I used to believe in fairy tales.
But then I grew up and I realized that life isn’t like the books I once loved so much.
There are no princes riding in on their white horses.
No magic wands or fairy god mothers.
And no happily ever afters.
Ryland Thorpe taught me the hard way that good doesn’t always win and sometimes the people we trust the most are the ones that can hurt us the deepest.
At … can hurt us the deepest.
At fifteen, my world began and ended with him.
He was my older brother’s best friend.
He was my protector.
He was the boy I had loved since I was old enough to understand what loving someone meant.
And he was a liar…
It’s been five years since I’ve seen him.
Five long years and the memory of him still haunts me like it was yesterday.
Only he’s not just a memory anymore.
Prison has hardened him, changed him, altered him in ways I never expected. But beneath it all I can still see a glimmer of the boy I used to love.
When lies are exposed and secrets are revealed, I find myself questioning everything I thought I knew.
They say the first cut is the deepest.
They were wrong…
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Ok at first I really was not liking Ainsley. She was becoming annoying in some parts of the story. But it definitely took a turn for the better and I love the little bit of action and intense moments Ainsley and Ryland story brought. They definitely became from friends to lovers it was so wonderful how their story went through.
New Melissa Toppen’s book and i love it.
Ainsley liked Ryland at a young age. They were everything for each other. He was there for her when she needed him or not. He just were there. Till the day he wasn’t.
Ryland did something that landed him in prison.
But being out and free is not that easy that people thing. Starting a new life with a prisoner badge on your paper is not easy. He is grateful for his best friend and his help. His best friend’s sister is another story.
She is angry and disappointed.
Can he tell the truth without hurting her more?
Because the truth is not easy to tell, especially when you know that not only one person will be hurt by doing that?
An intense story that I couldn’t put it down till I didn’t find the truth on what happened.
I purchased the paperback to bring to Apollycon 2020 but covid happened so it was cancelled. Just finally getting around to reading this. Leaving my review voluntarily.
Triggers: kidnapping, assault, threat of rape, death
**spoilers**
This book has a real life story feel to it.
Ryland and Finn are best friends. Rylands family life stinks so he spends alot of time at Finns home.
Ainsley, is Finns little sister. After her mom, a junkie, bails on the family, it is up to Finn, his dad and Ryland to raise Ainsley who is 6 years younger than the guys.
The dad passes away suddenly, Finn at 18 gets custody of Ainsley.
Life happens, some drama, a bit of scary stuff, even sexy time thrown in. HEA
This was a sweet, slow burn romance.
Teenage love turns into hate and turns back into love. Second chances.
There is lies and forgiveness, anger turned into passion.
Ryland and Ainsley began being sibling like, Ryland always being there for Ainsley and then all of a sudden he is not. She is angry and resentful that he left her.
When he returns though, she is very angry and ignores him as much as she can but he gently and kindly remains there for her.
This was a beautiful story!
I loved every minute of this book. An outstanding first in what looks to be an outstanding series.
Ryland, of course, is presented as the reformed bad boy but there is definitely more than meets the eye with that one. Ainsley was not expecting for all those old feelings to come back to the surface, no matter what she tells herself to (attempt to) sleep better at night.
“While the people we love the most have the power to cut us the deepest, they are also the ones that make any of this worthwhile.
There are so many layers to this book you get sidetracked thinking the story will go one way, but really its a trick because Toppen is just waiting to get us comfortable only to take us down a completely different path.
While I know the next installment will be completely different characters from a completely different author, I’m really hoping we get a side story about Finn and Lily. I know I got the most important pieces, but what can I say, I’m greedy.
What another really amazing book by this author. This one is my favorite yet and I fell in love with the characters from the very beginning. Couldn’t put down at all and just kept going, needing more of them.
A Thousand Cuts was a friends to lovers, enemies to lovers AND brothers best friend love story. Ainsley and Finn are a brother and sister who’ve had a rough time growing up. After their father passes away, Finn becomes Ainsley’s only family and caregiver. Ryland was Finns best friend growing up and he was always there for Ainsley when she needed him, until he wasn’t. He’s back after being gone for several years and she isn’t happy to see him. I really enjoyed watching Ainsley and Ryland work through their issues and rediscover their friendship. I enjoyed all of the main characters. I think everyone who enjoys a well written brothers best friend will enjoy this story.
I absolutely love all of Melissa Toppens books, and this was no different. I was hooked from the start, this was a great story. Ryland and Finn have been best friends forever and Finn had to take care of his little sister at a young age. they were all always together. The bond Ryland and Ainsley had was amazing, but he broke her trust when he went away. After 5 years he’s back and she loves and hates him. Ryland tries everything he can to get that trust back. This was an emotional roller coaster ride that will keep you on your toes, a real pager turner. A story you don’t want to miss.
This was a good afternoon read full of drama twist and turns the main characters interaction was crazy good. I liked the story plot no spoilers here.
