A review by torilovesheas
Fighting for Us by Claire Kingsley
5.0
I love this book so much. A fantastic follow up to Protecting You, the first Bailey Brothers and the first part of Asher and Grace's emotional romance.
I cried actual tears reading this book. 7 years after a prison sentence that torn apart his world, Asher is released after the governor grants him clemency. But Asher is no longer the hope filled 21 year old that had dreams to fulfill and Grace to love forever. After his years spent in a state prison, Asher is institutionalized. Adjusting to the outside world again is taking a toll on him. And Grace, who never expected THIS Asher to walk out of the prison gates. Grace has waited 7 years, engagement ring on her hand, for Asher. But the Asher that went in the prison isn't the Asher that Grace has dreamed about for years. And she isn't so sure that love is enough to pull them through.
This is such an emotional read for so many reasons. Asher has been away from his brothers, his Gram, and Grace for 7 years. The townsfolk look at him differently. He's jumping at every bump and bang in the night. It's heartbreaking. It's one of those times where you want to scream at the unfairness of his separation from Grace. Yes, he committed a crime, but if it's a crime to save someone else, does the punishment fit? He's so sure that he can no longer be the man that Grace wants him to be. But Grace, MY GIRL, is having none of his bullshit. She wants Asher and if that means she has to wait for him to get his head on straight, well, she's already waited 7.
I loved that his brothers are such a part of this one with their bigger than life personalities. Some of them are angry at him for getting put away, but at the end of the day, we get to see a brotherly bond unlike any other. The Bailey brothers are here to get Grace and Asher through it and they're determined to do it. Gram is awesome with her wisdom and advise that doesn't always make sense at the time. (As a total side note, I would love to have a novella about Gram and Grandpa Frank. The little snippet we got of their story was so sweet.)
I'm so excited to read the rest of this series. I just adored Asher and Grace's books so much. It's angsty and heartbreaking, but man do these two love each other.
I cried actual tears reading this book. 7 years after a prison sentence that torn apart his world, Asher is released after the governor grants him clemency. But Asher is no longer the hope filled 21 year old that had dreams to fulfill and Grace to love forever. After his years spent in a state prison, Asher is institutionalized. Adjusting to the outside world again is taking a toll on him. And Grace, who never expected THIS Asher to walk out of the prison gates. Grace has waited 7 years, engagement ring on her hand, for Asher. But the Asher that went in the prison isn't the Asher that Grace has dreamed about for years. And she isn't so sure that love is enough to pull them through.
This is such an emotional read for so many reasons. Asher has been away from his brothers, his Gram, and Grace for 7 years. The townsfolk look at him differently. He's jumping at every bump and bang in the night. It's heartbreaking. It's one of those times where you want to scream at the unfairness of his separation from Grace. Yes, he committed a crime, but if it's a crime to save someone else, does the punishment fit? He's so sure that he can no longer be the man that Grace wants him to be. But Grace, MY GIRL, is having none of his bullshit. She wants Asher and if that means she has to wait for him to get his head on straight, well, she's already waited 7.
I loved that his brothers are such a part of this one with their bigger than life personalities. Some of them are angry at him for getting put away, but at the end of the day, we get to see a brotherly bond unlike any other. The Bailey brothers are here to get Grace and Asher through it and they're determined to do it. Gram is awesome with her wisdom and advise that doesn't always make sense at the time. (As a total side note, I would love to have a novella about Gram and Grandpa Frank. The little snippet we got of their story was so sweet.)
I'm so excited to read the rest of this series. I just adored Asher and Grace's books so much. It's angsty and heartbreaking, but man do these two love each other.