This Could be a Movie...

Even though I already know how it's going to end, I would still go and see it. As a fan of Tara Sivec's humorous writing, I'm ashamed to say this is the first "serious" book of hers I've read. The Story of Us is polar opposite to what I had come to expect from Tara Sivec and proves what a talent she is.

"I never thought before and after would collide."

Captured by the enemy for so many years, all Eli James had were dreams and memories. Not in a million years did he think he would make it out alive to see her again. And if he did make it, would she be waiting for him after all that time?

She was. In her own way, she was waiting for the love of her life to return to her. The only problem is, she's the only one that knows. Keeping her longing for Eli James a secret for five excruciating years. Doing everything that was asked of her to keep him as safe as she possibly could. They were helping each other all that time apart never realizing it.

He's back. She's scared and there are a whole lotta secrets going on around them. Eli has had five years to think about the situation he finds himself in and how he got there doesn't make any sense. Shelby was in shock and traumatized so quickly after he left, she simply did what she was told, as the situation got messier and messier around them. Neither Eli or Shelby was going to come out unscathed from it.

"Two broken pieces don't make a whole. They just make a bigger f-ing mess for someone to clean up."

"I'd rather be a complete mess with you than spend another day shattered all over the floor alone."

The book is well written, traveling from present to the past, including letters written to Shelby from Eli to fill in the blanks. If I had one complaint, it would be the letters. They didn't mesh well within the story, reading like the book and not necessarily handwritten letters. If they stood out more with a differnt font and not written so properly, they would have fit better for me. That said, Tara Sivec hits it out of the park with The Story of Us and I loved the curve ball thrown in, making me actually go back and reread to see how I could have missed it. Great job!

Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog.

I love Tara Sivec. She is such a well-rounded author and shows she can truly write anything. While her humor and comedy make me smile and laugh out loud, it’s her stories from the heart that really speak to me emotionally and soulfully.

The Story of Us is a beautiful, 2nd chance love story that will pull at your heartstrings while making you root for a Happily Ever After.

Eli and Shelby are from completely different upbringings. How they meet is shown in the story and I won’t spoil it for you but I had a complete smile on my face because I knew that something special was going to happen between these two.

Eli suffers the unimaginable during his deployment and my heart was literally in my throat thinking of the men and women who fight for our country every day.

As the story unravels and Eli and Shelby are brought into each other’s lives again, I can’t help but hope and pray for healing. These two characters need it more than any characters I have ever read about.

So many lies and secrets are revealed and a couple of unexpected moments that made me say OMG out loud. The pain of lost time between these lovers broke my heart and had me shedding tears but it was the hope that they could find their paths to each other again that made me push ahead even when the sadness hurt my heart.

I love Tara Sivec’s words… I love the emotion and feeling and care that went into this well-crafted story and even more than this, I loved that joyful feeling in my heart that had me closing my kindle with a smile on my face knowing that these characters, though broken and constantly working to be better, were going to be ok. ❤️

Great, great read. Tara Sivec pulled at every one of my emotions from page one to the last. The Story of Us is the type of book you'll want to go back to and re-read over and over again.

I had issues getting into this book which is why it has taken me so long to review.  I have tried on and off to read this book but the connection was lacking for me. 

DNF

The Story of Us is such an emotional read about a man named Eli who has PTSD and doesn't want to let go. Shelby is the woman in this story that has suffered as well due to her mother's doing. These two have strength and most importantly trust and love for each other. 

Tara Sivec is one of my top go to authors and this story doesn't disappoint. If I could give this story more than 5 stars I would! 

"Flawless. Beautiful. Wanted."

Heart-achingly beautiful, emotionally this brought all the feels into play and gave them license to run rampant!

Written with a deftness that had me hugging the tissue box and fighting an ever-losing battle with a persistent stream of tears, which I will admit that I wasn’t expecting from a Tara Sivec, so bravo Ms Sivec this was an absolute beauty!

I can’t, no sorry, I can but I won’t tell you what happens as I think it is unnecessary, this is a story that you need to read for yourself, I will tell you that the story was a slow build, a proper journey that gave the characters the opportunity to navigate their way to where they need to be but ensuring that the ride was one that kept me hooked from start to finish.

A top ten read!!!

Raw, emotional, beautiful, sweet and tragic. There are not enough adjectives in the world to describe all of the feels in this amazing story. I absolutely LOVED Eli and Shelby’s story. And Rylan…sweet, messy, crazy, man-bun-having Rylan. I love that this story was beautiful and painful at the same time…at certain points I felt like the pain was jumping off the page right at me. I was completely hooked from the very first page and I didn’t put it down until I was done. By chapter 29 I was sobbing and trying to read through my tears. Those who have read it will know why…so I won’t give anything away. One of the things I loved most was that I didn’t see it coming. It’s not often that a book catches me by surprise…but it’s one of my very favorite things when it does. I have read every single book Tara has ever written...and I truly love them all. But The Story of Us is my new favorite. It’s one of those books that will stick with you for a while after you read it and that is ALWAYS the sign of a great story! Do yourself a favor and one-click this story...you absolutely will not regret it.

