Amy Lane writes some of the very best broken people. Jeremy's matter-of-fact life and the way he comes around to needed changes but the reasons they are so hard... It'll just twist your heart. ( )

Really lovely, a sweet story and not what you'd expect for an ex-conman.
Told entirely from Jeremy's pov and covering before book one and the events of book one. ( )

Loved loved loved this story ( )

Once you start lying, and possibly conning your way through life, it is hard to stop. When it's something you've been taught from when you were very young, it is almost impossible. Jeremy, the main character and narrator of this story, makes a decision to break with old behaviors and become "honest". Unfortunately, that is far easier said than done. What this story shows is not only the problems society will throw in the way of an ex-convict, but also his own internal battle with the new concept of "living an honest life". As much as he may want to do it, his memories, fears, and old habits keep intruding. His thoughts and actions were fascinating, pulled me in from the beginning, and kept me glued to the pages until the end of the story.

Jeremy has had an awful life; his mother died when he was young, his father taught him how to be a conman, and when he witnesses his dad's death, it is all too much. The decision to become honest is made when he ends up in prison, but once he tries to get back to a normal life, the real battle begins. I was fascinated by his habits of stashing cash in different places so he could always access it. The need to be able to leave within minutes was so deeply ingrained that anything more permanent seemed like a threat to him. His inner demons kept telling him one thing, but once he finds a new home on Rance Crawford's alpaca farm (see Knitting 1), Jeremy opens his mind and heart to the people there. It is a long and arduous battle, and I was with Jeremy every step of the way.

Aiden is an amazing young man. He may just graduate high school at the beginning of Jeremy's stay, but he is wise beyond his years. He also instinctively knows how to handle Jeremy, and as they become closer and closer over the next two and a half years, he does everything in his power to make Jeremy stay. His ability to understand the parallels between raising a rabbit and dealing with Jeremy's constant fears and readiness to run is what ultimately enables him to help Jeremy – and give them both the happiness they deserve.

This is a fascinating character study as well as a very touching love story. Both Jeremy and Aiden face incredible odds, and I was so emotionally involved that I know they will stay with me for a long time. If you like characters with a very distinctive, individual voice, if you enjoy heart-wrenching stories that make you "suffer" before the happy ending, and if you're looking for an emotionally involving tale that will likely have you in tears from time to time, then you should go for this book. I was totally mesmerized!





NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
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Story: 8
First MC: 8
Second MC: 8
Secondary characters: 7
Mystery: 3
Sexual tension: 6
Humor: 6
Hotness: 6
Product placement: 3
Ridiculousness: 1
Annoying: 2
Audio: 9 (4h 37min)
To re-read: 7

"Under the little man's legs, pull out the loop, push the old one off the building, listen to him scream...aaaaaahhhh" he giggled

The beginning of the book was very sad. Its disturbing how parents screw off their kids; mentally and morally. Takes forever to get out of that trap and pull yourself together; that is if you succeed. Having read the first book I knew/hoped the book won’t depress me any further.
Funny thing I didn’t realize this is the story of Jeremy from book1 till he met Craw. I try not to read the blurb as much as possible. Sometimes I started reading without knowing who is the 2nd MC. Some blurbs are basically spoilers.
We revisit Craw and Ben, some conversation we weren’t privy to in the first book. Jeremy (starting at the age 26, 31 towards the end). Aiden age was (18 to 21).

Conmen, homeless hot men, peanut butter hoarding, knitting, and nervous ramblings.
I liked the first book more, still I’m intrigued enough to read third book. ( )