In a split-second, a car crash killed almost everything between them. Ten years later, can one accidental ride fix tattered spirits, uncertain futures, and broken hearts?Lily Grantham has always done what she’s been told. The daughter of a senator, she grew up as the good girl of Fawn Hill, and carried that torch right on through to adulthood. Her only wild streak? Bowen Nash. She loved that boy … loved that boy since the day they laid eyes on each other, and it nearly ended them both. A decade later, and Lily still can’t move on. Even if Bowen has made it clear he doesn’t love her anymore.
Bowen Nash never wanted the life he’s trapped in. Destined for baseball fame and the love of his high-school sweetheart, that existence vanished in the flip of an old pickup. Now, he’s stuck in the town that produced his worst nightmare. Pretending to hate Lily Grantham guts him day in and day out. But to protect her from the ultimate secret, it’s necessary to break his own heart each time they pass on the street.
They’ve been fighting fate for as long as it’s been chasing them. And now, time is up.
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I hate that these two were kept apart for so long. I get why Bowen made the decision he did but I just couldn’t reconcile it either. I was mad for Lily but I’m glad it worked out in the end.
Once upon a time they were high school sweethearts. Hearts and flowers galore.
Fast forward ten years and now they are complete strangers to each other.
One accident changed their lives, stole Hopes, dreams and a love that was meant to be.
The best man and maid of honour titles are bestowed upon them. Can they rise to the occasion, and not let the past destroy the day?
I loved meeting the Nash brothers in Fleeting book one in this series, but I longed to hear what happened to divide Lily and Bowen. I got my wish!
Bowen is so very loveable. He might be an introvert, but hes strong and silent with it, moody and sexy.
Hes the brother that not many truly know. The gem in the rough.
Lily is the girl in the dark who simply doesn’t have a clue. Shes passionate about books and they give her with the romance she cries out for.
Two broken characters who share so much, and lost even more.
My heart broke for both of them, and whilst this book fed my sadness to a certain extent I always had a little bit of hope lurking inside of me.
I love angst and drama, tears and tantrums so to me this was amazing!!
Carrie always manages to put my emotions through the wringer and this is no exception.
I cant wait to get up close and personal with the twins!! I simply need more of the nash brothers!! My heart is big enough for them all!!
I loved Bowen’s angst and broodiness and when the reason behind it all came out, I felt for the guy. I mean, to be forced to keep a secret for ten years and then live a life that was so different from the one he once imagined he would have with Lily will make any guy all broody. The thing is–and this is why I’m giving the book the rating that it’s getting–I couldn’t fully wrap my head around what brought about the whole secret keeping thing. I’m going to try and explain this part without getting spoilery so it may not make a great deal of sense: Bowen had a reason for breaking up with Lily ten years prior, and it was the motivations of those who masterminded the whole scheme that didn’t click with me. You’ll get what I’m talking about once you read the book, but yeah, it just gave me pause because I could never imagine someone who had that role in Lily’s life to do what they did. I enjoyed the rest of the story, however, especially with how Bowen and Lily moved forward together, albeit far more quickly than I had expected. Forgiven gets four stars out of five stars, and I’m curious to see who “Uncle…” could turn out to be soon.
I love a second-chance romance and this one was fantastic. ‘Forgiven’ is the second book in the Nash Brothers series, and I absolutely adored it.
Having read the first book in the series, we knew this book was going to be about Bowen and Lily. We knew there was an accident, but why was Bowen the way he was towards Lily? Why do they no longer speak. Well in this book we learn the whole ugly truth. We see all the emotions from both characters and feel all of their unbearable pain.
The history these two have is something special. But there is a reason behind Bowen’s years of avoidance. Lily has never understood why Bowen hates her so much. Why he just started to ignore her for no apparent reason, even after pleading with him? Why does he want nothing to do with her?
Lily’s love for Bowen is obvious, and the chemistry in the book was fantastic, but can they find their way back to each others after so many years of heartbreak and absence.
This was a really emotional and moving story and I couldn’t put it down. Once I started, I was hooked and definitely felt all the emotion, shedding a tear or two!
Another super read from Carrie Aarons; roll on book 3!
