What could drive best friends apart? Once Miranda, her little sister Cassie and Jason were inseparable—homeless teens standing together against the rest of the world.
But those days are long gone.
Unable to deal with the ghosts of her past any longer, MirandaTemple abandons her life and everyone she knew, determined to carve a new identity. She thought nothing could make her go back, but when her beloved younger sister Cassie is in a car accident, she discovers she was wrong.
As Cassie fights for her life, Miranda has to try to pick up the pieces of the destruction she left. And face the inner turmoil she’d always tried to deny before it permanently destroys any chance for happiness.
Jason swears his friendship with her is ruined. But as Miranda and Jason worry about Cassie, they start to rediscover each other and learn how to forgive. But with so many scars separating them, can they learn to trust each other again?
CeeCee James is a new author to me, and I’m so so glad that I’ve discovered her. The writing in this novel is beautiful and brushes on so many subjects. The imagery was simply astonishing and makes you feel as if you’re there with the characters. I haven’t been reading for quite a while, as I’ve been going through some rough times. With the end of an 8 year relationship, moving halfway across the country, and leaving everything that I’ve known I have been an emotional basket case. Whether it was hiding my emotions from myself or other people, to outright bawling my eyes out because I had a bad day.
THIS novel is the reason I read books. I feel like this novel brought me back to life. The messages of strength and resilience throughout this book made me realize that I WILL survive, just like the characters in this book. I know it’s a really far-fetched correlation between my situation and Jason, Miranda, and Cassie– but the struggle is real no matter what your issues are. The pure will to survive on the journey that these characters take is simply magnificent.
If you don’t know my reviews, I don’t like to tell you about the story; that’s what a synopsis is for. My feeling towards this book is what you should want to know. Well, let me tell you… this is an amazing read. I laughed (the witty banter is unreal), cried, smiled, and genuinely cared what happened to the outcome of each character. My mind is still reeling over everything. From Jason’s crooked grins to Miranda’s anxiety attacks I felt pure joy and sadness. The level of unbridled forgiveness in this novel is astonishing.
I devoured Wrecked & Yours in one sitting, and sat there after the end just waiting for the next installment to magically pop into my kindle and say READ ME! Well, as much as I stared… it didn’t happen. Seriously, CeeCee James you’re outstanding. You’ve most definitely got a new follower in me. I eagerly anticipate the next installment of Miranda, Jason, and Cassie’s journey, along with your other novels that are now on my absolutely must read list!
Recommendations for this book will be flying out of my mouth, because I think that EVERYONE should read this. So get to it.
* * ARC given on behalf of obsessed by books for an honest review * * omg kill me now. my heart broke for all three of these characters Miranda, Cassie, and Jason. Miranda and Cassie are sisters who have suffered losing both parents at different times, to be left in the care of thier uncle. Miranda knowing the secret does the only thing she can to protect her and Cassie and that's to run. on their survival they meet jason who becomes thier protector as well. They survive together til uncle stew saves them. Miranda is still running and hasn't been back for 2 years , now her sister needs her and she came back but can Cassie and Jason forgive her for leaving and staying gone so long. can she keep her feelings for Jason at bay. This book is so good, so much emotion, each character has went through so much to come out so strong. definitely a must read.
Young teen Miranda and her little sister Cassie are running from terror and grief. Jason, slightly older than Miranda, is running from a situation he can't express. The two runaway sisters encounter and team with Jason as they seek peace of mind and safety. Miranda invests herself in protecting her little sister, while Jason comes to feel responsible for them both. They forge a life together which is broken apart by the terrors of the past and brought back together through the power of love. Through the use of flashbacks to the runaway experiences where the three are in a constant struggle to survive, and shifts to the present where as young adults they must deal again with guilt and separation, author CeeCee James writes a compelling and believable story of survival against the odds.
If you've read any of James's Ghost No More trilogy, you are familiar with her wonderful ability to make the reader feel what the characters are feeling. Her ability to climb inside relationships and tell a moving story are on full display in Wrecked and Yours. I'm looking forward to reading more of her Second Chance series.
This story pulled me and I couldn't put it down. I loved the friendship between the two main characters Miranda and Jason…it wasn't forced or fake. It was a really beautiful story about forgiveness and redemption and about kids from hard places. I highly recommend this story. The story line of Miranda and her sister was really fragile, the emotions and reactions felt very real, There was a sweet romance woven in, and it was just so refreshing to read something so sincere and authentic. I really loved this and can't wait to read book 2 in this series.
