I needed an angsty read that I was sure to enjoy. Loren did not disappoint. I have loved every story in this series centered around survivors of a school shooting. Taryn, the heroine, by some weird circumstances befriends Shaw Miller, who’s brother was the Long Acre shooter. They shouldn’t be friends or more. This was a take on forbidden love and I LOVED every moment of it. I was in incredibly invested Taryn and Shaw’s love story and on them finding and fighting for their HEA.

I think I have mentioned in every review for the books in this series that I recognize that the content is incredibly heavy and not for everyone. But if you can handle the premise, I think the payoff is worth it. There is one more friend in the group that hasn’t gotten her HEA and I will be curious to see if she gets her story.

Taryn and Shaw, Roni Loren proves that she can again nail the slow burn as their attraction to each other is complicated by their experiences of the shooting. It’s “should we/shouldn’t we” with a side of “I can’t, but damn I want to.” For me it is annoying, but I understand we cant all have fluffy easy books, and this by far was that.

This was a 3.5-4-star read for me, an unnecessary twist late in the book diminished the experience. but Still, The One You Fight For is brave and raw and a solid story!

PNR BOOK LOVER REVIEWS

This third installment is one of the best of the series. While school violence is a very difficult subject, Loren tackles it with sensitivity. The story never devolves into tear-jerking tragedy or emotional manipulation. All the emotions from the characters are earned, and the story reaches into many different facets of grief, all while plotting a beautiful love story about two characters who have a bit of a forbidden love thing going on, but also an intense friendship and belies their attraction. Highly recommended.

Roni Loren weaves a masterpiece in the latest addition to The Ones Who Got Away series with the latest book, The One You Fight For. I admit that I am new to Loren’s work and therefore did not know about this series. I read this book (the third) in the series first, and was able to understand the events detailed in previous books. This book is more amazing than I can relay. I don’t know that I have ever been more emotionally invested in a book before.

The One You Fight For centers around Taryn and Shaw. Both are living lives built around a single incident in their past. This tragedy has driven both, but in different ways. Taryn has dedicate herself to the study of Psychology and ways to prevent school shootings. Shaw, on the other hand, has abandoned his Olympic dreams to live a life of solitude. Both suffer from guilt stemming from the shooting - one as the sibling of a victim and the other as the sibling of the school shooter.

Taryn and Shaw meet at a bar one night. There is an instant attraction but Shaw disappears before anything can happen. Their romance is a journey for Taryn and Shaw as individuals and as a couple. It is painful and sweet. It is clear that Taryn and Shaw care for one another but Taryn struggles with admitting the relationship to her parents and friends. Shaw, does not believe that he deserves a love like he has with Taryn and so he tries to protect her. If there was one book couple that I knew deserved a HEA, it’s Taryn and Shaw. Although they survived the actual shooting, their lives after the shooting were significantly impacted by the events of that one day.

Roni Loren’s writing is emotional and thought provoking. The book is so masterfully crafted that you can’t help but feel empathy for both characters. Loren is able to have the reader look at the lasting impacts of school shootings, but from different perspectives. This book was a journey of the heart for me.

You should purchase The One You Fight For as soon as it is released….just make sure you have tissues on hand. I laughed, I cried because I was happy, and then cried because I was sad and then just cried some more at the HEA. This book is an amazing love story with characters that face emotionally raw realities. Don’t miss out on the book of 2019!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I will also be buying all of the books in this series. Roni Loren can count me as a new fan!

This is my favorite of the series thus far - so emotional and full of obstacles for the heroine and hero. Writing about a school shooting victim later getting involved with the shooter's brother presents a unique challenge, but Roni Loren handled all of the ups and downs perfectly. Taryn and Shaw's journey is one well worth taking. I so look forward to the next installment.

I really like this series. I think overall the writing was good and the characters sucked me in like usual. I did get annoyed with Taryn's parents for a lot of the story. I liked the relationship between her and Shaw and I think it was an easy read. I will read more from the author and hopefully the series.

The One You Fight For is the most emotionally gripping of the series so far, as it deals with two kinds of survivor’s guilt more than a decade after the Long Acre high school shooting.

With Taryn and Shaw, Roni Loren proves herself a master of the slow burn as their attraction to each other is complicated by their experiences of the shooting. It’s “should we/shouldn’t we” with a side of “I can’t, but damn I want to.” This was a 5-star read for me, until an unnecessary twist late in the book diminished the experience. Still, The One You Fight For is brave and raw and chillingly relevant.

