I received this book via the author, Siobhan Davis. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Loving Kalvin by Siobhan Davis Series: The Kennedy Boys #4
Published by Self Publish on 2017-07-31
Length: 298 pages
Reviewing eARC Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2017 New Release Challenge
A friends-to-lovers second-chance romance from USA Today bestseller Siobhan Davis. Standalone with HEA and no cliffhanger.
Lana
I knew it would end in disaster, but I didn’t listen to reason. I didn’t care. Because I loved him so much.
Kalvin Kennedy ruled my heart.
Until he destroyed it.
Shattered it so completely that I became someone else. Someone I loathed. Someone who repeatedly lied to her loved ones.
So, I ran.
From him. From myself. Desperate to hide my new reality.
But I could only run so far.
When he reappears in my life, I’m terrified. Unbelievably scared of facing the consequences of my actions.
Never mind that I still love him and want him so badly—there’s too much at stake now.
How can I trust him with the biggest secret of all when he’s likely to rip my world apart again?Kalvin
Lana was always far too good for me. Everyone knew it but her.
I tried to stay away, but I was weak.
And I hurt her.
Crushed her until she barely resembled herself. Forced her to follow a path she would never have willingly chosen.
And then she was gone.
And my world has never felt as empty, as lonely.
She begged me to stay away. Not to find her. To forget she ever existed.
But that’s like asking me to slice my heart in two and toss half aside.
I’ve never believed in fate, but when I rock up to the University of Florida, I’m ready to eat my words.
Because she’s here. Like I hoped she would be. And I’m determined to prove I deserve a second chance.
On starting Loving Kalvin by Siobhan Davis, I knew I was in for some heart ache. Having read the first part of The Kennedy Boys series, I knew Lana and Kal’s history and my heart already hurt for this pair. Something inherent was broken and I really didn’t know if it could be fixed. So I was anxious to begin and once I started I couldn’t set it down. Told in dual POV (which I loved), Siobhan Davis has created yet another beautiful redemption story.
I love Kalvin! Kal was one of my favorites from the original trilogy so I was excited to read his story AND doubly excited when I realized part of his story was from his POV. I didn’t realize how young he was. I’m not really sure how I missed that in the first books, but he’s only 17, making him 16 when everything with Lana went down. He’s changed a lot since then though. He was forced to grow up, face the consequences of his mistakes, and live without the girl he loves in his life for nearly a year. It changed him and for the better.
At the start of the story, I wasn’t sure how to feel about Lana. I love a good second-chance romance though so I wanted to see how the author would redeem her. Lana did a truly horrific thing to Kalvin and has paid the consequences and is still paying them when Kal reenters her life. She’s skittish of the boy and rightfully so. I couldn’t imagine facing him if I was in her shoes. It’s heart wrenching, especially when reading it from her POV.
While this story can be read as a standalone, I feel the plot and Kal and Lana’s romance will have more effect on those that have read the previous books in the series. While the author does a good job of recapping the events that have occurred to Kal and Lana, it doesn’t have the same effect as having read those events as they happened to the characters from Faye and Ky’s POV. At least, that’s my opinion.
Both Kal and Lana made mistakes. They hurt each other, you know that deep hurt that only someone you love could cause. Some of it was intentional, some was inadvertent. Either way it built up to the events that led to their separation, and now they have to face each other once again. The true theme of the book is forgiveness, and it is beautifully portrayed in the book.
Overall I really loved this story! I love second chances, and Lana’s and Kal’s mistakes were big ones, yet they overcame them and are now ready to face those mistakes. It’s heartbreaking and an unputdownable read. If you enjoy contemporary romance or have enjoyed The Kennedy Boys so far, I highly recommend you grab a copy of Loving Kalvin. It doesn’t disappoint!
About Siobhan Davis
USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis writes emotionally intense young adult and new adult fiction with swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and tons of unexpected plot twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages beyond bedtime! She is the author of the international bestselling True Calling, Saven, and Kennedy Boys series.
Siobhan’s family will tell you she’s a little bit obsessive when it comes to reading and writing, and they aren’t wrong. She can rarely be found without her trusty Kindle, a paperback book, or her laptop somewhere close at hand.
Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management.
She resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.
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