This book is taking on school shootings from a different perspective. You have Tyran Laundry who is a survivor and is now a physiologist, who also lost her younger sister. She has been working on research and ways to find signs of finding students that need help and offer them a program for help. She is supported by her friends who are also survivors of the shooting. You then get a look at the shooters family in Shaw Miller who is the shouters older brother and has changed his named and how his once promising athletic career is gone. Now the author weavers a story around that has these to people meet fall in love and by them working on healing each other they begin to heal the community, and more importunately Tyran’s family. There is laughter, serious, friendship, disappointment, encouragement by friends and shows how grieve can hold one down. A very good story and I liked all of the characters.

Roni Loren never disappoints, and The One You Fight For is no exception. I love love love this series, it tackles such complicated topics with grace, wit, and heart. The One You Fight For is perhaps the most touching book so far, as it explores multiple aspects of the post Long Acre experience. The stigma associated with being related to someone who committed such a tragedy is real, and so well expressed in this novel. I loved every minute.

THE ONE YOU FIGHT FOR may be my favorite in this series. I loved Shaw and Taryn separately as well as together--this book gave me that gut-dropping feeling that comes from a great book. I loved following them on this journey--and was also happy to see the cast of one of my favorite girl squads pop back up. Thank you for the opportunity!

The One You Fight For is the third installment of The Ones Who Got
Away series by Roni Loren.

I read the first installment, The One Who Got Away and I fell in love
with the way Roni Loren wrote the story. Now, we finally get to see
what happens between the family victims in The One You Fight For.

Taryn lost her younger sister during the school shooting and since
then has put further a strong belief against school violence.
Meanwhile, the shooter’s brother, Shaw had to deal with the phone
calls to death threats because of the actions his brother took.

Both of them are living in a world of guilt and sorrow. Until they
meet each other. At first, neither one knows the identity of the
other, but when the vail drops, will Taryn be able to look past sawn
as the enemy and be able to heal the breach in her heart, or will
anger and sorrow be what kills them both?

For me, this book completely gutted me. I felt aches and pains
throughout the story, but also loved the relationship Taryn and Shaw
created. Though when these two finally realize who they are to each
other, it was certainly a moment where I held my breath.

A must read. Truly a compelling story.

I didn't expect this novel to be as emotional as it was! Holy hell, this one should come with a box of tissues.

Each book in this series I have went into blind, and I highly recommend you also go into them blind to get more of the feels out of the story.

Ths fictional story is based around the lives of four school shooting survivors. Each story is more emotional than the last so if you are one that is triggered by material such as this, I highly recommend you go into this series with your eyes wide open and expecting the unexpected and the tragedy that comes with these triggers.

When I started The One You Fight For, I had no clue whose story it was going to be, but I was thrilled when I realized it was Taryn's story! Taryn is now a psychologist whose made it her life's mission to help the school system focus on ways around helping to easily identify signs of trouble in schools.

Taryn and Shaw's story is one that will seriously never be forgotten!
This forbidden love story is one filled with devastation and triumph. It perfectly shows how fate works in mysterious ways.

That is all I'm going to say about this novel. I would seriously hate to give spoilers away and I've realized after writing this review several times that anything and everything I can say about this one will contain spoilers.

Overall, this is a novel that needs to be read. This whole series is freaking amazing and I highly recommend it to all that are looking for a series love story.

DNF @ 23%

After wholly adoring the first novel in this series, for some reason this third novel wasn't able to capture my interest or attention. I wasn't interested in the characters individually or as a couple, and I was too worried about the falling out once the secret was revealed to focus on the love story at hand. I wasn't enjoying reading it so I tried stopping, hoping I could take a break and come back to it, but it didn't help mr. Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me, but I do hope the next in the series is as I love the concept of this series so much.

Taryn Landry meet Shaw Miller and sparks begin to spark but they both have a secret. This book was sad, sweet, madding and insprational. Give the book a chance and just read.

