Reclaiming the Sand
By: A. Meredith Walters
Pub. Date: March 17, 2014
Publisher: Self
Source: ARC provided by Author
Bully and victim.
Tormenter and tormented.
Villain and hero.
Ellie McCallum was a bully. No connection to anyone or anything. A sad and lonely existence for a young woman who had come to expect nothing more for herself. Her only happiness coming from making others miserable.
Particularly Freaky Flynn.
Flynn Hendrick lived a life completely disconnected even as he struggled to become something more than that boy with Asperger's. He was taunted and teased, bearing the brunt of systematic and calculated cruelty, ultimately culminating in a catastrophic turn of events that brought Ellie and Flynn’s worlds crashing down.
But then Flynn and Ellie grew up.
And moved on.
Until years later when their paths unexpectedly cross again and the bully and the freak are face to face once more.
When labels come to define you, finding yourself feels impossible. Particularly for two people disconnected from the world who inexplicably find a connection in each other.
And out of the wreckage of their tragic beginnings, an unlikely love story unfolds.
But a painful past doesn’t always want to let go. And old wounds are never truly healed…and sometimes the further you try to run from yourself the closer you come to who you really are.
I don't think I have read a book before where one of the
main characters had Aspergers. It was so real and so raw to read the chapters
from Flynn's POV. He doesn't really understand feelings, but at the same time,
he is so sweet and so good and just so forgiving. Especially when it came to
Ellie, one of his tormentors from high school. My heart broke for what he went
through, but he was so resilient and strong. It was just amazing to me to read
his chapters. I ended up yearning for them. Ellie was also an interesting
character. She grew up in foster care, and is basically a cold, heartless
person. But as you get to know her more, you realize that she is the way she is
because of the way she grew up. Despite not thinking she is good enough, she
still wants to better her situation. I loved how patient and kind she was when
it came to Flynn. In high school she did some pretty messed up things to him,
and while Flynn has forgiven her, I don't know if Ellie will ever forgive
herself for what happened. These two shared a wonderful connection.
The writing was so perfect. From the prologue I was
completely hooked. You can tell how much research the author did on Asperger's
to really get Flynn's voice perfect. Reclaiming
the Sand is so beautifully written and I couldn't have asked for a better
book to read. I highly recommend this one.
The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary and Paranormal romance including The Find You in the Dark and Bad Rep series as well as the upcoming stand alone romance, Reclaiming the Sand, and a dark new adult series for Gallery Books.
A. Meredith spent ten years as a counselor for at risk teens and children. First working at a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault program and then later a program for children with severe emotional and mental health issues. Her former clients and their stories continue to influence every aspect of her writing.
When not writing (or being tortured with all manner of beauty products at the hand of her very imaginative and extremely girly daughter), she is eating chocolate, watching reality television that could rot your brain and reading a smutty novel or two.
A. Meredith is represented by Michelle Johnson with the Inklings Literary Agency.
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