All Ricky Martinez knows of life is loss, loyalty, and family. When his father became a quadriplegic after breaking his neck saving a drowning girl, Ricky gave up his dreams of playing football at a big college to stay home and take care of his family. His new dream? Find the girl who caused his father’s injury and get justice.Because of her, his family lost everything.All Aveline Gerard knows of … everything.
All Aveline Gerard knows of life is a quiet, protective love.
Homeschooled ever since her accident eighteen years ago, Aveline’s parents, both deaf, have kept her safe the only way they know how—sheltered, and alone. Aveline’s deepest desire? To experience life in all its loud and messy glory, and the tattooed guy in her first college class is all of those things.
Because of him, her life is finally beginning.
But fate has a wicked sense of justice and when Ricky realizes the sweet, shy girl in his class is the one who wrecked his family, will he be able to walk away? Or will the bitter rage inside cause him to make the biggest mistake of his life?
Because of them, the pain of two families will finally collide.
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I hate when I can’t hate a character anymore because I get their tragic backstory and I understand them all of a sudden. (I lie, I love it!) But really. Laura Ward has done another phenomenal job of creating a heart-wrenching tale with engaging and relatable characters. Ricky and Aveline are tied together in ways they can’t even fathom as these two opposites are drawn to one another. But then the truth comes out and tough decisions must be made.
Ricky Martinez has a monster growing inside of him due to all the rage he feels after having to give up all of his own dreams in order to support his family with the injury to his dad 18 years ago then left him a quadriplegic. His family is in financial trouble and he continues to wrks as hard as he can in order for his sisters to continue their own education.
All Ricky wants is revenge on the girl who his father saved and left his life shattered.
Aveline Gerard is 22 and eighteen years ago was involved in an accident that shaped her life. Her parents have closely guarded her but now she is attending college and has a little bit of freedom.
When Ricky realizes who Aveline is he gains her trust in order to put his plan into motion of revenge for his family and financial help to get them out of the trouble they are in.
But as Ricky learns more about Aveline will he be able to go through with it and what happens if Ricky’s plans are foiled?
This was such a good book and I have loved this series!
Ricky’s life has been so different from the others to a certain extent. His family is so devoted to one another and each of them are willing to give up their own dreams to help out which was so incredible! Yet Ricky is also bitter because of what he has had to give up because of the accident and how his family lives the way they do because of a selfless act.
Aveline was so interesting and as we learn more about her things begin to fall into place. She had such a sheltered life and I don’t think her parents were aware of everything going on due to their own conditions.
I loved how Ricky and Aveline began to get close but when Ricky saw the person that Aveline truly was he realized what he was doing. I understood why Aveline’s mom was concerned and I wondered how everything was going to explode and I was not disappointed!
My heart did break towards the end when Ricky talked to Dean’s dad about the job and I knew how desperate he was.
I was shocked at the reason Aveline’s parents did what they did and I could understand why even though it was so sad!!
The ending was so good and I loved how everything worked out!!
I don’t want this series to end!
Because of You is the final installment of the Not Yet series. Because of You is a quick read from start to finish. This story will suck you in. Its an intense with rollercoaster ride of emotions. This book is Ricky and Aveline’s story.
Ricky is angry and wants to seek revenge for traumatic injuries his father experienced in an accident when he was a young child. Upon graduating highschool Rickys decides to turn down a full scholarship to IU for football. Instead he stays home to work and help his mother support the family. Thier barely able to make ends meet. Ricky’s angry and blames the family of the girl who was drowning for his fathers life changing accident.
Aveline’s family lives in fear ever since she was a child and almost drowned. They have wanted to thank the man who saved thier daughter. Her parent’s are deaf. They have always been over protective of her and not allowed her to do normal things kids do. Aveline was homeschooled and received her college degree online.
While Ricky is in college part time he takes a Psychology class. During a class exercise Ricky learns that Aveline was the girl his father saved. When he looks at her all he can see is a rich girl whose had everything handed to her. Ricky wants to make the family pay for what his family has endured. Ricky befriends Aveline with the thoughts of revenge. Little does he not everything about her and her family is what he thinks it is. He falls completely in love with Aveline. When they both learn of little things they never told the other that tears what they have apart.
The real question is thier relationship salvageable or are things to far gone to save?
