Blog Tour: Behind the Bars by Brittainy C. Cherry
Synopsis:
When I first met Jasmine Greene, she came in as raindrops.
I was the awkward musician, and she was the high school queen.
The only things we had in common were our music and our loneliness.
Something in her eyes told me her smile wasn’t always the truth.
Something in her voice gave me a hope I always wished to find.
And in a flash, she was gone.
Years later, she was standing in front of me on a street in New Orleans.
She was different, but so was I. Life made us colder. Harder. Isolated.
Caged.
Even though we were different, the broken pieces of me recognized the sadness in her.
Now she was back, and I wouldn’t make the mistake of letting her go again.
When I first met Jasmine Greene, she came in as raindrops.
When we met again, I became her darkest storm.
Review:
Wow, Brittainy C Cherry really knows how to write a fantastic story that is so hopeful and touching and just wonderful to read. A story with characters that I want to know in real life. A story that draws me in from the first word and I am never ready to let go with the last. Her books get to me in the best of ways.
Behind the Bars is the story of Jasmine and Elliot. Jasmine whose mother is one of those nightmare moms that want their kids to live out their dreams even though their kids hate it. And Elliot who is one of the sweetest, most positive kids ever. He gets bullied a lot, but that never gets him down. He never seems that bothered by it. He is bothered by people upsetting those he cares about and he would do anything for you if you are lucky enough to be one of those people. These two lonely, little odd, little broken people.
The story starts off when they are both in high school. Man, that was rough to read. Because it was so true. So like what high school was like for me in the worst of ways. I didn't get beat up or anything, never cared what people said, but I was definitely counting down the days until I could get out of there. Eli is the same. He just wants to make it through high school so he can move on to the next phase of his life. Though luckily he has music to keep him company. Whenever he needs it music is there for him. Jazz music in particular. Plus he is an amazing saxophone player even if he doesn't realize it.
Jasmine lives and breathes soul music, but her mom is making her try and be a pop star. There is no career for her in soul. Pop is where it is at. Pop is where she can be a star and have all that fame and fortune her mother never had because she got pregnant with Jasmine. Jasmine doesn't like it, doesn't want to be a pop star, but she wants her mom's approval. All she wants is for her mom to be proud of her and love her. Luckily she has an amazing dad, though not by blood, who goes to bat for her whenever he can. He will always be there if she needs him, but there is only so much he can do.
This story was truly heartbreaking. The things Jazz and Eli go through were really rough. But they are also wonderful together. They may have met and fallen in love when they were young, but it was the purest kind of love. The kind that lasts a lifetime. When things get worse and people fade away they can bring each other back. They are there for each other to make each other stronger, better people. I loved this story so much. I loved their love, I loved how they both thought of music, I loved it all. Eli's family is amazing and Jasmine is so lucky to have met him and become part of that. Through the thick and thin you know they will find a way to figure everything out. Because they have to. You can't let love like that just fade away. When you find that person that makes your soul sing you do what you can to hold onto it. Even if it hurts, even if you don't know what you are doing, you try and hope everything will work out in the future. Because that kind of love is worth fighting for.
I loved this story. The author writes some amazing people that I can't help but love. They are everything. I teared up so many times reading this because of the moments that were so touching and beautiful and perfect. This story shows how amazing people can be. Especially in these dark times that can be hard to remember. I loved this story. Go, read it. You won't regret it.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book for voluntary review consideration
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★1/2
Excerpt:
By the way, what happened to Todd’s nose?” I asked.
“I broke it,” Elliott said matter-of- factly.
“What? How? Why?”
He shrugged before turning to look out the window. “He called you a bad name.”
“What was it?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Eli,” I started.
He turned my way and locked his hazel eyes with my browns. “Jazz…” He shook his head. “It wasn’t true.”
I swallowed hard, a big part of me certain Todd’s words held some form of truth.
Elliott saw it in me—my fear. He kept shaking his head and whispered, “I don’t feel sorry for you. Sometimes you look at me like you think I feel sorry for you, and I want you to know I don’t. I think you’re perfect the way you are.”
I quietly laughed at him repeating the words I’d told him earlier. A few tears rolled down my cheeks. “I’m a little messed up.”
“I know.” He nodded. “That’s why I like you.”
He went back to staring out the window, and I kept staring at him.
And there it was.
So small, so tiny, so real.
Love.
It wasn’t love, but it was the beginning of it.
I knew I was young, and I knew it was stupid, but in that moment, I began to fall in love with the quiet boy who quietly cared for me. The boy who was scared and still strong. The boy who stood up for me when he was surrounded by reasons not to do such a thing. I hadn’t known much about love. I hadn’t known how it looked, felt, or tasted. I hadn’t known how it moved, how it flowed, but I knew my heart was tight and currently skipping a few beats. I understood the goose bumps covering my arms. I knew this stuttering boy who was sometimes so scared was someone worth loving. He was worth being the first one I gave my heart to.
I knew Elliott Adams was love.
And I was falling into him so fast.
About the Author:
Hi! I'm Brittainy! Join me as we travel through my mind as a Romance Author. This includes such things as my random thoughts, tricks, tips, things I'm learning, things I'm re-learning, things I'm forgetting, and my weird ways of crafting stories.
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