Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940155424420 |
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| Publisher: | JL Berg, LLC |
| Publication date: | 03/12/2018 |
| Series: | By The Bay , #2 |
| Sold by: | Draft2Digital |
| Format: | NOOK Book |
| Sales rank: | 7,787 |
| File size: | 1 MB |
About the Author
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
The Scars I Bare (By The Bay, #2)
4.8 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
12 reviews.
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Good story , quite interesting .
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This really is an excellent series. Love reading something that is well-writen, nicely edited, has great characters and HEA? Recommend!!!
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4.5 Stars! - J.L. Berg delivers a sweet, heart-wrenching romance with Dean and Cora’s story in The Scars I Bare. After meeting this couple in The Choices I’ve Made, I had been anxious to hear their story. Dean deserved a happily ever after and J.L. Berg certainly serves up all the feels for this broken hero. Dean and Cora’s chemistry was palpable and I loved the push and pull between this damaged duo. They made me laugh and swoon and sigh. I was captivated by their journey and fell head over heels alongside them as they healed one another and rediscovered what it meant to live and love. The secondary characters brought this book to life and served up some much-needed levity. I adored seeing Jake and Molly settled into their own happily ever after and Lizzie stole the show more times than I could count.
After all, Dean had been through in The Choice I’ve Made, I knew this book would break my heart a few times before all was said and done. J.L. Berg did just that, unraveling this character thoroughly before piecing him back together. I adored Dean’s personal transformation, watching him rediscover the world in the wake of tragedy. Cora’s evolution was equally satisfying. Her courage and selflessness left its mark on me and I couldn’t help but root for her to find the kind of happiness she so deserved. Together, Dean and Cora found the strength to face their fears, shed their insecurities, and move forward in love and life. These two definitely made my heart falter and flutter along the way, but their journey was worth every moment of heartache.
The one thing I felt was missing from this book was flashbacks to Dean and Cora’s time in the hospital together. There are fleeting and brief feelings and impressions captured in Dean’s journal and Cora’s blog, but readers don’t get to experience their initial connection and relationship for themselves. Without a real understanding of their foundation of friendship, it left things feeling very fast, especially considering Cora’s recent relationship history. Otherwise, I loved the progression of Dean and Cora’s relationship, how they grew together in an organic and sometimes beautifully imperfect way. J.L. Berg’s writing continues to wow me. This story was the perfect balance of heartfelt emotion, witty dialogue, and electric chemistry. The Scars I Bare is another phenomenal romance from this talented author and I can’t wait for more of this incredible series!
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~5 ++ STARS~
Because, after all, there is no greater love story than the one we make ourselves.
Let me begin by saying The Scars I Bare was a book I was really looking forward to after reading The Choice I’ve Made. I knew it was going to be raw, but I wasn’t prepared for the emotional journey J.L. Berg was going to take me on. AHHH…I just loved it!!!!
Readers were introduced to Dean in The Choices I Made. We got some of his backstory. Dean had quite a story to share with us. Dean had everything going for him, a job he lived for and a place to live that he loved. One of his greatest loves was the sea until one night the very thing he loved took it all away. Now, he isn’t quite sure where he fits in. He has scars both visible to the outside and scars on the inside no one really understands. His one bright spot in his recovery was his beautiful nurse, Cora. But, Cora’s life wasn’t on Ocracoke Island, so he came home after his hospitalization. Yet, he never forgot her. Several years have passed and imagine his surprise when Cora and her precocious daughter, Lizzie, arrive, making the island their new home.
Dean has been drifting until Cora and Lizzie arrive. There was always an attraction between them, but neither is really in a place for more than friendship. Both of them are in similar places in their lives but for different reasons. Dean is trying to find his place after the accident, and Cora is trying to find her place after her divorce. A theme throughout this book was the power love has to heal even the most broken parts of a person. Both have trust issues, but most of the issues are within themselves. Cora helps Dean with his fear of water. The sea was a part of who Dean was as a person. He loved it, but in his mind, it betrayed him in the worst possible way. With Cora’s help, he learns to trust himself again and to take steps to overcome his fear of the water. Dean shows her what real love is. As she helped him, he helps her find the trust in herself that was taken from her.
Even though this was Dean and Cora’s road to love, the one person who brought them together was her daughter, Lizzie. I adored this sweet, perceptive, intelligent, and funny child. She was the bright spot when things got tough. Once you meet her yourself, you will know exactly what I’m talking about.
