How hard would you fight for the one you love??? This is another cracker by Roni Loren! She always seems to find a unique angle of impossibly difficult circumstances, tears your heart out, and somehow makes it right again.
I was super happy to have received an advanced reader copy. I happily recommend this book.

Here’s an excerpt
https://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2018/12/26/the-one-you-fight-for-excerpt-roni-loren/

This one was a miss for me. I adored the idea of school survivor shooting Taryn (loved her!) falling for Shaw, brother of the shooter, but felt his overall character was very much your brooding-yet-sensitive romance standard and once he revealed who he was and she was fine with it, all the tension left. I was disappointed as there was so much potential for a really angsty-to-hea romance here.

The four strong-willed women who bonded over their mutually tragic pasts after a school shooting find themselves standing in solidarity once again in this third installment in Ms. Loren’s timely and engaging series. This one takes an even more emotional twist though as readers get to see the effects of that long ago shooting on the brother of the shooter, creating a character that had me aching for him as it’s he who’s been living like a prisoner for his brother’s actions. Two people living their lives according to others is what ultimately binds Taryn and Shaw together in a steamy relationship that takes some painful turns to reach a hard won conclusion.

Taryn’s a woman dedicated to her career as a psychologist, trying to right the wrongs of a school shooting that took the life of her sister. Where she once was drawn to music as a teen she now spends all her time analyzing school shooters. Her life is no longer her own as familial pressures keep her focused on her work as well as her mother’s guilt and fear keeping her living close to them. It’s clear she’s wound up tightly and cracks soon start appearing. Luckily fate intervenes though by introducing her to a sexy man with a kind heart and lots of secrets that changes the course of her life irrevocably. Taryn’s a likable character just trying to do what she thinks is right, trying to make her sister’s death mean something, but she’s left little for herself. It’s all work and no play for her which is why I cheered her on in starting a friends with benefits relationship with Shaw that quickly turned more serious. He encouraged her to start living, take chances, and find fulfillment for herself which saw a weight lifting off her. She became happier as the story progressed, reconnected with who she was before the shooting, and it made her even more likable. Taryn’s the kind of character you can see yourself hanging out with in real life. She’s caring, supportive, and doesn’t hide behind subterfuge. The scenes with her girlfriends reflect that and are entertaining in their realism. These interactions are some of the best parts of this story and showcase Ms. Loren’s many talents.

Shaw Miller once had a promising Olympic career in gymnastics, was once seen as the star of the future...until his brother killed others in a high school shooting. Shaw then became a pariah and his world quickly imploded. Feelings of guilt led to an infamous act of rage and the perception that he was just like his brother. He was seen as a criminal by connection and it forced him into hiding under an assumed name. Not wanting to be in the public eye ever again has him living like a monk, cutting himself off from friendships and love. Like Taryn, he’s not living life to the fullest and it made my heart ache. The condemnations and betrayals of others broke him, have him feeling endless guilt, and it’s Taryn’s acceptance of him that finally broke him out of his self-imposed prison. I adored Shaw and ached for all he’d been put through. I ached even more for the self-loathing that led to his being so closed off as he was a good man with a kind heart. Taryn’s love took the weight of self-hatred off him and led to a sweet and sexy connection that had me rooting for them every step of the way.

This was another satisfying installment in Ms. Loren’s timely series revolving around a school shooting. The main couple is strong-willed and realistic in their imperfections and I found myself completely consumed with their journey to HEA, a journey rife with painful pasts and guilt that made for a rocky journey too. With a romance that’s a slow burn readers will be left waiting with bated breath for things to turn hotter...and when it finally happens the scenes are scorching yet playful. My only frustration concerning this couple happened late in the story in a discovery that felt unnecessary and melodramatic as it played on Shaw’s fears. Minus that speedbump I thoroughly enjoyed Shaw and Taryn and cheered them on from the first page to the last. Surrounding this likable main couple was an equally appealing cast of secondary characters that left their marks. Among my favorites are Kincaid, the bold friend of the group who tells it like it is. She’s protective of her friends and pushes them to be the happiest they can be and I look forward to her story being told. Shaw’s friend Rivers is another unexpected delight. Closeted for most of his early years Shaw was one of the few people to accept him and he supports him right back by dragging him back into the land of the living. Bar owner Kaleb caught my attention as well in the brief glimpses we got of a sexy yet caring character. On a whole this was another solid installment in the series, though I wish the epilogue had been fuller. Despite that, I continue to look forward to seeing these characters again as they take another step on their emotional journey of recovery.