5 Stars!
I have been a huge fan of Carrie Aarons since reading The Tenth Girl. Her writing is so engaging, her characters so loveable and the story-lines absolutely addicting. Forgiven was no different. I was hooked from the very first page and could hardly put it down. It was such a refreshing and delightful treat!
Lily and Bowen were high school sweethearts, but that ended abruptly due to the aftermath of a tragic accident. It’s been ten long years of little to no contact with no closure in sight. Now due to Presley and Keaton’s wedding they are forced together as the maid of honor and best man. The sexual tension and longing between them was so palpable and heartbreaking to watch. Aarons takes us on an emotional journey with this one as we watch the events of the past unfold. Secrets are revealed. Lies and truths are uncovered. Will their love be strong enough to survive it all?
I wasn’t a big fan of Bowen after reading Fleeting. I couldn’t fathom how he could be so harsh towards Lily when she was supposed to be the love of his life. It frustrated me to no end, but he really redeemed himself in Forgiven. He finally opens up to her and we get to see a whole new side of him. He truly has a heart of gold and his love for Lily was so sweet. I was rooting for these two lovebirds all the way to the end.
All in all, I found Forgiven to be wonderfully written. Despite the emotional punches, it was a quick and easy read. I absolutely fell head over heels for Lily and Bowen, and I know the readers will too. This is a sweet second chance romance that you will not want to miss.
5 NASH BROTHER STARS!! I love the Nash brothers, but Bowen is the top brother at the moment. Bowen and Lily have loved each since high school and have demons in the closet that keeps them apart. Their story will hit all your emotion buttons and keep you turning pages. Carrie Aarons is a beautiful writer and touches your whole heart with her stories. This is one series and book you will want to read, so go ahead and 1-Click.
This is the second book in this amazing series, and is Lily and Bowen’s story. These two were soul-mates, but due to a tragic accident, they have avoided each other for 10 years. Now with Lily’s best friend marrying Bowen’s brother, they are brought into each others’ company more, but will Bowen tell Lily what he is hiding from her? No spoilers; this is one of those stories which is a definite must read, you will not be disappointed! This is a beautifully written story which is filled with secrets, lies, betrayal and is a heartbreaking and emotional roller coaster ride from beginning to end. I cannot wait to read more from this talented author, whose work I highly recommend for all.
WOW, this new series by Carrie is just the best I’ve read in a while!
You got a glimpse of Bowen & Lily in Fleeting, and now you get their whole story here and you will not be disappointed!
Bowen & Lily, high school sweethearts, till one fateful night, interfering fathers, and ten years of Bowen avoiding Lily at all costs.
These two are thrown together as best man & maid of honor for Presley & Keaton, can Bowen fight his feelings that are still there for Lily, or will the past make him keep his distance?
Can Lily, who has no clue why he walked away ten years ago, ever truly move on from Bowen? Can she handle working so closely with him when he keeps shunning her?
This story will pull at your heart strings, and will also make you fall in love with Bowen, who was hard to understand in Fleeting, but here you will find out why he is the way he is!
5 amazing stars for this one, Carrie nailed all the feels with her words, and I can’t wait for the next Nash brother story! Grab this and enjoy!
How do you deal with not knowing why the love of your life cannot be in your life?
How do you deal with not being with the love of your life because of guilt?
One night changed the course of Bowen and Lily’s lives. She doesn’t know why Bowen has avoided her for over ten years. Meanwhile, Bowen must resist Lily every day. Fate has other plans for them so their pull to each other can no longer be denied. A fateful night changed their course again and brought them together, but the pain and lies from the preceding ten years catches up on them to test their love. In such a small town, are they willing to risk everything to be together?
I loved this second Nash Brother installment. You get caught up with Keaton and Presley from the first story and you continue to cheer for the other brothers, Fletcher and Forrest! I can’t wait for their books!
4.5 Stars
After reading Fleeting by Carrie Aarons, I was super curious about Bowen and Lily. Their past relationship had not ended well, and while we get a little bit about what was going on around the time that they broke up, we didn’t have any answers, so I really couldn’t wait until Forgiven so that we could!
Bowen and Lily had been high school sweethearts. One evening, they were in a terrible car accident that injured both of them, and ended their relationship. The problem is that Lily never had any say in their break-up and didn’t understand why it had happened. They have managed to avoid each other- and act like they hate each other- for the past ten years, despite living in the same town. Because Bowen’s brother is dating Lily’s best friend, they get thrown together again.