4.5 stars

I have read the first book of this series and enjoyed it, so I was happy to read and review “The One You Fight For” by Roni Loren. The brother of a school shooter and the sister of his victim are definitely an odd couple, but it works. The happily ever after proves that forgiveness is possible even if the hero in this story really didn’t do anything that needed forgiving, A five star read for me.

This book, like the others in this series, is very emotional. This author has a way of making you feel like the actual characters, therefore living the tragedy they've experienced. It's a remarkable talent and probably one of the biggest draws to this series.

Taryn is one of the survivors of the Long Acre massacre/tragedy. It's been years of not only personal reflection, but trying to help prevent such an event from ever happening again. Due to years of living with not only guilt, but a secret at that, she's still struggling to just....live. That is until she walks in to bar. Sounds like a pick up line, right? Nope. But it's definitely a night that will change everything.

Shaw is one of the survivors of the Long Acre massacre/tragedy as well. But not in the same sense. You see, his brother was one of the shooters that day. The day that his entire life changed and took on a new course. One that didn't include his dreams of being an Olympic athlete. One that forced him to change his name, location...pretty much everything about himself. But when his best friend asks for his help, he returns to the one place he never thought he would. And then he walks in to a bar....

You know that moment you're reading a story and you know the poo is gonna hit the fan, but you're waiting...and waiting...and waiting? Yeah, that's not the case with this one. Although the poo definitely hits, it's not exactly "drama filled". These two characters, although both still dealing with their own personal issues, were still able to help each other. And who would have ever thought that these two would be together? But it works. It works well. And it's a beautiful thing to watch blossom.

reviewed by Chris

Having read the first two books in this series prior I was eager to get my hands on Taryn’s story. As with the first two books I felt like the story was told in a sensitive manner while also remaining as authentic as possible within the bounds of fiction. I have to say that I did struggle for some reason to really get into the story as much or as quickly as I did with the first two. It wasn’t the main characters as I liked them both. I think maybe the dialogue, particularly when discussing the tragedy of the shooting, seemed a little stilted or rehearsed and there was just some sort of disconnect there for me. Like this is what they should say if they felt like this, not necessarily what they would actually say. I also felt like we didn’t get enough back story with Shaw’s parents to really appreciate what happened with his relationship with them. I felt like his background was otherwise well rounded but there was just this gap in his history. Its possible this is what the author was going for to portray his family as being broken, I just personally wish there was a little bit more about them, even just a ‘where are they now’ element even towards the end.
So with these thoughts in mind I had a small break, (around 5-7 days) where I put it down and didn’t pick it up again. I was keen to finish it but wasn’t quite feeling it. I’m so glad I picked it up again and didn’t just put it off because once I started again it was like it just clicked and I was hooked. I felt like the way things played our rung true and was really happy with how things were all brought together. Taryn obviously had some serious things that needed to be said to her parents, you could feel how much she loved them while also feeling like she was trapped and barely living her own life. I thought this part of the dialogue and these difficult conversations were handled really well. You could totally feel for both sides given this horrific trauma they’ve been through as a family. While some things were sad to read and had my heartbreaking it made it that bit more authentic.
Another thing I loved about this story was that we did get to hear Shaw’s side- ie: the family of the killer(s). I have often thought how awful it would also be on this side of the crime. While its possible there are the killers who come from horrific families and you see a clear cause or development of this behaviour this is not the situation in most cases. More often than not they come from normal families. What is normal? Well for a start a normal family isn’t perfect, there is no such thing. We all come from varying degrees of broken families in one way or the other. But trauma doesn’t automatically equal psychotic or violent behaviour. Two people can go through the exact same experience and come out the other side completely differently. This is where the subject of nature vs nuture comes in and I think the book touches on this well when it says rather than one or the other it seems like its a combination of both as well as many other different factors (experience, isolation, entertainment, non-communication, support etc) that play into someone acting in this unspeakable way. The guilt Shaw experienced I imagine is often the case of such families and how truly sad for them. They also have lost a family member and then its as if they have lost the right or ability it seems to even grieve because there emotions are so clouded by these horrific actions. There are so many victims to such a crime directly and indirectly and the fault really only lies at the feet of the perpetrators.
This series has had me thinking of this subject a lot more than I possibly would have otherwise and I do always like when a book can do that. Its written with sensitivity and compassion with the underlying individual love stories that help it to not be completely overwhelming from its core subject matter.
*Thanks to Netgalley, publisher and author for ARC*

Every book in this series is stronger than the last.

