Review: For You by Mimi Strong

Summary:

I should have known by the tattoos that Sawyer was trouble. My mother always said to stay away from boys with ink, but she ignored her own advice. She also abandoned me and my little sister.

Life's been hard for the two of us, on the run and on our own, but I just turned twenty-one and started working at a bar in a new city. I wear a fake wedding band and a veil of lies.

My gold ring didn't stop Sawyer. He looked into me with his heavenly green eyes, and I nearly forgot my pretty lies. Now he wants to help me get my life together.

I should stay away, because he could blow my cover. When we get found—and I know one day we will—I want my sister to be old enough to handle the truth about our past.

I may be hanging out with Sawyer, but we're definitely not dating. I swear, he's not setting me on fire with every glance or casual touch. We're just friends. I'm not thinking about him wrapping those tattooed arms around me, every second of every day.

Our 4 star review 

I became a fan of Mimi Strong's after reading some of her novella series and could not wait to read For You. I have to say that I honestly loved it and it was so different than what I have read from this author in the past, but in a good way.

Aubrey has been on the run with her sister Bella for the past few years now.  She is now settled in Canada where she has found family that she didn't know she had.   They love her and want to help her in anyway they can.  Love is something Aubrey never really experienced as a child with a mother who cared more about men and drugs than her own children.  For the past few years, Aubrey's life has been a lie.  She wears a wedding band but has never been married, hoping to keep men at a distance.  She pretends that her sister is her daughter, not to raise any red flags.  If anyone finds out the truth she could lose her sister.  She has told so many lies about her life since on the run,  that she is having trouble keeping track of them all.  She has built walls around her that are so thick no one can break through, until she meets Sawyer.

When Sawyer saw Aubrey for the first time, he felt like he knew her, as if he has been waiting for her his whole life.  He saw a sadness in her eyes and wanted to know where it came from.  But most of all he wanted to make her smile, something that seemed to be a rare occurance for her.  He saw the wedding band on her finger and tried to respect her marriage but after a while he had to wonder if the gold band was just a lie to keep men away.  As Sawyer and Aubrey spend more time together, Sawyer becomes very hard for her to resist.  She wants to be his friends, but she also has feelings for him that go deeper than that, she is just too scared to admit it.   Sawyer slowly breaks down the walls that have been surrounding Aubrey for years and finally learns the truth as to why she came to Canada.  Will he be able to keep her secrets to himself and will he still love her once he finds out the truth?

Sawyer is an artist, has tattoos, is sweet, and sexy, but there is also this geeky side to him that is adorable but in a sexy way.  He falls for Aubrey the minute he sees her.  There are times when Aubrey can be a little frustrating.  Not knowing how she feels about Sawyer, one minute they are friends, the next they are more.  She also seems to sometimes be unsure of Sawyer's feelings which may be more of her insecurities showing than doubt.  I loved Sawyer, he wanted Aubrey and was going to do everything he could to get her.   I think Sawyer was a little lost himself as well, coming from a good family with money, yet he chose to live in a run down apartment with his friend.  I love Sawyer and Aubrey together and I think Mimi Strong did a wonderful job with their story.  As a reader you know that Aubrey is running from something but Mimi manages to keep you on your seat trying to figure out what that secret is.  There was just the right amount of drama and angst to keep you wanting more.  We learned a lot about Aubrey and I enjoyed watching her grow towards the end of the book.  I do wish we knew a little more about Sawyer's background and family, but otherwise I really enjoyed For You and look forward to reading more from Mimi Strong.  I would love to see Sawyer and Aubrey's story continue as well.  

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.