Light in the Shadows (Find You in the Dark, #2) in Buddy Read Zone

Mar 25, 2013 Ellelou rated it really liked it

After all that drama and emotional turmoil I felt the ending was a let down. The Epilogue?? not impressed ...

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Mar 25, 2013 Natalie rated it liked it

★★★ ! It was a long time ago that I read a book that touched me in such a deep way. This book really made me feel. Almost like I was there, could I feel Clay´s pain as it was my own. I guess that the author really do have a gift. This book series have for me been more real then I can remember reading in a long time. Compared to the first book this was much more hopeful, still very dark at times and not an easy or fun read by any means. But lighter. I gotta say that Clay´s willpower to get better ★★★ ! It was a long time ago that I read a book that touched me in such a deep way. This book really made me feel. Almost like I was there, could I feel Clay´s pain as it was my own. I guess that the author really do have a gift. This book series have for me been more real then I can remember reading in a long time. Compared to the first book this was much more hopeful, still very dark at times and not an easy or fun read by any means. But lighter. I gotta say that Clay´s willpower to get better blew me away, again and again. It would be so easy for him to just let himself get lost in the dark or to just end it all. But his love for Maggie saved him over and over again, even when they were apart. I found the character development for Clay in this book to be excellent. From having been the boy that was in deniall and even refuced help, to the man who willingly let himsself get locked in, was astondingly. He tried so hard to be the man Maggie deserved and that was really touching to read about. But in the end he had to follow his heart to do what was best for him, in order to have a future with Maggie.

And Maggie. I was all over the place when it came to her. At first she kinda pissed me off when she started to give Clay the cold shoulder and was nothing short but a bitch. I realize that she had every right to act the way she did, especially after the letter. But as a reader, I sometimes got the urge to shake some sense into her. I found the it in Clay´s favor and she should had been more understanding and less pissed about it. And I couldn´t understand how anyone really could blame Clay for everything that happened. I mean, he was sick for Christ sake! And it wasn´t like he left Maggie by her own free will. Yes, he chose not to contact her, but he was trying to be unselfish. I can understand Maggie, but I am still on Clayton´s side.

Thankfully also my opinion off Maggie changed, or it really would have sucked. She did an 180 on me and her compassion, understanding and support kinda blew me away. She was Clay´s rock and she grew on me more and more. I can now say that she is one of my favorite heroines.

I was terrified through the whole book that this wouldn´t have a happy ending. Sometimes it seemed impossible. That all the oddds were against them. To the last page before the epilouge I felt that this could go in either direction. I am not gonna tell you if it has a happy ending with Clay and Maggie together or not. All I can say that I am happy with the way it ended.

I would have loved to read more about Maggie and Clay, but this was the last book. This series was a bumpy ride with many ups and downs, but I don´t regret reading them for a second. ...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Natalie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc

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Oh how I love a beautiful broken boy. And more than that, I love it when he finds the peace that he so desperately deserves.

Light in the Shadows continues the emotional journey of Clayton and Maggie. Clay is at the Grayson Center, a treatment facility, working on his mental health issues while Maggie is left behind at home trying to put her life back together and move on. While still both deeply in love with each other Clay chooses to focus on his recovery and cuts off all communication wit

Oh how I love a beautiful broken boy. And more than that, I love it when he finds the peace that he so desperately deserves.

Light in the Shadows continues the emotional journey of Clayton and Maggie. Clay is at the Grayson Center, a treatment facility, working on his mental health issues while Maggie is left behind at home trying to put her life back together and move on. While still both deeply in love with each other Clay chooses to focus on his recovery and cuts off all communication with Maggie. Maggie feeling hurt, depressed and angry at Clay is trying so hard to forget him but just cant. With an unexpected tragedy, Clay returns home and is forced to face Maggie again.

This was such a beautiful and emotional read. Told in dual POV, the story unfolds at a perfect pace. Healing is a journey not a race and A. Meredith Walters does a fantastic job at describing with such honesty and respect the struggles of mental illness.

Where to start with Clay. He was absolutely perfect. I felt his pain; I understood his suffering and his desperation to be healed. I was right there with him on his journey - searching for forgiveness from the girl he loves while trying to find himself and deal with his own personal issues. Things weren't easy for Clay and he had moments where he struggled to keep himself together and keep his demons at bay. It required a lot of effort on his part but that is what made this story so real.

After everything that Maggie went through in Find You in the Dark she has matured and shown so much growth. She is no longer naïve in her thinking and knows that even the deepest of love is not the answer. Trying to get past her anger at Clay for leaving her behind, I appreciated that Maggie didn’t just jump back into a relationship without any thought. She was smart this time around and while still loving Clay unconditionally she also thought of herself and what was best for her.

Clay and Maggie share such a beautiful love, even for such a young couple you believe every minute of it. The story was so well written, with such depth and realism. It has everything; a swoon worthy boy, a strong smart heroine, great supporting characters, angst, sarcasm, just the right amount of drama all wrapped up into a perfect package. I was rooting for Clay and Maggie from the start. I had my moments of fear; hoping and praying and wondering how things would workout for them and as sad as I am to see the story end the epilogue made my heart happy. It put a smile on my face and left me with so much hope for the future of this unforgettable couple. I highly recommend this series.

ARC graciously provided by the author in exchange for my honest review.
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Mar 31, 2013 Mahlyn rated it it was amazing

It was enlightening to learn Clay's point of view and on how he deals with his demons. Maggie, on the otherhand, has been supportive but always has to worry. Love will always prevail. Not your love for one another but also the love for yourself which Clay realized in this story. ...more

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