Twelve years later, one phone call changes everything.
EPIC LOVE is the third book in the EPIC FAIL series and can be read as a standalone novel.
This series is a spinoff from the FOREVER FAMILY series.
Excerpt
“I’m sorry, Noelle. I’m really sorry.” I don’t know what I’m apologizing for. The fact that I don’t believe her weak lie or because I kissed her. No. I’m not sorry for either.
“It’s okay. Really. Thanks for caring. And thank you for my birthday gift.” She pauses and brushes her pinkie finger against mine. “You made my birthday really special, and I’ll never forget it.”
Without thinking, I loop my pinkie finger around hers, linking them together. Linking us together. We walk to her window like this and I break our connection reluctantly, bringing my hand up to her bruised cheek. “Please be careful,” I beg, and I’m not sure what I’m even begging her to be careful of. I’m just so worried about her.
“I will,” she whispers. “Catch a couple fireflies on the way home.”
“I’d catch a million for you.” Her eyes light up, a smile on her lips. I want to kiss her again. So bad. But all I do is stare into her eyes and back away. I push the window open as quietly as I can and slide out onto the grass.
“Happy Birthday, Noelle.”
She smiles as we both slide the window gently along the track, closing it.
She leaves her hand pressed against the window and I immediately do the same, covering hers, only the glass pane separating us.
Her smile is weak and full of pain.
A pain that I would take away from her in an instant if I could.
Author Trudy Stiles has outshined all of her previous novels with her newly released story titled Epic Love! Epic Love is the third novel of the Epic Fail series, a series of new adult novels written about each member of the wildly popular rock band Epic Fail. This time, Stiles writes about lead singer Heath Strickland and his first love, Noelle Durand, in a novel that CAN be read as a standalone. Epic Fail is an incredibly sweet, second-chance romance that begins with two children who bond over a game of Wiffle Ball.
When the Durand family moves into the estate next door, Heath has no idea what Noelle will come to mean to him. To everyone on the outside, Noelle seems to have a perfect life, but it doesn’t take long for Heath to figure out something bad is going on with his new best friend. Over time, their close friendship evolves into something more special, and Heath realizes he would give up everything he owns to protect Noelle – to bring her happiness and keep her safe. One day, Noelle just vanishes, and although she is presumed dead, Heath never gives up hope that she will someday resurface.
Epic Love is written in a fashion that is typical for Trudy Stiles. The author narrates her story from the first person perspective of both Heath and Noelle, while also alternating between past and present chapters. Stiles cleverly arranged the novel content, commingling storyline from past and present with perfect precision. The first half of Epic Love has a greater focus on the past, as a friends-to-lovers relationship develops between our main characters during their teenage years. Then, after a 12-year separation, I really enjoyed how our characters become reacquainted in the latter half of the novel!
I experienced a wide range of emotions while reading Epic Love. Anger. Confusion. Heartbreak. Sadness. Hope. Relief. Happiness. Some chapters had me smiling with joy, others left me feeling distress for the characters. I think the reason I felt so much is that I truly cared about these characters. I love reading young adult novels, and although Epic Love is definitely not a YA novel, a portion of the story is about Heath and Noelle during their late childhood and teenage years. Young adults just feel so deeply, and with her writing, Stiles expressed their young emotions perfectly.
I’ve followed Stiles’ writing career from the beginning, and she doesn’t hesitate to write about controversial topics. Although I don’t want to give away spoilers, I do think it’s important to warn readers that there are some very dark, abusive scenes in Epic Love. That being said, I think these scenes were very well written. I felt anxiety and horror while reading them. In fact, as an objective reader, I believe that I felt everything Stiles wanted her readers to feel. Throughout the story, I thought the writing flowed beautifully, and I enjoyed the uniqueness of Stiles’ plot.
Overall, Epic Love is just a beautiful story of love and healing. If you have never had a chance to read a novel written by Trudy Stiles, I highly recommend you consider picking up a copy of Epic Love! I’m including this 5-star novel as one of my 2016 favorites!
Trudy Stiles is a USA Today Bestselling Author, writer of New Adult Romance, mom to two beautiful children, and married to the love of her life. She’s the author of the bestselling Forever Family series including Dear Emily, Dear Tabitha, and Dear Juliet. Epic Sins and Epic Lies are the first books in the Epic Fail series and will continue with at least two more standalone novels, Epic Love and Epic Holiday. She plans to write many more stories about some of the characters you’ve already met, and maybe a few new ones. Emily will get her own story, Sincerely, Emily, to be released in 2017.
She’s also a contributing author to the USA Today Bestselling anthology, F*cking Awkward, a hilarious group of short stories sure to make you cringe, laugh and everything in between. All proceeds from this project benefited The Bookworm Box and its charities.
Trudy is a music junkie and you’ll know that she’s writing when you see her plugged into her laptop with her earbuds in. Her playlist is unique and is a must for her writing sprints.
When she’s not writing, she’s carting her children to their various activities while avoiding any kind of laundry or housework. She also loves to run along the boardwalk of the beautiful New Jersey shore.
She celebrates Wine Wednesday almost every day.
Michel’s Review
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