My first glimpse into the words of Laura Ward and what an amazing choice to make. I love anything to do with psychology and these two characters meet in a Psychology class. Aveline and Ricardo come from completely different worlds. Aveline is from a family of privilege but because of a near death experience, she has been sheltered from virtually all outside influences. Ricardo is the son of immigrants and because of one heroic act made by his father his family has been forced to live in poverty all his life barely making ends meet and having to let certain chances pass him by to help provide for his family. When these two meet in class, a chain of events is set into motion that throws these two together, possibly for a lifetime. This story brought me to tears at times. It was so heartwarming and thought provoking! I now have to go back and read more of this series.
My first glimpse into the words of Laura Ward and what an amazing choice to make. I love anything to do with psychology and these two characters meet in a Psychology class. Aveline and Ricardo come from completely different worlds. Aveline is from a family of privilege but because of a near death experience, she has been sheltered from virtually all outside influences. Ricardo is the son of immigrants and because of one heroic act made by his father his family has been forced to live in poverty all his life barely making ends meet and having to let certain chances pass him by to help provide for his family. When these two meet in class, a chain of events is set into motion that throws these two together, possibly for a lifetime. This story brought me to tears at times. It was so heartwarming and thought provoking! I now have to go back and read more of this series.
I have been a fan of Ms. Ward’s work since the first story I read by her and I cannot get enough. I’m not going to lie and tell you that Ricky is my favorite of the boys, because he wasn’t. But that doesn’t mean that his story wasn’t just as good as the rest of the crews. Damn! It was so good! And make sure you have tissues handy!
We have seen glimpses of Ricky in the three books in the Not Yet series and we always knew he had an angry, dark side. Now we get to find out why. But even tough guys can be brought to their knees.
“I need you,” he whispered. “I’ve never needed anyone like I need you.
Adeline, the quiet, shy, girl with overprotective parents. Meeting Ricky has finally allowed her to see that life is worth living.
“I was ready to live my life, fully and unafraid. For the first time ever.
And OMG! The two of them together – I couldn’t get enough! I seriously devoured this book. It was that GOOD! There were so many feels and I laughed, cried my eyes out, and there was just enough heat thrown in too! I absolutely adored how much we got to see of the others as well – Landon, Dean & Jon plus their girls. I certainly hope we get to see updates on this crew in the future! (5+ stars)
This story intrigued me. It seems like a straight forward story of rich meets poor, but there’s more to it than that. Ricky’s family doesn’t have much, but his family is close, supportive, and full of love. My heart felt for what all his family has struggled through. Aveline’s parents deeply love her, but her house is huge and quiet. She feels alone and sheltered. When the pair meet, I think they give each other the things they have been missing. I loved reading all about the psychology class. I think that was as eye opening as the love story.
This is the final book in this series and this book took me on an emotional roller coaster. Once again, I couldn’t put this book down either! This story was so sweet. It will give you all the feels. If you haven’t read this series, you definitely need too! Each book gets better and better.
Ricky and Aveline didn’t know each other and when they met they didn’t know that her past accident would be a reason behind his anger. Ricky feels his life would have been better if his dad didn’t save the girl who changed his life for the worst. But, I love that they met and don’t know the truth just waiting to come out in the light and change everything that feels good between them. This was a great
4th book to a great series.
My favorite of this series by far!!! Ricky and Aveline are great, well developed, intreging characters. The family dynamics are so well written, the book moves quickly, and is a page turner from start to finish. Great read!
I enjoyed this book, there’s love and a lot of what I think are more secrets rather than lies. Because of you centres around Ricky & Aveline. Ricky is angry, he has given up his dream of becoming a football start to support his family. Aveline has grown up in a silent, sheltered world, home schooled and until now not been out and experienced the world. When Ricky and Aveline first meet at college, neither realise they have a connection that goes back to 18 years previously. That changes when Ricky realises that Aveline was the child his father rescued 18 years ago from drowning and left his father a quadriplegic, and is the reason he had to give up his dreams. Ricky wants justice, he blames Aveline’s parents for his father’s accident, he wants them to pay and Ricky realises that now he has an opportunity to make them do just that. Almost without exception all the characters in this book are keeping secrets, secrets which had they been out in open would have led to a lot better understanding of the events 18 years ago and explained where both Aveline & Ricky find themselves now. What Ricky hadn’t bargained on was falling in love with Aveline, and he knows that he is going to have tell her who he is and what he has been trying to do. But before he can do that events spiral out of control and all the secrets coming tumbling out. Now Ricky has to leave college and take a job with little future in order his family can survive, whilst knowing that he has hurt Aveline badly. Aveline shocked and upset by everything she learns has to decide if she can forgive Ricky for the secrets he kept from her and his actions. I have to also admit that I was openly crying during the final chapters of this book so keep the tissues handy.
