They say everything happens for a reason- that there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. For the longest time I didn’t think that was true. I had stumbled around in the dark for so many years that I didn’t think I would ever find my way out. But when I finally did, it came in the most unexpected way.Miles Hollins had been my brother’s best friend for as long as I could remember. We didn’t … We didn’t like each other much growing up. Or rather, we couldn’t stand each other. But after ten years of being gone, a lot had changed.
He wasn’t the same boy I remembered. I wasn’t the same girl either. So much had happened.
I moved away and got married.
Miles joined the military.
We both returned home broken in our own way.
I struggled to find my place in my new life. Miles struggled just to get through the day. But together we slowly began to heal. I quieted his demons and he gave me a sense of belonging. For a while that was enough.
But this is real life, and in real life nothing stays perfect forever. In real life not every story ends with a happily ever after. Sometimes the scars we carry are just too deep.
I promised him I would fight.
He promised me I would lose.
I’ll do everything in my power to prove him wrong. Because it’s when you find the one thing you can’t live without, that you truly find yourself.
All That We Are is a standalone contemporary romance.
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I am always sucked in at page one when reading one of Melissa’s wonderful stories with her fantastic characters. Miles and Harlow’s story has all the feels and takes you on an emotional roller coaster. These two have an undeniable attraction to each other and their story is sexy, hot, full of drama, heartbreak, romance, and a wonderful HEA ending. I absolutely adored these two and their story and wanted more!
Melissa Toppen always gives me exactly what I’m looking for in a book: Strong heroines, hot, broody Heroes, all the love and lust and heartfelt moments that keep me from putting the book down and actually doing any adulting.
All That We Are is no exception. From the beginning, I immediately got caught up in all that is Harlow and Miles. I felt Harlow’s acceptance into her new life and was excited to see where she would take it. She really is a spitfire, take no nonsense kind of gal. She may not know what she wants but she definitely knows what she doesn’t .
Miles is used to having women fall at his feet and vie for his attention. He keeps himself guarded romantically, never any attachments. I knew from the moment I met Miles, he was not the trouble maker he made himself out to be. And I knew instantly how well these two fit together.
Then, of course, we are pulled from our dream state, back into reality. A reality we were all warned about I might add. My heart broke for them both but I knew they would find their way to where they needed to be
” Because it’s when you find the one thing you can’t live without, that you truly find yourself.”
I loved every minute of this journey and I can’t wait to see what else Melissa has in store.
An amazing story written by Melissa Toppen. Two soul that both leave their home town. Harlow being married for six years that been unhappy. Miles being in the military that comes back and opens a tattoo shop. Two souls that become one.
All That We Are is a great brother’s best friend story. The story flowed at a good pace, and it had so many emotions. I read it in one sitting. Harlow and Miles have a hate/love relationship, that kept me entertained, and I couldn’t wait and see how it was going to play out.
This is the story of a perfect girl who seemingly had it all together until now, Harlow and the sexy tattooed ex soldier best friend of her brother, Miles. Growing up they were total opposites and never cared to even know each other, then Harlow experiences some life changes and returns to her hometown where it’s like she’s meeting Miles Hollins for the very first time. There are electrical affinity sparking between them that they don’t quite understand. Can they explore it? Will they care to?
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was light and flirty, sexy and fun. Miles’ story was very credible. I thought him to be very sweet and romantic despite his hard, visceral appeal. His story about his tour of duty oversees is very realistic as I’ve witnessed from so many veterans. PTSD is real and ugly.
I’m happy that Harlow allowed herself to be free from her past and not hold back. I could definitely relate to both Harlow and Miles to a certain extent. I liked the last 2 chapters where there was more finality in the matter.
Who was your favorite character, and why?
I wish that it would’ve been a duet to continue their story. I feel like they have so much more to tell.
I would definitely recommend this book. There is adult material but it’s not heavy. I’d recommend it to Romance fans even Older YA!
It was nice to read a book were both characters were having a hard time. To see them both help each other through their battles is what I enjoyed about this book. Melissa’s writing draws me in and allows me to get lost in it. Beautifully written book. You don’t want to miss out on All That We Are.
Do you believe in destiny fate??
All that We Are is full length standalone novel written by Melissa Toppen. It wasn’t my first book from this author and I knew that’s going to be a good story. It wasn’t only about hard love, where two people trying to find a place in their life again and heal their souls, but also about finding your true love and a soulmate.
Harlow and Miles knew each other from the childhood and didn’t like one another those days. She was his best friend’s sister.
After her disaster marriage, she is coming back to her hometown and trying to start all over. Miles, in the other hand, went through a lot in his life, fighting his own demons every day, but keeping it all inside of himself.
They didn’t see each other for years and now they’re not the same people anymore.
When they met for the first time since all those years, I didn’t know what to expect. It was thrilling to see them finding themselves once again and everything went so pretty well, until ghosts from Mile’s past, started to haunt him down.
I was like wow! What will happened next? Where author will take me with that story? Are there going to be a happy ever after for both of them?
So many questions appears in my head and I couldn’t put this book down, until I knew everything.
Harlow was a very brave young woman. After all she went trough, she was so strong. I was in owe for her attitude.
Miles was very handsome guy with his tattoos all over his body. He was rough, but if you known him closer, he has a kind heart. He has his own tattoo salon, where he could sink into the body art and forget about his terrible past.
Two broken souls looking forward to find themselves again, and bury their past.
It was a sweet romance with twisted and unpredictable plot. I was so drown to Miles and Harlow story. I was very emotional and teared up at the end. I love that kind of romance where I can find little bit of mystery plot, lots of love and steamy romance between main characters. I was melting by their chemistry.
This book shows that things always happened for a reason in our life and there is somewhere a soulmate for our heart.