I really loved Bowen and Lily! Bowen was so serious, but so loving toward his family. It was obvious that he was trying to push Lily away for some reason. Lily was such a lost soul, not knowing how to move on with her life.
I very much loved the plot for Forgiven. The writing was spectacular, the characters were well-developed, and I felt complete at the end. Carrie Aarons has written a wonderful story, and I look forward to more!
Carrie Aarons shows us the heartache and pain these two go through yet we see a side of them nobody sees. The love they have has always been there but now there is passion, faith and a chemistry stronger than they ever expected. This book really went to my heart and seeing Lily become what she is meant to be a fighter for her man loved it.
“I received an eBook copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own.”
Carrie Aarons has been impressing me for years now. One of her earlier duets, Captive Heart duet, has been my favorite books since she’s starting writing. I’ve read every single one of her books. The Nash brothers are blowing me away. I’m left wondering if I have a new series at the top! Bowen was everything I knew he was going to be and so much more! Forgiven is an incredibly emotional story that tugged at my heart and made it impossible to read without tears!
Bowen irked me so much during Fleeting. However, I knew he was going to be deep and there was so much more than meets the eye. Really, he was an amazing character that was really trying to do what he thought was best. Generally, when a man is doing that, he’s getting in this own way. That was Bowen to a T. He was frustrating and cold. Lily struggled with her “Good Girl” persona most of her life. All she really wanted was to be with Bowen. She seemed so lost since that night in high school changed her life.
Mrs. Aarons is a masterful storyteller. Her words build this picture in your mind. She connects you to her characters effortlessly! If you haven’t read Carrie Aarons previously, I definitely suggest you start now, her writing is fun and uplifting, she gives us that drama we all love but it always seems appropriate for the book. More so, we get this deep and beautiful relationship at the heart. We get two people that are just trying to find their way through life.
I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… my opinions.
This book is filled with angst! As you journey through the ten years these two lost and the manipulations behind it, you can’t help but cry for what they lost. Love like Lily and Bowen have is everlasting. Fate brings them together so many times. When Bowen finally gains the strength to fight and win Lily once and for all, he chases her. The past is in the past and they both will never move on from each other. They tried and it doesn’t work. You will fall in love with Lily and Bowen and be cheering when they finally get their HEA!
Oh my gosh, after reading the first book in this heart stopping Nash Brothers series we know about Lily and Bowen’s childhood romance and that they are currently not together anymore, but we do not know why. This book is a tell all that hits you right in the feels. It has romance, wit, betrayal and everything in between, basically this book is everything.
Lily and Bowen were together when when they were younger and after an accident that left Lily in a coma and Bowen unable to do professional sports it just ended. Bowen left town without giving Lily the closure that she needed and now just looks as if he hates her every time she is in the room with him, which happens a lot more since her BFF is marrying Bowen’s brother.
I am not going to give away WHY they were kept away or HOW they got to start talking again, just know this was one of the most heart breaking stories with these two and their never-ending love. I cannot recommend it enough and am SO freaking excited to continue on with this series to know more about the rest of the Nash brothers!
5 outta 5 stars!
3.5 Stars
Forgiven is the second book in The Nash Brothers series. It’s Bowen and Lily’s story, which we got a glimpse of in the first book.
Bowen and Lily have a love that very few find – it’s a love that never stops, regardless of how much time has passed; regardless of how many hurt feelings have passed in between. For ten years, Lily and Bowen have been trying to move on with their lives but can’t get past what happened so many years ago.
Carrie sets this story up very well, but I was not in love with the reasoning behind the secret. I love that neither Bowen nor Lily ever deny their love for another (at least to themselves). Lily can’t move forward because she needs answers that Bowen refuses to give. Bowen can’t move forward because his heart belongs to Lily.
The story plays out nicely without a lot of drama. However, when a secret is held for ten years, I expected there to be a bit more drama and for the secret to be a bit more dire than it was. For me, this was the biggest let-down of the book. I loved getting to know Bowen an Lily a bit more and that there attraction wasn’t drug out. But I felt that the huge secret and how it all came out was equivalent to a deflating balloon – just meh.
