What Happened In Between

by L.J. Scar

I was supposed to go to a support group the night I met him. I did, just not the right one. Why? Because I didn’t want to talk about what happened. I didn’t want to say my name is Laken and when I was sixteen I ran away. Away from a mother I looked like but never wanted to replicate. Away from the danger she brought into our home.

Now I’m in college, living with my ex’s grandma as a caregiver, feeling a little lost, and experiencing a lot of doubts…some about him. He will give me hope, affect me like a rock star, make promises he won’t keep, and become one of my closest friends. With him I’m going to make mistakes, reveal my secrets, learn some lessons, let others come between us, and let it all go. Because it isn’t what happened to me, it is What Happened in Between.

Genres: New Adult

319 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2013

About the author

LJ Scar is my pseudonym and alter-ego. I'm a part-time writer, caregiver, old home renovator, wife and dog mom to a sweet Border Spaniel mix who I foster failed because I loved him too much to not adopt.

I write what I'd like to read, love stories that don't always have the ending you expect about people who seem real, get hurt and get back up! The characters get second chances, find love that lasts, and take the road less traveled. My book settings are always places I've lived, vacationed or renovated, and the romances are pure fiction. I'm an animal lover. All the dogs and cats in my books are based on the rescues who rescued me.

If you would like to see more please check out LJ Scar on Facebook (no spaces on LJ). On my page you will find photo albums of pics that inspired some of my books from the places depicted in each.

If you've read any of my books please take the time to leave a rating or review. Any comments are much appreciated.

Reviews

[Kym · Rating 3 out of 5]

I no longer know what's true anymore. I definitely don't know what I want. Guiltily I wonder if i'm subconsciously stringing them both along because they hurt me so badly before.

This book could be very frustrating at times and it is actually the second book in a row now where I have enjoyed the story a hell of a lot more than I have enjoyed the characters themselves. We may as well start with Laken as this is her story. I understood her doubts and the indecision when it came to choosing between Ian and Seth but she definitely dragged the whole thing out for far too long. I also couldn't believe that two guys would've just happily stood by while the other was around and while she was pinballing between the two. I honestly couldn't decide who I liked more between the two until things all came about towards the end and in the end I feel like Laken made the best choice. Laken also really frustrated me to start with but by the end of the book she really grew as a character and started to become the kind of character you could really get behind.

I often got confused by the massive amount of character's that were coming and going especially Mary, Mandy, Morgan and Maire I mean come on now seriously and then you had a Devon, David, Alex and Rick. The story was enjoyable though and I often found myself getting lost in the book with time just flying by and me not realising it. I loved the relationship between Laken and Kona because it reminded me so much of the relationship between me and my dog Diesel.

I didn't realise that this book isn't a standalone but it does end in a place where if you wanted to you wouldn't have to read the second book. I'm a little intrigued by the idea of Cole though so I will be continuing on with the next book. I just hope that we get the Laken from the end of the book rather than the frustrating Laken. Although I did like Seth I also feel like his story is done now so I'm hoping the next book won't drag out his story more. I have quite a few books to read before I get to Solitude Interrupted but keep an eye out for the review in the next month or two.

http://harebearshangout.blogspot.com.au

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I read this book as a R2R exchange--but I did buy it myself.

Honestly, at first, I didn't think it was going to be my cup of tea. I'm much more the supernatural/thriller reader. However, I am happy to say I was very happily surprised.

The book focuses on Laken and her struggles through a rough past, love, heartbreak, college and finding herself and what she wants. The book sets up as the classic love triangle--but it didn't go where I expected it. A fact that I am very grateful for.

Laken has survived a lot despite being so young. However--contrary to her beliefs--she's not broken. She's smart, strong and driven.

All of the characters in What Happened In Between are strong and complicated. They are fun, flawed and you can't help but like them and care about them. Well almost all of them--I really didn't care for Ian at all. :)

There are so many books--often ridiculously popular ones--that create a "heroine" that too weak, self-sacrificing and unsure of herself to actually be considered a hero. Laken though, fills that roll wonderfully.

