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…
more
A Thousand Cuts was best friend’s little sister/friends to lovers book.
Although, Ryland and Ainsley begin more like brother and sister because Ryland has known Ainsley since she was a baby. Ryland had a tough upbringing and Ainsley and her brother were always there for him and vice versa. Life hasn’t been a bowl of cherries for Finn (Ainsley’s older brother) and Ainsley. After the death of Ainsley and Finn’s father, they all become a family. Then something happens that takes Ryland away from them. When he returns, all is not forgiven by Ainsley. It will take a lot to change her mind. Ainsley isn’t the girl she was when Ryland left. She is a young woman now and the feelings he has for her are nowhere near sister-like. Can Ryland convince Ainsley that he is still the guy who cares about her and would do anything for her? Can Ryland convince Finn that he is good enough for his little sister?
This is an emotional story with a lot of layers. I enjoyed pulling every last layer back to discover this beautiful love story. It is not an easy love story but definitely worth the read. It had a great plot and wonderful characters. I loved the way Ryland is patient with Ainsley and works hard to regain her trust. Their chemistry and affection for one another are palpable. There is also action thrown in here that had my heart in my throat. Overall, a really good read that will tug at the heartstrings.
****ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.****
Ding Ding Ding!!! We have a gold novel right here! Melissa captivated my heart with every word on every page. I think this book is in my top 5 faves for Melissa.
Ryland was Absolutely one of my favorite book boyfriend’s! How could he not be? Rugged , Hot , Endearing, and so Loving! What he did for the love of Finn and Ainsley is by far the most precious and priceless sacrifices. However, when love and family are your reason, nothing is off the table. This was a gut wrenching novel to say the least. But by far one of my favorites that took a piece of my heart with it.
10 STARS if possible
Wow! This is a brother’s best friend, friends-to-lovers, hate-to-love, second chances and so much more romance. I couldn’t put it down. I felt for Ainsley and the hurt she had but I also felt for Ryland. Their connection is undeniable and even when Ainsley wants nothing to do with him, he is there. It’s a slow burn with some angst but it has passion and love and suspense that I was on edge.
It is always a pleasure and an honor to receive a book by Melissa to read and review it.
This occasion is about A Thousand cuts, the story of Ainsley and Ryland, both endearing, loving, tender, loyal, strong, sacrificed and passionate characters, who give everything for the beings they love and their family
the plot has the necessary ingredients to be a great success, secrets, secrets and more secrets and much more
I really recommend this book, you will not regret
Ryland is a dream, you’re going to love him
A Thousand Cuts was a slow burn brother’s best friend romance which will hold your attention. You will like the characters. Ryland and Ainsley were amazing together and I loved the support Finn and Lily provided them. The story had some angst, suspense and mystery as this couple’s romance unfolds and it will evoke a range of emotions from you. Yes there were some twists I saw coming but I enjoyed the story which was well written. Although a fast read I would recommend it to all lovers of contemporary romance.
Ryland and Ainsley were amazing together. Best friends little sisters are always off limits but throw in the little nugget that you also helped raised her and the stakes get so much higher.
Ryland fought his attraction to Ainsley but she is a feisty woman who goes after what she wants. She has waited many years to finally be a woman who can turn Ryland’s eye, so when she noticed him looking, she took full advantage, after she managed to tame her anger towards him for breaking his promise five years ago. As his charm starts to break down her hardened heart and forgiveness starts to soften it, Ainsley remembers she doesn’t hate him, she can’t hate the only man she’s ever loved, she only hates what he has done.
I loved all the naughtiness and playful games from Ryland and Ainsley as they tried to give their relationship a chance to bloom. Secret kisses and stolen minutes made this a slow-burn scorcher.
As always, author Melissa Toppen throws in a few twists to bring out the gut-wrenching angst and there are a few nail biting scenes as well. Her side characters, Lily, Finn, Matt, and Davis fit well in the story, making it come to life. They all had an interesting part to play in forming this small-town world and blue-collar romance.