I don't know what to say to give this writer justice. She has a very natural talent. I picked up the book, one in a long list of books that I have wanted to read.. and found that I was drawn in immediately. I felt a deep emotional connection with the story because my story is a little similar. We all have a past.... and her way of writing with raw and real emotion is mesmerizing. I am just in awe and eagerly await the arrival of the second and third one, so I can finish this journey!!!!!! Not a single page disappoints!!!! I LOVE IT!
DNF @ 42%. I just couldn't get into the story. The characters are bland and I felt absolutely no connection between them. I'm sure that it's just a slow building story, but at 42% and nothing really happening with the h and H, I called it quits. Kind of depressing subjects -- child molestation, homelessness, and a person being in a coma -- and not enough good stuff to counterbalance them. Sorry.
Once in a while I run into a story that has my heart aching from the first page to the last. This was that book. Miranda and Cassie were as close as sisters could be. Losing their mom years earlier meant they had more reason than usual to rely on each other for love and support. As their lives took another tragic turn their circumstances changed drastically once again. This time, however, Jason was going to become a much loved part of their small family. Fast forward years later and their lives, and their relationships, had taken another turn. They weren’t that close-knit family any more and friendship, let alone love, may not be possible any more.
I really enjoyed this book about family, love and reconciliation. The trio of family/friends had gone through a lot together and their bond seemed air tight. They all had so much to overcome in their childhoods that it is not a big surprise that, as adults, they were still struggling with the aftermath. There are no quick fixes here or magic wands of forgiveness. Miranda is going to have to deal with the ghosts she has wrestled with for so long as Cassie and Jason have to do the same.
The story flashed back and forth between the start of their journey to the present which worked but I found jarring at times. My linear thinking probably wanting the chronology to be in order. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I loved her gentle yet eloquent way of dealing with so many difficult subjects with a compassionate hand. Emotional and heartfelt, this was a wonderful introduction to a new author.
Wow, just wow. This is the first time I have read anything by this author so I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was like opening a beautifully wrapped gift. There were so many layers and each one was more beautiful than the next. The story and the characters were so well written that you feel yourself pulled into their lives and hoping that the three of them will be able to find their way out of the wreckage that each of them are dealing with. So many difficult issues are brought up and dealt with throughout the story but no matter what the friendship and love that the three of them share shines through brightly to help them and to act as a light to beacon them back to where they belong. This story proves that family is not always the people you share your last name with or your blood with, instead family is made up of the people who have your back when you are at your lowest and are the ones helping share the load. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this story!
Wrecked and Yours is the first book in the Second Chance series by CeeCee James. I'm a huge sucker for a second chance romance book and this one was a pretty solid read. Loved the storyline and the twists and turns that had me hooked from beginning to end. The characters were all well developed and had depth, emotion and lots of chemistry. Looking forward to the next book in this series to see how Jason and Miranda find their happily ever after.
Fantastic book! I am totally hooked on this author now. I actually read the third book in this series first, then of course, had to go back and read the others, as they are all simply wonderful!
Heartbreak and damage is what Jason and Miranda have. They were kids trying to give Cassie, Miranda's little sister, a happy childhood. One tragedy to many and Miranda disappears. She is back to stay. Will Jason be able to forgive her?
Sad, emotional story about two people who are broken. Can't wait to see how this story continues.
Amazing story of two lost souls. Running from her Uncle, after her father's funeral, her little sister is with her. Alone, in the woods they meet a boy who helps them. Enjoy!
Awesome. The best one of this author's that I've read so far. There was real depth in the characters and a sense that she spoke from personal experience. I could feel the desperation and the disconnect in Miranda's heart. Very real. Loved it.
*Review copy received from the author for an honest review*
4 “Where is Home?” stars
When the author emailed me to ask for a review of Wrecked and Yours, I agreed, but she kept warning me that this was not the kind of smut that I was usually read. I can read books without smut, people!!! LOL So, I dove into this story with an open mind, and excitement that I was reading something different.
“Swans are partners for life.”
And Different is good people. Although, I didn’t feel that Miranda, Jason and Cassie’s story was all that different from what I usually read. Except it didn’t have the smut. But, you know what?? I enjoyed this story just as much as the smut filled stories.
“Jason, I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
This story is about running and surviving, but mostly surviving. Miranda and Cassie are sisters, who are running from a dirty uncle, and Jason is without family and doing his best to survive on his own. But the struggle doesn’t end when you think it will. Trust and honesty become a must for the three. All three face issues they shouldn’t have to and my heart broke for them at times. The story is told in the past and the present. At first it flips back and forth until closer to the end, where we are left in the present. And I enjoyed that, except that I felt like the past just ended abruptly. Something was missing for me. The flow there just didn’t work for me. But, it’s not a huge issue, just something that made me go hmmmm.