Taryn Landry is one of the Long Acre survivors, but her sister wasn’t. She lost her sister to that shooting and since then, she has dedicated her life to developing a program for schools that could prevent those kinds of events from happening again.
Shaw Miller is not a Long Acre survivor, but his life also changed a lot after the shooting. Being the brother of the shooter was more than enough to end all his dreams and turn his life upside down. Since then he changed his name, his looks and promised himself to never get involved with anyone, afraid that the person might recognize him from all the press he had been subjected to. Until he meets Taryn…
The One You Fight For is the third book of The Ones Who Got Away Series and can be read as standalone. If you’re new to this series, let me enlight you then. The Ones Who Got Away is about some friends that survived a shooting at their school. They all have some scars, ones deeper than others, but they’re all trying to live their life the best they can. The only person that is not exactly a survivor of the shooting but still has a big role in it, is Shaw, the brother of one of the shooters.
At the time of the shooting, Shaw was assaulted by the press and at one time he lost it and punched a reporter. Because of that, he was even more criticized and compared to his brother. So he decided that in order to have a normal life, he couldn’t be him anymore. So he created Lucas Shaw.

Taryn has spent her life trying to please her parents whilst fighting for something that would make her sister proud. She hasn’t had a relationship in ages because she ever does is work and work. But then her best friend signs her up at the gym, and she meets Lucas Shaw, her hot trainer.

If I remember correctly, the chemistry in The Ones Who Got Away was off the charts. Well, in this book it’s just as good. They have an instant physical attraction (not instant love tough) that neither of them can ignore despite how dangerous it might be for Shaw. So, yes, sex scenes are a must in the book and yes they are intimate enough!

I love Loren’s writing style. I love how she manages to have such a simple and lovely language whilst talking about such a hard topic like shootings nowadays. The story’s logic is impeccable and all the information about what can possibly lead a kid to shoot people in his school is so so accurate and understandable. I think that is the big strength of the book, even though the romance utterly intense.

Highly recommend this! It’s a perfect story for a fan of contemporary romance that appreciates a deeper story besides the romance.

Another beautiful book by Loren. This series is one of my most favorites. It's emotional and gritty yet the light hearted moments make you smile with joy.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
The One You Fight For is the third installment in The Ones Who Got Away series and I suggest reading in series order. While there would be little to no confusion reading as a standalone, the necessary backstory would add value to the character growth and emotional punch.

Taryn is the studious friend, the reserved one, who places her research above living life, as she's trying to honor her lost sister. Survivors of a school shooting, the series revolves around a decade later, how the survivors are dealing in the aftermath. Taryn took a different approach than the two previous heroines by trying to create a system to help those who are at risk of becoming future shooters.

This is the first glimpse we get of the shooter's family. Shaw is the older brother, hiding out by changing his name and keeping a low profile. While he may not have been in the school that night, he's had a time of it, his life ruined as the public saw him as evil as well. The rage over what happened bubbled over, adding to the 'evil' persona the press gave him.

A chance meeting draws Taryn and Shaw together, neither knowing how they connected to one another. What I appreciated the most, when Shaw figured it out, he told Taryn straight away. No miscommunication or evasion, all mature adult.

Banterific, filled with flirty, slow-burn interactions, with an intense connection easily felt by the reader. The romance is organic, flowing fluidly during everyday interactions as the couple comes together, while working through their wounds and finding the life they've suppressed due to survivor's guilt. The angst of it all was how Taryn lost her sister at the hand of Shaw's brother, while Shaw is willing to do anything to stay in hiding. Taryn is a bit clinical and cerebral, dampening the emotions, while Shaw is a stew of insecurities and self-loathing. But they do balance each other out, bringing long-ignored qualities to the surface.

They both hurt, so there is a hurt-comfort vibe as they come together.

While I loved the novel, found the pacing quick and easily to digest, there were a few instances where it dragged with redundant inner monologue. Another issue for me, while I love how the women have come together to support and empower each other, it was slightly difficult for me when all four of the women were in the same scene together. This was even worse when other characters were on-scene and creating dialogue. It felt chaotic, along with the intelligence level/mentality lowering to that of teenage girls, instead of professional, grown women.

In past novels, I enjoyed their banter, but this felt a bit thick and forced, with a slightly juvenile bent, in juxtaposition to Taryn's cerebral narration it was jarring.

I highly recommend to fans of contemporary romance and the author. I look forward to the next installment, beyond curious to see the direction the series will take.

I loved the way this story starts, I felt connected and I loved the writing. There was a great tension between Taryn and Shaw and they are both immediately and intensely attracted to each other.My heart went out to Taryn. She lost her sister, and felt so much pressure.I can't even imagine how emotional can be over it.There moments I felt that some stuff was rushed but overall it was a great read!