Taryn and Shaw have both lived their lives since the Long Acre shooting devoted to horrifying event. Taryn has worked hard on a program to make sure another shooting never takes place and tries to keep her family together after the devastating loss of her sister. Shaw struggles to make sure that he remains hidden from the world after his brother's horrible actions. They both carry so much guilt and loneliness. It was a relief to see them find each other and start to emerge from the horrible fog they had been living in.

Loren does a great job of adding moments of levity that keep the book from being way too heavy. The moments that the friends get together always provided a chuckle or two.

I did wish for more from the ending. I wanted some things to have a more solid resolution even if it meant another 50 pages. Really, there can;t be a Roni Loren book that is too long for me anyway,

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and am already eagerly awaiting book four in this series.

An amazing story of love and survival, The One You Fight For touches on what's happening in our world, far too often, these days. We fight for survival. We fight for love. We fight for finding a way to curve the mental stress and possible illness that is seen more and more in our children. We fight or balance of life and I love how this was represented with Taryn and Shaw. The universe gave them love in the face of so much tragedy and loss and I found myself enveloped in their story. Never stop fighting.

I enjoyed this journey that Taryn and Shaw both went through; separate and together. Even though they were linked by the same tragedy, their trauma was very different and affected them in a unique way. Taryn lost a sister in a school shooting, and Shaw lost a brother who happened to be the shooter at Taryn's school. Where Shaw was committed to keeping his identity a secret to avoid the press, Taryn was determined to show the world that there are ways to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. Their relationship was definitely complicated to say the least, but I was happy to see them find some solace in each other. I enjoyed watching them slowly come to realize that their pasts did not define them in the ways they originally thought, and that it was possible for them to deserve happiness despite guilt telling them otherwise for so long.

This series is not for the faint of heart. The stories are very current in this day and age when mass shootings are occurring frequently and affecting our youth and society. This time the author gives us a different point of view. That of a sister of one of the victims and the other the brother of the shooter.
Taryn Landry feels responsible for her sister’s death. As an adult, she is now a psychology professor. Shaw Miller has isolated himself from the world, changed his name and still feels guilty for the sins of his brother.
By chance these two meet , clueless of the connection they have. But the attraction is there. Will this new relationship survive when the truth comes out?
This is another heartbreaking , gut wrenching story, but also heartwarming. One in which at times you’ll want to give these two a hug and tell them things will work out.
Once again, this author shines in her craft.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Wow wow! I laughed I cried! Very touching story . Roni has a way of wringing every emotion out of you!! Loved it

This was a story that hit on an important current topic in our country. Taryn was at her high school prom fourteen years ago when two boys came in and changed their lives forever. She went from dreaming of being a singer/songwriter to dedicating her life her end school violence.

Shaw, Lucas, has been that time dealing with what his brother did and losing everything, his friends, family, girlfriend.... until he meets Taryn one night after a bad date and running off stage at a bar changing his life forever. She quickly becomes everything to him and helps him realize that he really can be himself even with the tragedy they both have in their past.

This book was so good and hit my heart strings more than once. I loved the fact that these two saw past what happened and realized they were meant to be together and fought for it with their friends standing behind them. SOOO many feels in this one!

I loved this book. This is my first time reading Roni Loren, and I'll definitely be going back for more. In their own ways, the main characters both survived a mass shooting and over a decade later are still struggling with the aftermath. The tragedies they continue to face make this a very emotional read, but it's so worth it. It's a book a can't wait to recommend to others.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

After loving the first two books in The Ones Who Got Away series, I was so excited to get to The One You Fight For, even more so, after seeing the gorgeous couple on the cover. This series tackles the aftermath of a school shooting, so it's not always easy to read given how prevalent gun violence is in the US, but the romances bring a lightness to the story and the characters are so empowering. It's certainly a series I see myself re-reading over and over again just because of how it makes me feel.