“This is why I felt like I could never come back. This moment right here. What I did was unforgivable.”
I liked this authors writing style, though. Other than the past issues, I felt that the story flowed smooth. Would I have liked more information on the characters, yes! But the author gave you just enough to get you from scene to scene without overdoing it.
I know I sound like I didn’t enjoy it by complaining about the past and needing more info, but I promise I did, and there were times that I hated to put it down. This could have easily been a one sitting book for me, if I would have had the time. It’s a quick read and I was so caught up in their struggles that the end was near way before I was ready
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read for me and not too heavy as the synopsis would suggest. The author infused the heavy with doses of light-hearted fun. She found a great balance. The story also included flashbacks of when the characters were homeless teens and had to rely on each other to get through. Again, well balanced. If not done well, flashbacks, for me, can start feeling confusing or just bring the story down.
Miranda and Cassie ran away from home after their father died. They didn't know how to survive on their own, just that they had to make it to Seattle where Miranda would be able to, hopefully, find a job. It is on their way there that they meet Jason, another homeless teen. Jason possesses the skills and knowledge to make it and he welcomes the girls into his fold. The three form an unbreakable bond.
When things finally seem stable and happy, tragedy strikes the trio and it seems like the last straw for Miranda. She leaves. Years quickly pass until she has to return home to Jason and Cassie. Cassie is in a coma and barely hanging on to life. Jason and Miranda are forced to confront the past in order to move forward, and all the while, new feelings arise.
I really liked the characters in this story. Miranda was forced to be a grown up at too young of an age, and she just snapped. She needed to be allowed to live her own life. Jason was a rock. His love for Miranda is evident in the way he handles her. Cassie is the glue that holds Jason and Miranda together. She is the youngest and they both take care of her. They would do anything for Cassie, even confront the past.
I kept looking at the percentage in the corner of my Kindle, and kept thinking, there isn't enough time for the things that need to happen. I thought, "Oh no! Cliffhanger!" However, the author did wrap up the story and I'm happy to report there is no cliffhanger. I did feel that maybe it was wrapped up too quickly, though. I would like more of Miranda and Jason and their new relationship. I just felt that there could have been more for them. But, hopefully that is another book.
I loved this book. I wish there was more than 5 stars to give it. Seriously. Freaking brilliant book. It is not the typical love story where there is small amounts of turmoil and BAM the heroine rises from the ashes.
There is a bunch of flashbacks, it is well done, not a ton of back and forth. It is very well done during this. If you are one of those people who simply hates it then this might not be your book. Each flashback has it's purposely, leading you to this place to see what they went through. TRULY seeing what happened. Without them, this book wouldn't be as good.
Miranda and Cassie ran away at a young age. After the death of their father, their uncle gets custody. Because of past events Miranda decides to make the decision to run away. Finding Jason who helps them survive. Events happened and eventually they find a home. A home that the three of them never really had for a long period of time.
Years pass. People change. Miranda comes home after leaving for a long period of time. Cassie and Jason both changed. Struggled with the choice that Miranda had made without them. Jason wants to say they could never work out their friendship but you see the events unfold that brings her home, the past colliding and the insecurities each character has. Can they work on their friendship without bringing up the wounds that have never healed for any of them?
Wow! I could not out this book down. CeeCee James is also a new author to me, I had no heard of her and when I put her book on my To Read list, I couldn't wait to get started.
The relationship between the 3 characters in this book, is a bond that cannot be broken. 3 castaways, 3 kids who knew no better than to run from what troubled them - grow up together and love each other as they had simply never just walked into each others lives in the woods one day, but as if they had been babies. They say everything happens for a reason - fate? I would think so. Fate brings you to the people you need to help you get through the hard times in your life, the good, the bad, the ugly. They all happened to walk into each others lives at the right time. What is so appealing to me is that all these years later, they are still together and willing to forgive mistakes that lay broken.
First the good: It's pretty damn well written, and interesting as hell. I read it front to back in under an hour because I was so eager I didn't stop for one second. But I was frequently annoyed. Personally felt very little compassion for the heroine from chapter one; I guess I couldn't relate because I deal with my issues and I had no respect for her choices. Miranda's attitude, walking back without an explanation or an apology, got on my nerves. I thought "how dare she." A lot. Just because something bad happened to you doesn't mean that you get a free pass for bad things you to do other people. So thumb up for the story, and the style, it was brilliant. But I'm sorry: I hated the character. Despite my humongous vent, you can see I've rated the book high, because it's just about twenty times better than half of what I read. Exceptional, unique style. I'll definitely read the rest.