The One You Fight For was the best of The Ones Who Got Away series, but also the hardest to read. With Liv and Finn's book, it was about finding purpose after the tragedy. With Becca and Wes', it was about finding joy. For Taryn and Shaw, it was about finding family and theirs was truly the hardest journey of all.

With each book in the series, I girded myself to deal with the spectre of the terrible school shooting that haunts them all. Still, I was not prepared for just how hard Taryn and Shaw's story would hit me. Because it wasn't just the story of Taryn desperately working to fight school violence or Shaw haunted by the past, it was also the story of Taryn's sister who died in the shooting and Shaw's brother who committed the heinous act. Taryn's parents need her too much after losing their other child while Shaw finds himself practically without family, friends or a future. It really seemed impossible that Taryn and Shaw could ever find happiness, with each other or for themselves.

That Taryn and Shaw's painful road to each other makes sense is such a testament to the author's incredible talent. I was hit hardest by this book because I have a sibling who I adore and the idea of losing him or any loved one made me realize I would probably be as lost as Taryn and Shaw. That they helped each other find peace was simply beautiful.

4.5 gut-wrenching stars.

Note: I voluntarily received and reviewed this eARC generously provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

This is so daggon good ya’ll! What an interesting premise. School shootings are horrific and baffling. A lot of the media coverage deals with the victims who senselessly lost their lives and the killer who’s lost so much humanity that he/she can end countless lives in what amounts to a series of minutes. This book takes a slightly different approach and focuses in on the victim’s family and how its member’s may also be unrecognized victims/survivors. I have to admit, I’ve never given a killer’s siblings much thought, but now I will. While it’s impossible to ever know what drives someone to do something so horrific, if it ever happens again (something we should all pray for), I’ll say a prayer for the unrecognized victims as well.

If you’ve ever been a victim of a school shooting or similar violence, this book is likely rife with triggers and should be avoided.

I received an ARC of this book, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

3.5 Stars - Roni Loren continues to deliver thoughtful and sensitive books in this series about survivors of a school shooting. Perhaps unsurprisingly given her social work/psychology background, I think she really deserves a lot of credit for how well she navigates this subject matter in commercial fiction. She uses this backstory as a way to create genuine pathos and character development, as well as to create plots that are legitimately driven by the characters' responses to the tragedy. This is quite a feat in commercial fiction, and I really enjoy spending time in this world with these characters. That said, I do think that the elements of this book don't ultimately come together as nicely as I would like, particularly in the romance department. I loved both Taryn & Shaw and was happy to see them find their way together-- but I do think the final chapters were rather rushed & diminished what was otherwise an extremely enjoyable book

This is the third book in the series but I read it first and loved it so much that it made me go back and read book 1 asap (spoiler, I loved that one too).

This series deals with a heavy subject matter (CWs are at the end of this review). I liked how the MCs' trauma was handled and the story showed them as human beings with complex emotions. The author managed to tell a moving tale of two traumatised people falling in love without making it into tragedy porn.

I loved both MCs, she is the school shooting surviour who lost her younger sister and dedicated her life and her work as a psychology professor to help put an end to school violence. He is the shooter's older brother. Based on their past, they are two people most unlikely to ever get together. But they are more that the trauma they share, they have their flaws and strengths, their dreams and nightmares and ambitions and hopes.

Their love is passionate, angsty, they both carry lots of regrets ad very much live in the past. Strange as it may seem, they help each other move on from the tragedy. I appreciate the hopefulness of the story. The support they got from their friends (hers were also survivours of the shooting) is something I loved in the story. They were dealing with their demons on their own and together but they also had people by their side who supported them unconditionally (unlike their families).

