Until the End - Review

Until the End (Sea Breeze #9)

By: Abbi Glines

Published: October 28, 2014 by Simon Pulse

271 pages

Source: Personal Kindle Library

(Goodreads /Amazon)

Summary:

The backstory that fans have been clamoring for—how Rock and Trisha fell in love—is the final installment in the Sea Breeze series from New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines. And don’t miss the sizzling Epilogue, where Abbi wraps up all the Sea Breeze couples’ stories!

Trisha Corbin always knew how to hide a bruise. With her momma’s boyfriends unable to keep their hands off of her, she had no choice. And as long as it meant the guys wouldn’t go near her little brother, Krit, it was worth it. But her days of dreaming that Prince Charming would ever come rescue her are far, far in the past.

Rock Taylor always had a plan. Through football, he would rise above the life he was born into. A full ride to play for a major college team was within his reach—assuming he didn’t let anything get in his way. But scoring a date with the hottest girl in Sea Breeze was proving harder than expected. Trisha Corbin was every man’s walking fantasy, and she wouldn’t even glance his way. 

When Rock finally does get Trisha in his truck, it isn’t for a date. It’s because he picks her up on the side of the road, beaten and bruised and walking to the local hospital. Before Rock knows it, football is no longer his life. Trisha Corbin is. And he’ll do anything to save her. And keep her.

In addition to Rock and Trisha’s love story, this special novel contains the wrap-up stories of all your favorite Sea Breeze couples: Sadie and Jax, Marcus and Low, Cage and Eva, Preston and Amanda, Jess and Jason, Krit and Blythe, and Dewayne and Sienna.

MY REVIEW:
I've longed to read a story about Rock and Trisha - characters that were always in the background of every story in the Sea Breeze series. So to save their story for the very end was perfect in a way. Theirs is by far the shortest story in the series, since half of this book is dedicated to the epilogues of all of the other characters. But before I get into those, let me just say that I was fulfilled with Rock and Trisha's story. You know, that warm, fuzzy feeling of happiness at the end of a story that had the ending you felt it should? That's the emotion I had at the end.

Told from alternating POV's of Rock and Trisha, as well as past and present events, we find out that Rock first meets Trisha in high school. He is the town favorite football player and is on a path that will lead him to a full scholarship at the college of his choosing. Life isn't all roses and candy for Rock though. He has been raised by a single Dad who never really cared anything about him until he became the star athlete. He also has his pick of any girl he wants. And like the stud that he is, he picks them all.

Trisha is the older sister of Krit. The two of them have had a pretty crappy home life, living with a woman who is the step mother of Trisha - and I think she's the mom of Krit (for some reason this was never very clear to me, or I just completely missed it). But she's always bringing low life's around who hit on Trisha and she or the boyfriend's beat her up to the point of breaking ribs. Trisha puts up with it because she doesn't want to be separated from her brother. Rock takes it upon himself to be a friend to them and to protect them. So their story starts with friendship, which as I've said before is a favorite of mine.

As to the epilogue's, I was looking forward to seeing a glimpse into the lives of each Sea Breeze couple, "4 years later". The first couple mentioned is Jax and Sadie, from book one, Breathe. What I didn't like about their epilogue was the type of adversity they are facing. While I don't mind my "happy endings" being strained, because let's face it - that's just real life, I also don't like to see unrealistic adversity given what the couple has already faced. Their adversity in the epilogue is something that was addressed in their initial story: to never believe what you see and read in gossip magazines. In the life of a rockstar there is constantly going to be those who try to print stuff that they've twisted into something else to get publicity. It's often skewed and not true. So why on earth do we see Jax reacting the way he does? It seems way over the top and very out of place after they've been together for 5 years.

The remaining couples each have their own epilogue. Some are happy, others are struggling, but in the end I still get my happily ever after fairy tale ending for all of them. So I'm happy. And I had a big smile on my face at the end. Plus, there's a bonus "10 years later" scene that was PERFECT.

Check out my other reviews from this series:
Book One: Breathe (4.5 stars)
Book Two: Because of Low (4 stars)
Book Three: While It Lasts (4.5 stars)
Book Four: Just For Now (4.5 stars)
Book Five: Sometimes It Lasts (3.5 stars)
Book Six: Misbehaving (3.5 stars)
Book Seven: Bad For You (4 stars)
Book Eight: Hold On Tight - I read this one out of order cause....it's Dewayne, and I HAD to. (4 stars)

I love these Sea Breeze guys! They are a lot of fun to read about. Check them out if you haven't yet!

Favorite Quotes:
"Accept the fact that all I see if you, Trisha Corbin. Then decide what you want to do about it."

"I can't see anyone past you. I haven't been able to for a long time."

Since the moment she sat at that lunch table, laughing with the three people in the world who I considered family, I had known she was it. She was my future.

Just like magic, each one of us had had that someone special walk into our lives and love us enough to fight for us. Life is funny that way. Fate happens, and it's better than what you had imagined in the first place.

Final Rating - 4 stars