Overall, it was good read but it didn’t give me the same vibes as the first book. I know a lot of people will love this one because there is no drama or angst and it’s truly a swoony romance. But when you lead the story with a huge secret that has taken ten years away from two people, I wanted there to be a more dramatic flare added in.
Definitely give the book a read – the characters are very likeable and I do love the small, home-town background these books are based around. I will definitely continue on with the series and see Carrie gives us with the twins, Fletcher and Forrest.
Oh the emotions and more! This story hits you really hard with the feels as you watch Lily and Bowen navigate finding their way back to each other. What I loved about this story is that even though they were so broken, they were the only thing that could mend each other. Their push and pull chemistry was stunning!
I think what really hit me with this story is how much pain they both suffered at the hands of people who professed to love them and have their best interests at heart. When things come to light, my heart broken for both of them. But their love for each other was something every girl dreams of. These two were both fighters and I love how they fought back to be together.
Overall, this is a great addition to the Nash brothers and I am dying to know more about them! Especially the twins! Carrie Aarons has gold with this series and it is fast becoming one of my favorite ones by her ever!
Forgiven is the second book in the Nash Brothers series by the very talented, Carrie Aarons. It can be read as standalone but I do recommend reading Fleeting so you can get to know the brothers even more. Bowen Nash didn’t say much in Fleeting but he captured my heart so I knew his story was going to be an emotional ride.
Ten years. He has been avoiding his high school sweetheart for ten years. Every time he saw her, it was torture. He wanted to reach out to her. Touch her. Kiss her. Love her. But he couldn’t. He had to walk away after their accident. The one that almost killed her and did kill his baseball career. He has coped with the fact that he lost his chances at the major leagues but he could never forgive himself for that night. He moved on with his life in everything else except when it came to love. He had a successful business, owned a home, had his family. But, she was the only one he has ever loved. Maybe ever will. Is it time to stop avoiding her? Ten years was a long time to hold it all in.
Lily never had closure. They were in love one minute and the next he was gone. Literally. He left town. She didn’t understand the looks he gave her when she did happen to see him around town. Why did he seem to hate her so much? She couldn’t stand it. She didn’t know how much more she could take. His brother was now with her best friend. They had to be around each other. The tension was thick. Every one in town felt it. And they were waiting for it to explode. Who will break first?
I absolutely LOVED this book! I love Keaton Nash, I really do but Bowen has stolen my heart! He might have been a cocky teenager but he was also a swoon-worthy one even back then. And now he is all man. And Lily! Oh…Lily. Watching her go through some shit made me want to give her a high five and a hug. She is stronger than she thinks. Together, I loved these two! They have their obstacles and it’s beautiful to watch them jump through them.
Overall…I am so in love with this series. I. Can. Not. Wait for the next book! I have a feeling I know who is up next and hot damn, it’s going to be hot. Oh, this one was too by the way. Along with sweet and funny.
Quotes:
“I’ll say it for the thousandth time, but I hope you hear me. I don’t know what it is I did to make you hate me so much, but I’m sorry.”
The night of the crash haunts me in my dreams. It plagues my every waking moment and mocks the future I once had.
“I may not have stepped foot in here in ages, but I’ve had many fantasies about getting you between these stacks. There is something so naughty about making out in a library.”
I received an ARC in return for an honest review. This was a good second-chance romance. You definitely could feel the connection between Bowen and Lily. I really felt for them because it was obvious they both loved each other but the past was getting in the way. I recommend you read this book.
I absolutely love Lily and Bowen. I can’t believe everything they went through. It’s so heartbreaking. They are truly soul mates. I love these Nash brothers. I can’t wait for the next book in this series. I highly recommend this book and series.
Deception. Secrets. Redemption.
This is a story of second chances, telling the truth and a forever love story. This story has characters that have been building since the first book. The characters have a past that is full of turmoil and pain. You are emotionally invested in their story. The plot keeps your attention and holds you captive even after you finish the last page. This author writes small town romance that keeps you begging for more.
Owen and lily have a past that is hard to overcome. They’re faced with people that have deceived them. They have hurt each other, but find they are tired of doing this. This is a story of standing up for yourself, chasing what you want, and getting the love of a lifetime.