An incredible story written about relevant but sensitive topic. By the time Taryn and Shaw finally realize who the other one is and what role they play in each other’s lives - their hearts are already intertwined. This journey pulled at my heartstrings as I could feel every emotion that they both experienced as this was told from alternating POV’s. I empathized with Taryn as she had to make the hardest decision of her life: follow her heart or follow her head. She knew this romance could never work yet her heart was truely open for the first time since Long Acre. Shaw has shut himself off from the potential of ever having a future and when the idea of having one with Taryn makes him have hope - so why when he finally thinks that the future could hold something real does it have to be with the one person that has no chance of working with? Roni Loren has created a remarkable series that draws me in further and further with each installment.

I was gifted an ecopy of this book from NetGalley.

Wow! My first read by this author and all I can say is Wow! This book tore me up and put me back together again. This is a wonderful book about 2 survivors of a crime that happened within their families. Taryn and Lucas share a past unbeknownst to them at first, of deep betrayal and extreme sadness. I was moved by the imagery in my mind about what they were going through. I loved that it was honest, heartfelt, emotional, sad, at times funny, but most of all, that true love really can conquer all. Bravo on a job well done Ms. Loren. It was spectacular!!! 4.5 stars!!!!

Man, this series: each book is better than the one before. It’s rare that I’ll start a review with a ringing endorsement: I like to keep my reviewing cards up my sleeve. BUT I’m groggy from lack of sleep, thanks to an early work morning after I stayed up reading Loren’s The One You Fight For (Ones Who Got Away #3), weeping into my pillow (and I’m not a narrative cryer: I was indifferent to Bambi), and then staying up even later, thinking about how Loren pulled off the unlikely – again. And this premise is even more unlikely than the first two series books. How do you make a romance possible, believable, and engaging when it’s between the woman who lost her sister in a school shooting, where she might’ve been killed as well and the man whose brother did the killing? There are several sensitive, interesting things Loren did and they have to do with how she layered and built her characters, how she managed to infuse her novel with heartbreak, humour, and tenderness.

Heroine Dr. Taryn Landry has dedicated her career to researching school shootings, their victims, perpetrators, but especially their prevention. She has been as good a daughter as a woman in her thirties can be to still-grieving parents, especially her overprotective, emotionally fragile mother. Heck, Taryn yearns to live in Austin, but maintains a nondescript bungalow blocks from her parents in Long Acre just to be near them. Thanks to the documentary about the Long Acre High shooting that was introduced in Book #1, The Ones Who Got Away, she has, however, reunited with high school friends Liv, Rebecca, and Kincaid. Their girl-friend-banter, support, and love are a thread that runs throughout Taryn’s story and offers Taryn breathing and safe space from her psychology prof career, research, and parents.

When the novel opens, Taryn is in the midst of finally bringing her school violence prevention program before local schoolboards for possible implementation. She burns the midnight oil, has dinner with her parents most evenings, and makes time only for her friends: “She had research, developing her program, and teaching. She barely had time to sleep, much less be recreationally well-rounded.” Until she steps out of character, after an aborted, lacklustre blind date, in the Tipsy Hound, a bar running an open mic night. She gets onstage and sings, beautifully, wholeheartedly and, to her surprise, to the audience’s applause. Her performance brings on memories of her dead sister, Nia, and she runs offstage and loses a shoe. In a delightful Cinderella allusion, the man who calms her panic and returns her shoe is a hunk named Lucas Miller, aka, Shaw Miller, brother of Joseph Miller, one of the two shooters of the Long Acre High Massacre. They both see something familiar, but neither recognizes the other. It was 14 years ago …

Shaw Miller is one of the most heart-breaking heroes I’ve read, memorable in his humility and deep sense of unworthiness. An Olympic gymnastics hopeful when his brother smashed his family and community to shreds, Shaw has lived the past 14 years in self-imposed exile. At first, angry and in need of escaping the constant press attention and then, later, with the belief that a life of drifting, without the joy of friends or family, is his penitential way to ensuring he and his family never hurt anyone, “He deserved the hate … He’d lost the right to roots … he deserved to pay every bit of that steep price.” But Shaw has one loyal, good friend who convinces him to return to Austin, with a new name, and help him run his new gym, “Gym Xtreme”. Shaw agrees, even though it’s a “taste of freedom he wasn’t sure he deserved but that sounded like a dream.” Shaw moves into the building across from the Tipsy Hound and hence, his near-cute meet with Taryn. When Taryn’s friends convince to her to relax and take a gym membership, she and the helpful hunk from the Tipsy Hound meet again … and again … and again.

