All That Remains by Michele G Miller {Review}

*Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Blurb~

Storms come and go, but true love remains.
  Fear, guilt, and jealousy all rear their ugly heads as Jules and West strive to figure out what they want now that they've emerged from the wreckage of the storm.
  A year has passed since the night Jules Blacklin and West Rutledge were thrown together by a tornado.
  Now college freshmen, they’ve worked hard to overcome the tragedies of their pasts to start anew.
  As they embark on their future, there is one last obstacle standing in the way of them finding complete happiness: themselves.

Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon 

My Review~

Things have changed a lot for Jules and West in the last year. They connected over tragedy and found comfort in the arms of each other. They were each other's strength. Rock. Anchor. They kept each other whole and just when things were looking up tragedy strikes again. This time it ruins everything. Now Jules and West struggle to find the happiness they know they both deserve.

It has definitely been a long road for Jules and West. These two characters have come full circle in a story that is riddled with loss, turmoil, tragedy, sorrow, happiness, love, and hope. When we first met West he was a little lost, but with the tragedy of the tornado he began to hope again. He was a hero and a true knight in shining armor. It has been a long time since I have enjoyed reading a character as much as I have enjoyed getting to know West. He definitely makes my list of top characters of the year. And it's not just because he is dreamy. Because he is. It's more than that. West is a gentle and kind soul. He sees more than what's on the surface. He may play the part of the loner, but he is always watching and observing. He is just waiting for his time to shine. We get glimpses of this when he is with his family and Jules. The West that we know he truly is. The West we want him to be.

Then there is Jules. She starts this journey with everything. She is the most popular girl in school, head cheerleader, is dating the star quarterback, and has a good life. In one night her life is turned upside down. We see her become this fearful down to earth girl who begins to see that there is more to life than boys, cheer, and being popular. We get a very up close look at her as she grieves and struggles with her guilt. She grows leaps and bounds in this series and is a character that I have connected with.

At the end of Out of Ruins Michele G Miller left my heart on the floor torn and beaten. I wanted All That Remains to make the pain go away. I wanted to see this couple dance in the sun, smile, laugh, and just get to love. I wanted them to have true happiness. But I knew that it wouldn't be easy. Not with the ending on book 2. I knew there would be struggle and pain. And I had a lot of apprehension about reading All That Remains, I knew it was going to be a rocky start and yet I wasn't prepared when Michele G Miller ripped my heart out in the first few pages. 

I have liked West since the first time he graced the pages of From the Wreckage. I knew he was a deep thinker. I wanted nothing more than to get inside his head, but I wasn't prepared for that dose of reality. His thoughts, his hurt, pain, and guilt completely broke me. Left me a puddle on the floor. It was so real, true. 

Then my heart break turned to anger. And one point I was so mad at Michele G Miller and Jules I didn't even want to finish the book. I seriously had to put the book down for a bit and convince myself that it could still work. Love takes time right? Right. But that didn't mean I had to be happy about what was happening between the pages. And it certainly didn't keep me from muttering not nice things under my breath. I never thought I could dislike or hate Jules, but in those moments I did. I really did. After everything that had happened I couldn't believe she would do the things she was doing. To mess with someone's heart like that. It left me hurt and angry. 

But I am a hopeless romantic, so I held a small glimmer of hope in my heart. It was that glimmer that pushed me to finish the story. And I don't regret one single minute of it. I don't regret that heart break at all.

Since the beginning, this story has been full of beauty, pain, hurt, hope, and love. One that leaves me breathless and with a full heart. All That Remains was such a beautiful ending to an exquisite story. This is one trilogy I will be reading again. West and Jules have cemented their spot on my list of the best book couples. In my book they are right up there with Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett. So make sure you grab this series and settle in with a box of tissue, a good blanket, and a shoulder to cry on. But do read it. Experience it. Live it.

I would give you a favorite moment for this book, but all the ones I want to share would be spoilers. So you are just going to have to read it yourself.