Review ~ Lifers by Jane Harvey-Berrick

**ARC Received for honest review**

Reviewed by Donna ~ 5 Stars

“You’ve turned…into a life sentence for all of you – for Paul, for Jordan. You turned them into lifers.”

This book was certainly an emotional rollercoaster and the writing was absolutely flawless! This is one of those books that makes you “feel” and as I have said in numerous reviews, that is a really special talent. Yes this story is sad in parts, it is emotional, it has you thinking and is extremely thought provoking, but the genius here is that Jane Harvey-Berrick has written her heroine (Torrey) with such an amazing sense of humour that even when I was crying, in the next heart beat I was laughing. This book is perfectly balanced, I totally and utterly loved it and I could not put it down.

Torrey was a girl that you couldn’t help but fall in love with; she has had more than her fair share of knock backs and this has left her very mis-trusting. After her latest failed relationship, she plays the field, desperate to never feel that sense of loss again. She literally puts up a wall on her emotions and her dalliances with the opposite sex are purely that, after all it is just sex, just a release. Having relocated back to her mum’s whom she hasn’t had a relationship with for over 10 years; she gets a mundane job in a café while taking a break from her career as a paralegal. One day in walks Jordan Kane, the world stops, he seems to be the local pariah but Torrey is fascinated and that is the day the world changed for them both.

Jordan Kane, I totally and utterly fell for this guy, hook, line and sinker. He had me the minute he walked into that café. You cannot help but be drawn into his story; he is out on parole, having had to move back to his parents as one of the conditions. This is a small town, everybody knows everybody and of course they all know yours and everyone else’s business. He is un-liked, unloved and unwanted by everyone, including his parents. He is desperate for some acceptance, some love, anything. He feels extremely guilty for what has happened and cannot live with it, he feels that he needs to be constantly punished so takes all these knock backs as his retribution; this is the life that he feels that he deserves. The trouble is, he doesn’t and until he can accept that, he will never be able to live or love, at the end of the day it was an accident and he needs to learn to forgive himself first and foremost.

“And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.””

Jordan’s story is heart breaking, intensified by the extremely emotive writing of Jane Harvey-Berrick. She certainly pulls you in, captivates you and doesn’t let you go till the very last page. I seriously cannot gush about this book enough. This is a love story and it is this slow but sure tale that has you totally and utterly entranced. You want them both to succeed, you want them both to love and most importantly you want them both to heal. They are truly perfect for each other. Torrey’s no-nonsense and shoot from the hip attitude are just what Jordan needs to keep him grounded, she reigns him in when he falters, she gives him solace when he needs it, but no matter what she is always there for him no matter how hard sometimes he tries to push her away. It is Jordan’s huge heart that will have you melting, with Torrey working her magic, slowly bringing the real “Jordan Kane” back to life, you start to see the real man emerge and once he does you just love him all the more. It is this huge heart, his passion, his loyalty and his sincerity that finally break down any remaining walls Torrey had erected.

“every time I think it couldn’t be better than the last time, but every time it is. Every time I think I’ve had the best there is, you teach my body something new. I can’t get enough of you, Jordan Kane.”

This is a must read, it is one of books that touches you, that will stay with you and one that I feel I will certainly be reading again. I totally and utterly loved it. Go forth and 1click, you won’t be disappointed!