruins his looks.
Eponine has lost her parents in a freak accident, she is now the guardian of her 10 year old sister. Eponine has to postpone College get a minimum paid job, selling the house and moving into a 2 bedroom apartment with their German Shephard dog Bubbles.
They move into the same complex as Riley who after having an accident in Afgan has come back scared and turned into a hermit the only social contact he has is with his sister Charlotte and that only at night.
Eponine and Riley don't get on well to begin with but they become friends and it develops from there, this is a sweet, romantic story that shows that the packaging doesn't matter but what is inside that counts thus seeing beneath the scars. Riley's idea with the roses was beautiful.
Riley is about to be deployed so he breaks up with his girlfriend he wasn't really attached to her anyway. She curses him by saying that looks will only get you so far and hopes that a bomb explodes and ruins his looks.
Eponine has lost her parents in a freak accident, she is now the guardian of her 10 year old sister. Eponine has to postpone College get a minimum paid job, selling the house and moving into a 2 bedroom apartment with their German Shephard dog Bubbles.
They move into the same complex as Riley who after having an accident in Afgan has come back scared and turned into a hermit the only social contact he has is with his sister Charlotte and that only at night.
Eponine and Riley don't get on well to begin with but they become friends and it develops from there, this is a sweet, romantic story that shows that the packaging doesn't matter but what is inside that counts thus seeing beneath the scars. Riley's idea with the roses was beautiful.
July 3, 2014
I received a free copy of this book in a giveaway and this has not affected my opinion in any way. 'Beneath the Scars' is the story of Riley, a young veteran who is badly scarred, and Eponine, a twenty-one-year-old who is working hard to look after her little sister as their parents have died. The friendship they slowly strike up takes Riley by surprise as he hasn't had many positive experiences with people since he came home.
This is a clean and heart-warming romance story that would be suitable for readers of young adult fiction as well as fans of the genre looking for something sweet yet grounded in realism. The characters are really well written and their interactions believable. There are a few good dramatic twists to the story and also some lighter moments while Eponine's attempts at breaking through Riley's defences begin to work and they start getting to know one and other.
I'm not generally a fan of romance novels but having read one of Weber's stories previously I was impressed by how believable her characters were and this was what made the story so engaging for me. They feel like real people and this made the book hard to put down! The romantic side of things was sweet and resulted in a satisfying, feel-good ending.
Overall this is a realistic and heart-warming romantic tale and I would recommend it highly to fans of the romance genre!
This is a clean and heart-warming romance story that would be suitable for readers of young adult fiction as well as fans of the genre looking for something sweet yet grounded in realism. The characters are really well written and their interactions believable. There are a few good dramatic twists to the story and also some lighter moments while Eponine's attempts at breaking through Riley's defences begin to work and they start getting to know one and other.
I'm not generally a fan of romance novels but having read one of Weber's stories previously I was impressed by how believable her characters were and this was what made the story so engaging for me. They feel like real people and this made the book hard to put down! The romantic side of things was sweet and resulted in a satisfying, feel-good ending.
Overall this is a realistic and heart-warming romantic tale and I would recommend it highly to fans of the romance genre!
October 1, 2016
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This book started out slowly and I found both the writing and the storyline very "youngish." Now, what does "youngish" mean? To me it means that the writer was expecting the reader to be in their teens or late teens, not a seasoned romance slut like myself. That said, the book was still enjoyable just a tad bit bland.
The H is a young Marine coming home after being horribly scarred from an explosion. He hates how he looks and assumes everyone else will also. He only goes out in the dark, covered by a hoodie and otherwise lives like a hermit in his apartment.
The h is a 21 year old girl whose parents have been killed and she is now forced to care for her 10-year old sister. All of her dreams have been put on hold so that she can work and keep a roof over their heads. She moves into the same apartment complex as the Marine and slowly, with the help of the Marine's sister and just the force of the h's generally good and caring heart they become friends and eventually, off screen, more than friends.
Unfortunately, we got a lot of the friend building moments, but very little of the real relationship building, but there was a very nice epilogue at the end which was satisfying. Another big highlight of the book is the 10-year old sister. She has the confidence and mouth on her that only a 10-year can have and it is really funny at times.
The H is a young Marine coming home after being horribly scarred from an explosion. He hates how he looks and assumes everyone else will also. He only goes out in the dark, covered by a hoodie and otherwise lives like a hermit in his apartment.