This is a very emotional read. Two young girls running for their lives. At a tender age having to fend for themselves, you can imagine the emotional scars that develop. They meet up with a young man around the elder sister's age who helps them survive, but from there they must redefine family and friendship. I was caught up in their troubles and the dangers on their journey. And of course I had a soft spot for the sweet dog along with them. A fast and steady pace even while jumping from past to present, each with its own difficulties and emotional dilemmas. These are characters you want to survive and succeed. You wish you could make the journey easier. When things finally seem to be making some forward progress, a major event takes your breath away.
It comes to a satisfying conclusion, yet I am happy to read that we will meet these young adults again. I voluntarily read this book and the opinions are my own.
Sweet romance full of emotion. Maybe a bit Coming of Age?
I typically don't read sweet romances, but this one was written by someone that is well-known in the writer's forums as always offering a smile and a hug to anyone that needs it. She's such a positive person that I decided to take a peek at her books.
I couldn't put it down. The MC's go through some hard times. I love to read about sisters, especially when they stick together and are as close as these two are. Wrecked and Yours is a story filled with emotion, and the beginning of a romance. It's CLEAN. No steam...which is rare for me to come across, and I was surprised that I liked that it was. I found I didn't need all those steamy scenes to really relate to the characters.
Good job, CeeCee. I've already read book 2 and loved it just as much. Waiting for book 3!
I can't wait to read the second book! I really like how the past and the present were woven in together; it brought out why Miranda was the way she is and was revealed slowly instead of all at once giving the book at good pace. Also in the flashbacks, some of Jason was revealed also.
The circumstances that brought them back together was tragic, but if she hadn't run the second time, Miranda and Jason wouldn't have found each other. As it came out later in the book, Jason is a runner also. I do wish there had been more on how they found their "uncle". I really wanted to know because I became invested in their story, past and present.
Emma Clark did a fantastic job on the narration. She infused each character with their own distinct personality, didn't go too fast or too slow.
I read this book all night long. Well, until 3 a.m. and then I woke up at 7 a.m. to finish it. I was so in love with Cee Cee James' narrative voice that I fell into the story and didn't want to leave it. I love how it was set up and how she took us back in time without exposition, rather beautifully written poetic storytelling. That's exactly why I loved this book so much - it was superb storytelling. Flawlessly written. The journey for each of these characters was powerful and deep - all coming of age so perfectly messy and honestly. I think Ms. James' stunning piece of literature isn't only for the young adult audience, but crosses over to all ages. And to think this is her first work of fiction. I look forward to much more from Cee Cee James! Bravo!
A beautifully written story of love, loss, and tragedy. Growing up Miranda, Jason, and Cassie relied on each other but as adults their relationships are strained. Miranda left, hoping to carve out a new life for herself vowing never to return. That changes when Cassie is in an accident and fights for her life. When she returns can Miranda mend the broken relationships she left behind? The author flawlessly wove the past and present together in this book, giving the reader the backstory they needed in order to fully understand the present. Sometimes when an author is dealing with emotional subjects the writing can feel forced. This is not is not one of those books. CeeCee James masterfully delved into these subjects with care and compassion!
I received this book for an honest next review. Wrecked & Yours, follows Miranda in her search to find home. It does go back and forth between past and present so that way you get the background information. The characters are for the most part developed, I sometimes felt that the emotions were a little rushed. Overall, I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to someone who likes quick, a little romance and suspense in their books.
I received this book for an honest next review. Wrecked & Yours, follows Miranda in her search to find home. It does go back and forth between past and present so that way you get the background information. The characters are for the most part developed, I sometimes felt that the emotions were a little rushed. Overall, I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to someone who likes quick, a little romance and suspense in their books.
I seriously fell in love with Miranda from the first page.. So scared but yet she insisted on saving her sister. Not once did the author make the choices Miranda and Jason made seem easy or glamorous.. I love her for that.
The end of this book, didn't bring a miraculous change that found everyone whole and "fixed". The author paints a realistic and heartfelt picture.. I can't wait to read the next segment of Miranda's life.
This is somewhere between a buddy story and a romance. I thought of it as a young adult book because of the age of the characters, but I don´t know that everyone would agree with me on that. I found it emotionally difficult to read at times because of the history of the young runaway kids who were the main characters, but overall it was a compelling story, just not one that I related to very much.