Yes, there is the terrible realization about who Shaw “Lucas” Miller is and what his brother did. If Loren were a lesser writer, she would’ve gone with the betrayal and given Taryn a lot of screws to turn on Shaw, but she doesn’t. And she could’ve gone with a Shaw more stoic and “manly” instead of vulnerable, emotionally open, and hopeful. Instead, Loren did this and still made her romance funny when it wasn’t heart-breaking and sexy when it wasn’t heart-wrenching. Taryn and Shaw have amazing qualities, but they’re never leached of personality.

Taryn is forgiving, but a truth-teller. Shaw is as loving and giving a hero as I’ve read without being idealized. He has humility. He supports Taryn’s efforts, never lies or covers up, never makes excuses and yet, Loren imbues him with dignity. And maybe that’s what I found so appealing about this final and maybe my favourite of the series, how open, vulnerable, honest, and dignified Taryn and Shaw are. Loren is interested in how a tragedy that rends a community and so many relationships can find a way to heal by listing on the side of understanding, listening, and plain old putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. If you read one contemporary romance series, unlikely, difficult, and painful as the premise is, make it Loren’s. With Miss Austen, we say that The One You Fight For proves “there is no charm equal to tenderness of heart,” Emma.

Roni Loren’s The One You Fight For is published by Sourcebooks Casablanca. It was released on January 1st and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received an e-ARC from Sourcebooks Casablanca, via Netgalley.

4 stars

The One You Fight For by Roni Loren is a beautifully written, emotional and heartfelt read.

From the first few pages I was hooked, the storyline captured my interest and held it all throughout.
I loved watching Taryn and Shaw's relationship unfold, these two touched my heart with their story, so much pain and hurt. But with time, communication and respect they are able to open their hearts to love and find the peace they both crave for.

Author Roni Loren has once again written a thoughtful and heartfelt read and I'm so happy to have read her words.

The One You Fight For is an excellent addition to the Ones That Got Away series and I highly recommend them all!

*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy.*

Will post soon at Romance Reviews Today: http://romrevtoday.com/index.htm
I just emailed the review site owner about it because I don't see it posted yet.

THE ONE YOU FIGHT FOR – Roni Loren
The Ones Who Got Away, Book 3
Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 978-1492651468
January 2019
Contemporary Romance

Austin, Texas – Present Day

Taryn Landry is one of the high school students who survived a mass shooting at their school fourteen years ago. The horror still leaves her and the others with nightmares, but she is trying to move on by researching for ways to prevent future tragedies. Deep down, Taryn is still in emotional pain, and it is during one of these episodes that she stumbles into a bar. She wins the karaoke contest that was in progress but having the spotlight on her has her running out of the bar. A stranger, Lucas Shaw, comes after her to help her and the moment they meet, the chemistry between them is obvious. But Taryn isn’t ready for a relationship.

Lucas is aware of the attraction that simmers between himself and Taryn, but he has a deep secret that prevents him from pursuing it: he is really Shaw Miller, the brother of one of the school shooters. To avoid notoriety, he changed his name to Lucas Shaw and keeps a low profile. A friend of his recently convinced him to go in as partners at a gym, which he plans to do for a while and then will move on. Then, Taryn comes into the gym one night looking for a workout. Things soon heat up between them and he realizes that he needs to tell her who he really is before things go too far. How will she react?

Roni Loren pens another compelling tale in THE ONE YOU FIGHT FOR, the third book in her series that features four female survivors of a shooting in Long Acre, Texas, years ago. Recently, they all got together and were interviewed for a documentary. This helped the women to reconnect after years apart and they have bonded. While the world thinks those connected to the tragedy are coping, deep down there is still a lot of emotional pain. Taryn’s mother has delusions and is protective of her only surviving child. After Taryn learns that Lucas is really Shaw, she is stunned and angry. Yet, she still has feelings for him, as well as realizing he is as much a victim as she.