I finished the whole book in almost one day because I couldn't stop reading. I NEEDED to know what Laken was going to do with all of the complications in her life. And I wasn't disappointed. I was heartbroken, happy, angry and hopeful right along with Laken as she figures out what she wants and needs and makes it happen.

So--I can honestly say I really loved this book and I will most definitely recommend it anyone who wants to read about real women in realistic relationships and not feel cheap and pandered to.

[Book Junky Girls · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Laken. She years from 16 when she went through a terrible event and through to her finishing her high school career and focusing on years she's in college.

Ian was there when she was young she loves him, but he tears her up in his own way. Pulling her apart when was thought he would be the one to put her back together.

Laken meets Seth and their friendship is easy, he helps her when she needs it most. But he screws her up even more wth his choices.

Alex is there when all the other guys in her life have done there best to make her never want to a relationship again. He builds her up setting her free from her hurts of the men in her past, but when a chance to leave town and go to Texas to start a new life for himself. He leaves her questioning and opens her up to Ian and Seth's influence once again.

Laken has her ups and downs, but that's life and learning how to be a grown up. She's strong and weak she's there for others beliving in them even when they don't believe in themselves. She wants to believe in the best in those around her even when she's seen their worst. She's sweet and caring, nurturing to everyone around her, but what she wants is someone who's always there for her.

Her journey isn't pretty it spans the years when life is at it's messiest. It's not a simple love story, the love throughout her journey is hard and emotional, moving between tearing her apart or building her up making her stronger by the time she finishes college and decides who and what will be in her future.

[Mayra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I was completely blown away by this storyline. First of all I enjoyed that it took place over several years and you were able to see the change in the characters. And you might think this was about a love triangle between Laken, Seth and Ian but I did not see that at all. To me it was about a teenager dealing with several intense circumstances and how she reacted to situations, the chances she took and the consequences she was dealt. I was really able to see the growth in Laken; she handled the good with the good and the bad with the bad. And even though Laken is the main character, you really can't get to to know her without the help of others such as Mandy, Devon, Marie, Alex, Megan and Rick. Each of these characters was developed so great that as a reader you really got to see them as your friends as well. The reason I gave this book a rating of 5 stars is because of the ending. Scar does an amazing job of describing situations so well, without giving you an exact point or straight forward place. And though the ending was a certain way, she is able to give you enough that each reader can have a slightly different ending of their own. I love that feeling when you finish a book and that the story of the character doesn't end there; just like when you say bye to a friend smiling and imagining the possibilities they might encounter next.

[Elaine Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed this book. Laken, the heroine has had a really hard life, but with the help of friends she is starting to get over the trauma of what happened to her. Yet due to an unexpected betrayal, her life is thrown into chaos yet again. I thought Ms. Scar did a good job with the character of Laken. She made me believe in this girl and want good things to happen for her. I admired her flexibility. She bent but wasn't broken by life, and by the end of the book, she's ready to make some tough decisions and move forward with her life. I'm looking forward to reading the next book.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

Although I wanted a different ending...I thoroughly enjoyed this book! A great read about embracing life and becoming your true self.

[Neeny Boucher · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4 stars***

I was given an ARC of "What Happened In Between" for an honest review and I'm really glad I was. The book centres on Laken, a teen runaway - someone that was abandoned by the important people in her life long before she had to run because of an event that overshadows her life. We follow Laken's story and the resulting, sometimes questionable, decisions she makes as a result.

This story is about "What happens in between" - in essence, the part of Laken's life between her trauma and how she heals (if ever) from it. As an aside, I'd like to state that the author did an excellent job exploring sexual trauma and its impacts upon people. She did not gloss over, nor give some cliched account of how people cope. As this work reflects, sometimes healing is a marathon and not a sprint.

