Halfway to Someday by Layla Dorine

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Blurb

Rocker Jesse Winters just wants to be left alone. If he could melt into oblivion, he would and bid farewell to the wild child of rock n’ roll so many had dubbed him in recent months. Truth is there was never anything reckless, wild, or even deliberate about most of the things that had happened on Wild Child’s last tour, but had anyone cared to listen? No! Which was precisely why he was sitting in a cabin high up in the Colorado mountains, hoping the incoming blizzard would bury him forever.

Ryker Jorgensen left the VA hospital with a bunch of prescriptions and pamphlets on how to deal with reentering the civilian world, not that he’s in any hurry to do so. His nightmares still keep him up at night, and every new limitation he discovers gives him more reason to believe that he’s hopelessly useless now. Better to drive up to his cousin’s cabin and lick his wounds. Come spring, maybe, he’d look into being around people, if only for long enough to make the kind of money he’d need to buy his own secluded place.

The last thing Ryker ever expected to see was the man whose face had been plastered in his footlocker and his dreams for the better part of the past six years, but Jesse Winters is nothing like he imagined. When trying to leave Ryker out in the storm doesn’t work, Jesse resorts to ignoring him. But two wounded souls trapped in a snowed in cabin have little choice but to reach out for one another when emotions get frayed. His only hope is that Jesse will trust him enough to let him drag him back from the edge before he’s just another burned out star in the legacy that is rock n’ roll.

Rocker Jesse Winters just wants to be left alone. If he could melt into oblivion, he would and bid farewell to the wild child of rock n’ roll so many had dubbed him in recent months. Truth is there was never anything reckless, wild, or even deliberate about most of the things that had happened on Wild Child’s last tour, but had anyone cared to listen? No! Which was precisely why he was sitting in a cabin high up in the Colorado mountains, hoping the incoming blizzard would bury him forever.

Ryker Jorgensen left the VA hospital with a bunch of prescriptions and pamphlets on how to deal with reentering the civilian world, not that he’s in any hurry to do so. His nightmares still keep him up at night, and every new limitation he discovers gives him more reason to believe that he’s hopelessly useless now. Better to drive up to his cousin’s cabin and lick his wounds. Come spring, maybe, he’d look into being around people, if only for long enough to make the kind of money he’d need to buy his own secluded place.

The last thing Ryker ever expected to see was the man whose face had been plastered in his footlocker and his dreams for the better part of the past six years, but Jesse Winters is nothing like he imagined. When trying to leave Ryker out in the storm doesn’t work, Jesse resorts to ignoring him. But two wounded souls trapped in a snowed in cabin have little choice but to reach out for one another when emotions get frayed. His only hope is that Jesse will trust him enough to let him drag him back from the edge before he’s just another burned out star in the legacy that is rock n’ roll.Rocker Jesse Winters just wants to be left alone. If he could melt into oblivion, he would and bid farewell to the wild child of rock n’ roll so many had dubbed him in recent months. Truth is there was never anything reckless, wild, or even deliberate about most of the things that had happened on Wild Child’s last tour, but had anyone cared to listen? No! Which was precisely why he was sitting in a cabin high up in the Colorado mountains, hoping the incoming blizzard would bury him forever.

Ryker Jorgensen left the VA hospital with a bunch of prescriptions and pamphlets on how to deal with reentering the civilian world, not that he’s in any hurry to do so. His nightmares still keep him up at night, and every new limitation he discovers gives him more reason to believe that he’s hopelessly useless now. Better to drive up to his cousin’s cabin and lick his wounds. Come spring, maybe, he’d look into being around people, if only for long enough to make the kind of money he’d need to buy his own secluded place.

The last thing Ryker ever expected to see was the man whose face had been plastered in his footlocker and his dreams for the better part of the past six years, but Jesse Winters is nothing like he imagined. When trying to leave Ryker out in the storm doesn’t work, Jesse resorts to ignoring him. But two wounded souls trapped in a snowed in cabin have little choice but to reach out for one another when emotions get frayed. His only hope is that Jesse will trust him enough to let him drag him back from the edge before he’s just another burned out star in the legacy that is rock n’ roll.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Wow, Layla Dorine's Halfway to Someday is a riveting and heavy book.

Jesse and Ryker are two men who are both broken; two men who find themselves escaping and hiding out in a cabin they have to share. They're well developed, blowing me away with their complexity. 

Jesse, with his history of self harm, is struggling with something secret.

His issues are emotional to the point of tears, as he's full of fear and pain, lacking in self esteem. This quote sums him up well. "I just wanted someone to love me!"

Ryker, meanwhile, is drowning in pain and suffering. He's blocked by his past, unable to move forward. His PTSD is written in a powerful manner, complete with the pain of nightmares and flashbacks. 

I seriously love these two and their amazing character growth, as these two men help to free one another from their pain and fear. They are full of longing and misery, both of which clearly jump off the pages.

The author entwines the aftermath of abuse with the aftermath of losing one's friends in a military tragedy. It's impressive and effective as she excels with important issues such as PTSD and self harm. 

This is a story that mixes forced proximity, a stalker, and danger. It's a combination of serious mental issues, danger, and attraction. It's multi-layered and complex, deep and accomplished. And if you enjoy stories about trust issues, this one has it in spades. 

Halfway to Someday is so much more than I could have ever anticipated. Layla Dorine impresses in this tale of moving on from one's demons and embracing a better future. It's raw, real, and emotional, leaving me unable to put down this emotionally driven story. 

Take note, if self harm, PTSD, or panic attacks are a trigger to you, avoid this one. 

Tripping over the Edge of Night by Layla Dorine

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Blurb

Going home had never felt so wrong.
When Derrick received the phone call informing him of his mother’s death, it felt like the bottom had dropped out of his entire world. Gone was every hope and ideal he’d left home with, replaced with the bitter realization that he’d run out of time, run out of plans, and was desperately close to running out of give-a-damn.
It doesn’t help to come face to face with his older brother, Ray, who’d spent much of his childhood either ignoring him, ditching him, or complaining about his very existence. It’s enough to send him right back on the road again, or at least, it would have been, were it not for a house, a cat named Slash, and Mason, his best friend-with-benefits, now the head librarian in town and hot as sin.
It was hard enough leaving Mace in the first place, but a second time? He didn’t think he had it in him to be so heartless. Twelve years ago he’d slipped away under the cover of darkness, without even a single goodbye. Now, standing on the edge of night, looking down at the tiny town he’d fled, Derrick is left with one burning question:
Can the door to the past ever be closed enough to allow space for the future?

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Tripping Over the Edge of Night is a great romance by Layla Dorine. It's gripping, compelling, and will have you reading late into the night.

I love the story, but the title and cover don't seem to really match the tale. I have to start with the cover though. To me the cover didn't fit the story. The cover screams dark to me. Yes, the story if heavy, but I didn't ever find it dark. Yes, the script explains the cover, but it just doesn't work for me. As for the title, I actually had to stop reading a couple of times to check what book I was actually reading. It just seemed nothing like the title implied.

Now for the story. It's a story of second chances, not just at love, but with family. It's a story of making amends, with others, as well as yourself. And it's so well done. The writing is phenomenal, with complex characters who will draw the reader right in. I seriously could not put this book down.

I was immediately intrigued by Derrick's struggle of returning home after his mother's death. Not only does he have to deal with his brother, he also has to face his ex, Mason. Derrick's lack of self esteem is sad, and his journey towards healing, both himself and his relationships, is emotional. 

Tripping Over the Edge of Night is a must read for anyone looking for a second chances romance. Layla Dorine will entertain you, as well as take you on one hell of an emotional ride.