J.L. Berg is a master at tugging at your emotions. Her weapon in this book was Dean’s journal and Cora’s blog. Each character had their own voice in the book, but the journal and blog really told me the depth of pain and scars each of them carried. My heart hurt for both of them. The title of the book is a perfect choice because each bore scars that life had given them.
This book had everything I love in a book…emotion, romance, and the perfect amount of steam. As in the first book, Berg’s writing transported me to that tiny, close-knit island that I have come to love. Can I just say, the epilogue was probably one of my favorites EVER? I can’t wait to return with Book 3!!!!
Read and Reviewed for Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews
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This was not my first rodeo with this author, and let me tell you that the first one was an intense one...
JL Berg has a way with words that can appeal to your heart and make you fall in love with the characters.
The Scars I Bare is her latest release, it's the second book from the By The Bay series and tells the stories of Dean and Cora.
The first thing that appealed to me was the Blurb. I was curious to know more and the hot cover was a bonus.
Dean had his life all planed out until an accident. He was left without one arm and enduring painful and long days in therapy. He had lost his motivation and his free spirit. There he meets Cora and she was the light he didn't knew he needed.
Cora had the perfect life, a successful career, an amazing husband and a beautiful daughter until one day everything was lost. She hit rock bottom and decided to move with her baby girl to a new town in order to start again. Things aren't easy and when her path crosses with someone from her past...
What a breathtaking story this was. The plot is intense, very well written, super engaging and surrounded by a blanket of darkness and deceive.
The interation between the characters is beautiful and intense and they share a great chemistry. And I simply adore little Lizzie.
The story progressed in a way that made me want to devour it in one setting. There were parts of the story that I wanted to get into it a hold them.
For the lovers of a great romance full of feelings and struggles this is your book.
Oh boy J. L. Berg this book is amazing. You've manage to get under my skin and I loved it. Can't wait for more.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
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This book is so emotional
I loved the first story and even loved the second book. This book is so emotional. Indeed! It bears your soul when you read this book. It is a very beautiful story of a man and woman both healing wounds they bared in the past.
When you surround yourselves from people that love you unconditionally. Any wounds even so deep can be healed in no time. Dean and Cora are insatiable for each other. Lizzie even adds the flavor among this two.
You will laugh out loud and fall in-love with these two and their families that surrounded them. I so loved the setting of the story. I loved anything that has water.
My favorite book of this month. I know that like me you will enjoy every chapters of this book. Any wound will heal any time and true love helps it the healing process tremendously.
I so loved the journal especially from Dean. What a perfect idea to preserve each memories. Life is too short. Any problems we encounter is resolved if we are willing to communicate, be honest and be strong to face any circumstances.
This book is a must read. I highly recommended it.
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Wow! This was my first book by Ms. Berg and what a book to start!!!!
From the very first page of the Prologue, I was enthralled! Dean (yes, he has been added to my growing list of BBF’s) is such a strong man. He has endured so much pain, I was silently cheering for him in my head.
Cora.....she is a very determined and strong woman to rise about the scars she bares to make a better life for her and her daughter.
The title, The Scars I Bare, is a perfect description of the story of Dean and Cora. I have since one-clicked the first book and a book from another series by the author.
I would recommend this book ❤️.
Reviewed by: Dana D.
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After Dean's accident he became a changed man. He was just kind of drifting throughout life. He remembers his nurse though from when he was in the hospital from the accident that took his arm. Imagine his shock when the nurse shows up on his island with her daughter.
Cora comes to the island for a better life for her and her daughter who is smart a whip. She wants a new start for them.
I love these small town, family kind of books. The kind where everyone knows everyone else and has suggestions for relationships, to recipes, etc.
When Dean sees Cora he can't believe his luck but will he be able to let go of his insecurities and will she be able to let go of hers?
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After a devastating accident Dean Sutherland is left a shell of the man he use to be, struggling to re-find his place in the world, and it's a battle that takes it toll on him day in and day out. He has a good support system that tries to help him readjust, keep him thinking positive, but he still feels like something is missing. Then a beautiful soul unexpectedly wanders back into his life, and instantly his outlook on things start to look up, he's hoping together they can conquer their demons and find some common ground... but will their deep rooted scars let that happen?
Cora Carpenter has been dealt a crappy hand of cards, ones that have left her a single mother, with a load of baggage to deal with, and a wounded heart. Closing a chapter on her life and starting fresh in Okracoke holds a lot of promise, and hope that she can re-discover a happiness that has been missing from her life for so long. She wants to put the past permanently behind her, and create a new life for her and her daughter on the island, but she soon discovers that putting her past behind her is going to be a lot tougher than she originally thought. Then she runs into an old friend, with similar demons, and she beings to realize maybe she doesn't have to do it alone, maybe, just maybe, he is the answer to her prayers, and her second chance at happiness.