The h is a 21 year old girl whose parents have been killed and she is now forced to care for her 10-year old sister. All of her dreams have been put on hold so that she can work and keep a roof over their heads. She moves into the same apartment complex as the Marine and slowly, with the help of the Marine's sister and just the force of the h's generally good and caring heart they become friends and eventually, off screen, more than friends.
Unfortunately, we got a lot of the friend building moments, but very little of the real relationship building, but there was a very nice epilogue at the end which was satisfying. Another big highlight of the book is the 10-year old sister. She has the confidence and mouth on her that only a 10-year can have and it is really funny at times.
September 6, 2014
Sometimes our lives don’t turn out the way we had hoped. Circumstances beyond our control change our fate. After the death of her parents, twenty-three-year-old Eponine struggles to provide for herself and her ten-year-old sister so she won’t lose custody. Riley struggles to accept his new life after he was terribly scarred by the war.
BENEATH THE SCARS, by Author Ottile Weber, is the story of one woman’s courage as she puts her own life aside to care for her sister. Eponine faces a case worker determined to terminate her custody rights, a would-be lover getting even because she won’t date him, and earning enough money to support herself. Riley is a war hero, but the burns he suffered while on duty and the way people stare at him when he leaves his apartment make him feel like a monster, so he hides under a hoodie and avoids going out. Told in alternating points of view, we get a glimpse of Eponine’s and Riley’s thoughts and lives.
Ottile Weber has written a story of family and love. BENEATH THE SCARS is also a story of looking at the person, not just what we see on the outside but the beauty that is on the inside. Ms. Weber also touches on the challenges and dangers our military men and women face each day. This is a novel that will touch your heart and perhaps make you more aware of the sacrifices paid by those that are defending our country and its people. It has me.
BENEATH THE SCARS, by Author Ottile Weber, is the story of one woman’s courage as she puts her own life aside to care for her sister. Eponine faces a case worker determined to terminate her custody rights, a would-be lover getting even because she won’t date him, and earning enough money to support herself. Riley is a war hero, but the burns he suffered while on duty and the way people stare at him when he leaves his apartment make him feel like a monster, so he hides under a hoodie and avoids going out. Told in alternating points of view, we get a glimpse of Eponine’s and Riley’s thoughts and lives.
Ottile Weber has written a story of family and love. BENEATH THE SCARS is also a story of looking at the person, not just what we see on the outside but the beauty that is on the inside. Ms. Weber also touches on the challenges and dangers our military men and women face each day. This is a novel that will touch your heart and perhaps make you more aware of the sacrifices paid by those that are defending our country and its people. It has me.
March 22, 2014
What a sweet love story! I read it in a day because I couldn't put it down. I had to know what was going to happen next.
The characters are extremely easy to like, and the author's writing makes you feel so invested in their story. It was one of those books that I was sad when it ended because I really connected with the characters, and I wanted more of them.
The characters are extremely easy to like, and the author's writing makes you feel so invested in their story. It was one of those books that I was sad when it ended because I really connected with the characters, and I wanted more of them.
April 10, 2014
*3.5 stars
Overall, I enjoyed this book quite a bit, however, the reason I gave it 3.5 stars is I felt the typos were very distracting, so fellow grammar nazis beware, and I also thought the characters were a bit typical. However, if you enjoy beauty and the beast type stories, and you like seeing emotionally wounded characters transformed by love, this book may be for you!
Overall, I enjoyed this book quite a bit, however, the reason I gave it 3.5 stars is I felt the typos were very distracting, so fellow grammar nazis beware, and I also thought the characters were a bit typical. However, if you enjoy beauty and the beast type stories, and you like seeing emotionally wounded characters transformed by love, this book may be for you!
July 4, 2014
Not a bad story but there were so many misspellings and errors that it took me out of the story multiple times. "Costumer" instead of "customer". "Shinning" instead of shining. And that is just two that were done several places. I honestly couldn't read more than a page or two without a mistake jarring me out of the story.
December 22, 2015
The storyline behind "Beneath the Scars" is a heart wrenching one that makes you ache. Unfortunately, it took me some time to read and finish, but I enjoyed the book, despite how long it took. I believe there were a few grammatical errors, perhaps a misspelled word or two, but that's neither here nor there. Overall, Beneath the Scars was an enjoyable read.