A Thousand Cuts was an awesome read and a great start to the Cell Block C series. Can’t wait for all the rest.
This was a story that pulls at the heart. You have secrets that have been kept and while admirable, they hurt. Ryland’s need to protect Ainsley since she was a little girl made me feel warm and fuzzy, the relationship they shared was special and I could see how her heart was broken. What I have a hard time with is Finn’s behavior, there were points that I wished I could just smack him! But he was a good big brother that stepped up to the plate to take care of his little sister. I think everyone needs a friend like Lily ~ she was a breath of fresh air to this one. Well written and easy to Read!
Ryland was always there for his best friends little sister so much so that she loved him with all her heart and then he is gone and Ainsley’s heart hardened towards him , now he is back from prison and her heart is not as untouchable as she thought.
I loved this with the love hate love relationship and how it wasn’t insta love!!
I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher to review for Stephanie’s Book Reports.
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 prince riding in on their white horses. No magic wands or fairy go 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 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 is 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.
Wow this book is amazing and one slow burn of a read. Your about to go on a magical journey with Ainsley, Finn, Ryland and Lily. A journey of family and love with a twist of fate, throw in some anger and you have one heck of a soup that is going to take your breath. I will go ahead and warn you that you are going to fall in love with Ryland and you just might not get your heart back. I just don’t know that I have enough words to say how much this book is going to affect you and how it is going to steal your heart. There is some serious drama, tension, suspense, danger and kindle melting passion and heat. Don’t even think about it. Just pick this book up and enjoy this one as much as I did.
A Thousand Cuts (Cell Block C) is a brother’s best friend love story. It was well written, it has some drama, and some twists that will surprise you. I read it all in a couple of hours. You will like Ryland and Ainsley, they have a deep loving connection. It wasn’t easy for them, but I enjoyed reading how they muddled their way through it all. I liked that Ainsley stood up for herself. You also get to see her brother fall in love too which is a bonus in my book. Great story!
This was a semi new to me author and one I will be definitely looking for more of when this dark soul needs a lighter read.
Although this was lighter than I was expecting and the twists were easy to guess, it was still an enjoyable read.
4 solid stars.
The first cut is the deepest.
Ainsley is holding a grudge against Ryland, her brother’s BF and they were a family trio. Except, he went to jail, cell block C, to be exact.
Now, he’s out and he’s living with the only family he’s known.
What I liked?
Ryland. He’s a good guy. I liked him lots.
Ainsley felt very young to me.
Recommend.
I really enjoyed this book of the Cell Block C Series. Once I started reading, I did not want to put down the book til I was finished with the story.
It begins with Finn and Ainsley who are siblings. Finn being the oldest has
to raise his baby sister when their father dies and it’s just the two of them on their own. For many years Finn’s childhood best friend Ryland was also part of if their little family. But unfortunate circumstances lands Ryland in jail.
Now it’s 5 years later and Ryland has been released and hoping he can come back to the only place he called home. Finn’s kept in touch with him while he was in jail but Ainsley has been hurt and very upset and has had no contact with him. Now that he’s home, she’s still mad at him and won’t talk to him.
All three are living in the same house and eventually things begin to thaw between Ainsley and Ryland. She has been attracted to Ryland in her teens and always looked up to him and he was always very protective of her. Now she’s grown up and the attraction is growing between them. And one night alone in the house they give into their passion! Hottt! Finn and Ainsley’s best friend Lily are caught together and they begin their relationship. But Ainsley and Ryland need to keep their relationship from Finn for now.
This story takes on some twist, turns and major reveals! Someone from Ainsley’s past comes back and causes some unexpected suspense.
Melissa gives us hurt, healing, suspense and love in Ainsley and Ryland’s story. But I also enjoyed Finn and Lily too. Another great book from Melissa Toppen! 5 Stars
Ah Melissa does it again!