I think it is a great series of contemporary romance, I haven't read book 2 yet but I'm planning on doing it soon. I can heartily recommend the series but only if you can handle the subject matter

CW: violence, school shooting (flashbacks), panic attacks, grief

Wow what a book. This one was by far my favourite story in the series. Taryn was so loveable and endearing. Her and Shaw made a great team. They both been through a lot. Regardless of the tragedy, the resentment, their attraction was so strong. This was a real page turner, I didn't want it to end. A fantastic read and definitely a keeper. I hope that Kincaid story is coming soon. I can't wait.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. The opinions here are all my own.

4.5 Stars

The One You Fight for is the third book in the series "The one who got away," a series that revolves around four high school students who survived a school shootout and this fact has united them in the past and now 12 years later they get together again because of a documentary about the shooting and we can follow their friendship and how that tragic fact affected the lives of each one of them.

Here the author tells the story of Taryn, the most mysterious of these girls to me, and I have to confess that she was a character that did not catch my attention, but if my experience as a reader taught me something, sometimes that book that you least expectations is that book that you love.And I can say that this is what this story did to me, it enchanted me and if I started reading this book without expecting anything, in the end I can say that I fell in love with the story of Taryn and Shaw.

Taryn is a research psychologist and teacher, who after losing her sister in this tragic event, dedicated her career to the development of a program to help reduce the prevalence of school violence and try to support those in difficulties, and with that she really forgot to enjoy your life.Shaw is a character who caught my attention and made me think of the other side of the story, the people who are perhaps forgotten in the midst of this act of barbarity, but who are also victims.Shaw is the brother of one of the shooters, a person who also had his life, his dreams and his future shattered by the act of his brother.And when the lives of these two characters intersect may be a meeting they both need, Taryn to allow herself to live by herself a bit and set aside the collection and expectation of her parents and Shaw to perhaps allow herself to dream of a future that today in day he don't see more possible, since he lives a life under the radar.

This series was a welcome surprise for me in this year of 2018, but this book especially captivated me entirely, by the plot of the story, the delicacy and the way the author led the story, and how everything in their relationship was developed gradually throughout history.I was passionate about these two characters, their trajectory and growth throughout the book, but I confess that whoever rolled my heart in this book was Shaw, he conquered my heart.

Maybe the only "bad" thing I have to say about the book and the reason I did not give it 5 stars is because in the end it had a classic cliché that in my opinion was unnecessary and also because I think one fact could have happened a little earlier and so would have been a bit more developed. But none of these things affected how much I enjoyed this story.

The One You Fight For is so far my favorite book in this series, Shaw Taryn's story is brilliant, engaging and enthralling. If I could indicate a series to someone this year, it would certainly be this one and especially this book.

5 Heartbreaking Stars!

Taryn was a victim of the Long Acre High School shooting and her sister lost her life that day. Taryn has spent every day since then working on a program to help the potential gunmen to not choose the path of destruction. Shaw's little brother was one of the gunman at that shooting and Shaw has spent everyday since then trying to be invisible. Even though he changed his name and looks, he spends everyday looking over his shoulder afraid he will loose his temper and become just like his brother. But when Taryn and Shaw accidentally meet, their attraction to one another is undeniable ... even though they each have no clue who the other is.

I loved this book! It's an emotional roller-coaster! My heart just broke for Taryn ... even though she was the victim, she has to tread softly around her parents because they were grieving for the daughter they lost. And then there's Shaw ... he was just an innocent victim like all the other survivors but people only saw him as a monster - like bother, like brother! This book had it all ... at time it made me laugh out loud (Kincaid is such a character), the steamy scenes were ... well, HOT HOT HOT, and it made me cry ... several times, so make sure you have tissue handy. I highly recommend this book ... it will make you think about how a devastating event like a school shooting can affect different people. I can`t wait for Kincaid`s story!

I received an ARC courtesy of Sourcebooks Casablanca through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

I'm so enjoying this series and have been waiting to get Taryn's story. This series revolves around survivors of a school shooting (which is a really interesting world to set a romance in). Taryn has spent her life since the shooting, studying school shootings with the hope of developing programs that will help uncover the perpetrators BEFORE they act. The hero in this one is WOW - Shaw is such a tormented character and I loved reading his journey throughout the book. The impact of the school shooting is at the heart of this romance. And it's so well done!