August 20, 2022
Beneath the Scars is a touching story about two people scarred by the past who learn to overcome their past to find love. Riley is a young military hero who’s become a shut-in after being physically and emotionally scarred during the war. Eponine is a young woman who becomes guardian of her ten-year-old sister after their parents’ death.
Riley and Eponine’s patches cross when they become neighbors. While Riley doesn’t make a good first impression soon he and Eponine form a connection, and he comes out of his shell. During the first couple of chapters, Riley is a jerk, although you want to be mad at him you understand his attitude because he’s afraid of what the outside world thinks of his scarred physique.
As for Eponine, you feel for her from the start. She loves her sister and will do anything to keep them together, including working a dead end job to make ends meet. Eponine’s bond with Genevieve is cute, at times Genevieve steals the show with her witty personality.
The story is emotional as Riley and Eponine reflect on their pasts and face uncertain futures. The pacing of the story was great, it didn’t move too slow nor too fast, you got enough time to get to know the characters.
Riley and Eponine’s patches cross when they become neighbors. While Riley doesn’t make a good first impression soon he and Eponine form a connection, and he comes out of his shell. During the first couple of chapters, Riley is a jerk, although you want to be mad at him you understand his attitude because he’s afraid of what the outside world thinks of his scarred physique.
As for Eponine, you feel for her from the start. She loves her sister and will do anything to keep them together, including working a dead end job to make ends meet. Eponine’s bond with Genevieve is cute, at times Genevieve steals the show with her witty personality.
The story is emotional as Riley and Eponine reflect on their pasts and face uncertain futures. The pacing of the story was great, it didn’t move too slow nor too fast, you got enough time to get to know the characters.
October 16, 2019
This was an emotional read dealing with life events that most of us overlook. The story line is exceptional, a wounded veteran and two young women dealing, all dealing with tragedy. Together they learn how to help one another and overcome many issues. This talented author brings us an amazing yet heart wrenching story. This is a must read!
I voluntarily read and review this book; all opinions expressed are my own.
I voluntarily read and review this book; all opinions expressed are my own.
July 2, 2019
Awesome!
This book is a great beach day read. Loved it!I I can't wait to get started on the next one.
This book is a great beach day read. Loved it!I I can't wait to get started on the next one.
June 17, 2024
Love this book!!! This gave me all the emotions!! Ptsd is a real thing and this book hit close to home!! All her books are amazing!!!
April 30, 2024
In the words of the Jonas Brothers, 'I’m a sucker for a Beauty and the Beast retelling’, or however that song goes. And that’s just what Beneath the Scars is, a modern-day Beauty and the Beast retelling by the lovely Ottilie Weber.
We have Eponine, a young woman forced to give up her college education to become a seasoned adult in order to take care of her younger sister after their parents die in a freak accident. Eponine is our Belle.
And then we have Riley, a military man who is left scarred and disfigured in an explosion after low-key being cursed by an ex.Riley is, of course, our Beast.
Eponine and Riley meet when Eponine’s precocious sister Genevieve asks Riley about his scars and is subsequently forced to apologize by Eponine. Withdrawn and a bit of a hermit since returning home, Riley doesn’t exactly want visitors. People have been really peopling since he’s been back, often staring at him in public, so he wears hooded sweatshirts that hide his body, only going out at night. So, you could say Riley is a tad rude when he and Eponine first meet.
Enter fate.
Genevieve finds herself locked out of her and Eponine’s apartment and is reluctantly taken in by Riley while Eponine is at work. Riley’s sister catches wind of all of this and arranges for Eponine to begin looking out for Riley by getting the groceries he needs from the grocery store Eponine works at. Over time, the two barely even friends find their relationship blossoming, but is there really something there that wasn’t there before?
***
As stated above, I love me a good BATB retelling, and this was too cute. It had a bit of everything, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and grumpy/sunshine. Eponine made a great modern Belle and Riley embodied Beast pretty well. There was also a Gaston-like character who was seriously a psychopath, bound to end up on America’s Most Wanted one day. But the real scene-stealer for me had to be Genevieve. Eponine’s younger sister had the best lines and was all-around a delight throughout the book.
In short, if you love retellings and need a cute, quick read, pick this one up.
We have Eponine, a young woman forced to give up her college education to become a seasoned adult in order to take care of her younger sister after their parents die in a freak accident. Eponine is our Belle.
