Lovin' los libros

Be With Me (Wait For You #2)
   by: J. Lynn

Publication Date: Feb. 4, 2014
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received from Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 387 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 5/5 stars

Once again J.Lynn has managed to evoke all the feels with her newest NA, Be With Me! I have been waiting for this one ever since we read the end of Wait For You and got a hint of what was to come for Jase and Teresa! I had no idea as to the direction Jen would take these characters, but oh wow. I will come right out and say it- I loved this one even more than its predecessor. I love Cam and Avery and I'm really glad we got to see them again and witness their cuteness, but Jase and Teresa really take the cake for me. Jase has an emotional past with secrets that he doesn't just come out and tell anyone and Teresa is dealing with an injury that is threatening her entire future, as well as a past that still affects her present. Acceptance is really the big theme of this book for both Teresa and Jase, as that is what both of them need in order to move forward with their lives.

I absolutely loved Teresa. Even though she has been hurt in the past, she is still such a strong character and I love that she doesn't crumble under pressure. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind or tell Jase how she felt. That was one of the things about Avery that drove me a little crazy. I understand Avery's reluctance and fear when it came to Cam and a relationship because of her past, but I just felt she let that fear control her even when Cam had proved over and over what a good guy he was. Teresa still carries the burden of what happened to her with her ex-boyfriend, but she doesn't let her past control her. She was just a great character and I liked that she was honest and real when it came to her feelings and pursuing Jase. Even when her life is being turned upside down and her once certain future now teeters on a dangerous precipice, she still remains strong and puts one foot in front of the other.

I fell head over heels for Jase, even when he was breaking Teresa's (and my!) heart. After an earth shattering kiss a year ago, he has distanced himself from her and hasn't made any effort of contacting her. Upon seeing each other again, Jase won't admit that he feels more for her and instead pushes her away. The things he says to her broke my heart, as since Teresa is the one narrating, you can feel her rejection and hurt and I hated feeling that for her. Jase has his reasons for pushing her away and we find the primary one out fairly early in the novel. That was an unexpected, yet beautiful twist and it really helped us understand where he was coming from. Jase is a good guy- he is protective of his family and loved ones and will do anything to ensure their happiness and well being. That kiss with Teresa changed him as well, and while he hated pushing her away, he didn't see another option. He wants them to be friends, but knows with all the tension brewing between them, that it isn't really an option, as much as he wishes it were. He doesn't want to hurt this girl who he knows has had a crush on him for at least a year now and yet he can't stay away from her either.

I hated how Jase felt he wasn't worth or deserving of Teresa. Once she discovers one of the puzzle pieces of Jase Winstead, she doesn't go running for the hills like he expected her to. Instead, Teresa works to convince him that just because he made a mistake in the past doesn't mean he has to live a life of guilt or shame. This is the same lesson he also imparts to her when she feels the weight of her own past come down on her. Teresa and Jase essentially heal each other in this book and are there for one another when they both desperately need a shoulder to lean on.

Once Jase stops the push and pull he has going on with her, their relationship has so much potential. Despite being his best friend's little sister, he can't deny the attraction between them and eventually doesn't want to. He knows he is taking a huge risk, but there comes a point where you just don't want to fight the inevitable anymore and you want to embrace the happiness that a relationship with someone has to offer. We do unlock a few more puzzle pieces about Jase's past and Teresa realizes that he is the one who has to choose to move forward with his life, otherwise he won't ever be free to love. That was difficult to witness because of how much Teresa cares for him and how much he is hurting her by pulling away, especially when she thought they were making progress.

As I said before, I did love checking in with Cam and Avery. The happiness the couple exudes is beyond precious and Teresa finds herself longing to have what they have- the two just have a magnetism between them and it's the subtle touches and constant need to be around each other that show the depth of their love for one another. Cam is still the overprotective big brother and I found myself chuckling at several scenes with Teresa. The way he finds out about Teresa and Jase is priceless and had I been in her shoes, I probably would have been mortified. Cam has proven there is little he wouldn't do for his baby sister, and if it means socking his best friend in the jaw then so be it! Jase isn't the only boy I fell head over heels for in this book. It's impossible NOT to mention little Jack Winstead. Every scene with him tugged at my heartstrings and I just couldn't get enough of the vivacious little boy.

When my heart wasn't shattering into tiny pieces, it was so incredibly full and happy and I am really pleased with the direction Jen took the story, as well as the characters. Watching both Jase and Teresa accept their pasts and make the decision to move forward with their lives is really inspiring and I'm glad that these two didn't give up on one another and instead chose to love freely without reservation.