Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: Counting Daisies
SERIES: Counting #1
AUTHOR: Nicola Haken
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 376 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 24th, 2016
BLURB:
Dylan Roberts and Cameron O’Neil were good kids. Growing up together, they shared everything. By the age of fourteen they were more than best friends – they were in love. They dreamt of their future, of success, marriage…happiness. They were going to grow old by each other’s side.
But… “Kids are stupid.”
When tragic circumstances forced them apart, Dylan discovered that life wasn’t the fairytale he dreamed of; it was dark, difficult, saturated with pain and shame. Life wasn’t meant to be enjoyed, merely survived, but even that became a challenge.
Damaged, worthless, and disgusting, he saw no point to his pitiful existence…
Until he came face to face with the boy he used to love.
Successful, honourable, and happy, Cameron had achieved the future they planned. He was good, positive, popular…everything Dylan would never be. What would happen if Dylan let him back into his world? Would he destroy Cameron too? Would his poison push him away like everyone else?
“Everybody leaves.”
“They leave or they die.”
But what if…what if Cameron didn’t?
REVIEW:
Being one of the many who have had addiction affect their lives the idea of romanticizing it was incredibly off putting. But I think that is why I loved this book and this author so very much. This author shows addiction as it is, there is nothing pretty, cute, or romantic about what Dylan goes through and how life has given him blow after blow. This story is in your face. No sugar coating it’s real and tragic, at times hard to read but what Dylan and Cameron go through and what they achieve together is incredibly beautiful as well.
Childhood best friends Dylan and Cameron thought they had their lives mapped out. Unfortunately life is not kind to Dylan given his circumstances makes bad choice after bad choice.
Years later Dylan and Cameron come back together and what Cameron sees as fate, Dylan sees as a short, needed reprieve from the horrors of his day to day life.
Cameron and Dylan fight incredibly hard for Dylan’s sobriety and the love that never died between the two of them. This story was the epitome of soul mates and unconditional love.
“This is beautiful.” I drove back inside, jolts of pleasure shooting down my spine. “What we have is beautiful.”
I knew while reading this that the bottom had to fall out at some point. This author doesn’t play when it comes to the emotions she pulls out of her readers. My stomach was in knots throughout this story but I loved it because these characters were so flawed and so endearing. I wanted to fight right along with Cameron and Dylan.
“This moment was special. He was special. There was nothing cheap or nasty here. Only love. Only us.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and this author is incredible. I’ve yet to read a story by her that I didn’t love.
Recommend.
RATING: 
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