One of the things I enjoyed about this book is its melancholy tone, theme of isolation, even when you're surrounded by people and how someone's vulnerability can be taken advantage of. At times I was frustrated with Laken and wanted to shake her. I remember closing my Kindle at one stage and uttering language that would have got my mouth washed out with soap if my Grandmother had been around! Then I came to the realization: damaged people can make damaged decisions, and ultimately, they are the ones that have to live with the fallout.

This is a dialogue driven book, stripped down and left up to the reader for interpretation. Sometimes, I would have liked more detail, but I also appreciated the author not spoon feeding me and allowing me to try to make sense of what was happening. Details, connections and histories are unravelled slowly.

Overall, I'd like to thank L.J. Scar for entrusting me with a thought-provoking work.

[Susan Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author LJ Scar’s fine book “What Happened in Between” is the story of a protagonist who, despite severe emotional trauma suffered as a young teen, is able to begin to understand just how strong her spirit is. Scar introduces us to Laken at a low point in her life when she is struggling to deal with the damage that has been inflicted on her. Yet, despite that, she shows from the beginning a concern and tenderness for the people she cares about, especially Mary, the elderly woman for whom she is caretaker. The book covers a period of about three years, and we watch as Laken grows from a confused teenager with low self-esteem to a young woman facing her future with confidence.

It’s not an easy journey, and the author has provided Laken with a wonderful array of friends, both male and female. All of these characters are very real to us; they are flawed, but sometimes capable of remarkable acts of kindness and love. All of them make bad choices at times, including Laken. In other words, Scar has written a true portrait of life, the life as experienced by young men and women of college age, who are struggling to come to terms with becoming adults.

The book ends with some questions unanswered, and I see the author has a book which must be a sequel, “Solitude Interrupted.” I’m hooked. The strength of Scar’s writing far outweighed a few minor formatting problems, in my opinion. Loved the book!

[Stephanie Lasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laken Harrison grew up knowing she was unwanted and unloved by her tramp of a mother. As a young teen, Laken was assaulted by one of her mother’s boyfriends. Feeling she had no other choice, she and her beloved dog Kona run away.
Eventually she and Kona are taken in by her boyfriend Ian’s grandmother, Mary. As time passes, Laken and Mary form a tight bond. Mary gives Laken something she has never experienced before, stability and a sense of being loved. Soon after Laken enters college, Mary passes away.
This magnificently written story by author LJ Scar follows the journey of a guarded, non-trusting soul trying to heal herself and find her own way in life. Throughout this book Laken suffers many heartbreaks and betrayals. The ending left my heart filled with hope for her.
Solitude Interrupted is the next book in the saga of Laken’s life. I can’t wait to get my hands on that!
Stephanie Lasley, from The Kindle Book Review
The Kindle Book Review received a free copy of this book for an independent, fair, and honest review. We are not associated with the author or Amazon.

[Melissa Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read a book, I look for things that make it special and unique, more than the average boy meet girl, boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl again kind of thing. I want something I can dig into and that will leave an impression behind. Having read two of this author's other novels, I knew this book had a chance to deliver. And it did. In What Happened in Between, the romance between Laken and Seth and how it affected each of them and the people around them had me rooting for them as a couple from the first time I met them. Their story is established and concreted through the friendship they forge before becoming a couple. Sounds like an ordinary boy meets girl kind of book, right? But it isn't. Their relationship is real, the highs and lows, the togethers and aparts, from their beginning to the end of this book, these people grow and change and by the end, I was glad their paths had crossed in the beginning. Without a HUGE spoiler that would ruin the entire experience of reading this book, I can't say more except, wow. It was compelling and smart and not what I expected, but more.

[L.J. Scar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm the author and before you say to yourself, "She rated and reviewed her own book, kind of self serving isn't it?" Consider it from my rationale, if I as the author don't like it why should you?

