Synopsis

The sport she loves is out of reach. The boy she loves has someone else.

What now?

She expected to start Harkness College as a varsity ice hockey player. But a serious accident means that Corey Callahan will start school in a wheelchair instead.

Across the hall, in the other handicapped-accessible dorm room, lives the too-delicious-to-be real Adam Hartley, another would-be hockey star with his leg broken in two places. He’s way out of Corey’s league.

Also, he’s taken.

Nevertheless, an unlikely alliance blooms between Corey and Hartley in the “gimp ghetto” of McHerrin Hall. Over tequila, perilously balanced dining hall trays, and video games, the two cope with disappointments that nobody else understands.

They’re just friends, of course, until one night when things fall apart. Or fall together. All Corey knows is that she’s falling. Hard.

But will Hartley set aside his trophy girl to love someone as broken as Corey? If he won’t, she will need to find the courage to make a life for herself at Harkness — one which does not revolve around the sport she can no longer play, or the brown-eyed boy who’s afraid to love her back.

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Michel’s Review

While I was on a one-click fury, I came across this book in the buying recommendations. The synopsis had me intrigued. One – it was about hockey players, which I am a real sucker for. Two – it is a new adult romance, which I love because of all the angst. And three – it had a different type of plot, and I love originality. How could I not one click this book? The funny thing is, the one book I was originally shopping for has not been touched. I had to read this one immediately.

The Year We Fell Down was fantastic! This book had me tingling all over. I loved every aspect of this book. It was well written, had an original plot, the main characters were exceptional, the secondary characters were just as charismatic, intensely romantic storyline, the right amount of turmoil and a love triangle that was explosive.

Corey was one of the most amazing heroines I have ever read. She was an athlete, a top ranked hockey player, with a bright future and scholarship on the horizon until she has an accident on the ice that forever changed her life. Now she is starting her freshman year in a wheelchair. She is still learning to deal with her physical limitations. She is not only adjusting to her physical condition but also her mental condition. Her hopes and dreams were severed when her accident resulted in a spinal injury. Rather than dwelling on what might have been, she is moving forward with a determination and positive outlook. She is discovering things about herself she never knew existed. She is learning to manage her new life. She is still a fighter at heart, a competitive soul, and a winner.

Moving into a dorm that accommodates students with special needs was not what she had planned on. Fate or destiny has other plans. She meets Adam Hartley, a star hockey player, that was placed in the same dorm because of his broken leg. Adam is the hottest guy she has laid eyes on. He’s upbeat, friendly and very taken. He is dating every guys dream girl. She’s rich, gorgeous, has the perfect body and has legs that work. Something that Corey will never be able to compete with.

As luck would have it, Hartley’s girlfriend is doing a semester in France. During her absence these two people form a strong friendship and bond. They share their love for hockey, their athletic attitudes, their down to earth attitudes and some of their hidden secrets. Once his girlfriend returns from France, Hartley will have to make some choices and figure out what is right for him. He will also have to deal with his deepest dark secret before he can truly love either woman.

This is a moving and emotional story. The reader gets a very real insight on what it means to have a handicap. Not only are there physical limitations, but also mental hurdles one has to overcome. The bond of friendship and respect is an unbreakable foundation in a relationship. When it comes right down to it, physical and sexual attraction are not enough to hold a relationship together forever. It is what is inside the heart and soul that will make it last.

Sarina Bowen wrote a compelling romance that will stay in the reader’s heart long after the book is closed. I am looking forward to the next book in the Ivy Years series. The Year We Hid Away will be out on June 1, 2014. I highly recommend this series. It will not disappoint.

Author’s Bio

Sarina Bowen writes steamy, angsty Contemporary Romance and New Adult fiction from the wilds of Vermont.

The Year We Fell Down, Book #1 in The Ivy Years series, began breaking hearts in March 2014. Book #2, The Year We Hid Away, is brand new.

For Harlequin-E, Sarina writes the Gravity series. Coming in From the Cold features an angsty downhill ski racer and one of the most unique plot conflicts in contemporary romance today.

Sarina enjoys skiing, coffee products and a nice glass of wine. She lives with her family, eight chickens and more ski gear and hockey equipment than seems necessary.

She would be honored to connect with you at http://www.sarinabowen.com.

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