The Scars I Bare is a beautifully crafted second chance story that will tug on your heartstrings and leave you moved beyond words! Between the pages of this one you will find an emotionally rich story line, and well crafted characters, that will take you on their painful journey to re-discovering happiness and love. It's a bumpy road, riddled with gut-wrenching choices, and old wounds, but there is a light at the end of the dim journey, and it shines brightly and will leave your heart happy. I thoroughly enjoyed settling down with this one, it spawned a serious case of the feels, made me swoon, and left me smiling... highly recommend you give it a shot, you won't be disappointed with what you find!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.
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The Scars I Bare tells us Dean and Cora’s love story. I’ve met both of them in The Choices I've Made. I wanted Dean’s book since reading that book. Something horrible happened to him and it turned his life upside down. He hasn’t found love since and he left the family company to his brother. Dean is still trying to adjust and accept this new life.
Cora needs a change in her life and she accepts a job on Ocracoke Island. She moves there with her little daughter. Cora soon runs into Dean, a man she has never forgotten. Dean also remembers Cora from all those years ago and he’s happy to see her again. Dean and Cora spend some time together and grow closer.
I really liked Cora and Dean. Dean is sweet, caring, genuine and a little closed off. Cora is smart, loving, kindhearted and caring. She’s an amazing mother and her daughter is her everything. Dean and Cora are damaged. They both deserve love and I’m happy that they found an happily ever after with each other. It took some time before they became a couple, but they needed that time. They make each other happy.
I loved the secondary characters. Lizzie, Cora’s daughter, is adorable and smart and loving. She wants her mommy to be happy and she immediately likes Dean. The couple from the previous book, Jake and Molly, appeared many times and it was great to see that they are still going strong. Both of them are great friends of Dean.
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Oh my gawd!!! I absolutely loved this book!!! It quite literally caused my heart to hurt and my gut to churn before flinging me up and away in the most amazing freefall of emotions.
Dean lost his arm three years ago in a ferryboat explosion. During the long and painful days of recovery, he found Cora to be a bright spot of color and hope. Now he’s struggling daily to find some reason as to the purpose of his life. He is rambling throughout his days without any clear destination. The locals consider him a hero but he knows the truth. He is quite broken and there will never be any coming back from that fact.
Cora has finally left her previous life behind her and is moving to Ocracoke, a small island in the outer banks. Years ago a patient shared stories of the island and when the time came for her to make the decision to move her daughter and herself away from Virginia, it was this idyllic place that she chose. She is broken in spirit despite the front she puts on for her child.
When these two meet again things get…awkward. Each of them must deal with their own emotional and physical scars even as they yearn for more. Trust does not come easily to either of them but they slowly begin to build a relationship that has the potential to be the stuff of dreams.
I adored both Cora and Dean. Dean’s pain is felt in every word of his journal entries even as Cora’s blog masks her own pain and lies. They each must face their pasts, despite their fears, in order to find healing and ultimately a forever kind of love. The actions of doing so was immensely moving and gut wrenching as they both take a step forward and then two steps back before finally leaping into the future.
Lizzie, Cora’s daughter, was quite a character. Not your typical 4/5 year old. She is quite literally a genius and adds depth to the story that most child characters are unable to accomplish. I loved her sheer honesty in spite of her scary intelligence.
This was a well written story that never bogged down. Filled with exemplary secondary characters, angst from mostly inner turmoil, a smattering of humor, a slow burn relationship and the most perfect HEA, this is definitely worth checking out.
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This is the second book I have read by J.L. Berg and with The Scars I Bare, she did not disappoint. I have become quite a fan with her books. The emotional side of this book was on point. The main character Dean has so much to overcome, and what he feels I felt all the way to my bones. I could never imagine the monsters he had to face against himself. He broke me and at the end healed me with this story! Argh, have you ever read an emotional book that you had to take a break for a day to gather your bearings? This book did that for me.
When Cora and Lizzie show up, I knew they were the missing pieces that Dean needed to become complete. Cora and Dean are complicated in their own ways. They have scars that you can never see completely. At the same time, I felt that these characters did it for each other. Lizzie was my favorite little girl with a lot to say!
The Scars I Bare is not only one of my favorites on my list, but a definite must read!
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