ARC generously provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very good read. With a story line that is a blend of enemies to lovers and brother’s best friend romance. It was easy to root for the couple in this somewhat slow burn romance. The slow burn element was extremely appropriate to their history, their present and their respective pasts. I liked both characters both separately and together as a couple. Harlow and Miles were both complex characters and they both had their own emotional baggage to deal with. Miles was often very sweet, kind, sexy and just a good guy. Harlow came across as very relatable. I think there are many readers that will see a lot of themselves in her. I really enjoyed the evolution of the relationship between these two, From former adversaries, to friends and then to lovers, the layers flowed well and kept me fully engaged in their story. There is a bit of drama, some emotional turmoil and a few stumbling blocks along the way for this couple. All and all, a very entertaining, emotional read.
Five big fat emotional stars!
Phenomenal!
Heartbreakingly perfect!
Melissa Toppen has written a emotional romance that will for sure make your heart beat fast and will make your heart happy.
Harlow Cabell is starting over. After enduring a controlling marriage, she has gone back home to start new. Staying with her brother Winston, she ends up seeing his best friend Miles. Remembering how they used to hate each other back in the day, Harlow is confused when she starts feeling things for Miles.
Miles Hollins is a veteran who came home from the war a changed man. He went through something that no one should. Even though it’s been 8 years he still has some ghosts that make everyday a bit of a challenge.
Miles owns a tattoo shop and helps Harlow out by giving her a job. Putting her degree to work these two grow closer and closer. Feelings change and love starts to change them both.
These two are so perfect for each other that you can’t help but swoon at their interactions. But as always there is always something that will challenge their relationship. Before anything can go on things need to be addressed.
In the end love always wins and we find out that even your brothers best friend can be your soulmate.
Highly recommended.
I really enjoyed Miles and Harlow’s story. She had to learn to be on her own after leaving her husband. She went back home to live with her brother. She has a history of disliking Miles from when they were children. Miles has some PTSD from when he was serving in the military. These two have hot chemistry. My heart hurt for Miles and the nightmares he has. I really enjoyed watching these two grow and change.
“Because if I could sleep, if I could dream, I have no doubt that Harlow Cabell would be the very thing I would see.”
Nothing I love more than when two characters hold disdain for each other, giving in to their urges would cause a whole host of problems, and yet, they throw caution to the wind, and discover the love of each other’s lifetime!! Harlow and Miles have known each other for eons, since he is her big brother’s best friend, and they never really got along much. Losing touch over a decade, and Harlow coming home after a failed relationship sets the stage for what I thought was a sinful slow burn that ignited to a sweetly simmering hotness not to be extinguished!!
“I come alive under his touch. Each brush of his fingers singes every nerve ending to life. Every touch of his lips makes my heart beat faster. Every murmur and kiss makes me feel on the brink of exploding into a million tiny pieces.”
At times I wondered if it would work, but that spark they had together was undeniable…they both had ghosts from their pasts to overcome and it was heart breaking to watch them both struggle to find the happiness they both craved so deeply. Do they? Not saying, but we’ll just say that the ending brought happy tears to my eyes at the sheer romance of it all. It caught my heart, my feels, and my complete attention the entire time I was caught up in this book. I thank the Author for providing a copy to review.
“You are my light at the end of the tunnel, Harlow. You didn’t just save my life. You are my life.”
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
4 Cranky Stars
Miles and Harlow grew up together, with Miles being Harlow’s brother’s best friend. After high school, Harlow went to college and got married to the guy she dated during college. Miles went to the military, where he served overseas.
They are brought back together years later, both Miles and Harlow experiencing their own versions of PTSD. Can two broken souls help heal each other?
I can honestly say that this book was great. I loved the way the author told the story of Miles and Harlow. They are such a perfect pair. The entire story, I kept waiting for a bomb to drop related to their PTSD, and boy did it ever! My heart ached when you learned about Miles’ story of being overseas and how it effects him to this day. I am so glad I got to read this story, it was very moving and touching.
Omg i absolutely loved this story! Just everything about it gave me the feels. And all the good feels too. Harlow and Miles have both overcome so much in their past, and still have some stuff they need help with. But damn these two together just love them. Opposites totally attract and I want a Miles for my own, demons and all.
Wow, just wow! What an amazing story of two tortured souls, brought together by fate. Harlow & Miles have known each other since they were young. She never could stand him. When she returns to town after her failed marriage, she is finally feeling free, something her ex never allowed her to be. Miles has his own demons, having served his country for two tours and suffering for all he witnessed and all he lost over there. Read along as their story unfolds in this amazing book, get ready for the roller coaster of emotions you will experience! Great story 5 stars for this one!
I have not read all of Melissa Toppen’s book but out of the 3 or 4 that I have read so far, this was her best by far. I couldn’t get enough of this story line. The chemistry she created between Miles and Harlow burned the pages. Toppen certainly knows how to write a steamy scene. I enjoy her writing in terms of flow and in terms of keeping things realistic. Nothing is more annoying than insta-love or forcing relationships. Miles and Harlow’s relationship felt organic and raw.
Toppen wrote a great love story about two people who were hurting for extremely different reasons but were able to find love within each other. It was beautiful and inspiring. This story is going to stay with me for a while. Miles definitely made some room on my shelf for a book boyfriend 🙂
If you are a fan of romance, you won’t be disappointed with this story.
This is an emotional and sweet story. Miles is a war veteran fighting his own demons. Harlow is an abused wife getting out of her marriage. You can consider the book as enemies to lovers or a brother’s best friend story. They both return back to their home town and and things heats up between them. I loved the chemistry between Miles and Harlow. The story is well written with just the right amount of angst.
Review copy was received for an honest opinion.