Here is what I loved about "What Happened In Between":
Told from Laken's POV, she was a girl who was beautiful and didn't want to be. She wanted more out of life. She didn't let the obstacles of heartbreak and instability keep her from being driven. She didn't let the disappointments of those she loved stop her although she did often take a step back. She was a strong female.

I found the character of Seth to be my favorite male I've ever written. Sure he was a hot player with no scruples but deep down he only loved one girl - Laken.

The cast of friends - Mandy, Devon, Maire, Rick and Morgan- we should all be so lucky to have friends who have your back through thick and thin.

Lastly, I loved setting this book in Louisville, KY and writing in not one but two universities - UofL and IU. Both hold fond memories for me.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As she turns 18, Laken Harrison feels that her life has nowhere to go but up. Estranged from her parents, struggling to deal with a sexual assault that happened two years before, dependent on her boyfriend's family even while their relationship unravels, Laken feels college offers the promise of a new start and a way out. This romantic coming-of-age novel follows Laken through college as her new relationships offer the promise of both the stability she needs and the intimacy she both craves and shies away from.
I'm not normally a reader of romances, but I stumbled across this one and really enjoyed it. The characters are complex and real, and their interactions are authentic. The plot moves forward briskly and the dialogue is snappy, often touched with humor. Scar is a young writer and her writing would benefit from her developing a relationship with a good editor: the book was marred by typos, too-abrupt transitions, and occasional lapses into cliche. But she has a good feel for story and character and I hope she will continue to develop her voice.

[Victoria Simcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laken has to decide what to do, when the mark separating pals and lovers cross. Bereavement grasps the one refuge and solidity Laken recognizes. She moves in with a rash, uninhibited, performer to detach from the guy she used to hold dear to her heart. This story spans over quite a few years, and Laken, regardless of sensitive issues and suffering, when she was an adolescent, grows into a stronger person. Scar, wrote this story in a way that it could end here, or be continued. It was captivating, clever and there are unforeseen plot twists.

[Shirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this novel made me nostalgic and reminiscent of those college years when classes, studying, working, and falling for guys who never make you happy are the norm. The principal character(Laken)may not have always made the right choices especially when it came to love, but her experiences and drive felt so real to me I connected with her. Loved the secondary characters (Laken's friends). I know I will read this one again.

[Katherine McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting read. I enjoyed Laken's journey throughout the book, and appreciated the ups and downs, especially the close examination of how trauma shapes a person and what they go through on the path to overcome it. Laken's story takes you through her college experience and how the people she meets transform her, or reinforce issues she'd already had from her past. Would definitely recommend!

[Vega_girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laken is an absolutely beautifully written character. I love the pace of this book nothing ever felt rushed while also never getting boring. There were so many bad decisions being made it was frustrating at times. Through all of it though you could still see the love they all held for eachother. I can't wait to read her happily ever after!!

[Casey Dawes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intriguing story of a young girl with a set of serious problems who is determined to carve out her own life on her terms. She's caught between two men, boys really, and isn't sure who to choose, but is haunted by a nagging doubt that neither one is right. Although slow moving at times, it was a compelling read, and I will read more by this author. Well done!

[Ashley Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

I really enjoyed this book. It was a first for me by LJ Scar and I will be reading the next book. I wish Laken had stayed with Seth but everything happens for a reason. Hopefully the next is just as food, I look forward to seeing how things end up for Laken.

[Margaret L. Hedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book.

Great book. Following Laken as makes her way in the world. Always struggling. Thought the characters and story were well thought out. You really feel for all the characters.

[Andrea Doss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I fell in love with Laken in Solitude Interrupted and even more after reading this one.

[Sheila Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

What life teaches us

I haven't wrote a review in along time. This book actually caught me by surprise. Everyone of us has a story to tell. Good or bad our lives leads us on Mary trail of disappointment, happiness, love lost or love found. This girl truly struggled hard. I believe she came out on top despite her circumstances. Read the book.