4.5 stars
This is the first book I have read by the author and it is intense. Ainsley and her brother, Finn, have had a hard life growing up but they made the best of what they had. Their father passed away when they were both young and their mother took off. Yet through everything, there was Ryland. He was the one person who Ainsley could count on and gave his word that he would always be there for her….until the unspeakable happened and he was sent to prison for selling drugs. Fast forward a few years and Ryland is free looking to start his life again. He winds up staying with Ainsley and her brother. Can Ainsley get past her angry feelings towards Ryland and forgive him? Will Ryland tell Ainsley the truth? This is one slow burn to romance filled with drama, lies and passion. It is an emotional read with wonderful characters. I look forward to reading more from this author. I volunteered to read an advance copy of this book.
A great short sexy story. A very enjoyable read
The characters were so great and the chemistry between the main characters was scorching hot.
The story is well written and very enjoyable.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Ainsley has had some tough breaks in her life, but she has made the best of them. Her mom ran out on her and her older brother when they were young and her dad died when she was around 13. The one person who had always promised he would always be there went to jail when she was 15. Ryland was Ainsley’s brothers best friend since before she was born. She had grown up with him there and was there for one another though everything. As she got older she started seeing him differently and she fell for him. However, Ryland got busted selling drugs and went jail. She never thought she could ever forgive him. He left her. But 5 years later he is out and her brother has let him stay with them. Ainsley is still mad but her feelings start coming back to her. Ryland has taken notice that she is not the 15 year old he left. She is beautiful. But she is his best friend’s little sister.
There are definitely some warm feeling and some scary ones in this book. Melissa writes books that could happen in real life. I love how this book makes you smile while reading it.
It was hard not to feel the anger, hurt, and betrayal that Ainsley felt when Ryland left. He did something stupid and left her behind. It’s not easy to forgive when your heart has been broken. There’s always another side of the story and it was easily caught on to, but I think it was meant to be. I think the whole point of this was that secrets hurt. However, they all had secrets or lies of omission, especially when it came to affairs of the heart. I could understand how relationships can blossom like one between Ainsley and Ryland. He was her protector, her safe place, and had her heart from an early age. He may have lost part of it and needed to help Ainsley find a way to make it whole again.
Ainsley has grown up knowing what loosing someone feels like. By the age of thirteen she was living alone with her older brother, both parents gone. Ryland who was her brother’s best friend was her protector and friend back in those days as well. Fighting all the turmoil in her life, she has turned out to be strong willed, determined young lady, working hard for her future. College while working hard to help keep the home and them afloat. Five years later and she still feels the loss of Ryland in her life.
Ryland had more of a family with Finn and Ainsley than he had in his own home. Uninterested mother and an abusive stepfather were great excuses to spend time away from home. He makes the ultimate sacrifice to help keep Finn and Ainsley together but with that means secrets and lies. All he wanted to do was protect Ainsley but now that he is back, she is so angry at him.
This was an emotional slow burn, friends to lovers story, with the added twist of him being her brother’s best friend. Will Ainsley be able to push away the anger and understand that her love is stronger than the pain? Will she convince him that she is not the little girl who needs protecting anymore? Or will the truths unfold and cut too deep for them to come out happy in the end?
This was a great start to this collaboration, and I can’t wait to read the others.
*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ***
“When lies are exposed and secrets are revealed, I find myself questioning everything I thought I knew.
They say the first cut is the deepest.
They were wrong…” This is the second novel that I have read by Ms. Toppen. A different genre too. So what have I learned? I really enjoy her writing! My favorite character in this story…., I know you’ll never guess…, okay Ryland! This was an emotional story with a nice twist. I will be checking out more books by Toppen.
I received an advanced reader copy, and this is my honest and voluntary review.”
A Thousand Cuts is the first book by Melissa Toppen that I have read. I loved following Ryland and Ainsley story, and for those who love a slow burn this is the book for you. I look forward to reading the rest of the series and more from this author.
Ryland and Ainsley was a very beautiful brothers best friend/little sister love story. He tried very hard to stay away but surprise surprise SHE was the one that made a move. She took the initiative to go after what she wanted and I enjoyed every minute of it. Ryland was very respectful of Ainsley and was very considerate of her brother’s feelings because of everything they shared. It wasn’t easy and they was a heart stopping moment but they came out on top. Loved it!!
A perfect second chance for love. Sometimes you meet your soulmate at a young age and don’t even realize it. You grow up together and have an incredible bond that can never be broken. Sometimes choices are made that make it hard to see that bond but it’s still there. Always pulling at your heart. This book is filled with all different emotions and you can’t help but fall in love with all the characters. I really enjoy Melissa’s writing style and have to finish her books in one sitting. I recommend picking up a copy you won’t be disappointed.
Another fantastic, emotional story from an author I run to every time she releases a new book. This book is about a childhood crush that dies a horrible death based on perceived betrayal. Then shows up 5 years later with al the feelings that were supposed to be gone…
Ainsley and Ryland’s story is a heartbreaking back and forth filled with secrets and revelations. It has some hard truths that are tough to swallow and a love so pure you can’t help but root for!
I definitely recommend that you grab this book and devour it right away!
Ainsley has always had a crush on her brother’s best friend Ryland, and now he has returned after 5 years away. The chemistry between these two is undeniable. This is a well written engaging story which is filled with lies, secrets, twists, suspense, angst, drama, which all lead to a raw, gritty, heart-wrenching and steamy read. I highly recommend for all.