Author: Stephanie Witter
Cover Artist: Cover It Designs
Editor: Melissa Ringsted
Genre: Contemporary NA, romance
Publish Date: September 16, 2013
Publisher: Anchor Group
Length: 260 pages, over 85,000 words
Format: paperback, ebook
Tour Organizer: Sparkle Book Tours
Warning: Due to some shocking scenes, this novel is not intended for readers under 18.
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"What if I am already broken into pieces?"
She hates to be touched, hiding under her oversized shirts and behind her wild frizzy hair. Even her bubbly roommate can't reach her. And yet ...
"I'm the guy who knows how you can hurt so much that your insides feel like they're cut and bleeding."
The tall, handsome, and tattooed TA in her psychology class changes everything when he literally collides with her and confronts her. For the first time in a long time, she wants to try and open up to this guy whose dark, intense eyes can't hide his own pain despite his dazzling smile getting to her.
However, just when she's starting to live again, her ex-boyfriend comes back, breaking her time and time again, making it all the more complicated.
She wants to fight for herself and for this building thing with the TA, even when he pushes her away, but can two broken people patch each other up?
"I never thought colliding with someone could change lives, but it is possible."
I sort of knew going into this novel that I would enjoy it because it is romance (which I love) but it is also slow building. Sometimes I want a quick romance but, in my opinion, slow building ones are more realistic because it is what would happen in real life.
I loved Skye. I admire her so much for surviving an abusive relationship and eventually letting herself open up to love again. Duke is one of my favorite heroes. He is extremely sexy and strong enough to want to protect Skye. He instantly knows she has baggage and wants to help. I also love that although he wants to help her, Duke is a lot of baggage of his own that he needs to work through. I really like how the novel started with Duke wanting to Skye but then her helping him.
Sean I absolutely hate. I have no words for him. Oh yes I do. He is a despicable, monstrous, evil human being. I hated him from the very start and that was before it is revealed that he is still stalking her and abusing her. I hated the ending scene with Sean. I hated it because of the obvious abuse [more details would be a spoiler]. But I also liked the scene right after because I feel like it was a huge step in the right direction for Skye's recovery process.
I think this is one of the most realistic books I have ever read. The romance is real because both Skye and Duke have real issues that leaves them both emotionally scarred but together they help each other through. I also appreciate the real life problem of abusive relationships. For someone who has seen a relationship end in a much more devastating way, I was extremely happy to see Skye survive and find love.
Excerpt: (The first meeting)
Without paying attention to my surroundings, I turn to my left to walk toward the row closer to the door where a seat is available. I take a step and collide with a hard body, almost toppling me over on the ground for the second time in less than an hour. A strong hand grips me firmly by the forearm. My body stiffens and my breath catches in my throat. It’s as if I can’t move besides yanking my arm free without looking up to see who I collided with.
“Are you all right?” he asks me in a deep and calm voice.
My eyes wander from my red Converse to his dark boots. I have to calm down. I’m being ridiculous. Calm down. I take a deep breath and look up slowly. Long, muscled legs in beat up dark blue jeans, an old black leather jacket open over a dark grey V-neck sweater that showcases an impressive tall body with broad shoulders and finally, longish and messy black hair, perfect straight nose, full lips, high cheekbones and expressive soft dark eyes that lock with my bluish-greyish ones. He looks older with his goatee perfectly trimmed. A perfect hot mess many girls would say. I’m just intimidated by this stranger, though.
“I’m fine,” I reply, my voice even. I push away some of my untamed locks and curse my auburn frizzy hair that is always all over the place.
Overall Opinion: Overall Patch Up is one of my favorites of this year. I love the realism of this novel and the struggles of Skye and Duke. I also loved the secondary romance between Derek and Kate. I cannot wait for the sequel and I will constantly be checking to see when it comes out :) I give Patch Up 5 stakes and I recommend it to everyone who wants to read a real life romance.
Get to Know the Author: Stephanie Witter is a French dreamer. She started English at three and fell in love with the language. Always with a book - or two - close by, she soon started reading in English when she couldn't wait to see Harry Potter translated in French. After a while, reading wasn't enough and she started writing young adult and new adult contemporary novels always filled with drama. Now she hopes to translate English novels in her mother tongue as her everyday job. By My Side is her debut novel.
Author Links: Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Amazon Page
Where to Get Your Copy:Barnes & Noble | Amazon UK | Amazon |Smashwords |Goodreads
You'll Also Like: Unspoken by Jen Frederick
Please leave a comment and tell me what you think of Patch Up. Happy Monday!!!
This looks really good. Putting it on my TBR. I have been wanting to read more new adult lately,
ReplyDeleteGreat review! :)
Dee @ Dee's Reads