Oh my God I am in love with Tara Sivec and The Story of Us. Just in the first chapter Tara Sivec pulls you in with pain, heartache and nothing but shattered memories pulling you all over the place. My heart broke for Eli and what he has gone through. Readers, this is not your typical romance but filled with so much it’s hard to explain without telling the book. Tara Sivec did a beautiful job in showing us two people who in a unique way found each other and fought all the way to get the happiness that was stolen. Yes there are two people in love but also a villain. Now this evil person, wow is all I have to say. Tara Sivec doesn’t hold anything back and THE STORY OF US is one that will grab your heart like it did mine. There is a twist to the book which I have to say did not see it coming and Tara Sivec just moved me in that part with her writing and imagination. This is an author you do not want to pass and grab this book for those looking for a unique love and soul wrenching book this will be it for you. Loved it.

“I received an eBook copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own.”

This book was incredible. She knows just how to tug at your heart strings.

Another beautifully written and emotional story by Tara Sivec. She is a true story teller from many different sides. Sometimes she is over the top funny, while in other books, like The story of Us, it is more of an emotional tale of second chance love and heartache. I had tears in my eyes the whole book and loved every second of it. A wonderful story!

Why do I always have the hardest time writing a review of a great book? Maybe because  there's so much to say when you read a book that grips your heart and leaves you feeling so many different emotions. Where do you even begin to tell other people how awesome this book was to read? My less than eloquent writing skills will never ever be able to describe the awesomeness that is this book. 
The Story Of Us takes you from terrified and sad to hope full and excited and that's  not even half way through the book. Just when you think you know what's about to happen, BOOM! Total shocker and didn't see that coming. Then your back on the emotional roller coaster again with more feelings. 

This book is a whole new level of romance from Tara Sivec. 
A military themed contemporary romance with such a poignant love story. 
A wonderful summer vacation read that you won't want to put down. So call the cabana boy over to refill your drink and read this book!

Great story as usual from Tara! Emotional read that had me both laughing and crying.

6 stars!!!

I've been sitting here for twenty minutes since I finished, The Story of Us by Tara Sivec wondering how in the world I would ever write a review. Firstly, I have read quite a bit of Tara books and loved them all. I haven't read everyone of hers yet, but I do own them. When she started releasing the blurb, cover and promoting about this book there was something about it, I wasn't sure what, but something that told me it would blow her other books away. Well, my intuition was head on because this book, ahh! The Story of Us gutted me in the most beautiful way.

I hate revealing any part of an author's story in a review, so I like to keep it low key and basically how it made me feel and this book, oh how it made me feel. I've never had an all time favorite book until I read Mists of the Serengeti earlier this year, but now it's a close tie with The Story of Us. 

Tara's words are beautiful and have so much power behind them it's hard not to love.

I  wanted to love this story so much. I love this author and I loved the premise of the story.

But I loved the idea of the story more than the actual story. However, I did love the twist and it had me emotional reeling from it.

Eli & Shelby were forbidden lover where she's the rich daughter and he's the stable boy.

Something comes between the two of them. Then Eli goes to war and Shelby moves on. Eli is presumed dead to only be a POW and thinking of Shelby is the only thing keeping him alive.

Upon his return five years later, Shelby has changed and she has many many secrets. Even though there were some twists and turns it was also a bit predictable.

And what happened to Landry? There were some details missing for me. Was that part unfinished or is to be continued?

But I am looking forward to Written on the stars which is I assume a spin off from this one?

Tara has written one of the best second chance romances ever! This story is so heartfelt, and emotional. The things we do to protect the ones we love are sometimes the things that destroy us. I'm used to reading some of the funniest stories from Tara, but she just showed a completely new side to her skills as a writer. I don't want to say too much but when you finish this book you will know why this book deserves 5 stars!

After several attempt to read The Story of Us, I decided that this book just isn't for me. I struggled to connect with the characters and I wasn't engaged in the storyline. DNF at 29%.

Copy of book received by publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

I always jump at the chance to read Tara Sivec's books. She is mostly known for her Romantic Comedies, however, she has the talent to write anything and this book proves it. I typically don't read a lot of emotional books. Any book that can make me ugly snot cry deserves 5 stars. This book hooked me from page one and I had a hard time putting it down. It was an emotional roller coaster of a ride.
Eli and Shelby had a forbidden romance years ago. Then Eli was deployed. Now he's back and Shelby is not the same as she once was. She's a stranger, but then, so is he. He came back broken, half the man he once was. Eli is determined to make Shelby remember how things once were. They both need it to heal. 
I loved this book. It gave me the all the feels, made me cry, and made me swoon. I loved everything about it. 5 well deserved stars from me.

The feels, it got me...  The Story of Us is a beautiful, endearing and an emotional read.  During a difficult time, they hold on to their memories to get through the ordeal.  

A Stable Hand and a Silver Spoon. You wouldn't think those two combinations would work.  But underneath, you have two passionate people that have such a strong chemistry that could endure anything.  Eli and Shelby are strong together.  Many things in common but basically living on the wrong side of the tracks.   But Shelby didn't care about that.  She didn't care about money, politics or social settings. She cared about Eli.   And she wanted to protect him.

But when you grease political pockets, anything could happen. With holding on to a memory,  Eli pulled his strength from the past with spending time with Shelby.  The happy times and the peach scents. Luck was on his side and he came out from the dark side. When returning from overseas, Eli is determined who is responsible for being held against his will.  

Quite a few twists and turns.   I was shocked at one point that I didn't see what was coming with certain characters.  I couldn't wait to see what happened next.  The Story of Us was definitely a book hangover for me.  

5 stars 
Received arc for an honest review