And then we have Riley, a military man who is left scarred and disfigured in an explosion after low-key being cursed by an ex.Riley is, of course, our Beast.
Eponine and Riley meet when Eponine’s precocious sister Genevieve asks Riley about his scars and is subsequently forced to apologize by Eponine. Withdrawn and a bit of a hermit since returning home, Riley doesn’t exactly want visitors. People have been really peopling since he’s been back, often staring at him in public, so he wears hooded sweatshirts that hide his body, only going out at night. So, you could say Riley is a tad rude when he and Eponine first meet.
Enter fate.
Genevieve finds herself locked out of her and Eponine’s apartment and is reluctantly taken in by Riley while Eponine is at work. Riley’s sister catches wind of all of this and arranges for Eponine to begin looking out for Riley by getting the groceries he needs from the grocery store Eponine works at. Over time, the two barely even friends find their relationship blossoming, but is there really something there that wasn’t there before?
***
As stated above, I love me a good BATB retelling, and this was too cute. It had a bit of everything, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and grumpy/sunshine. Eponine made a great modern Belle and Riley embodied Beast pretty well. There was also a Gaston-like character who was seriously a psychopath, bound to end up on America’s Most Wanted one day. But the real scene-stealer for me had to be Genevieve. Eponine’s younger sister had the best lines and was all-around a delight throughout the book.
In short, if you love retellings and need a cute, quick read, pick this one up.
July 1, 2014
2.5 stars.
Ni bien, ni mal, sino todo lo contrario.
La idea estaba bien, no es original, pero estaba bien, pero me he perdido un poco por culpa de las repeticiones y de la falta de sutileza.
Ha llegado un momento en que estaba más preocupada contando las veces que los protagonistas “volvían los ojos” (hasta dos veces en una misma frase) que en la historia en sí. Parecerá una tontería pero ha sido excesivo. Al igual que ha sido excesivo empezar cada frase con el nombre propio del personaje. Eponine por aquí, Eponine por allí, debería haber utilizado (alguna vez) los pronombres personales, para que la historia fluya, me ha parecido que iba a trompicones…
Y otra cosa que no me ha quedado clara es cómo Eponine se puede enamorar de Riley. El lector tiene el punto de vista de él, pero ella no ve esa faceta, ella sólo ve un tío estúpido, grosero y desagradable que la ignora y le da con la puerta en las narices…es algo así como increíble que ni siquiera lo considere como amigo, por mucho que sepa que está sufriendo…no me ha parecido creíble.
Podría haber estado mejor, un poco menos melodramático y con personajes más reales, más humanos, no tan perfectos, aunque la idea estaba bien.
Ni bien, ni mal, sino todo lo contrario.
La idea estaba bien, no es original, pero estaba bien, pero me he perdido un poco por culpa de las repeticiones y de la falta de sutileza.
Ha llegado un momento en que estaba más preocupada contando las veces que los protagonistas “volvían los ojos” (hasta dos veces en una misma frase) que en la historia en sí. Parecerá una tontería pero ha sido excesivo. Al igual que ha sido excesivo empezar cada frase con el nombre propio del personaje. Eponine por aquí, Eponine por allí, debería haber utilizado (alguna vez) los pronombres personales, para que la historia fluya, me ha parecido que iba a trompicones…
Y otra cosa que no me ha quedado clara es cómo Eponine se puede enamorar de Riley. El lector tiene el punto de vista de él, pero ella no ve esa faceta, ella sólo ve un tío estúpido, grosero y desagradable que la ignora y le da con la puerta en las narices…es algo así como increíble que ni siquiera lo considere como amigo, por mucho que sepa que está sufriendo…no me ha parecido creíble.
Podría haber estado mejor, un poco menos melodramático y con personajes más reales, más humanos, no tan perfectos, aunque la idea estaba bien.
November 4, 2013
Everyone has tough spots in life, and what we do with those situations that make us. Beneath the Scars is my first full length New Adult novel, it was a little different to write, including me having to write woman instead of girl. I loved these characters, it made writing this story so enjoyable. Charlotte was suppose to be a background character, but she is a little pushy ;) and Riley I hope you all enjoy him as much as I have. Eponine is hopefully considered a strong woman, I do try to keep my female characters strong no matter the situation they are thrown into. Hope you enjoy Beneath the Scars as much as I did writing it!
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