Letting Taryn into his life is huge for Shaw. What his brother and his friends did that night in Long Acre left lasting nightmares as things boomeranged for those affected. Even as he finally gives in to his attraction to Taryn, there is more he doesn’t tell her as deep down, he feels like he could’ve done something to prevent the tragedy. Meanwhile, they start an affair, one that is secret, because if people found out that Taryn was sleeping with the brother of a killer, it’d be a huge scandal. But as readers suspect happens in THE ONE YOU FIGHT FOR, what they want doesn’t always happen…

As the third tale in The Ones Who Got Away series, THE ONE YOU FIGHT FOR is connected to the other books, but readers could easily read this as a standalone without too much difficulty. The story focuses on the romance and journey of Taryn and Shaw and is one that is compelling. An intriguing read that runs the gamut of emotions for readers, I highly recommend picking up a copy of THE ONE YOU FIGHT FOR.

Patti Fischer

This series gives me all the feels. I'm so glad that they have come out as quickly as they have because I've been dying for her story.

The One You Fight For, the third book in Roni Loren's extraordinary The Ones Left Behind series, gives readers yet another dimension to an already emotionally charged series surrounding the survivors of a deadly school shooting. If you thought the first book pushed the boundaries, then wait until you start reading The One You Fight For. As a society, we never really pause to think about what the attacker's family goes through after the event. Their world is upended just as much as everyone else's, but yet we never really consider that. Roni Loren pushed that boundary and rightfully so because it made this book so very heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time.

Survivor Taryn Landry has a secret, one that has torn her apart inside for the past 14 years. In many ways, she's lost more than everyone else. In addition to the death of her friends, Taryn's younger sister was also killed in the shooting. Now an only child, it's up to her to keep her family together. This ways heavily on her. And that secret? It's driven Taryn to work herself to the bone in hopes of getting her program into schools in hopes to stop future shootings. So yeah, she's got a lot on her plate.

Shaw Miller has his own secret. He many not have been at the prom that fateful night, but his life shattered the moment his brother pulled the trigger. From that moment on, he was only known as Joseph's brother and judged in the fear that what happened was hereditary. All it took was one altercation for the public to paint him as aggressive. Without the full story, I might add. Although he's taken the leap to open a gym with his college buddy, Shaw can never let his guard down. Then Taryn enters his life...

I loved The One You Fight For so much I was up until the wee hours in the morning to read it and then woke up with the sun to finish it the next day. From Loren's writing to her characters, I was in total awe of this book. I love the fact that she goes there with this series. She takes the challenge and runs with it. Kudos to her! I am so looking forward to Kincaid's book next.

This is the third book in the series and it is just as hard to read as the first one. Roni Loren takes a difficult subject matter and shines a sun sized light on it. Mental illness can create the perfect storm for a school shooter to develop, but they don't become that person in a vacuum. Thank you for giving a voice. I honestly hope there is someone out there working on an outreach program, because arming teachers and armed security is not going to prevent future events from happening.
Taryn and Shaw had the deck stacked against them. But life finds a way to create beauty from the unimaginable.

I have loved every book in this series. It's surprising to write this because I was extremely hesitant to start this series when my book club selected it because of the subject matter. This is something that has directly affected my life, so it's with caution that I even consider reading books about school shootings. I went in with the idea that if the story upset me for any (many) reason(s), I would stop reading it. I gave myself the freedom to make that decision. But I didn't need to. And what I've found is a story that I've connected with, characters that I care about, and an opportunity for a bit of healing.


THE ONE YOU FIGHT FOR is by far the most heart-wrenching book of the series. Readers learn of the traumas experienced by the siblings in the aftermath of the school shooting. There are so many victims - those affected directly and indirectly and the author presents this with compassion. And she effectively expresses that this is something that never goes away.

This Quote
"Move on. Was that a thing people really did after something ripped your entire world in two? Move forward, maybe, but moving on seemed like a ridiculous expectation."
↑↑↑↑↑
I wrote this in my review of THE ONE YOU CAN'T FORGET: (Roni Loren) gets it.

What I like about THE ONE YOU FIGHT FOR:
*The author creates thoughtful characters. Taryn is definitely a favorite. She thinks critically and rationally, without judgment and with empathy.
*I love the friendships and companionship expressed between the characters.
*Shaw is a character I couldn't help but fall for.

More Favorite Quotes
"I can just…be myself for better or worse. That feels like a special kind of freedom.”

"Wanting to have your own happiness isn’t a betrayal. That isn’t selfish. You deserve that. Wouldn’t Nia want that for you?”

I've highlighted a bunch of favorite quotes, but these really stick with me.

THE ONE YOU FIGHT FOR may be my favorite of the series, but I'm not going to be too quick to give it that title because I've loved all of them for different reasons. And I'm thrilled there is another book coming in the series because I don't want it to end!