This novel is coming January 1, 2018, so I highly recommend that you go and reserve it at the library or pre-order it from the bookseller of your choice. This book and this series are fantastic.

I normally do not read books in a series out of order like this. But for some reason, I got pulled into the description and cover and everything for this book. And I figured if I liked this one, I could go back and read the prior two books in the series. Considering that each book follows a different main character, reading these out of order shouldn't be too much of a problem.

The One You Fight For completely pulled me in. I had so many questions that were propelling me through the story. I read 50% quickly, but then I became disappointed. The book took a 20% detour from the main storyline for the characters to have sex. I don't enjoy descriptive scenes like this. Perhaps the genre should have given this away for me though. Regardless, I was really disappointed with this and skimmed ahead through this section. But I was disappointed because I felt like the story stood on its own without having to throw this detailed section in the middle of the book.

Given the topic, I really appreciated that Roni Loren didn't turn this book political. It was just a story and not an agenda or a message. Speaking of that, at first, I was a little disappointed that Taryn's program wasn't spelled out a little bit more. I wanted to know more about it in a show vs tell kind of way. But then I figured if there was some epic program out there to prevent school shootings then it would be implemented around the country already. Nevertheless, I'm so glad that this book wasn't about spreading a message. I hate when authors do that and given the content it could have easily headed in that direction.

The One You Fight For hooked me early, but I found myself confused and disappointed when we took a 20% detour for the characters to hook up. I want to know the stories of the other characters, but I can only imagine that the descriptive scenes aren't unique to this book alone so I'll probably skip them. The One You Fight For gets 3 Stars from me. And I'm kind of sad about that because I likely would have enjoyed it so much more if I didn't have to skim 20% of the book for some filler sex scenes. Have you read The One You Fight For? What did you think? Let me know!

One of my most anticipated books this year is probably The One You Fight For by Roni Loren. To be honest, after reading The Ones Who Got Away, I was broken and thought nothing else would top it, but I was wrong! The One You Fight For is equally as good!

While I was reading this book, the shooting in Thousand Oaks happened and it did affect my reaction to the book, in a good way, though. While I wasn’t directly affected by the shooting, I live close by so it added a different layer to my reading.

I love the plot of The One You Fight For. As someone who has seen a lot of news coverage surrounding shooters, nothing is really said about their family or the people raising said evil. In this book, this is what is focused on. As we know, there are two victims – the actual victims of the shooting and the family. While a lot may argue about it, they are still victims, but no coverage is really done on them. So this is one of the angles that I liked.

In The One You Fight For, the heroine Taryn, is a survivor of the school shooting and her sister died in the same shooting. This really ruined her family and she has been working towards getting a program started in schools to recognize early signs. The hero, Shaw, is the older brother of one of the shooters and in this book, his life is ruined. He was a rising star in gymnastics and was going to the Olympics, but now he is hiding under an assumed name.

Taryn and Shaw meet at a bar and sparks fly. This starts a chain of events that would end up with them being together. Anyway, I love the sparks between Trayn and Shaw. And really, their relationship was complicated as well. I also liked that Taryn knew who Shaw really was before their relationship moved forward because then, that would have been a douche move to do and it would not have worked.

I understood Shaw’s side. His life was also affected by what his brother did, and he also blamed himself for what happened. His backstory was also revealed and how it related to the shooting. Taryn, on the other hand, blamed herself for the shooting, since she also did something on that fateful night. Again, these details were what I liked, and I am so happy they were included in the book.

This book broke me and had me in tears! in fact, I read this book around 3 AM and I was basically ugly crying, I woke up my husband.

This book also features a diverse couple! And yeah, this book actually doesn’t point it out blatantly and I love that so much!

One of the things that I was iffy about was the reactions of the other survivors of the shooting. When they found out that Shaw was the brother of the shooter, their reactions were all positive and forgiving. I find that hard to believe, though. Since they really didn’t spend a lot of time with Shaw, I would have expected them to be angry, at least for a little while.

Other than that, I loved everything about this book. This series is amazing and, in my opinion, timely. I wish there would be more books featuring this topic.

If you haven’t read this book before, please start with the first book in the series, The Ones Who Got Away.

