Review & Giveaway: The Ever After of Ella and Micha: Jessica Sorensen
The Ever After of Ella and Micha
(The Secret #4)
(The Secret #4)
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Released 12/3/13
The day Ella has waited for is just around the corner. It’s the day she’ll marry Micha, the love of her life. But an unexpected package with a harsh reminder of Ella’s past and a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Micha to tour with his favorite bands threaten to ruin their happily ever after. Now Ella and Micha must find a way to balance their fears, their dreams, and their love…if they ever want to hear wedding bells.
Other books in The Secret Series:
"Just you and me against the world..."
"Always and forever."
We got a little tease into this book at the end of The Temptation of Lila and Ethan and it flows right into this book. Ella and Micha were supposed to get married at the beach, but it did not happen.
Now the foursome of Ella, Micha, Lila, and Ethan are heading home to Star Grove to plan a Christmas wedding with family. Ella is dealing with some information from her past that causes her anxiety. Not that Ella ever needs much to cause her anxiety. Even though she has come a long way, she still is fearful and worries. She does not always feel she is good enough and struggles with depression. But she knows she loves Micha and they belong together. Sometimes she just needs extra support and encouragement.
Pretty much everyone was a shadow in my life except for Micha. Micha has been my light in my dark life,
Sometimes I think Micha is too good to be true. Seriously the way he loves Ella and deals with her running and avoiding tendencies is amazing. He gets her. He loves her fiercely. He's protective. And he knows without a doubt Ella is the only girl for him. Sure he has had his own checkered past and mistakes, but now he really knows what he needs and wants. He is sweet, sexy, romantic, devoted, and loving. He has an opportunity that is hard to pass up, but it could cause problems just when it seems like their lives are on track.
“Are you really sure you want this for the rest of your life?”
“More than anything, Ella May...I’ve known that since the day we met.”
“More than anything, Ella May...I’ve known that since the day we met.”
These two have through so much and come so far individually and together. They are truly soul mates that continue to find their way together.
Through the story we get glimpses into memorable moments from their past intermixed with them in the present preparing for their future. I loved seeing younger versions of Ella and Micha as their friendship and love bloomed. And Ella also learns more about her mother from an unexpected source.
It all illustrates the intensity, love, connection and passion of their relationship. These two have been inseparable most of the time since they were four years old and share so many memories and feelings. This was a good blend of past and present and provided a beautiful conclusion to their love story. It wouldn't be a Jessica Sorensen book if there were not a few trials and tribulations, but this one was less angsty and dark than the others in this series. Yes, it still had some difficult subjects and feelings, but it was not as overwhelming. It was more romantic, emotional, and even...happy. Overall, this perfectly capped off Ella and Micha's story. It had me sighing, smiling, and swooning.
I enjoyed spending more time with their best friends Lila and Ethan. They are truly there for Ella and Micha and are still finding their own way as a couple. I have come to care about theses characters and look forward to their HEA in Lila and Ethan: Forever and Always ( a free novella releasing December 24, 2013).
Thanks to Jessica Sorensen, Forever/Grand Central Publishing, and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review. Quotes are from arc copy and subject to change.
The Ever After of Ella and Micha is the 4th book in the Secret series by Jessica Sorensen. Ella faces the same fears and insecurities she has always had. Her past scars, though healing, still come back to haunt her. When a box arrives with reminders of her mother, she questions much of her present situation and launches the platform for this book. As she delves into the box, she finds so many similarities between herself and her mom that her insecurities are magnified before her wedding day.
What I loved in this book is that Ella is recognizing her fears (and their triggers) and standing up to them more than she ever has. I think in several cases she surprises both herself and Micha in what she is willing to do to overcome her fears. The fears aren't gone, and she has to work pretty hard to overcome them, but she is trying. She still has a shaky relationship with her dad and brother, but there is hope in both cases as the story progresses that the progress they've each made will continue to develop.
I love how well Micha can read Ella. His devotion to her is so pure and constant. He is the perfect boyfriend/fiancee for Ella because he is so confident that she is his only love. The memories he shares with her of their past really cement just how long he has been in love with her, something she hadn't felt from anyone else that early in her life.
I loved the bits and pieces of Ella and Micha's history together sprinkled throughout the book. Not only do we see where they are in the present time, we also get to see more of how they built their friendship from the time they were four years old onward. Those scenes were especially sweet as they showed how both characters have leaned on each other over the years.
Compared to Ella and Micha's previous books, this one is lighter. The challenges they face are not as dark as before, though they stem from similar issues. This felt like a sweet addition to the series, without being sugary. It's still the same Ella and Micha, only this time they are a little more confident in their relationship and where it is heading. I didn't finish the book emotionally wrecked, instead I felt hopeful about where these two are headed. Comfortable. Happy.
The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessica Sorensen, lives in the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she's not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.
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