Now, this book does have content warnings. I'll be honest and say the brunt of it is in the opening of the story. The topic is discussed further into the book, so be prepared for that. Jocelyne handled the topic carefully. It isn't graphic. It isn't detailed. It just happens to one of our characters. If you are looking for more information in regards to these trigger warnings, please visit Jocelyne's website.
Let's dive into the recap!
Summer football camps are over, and Hunter is returning to campus early to surprise his girlfriend. Except when he arrives, it is Hunter who receives the surprise. After everything that went down, Hunter finds himself googling how to get over a break up. That leads him to a website where pictures are shared, friendship can be formed, and it's all fairly anonymous. Hunter decides to jump in, and posts a picture of his own. It is this picture that leads to Selena and Hunter beginning an online relationship. They are frequently sharing pictures, talking, and getting comfortable with each other. Shortly there after it is discovered that they live in the same area. Outside of that conversation, school is starting up. At the beginning of one class, Hunter decides to sit next to this beautiful girl, rather than with his teammate whom he's upset with. Hunter has no clue that the woman he's just sat next to is the same woman he's been talking with online. Throughout the semester they get to know each other, and feelings are bubbling up. Yet at the same time, there is also this online relationship happening. What happens when the truth is revealed? What happens when the past comes up to haunt you? What will happen if the pictures are shared? Can you trust this person again?
Worth Every Second was an interesting read, and it held my attention from cover to cover. The way it began had me curious as to how that scenario was going to affect the character in future situations. I also wasn't 100% which character it was. That was revealed later on though, so you do figure it out.
Selena and Hunter are both amazing characters. I enjoyed their interactions both in person, and in the online setting. I did find myself wondering when the truth would be revealed, and how that would happen. Then of course I also wondered if the photos would be revealed for others to see, who would be behind all of it, and how would that be discovered.
I related to Selena in many ways, and she is an amazing character. Not only is she a quieter person, someone who enjoys reading (romance novels at that!), is more of a wallflower except around those she's comfortable with, she also struggles with body image. It's more than all that though. It's also the fact that she is passionate, and she is determined. Selena knows what she wants to do, and is going to d it! Hunter drew me in as well, and you could see that who he projected to others wasn't who he truly is. So it was nice to see him show that side of himself to Selena. Football is something he's passionate about, but there is more to him. He is a family person. He is smart. He is determined to make his future what he wants it to be. I love it!
I will say that I struggled with Hunter's dad quite a bit. The little we know about him had me realizing he doesn't truly care about his son. He cares about the fact that his son is a talented athlete, who has the potential for a professional athletic career. With that comes money. So pushing his son to do all of this, is just to get money in HIS pocket, not for his son's benefit. That just rubbed me wrong. As well as the information regarding the dad's relationship with Hunter's siblings. Ugh.
Let's talk about that content warning for a moment. I'm not going to name it. But everything our character experienced broke my heart. I gasped. My hand flew to my mouth, and I wanted to sob. Then when the flashback occurred, and they had to revisit this trauma, I was gutted. I was very thankful that the other character rushed out to find the other, stood by their side as the memories hit, and guided them through it. It showed support. It showed caring. It showed how this character could be leaned upon. That truth being revealed was difficult, but love and grace were by their side.
Now, about the moment of conflict, or rather moments of conflict. I knew it was coming. I had a general idea of what was going to happen. But how it played out, I wasn't fully prepared for. There was hurt, frustration, anger, and heartbreak. Feelings were formed. Trust was established. But in these moments it felt like all of that was obliterated. Underneath it all though there was still love flowing. There was still that connection. That friendship. That desire for a future with the other. And, in my mind, that is what helped guide them back together.
I loved so much of this story. From the online connection, to the in person friendship that was formed, to the start of the relationship, it all drew me in. These characters drew me in. They felt real. They felt genuine. Everything felt right. And I love that. Yes there were difficult moments, but that is something that most of us deal with in life. Some are just more difficult or traumatic than others. Rating wise I opted to give Worth Every Second 4 stars.
Worth Every Second was worth every moment I spent with the characters in their little world. I cannot wait to find out what book Hunter and Selena make an appearance in. And I know they will pop up again because Jocelyne said so! Consider my curiosity piqued.
Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on Worth Every Second. This is the fourth book of Jocelyne Soto's that I have read, and let me tell you, I am hooked. I can safely say that she is now an auto-buy author, and I will be reading all of her back list titles.
Laura
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| Cover Design: Shanoff Designs |
Posting “certain types” of pictures online is never a good idea. Especially when you’re the star player of your college football team.
But I did it anyway.
Never did I think that by posting my pictures online that I would find someone that I would actually be interested in.
But I did.
I saw her pictures, she commented on mine and the conversations were nonstop. She was the girl of my dreams and I wanted to meet her. Who knew that the girl of my dreams was the shy girl that sat next to me all semester.
Now that I know who she is, I want my shot. Only if she would give it to me. Every chance she gets I get turned down, but I'm not giving up.
I will show her that she is worth it, even if she may not think so.
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Meet Jocelyne Soto
Jocelyne Soto is a romance author born and raised in California.
She started her writing journey in 2015 and in 2019 she published her first book. She is an independent author who loves discovering new authors on Goodreads and Amazon.
She comes from a big Mexican family, and with it comes a love for all things family and food.
Jocelyne has a love for her mom’s coffee and writing. In her free time, she can be found reading a romance novel off her iPad or somewhere in the black hole of YouTube.
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Thank you to Jocelyne Soto, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced review copy of Worth Every Second.