This is my second novel read from Roni Loren but I haven’t read one that tackles such a deep subject, and one that has such finess that doesn’t romanticize the subject matter since it is a romance.

It’s a power book that connects two people who are clearly made for each other. I love books that show the spark without it being thrown in one direction. I do recommend this book for anyone wanting to have a deeper touch of romance in a world full of evil.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley. ARC provided by Netgalley for a honest review.

It's definitely challenging subject but Loren handles it so well. Great read and the characters are so very fleshed out.

Roni Loren can write a suspenseful hopeful romance like no other. This series always brings new pieces to the story of the terrible shooting at the Long Acre high school prom shooting. Love for each new story that unfolds.


Taryn had dreams before the high school shooting that took her sister. She wanted to be a singer/songwriter. Now she has devoted her entire life to put a system in place to try to keep the same thing from happening at other high schools. But when she is turned down by the school board from her hometown she is on a mission to do it herself.

Shaw returns to Long Acre when his friend convinces him to open a gym. His dreams of becoming an Olympic gymnast gone after his brother was a Long Acre shooter.

Taryn bumps into Shaw after she turns up in a bar after a lousy date. But then he turns up at a charity event when she collapses and rushes her to the ambulance.

They continue there interaction both getting to know each other. Until the news gets out who each other are.

Can these two get through all the pain and sadness from their histories or will they both run from the gossip and hurt that others have suffered?

What an amazing 5 star story this was. A story about courage and perseverance. 2 people who struggle the same bad faith.

Taryn is a survivor or a school shooting. Now years later she’s trying to make a difference. In the middle of all that, she never thought she’s meet the perfect someone for her. But this person is not who she thought he was. Lucas is struggling from his own demons. Can they heal each other?

I devoured this amazing story that really was beautifully told. The storyline was not what I thought it would be, it was so much better. I was addicted from the very first page read to the last one.

Told in the third person. This is the third book in this series. It does have an HEA. I strongly recommend this story.

THE ONE YOU FIGHT FOR was another solid read in the The Ones Who Got Away series and I find that I’m still invested in these characters and their shared story. I’ve done a little bit of rounding up to 4 stars and I’ll explain why towards the end of this review.

What I’m enjoying about the stories in this series is that each pair of main characters is different from previous ones, their shared story is also unique so I don’t feel that I’m reading the same thing again and again. In this book, Taryn comes to the fore, the professor, researcher and lead champion for change and prevention of school shootings. She’s a serious but compelling character and yet I quickly wanted her to find a life, some me-time and a guy. Shaw is every kind of easy and every kind of hidden complication that Taryn does and doesn’t need. The chemistry was palpable and the power cut was something else.

I was cheering for these two and I loved their easy fall into companionship but I had some moments of difficulty with the convenience of the wrap up of the story. I felt that Shaw’s whip-lash emotions and change of mind was a little quick and unrealistic. Just a little more time was needed over this element. However, I did enjoy the story overall and I am waiting for the next book and character with some anticipation.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

I've heard a lot about the series The Ones Who Got Away and so was eager to read this latest installment about the survivors of a high school shooting. These books take place well into adulthood of a group of survivors and I thought this a unique plot for a romance series that allowed a more in depth and sensitive approach than what we would normally see in contemporary romance. In The One You Fight For the two main characters are intimately linked even before their romantic relationship began. Taryn not only survived the shooting, she also lost her sister that night. And it was by the hands of Shaw's brother.

While I thought the matters surrounding the repercussions of the shooting were handled well, I can't say I particularly liked any of the characters. They all grated on my nerves and I didn't understand the supposed pull between Taryn and Shaw. I just didn't see it and the physical chemistry was also seriously lacking. I struggled with every romantic scene they had.

I do commend Roni Loren for tackling a tough issue in a romance book and doing it without romanticizing it or using it as a ploy. That alone deserves a star.

This series keeps getting better and better. Two families, one tragedy, with different consequences and outcome. Yet, Taryn and Shaw unite in their pain, loss and feelings. They also burn up the sheets!

Roni Loren pulls the emotions out of the deepest parts of your heart and you can’t help but feel the characters’ joys, losses and everything in between. The survivors really rally around each other and provide immeasurable support.

Very enjoyable.

*ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.