Because of You was one fantastic roller coaster ride of emotions. This was a well written story from Laura Ward you had secrets some half truths the love of family with loyalty and love. This was a book that captures your heart and won’t let go till the very end. This is a story that made you smile and the next bring a tear to your eyes.
Ricky has some really pent up anger directed at the people he believes ruined his families lives. Aveline is a young woman who is experiencing college life after she finally talks her overprotective parents because of an accident eighteen years earlier into letting her go. When these two meet they are less then honest with each other and this is where this story really sets you on the edge of you seat. I highly recommend this great story. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
Omg I friggin loved this book. I read it all today and now i feel lost. It left me with a book hangover did an amazing job on this book and I highly recommend you get this book
I’ve read all the books in the series and I have to say this one was my favorite. It was heart wrenching but also heartwarming. Ricky was a jerk at times but I understood his anger. He just need to channel it somewhere else. I’m glad he had Aveline. She tamed his monster.
I have to say this author really knows how to get you into her books. I knew a little about the story line and even knowing that I still had to know how things were going to go. The emotions and the life of both characters was crazy but the author made you want to know more and the more we were told the better the book was. One I truly didn’t want to put down….
Another great book by Laura Ward. The 4th in this series.
This was the last of the 4 friends who we met in book 1. This was all about Ricky.
I loved reading Ricky’s story. We learned a little about it in book 3 we learned the whole story in this book.
Through this story, which takes us back a little ways since Aveline goes with Ricky to Deans wedding, we learn about Ricky and why he is the way he is. I loved the psychology aspect of this story and why we do what we do. I found Aveline’s parents fascinating and the way they protected her all these years.
I hope this is not the the end of this series, I really loved these 4 men and I would love to read more–glimpse some more into their future. How did everything work out for all of them how were the weddings, who has kids?
This is book 4 the final book in the Not Yet series by Laura Ward. I have really enjoyed reading this series. This last one is about Ricky. His family has fell on hard times after his dad got hurt after saving a kid from drowning. As fate may have it, Ricky finds the girl by accident in his college class that his father saved. Aveline is a quiet shy girl. Her life is different and has her own challenges. These 2 come together. They are so different but they borh need each other to grow. Great end to a great series.
4.5 Heartfelt Stars!!
These BOOKS ~ These AMAZING characters ~ These LOYAL friends ~ These LOVING families….
This is a series that has drawn me in and held me tight throughout, each story better than the one before. I knew Ricky’s story was going to be GOOD just from the glimpses of his life we have seen in previous books, I just didn’t expect it to be this GOOD! It was definitely an emotional ride full of tension, surprises and lots of love.
Never before have a read a series that just makes me want to settle in and enjoy the “feels” the was one has…..I simply cannot recommend this book ~ this series enough!
Ricardo or Ricky has had a monster inside of him from all the anger and frustration from his life. He was to go to college but turn it down to help his family. Ricky’s dad was in an accident that caused him not to be able to work or do anything other than watch some tv. Ricky Work as much as he could and took classes in college part time to hopefully one day have a degree. In his one class he saw and met Aveline who is petit and sweet and innocent. They become friends and since Aveline has had a sheltered life she is learning to let go and face fear but still holds a secret from Ricky, but Ricky holds onto a secret also. Will the truth ever come out? Aveline could be one to heal the monster. This book was freaking great.
This is the 4th book in the series and I have loved them all, they each offer something different. I have to admit that I had love hate feelings about Ricky, but I adored Aveline from the start. Their story was predictable but was written in such a way that even though you could guess what was coming your heart still raced and you were still eager to read. So did Ricky redeem himself you’ll have to find out for yourself. Great to see a bit from the others in the series. I would recommend this series.