The One You Fight For was an even more difficult read and I won't lie and say that I wasn't nervous going into the story. You see, the love interest here is the shooter's brother. It's definitely a difficult choice that Roni Loren made, but she handled it with so much care and thoughtfulness. After the horrifying shooting in which Taryn lost her sister, Nia, she has dedicated much of her career as a psychology professor into researching how to prevent incidences such as the Long Acre Shooting. She hasn't had much time to for love, especially with also trying to ensure that she is safe so that she doesn't send her mother into panic mode. When she meets Shaw Miller at a karaoke bar, she is drawn to him in an unexpected way and though they part ways that night, the universe has other plans for them. The only issue is that Taryn and Shaw have no idea about each others' roles in the Long Acre shooting. Roni Loren did such a beautiful job with both Taryn and Shaw's characters. Both were broken and were battling with a ton of guilt, and damn if that did not make my heart hurt. I was proud of both of them, but especially Taryn who was such a wonderful, strong and intelligent woman. She was admirable in every way and I wanted so much for her to find the happiness she deserved.

Shaw's character just about destroyed me. He was hell-bent on punishing himself for the callous acts of his brother and it was difficult at times to stomach his self-hatred. I realize that in situations like this which are too much of a reality these days, our hearts and thoughts immediately go to the victims and their families, and for me personally, I never think about the devastating impacts that such actions may have on the shooters' families. This book forced me to think about that through Shaw's character. It was just sad to see how Shaw had isolated himself from most of the world because of the pressure of the media for something that he had nothing to do with. As you can imagine, the romance between Taryn and Shaw was anything but easy. I appreciated how honest Shaw was upon finding out who Taryn was, and I appreciated how Taryn was willing to forgive him after she allowed herself to simmer. Even after that, things were never easy for these two because of outside forces, but they remained openly communicative with each other while allowing their relationship to grow. Their relationship was one based on honesty, love, and forgiveness. I also have to briefly give a shout-out to Taryn's friends, but especially to Kincaid, who brought much-needed laughs to this book - I sincerely we are getting her book next.

The One You Fight For was an emotional and sensual romance that really spoke to me on many levels. It's a book that will stay with me for a long time and I can't recommend it enough.

Since I had read the previous two novels in this series, I thought I was emotionally prepared for this story. Boy was I wrong. I was sobbing throughout the whole thing and couldn't put it down. A story about a survivor of shooting and the brother of the shooter was bound to be a rollercoaster of emotions. Each has their own baggage to deal with from that one single event and having to deal with the ripple effect years down the road. I'm still waiting for Kincaid's story.

Dr. Taryn Landry had lost her little sister in the Long Acre massacre and watched her family fall apart, so she has one goal in life--prevent school shootings. She's been working her ass off developing a program to implement in schools and she's THIS close to present it to the school board of her old, now renamed school. She has no time for distractions, no matter how hot the guy might look. Besides, he's blown her off.

Shaw Miller had no other option. He's been living a lie for years, changing his name, his look, creating a new life in order to escape the brand society and media put on him--brother of a murderer. His little brother opened fire on the senior prom in Long Acre fourteen years ago and Shaw's been feeling responsible ever since...Others have held him responsible, just waiting for him to erupt as his brother had. He has no business looking for romance, feeling happy...

These two lost and lonely souls were bound to end up together, but once the whole truth comes to light, will they be able to live their lives together or will preconceptions drive them apart?


This one was rather exhausting. The entire series deals with a tough (and very contemporary) topic, and the stories aren't light and fluffy reading material, but this book made me really tired. I just couldn't read it in one gulp (as I did the others). There was something blocking me, I guess.

And I guess I know what it is.

I didn't really engage with the two protagonists. I didn't really like them, actually. I disliked the pity party they both had going; Shaw with his everybody-hates-me-so-I-don't-really-deserve-a-normal-life and Taryn with her allowing her parents to emotionally blackmail in not having a life at all.
I guess, in the end, these two really deserved each other, having so much in common, but I didn't really appreciate their story and romance.

It was the friendship angle that saved this story for me. Both Shaw and Taryn had friends, steadfast, stubborn friends who tried to make them see reason and didn't take no for an answer, never bailing, but sticking fast and true. Rivers was a nice addition to the storyline, he clicked right in (especially with Kincaid).

I guess the next book will be the final one in the series. Kincaid is the only one left and I'm looking forward to seeing who she'll end up paired with.