I am beyond excited for the rest of the Cell block c series to come out.
In a Thousand cuts we meet Ainsley and Ryland.
Sometimes love can blind you and in this case it happens to Ainsley.
Ainsley falls in love with Ryland at a very young age, when Ryland is sent to prison Ainsley turns bitter toward Ryland and everything Ryland related.
Ryland takes his prison sentence like a man in order to save his best friend and family.
What happens when Ainsley learns what she thought was true turns out to be a lie?
I highly suggest taking this ride that Melissa sends us on, as Ryland tries to right everything wrong and regain the trust of those he lost, including the love of Ainsley.
Epic romance that’s full of surprises. The love between ryland and ainsley is intense and genuine. Their story is not an easy one to watch yet wanting a hea is paramount. The story that melissa weaves here is complex and true and something that I loved every page of!
A thousand cuts is my 15th Melissa Toppen novel read, and the perfect book to start off the cell block C series. It’s a story I didn’t want to put down. We have a bit of suspense. We also get to witness her brother’s love story take place. Standalone HEA.
My heart!
I loved this sorta second chance. Sibling’s best friend isn’t always a good trope for me. Mainly b/c of the stupid back and forth, but this one was done right. Thank goodness for tequila.
You get two HEA in one.
There was a twist that I saw but not to that extent. WOW! It got intense there.
Ryland is AMAZING. What he did shows his true nature. Not just his love, it takes a true selfless person to do that.
When I saw the collaboration of authors writing about an interesting series , I knew I needed to read these stories. This is the first of 5. An AWSOME 5 star page turner.
Ainsley and her brother Finn are all they each other have as family. Then years later Ryland comes back into their lives. Ryland was Finn’s best friend and her protector. She feels betrayed because he abandoned them. Her girl crush never went away but as a woman it’s stronger.
This is an intriguing and captivating story. It was suspenseful with many twist and turns. It was amazingly written with a storyline that flowed well. A slow burn best friend to lovers. Bottomline this is a must read.
Standalone told in a dual POV with an HEA. I strongly recommend this story. The second book comes in April.
I liked this book but freely admit that I had complicated feelings about it. In all the book is well very written and engaging. The story line offers a smartly crafted blend of deep emotions, drama, angst, tension, suspense, danger and heat. The characters were a split decision for me. I really liked Ryland. He was definitely one of the good guys and had a heart of gold. It was unfortunate that he also had a chronic case of good intensions (and we all know where those lead) and in my opinion was way too self-sacrificing and forgiving. As for Ainsley, I wanted to like her more but could never get there. I did sympathize with her about some things but the slack you can cut someone that is a teenager is much more than the slack that an adult deserves. At some point, you are supposed to wake up, wise up and see things as they are and not simply as you would like them to be. Add to that the fact that I thought she came this close to falling into the TSTL category and yeah, I was not her biggest fan. In spite of my feelings toward her, I did like these two as a couple. The brother’s best friend trope is one I enjoy. You can expect to experience a wide range of emotions as this couple’s romance unfolds.
A Thousand Cuts is phenomenal. You get that childhood crush/friend, mixed in with brothers best friend and then you shake it up and get this amazing book. I love the raw and gritting moments along with that bound that doesn’t go away that Melissa Toppen gives us in this one. You are in for one heck of ride when it comes to Ryland and Ainsley. You will just love them to pieces and you will feel for them too. Ryland is amazing for everything that he goes through. The way he handles himself throughout is amazing. I love how he rebuilds Ainsley’s trust in him after all the time apart. And Ainsley you will just love her strength and feistiness. She has loved Ryland forever and you get why her walls are up around him. They have this bound and chemistry that you can’t deny. I love them together so much. You get why Ainsley’s brother Finn is the way he is too once everything comes out. This book just steals a piece of your heart by the time you are done reading it. I couldn’t put it down.